buying used exploere, need some help

[mcompton1973]

I need some help.
I dont have a big budget. This would be my 2nd explorer. My first was a 96 XLT. This one will be similar. Doe to just buying a new home etc, I dont have a lot of money to lay with. I am wondering if I should buy another v6 or what I would gain by going to the v8? I am going to be putting ALOT of miles on this rig...is one better or worse than the other? I am prob looking to buy somethign with 100k or close to it already. Any ideas what to look for? How much more will a v8 be vs the 6?

Just any good info will help. thanks a ton.

 

[section525]

Get the V8. It will hardly cost anymore than a V6. But 100k on a V8 is just past the break-in period. MPGs are about the same too. The V8 is an all around better setup. That's my biased opinion anyway.

 

[jimcom]

Well since I'm partial to my mine just as Sections525 is to his, my advice would be to get a V6, but get the OHV. In my opinion the pushrod will last forever with good maintenance. Hell, even with poor maintenance they last for a long time. I've got a 94 V6 OHV with over 200K on her and a 2000 V6 OHV pushing 70K and both engines have been workhorses, well, if you consider highway driving to be working that is. Never driven a SOHC V6 so I can't advise on that one. V8 will cost more in gas of course and since you said you'll be putting lots of miles on the new X, that may be something to consider. But if you want power, than the V8 is your best bet. Good luck.
Also, I just had to reply since your name has compton in it, thats my last name too.

 

[spta97]

I have the V8 that I bought used and the reason I got it was many people say here that the 5.0 engine + tranny is bullet proof. The V6 people seem to have many problems with the tranny especially with high mileage. Having said that, the gas mileage on the V8 AWD is aweful. I usually get about 10MPG with a city/highway mix. I've tried everything and recently had the tranny power flushed at AAMCO. I was able to get 13 MPG which was great.

However, I took off last week and was working around the house going back and forth running errands and ended up putting about $80 worth of gas in that time - ouch. If budget is the key (I have my own home so I understand) you may want to condsider something with cargo space and better gas mileage like a Subaru. I love having the truck, but it is by no means cheap. Also, the cargo in my XLT is good, but a minivan will blow it away.

 

[stubborn1]

Picking up an Ex with 100k miles isn't a cheap date - V6 or V8. I mention this since you stated you didn't have a lot of cash to drop on a vehicle. Around 100k, you will need to start replacing items like shocks, ball joints, tie rod ends, etc. Unless you do a lot of the work yourself, the costs can add up quick.

As far as difference in fuel costs, I've heard the average difference in MPG between the V6 and V8 is about 2-3 MPG. If I had to do it again, I would spend the extra cash for the V8. I have the old OHV V6, and my Ex isn't fast enough to get out of its own way.

 

[GTO2050]

V6 does have an issue with the tranny. Mine was rebuilt. However, I had a 98 V8 XLT with the V8 AWD and I had a bunch of problems but not with the engine and tranny. The thing ate tires. I ended up suing Firestone and getting money back for tires and alignments. I unloaded the beast shortly after. I gt about 17-19 MPG on my V6 and I never got more than 16 with the V8. V8 durability is definitely better.

 

[mcompton1973]

Well I guess here is my thing.
I do most if not all of my own maint. currently driving a taurus SHO with 178k on it. I did all my own maint on the old explorer that i have. It died when the tranny went out, and I tradded it off instead of replacing the tranny. I will trade a little cash each month in gas if the durrability factor is alot higher on the V8. But not if the OHC v6 is just as good. Does the OHC v6 use the same tranny as the other v6? which tranny is in the 6's and which in the v8?

I am looking to spend only around 5-8k. I am thinking 96-99 depending on condition and miles etc. Is there any reason that one year would be any better than any other?

 

[Billy177]

i would say that you would have better luck reliability wise trans/engine with the v8

 

[goobenet]

You'll hate me, but if you're looking to put on lots of miles, like, over 20k/yr, don't get an explorer. I read somewhere on here that explorers cost about 60 cents a mile to opperate. Get something with more fuel economy... I used to own a 1992 saturn sl1... WITH blown rings i was getting 20+mpg hiway... i'm sure if that motor had been "okay", i would've easily gotten 29+. OR, get a diesel. I hear the new f250's with the 6.0 are nice.

 

[Blee1099]

You'll hate me, but if you're looking to put on lots of miles, like, over 20k/yr, don't get an explorer. I read somewhere on here that explorers cost about 60 cents a mile to opperate. Get something with more fuel economy... I used to own a 1992 saturn sl1... WITH blown rings i was getting 20+mpg hiway... i'm sure if that motor had been "okay", i would've easily gotten 29+. OR, get a diesel. I hear the new f250's with the 6.0 are nice.

Well thats comparing oranges to apples.. An Explorer or any other similar SUV has a higher Center of gravity. I consisently get 17 MPG on my truck driving in Washington DC traffic daily. Which is quite good especially since I am on 33s and drive in probably one of the top 5 cities with the worst commuter traffic in the US. Preventive maintance is the key for driving any vehicle 20,000 miles a year.

 

[goobenet]

It is apples to oranges. SUV's weren't really made to get good gas mileage.

Still, my 02 cents is that if you do alot of freeway driving, like hundreds of miles in a day constantly, get a buick. No shame in getting some class and 30mpg out of a GM 3800 motor. i haven't looked at the newer SUV's and what they get for mileage, mainly because i can't afford one.

 

[Electrohacker]

why v8's are better

1 they dont die as fast, the wear is distributed over 8 cylinders rather than 6 and the 302 is nearly indestructable from normal driving
2 the v8 has more power
3 the v8 sounds better
4 the AWD transfer case is idiot proof... no more worrying if the road conditions are right to use 4wd, AWD is always on
5 the transmission used with the v8 is nearly bullet proof
6 you can turn tighter with the AWD then in 4X4
7 17.5mpg and about 360+ mile per tank is what mine does...

 

[Blee1099]

Yeah but you don't have 4lo for crawling.

 

[section525]

Yeah but you don't have 4lo for crawling.

What good is 4LO when you don't have a tranny to go anywhere?


And if you're not getting 16+ mpgs in your V8.. something is wrong with it. I can get 15mpg on the highway in my beast.

 

[Blee1099]

What good is 4LO when you don't have a tranny to go anywhere?


And if you're not getting 16+ mpgs in your V8.. something is wrong with it. I can get 15mpg on the highway in my beast.

My tranny is still kicking @ 128,000 miles.. Knock on wood.. Then again my parent's old Aerostar had over 250,000 miles on the original A4LD. I think we're just lucky on that one..

 

[Mbrooks420]

In my biased opinion I'd get the V8. I had a 96 ohv before and had to rebuild the tranny several times. Common problem. I also had a flex plate crack out, and the motor was never right after. Also a not so uncommon problem. I get 17mpg consistantly highway/city mixed, and I just noticed my air filter is clogged with bugs and a bunch of feathers I'm sure than doesn't help. I drive a lot, and hard and have a lot more faith in my 5.0 than I did with the 4.0. I like the 98+ hatch design better, and I think they came standard with the keypad in 1998.