The Original Ford Explorer Changed the World Forever

CHECK OUT THIS EXPLORER LIVE ON CARS & BIDS!
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Original Ford Explorer review! The original Ford Explorer was a special car, and a truly important car -- and today I'm going to review it. I'm going to take you on a thorough tour of the original Explorer, and I'm going to review the driving experience of the original Ford Explorer -- and I'll show you what the original Explorer was like, and how it changed the world.
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DOUGSCORE CHART:
www.dougdemuro.com/dougscore

[@DougDeMuro]

I’ve wanted to review an original Explorer for years. Enjoy this video, my 29-minute ode to the original Ford Explorer - the most important car of my lifetime.

[@daroachdoggjr188]

Well done Doug

[@angus_m]

Would be really cool to see a Nissan Patrol Y61 vid. Such an icon in the car world, as is the explorer!

[@trail_blazer5962]

Good on you Doug! We all look forward to your next uploads!

[@damilolaakanni]

These days ford is trying hard to make the Explorer everything. Performance car? Check. Police car? Check. "Off road" SUV? Check. They seem to have lost any idea of what they really want it to be.

[@YoungManDub]

Bet you're pretty pissed you couldn't get one in soccer mom red

[@dtay8913]

Not gonna lie, I actually like hearing the history of these vehicles before the quirks and features. Hopefully you'll implement this more in the future.

[@Schnids1655]

I second that

[@andrewcureton8216]

I was worried he'd just hit it for 30s and get right into the quirks and features. Very happy to get the 8 minute history lesson!

[@MrAltairantares]

Absolutely loved the quick deep dive!

[@JayCAlan]

Absolutely! I was there, this vehicle changed the landscape of automobiles. I can't believe he didn't mention that the Jurassic Park tie-in had a part in this as well. Biggest movie of the decade, and all the best scenes featured the Explorer. Fun fact: in the book they were Land Rovers.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I want him to do this for every car.

[@DetroitBORG]

Maximum 90’s nostalgia is a two tone Forest Green & Beige Eddie Bauer Explorer. 👌🏻

[@TheTrainIsCominggggg]

Hi Michael! Nice seeing you here!

[@VikramPremanand]

Please upload videos. :'(

[@JesterHawkx]

Gosh, man. Just made me go into memory shock.

[@josepujol8737]

my dad have one , in Chile!!!!, very nice machine

[@jaer.6540]

The Eddie Bauer edition to boot

[@jaroncontreras2783]

These are my favorite Doug reviews. Yes the McLaren and Ferrari exotics are interesting, but these reviews offer a more down to earth look at the vehicles we actually grew up with. The average Joe vehicles were actually pretty innovative and intriguing when you take a deeper dive.

[@peeposadboy]

You like reviews of him spewing his BS, and claing a shower thought he had about a early 90s Ford explorer as historical facts? Lol. That's all he does even in other videos. Non of his reviews are actual reviews. You can't point out quirks a car has and call it a review. That's an embarrassment to automotive journalism

[@BigWheel.]

@@peeposadboy the subject of cars is a highly opinionated one. Personally I think the explorer was a generic POS just like the blazer and jeep XJ. But obviously Doug and others see differently. To me these apathetic mall crawling SUVs are just an awkward bridge we had to cross before we figured out a crossover was a better vehicle to fulfill the role these were attempting to. You don't need real 4x4, a frame or the aerodynamics of a brick to grab groceries and your crotchfruit from school. And at the same time these aren't big old truck wagons like a Tahoe or expedition which actually can survive in rough terrain and harsh conditions. And it's not small like a wrangler so the offroad capability isn't really its strong suit. This and the XJ and blazer were all just domestic basic mom mobiles to appeal to that aunt you have who wants to seem like a rough and tumble farmer gal when she's running to Costco for bottled water.

[@EastWood2004]

Very well said.

[@achangedman20]

@@peeposadboy you are an embarassment

[@peeposadboy]

@lgtvhd4k says the Doug fanboy. LOL.

[@taylorwagner9954]

I remember this being one of the most iconic vehicles from Jurassic Park. Awesome review Doug.

[@B3burner]

So do I. Sorry I didn’t see your comment before repeating it in mine.

[@DalekPratt1963]

This was when I knew. I wanted my project car to be something from Jurassic park. Allbeit it changed into the Jeep Wrangler. Which I think is a better option.

[@anthonyring123]

I like when Doug does rather normal vehicles, especially pre 2000s

[@42luke93]

@@commanderkeen6839 Cool emoji

[@JayBee3237]

Me too, but only if Doug likes the car. Otherwise you get a different result.

[@ILOVEFARTING69]

Ik

[@evanhce135]

I really liked the history part. Please do more of those for older cars!

[@ethanlenning]

I wish he would do this for cars before 1980 because those are the ones people (including me, who was born in 2004) know the least history about. Ik he thinks people aren’t interested in those cars and I think thats just because they dont know anything about them yet. I think they could do very well in a more in-context overview/history lesson, rather than a normal review. He just needs a different angle to review those from, essentially. Please Doug give us more vintage cars 🙏

[@RJthetechreviewer]

I definitely agree with this.

[@moto6ixmoto83]

I agree, it’s always fun when he gets extra quirky and giddy when talking about vehicle history.

[@TwinsAndAPitBull]

This! And he nailed it too. The S10 Blazer was great IMO, but the explorer was a fresher platform and a little roomier. It makes sense why Ford was ahead of GM on the Expedition vs. Tahoe release almost a decade later.

[@RUfromthe40s]

this is a 90´s car not old

[@paulwilliams667]

My parents bought one of these when I was born for exactly the reasons Doug stated. It was a 4x4 5 speed manual model and my mom still says it was her favorite car to drive.They were into river rafting for our summer vacations and I spent a lot of time crammed in that back seat next to coolers. Of course by the time I was 7-8 my (icu nurse) parents realized my neck would snap in an accident and sold it. One interesting thing Doug didn’t mention is the higher trim model. 20 years after my parents bought theirs new, I purchased a ‘93 XL with leather power seats… what might surprise you is those power seats also had adjustable bolsters. A little switch on the side controlled air pumps that would inflate or deflate the side bolsters. That little thing was the nicest, best little sh*tbox I’ve ever owned and now I want to look for one of these again!

