- minivan 94,000
- Houghton, MI
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- autoshopper.com
1998 ford windstar review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Powerful, stylish and safety-conscious. introductionin the ever-competitive minivan market, the little differences can make a company's year, or make it miserable. The bigger differences, like the number of doors, can be even more significant. Ford's official name is the family entry system. Ford insiders call it the more door. Besides the larger front door, the most noticeable change is in the front. Slightly raised in the center, it comes forward into a more squarely shaped front end, lending a slightly stronger appearance. overall the look is quite stylish, and it disguises the windstar's substantial size. The shape still slides smoothly over the sloped windshield, so that only the barest wind noise comes from the large outside mirrors. it's easy to get kids and cargo in and out the passenger doors. In the rear the cargo door is huge, but a door-style handle makes it easy to open and lift. And even though there's lots of walk-under room beneath the hatch, an easy-to-grasp strap helps to haul it down. then there's that big new family door, which has been extended six inches. The back seat can be reached by tipping and sliding the driver's seat forward. (the door is standard on all '98 windstars, but the tip-slide seat is extra on the less-expensive models, and the door is just a big door without it.) we found a few problems here. Though it's designed to extend only two inches more than previous door, it's enough to be bothersome in a crowded parking lot. Ford points out that most mid-size coupes have doors that are even wider. But they're not nearly as tall, or as high off the ground. a package can be easily put in the back by just tipping the seat and not sliding it forward. It's easier just to use the sliding door. interiorinside is where the windstar shines. It's roomy and comfortable, with plenty of access to the middle and rear seat rows. The uniquely stylish dashboard curves around the driver, so smaller drivers don't have to stretch and lunge for the controls. the instruments are classic white-on-black analog, with a tachometer on the left, a big speedometer in the middle, and small temperature and fuel gauges on the right, plus the usual array of warning lights. Headlights are controlled by a rotary switch on the left side of the dash. Wiper controls are on a stalk on the left of the steering wheel column. They really couldn't be simpler or more convenient. the same can't be said for the am/fm/cassette player just above those dials. It's all buttons, and many of the buttons are pretty small. Even adjusting the volume requires the driver to look away from the road. cupholders, which pop out under the heater, are now adjustable, so they can hold even the fattest coffee mug. There are tons of cup holders for back seat passengers that can hold a can or a juice box, and large storage bins in both the middle and rear seat rows. the seatbelts are height-adjustable in both front and rear. a useful new feature is the optional overhead console. It includes a change holder, a little home for those ever-elusive sunglasses, and a holder for a garage remote control. Push it all the way back for maximum leg room. Push it seven inches forward to create more cargo room. Do that and 4x8 sheets of plywood will fit flat on the floor. ford put a power lock switch on the side of the cargo hold, just inside the rear hatch. A 3. 0-liter v6, standard in gl models, generates 150 hp, pretty typical for a minivan engine. A 3. 8-liter v6 that's optional on the gl and standard on lx and limited models creates 200 hp, tops in any minivan. Dual airbags, 5 mph bumpers and abs are standard on all models. There's a child-proof lock on the sliding door and head restraints have been added to the second and third row seats. Power Mirrors✔ Tachometer✔ Power Windows✔ Power Locks✔ Cruise Control✔ AM/FM✔ Air Conditioning
Houghton, MIHoughton, MI at autoshopper.com