Ford Explorer as Daily Driver

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by impactbumper

Hey Matt, which tune did you go with? I am thinking about it hard.

-berk

5 Star, I also had their tune on my 5.0 F150 prior. It's worth it just for the improvements in shift logic. It no longer dashes to 6th and lugs you along, and doesn't postpone downshifts until it needs to drop 3 gears to catch up. Power increase with Ecoboost is very substantial, it is far quicker than a crew cab 4x4 pickup has any right to be. Zero downsides, you will enjoy your truck much more.

[A930Rocket]

That was my thinking when I bought my 2014 F150. I went with the 5.0 and get 21-22 hwy at 70 mph and 15-16 around town. It would be better but I let it idle because I work out if. I need the heat and AC.

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Those turbo engines seem like an unreasonable mechanical risk versus the mileage reward.

I would sleep better with a V8 than a turbo 6.

I could also be completely wrong.

[PeteBrown]

I have a 2016 Explorer Sport with the 3.5l Ecoboost engine and it's a great car. My wife works for Ford, we lease a lot of Ford cars and this one of the best we have had. Since August, I have put 28,000 miles on it and average 19.5mpg. It's loaded with everything except the sunroof. We bought the cross rails (why are they separate?) and have put a Thule box on it to take our son to school.

The only issue I have had is with the Sync system performing upgrades. I disconnected the battery to reboot the system and all works well now. Let me know if you have any questions.

[daepp]

I was thinking about those cross rails, but IIRC my Thule has its own. Am I mis-remembering?

[aschen]

Explorers are now crossovers/unibody right? They are no longer trucks by the popular convention

[daepp]

Well, I drove the TwinTurbo. It seems to have more than enough power, and taking cloverleaf on ramps and 90° right-hand turns I could not detect the understeer I remember from years past in other FWD cars.
I will probably pull the trigger tomorrow – thank you all for your input.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by aschen

Explorers are now crossovers/unibody right? They are no longer trucks by the popular convention

Yes. Only trucks are trucks now.

[aschen]

Fourunners are still trucks

[jyl]

Man. How do you guys drive vehicles with such low gas mileage?

25K miles at 18 mpg is 1389 gallons.

25K miles at 45 mpg is 555 gallons.

834 gallons difference.

At $2.50/gal, that is $2083. $173/mo.

At $4.00/gal, that is $5555. $462/mo.

If work was paying for my gas, I guess . . .

[daepp]

Originally Posted by jyl

Man. How do you guys drive vehicles with such low gas mileage?

25K miles at 18 mpg is 1389 gallons.

25K miles at 45 mpg is 555 gallons.

834 gallons difference.

At $2.50/gal, that is $2083. $173/mo.

At $4.00/gal, that is $5555. $462/mo.

If work was paying for my gas, I guess . . .

Well, I can't haul anything or tow anything or put 6 people in any vehicle that I know of that gets that kind of mpg.

What did you have in mind?

[jyl]

A commuter car for the daily freeway miles, and a separate truck for the occasions when you haul or tow. The second vehicle will probably last forever, at maybe 5K miles/yr, and doesn't need to be new or look beautiful or have every luxury feature - you can buy a 10 year old F150 that has fully depreciated.

I think it is weird to see all the pickup trucks and big SUVs being driven on the freeway by a single driver, dragging around all that metal and burning up all that gas, just so they can tow something someday.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by jyl

A commuter car for the daily freeway miles, and a separate truck for the occasions when you haul or tow. The second vehicle will probably last forever, at maybe 5K miles/yr, and doesn't need to be new or look beautiful or have every luxury feature - you can buy a 10 year old F150 that has fully depreciated.

I think it is weird to see all the pickup trucks and big SUVs being driven on the freeway by a single driver, dragging around all that metal and burning up all that gas, just so they can tow something someday.

You are right. It would never happen elsewhere but it's a function of cheap fuel and and a weird preference we have for driving PU trucks. Most PU owners could rent one from Enterprise for the few times a year they actually need it, (sometimes only for a matter of hours), and be way, waaaay ahead of the game.

What is truly insane is how much of the family/household budget goes to buying/fueling/maintaining a massive vehicle. Huge tires cost a lot, etc.

Full disclosure is that I own a full-size PU truck and use it quite a bit for towing and hauling but I drive a much smaller car when I don't need the truck. It's stupid as an in town run-about. People who live in rural areas have a different equation with trucks but still a lot of them are just a waste of resources most of the time.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by jyl

A commuter car for the daily freeway miles, and a separate truck for the occasions when you haul or tow. The second vehicle will probably last forever, at maybe 5K miles/yr, and doesn't need to be new or look beautiful or have every luxury feature - you can buy a 10 year old F150 that has fully depreciated.

