Todd82TA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- June 21, 2009
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 11
- City, State
- South Florida
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Explorer Sport 4x2
So, I've been looking for something under $12,000 and I was kind of interested in the Ford Exploder. I wanted to get a 2-door, but then learned that the last year they sold them was 2003?!
I actually really wanted a 4x4, but I couldn't find one anywhere that wasn't at the very least totally ragged out.
So, I found a 2002, with the burnt red color (Toreador or whatever), w/ 36k miles on it. I'll be trading in my 2006 Pontiac Solstice this weekend and getting a check back. They're giving me $12,750 for the Solstice, and I bought the car for $7,259.
I think I've got a pretty decent car here, although to be honest I haven't actually looked at it yet. The car's interior is immaculate, no wear or tear ANYWHERE. It really does (at least from the pictures) show that it's been taken care of.
Anyway, I make the trade this weekend, and I think I'm pretty happy.
This will be my daily driver. My wife still has her Jeep Patriot, and I have my Crown Victoria for highway trips and whatever.
I DO still want 4x4, but I figure that one of these days I could easily add it. I'll just buy a high mileage 4x4, and swap everything over (I've rebuilt engines, and restored cars so it shouldn't be THAT difficult, it not only time consuming).
Anyway, just have a few questions:
1 - I know that I should expect anywhere from 17 to 21 fuel economy. Has anyone here actually done better than 21 miles to the gallon on the highway with the 4.0 SOHC motor?
2 - Are there any inherent problems with the 4.0 SOHC, or is it pretty rigid? I know I asked this before and it seemed like everyone liked the motor. Can I at least expect it to be AS reliable as the 4.6 SOHC is in my 2002 Crown Victoria?
3 - What kind of acceleration can I expect, does it at least get out of it's own way? I'm hoping that it at least runs a 16 second flat quarter mile... hope that's not too much to expect. The few that I test drove were all 4x4s and they seemed decent, but I figured the extra weight slows it down.
4 - Are there ANY performance parts for the car? Any ECM reflashes? I realize it's an Explorer. I'm not looking to turn it into a pony car, but I usually like to install shorty headers (ceramic coated) since it improves fuel economy, around-town driving, and reduces underhood temperatures which in turn also improve the reliability of all the other parts.
Anything else I should know about these cars in terms of mechanical failures or something that always brakes? IE: like VW windows fall into the door, or Fieros catch fire, or whatever???
Thanks!!!
Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX-P74
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter
I actually really wanted a 4x4, but I couldn't find one anywhere that wasn't at the very least totally ragged out.
So, I found a 2002, with the burnt red color (Toreador or whatever), w/ 36k miles on it. I'll be trading in my 2006 Pontiac Solstice this weekend and getting a check back. They're giving me $12,750 for the Solstice, and I bought the car for $7,259.
I think I've got a pretty decent car here, although to be honest I haven't actually looked at it yet. The car's interior is immaculate, no wear or tear ANYWHERE. It really does (at least from the pictures) show that it's been taken care of.
Anyway, I make the trade this weekend, and I think I'm pretty happy.
This will be my daily driver. My wife still has her Jeep Patriot, and I have my Crown Victoria for highway trips and whatever.
I DO still want 4x4, but I figure that one of these days I could easily add it. I'll just buy a high mileage 4x4, and swap everything over (I've rebuilt engines, and restored cars so it shouldn't be THAT difficult, it not only time consuming).
Anyway, just have a few questions:
1 - I know that I should expect anywhere from 17 to 21 fuel economy. Has anyone here actually done better than 21 miles to the gallon on the highway with the 4.0 SOHC motor?
2 - Are there any inherent problems with the 4.0 SOHC, or is it pretty rigid? I know I asked this before and it seemed like everyone liked the motor. Can I at least expect it to be AS reliable as the 4.6 SOHC is in my 2002 Crown Victoria?
3 - What kind of acceleration can I expect, does it at least get out of it's own way? I'm hoping that it at least runs a 16 second flat quarter mile... hope that's not too much to expect. The few that I test drove were all 4x4s and they seemed decent, but I figured the extra weight slows it down.
4 - Are there ANY performance parts for the car? Any ECM reflashes? I realize it's an Explorer. I'm not looking to turn it into a pony car, but I usually like to install shorty headers (ceramic coated) since it improves fuel economy, around-town driving, and reduces underhood temperatures which in turn also improve the reliability of all the other parts.
Anything else I should know about these cars in terms of mechanical failures or something that always brakes? IE: like VW windows fall into the door, or Fieros catch fire, or whatever???
Thanks!!!
Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX-P74
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter