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Manufacturer Brochure -1998 Ford Windstar
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| Updated |
Jun 3, 2004 17:29:09 |
| Rating |
 117 ( -18 -15.38% ) |
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Description:
The 1998 Ford Windstar gets a fresh exterior, more safety features and introduces the Family Entry System, all designed to make Windstar a top choice for minivan shoppers.
Windstar has a reputation for safety thanks to the fact that it was the first minivan to offer dual front air bags and is the only one worthy of a five-star rating in driver and front- passenger government crash tests. Anti-lock brakes, side-impact intrusion beams, a sliding door child safety lock second- and third-row seat head restraints, knee bolsters, and an energy absorbing front-end design are just a few of Windstar's standard features.
The most significant new feature for 1998 is the Family Entry System (FES), consisting of a tip-slide driver's seat and driver's door that is 6 inches longer, providing easy access to the rear seats. This new system also aids passenger entry. FES provides 13 inches of room at step-in level. Nearly 2 feet of clearance at hip level allows easy access to the second row of seats from the driver's side. By slightly reducing the door's open angle in both its initial opening and full-open positions, there's plenty of clearance in tight parking spaces and garages. Only 1 inch of extra space is needed for the longer door to swing than was necessary for previous Windstars. The new door is standard on all 1998 Windstar models. The tip-slide driver's seat is standard on LX and Limited and an option on the 3.0L and GL trim. It's also included in preferred equipment packages on 3.0L and GL models. More than 95 percent of new Windstars will have the feature.
A new Windstar Limited model has been created for 1998. The Limited is readily distinguishable from the outside as a result of its exclusive 16-inch polished aluminum wheel and tire combination, a special chrome grille surround, body-color rearview mirrors, fog lamps and monotone protective molding for the lower body surfaces. The Limited also offers a unique Deep Forest Green clearcoat metallic not available on other models. Inside, leather seating surfaces are standard in a Medium Prairie Tan hue. "Limited" script stitching adorns the front bucket seat backs and floor mats. Climate control and sound system equipment in the center console area are trimmed with an attractive wood-grain applique. Overhead reading lamps are provided for third-row-passenger convenience. Another thoughtful touch is a storage drawer under the front passenger's seat.
Young parents seeking a safe and enjoyable minivan to accommodate an expanding family don't have to select the top Windstar offering to take advantage of a wealth of improvements implemented this year. All models have a new front fascia with integral fog lamp openings, sparkling complex-reflector headlamps, a power dome hood, and a revised grille insert. Wheels and wheel covers have a fresh new appearance and tailgate identification logos also have been revised. The standard Windstar now wears a 3.0L badge.
A new overhead console is available on GL and standard on LX and Limited. The Windstar design has one feature that's unique: a special fold-down convex "conversation" mirror that provides the driver with a wide-angle view of what's going on in second- and third-row seating areas. This panoramic mirror allows the driver to keep an eye on what's going on in back without having to turn around while driving or to reach up and adjust the normal inside rearview mirror.
Other console features are storage space for coins, sunglasses and a garage-door opener. The opener is stowed out of sight, yet tapping a button on the outside of its bin easily can activate it. Radio controls mounted overhead allow second-row passengers to adjust both volume and station. To disable this convenience, forward passengers need only press two buttons on the radio. The LX and Limited overhead console have an exclusive feature--an electronic display switchable between compass and outside temperature information.
To improve interior spaciousness, a special "shrink-wrapped" design moves the console closer to the roof in key areas to increase the headroom available to passengers in models not equipped with auxiliary air conditioning. To further enhance the feeling of spaciousness, all Windstar headliners are finished in lighter colors for 1998. A grab handle aids entry at the right-front passenger's position. The left-side quarter trim adjacent to the rear seats has a new storage bin, padded armrests, and relocated headphone jack for passenger comfort. Every outboard seating position now is fitted with a head restraint that can be lowered into the seatback when not in use. The shoulder belt for left-side second-row passenger has an adjustable D-ring for a more comfortable fit. There's also a reclining seat back, second-row standard bench seat and optional quad bucket seats.
New functional features include a rear-window wiper that automatically switches from intermittent to continuous operation in two circumstances: when the rear washer is activated and when the front wipers are moved to their highest speed by the driver. The wiper also will activate if the driver shifts the Windstar's transmission into reverse while the front wipers are on. A new chime reminder helps alert drivers who accidentally leave turn signals on for more than half a mile. Cup holders in the IP center stack are more adjustable to hold a wide range of beverage containers.
All-speed electronic traction control, an option on the Windstar last year, now is an option on 3.8-liter GL, LX and Limited Windstar models. This system senses when a drive wheel is about to lose traction and automatically makes the necessary adjustments through engine and brake management to transfer power to the drive wheel with better traction.
For more peace of mind, Windstar now offers the Family Security Package on GL and LX models. The package includes all-speed traction control, Uniroyal self sealing tires, remote keyless entry and the security group with a bonus discount equal to no charge traction control. The $395 discount allows the package to be added for lease customers with virtually no change in monthly payment.
Windstar still enjoys a competitive advantage as the most powerful minivan on the market, delivering a more safe and secure driving experience. The 3.8-liter V-6 engine (standard in LX and Limited, optional in GL) has a unique compound induction system that permits high power output with low fuel consumption and emissions. Long intake runners optimize low-speed operation. Shorter runners are closed in that regime but open automatically under the engine control computer's command to deliver the additional airflow necessary at higher rpm. Operating speed is 2,500 to 3,000 rpm. The major benefit provided by the split port induction system is a flat torque curve from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. Fifth-generation electronic controls manage all emissions, diagnostics, fuel delivery, and ignition functions. With 200 peak horsepower on tap at 5,000 rpm, the Windstar has more power than competitors. For merging into heavy traffic with a load of scouts on board or for pulling a boat trailer up a launch ramp, the 3.8-liter V-6 is a handy helper. By specifying an optional trailer tow package, Windstar owners can safely tow a 3,500-pound trailer. Tune-up intervals for both available Windstar engines are 100,000 miles, so owners need only attend to fluid and filter changes in normal driving. In addition, the 1998 Windstar is the first minivan to achieve the low emissions standards for so-called "green states" in the United States. |
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