re: SUV's

["Richard Haroutunian" <Richard_Haroutunian@inso.com>]

I agree with most of what you said -- except for this part:

>> Uh, no.  Most of these are on truck frames and do reasonably off-road.
The
full-size Blazer and Expedition (and older Bronco) are terrific off-road...
very strong and limited primarily by size.  Don't be misled by all the
bells and
whistles.   These are real trucks underneath those frills even if they're
never
used as one. <<

Having driven a1993 Ford Explorer 18,000 miles opn a cross-country trip (3
months) -- and a Blazer 3200 miles on a trip from Portland, OR down to
Vegas -- through Joshua tree and back to LA (1997) --  through many
off-road excursions in between -- I can tell you that they do not 'do
reasonably well' off-road... compared to trucks like the 4Runner (which I
took on a 12,000 mile across country trip in 1992)..

The Explorer and the Blazer absolutely 'suck-wind' off-road -- in my
opinion.  However, I will give them credit in one are: they are both great
long-highway-cruising vehicles -- absolutely no doubt about it.  Much more
comfortable than the 4Runner on long trips..

Perhaps the Expedition is better off-road -- through an inside source
(mechanic at Ford Dealership) tells me horror stories about those things.
The old Blazers and Ford Broncos are in a different class entirely..

Don't get me wrong -- I have a passion for anything with wheels, and I can
usually find one or 2 great things about every vehicle.  I think the
'bells-and-whistles' are the great things about these (?)->trucks-


Richard
87 5KCS TQ
85 4KS Q
82 VW Cabrio