Real world experience in urban environment (e.g. parking)

[Aleks]

Just placed order for 2019 Limited. One nagging concern is the size of the beast... What are people's experiences in urban environment (e.g parking, navigating traffic)? Any bad stories of not being able to find parking or having to egress through trunk?

Other than car's width - it stacks amazingly well against most other full/mid-size SUVs.

Thank you

 

[Regan DeMello]

I like the park assist feature, takes some getting used to but it puts you between the lines. I haven’t had to hunt around too much for spaces but it takes a little more looking than my smaller car


2018 Expedition Limited
Special Edition Package
301A
Heavy tow
Cargo package

 

[dlcorbett]

No parking problems for me. The expy is very flingable and the sensors are very generous with space. The park assist is great when needed and wrks well. Only big issue is the front end is a bit harder to place since theres no corner points on the hood.

 

[JExpedition07]

Parking isn’t difficult at all (no sensors, steering assist, buzzers, or any of that nonsense needed) I’m assuming you mean size and driveability wise not computer nannies like most of the users here are posting. Most people I know disable a lot of that crap anyway. One shouldn’t drive a vehicle they cannot park by their own skill because all that breaks. I’m not a fan of the computer nannies, example being advancetrac, you know when my truck thinks it can drive better than me and applies brakes at an innoportune time......thanks ford. Also think you mean probability of not finding a spot physically big enough. That’s rare, almost always will find a spot to fit in. And as I’ve said these trucks react very well to your steering inputs and there are very few if any blind spots. Easy to parallel park in the city due to the good visibility and steering inputs.... shouldn’t be much of a challenge, standard wheelbase units are even easier. Enjoy your new ride hope to see you on here and posting pics when you get it.

 

[shane_th_ee]

No issues here in Seattle, although we're in an area in the city with single family homes and mid-rise (6-8 story) construction and not in the skyscraper forest. I find it's actually a lot easier to parallel park than our Odyssey just due to the little guide lines (that move with the wheel) imposed over the rear camera display. Getting the doors completely open is a bit more of a challenge than in the Odyssey. And the turning radius is actually surprisingly good. That said, as dlcorbett stated, the front is a bit of a guess without the front parking sensors.

 

[MonkeyBrains]

Much easier to park and maneuver than my F-350 super crew w/ 8ft bed.

Wish the mirrors were larger, the trucks and their trailer-tow mirrors kinda spoil you. Larger mirrors should be an option and/or included with the HD tow package.

Pretty used to driving larger vehicles so no big deal here. As per the usual, and a bit more so with the long wheel base (Max) configurations, some inner-city parking lots, and especially parking garages, can be a problem. I avoid parking garages unless I’ve been in them before or can scope them out first. Have never had a mishap myself, but I’ve seen some where the Expy will be just fine based on the specified height, only to find that it would hit the ceiling when going up or down some internal ramps. You’ve probably been in parking garages where there’s noticeable ceiling scuffs and gouges over ramp sections.

Got ticketed in Albuquerque a year ago in my F-350 when I was downtown parked at a meter. Even though I was pulled up to the bumper of another car and my front license plate was a couple inches past my meter, my rear was hanging too far into the next parking space behind me, leaving no space for another car. ...There’s a couple sections that are tightly spaced like this. See it in Denver, Phoenix, etc.. But my ‘18 Expy Limited Max is 30” shorter than my F350, so probably wouldn’t be a problem most of the time.

Overall very easy with all the sensors and cameras. The 360 camera is actually quite useful! And I have yet to use the park assist other than to try it out. Usually in the moment, I forget it’s there. And generally speaking all those sensors/cameras are not needed after you drive it a bit and have a feel for where all your bumpers/corners are. It’s very easy to drive and park.

 

[Regan DeMello]

Parking isn’t difficult at all (no sensors, steering assist, buzzers, or any of that nonsense needed) I’m assuming you mean size and driveability wise not computer nannies like most of the users here are posting. Most people I know disable a lot of that crap anyway. One shouldn’t drive a vehicle they cannot park by their own skill because all that breaks. I’m not a fan of the computer nannies, example being advancetrac, you know when my truck thinks it can drive better than me and applies brakes at an innoportune time......thanks ford. Also think you mean probability of not finding a spot physically big enough. That’s rare, almost always will find a spot to fit in. And as I’ve said these trucks react very well to your steering inputs and (at least on the 3rd gen) there are virtually no blind spots. Easy to parallel park in the city due to the good visibility and steering inputs.... shouldn’t be much of a challenge, standard wheelbase units are even easier. Enjoy your new ride hope to see you on here and posting pics when you get it.

I like how you talk down on everyone that uses park assist before explaining how superior you are

 

[JExpedition07]

I like how you talk down on everyone that uses park assist before explaining how superior you are

Not superior to anyone, the user asked about difficulty finding spots for the Expedition to fit in, difficulty parking, and navigating traffic. All he got was a bunch of people talking about cameras and assist.....offering him something else. I even keep the backup sensors silent on my trucks.....just how I am, I know weird right? While the enhancements are useful and great they don’t always work or even always get used by the driver. Sorry my little joke in there offended you...