[@Creen64]

I bought a '94 Eddie Bauer last year and you bet the inflatable lumbar support doesn't work a darn bit... I've been fixing the thing up but man I have my work cut out for me

[@mindeloman]

My mom got one that was 4×4 and in low range, one could pull out a tree stump. I remember the early 90's well and there were so many Explorers, going down the highway one would pass you about 1 every minute.

[@paulwilliams667]

@@Creen64 Hows the Explorer restoration coming?

[@nepetaburger4148]

i've got the '94 eddie bauer edition almost as well kept as the one in the video, this ones 4x4 and absolutely everything works!! i'm actually going to live out of it soon enough

[@Johnny_Kanuk]

I remember when they hit the market, everyone wanted the them. They were where literally everywhere. Never owned one but road in lots of them. I agree they are what kicked off this craze we have now. Pretty cool to see a survivor in that good of shape.

[@spocheld]

I love how you can tell when Doug is genuinely excited to review a car.

[@Crazyreviewer123]

Don’t fall for this scam this is a FAKE account I repeat don’t respond to Telegram Me

[@johnair1]

The "pronunciation" is *strong* on this video!!^^

[@gregoryf9299]

Like on EVERY video? Haha, he seems to treat every car with the same reverence, whether an exotic or family cruiser. It’s fantastic!

[@Charlie-Charlot]

You can tell that Doug is a lot more invested in this video, It’s one of his best lately in my opinion. I liked the history of the explorer in introduction, I liked when Doug was casually sitting in front of it and then told a story of what this car was like “back in the days”, this video feels more personal, more like simply hanging out with Doug, similar to Jay Leno when he reviews one of his cars Edit : Doug if you read this, please go back to the old Doug Score format where you went through each category, it really was an important moment of your videos, (what Doug think of this car’s styling etc)

[@bretts1646]

Totally agree on the old Doug Score format.

[@sparkgrid]

Yes please do that old score format!

[@francobreaux6878]

He should start a podcast

[@19ruben81]

Not gonna happen man. More and more cars he reviews are coming from his auction website, and would be unwise to take such a risk as talking in details about product's value and/or resale price when such car is meanwhile being auctioned. He has to play vague not to spoil Cars'n'Bids work.

[@Charlie-Charlot]

@@19ruben81 that’s a good point, Cars & Bids has become his main activity now so it does makes sense I guess

[@peterbrown4042]

I had a good friend in college (92-96) who drove one of these. His was an Eddie Bauer 4x4 with a 5 SPEED MANUAL. I'm sure it's long gone, but if by some miracle it survived I bet that set up would be super rare. Great for road trips for a bunch of college kids!

[@PermissiveMoggy]

Not rare at all. I got comments like this all the time when I had a 5 speed. The automatics were piles of crap and the transmissions ended a lot of them. The manuals, however, manage to live forever. I've owned 2 manual first gen (91-95) Explorers. The manual transmission isn't rare, but factory manual transfer cases and manual locking hubs are REALLY hard to find. I had a 93 with a bunch of problems that I just couldn't hold onto anymore, and I had already bought a 98 with a V8, so I sold it pretty cheap. It was a manual, with a manual transfer case and manual locking hubs, from the factory. I had messages from over a dozen people in under an hour. I've never seen anything like that. The cash for clunkers program really wiped out a lot of these things. I can't help but wonder who lobbied for that absolute monstrosity of a program. Cash for clunkers was bad for the environment and put a shitload of cash in the pockets of car dealerships, manufacturers, and banks. I'm still very pissed off about it.

[@AddieDirectsTV]

The 85 mph speedo was actually *federally mandated* from here late 70’s to the early the 80’s. Which meant when they were designing it, an 85 mph Speedo wouldn’t have been uncommon. In fact, they had to mod the one in the BTTF Delorean to read past 85 so Marty could hit 88.

[@musicauthority7828]

The speedometers read 85 MPH but could easily be pegged.

[@snapfade]

I love reviews of the older cars. Keep'em coming Doug!

[@jeremiahallyn4603]

Me too. I honestly enjoy the older car reviews more. New cars are basically all the same. Screens, screens, screens and oh yeah, screens lol

[@magnetoone2995]

😒

[@gg_v2]

@@magnetoone2995 goodbye.

[@tamarab8972]

Agreed I personally do not watch many pass 2000s

[@tamarab8972]

@@jeremiahallyn4603 so true

[@MuscatelTom]

The 1st gen explorer is my favorite gen. It was INSANELY simple..The dummy vent area was also for the 4WD buttons.

[@ATRichard]

I love the history lessons, being a car guy. I was born in ‘93 and clearly remember 1st & 2nd gen. Explorers being everywhere in the 90s and 2000s. Seeing a blue or burgundy interior takes me back too lol. My aunt had one of the older Cherokees (like a ‘97 or ‘98 I think) and it was definitely very cramped in the back. It’s amazing to see how far these vehicles and the industry has come in the last 30-40 years. Curious Cars also gives a good history lesson on older vehicles, just finished up watching his Escalade video, and his rants on ducks and random animals makes the commentary even better haha. Nice job taking us back Doug!

[@mattdieter5603]

97/98 was towards the end of the XJ Cherokee (No, the Grand Cherokee was separate, and the new KL is a joke). They started in 84 and ran through 2001. My mom had a 95 which eventually became mine. I'd say that the XJ was definitely the game changer for SUVs, and the Explorer was chasing that trend. The XJ was also 4 door, pitched to suburbanites, and widely adopted in suburbs- it just had the issue of being made and sold by Chrysler, so it had a bad reputation.

[@toddberner9198]

EXPLORER was a trim level of the F100 pickup once upon a time prior to this vehicle.

[@landonbenford8369]

​@@toddberner9198Also a conversion package for the Chevy Express.

[@alexdesmet3993]

Well done! My Dad had one of these in 94. The "dummy" vent area is where the 4WD buttons lived on those vehicles so equipped.

[@jjromeoeod2765]

Fact!

[@marcudemus]

Yep! 4x4 High and Low buttons and their tiny indicator lights were there.

[@Daltonforeal]

Thats weird? I daily drive a 1993 explorer 4x4 and i have the same exact dummy vent. So this might be wrong. No buttons for 4L 4H just a second shifter for it and my lights are by the abs light and turn signals

[@andrews8543]

You must have the locking hubs on your Explorer.

[@Daltonforeal]

@@andrews8543 you right my bad

[@embiggens1]

Please keep doing these reviews. Old, quirky, rare, whatever. They're often so much more interesting than "oh yay a new Ferrari I'll never see in person." I appreciate how you're slotting these into the lineup.

