Why did you buy your truck?

[Stick_man]

just like the title says... me ?

got it sight unseen ... paid 5 k many years ago ... my brother worked at a dealer at the time

 

[2lungking]

for hunting purposes and we have been having epic snowstorms these last few years.

 

[koda2000]

My daughter bought the first one (which was a POS) but fixing it up and driving it for a month, I began to appreciate the comfort and versatility of it. That truck was eventually scrapped, but I've since bought 5 more of them (mostly V8's) for me & my entire family. As I'm the family mechanic, it makes diagnosing and fixing them easy. This forum is also a great help. I also like what you can get for your money. My last purchase was maybe the best value. It's maybe not the prettiest, but it's rust-free, rock-solid and doesn't leak a drop of anything - which is fairly amazing for a 15 year old truck with over 200k on the clock.

 

[madbutcher]

After 2 jeep xj'n it was time for somthing different. And explorer ' s are more rare here. . And I don't think i have seen a lifted explorer in the country before

 

[Greg_DonWindsor]

Low original mileage (less than 50,000miles) when I bought it in 2010, and the fact that I used to own a '96 that was totalled before I could get to mod it how I wanted. I believe this generation of suv's to be among the last of the "true" body on frame trucks that offer a proper transfer case with low range gearing. If not my current 2000 limited, I was looking at 4runners of similar vintage.

 

[ryanriot]

I didnt have a car and a friend of the family gave it to me for free for helping them move out of state

 

[my98nnj]

Because our BMW was, well, being a BMW and starting to Bang My Wallet pretty hard. Just so happened a friend had the 98 XLT sitting unused for a few years because of what was said to be an expensive noise in the front end.

Sold the BMW, picked up the 98, a California car with only 58K on the clock and a bad front diff. $2,500 for the truck, $250 for a used front diff = WINNING for the next few years!!!

Was sad to see it go back in 2013, but I'm loving my new 4 Runner!

 

[Big_Pezzy]

It was an offer I couldn't refuse... My dad's co-worker was moving to Georgia and couldn't take it with him so he sold it to me for $800 When I bought it in spring of 2011 (Just in time for my senior year) it had about 140k. Now it has 165k. It has lasted me several road trips here in CA and even got me as far as Lubbock, TX (I attended TTU my first year). Truly a great investment

it is a 2001 sport in Matador Red btw. Still stock as of the moment

 

[DeCaff2007]

Because I'm an idiot and a glutton for punishment. Also, because I needed a winter vehicle.

A buddy of mine had a 96 V8 just sitting there in his driveway. Neither him nor his wife was driving it anymore. We were over his house one day and I heard him kind of mumble to himself that he was going to junk it.

I said whoa now.... $300 later it was mine.

Needs some work but nothing I can't handle.

 

[zukman]

Because my son Stic-o said I had to buy it so we could wheel with him! Best move ever, then the orphan Mud came along and then then there were 2!

 

[D.R.Ball]

I needed a car and was looking of either at a Jeep or a Ford Explorer , I found one for sale for under $700.00 and still have it. It is a 1995 Ford Explorer Expedition. Heck it cost more to transfer the title than to fix what was wrong with it...Ripped up back hatch ,the sheet metal was peeled back and the usual duck tape repairs..... I love going into a you pull it and finding the parts I need.....

 

[4rd Xplora]

Friend of mine came to me and asked to help sell his wife's 96' Eddie Bauer because he had just bought her a new Caddy for her retirement. An adult driven, one owner, 135K Explorer with repair records and almost every option except the 5.0 and a moonroof and he was asking $2500.00. This was in 2001. Needless to say I bought it instead of selling it and needless say when he found out what it was really worth he was heard to say " I just found out I'm fu#kin' Santa Claus". But there were no real bad feelings. . Wished I could have made a deal like this when I married my wife, 36 years and thousands upon thousands of dollars spent on her and she still needs work

 

[Sogsnakebite]

19 years ago I saw a year old gen 1 Sport for sale bought it on a whim that started an almost 20 year love affair , since then I've owned 3 Sports bought and built 5 for friends I've converted from other brands and owned at least another 5 for spare parts, also have a garage full of parts.


