Buying an explorer

[BLKWDW]

Hey all i'm just after some opinions on a ford explorer. Just found out my wife is 3 weeks pregnant so will need to upgrade our commodore to something to seat 6. I already have a 60 series cruiser so dont really want a 4wd persay as it will not be going off road.
Been looking at an 02-05 explorer as they seem pretty car like compared to cruisers and the like plus i love the american styling of a big suv as well. Are the any inherint problems with these cars that i should be worried about or look for? I'm not to worried bout fuel economy as it will be lucky to drive 100km a week unless we go away.
i've been told buy a few people to stay away from them but figured i'd ask on here before turning a blind eye to them.

[janddbone]

Explorers are a great family vehicle, but only if you are planing on towing or camping etc. (Even though I went with a Jeep!) If not their are many better choices around.

[BLKWDW]

I dont plan on doing any camping or towing with it, as stated already i have a 60 series landcruiser for touring and weekend club runs. I already have 3 kids so with 1 more coming will need 6 and dont want a cruiser or patrol nore will the mrs have a van.

[Polyal]

Mate as good as the Explorer can be down here its not worth the fuss, you much better off finding a decent Territory and there are heaps around. It should be cheaper in the long run. You can always put it on LPG if it suits yoru needs.

[BLKWDW]

Mrs doesnt want a territory as it was my 1st choice and since she'll be driving it 99% of the time i better keep her happy.

[Spammy]

Do a search on "stretched timing chains" and "Explorer parts prices" then see how you feel.

[janddbone]

An Explorer sounds useless for your needs...

[Polyal]

I agree its not the best financial choice thats for sure...you can get Territories pretty cheap, they have flooded the market.

[Spammy]

Biggest factor we found with new borns and cars - servicng location and frequency. Trust me your wife will hate you if she has to hand over her car to get serviced more than once per year. Plus the hassle of drop off / pick up of the "family car" and switching baby capsules across to a loaner car for the day while working around a babies timetable wears really thin really fast.


Buy something new or almost new which you can get serviced very close to home on a very infrequent basis.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by BLKWDW

Mrs doesnt want a territory as it was my 1st choice and since she'll be driving it 99% of the time i better keep her happy.

Why is the Mrs preferring the Explorer over a Territory? Looks? Have driven both and 1 is a 4X4 truck and the other is a car ........ guess which is which. Try and get her into an early GHIA. Might change her mind.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11356440
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11353268

[opto]

Yep I am an owner and stripped the engine down and did the timing chains on a 98 Explorer V6 only. V8's are 5.0 Windsor EFI, generally rarer on the market.
V6 only, After 2003 they fixed the timing chain issue and the problem only existed in the automatics, parts are expensive, since the dollar is down Vs US dollar, it is cheaper to get parts from the US, however, if you need to buy parts from FORD US, you cant buy them directly, but I have found a way around that.
The earlier models had Torsion bar front suspension, something you dont normally see in Australia, well I havent, some people dont like it, but its just a case of do a nut up to adjust the ride height.
The other thing I did and it took time, money and an amount of R&D is, convert the viscous clutch radiator fan to electric fan, size is an issue and air flow matters.
This lightened the load on the engine and increased performance and decreased fuel consumption dramatically, maybe the clutch was on the way out, who knows.
I also converted the Throttle body from a 65 mm to 70 mm, this improved throttle response but needs a tune to optimise. The pre 2003 models only need say 100,000 Kms on them for timing chain issues, trans wear can be an issue also on the older models.
XLS models have all the electrics, seat, does just about everything electrically, cruise control not bad, Speedo accuracy is an issue, well in mine, and add on US correctors dont work that well.
Okay it's loaded with issues, but I like it, the high ride height is so cool in the seat .

[Brazen]

Gee a Territory sounds like the best vehicle out there for your needs (even if you don't want it)

[PoweredByCNG]

A Territory would be much better in my opinion than an Explorer, for the reasons stated by others above.

[smoo]

Don't you think it's a bit of an overkill for a family hauler... What about Volvo V70 7 seater, Mercedes 300TE 7 seater or VX to VZ Berlina wagon with a 3rd row of seats?

[RedHotGT]

I've had this dilema - with 4 kids under 7...

