TECHNICAL
DATA:

Technical Data 1997 /
Ford Expedition 4X4
Eddie Baucr.

Base Price: XLT 4X4 —
$38,195; Eddie Bauer
4X4 — $42,795

Ty four-door,
5/6/8/9 passenger fuli-
size sport utility .
Layout: longitudinal
front en: c/RWD/
AWD/AWD’ : :
Engine: 5.4 litre v8, :
SOHC X2.: Z

speed automatic:»:
Tires: P255/70R-16
‘Good:

Photo submitted

THE new four-door Ford Expedition is a full-size sport utility vehicle that seats up to nine passengers. Available with 2WD or 4WD, the
Expedition comes with a standard 4.6-iltre SOHC V& engine and four-speed automatic transmission. Base price is $38,195. Test drive the

~*wo-wheel-drive (rea

new Expedition at Dave Buck Ford, located at 879 Marine Drive, North Vancouver (980-2411).

Ford goes on Expedition

~ “FOR years, the
Chevrolet/GMC
Suburban was the only
full-size, four-door 4X4
utility vehicle out there.

Then in 1995, General
Motors introduced the Tahoe
and Yukon, shorter versions
of the Suburban that were
easier to drive in the confines
of the city, and could fit into
a standard garage or a stan-
dard parking space.

Now Ford has introduced
a full-size, four-door sport-
uiility vehicle: the Expedition
— essentially a replacement
fr the full-size, two-door

ronco. The Expedition i is

based on the newly-redesignd
F-150 pickup which was
introduced early in 1996.

The Expedition comes in
a four-door body style only,
and is 13 cm (5 in.) longer

—~ ethan the Tahoe/Yukon, and

38 cm (15 in.) shorter than
the Suburban. Unlike the
Suburban. it will fit into a
standard-sized garage.
Expeditions are available with
ecl-
drive) or four-wheel-drive.

My two weeks with the
Expedition were spent during
the December cold spell, so
had a chance to drive in vari-
ous road conditions -- slush,
ice, packed snow, deep snow,

“4Pain —~ and various mixtures
of all of these.

These conditions demon-

strated the benefits of the
full-time 4WD system — by
varying torque between the
front and rear axles, it allows
the Expedition to be driven
from one surface to another,
say from snow to dry roads
and back again, without
harming the drivetrain
(something that. part-time
systems cannot do).

T was also impressed with
the power and torque of the
optional 5.4-litre overhead
cam V8 engine. With 236
horsepower at 4,250
rp.m. and 325 ft.-

Ibs. at 3,000 r.p.m.,
the Expedition has
plenty of get up and
go, even though it
weighs over 5,500
Ibs. (2.495 kg).

The standard,
and only, transmis-
sion is a four-speed
automatic with a col-
umn shifter and an
overdrive on/off
butron at the end of the
shifter. This is both a power-
ful and quiet powertrain
that’s reasonably fucl-effi
cient, considering the size
and weight of the Expedition.
City consumption is
18.21/100 kms (16 m.p.g.),
and highway mileage is
12.51/100 kms (23 m.p.g.}.

Up to three-quarters of
Tahoe/Yukon Sayers use
their vehicles for towing
recreational trailers and beats,

and Ford expects the same
high usage for the
Expedition. The Expedition’s
maximum towing capacity is
8,000 Ibs./3,628 kg (with
the optional 5.4-fitre V8
engine and towing package),
1,000 Ibs. (454 kg) more
than the Tahoe.

While most mid-sized
sport utility vehicles sacrifice
car-like handling for a higher
ride height and ground clear-
ance, the full-size Expedition
showed excellent stability and

“ This is both a powerful
and quiet powertrain
that’s reasonably fuel

efficient, considering the

size and weight of

the Expedition. ”

handling, primarily due to its
extra width — but also
because of an independent
torsion bar front suspension
and substantial 255/70R-16
inch Goodyear Wrangler tires.

Four wheel disc brakes
and four-wheel anti-lock
brakes are standard on the
Expedition — a good idea on
a vehicle with this much
mass.

If you're going on a long
trip with nine people, don’t

expect to carry all their bag-

gage. But with five or six pas-

sengers on board, there is
plenty of cargo room. The
third row seat can be
temoved entirely, or the seat-
back can be folded flar. The
Expedition has a payload
capacity of 2,000 Ibs. (907
kg).

The rear cargo-door is 3
hatchback, not a tailgate, and
litts up wi ith moderate effort.
The rear window opens sepa-
rately for throwing in smaller
parcels.

The interior is
extremely attractive
and well-designed
with rounded con-
tours, well-posi-
tioned controls and
instruments, plenty
of storage space and
cupholders, and a
good driving posi-
tion with excellent
visibility. My only
criticism is that there
are no head restraints on the
third row seat.

Expeditions come in two
trim levels, XLT and Eddie
Bauer, and can be equipped
with many luxury options
such as leather upholstery,
rear heater and air-condition-
er, premium stereo and CD
player mounted in the con-
sole, overhead console, cap-
tain’s chairs, and extra power
points.

Base models start at

MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS

If you wish co sell your vehicle directly to Mercedes Benz or if you would like a current
evaluation ef your vehicle, please co contact the Sales Manager at your convenience.

$38,195, and include the
standard 4.6-litre V8 engine
and four-speed automatic
transmission, six-passenger
seating, air-conditioning,
power windows and doar
locks, AM/FM cassette with
four speakers, 60//40 split
rear bench seat with armrests,
remote keyless entry, anti-
theft alarm, variable intermit-

tent Wipers, dual airbags, disc
brakes with ABS, and 16-inch
tires.

For active families who
want a roomy, practical 4X4
for activities such as camping,
towing, skiing, trips to the
cabin, and o “road driving,
the Expedition is an excep-
tionally competent, and ver-
satile vehicle.

Buy your new car or truck from

=== JIM PATTISON TOYOTA

and receive
@ No interest til April ‘97
plus

@ No payments til April ‘97

3.)

100% financing with rates
starting at only 4.2%

and check out these prices:

"96 CAMRY. LE:

De. loaded, including leather

& all power options, was $36, 522NOw $30,888
'96 PREVIA, the safest, most refined mini-van -

available, was $39,318

1765 Marine D N. Van.”

_.__ Now $34, 271

~ 985-059 )