Used, newer Explorer purchase recommendations needed

My 1996 Explorer XLT V8 AWD was stolen this past weekend and I am
looking for a "newer" used, suitable, similar, replacement. It had
150K miles on it, ran great and never gave me any problems since I
bought it used in 1998 with 59K miles on it. Since I liked this one so
much, I am thinking I would buy another late model, used Explorer and
am looking for recommendations on what year would be best (or not best)
to buy, things to look for when buying, options, etc.

I do own a 17' pleasure boat which weighs about 2500 lbs. which I
occasionally tow into the mountains of northern California, so decent
power is a consideration as well as a tow package. Of course, my V8
pulled the boat well in the mountains, but if a V6 will do the job OK
for those 2-3 times per year when I tow the boat into higher
elevations, I'm fine with a V6 instead of a V8 like I had. The vast
majority of time I will be towing the boat at sea level.

Other than towing my boat, my needs are pretty basic...nothing fancy is
needed, but I do like to stay away from the bottom end models. A 4
door, 4 WD or AWD XLT is what I am thinking but I have not educated
myself on the recent years' Explorer models and what options are
available on them, so I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, comments, etc.

Bob

I have a '05 Limited V8, now has about 24,000 miles and have been very
pleased with it. According to Edmunds, this vehicle is now worth
around $23,000 (sticker was around $42,000 so depreciation is
horrible, but that works in your favor). If you can spring for that
late a model, the advantage is that it has the 4.6 liter V8 instead of
the older 5 liter. I think '05 was the first year for that, but am
not really sure about that. If you can avoid getting the third row
seat, I suggest you not get it as it messes up the load floor in the
back and is really not very useable unless you have small kids.

In article >,
Big Shoe > wrote:
:I have a '05 Limited V8, now has about 24,000 miles and have been very
leased with it. According to Edmunds, this vehicle is now worth
:around $23,000 (sticker was around $42,000 so depreciation is
:horrible, but that works in your favor). If you can spring for that
:late a model, the advantage is that it has the 4.6 liter V8 instead of
:the older 5 liter. I think '05 was the first year for that, but am
:not really sure about that. If you can avoid getting the third row
:seat, I suggest you not get it as it messes up the load floor in the
:back and is really not very useable unless you have small kids.


Thanks for your reply, Big Shoe. What kind of gas mileage do you get?

The Explorer was completely redesigned for the '02 model year. To
confirm - try to find an '02 Haynes or similar. You'll find that
everyone's books go up through '01, but apparently it takes a long time
to create one for a brand new model. I still can't find a book that
covers the '02.

Anyway, I have an '02 XLT with the 4.6L V-8 (the first year, I think),
ControlTrack 4WD, factory trailer package, and 125K miles. The
automatic is a 5-speed overdrive, by the way. It has been a great
vehicle - no complaints at all, and I plan to keep it several more
years. I regularly tow a 3500 pound camper around the west (including
the mountains of Colo and Calif) and across the country to New England
and back, without problems, though it is a bit slow at high altitudes
where the air is thin.

Last week, we drove from Phoenix to Santa Fe with the cruise control set
at 75. Uphill, since the end-to-end elevation gain is about 5000-6000
feet. Got 20 mpg, though there was a stiff wind at our back. Came back
three days later, downhill of course, and got 17.5 mpg with the same
wind in our face. The vehicle has a 3.73 rear end as part of the towing
package. With a lower numerical ratio, mileage should be a bit better.

Bill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bob wrote:

> In article >,
> Big Shoe > wrote:
> :I have a '05 Limited V8, now has about 24,000 miles and have been very
> leased with it. According to Edmunds, this vehicle is now worth
> :around $23,000 (sticker was around $42,000 so depreciation is
> :horrible, but that works in your favor). If you can spring for that
> :late a model, the advantage is that it has the 4.6 liter V8 instead of
> :the older 5 liter. I think '05 was the first year for that, but am
> :not really sure about that. If you can avoid getting the third row
> :seat, I suggest you not get it as it messes up the load floor in the
> :back and is really not very useable unless you have small kids.
>
>
> Thanks for your reply, Big Shoe. What kind of gas mileage do you get?

Bill, thank you for your reply.

Bob

In article <YrM5g.266354$Oe2.106809@fed1read07>,
Bill Jeffrey > wrote:
:The Explorer was completely redesigned for the '02 model year. To
:confirm - try to find an '02 Haynes or similar. You'll find that
:everyone's books go up through '01, but apparently it takes a long time
:to create one for a brand new model. I still can't find a book that
:covers the '02.
:
:Anyway, I have an '02 XLT with the 4.6L V-8 (the first year, I think),
:ControlTrack 4WD, factory trailer package, and 125K miles. The
:automatic is a 5-speed overdrive, by the way. It has been a great
:vehicle - no complaints at all, and I plan to keep it several more
:years. I regularly tow a 3500 pound camper around the west (including
:the mountains of Colo and Calif) and across the country to New England
:and back, without problems, though it is a bit slow at high altitudes
:where the air is thin.
:
:Last week, we drove from Phoenix to Santa Fe with the cruise control set
:at 75. Uphill, since the end-to-end elevation gain is about 5000-6000
:feet. Got 20 mpg, though there was a stiff wind at our back. Came back
:three days later, downhill of course, and got 17.5 mpg with the same
:wind in our face. The vehicle has a 3.73 rear end as part of the towing
ackage. With a lower numerical ratio, mileage should be a bit better.
:
:Bill
:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:
:Bob wrote:
:
:> In article >,
:> Big Shoe > wrote:
:> :I have a '05 Limited V8, now has about 24,000 miles and have been very
:> leased with it. According to Edmunds, this vehicle is now worth
:> :around $23,000 (sticker was around $42,000 so depreciation is
:> :horrible, but that works in your favor). If you can spring for that
:> :late a model, the advantage is that it has the 4.6 liter V8 instead of
:> :the older 5 liter. I think '05 was the first year for that, but am
:> :not really sure about that. If you can avoid getting the third row
:> :seat, I suggest you not get it as it messes up the load floor in the
:> :back and is really not very useable unless you have small kids.
:>
:>
:> Thanks for your reply, Big Shoe. What kind of gas mileage do you get?

