I'm 17 my first car war an 01' Taurus I just bought a mint 98' Lincoln mark viii I can't help but feel like Ford lives off the feeling that this era evoked. The 90s was truly a renaissance era for Ford.
Tofer I got it like 6 days ago and love it, only paid 2200 for it 72,000 miles I can't make this stuff up. Completely over looked by absolutely everyone. Keep doing what your doing I enjoy the videos 👍🏻
I remember the Ford Explorer. I find this generation more attractive than what's being sold today. My only disappointment with this vehicle was that it was never offered with a turbo diesel engine.
My best friend's mom in elementary school had a '94 Limited in white. She kept it for ten years before trading it in for an '04 Limited in black. They kept that car until 2018 but the '94 always holds a special place in my heart.
Currently driving a 1995 explorer xlt. Originally belonged to my dad and he sold it to me for 300 bucks when me and my wife needed a second car... I was riding in it when I was 3 years old and now my kids do as well
The first car i ever rode in coming home from where i was born was a mid night blue 2001 ford Explorer sport my grandma got her back in 2004 2 mouths before i was born she bought it for the color she had a 1989 dodge caravan before that now she drives a 2004 ford escape limited i want a first or second gen ford Explorer as my first car i love them so much they are awesome and very advanced for there time i love your videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are such a great trucks, I had a 1994 four door with the 5 speed manual, by far the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Rust finally took it off the road with almost 250,000 miles. Too bad you don't see more in the overlanding community. Thanks for highlighting an underappreciated classic.
The second generation Explorer is my favorite. It had the perfect exterior and interior styling for sportiness and luxury and was a true SUV. Many of today's SUVs, including current generation Explorer, no longer live to their original roots and are basically raised wagons as they ride on a car-based platform. The Jeep Grand Cherokee impresses me the most in today's SUV lineup due to it being more of a traditional SUV, along with having performance models. I also like the Tahoe.
My mother & Father bought one brand new in I think 92 or 93, and i know even after they got divorced in 04, She was still driving it while we lived with her 2hrs away, but it easily had 300+ Miles on it, Last I knew body was falling off the frame but motor going strong she sold it to a High Schooler who was just getting ready to drive. That SUV was my childhood as well as the GMC/Chevy Jimmy's. Anyway thanks for the awesome video & time of making it. :D
These are one of my favorite vehicles of all time. My father bought a 94 2-door Sport back in 1996. It eventually became my 1st car in high school in 2004. My mom is still driving it today. 223k miles and still running strong. That truck is the reason I'm a Ford fan. It's always been a very tough, reliable vehicle that survived all of my stupid teenage shenanigans and never broke down from them.
Bro, I drove a 94 sport in High School as well. Everyone loved my car, but unfortunately got rid of it during the cash for clunkers period. About to buy a 93 sport tomorrow though. Yeeewww 🤙🏼
I thoroughly enjoyed this! My first vehicle was a green & gray 1993 Ford Explorer XLT. It had over 200,000 miles on it when I got it and over 300,000 when it finally went to that junkyard in the sky on April 30th, 2006. It somehow survived my first few years of driving and it took a lot of abuse without missing a beat. I've owned several vehicles since then but the Explorer is still probably my favorite and I plan on buying a 1993/1994 if I can find one in good shape someday.
Those 2nd gens were really popular when I was in high school as a first car. Out of the 40 cars in the student parking lot I counted 15 or so explorers.
@@thearchivistofold whoever you talked to has no idea what they are talking about. The 5.0 H.O. in the explorer (identical to the Mustang motor) is a next to bulletproof motor. They usually do not give any problems. The only thing you have to worry about on those 5.0 explorers is the vicious coupling inside the transfer cases are notorious for failure, and the front axles on the 5.0 are also prone to failure due to the full time AWD system. The 4.0 OHV V6 is even more bulletproof than the 5.0 but the 4R55E transmission is a weak point unless meticulously maintained.
@@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN I don't remember ever seeing a high output in these SUVs. I do remember seeing a detuned version that had the GT40 heads and roller cam, but it didn't have the odd ball cam with different firing order, nor injectors, or manifolds on it. Most people don't realize it, but Ford made ALOT of variations of the 302 engines. I do love the v8s in those explorers, almost as powerful as a mustang engine, but it can pass a gas station!
My mom had a dark purple/beige 1993 Eddie Bauer when I was a kid. Great memories of these Explorers! They were ubiquitous growing up in the 90s. I have a 1993 Ranger as a beater truck and it trips me out every time I drive it because it has the same dash out of the explorer I grew up in! Love your videos Tofer! Looking forward to more of these auto histories.
Loved this video, as it brought back a lot of memories. I saw Jurassic Park in the theater, also as a teenager. I fell in love with the first-gen Explorer as well, and swore I would own one someday. I wanted a teal one (Ford calls it 'Cayman Green Metallic') with mocha leather seats. Fast-forward to 2013. My father is dating a very nice woman named Linda. And Linda just happened to have bought a teal green Explorer with mocha leather seats brand new on May 29th, 1992! Garage kept, every maintenance record since new. I could hardly believe it! My dad needed a vehicle, and she wasn't driving the Explorer anymore since she had bought a Chevy Impala after her husband had died. It was just sitting in her garage. She sold it to him, he sold it to my brother after he quit driving, and three years ago my brother sold it to me. Mission accomplished. I still have it to this day. While it certainly drives like a nearly 30-year-old rig, it is easy to see why Ford sold nearly 1.3 million Explorers in only four model years. They are relatively comfortable, capable, versatile, good-looking rigs. Durable, too. I still see them on the road today.
I currently own a 1999 Explorer with the 5.0 V8 engine. And once had from 02 to 04 a 1992 Explorer that was once owned by CSX railroad. It looked so cool with the fluorescent blue stripes they left on it and white in color.
