@relation epinions @attribute @@class@@ {Neg,Pos} @attribute text string @data Neg," In 1992 we bought a new Taurus and we really loved it So in 1999 we decided to try a new Taurus I did not care for the style of the newer version but bought it anyway I do not like the new car half as much as i liked our other one Thee dash is much to deep and takes up a lot of room I do not find the seats as comfortable and the way the sides stick out further than the strip that should protect your card from denting It drives nice and has good pick up But you can not see the hood at all from the driver seat and judging and parking is difficult It has a very small gas tank I would not buy a Taurus if I had it to do over I would rather have my 1992 back I don t think the style is as nice as the the 1992 and it was a mistake to change the style In less than a month we had a dead battery and a flat tire br br " Neg," The last business trip I drove to San Francisco I went to Hertz Rentals and got a 1999 Ford Taurus thinking it looked comfortable and professional I found the seating to be uncomfortable for myself as well as for my passenger Now seating comfort may not be important to you but it is to me The fuel usage was fine the car did get us there with no problems but it was such an uncomfortable ride for both of us It is not as though I am hard to fit into a car I am 5 5 weigh 115 pounds and I am usually quite comfortable in most any car But the Taurus seemed especially uncomfortable For anyone who is thinking of renting a car for a long trip I would suggest that the Ford Taurus 1999 not be on the list of be sure to get this There was a large trunk that allowed us to pack a lot of materials needed for the business end of the trip Driving it was a breeze and everything worked right I have no complaints about the standard making of the car except in the comfort area How important is comfort to you On a long trip being an uncomfortable driver is distracting to me and it made the trip seem unnecessarily longer than it should have felt I make this trip a lot The Saturn would have been a better choice for me as I have rented this model quite often It offers comforts that the Taurus simply does not have If you are planning a long trip or to buy a car that you intend to be comfortably seated in check out the Taurus on a longer trial basis than you might another car You may find the same thing happening to your comfort " Neg," My husband and I purchased a 1990 Ford F250 and had nothing but problems we have owned the vehicle approximately two years and it has spent at least half of that time in the shop The first problem was the valve covers were leaking This problem took three days in the shop When we went to pick it up we found that the mechanic at the dealership did not replace parts that he had to take off This took an additional week Because of the poor design fixing this vehicle was not found to be cheap nor could just any mechanic do the work Next within one week the serpentine belt came off the pulleys and sheared off the air conditioning power plug This also took nearly a week to fix Cause of this problem was unknown Next the clean air pump broke again within a week This took about four days to fix When I picked up the truck after the air pump I didn t realize at the time that the mechanic had not hooked back up a hose to the transmission So after driving it for three days my transmission needed to be rebuilt Due to unavailable parts a new transmission replaced the old Which was mated to a junk yard transfer case This repair took about 5 days Truck vibrates at about 70 miles an hour so we spent 1700 on a new front end tires balancing etc This did not help the situation Within two weeks the serpentine belt was replaced for the second time since I bought the vehicle The truck had 98 000 miles when I took over so I expected some problems don t get me wrong but newer vehicles are said too have 200 000 mile motor s I noticed a large loss of power after said repairs then began the costly fixes and diagnostics to find cause of power loss The gas mileage at this point is about 10mpg never increasing the belt replacement continued till the present date at a belt every month The truck went into the shop again for transmission leaks to a ford dealership where the problems found mounted Once again unavailable and discontinued parts This is not even close to being all of the problems but I think I ve said enough " Neg," I feel I have a thorough opinion of this truck compared to most who post evaluations of their vehicles My truck has been owned by me since new and currently have 75k miles I ve been meticulous with maintenance and treating my truck with normal duty activities never exceeding the manufacturer s recommendations This is information regarding my vehicle and the excessive amount of problems found during an inspection 15 Sept 2003 It s reference for anyone else who has had the same problems or looking for information regarding warranties