WheelHorse
Bronco Guru
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2004
- Messages
- 2,492
I do wish they upgraded the Xterra instead of just axing it. I had an 05 and just sold it to my mom, (she loves it) and was looking at another to be a winter vehicle for me.
As for the belt line, I wonder if it is because they think people will be safer with smaller windows and taller door panels in side impacts even though the smaller window makes it harder to escape from if the vehicle is sinking or if they think that the smaller slanted windows make the vehicle look more sporty?
My wife had an '06 X...No problems up to 94K miles when we traded it in at 10 years of age. We strongly considered the 4-runner, given it's a frame on body construction, but even with 270HP it wasn't near the sport that the X was. The 4.0VQ had a decent low-end torque to it. All these new SUV's with smaller, car-like, high-revving engines do nothing for me. The non-turbo'd Explorer doesn't really start to pull until 4000 rpms.
I have two Hondas in my driveway now. Honda figured out two things, lower the belt line and leave a stick option for the Accord available on dealer lots. DI gave the 4cyl a much needed boost in mid-range torque. I would have had to special order a Fusion and no dealer wanted to dare order a manual Fusion for test drives...I walked away from Ford.
Going back to the Bronco topic of 2dr vs 4dr:
Besides, I believe Jeff from the Bronco Graveyard was in an article recently that said 70% of new Wrangler sales are 4dr...Ya I don't see Ford going against real world numbers there.