[@jeremiahallyn4603]

Exactly. And all new cars look the same, and all seem to only care about how many screens they can put in them.

[@rikkertkoelewijn3452]

Exactly this!

[@Poopsticle_256]

@@jeremiahallyn4603 “All cars look the same” Literally commenting on a vehicle that looks like a mailbox. Cars have always looked the same, you just don’t remember any of them

[@stanliux]

@@Poopsticle_256 exactly

[@Poopsticle_256]

@@MO_Disk Your words apply to cars from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Look at the plastic fantastic shit that came out of that era. Compare the interior of a 2020 Camry to an ‘90 Camry and try to tell me that the ‘90 is somehow objectively better. And while you’re at it go ahead and compare the styling of a 1990 Camry, Corolla, Accord, Chevy Lumina, Chevy Corsica, Eagle Premier, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Stanza, and the rest of the mass market sedans of the same era and tell me that they’re all radical, groundbreaking designs that share no similarities. And don’t even try to go on about how cars from the 80’s and 90’s were reliable because really only a handful were.

[@TheMrNORCAL]

My parents bought a 1993 Ford Explorer new as a family vehicle to prepare for my birth. Now 28 years later the Explorer has been a constant in my life. With proper car and attention, like all old trucks, these are a blast to drive and own! I am amazed and thankful to see the 1st gen. Explorer finally get the well deserved attention.

[@creepingnet]

It's almost surreal seeing this on DeMuro's videos. I'm still daily driving one of the 2-door Sports with a 5-speed - same one my mom bought new in 1993' to pull horse trailers (and my first car in 02'). Never replaced it because it's so insanely reliable. Original engine and transmission at over 400K and it's still reliable as my wife's current-ish era Toyota. Guess this means I'm now daily driving a classic car, lol.

[@petermoore7796]

is your explorer a manual?

[@creepingnet]

@@petermoore7796 yes

[@shinobi-zensei]

…and it received the best marketing ever being debuted in Jurassic Park. The biggest movie of the time.

[@TinsTins]

Hi Doug. I absolutely loved the history section. Please do more of those!

[@drippgxd]

I actually enjoyed that part! When Doug reviews older cars and in some cases newer cars he should do more of that

[@_BAD_MERC_]

I CANNOT AGREE MORE!

[@vwestlife]

One quirk of the second-gen Explorer is that the rear seat reclines -- which works fine in the 4-door model, but in the 2-door model, due to the shorter wheelbase, there is no room for the seat to recline into. So the reclining mechanism is still there, but it's useless.

[@donaldwilson2620]

Here's a little trivia about the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Explorer: the 2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer were the last Ford vehicles to be officially equipped with the optional 302 Windsor V8(aka 5.0), though it was available only on the 4 door models. The 4.6 Modular V8 replaced the 5.0 Windsor for the 2002 redesigned 3rd generation model. The 1996-2001 Explorer and Mountaineer with the optional 5.0 V8 could be a potential sleeper vehicle because there are so many high performance parts for that engine.

[@sutherlandA1]

The Australian Ford Falcon stockpiled the last batches of Windsor V8s and used them in their AU model through to late 2002

[@donaldwilson2620]

@@sutherlandA1 Wow, I did not know that. I guess what I meant was that the 2001 Explorer was the last Ford to offer a 302 Windsor V8 in the U.S. market.

[@mikehunt2190]

I believe the 1996-2000 5.0 in the Explorer and Mountaineer came with the GT-40 heads. The Mustang Cobras from 1993-1995 used the same heads. They were always sought after because they flowed very well.

[@mrq1]

The Explorer 5.0 was the first ever to receive a Distributorless Ignition System. This makes it very tunable. The late model 97's and early 98's received the coveted gt40p heads as well. In 1997 it was also the first American production vehicle to have a 5 speed auto transmission (5R55E mated with the V6 4.0 SOHC).

[@moonmenbex4797]

@@mikehunt2190 it is true. Had a 2000 merc and a 98 explorer. Merc put down more torque and better low end

[@mikenewbry]

Fun fact: All speedometers from that era we're limited to 85 mph due to federal regulations introduced in 1979 in response to the gas shortage. Even sports cars that could go well over 100 could only display up to 85.

[@Yeen125]

It’s also why the 55 was emphasized in red; since that was the national speed limit til the mid 90s (as made famous/infamous by Sammy Hagar’s hit “I can’t drive 55”).

[@richardg.7000]

I always thought it crazy that you had the Buick Grand National with a 85mph speedometer, and then the Buick GNX, which was a hotter version of the same car, with a much higher speedometer. That Buick could go way over 85 just like the price of them today.

[@andrewdonohue1853]

my step father's 1984 Z28 305 HO had that quirky dual speedometer readout. it read KMH on one side and MPH on the other side. top speed readout 85 MPH. the car wasnt a supercar but it was no slouch, it was probably a 130+ MPH car

[@leejackson5387]

That had ended by the 90s though. The Explorer came out in 91 and by then Ford were already putting 140mph clocks in the fox bodies and others.

[@GrandCamino6]

@@richardg.7000 What’s funny funny about those cars is even if you got the digital dash it would flash at 85 mph. You could get it to beyond 85 with an aftermarket chip.

[@groggysword33]

We called ours the “exploder” growing up. But we loved the different trims we owned over the years.

[@markw2917]

Same for ours, after the firestone debacle it seemed fitting.

[@californiacating4690]

Is it because they are literally explosive?

[@FORREALnwa]

Go Jets Go!!!

[@morimo11]

@californiacating no it was a tire problem with Firestone. Ford and Firestone blamed each other.

[@joemama38]

@@morimo11 The late 90s Explorers earned the moniker "Exploder" also because they had fire problems.

[@chez6459]

Doug, that "empty space" is for the touch button 4x4 system if the vehicle was equipped with a transfer case for the front drive shaft/axles. Plus the hubs were automatic locking hubs AND they could be locked on the fly so you didn't have to get out to manually lock the front hubs.

[@mickstevens7650]

I am completely biased but this is my favorite Doug video! I have a 1994 Explorer XLT in my garage with nearly 200k miles. It starts every time I turn the key and it drives nice and smooth. It doesn't have the "fake air vent" because that is where the push button 4X4 panel is. Mine is dark blue and has the same blue interior.

[@canyon3703]

doug keep reviewing like this!! the vehicle's historical importance is part of the quirks imo and you illustrate the history deliberatively and intentionally, keep it up!

