Why do you drive an Expedition?

[DAMN_FORD]

I bought an 03 Expedition a couple months ago. I did a lot of painful research and this is the vehicle I picked.

For one, I have really not liked Fords because of the experience I had with a 91 Taurus and Ford Customer Service. This was a tough purchase.

But man this thing was way better than the GMCs and more robust than the Toyota.

What makes you drive an Expedition?

 

[66horse]

I got a smoking deal on it and it was time to get rid of my 92 F150 with 170,000 miles on it.

 

[abbyzdad]

Had a '97 light duty F250--needed more doors, seats and space for the dogs. I miss my truck but am enjoying the ride and space in the Expy. Its nice to have room for 4 adults, 2 labs and a weekends worth of stuff.

 

[DAMN_FORD]

Why did you pick a Ford over the competition?

 

[66horse]

Why a ford over the competition?

Again I got a smoking deal from a buddy. But grandpa is a ford man, dad is a ford man, they about disowned by uncle when he bought a chevy. Just a family thing I guess. What I have always been around.

 

[abbyzdad]

DAMN_FORD
just couldn't bring myself to buy a chebby tahoe, but did test drive one. didn't like it at all. ride too mushy, doors didn't sound solid when you shut them and sat too low to the pavement. i know some people who do drive the competition and see alot of things i don't like once they got some miles on them

 

[DAMN_FORD]

The main thing that sold me, a Ford disliker, was the fit and finish, the very low torque curve and high tow rating (Max torque at 2500 RPM) and the fold down flat third seat. Among other things are the independant rear suspension, rack and pinion steering and a reasonable price.

I think the interiors in the Tahoe/Yukon are cheezy big time! They have a high torque curve so youd be rappn' that small block out when pulling a hill.

You have to get a 2500 Suburban to get the same tow capacity as the Expedition. You also would get the honkn' rear leaf spring and a semi-truck ride.

I still can't believe I bought a stinkin' Ford. But it seems like it is better.

 

[Grasshopper]

The Explorer was too small.

 

[Guest]

same here. Explorer was too smal and rode extremely rough.

 

[Shaggy]

I like having a living room on wheels

 

[DAMN_FORD]

Sounds like all you guys drive Fords just cause that's what you are used to. Does anyone have any strong feelings that Ford is any better in engineering, features, drivablity, towing, reliablity, fit and finish, styling, off-road capablities, no boundaries, if you haven't looked at Fords lately, look again and etc.?

 

[Shaggy]

Now that you mention it, I think that Ford is at least 5 years ahead of GM in styling. They have trim work that dosnt look cheap like that of GM. Have you noticed GM's trim always looks like the platic is flaking or the padding is swollen? Just dosnt do it for me. I think the Explorer is a good example of a nicley designed interior with good trim finish

 

[DAMN_FORD]

I got the same feeling. Ford does seem to be a leader in syling. I think this started in the 60s. The trim work is definately better. The GM dash and console plastic is nasty. The carpet is like 1977 shag from that 70s show.

I think they are a leader in features as well. Like the fold down flat seat, independant suspension, Advance Trac, automatic reverse mirrors, puddle lamps, mirror blinkers, reverse proximity sensors, cooled seats, keyless entry, venting rear windows, adjustable pedals, automatic back moving seat when the key is pulled, that voice recording thingamajigy on the visor. Wow, that is a lot of stuff that GM still doesn't have.

I guess that GM Quad steer would be cool. But its like 4K + extra. And, it is still on leaf springs. Leaf springs are for busses and tractors, man!

 

[Guest]

I've always bought ford because of relaibility. My first car was an 84 escort. I wrecked it 3 times and still drove it . My family used to buy chevy's but we had some major problems with a couple we bought. My parents drive doge and chrylser products and I drive fords. The styling is better than the others as well. I hate the new front ends on the chevy trucks.

