Who is the typical Sport Trac owner these days?

[persalls]

hi guys!

Since I come from Sweden and trucks are not that common over here I just like to know what a relatively small truck is considered in the states today? Is it cool or cold? Cheap first-drive or material to keep for the future? Over here we have, as always, some really cool classics and some newer dodges plus all the Japanese trucks but very few Rangers and Sport Tracs are a very rare sight! To me it's kinda cool and looks more the works than it might be but what are your thoughts? The cheap cousin or someone to be treated siriously?

Brg, Per

 

[koda2000]

I can't speak for others, but I like the utility of the Sport Trac. It allows me to haul people when necessary and to also haul trash, horse supplies and other small loads of whatever. I don't really consider the Sport Trac a pickup, more like a 4-door Explorer with a small plastic bed on the back.

As far as the negatives...
- Crappy V6 SOHC engine
- Weak transmission
- Plastic interior, rubber floor covering (a plus for some)
- Poor fuel economy
- Crappy OE foam body mounts
- Little-to-no real truck cred (more when modified)

If my ST had a V8 I'd like it much better and would probably sell my 5.0L Eddie Bauer Explorer, which is my "luxury vehicle".

 

[persalls]

Got you!

I think it's a spot on analysis and it should have had a v8 for sure, especially since it would probably had run cheaper? I have the dreaded rattle on cold start bud the tranny seems to have been taken care of since there are history of oil change and filter change, nothing seem wrong with it and it operates smooth. In what way will it die on you? I had an old v6 explorer some 15 years ago and would have thought that this one should be no worse when it comes to mpg, reliability aso? Will it be of any use to flash the software via the obd port when it comes to both performance and especially mpg? Normally my experience is that it is rather useless on normally aspirated engines but if it manages the way it changes gears and depending on your everyday work load maybe???

Brg, Per

 

[koda2000]

Not sure if you're asking about the engine or the trans, but the SOHC engines die when the timing chain components break, the chains jump or break and the valves hit the pistons. The old OHV V6 was a far more reliable engine, but was never available in the ST. As far as the transmissions, they have a host of different failures, but breaking the reverse band is probably at the top of the list. My ST (with 4:10 differential gears) gets pretty bad MPG even compared to my 5.0L V8 with 3:73's. Average city/hwy is probably around 15-16 and I seldom drive it on the highway.

Gasoline engines don't benefit much from re-flashing the PCM. I won't waste my money on that. Performance wise my Job 2 SOHC runs very strong with the 4:10 gears. I think it is very close in performance to my 5.0L Explorer. I don't have any complaint there.

My ST is the 3rd and last SOHC I will ever own. The first one was rattling like crazy when my daughter bought it and eventually blew up. The second one had a rebuilt engine and never rattled in the 3 years we owned it. I bought my ST cheap, as a non-runner, and it didn't rattle when I first got it, but it began rattling at startup 5 months later. The SOHC is just a bad engine design and it's not a matter of if it will begin the "death rattle" but when, and fixing it is expensive due to the labor involved in removing the engine. If I was looking for a small truck today, it wouldn't be an Sport Trac.

 

[Tech By Trade]

The second gen Adrenaline really keeps its value up here in western Canada. They are a cooling looking truck, and I think they will be quite collectible in the distant future.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Sport Tracs are holding their value well here in Iowa. I haven't checked closely in a while, but any I see on used car lots are in the $6000-7000 range, minimum. When I bought my '02 4 1/2 years ago, most were right at $8000. The 2nd Gens are way out of my price range if I was looking, which I'm not.

When I bought my '02, it was to replace my tired '94 Explorer. My requirements were 4WD, 4 doors, and a bed. And it had to be a Ford. I first thought a first design F-150 SuperCrew. I love the way they look, until I get up close, and then they're too rounded off everywhere to suit me. Saw one parked next to a Sport Trac, and decided the ST was what I wanted. I don't need a full-sized truck anyway. 15 months later, the Explorer died when the fan exploded and the engine overheated. Wife said she wanted something with 4WD for the handful of days she needed to go somewhere when it was slick. I knew she wouldn't be happy with whatever I got, and because I really liked the '02 ST, I bought the '01 Sport Trac. I bought it cheap because it was rough and needed work. Turns out it needed more work than expected, but it's been a good truck and has served us well as a "spare" vehicle. I drive it a lot to save wear and tear on the '02 which has 87,000 miles on it.