206k Miles Should I Keep?

[96Explor]

Hi - I have a 1996 Ford Explorer Limited. V6 Automatic Tranny 4wd. This truck has been good to me. However, it is not good on gas and has many small issues to repair. Engine light wont go off and so wont pass smog - although the emmisions are perfect and under the radar! I stopped putting money in to the truck over a year ago because I thought with this many miles it was not going to last! But the motor and the transmission run great and I am still truckin'. Aside the cosmetic issues, it will possibly need a new rear-end soon. It also excelerated on its own once and I could not get it to stop...that was another brake job. It has never done since but it is a weird truck. Here is question: I have option of selling the truck to the BAR (Bereau of Automotive Repair) program for 1,500 or keeping it and fixing. If the truck is going to run another two or three years I would keep. What is a sure-fire way to test the tranny and the engine see what longevity the truck still has? My philosophy is I wont ever realize this much out of it in the future so I should sell now. Thanks for any help or advice you can give.

 

[mr cribb]

Guess the bigger question is how much will it cost to fix to pass inspection?

The 2nd gen x's are worth a lil bit more than a 1st gen, so I don't think you'd lose out by not selling now.

As for the CEL not going off and your emissions stuff being spot on I'd lean towards a sensor of some kind. I'd have it put on a scanner to see what the light is on for.

 

[fifthranger]

It may not be good on gas, but that has to be weighed against having a car payment again. Any vehicle on the market will surely require more than $1500 to purchase and will eventually have problems of its own. Therefore, I would keep it. There really isn't an easy or inexpensive way to test the tranny or engine to see how much life is left.

 

[94Eddie]

It would be a hard decision for me to put over $1,500 into the truck. The odds are it won't stop there. You can buy many good vehicles with half the mileage for $1,500-$2,000. Even ones that get much better gas mileage.

 

[Anime]

A lot of the value of keeping a vehicle depends on what you've put into it so far and whether or not you're the one who's been working on it. For those who work on their truck and already have tools and parts, selling and going to something completely different is a harder option. If you have nothing invested and the only thing you're worried about is the amount of fuel you put in, obviously you'd be better off with a compact car that gets 30-40 MPG.

Explorers with the OHV will go to 300,000 miles and beyond, espeicially with proper maintenance and fixes of the occasional issue that pops up because of mileage and wear.

If you're leaning towards getting something else, you might want to consider trading for a car or selling it yourself, $1, 500 is a little low.

 

[mr cribb]

Mine's a 92 with 203k runs great drives great.

Guess the other question is can you live w/o the extra space of the explorer. I know gas is expensive in CA, but I am sure that you couldn't find a fuel efficient vehicle with the space the explorer has with the 1500 you'd get for the explorer. I said it like this thinking of me in your shoes, sell one to buy one.

I know where I live this would be not an easy task to do. Then as it was already said the other option is a car payment, whereas the x is paid for.

I know I'm close to having the same amount in repairs as I bought it for. But I enjoy working on mine, and keeping the old girl going.

 

[GuardianSport]

Keep it until the wheels fly off in a blaze of glory.