These things were truly very capable deserving the title of SUV My grandpa had a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. He had it for 10 years before replacing it with a 2005 Mountaineer (He only bought that for 7000 dollars with 25000 miles because the dealer was desperate to sell gas guzzlers in 2007) That first generation however had one flaw. It was incredibly unstable. My dad who is a seasoned driver of cars such as the 1966 Lincoln continental, 1989 s10 blazer and 1988 Cadillac fleetwood brougham said the 1997 mountaineer was the most unstable car he had ever been in. Going highway speeds any slight turn of the wheel and the car felt like it was going to roll over. He was not an amateur driver by any standards and knew the risks. He just thought the design was way too tall and narrow. My grandpa loved it tho. The next generation dramatically improved this while keeping the suv nature. I still miss that 2005 mountaineer. When my grandpa died we sold it to a mechanics wife. Because of how good my grandpa kept it up.... at 120000 miles there was no rust relatively new suspension and the engine had no issues all without a check engine light. My grandma bought a 2016 explorer to replace it and her gold trim 2003 cadillac deville. I love the car and how luxurious it is but vastly prefer the 2005 mountaineer.
I was 8 in '91 and remember every TV show or Movies in the 90s someone was driving one. From Step by Step or Murder she wrote, Perry Mason, Jurassic park etc. Really the Explorer was the true family oriented SUV.
Very well done video, worth the wait! My first car was a ‘88 Bronco II and later I had a 96 Explorer. The quote at the end from Bandit Customs sums up how I feel about the Explorer perfectly. Too bad Ford has taken it down the Crossover route and really watered down what was a very capable off roader
As always, OUTSTANDING Tofer. I owned a 1991 Explorer Sport right off the brochure cover. It was bright blue with that thin orange stripe in the black side body cladding. I ordered mine with the towing package, limited-slip ( Traction Lock ), and 3.73 axle ( recommended for towing ), with the optional cloth sport bucket seats. The seats had a pull-out at the bottom for support of your calves on a long drive. I towed a double axle Uhaul trailer loaded several times with no worry.
Beautifully done video. Explorers have been a huge part of my life for many years. I did notice one mistake in the video, the revised rear end came out for the 1998 model year, not 1999. The front bumper however was the same from 1995-1998. Glad you finally made an explorer video, I just wish there were more people trying to keep these on the road.
The video was well done! I've always loved the bold, rugged styling of the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Explorer. My personal favorite was the 2nd gen Explorer. In '95, I was 13yrs old and I knew one day I was going to own one. I am lucky enough to own one of the rare ones...a '99 Saleen XP8 with the 5.0 AWD. These suv's hold up so well and are very dependable. The 2020 models are sleek and beautiful with lots of computer electronic amenities. Although the new Explorers are very nice, I'm a simpler man that still enjoys the tried & true SUV style and ergonomics the 90's Explorers have.
My dad bought a ford explorer 92 sport manual transmission I guess in 2014, we still have it, now I drive this truck, this videos make me feel like I have a treasure, I'm saving money so I can re paint the truck, and make him look like when it was new.
This video is so amazing. it captures everything I love about the explorer and why I wanna get one in a couple of year. The new ones just dont hit you in the funny bone like the old ones do. Everyone rags on me when I say I want a 98 Explorer and lift it.
Ahhh the Exploder.. As a mechanic, we loved seeing these things come in for service. 4.0 was good, trans was good, brakes, steering, suspension and electronics were crap. I still remember the whole Firestone tire debacle. They did sell like hot cakes for a time though.
I’ve had my old style explorer brakes go out on me (same thing happened on my old body style f150 with I beam suspension.) I had the tire fly off from a bad wheel bearing heating up after I put a skyjacker lift kit on it. The stock steering design is poor but gets the job done. The suspension, steering and brakes take some special care to keep it on the road. I still like the ttb over a solid axle for driving off-road. The electrical system can give you some issues. The automatic transmissions could use a larger cooler. I swapped in the 5 speed and that made it fun to drive. The 4.0 ohv is a reliable engine. With routine tune ups/oil/coolant changes they should run forever. I’ve overheated mine a few times but still runs perfectly with 220,000 miles on it. A heavy duty fan clutch will keep it from running as hot.
@@elonsus9747 the pushrod Cologne V6, although a bit underpowered was more reliable than the SOHC V6 offered from 1997. The problem with the later was mostly the timing chain tensioner. Also the whole timing chain replacement is more labor intensive because the SOHC V6 actually has 3 timing chains.
Very cool video. The first car I ever picked out and bought on my own was a 1998 Explorer XLT 4.0L 4x4. I eventually traded it in on a 1999 Eddie Bauer 5.0L AWD, I still regret getting rid of the Eddie Bauer...
Since Jurassic Park i always wanted one, but at the time i was 13yo :D Later on i had a 1994 Electrc Current Red Explorer Eddie Bauer.. She was mint! Loved her!
Back in 97 my mom bought a 97 explorer limited with the awd 5.0l and we still have it and it only has 68k original miles never had a problem its pretty much a show car now its sitting in my show room floor at my dads dealer ship
My Dad had the Eddie Bauer version of one of these as a company car in the early 90s. I remember he made me get put and do the locking lugs when he wanted to put it in 4x4 when it was snowing out.
I was just a kid when this first generation Explorer hit the market. I still think that it is still a handsome SUV and by far the best-looking Explorer to date. Too bad it head a suspension like a shopping cart but all of these SUVs did at the time.
The Ranger was a nice truck, and it seemed just the right size for a utility vehicle. It had more room than the Toyota trucks - especially the extended versions. The mini Blazers & Jimmy's had been around for a long time, but Ford didn't really have anything comparable at the time. I always like the 90's redesign. The Bronco II seemed too small. I always thought that it would have been nice to have... an Explorer, since Chevy had their mini Blazer. The Explorer was a great vehicle. It handled well. It had good power for its time, and the 4WD really made a difference. It was very comfortable. It was less spartan & felt better on the pavement, than the Cherokees from Jeep. It was a bit hard getting used to the bifocal look, in '95. It kinda grew on me. I REALLY liked the '03 Mountaineer. It was a very refined vehicle.
My first car was a 2000 Explorer with the pushrod v6. I miss that thing so much. I used to get that thing so sideways I could’ve given Bandit a good run for his money.
My fist car was my dad's 1996 2 door XL, I drove it for ten years and it ran like a champ the whole time, the only reason I got rid of it was because it was starting to get close to needing some serious engine work because of age not mileage (it only had 165.000 KM on the clock) and I decided to get something newer. The dealership I went too was so impressed with its condition that they gave me almost $1500 for it and they ended up keeping it as a shop truck.
