Anybody drive Ford Expedition or Excursion??

I have been looking at these and I wondered if anyone had either or an opinion on them?? Please tell me what you think.
Michele

badseed
No Excursions or Explorer, but do drive a F250 Lariet, Diesel, 4WD. I like the fact that the seats in this sit up high where I can see ALL the maniacs on the road.

I drove Chevy's up until a year ago, I like the Ford.

Good luck in your quest :)

Vicki/Narc

My best friend has an Explorer. It is about 5 years old and has constant (apparently) unfixable problems with the 4WD.

I had a new Mazda Navajo, which is made on the Explorer lines. Had problems with the 4WD also. Never could get it into 4WD. Sold it after 1 year.

I've had Fords I really liked, just not the Explorer.

I was drivin down the highway one day, at about 65mph.
some genius in an expedition pulled out in front of us, so we went from 65-0mph in 25ft.

despite the fact it nearly killed all of us, I must comment on it being a tough car as it was hardly dented.

drew

My oldest son has a Ford Explorer. It is JUNK!

I have 3 cousins with expeditions.(No male one upmanship in that family!) All you hear is that they are consantly in the shop and the mileage is not anywhere near what is advertised, I think they are all now praying for the leases to run out before the SUVs fall apart.

My dad always said FORD stood for Found On Road Dead! LOL
Then there are some that say it means First On Race Day! LOL

I have to admit that Fords have always given my family alot of problems, and even now that I am an adult I don't buy Fords.
But this is just my opinion.

This message was edited Sep 12, 2003 11:16 PM

Molly, how about this one "Fix Or Repair Daily".

Sorry Chele, can't help in this catagory.

Donna

Okay, here is the dilemma in a nutshell. I need SOMETHING with 8 seats minimum. I have a conversion van now, but only 7 seats and I am not really thrilled with it. I like the SUV's. Any other thoughts? The Chevy's run about the same price. What else??

Prepare for low gas milage!

TC...

http://www.hardychevy.com/f_inventory-show_photo.cgi?extend=74828955&model=1500&year=2002&photo_url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.cobaltgroup.com%2F5%2F6%2F3%2F51357365.jpg&force_width=0&make=GMC

How about a Yukon??

Badseed, had to jump in here. I had a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe for less than 3 years. Electrical problems galore with the windows and seats. Windows stopped rolling down. Seats kept losing their memory settings. The radio would often lose its preset settings. Plus the 'idiot' light 'Check your engine' came on often. It was often a silly thing, like air getting through the gas cap. Add to this the trips to the dealership over and over. I'm sure it's the last new car we will ever buy. Used from now on. I would still like to have faith in American made cars, but I see more and more imports on the roads these days.

I has MiniVan is Areostar (FORD) not 4wd is 7 seats with no problem at all that we had this for years with no plms at all since but now just got wreck few weeks ago maybe will have problems by then. Hope not!

So here has Full Size Ford or Chevy or GMC or Dodge either with 4-WD or without some of them has it depend one what you like so it has 8 passanger Van so you can go look at it and ask the question about this whatever you choose so you will know which is cheaper on gas things like that so you will and decide to get one what you like. Hope that help you look for one.

You guys are good! Even with the downside. LOL I'd love to have 4x4, sick of being stuck home in the winter. I had a Ford Windstar and loved it, not enough seats. Now I have a GMC Savanna Conversion Van. It get tossed around by semi's on the highway. I don't really want another conversion van but am still looking at them. I hate the boxy ones! The Windstar was more like car in looks and the way it handled. I am going to look up Yukons now. :)

Yukon look good not like boxy one. LOL The hummer look so cool boy so high to get in LOL it is more like box one. Giggle.... still look cool cost $$$$ wow.

Yeah they do look cool! I bet that could stand up to a herd of little girls! LOL

A FORD???????????????????????


No Thanks.

How about a hummer, add a third seat for $52,750?! Only $788 a month. OUCH!

Badseed, Please think hard before settling for the SUV, have you tried lifting all those kid seats up and into those things? Or how well you can see the kids back there?

I run a car rental agency, and have driven just about all of them, and I hear the comments from my customers. My opinion is that they are not family friendly, over-priced in cost and insurance. Why not try one out for a weekend before buying, see what you can cram into them and how inconvient they are.

The cargo-type doors on the mini-vans are alot easier to put in carseats and kids. My (family oriented) customer's choice was the Gmc 8 pass. van. http://www.epinions.com/auto_Make-2003_Chevrolet_Express_Passenger_Van
maybe not so pretty but...

Of note also is buying a used rental vehicle,most of them have warranty left and the bugs worked out :)

Seed,did you know the only thing they do not tell you about the Hummer?you get a 20K write off,something you don't hear.

Violabird, thank you for your honesty. I'm just not sure I would like another van. I have a conversion van now. I just don't like the way it handles. It feels like semi's will blow me off the road and it gets jittery at 70mph. Maybe it is just because they sit up so high? I have all but given up highway driving for the last 3 years. I need to buy something SOON. That is why I posted for opinions. I am thankful for all of them. :) I really liked the way the Ford Expedition handled-more like a car, but there seemed to be no leg room or grocery room ( I think THEY call it cargo LOL) in the rear. The other thing I liked was the shorter front end. I really think the Expedition is BIG too. sigh Maybe I'll just buy a used limo and put tractor wheels on it!