[@poweraccountabilityleague6877]

I used to own a Mercury Mountaineer ... it was my first SUV ... good memories

[@DescartesRenegade]

I always appreciate a clean and well-maintained car like this, no matter their significance. Something about a well-kept few decades old car that's garage worthy.

[@AugyE]

The Ford Explorer takes me back to my childhood. My uncle had one. He passed away a couple years back but every time I see one of these old explorers on the road I think of him.

[@elkillerx]

I remember my father buying a 92 Explorer back in 1997.. Pretty good truck. He ended up giving it to a friend in 2009 who lived in mexico. To this day the truck still runs great!

[@Real_JustNonsense]

I like Doug's format. He discusses all the little things that make the car unique, how it drives. I also like that he mentioned his love of log cabins in this video and how he spoke about manly men getting wood. This car brings back memories.

[@christianb1707]

“Manly men getting wood”

[@mitchelcooper8941]

I've never felt so old watching a Doug video. I can still distinctly remember getting off the school bus to see my parents had bought a 92 XL model 2 door manual Explorer. I learned to drive manual on that car. It was also a silver color that made it look like it didn't have paint, until that paint started peeling.

[@roddydykes7053]

Yeah 1990s silvers were terrible lol This must’ve been an interesting car to drive back then

[@Karmy.]

There's a couple two doors in my neighborhood still! A white one, a pretty nice condition green one, and a red one

[@brantisonfire]

@@Karmy. back in the early to mid-2000s, there was a Mazda Navajo that was always sitting out at the curb next to one of the apartment buildings where my friend had a place. I’d love to have a first-gen Explorer Sport with 4WD and a stick shift.

[@rawr51919]

@@brantisonfire That'd be like finding hen's teeth these days

[@JL-sm6cg]

That's a model of Explorer I would love to see. A basically bare-bones version.

[@mobiusone3923]

I have my grandfathers 1993 XLT. Just did new heads, all gaskets from heads up, and complete new AC system. Runs great!

[@1963TeeBird]

Growing up, my friend and I were huge Jurassic Park fans. We had all the crap the franchise had to offer. Then his family got the Explorer and it was awesome. Being a kid and traveling in the SUV from the movie was insane! Later on, my family bought a 1997 2-door Explorer. It was the first car I've ever driven and learned on. Thank you for this trip down memory lane. Also, I never realized this vehicles history and it makes sense. My parents were outdoorsy and always had Chevy Blazers in the 70s and 80s. When I arrived as their 3rd child, they eventually had to opt for a Dodge Caravan. My parents loved the comfort of the bigger vehicle, however, Blazers weren't exactly family friendly.

[@hyperboreanesoterica6588]

Hey Doug. I just wanted to let you know that the "dummy vent" in the center driver side was there because that's where they placed the 4x4 controls if you took that option. My current vehicle is also a 94 explorer and is has 4x4

[@325xitgrocgetter]

I was going to say the same thing so I'm glad to see this comment here. I've spent some seat time in first gen Ford Explorer 4x4s and recall the 4x4 controls were mounted in that area.

[@hunsonbeefrey]

it was very annoying not having that extra vent. I went from a Bronco II to an explorer but the Bronco II was more enjoyable!

[@dustysnowman2469]

Same on rangers

[@annie42890]

Lol beat me to it.

[@geertromain]

Another example of how he's too busy these days to do some actual research, used to be very different.

[@BoomTharis]

Amazing video Doug. I really love the history lesson part at the beginning (even though i'm not so sure most audience would care lol). Please keep making reviews about these world-changing vehicles. They're niche but very educational + entertaining at the same time. Really appreciated the hard work!

[@briankennedy7862]

Well Said!!!!!! Thanks Doug

[@neihomai8]

except you would have to take doug'z hiztory lezzonz with a grain of zalt coz he getz a lot of info wrong. the honda cr-v waz dezigned in 1993, firzt zold in japan and azia in 1995. not 1997 like he zaid. the toyota rav4 waz alzo dezigned in 1993 and came to the market in 1994.

[@intermixturemusic]

@@neihomai8 I can't take you zeriously

[@neihomai8]

@@intermixturemusic coz that key on my keyboard iz broken. my laptop iz about 13 yearz old already.

[@seththomas9105]

I'm 54 so I always smile and shake my head at some of Dougs comments about everyday things like having 2 keys for every car (Ignition. Glovebox/trunk) or whatnot. I was 21 when these blew up on the market, and they were a game changer. They were real popular in the Midwest as we of course have winters with lots of snow (At least we USED to) and cold, and those of us in rural areas look at 4X4 as almost a need nowdays. Most people put a agressive all-season tire on them at the first tire interval and it helped. As Doug said the automatic transmission was a weak point and the manual was the way to go. A friend of mine had a 94 2 door Sport edition with the 5-speed and he drove the hell out of it. Too bad that AMC didn't make it into the 90's, the eagle wagon was the grandfather to the CUV craze.

[@projectg408]

Doug is the type of guy to rehearse his thoughts in a mirror before expertly condensing his thoughts into a short blurb on a video where he makes us feel every bit of what he’s feeling about the car… as fellow car people. Thank you, Doug, for all you have done for the current modern car enthusiast landscape. You deserve all of your success.

[@tobywoodfield3298]

Doug don't ever think that people are bored or leaving because you're talking about the history and impact too much... true fans of yours will always stay and will always love listining to you explain cars in every sort... keep up your fantastic work your an apsalute legend and you kill it with every upload. :)))

[@isaiahayers1550]

*listening *you're *absolute

[@FELIPE8226M]

You people nowadays have the attention span of a fly, ie “tik tok”

[@JackTorrance333]

People are leaving and not watching because Doug….. forget it.

[@DJBiv788]

19:50 There actually was a speed limit law in place for some time that required all automakers to highlight 55 mph and not produce speedometers over 85.

[@tomm1109]

The rule was from 79-81 but many American manufacturers kept it for many years. It is actually a lot more useful. You get more resolution as to the actual speed on an 85mph one. I recall the Honda Accords of the early 90s had one that went to about 140. Little kids thought that meant it was fast. Its like having a 10,000 rpm tach on a car that only revs to 5500. Better to get the 6000 rpm one.

[@FasuloA]

@@tomm1109 you’re so right. That used to drive me crazy. “My mom said I can take her car to the store. Its soooo fast dude… The speedometer goes up to 120!” 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@sharedknowledge6640]

Doug got this very wrong and should have known better as it’s such an obvious fact across all vehicles. But he seems ignorant of many obvious automotive facts.

