The Original Ford Explorer Changed the World Forever

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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]

@@g2jxGhF5G8z1gL7S 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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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..

[@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

[@MuscatelTom]

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

[@TituzzzD]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="835">13:55</a> 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

[@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

[@shinobi-zensei]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@michaelmacvicar2654]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@rifles_up2263]

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

[@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😟

[@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.

[@ChaosTheoryArchitecture]

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

[@lucasworktv]

Sweet home Alabama😂?

[@MammothBehemoth]

Explore her

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@futeditzs2482]

One of the biggest icons of the automobile, it reminds me of old times, childhood times!

[@dr6arab1]

🤜🤛

[@gl4989]

More interesting than multi million dollars cars imo

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@TaylorBrauer]

Love the work you put into explaining the history of this car. It really tied the whole video together. One of your best ones yet, Doug!

[@drippgxd]

Off topic but this BW guy in the replies drives me crazy. He really really really hates Doug. I’ve had enough of him and also Mahim mustakim aka a marvel supervillain that also have a lack of knowlage of cars

[@_BAD_MERC_]

FULLY AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@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.

[@jasonbinney2979]

I drove a 98 Explorer XLT with AWD and the SOHC V6 (~205hp) throughout college and it was really awesome, other than the 15mpg. Loads and loads of space, pretty comfortable for long trips, and it was stupid solid mechanically for how old it was. It also had a ton of features that I still don't see in some cars made close to 15-20 years after it was made. That's probably my bias speaking but I really liked that thing.

[@encino78]

had the exact same one. amazing pick up!

[@devynarnold6026]

I’m still driving a 00’ XLT, the SOHC 4.0 is insanely reliable. Haven’t had any issues with it, and it does amazing for light off roading and offers a lot of room for more intense off-road mods

[@jasonbinney2979]

@@devynarnold6026 I had a misfire issue about a year and a half ago with it, when we pulled the plugs and wires they had Ford motor company stamped on them, and they were the originals from when it was made back in 97'. Should they have been replaced already? Yeah, but damn that seems impressive they made it that far.

[@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.

[@TJT8585]

For many years I've actually wondered why the Ford Explorer gets all the credit as the 1st family SUV. Especially since they've been making SUVs since the 1940s. This review finally answered this question.

[@JoanWilder1985]

These are such nice cars. Miss the days of simplicity and practicality.

[@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!

[@joshuahiatt6257]

The dummy ac vent was the 4x4 and low range switches in the Eddie Bauer edition. I had a 94 green on tan Eddie Bauer from 2017 - 2020, I used it as a mail delivery vehicle, since the center console was easy to remove and I can sit in the middle and drive. I also loved that the Eddie Bauer had inflatable lumbar and cushion support on the driver's seat.

[@brynnleahnayvieghlaykynnn6175]

It’s a shame Ford removed those features we had a 99 green in black Eddie Bauer and it had manual lumbar and no cushion support

[@baileycullivan1946]

Did you just say you sat in the middle and drove lmaoooo

[@MichaelEilers]

Man, Eddie Bauer versions… that takes me back

[@ThatCarVlogChannel]

I had the same spec on a 93 2 door Eddie Bauer during the last few months of 2011 (I was 21 and liked trading cars, so didn't keep it long.) Mine was 4x4, so I was really hoping Doug would reference the 4x4 controls. Loved that truck, should have never traded it.

[@MikeKayK]

Correct. Here's a photo: i.ytimg.com/vi/ZNSs8oaiHXc/maxresdefault.jpg

[@andrejm25]

Doug, your enthusiasm is contagious. I believe it's genuine and it's one of the reasons for your continued sucess. Keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@sidefx996]

Sometimes wish his actual automotive knowledge was on par with his enthusiasm.

[@comeberza]

This wasn't even sold remotely near my country but I'm totally into it just because of Doud's enthusiasm. But please, people, we need more wagons and less suvs. The bigger and taller doesnt mean you get more car for your money. I adore that blue interior

[@linehandibew6205]

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

[@parkerlee1990]

This brings back so much nostalgia, my early childhood years took place in the back of a explorer!

[@pinacuse]

Doug DeMuro is possibly the only person on earth who matches my enthusiasm for the original Ford Explorer.

[@rotorhead5826]

Y'all aren't alone. It's a pretty okay truck-turned-SUV. A buddy of mine had one in High School. Lots of memories! They can really take a beating with the 5 speed. Not sure how well the autos held up but I still see them around from time to time.

[@KB-bh9hp]

My love for the explorer applies more to the 5th gen (2011-2019) but my grandparents had one of these in a plum color, was a great car.

[@KB-bh9hp]

@@rotorhead5826 My grandparents auto lasted 18 years and counting before it was totaled in an accident.

[@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.

[@junktionfet]

I loved this review and the history lesson. I remember when these came on the scene, and you're right--there were of course a plethora of SUVs before, but the Explorer was an important turning point for suburban transport

[@TLV_Enjoyer]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="515">8:35</a> No, Doug, I would never stop watching. The history of how SUVs that serve zero purpose came to dominate todays car market is actually interesting. And also I love me some automotive history in general.