and extended warranties You are welcome to give some feedback VEHICLE 2000 FORD F150 5 4L 4x4 XLT w Off Road Tow Package 17 Rims Everything factory install all the top options included EXTENDED WARRANTY Purchased FORD s version 75K mile Bumper to Bumper coverage when new 50 deductible per drive in occurrence DRIVING CONDITIONS Never taken off road Never towed anything of significant weight and Never used inappropriately Toward the last 400 miles of my 75K mile Ford purchased extended warranty bumper to bumper plan the passenger side power door lock failed and the ABS light turned on I brought it in to the dealer for an inspection along with some squeeking of the front end thought it was a tire rim leak PROBLEMS FOUND 1 All 4 tie rods inners and outers bad 2 Lower ball joints bad 3 ABS Codes C1095 and C1096 ECU and HCU Controller and Module Assembly bad 4 Passenger side door lock actuator bad 5 Power Steering Pump bad air conditioning warranty replaced back at 30k miles All items above were replaced under the purchased extended warranty bumber to bumber plan EXCEPT a kit for the module assembly on the ABS I will dispute that today but had to pay for it to get it done I am shocked that this much damage was found for a vehicle at only 75k miles proclaimed to be Built Ford Tough yet only offering a 36K mile manufacturer warranty If I did not have the extended warranty I could only guess the bill to pay for this The extended cab seating is extremely cramped My friends refuse to be a passenger in the back The rear bench seating is hard very uncomfortable General Motors seems to have very comfortable and roomy seating in their comparable models The ignition is hidden and difficult to find The stereo is second class for sound and tuning stations especially AM Factory installed tires have no significant grip traction after 10 000 miles I recommend getting a spray in liner to help prevent the large dents and scratches that have happened in my truck but not trucks that have been sprayed The metal can t hold up and appears thin for the bed I do like the exterior look of the F150 The height is fantastic I can see all around while driving it certainly upsets small vehicle drivers behind me tailgating me and assuming I m a slow road hog in the left lane but when trying to pass they see the road jammed full of cars in front of me bumper to bumper Accelerations and towing torque are very good Although now I sense a loss or hesitation on a occasions when I have to suddenly put the petal to the medal to avoid accidents Expect to pay the value of your truck in maintenance costs from the dealer They make their money on repairs and maintenance very expensive I m not complaining about this but you buy and expensive truck expect to pay for the maintenance " Neg," AS a mother of 3 all of whom are still in carseats the only logical thing to do was to trade in my 200sx for a minivan As the minivan is only one of a handful of vehicles that have the room my family requires In addition We bought a new one so the mechanical difficulties would be minimum I love the fact that the van seats so many people I never have to worry about bringing 2 cars Even if I have me kids with me the van seats added passengers It does so in a roomy way as well I like the way the Windstar handles It has great acceleration I like the fact that you are able to see way infront of you while driving But these features are almost always indicative of all vans or at least most of them I hate the fact that this vehicle has broken down 4 times leaving myself and my children STRANDED on the side of the road Each time we brought it back to the dealer where they said they fixed it Each diagnosis was different The engine lights continues to go on to this day This makes it difficult if not impossible for me to feel safe in the Windstar Thankfully my husband is quite mechanical The Windstar handles well It is easy to steer and control much like driving a car Some vans have steering that is difficult The suspension on the Windstar leaves something to be desired I have the privledge of feeling every bump The brakes are sound I have yet to have them fail or squeak severly People who should buy this vehicle are those with alot of children or who need to transport alot of things Anyone who enjoys sports cars fast vehicles should avoid this car br br " Neg," The Ford Winstar is a car that I would not recommend purchasing I have driven this van several times and I can t get used to it The handling is horrible do to it s swaying feeling It actually feels like the car is going to tip over in some turns The side passenger window creates a blind spot which I think is dangerous Where the side window meets the windshield is where I think the problem is When braking it also feels like the driver doesn t have control do to the car having a difficult time stopping quick This car doesn t stop efficiently it doesn t handle well and it also doesn t provide the driver with a very good frame of vision on