[@therealcarlmarti]

@@tomm1109 while it's true that the speedometer doesn't indicate top speed, those early 90s Accords could hit about 125 on level ground, so 140 doesn't seem too outlandish.

[@tomm1109]

@@therealcarlmarti Thats impressive and probably before they started governing them to 95-110 range so they could put S rated tires on them and not get sued from people blowing a tire doing "sustained speeds above 112mph."

[@daviatorcustoms3168]

Doug severely underestimates the significance and market domination of the XJ Cherokee/Wagoneers of previous years. They deserve ALL the credit for introducing people to the SUV, and no virtually one was concerned about backseat room when that vehicle was in it's heyday. Doug is just making stuff up there.

[@2DogsVlogs]

I was thinking the same, or the Toyota Landcruiser, though it was quite utilitarian till the 1980's.

[@Agrias414]

I have a 94 Explorer I've been driving since 2007. 5 speed, green, xlt. Still runs great! All this time, I just figured I was poor. But now I realize I'm actually an enthusiast!

[@threeer02]

Doug, you need to do an entire series on cars that impacted the automotive scene. Things like a mid 80s Chrysler minivan, an early 80s Reliant K-car, a early 90s Toyota Camry…things that defined a segment or changed the trajectory of the specific manufacturer or automobile scene in general. An original E30 3-series…things along those lines. Much more interesting than the next hyper-car…

[@drippgxd]

Can we just stop hating on hypercars geez he doesn’t do that often. What do you have to say to the people who watch his hypercar videos? Exactly

[@future62]

Check out the YT channel "The Big Car".

[@teamjay2837]

He will, as they come up on Cars &Bids, so he can sell them. It’s becoming a theme with him.

[@therealcarlmarti]

Funny the e30 was actually considered pretty old fashioned when it was actually for sale. The car itself was an evolution of the e21 and not really a big break from the design other than adding the 4 door sedan. Mercedes was far more cutting edge in the 80s, the w201 and w124 were a huge deal.

[@motorismocollection5820]

Thank you Doug for this amazing review on the car that changed the automotive landscape forever! Especially excited for this auction!

[@red58fury]

Beautiful car! Love that blue interior

[@macbook802]

The world's crappiest and most deadly car from the 90s

[@peter_shadow7559]

@@macbook802 why’s that?

[@vinnieravioli4653]

@@macbook802 my stepdad used to call them “exploders” lmao

[@wildweav]

I had a 1991 Ford Explorer Sport that I bought for $7000 in 1998. I really liked that SUV. I was really sad when I totaled it on extremely icy roads. It was quite capable in the snow as well.

[@lanceearly906]

Great video! A 1992 Explorer was my first car at 16. Mine was a fully loaded XLT with leather, power driver and passenger seat, and a sunroof. The sunroof only tilted up and you had to turn a dial to do it, but I felt so cool! Simpler times 😊 Thanks for taking me back!

[@twany442]

Thank you Doug for helping me remember how big the Explorer was. And remember the it was the main SUV in the first Jurassic Park Movie that also had a huge impact as well. It just happened to be the right vehicle at the right time. But as we know, people just love hating on Ford. They actually started many car and truck trends that are prevalent today.

[@NeighborhoodCarReviews]

Considering that they were originally set to use Land Cruisers, like the book, they switched to Explorer for its huge popularity.

[@TituzzzD]

13:55 Talking about the interior being blue. A friend of mine had the Explorer during high school and it was red. Red EVERYWHERE. Seat belts, floor mats, steering wheel, you name it, it was red. In it you felt like you are in your personal red light district. BTW, I loved that car! From being a kid to graduating high school, this car was always around and so I grew very fond it.

[@TheBomzia87]

My dad had explorer back in 1992 I was 5-6 years old and it was all in red interior .

[@TheBomzia87]

My Dad had this car 92 years model and it was in red interior. It was a mind blowing SUV back then. Everybody in our neighborhood knows our home because of this SUV. Such a great memory I was in my second grade

[@brantonjaspar8711]

I just bought a 93 Explorer XLT 4x4 last week because my 06f150 failed me, it’s almost mint condition. It’s a time capsule really. I love it.

[@glmaughan]

The first vehicle I brought new was a 1986 Trooper 4 door. I slept many nights in the back. This truck made many trips over the continental divide in Colorado to Utah. Not bad for an under-powered 4 cylinder. Before that I had a 1976 Alfa Romeo GTV4 that I had the audacity to drive it down Schaffers trail in Utah. A few jeeps looked in amazement to see me traverse this trail in an Alfa. I loved that car, but unfortunately it was "T" boned at an intersection and thus totaled. The Recaro seats with their heavy side bolsters saved me from any injury.

[@plutonium9]

Three things I remember: The 4.0 v6 was sturdy, the driver seat would bust on the right side, so the seat would lean sideways, and the push button activated 4wd button was certain to fail. Also, in the Cars And Bids screen shot of the description, it reads just over 49000 miles, but then in the vid, Doug reveals it is actually 149000 miles. I hope those bidding know this.

[@MikeKayK]

It says "49k shown" and right below in the description it says "The attached Carfax history report notes that the 5-digit odometer on this Explorer has rolled over, therefore the total mileage is about 149,200 miles."

[@scott8919]

@@MikeKayK it baffles me that companies were still using 5 digit odometers in the 90s. It almost implied it wouldn't last 100k.

[@MikeKayK]

@@scott8919 Yeah, it was just a relic from the old days when cars rarely made it much more than 100k miles, and many manufacturers just didn't really care about investing in it and updating it (not to mention it was good for "planned obsolescence" when rolling over to 0's makes your car feel old) until laws came out requiring a 6 digit odometer.

[@billsinkins361]

@@MikeKayK I'm a child of the 60s, the "old days" 😁 Growing up, none of my dad's cars lasted anywhere near 100 K miles. They were rusty, falling-apart heaps after about 3-4 years. I agree 5 digit odo is a relic of that era.

[@PursuitofSpeed]

@@scott8919 Ford was cheap and kept older parts around, most OEMs had already moved onto 7 digit units.

[@PWERNSTEIN]

Just one missing detail, the closed AC vent was used to put the off road buttons on the 4x4 version. That’s why it’s closed it was cheaper to close it instead of putting 2 vents.

