Picked up my Territory - Ford Forums

bossxr8 · 06-30-2004, 03:49

I picked up my Territory last Thursday after trading in the XR8. Mine is a Lightning Strike Ghia with tinted windows being the only option. I thought you may be interested in my impresssions of the car so here goes.
First impression is that it drives like a slightly higher XT, which really suprised me. The steering is superb and the suspension does a wonderful job of making the car seem nimble. In 90% of driving you would hardly feel the difference between the Territory and a Fairmont Ghia except you are sitting up higher. The interior is sensational, with lots of nice little storage spaces that come in handy and the seats are very comfortable and noise levels are lower than the BA. Brakes are good but like the later model BA brakes they need a bit of a shove to get working.
The engine moves the car along nicely and is smooth and quite but is lacking two cylinders, 1.4 litres of capacity and a tough exhaust note. The grade logic control that is programmed into the auto that drops down a gear when you are going down a hill with no accelerator to keep the car from picking up too much speed works quite well, and should become available on the BA 2 as it is just a software upgrade.
Equipment levels of the Ghia is excellent with dual zone climate control to stop the missus from complaining its too cold, the electric seats with memory and premium sound as well as a host of other gadgets that come in handy.
Gripes for me are a lack of acceleration and exhaust note ( its the first car I have owned that is not a Falcon V8 ) but most of the time it has enough. The Barra 220 V8 would have been a perfect fit for the Territory, as it has the low down and mid range grunt to get its heavy carcuss moving and an exhaust note that could easily be extracted so Ford have missed an oppurtuninty there, but the turbo 6 should be sufficient.
The car has already been back to the dealer as the doors decided they would unlock themselves whenever it felt like it but a new set of parameters has been loaded into the BEM to hopefully fix this. Apart from that I am quite pleased with the Territory and it should keep me happy for the next 6 months before I upgrade to something else.
Cheers.

fordel · 06-30-2004, 04:01

Sounds like you like the car there

Change the exhaust

that will give you a better exhaust note hehe

Have fun with your new toy !

Chris

laminge · 06-30-2004, 04:01

Thanks for the report, seems like your having fun.

Pictures damm it!

Supa R00 · 06-30-2004, 04:26

Mmmmm lightning strike territory ghia...

bossxr8 · 06-30-2004, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordel

Sounds like you like the car there

Change the exhaust

that will give you a better exhaust note hehe

Have fun with your new toy !

Chris

Sixes with exhausts don't gel with me, most sound way to droney, although the XR6T sounds pretty good with an exhaust although it's no Boss.

galaxy xr8 · 06-30-2004, 04:53

Where's all the pic's,youv'e had it since last Thursday and still no pick's, not happy jan,lol.

FordHawk · 06-30-2004, 05:20

Not good to hear it has already had an issue, but good to see that it is an easy fix....the problem is that it is the first series of a new vehicle.

And yes, we want pics!

rod · 06-30-2004, 05:49

keep us updated to any dramas you have with it as i am concidering a Territory for the Hand Brake but want to wait until they have been out a few monthe to sort out any little bugs they may have

regards
rod

3Toed · 06-30-2004, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

Where's all the pic's,youv'e had it since last Thursday and still no pick's, not happy jan,lol.

CDAA · 07-01-2004, 06:43

Your a braver man than I bossXR8. I just can't bring myself to do it...yet.
Seriously, the car sounds great and I'm sure you will love it despite its perfomance short commings over your XR8.

Come on FORD, we shouldn't have to go through this!!