the passenger side I feel that this is a safety hazard not only to the driver and their passengers but also to everyone else on the road Not recommended by me br br " Neg," We bought this van in 1999 after having been a rental since it s birth Initially we loved it It was everything we had dreamed about and more There was plenty of room for 7 and rode extremely nice even in the very back We had heard nothing but good about this van it s safety ratings ease of driving etc It was the GL model and had rear heat air and stereo controls The front seats were bucket while the two in back were bench Everything about it was wonderful UNTIL We had around 70 000 miles on it and the transmission went out of it Things seemed to roll downhill from there We replaced the tranny and a few weeks later the interior of the sliding door fell off It had constant problems with the ignition switch and was always dinging whether or not the keys were in it the lights were on whatever The interior lights stayed on all the time as well The door ajar light was always on no matter what was done to ensure that all the doors were closed No lie a few times this van even started itself when the keys weren t even in it The gas mileage was only about 17 18 mpg The air conditioning would literally run you out it got so cold We never did have any problems with the air or heat It rode very nice and drove very nice but all in all I d say it definately wasn t worth the money paid and was more of a headache than it was worth " Neg," I bought the Focus wagon for it s cargo space It s great for camping and the hardware store The ride is smooth and quiet and it handles quite well It has a solid feel compared to our Lancer I wish the gas mileage were a little better It does have nice features like an adjustable seat belt height in the front seat big door pockets seat warmers The windshield wiper is still the best on the market The biggest problem I have is that it leaks terribly in the back I plan to take it in to get that fixed I have had to clean the trunk carpet twice with a bleach solution to kill the mold mildew that has set in The other issue I have is that the vent allows too much engine heat through in the summertime This is a bummer if you are expecting cool air in the spring or fall to come through The sun visors are almost useless as they do not go all the way forward They sag too low and block too much of the road I went from a Ford Escort wagon to this car The Focus feels like a luxury car compared to the Escort I will give this car a chance If the leak cannot be fixed I ll look for another car " Neg," You ve probably heard about the giant 2000 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicle which carries a significant price tag which relates to its size According to safety experts when you spot the Excursion on the road pull off the asphalt after having wet your pants in fear and hide in the gutter to avoid any chance of making contact with a machine so big it feasts on coupes for snacks and sedans for entrees The Excursion isn t a utility vehicle meant to haul large families and large things that smaller vehicles can t Only about 50 000 will be built the first year Excursion s strong point its huge size is also drawing criticism It took a 310 horsepower V 10 to maneuver the 19 foot Excursion over winding roads with minimal strain Not sure if the base 5 4 liter 255 h p would have fared as well Ford estimates that the 5 4 liter will deliver 10 to 11 mpg city highway the 6 8 liter 15 to 16 mpg and the 7 3 liter turbo diesel 17 to 18 mpg With boat attached the V 10 performed admirably which after all is why Excursion exists to provide those who need to tow big heavy things a big heavy vehicle Once the boat was unhooked the V 10 managed twisty hilly roads without coming up for air But even without a boat Excursion isn t going to run from the light The suspension has a tendency to be firm but has been adjusted to prevent bone jarring movement on uneven pavement Handling is surprisingly pleasant The steering offers low effort movement to balance out the size and weight without being so loose you don t feel in control But don t expect to take a tight corner with ease as you would in say an Explorer And the turning radius is well let s just say you ll need three to four lanes for a U turn Excursion comes with four wheel anti lock disk brakes Even with normal braking be sure to apply the pedal earlier to account for its size There will be some who complain Excursion is too big They probably will be the owners of tiny vehicles frightened by the Excursion In my test drive the Excursion never grabbed another vehicle and slung it from my path In back the standard trailer hitch and associated hardware was designed to sit low to keep vehicles from submarining under Excursion in a rear end impact Excursion is garageable if the garage is at least 20 feet deep and the door at least 7 feet high Inside Excursion has three rows of seats to handle eight passengers