Opinions on Ford Explorer wanted

[McBiggity]

looking at 06 Explorer's XLT 4x4.
Any opinions? First hand experiences?

[R7]

Originally posted by McBiggity
looking at 06 Explorer's XLT 4x4.
Any opinions?

Extended warranty should sum things up

[SSearchVT]

I describe mine as the 'K' car from Ford...

[McBiggity]

are they really that bad? hmm

[scootertrash]

My wife is on her third one and loves them.

She had a 1991 Eddie Bauer (years ago) which she put around 225k miles on. Sure, I put in spare parts as expected, but spare parts are cheap for explorers. Never had engine or tranny problems. She then get a 1997 which she put 180k miles on. I now use it as a tow rig for my bike on race weekends. She bought a 2005 last year and loves it.
I do my own repairs so it works out for me. I've never had to replace anything major...just stuff like brakes, wheel bearings, stuff like that.
They're not luxury rigs. They don't handle like race cars. They do make noises now and then. For the price, I think they are decent vehicles for the right purpose.
If you're very picky, like Tully, you may not be happy with them.

[McBiggity]

haha. no, not picky. I can do all the routine stuff myself so that's not an issue.
I have an oppurtunity to get one for little $$. I took it out the other day and may borrow it for a couple days to see if I like it.
my roommate's brother is the salesman

[McBiggity]

someone had told me that the 4.0 V6 has timing chain issues.
going to look into that a little more

[Dichotomous]

if its real cheep the go with it, but remember that there's a reason they are nicknamed "ford exploder"
SUV's are bad examples of how personal transportation should be, and 99% of people driving them could easily drive something much more efficient and fun and safer (for themselves and others too) and cheeper. and an exploder is a bad example of an SUV...

thats my opinion based on a few friends' exploders, having driven them too, seeing them ALWAYS underneath them, seeing them upside in snowbanks on the side of the road, seeing them rusted away....
if you really need an SUV (I cant for the life of me figure out a real need for that particular vehicle type, if you need to haul things get a truck, if you need to haul people get a car, SUVs wont do anything that a sedan with a roof rack wont do) then go for it. but again, thats my opinion

[McBiggity]

i have a truck, but i run out of room real quick when loading it up to go to the track.
have a reg cab tacoma- 4banger now.
towing with that would be a real bitch,

the explorer in question is a 2006 XLT, almost fully loaded, v6 w/ 21k miles. I could realistically get it for under $19k

[Dichotomous]

towing what? a bike or two on a trailer a few times a year? put the bike in the bed, fit your gear around it in a couple backpacks or something. for that use its definately not worth having to own an explorer or any other SUV. will you notice that there is extra weight on your truck? yup, oh NO! I seriously think its hilarious when people buy these huge engines so that they can tow something a couple times a year, just so that they dont loose any possibility of acceleration, and then drive conservatively with it anyways. will it use more gas to drive? yup, but much less than would equate to driving an exploder around all the time instead, or just the cost of the thing. a track bike isnt gonna weigh more than a couple people sitting in your truck anyways, or a buddy and some dirt in the back to keep it nice in the winter.... so in reality it wont matter much.
I used to have a regular cab truck, and had to transport a friends honda 600rr in it, was easy and cheep, all you'll need is a couple straps and a board. when I had my jeep cherokee (worst buying mistake I've ever made and will be paying for it for a long time, more SUV hatred) I transported another friends super lightweigh chopper, had to rent a trailer, buy the mount, deal with the trailer people more, deal with really bad handling (engine didnt notice acceleration but still got worse gas milage), bring trailer back, had lots of fun backing up and parking lot turns.... whereas if I had a truck with a bed it would have straped down the the bed and I would have forgotten about it till we got home.

again, sorry for the SUV hating, I'm looking at the payoff on my car today which has rollover from that rolling black brick of a lead sled (and the jeep is better than an exploder too...) and its hurting pretty hard.

