Urgent matter from potential buyer

[Wheelman]

A bit clickbaity, yes, but I do value honest opinion.
I have four children, ranging eight years to a few months old. As you may imagine, this narrows vehicle choices down substantially, to three large SUVs and the remaining few minivans currently in production. Minivans aren’t out of the question, but I’m far more interested in a large SUV. Out of the three I’ve driven and played with, the new Expedition Max is the most impressive. Very roomy, drives great and at least to my eyes, quite handsome.
I have a tendency to keep cars for quite a while, 8-12 years in fact. Judging by the current age group of kids listed above, it looks very likely that my next family vehicle purchase will have to serve about that long as well.
I’ve not owned a Ford product before, so my question becomes, especially to you current and previous generation Expedition owners, how long will this SUV serve me? This is a new vehicle, generally speaking, so it’s difficult to tell how long it will last. I don’t put a lot of stock into JDPower ratings, as they don’t look at cars 5-8 years down the line. Is the build quality on par or better, when compared to the previous generation?
There’s little I despise more than car or appliance problems, so my paranoia sometimes flares up. Is this something I should feel comfortable owning and taking on multi state trips seven years from now?
And on a somewhat related topic....activeX, is it less or more durable than regular leather included on limited and platinum? I’m assuming its a synthetic material designed to look like leather?
Many thanks in advance!

 

[hellohithere]

I was in the same boat as you comparing large SUVs to minivans a few months ago. I can't speak much to the longevity of the Expedition, but coming from other car brands, I was surprised at how low the Ford extended warranties are priced. Some information to help cut down your paranoia - I purchased the 8 year 100k top-tier PremiumCare warranty for my 2018 Expedition Platinum for only $1,500 at Flood Ford's website. It seemingly covers everything. As for build quality, I initially had several issues with my new Expedition right off the lot (rear AC didn't work, loud transmission clunking, rear view mirror motor issues), but the dealership sorted them out for good hopefully. Since you have four children, one thing to consider (that I did not) is that if you have the 2nd row captain chairs option and have rear facing infant seats installed in both, the 2nd row tilt and slide feature does not move forward enough and still requires removing an infant seat to access the 3rd row. Sometimes I wish I had purchased an Expedition with the 2nd row bench instead for this reason. Other than that, the Expedition has been great.

 

[JExpedition07]

Jury is out on reliability, it’s a different engine and different transmission. The previous gen 5.4L Triton/ 6R80 usually makes it in the top ten longest lasting vehicles lists of that helps any...but I don’t think it does.

Fords overall reliability is slipping with most since the late 2000s. Vehicles are becoming more disposable and “appliance like” as you described. Still pretty good compared to what else is out there.

 

[duneslider]

You should have no trouble keeping the expedition for 8-12 years. I just got mine and chose it over all the other options out there. This is the first non-chrysler product I have purchased. I absolutely love it.

I went with the cloth seats and honestly really like them and don't feel bad I didn't get the leather. I personally have had bad luck with leather. I have 5 kids 11-1 and am fine with the cloth seats. I use seat protectors under the car seats and sprayed protectant on the cloth.

My family has owned a lot of Ford's and they have all lasted really well. My Dad's Edge and F150 both have a lot of miles and are in great shape. A guy I work with just rolled 300k on his f150, no major mechanicals.

 

[aggiegrad05]

I'll let others wade into the "are Fords any good" question (this is my third and I'm a fan, but that and $5 will buy you a cup of coffee). But keep in mind you can purchase the PremiumCare warranty which will cover you bumper-to-bumper for as long as 8 years. If you buy the warranty online or get your dealer to match the online price, it's reasonably priced.

 

[shane_th_ee]

Since you already have the kids, rent a minivan for a week then rent a full size SUV (Expedition if you can arrange/find one). That should tell you everything you need to know. Personally, we have both a Honda Odyssey and an Expedition. The Odyssey is a far better for day-to-day moving children around town. Even a 4 year old can open and close the doors and climb in and out by themselves. The Expedition on the other hand is far better at moving 4 kids around whilst also towing a 6000lb travel trailer. And it's better at bad forest service roads, etc.

 

[nate6966]

I, too, am new to Ford. I've only owned a 95 F250 for a few years as a hunting/ work truck.
My last SUV was a 2009 Escalade that was great for nearly a decade. However, our Platinum Expedition actually won out even over the brand new Escalade (understanding the GM SUVs are long in the tooth).
We don't have any regrets with going to Ford.
However, my two cents would be to stick with the less expensive mini van if you're okay with that option. You'll save tons of cash. I went with the Expedition simply because I don't want to be a three vehicle family. This serves all the tasks I'd want a truck for (using our cheap utility trailer) and I have a fairly economical sedan already for commuting and such. Had we gone the mini van route, I'd be chomping at the bit for a truck as well.

