Hello from Brazil ... and a question

[Wagner Godoy]

Hi,

I live in Brazil, where Explorers had been imported on a very limited basis by local Ford. Here they produce the Ranger pickup trucks but no SUVs (GM does produce the Blazer line here, shame on you, Ford!). I owned a brand-new 1996 Ranger XL V6 4.0 (American, not Brazilian) and simply loved that stuff. Then I moved to a GM Blazer but it wasn't the same and got rid of it. Now I plan to buy an used Explorer (no brand-new ones here for sale) and have one in sight: it is a 1998 Limited version. The price is okay (by our local standards) but there is something bugging me - by the pictures, the front grille is not all black, as in the all other Limiteds I've seen. Instead the grille is the same of the V6 version (clear). Also the tailgate seemly doesn't have the "Limited" wording. I cannot tell about the upholstery, I still need to check the car personally.
Does anyone know if Ford indeed produced the 1998 Limited with clear grille and clear tailgate?
Thanks!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[privetryan89]

Welcome the the forum. I do not know. They might have. If it has all-wheel drive then it might be a limited. From what i understand (which might not be right) the limited and Eddie B. all have all-wheel drive. The XLT and XLS don't. You can select when you want to go in 4x4. No matter what your going to love explorers.

 

[Wagner Godoy]

Misterious 1998 Limited - Pics

Hi,

Thanks for the warm welcome! As for the car, it is a Limited with all 9-yards, including 4x4 and sunroof. Let see if I can post pictures here ... If anyone knows if this thing is a real Limited, please shout!

Thanks

 

[Dopler174]

It's got Limited wheels. Is it a 5.0?

 

[Wagner Godoy]

Yes, V8 5.0... Everything seems to point to a Limited version, except by the grille and tailgate. If I could only another Limited with the same front and rear, I'd be satisfied. I plan to check it personally next Saturday.

 

[ExploringNC]

Welcome to the forum. Theres at least one other member on here from Brazil also, he showed some 4 wheeling pics and it looks like you could get alot of use (fun) out of an EX.

I wouldn't get too hung up on what package it is, unless thats what your looking for. The limited, Eddy and xlt are all pretty much the same except for trim, some interior options and 4x4 being all wheel or auto. Even here in the states it's not often you come across two that are exactly the same, seems that the original dealers are left to install different option packages and/or combination of packages. Mine I have a wing that was from what I was told here was a dealer install, only ever seen one other like it so what you are looking at could very well be a limited.

I would try and get as much info as you can on its maintanence and owner history. Take lots of pictures and try to find out if its the original tranny along with the mileage. Post all the pictures you can along with some history and I'm sure the experts here will tell you if its a good deal or not.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Some years of Limited's were also available with the V6.

 

[Wagner Godoy]

Yes, V8 5.0 liter ... But if it is a real Limited, why the grille isn't painted in the same color of the body? This is my $1-million question ...

Thanks

 

[Wagner Godoy]

So, it isn't impossible that this SUV be indeed a Limited version, but with front and hear like an ordinary XLT? Hmmm ... this might explains why the asked price is 10% below the average. The dealer told me that, besides the leather upholstery be a bit worn out at certain points (but no holes or cracks), a bad keyless and the stereo which is not working (good excuse to throw in a 2DIN MP3 player), the car is solid and well cared. The current mileage is 62K (quite normal for the average Brazilian driver). A few more pics to help out the identification:

Thanks

Welcome to the forum. Theres at least one other member on here from Brazil also, he showed some 4 wheeling pics and it looks like you could get alot of use (fun) out of an EX.

I wouldn't get too hung up on what package it is, unless thats what your looking for. The limited, Eddy and xlt are all pretty much the same except for trim, some interior options and 4x4 being all wheel or auto. Even here in the states it's not often you come across two that are exactly the same, seems that the original dealers are left to install different option packages and/or combination of packages. Mine I have a wing that was from what I was told here was a dealer install, only ever seen one other like it so what you are looking at could very well be a limited.

I would try and get as much info as you can on its maintanence and owner history. Take lots of pictures and try to find out if its the original tranny along with the mileage. Post all the pictures you can along with some history and I'm sure the experts here will tell you if its a good deal or not.

 

[aeaglenfitch]

dosnt it say the trim somewhere in the vin?

if not dont you think it's possible the previous owner may have just swapped it out because he liked it better or broke the old grille?

 

[sjr033]

My guess is that it was in an accident. When it was preped for paint the rear "logos" were removed and not put back on. And I would guess that parts are had to come by down there, so an xlt grill was used. Or it as fixed cheap before the truck was shipped there. This would explain the 10% cheaper cost. Also, shouldn't there be a pin stripe for the Limited

 

[Wagner Godoy]

This is exactly my suspicion: the SUV has been wrecked, repaired and some parts, unavailable here, were replaced but XLT stuff ... What is a "pin stripe"??

Thanks

My guess is that it was in an accident. When it was preped for paint the rear "logos" were removed and not put back on. And I would guess that parts are had to come by down there, so an xlt grill was used. Or it as fixed cheap before the truck was shipped there. This would explain the 10% cheaper cost. Also, shouldn't there be a pin stripe for the Limited

 

[onecrazyfuq]

That is deff a limited. My buddy has a 01 limited. If you look at the sterring wheel and the heating console parts they are all upgrades to the xlt. The heaters on this one are digital the ones on the other models are manual. As for the headlights had been changed to clear cornors like i did with my truck, and i see that the badges (emblems) had been taken off the car. As for the 5.0, its not a bad engine but im still a v6 4.0 guy for teh thousands of mods you can do specially for the sohc 4.0 but looks good man go for it. any other questions message me -anthony

 

[sjr033]

A pin stripe is usually a pair of thin vinyl sticker that runs down the side on the truck right at the body line. (From almost the head light to almost the tail light a few inches below the windows.)

 

[Wagner Godoy]

Hi Anthony,

I never doubted that the car is indeed a Limited, the only thing that bugs me is the possibility of it being wrecked and poorly repaired (I have nothing against saving big bucks by buying a collided car but that had been well fixed - no bent frame, no leaking engine, etc). It is possible that the previous owner had replaced the grille, but I wouldn't expect that, since the mod would be a "downgrade" from the top version. These cars were way expensive when available brand new down here, so it is unlikely that anyone would "deface" it to look different - and cheaper.

Thanks

That is deff a limited. My buddy has a 01 limited. If you look at the sterring wheel and the heating console parts they are all upgrades to the xlt. The heaters on this one are digital the ones on the other models are manual. As for the headlights had been changed to clear cornors like i did with my truck, and i see that the badges (emblems) had been taken off the car. As for the 5.0, its not a bad engine but im still a v6 4.0 guy for teh thousands of mods you can do specially for the sohc 4.0 but looks good man go for it. any other questions message me -anthony

 

[onecrazyfuq]

My friends 01 limited has the grille that all the other explorers have, and it was not changed. It depends on the year and what ford felt like putting in. That why i love ford they kinda do what they want at timeslol