ST vs. The Competition

[Polo08816]

Ford offers a tune that you would buy directly from Ford which is covered under a Ford warranty and more of a mellow tune. https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9603-EX30

ZFG is a custom tuning company that is not associated with Ford. The tunes that they do can be from mild to very aggressive based on the fuel type and modifications you have done.

I am probably in the low 4's 0-60 and don't know my 1/4 mile times. I picked the 93 octane tune because of the engine mods and this is a daily driver and will never go to the track. The rear sway bar did make a difference in body roll but the strut tower brace was just aesthetics. Didn't notice any difference in body stiffness.

There is a ton of information on this forum.

Seems like the output increase is mostly attributed to the move from regular to premium gas?

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Don't forget this thread is about vehicles that still maintain their factory warranty.

3rd party tunes fall outside of that norm.

 

[st8]

Seems like the output increase is mostly attributed to the move from regular to premium gas?

The gains are based on stock ST with premium. So there are true gains. Several people have posted draggy slips to prove it.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Warranty Haters Alert!

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Seems like the output increase is mostly attributed to the move from regular to premium gas?

Not with the FP tune it isn't ...

My best 100% bone stock time with 93 octane fuel was 0-60 mph in 5.39 sec and the 1/4 in 13.72@99.80 mph.
My best FP tune only run so far with 93 octane fuel was 0-60 mph in 4.76 sec and the 1/4 in 13.15@102.76 mph.

That's an improvement of .63 sec 0-60 mph and .57 sec/2.96 mph in the the quarter mile.

Once again, all runs were on 93 octane fuel.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Info from my first post on Explorer ST now includes FP Tune price + test data.

Remember, this comparison thread is only for vehicles with a manufacturer's warranty.

 

[Sgt1411]

I was running the FP Tune with Chevron 94 but recently switched to Shell 93 and I believe its better performance and mileage.

Anecdotal at this point, no science to back that up.

 

[SPI Racing]

I for one am truly disappointed in the ST all around. I have had it 13 months and now have 31,100 mile on it. I came from a SHO. (still got it). This dump truck is just a pig. It got a smaller motor and a 10 speed trans, yet it gets worse milage than the SHO. It leaves good, but no balls on two lane pass. My SHO crushes this school bus. Ive been out run by the Durango, Escalade V, Cayenne, BMW. Ford makes the Coyote 5L. Why the wheeze box excuse 3L? Back up camara is 1/6 of the glaring I pad of a screen? What, they didnt have the real-estate to make it the whole screen? I can go on but, for the first time in my life, I looking at import.

 

[CoHPhasor]

Devil's advocate - the STs I see around CA are around $58K+

 

[Big Turk]

I for one am truly disappointed in the ST all around. I have had it 13 months and now have 31,100 mile on it. I came from a SHO. (still got it). This dump truck is just a pig. It got a smaller motor and a 10 speed trans, yet it gets worse milage than the SHO. It leaves good, but no balls on two lane pass. My SHO crushes this school bus. Ive been out run by the Durango, Escalade V, Cayenne, BMW. Ford makes the Coyote 5L. Why the wheeze box excuse 3L? Back up camara is 1/6 of the glaring I pad of a screen? What, they didnt have the real-estate to make it the whole screen? I can go on but, for the first time in my life, I looking at import.

A quick search on zeroto60 website shows the fastest SHO running a 5.2 0 to 60, same as the ST. Maybe they do not have all the models in there, but seems comparable speed wise. Throw in a tune and you could be a second faster than the SHO. Just saying.

 

[Sgt1411]

Devil's advocate - the STs I see around CA are around $58K+

Ya I agree, very few BASE ST's sitting around. Most are sold with Tech Pak, Street Pak, and Moonroof. That's now a $60,000USD/$70,000CAN Explorer ST.

 

[R2D2]

The dealer nearest to me has 14 ST's with them. Much more than any other trim they are having.
Yes they are all listed above 58k, but I still think you will get a discount if you negotiate. I got around 5k when I bought. And I don't think they (any dealer) are in a position to ask for a markup for a model getting ready for a mid-cycle refresh.

It got a smaller motor and a 10 speed trans, yet it gets worse milage than the SHO

Agree to you on the screen. But not about the motor in the ST. I bought it only for the motor. If I want the same motor in a bronco raptor, check how much they are going for.
You can't compare gas milage, if you looking to compare 0-60 timings. I'm Normal driving conditions, 3L turbo gives me great milage, for a performance vehicle.

