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2015 Expedition Refresh Missed Opportunities/Details


WillieFlo

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Right now my family and I are in the market for a premium full size SUV. Between the GMC Yukon and the Platinum Expedition, I prefer the overall looks of the Expedition refresh. However, there are several places where I think Ford missed the concept of "refreshing" on the 2015.

 

1. No XENON HID projector or LED headlight option?!?! ("refresh", remember)

2. No LED running light bands in headlights, not even on the Platinum? Even the new Explorer 2016 is getting signature LED lighting for running lamps.

3. Update all the bulbs interior and exterior to LED's....this is 2015 and incandescent bulbs are old technology.

4. Chrome is the only grille/headlight option?? Some of us don't like Chrome.....The Black headlight housings and monochrome grille from before look great!

5. Allow the color of the LED backlighting in the center stack to change with the Ambient "Mood" lighting.

6. Add'l bolstering of sides on the bucket seats in front and 2nd row!! No lateral support!

7. Can we get some updated, refreshed looking LED tail lights? the Explorer has had them for years now.

8. Why hasn't the hands-free liftgate that's been available since 2013 in the Escape on at least the Platinum yet?

 

Overall, I think for did a good job with the 2015, but there still a lot of room for improvement. These items listed above would take it from being a good vehicle to being a great vehicle!

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Right now my family and I are in the market for a premium full size SUV. Between the GMC Yukon and the Platinum Expedition, I prefer the overall looks of the Expedition refresh. However, there are several places where I think Ford missed the concept of "refreshing" on the 2015.

 

1. No XENON HID projector or LED headlight option?!?! ("refresh", remember)

2. No LED running light bands in headlights, not even on the Platinum? Even the new Explorer 2016 is getting signature LED lighting for running lamps.

3. Update all the bulbs interior and exterior to LED's....this is 2015 and incandescent bulbs are old technology.

4. Chrome is the only grille/headlight option?? Some of us don't like Chrome.....The Black headlight housings and monochrome grille from before look great!

5. Allow the color of the LED backlighting in the center stack to change with the Ambient "Mood" lighting.

6. Add'l bolstering of sides on the bucket seats in front and 2nd row!! No lateral support!

7. Can we get some updated, refreshed looking LED tail lights? the Explorer has had them for years now.

8. Why hasn't the hands-free liftgate that's been available since 2013 in the Escape on at least the Platinum yet?

 

Overall, I think for did a good job with the 2015, but there still a lot of room for improvement. These items listed above would take it from being a good vehicle to being a great vehicle!

 

Welcome to the Forum! :) I agree that they could have added some more LED lighting. Since this is a refresh with an all new due out within the next two years, I am sure they had prioritize the upgrades based on the budget for the refresh. I am sure LED aftermarket taillights and running lights will be available if they are not already. Not sure what all has been upgraded on the Yukon, but, I know that it still does not have independent rear suspension. :shift:

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This was not just a refresh - it was a refresh that had been delayed for a couple of years while they figured out if they were going to keep it or not. As such, it was not very comprehensive. Also - some of those features are reserved for the Navigator.

 

The new one should have everything you mentioned.

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Yeah, I realize it was just a refresh, but so is the the 2016 Explorer and it seems like that refresh got more high tech goodies than the Expedition did, but less mechanical goodies than the Expy did. The Yukon/Denali got the majority of these missing items in 2015, but I'm not crazy about buying Gov't Motors.....ALTHOUGH, GMC does have several GREAT looking 22" wheel options to choose from!!!!!

Heck, I was going to be happy with a King Ranch until I took the wife to the dealership to look and compare the KR vs the Platinum.....she ended up trumping me and saying the KR looked cheap with too much hard plastic on the door panels inside and that the seats reminded her of a Butterfinger with the Brown and Orange colors.....we weren't going to pay that much $$ for something that looked cheap like that.....so I think a Black Platinum w Brunello int. it will be..... I'm thinking I'll hold out for early 4th Qtr of 2015, to snag a 2016 with hopefully a few new option offerings.....we'll see.

