Background: When Ford Motor Co. first introduced its Windstar minivan in March of 1994, Detroit's number two automaker became the last of the domestic vehicle makers to include the family-friendly minivan in its marketing mix. Chrysler Corp. virtually invented front-wheel-drive people hauler in the 1984 model year and General Motors followed suit a few years later with its trio of long-snooted, but slow selling minivans. Because Windstar was a late bloomer, it learned from the mistakes of rival automakers and sold briskly (222,147 units) its first year. In the 1996 model year when Chrysler revamped its minivan stable, Ford saw Windstar sales soften. Windstar chalked up 205,356 in unit sales in 1997. But turnabout is fair play and now it's Windstar's turn for a major redesign. Ford Motor Co.'s Oakville, Ontario plant is Windstar's assembly home.
Trim Levels: Ford offers four second-generation, front-wheel drive, Windstar wagon trim levels in 1999: the value-oriented Base, mid-level LX, well-equipped SE and top-of-the-line SEL. The higher one travels up the trim-level ladder, the more standard equipment and the higher the price. In 1998, Ford also offered four trim levels, but with Base, GL, LX and Limited nomenclatures. Unlike Chrysler and GM rivals,Windstar comes in only one wheelbase length. Both GM and Chrysler feature regular and extended wheelbase choices. Windstar's 120.7-inch wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) and 200.9-inch overall length are actually a smidgen longer than both Chrysler and GM's extended offerings.
New for 1999: Exterior wise, more doors are the big story for 1999. Until this year, Windstar offered no left-side sliding rear door. That put Ford behind the 8-ball since Chrysler introduced this feature in their 1996 minivan redesign and GM followed a year later with its minivan update. But Windstar goes one step beyond the competition this time around by offering dual, power-sliding rear doors as an option in the top-of-the-line SEL edition. It's the only minivan currently offering this feature. Base editions include only a single, manual sliding side door. Dual manual sliding doors are optional in LE and SE Windstars. Windstar's stance is a bit wider by about two inches while wheelbase and length remain unchanged from last year.
Price: Our top-of-the-line, spruce green test-drive SEL included a starting price of $30,415, including a $580 destination charge. With options including power side doors ($800), side air bags and the family security package, the bottom line totaled $33,285. The lowest-priced Base edition checks in at $20,800, about the same price as a entry-level Chevrolet Venture. Windstar LX checks at $24,240 while SE depletes checkbooks by $28,075.
Safety features: Windstar prides itself on safety. Antilock brakes, five-mile-per-hour bumpers, child safety rear door locks, energy-absorbing steering column and dual front air bags return again as standard equipment. Joining Windstar's safety team this year is Ford's $325 optional head and chest side-impact air bags, providing optimal protection for both front seat occupants during side impacts. Currently, GM's Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Montana and Oldsmobile Sillhoette minivan trio provide side impact air bags standard. Chrysler offers no such system. Every Windstar this season also receives extra foam cushioning in the ceiling and window pillars helping reduce head trauma during a crash. Another unique nuance is the ceiling concave mirror which when folded down provides the driver with a view of what the kids are up to in the back rows. The mirror is part of an elaborate ceiling caddie, standard in SEL and SE including a holder for glasses, garage door opener and reading lamp. And for $245, safety-minded minivan owners can add Ford's nifty Reverse Aid. This system, especially useful with young children bounding nearby, senses when objects are within approximately six feet of the back bumper with the transmission in reverse. A sensor within the vehicle starts beeping when the six-foot perimeter is encountered. The beep becomes a steady hum as the vehicle moves closer to the object. Not only does this feature alert drivers of potential objects or personnel in the blind spot, it helps when parallel parking. Traction control is optional in select editions. Ford's detail to safety paid off handsomely. For the last four years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded Windstar its highest "five-star" ranking for vehicles best protecting riders in head-on crash tests. The only other minivan to earn this honor was Toyota's 1998 Sienna. Although 1999 ranking have yet to be awarded, Windstar is poised to snatch this award again. Keyless remote key fob entry comes standard in SE and SEL trim levels.
Standard equipment: Rack-and-pinion steering along with four-speed automatic transmission come standard in all trim levels. Cruise control, air conditioning, tilt steering column, power front side windows and power locks are included at no extra cost in LX, SE and SEL.
