Might be getting another Ex - need 3rd row

[the_tool_man]

Hi all:

Once more into the breach - I got engaged last weekend. Between the two of us, we have three kids. Nothing is definite yet, but my fiance is probably going to want to upgrade her Corrolla to something bigger. We both hate minivans and station wagons, so I might be getting another SUV (I have no intentions to get rid of my Sport). I already know from experience that we'll want something with a 3rd row seat, as the back seat of an explorer is pretty tight for 3 kids on long trips. Also, she carpools sometimes. As I see it, I have three choices:

1: 1st or 2nd gen Explorer/Mountaineer 4-door and aftermarket 3rd row seat. Less expensive to buy and operate. Don't know much about 3rd row seats available.

2: 3rd gen Explorer 4-door with factory 3rd row seat. Expensive. Newer. Better seat access & stowage? Not sure about that either.

3: Older Expedition (is that 1st gen or 2nd?) with 3rd row seat. Roomiest option of the three. Also Expensive to buy, but not as much as #2. Most expensive to operate.

This would primarily be for street use, and remain basically stock, so off-road capability isn't an issue. I do occasionally tow a utility trailer or small car trailer, so towing is important. But, I know all three of the above choices can handle my towing needs.

Can someone help me fill in the blanks? From the searching I've done, I get mixed reviews of aftermarket 3rd row seats for Explorers. How useful is the factory one in the 3rd gens? What about the one in Expeditions?

Thanks in advance for your input,
John.

 

[Bronco638]

John,
Congratulations on getting engaged.

Let me throw out a suggestion. You seem to be a Ford guy. Go check out a Freelander. It has the seating you want, is better on gas (than an Ex or EX), probably is cheaper (than a used EX or new Ex) and should be able to tow your trailer. Unless having 4WD is a must, it's worth looking at. My wife has an Escape and the Freelander seems to be a streched version of that. I'm constantly impressed by what my wife's truck can do/haul.

Good luck with your search - Dave.

 

[Jonny813]

Congrats! Best of luck to you both.

It would be called a first gen Expeditions... My dad drives one and its a great car, we had no use for the 3rd Row seat so it was removed for now. When it was there, its was very small, good for 2 small children though. As for price, they aren't too expensive in my area. There are deals all the time on 2WD standard Expiditions w/ ~50000 miles for between 12-16K... This would be way less then a third gen Expo, I think it would anyways, dont know the going rate for third gens.

My dad drives a 99 Expedition and drives it very soft, too soft if you ask me. Completely bone stock, tows great(we tow small boats and trailors without any problem), and has had no mechanical defects in 77K Miles.

 

[rhyno]

If you hypothetically throw out the consideration of price, the 3rd row in a 3rd gen Explorer is going to be much more useful than the other 2 options you mentioned.

First reason is the size of the seat and legroom. Since the 3rd gen has independent rear suspension instead of a solid axle, the legroom area for the seat recesses into the floor. I have tried to ride in the 3rd seat of the older expedition one time, and it was very uncomfortable for someone any taller than 5 feet. My wife and I bought a used 2002 Ex and the 3rd seat is much roomier, even for an adult to sit in on short trips.

Second, the accessability of the third row of the newer explorer is much better. If you put an aftermarket seat in an older Ex, you will have to install it backwards, and the kids will have to access it from the rear hatch or climb over the middle seats. In the newer Ex the middle seats fold forward for easy access.

Lastly, the 3rd row of the newer explorer folds flat into the floor of the cargo area. If having this space is important to you, It will be a PITA to take the aftermarket or the Expeditions seat out every time you want to put something in the back of the truck.

 

[blichy]

The 3rd row in the newer Explorers isn't too bad for a kid--as an adult it wouldn't be great for a longer trip though. There isn't all that much space behind the seat, but you can fit a few things there. One thing that we have found now that we have 2 kids in car seats, is that the 3rd row is almost useless, as the only way to get to it without taking one of the child seats out is to crawl over the 2nd row. You should be able to pick up an '02 4wd for around $15k, if not less (and probably about $4k more than a '98 Expedition).

I am not sure if anyone makes a 3rd row for the older Explorers, especially when considering possible litigation now.

John,
Congratulations on getting engaged.

Let me throw out a suggestion. You seem to be a Ford guy. Go check out a Freelander. It has the seating you want, is better on gas (than an Ex or EX), probably is cheaper (than a used EX or new Ex) and should be able to tow your trailer. Unless having 4WD is a must, it's worth looking at. My wife has an Escape and the Freelander seems to be a streched version of that. I'm constantly impressed by what my wife's truck can do/haul.