 

[Artie]

Buy the warranty for 10/100k and maintain the vehicle as it should be and you shouldn’t have any issues unless you ride it hard and don’t take care of it. There are so many Fords used as fleet vehicles that I believe their track record in regards to longevity and reliability is proven. I, too, purchased mine (Navigator) as a family vehicle for cross country trips and camping with medium duty off roading and I haven’t had a single issue with mine in 18 months and 20k miles. I am obsessive with maintenance and appearance so mine looks like the day I picked it up except for 2 scratches, one was my doing, the other was forest service road related.

That’s my 2¢

 

[Wheelman]

I genuinely appreciate the responses so far. Glad to know about the extended 100k warranty. Also, good tip regarding the captains chairs vs bench.

Regarding the minivan suggestions. I’m sure that would be a far more financially sensible purchase. I’ll have to actually look at them I guess, see how comfortable that third row is, as it will be used on a daily basis.

I’m coming from a 4Runner, which we will sell towards this new vehicle. It just broke 100k miles, without a single issue...not even a rattle. It’s been shockingly reliable.

The 3.5 turbo and ten speed transmission; has that combination been used in the F150s prior to the recent Expedition? It looks like ford is throwing those engines and transmissions into many of their vehicles. I’m assuming they are pretty sure of them. Do ford interiors hold up over time? For example, I’ve looked at used Sequois just for comparison sake. Three year old examples still don’t look very used, which, says something to me (yes, I’m aware it’s an automotive dinosaur).

 

[CatchMe]

It will be reliable as long as anything else on the road. In other words, you can buy ANY of your top choices including the minivan and none will have any more risk than the others as far as long term reliability. Sure you get lemons and issues here and there, but by and large, vehicles today are better than they have ever been and in a much more demanding market. Many argue that turbos only last X number of miles, but as far as I know, nobody has produced any objective data that proves this beyond anecdotal wash.
I will tell you this... Brazen honesty. My 2018 Expedition XLT is currently in the shop at 21000 miles to replace both turbos. There is a noise, they believe, coming from the wastegates that has plagued it since about 10,000 miles. They replaced the left turbo last week. That proved to eliminate about 50% of the noise, now they are replacing the right side turbo... All covered under warranty...

 

[Grey ghost]

I've owned several ford cars and trucks,they are as good as any other and better than most.it's like anything else if you maintain it it will serve you well.
I don't have little ones but I do have a 94 yr old mother I care for and there is absolutely no way on God's green earth I would trust her life in one of those window filled beer cans called mini vans. I think an expidition is well suited for your needs. Some will cry about fuel mileage but I had a neighbor 25 years ago that put his wife and kids in a small Honda and lost all his family when a cement mixer crossed a median and ran over there car. He comitted suicide a year later. Your family's safety is crucial.

 

[JExpedition07]

I've owned several ford cars and trucks,they are as good as any other and better than most.it's like anything else if you maintain it it will serve you well.
I don't have little ones but I do have a 94 yr old mother I care for and there is absolutely no way on God's green earth I would trust her life in one of those window filled beer cans called mini vans. I think an expidition is well suited for your needs. Some will cry about fuel mileage but I had a neighbor 25 years ago that put his wife and kids in a small Honda and lost all his family when a cement mixer crossed a median and ran over there car. He comitted suicide a year later. Your family's safety is crucial.

You’re dead if a cement mixer T-bones you with that kind of force in an Expy. Our tin foil passenger vehicle doors and side curtain airbags aren’t doing a thing when 25,000 pounds comes our way just sayin’.

 

[Deadman]

You’re dead if a cement mixer T-bones you with that kind of force in an Expy. Our tin foil passenger vehicle doors and side curtain airbags aren’t doing a thing when 25,000 pounds comes our way just sayin’.

25,000 Lbs? Try 90,000 Lbs when loaded!

 

[Grey ghost]

The lesson learned is you are safer in a bigger car than a smaller car. And in this case it would have been likely some lives would have been saved.
That was the opinion of the Virginia state police accident investigator. Nowhere in my statement did I say the cement truck T boned the honda.

 

[cmiles97]

Coming from a 4runner, you have experienced one of the most rock solid reliable vehicles on the road that holds it's value so much on the used market it is better to buy new than used.

I traded in a 2007 Sequoia with nearly 160,000 problem free miles on it for my 2017 Expedition. Why? Expeditions drop in value on the used market like crazy. It would have cost at least $8-10K more for an equivalent Sequoia when I was looking. I got a 1 year old Expedition with less than 30,000 miles on it for less than a 1 year old 4runner. Although a large part of the price drop was the redesigned 2018 Expedition but a look at 2018 models shows the trend continues. I also needed to tow a 6,000+ utility trailer a few times a year. If not a 4runner would have been my 1st purchase choice although an AWD Sienna would actually meet my needs best. It's just me and 2 greyhounds using it.