We have a 1996 explorer limited 5.0 my parents bought back in July of 2000 with 18k miles I rode home from the hospital in it when I was born in ‘01, now in almost 2020 I own it and it has 168k on it and we still take it to the beach every year and has never left us walking I love this truck and my whole family and friends see it as a family member because it’s been with us for so long. I love it and I can’t wait to start taking it to carshows in the near future. It’s a shame and yet cool that the limited explorer from 95-01 with the 5.0 is very rare but the sad part is that most of them were destroyed because of the “cash for clunkers” program... I see a Lamborghini more frequently than a older explorer limited 😁
Tofer oh I’m definitely not getting rid of it, if I did it would feel like losing a family member for sure. I love this truck a lot. I am planning on getting a new transfer case though for it just to be safe and a re paint it one of these days aswell... we maintain it religiously always changing the fluids on time aswell as when a engine light comes on we get it fixed right away. The only major repair we did to it In all the 19 years of owning it was just the upper control arms and that’s it. Amazing truck I’m NEVER upgrading to a new explorer. My parents even took it to New York in 2001 so it “saw” the twin towers for a whole week. Tons of good memories with her and still counting
Terrific video! I have a 1992 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, which is a Jurassic Park conversion and one of the ones featured on your video. With only 68k miles, it is in fantastic shape. Like you, this was one of my favourite childhood cars (along with the GM APV vans) and I tried several times to convince my parents to purchase one. Unfortunately, my Mum hated the rough ride. These were such common sights and the rugged, handsome looks worked well. They had a perfect balance of the tough SUV image and comfort of a car. Of course, after Jurassic Park, I loved these even more. The fact there’s still so many on the road, even after Cash for Clunkers, is testament to how built these are.
You know it was a hit when it's been featured in many 90s movies! Almost every family movie featured one somewhere. Jurassic Park goes without mentioning but another one in particular was in Liar Liar (1997), Jerry's character played by Carry Elwes owned a second gen. Another less famous movie was Forrest Warrior with Chuck Norris. The bad guys were driving a first gen right when the kids set up the Home Alone style traps on them. Just to name a few.
I bought 2 first gen Explorers for less than $600 a year ago. My brown one I'm going to turn into a Jurassic Park tribute vehicle and my white one I'm going to personalize. I was a little kid when I first saw Jurassic Park, and when I first saw the Ford Explorers on screen, I instantly wanted one. And after doing my research, I found out that they were solidly built and had a bulletproof engine in them. I find it sad that they are mostly forgotten about these days, and a lot of them were turned in for the Cash Ford Clunkers program. I know that they had stability issues, but I DON'T CARE!!!! I love my Ford Explorers and I'm going to hang onto them for as long as I live.
My first car was a black 97 eddie bauer 5.0 awd. I rolled that one and got a black 97 limited 5.0 awd. This was in the year 2000. The limited was stolen twice and recovered. The first time it was gone for 6 months before it was found. Then in 2012 it was stolen for the third and final time, i havent seen it since. I loved that truck, had 130k on it and never a single issue exept a coil pack went bad. Even with the abuse from driving by people who stole it.
These were a marketing success, and I think we are starting to appreciate that again since it’s been long enough to remember how terrible these actually were once you actually had to live with one. Cash for clunkers really ate a huge chunk of these out of the used market.
I remember riding in the family explorer to go see Jurassic park. I also wish Ford would have just refined the Taurus over the years instead of the drastic oval change in 96
Coming up on 2020 and I'm still driving my 1992 Ford Explorer. I've owned a few of these trucks in the first generation and gotten over 500,000 km out of more than one.
The first and second generations of the Explorer are the best and Ford put some of their heaviest-duty components in use to keep these trucks going when many lesser competitors would fail. And they were comfortable to drive, too! After 2001 it became a bloated road cruiser and only suited for the occasional snowy road than an off-road trail.
I've always toyed with the idea of getting a well maintained 1st or 2nd gen Explorer with the 5 spd manual. The XJ Cherokee also comes to my mind. Hopefully one day, as both are getting increasingly difficult to find in good shape
Thanks for creating this video, I had a 1994 Eddie Bauer explorer sport 2door automatic, it was a pleasure to drive as I had moved overseas from the U.K. where American cars are not often seen so was a total new world for me. Hopefully can import one over here in the future
Im not talking about just horse power im talking about the entire package. The new explorer is nice but not original in any way. At least not in my opinion. Not like the full frame explorer of the past.
In 1990 my dad traded our Taraus in on a Eddie Bauer bronco 2. My dad said he wished it was a 4 door. Not long after I seen spy photo in one of my car mags of the Explorer. My dad was pissed. I also loved seeing the explorer in Jurassic park. My friends dad owned a movie theatre and I got to watch it the first day. I also loved seeing the the explorer in Step by Step
CJ Colvin right? These new ones are so much safer, easier and cheaper to repair from minor collisions, exponentially more fuel efficient and more powerful and adjusted for inflation similarity priced in most configurations. ;)
My biggest issues with the early Explorers have to be the twin I-beam front axle, the unfortunately common rocker panel rust issues, and Fords less than highly reliable automatic transmissions. Beyond that they were actually a rather capable rig. If I weren't so in love with my XJ Cherokees an Explorer might have been higher on my list.
The twin traction beam wasn’t that bad. Handles jumps better than a solid axle but is stronger and simpler than normal ifs. Although I’ll agree a Cherokee is much more capable
being from windsor i had a 95 limited that made me hooked on suvs although it didnt have the 5.0 it still was filled with luxury and i have not left the suv game even if i do have cars on the side for summer we built some of the best cars and motors in my city such a sad future after the resession i worked for both gm and ford
These Explorers did exceptionally well, even through the whole Michelin debacle. At a time when such negative publicity would have ended, or at least put the targeted vehicles production on hold, Ford kept the Explorer in full-swing production! I always favored the Mountaineer version, as it was the classier looking with fancier grill, trim and alloys! Always nice to see well kept examples alive and well on the roads too.
I'm driving the Explorer's predecessor, the 1988 Ford Bronco 2 Eddie Bauer edition with 4 wheel drive and the dreaded A4LD automatic transmission which was rebuilt by AAMCO 2 years ago. Just had the engine replaced late last year so its ready to go another 30 years...transmission and engine issues were a direct result of the previous owner's abuse and neglect, otherwise I think it would have been fine.