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Explorer does not have a viable Lincoln counterpart like the Navigator nor was its refresh put on hold for several months/years while they figured out if they were even going to keep it around. This was a stop gap until the completely new one comes out on the F150 platform.

Edited by akirby
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Explorer does not have a viable Lincoln counterpart like the Navigator nor was its refresh put on hold for several months/years while they figured out if they were even going to keep it around. This was a stop gap until the completely new one comes out on the F150 platform.

 

Yeah, basically they did an OK job with adding a few mechanical niceties to the new Expedition to keep sales from falling off the map against the new Yukon/Tahoe/Escalade contingent......did just enough to get by.

 

I'm definitely going to be ready to buy a 2016 Expy in the 4th Qtr of 2015, because if the 2017 Expedition looks anything like the new F-150, I'd prefer a Yukon SLT...........IMO, overall the new F-150 body style looks like crap :headscratch: , except it has great options/tech/features and those headlights and taillights :rockon: are awesome looking!

Edited by WillieFlo
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I don't know that the Expy will look just like F150 - depends on how much they want to spend on styling differences. But I would expect the interior and all the underlying parts to be as similar as possible to the F150 to save money.

 

That's what I'm afraid of. I got in a 2015 Platinum F-150 last week and the interior had some nice details, but the AC vents are out of proportion with the dash. I'm all for AC(especially in Houston, Tx) but way too darn big! They overpower the styling of the dash in IMO.

The front grille is also oversized and not proportional, and the exterior side just seems so boxy and straight. I prefer the 2014 body styling to the 2015. If they look like an F-150 in 2017, I'd rule an Expedition out.

 

Heck, even a couple of the salesmen at the Ford dealership agreed with my comment about it not having as much appeal while I was there. LMAO!!!

Edited by WillieFlo
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Well, what do you expect a salesman to do, argue with a potential customer right off the bat? :)

 

I had an assistant manager who did that. He would get personally offended if the customer said something bad about something he liked. He didn't last long. :)

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Always turn a complaint around in sales.

 

"The sides seem so boxy and straight compared to last year's model"

 

"I agree, it is boxier than last years model. Believe it or not, they designed it that way to cut through the air easier to achieve better fuel economy. Did you know the new F-150 gets X better miles per gallon than last year's model?"

 

(Mind you, I have no idea if that's why its boxier)

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Always turn a complaint around in sales.

 

"The sides seem so boxy and straight compared to last year's model"

 

"I agree, it is boxier than last years model. Believe it or not, they designed it that way to cut through the air easier to achieve better fuel economy. Did you know the new F-150 gets X better miles per gallon than last year's model?"

 

(Mind you, I have no idea if that's why its boxier)

I think being 700 pounds lighter due to the aluminum may have had more to do with the better fuel economy. Has anyone seen if the bed box in the 2015 F 150 is as deep as the 2014? The new tailgate looks awfully short in comparison to last year's.

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Thanks Captain..... :)

You bet ya, I've spent way too many evenings "researching" and analyzing this crap.....can ya tell? I look at all the details because being an automotive designer is what I wanted to do from when I was 5 yrs old to a Jr in HS. However, my HS guidance counselor advised me to go into Architecture in college instead....."greater opportunities" she said.......maybe true and got me to where I am fiscally today, but my real passion is doing custom cars & trucks!

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Obviously the "UP TO" 700 lb weight reduction had the most to do with any improved FE. That wasn't the point. The point was you had a lazy salesman.

 

Nope, he wasn't lazy. Actually, I established my knowledge of their products early on in the converasation and he knew I would call bu!!$h1t on him if he tried to feed me some. He didn't try to pressure me into looking at anything I wasn't interested in or pressure me to buy. He played it calm and cool. I respected that as a customer and it was "refreshing", pun intended. My wife HATES going to dealerships with a passion, but after we left she was still in a good mood, and didn't feel anxious to leave because of a pushy over ambitious salesman. I will go back to Daniel because he treated me like a person, not a sale. Even if he doesn't have the lowest price at first, I'd probably go back to see if he could match someone elses after shopping around, just to to pay him back for the courtesy.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I agree with everything said. Missed a heated steering wheel also. Oh, and adaptive CC, collision warning. And power middle seats.

