Questions for car guys/gals

[SoCalDude]

Looking for a new SUV. Intrigued by the Ford Explorer. My previous vehicle was a 2000 Explorer that I got 200,000 miles out of and was probably the best vehicle I've.
Got a bit of a spiel about the EcoBoost engines. 4 cyl, twin Turbo, 285 horsepower. They also talked about a 6 cyl, twin Turbo that delivers 385 horses, but I couldn't find any info on that engine in their website.
Anybody have any input on this, pro or con??
Thanks in advance.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

What kind of driving do you do? Do you need 100 extra horses for towing a trailer?

 

[Boom_70]

I've driven the new Explorer a few times as a rental and did not like how it drove or the ergonomics. Be sure to give it a long test drive.

 

[Buck]

If you drive an SUV you are terrible person.
Everyone knows that.

 

[nmmetsfan]

I aspire to be a terrible person

 

[dreunc1542]

Whatever you do, make sure to get the good, green stuff.

 

[SoCalDude]

I've been driving an Explorer for 13+ years, had the last of the too-skinny ones in 2000. So driving the new one seemed like a dream in terms of stability and handling.
The 4 cyl. twin Turbo seemed to have enough poop, but I'm just wary of a 4 cyl. engine in a midsize-plus SUV. No plans to tow anything and I won't even be tempted. I didn't even want three rows of seats, but they all have them, including the Toyota 4Runner, which is also high on my list.
OK, I am a bad person when it comes to car choices, but I make up for it by being a good person in most other things that are a helluva lot more important than MPG.

 

[OTD]

Just looking at Ford's website, a couple things come up. One is that the four-banger (and the turbo six) require premium fuel. So you'll be paying 20 cents a gallon more than you might otherwise. The four is also unavailable with all-wheel drive.

Also, since you keep cars a long time, it looks like there's a lot more to go wrong with the four. Five or six years from now, you might find yourself with some more expensive repairs with the turbos. You will get better mileage, which is the one reason to get the four.

 

[Azrael]

Why an SUV? Size? Ride height? Cargo space? Go offroading?

Just wondering if you wouldn't be better off with a RAV4 or an Outback or a Forester.

 

[SoCalDude]

Salesman I talked to at the Ford dealer assured me it burned regular (87). Also, Ford's website is the worst among the major companies.
I like sitting up so I can see better. Have some luggage loads occasionally. I just like the feel and look of an SUV. I already dumped my previous Explorer and bought a used Escape, intending to give it to my daughter. I feel like I'm driving a toy car in the Escape.
Yes, keeping cars a long time is my MO. Previous to the Explorer was an '88 Chevy Blazer, which I also had for 13 years.

 

[TigerVols]

We're on our second CR-V and the latest generation is miles better than our last one. I can't imagine a better SUV.

 

[DanOregon]

I love my 2002 Escape. It's got a V6, has room for all of my junk and can tow and it holds my canoe. Took it up to BC and camped in it. It's been as far East as Nebraska and as far south as Death Valley. Though, the new Escapes do nothing for me.

 

[murphyc]

Haven't driven any of the new SUVs and don't plan to. Just not my thing, but different strokes for different folks.
But I share the concern about turbo 4s in a larger vehicle. Not just in SUVs, but any heavier vehicle. I'd worry about the added strain on the engine. Plus I've read how such vehicles don't get the advertised few economy, due to the little turbo having to work so hard to pull that weight.
Is it possible to get an Explorer without the MyFord touchscreen junk? That system has been loudly and strongly panned by many, though I'm assuming you get used to it.
Personally, I would suggest going to your local Mazda dealership.

 

[Football_Bat]

Isn't a SoCal guy asking for car advice sort of like an Ethiopian asking about marathon advice?

The topic just kind of tickled my funny bone a little.

 

[dog eat dog world]

Whatever you do, buy used. I'll never buy new again because of the overpriced crap out there. Demos are the deal.

 

[nmmetsfan]

I disagree. The used market was so inflated (haven't looked recently) that you could get new for almost the same price as a low-mileage used. When you factor in financing and can get 0%, it can be a better deal financially. There are too many variables to simply say always buy one or the other.

 

[dog eat dog world]

Still, when you drive it off the lot, it drops anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of what you've financed.

 

[SoCalDude]

Isn't a SoCal guy asking for car advice sort of like an Ethiopian asking about marathon advice?

The topic just kind of tickled my funny bone a little.

Yeah, that cracked me up.

Thing is, cars are so much different now. I used to know cars and engines inside out. Now, you can't even find the engine. And because I keep 'em 10-plus years, technology and other things change so much.
A few years ago, my kid's first car was a VW Beetle. Cool car, just the right size and power for a newbie driver. We got a good deal on it from a friend who was moving to Europe. It was a used car so I didn't know much about the prior maintenance. One day I bought air filters for all of our cars. I went to put the new one into the VW and I couldn't ****ing find it. I got the owner's manual out, looking for instructions. I examined the engine trying to figure out where I thought it might be. And it turned out that in order to replace the air filter, you had to take the battery out. German engineering?? Hell with that.

 

[93Devil]

I would not buy anything these days without test driving a Hyundai first.

 

[nmmetsfan]

Still, when you drive it off the lot, it drops anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of what you've financed.

That depends on what the used market is like. The huge value drops are not anywhere akin to what they were even five years ago.