[@roddydykes7053]

Knew there had to be some controls or gauges missing there

[@ChadHargis]

Yep! I had a 2WD Explorer and had the same fake vent. But I knew from looking at the 4WD models that was where the 4x4 buttons were located.

[@JL-sm6cg]

I almost forgot about that, because that's where the buttons were on my mother's Explorer.

[@marcsimonsen1578]

It was also a fake vent if you had 4x4 manual locking hubs, on a manual transmission.

[@CRAPO2011]

Manuals were rare in these

[@nightwolf883]

Even as a family car, first Gen explorers are great off road vehicles, and ACTUALLY Doug, there were some advertisements showing it going off road on rough terrain

[@clemsonsaturn]

I remember my parents looking at Bronco 2's in the late 80's because my mom wanted a smaller SUV. They found out about the Explorer coming out, and ordered a 2-door Sport in bright red with a 5 speed manual in late 1990. I was in 1st grade. We then got a 1996, 2000 (both 4 door XLT automatics), and 2003 Explorer (2 door 5 speed). Basically I grew up in Explorers from 1st grade through graduating high school. I remember we took a 2 week road trip in our 2000 Explorer and got a new set of tires when we returned, and my dad found some tread separation on the tires...then the giant Firestone tire fiasco started. Scary.

[@michaelmacvicar2654]

Actually, I’d be plenty happy enough if you included history lessons on more cars. I find it super interesting!

[@TechDeals]

I owned a 1998 Explorer XLT that was optioned WAY up... leather, 5.0L V8, AWD, 9 speaker BOSE sound system, etc... loved it, wish I still owned it. The whole Firestone thing really soured me on it at the time, but looking back, I wish I had it back. It was painted in a lovely Wedgewood Blue on the outside and gray on the inside.

[@deanberry218]

I had a 99 very much in the same package, with the metallic dark navy/bright purple color-shift paint. I used it for security work, emergency work, and as my daily driver for years on end, only got rid of it when it was falling completely apart. Went through a 96 XLT V6 and a 98 Mountaineer V8 after that. The 98 was very nice, had a lift and massive tires. I actually wish I still had any of them. Drove them pretty solidly from 2003 until late 2017, but Pennsylvania rust will destroy all, and they were no exceptions.

[@723kwrenn]

@@deanberry218 only caused 271 deaths

[@nicolasarias4967]

Bose sound sistem?

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

@@audreyappliance The V8 had no power, barely better than the dangerously slow V6. Cars are much better now.

[@UTV-A]

I currently have that vehicle at our cabin. It is just a great all around truck

[@mymusic504]

My mom bought a 1998 Ford Explorer and we inherited it....she took exceptional care of it...it sat for a bit but after putting new tires and a battery in it it's been good....no problems with it...we have a file full of reciepts of work done over the years...it only has 124000 miles on it for a 24 year old car...not to bad.....we are hanging on to it....been in the family since March of 1998 and staying with us... It's been a GREAT vehicle....my son's grew up in it too...so it has a lot of sentimental value too...

[@dennisphillips9756]

The condition of this truck is amazing! Wow! Beautiful. I've had two 2nd gen explorers, and they're not that common here in Germany.

[@nathanjoseph4284]

Honestly Doug could entirely switch to just doing quirky/unusual used car reviews and not one person would be upset :) Love these types of videos Doug, keep it up!

[@billermanthegreat]

Might have to, everything is an SUV now. Many of them are a total bore!

[@JustJay1281]

The analytics say otherwise, as he has explained before. He himself has admitted to enjoying reviewing the older vehicle, but the stats say they don't get as many views. That said with Cars and Bids he has more opportunity and a justification for doing them, as Cars and Bids is now essentially the sponsor of the channel. Which overtime people will start watching the channel as much to see what Doug thinks is an interesting buy.

[@nathanjoseph4284]

@@JustJay1281Quirky car videos like this have more "long-term" appeal than the new car videos. For example, people will be more likely to come back to a video about a mint 1990s Ford Explorer, Cadillac Fleetwood or Mazda RX-7 compared to a video about an ordinary crossover for 2022. Quirky/unusual used car videos do better in the long run.

[@watchreport]

@@nathanjoseph4284 maybe, maybe not but Doug is a huge analytics guy and knows what gets the most views on his channel, even years later.

[@yashrajsomvanshi128]

I like how these days, Doug isn't chasing huge numbers, but reviewing these old quirky/ iconic cars for his real fans. Edit: I know this car is on C&B but why does it matter, its in his interest to get the car he's always wanted to review for his site. and ofc he still does newly released cars, what i was saying was, he still reviews these old icons and quirky car when clearly they fetch less views.

[@daroachdoggjr188]

I love how he reviews normal and average cars, as well as strange and quirky cars, instead of chasing hyper cars and unrealistically expensive performance cars that likely nobody can afford. He is realistic. Direct. And gets to the point in his reviews, showing the stuff we want to see.

[@mesropmadzharyan6727]

You are absolutely wrong he’s chasing huge numbers he would’ve review this car if it wasn’t on cars and bids .

[@joeboxerrr]

I mean.. He's doing both hahahah

[@justsomeguy6474]

It's just become a cars and bids channel. Doug used to be good.

[@daroachdoggjr188]

@@mesropmadzharyan6727 he’s been doing this long before cars n bids tho..

[@zacharyhoman3597]

My Mom drove the Mazda navaho and my Dad drove the mercury mountaineer when I was a kid. I still look back to those vehicles very fondly and whenever I see either on the road it excites me (especially since both were pretty low volume versions of the vehicle). The mountaineer kind of solved the power problem since it had the old windsor v8, that still only made about 215hp so it was by no means fast, but it could push past 85 if you gave it some mustard.

[@joejesus9902]

Doug, I understand older cars such as these don’t bring in as many views. But it brought me to your channel, which I just subscribed to. I imagine there are quite a few subscribers who found your channel because of those older, quirkier cars.

[@aislingmairead4939]

Doug, out of all the reviews and videos you've ever done, this is probably my favorite -and I mean that. Well done :)

[@yippdogg9250]

Totally agree, Ben watching for over five years and as a owner of nearly every generation, a 94/2004/2019 Both 2x2 and 4x4, this was really well done. My Eddie Bower edition with the 5.0 v8 4 x 4 was an absolute monster off-road even completely stock.