 

[Grabber]

I for one am truly disappointed in the ST all around. I have had it 13 months and now have 31,100 mile on it. I came from a SHO. (still got it). This dump truck is just a pig. It got a smaller motor and a 10 speed trans, yet it gets worse milage than the SHO. It leaves good, but no balls on two lane pass. My SHO crushes this school bus. Ive been out run by the Durango, Escalade V, Cayenne, BMW. Ford makes the Coyote 5L. Why the wheeze box excuse 3L? Back up camara is 1/6 of the glaring I pad of a screen? What, they didnt have the real-estate to make it the whole screen? I can go on but, for the first time in my life, I looking at import.

I came from a modded Durango R/T that made about 330 AWHP with a tune and 392 manifold. Was able to hit 0-60 in 5.6-5.7 MODDED. If you're getting beat by stock durango's, that is on the driver, not the car. I've already gone 5.3 in my ST with a full tank of gas and a 230LB driver in Chicago heat. I agree, backup camera sucks and works maybe 25% of the time.

Escalade V is a $150,000+ SUV with over 650HP. Cayenne is comparable to the ST, but not as quick unless you have the Turbo model. This also puts the Cayenne over $100,000. No exactly apples to apples.

 

[BrooseDaMoose]

I justwent up against a Durango R/T (not SRT) yesterday. He came along side me wanting to play so I went for it. He got the jump on me but I caught right up to him and just walked right on by. My best 0-60 time is 4.74s and I have the Draggy slip to prove it!

 

[Breedog03]

Congrats on your purchase and welcome.

The cost is about $850 but this is what you are looking for depending on where you live. Not legal in some states.

https://www.tunedbyzfgracing.com/product-page/2020-21-ford-explorer-3-0l-zfg-racing-custom-tune

Do you keep your tune on race? I see there are 4 options: tow, daily driver, performance, and race. I don’t want to have multiple tunes shifting back and forth for my driving needs.

Are you doing the e50 blend?

 

[Cajun Heat]

Do you keep your tune on race? I see there are 4 options: tow, daily driver, performance, and race. I don’t want to have multiple tunes shifting back and forth for my driving needs.

Are you doing the e50 blend?

The tunes are assigned to the specific drive modes of the car. You select what ever drive mode you want and the tune is already there.

For instance, I select "Sport" mode on the ST drive mode dial and have assigned the Race tune assigned to that one. I have Performance assigned to the Normal drive mode.

When you are buying your tune you get to select what tune is assigned to what Drive Mode.

Currently running 93 for daily running around but the tunes accept an e30 for spirited days.

 

[mharris1984]

When I pulled the stock tune off my '22 using HPTuners, there is a stock low octane and high octane tune... So the truck does have a sensor to detect the fuel octane level and adjust timing and other peramiters to gain more power. Out in AZ, the max that is legal to sell is 91 Octane, so thats all we can play with. Anything higher, at like a race track pump, the vehicle must be trailered and not registered... No idea why they limit fuel octane like that here. Also, we do not have E85 in AZ. State legislature prevents any fuel station from selling it. My guess is oil lobbiests influanced out law makers.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Interesting note: Just out of curiosity, I test drove a Durango SRT 392. Here are my thoughts ...

• the big hemi sounded great
• the SRT's upgraded 19 speaker sound system was much better than my ST's base sound system
• the 392 didn't feel any faster than my FP tuned ST (road tests confirm as much)

So is 12 mpg, better sounding audio/engine worth the huge premium that Dodge is asking? I didn't think so.
Fuel costs for me would've been another $120-$150 month, and my insurance company said my rates would go up as well.
If it was any faster, I'd be tempted. Maybe. But it isn't, so I'm not.

Just FYI ...

 

[ehouse98]

Interesting note: Just out of curiosity, I test drove a Durango SRT 392. Here are my thoughts ...

• the big hemi sounded great
• the SRT's upgraded 19 speaker sound system was much better than my ST's base sound system
• the 392 didn't feel any faster than my FP tuned ST (road tests confirm as much)

So is 12 mpg, better sounding audio and engine worth the huge premium that Dodge is asking? I didn't think so.
Fuel costs for me would've been another $120-$150 month, and my insurance company said my rates would go up as well.
If it was any faster, I'd be tempted. Maybe. But it isn't, so I'm not.

Just FYI ...

Have you heard the audio upgraded audio in the ST's? Curious to how this would compare to the upgraded audio in the srt. Also always the ability to get a much better tune for the st to really put that to rest.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Have you heard the audio upgraded audio in the ST's? Curious to how this would compare to the upgraded audio in the srt. Also always the ability to get a much better tune for the st to really put that to rest.

No sir, I haven't heard the upgraded B&O audio for the ST, so I can't speak to that.

And I know there are 3rd party tunes that make more hp, but I was comparing vehicles that still retain their power train warranties. The best I've run on the factory backed FP tune is 0-60 in 4.7 sec and a 13.15 sec quarter mile. That's almost exactly what 392 Durango's run, so I'm happy with that.