Saw a unicorn today. Ford Saleen Explorer XP8.

[SidVicious]

I had no idea these even existed. Saw it at a light today rumbling away. Sounded great when he took off.

Here's the wiki. I saw one of approximately 125 ever made http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saleen_XP8

[vasillalov]

Engine
Bore & Stroke: 4in x 3in
Displacement: 5.0L / 302cid
Compression Ratio: 8.5:1
Horsepower: 286 hp / 4,200 rpm
Torque: 333 lb/ft / 3,000 rpm

Drive Train
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic

Craptastic!

[.LSinLV.]

Craptastic!

agreed. 5.0L and only 286 hp and 333 tq!?!?! all driven though a wonderous 4 spd autobox.

the performance must be neck-snapping!

[Eightysixturbo]

Saleen makes the S7.......and the S121.

They can't all be zingers

[2.0T_Convert]

And a Ferrari F355 of similar vintage was making 380 hp.

[SVT2888]

agreed. 5.0L and only 286 hp and 333 tq!?!?! all driven though a wonderous 4 spd autobox.

the performance must be neck-snapping!

Weren't those numbers decent for those days?

[S0RRY]

agreed. 5.0L and only 286 hp and 333 tq!?!?! all driven though a wonderous 4 spd autobox.

the performance must be neck-snapping!

they stopped making them in 2001. Things have changed a little bit in the last 12 model years.

[S0RRY]

and on subject of "why? because we could" trucks, the Lingenfelter 427TT Escalade EXT:

0-60 in 4.0 seconds



http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...specialty-file

[The Kilted Yaksman]

To put this in perspective the 1998 Mustang GT had a 225hp 4.6.

[TooFitToQuit]

Best body style Explorer to date

[BMW4L1F3]

Best body style Explorer to date

Wasn't this also the body style that were blowing up?

[TooFitToQuit]

Wasn't this also the body style that were blowing up?

My mother had the recalled tires on her 95 XLT 4WD. Replacements were paid for by Ford. That was the end of it. Big whoop.

[BMW4L1F3]

My mother had the recalled tires on her 95 XLT 4WD. Replacements were paid for by Ford. That was the end of it. Big whoop.

exploding tires which leads to deaths = big whoop?

[TooFitToQuit]

exploding tires which leads to deaths = big whoop?

Generalizing a few cases as them all being subject to death = big whoop

There are also hundreds of other cases that were overhyped.

[91gti20v]

exploding tires which leads to deaths = big whoop?

Also... You are blaming a tire failure on the manufacturer?!? This was more guilt by association. Throw Firestone under the bus, not Ford.

[pogbond]

the explorer got the nickname exploder not because of the tire issue but because of an issue with the rear diff that would cause the rear diff to explode, they fixed it though, obviously, and not all vehicles were affected also obvious or they would be gone

[91gti20v]

the explorer got the nickname exploder not because of the tire issue but because of an issue with the rear diff that would cause the rear diff to explode, they fixed it though, obviously, and not all vehicles were affected also obvious or they would be gone

Was it not the tire issue that led to the deaths though? I am also aware of the diff issue FYI

[GolfVIDriver]

To put this in perspective the 1998 Mustang GT had a 225hp 4.6.

Exactly.

I am getting really sick and tired of the younger crowd coming in here and going "X hp out of a X.XL VX? THAT'S LOLful1!!!!on!e!'

It was damned respectable in the mid 90s when this beast was produced. Time moves on, and hp improves, but at the time, this was a fine machine.

Its sad that fact is lost on some of us.

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

While it is entertaining to look back at the numbers and laugh at how far we've progressed, it is a little shortsighted to make fun of cars from a good amount of time ago.

Heck, my 11 year old E39 makes 282hp out of a 4.4L, doesn't turn out as much torque, and the engine cost is probably 4x what's in that Saleen. Time marches on, and for that era, it seemed to be on par with what was expected out of a "performance V8."

[Jrod511]

Man, you're all a bunch of haters. V8 Explorers had plenty of punch all along; I imagine it must be quite satisfying with the power bump.

This place sucks.

[Heathcliff Huxtable]

I had no idea these even existed. Saw it at a light today rumbling away. Sounded great when he took off.

