TerritoryFord Australia Upcoming CrossOver vehicle discussion forum
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I've driven both RWD and AWD for many thousands of kms and all Territorys handle very responsively, feeling direct and stable. The front suspension design in particular should take the credit for this. Ford has worked really hard on providing superior handling as a key strength of our products (drive a BA, Focus, Fiesta or Territory and you'll agree). Back on Territory, RWDs feel lighter (more nimble) particularly in windy city roads like Sydney. Open sealed roads RWD and AWD are nearly identical - in fact you'll notice more difference from the 5 to 7-seater option than RWD to AWD. The 7 seaters ride very slightly more firmly when they are lightly loaded due to the extra load capability. On long distance gravel both RWD and AWD are very similar. In the wet, ice, snow, cornering on gravel etc the AWD and early but subtle DSC interventions are as good as any other vehicle I've driven.
So RWD and AWD both offer a different "package" for peoples' different lifestyle requirements. RWD wins at the pump and in tight/busy driving plus it is very car-like. The AWD wins when the conditions are less predictable. Throw in the heaps of options that allow you to modify your Territory to best suit your specific needs and you have the reason over 11,000 have been bought already.
Yes I'm biased but I reckon you've bought a great vehicle.
I think i have said those words more than a 1000 times and i'll say it again I LOVE THIS CAR.
11 days after i took delivery she went off road. Simple dirt road out to Duchess (North Qld) 60kph and a couple of sharp turns of the wheel and she didn't even look like moving. 80kph and ditto. 100kph and you wouldn't even know you were off road, no slowing down for corners not even to miss the old bird or two. I LOVE THIS CAR!
18 days. Time to try creek and river beds. Sand, rocks and trenches left by the Off Road Boys. Steady as she goes to start with but by the end we were climbing riverbanks and crossing railway tracks looking for something more difficult. I LOVE THIS CAR!
1 month. Lets do the hill climb. No taking the baby RAV 4 track thats 6 times as long, we head straight up it. The traction control light kept flickering but if it weren't for that you would swear she didn't budge in inch all the way up.
I LOVE THIS CAR!
All i can say is if you've got it (AWD) use it and have heaps of fun doing it, and i tell ya now I can't wait for our wet season.
Oh Yeah and did i tell ya I LOVE THIS CAR!
Maybe in the thread (What would you change in the next model Terri) we should include a BIG bar fridge, fox sports, and an ensuite. Gee if Big Blue came to the party there would be approx 1900 Aussie males go missing into the bush every month for months on end.
I'm in the same boat with Paulv. However I wasn't really in the market for a new car. Until one day we stopped at the Local dealer and had a captain cook at the car that Alex Lloyd was flogging on the box as AMAZING. After 20 questions from my wife to the sales bloke, we were sold.
We wanted one. Why?
1. Bloody nice looking ride. Inside and out.
2. All the safety options included for our Family of four. (rear air bags big winner)
3. It wasn't a BIG friggin 4WD, so my wife would be comfortable driving it.
4. Price in comparsion to other options on the market, nothing compared.
I debate RWD v AWD for some time. Final decision was RWD. Why?
1. Cost saving (on a budget)
2. Would only need AWD < 2% of driving needs. (if that)
3. RWD slightly cheaper to run and service.
Have had the RWD TS for 3months. To quote UBeautTerri "I Love IT!"
It has 3200km on it to date and has not missed a beat.
Only down side is that I only get to drive it on weekends.
Ford stated recently that sales of the RWD are taking sales from the Falcon Wagon. So perhaps this is a significant factor in the sales figures ?
I traded my '03 BA Futura Wagon on my RWD Ghia. Have had Ford wagons for a long time now, started with Fairmonts and was really disappointed when the BA did not come out with a Fairmont wagon, so I had to settle for the Futura. I was fortunate to be working for Ford when the Territory was released so I got to attend the launch day here in Adelaide. Drove both AWD & RWD on sealed, unsealed and off road (only AWD) as well as several of the opposition vehicles. At the end of the day I knew I had to have one of these cars, the big problem was picking a colour - pretty crappy colour range.
As the only off road driving I do is our gravel driveway I chose RWD and lots of added extras. Having said that I did park on a steep grassy slope while in Melbourne last month, of course it rained heavily during the day and I had a large, heavy float hitched to my Territory. Everyone was locking their hubs and switching to 4wd and telling me I would never get my car and trailer out of there, did I want them to tow me out - wrong thing to say to this girl! The Territory did not hesitate, kept it nice and slow and reverese back and drove straight out with all the big macho guys standing there with their mouths open. A girl who can back a trailer and drive in the mud!
The Territory is becoming very popular with the dog show crowd mostly RWDs. It has way more room than my wagon and is a much better towing vehicle.
