Which should I buy?

[pdt1820]

I am in the market for a new truck and I have narrowed it down to two and need some help to determine which one is the better buy.

1 1998 Moutanteer
137k V8/AWD
leather, CD, changer etc.

2. 1999 Explorer
104k SOHC 4X4
pretty basic, cloth, nothing special.

They both are in pretty similar condition. They are not perfect but nothing major either. The price on both of them is pretty similar as well. As for use its just going to be a daily driver, school, work, and just normal stuff. No off road. The biggest difference is obviously mileage. The explorer has alot less mileage on it but at the same time from what research I have done it seems that it is also the more problematic motor. What I have no idea about is the quality/life of the transmissions and transfer cases.

So the question is what would you get? The more luxurious Mercury with more miles or the plainer explorer with less miles?

 

[Turdle]

The v-8 Mounty without a doubt.

 

[section525]

Mountaineer. They're the pimpest.

 

['97 V8]

Mountaineer. They're the pimpest.

Damn right they are.

 

[pdt1820]

it is the one I like better of the two but is it going to be as reliable or is it going to be more problematic? How about the transmissions/transfer cases, same or different(well the transfer has to be) either one better or worse? I would rather have a normal explorer if its going to be considerably more reliable.

 

[Turdle]

I think from my experience of reading posts, the v-6 trans is more problematic.

I have abused my trans and transfer case with no problems. Of the 2, I think the v-8 will be more reliable.

Also, with an easy foot, and synthetic lubes, 20 mpg is easily attainable

jmo

 

[section525]

The 5.0L drivetrain is going to be 50% more reliable than the V6 stuff. The tranny is a 4r70w, which is just an updated version of the AOD, and the transfer case is a borg warner 4404. Both have very few problems.

 

[snocross1985]

Go with the Mounty with the V8. Thats the one I would take given the choice.

 

[IZwack]

1

 

[pdt1820]

1

would you care to elaborate. I would like to hear why you think that is the better choice, just like to get a different opinion.

 

[section525]

He has the same opinion though...

 

[IZwack]

would you care to elaborate. I would like to hear why you think that is the better choice, just like to get a different opinion.

Well my reasons are the same as what others have said - mostly that the V8 engine is not only more powerful, but in addition, it is also more universal than the 4.0 V6. You may already know this but the V8 engine in the Ford Explorer is the 5.0 Litre engine - which was also used in many many other vehicles. What this means is that finding parts for this engine (say from a junk yard) is childs play. And because this engine's roots goes a looong way back in the past (its derived from the "Ford-289" engine), it has withstood the test of time and a few revisions. The V8 also came with the GT40P heads which is sought after in the 5.0 Litre world for allowing the engine to breath a lot better (better "flow") .

The only downside to the V8 Explorers is that it is available only as an AWD - this is mainly because the V8's transmission is physically longer than the V6's - so fitting a selectable transfer case behind the V8 would have been very difficult as the gas tank on the Explorers are quite long and extend all the way up almost to the driver's side door from just in front of the rear axle. And transfer cases can not be butted up against the gas tank because they have to slide back from the transmission's tailshaft housing in order to be removed from the vehicle (at least 2 or 3 inches of clearance for good measure)

 

[pdt1820]

He has the same opinion though...

I just got off of work, it was a long night.

 

['97 V8]

You could always do what i did, and swap that awd unit for a selectable unit from a expedition.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Without a doubt, I vote for the 5.0, although it may have more miles, the 5.0 is a very strong and reliable motor. Mine has 120k and still doesn't use any oil.

 

[pdt1820]

[QUOTE='97 V8]You could always do what i did, and swap that awd unit for a selectable unit from a expedition.[/QUOTE]

for me the AWD is preferable. Down here we get more ice than snow so I think that AWD would be better. If I still lived in back in Ohio where we recieved huge amounts of snow good old 4X4 would be the choice but here I would rather have the AWD.

 

[slpdave]

I agree the Mounty all the way, but I drive a 2000 X with the 4.0 Litre SOHC engine, I have 133000 miles and the engine uses no oil and I have never had a single problem with it. The tranny is just starting to give some minor problems but I have driven it for over 100000 miles (bought used) in 3 years both on and off road and have no problem with rebuilding the tranny when the time comes.

Dave

 

[pdt1820]

well it sounds like that the mountaineer is the winner. I got my insurance check today so Ill probably pick it up in the mourning.

 

[gijoecam]

[QUOTE='97 V8]You could always do what i did, and swap that awd unit for a selectable unit from a expedition.[/QUOTE]

Did you do a write-up on that swap? Just curious how you made it work, that's all... Don't want to hijack the thread though...

 

[Turdle]

[QUOTE='97 V8]You could always do what i did, and swap that awd unit for a selectable unit from a expedition.[/QUOTE]

Id like info also please

end of double hijack