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A
funny thing happened on the way to Vancouver. I fell in love with
a great big, full-size, own-the-road sport utility vehicle. I
approached the venture knowing what Ford's totally redesigned
2003 Expedition was supposed to be about. But now, as I guided
it along a twisting mountain road that snaked close to sheer mountain
walls and skirted thousand foot dropoffs, I realized it wasn't
hype, it was real.
Critics
complain the best of full-size SUVs are still a lumbering lot,
meant for workhorse towing or to stroke needy egos, but with little
other purpose for most who drive them. I beg to differ. Granted,
the Expedition isn't exactly petite -- a necessity if you're carrying
loads of people or stuff -- but behind the wheel its size is soon
forgotten.
Ford
gave me a primed-with-confidence chance to find out just what
Expedition is all about, with a trek through Canada's Coastal
Mountains in British Columbia that ended at the edge of the Pacific.
The two days of driving encompassed slick wet roads, snowy trenches,
iced gravel, a sea of mud navigated without getting stuck and
some of the most challenging two lane highways ever carved out
of solid granite.
You'd
expect to feel tentative on a road where the longest straightaway
between hairpin curves is a few hundred yards at best. But within
minutes of taking the wheel, it feels like you're driving a car.
As miles melt away, so does any question about the Expedition's
capabilities. Instead, you learn to trust the vehicle and enjoy
the breathtaking view.
My
drive was meant to push limits, aggressively adding speed and
testing cornering as the Expedition loped along. Even lead-footed
driving left no sense of sway, no hint of fishtailing, no fight
to keep steering under control. Response from the 5.4 liter Triton
V-8 engine was instant during a tight passing maneuver. The feeling
was solid as it took curve after curve with ease and comfort --
and with a surprisingly small appetite for fuel.
Ford
had hinted its new generation Expedition with unique fold flat
rear seating wouldn't break the budget. Base prices remain about
the same as 2002 models -- ranging from $31,295 for the XLT's
value model to $41,935 for the premium Eddie Bauer series plus
$740 destination and delivery when it actually goes on sale this
summer. It's clear the company has kept its word.
Would
I want to drive the Expedition again? You bet. Just hand me the
keys and hope you can pry them loose when I'm done.
--Martha
Hindes
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