ortlanh (.Observer November 28. 2007 Portland GL s e r v e r PageA9 A u t o R e v ie w 2007 Ford Expedition Limited 5.4L 4X4 The Family Friendly Adventurer by K athleen C' ark W hen it com es tim e to fill up the tank, it's not easy to justify a full- size sport utility. The Expedition is m eant for utility. It carries people, hauls gear, tow s boats, and pulls campers. The Expedition offers tow­ ing capacities in the 90(X)-pound range. W hen it's equipped with four-wheel drive, the Expedition will also get you there w hether the road is dry, wet, snowy, or even when there's hardly any road at all. The Expedition has been thor­ oughly revised for 2007 to m ake it a platform for family-friendly adven­ tures. Every aspect o f its utility has been im proved: tow ing capacity, passenger com fort and even driv­ ing enjoym ent. The 2007 Ford Expedition comes in two different sizes, the standard model with a 119-inch w heelbase, and the new Expedition EL with its 131 -inch wheelbase. Every Expedi­ tion is pow ered by a single-over­ head-cam 5.4-liter V-8 that is rated at 3(H) horsepow er and 365 pound- feet o f torque. A new, six-speed Specifications: 5.4-Liter 300-hp @ 365 Ibft. torque, V-8 Engine; 6-Speed Automatic O/D Trans­ mission; Electronically engaged 4-wheel drive; 14-City 20-Highway MPG; $4 7,610. MSRP autom atic transm ission is standard equipment. Every Expedition model is available with either rear-w heel drive (2W D ) or electronically en ­ gaged four-wheel drive (4W D ). A Class III trailer hitch is standard. Safety equipm ent includes front- seat frontal and side-impact airbags, three-row head-protection curtain air bags, anti-lock braking (ABS), and electronic stability control with anti-rollover technology. T he Lim ited and Lim ited 4W D , are m eant to deliver car-like, high­ w ay-friendly sophistication in a sport-utility package. T he style statement is far grander and the list o f convenience features includes elaborate luxury items. Leather up­ holstery is standard, as are front captain’s chairs (driver's seat is 10- way adjustable) with a heating/cool- ing feature. The pow er-folding rear bench seat is standard. Exterior upgrades include 255/7ORI8 tires with chrom e-finish wheels, power- adjustable and folding mirrors. T he Ford Expedition is a truck and, unlike so many other full-size sport-utilities, it do esn 't pretend to be anything else. This is a good identity to have, because Ford trucks continue to have an o ut­ standing reputation for utility, reli­ ability and durability. In the past, the Expedition hasn’t been able to establish much o f a visual identity. This new third-gen­ eration Expedition features a three- bar grille, large jewel-like headlights, and a dom ed hood that com bine to deliver a look th at's both distinc­ tive and respectable. M oreover, there are five different wheel d e­ signs, including new 20-inchers with a chrom e finish. The 2007 Expedition has a brand- new interior look; a richer blend of BUSINESS d ir e c to r y News and reviews on new motor vehicles finishes textures and colors. In fact, the o v erall effec t o f the fully optioned 2007 Expedition Limited is the best representation o f m od­ em A m erican-style luxury within F o rd ’s o v e ra ll v eh icle lin eu p . W ood, chrom e and leather make the Expedition an inviting place to spend a day on the road. The Expedition’s available third- row seat is also im p re ssiv e ly unique. Packaging advantages af­ forded by the E xpedition's inde­ pendent rear suspension enable this rear seat to deliver a far more co m fo rtab le seating for adults. M oreover, the three-row canopy airbags ensure the third-row pas­ sengers have the same head pro­ tection in a collision as passengers in the forw ard seat rows. The Expedition’s liftgate with its flip-up glass hatch also makes ac­ cess to the cargo area very easy. The best thing about the Expedition's bench-type seats in the second and third rows is the way in which they can be folded flat onto the cargo 11 oor, affording a long cargo area that can be easily loaded. The 2007 Ford Expedition tracks down the highw ay with excellent straight-line stability, negotiates forest roads with surprising agility, and absorbs im pacts from bumps or broken pavem ent without stray­ ing from its path. The Expedition maintains a surprising calm consid­ ering its truck heritage. Most o f the magic com es from car-like engineer­ ing. The tw o-speed 4W D system is engaged with a sim ple rotary knob m ounted on the dashboard, and it autom atically reduces throttle sen­ sitivity in low range for better trac­ tion in slippery circum stances. T he overhead-cam 5.4-liter V8 delivers 3(X)hp, but it's really tuned to deliver 365 pound-feel o f torque for tow ing, a product o f variable valve tim ing and cylinder heads with three valves per cylinder. In the past, this engine has seem ed sluggish com pared to its co m p eti­ tion, despite its excellent pow er rating, but the addition o f a new, six-speed autom atic transm ission for 2007 has transform ed its per­ sonality. This engine perform ance also has a notable im pact on tow ­ ing, making it seem like a pleasure instead o f a chore. The 2007 Ford Expedition stands apart because it not only offers the best overall utility package but also delivers superior perform ance in virtually every way. As fuel prices help shift priorities to smaller, more efficient vehicles, it’s im portant to rem em ber that full-size sport-utili­ ties will becom e more useful than ever sim ply because no other ve­ hicle can do so much with so many people. Ford is right on target with its fam ily adventure concept, and the Ford Expedition is the best ve­ hicle for family vacation travel on the American road. Saturday Youth Basketball League C h arles M c C le o u d CEO lo u d EN T ER PR ISE . LLC Through Portland Parks and Recreations 51b S t MORRISON ST STE 540 PORTLAND OREGON 97214 BUSINESS 503 234 4452 CEll 503 901 1535 Any 6th -8th Grade Boys interested in being involved in this FREE event, please contact David Miller, 503-933-1763, or Dashun Montgomery 503-823-4223. oeer Weddings We provide sponsorship and jerseys for the kids. Night Clubs Birthday Parties League starts January 12, 2007. Fund Raisers Family Reunions Réceptions Business Functions School Functions Concert Promotions Private Parties . ç J l e n n c t / i C J C o tt Look forward to hearing from you! Class Reunions Banquet Tryouts: December 11th 6:50 p.m. — 7:40 p.m. Vernon Elementary School 2044 N.E. Killingsworth. DJ Service On The Move E-mail:dewayn525(?1yah