I think it is weird to see all the pickup trucks and big SUVs being driven on the freeway by a single driver, dragging around all that metal and burning up all that gas, just so they can tow something someday.

I can buy a lot of extra gas for what it costs to buy/insure/maintain an additional car. And most rental trucks don't have a hitch so it kills any dream of using one for towing. I bet if you actually did the math it would take a LONG time for the money saved in extra gas equal the additional vehicle expense.

[Oracle]

Before you pull the trigger make sure Uhaul will let you rent a trailer - Assuming you need/may need and care about that...

Uhaul will not let you rent a pull trailer for certain Explorers due to lawsuits..



This is from Uhaul web site:
U-Haul has chosen not to rent behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing combinations. This policy is not related to safety issues. This is an unusual circumstance for U-Haul – we have built our success for over 60 years by saying 'yes' to our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and are committed to working with our customers to find alternative options to help with their move.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Oracle

Before you pull the trigger make sure Uhaul will let you rent a trailer - Assuming you need/may need and care about that...

Uhaul will not let you rent a pull trailer for certain Explorers due to lawsuits..



This is from Uhaul web site:
U-Haul has chosen not to rent behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing combinations. This policy is not related to safety issues. This is an unusual circumstance for U-Haul – we have built our success for over 60 years by saying 'yes' to our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and are committed to working with our customers to find alternative options to help with their move.

That is true however the call is left up to the facility owner/manager. I rented a 5x8 cargo trailer from UHaul (Neighborhood Dealer) and just signed a form releasing them from responsibility. They hooked it up to my Explorer and sent me on my way.

[impactbumper]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

5 Star, I also had their tune on my 5.0 F150 prior. It's worth it just for the improvements in shift logic. It no longer dashes to 6th and lugs you along, and doesn't postpone downshifts until it needs to drop 3 gears to catch up. Power increase with Ecoboost is very substantial, it is far quicker than a crew cab 4x4 pickup has any right to be. Zero downsides, you will enjoy your truck much more.

Thanks, that is what I am getting. Appreciate the feedback

[jyl]

Early 2000s F150 go for about $5000 here. Annual depreciation minimal. Liability and comprehensive are cheap. No reason to get collision. Registration is maybe $200.

The breakeven would be about 2.5 years at $2.50/gal. 1.5 years at $4.00/gal.

I see a lot of 10 year decisions - which is what new car purchases are, in my book - being made with the assumption that oil will stay at $30-40 for the duration. There is going to be a lot of whining and moaning in a couple years! Right about when the depreciation hit from selling that MY2016 gas guzzler will be most painful.

I'm not nagging the OP, what car daepp buys is his business and he can afford the extra $300-500/mo without a blink. Just find it interesting that when gas prices move, car purchasers change their purchase choice. The current price of gas obviously affects car choice, when actually the relevant factor is the average price of gas over the next decade.

[Brew 66]

I'm in the market for either an Explorer Sport or F150 Lariat right now for basically the same reasons. Haven't started test drives yet.

Had two F150's in the last 15years, loved both, the thought a Tahoe would be fun! What a pile of S**T! Bought it new in 2009, nothing but trouble.

Can't wait to get back into a ford.

Want to hear your reviews!

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by jyl

Early 2000s F150 go for about $5000 here. Annual depreciation minimal. Liability and comprehensive are cheap. No reason to get collision. Registration is maybe $200.

The breakeven would be about 2.5 years at $2.50/gal. 1.5 years at $4.00/gal.

I see a lot of 10 year decisions - which is what new car purchases are, in my book - being made with the assumption that oil will stay at $30-40 for the duration. There is going to be a lot of whining and moaning in a couple years! Right about when the depreciation hit from selling that MY2016 gas guzzler will be most painful.

I'm not nagging the OP, what car daepp buys is his business and he can afford the extra $300-500/mo without a blink. Just find it interesting that when gas prices move, car purchasers change their purchase choice. The current price of gas obviously affects car choice, when actually the relevant factor is the average price of gas over the next decade.

You aren't taking into account parking. For me to have an extra car would require paving a parking space( more expensive than the car) or pay for a locked yard. Uncovered parking is $60/month out here!

[jyl]

You can't park your car on the street or driveway?