@fatboyO Do you find the splash guards help at all? In particular my Explorer is prone to getting the rear camera filthy in any sort of wet conditions just by normal driving. I always have to use the rear-washer to clean it before I can back up. In dry weather, it's fine. I did a mountain pass trip in the winter and the entire back of my car was covered in what I can only describe as "pale caramel ice". Chipped it off at a gas station. Just wondering if mudflaps will mitigate this.
Sorry about the delayed response... been busy working and life kept us busy not to mention did a whole pile of research and ended up buying a 2013 Escape with 2.0L Ecoboost Titanium for my wife... now love both the Ex and Escape... the ecoboost is a riot to drive on The escape and really peppy.
In any case in response to your question re mud flaps .... still too early for me to know... only have 2548km in almost 3 months and haven't really driven in dirty or muddy construction site or anything.... so really don't know.
As for an update, returned the wind deflectors as my windows would roll up and the sensors sent them back down... so sent them back.
As for the tinting the driver and passenger windows... well, was at the shop and my wife decided that she would not drive the Ex if I tint the windows...well normally that would be a great thing, however, the Ex is replacing the family van for vacations etc and I need her to drive to relieve me every now and then ... so no tinting .
I also did a lot of resesrch on oils for our vehicle and decided on Amsoil's top of the line,,,, good for 25k, however, I will change every 8,000kms as per dealer and use fords oil filter as recommended by dealer and as the ex was purchased new they won't be able to challenge the oil change routine should I ever have an engine issue.
Now researched gas as well and will stick with regular top tier gas.. petro can and shell for their cleaning capabilities so to minimize gum etc build up... will use shell 91 with no ethanol while driving the whole family and luggage on longer trips... hope that works out well in the long run.
Still have only hand washed a couple of times and waiting for cloudy warm day to finally put on some paint protection. ... my vehicle mainly sit inside my garage while not being driven out and about .... so rarely sits out inthe sun and elements for more than a couple of hours at a time.
Other than that really enjoy the vehicle and technology... especially the blue tooth with music from my iPhone.... go figure that and red ambient lighting go figure of all the things those two really do it for me... feel like I'm in my twenties again with the sound and lights.., used to have similar stuff many years ago... no blue tooth of course