1998 Ford Windstar Index
The war for supremacy in the mini-van market is always on and a little distraction
can destroy you, the little differences determines a company's year, or make it
miserable. The bigger differences, like the number of doors, can be even more
significant. Which is why the Ford Windstar, a little behind to the four-door
party, has unveiled a surprise gift this year: the Family Door.
It's hard to have any discussion about the
1998 Ford Windstar without someone mentioning That Big Door. Ford's official name to it is the
Family Entry System. Ford insiders call it the More Door. The Windstar still has
only three doors--a major disadvantage since Chrysler and General Motors front-wheel-drive
minivans all offer an optional sliding door on the driver's side. When Ford was
designing the Windstar, its market research showed that minivan buyers didn't
really care about having a fourth door. Wrong.
Parents find the fourth door makes getting kids, especially little kids, in and
out of the van a lot easier. It is being ordered on something like three out of
four Chrysler vans. The Windstar will offer a fourth door when it's redesigned
for 1999, but the big door is the quick fix for 1998. By making the driver's door
six inches longer and offering a driver's seat that slides and tips forward, you
can now get kids in and out of the back on the left side of the van. Obviously,
one door is simply not the same as two. But that doesn't change our overall impression
that the Windstar is a fine minivan. It remains convenient to use and pleasurable
to drive.
A star performer in government crash tests, the Windstar also offers plenty of
room for big families and lots of stuff. The Windstar is not likely to win any
beauty contests or road rallies, but it is safe, comfortable transportation for
those families who need room to stretch out. The Windstar's powerful engine is
enough to tempt some buyers on its own. Those who need more, however, can check
out the tire smokin' 3.8-liter unit that is standard on the LX and available on
the GL. All in all, the Windstar is a good van. The minivan market is crowded
these days, though, and good is not always good enough. Check out the Windstar
if safety and straight-line speed are high on your list of priorities.