[@michaeljneal]

I have owned only three vehicles in my entire 51 years: a 1992 For Explorer (with the manual transmission!), a 2006 Ford Explorer, and a 2015 Ford Explorer. 30 years of driving no major problems ever. Thanks Ford!

[@fredericleveille6479]

Oh my god. You turned back the clock for me with this one. So many memories. My father had one like this (red Eddie Bauer edition) he also had the next generation after that as well. As well as a 1992 Taurus. Big respect to Ford for these icons. Thanks again for sharing all the dates and numbers

[@LUNCHMONEY4numbers]

As I was watching this on my break, a Mazda Navajo drove past me. I've never seen one in person before. That can't be coincidence

[@herrunsinn774]

Yes it can. 🤣

[@notablynova4247]

Simulation theory *confirmed*

[@ChaosTheoryArchitecture]

"Son go sit in the explorer with your sisters, we will be there in a few"

[@lucasworktv]

Sweet home Alabama😂?

[@MammothBehemoth]

Explore her

[@ryandonoghue1703]

my first car was a hand me down 93 explorer. purple with tan interior. absolutely loved it. me and my buddies abused it going offroading and fishing(only had the 2wd) and it kept on ticking.

[@TheRedRocket]

People used these like station wagons. They worked very well in that role. My employer purchased six of them the year they came out. I drove one for a while. I liked it.

[@victoro3176]

I love these so much. My dad owned I think around 5? 3 he sent to family in Mexico, one of them made it to 433k until it got totaled, one was stolen, and the other still drives, although she doesn’t sound like she’s doing too well. I have so many memories in these. Though, I still liked my dads excursion better.

[@jwil3220]

I love seeing how excited Doug gets about many of the vehicles most of us take for granted. It makes me want to place a bid.

[@TheBrooklynfoo]

Its funny how much he loves it and how excited he gets talking about it, then ranks it dead last in its class

[@RosadoIndustries]

I actually love the history behind the cars, please include it more if you can! I love seeing the cars and why they came to be how they are. Thanks for taking your time to tell us.

[@linehandibew6205]

I absolutely love his old 80s and 90s car reviews. By day my favorite of his content

[@winexprt]

You're so right Doug , this really did change everything. This vehicle is a demarcation line; there is before Explorer and after Explorer.

[@pinut187]

Well maybe in the US. Remember the US is not the world😟

[@rifles_up2263]

That extra “vent” is where the push button 4wd buttons go on the 4x4 models

[@whynotmorewhisky]

My first vehicle was a 1994 2-door Explorer with 4WD which I bought in 1997 for $4500. At 16, I began delivering pizzas in a 1982 Pontiac Bonneville station wagon my father generously loaned me. Every penny was saved for the Explorer I just had to have. I bought it with 18,000 miles and gave-up in 2001 when the transmission died at 140,000 miles. I still miss it.

[@ByzantineCuban]

This is the most memoriable childhood car for me. My gramdmother who was a small farmer gifted one of her explorers(a 2 door 1993) to my mother then eventually she was handed down the black 4 door 1994 which looked so cool to me. so many memories with this car

[@TheTarrMan]

I'm surprised it mentioned the Firestone scandal. TO THIS DAY you cannot rent a U-Haul trailer if your going to hook it up to a Ford Explorer.

[@jamesengland7461]

Wow that's crazy

[@ShaiyanHossain]

this was more enjoyable to watch than any of the new supercar stuff love it when doug brings in his personal experiences to a rather mundane car

[@Mr.Plant1994]

I remember in 2013 one of these orginal ford explorers came up for sale pristine with less then 40k miles on it. The only owner was a real old timer who had been retired the entire time he owned it and only used it to go into town to get groceries. I wanted to buy it but didn’t soon enough and someone else did. Within a few years it was all rusted out and then they totaled it.

[@angrycatowner]

Doug forgot about the Chevrolet Suburban, which was an SUV version of the Chevy C10 pickup, with 4 doors and a tailgate. Plus there was the Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4 door SUV. All of these were in abundance in the mid 1970s, the Suburban started production of 4 door models in 1967.

[@valdaviper1]

In the early 90's I still lived in Russia and had a toy Explorer cop car. I remember it vividly, and recall it being so much cooler compared to the small cars I saw there. No surprise my first car in 06 was an SUV.

[@roddydykes7053]

Do you like tractors?

[@manaaalsuwaidi3643]

I had a toy too!!! Sad it's lost now 😭😭

[@valdaviper1]

@@manaaalsuwaidi3643 right after I posted this I actually checked eBay and found a vintage one for sale. Snagged it!! Big nostalgia lol

[@HiHoSilverAwaaay]

I feel Cars & Bids opened Doug up to the best quality older vehicles. Still waiting for an original Caravan.

[@vampireotaku4172]

I'm waiting for the sw20 mr2

[@sastrinidis]

My friends had one of those, the nostalgia will definitely flood back when Doug gets his hands on one of those

[@joshua.harazin]

I wonder sometimes if that's why he started C&B.... just a steady source of qwirky 80s/90s cars in good condition.

[@HiHoSilverAwaaay]

@@joshua.harazin if he did, it was brilliant and it worked

[@syxepop]

@@vampireotaku4172 - like Sarah N Tuned "Mister Dos"? That's quite hard to find for UNMODIFIED ones

[@jessedewald1471]

I grew up riding in moms 1996 Ford Explorer XLT. She kept it until 2010. Now last august I just purchased my Ford Explorer which was an amazing find. I am the proud owner of a 1995 Ford Explorer limited with the spruce metallic pain with only 7800 original miles when I bought it last August.

[@jaylestingi5418]

What's interesting is that the original (1984) AMC Jeep Cherokee was a unit construction body. The pickup truck version, the Comanche used a unit front section of the Cherokee with an add on rear frame to hold the bed and rear axle. I also have to disagree with Doug: the Cherokee Limited I believe came out in 1987 and it had the 177 hp 4.0 straight 6, gold mesh/silver lip alloy wheels, body color bumpers and cladding, fog lights and leather interior. It was also fully outfitted. People purchased them as family SUVs at the time, but when the Explorer came out, Ford advertised the HELL out of it and people liked the smooth, sleek styling. The Cherokee WAS the original car like SUV, but Ford was more mainstream and I believe it was the styling that made it popular. For people who aren't that into cars but obviously need a car as an appliance, styling is probably THE most important factor when it actually comes to spending money.

