Maybe not the right place but...

[gdgiordano]

 

[07EddyB]

Yeah - that was hilarious. Yugos rock

 

[07EddyB]

So it's in my possession now. I just bought it and only now have I had a chance to really look at it. Pretty basic - cloth interior no other options. I haven't even driven it yet but the engine is smooth and quiet in the driveway. The wife will get the paperwork done tomorrow and maybe we'll take it out that night. Good shape appearance wise - Dad doesn't wax his vehicles but fortunately it's white so the paint seems to be pretty good. Worst part is the wheels - every wheel has multiple places where the clear is coming off. Interior needs to be cleaned some but otherwise in really great shape. Apparently he put new tires on it not to long ago because they barely look worn any at all.
He priced it to me at 3K - I countered with $3500 but he wouldn't take it so 3K it was. I find it hilarious that it's a year newer than my Explorer with almost half the miles (55000 versus 105000) and yet it's an old car.

 

[07EddyB]

Finally drove the car last night and drove it in to work this morning. Now I remember why I prefer rear wheel drive body on frame vehicles. Road noise is obnoxious in the thing and the V6 is whiny. Running over a rough patch of pavement seems to resonate throughout the entire car. I pretty much expected all of that though and it isn't a deal killer. I'm pretty spoiled with the V8 Explorer that I have and I've basically got the same complaints with the wife's minivan. On the plus side, the motor does not lack for power and the transmission seems good. It has it's moments but I really have to blame the driver there. It can't be driven the same way I drive my Ex so I'll adapt. Overall all is good - I just have to remind myself that most people find what I complain about to be perfectly normal.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Did you get it as a back up vehicle or to replace something ?
I hope you are keeping the Ex.
Whenever I drive with friends is passenger cars or even the new CUVs I find them lacking a character and ruggedness of the Explorer. An you are talking about cars in $ 30-40k range versus $ 1800 book value of mine

 

[07EddyB]

Did you get it as a back up vehicle or to replace something ?
I hope you are keeping the Ex.
Whenever I drive with friends is passenger cars or even the new CUVs I find them lacking a character and ruggedness of the Explorer. An you are talking about cars in $ 30-40k range versus $ 1800 book value of mine

It's a backup vehicle for now - the Explorer is still with me and I have no plans to replace it at this point. It will be nice now to do work on the Explorer that doesn't have to be completed in one weekend. But the main reason I bought it was I have three sons - the oldest will turn 15 in May. I have been on the lookout for a 'kids' car for a bit now knowing the day would come when he would start driving. It's a bit early but I figured anything I bought for what I was willing to put into it would require some work so I was giving myself some cushion.
Then this pretty much fell into my lap and I wasn't going to pass it up. It's a little bigger than we had planned for a learner car but it's nice that we can use it as a family car also. If you are not familiar with the Taurus, understand that the interior has more room than my Explorer and even rivals my wife's minivan. Three adults fit comfortably in the second row with plenty of leg room. The trunk is absolutely huge.

 

[Explorer_PL]

That's what I did over a year ago, when I came by the 07 EB. My son was also 15 at that time and I knew he would need a car so we bought it for $ 1800 with bad transmission but otherwise one owner women driven truck. Rides better than mine now.

Back in the days I drove 2 Tauruses as company cars, both station wagons in late 90's. The first of the oval body shape with those funny looking head lights Loved them, so roomy. I could drive workers and materials to the sites. The Vulcan 3.0 did ok

 

[07EddyB]

Put the Taurus in the garage tonight to clean a little and go over it this weekend. Remember that bad road noise I mentioned earlier? Well - it may have something to do with the tires being inflated to 50 PSI ALL AROUND! That's 6 PSI over the max inflation and 18 PSI over recommended. Actually, I usually have good luck with 35 which is where they are now.
Don't think my Dad did that. I usually have the same problem when we get new tires - they always over inflate them. Considering it has been dealer serviced all it's life then I think I know where this happened.....

 

[07EddyB]

I actually talked to my Dad about this - he has not touched the tires or checked the pressure ever. The car was last serviced at the dealer in October of last year. I've also talked to my brother about this - he used to work for a Ford dealer. He is not mechanically inclined but one picks up at least general things working around cars. He also still knows people at said dealer and some calls may be made....
The car was regularly used for 30 mile trips between where they live and where I live on a parkway so 70 MPH. If the tires are still at 50 PSI now after going through a winter then where were they back in October? And yes - the car was not driven all day when I checked the pressures.
Here is the kicker - my parents thought the car was getting louder but they just assumed it was because it was getting old.
Another kicker - Dad says his F150 is loud. I strongly encouraged him to check his tire pressures.
So - the car went through a Kentucky winter (we were down to single digits a lot this year) and managed to maintain 50 PSI until today.

Tell me where I'm misinterpreting this.

 

[07EddyB]

I gave it a good wash today. It was obviously never hand washed in it's life - with a white car you have to pay attention to the cracks and crevices. Not to mention that my parents don't have a garage - it has spent the last ten years outside. There were a few places where a little polishing compound was required because dirt had the opportunity to build up there over 10 years. It got a coat of wax tonight - the first one ever. It looks great. In fact, it looks as good as my Explorer which lives in a garage at night and gets at least one wax job every year.

I told my wife that apparently I have been wasting my time.

Ford did a hell of a job with the white paint in 2008. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

[Explorer_PL]

It feels good, doesn't it Eddy ?

Somehow I find more satisfaction in keeping my old EB running and in good exterior/mechanical shape rather than having a newer car.
Where is the fun with a new car ? It's new, shiny, in great mechanical condition as it should be.
And you have that $ 400-700 monthly payment
Here you have a car that is worth fraction of that and does same or better job than that brand new car or truck.

Out of the big 3, Ford has the best paint / anti corrosion procedures from that era, not sure about now. Probably all 3 are great.
Before the Explorer I bought brand new 2006 Dodge Ram Megacab. That year they were practicaly giving them away, and with the window sticker of $39k, they dropped to $ 27k by just talking over the phone. I could not resist.
The pain was crap, you could scratch it with a finger, and it lost its shine withing few months. I had a magnet sticker from my kids school on the tailgate (I know they are bad for paint), but after a few months, the paint was almost gone under it. And the grey cloth interior.... I spilled a plain water on the seats and I had stains forever.
Before the Ram I had a 99 Tahoe. Loved the size and utility of it, but it was rusting away by just looking at it. The frame had no spot where you could see some original paint. The sheet metal was also eaten by rust starting with the fenders.
The Explorer - can't see a trouble yet with any rust, and I get lots of snow and salt here every year, and the exhaust system is still sound and solid.
So that's my perspective on that.