 

We are shopping between Tahoe, Yukon, and Expedition. You can get a base Denali 4wd w/ sunroof for $62K at Laura GMC. Com. I'd only seriously consider the Expy if I can get it at $50K out the door.

Edited by PokerMunkee
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The question for any buyer should be, "What are you buying it to do?". If you want a truck, buy a truck. If you want a car, buy a car. Practicality and utility should be the watch words which are foremost in the truck/Suv market. I know that manufactures make good profit from upscaling all their vehicles with gingerbread and such, but you can get those things a lot cheaper in a sedan vs. a truck platform. I believe people want themselves perceived by what they drive more than how they are and how they treat others.

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Speaking for myself and my wife - we don't give a rats behind about how others perceive us based on what we drive. My wife prefers utilities. She's had Explorers, an Aviator, an Expedition, an Edge and now an Escape. She likes the styling and more importantly she likes the higher seating position - it makes her "feel" safer and it's easier for her to get in and out of the vehicle. It has nothing whatsoever to do with prestige or anything else. There are utilities she doesn't like and would not drive them.

 

People who don't drive utilities think they know why other people buy them but that's just speculation and broad generalization.

 

Classic case of "anybody who doesn't drive what I drive is an idiot"......

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The question for any buyer should be, "What are you buying it to do?". If you want a truck, buy a truck. If you want a car, buy a car. Practicality and utility should be the watch words which are foremost in the truck/Suv market. I know that manufactures make good profit from upscaling all their vehicles with gingerbread and such, but you can get those things a lot cheaper in a sedan vs. a truck platform. I believe people want themselves perceived by what they drive more than how they are and how they treat others.

 

I am specifically looking at the Expedition Platinum/ Denali/ Escalade type vehicle because

1) I need a vehicle that will tow my trailer with my 4-seater RZR to/from the ranch

2) Hold up to 6 people comfortably (the Escalade/ Denali DON'T do this very well in the 3rd row)

3) Handle my hunting gear/ luggage when my family and maybe parents/in-laws go on a trip

4) Handle myself and potential clients to go to a meeting comfortably.

5) Satisfy my taste for being able to be modded!!!!

 

That's all.......

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The criticism is that Ford didn't give a $60K SUV the options to make it competitive. No reason it shouldn't have adaptive CC, heated steering wheel, HID/LED lights, collision warning, lane departure, cross traffic warning.

 

The F150 got most of this for 2015, including a 360 camera, so hopefully an aluminum Expy with these options is in the near future.

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The criticism is that Ford didn't give a $60K SUV the options to make it competitive. No reason it shouldn't have adaptive CC, heated steering wheel, HID/LED lights, collision warning, lane departure, cross traffic warning.

 

The F150 got most of this for 2015, including a 360 camera, so hopefully an aluminum Expy with these options is in the near future.

You hit the nail on the head Pokermonkee!

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The 2015 Expy is a stopgap until the new one gets here. 2 years ago they didn't know if they were even keeping it.

 

I was also under the impression that this refresh was essentially the one the schedule from 2 years ago when they put it on hold, but was brought back online when they decided to continue the products. So, given that, it makes more sense, since a lot of the tech wasn't around then (and therefore wasn't designed into the redesign). Could they have gone back to the drawing board and included some of those features? Probably. But I think they (rightly) chose to devote all their resources toward a fantastic 2017 model in 2 years instead. The refresh will help it get by in the meantime. I know I'm seeing quite a few new Expys and Navis already, and sales have ticked up a bit it seems, so it's doing it's job as a stopgap and then some so far.

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