1995 FORD CLUB WAGON Review - Base Price $19,597
This big boy remains a load-carrying classic
Introduction
Our test van was equipped with a 5.8-liter gasoline V8 - not the most powerful engine in the lineup, but more than strong enough for ordinary use.
All engines drive the rear wheels with a variety of automatic transmissions. With the right options, a Club Wagon can pull trailers weighing 10,000 lb.
On the safety front, Ford augments the expected 3-point seat belts with a driver's airbag. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard on all models.
Interior
In front, the Club Wagon passenger compartment is definitely driver-oriented. Like the Ford truck with which it shares so much hardware, the Club Wagon sports a carlike dashboard, full instrumentation (speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure, voltmeter, water temperature and fuel level, all done in Ford's simple and readable corporate style) and controls for audio and climate systems angled toward the driver. Everything is within easy reach, clearly marked and well-finished. We wish all automobiles had this same array of instruments.
Seating arrangements vary depending on options chosen, but all seats are comfortable, well-shaped and covered with long-wearing materials. The rearmost seat in our Chateau tester could be folded down for use as a bed.
Air conditioning is standard on XLT and Chateau - optional on the XL - and is effective, though anyone planning to use a Club Wagon with a full load of passengers should order the optional rear A/C unit. All expected amenities are available. Properly equipped, a Club Wagon can be as plush as any passenger car.
Walk-Around
In front, the Club Wagon passenger compartment is definitely driver-oriented. Like the Ford truck with which it shares so much hardware, the Club Wagon sports a carlike dashboard, full instrumentation (speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure, voltmeter, water temperature and fuel level, all done in Ford's simple and readable corporate style) and controls for audio and climate systems angled toward the driver. Everything is within easy reach, clearly marked and well-finished. We wish all automobiles had this same array of instruments.
Seating arrangements vary depending on options chosen, but all seats are comfortable, well-shaped and covered with long-wearing materials. The rearmost seat in our Chateau tester could be folded down for use as a bed.
Air conditioning is standard on XLT and Chateau - optional on the XL - and is effective, though anyone planning to use a Club Wagon with a full load of passengers should order the optional rear A/C unit. All expected amenities are available. Properly equipped, a Club Wagon can be as plush as any passenger car.
Impressions
Herding a Club Wagon down the road is easier than you might think. Though there's a little too much power assist at freeway speeds - diluting road feel - the steering is reasonably precise and makes light work of maneuvers in confined areas. And with a van this size, "confined area" gets to be a pretty good-sized concept.
The ride is actually far more comfortable than you might expect, and with a little experience it's easy to judge where the vehicle's corners are. Al-though not especially fast, the Club Wagon picks up speed quickly enough to keep pace with traffic, and settles down to a comfortable cruising speed on the highway. Once in long-distance mode, the Club Wagon is surprisingly quiet, especially in our heavily insulated Chateau.
Stability is no problem for the Club Wagon - it goes where it's pointed and stops the same way. ABS helps during braking, eliminating the worry of judging brake-lock points with varying loads. Crosswinds do affect the big van to some extent, though the rounded body-corners help considerably.
As might be anticipated, given its high center of gravity and keep-the-passengers-happy soft springs, the Club Wagon does suffer from body roll when taken through corners, which makes handling a very deliberate business.
This can be remedied to a large degree by ordering the optional heavy-duty suspension. When so equipped, the Club Wagon's ride is firm - though not at all unpleasant - and easier on the driver.
Summary
Anyone with large-van experience will take to the Ford Club Wagon like the proverbial duck to water. It is as nice to drive as a large van can be, attractively styled - given the difficulties of making a large box look like anything other than a large box - and can be personalized to a degree that would simply amaze the owners of mere minivans.
These same attributes should appeal to those who might find use for a little more space than, say, a Windstar offers. An extra 4 ft. or so of overall length is something any competent driver can adjust to over time, and passengers will appreciate all the roam-around room the bigger van provides.
There are a few negatives to consider, and they apply to all full-size vans. Finding a downtown parking space isn't as easy, of course, and freeway lanes seem much narrower from the Club Wagon pilot's seat. Fuel economy is another problem: On its best day, one of these monsters will never see the happy side of 18 mpg.
But all things considered, the Club Wagon is an impressive package, and arguably the best of the big boys from the Big Three.
Build quality is excellent, with nary a squeak, rattle or groan escaping from hidden corners. Fit-and-finish, not an issue in the days when big vans were primarily bought by commercial customers, is now up to passenger-car standards.
And, given the amount of basic hardware and amenities supplied, our test Chateau's sticker price seems to represent good value.
With its combination of size, quality and value, the Club Wagon should be at the top of your list. Its versatility, comfort and driveability make it a fine choice for those who find the passenger, towing and load-carrying capacities of minivans to be inadequate.
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