Options: Several option packages are available for ordering auxiliary climate controls, rear window defrosters, traction control privacy glass and self-sealing tires . Engines: Base Windstar wagons include Ford's 3.0-liter, V-6 engine delivering 150 horsepower. The other three trim levels include the more potent, 3.8-liter 200- horsepower engine, one of the most potent in its class. Both engines are similar to last year's engine although the 1999 3.8-liter powertrain delivers more engine torque than its predecessor. Thanks in part to computer calibration and additional emission controls, the 3.8-liter powertrain burns cleaner. Windstar boasts the cleanest-burning powerplant of any gasoline-powered minivan. It now meets nationwide low emission vehicle standards, meaning the vehicle emits fewer smog-forming hydrocarbons than required by North American governments.
Interior: Windstars with cruise control position functions on the steering wheel. The ventilation system includes two dials controling fan speed and direction while a slide lever monitors temperature setting. Positioned below is the stereo system, which this year includes larger preset buttons. The digital clock continues as part of the radio frequency display. Headlights monitor from a dashboard dial left of the steering wheel. Windshield wipers activate from the turn signal stalk. The automatic transmission shifter is on the column's right side. Dual cup holders, capable of holding 32-ounce thirst-busting cups, retract from the center console. A gaggle of additional cupholders get interspersed throughout the interior. Seat backs, which when folded down act as tables, also feature built-in cup holders. A large storage bin folds out from the dashboard's center console for extra storage room. The center of the instrument panel is home to analog speedometer and tachometer gauges, flanked by the fuel and temperature gauges. Two power outlets are now available for operating electronic gizmos; one on the dashboard and one near the rear hatchback. Our top-level SEL included a treat for second row riders who now can plug headphones into a ceiling audio system, so their own brand of music can blast through the headphones, while front row riders are tuned to the radio.
Seating comfort: Speaking of the middle row, either two bucket seats or a bench seat can occupy the center spot. Our SEL test drive wagon included the bucket seats, which easily moved forward and tilted back for access to third-row bench seating. Windstars with middle bench seating and dual sliding rear doors now have the choice of positioning or 'indexing' the bench seat closer to the right or left side sliding door depending on driver preference. For example, if the driver's side rear door is used more often for loading and unloading passengers, the bench seat can be positioned closer to the passenger door, opening up a wider isle on that side. All Windstar wagons feature seven-passenger seating. Cloth setting's the norm in Base, LX and SE while leather surfaces adorn top-of-the-line SEL. Six-way adjustable power driver and passenger seats come standard in SEL exclusively. Positioning of the front two captain's chairs is low enough so entry from the outside is a step in rather than a step up motion and high enough for excellent road visibility. With the rear seats removed, four-door, Windstars boast 148.5 cubic feet of space.
Dimensions: Overall length: 200.9 inches Overall width: 75.2 inches Overall height: 65.6 inches Wheelbase: 120.7 inches Front headroom: 39.3 inches
Exterior: At first glance, the second-generation Windstar resembles the first generation version, which looks similar to Chrysler's stable of redesigned minivans, although Windstar's front grille includes a new chrome design in SE and SEL levels and its back hatchback window increases in size. The radio antenna is built into the side rear window. Ford positions the round, non-locking fuel tank door on the left side. A temporary spare tire stows under the vehicle near the back hatch. Full-size spares add $110 to Windstar's bottom line. Adjustable roof racks are standard fare in uplevel SE and SEL models. Larger 16-inch tires grace SEL editions while 15-inches of round rubber hits the road in Base, LX and SE.
Fuel economy: All Windstars now holds 26 gallons of unleaded fuel. Last year, Windstar had two different sized tanks; 20 and 25 gallon, depending on the trim level purchased. Fuel economy checked in at 17 miles per gallon city in our top-of-the-line SEL, with the 3.8-liter engine and 24 m.p.g. highway. Final thoughts: Windstar continues as one of the longest and most powerful front-wheel minivans tooling roadways today. Vehicles of such girth inherently provide more body sway and lean when maneuvering turns than standard coupes, sedans and even some sport utility vehicles. Now that Windstar boasts a sliding fourth door, its more appealing to families carting small children to and from after school and weekend functions. The larger, 3.8-liter engine is the engine of choice especially if hauling more than just two people is part of your mission statement. |