Always found it bizarre that they introduced the 5.0l windsor v8 into the updated explorer as it was I the process of being phased out, when the new 4.6l modular OHC v8 had been out for 5 years prior. Then they went to the effort of redesigning the whole front suspension while leaving the rear end on leaf springs
I have always thought the same thing. The 5.0 H.O. is a great engine but it didnt make sense to phase it out across the Ford lineup and then after it's gone, bring it back and put it in the Explorer. However, I'm not complaining. I love both the 5.0 H.O. and the 4.6 2 valve.
My theory was, the Explorer being so popular would've benefited from more power so Ford looked at their inventories and realized they could still get a profit out of the 5.0. After all the tooling and facilities were there. The 4.6 was used everywhere else and perhaps the plants were out of capacity with full swing F-150, Mustang, Expedition demand.
@@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN the 5.0 line was never shut down before being picked up by the Explorer/Mountaineer in 97. The F-150 and Bronco were still using it in 96, so from a Manufacturing perspective it was a presumably inexpensive upgrade to the Explorer.
@@luisinhoens90 great point, never looked at it that way before. The bronco and f150 used the regular 5.0 but the 94-95 mustang gt and explorers used the 5.0 H.O. so im assuming they never stopped production of the H.O....mustve immediately put them in explorers after the 4.6 came out for the mustang. They shouldve kept the 5.0 in the stangs thru 98.
I absolutely loved my 98 Prairie Tan Metallic Explorer. It was horrendously ugly but the looks of the second gen grew on me so much that I now look in awe at every one I see out in the wild. It had a tan interior with cloth seats and with it being an XLT it was plenty nice enough for a 16 year old who just got their license to enjoy. The 5.0 with AWD was enough to get wild and stay safe. That hunk of steel was a tank, it even won in a tangle with a Cadillac and Taurus. I’m now somewhat teary eyed writing this vowing that I’ll have another one soon, and yes it will be just as ugly as my first.
This is a great video! I’d love to have one of these sometime in the future, and even better make it like the Jurassic Park ones. I like SUV, I have the first gen Dodge Durango which is a great car in its own right, but the Explorer is where it all started.
Great editing in this video. As a suggestion for another car, maybe try going over the Eagle Talon/Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymouth Laser? Considering there's three different cars that share most features, that could be an interesting topic.
Another great look at another iconic vehicle. Thank you. Formula for success:Make it look good +Make it function+introduce at the right time+market aggressively = success It seems so simple, but it clearly isn’t. To Ford’s credit, they have done it again and again. I find it hilarious the Ford’s marketing included not only Jurassic Park but also The Golden Girls. Still a great looking car almost 30 years later
I own own a 1994 Explorer XLT. Dark Jade metallic with gray leather interior. Has all the toys, the CD player is aftermarket. When you say Explorer. You mention names like Magellan, Sir Francis Drake, Jean Baptiste LaSalle, DeSoto, Verrazano, Vespucci, George Vancouver, Cartier, Champlain, John Cabot, Leif Ericson, Bolivar, Christopher Columbus, Lewis & Clark, Zebulon Pike, Jim Beckwourth, Captain James Cooke.
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My mother had a 97 XLT model with the V8 engine, it was one of the best cars we ever had.
We made countless roadtrips on it and was damn comfortable.
I'm 17 my first car war an 01' Taurus I just bought a mint 98' Lincoln mark viii I can't help but feel like Ford lives off the feeling that this era evoked. The 90s was truly a renaissance era for Ford.
The Mark VIII is one of my all time favorites!
Tofer I got it like 6 days ago and love it, only paid 2200 for it 72,000 miles I can't make this stuff up. Completely over looked by absolutely everyone. Keep doing what your doing I enjoy the videos 👍🏻
I remember the Ford Explorer. I find this generation more attractive than what's being sold today. My only disappointment with this vehicle was that it was never offered with a turbo diesel engine.
My best friend's mom in elementary school had a '94 Limited in white. She kept it for ten years before trading it in for an '04 Limited in black. They kept that car until 2018 but the '94 always holds a special place in my heart.
Currently driving a 1995 explorer xlt. Originally belonged to my dad and he sold it to me for 300 bucks when me and my wife needed a second car... I was riding in it when I was 3 years old and now my kids do as well
The first car i ever rode in coming home from where i was born was a mid night blue 2001 ford Explorer sport my grandma got her back in 2004 2 mouths before i was born she bought it for the color she had a 1989 dodge caravan before that now she drives a 2004 ford escape limited i want a first or second gen ford Explorer as my first car i love them so much they are awesome and very advanced for there time i love your videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are such a great trucks, I had a 1994 four door with the 5 speed manual, by far the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Rust finally took it off the road with almost 250,000 miles. Too bad you don't see more in the overlanding community. Thanks for highlighting an underappreciated classic.
The second generation Explorer is my favorite. It had the perfect exterior and interior styling for sportiness and luxury and was a true SUV.
Many of today's SUVs, including current generation Explorer, no longer live to their original roots and are basically raised wagons as they ride on a car-based platform. The Jeep Grand Cherokee impresses me the most in today's SUV lineup due to it being more of a traditional SUV, along with having performance models. I also like the Tahoe.
My mother & Father bought one brand new in I think 92 or 93, and i know even after they got divorced in 04, She was still driving it while we lived with her 2hrs away, but it easily had 300+ Miles on it, Last I knew body was falling off the frame but motor going strong she sold it to a High Schooler who was just getting ready to drive. That SUV was my childhood as well as the GMC/Chevy Jimmy's. Anyway thanks for the awesome video & time of making it. :D
These are one of my favorite vehicles of all time. My father bought a 94 2-door Sport back in 1996. It eventually became my 1st car in high school in 2004. My mom is still driving it today. 223k miles and still running strong. That truck is the reason I'm a Ford fan. It's always been a very tough, reliable vehicle that survived all of my stupid teenage shenanigans and never broke down from them.
Bro, I drove a 94 sport in High School as well. Everyone loved my car, but unfortunately got rid of it during the cash for clunkers period. About to buy a 93 sport tomorrow though. Yeeewww 🤙🏼
Same, lol
I thoroughly enjoyed this!
My first vehicle was a green & gray 1993 Ford Explorer XLT. It had over 200,000 miles on it when I got it and over 300,000 when it finally went to that junkyard in the sky on April 30th, 2006.