[@dazednconfusedrn]

i mean, better in snow, can carry both more people and more stuff, can offroad, can tow, more space inside. i wouldn’t say zero purpose

[@mihan5660]

​@@dazednconfusedrn these replaced minivans as family vehicles, which were available with awd (eg mazda mpv) and could carry even more stuff than an suv without the raised floor position. Also 2wd versions are better in snow than rwd suvs as minivans were mostly fwd. Also, far safer at that time than SUVs and better fuel economy. So just towing and off-roading which only a very small percentage of explorer owners did (fortunately, bc early explorer tires werent even adequate for road use!)

[@dazednconfusedrn]

@@mihan5660 payload towing and off-roading were all worse. FWD vehicles, atleast here in canada, are TERRIBLE in the snow because of the amount of hills we have. my family had a fwd minivan for a while but we had to sell it because it couldn’t make it up our paved road hill. even a rwd truck is better, however all trucks and suvs here have 4wd. mpvs and vans are miserable to own in the snow

[@lucase9823]

Absolutely loved the blue interior with the white exterior and how it was carefully preserved. The first owner surely had good taste and gave this car the attention it deserved, well done!

[@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!

[@camaroguy1969]

Great video Doug! Your detailed research, wealth of knowledge/history, and true passion for this stuff always shines through. Makes us all appreciate the "normal" cars we grew up with and probably miss from time to time. Keep up the good work!

[@nathannnathan85]

I remember when this came out, and was in Jurassic Park and everyone wanted one.

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

Jurassic Park was a major contributor to the Explorer's success...a blockbuster movie that served as an advertisement-despite the fact it got destroyed by a T-Rex, LoL!

[@Its_Me_Romano]

Jep also love this car because of Jurassic Park

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

@@Its_Me_Romano the J.P. paint job was pretty dope!

[@bwofficial1776]

The SUVs in Jurassic Park were supposed to be Land Cruisers but I guess Ford cut a marketing deal.

[@diegowinger3517]

As much as I love the xplorer I love that first generation Grand Cherokee more. I grew up riding in one everyday including taking my mom to the hospital to give birth to me or to school or across the state for a family trip for about 12 years. And as I got older I grew to love the sound of the V8. That’s what got me into cars. And I would love if you would review one (93-98)

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

You took your mom to the hospital to give birth to you?! Damn, what a early-bloomer driver you were! Ahahah!

[@diegowinger3517]

@@WatanabeNoTsuna. 😂 not quite. The jeep took her their.

[@powersdmc]

Doug is the type of guy that explores an explorer.

[@slowery43]

Steve is the type of guy who uses totally not funny or remotely original post formats trying to gain attention

[@1967buickriviera]

Hoagers is the type of guy to be bothered by a common KZbin comment

[@Big_Money]

Man I just love that blue interior. Stuff from that era was just so full of character; so much stuff nowadays is so bland. Black, gray, white, beige. It's why even out of my 4runner and Mustang, my favorite car to drive is my '92 corolla with a pristine blue interior 😂 This might be my favorite video from you Doug, please don't stop the older cars :( That history lesson was so entertaining

[@tangydiesel1886]

Agree. I have a 1978 f150 that's green inside and out. Even if it's not a color most people like, I think it's really cool.

[@Big_Money]

@@tangydiesel1886 I agree, that sounds badass

[@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.

[@thomasopland7209]

I've had 2 of these in my life, 1st was my parents hand me down,it was a 93 xl second one was a 94 xlt... i loved both of them, the 4.0 was sooo reliable. Poor gas mileage but it was so reliable. This video takes me back and now i miss both of them lol. Great vehicles ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@eatonuter7113]

I remember seeing a few of these first-gen Explorers when I was growing up. It wouldn't be until around the mid-2000s that I saw Explorers almost everywhere. I loved the review of this one because it's really difficult to find one this nice nowadays.

[@roddydykes7053]

One of the great things about living in rural Canada is all the trends from the States took about 10-15 years to percolate up to us, so you could still feel like you were experiencing the 90s up into the late 00s

[@Curryolla]

This! We need more of this in the More Doug Channel. This vehicle history lesson was a joy to watch.

[@TheAnonymous1one]

I agree there is a ton of content he can make doing this.

[@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

[@harris8390]

This brought back instant memories of Jurassic Park. Those red wheels were the exact same style as these ones. I’m sure that film also helped in making this car an instant classic icon.

[@thugblaster303]

The wheels were yellow on the explorer. The jeep had the red wheels.

[@RPNJ85]

Yes! Came here thinking that Jurassic Park got me interested in the Explorer.

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

And then Mercedes launched the European luxury SUV explosion with the pre-release ML in the sequel!

[@mikeytrw]

Couple points - the 85mph speedo was a federal mandate at the time I believe. Also the powertrain isn't laughable just by modern standards, it was laughable by European standards at the time.

[@paulog8813]

Disagree. I had a LR Discovery with a V8 that had only about 165hp. Later versions with fuel injection had an “astonishing” 180 HP

[@angelgjr1999]

In 1999 they got a power boost. The V6 got up to 210 horsepower. Which was only 5 less than the 5.0

[@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.

