tel me why not to do it:

[izackary]

I'm considering trading Xploder (official name...license plate says so ) for a '99 Chevy 2500, complletely loaded. They're the same year, but with 20k more miles on the Chevy. It'll cost a couple grand more than the ex will go for, I'm sure, and I would likely sell it privately. My brother works for this dealership as a salesman, and tells me he can get the price of the chevy for less than $16g (kbb value). Private Party value on the ex is upwards of $11g. I owe a little over $4g. Winter is coming and the ex still needs tires and i'm still close to broke. I believe it has a 6.0L Vortec, a 4-speed auto, as well as 4WD (the coveted 2-HI, AUTO-4, 4-HI, 4-LO). The Ex has a 4.0L SOHC, 5-speed auto, and Control-Trac with a switch-mod to get 2-HI and 2-LO.

I wanna here people's reasons I SHOULDN'T do this.

 

[Alec]

Why go from a used vehicle that you know in and out and have been happy with to one that costs more, has more miles, and has a questionable history?

Besides, Ford people tend to be cooler and more helpful than Cheby guys

 

[izackary]

That's the exact same thing i did when I traded my Mark VIII in for my exploder. An expensive high-mileage question mark.

 

[Nate1]

You should! If you can afford it, those are nice trucks. You can always replace the termal actuator in front axles on those with a cable driven one and its like the brown wire mod. Sounds like a nice, powerful truck.

Now, here come the GM bashers

 

[izackary]

I'm not loyal to a particular brand just due to blind luck or because "i said so." I go for what I like and what I can afford (hahaha). If I don't like it, I'll look for another explorer. Lord knows there's enough of them! Maybe I'll find an unsuspecting low-mileage rig that I can totally abuse.

It's got a 6.0L...you know it's gettin an exhaust job!!

 

[Nate1]

How about a powerstroke 7.3L turbodiesel?

 

[boominXplorer]

diesels dont sound good with exhaust. my buddy has a f250 v10 EFI with borla exhaust and man does it sound sweet when he romps on it.

 

[Nate1]

Diesels dont sound good with exhaust? Are you kidding? Pull a full banks power setup and it will sound sweet as sugar.

 

[Alec]

Originally posted by boominXplorer
diesels dont sound good with exhaust. my buddy has a f250 v10 EFI with borla exhaust and man does it sound sweet when he romps on it.

Someone's on crack!

 

[Hokie]

If you need that big of a truck then go ahead and get it. Personally, I don't forsee myself needing a fullsize pickup in a LONG time so I'm straight with my Explorer (and its Ranger origins) If you want the 6.0L 2500 Chevy and the crappy gas mileage that goes with it, then by all means get it. For as many miles as you drive in 1 month, I don't understand why getting a bigger (heavier) 4x4 is going to be more economical

 

[Joey P]

Originally posted by Hokie
If you need that big of a truck then go ahead and get it. Personally, I don't forsee myself needing a fullsize pickup in a LONG time so I'm straight with my Explorer (and its Ranger origins) If you want the 6.0L 2500 Chevy and the crappy gas mileage that goes with it, then by all means get it. For as many miles as you drive in 1 month, I don't understand why getting a bigger (heavier) 4x4 is going to be more economical

Yeah I agree, that truck is going to drink that fuel up. With gas prices the way they are right now and everything I wouldn't do it unless you really can afford it. Plus, IMO, I wouldn't ever get a gas engine in a 3/4 ton truck, there a lot heavier. I would stick with a diesel. Gas engines are for 1/2 tons.......IMO. Besides, a Chevy? I have a sore spot with those........

 

[izackary]

Originally posted by Hokie
If you need that big of a truck then go ahead and get it. Personally, I don't forsee myself needing a fullsize pickup in a LONG time so I'm straight with my Explorer (and its Ranger origins) If you want the 6.0L 2500 Chevy and the crappy gas mileage that goes with it, then by all means get it. For as many miles as you drive in 1 month, I don't understand why getting a bigger (heavier) 4x4 is going to be more economical

NEED?! Who said anything about needs? Somehow I knew you'd find this thread, HokieDude.

