How old is too old?

[ExplorerTom]

It's no secret these 1st gens are getting up there in age. Some of the 1997 model year trucks will be turning 20 years old very soon. And with age comes issues- whether it be from parts wearing out or parts being impossible to find or who knows what......

And with age comes miles. Mine just rolled over 201,000 miles. I've never owned a vehicle with this many miles. I had a car once with 197,000 miles and it couldn't be trusted outside of the city for fear of breaking down.

My Expedition is pretty solid still aside from the odometer display not always working (I just removed it and soldered the back- may need to do it again), the front passenger door lock not always unlocking with the remote (the door rocker switch seems to get it to unlock), the rear wiper not working (plastic gears are stripped- needs a new motor), and some hail damage (just cosmetic) are the only real nagging things. The motor and trans seem to be working just fine. Rust isn't a concern- the trailing links have some but I could probably sell them to someone in the Rust Belt and they would be thrilled with their condition.

This is something I've been thinking about for awhile as I've neared the 200,000 mile mark. Are the age and mileage issues just all in my head? Or is it silly to hold onto this thing? Should I keep it for awhile? But at what point do you throw in the towel? I know there's several examples of these trucks (Expedition/F150/E-series) that have racked up tons of miles. I can handle most of the maintenance on my own- internal motor work and transmission rebuilds are beyond my skill set. And I really love not having a monthly payment. Even getting 12-14 mpg, it would take the cost of gas to be around $20/gal to break even with a $30,000 truck at 5 years and 5% that got 17 mpg (yes, I've done the math).

I've got a few ideas to spend some money on this thing to make it more enjoyable- nothing too crazy but the dollar amount does add up quickly. The question is: should I?

Anyone else wrestle with this with their older, high mileage Expeditions (or other vehicles)?

 

[1955moose]

Well if it's any help, early 4.6/5.4 engines have been known to go 350k and beyond. Transmission, well that's another story. If you change fluid every 30 k and don't tow or hot rod it? At least with your own vehicle, you kinda know what you have. Parts/ labor done. At this point, I'd say keep it, see how things go over next year. If anything major happens, then you can dump it. It's always tough making decisions on something that's part of the family. We get emotionally attached , just like our pets.


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[Mark Smith]

I just took possession of a 98 model w/150K on the clock.

approx. $2K spent in getting back up to ***** after sitting for about 2 years before I got it. seems to run just fine; solid enough to put my teenage daughter in since she walked away from a wreck this summer in our 05 Suburban. no more small cars for me! on your door lock problem, I just sprayed all the insides of the mech in the door with silicone spray and got it working again.

yep, we do get attached to our wheels. daughter named the Exp "Baloo" after the bear on "Jungle Book", so the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!
Mark

 

[1955moose]

I call mine the green giant! With the 20 inch wheels and lift, it is pretty imposing coming at you.


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[stamp11127]

By the title I thought you were asking about women........

Enlarge your skill set and parts availability will become the issue. I'm working on a VW Passat tdi that has 246000 on the clock. As long as I can afford and source parts for it she will keep going on down the road.

 

[1955moose]

My cutoff used to 50 with women, but that was when I was 40. These days 70 is ok as long as her lower ball joints don't creak!


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[ExplorerTom]

I think short of (major) engine or transmission issues, I'll keep driving it.

 

[1955moose]

I would. I like old things. Cars and trucks from 1940- 1954 are my faves!


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[tcwaltz]

Frankly I'm a little past the new car stage. Its nice to not to have to work on something to keep it running, but when I look at the cost of new vehicles its depressing. I probably could have found a better expedtion than the one I got and right now I have about 6500 in it, but overall its in good running order now. I suspect I may need to replace the transmission or have it rebuilt at some point since it has 249,000 miles on it and the PO was ok about maintenance. Mostly this was a highway vehicle. I've replaced so much stuff on it that is almost new. Swapping out the radio for one with all the bells and whistles with navigation. I have a 2015 Explorer XLT that is a really nice car. I say car because its really a car, front wheel drive not much about is is truck other than its look. However, while it drives great its had some fit and finish issues since day one.

For the Expy I got a long block from Promar engines. I highly recommend them and while the engine swap took me some time, I'd really have no issues doing another one. Especially knowing the things I know now. The good thing with these engines is there really isn't anything to do other than hook everything up. No timing, no points adjustments. Just plug everything back in, crank it to get some oil pressure then start it up.

 

[eluther3]

funny you should ask because I just asked myself the same question. The odometer on my 97 stopped working at 223,000 and that was about 3 years ago. Recently bought a boat, so I had to decide whether to replace it.

Took the car to a mechanic for a compression test and the motor is still strong, so I've decided to hold on to it. I've put in new plugs and coils and a new fuel pump. Will do a performance exhaust and MAF next and may have to do a transmission rebuild. However, at the end of the day, I'll spend about $3-5K, compared to $40-50K for a new truck, or $10K for a good used truck (which may come with it's own problem)

 

[ExplorerTom]

While in traffic, do you ever look at the different vehicles around you and figure which are newer than yours, which are about the same age and which are older?

I do.

