Early-morning ergonomics
Uuuuuugh. The dog woke me up at 5:15 for an unusual early-morning trip to the back yard. She went right back to sleep; I didn't.
I decided to drive the kids to school in one of this week's test vehicles, a 2007 Ford Explorer SportTrac -- because when one is too sleepy for a half-mile walk, driving a two-ton pickup truck into a school zone during munchkin rush hour is clearly the wisest and safest choice.
The 2007 Explorer SportTrac is the new version of Ford's SUV/pickup crossover, and its styling is based on the new 2006 Explorer SUV. 
Now, check out this photo of the SportTrac's inner door panel. See that little chrome piece I've circled? Looks like it could be some sort of storage cubby or ashtray, right? It's actually the door handle. Robin discovered this yesterday on the freeway (luckily from the passenger's seat). I heard "What's this?" followed by a rush of air and "Oh, it's the door handle!"
Now, I only mention this because this morning as we drove to school the kids were checking out the back seat. Robert: "Hey, this would be a neat place to store my Yu-Gi-Oh cards." Andrew: "Yeah, I've got one too, this is cool!" I look over my shoulder, and guess what they're playing with? You got it - the door handles.
Another issue: The switch for the power-adjustable pedals is on the center stack just ahead of the transmission shifter, where it can be pushed by a curious passenger or an object placed on the console. Imagine having the pedals move unexpectedly while you're driving on the freeway! A slim chance, maybe, but why take a chance at all? That switch should be to the left of the steering column where only the driver can reach it.
I'm not pointing out these flaws as an indictment of the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Actually, its independent rear suspension and standard Roll Stability Control system make it much safer than most of its competitors. It'll be much more stable and predictable in an emergency swerve than most pickups, which use a solid rear axle. Still, I wish the designers would pay more attention to minor issues like these. I discovered these snafus in less than 90 minutes of seat time. Didn't they come up in all the months of Ford's development testing?
Now if you'll excuse me... I'm going back to bed. -- Aaron Gold
Hey, ever heard of child door locks? They’re on the rear doors so the kids don’t open the doors! And when you buy the car, someone tells you it’s a
door handle; they don’t let you discover it on your own. That same door handle is on the Explorer and Mountaineer, and no one has complained yet.
Also, the pedals don’t adjust at the speed of light. It’s only a three-inch total movement, and it moves slowly.
It’s starting to sound as if the manufacturers should make cars 100% idiot proof…who’s responsibility is it? If you have kids, you need to be aware of features in the vehicle. Keep in mind, Aaron, we get these cars for a week, and unless you’ve been to the launch, you are figuring out things on your own. At the dealership during the buying process and during the delivery, the owner learns about all these features so it isn’t a surprise to them!!
In the immortal words of Christopher Walken:
“Ouch.”
Perhaps the SportTrac should come with a passenger briefing card, like the airliners have? Or a PA system so you can brief new passengers. “Welcome aboard! Our 2007 Ford Explorer SportTrac is equipped with four exits. To operate, pull up on the chrome flap thing that looks nothing like a door handle. Please keep hands and arms away from this un-door-handle-like object when the vehicle is in motion, so that we can ensure that we all arrive at our destination together, at the same time.
Your points are well taken. Still, in today’s litiguous society, it’s amazing that Ford let this go. I had three passengers run into the same problem within 10 minutes of getting into the car, so I can’t believe that Ford didn’t notice. And really, what’s the point of the design? Better to put the door release down below where the grab handle is and move the grab handle up to where the release is – it’s too low to reach easily. It’s a silly design. At 7 and 10 years old, the kids shouldn’t need the protection of child locks. Child locks are a great safety device, but they are also a trade-off. Now that the kids are old enough to know not to open the door when the car is moving, I don’t want them trapped in the car if we have an accident and I’m unable to move to let them out.
Usually we have these fights over private email, but I’m fine airing the laundry in public. Most vehicles today come with “Quick Reference” cards that help people get the basics without having to open that precious owner’s manual no one ever seems to want to read, even though they spend a lot of money on a vehicle. But that’s another story for another time. Our press vehicles are often new, and don’t come with the quick guide cards.
I had three passengers say that the door handle location was “cool,” and one of those was a 12-year-old girl. So as with exterior design, interior tastes are a matter of personal preference.
It takes a second to tell the kids that chrome thing is the door handle, so don’t pull it. Same amount of time it takes to tell the kids “hey, the stove is hot, don’t put your hand on top of it when it’s on.”
Maybe because I don’t have kids it bothers me that all vehicles must be designed with EVERYONE in the world in mind. How about Ford make a sticker that says “adults only” vehicle? !!
BTW, J Kyle, funny comment. Now I’ll just sit back and wait for my pink slip from Aaron!!!
Trust me, BJ, if I was going to pink-slip you, I’d find something much more creative!
Ready for my next rant? All that chrome on the inside – around the instruments, the vents, the door handles, and capping the shifter handle. We just got back from a drive with Robin at the wheel, and the glare drove her nuts. I finally plopped my camera case down on the shifter knob.
That said, our spin involved a drive through the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Sport Trac handles better in the curves than one would expect from a compact pickup. I still think the independent rear suspension that Ford uses in (or under) all of its SUVs is one of the most underrated safety features on the market. It makes a world of difference in keeping the vehicle under control in a swerve.
Why do you seem to have problems few others do? Now, for the real world, Ford stock closed at $6.92 today. Time to buy it yet??
I’m just glad to see that I’m not the only one that has to apply some “correction” to Mr Gold sometimes.
My problem with the SportTrac is that I think all these half-SUV, half-truck things are just ghastly, no matter who makes them. Yet I find the Subaru Baja not too bad – and not just because of my inherent Subie bias. Maybe because the Baja does about 95% of what these big vehicles can do in a much smaller (and probably safer and definitely more stable) package. If you don’t have to tow and are resigned to an ugly vehicle and want four doors and a smallish bed – I’d go with a Baja. Make mine a turbo 5-speed!
The pedals only move if the trans is in Park. But, the switch is in a stupid place. WAY TO GO FORD!!
As far as I know, you can adjust the pedals when the vehicle is moving…I will double check that. And J Kyle, the Brat (I mean the Baja)
isn’t a bad product, it’s just that many remember the Brat, and bad memories die hard. The tonneau cover on the Sport Track is 70 lb, and I couldn’t remove or install it myself..I would go with a soft top tonneau instead. The extended bed gate, however, is aluminum, lightweight, and incredibly easy to use.
Oh and BTW, Polarized sunglasses kill the glare instantly!
The pedals will, indeed, move when the car is in motion, guys.
Any BJ – she was wearing polarized sunglasses. Because some of the shiny chrome bits are on the console, it was coming in right underneath her glasses, Likewise if she looked to one side or the other, the glare came in from the side. Maybe the vehicle should come with those big honkin’ glasses they give to cateract surgery patients. Or maybe goggles… but not too dark, you still have to be able to read the safety card!!!
Ford PR has confirmed that the pedals do adjust when the vehicle is moving…SO There!!
The doors lock as soon as you pull away. So the kids in the back need to unlock the door before the open it!!!