Ford Territory AWD

[Damon McMahon]

Greetings,

Just wondering if anyone has comparisons to offer between the current
Outback and the Ford Territory AWD (available in Australia, not sure
about the US and elsewhere).

The local media is lapping it up (see
http://www.mynrma.com.au/abc_recreational_4wd.asp for example), although
given the inherent bias of most Australian motoring journalists to
locally produced vehicles I'm taking this with a grain of salt.

Any thoughts?

 

[Ron Joiner]

Greetings,

Just wondering if anyone has comparisons to offer between the current
Outback and the Ford Territory AWD (available in Australia, not sure
about the US and elsewhere).

The local media is lapping it up (see
http://www.mynrma.com.au/abc_recreational_4wd.asp for example), although
given the inherent bias of most Australian motoring journalists to
locally produced vehicles I'm taking this with a grain of salt.

Any thoughts?

It is known as the Ford Freestyle in Canada and the US and is not as
enthusiasically embraced here where there are many, many choices.

It appears to be a Johnnny-come-lately to the crossover SUV market,
IMHO. The Subaru Outback is, however getting rave reviews.

Ron

 

[Ron Joiner]

It is known as the Ford Freestyle in Canada and the US and is not as
enthusiasically embraced here where there are many, many choices.

It appears to be a Johnnny-come-lately to the crossover SUV market,
IMHO. The Subaru Outback is, however getting rave reviews.

Ron

http://www.autosite.com/Previews/2005-ford-freestyle.asp

 

[Resear]

It looks like most overweight top heavy road tanks.
I would pick the subaru

 

[Losiho]

http://www.autosite.com/Previews/2005-ford-freestyle.asp

Totally different vehicle. The Aussie Territory is based on the rear drive
Falcon and has the dohc 4 litre straight six.

http://www.ford.com.au/territory/

 

[Bruce Hoult]

Any thoughts?

My father has a Falcon station wagon with the 4L engine, much the same
as the Territory. And he's thinking of getting either a Territory or
the new Holden thingie.

His Falcon is a couple of seconds slower to 100 km/h than my 2.5L Legacy
wagon, handles worse, and uses 50% more fuel on the open road and nearly
100% more in the city. It can't even tow more. The only advantage is
it can seat three people comfortably in the back seat whereas that's a
squash in the Subaru.

Traditionally, the Holdens and Fords have stood up to constant use on
the bad roads in farming areas in NZ better than Japanese cars, but the
Subaru is pretty good at that too (especially the Outback).

Still, dad likes the Aussie cars, so maybe I'll get a chance to report
on a Territory sometime...

 

[Chris Phillipo]

Subject: Re: Ford Territory AWD
From: Ron Joiner <(e-mail address removed)>
Reply-To: at <joinerns.sympatico.ca>
Newsgroups: alt.autos.subaru


It is known as the Ford Freestyle in Canada and the US and is not as
enthusiasically embraced here where there are many, many choices.

It appears to be a Johnnny-come-lately to the crossover SUV market,
IMHO. The Subaru Outback is, however getting rave reviews.

Ron

CVT transmission = Constant Vehicle TSBs

 

[Ron Joiner]

Totally different vehicle. The Aussie Territory is based on the rear drive
Falcon and has the dohc 4 litre straight six.

http://www.ford.com.au/territory/

R U sure? The Freestyle is based on the Ford 500 which is based on a
Volvo platform.

Ron

 

[Losiho]

R U sure? The Freestyle is based on the Ford 500 which is based on a Volvo
platform.

Ron

The Territory is wholly an Australian design and is based on the Falcon
platform. It is not based on any Volvo.

 

[Hallan Blaggit]

This "crossover SUV" market appears to me to be a revival of the
station wagon, with an emphasis on awd.

Next thing you know, they'll be putting wood grain plastic stickies on
the sides.

 

[Hallraker]

This "crossover SUV" market appears to me to be a revival of the
station wagon, with an emphasis on awd.

Next thing you know, they'll be putting wood grain plastic stickies on
the sides.

I've been saying this for years, that wagons would have a revival once fuel
prices increased and people realized that SUVs handled like crap. First
there was the Ford Explorer/Firestone extravaganza, and now with US gas
prices rising, people are rethinking the idea of SUV = cool image.

Turns out I was half right. Rather than the return of vehicles like the
Vista Cruiser or Country Squire wagons, the newer SUVs are simply becoming
more carlike, in essence wagons under a different name. Most of them are
taller than the grocery getters of old, but still wagons when compared to an
old school SUV like an old Land Cruiser.

-Matt

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

The Territory is wholly an Australian design and is based on the Falcon
platform. It is not based on any Volvo.

I did a little research and you are right Losiho. Though they are very
similar in concept and style they are indeed different vehicles. My
apologies.

Ron