The third gen rebody in ~02 started the 4.6. The 5.0 was a second gen
(95-01) stopgap to keep up with the Durango. The first gen (91-94)
didn't offer a V8, only two six'es (3.0 & 4.0) and the Ranger's 2.3l 4cyl.

I also have a '05 EB v8 and love it. It is a little underpowered
compared to my '99 Expedition with the 5.4l, but it still hauls @$$.
The throttle by wire will feel different than older mechanical linkage
vehicles. The IRS of the new one rides MUCH smoother than previous
models I have owned. If I were purchasing again, I'd actually look at
the '06. Mild rework to the body, 6 spd auto and the 300hp 3valve SOHC
Mustang engine versus the 240hp 2valve SOHC and 5spd auto in the 02-05
vintage. The '06's are actually rated at 1MPG better as well... real
important now a day's. I also like the '06's hatch. Ford cleaned up
the goofy hatch in a hatch arrangement on the 02-05, going back to a
hatch and window configuration.

Price wise all cars loose value the day they roll off the lot, buy ~6
months used and let the first owner take the beating. SUV's are really
taking a beating on price now with $3 gasoline. All the domestics are
fire sale'ing their new ones to move them. This kill resale for
everyone, but will make for some cheap prices if you are in the market.

KAM.

Big Shoe wrote:
> I have a '05 Limited V8, now has about 24,000 miles and have been very
> pleased with it. According to Edmunds, this vehicle is now worth
> around $23,000 (sticker was around $42,000 so depreciation is
> horrible, but that works in your favor). If you can spring for that
> late a model, the advantage is that it has the 4.6 liter V8 instead of
> the older 5 liter. I think '05 was the first year for that, but am
> not really sure about that. If you can avoid getting the third row
> seat, I suggest you not get it as it messes up the load floor in the
> back and is really not very useable unless you have small kids.

Bob wrote:
>My 1996 Explorer XLT V8 AWD was stolen this past weekend and I am
>looking for a "newer" used, suitable, similar, replacement. It had
>150K miles on it, ran great and never gave me any problems since I
>bought it used in 1998 with 59K miles on it. Since I liked this one so
>much, I am thinking I would buy another late model, used Explorer and
>am looking for recommendations on what year would be best (or not best)
>to buy, things to look for when buying, options, etc.
>
>I do own a 17' pleasure boat which weighs about 2500 lbs. which I
>occasionally tow into the mountains of northern California, so decent
>power is a consideration as well as a tow package. Of course, my V8
>pulled the boat well in the mountains, but if a V6 will do the job OK
>for those 2-3 times per year when I tow the boat into higher
>elevations, I'm fine with a V6 instead of a V8 like I had. The vast
>majority of time I will be towing the boat at sea level.
>
>Other than towing my boat, my needs are pretty basic...nothing fancy is
>needed, but I do like to stay away from the bottom end models. A 4
>door, 4 WD or AWD XLT is what I am thinking but I have not educated
>myself on the recent years' Explorer models and what options are
>available on them, so I'm not sure.
>
>Thanks in advance for any suggestions, comments, etc.
>
>Bob

yeah DO NOT GET ONE you will have more problems if you tow with an explorer
than you can handle I have one and it stinks

In article <5fd1b62975f9a@uwe>, redman28 <u21571@uwe> wrote:
:Bob wrote:
:>My 1996 Explorer XLT V8 AWD was stolen this past weekend and I am
:>looking for a "newer" used, suitable, similar, replacement. It had
:>150K miles on it, ran great and never gave me any problems since I
:>bought it used in 1998 with 59K miles on it. Since I liked this one so
:>much, I am thinking I would buy another late model, used Explorer and
:>am looking for recommendations on what year would be best (or not best)
:>to buy, things to look for when buying, options, etc.
:>
:>I do own a 17' pleasure boat which weighs about 2500 lbs. which I
:>occasionally tow into the mountains of northern California, so decent
:>power is a consideration as well as a tow package. Of course, my V8
:>pulled the boat well in the mountains, but if a V6 will do the job OK
:>for those 2-3 times per year when I tow the boat into higher
:>elevations, I'm fine with a V6 instead of a V8 like I had. The vast
:>majority of time I will be towing the boat at sea level.
:>
:>Other than towing my boat, my needs are pretty basic...nothing fancy is
:>needed, but I do like to stay away from the bottom end models. A 4
:>door, 4 WD or AWD XLT is what I am thinking but I have not educated
:>myself on the recent years' Explorer models and what options are
:>available on them, so I'm not sure.
:>
:>Thanks in advance for any suggestions, comments, etc.
:>
:>Bob
:
:yeah DO NOT GET ONE you will have more problems if you tow with an explorer
:than you can handle I have one and it stinks

Please explain. My '96 Explorer towed my boat perfectly well.