nine if you decide to go for a front bench seat rather than a massive center section with a writing top 4 cup holders for front and rear passengers and enough room inside for tape CD coin holders plus the optional six CD changer Entry to the third seat is easy Press the handle and the second seat back lowers and the bottom slides forward for wide open entry exit in back However once in the third row you are directly over the rear axle putting you in touch with all the road harshness Other features include a full size spare inside along the side wall that still allows a decent amount of room and folding second and third seats increase cargo capacity The third seat is on rollers so it can be removed or folded against the back of the second seat for more cargo room and it contains tons of room behind the third seat for luggage or golf clubs without removing it Other goodies include 10 cup holders 5 power plugs 4 coat hooks second and third row reading lamps rear cabin audio controls with dual headphone jacks overhead console for garage door opener and eyeglass holders Despite excellent glass hatch visibility there s one glaring problem in back on Excursion It stands so tall I lost sight of a BMW Z 3 that pulled up behind me at the light which means objects such as pets or kids that are even smaller won t be seen when you back out of the driveway Ford offers a sonar reverse sensing system on the Windstar mini van that beeps to warn of objects when backing up It should already be here but it will be offered on Excursion hopefully soon If you have kids you might want to wait for it Dual air bags are standard with Belt Minder which sounds a chime every 30 seconds as a reminder to buckle up The Excursion is offered at a starting price of 33 460 for 2WD and 36 775 for 4WD " Neg," If you thought that the GMC Chevrolet Suburban was big wait till you see the 2000 Ford Excursion This vehicle dwarfs even the biggest of all SUV s And in the race for the biggest and the baddest SUV s Ford takes the cake Outside the vehicle closely resembles the Ford F350 with its front and grill There is plenty of chrome to make it glitzy enough It s big The step in height is high even for a tall individual and it takes quite some effort to get in The tailgate is gigantic with two doors that swing wide out to the sides Once inside you will be lucky if you can get inside you will notice an abundance of space but it s not much more than the smaller Suburban It s comfortable but again a Dodge Caravan is just as nice in the inside as my opinion The Limited version has a leather and wood interior and seating for up to nine although most cars are outfitted for seven on eight people It is comfortable and there enough space even in the way back The vehicle is powerful enough for passing effectively on the highways and is comparable to the Suburban in accleration But the handling the handling is TERRIBLE It s a truck it s a truck disguised as a SUV It s hard to maneuver and the turning radius is horrible If you are in the market for a vehicle with a lot of room and with all wheel drive that can handle in the snow a much better choice than the Excursion is the Dodge Caravan with all wheel drive It s better on your wallet too with a better price and its much better gas mileage br br " Neg," I went for a test drive in a 2000 Excursion with the Eddie Bauer trim package with a friend who is looking to buy an SUV pretty soon I ve always owned coupes and just one sedan in my lifetime so this was very different for me when i got behind the wheel so he cound ride in the back and check it out I has a mix of feelings I did feel like I was in tank or something because I was ridding high and felt the sheer magnitude of the truck as being something that was confidence inspiring However I didn t feel like I ws in control of the vehicle Stoppng disances were super long and if something or someone happen to dart out in front of the truck there was no way to safely swerve and aviod a most likely fatal collion with the victim The truck rides nicely for it s size The feel is very firm considering how large it is The interior was done very nicely in leather trim but I didn t at all like how it s simply kind of a dressed up Ford super duty truck interior If you re paying over 36K for this thing you deserve a little more exclusivisity The exterior styling is very nice rough and rugged The taillings are a little too similar to the econoline vans but that s okay I suppose My friend lives in a rural area and is involved in shipping large equipment on trailers so it s the right kind of truck for him However I think people that simply buy this thing to use as a status symbol are pretty shallow and basically stupid I don t see the logic is sayign you ve got the biggest and baddest truck out there when you have to pay over 60 to fill er up and use it to do things like go to the mall and take drive to work in alone while burning gasoline galore in gridlock I d imagine parking this thing