[@TLP3424]

My first car!! Never thought I’d see a video on it! In 2002 I saved up my money from my first job and bought my mom’s 1992 Explorer from her for $1000. It was dark green with the tan cloth interior. As a 16 year idiot, my friends and I beat the absolute crap out of that car and it never flinched. Good memories!

[@volvo09]

I remember a friend of mine had one and I was jealous because it did awesome burnouts.

[@angelgjr1999]

My first one was a 1999. I beat the crap out of mine too, paid 800$ for it so I didn’t care. Those explorers can take a lot of abuse. I drove it practically everywhere on and off-road.

[@hedusoto6076]

an mid suv for a 16 year old guy... that´s the dream. I bought my first (old) SUV when i was 32, a way too used 98 Grand Cherokee, and i loved it

[@volvo09]

@@hedusoto6076 those Grand Cherokees were great!

[@dstarr3]

That 4L V6 may not have been a powerhouse, but good lord was it bulletproof. I had a '93 Ranger growing up, and the engine made it to 400,000 miles without incident with just regular oil changes. Unbelievably reliable.

[@saratc660]

True I did hear this as well, I think the main issues were transmissions

[@MrCarGuy]

If the rest of the truck was as good, you would still see as many as Jeep Cherokees of the era

[@dstarr3]

@@saratc660 Yep, can confirm, my transmission was always shitting the bed.

[@MistaRoyanT]

I had a 94 limited and I can agree about the engine. Push button Transfer case was a disaster and transmission lost reverse though

[@carloslara7452]

@@saratc660 The ranger motor seem to be pretty much indestructible but the transmission seem to be what blows most frequently, my 2000 ranger has about 330,000 miles and the engine is completely fine but the transmission has shit the bed

[@iridiumscribe4915]

Been having the same feeling lately with a 97 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer. My family never owned one but someone I know has one still since day one. Riding in it for the past month now, I can see why someone would buy it for a family car at the time. It's really roomy but the ride can be sometimes punishing mostly over speed bumps. But otherwise it's a great SUV. I've had the chance hone my "inner Doug" and look at all the quirks and features. You definitely get so much for the price at the time. This one even had a overhead TV and 5 disc CD player. It's still in its original condition with the cassette tape player. For a SUV that could carry up to 8 people total and watching this video, I can definitely see that the way car buying was changing in the 1990s. My father disliked Ford with a passion and he ended up just buying a hatchback. A blue 96 Volkswagen Golf. This was really interesting to learn about the history and backstory of this vehicle since I saw them so much in my childhood and now I'm experiencing the much bigger brother of it.

[@galamonkey]

Back in 2004 I was 15 and my best friend was 16 and just got his license. He got his parents hand me down 96 Explorer in the dark green color with the 5.0 V8. What fun that vehicle was.

[@charlieyoung2116]

I love these videos, Doug! My first car was a 1990 Bronco II, the hint of Explorer. The fake climate vent is where the electronic 4x4 buttons were on 4 wheel drive models.

[@daroachdoggjr188]

I love seeing Doug review cars like these

[@HylianOverlord]

howdy, jr.

[@daroachdoggjr188]

@@HylianOverlord howdy howdy, the name is Da Roach Dogg JR and don’t you forget it.

[@HylianOverlord]

@@daroachdoggjr188 how yer pa?

[@daroachdoggjr188]

@@HylianOverlord he smoked a bone and passed me the roach

[@andys31337]

where is the review of the Isuzu Rodeo!

[@tareks.5160]

Thank you for going into all that detail about the explorer! You do a really good job at recapping it’s history and providing numbers behind the success of the suv

[@jonallen1985]

I had a 1991 Explorer 4x4 and a 1994 4 door Jimmy 4x4 and loved them both, explorer died at 250,000 miles and the Jimmy blew the rear end at 260,000 miles, both had issues but both really reliable because I took good care of them.

[@jonallen1985]

Oh yeah and they both had transmission issues later in life, I fixed the Jimmy, sold the Explorer to buy the Jimmy.

[@Kevin_2435]

Hey Doug, great video. You are so right that the Ford Explorer is so important in car history. My family has owned a second gen since 1996. I still daily drive it to death. I'm nearing 270000 miles on it. Back then as a kid, I remember thinking that our second gen Explorer which smoothed some things out from the first gen, really seemed about 10 years newer than any other SUVs at the time. Compared to other things at the time, the styling and indeed the lack of focus on off-roader features really makes it feel more refined and modern that it really is. You did miss one key element of the Explorer's history though. The inclusion of the first generation Explorer in Jurassic Park was huge for it. You should have mentioned that. One of the original movie Explorers was preserved and sold for almost $30,000.

[@drippgxd]

$30k for a movie car is really good, I could definitely buy that since most new cars sell for over $30k. It’s not like $1m which is terribly overpriced

[@Keepgoing9919]

I drive a 96 with roughly the same miles as yours. It’s the awd version 5.0 v8. Seems like it’ll never stop running

[@Kevin_2435]

@@Keepgoing9919 I know right. Everyone has said Explorers are not reliable but we only ever put a tranny in a few years ago. It's only left me stranded a couple times. Just needed a fuel pump. So cheap fix that time. It's been very forgiving given how many miles I throw at it and has been cheap to fix every time.

[@Keepgoing9919]

@@Kevin_2435 mine needed a fuel pump too. I’d have to bang the tank for 10 minutes just to get it started but that problem went away when I learned to tap the gas pedal upon start up. I think they are reliable with regular maintenance. Most people I see with explorers abuse them

[@johnmendoza2066]

My dad used to take our family to Mexico in the summer in one of these. Best years of my life

[@alejandrocadena7665]

My family had the '93 XLT 4x4 with the dash 4WD buttons. My dad worked for an american oil company here in Ecuador, and they brought a whole fleet of these for their executives. Later, employees were able to buy them for a fraction of their price, and that is how we got it until we sold it in 2013. I learned to drive an automatic and park in that. You brought back some memories, sir.

[@midnitetoker420]

I find it ironic that THIS Explorer, the "first family suv", was definitely NOT owned by a family (at least not one with more than one or two kids). The Explorer is too well preserved...

[@louiearmstrong]

this thing is in "grandmas church mobile" condition

[@exia989]

This was a fun throwback. My mom had a first year explorer back in the day, it was red, 4x4 with a manual transmission. Had manual locking front hubs, think the electric ones came later. Also that dummy vent on the 4x4 models was where they put the 4wd selector on the ones with electric controls. Ours was fully manual.

[@volvo09]

Manual trans is real cool!