 

[Guest]

Damn_Ford

You and I are from the same camp. I just bought my first Ford...EVER. An 03 Expedition XLT 4x4 5.4L (DVD). So far I'm very pleased...but I'm still shocked I actually bought a Ford. My wife was such a Chevy fan she initially refused to even consider a "damned Ford!". But I twisted her arm to test drive it and now she's having a torrid love affair with her 03 Expedition. I can't keep her out of it.

I've been a Chevy/GM man for 25 years. But the past 7-8 years Chevy's keep going up in price and down in quality. We had a '97 Tahoe (hoe) that we traded for this Expedition (X).

We researched and drove every full sized SUV (under $50,000) on the market. Hoes, Yukons, Suburbans, Sequoias, etc. I wasn't really impressed with my '97 Hoe but am such a GM guy I did test drive a couple of Hoes. Like you I wasn't impressed with the handling...too mushy...too much ptich and roll in the turns. The Hoe handles like a truck compared to this all new X. Our X handles like a sports sedan.

The Sequoia is a typical Toyota IMO. Way over priced. Also the ride was not good. It was rougher and noisier than the X or Hoe/Yukon. The acceleration of the Suckquoia SUCKED. I think I could create more torque on a ten speed bicycle.

The cincher was the price/performance ratio of the X-pedition. So many features standard on an X. Tow package with cooler, third row seat, running boards, power adjustable pedals, and more. All a lot extra on the competition. Plus the X has the highest tow in it's class.

Our X stickered at $38,130. A comparably equipped Hoe stickered for $42,000. A comp Sequoia SR5, equipped like our X, - $43 grand! and it's not near the truck IMO.

When we bought this X they had some great deals going. $6000 off sticker putting it at $32,000. But we found a program X (with 23,000) for $27,738. When they told us it had the power train warranty extended to 75,000 miles we bit. The best deal we found on a 03 Hoe was a demo Z71 for $35 grand (sticker $44K) and regarding the Sequoia they wouldn't even talk a deal. But they'd just about have to give me that underpowered noisey Sequoia before I'd drive one.

Honestly I have no idea how reliable this X will end up being. I hope it's a great SUV. It certainly couldn't be much worse than the '97 Hoe we just shucked, with leaking intake gaskets and a leaking AC coil.

Cody

 

[DAMN_FORD]

Cody,

We are in the exact same camp. I traded a '97 Burb. I was not impressed with this at all, but I didn't even want to look at Fords. I brought the GMs, and Toys home to the wife to drive. She was just Ho hum. Then, when we test drove the X, she had a different look in her eye. I new I was doomed. The X is by far the best driving and riding of all of them. Also, it has the most ownwer freindly conveniences.

Man, you did very good on the price. We paid 38K for our Bauer 4x4. All the comparisons were 43K+ as well.

Our Burb had leaking intakes, trans noises, brake problems, oil leaks, strange vibrations, wipers went out...It was a POJ. It only had 73K miles when we traded it. I hope this Ford lasts longer.

 

[Guest]

Like I said the reason we got such a good deal is we bought a "PROGRAM" Expedition. It had 23,000 miles on it so it was basically used but still smelled new.

You paid $38K. Do you mind me asking what it stickered for?

The thing that relly has mee PISSED at GM is the leaking intake gaskets. General Motors has a major problem there but they will not admit it.

It took me thrre didfferent Vortecs to figure it out. My Dad's '96 Suburban started losing water on a ski trip to Colorado. I rolled into a Chevy dealer in Alamosa and they said the intake gaskets were leaking. I sad "Intake gaskets!?!?!". They acted real surprised and said this was rare but it did happen on occasion. I thought it must be a fluke. $800 later I'm on the road. Then 3 months after that My best friends "99 Burb did the same damned thing. I started getting suspicious.

But months later my Tahoe did it and I was pissed. Especially after I quizzed GM thoroughly and they acted as if they'd never heard of the problem. In spite of the fact I had found hundreds of people on the internet that had the same problem with there '96-99 Vortecs. And inspite of the fact I spoke with 4-5 different mechanics that all confirmed it is a WELL KNOWN problem with these Vortecs.

