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Tampon
Original Poster
2,969 posts
95 months
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All this talk of american pickups had me looking at the ads again.
Being larger than the average man I have always liked big cars, and being a miser I have always liked cheap ones.
When I was looking for a car before the current vectra, I was looking at old range rovers, top spec omegas and ford explorers. I went with the Omega in the end due to the mileage they got. That isn;t really a issue any more as I don;t drive nearly as much as I did.
Now I see explorers going for around £1k ish, now apart from the 20mpg if you drives like miss daisy are there any other negatives to look out for ? I am hoping the mechanics is up there with other over engined unstressed yank trucks. Also I like to have a go a the mechanics myself, are they easy to work on ?
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davepoth
20,186 posts
69 months
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I rode around in one in the US in 2002, what I can tell you is that the aircon is extremely powerful. 
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David87
2,438 posts
82 months
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Make sure it doesn't have Firestone tyres and don't go round corners too quickly. 
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HeatonNorris
1,649 posts
18 months
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I believe the trade refer to them as 'Exploders', which probably tells you all you need to know.
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Tampon
Original Poster
2,969 posts
95 months
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THEY EXPLODE !!!!
Jesus christ that is a what I call Bangernomics.
I take it you are talking about head gaskets ?
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MarsellusWallace
983 posts
71 months
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20mpg?
A lad who used to work for me had one years ago and was getting more like 12-14 round town
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DickHerpes
819 posts
29 months
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Tampon
Original Poster
2,969 posts
95 months
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MarsellusWallace said: 20mpg?
A lad who used to work for me had one years ago and was getting more like 12-14 round town Yesah they seem to get 14ish in town, 25 on a run, average at 20.
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Geekman
556 posts
16 months
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We had one in the family for years. During a period of around 130k, literally nothing went wrong with it apart from consumables. Was pretty quick for what it was, handling was awful but probably no worse than its competitors. My dad had much "better" cars before and since but hugely regrets selling the Explorer. It's currently on around 200k and still going strong: our friends use it as transport at their villa in Spain.
Even nowadays there are still loads of the 1997-2001 models around in the USA, which surely says something about their reliability. We also managed to get 25mpg on motorway trips, so they're not quite as uneconomical as you'd expect.
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NotDave
20,951 posts
27 months
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We (family) had a 99/T plate one in black from 2002 for 7 years.
Bought with 52k, traded in with 130,000+ miles on.
Mother adored it. Auto, 270 BHP iirc and a right noise. It was treated like a van, and endlessly practical.
Father loved it for towing twin axle 6.4m caravan, did it with ease.
I enjoyed driving it, handled far better than you'd expect.
Nothing broke on it ever, just got a whiny diff by the end and rattley timing chains.
Servicing was cheap/easy.
Parts had to be ordered in advance usually ... Local FMC dealer were completely useless with it, but Sheffield were good.
It would take an obscene amount of weight in it, to the point where you thought it'd never move... Like a transit tippers worth of rubble, or steel girders for house renovations.
Turn the key, suspension pumps up, away you went.
Mpg wise, my mum was heavy footed with it and saw 14-16mpg around town.
20-25mpg on a run, even with caravan.
Find a well loved, low miles LPG one & you're winning
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Paddy_N_Murphy
15,249 posts
54 months
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Reliable big 4x4 Sofa.
Had them as rentals - they are fine for plodding around and a good Bangernomics shout - especially come winter time.
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tr7v8
4,046 posts
98 months
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Timing chains are a big issue with these the front one is easy but the back one isn't. I was also concerned about the relatively low numbers that exist in the UK, this might have impacted spares. I ended up with a 2000 Grand Cherokee.
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NotDave
20,951 posts
27 months
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At banger omits money the timing chains are hardly an issue. Ours ran perfect, just rattled a bit on tickover.
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redtwin
5,992 posts
52 months
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I looked at one that rattled so bad it would put a diesel to shame. The trader tried assuring me it would only cost £80 to change, but by that point I was totally put off it.
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z4chris99
5,825 posts
49 months
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we're on number 3 now.. first had Firestone tyres, both rears stripped at 100mph in the desert and we flew off the motorway. nearly killed us all, If anyone was in the boot it was crushed on landing and they would be a pancake. Running back to the motorway covered In blood to hail a car to take us to the nearest hospital 25 mins away wasn't fun. however we all survived, and part of the settlement with Ford was another car Second car was a red Eddie Bauer, the box went twice, and a lot of problems toward its end of life now on a 2012 one, also red. pic; ours a few years back. 
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rockandrollmark
1,009 posts
93 months
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TheTurbonator
1,705 posts
21 months
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DickHerpes said: Wikipedia said: it has been estimated that over 250 deaths and more than 3,000 serious injuries resulted from these failures  I'd heard of this but didn't realise just how serious it was and that so many deaths had occurred from it.
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Minemapper
531 posts
26 months
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We had a '95 Sport (the two door version). It was nippy enough, especially with a rare 5 speed box, but plagued with electrical problems that no one seemed able to fix. This was in 2000 in the US, main dealers were hopeless.
I wouldn't touch one now if you gave it to me.
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NotDave
20,951 posts
27 months
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Ours came with Firestones, a week later the dealer (FMC) put 5x brand new michellins on it.
Cruise control units were homicidal too, and ECU would set fire... Again both replaced FOC
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finlo
338 posts
73 months
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tr7v8 said: Timing chains are a big issue with these the front one is easy but the back one isn't. I was also concerned about the relatively low numbers that exist in the UK, this might have impacted spares. I ended up with a 2000 Grand Cherokee. Are both the chains not at the front then? I thought they used a 4.0 litre OHC version of the Cologne V6?
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