1999 Ford Windstar...Continued

Driving Position: From the drivers seat there is an excellent view of the road -- wide and commanding. The instrument cluster has an attractive layout with an overlapping speedometer and tachometer similar to the no-longer imported BMW 850 sports coupe. Immediately to the right at the top of the center console are the heat and air-conditioning vents. Below the vents are the sound system controls -- right where they should be -- above the heating and air-conditioning controls followed by an ashtray and cup holders. On the SE models, the overhead console has a coin and a sunglass holder, reading and dome lamps and provisions for both rear audio controls (for the Personal Audio System) and the power sliding door switches. However, the very best feature in the overhead console is the panoramic conversation mirror providing the driver and front passenger a complete view of the rear seating areas. It makes it much easier to keep an eye on the passengers and perhaps overt a war without turning around.

Safety: With the 1999 Windstar it is clear that Ford is chasing and catching up with Volvo's safety reputation. The Windstar was the first of the minivan competitors to achieve -- and has consistently carried -- the highest crash test ratings from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). Windstar scored a five-star rating in frontal impacts. This means that in a 35 mph impact with a fixed barrier, there is only a 10 percent chance, or less, of serious injury. A serious injury is considered to be one requiring immediate hospitalization and one that could be life threatening.

The Windstar protects front seat occupants by absorbing energy from a frontal impact and distributing it evenly around the passenger compartment. In the case of frontal collision, the Windstar's engine subframe separates from its rear mount, allowing the engine to drop down below the floorpan diminishing footwell intrusion and maintaining passenger compartment integrity.