Bought a 05 Territory Ghia AWD 7 seater, and have never looked back...

We will probably out grow it in the long term (the 3rd row of seats isn't really suited for adults or big teens) but that will be well down the track...

I looked at all of the alternatives, (Honda Odessey, Chrysler Voyager, Kia Carnival, etc etc) but the Terry was the winner.

It's easy to park (its actually shorter than a Falcon from memory) and its cheap enough to run (compared to big 4wd) and that I6 has been around since forever so any issues are easily fixed...

My mate just sold his 2 owner 2003 Explorer (on ebay) on Sunday night for $6100 and it was a good car - but it was only a 5 seater (though you can retro-fit the extra seats)... inside it seemed larger than a terry, but it also felt much larger than the terry to drive (probably similar to your l/cruiser) and was pretty heavy on fuel (she's a heavy car)...

I know this is a Ford/biased forum of course... but the terry is hard to beat!!!

[Paul-80]

My buddy sold his Explorer and got a new diesel Terry.
The transmission on the explorer was about to cost him big time.

I'd much rather be siting in his Terry then the Explorer.

Personally, I always questioned where the Explorer really fitted into the Australian market.

[BLKWDW]

Thanks for the input everyone looks like i'll be giving it a miss. Narrowed it down really to a territory, cruiser or patrol. Told the mrs she is pretty limited on what to buy in our price range so she is gona have to find what she likes outa them 3 unless there is something else someone can suggest. 15k is price range.

[mik]

Originally Posted by opto

Yep I am an owner and stripped the engine down and did the timing chains on a 98 Explorer V6 only. V8's are 5.0 Windsor EFI, generally rarer on the market.
V6 only, After 2003 they fixed the timing chain issue and the problem only existed in the automatics, parts are expensive, since the dollar is down Vs US dollar, it is cheaper to get parts from the US, however, if you need to buy parts from FORD US, you cant buy them directly, but I have found a way around that.
The earlier models had Torsion bar front suspension, something you dont normally see in Australia, well I havent, some people dont like it, but its just a case of do a nut up to adjust the ride height.
The other thing I did and it took time, money and an amount of R&D is, convert the viscous clutch radiator fan to electric fan, size is an issue and air flow matters.
This lightened the load on the engine and increased performance and decreased fuel consumption dramatically, maybe the clutch was on the way out, who knows.
I also converted the Throttle body from a 65 mm to 70 mm, this improved throttle response but needs a tune to optimise. The pre 2003 models only need say 100,000 Kms on them for timing chain issues, trans wear can be an issue also on the older models.
XLS models have all the electrics, seat, does just about everything electrically, cruise control not bad, Speedo accuracy is an issue, well in mine, and add on US correctors dont work that well.
Okay it's loaded with issues, but I like it, the high ride height is so cool in the seat .

we had torsion bar front suspension in the old valiants from the day they started till the day of their demise,you could also do the height change with a bolt adjust on the lower control arm from memory.

[ebxr8240]

Many modern light trucks have torsion front suspension too..

[lamborghinifan]

I was tossing between the two, terry and explorer v8, and from memory the I6 put out more power than the explorer v8 with expensive parts and other issues to boot, so i've ruled it out ever since!

[janddbone]

With the Territory, my suggestion would be to stick with the 4 speed, for reasons of cheaper replacement and servicing. It certainly would seem to suit your needs better. (Particularly with the servicing dollars.)

[NickyN]

But would his Mrs. be happy with a 4-spd since this car would be for her?

[morziac]

ive had an 03 explorer for the last couple of years and have had very minimal trouble with it and have found that almost all parts can be sourced from the states with ease.

[csv8]

How about Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 ? missus gets a big 4x4 and you get a performance 4x4??? both get what you want!!

[music189]

most of us with Terris cant get the missus out of them they love them so much

[jixel 78]

They arent called `Exploders` for nothing. Shocking, shocking vehicles. How the yanks bought so many is a mystery.

[opto]

Actually they were called "Exploders" due to the Firestone Tyres failing, nothing to do with the 4WD itself.
They arent that bad to drive, like driving in a lounge chair.

Originally Posted by jixel 78

They arent called `Exploders` for nothing. Shocking, shocking vehicles. How the yanks bought so many is a mystery.