New to the forum, but still undecided on which year Explorer to get.

[Dirt Wagon]

Hello everybody,

Just recently joined the forum with plans to pick up a used 4x4 Explorer. I am currently between two models & can't decided which one would work best. I plan to lock the front & rear , 33" or larger tires but no larger than 35"'s.

#1: 1st gen - I love the look of the 1st gen & the fact that it has the ttb front axle & it's easier to sas later on if needed. The V6 that is in seems like it would work for a while with my current plans but may need updated with a V8 or 4.0 SOHC swap to gain some power. One I have locally is priced at $1,500 w/manual windows & pealing paint.

#2: 2nd gen w/awd 5.0 - Main reason for this model is the fact it already has the 5.0, the disk brakes on the 8.8 is also nice along with the updated connection to pull any codes that come up. The front axle isn't what I would want long term and would want to upgrade that later on as well but not before having to upgrade the transfer case to the 4406 from an F150. One locally is priced at $1,850 & is an XLT. I am a little worried about the headers and the issues those give, but the V8 is very appealing.

Maybe someone here can talk me into one over the other & help me make my mind up. I plan to check the 2000 V8 this Sunday and see what it looks like. I keep thinking that if i get tired of the 2nd gen looks I might be able to swap the good stuff over to the 1st gen later on. the 2nd gen seems priced really well compared to what some people are charging for 5.0 Explorers.

 

[Josh P]

Welcome to this forum. I like the first gen explorer.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Been over a year since my last post on buying an Explorer, but found one that I am positive that I'll be buying this Saturday.

It's a 1999 Eddie Bauer 4x4 4.0 with only 61k miles on it. It was priced at $5,500 & only posted up for an hour on Craigslist before I contacted the guy. Told me it was his mothers & that when she wasn't able to drive anymore that it's been a second car for him and he just doesn't need it anymore.

Since the low mileage, i told him I'll take it for the asking price if he would hold it for me till this weekend. I'm guessing it seems like a good price. Paint seems good, looks like its the Sage Green color & he said it's always been under a carport so its in pretty decent shape for the age. Interior looks amazing from the pictures, practically new.

 

[RangerX]

Nice! Is the 4.0 an OHV or an SOHC?

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Not sure, he didn't have any pic's of the engine bay & he didn't list it in the ad which has since been taken down.

I did text him to get the vin # to do a history report on it, so maybe it will be on there. I never realized they had two kinds of V6's in the second gen. Now that I looked into to it, I'm really hoping it's the SOHV.

 

[RangerX]

Are you aware of the timing chain issue on the sohc?

 

[CDW6212R]

That top paint looks shot, I hope that's just a poor reflection.

The SOHC V6 is definitely to be avoided, those should sell dirt cheap given the issues(and people want/wish to swap the 302/4WD into them(lot of trouble)). That price would be fine if it was the 302, but not the V6 unless you were going to baby it and take great care of the engine.

Where you are, you should be able to find a solid 98-01 302/AWD truck for $2000 or less, give or take based on condition and mileage. I missed on a 98 Limited with 108k two years ago, for $4k, it snowed the two days after I spoke with the seller in SC. I got a 158k 98 Limited for $2k, and in rough shape it's good for me(no rust), and still going with 194k now.

Think about it Bill, what do you need and for how much? The 98-01 302's are the most reliable, hands down over all Explorers ever made so far. The 1st gens a lot of people prefer over the 2nd gens, for off-roading. You can swap a 302 into them, but it's a lot of wiring and not nearly as plug and play as the 2nd gen(95-01 V6's and Sports to 2003, and Sport Trac's etc).

I'd consider what local people there are who can do the odd things you may not be able to, the engine swap, suspension work etc.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Thanks for the heads up on the engine guys!

I still haven't heard back from him just yet on the vin, but given that it's the Eddie Bauer edition I'm guessing it has the SOHC...

Just realized looking through the pic's I saved before he took down the ad.....he had said his mother was the original owner & he had bought it from her, but there is a Carmax decal on the rear gate. It may be the reason he hasn't sent me the vin # yet to confirm his story.

Personally I'd love to find a good condition 5.0 with awd, but the market here is stupid when it comes to those models & I don't really like the idea of buying a vehicle with over 250k miles that might need some kind of major repair right after I buy into it.

 

[Halford1]

That was the risk I took when i bought the 96 Sport. It lasted for about 125K miles.