Then 15,000 miles after Dad had his Burb repaired the DAMNED THING DID IT AGAIN!! I was furious with GM/Chevy and had pretty much made up my mind to never buy another one again. I fully expected to buy a Toyota Sequoia, never dreamed of a Ford. But after I drove the Toy I decided it WAS a Toy, an overpriced, underpowered Toy that cost more than either Chevy or Ford.

And like you, I just hope this Ford lasts. My Dad is a big Ford fan. Best truck we ever had in our biz was an '86 F150 Supercab 4x4 with 351. That truck went 262,000 miles and all we ever did was change oil and lubricate. We never even had the auto trans serviced. At 262,000 it was still running pretty good even with a burned valve.

Cody

 

[Mustang71Lover]

I didn't have the choice between The Expedition or another car. When I turned 16, my dad handed it down to me and used the excuse to buy himself a new luxury car. I learned to drive on a Jaguar XKR and Mercedes-Benz S600, so the Expedition was a totally new car to me. But even though it was entirely different from the cars I learned on, something about the way it drives, makes it a wonderful car. I've driven it for about 10k miles wise, 60,000 total on the car, and I simply love it. I love being able to fit 20 people (sitting on each other's laps) and drive down to the supermarket. I love the Expy because I think it drives perfect for an SUV. I don't know what they say about flipping and stuff, but mine (with a clearence of 6ft6in) has never even gotten close to flipping even though I've done everything from burning out, auto cross, to drag racing in her. And now, my dad has offered me the opprotunity for him to buy me a car for college thats under 10k$, and I told him that I'd rather just use 6k$ and fix up the car (she needs a new paintjob and my dad put a bunch of dents in her before I got her). The only thing I have to say that is possibly negative about the Expy, is that its always a struggle about getting new gas mileage. Since I'm a teenager, I naturally drive like a maniac, and that makes me get 12-13 Mpg. However, I will soon be buying aftermarket parts to increase my mpg (exhaust, intake, electric fan, pulleys, water pump) and susquently my horsepower.
In closing, the Ford Expedition isn't a sports car, it's not a big sedan, it's not a Escelade or a Denali, nor is it trying to be, its an Expedition. It has it's own identity, it's own style, and it's own way of doing things. Ford SUVs aren't as unreliable as many people say they are (my family's old Explorer had 50,000 miles on it all from us, when we sold it, and thats after getting only 2 oil changes in 7 years, and it still didn't have any problems). If you want a sports car, go buy one, if you want a luxury SUV, go buy an Escelade or a Denali. But if you want a moderatly priced SUV that is fun to drive and great to have, the Expedition is your ticket.

 

[DAMN_FORD]

Cody,

Yep, I put a gallon/month of coolant in my -'97 burb. It was $700 to fix the problem. I figured coolant was cheaper. POS! GM should have taken care of that. I did get a recall on the wiper motor after I traded the POS. We got a very low trade in value cause of all the fluid leaks.

My X stickered at $44K. We paid invoice.

I thought the Toy was two whimpy as well. A car engine is not robust enough. And it only tows 6200#. My X tows 8700#.

There are two things I don't like about this X.
I wish it had more power. This thing has a very high tow rating. But the torque doesn't match the tow rating. We tow a big camper, and she stuggles a bit. (It does tow better than the burb)

And, I don't like how the transmission shifts.
Every Ford I have ever driven does this. You hammer the gas, then let up, it takes a bit to up shift. So it basically falls on it's face. The GM would upshift as soon as you came of the floor. My Nissan upshifts instantly when you come off the floor. This is how transmissions should shift.

Carl

 

[Guest]

Carl,

I really like my X too. Like you I wished it had a few more ponies. But if it proves more reliable than that intake leaking POS Vortec(even though it has more HP) I won't care. Everytime I think about that intake gasket I'd like to declare war:shootout: on GM!

The other thing that I wish were a bit better is the ride on bumpy pavement. It could be a bit smoother.

Other than that I really like this X....a lot. On a good road the ride is far supeior to any 03 Tahoe/Yuk I drove and much much quieter.

Thanks for the interesting topic.

Cody