Good luck with your search - Dave.

Do you mean the Freestyle (based on the 500)? The LR Freelander doesn't have a 3rd row, and is a little smaller inside than the Escape.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Yep, the Freestyle (station wagon/SUV based on the Volvo S80 platform) would be an excellent choice. Car & Driver just reviewed it and said it had more room, got better mileage, and was better to drive then the Freestar, Ford's minivan. Only problem is you won't get a new one, they just came out for '05.

Personally, I would not even consider getting a 1st gen Explorer and putting an aftermarket 3rd seat in it. That sounds like a deathtrip for any kid who rides back there and I wouldn't want to risk that with my own children (if I had any). The best option, from the ones you gave, sounds like a first gen Expedition. But why not just bite the bullet and buy a minivan. You could get a used van for a lot cheaper then an SUV, and you'd get more room, better mileage, and lower repair costs then with almost any SUV. I know its lame, but for your purposes it sounds much more practical. Good luck.

 

[UK Explorer]

I have just purchased and installed a third row seat in my 2001 second gen. I have found it very good and was easy to install. I got it from here -

http://www.littlepassengerseats.com

 

[MrShorty]

I'm currently running option 1 with a '92 Explorer. Bought a littlepassenger third seat (www.littlepassengerseats.com) because it came with shoulder belts (instead of just lap belts) and could thus be mounted forward facing. With the 1/3:2/3 split in the 2nd row, we just keep the 1/3 portion of the second row folded down, and the older two (oldest is 8) can climb in and out that way. That's how we accomodated our family of 4 kids. It was going to be only three and we were going to squeeze them across the 2nd row, but #3 came with a bonus #4 (2 for 1 kind of deal), so that forced our hand. Squeezing three across the back didn't seem so bad to me -- I remember squeezing my family (six children) into a 1981 Toyota Corolla (back before we worried so much about seat belts for everyone )

 

[the_tool_man]

Thanks all for the information. You've given me a lot to think about.

I didn't realize that the 3rd row seat in Expeditions didn't fold down. The thought of wrestling that in and out doesn't really appeal to me. For that matter, the aftermarket ones for Explorers probably aren't much better.

I've seen the new Freestyle on a TV ad. It doesn't look too bad for a family truckster. I'll have to take a look at one in person. Of course, since they're brand new, I might have to wait a while before I get one. I never buy a "first year" vehicle until I know there aren't any major problems. And, watching my ex-wife's 2001 EB Ex drop from $32k to $18k in less than 2 years has convinced me never to buy new again.

Right now, I'm leaning toward a used 3rd gen Ex. But, I have some time before I need to make a decision, so I'll take a look at a Freestyle, too. Keep the suggestions coming. Thanks again.

Regards,
John.

 

[UK Explorer]

For that matter, the aftermarket ones for Explorers probably aren't much better.
Regards,
John.

Just to throw a spanner in your thoughts....

I have the double folding 3rd row seat from littlepassengerseats and it is really easy and light to lift in an out. It just slots onto 2 locating pin at the front, then you push the retaining pins in the back. If you want to fold it up against your existing rear seat, you just pull the retaining pins out the back and it fold forward. easy

 

[Bronco638]

Do you mean the Freestyle (based on the 500)? The LR Freelander doesn't have a 3rd row, and is a little smaller inside than the Escape.

I'm sorry, yes, the Freestyle. I have a neighbor with a Freelander (kind of a waste of an LR, if you ask me). Sorry for the confusion.

 

[starrfyr]

You've heard all about the third row seats and you may be done with this thread but in case you're not, DON'T PUT YOUR KIDS IN A THIRD ROW SEAT!

In fact, don't put anything you care about in a third row seat. Not your dogs, computers, friends, and certainly not your children. The neighbors kids ... yea that might be OK. The third row seats are EXTREMELY flimsy and in any substantial rear-end collision they have been known to fail. So while the car hitting you from behind is intruding into the cargo area, the third row seat is buckling backwards tossing your children into the car's grille. Not gonna be very pretty to clean up.

This is especially true of the "mid" utes like the Explorer with little to no room behind the third row seat. My 2002 was available with the third row and I said, "Pass!" You can do what you like.

Does this forum allow posting accident photos?