- suv
- Forest, MS
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- autoshopper.com
2004 mercury mountaineer review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Bold look, refined comfort. introductionmercury mountaineer presents a bold, expressive design. Its innovative chassis and independent rear suspension offer a smooth ride. Its thoughtfully designed interior helps make long trips relaxing. There's respectable power from the standard v6, and more than enough with the optional v8. mountaineer shares its structure and most major components with the ford explorer. It's the mountaineer's adventurous, architectural look that sets it apart. While the explorer almost seems designed to blend into the suburban wallpaper, the mountaineer demands more attention. It points the way to mercury's future with its waterfall grille, while paying homage to mercury's heritage of styling innovation. mountaineer was completely re-engineered for 2002, with a new frame, a new independent rear suspension, a new front suspension, new steering, new seating formats, and a raft of new standard and optional features. For 2004, mountaineer adds even more choices, including second-row bucket seats and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Power adjustable pedals and an in-dash six-disc cd changer are available at all trim levels. Electronic stability control, which ford calls advancetrac, is now offered on two-wheel-drive models and we recommend this feature. lineupmercury mountaineer comes in two models: two-wheel drive 29,350) and all-wheel drive 31,530). Each is available with a 4. 0-liter v6 or a 4. 6-liter v8. All mountaineers come with a five-speed automatic transmission. All have seating for seven, using a third seat that folds completely flat to make room at the rear for large cargo. all mountaineers are built to a relatively high specification, with power windows, mirrors and locks, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, and a class ii receiver hitch for towing. All have the securilock passive anti-theft system and remote keyless entry, and approach lamps on the bottoms of the side mirrors that illuminate the sides of the vehicle when the key fob button is pressed. A standard battery saver turns off the dome light and approach lamps after five minutes. The 4. 6-liter v8 adds $980 to the base model, and $830 to all other models. security package 795) combines safety canopy airbags with rollover sensors, and a reverse sensing system. The moonroof 850) and power adjustable pedals 120) are available as stand-alone options. Other options include auxiliary rear-seat climate control 650), audiophile sound system 495), sirius satellite radio (dealer installed), and a class iii/iv trailer package 400). A rear seat entertainment system 1,250) includes an overhead dvd player and a pull-down seven-inch color screen. The system comes with two wireless headphones, remote control and a universal jack. walkaroundmercury mountaineer's expressive design is refreshing in a sea of comparatively faceless suvs. The exterior graphics are straightforward, businesslike block letters. Optional running boards are convenient for passengers of small stature trying to enter and exit gracefully. interiormountaineer uses trendy matte-aluminum trim on the door panels, steering wheel, instrument panel and dashboard, and it looks terrific. The aluminum trim extends to the main gauges, the tachometer and speedometer, which are done in black-on-white graphics that turn orange-on-white when the lights are on. It takes only a couple of rides to find all the controls quickly and easily. Switches, buttons and levers are large, well marked and easy to use. The seat heaters that come on luxury and premier models warm the seats quickly, but the buttons are mounted on the side of the seat and can be difficult to find and then distinguish from the seat adjustment switches; fortunately, an indicator on the dash shows when the seat heaters are on. Those adjustments include the seatback recliner handle, the power seat switch for fore/aft, and the lumbar pump switch. third-row seats are a bit cramped for 6-foot, 4-inch testers, but the second row is accommodating. Second-row bucket seats 490) are available on luxury and premier. the second- and third-row seats are easy to fold away, which reveals a huge 82 cubic-foot cargo bay. The seats are easy to restore to their upright and locked positions. driving impressionthe 2004 mercury mountaineer hovers near the top of the class of mid-size suvs. The standard v6 delivers respectable performance. It isn't as smooth as toyota's v6, but it is entirely within acceptable bounds. The 4. 0-liter v6 with overhead cams and aluminum heads is rated at 210 horsepower at 5100 rpm, and 254 pounds-feet of torque at 3700 rpm. It works well with the five-speed automatic transmission to move this 4500-pound machine effortlessly over flat territory. Throttle response lacks some verve in hilly terrain. It does this by distributing power to the front and rear tires as needed. In normal driving, the system biases torque 35 percent to the front and 65 percent to the rear to minimize understeer. (understeer is when the front tires slip before the rear tires, causing the vehicle to push toward the outside of a turn.) it relies on an open differential with a viscous coupling. A clutch pack distributes power between the front and rear wheels based on traction needs. There are no switches or levers for the driver to operate. There's no low range for serious off-road driving, either, but the mountaineer's system easily handles snow, rain, mud, wet leaves, ice, and gravel. body roll, or lean, is controlled well in fast corners. Mountaineer is very stable and inspires confidence, a description that also fits the two-wheel-drive models. Its rack-and-pinion steering minimizes wandering on the highway. mountaineer's rigid frame lets its fully independent suspension soak up bumps, potholes and tar strips. summarymercury mountaineer combines convenience and versatility with luxurious accommodations. It's comfortable on long trips. Its features and ergonomics make living with it a very pleasant experience. Its available all-wheel-drive system makes it a confident vehicle in nasty weather. The v6 engine is more than adequate for most families, but the v8 gives it more power for hilly terrain, high altitudes, and towing. model lineupmercury mountaineer 2wd 29,350); awd 31,530). assembled inlouisville, kentucky; st. Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Tachometer✔ Bucket Seats✔ Climate Control✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ CD Changer✔ Aluminum Wheels
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