that explorer wont be worth much money in a couple years, they have bad resale, and the 4.0 V6 is doubtfull to pull a trailer and heavier truck better than your truck will pull the bike in the back

[McBiggity]

i appreciate your opinion,
It's more like once to twice a month the bike goes to the track. And i used the truck all of last year and it get's real cramped with the bike, spare wheels, tools, cooler, tent, ez-up, gear, etc...
I have shit piled up to the roof in my passenger seat as well

[mikeb]

maybe a honda ridgeline or avalanche is what you need? i would love a true quad cab 4 door truck all the manufactures are making now. mpg would be about the same as an explorer to. also don't forget those things have a terrible resale value. so if you don't like it you will get killed tring to unload it.

[McBiggity]

i've looked but the Ridgeline is out of price range- even used.

[Dichotomous]

maybe just a bigger truck,

[McBiggity]

yeah, been looking for those as well, but most larger trucks are $25k and up.
I may just have to deal with the tiny tacoma for a while longer

[tls25rs]

McBiggity

Take a look around, when it comes to the bigger trucks the big three are hurting for sales right now and you could probably pick up a four door Ram 1500 or a 1/2 ton Chevy/GMC for the same 19-20k you are looking at spending on an Explorer. I have heard ads for Boch Dodge and Ira Dodge looking to unload trucks at relatively inexpensive prices. So inexpensive it even has me the cheap bastard thinking about buying a truck.

Joel

[benVFR]

I don't terribly like the explorer or SUVs but haven't owned one so I can't speak directly.

What I can say, is that IF it does not work perfectly and you have to interact with Ford at all to get situations resolved, you'll regret buying a Ford.

Even if it's under a warranty and you have little to no obligation they will still make it a major PITA.

The company has issues and it is not exactly helping their attitude towards customers.

[McBiggity]

yeah, well I just walked out of the dealership. They would only give me 9k for my trade. He says it from NADA. Little does he know I use the same books he does at the insurance company and my average trade in for my truck is around $13500.
Um, no thanks. =)
the hunt continues

[TheIglu]

Don't expect a lot of space in them. I rented a Mountaineer ('06) and drove it to Buffalo and back. NO space in that thing for it's size as with most SUV's.

It rode alright, gobbled up gas and the interior was more trendy than functional. Seats were comphy but the Mercury is a fancier version anyways. It was completely loaded, nearly every option.

You are gunna hate me for stating the obvious but here it goes anyways:

Toyota 4Runner

V6

Done.

You won't get an 06 for the same money, but you could get an '03 (nearly the same) with similar miles for about the same with all the options. And ten years down the line it will actually be worth selling unlike an '06 explorer.

[McBiggity]

yeah, Clayton. that's the next search. stick w/ the toyota

[Cue Ball]

My father has 04 v8 exploter, no problems yet, we tow two bikes to myrtle beach on a big as trailer every year, never an issue. gas mileage sucks, but McBiggity is make bukoo dollars as a pimp, so gas money no factor.....


My VW is a shit box, I bought the extended warranty and the fuckers did not make a dime, get the extra warranty for piece of mind. When 4x4's have tranny issues and hot, cost a fortune.


p.s. fuck the grammer, 3 beers and two bottles of merlot...no pain

[McBiggity]

haha, thanks Ed.

[Stoneman]

A little late here. I've never owned one, but we had a brandy-new one for 2-1/2 weeks in FLA. Nice ride, TOTAL pig on gas. We averaged 12 MPG in town (Marco Island) and 17 MPG highway. That was the V6, and we were trying to take it easy as gas was over $3.00/gal on the island at the time...

[RandyO]

my recomentation would be a van... like a Dodge/Freightliner/Mercedes Sprinter

[Punjistick]

I'm with Randy, get the Sprinter. People are getting real world gas mileage of around 24-28 for the 2500 118" wheelbase regular roof line model. Plus it's a diesel so it will run forever with minimal service needs.