1999 Ford Windstar...Continued

Our Impressions Of The Drive:

Engine Response: Our test vehicle was an SE equipped with the 3.8 liter, V-6 engine with 200 horsepower. The engine was smooth and responsive and while we don't have 0-60 figures, the Windstar accelerated as well, if not better, than all of its competitors. It felt more like a sedan than a 4,000-pound plus small truck. Passing on two-lane roads was no problem and we passed a lot of cars during our test drive in the Canadian countryside. On the highway, the engine was extremely quiet. Windstar's 26-gallon fuel tank combined with its 18 city/25 highway fuel economy gives the minivan a 650 mile estimated cruising range -- ideal for long trips.

Shifting The Gears: Windstar is equipped with a steering-column-mounted shifter operating an electronically-controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The minivan is geared properly so the transmission does not have to fish for the appropriate gear like some of its competitors. The power from the engine is easily available for all types of driving situations.

Handling: The handling of the 1999 Windstar is like that of a large sedan not a truck. Ford focused on body design and particularly chassis stiffness. Torsional rigidity has been greatly improved over the previous incarnation and the result is a far better handling vehicle with reduced vibration and harshness. Windstar was surprisingly capable on the twisting mountain roads of Ontario, Canada, negotiating the turns better than a lot of sedans we've driven.

Ford claims that braking has been improved over the 1998 model with 10% larger rotors and twin piston calipers resulting in a 10-foot shorter stopping distance. Anti-lock brakes and all-speed traction control afford better control in turns and on slippery roads. While these may be improvements, there is still room for more. We found non-panic braking to be a tad slow given the weight of the vehicle and the likelihood that more weight would be added when carrying lots of cargo. Windstar is equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes -- a combination we would like to see eliminated in favor of a four-wheel disc systems. Ford is not alone in still selling this combination. And, we do not understand why U.S. manufacturers insist on selling these outmoded brake configurations, especially when the same vehicle will be offered elsewhere in the world equipped with four-wheel disc brakes that we prefer. We would, however, like to temper this criticism with a reminder that this is a truck weighing over 4,000 pounds when empty and that is a lot to stop. Drivers need to drive them carefully, remembering that they are not a passenger car that can zip around on the roads even if the performance, handling and ride can be favorably compared with a sedan. Proper caution on behalf of the driver is always required when operating vehicles of this weight. Not just the Windstar.