And I gotta say, most of the vehicles I see are newer. But most of the ones about the same age or older seem to be trucks.

I'm in no way trying to "keep up with the Joneses". My 2 vehicles are a 2000 and a 1997. My wife does drive a 2012- but that's just because I don't want to have to be wrenching on 3 vehicles.

 

[1955moose]

The mistake we all make is telling our ladies that we are mechanics. Once you do that, your hooked to spin those Snap-on wrenches the rest of your life. The other option is she marries a millionaire and they bring them to the dealer.


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[docraymund]

Old is cool. Not all of us are rich. When my dad was still living, he had five cars - three austin minis 850cc a volkswagen beetle 1969 and a renault 1976 16TS. He loved old cars and once I asked him: why dont we get a brand new japanese car? And he said, well, the beetle was brand new when I got it.

Now my parents passed away and they left me with three cars -two 1958 austin minis and a volkswagen beetle 1200 cc engine and our home.

 

[1955moose]

My second car was a 56 vw bug. I painted it royal blue, bigger wheels, cool car in its day. Only car that didn't stop, didn't go, didn't handle, but everybody else loved it. Sold it, later bought a first year Datsun 240z. That car did it all, stop, go, and looked real cool!


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[chipete]

My second car was a 56 vw bug. I painted it royal blue, bigger wheels, cool car in its day. Only car that didn't stop, didn't go, didn't handle, but everybody else loved it. Sold it, later bought a first year Datsun 240z. That car did it all, stop, go, and looked real cool!


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I have 98 eb with 198k him .I owned this truck for 6 yrs now and I only dropped about $600 in repairs and maintenance(that with the spring conversion kit). Towed my boat (19ft), Move just about a whole 3 bedroom duplex house, and the lists goes on.the "BIGBOY" As like call him is here to stay, but he might be getting a young girlfriend soon (toyota prius).

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[tcwaltz]

Honestly I have a 2001 Pontiac Trans AM WS6 convertible, the 2000 Expy and a 2015 Explorer XLT. I like driving the new car, but at the end of the day I'm adding the few things to the Expy that will make it just fine. My TA I love but its a pain in the ass. Its only got 63K original miles on it but the top is shot, the seat foam is shot (can't find any aftermarket). Leather is going from the sun (can find aftermarket vinyl, not leather) and parts are hard to come by. The dash pad cracked all to hell like all Camaro's and TA's of that year. Cost me 400 bux for a replacment and when I snapped it into place the brittle dash cracked.

GM should have taken lessons from Ford on the plastics they used. I'm am utterly amazed at how pliable the plastic in the Expy is even after all this time. I don't worry about it breaking on me when I'm working on it. Now the paint on the dash could be better.....

I got the Expy for my son and he's complained a little about all the new trucks other peoples parents got them. BUt like I said, we can customize this one any way you like and we didn't start out paying 20-30K for it to start with.

 

[Nick Greggs]

miles and age mean nothing to me. upkeep is what i like to see. my 98 eddie i bought a month ago has 265k on it and i will rebuild when it becomes neccisary. with extra power of course but as long as you treat her right she will live forever

 

[dschallmo98expo]

My situation. I also concidered looking into replacing my expo as well. When I looked at the new ones, they run 60K or more for new one. I cannot afford a new one as well as the monthly mortgage payment on a vehicle.

However I purchased mine a year ago for 600.00 and started rebuilding it from frame up. I currently have about 17K into it. I have had mechanics do all the mechanical work and I did the interior.

New motor swap. from 98 to 2001 with 300HP $4,000.00 Installed
Pro-Charger Supercharger installed $5,000.00
Rebuilt Tranny $2,000.00 with high performance torch converter.
New custom exhaust $1000.00 (Dual Exhaust with headers and flow master mufflers. I also replaced all 4 cats)
Compete Brake system replacement. Booster, Master Cylinder, Calapers, pads and routers $1000.00
New custom rims and tires $1200.00
Rear End upgrade from 331 to 373 positraction $1500.00

Interior refurbish $500.00
Interior ReUpolster (two tone grey and black) $1200.00

Still need paint job.

However, I have a truck that is now basically brand new and will last another 20 years as there is no rust what so ever on this beast.
with no car payment, even if gas goes to $4 a gallon I'm still ahead

I tow now with no issues up and down hills with ease.

I really love this truck. They don't make them like this anymore.

 

[1955moose]

The problem with taking a 300 k mile SUV or car, and rebuilding every inch of it, is when your done rebuilding, or replacing everything, you still have a 20 year old frame, body and all the squeaks and rattles that go with it. Me I found that if I do my homework, be patient, and find a low mileage example, it usually works out better. You end up paying more in the beginning, but if your keeping her stock, seems to be more cost effective. My 2000 expedition had 64k on it 2years ago when I bought it. Except for an idler arm, and pitman arm, just maintenance items. I've done it the other way, high mileage, low price, it needed everything. But that's just me. Here in San Francisco, they say that once the painters get finished painting the Golden Gate Bridge, they have to start at the other end and re paint again. Kinda like cars/trucks!


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[GAINMOB]

When u can't find parts or are constantly doing repairs then u let it go...

Mr. 10K