When you think of the Ford Explorer, the first thing that comes to mind is the All American SUV. This vehicle has been around forever with the only modifications befitting the time and era of production. This has served Ford well, and has not been a bad relationship with the consumer. The rumors of the mid 90’s rollovers , and tire issue with Firestone are still lingering around, but overall these have been solid and dependable vehicles from day one. The heart of this beast, the engine, has stayed pretty constant since about 1998, when they started dropping 4.0 six cylinder engines under the hood. These were built to last. With the regular maintenance schedule provided in the owners manual, ( because everyone reads those right….heh, heh.) this vehicle performs with the best of them in the midsize SUV category. The transmissions have gotten a bit trickier over the years though. The old tricks of do it yourself auto repair have gone away, and this vehicle is the perfect example of this. Ford has designed a “sealed” transmission which makes it where every ordinary Joe is incapable of just pulling the dipstick, and checking the transmission fluid on oil changes, and at every other fill up. This system is designed to be checked and filled through a special fitting on the bottom of the transmission pan with a specialty tool that can be purchased through your local dealership for around 60 to 100 dollars. This also eliminates the home mechanic from doing a transmission filter change. Bad Ford…Bad… This service which most people will have to go to the dealer to do will average you anywhere from around 80 to 120 dollars depending on what region you are in. The front suspension has ALWAYS been a issue with these vehicles. If anything would be said negative about these vehicles it would have to be the front end and steering. All the way back to the first vehicle rolling off the assembly line, the ball joints have failed miserably around 50 to 75 thousand miles. They have attempted to resolve this with different parts manufacturers’, more frequent alignment checks, and reccomendations for ‘peak performance usage’, but nothing has changed. The reality is that if you buy this vehicle, and it has more than 40 thousand miles on it, plan on spending around 600 to 800 dollars very soon to get the ball joints replaced. When you do this, this is one vehicle I would recommend finding a repair facility with a ‘Lifetime Alignment’ service that has a one time price. The alignment will be critical unless you know a good tire salesman who can make a heck of a deal. Comfort and ease of accessibility inside the passenger compartment are key factors when purchasing any vehicle, and the Explorer delivers in all of these categories. With the multiple options given, and the wide array of accesories anyone can enjoy this ride. Whether you are a soccer mom transporting kids day to day, or a buisness tycoon needing more room for suitcases, the interior has the perfect combination of storage with comfort. Other than the usual leather cracks in the seats after a few years in the sun, Ford hit the nail on the head when you sit inside. Overall, the minor problems that are associated with the Explorer can definitely be overlooked as long as you are willing to spend the extra time, and few extra dollars to keep the maintenance up. As with any car, it will only treat you as good as you treat it. Keep on Driving….. Category:Home › Home • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 2 • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 1 • Should the crew of the Sea Shepherd board whaling ships? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 13 • Grandparents: Can blogging chronicle your genealogy? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 12 • Are teachers unions the cause of public school problems today? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 11