"(Leyland/Rover Australia/Land Rover were considering such a car [RWD SUV] more than 20 years ago but decided the love affair with the 4WD was still too strong then, and the Rangie was still in its prime)."
My history of the RWD SUV didn’t go back far enough. The photos attached show the Road Rover - 2 (rear) WD version of the Land Rover (images courtesy Land Rover). Coil springs, wishbone independent front suspension, 6 seats including fold downs in the rear, spare wheel on the back of the car. Sound like familiar formulas? The year - 1952. The Americans also did the same thing later, though I’m not sure when. Some things have a long gestation period in the motor industry, though it seems surprising that it took half a century for such a concept to reach Australia in spite of obvious latent demand. Perhaps it was the absence of local SUV manufacture and the tariff structure inhibiting imports of such a beast. So I guess its thanks again Ford.
AWD certainly has its strong advantages but the most common comment I hear in my involuntary “carpark feedback” surveys is - “Rear wheel drive? That’s all you really need isn’t it mate.” Not surprising then that most are sold in RWD. As an ex Mini driver I also appreciate Territory’s comment about the RWD version and Sydney’s winding sweeping roads. With the Territory, Ford should adopt that old BMC advertising slogan “we’ve marketed the corner” although I suppose you don’t want to encourage people to overdo it! All we need now is that low down grunt to storm the hills.
Re Road Rover - sorry about the missing photos. Can't seem to get the image uploading to work today. I'll try again tomorrow unless somebody wants to post them for me.
I live in NSW and snow ski in NSW. Laws are that I have to carry chains but it is not mandatory to use them on AWD in NSW.
This year I had to fit chains to a Magna every bloody day. This is not a fun snow experience when you are doing this on the side of the road as the chain bay was full all the time, your up to your ankles in mud and slush, you can't feel your hands and some dickhead who dosen't think he has to fit chains
comes unstuck and nearly collects you whilst your under your front wheel.
When you consider I've got the $1000 accessories for free, I think the extra $3000 for the safety and convenience for MY lifestyle are worth it.
Note the first mention is of a 2wd Land Rover estate car (station wagon) - bear in mind that station wagons in the 50s basically were all conversion jobs, there were very few factory produced models. In the US at this stage Woodies were actually made from wood!
There was a 2wd wagon version of the Jeep produced from 1946: Willys Jeep Station Wagon, 1946-65
and also the Wagoneer in 1963 which was the first 4wd wagon with independent front suspension. This was produced until about 1990.
This page is worth a look, some Jeep ideas that never made it including a Jeep-based 4x4 sportscar from 1970: Designers at work
"(Leyland/Rover Australia/Land Rover were considering such a car [RWD SUV] more than 20 years ago but decided the love affair with the 4WD was still too strong then, and the Rangie was still in its prime)."
My history of the RWD SUV didn’t go back far enough. The photos attached show the Road Rover - 2 (rear) WD version of the Land Rover (images courtesy Land Rover). Coil springs, wishbone independent front suspension, 6 seats including fold downs in the rear, spare wheel on the back of the car. Sound like familiar formulas? The year - 1952. The Americans also did the same thing later, though I’m not sure when. Some things have a long gestation period in the motor industry, though it seems surprising that it took half a century for such a concept to reach Australia in spite of obvious latent demand. Perhaps it was the absence of local SUV manufacture and the tariff structure inhibiting imports of such a beast. So I guess its thanks again Ford.
AWD certainly has its strong advantages but the most common comment I hear in my involuntary “carpark feedback” surveys is - “Rear wheel drive? That’s all you really need isn’t it mate.” Not surprising then that most are sold in RWD. As an ex Mini driver I also appreciate Territory’s comment about the RWD version and Sydney’s winding sweeping roads. With the Territory, Ford should adopt that old BMC advertising slogan “we’ve marketed the corner” although I suppose you don’t want to encourage people to overdo it! All we need now is that low down grunt to storm the hills.
I wouldn't class the Road Rover as a precursor to the SUV concept, more like a traditional famliy wagon. The Volvo Estate came as a 7 seaters, but still not a SUV.
Forty percent of Territory's sold are AWD, for a option that costs $4000.00 40% is very high. I wonder what the percentage would be if it was a no cost option?
I'd be willing to bet that AWD sales would hit at least 60%, even though there is the disadvantage of higher fuel consumption, higher maintanence costs & loss of responsiveness due to extra weight.
Well I'm going for a drive now, it's raining the roads are slick with water & oil from the first rains in a while, but I feel 100% confident that I can drive through the wet/slippery winding sweeping hills at the same speed I did yesterday in the dry, and if things do come unstuck my beloved DSC gives a gentle helping hand
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