 

[Artie]

My biggest worry with parking is people dinging my doors. I’ve easily fit into every space I’ve attempted and with the killer turning radius parallel parking isn’t bad.

 

[benyl]

I'm used to an F150 with a 12" longer wheelbase than my max.

No issues so far, but I tend to like to walk and try to find the furthest spot. Still have to back into spots the there isn't much room between rows.

The sensors on my F150 stopped working, so I have gotten used to not having them. Getting them back makes it so much easier.

The Expy feels bigger than my F150, but I am sure I will get used to it. Only 600 kms so far.

 

[Aleks]

My biggest worry with parking is people dinging my doors. I’ve easily fit into every space I’ve attempted and with the killer turning radius parallel parking isn’t bad.

Any door molding solutions? On my minivan I had a set and it had plenty of nicks from other people...

 

[Artie]

Any door molding solutions? On my minivan I had a set and it had plenty of nicks from other people...

Honestly, I haven’t looked for molding, I’m not sure old like the change in appearance. I do my best to park out of the way and the lots that we go to that have super tight parking I tend to avoid more now. We found a few new places we like thanks to the avoiding tactic so it’s been a win win.

 

[JennyD]

My biggest worry with parking is people dinging my doors. I’ve easily fit into every space I’ve attempted and with the killer turning radius parallel parking isn’t bad.

This! My Durango was dinged up a couple of times on the doors from people being careless but also had wide doors (particularly the 2nd row), so if someone parked close we had trouble opening them. I parked as out of the way as I could, and really park out of the way now. Planning to get 10,000 steps in

 

[shane_th_ee]

If the ding isn't into the paint, the paintless dent repairs are actually pretty cheap, like ~$50ea.

 

[18-FX4-GUY]

I found the expy has an awesome turning radius vs my F 150 and parking has been a breeze with it.

 

[HawkX66]

Just placed order for 2019 Limited. One nagging concern is the size of the beast... What are people's experiences in urban environment (e.g parking, navigating traffic)? Any bad stories of not being able to find parking or having to egress through trunk?

Other than car's width - it stacks amazingly well against most other full/mid-size SUVs.

Thank you

I've commuted to Boston, but now I work in Arlington, VA/D.C. I don't think it gets much worse... Navigating traffic is easier because people aren't as aggressive against a full size SUV. I've driven my wife's Mini and I'll take the Expy all day long. Parking is fine. I just moved parking garages and although the first one was close, the new one in my office building is even lower... Once you figure out that you aren't going to hit anything, it's a non-issue. I hit my rack on a couple of signs that hang lower than everything else, but they're on chains so it doesn't bother anything.

:-O

20180802_161113 by Dave H, on Flickr

 

[aggiegrad05]

My shark fin seems to hit before anything else, although it's always been the signs like what you're describing so there's never been an issue.

 

[Aleks]

I've commuted to Boston, but now I work in Arlington, VA/D.C. I don't think it gets much worse... Navigating traffic is easier because people aren't as aggressive against a full size SUV. I've driven my wife's Mini and I'll take the Expy all day long. Parking is fine. I just moved parking garages and although the first one was close, the new one in my office building is even lower... Once you figure out that you aren't going to hit anything, it's a non-issue. I hit my rack on a couple of signs that hang lower than everything else, but they're on chains so it doesn't bother anything.

:-O

20180802_161113 by Dave H, on Flickr

Interesting note re people being less aggressive around SUVs. I had a neighbor that had constantly parked almost touching my rear bumper (and no - there is no shortage of parking space - just not a very good - or a careless driver). Then one day I forgot to remove trailer hitch ball after towing trailer and some time later I noticed that (a) my neighbor had a small dent on bumper the same height as my hitch (b) same neighbor has started parking a respectable distance away.

 

[HawkX66]

Interesting note re people being less aggressive around SUVs. I had a neighbor that had constantly parked almost touching my rear bumper (and no - there is no shortage of parking space - just not a very good - or a careless driver). Then one day I forgot to remove trailer hitch ball after towing trailer and some time later I noticed that (a) my neighbor had a small dent on bumper the same height as my hitch (b) same neighbor has started parking a respectable distance away.

Now that is funny. Good reason to keep your hitch on.

 

[mossback]

I’ve driven SUV’s for a while but my 2017 EL is the largest and parking can be a pain in the ass at times. Especially in certain garages like airports or even small lots at strip malls and the like. Sometimes the rig hangs quite a bit out relative to normal cars. Angled spaces help. Spaces marked for compact cars are basically unusable. Even if you fit there is no way to get out and/or the cars next to you could easily dent or scrape your rig. I sometimes find myself spending a few extra minutes hunting for a suitable spot. I like the front parking sensors- a very useful and helpful convenience in tight spots. Height wise, I haven’t been to a garage yet that was too short for the expy. It’s just right.