Hello from France. Why not an Explorer again...?

[Sergio7475]

Hello to all and thank you to welcome me in this forum.

I am a professional photographer, mainly specialized in corporate portraits living in Paris France, and despite the dumbest "ecological" laws in our cities (cars represent only 15% of air pollution at most over here) I intend to purchase again an old V6 4.0l Ford Explorer Limited from 2000/2001. This car will be with my wife our European traveling mean, as we intend to discover many countries around as long as we can.

I have had the pleasure to possess an Explorer (a 2001 dark blue Limited with tan leather) for a few years, 15 years ago, and traded it for a Lexus RX300 when petrol prices tended to rise without reasons.
Anyway, the size and practicality of this vintage Explorer is perfectly compatible with our European streets.
I meanwhile will have to equip it with a LPG system just to have the "right" to drive it in many cities (and not all unfortunately)!

I also posses a 2016 S-E Hybrid Porsche Cayenne and an old 1995 W124 Mercedes convertible, I imported from the US, 10 years ago.

I have had 3 American cars so far, the Explorer, a Buick Skylark Limited, and a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Despite their thirst, compared to average cars in Europe, I really enjoyed driving them.

I will be more than happy to share and exchange with you about this search or any other subjects, as well.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[Mike65]

Welcome. Good choice.

 

[Sergio7475]

Thanks for your messages.

 

[wollimann]

I intend to purchase again an old V6 4.0l Ford Explorer Limited from 2000/2001.

I would buy it again if it were new from the factory band.
But i would also protect it better against rust, this is always the main reason
they are ending on a junkyard.
And you have to care of transmission oil temperature on european highways,
especially with trailer towing.
If you like to spend time/money and have a good repair shop or do the most
things by yourself, it's a reliable car.

Regards to Paris

 

[Sergio7475]

Thanks Wollimann.
Your advice is precious. Rust is also a problem over here as well.
The other idea I had was to find a relatively "used" and very cheap one and rebuilt it at my financial and time pace and make it very reliable. My only concern is to know is the maintenance periodicity has been regularly followed previously, mostly on the mechanical parts (engine, transfer and gear boxes.) The rest I can handle.
I may go see one like that around June 10.
l will open a thread when thing will start to move.

 

[wollimann]

As i noticed the last 15 years, there was no used Explorer 1997-2000 to sell which was in good conditions.
If the official support by Ford ends, the people stops the maintenance and not willing
to pay 2500€ for a engine timing chain repair, same ammount for a 5R55E transmission repair.
And all other stuff like the rear niveau lift air shocks, transfer case problems, upcomming
problems with the electric and PATS system let them sell the car quickly.
Another problem is, there are only a few repair shops with mechanics who has still the knowledge
and matching tools.
The small rest of Explorer owners likes it so much, are forum members and handle 99% of problems by themselves.
(The 1% is the front wheel alignment)
But this people won't sell their cars, some say "It is a family member".
Take your time finding a good one, don't act precipitately.

 

[wollimann]

Be sure you will never get the chance to find an used Explorer like this.
Sold in Switzerland 2019, 9800KM, driven by an old lady, dealer wants 12000€.
But maybe there is an old lady in France?

 

[Sergio7475]

Whoooo! Many thanks Wollimann. A real time capsule! This is exactly the same Explorer I had about 15 years ago!!!! I could look to the adds from Switzerland, but as Switzerland does not belong to the European Community, I will have to pay 30% taxes and will have to import it through the full importation process, long and not cheap.
But globally, cars coming from Switzerland and Japan (and there are a lot of left hand cars over there) are usually in a very good condition!!!