[@davidevans2585]

I really love these. We are about to get the new Everest here in Australia, and that seems more like a successor to this old Explorer that the current explorer.

[@bardiaafkhami984]

I loved the whole video but I actually enjoyed the history part more than the rest of the video, great job as always

[@johnmendoza2066]

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

[@midnitetoker420]

@Doug DeMuro I appreciated the "history lesson", especially on the iconic Explorer!

[@michaellawrence9970]

My first car was a 1992 Explorer XLT. My family bought it brand new and I got it when I went off to college. I remember when we bought it we also test-drove the XJ Cherokee and the Nissan Pathfinder. The Explorer blew them away for all of the reasons that Doug mentioned and it was an easy choice. There simply was nothing like it on the market when it came out. Doug was spot on on the price too. Ours was around 22K with a decent amount of options. One of the other revolutionary things about them was the Touch Drive fully electronic 4x4 system with the electric locking front hubs. I think this was the first SUV to use buttons to select 4x4 and Low Range instead of a mechanical lever. Also, regarding the 85 MPH speedometer, that wasn't because they were slow (and they were, even by the standards of those days), but it was because for a period of time the US government mandated that speedometers could only go up to 85 MPH. Since the first gen Explorers were based on the Ranger that was designed earlier in the 80s, the 85 MPH speedometer carried over. The optional JBL sound system had the sub where the little netted cubby is in the cargo area. I would love to find another first gen in the proper Eddie Bauer green/tan color combo and restore it, and possibly put a 5.0 into it and an AOD auto transmission. That stock A4LD was not up to the task and was a big failure point in these (mine failed around 100K, and the second one was starting to go when I sold it with 156K. Oh, and there was a huge off-roading community for the first and second gen Explorers when I owned mine. For not being designed to go off-road they were quite capable both stock and modified. I also got caught up in the Firestone tire fiasco with these in the early 2000s. I never did get my money reimbursed from Firestone for the replacement tires I purchased...

[@justdoinit2378]

Yea my transmission went up too but guess what I did, I kept driving it. Only my reverse gear was gone lol so I always parked where I could head straight out. I didn’t lose any power only reverse. 🤷🏾‍♂️ I was just a freshman in high school. My pops eventually got the transmission fixed and I drove it a little bit after n then I got a 97 Camry. Drove that for a little bit n then I got a 2000 Mazda millenia in 1999. Sheesh looking back I had quite a bit of cars while I was just in high school. Needless to say I was incredibly popular. I graduated high school in 2000.

[@M240D]

The bronco II actually had touch drive before the explorer. Makes sense, as it's the explorer's direct predecessor

[@top4runner99]

Thank you thank you Doug, I’ve been waiting for this review ever since I got my 1993 XLT Explorer 4WD from my cousin in December! It’s been in my family since new, bought by my great uncle new in February 1993 in my hometown of Fresno California. I’m now in the process of getting it back on the road after sitting for 2 years due to failing emissions. I can’t believe I own it after sitting in it when I was 15, six years ago. On top of all of that I bought it for only $100, since if I didn’t buy it my cousin was gonna sell it to the junkyard for $150 haha

[@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

[@daveskerl3573]

Hey Doug, great video. My family had a '91 XLT. That blank vent to the right of the steering wheel is a filler. In models with 4WD, that's where the push button 4WD switches were mounted.

[@DailyDriver.]

I’d definitely describe Ford’s lineup at that time as “fine “I’m glad they saw it that way too lol

[@kalemathews1899]

They used that key ever since the 60s maybe earlier

[@angelgjr1999]

The 90s was the second golden era for Ford, first golden era being the 60s.

[@shanester366]

Man this brings me back. My grandfather loved these cars, he had 4 of the first gen and a 2nd gen over the years. He would drive it till they were near 300k and get another. I drove his final one a few times as a teen. Good memories. Also the dummy vent in the center is where the 4x4 buttons are on the 4x4 model.

[@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.

[@briand.1694]

The 1970's/80's 'Jeep Wagoneer' was the closest thing to a Ford Explorer in size. It was more luxurious and geared towards families but was still considered a 'station wagon. It was the closest thing to a more modern 'SUV'. So, the Explorer created a market where one really never existed before being more of the 'every-mans' pseudo-SUV.

[@jaylestingi]

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.

[@carsmartsmedia2324]

That is the cleanest 150k miles Explorer I've ever seen! (kudos to the caretakers!) Btw, Typhoons do have cup holders in front of shifter, but they suck. Best used for change or extra fuses. :)

[@jacobyo99]

I’ve been waiting for this one! Love the older stuff, Doug. Never stop!

[@adamfisher9495]

Currently driving a 1993 Ford Explorer. Love it. Head turner.

[@ellpo]

My Dad had one of these when they came out, he traded in his Bronco II for it. It was considerably nicer inside than the Bronco II, but it was still 4x4 and he drove it everywhere. It eventually met its demise via deer on a back road.

[@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.

[@aydin926]

i’ve been waiting for this one!