 

[Alec]

And what is one reason I went to a sport compact?

I was a bit tired of Splat's 11 mpg, 180 mile avg. Now I can go 350 miles!

 

[izackary]

hehe my X has gotten 17-18 mpg on avg. usually 310 miles to the tank. i'm still looking for specs on this pickup.

 

[Alec]

13/18 with a 25 gallon tank

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by izackary
NEED?! Who said anything about needs? Somehow I knew you'd find this thread, HokieDude.

If there's no need, why change? A 3/4 ton pick up is a LOT of truck for a DD... but don't take my word for it... my next purchase (out of school) will be a Mazda Miata ~ I can't afford to put gas in my truck and drive it on a regular basis)

 

[izackary]

Here's what Motor Trend had to say about the 2nd Gen Ex:

"The Explorer ranks average in vehicle theft, but recalls and technical service bulletins plague this generation. Topping the list is the much-publicized Firestone tread-separation/rollover debacle, affecting Explorers with certain ATX or Wilderness A/T rubber. Early models were recalled for front anti-roll bar link fractures, defective driver-door latches, throttle bodies that could ice up in cold climates, binding cruise-control cables (that would not allow the system to disengage), and incorrectly welded liftgate brackets. Some later Explorers ('98 up) experienced problems with the General Electronic Modules (causing the wipers, interior lights, and 4WD system to become inoperable), misprogrammed speed limiters, defective brake-line fittings, hood latches that could prematurely corrode, oversensitive side-airbag sensors, and improperly heat-treated seat-buckle assemblies."

It's a great rig, but I've been having qualms about Ford's quality control. I had problems ever since my Lincoln's wimpy Everready headlights. I can't really trust their reliability since that tranny blew up 3 times. In my experience, GM's have been more solid. When my Badyears wrecked my camaro in the rain, I got out without a scratch. Safety, man! As far as I know, there were fatalities with the Firestone issue. Not that I run Firestones, but it sets me off a tad.

 

[RFR2212]

Originally posted by izackary
In my experience, GM's have been more solid. When my Badyears wrecked my camaro in the rain, I got out without a scratch. Safety, man! As far as I know, there were fatalities with the Firestone issue. Not that I run Firestones, but it sets me off a tad.

That's a pretty bold statement to make. There is so many things.
1. did your Camero flip?
If so:
a. were you traveling at 60-80mph
b. was that vehicles center of gravity as high as an
explorers?
2. How many people that died in rollovers were or weren't wearing their seatbelt. Yeah chevys are a lot stronger my ass. If the same thing happened with trailblazers, my bet woulda been similar results.

As for transmission rebuilds, I dunno that it's totally the trans that goes out as quick, but who is doing the rebuilding. We've got a local shop here that does great trans rebuilds, and if mine went out, would go there and have a new one with a great warrenty to back it.
that's enough outta me for now.


Get the chevy if you want to have empty pockets. And yea I know a few people who drive 3/4 ton chevys that are new, so i've heard their *****es and issues

 

[izackary]

for one, i spun out in the rain and hit a concrete barrier at 75mph. Second, when my tranny blew up, it was found to be a common occurence on a similar online forum. It was sent to the top shop in the area, the owner of which could only locate the problem to the fluid ceasing to circulate, and basically boiling inside the tranny. And yes, he put a warranty on it.

Basically all cars are "*****es and have issues." I'm in the mood for something different.

 

[KPT]

Originally posted by izackary
As far as I know, there were fatalities with the Firestone issue. Not that I run Firestones, but it sets me off a tad.

I still think the firestone rollover issue is due to driver error. My brother was driving my dad's old X (95 EB) and the tread seperated on one of the firestones. He didn't roll it.....