Why I am having trouble buying a new Explorer

[kmarnes]

To wit, your signature.

 

[WJGreer]

To wit, your signature.

Touche. That's an '04 though, and it's powered by squirrels. A much simpler vehicle than this generation.

The latest BMW was a lease that just ended, nothing wrong with it at all over 3 years. I just checked the VIN on the middle one last week. It made it to 168,000 miles and is sitting in a salvage lot in California. The first one I drove to 92,000 miles from new over 7 years, and it was no worse than fairly reliable. My BMW experience has been generally positive.

 

[kmarnes]

It's all good! I still think Ford is a notch up on Jeep for reliability. Ford seems to be in the middle of the pack, while Jeep is near the bottom. Fiat for the win!

 

[Linux3]

I bought my Explorer Sport to be a beast of burden.
I bought a Passport 195RB Travel Trailer and my Explorer pulls it great.
Load level, sway control and TOW mode are all good BUT!!!
18.6 gal tank? I get in the range of 10 ~ 11 MPG pulling my TT. Stops every 2 hours sucks.
I spend much too much time thinking about my next gas stop.
Plan A was a Dodge pickup. Not really a pickup driver but it did have a 32 gal tank.
Plan B was a lighter TT and a SUV. Sigh.
18.6 gals just sucks.

 

[jroberts86]

New here and browsing because I need a new vehicle. I rented an Explorer and really liked it. Then I found out about the small fuel tank. It is a big deal to me. I mostly want the vehicle for commuting, and the occasional trip. I do tow, and range is an issue. Thanks Linux3 for the info. I am currently on Plan A, but need to move to Plan B. This pretty much knocks the Explorer out of contention. And, believe it or not, I did not like the Cayenne, despite the luxuriousness. That leaves Range Rover, VW, and ??

 

[peterk9]

New here and browsing because I need a new vehicle. I rented an Explorer and really liked it. Then I found out about the small fuel tank. It is a big deal to me. I mostly want the vehicle for commuting, and the occasional trip. I do tow, and range is an issue. Thanks Linux3 for the info. I am currently on Plan A, but need to move to Plan B. This pretty much knocks the Explorer out of contention. And, believe it or not, I did not like the Cayenne, despite the luxuriousness. That leaves Range Rover, VW, and ??

Is that new VW 7 seater SUV called the Atlas that you're referring to? It looks nice from what I've seen but won't be available until the Summer.

Peter

 

[jroberts86]

Either the Touareg or the new Atlas. Touareg Executive fits the bill--LOTS of torque and nice enough for business trips.

 

[supr squirrel]

New here and browsing because I need a new vehicle. I rented an Explorer and really liked it. Then I found out about the small fuel tank. It is a big deal to me. I mostly want the vehicle for commuting, and the occasional trip. I do tow, and range is an issue. Thanks Linux3 for the info. I am currently on Plan A, but need to move to Plan B. This pretty much knocks the Explorer out of contention. And, believe it or not, I did not like the Cayenne, despite the luxuriousness. That leaves Range Rover, VW, and ??

I'm not sure what you are planning on pulling, but I just looked up his travel trailer and it's 20-23 feet long (depending on year) and 10 feet tall....you're not going to get terrific gas mileage pulling that with anything. Yes, I realize he was also discussing buying a truck with a 32 gallon tank, but to me if it's an 'either/or' situation the SUV comes in more handy (at least for me) than for occasionally pulling a travel trailer.

I have the 3.5NA engine and live about 20 miles outside of the town we frequent. I routinely get 20.5-22 gallons per tank and that's with a lot of city driving thrown into the mix. Typically a tank gets me 340-360 miles (I try to fill up before the light comes on.) On straight interstate traveling (going 75 mph) we average 22.5-23.5 mpg and anywhere from 365 to nearly 400 miles per tank. Is it like driving our 2011 Fusion on longer trips? No. But the comfort level is well worth the trade-off of losing about 10 miles per gallon.

Not trying to sway you one way or another, just wanted to put some 'tank to tank' numbers in front of you. Personally, for me, I don't think having to stop every 4-5 hours to get gas is all that bad. Then again I am married with a two and four year old and by that time (if not sooner) 'potty breaks' are in order, anyway.

 

[Linux3]

I'm not sure what you are planning on pulling, but I just looked up his travel trailer and it's 20-23 feet long (depending on year) and 10 feet tall....you're not going to get terrific gas mileage pulling that with anything. Yes, I realize he was also discussing buying a truck with a 32 gallon tank, but to me if it's an 'either/or' situation the SUV comes in more handy (at least for me) than for occasionally pulling a travel trailer.

The SUV is much better than a pickup, I agree.
With all that the Sport model has it works well.
My complaint is not with the mileage, 11 is not bad. The problem and my complaint is the size of the fuel tank. The range.
BTW, it's 19.5 feet and 3600 lbs.
In all regards but fuel capacity it's an awesome machine.

 

[supr squirrel]

The SUV is much better than a pickup, I agree.
With all that the Sport model has it works well.
My complaint is not with the mileage, 11 is not bad. The problem and my complaint is the size of the fuel tank. The range.
BTW, it's 19.5 feet and 3600 lbs.
In all regards but fuel capacity it's an awesome machine.

For the record I looked up your TT because I was wondering why you were getting the mileage you were getting. Then I realized just how big it was, haha. From the various pictures I was looking at it looks to be a very nice TT....congrats.

 

[Linux3]

For the record I looked up your TT because I was wondering why you were getting the mileage you were getting. Then I realized just how big it was, haha. From the various pictures I was looking at it looks to be a very nice TT....congrats.

Actually, when we are camped it looks kinda small when near most others. With the Murphy bed it's perfect for 2. We had looked at bigger TTs but they required a pickup. I made the right decision.

 

[JAPeterson]

Is that 3600 lbs the weight wet or dry. Most trailer manufactures will give you the dry weight and then by the time you add in a full tank of water, propane, food, camping gear, and everything else that get thrown into it you can add another 2,000 lbs. To get the actual weight that you are towing you need to load it up and take it to the scales and see what the real weight is, it might surprise you at just how much it weights.

Then when you are towing it down the road you need to figure that you are towing a very large brick on wheels.

 

[jroberts86]

Thanks for the info, Supr. Your mileage and range is decent, but I just want more, even for non-towing. I don't understand why it isn't available. It really can't be weight. That is what, less than 50 lbs? 5 more gallons and they sell me a new loaded model.

 

[Linux3]

The weight is with propane and battery and such but no food or clothing. Weighed at a scrap metal yard.
We never dry camp so I don't carry any water.
I don't believe food and clothing adds all that much.

 

[kmarnes]

So what did the OP end up doing?