It somehow survived my first few years of driving and it took a lot of abuse without missing a beat.
I've owned several vehicles since then but the Explorer is still probably my favorite and I plan on buying a 1993/1994 if I can find one in good shape someday.
Those 2nd gens were really popular when I was in high school as a first car. Out of the 40 cars in the student parking lot I counted 15 or so explorers.
I'm driving a 96 XLT currently absolutely love how dependable the car is and what a workhorse the car truly is
Do you have the 5.0 v8 or v6.
@@luckyluke-ni9ml 4.0 V6, I wouldn't have bought the 5.0. it's pretty notorious for having issues at least in the circle of people I talk with
@@thearchivistofold oh I only know one person with a explorer that is my uncle he has a 1998 explorer sport 2 door with a 5 speed manual transmission.
@@thearchivistofold whoever you talked to has no idea what they are talking about. The 5.0 H.O. in the explorer (identical to the Mustang motor) is a next to bulletproof motor. They usually do not give any problems. The only thing you have to worry about on those 5.0 explorers is the vicious coupling inside the transfer cases are notorious for failure, and the front axles on the 5.0 are also prone to failure due to the full time AWD system. The 4.0 OHV V6 is even more bulletproof than the 5.0 but the 4R55E transmission is a weak point unless meticulously maintained.
@@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN I don't remember ever seeing a high output in these SUVs. I do remember seeing a detuned version that had the GT40 heads and roller cam, but it didn't have the odd ball cam with different firing order, nor injectors, or manifolds on it. Most people don't realize it, but Ford made ALOT of variations of the 302 engines. I do love the v8s in those explorers, almost as powerful as a mustang engine, but it can pass a gas station!
My mom had a dark purple/beige 1993 Eddie Bauer when I was a kid. Great memories of these Explorers! They were ubiquitous growing up in the 90s.
I have a 1993 Ranger as a beater truck and it trips me out every time I drive it because it has the same dash out of the explorer I grew up in!
Love your videos Tofer! Looking forward to more of these auto histories.
That was a great color & trim combo 👍🏼
Loved this video, as it brought back a lot of memories. I saw Jurassic Park in the theater, also as a teenager. I fell in love with the first-gen Explorer as well, and swore I would own one someday. I wanted a teal one (Ford calls it 'Cayman Green Metallic') with mocha leather seats.
Fast-forward to 2013. My father is dating a very nice woman named Linda. And Linda just happened to have bought a teal green Explorer with mocha leather seats brand new on May 29th, 1992! Garage kept, every maintenance record since new. I could hardly believe it! My dad needed a vehicle, and she wasn't driving the Explorer anymore since she had bought a Chevy Impala after her husband had died. It was just sitting in her garage. She sold it to him, he sold it to my brother after he quit driving, and three years ago my brother sold it to me.
Mission accomplished. I still have it to this day. While it certainly drives like a nearly 30-year-old rig, it is easy to see why Ford sold nearly 1.3 million Explorers in only four model years. They are relatively comfortable, capable, versatile, good-looking rigs.
Durable, too. I still see them on the road today.
These Explorers are gorgeous! I love the new ones too! They are all so beautiful and classy - I expect nothing less from Ford!
I currently own a 1999 Explorer with the 5.0 V8 engine. And once had from 02 to 04 a 1992 Explorer that was once owned by CSX railroad. It looked so cool with the fluorescent blue stripes they left on it and white in color.
These things were truly very capable deserving the title of SUV
My grandpa had a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer. He had it for 10 years before replacing it with a 2005 Mountaineer (He only bought that for 7000 dollars with 25000 miles because the dealer was desperate to sell gas guzzlers in 2007)
That first generation however had one flaw. It was incredibly unstable. My dad who is a seasoned driver of cars such as the 1966 Lincoln continental, 1989 s10 blazer and 1988 Cadillac fleetwood brougham said the 1997 mountaineer was the most unstable car he had ever been in. Going highway speeds any slight turn of the wheel and the car felt like it was going to roll over. He was not an amateur driver by any standards and knew the risks. He just thought the design was way too tall and narrow. My grandpa loved it tho.
The next generation dramatically improved this while keeping the suv nature. I still miss that 2005 mountaineer. When my grandpa died we sold it to a mechanics wife. Because of how good my grandpa kept it up.... at 120000 miles there was no rust relatively new suspension and the engine had no issues all without a check engine light.
My grandma bought a 2016 explorer to replace it and her gold trim 2003 cadillac deville. I love the car and how luxurious it is but vastly prefer the 2005 mountaineer.
I was 8 in '91 and remember every TV show or Movies in the 90s someone was driving one. From Step by Step or Murder she wrote, Perry Mason, Jurassic park etc. Really the Explorer was the true family oriented SUV.
I have a 92 explorer with 472000 miles, v6 push rod.
2nd gen Explorers are my favorite.
Me to
As much as I liked the new Bronco unveiling, I'm never parting ways with my Cammed 5.0 Explorer.
Very well done video, worth the wait! My first car was a ‘88 Bronco II and later I had a 96 Explorer. The quote at the end from Bandit Customs sums up how I feel about the Explorer perfectly. Too bad Ford has taken it down the Crossover route and really watered down what was a very capable off roader
As always, OUTSTANDING Tofer. I owned a 1991 Explorer Sport right off the brochure cover. It was bright blue with that thin orange stripe in the black side body cladding. I ordered mine with the towing package, limited-slip ( Traction Lock ), and 3.73 axle ( recommended for towing ), with the optional cloth sport bucket seats. The seats had a pull-out at the bottom for support of your calves on a long drive. I towed a double axle Uhaul trailer loaded several times with no worry.
Beautifully done video. Explorers have been a huge part of my life for many years. I did notice one mistake in the video, the revised rear end came out for the 1998 model year, not 1999. The front bumper however was the same from 1995-1998. Glad you finally made an explorer video, I just wish there were more people trying to keep these on the road.
Me too
Got a 98 myself, really like it! Good in the snow, too. And good for camping. Quite a few of the 2nd gens here in the Midwest.
My hometown neighbor still has his ‘94 4-door XLT. We had a 2-door Explorer XL (non-sport). Loved them. Ours was a manual.