 

[CDW6212R]

The issues with these trucks are related almost entirely to owner care, age does effect typical parts like control arms and seals, u-joints, BJ's etc. But how the vehicle was taken care of is way more important than the mileage or age.

People tend to not care as much for making sure all four tires match, so older AWD/4WD transfer cases are weak links because they cannot handle tires that are different sizes. So watch tire conditions very carefully, be worried if the front drive shaft is removed etc. The CV joints are not expensive, but a rebuilt transfer case is a big deal, not many have rebuilt their own. The radiators in these at this age, are more likely to develop a leak, but people often don't catch the level getting low, until the engine is hurt. That's all on the owner and not the car, but with age these things you have to watch for. Still again, the mileage isn't the issue, it's the maintenance by the owners.

I was browsing Craigslist for about six weeks before I saw a few that sounded good, within 250 miles of me. I was beginning to make calls to Nashville and Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Greensboro etc. There are many more V6 models than 302's for sale, I think mainly because the 302 models are being kept more than the 4.0's. But they are out there, like the one you're looking at, people want to sell one and move on.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

I agree with you there Don, owner care is the biggest factor for me when deciding to buy a used car. I really prefer one owner cars but they aren't around much. My Mazda B2300 has 209k miles on it & has been a great truck, I bought it used with 132k miles from the original owner & felt confident it was taken care of. When there's more than one owner I get a little skeptical on how everything was taken care of.

I'm starting to have some doubts whether I should just pass on this truck given that there is issues with the SOHC V6 & that the guy has a funny story about his mother being the original owner & that Carmax sticker.

 

[Halford1]

yea I had to replace all the joints. It only took 2 hours. the Driver's side was so hard because there was something in way but in the passenger side, it was a breeze to replace the joints. Did not have CV Joints though. Then the drive was smoother from there on.

 

[CDW6212R]

I just recall that there was a 2000 V8 Limited I believe, around Charlotte, a couple weeks back. It was $3000, and I only looked because I have a coworker who might have liked it, Craigslist it was.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

I'm pretty limited on how far I can travel, my wife doesn't drive just yet...(in the process of teaching her) & I don't know anyone that who can travel with me to look that far.

Last time I bought used was my Mazda & I had to rent a tow dolly while using my '85 Bronco. Bronco has since been sold so I'd be forced to rent a Home Depot truck to try that again. Just got off the phone with the guy & he said he would drive it to my place to help me out, so that's one less thing to worry about if I buy it.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Well the search goes on.

The guy just called me back & said he just got off the phone with his wife & that she decided that she wants to keep it and drive it herself. I'm halfway tempted to just buy something new but I don't like anything out right now. Be nice to know what the new Bronco looks like or maybe have the Wrangler pickup or Ranger out.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

Have a lead on another one, tell me what you think. From the vin it does in fact have the OHV 4.0 so no issues there.

Any thoughts on what I should offer?

2000 Ford Explorer

 

[CDW6212R]

It looks like a structurally sound truck at a glance, likely no big rust issues. But you'd still want to climb under it and check it out before a final offer. For starting rust, check the radiator support(hard to see much but see what you can), under the hatch and doors bottom edge(the skin seam), and the body seams underneath(rocker bottom edge is easy to see).

The OHV V6 is dependable, but not very powerful. The trans isn't the best for any towing, though many people do okay with them. That $2k range is about the high end of what I'd consider okay for a great condition V6 model, $1500 maybe the best zone. Some areas of the country are much higher, consider that way up north that truck might bring $3500 etc.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

I definitely plan to crawl under it to check it out, and I also always bring a flashlight to look in the dark areas so I'll be sure to check the radiator support. I recall one time I went to check out an F150 with decent miles at a good price, but upon looking under the truck at the frame I noticed the entire frame was rusted and spray painted over with in black paint. After telling the guy this he said it was a northern truck and that he sprayed it black to stop the rust.

I'm not worried about the lack of power of the older engine anymore like I was in my first post. I drive slow these days so the lack of power would never affect me much and i'll most likely never put tires larger than 31" on it. I've since come to realize an explorer wouldn't be the best platform for a serious off road vehicle for me. I'll most likely just set it up for my wife & I to drive. I'll save my pennies for a pickup platform to build up big like my original plans had been for an explorer.

 

[CDW6212R]

Excellent, I was just pointing out details to help you decide what you wanted and what you really need. I'm sure you'll get a good truck for your wife and you for normal duty.