is a nightmare in tight urban spaces a parallel park might require one of those guys at the airport that guide the planes in with lighted torches This vehicle also inspires a sense of false security and superiority in the event of a collision People just simply think quot If I crash the other guy will die haha quot that might be true but you ll pay later aside from the legal consequences depending on if it was your fault you will have to live with the fact that because of the vehicle choice you made you may have cripple injured or possibly even killed someone out there The thing that s most frightening about this truck is that people who buy it in the city tend to be the type that chat away on cell phones all of the time that habit combined with the desructive potential of this thing can and will lead to many tragedies You d think that the problem of teh wrong type of buyer getting this thing would be solved by the high gasoline prices but that doesn t seem to be the case perhaps if we see prices over 2 50 per gallon Bottom line Ford made a good truck here but it can t play big brother to control who buys people really need to become aware of the fact that SUV s do have dangers associted with them i e rollovers are more common and make better choices In the hands of the right buyer this truck is great " Neg," This segment added later It appears as though Ford is FINALLY coming to terms on its SUV line They admitted that their SUV s were not as safe and environmentally friendly as they should be and will take steps to make them safer for the occupants other drivers and the environment Another interesting twist Ford JUST THIS WEEK decided to reduce production of Excursion by 25 That is not a small percentage I saw this happening long ago This is the first step in dropping the line all together Any guesses on the value of the Excursion you just bought when that happens Maybe William Ford Jr read my Epinion and decided to take action All I know is there is one more company to add to my DO NOT BUY STOCK list The purpose of Epinions is to post an opinion that may help someone make or not make a purchase I hope my opinion will prevent someone from purchasing an Excursion I don t own one and wouldn t I m not sure if I d even test drive one I haven t yet anyway This shouldn t detract from my view however For example one need not be a Cuban or Cuban American to have an opinion on Elian and whether he should go home or stay here Opinions are after all one sided Some will agree with me some will not Personally I take the stand of I really don t care if you buy an Excursion or not but if you do buy one take responsibility for what may happen High gas prices tough Kill or injure someone in an accident gt GO TO JAIL do not pass go do not collect 200 Ford shouldn t have built it in the first place The managers at Ford should have looked a little further than quot today quot to analyze buying trends Especially ones set by Texans we as a group are statistically not the smartest of the bunch I just live here was born in Indiana Traditionally all new trucks are tested and marketed in Texas first Instead of building the biggest on the block they could have made a different statement Ford has done this many times and always looses their shorts on it To this end they should have realized that fuel prices couldn t be cheap forever infact it should be at least 2 00 a gallon anyway We ve been spoiled by cheap gas that the automakers don t market fuel efficient vehicles here but yet you can buy several cars that get 50 mpg in Europe Even the Suburban which is still not great claims to get 18 mpg on the highway much higher than the estimates of around 10 12 the dealers tell of In the Dallas Fort Worth area dealers are offering more than 5000 off on them which means that they aren t selling them Within 2 years I don t think the Excursion will be built any longer Excursions don t have to post gas mileage at all They don t have to even conform with EPA regulations And by stating that is it a LEV low emission vehicle must be a comparison to a coal burning power plant There is no way you can burn so much fuel and produce as much pollution as a Honda come on The Excursion s gas mileage doesn t even bother me that much Heck not too long ago I owned a 1974 Cadillac HEARSE yes it had dead people in it at one time It only got 7 miles per gallon I not once complained about it What irritates me is the people whining about fuel prices who do drive these vehicles When ever there is something on the news about gas prices there is ALWAYS someone griping but has a big ole truck My BIG issue is the safety issue Clearly these trucks are dangerous to other cars The automakers just last month publicly recognized this fact and are making steps to prevent deaths Why couldn t they have done this earlier I could care less if a stupid person kills them self in any vehicle but when they kill someone else that really bothers me Especially so when they purchase a vehicle that