The video was well done! I've always loved the bold, rugged styling of the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Explorer. My personal favorite was the 2nd gen Explorer. In '95, I was 13yrs old and I knew one day I was going to own one. I am lucky enough to own one of the rare ones...a '99 Saleen XP8 with the 5.0 AWD. These suv's hold up so well and are very dependable. The 2020 models are sleek and beautiful with lots of computer electronic amenities. Although the new Explorers are very nice, I'm a simpler man that still enjoys the tried & true SUV style and ergonomics the 90's Explorers have.
Duuude you have a Saleen? Man I am jealous. I have a 2000 xlt.
@@angelgjr1999 Thanks man, it's a fun ride. I use to own a '96 XLT 4x4 before the Saleen and I liked that one just as much. 👍
2nd gen Explorer has the best styling to date! Of course, I don't like the excessively sculptured styling so common to all post 2010 SUVs.
My dad bought a ford explorer 92 sport manual transmission I guess in 2014, we still have it, now I drive this truck, this videos make me feel like I have a treasure, I'm saving money so I can re paint the truck, and make him look like when it was new.
The 2010 ford explorer was the last year that the explorer used body on frame.
Buying a 93 sport tomorrow, and I couldn’t be more excited!
This video is so amazing. it captures everything I love about the explorer and why I wanna get one in a couple of year. The new ones just dont hit you in the funny bone like the old ones do. Everyone rags on me when I say I want a 98 Explorer and lift it.
Brice Graham Forget the naysayers and negative nancy’s...I say go for it, it’s what you want and that’s what counts!
@@carlm8821 Of course dude for sure. And I appreciate it man your about it dude.
Bet the young guys don't! I've had more teen/20s guys compliment my 98 Explorer - they realize it's also a great off-road vehicle, even bone stock.
@@dennyj8650 Lol it's funny you say that, cause I'm 23! And yeah it's people in my age group that bitch about it.
Ahhh the Exploder.. As a mechanic, we loved seeing these things come in for service. 4.0 was good, trans was good, brakes, steering, suspension and electronics were crap. I still remember the whole Firestone tire debacle. They did sell like hot cakes for a time though.
I've read good and bad things about the 4.0 V6 and transmissions.
I’ve had my old style explorer brakes go out on me (same thing happened on my old body style f150 with I beam suspension.) I had the tire fly off from a bad wheel bearing heating up after I put a skyjacker lift kit on it. The stock steering design is poor but gets the job done. The suspension, steering and brakes take some special care to keep it on the road. I still like the ttb over a solid axle for driving off-road. The electrical system can give you some issues. The automatic transmissions could use a larger cooler. I swapped in the 5 speed and that made it fun to drive. The 4.0 ohv is a reliable engine. With routine tune ups/oil/coolant changes they should run forever. I’ve overheated mine a few times but still runs perfectly with 220,000 miles on it. A heavy duty fan clutch will keep it from running as hot.
@@jpippinator Do you have any experience with the SOHC 4.0 engines? From what I've read, the OHC is the way to go for reliability.
@@elonsus9747 the pushrod Cologne V6, although a bit underpowered was more reliable than the SOHC V6 offered from 1997. The problem with the later was mostly the timing chain tensioner. Also the whole timing chain replacement is more labor intensive because the SOHC V6 actually has 3 timing chains.
luisinhoens90 I see. My parents have an 05 Explorer with the 4.0.
Very cool video. The first car I ever picked out and bought on my own was a 1998 Explorer XLT 4.0L 4x4. I eventually traded it in on a 1999 Eddie Bauer 5.0L AWD, I still regret getting rid of the Eddie Bauer...
The explorer 5.0 had GT40 P heads. Back in the day they were a decent upgrade to the mustang’s heads and it was a common swap.
Since Jurassic Park i always wanted one, but at the time i was 13yo :D
Later on i had a 1994 Electrc Current Red Explorer Eddie Bauer.. She was mint! Loved her!
Got on youtube to see some random videos, first poppin up is this.
I have been waiting for it, and I was not disappointed. Again.
Back in 97 my mom bought a 97 explorer limited with the awd 5.0l and we still have it and it only has 68k original miles never had a problem its pretty much a show car now its sitting in my show room floor at my dads dealer ship
My Dad had the Eddie Bauer version of one of these as a company car in the early 90s. I remember he made me get put and do the locking lugs when he wanted to put it in 4x4 when it was snowing out.
I love these, I’ve had several Explorers from 1992-2000... 3 of which were lifted. Great video!
Nice video. I have a 93 xlt model 161,000 and still going strong.
I own a 2005 Explore ST Adrenalin , I have a strong passion for it. As well as all Explorers
I was just a kid when this first generation Explorer hit the market. I still think that it is still a handsome SUV and by far the best-looking Explorer to date. Too bad it head a suspension like a shopping cart but all of these SUVs did at the time.
I thought it was a comfortable truck as a kid... but I was also only 60 some odd pounds and 90s car seats were very plush so that could have been why
I had a 1995 Explorer XLT that I bought used in 2014. It was a wonderful vehicle.
The Ranger was a nice truck, and it seemed just the right size for a utility vehicle. It had more room than the Toyota trucks - especially the extended versions. The mini Blazers & Jimmy's had been around for a long time, but Ford didn't really have anything comparable at the time. I always like the 90's redesign. The Bronco II seemed too small. I always thought that it would have been nice to have... an Explorer, since Chevy had their mini Blazer.
The Explorer was a great vehicle. It handled well. It had good power for its time, and the 4WD really made a difference. It was very comfortable. It was less spartan & felt better on the pavement, than the Cherokees from Jeep. It was a bit hard getting used to the bifocal look, in '95. It kinda grew on me. I REALLY liked the '03 Mountaineer. It was a very refined vehicle.
Wow!!! What a vid pal!!! 👍🏻 Thumbs up
My first car was a 2000 Explorer with the pushrod v6. I miss that thing so much. I used to get that thing so sideways I could’ve given Bandit a good run for his money.
My fist car was my dad's 1996 2 door XL, I drove it for ten years and it ran like a champ the whole time, the only reason I got rid of it was because it was starting to get close to needing some serious engine work because of age not mileage (it only had 165.000 KM on the clock) and I decided to get something newer.
The dealership I went too was so impressed with its condition that they gave me almost $1500 for it and they ended up keeping it as a shop truck.
