The Stylist

What would the pixel magician change for the next Territory?

* Curtain airbags standard on all models and the inclusion of seat mounted
side airbags.
* Rollover protection system as used on the U.S market Explorers.
* 2.7L Diesel option.
* Interior colour options - dark monotone, dark charcol/light cream two tone etc...
* High ride option for bush buffs.

__________________
I'm a happy camper!

 

Territory

:) yes TX wins that one new2ford. That poor Ghia clock has copped it in this thread.

Ouzo

A piece of window tint film cut to size dims the clock to reasonable levels at night but unfortunately makes the time invisible during the day.

outback_ute

Linking the clock illumination to the interior lighting dimmer?

Actually something I was thinking about today in the car re the next model Territory, I hope they DON'T change the styling. How often do you see a good looking car spoilt because they feel they have to change the styling. Facelifts are rarely as good looking as the original model.

Ouzo

And to all the Ford people who no doubt read these posts - wouldn't it be fantastic customer relations if you could come up with an after market fix for us - not just for the next model. Would be solid evidence to the many doubters that Ford is customer driven.

Come on - any of the solutions above can't be that hard to do!

Ianoz

Hi all,

I've got a Ghia on test for a week, so these are early drive impressions (not long term) of a prospective buyer..

- the clock!!! (as per everyone else!!) such a stupid little thing but VERY annoying.

- some rubber lining in the 'handbag' bins beside the front seats - similar to that on the dash tray. I tended to throw coins/keys in there and they slide around.

- the fold-away cover in the rear masks the dome light - so when you open the tailgate you need to fold back the cover to see anything. A light on the side of the area?

- while I'm on about that - the little loops to start to lift up the fold-away cover are designed for people with 10yo sized fingers. Can they spend a cent or too and make them a decent size so old codgers like me can grab them :-)

- that bl**dy clock. arrgghh!

- the kids hate the way the rear windows only go part way down into the doors- but I suppose that's tied to door shape so stuck with that.

- Add Electrochromatic side mirrors - I thought the "autodimming" rearview mirror was a gimmick, but after using it I've come to love it!

- the sunglasses case in the roof console is too large. Be better to have 2 smaller ones for the front than the one big one. I'm sure one of the Falcons had that (AU??)

- a cord to hold up the cargo area floor while you're getting things out of the storage area under it. Similar to the boot-floor in a Commodore (i know --- boo hisss)

- disable the seat-belt warning chimes when you have selected reverse. activate them once the trans is in "D". I keep thinking it's the reverse sensing chimes..

- bring back a detent between "D" and "N" on the trans rather than free movement from "D" to "N"

- the drivers seat is power everything EXCEPT the incline. Can the seat back be power adjust too (and linked to the memory position)

- finally a niggle - please print a user handbook that is not designed for the "shortest page of the year" award. This one is awkward to read.


Overall - a very competant vehicle. Consumption has averaged under 13L/100km so far - so nothing to complain about there. Pity the tyres squeel like cats when going around roundabouts at a reasonable pace.... ;-)

Paulv

I've finally gotten to put a few freeway km's down now and can add that the door insulation isn't good enough for 2004. My 10 yr old Magna has better noise insulation around the doors. I think it's because the Magna has thicker rubber strips.

Falcons have traditionally had terrible noise insulation due to the oversized door frame and the Terri's heaps better but I can still hear a lot of traffic noise and A-pillar/mirror noise at 110. This also lets in some under-bonnet noise under acceleration.

I still really like the Territory but it's clear that Ford has been playing catch-up in NVH. It's most likely lightyears ahead of stuff like Jeep and the old Merc but I think that the X5 and RX330 are still ahead in some key areas (but of course more expensive).

Extending this rather long thread then I'd say that the car would be world class if...
- it had better noise insulation
- 5 speed auto
- Tdi Diesel
- A clock that was useable
- MP3

outback_ute

How about a light on the tailgate to illuminate the area behind the vehicle when it is open?

chevypower

Here is an update on the V8 diesel for Ford and Premier Auto Group

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ca...p%3Fid%3D1971%
26contentid%3D862+Land+Rover+V8+diesel+3.6+Germany+Bob+Dover&hl=en

The site usually makes you subscribe to read their articles, but copy it as i have pasted it above in to the address bar and you will see the article.

empty

A suggestion...

I was in the USA recently, and was in a mates car. He had installed an optional garage opener on the inside ceiling of the car. Instead of a glasses holder. It seems he could simply remove one of the glasses holders above the rear-vision mirror, and replace it with somethimng that looks the same from the outside, but in fact held his garage door remote control holder, so all he did to open his garage doors was to press his "glasses holder" above his head. (and every one in California has a garage door or two). It could handle two doors. '

Well I thought it was a neat idea anyway, and everyone down here these days have two garage doors.