TIL: I've been incorrectly telling people my work vehicle is a Ford Explorer.

"SmugAardvark" (SmugAardvark) 07/12/2019 at 23:43 • Filed to: ford explorer, police interceptor, work truck

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I’ve been driving a Ford SUV for a solid year now at my job , and when chit-chatting with folks about cars, I mention that my work vehicle is a Ford Explorer, and that it isn’t very good. Apparently, I’ve been living a lie. At least about it being an Explorer. The not very good bit holds true still.

It’s actually a Ford Police Interceptor Utility. And it actually doesn’t say Explorer anywhere on it. I guess I never actually paid enough attention and just kind of always assumed it had the standard Explorer badging. But nope!

It does deviate from the standard Explorer in a few ways. AWD is standard, the shifter is on the steering column (because the whole center console is replaced with a radio stack and toggle switches for the light bar and beacon). It has larger brake discs, spotlights, an improved cooling system, and allegedly better ABS and traction control. The transmission, however, still vaguely sucks. Clunks like you wouldn’t believe and often has trouble finding the right gear to be in. The backup camera screen is in the rear view mirror, and has trouble with changing light conditions. The backup sensors also are a bit finnicky (in that they started beeping after I backed into a pole last year).

Acceleration and braking aren’t bad, but it seems to have relatively meh ground clearance considering it is an SUV. No real complaints about the EcoBoost V6. The sound isn’t exactly inspiring, but I guess it doesn’t need to be. Ford’s Sync system is alright. My personal vehicles are 10 and 19 years old, so I don’t have a whole lot to compare it to.

Let’s be clear though, it’s light-years better than the old Jeep Patriots, Dodge Rams, and Ford Fusions we had. I’ll probably still call it an Explorer anyway .

Ah, and no, I’m not a cop. I’d have to tell you if I was, right? Right?

wafflesnfalafel > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 00:12

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cool - all the bits you want, nothing you don’t

DipodomysDeserti > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 00:18

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Does it have a cigarette lighter?

SiennaMan > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 00:35

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 I'd still call it an Explorer, it'll only confuse people if you call it a 'police interceptor suv.'  It's like all of those old panther platform retired police cars, nobody actually calls them 'police interceptor', even though I think that's what was on the trunk lid..  

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 00:49

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It’s correct IMO to call it an explorer... The “interceptor” tag only exists because the Crown Vic is no more. Plus you don’t want to be an asshole and bust people’s balls that recognizes an incredibly popular SUV.

Among “enthusiasts:” sure, call it a 2010-something interceptor and I will know exactly what you mean: an explorer that was used by the cops.

not for canada - australian in disguise > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 00:58

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If the FPIU is an FPIU and not an Explorer, this is a Town Car and not a MKT.

ttyymmnn > DipodomysDeserti 07/13/2019 at 01:00

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“Fix the cigarette lighter.”

That’s my favorite scene in the whole film. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > DipodomysDeserti 07/13/2019 at 01:14

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This is at least the second Blues Brothers reference we’ve had on Oppo this week.  I dig it. 

Svend > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 03:02

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Nah, stick with Ford Explorer. Otherwise you’ll get confused looks and have to explain what it is and half way through explaining people will get bored if they aren’t into cars and nobody comes out well.

A Polish friend bought a 1995 Ford Maverick here in the U.K. and nobody knew what it was as most people at the time knew Fords for the Fiesta, Escort, Orion and Mondeo. The likes of the Cougar and Scorpio were known to a degree but not common cars by any means. Then you had the Ford Maverick that was just there, very few people outside the Ford sphere knew they existed and even if you saw one, you thought it was another car.

At the time of the Nissan Terrano, Ford had collaborated and like Honda did with the Honda Crossroad, a rebadged Land Rover Discovery. Ford did the Ford Maverick a rebadged Nissan Terrano.

Of course at the time Nissan were known for the Nissan Micra, Primera, Almera, Figaro, Skyline and the Terrano.

So it was easier to say a Nissan T errano (unless they were too curious about the Ford badge).

Ford Maverick very similar to the one a mate had (though his was a three door in blue) .

Nissan Terrano II,

SmugAardvark > DipodomysDeserti 07/13/2019 at 03:31

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It does in fact, have two. Two USB ports as well.

SmugAardvark > Svend 07/13/2019 at 03:35

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Badge engineering is such a weird, occasionally fun but often confusing  thing.

SmugAardvark > not for canada - australian in disguise 07/13/2019 at 03:36

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Well...it sure is. I’m okay with that, as I don’t picture myself ever buying either one. :)

SmugAardvark > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/13/2019 at 03:39

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And to only complicate things further, Ford actually had the Interceptor and Interceptor Utility, with the latter being the Explorer and the former being the Taurus. This being the case up until this year when they killed off the Taurus altogether.

SmugAardvark > SiennaMan 07/13/2019 at 03:41

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Correct, they did actually have the PI badge on the police models. The great irony is that I feel like 90% of the people I see today driving the old Panther Interceptors look like they spent plenty of time riding in the back of them when they were still actively used by law enforcement.

Svend > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 04:02

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I get why, but they should have more individuality.

Take the VW Passat/Skoda Superb,

VW Golf/SEAT Leon/Skoda Octavia,

I know they come under the same parent company. But f the same parent company is making them so individual, why aren’t two separate companies that came to collaborate.

It’s a collaboration, not a cloning.   

random001 > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 08:14

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Were can I get one?

TheRealBicycleBuck > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 10:13

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I had a Mazda B-3000. It was just easier to tell most people it was a Ford Ranger.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 11:05

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the old Jeep Patriots, Dodge Rams, and Ford Fusions we had.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Ah, and no, I’m not a cop.

SmugAardvark > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/13/2019 at 18:02

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Haha, not really security per say either. Airport Operations.

SmugAardvark > random001 07/13/2019 at 18:03

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Give it a few years, and they’ll be clogging up auction yards across the country.

SmugAardvark > Svend 07/13/2019 at 18:04

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Agreed, they should. I know it’s all about cost savings, but it just reeks of laziness.

random001 > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 21:11

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Yes!!!!

Jordan > SmugAardvark 07/13/2019 at 22:11

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The only reason they’re so common as cop cars is because Ford give them away with big discounts. Poor performance, and they aren’t even particularly reliable.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Jordan 07/14/2019 at 16:45

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It will be hard to top the Impalas in terms of worthlessness as a cop car. 

Jordan > cmill189 - sans Volvo 07/14/2019 at 22:04

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Which Impala’s? The B-body, or the W-body? The W-bodies weren’t very good.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Jordan 07/15/2019 at 02:04

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100% W