We have a 1996 explorer limited 5.0 my parents bought back in July of 2000 with 18k miles I rode home from the hospital in it when I was born in ‘01, now in almost 2020 I own it and it has 168k on it and we still take it to the beach every year and has never left us walking I love this truck and my whole family and friends see it as a family member because it’s been with us for so long. I love it and I can’t wait to start taking it to carshows in the near future. It’s a shame and yet cool that the limited explorer from 95-01 with the 5.0 is very rare but the sad part is that most of them were destroyed because of the “cash for clunkers” program... I see a Lamborghini more frequently than a older explorer limited 😁
Keep that Explorer and never let it go. It'll only get more interesting to folks at car shows and even more rare as time goes on.
Tofer oh I’m definitely not getting rid of it, if I did it would feel like losing a family member for sure. I love this truck a lot. I am planning on getting a new transfer case though for it just to be safe and a re paint it one of these days aswell... we maintain it religiously always changing the fluids on time aswell as when a engine light comes on we get it fixed right away. The only major repair we did to it In all the 19 years of owning it was just the upper control arms and that’s it. Amazing truck I’m NEVER upgrading to a new explorer. My parents even took it to New York in 2001 so it “saw” the twin towers for a whole week. Tons of good memories with her and still counting
I have Ford Explorer U2 (year 2000). I like this car. Greetings from Czech Republic.
I had a ‘91 Explorer with manual locking hubs when I was in high school in the mid 90’s. My dad kept it and now we use it as a deer hunting rig.
Terrific video!
I have a 1992 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer, which is a Jurassic Park conversion and one of the ones featured on your video. With only 68k miles, it is in fantastic shape.
Like you, this was one of my favourite childhood cars (along with the GM APV vans) and I tried several times to convince my parents to purchase one. Unfortunately, my Mum hated the rough ride.
These were such common sights and the rugged, handsome looks worked well. They had a perfect balance of the tough SUV image and comfort of a car. Of course, after Jurassic Park, I loved these even more.
The fact there’s still so many on the road, even after Cash for Clunkers, is testament to how built these are.
You know it was a hit when it's been featured in many 90s movies! Almost every family movie featured one somewhere. Jurassic Park goes without mentioning but another one in particular was in Liar Liar (1997), Jerry's character played by Carry Elwes owned a second gen. Another less famous movie was Forrest Warrior with Chuck Norris. The bad guys were driving a first gen right when the kids set up the Home Alone style traps on them. Just to name a few.
I bought 2 first gen Explorers for less than $600 a year ago. My brown one I'm going to turn into a Jurassic Park tribute vehicle and my white one I'm going to personalize. I was a little kid when I first saw Jurassic Park, and when I first saw the Ford Explorers on screen, I instantly wanted one. And after doing my research, I found out that they were solidly built and had a bulletproof engine in them. I find it sad that they are mostly forgotten about these days, and a lot of them were turned in for the Cash Ford Clunkers program. I know that they had stability issues, but I DON'T CARE!!!! I love my Ford Explorers and I'm going to hang onto them for as long as I live.
My first car was a black 97 eddie bauer 5.0 awd. I rolled that one and got a black 97 limited 5.0 awd. This was in the year 2000. The limited was stolen twice and recovered. The first time it was gone for 6 months before it was found. Then in 2012 it was stolen for the third and final time, i havent seen it since. I loved that truck, had 130k on it and never a single issue exept a coil pack went bad. Even with the abuse from driving by people who stole it.
These were a marketing success, and I think we are starting to appreciate that again since it’s been long enough to remember how terrible these actually were once you actually had to live with one. Cash for clunkers really ate a huge chunk of these out of the used market.
Tofer, awesome sir! Thank you for another amazing blast from my past! Definitely worth the wait!!!
Thanks Jeffrey! Really nice to see other people geek out over the Explorer as much as I do! Glad you enjoyed.
I remember riding in the family explorer to go see Jurassic park.
I also wish Ford would have just refined the Taurus over the years instead of the drastic oval change in 96
Your channel its a jewel Pal, amazing history, content and images. Im really happy to find it😀👍🇬🇹
Coming up on 2020 and I'm still driving my 1992 Ford Explorer. I've owned a few of these trucks in the first generation and gotten over 500,000 km out of more than one.
The Explorer was the # 1 Cash For Clunkers of 2009
I have a 1999 for Explorer sport with the 4.0l v6 and it is only 2doors and has a posy-traction rear end great truck
I have a 2000 XLT. It has 4 doors.
The first and second generations of the Explorer are the best and Ford put some of their heaviest-duty components in use to keep these trucks going when many lesser competitors would fail. And they were comfortable to drive, too! After 2001 it became a bloated road cruiser and only suited for the occasional snowy road than an off-road trail.
I've always toyed with the idea of getting a well maintained 1st or 2nd gen Explorer with the 5 spd manual. The XJ Cherokee also comes to my mind. Hopefully one day, as both are getting increasingly difficult to find in good shape
Thanks for creating this video, I had a 1994 Eddie Bauer explorer sport 2door automatic, it was a pleasure to drive as I had moved overseas from the U.K. where American cars are not often seen so was a total new world for me. Hopefully can import one over here in the future
Second Gen was my childhood hero.
Specifically the 1999
I love my 93 sport, my first vehicle, its a 5spd but 2wd
the 90‘s were a decade of constantly purple sunsets
Wow that was high quality video. Made me want to find a Explorer asap. The new explorer has nothing on the classics. Amazing job. Thank you
rbeez2004 I think it does have something on the classics and it’s called “400 hp”
Im not talking about just horse power im talking about the entire package. The new explorer is nice but not original in any way. At least not in my opinion. Not like the full frame explorer of the past.
In 1990 my dad traded our Taraus in on a Eddie Bauer bronco 2. My dad said he wished it was a 4 door. Not long after I seen spy photo in one of my car mags of the Explorer. My dad was pissed. I also loved seeing the explorer in Jurassic park. My friends dad owned a movie theatre and I got to watch it the first day. I also loved seeing the the explorer in Step by Step
These oldschool Explorers looks a million times better than the overpriced plastic modern Explorers.
The old Explorers have plastic components too
Citation needed. These *are* the "plastic modern" Explorers. The 1990s is synonymous with overpriced plastic.
@@Browningate True.
