Author Topic: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer  (Read 518 times)

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Offline Questor

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Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« on: July 29, 2009, 05:49:23 AM »
My old Explorer is getting to the end of its service life. The new ones don't get the good mileage of the older versions.

Got any suggestions for a replacement that gets pretty good mileage. 20mpg city is about right. 4wd is a must. Decent ground clearance is a must. Doesn't have to tow much.
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2009, 10:57:02 AM »
Actually it could be restored/rebuild to like new again. Folks are still doing it with cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s all the time. You'd find that for far less than the cost of a new vehicle you can have yours made new again. There really is no such thing as a service life on cars and trucks if you're willing to consider a complete restoration.

You might want to look at a Toyota 4 Runner. Heck my Sequoia has averaged 17.3 mpg for all the miles I've put on it since buying it. It's the largest size they make with 381 HP. I'd expect the 4 Runner to do at least that many mpg better to match your current Explorer.


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Offline Questor

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2009, 11:12:09 AM »
GB:

I like the idea, but it may have some practical limitations for me. The car has almost 300,000 miles on it and for my situation it's been historically a better option to buy a lower mileage car and then start piling the miles onto the newer car. I'm considering getting one that's a couple of years newer, but with under 100k miles. It all depends on finding the right car. Things just start to go wrong with the combination of years and miles, and it gets expensive.

One thing I must say about this Explorer though, is that if ever there were a car worth putting restoration money into, this is it. The thing is tight and everything works pretty well. It's got a bit of rust, but nothing serious.

It's a heck of a car. It suits me well.

I will be looking at the Toy-oters too. Lots of options. With the kids growing up, a smaller car is starting to make more sense, though.

Another option now is to get a smaller car for commuting and long distance, and keeping the truck hunting, fishing, and non-work driving. I really don't want to buy a car that's very new.

I've looked at those Subaru Outbacks and Foresters. Pretty nice in concept, but not too good for comfort when you're over 6 feet tall. Kinda cramped.

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Offline Swampman

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Offline gstewart44

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2009, 11:23:26 AM »
Actually it could be restored/rebuild to like new again. Folks are still doing it with cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s all the time. You'd find that for far less than the cost of a new vehicle you can have yours made new again. There really is no such thing as a service life on cars and trucks if you're willing to consider a complete restoration.

You might want to look at a Toyota 4 Runner. Heck my Sequoia has averaged 17.3 mpg for all the miles I've put on it since buying it. It's the largest size they make with 381 HP. I'd expect the 4 Runner to do at least that many mpg better to match your current Explorer.

My 4 runner has the big 4 cylinder engine in it and it gets 20 mpg around town and on the highway.    It gets a bit less off road and 4wd but it is reliable.....200k miles on it...
I'm just tryin' to keep everything in balance, Woodrow. You do more work than you got to, so it's my obligation to do less. (Gus McCrae)

Offline Oldshooter

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2009, 11:28:46 AM »
I was gonna say Toyota, sadly American is limited to Ford, but Toyotas are made here now and Fords may not be. Now you can always buy an obamma chevy or dodge and comrade obama will give you up to 4500 back on your clunker!
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Offline williamlayton

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2009, 12:44:11 PM »
My Epedition gets around 20MPG on the road but much less in town.
If i keep it below 80.  :-* ::) :o
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Offline Questor

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2009, 01:02:20 PM »
Thanks for the post on the Escape. I hadn't considered them because the cargo capacity of the early models wasn't too good. Maybe they've fixed that. The Explorers today seem bigger than my '99.
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Offline Spanky

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2009, 01:20:50 PM »
Get a Subaru wagon.
They have everything you're looking for.



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Offline gypsyman

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2009, 02:34:50 PM »
Ya ought to check into a F-150 four door. My brother bought one new in '07. 4 wheel drive,dvd,power windows,moon roof,and lots more. First thing the dealer did was knock off $10,000. And he's getting around 20mpg if he's driving it.(not so good when the wife drive'sit he said) He got it with a cap on it, so can go to the grocery store and keep goods dry. The couple times I've road in it, felt as good as any car. gypsyman
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Offline ralfus

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Re: Dag nabbit! Can't get another Ford Explorer
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2009, 02:58:59 PM »
For the original post, keep in mind that mileage is the same or better than it used to be, but the EPA changed their grading/rating system which resulted in lower mileage numbers. A vehicle from 2008 that was indentical to a 2006 model would now get lower mileage ratings to reflect "average" mileage so leadfoots would stop whining that they were lied to.