Experiences with the Ford Explorer?

[mcvickj]

Well it would appear that I'm in the market for a new vehicle. This was very unexpected so now I'm playing the vehicle shuffle until I figure out what I want to do. I don't even know what I really want. I do know it would be nice to purchase something that you don't have to get to ground level to enter to vehicle. hehe

I'm looking for any experiences with the Explorer. Good or bad. Probably somewhere around a 97 to 01. A very quick look on a few sites like Autotrader.com is showing prices around $4.5 to $9k.

 

[Finns14]

Love my explorer no serious matience (spelling) issues with the exception of the usual things ie brakes, oil tires,

Think I have 120,000 miles on it

 

[iamwiz82]

We picked up an 02 a few months ago and the worst problem is a bad DPFE sensor (very common across the Ford linup) and a CD player that skips after track 13.

 

[mercanucaribe]

There are better vehicles.

 

[acemcmac]

ford exploder :laugh:

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
There are better vehicles.

Not for the price.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
There are better vehicles.

Not for the price.

 

[vi edit]

What they lack in refinement, they make up for in low cost to own. They are a dime a dozen and parts and labor are cheap on them.

You'll probably have more rattles and squeeks, maybe some sloppy trim pieces, ect than a Toyota, but you save several thousand dollars going with the Ford.

It's a good winter beat around vehicle or utility for hauling a boat or taking camping on the weekends.

I'd go with an Explorer over the GM counterpart of that era the Blazer/Jimmy.

On your list should be a Nissan Pathfinder. It will be a bit more expensive than the Ford, but the ride and fit and finish will be a bit more desireable for every day driving.

 

[woowoo]

I have heard that tranny problems become major money.

 

[DougK62]

They rust HORRIBLY.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
What they lack in refinement, they make up for in low cost to own. They are a dime a dozen and parts and labor are cheap on them.

You'll probably have more rattles and squeeks, maybe some sloppy trim pieces, ect than a Toyota, but you save several thousand dollars going with the Ford.

It's a good winter beat around vehicle or utility for hauling a boat or taking camping on the weekends.

I'd go with an Explorer over the GM counterpart of that era the Blazer/Jimmy.

On your list should be a Nissan Pathfinder. It will be a bit more expensive than the Ford, but the ride and fit and finish will be a bit more desireable for every day driving.

It definately lacks refinement. Ours rides more like a truck than our truck does I have to say that it is suprisingly good about rattles, better than either MINI we owned.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Don't get a V8 or AWD. Mine was a POS

 

[DefDC]

I only owned a 94 sport for 2 years but I loved that vehicle. I only got rid of it because of a weird engine knock that only happened if the engine was warm and then sat for about 15-20mins and restarted the car. Then it ran fine after you started driving. The car had about 140k, if I remember correctly. Traded it in for a 98 blazer. Worst mistake of my life.

I'd like to get another Exploder once gas prices stabilize, or I start getting paid more...

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
ford exploder :laugh:

That's what we used to call them at the shop...

 

[middlehead]

My mom had a 2000 Explorer Sport, she thought it rode too roughly but it felt fine whenever I drove it. She never had to do any repairs on it, so I can't confirm or deny woowoo's transmission claim.

 

[Dracos]

We have a 98 Explorer with 110K miles on it, runs great never any serious maintenance issue since we have had it *knock on wood* But it does drain the wallet at the gas pump...

 

[rky60]

SO has a '02 Explorer Sport, no problems to speak of

 

[mcvickj]

This is the kind of information I'm looking for. Keep it coming. I also want to keep gas mileage in mind too. I have about a 35-40 minute drive into work. About 70% highway and 30% city. I also make weekly visits to our other locations. All city driving.

Never said I was dead set on it. Just asking around. Again I have no idea what I really want. Something with decent mileage with some ability to transport computer equipment.

I don't have any reservations about purchasing another Taurus. Besides this current engine problem its been a great car.

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
There are better vehicles.

Then would you care you grace us with your vehicle expertise?

 

[Looney]

It's a good SUV, especially for the price. The only thing is, the model really hasn't been updated since like 1996 (i guess this is similar to the other Ranger thread). I thought it looked kickass when i first saw it like 10 years ago... but man, they need to update it.

 

[tarheelmm]

I just traded my 2000 Explorer in for a TL. I had a few problems with it but did like it overall. The CD player would overheat and not play CD's. Replaced with my own radio. Had to replace the transmission at 105k miles. Cost about $1400. In the last two years we replaced 4 sensors which is typical. One goes bad so do the rest down the line. Few hundred bucks. Had a tuneup at 115k miles. Cost around $400. All work done at my dealership. I did do regular oil changes. Total mileage when traded in: 138k

Would I buy another, probably not.

 

[RaymondY]

I have a 2001 Explorer Sport Trac that I picked up a few months ago. Everything works fine except that the rear passenger windows operates intermittingly.

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: mcvickj
This is the kind of information I'm looking for. Keep it coming. I also want to keep gas mileage in mind too. I have about a 35-40 minute drive into work. About 70% highway and 30% city. I also make weekly visits to our other locations. All city driving.

Part of the reason I was using my mom's Sport for a while was that I had to run to a town 60 miles away once or twice a week and my car wasn't in any shape to carry that at the time. 120 miles round trip used a little over half a tank (basically a quarter there, quarter back, plus whatever city driving I did)

 

[GeekDrew]

I had a '99 XLS from 2003-2004. In the short time that I had it, I had to have the brakes replaced (just usual wear), the radiator replaced (small hole got bigger), the thermostat replaced... and something else. Can't remember. And the ABS system would occasionally kick in before it should have. I traded it in for a Buick Regal GS in November of 04. I love my car, but I really wish I still had the Explorer for some occasions, such as towing things places, times when I'm running around in the country and it's too rough for a car to handle, etc. I don't know what mileage I got city vs highway... but I think I averaged somewhere around 14-15 MPG. I did a lot of hard driving on hilly and curvy roads, so I'm not exactly an ideal model as far as MPG goes for anyone else.

Friends of mine have had Jimmys, Blazers, etc., the GM counterpart. Most of the time I'm a GM fan, but I give the Explorer the upper hand as far as that type of SUV goes.

 

[DAGTA]

I've never owned one but I rented one in 2004. I hated it. It felt unsteady at any speed over 50mph and the handling was poor. I had driven a Toyota 4Runner for a few months in 2003 and there is a huge difference between those two vehicles. In my opinion, Explorer = crap.

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: mcvickj

Again I have no idea what I really want. Something with decent mileage with some ability to transport computer equipment.

Good mileage is not what they are known for