CJ Colvin right? These new ones are so much safer, easier and cheaper to repair from minor collisions, exponentially more fuel efficient and more powerful and adjusted for inflation similarity priced in most configurations. ;)
@@noneofyourbuisness7 Yeah but they'll never outlast nor look as good as the original Explorers.
My biggest issues with the early Explorers have to be the twin I-beam front axle, the unfortunately common rocker panel rust issues, and Fords less than highly reliable automatic transmissions. Beyond that they were actually a rather capable rig. If I weren't so in love with my XJ Cherokees an Explorer might have been higher on my list.
The twin traction beam wasn’t that bad. Handles jumps better than a solid axle but is stronger and simpler than normal ifs. Although I’ll agree a Cherokee is much more capable
being from windsor i had a 95 limited that made me hooked on suvs although it didnt have the 5.0 it still was filled with luxury and i have not left the suv game even if i do have cars on the side for summer we built some of the best cars and motors in my city such a sad future after the resession i worked for both gm and ford
These Explorers did exceptionally well, even through the whole Michelin debacle. At a time when such negative publicity would have ended, or at least put the targeted vehicles production on hold, Ford kept the Explorer in full-swing production! I always favored the Mountaineer version, as it was the classier looking with fancier grill, trim and alloys! Always nice to see well kept examples alive and well on the roads too.
Oh how I miss my 92. I wish I still had it
Along with regular car reviews you are my favorite RUclips automotive channel
So glad you enjoy, and happy you found this video. Its had virtually no views for weeks! 🙃
Tofer well you deserve a lot of credit and views man your videos are well made and the info is sound
Happy Friday evening fellow Toferlings! 👍
I'm driving the Explorer's predecessor, the 1988 Ford Bronco 2 Eddie Bauer edition with 4 wheel drive and the dreaded A4LD automatic transmission which was rebuilt by AAMCO 2 years ago. Just had the engine replaced late last year so its ready to go another 30 years...transmission and engine issues were a direct result of the previous owner's abuse and neglect, otherwise I think it would have been fine.
'94 2dr 5.0l ranger and explorer svo prototypes looked awesome!! 5speed too!! Couldn't get it approved. Really would have been nice package.
Always found it bizarre that they introduced the 5.0l windsor v8 into the updated explorer as it was I the process of being phased out, when the new 4.6l modular OHC v8 had been out for 5 years prior. Then they went to the effort of redesigning the whole front suspension while leaving the rear end on leaf springs
I have always thought the same thing. The 5.0 H.O. is a great engine but it didnt make sense to phase it out across the Ford lineup and then after it's gone, bring it back and put it in the Explorer. However, I'm not complaining. I love both the 5.0 H.O. and the 4.6 2 valve.
My theory was, the Explorer being so popular would've benefited from more power so Ford looked at their inventories and realized they could still get a profit out of the 5.0. After all the tooling and facilities were there. The 4.6 was used everywhere else and perhaps the plants were out of capacity with full swing F-150, Mustang, Expedition demand.
@@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN the 5.0 line was never shut down before being picked up by the Explorer/Mountaineer in 97. The F-150 and Bronco were still using it in 96, so from a Manufacturing perspective it was a presumably inexpensive upgrade to the Explorer.
@@luisinhoens90 great point, never looked at it that way before. The bronco and f150 used the regular 5.0 but the 94-95 mustang gt and explorers used the 5.0 H.O. so im assuming they never stopped production of the H.O....mustve immediately put them in explorers after the 4.6 came out for the mustang. They shouldve kept the 5.0 in the stangs thru 98.
First generation explorer is my favorite!
YES! I've been waiting for this!
I absolutely loved my 98 Prairie Tan Metallic Explorer. It was horrendously ugly but the looks of the second gen grew on me so much that I now look in awe at every one I see out in the wild. It had a tan interior with cloth seats and with it being an XLT it was plenty nice enough for a 16 year old who just got their license to enjoy. The 5.0 with AWD was enough to get wild and stay safe. That hunk of steel was a tank, it even won in a tangle with a Cadillac and Taurus. I’m now somewhat teary eyed writing this vowing that I’ll have another one soon, and yes it will be just as ugly as my first.
Still driving my 91 navajo
This is a great video! I’d love to have one of these sometime in the future, and even better make it like the Jurassic Park ones. I like SUV, I have the first gen Dodge Durango which is a great car in its own right, but the Explorer is where it all started.
23-02-2020 i' m a happy owner of 91 first generation Ford Explorer xlt. Still running...
Good video..our '17 Explorer is a great road trip vehicle
the first and second gen ford explorers where known for flipping over, it was so bad firestone had to recall ALL of the tires on them.
Thank you so much for this video. These Trucks mean so much to me i love it 🤘🏻
Glad you enjoyed it. This video was definitely a labor of love!
My dad picked up a 92 Eddie Bauer in 01, it's seen almost 100k of service without missing a beat.
We don't know if it's closing in on 300k or 400k..
Awesome video as usual !!!! Can't wait for the next one.
Ford Explorer: the new crown Vic 🚔
The best! I have three lol 98 Xlt V8, 99 Eddie Bauer V8, and a 4.0 1994 sport
I do want to trade one for a bronco tho!
Great editing in this video. As a suggestion for another car, maybe try going over the Eagle Talon/Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymouth Laser? Considering there's three different cars that share most features, that could be an interesting topic.
Your videos are very well done, informative and entertaining ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another great look at another iconic vehicle. Thank you.
Formula for success:Make it look good +Make it function+introduce at the right time+market aggressively = success
It seems so simple, but it clearly isn’t. To Ford’s credit, they have done it again and again.
I find it hilarious the Ford’s marketing included not only Jurassic Park but also The Golden Girls.
Still a great looking car almost 30 years later
And #newyorkundercover.
So happy!!!
I own own a 1994 Explorer XLT. Dark Jade metallic with gray leather interior. Has all the toys, the CD player is aftermarket. When you say Explorer. You mention names like Magellan, Sir Francis Drake, Jean Baptiste LaSalle, DeSoto, Verrazano, Vespucci, George Vancouver, Cartier, Champlain, John Cabot, Leif Ericson, Bolivar, Christopher Columbus, Lewis & Clark, Zebulon Pike, Jim Beckwourth, Captain James Cooke.
It was a breakthrough in SUV industry
The original Ford Explorer was in the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus driven by a teenager.