So the lower cost to purchase on the used market, the towing capacity and being able to purchase a Ford factory extended warranty and still be less than a Toyota put me into the Expedition. I've got nearly 56,000 miles on it now and it too has been very good. Once/if I hit 150,000 miles on it problem free, I'll brag about it.

If you want to save $$$ look into used Expeditions. If they are less than 3 years old and have less than 36,000 miles you can buy the Ford extended warranty. Here is where I bought mine. You can buy them from any ford dealership. Flood Ford has figured out that selling them at a lower price online brings them a lot of business.

https://www.floodfordesp.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1e6h1K6H4wIVAV6GCh313gxKEAAYASAAEgKnlPD_BwE

PS You are used to Toyota level reliability, quality and resale value. A Toyota Sienna which would meet your needs (as described) would be a much less expensive total cost of ownership vehicle.

If you are like grey ghost and are worried about size of vehicle for safety you can always buy a Ford F650 to transport the kids.

 

[cmiles97]

Now on the plus side. Here is a Ford Ecoboost F-150 owner that has 365,000 miles on his truck which has has recently handed down to his son. He did routine maintenance with the exception of changing the spark plugs more often and no issues with it. This is the generation 1 motor which the 15-17 expeditions have. 18+ have a redesigned one.

Go to the 1st page of this thread.

https://www.f150ecoboost.net/forum/...les-my-2011-eco-boost-385k-mar-2019-a-14.html

I don't want word of ecoboost ford vehicles being reliable getting out as I want to keep getting bargains on the used market. LOL

Also of note: MY 2017 Expy is getting better gas mileage than my 2002 Tacoma did. Just know that it's Eco or Boost. If you have a heavy gas pedal foot mileage will drop significantly but dang that motor/transmission makes the Expedition scoot.

 

[Wheelman]

Great point about resale value. I’ve looked at 2018 Expeditions where costs are surprisingly low for a one year old vehicle. Definitely something to consider, especially if buying the extended warranty. My 4Runner is likely to sell for 52-55% of the original purchase price, which is quite nice considering it’s a seven year old vehicle.
I haven’t looked at crash ratings yet, but my understanding is the Expedition is top in its class, which is a big plus when hauling valuable cargo like I am. Funny the F650 is mentioned. I briefly looked into this modded NV, though I quickly disregarded it as it won’t clear the garage door height.

 

[Flexpedition]

And on a somewhat related topic....activeX, is it less or more durable than regular leather included on limited and platinum? I’m assuming its a synthetic material designed to look like leather?
Many thanks in advance!

You'll find activeX is a man made synthetic something. Looks and feels like genuine leather. Its lightyears ahead of Pleather.

Just about every automaker is going this direction, each as a catchy name for it. Mercedes = MB Tex, BMW = SensaTec has replaced Leatherette, Nissan = Sofilez & Prima-Tex depending on model, Toyota = SofTex, Mazda = Maztex, Volkswagon = V-Tex, Kia and Hyundai = SOFINO, and so on. Tesla's only leather offering is its steering wheel, but vegans can order it without the material.

PETA is one of dozens of reasons we are seeing this move.

 

[KDisMe]

I had an F150 when I got out of the military and you couldn't point at much and tell me I couldn't pull it or drive through it without me trying. I beat it up pretty well and it was still going strong after 8 years and 125K. I replaced it with another F150 and although I was admittedly much nicer to it, it was still going strong after 9 years and well over 100K as well, and the majority of my drives are city miles. I replaced it with the Expy because it was the right time to do it and be comfortable with equity before we need a car for a 16 year old down the road and I know this one will still have plenty of life left in it when I have to get him something and don't want to have multiple payments. We stumbled across an Explorer on the used lot one day several years ago that was too good to pass up and my mother in law insisted on buying the Edge my wife had been driving because it was such a reliable car and she's still going strong in the Edge and my wife hasn't had a single problem with her Explorer. Like others have said, pretty much all of the manufacturers are making things cheaper than they used to, but I've been happy with my Fords for many years.

 

[Wheelman]

You'll find activeX is a man made synthetic something. Looks and feels like genuine leather. Its lightyears ahead of Pleather.

Just about every automaker is going this direction, each as a catchy name for it. Mercedes = MB Tex, BMW = SensaTec has replaced Leatherette, Nissan = Sofilez & Prima-Tex depending on model, Toyota = SofTex, Mazda = Maztex, Volkswagon = V-Tex, Kia and Hyundai = SOFINO, and so on. Tesla's only leather offering is its steering wheel, but vegans can order it without the material.

PETA is one of dozens of reasons we are seeing this move.

Great info, thanks!
I wonder if anyone’s compared the wear patterns, appearance, or general durability of activeX after 30k or 50k miles. I would love to see pictures.