Bookend Explorers (or Time for an '03 Sport?)

[Jimster]

Hello!

I currently have a '91 Navajo with 190,000 miles that I have owned since new (purchased in December '90). For the last few years, maintenance costs have gotten to the point that I feel like I'm making car payments again so I'm thinking about something newer, perhaps a 2003 Explorer Sport (hence the post title of "bookends").

While I read that the 2003 Sport is just a second generation Explorer, it's still much newer and seems much improved over my current Navajo.

I've been shopping the local CarMax and I'm thinking that I should be able to get 2003 Sport with 30K-ish miles for something around $12K-$13K (tax, license, etc. not included). Seems like a good deal. And I'm also thinking about their MaxCare Extended Service Plan.

And feedback or comments would be greatly welcomed!

 

[TequilaSnrs087]

You will be getting a newer, low mileage vehicle, but any used vehicle will have its ups and downs. Without documentation, you have no idea if oil changes were done every 3K or every 20K if at all. Even something from a "reputable" place like CarMax has a past that you don't know fully. On the other hand, you have been familiar with your Navajo since the day it was first titled.

What kind of things are going wrong with the Navajo? Are you sure it isn't just hitting a rough patch? When I picked my Explorer up for $950, it had a check engine light on, needed some maintenance, etc... but now that those things are taken care of it has proven to be a very reliable daily driver and fun toy. I had to put a bit of money into it, but now I have something I trust to drive 40 miles round trip to and from work and to take on trips that are hundreds of miles one way. Since September I have put about 5500 miles on it.

If you are getting tired of the Navajo and want a change, go ahead and get a newer truck. If you still like it, I would think a little more on the cost benefit of upgrading to a newer truck. In the end, you might not be saving much.

 

[Jimster]

What kind of things are going wrong with the Navajo? Are you sure it isn't just hitting a rough patch?

It's mostly the "cascading" problems. For example, new front brake pads also means the rotor needs to be replaced (previously turned), which points out that the flexible brake lines are old along with everything all the way back to the Master Cylinder.

It now needs new tires which also means doing a front-end alignment (might was well) which then leads to possible wheel bearings and other front-end parts that will likely need to be replaced (i.e., bushings).

On the other hand, I did have a Ford remanufactured long block installed (three year warrantly about to expire) along with other major work at the time to the transmission and clutch.

I guess another way to look at this would be once all this stuff is done, I will have a 3-4 year old vehicle from a drive-train point a few. Maybe with a new paint job, that will make it new (which by the way, it needs).

 

[Donner]

Agreed...

You will be getting a newer, low mileage vehicle, but any used vehicle will have its ups and downs. Without documentation, you have no idea if oil changes were done every 3K or every 20K if at all. Even something from a "reputable" place like CarMax has a past that you don't know fully. On the other hand, you have been familiar with your Navajo since the day it was first titled.

What kind of things are going wrong with the Navajo? Are you sure it isn't just hitting a rough patch? When I picked my Explorer up for $950, it had a check engine light on, needed some maintenance, etc... but now that those things are taken care of it has proven to be a very reliable daily driver and fun toy. I had to put a bit of money into it, but now I have something I trust to drive 40 miles round trip to and from work and to take on trips that are hundreds of miles one way. Since September I have put about 5500 miles on it.

If you are getting tired of the Navajo and want a change, go ahead and get a newer truck. If you still like it, I would think a little more on the cost benefit of upgrading to a newer truck. In the end, you might not be saving much.

If you put half of that 12k into the Navajo... you're all set.

 

[Jimster]

If you put half of that 12k into the Navajo... you're all set.

Here's some of the expenses coming up:

• Front brake pads and rotors (rear is fine)
• Misc front-end parts (wheel bearings, bushings, etc.)
• New tires (Michellins
• Battery (quality battery)
• Paint Job (still has original paint)

Easily all the above is a lot less than $6,000!

And here are some reasons to get an '03 Explorer Sport:

• Four wheel disc brakes (instead of rear only)
• Full ABS (instead of rear only)
• Air bags (instead of none)

 

[ThePhoenix]

welcome to owning an explorer...or any car/truck as a matter of fact