Here's the wiki. I saw one of approximately 125 ever made http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saleen_XP8

my buddy bought one with a trashed front bumper for a grand . has the recaros and carbon hood. he repaired the bumper and dailys it

[Hurt]

"OMG only 280 HP from a 5.0 in ?! That sucks soooo much. Today, 12 years later, we're making 400+ hp from a 5.0!!! This is sucks!!!"

/typical TLCer

Saleen made a ton of neat cars, as did SVT, and SLP. The SLP s10 was nice, the SLP firehawk, and grand am were all nice cars. SVT's focus, mustang cobra R, and pick ups were nice, too. Saleen's S281, S331, and s331 truck are all great automobiles..

[S0RRY]

Man, you're all a bunch of haters. V8 Explorers had plenty of punch all along; I imagine it must be quite satisfying with the power bump.

This place sucks.

there are only like 2 people who are actually ****ting on the explorer.

[SidVicious]

my buddy bought one with a trashed front bumper for a grand . has the recaros and carbon hood. he repaired the bumper and dailys it

Awesome.

[Señor Peligro]

That's a rare Exploder alright. Probably boogies pretty good.

[Live-Wire]

"OMG only 280 HP from a 5.0 in ?! That sucks soooo much. Today, 12 years later, we're making 400+ hp from a 5.0!!! This is sucks!!!"

/typical TLCer

You said it... TCL is really starting to annoy me to no end (with posts like... 'how much power do you need' - oh about 300 or else my family sedan is a slow turd... yea... OK there, good thing you were born in 1990 because you'd have never made it thru the 80s). Glad to see there are actually quite a few people in here with some sense.

Back then things were a bit normal, and you didn't need 0-60 in 6 and change seconds in a utility vehicle. A hair under 8 seconds was sports sedan range! Most SUV's took over 10 with a V6 and around 9 with a V8. This thing could probably do it in low 8's or high 7's. That was impressive for the time.

[adrew]

Weren't those numbers decent for those days?

Yep. My mom's friend had a '96 Explorer with the 5.0 and the thing would move out.

For some perspective, the 1997 4Runner had a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder with 150 Hp and 177 lb-ft. The V6 one had 183 hp and 217 lb-ft. The baddest Grand Cherokee with the 5.2-liter (318) V8 made 220 hp and 300 lb-ft.

[c0mmon]

my buddy bought one with a trashed front bumper for a grand . has the recaros and carbon hood. he repaired the bumper and dailys it

pictures of factory recaros in suv please

[MCTB]

Weren't those numbers decent for those days?

Yes they were and the handling was much improved as well. I had a 98 V6 5MT 4 door and it was a great truck. I remember drooling over these.

[Aonarch]

Lol at everyone in here thinking that was slow...

[GunSupplier]

Yep. My mom's friend had a '96 Explorer with the 5.0 and the thing would move out.

For some perspective, the 1997 4Runner had a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder with 150 Hp and 177 lb-ft. The V6 one had 183 hp and 217 lb-ft. The baddest Grand Cherokee with the 5.2-liter (318) V8 made 220 hp and 300 lb-ft.

Actually, THE baddest Grand Cherokee EVER (yes including the newer SRT8s) was available with the 5.9 (360) for the 1998 model year. It made 245hp and 345 lb-ft.

The only reason I'm correcting you is because it gave me an excuse to bring up the 5.9 Grand Cherokee...

and on subject of "why? because we could" trucks, the Lingenfelter 427TT Escalade EXT:

0-60 in 4.0 seconds

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...specialty-file

I see your Lingenfelter Escalade and raise you the original badass truck (which had it's own thread a while back): The Lingenfelter Suburban, equipped with a 9.9L, marine-duty, naturally aspirated big block. 705 lb-ft of torque!

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...specialty-file

[vasillalov]

Generalizing a few cases as them all being subject to death = big whoop

There are also hundreds of other cases that were overhyped.

Come on now. Ford was forced to issue a recall! ...and you know VERY well they would not have done that if it was not a "big whoop". Remember the Fiery Fiesta?

[KeiCar]

the explorer got the nickname exploder not because of the tire issue but because of an issue with the rear diff that would cause the rear diff to explode, they fixed it though, obviously, and not all vehicles were affected also obvious or they would be gone

ahh interesting, the nickname came from a faulty diff problem and not the firestones... didn't know that.

[audiphile]

I like how he kicks off the video by implying he has a large penis.

[audiphile]

This guy calls it a Mustang and can't find the throttle body.

These vehicles seem to attract a special brand owner.