Explorers, Repairs, Dealers, & the 100,000 Mile Myth

[The"X"]

The dealer I bought it from changed the motor oil and filter before I bought it. Wipers are new. It had the state inspection done a week before I bought it. I also had a friend of mine who has an inspection license check the brakes and things out. He also checked the tranny, transfer case, and diffs, and coolant for dirty fluids and they are clean, but I will still get all that changed anyway. After that I will get a tune-up. One thing I will say, mine drives and runs better than some I test drove that had less than half the miles on that mine does.

 

[scorgnetic]

Bluevolume,

Do you work for Doan Ford Lincoln

 

[RAZOR]

It doesn't usually make a difference what make or model you buy as long as you buy from the Big 3, or should I say the Big 6, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, And Nissan. The name of the game is service. I've been treated differently at the same dealer by different service advisors. Yes these people are under a lot of pressure and yes they all should be polite and helpful. When you are looking to purchase a particular vehicle ask around for others experiences with their dealers and service departments.

 

[99ebex]

sorry I'm, not sure how to quote. But I don't agree with the company dictating to the dealers how it they conduct business. The dealers are not franchisee's in the way that Macdonald's are franchises they may or may not opt to any or all of the company initiaitves. In many cases they are dictating to the company how business is done.

It is up to the company to basically sell their ideas to the dealer. A dealer may terminate his agreement and more than likely be able to sign an agreement with another manufacturer.

In a perfect world the Manufactures would sell direct to the public and eliminate the dealer from the mix altogether.


The company - dealer relationship is very advesarial.The amount of money that corporate has to spend to incent the dealers just to meet objectives that get watered down because the dealers deem them to tough to met is unbelievable.

Have said all that there are some very good dealers out there. They have an owner with a strong belief that iif you treat a customer fairly you will get the best endorsement of all a happy customer.

P.S. I have had some terrible experiences with both Jag and Volvo..which are also Ford influenced. dealers.

 

[Stephen]

You SHOULD know how to quote

All you do is copy the text you want to quote, and isert it between [ quote ] and [/ quote ] just without the spaces between words and the brackets. In my example, the word "and" would appear quoted. If you want to quote the entire post just hit the "quote" button along the base of the post.

RAZOR, If it doesn't make a difference, then why do vehicles preform differently in long term dependability studies? There is variation from model to model, just like with any product.

99ebx, Car manufacturers have the rights to demand that dealerships comply to whatever service levels they lay down. My point was that Ford demands less from their dealers than other carmakers do from theirs.

It is up to the company to basically sell their ideas to the dealer. A dealer may terminate his agreement and more than likely be able to sign an agreement with another manufacturer.

Yep, this is true of any franchise.

Have said all that there are some very good dealers out there. They have an owner with a strong belief that iif you treat a customer fairly you will get the best endorsement of all a happy customer.

Certainly, I have an excellent Ford dealership. There is also one Lexus dealership (which shall remain nameless) in the area that has horrible service with nothing but complaints, and Lexus is always #1 or #2 in the customer satisfaction index. There are always exceptions to any rule.

P.S. I have had some terrible experiences with both Jag and Volvo..which are also Ford influenced. dealers.

Also not surprising to me. Jag for one has just now come out there with good service and a reliable car. Jag used to be infamous for being in the shop all the time and have the snootyist dealers. Volvo I don't have that much experience with.

 

[C5 Pewter Coupe]

throwing my 2 cents in on this.. my 01 Ex with 40,800 miles.. (and gaining 100+ miles a day) has been 100% reliable.. the ONLY 2 things that I've had replaced have been the Firestone tires(IMHO better tires than the Goodyear Wranglers Ford put on it) and wiper blades..

there are NO squeaks, rattles etc from it anywhere, doors close with a solid thunk, it shifts from AUTO to 4x4 high to 4x4 low without complaining, brakes work very good and don't pull to either side, it accelerates better than a 4300 lb vehicle should with only 205 hp(since it has 4.10 gears from the factory)

I've taken it off roading numerous times and only once has it let me down, when I was trying to turn around in over 2 ft of snow did I get completely stuck, so bad that I couldn't get out of it without help of another vehicle.

Its hauled 2 bucks back from hunting(not too bad, considering that it's only been used for one hunting season)

the leather interior isn't cracking, the carpets are't wearing out the CD player, tape player and CD changer work like they were brand new. A/C blows cold, heater works like a champ, all the lights work and havn't had any bad bulbs.

All in all, I don't think you can get a more reliable vehicle from ANY manufacturer.. (oh yeah, this is the 4th Ford that I've owned, a 94 Ranger, 92 Taurus SHO, 97 SVT Cobra and now the 01 Explorer) and I'll DEFINITELY be buying more Fords in the future.. since ALL of them have been very reliable vehicles and the most that they've seen the shop is 3 times(for all of them combined)

 

[Stephen]

I've owned many Fords over the years, in fact I'd have to think to count, all of them have been only average as far as reliability goes.

Glad you've had a good experience.

 

[andypinto]

I read carefully all the opinions posted in this thread, and my only question is:
Why, for God's sake, we own Explorers?
I don't know you, guys, but I love my Ex because is mine, is strong, never left me in the middle of a trip, and, mostly, because I feel SAFE driving in my truck.
With all the leaks, rattles, pingings and other stuff, I just love my Ex.

 

[Stephen]

I own my Explorer because at the time, it was the best vehicle in its class. I've kept it because its become prt of the family

You dont toss ol Uncle Explorer out on his ear because his joints pop and he's on dialysis!

 

[Kadarom Douhrek]

Originally posted by Stephen
I own my Explorer because at the time, it was the best vehicle in its class. I've kept it because its become prt of the family

You dont toss ol Uncle Explorer out on his ear because his joints pop and he's on dialysis!

Haha!
An Ex with no bushings that needs a tranny flush twice a week.


And I got my Ex because the lady was selling it real cheap and it got more than 9mpg.

Although at times I do miss my 82 Chevy 3/4 ton with a brand new carbed 350 and the rear end out of a dumptruck.
Got 9mpg on the best of days.
But man, was it a beast when it came to accelerating or towing.


But over the years I've gone from just driving the Ex to trying to figure out how to buy a nice daily driver so I can start Project Mega X.

 

[maxxus]

there are prob's with every car

I had a chevy Z-71 before my X.....and it was a nightmare.....simply becuase the previous owner was a hack on maintenance. The thing blew it's first engine at 80k.....and then the tranny at 100k.....then a rear differential....then both CV-axles......then all my brake lines.....It was a good looking truck though...he he( I hear that from chevy owners all the time....looks great doesn't it?) too bad it ran like ****. My dad has a construction co.....with lots of Fords and only minor probs.....he has had many chevyy's....but states that they look better than they work.