I've owned pickups too but can't ever see myself being without an Explorer

 

[1996BLKBauer]

I got mine because it was in my price range, and it fit my requirements. It needed to be a V8, and 4x4, or AWD. I actually didn't even want a SUV, but glad I did, because I love my Explorer, I paided $2600 for her out the door, had about 152k on it. Probably put twice that into her to make her the way I want, totally worth it, and no payments!!!!

 

[1998Exp]

Moved from California to a place where 'Old Love' (an 85 LTD with 2-wheel rear drive) got me in winter trouble, more than once. So in early 2000 I found an 'almost new' 1998 Explore Limited with 5.0L, AWD, and virtually every option that was available that year. Paid too much, but it served me well. The first 10 years and 100,000 miles in my possession were so trouble free that I was getting bored. Then, slowly but surely 'New Love' started showing her age: failed air shocks, leaky timing cover, dead CC, squeaking body mounts, and a faint but annoying whine from the rear differential (yet to be taken care of). Got two more vehicles since then, both more comfortable, fuel efficient, etc., etc., but there is nothing like the versatility and towing capacity of the Explorer.

By the way, that 85 LTD served me till 2010, when it was donated to charity; not because there was anything seriously wrong with it, but because I ran out of room. Somebody is probably still happily driving it. Who said that Fords are not reliable?

 

[PAExplorerXLT]

It was my son’s college car that I “inherited” after he graduated and bought a new car in September. I actually bought it for him off a dealer lot about 3 years ago. It had 120,000 miles when “new” and he put 40,000 more miles on it. The transmission went soon after but I just couldn’t see her taken out to the junk yard. Financially it didn’t make sense but it was too clean to end her life that way. I fixed a few more things like the remote door locks, door latch, rear wiper, etc. and now every damn thing works, down to the vanity lights when you press the remote. Not a drop of leak either. All is not well, though. It’s been diagnosed with needing intake manifold gaskets that I am putting off for now.

 

[chefduane]

I bought a '92 XLT 4x brand new and put 96k on it. My current '98 XLT 4x I also bought new. It now has 187k on it. When she finally gives up the ghost I'll probably get a 4x Limited.

 

[dr fildo]

I was actually looking at a '96 Bronco at the time. I always wanted a Bronco. This was in 2002. After test driving the Bronco, it seemed to have a front suspension problem. I wasn't about to buy a truck that already had problems before driving it off the lot. There was a black '99 Mountaineer with a silver leather interior on the lot. The last thing I wanted was an Explorer-ish vehicle. Explorers were everywhere and I didn't love the look, but this was a Mountaineer and it was AWD with the Ford 5.0 V8. The price was reasonable at $16,999. The salesman saw me looking at it. He asked if I wanted to drive it. So for sh*ts and giggles, I figured I had nothing to lose by taking it for a test drive. I could. Not. Get. The. Smile. Off. My. Face. It was tight, ballsy, and handled great! Big difference from a Bronco to this. I was hooked. It had 31k miles. Pretty decent stereo. Moon roof. Fog lights. Shiny chrome rims. All the good stuff. Drove it home that day. I have been in love with it since the first test drive. I still own it and it now has 285,000 + miles on it. I plan to drive it until I can't fix it anymore.




I still want a Bronco.

 

[PAExplorerXLT]

I bought a '92 XLT 4x brand new and put 96k on it. My current '98 XLT 4x I also bought new. It now has 187k on it. When she finally gives up the ghost I'll probably get a 4x Limited.

Interesting that you have had it since new. I am wondering what its track record has been as a one owner car. Is it on the original transmission? What about various hard to diagnose and fix check engine lights that afflict older models?

 

[chefduane]

Interesting that you have had it since new. I am wondering what its track record has been as a one owner car. Is it on the original transmission? What about various hard to diagnose and fix check engine lights that afflict older models?

Original transmission. I have done brakes, UCA/ball joints, shocks, brakes/rotors, new radiator, upper/lower intake gaskets, a few batteries, new steering rack a few years ago. I'm a big believer in fixing what breaks asap and meticulous about service. I have an OBD-II reader and when she throws a code I address it. When she finally goes to the big garage in the sky I intend to have her cremated and store her ashes in a bronzed brake fluid reservoir up on the mantle.