I'd keep checking those E-opinions on all the different vehicles, you can learn alot, did you see the reviews?

Good luck!

Have you looked at a Chevy Suburban? It has been around a long time. I also read if you get it with the best towing package that it can carry more than a Hummer!
Olds

'Chele, here are some links to check:
SUV EPA info: http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/suv-03.htm#lgst
General SUV Info: http://www.suv.org/
Toyota Sienna: http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/details/toyota04sienna/cefwdwith8passengerseating/trim_overview.html

For FUN, you could consider this, as your family keeps growing! :)

This message was edited Sep 13, 2003 7:28 AM

Here's the Lincoln interior!

Seed, we've had 2 Explorers and loved them. I have a RAV4 but that's too small for you. You mentioned there wasn't any room for groceries. Your girls can hold them on their laps! LOL just kidding.... Just do me a favor...don't by a Chrysler product. They don't stand behind their quality problems at all. And I'm not talking just a particular dealership either.

Good luck!! I don't envy you any on this decision.

MaMa "T" :)

'Chele, have you looked at Volvos? I don't know if they have an 8 passenger model, but their safety rating has been good.

Am picking up a new Dodge mini-van Monday morning. Have had a lot of good fortune with these vehicles. Whatever you decide on, there are still 03 models available, which are discounted to move. Mini-van plus golddog in the back equals yuppiesville for sure.

violabird is right...check out the models by driving them...and not just a 'test drive'.Rent one and take it to the grocery or to school in the morning.

The 4WD won't be that much of an asset in Cinci and will eat gas...plus cost more too.Chances are,you won't get out till after the streets are scraped anyway,and the 4x works best on loose stuff,and is useless in the rain or ice.

Being in the wholesale car business....and buying lots of vehicles from car rental agancies,I can agree with her on purchasing one.The vehicles are maintained better than most individuals.They get all of their service and repairs...it's all scheduled on computer.Plus,they don't want the bad press of customers breaking down in one of their vehicles.Our most care free purchases are former rental vehicles....and we buy lots of them.

That said,my experience with the Explorer/Excursion Tahoe/Denali type of vehicle is they do have more things that seem to go wrong with them...electrical especially.They sit up high...that's a plus,but they're hard to manuver in parking lots and such. The gas mileage is awful...and I mean awful.What is advertised isn't even close.

As far as vans go,they are top heavy.Check the ratings for roll overs to see what's best.Also,don't get one of those 15 passenger jobs at any cost....they are dangerous death traps.The roll over rate is horrible because they are not designed properly and the weight distribution is all wrong.

The SUV is probably safer for the number of passengers that you are transporting,but I'd shop around very carefully.

I think I like Darius' *suggestion* the best! LOL Great pics Darius. I bet my kids would turn into brats though. ha ha ha That is a gorgeous car. I have spent a bit of time in them but not behind the wheel. :)

I do have to buy something I feel safe in and safe driving and the conversion van I have is not doing it for me. It even has the standard body. Someone I know bought a 15 passenger and loves it. It looks awfully darn long to me. I think she has five kids, but some are older and she said it great for lugging around friends. Being that I don't much care for mine, I don't think I'd like the LOOOOOOONG one!

Of all the cars I have ever had or driven-corvair, Olds Firenza, Chevy Malibu, Mazda Protege', Grand Am, Blazer GMC Savanna, Ford Windstar-I never had a problem with my Olds and I had that in my late teens to early twenties, I bought the Mazda new and hubby drives it now, never a problem, my Ford Windstar never had a single problem til the day I went to turn it in, it was a lease and I had it the last four of five years, etc. I bought the GMC with 32,000 miles on it, drove it for 7,000 miles/13 months and the transmission went out. Want to know how much help GMC was??

I really appreciate everyone's opinions. Thank you.

Right OUCH a monthly Hummer and did you see inside? It really cool... I like it but I know will never get one because could not afford it.

Hummer 70K.........Chevy, Ford.......30K. Seems the military has lots of problems with maitenance on HumVee's too.....not to mention 10 mpg.......

"eyes"

Everything I am looking at seriously seems to be in the $40-50K range, even after hubby's HP discount, the lowest is about $37K. Geeze!!

don't knock fords...
for hauling stuff, you cannot beat a pre-1994 ford truck.

i have a 1989 f-150 with the straight 6 engine.
i have beaten that truck to death hauling things WELL beyond it's limitations and there have been little problems with it. 1week ago it just broke a quarter million miles.

not to mention, any junkyard has the parts you need...

suv's and vans, i dunno what to say.... maybe sell off some kids.
drew

LOL Deeproots, hey you are gaining on me. LOL

I did look at some Lincolns and Mercury as well. Wow are they high! Well, not much more, but more. Found some neat trolley buses too. LOL And executive conversion vans. WOW! Not enough seats though and do we really need a coffee station, wet bar and computer hookups? Oh, a printer too! Gee.