they are not capable of driving unfortunately this is many times quot soccer moms quot They want a sense of security and safety They have an Excursion full of arguing kids they have an added distraction of a cell phone and other stuff Yes they are completely safe to its occupants but what about the guy in the Miata she just plowed through Any vehicle which has to have a bar put under the front and rear bumpers to keep it from quot monster trucking quot over smaller cars is inherently not safe to others no matter what you do One good thing I saw was that there was a guy in California that was charged and convicted of manslaughter for killing someone in an accident because he had a big SUV and a phone and went through a red light and killed someone Finally a jury that did the right thing br br " Neg," SUV s SOB s and PMS great what a deadly combination Now the old mad woman on the cell phone has something larger to hit her target w I can t eescribe how angry i am w these tanks going down the road just waiting to slam into my 1 off show truck I wanted to see what this was all about so I test drove one There wasn t one blind spot there were FIVE I just can t see how anyone would want to drive one of these I feel that if you are going to spend 40 000 on something why not buy some thing stylish and comfortable i mean come on Cadillac offers night vision now how cool is that br br " Neg," Hey everybody I don t own this car I haven t ever driven this car But I do have opinions about it and I might as well share them My car is a Saturn SL1 go read my review a car that is constantly subjected to being blinded at night by SUVs and trucks coming up behind us This is an annoying problem maybe one that Saturn should address but still something of a concern And I love trucks I wanted a truck before I got my car and maybe someday I ll get one anyway I m not in any way implying that there s any reason not to make trucks But the Excursion named Big Truck by some of my friends is simply too big If you live where I live you just don t need this vehicle most likely and you re endangering all of us by just driving it I d like to know why half of the parents in my town bought their Excursions whether it was for safety or trendiness or because minivans just aren t cool anymore I d like to start a discussion about these mammoth SUVs so that they don t just keep getting bigger and bigger so that eventually cars and trucks can be of compatible sizes and not create major problems for each other just by sharing a road The excursion is intimidating and maybe that s what s appealing to some people If one is near me on the highway I want to get away from it I do not believe they can see me in my smaller car and I don t want to get crushed I ll do whatever I can to avoid an Excursion and I m no meek flower of a driver These cars are apt to roll over can t stop quickly and the blind spots are tremendous I have seen the most amazing sights concerning the Excursion One day I was in a parkinglot behind one and I sat mezermerized as big truck tried to fit into a rather wide space It took more than seven adjustments back out pull in back out for Big Truck to park crookedly and there was absolutely no room for me to squeeze by Then another day in another parking lot I saw a ten year old kid try to hop up into the passenger s side of the truck He missed the seat and fell right onto the ground I don t doubt that this happens all the time I had a hard time not thinking about my tiny grandmother trying to get into this tremendous truck A simple footstool like the one she uses to get into our Plymouth Voyager wouldn t be enough to even reach the Excursion s step Big Truck is much too big Please Excursion lovers don t hunt me down to run me over with your truck I m not trying to take away anyone s fun or anyone s vehicle I just wish that people would think a lot harder before buying into the Excursion club The power is appealing the size is apalling buying this truck makes you responsible for driving in a whole new way If you need an Excursion surely go buy one If you have to cart around ten people and a boat and luggage and some furniture all at once by all means get this truck But please keep in mind that not everyone on the road is in a Big Truck and that we have rights as well Just don t buy this truck without a lot of heavy thought " Neg," I bought this vehicle to have a safe vehicle to transport my three young children on the California freeways My excursion is a 2 wheel drive V10 I have had two major problems with this vehicle 1 The back end of the vehicle bounces from side to side whenever driving over a drain or small pothole in the road I nearly lost control of the car driving on the 15 freeway at 55MPH Ford has test driven the vehicle acknowledged the problem and has refused to take the vehicle back I think it is because they are nervous about receiving all of their vehicles back Any 2 wheel drivers experiencing the same problem A test driver from the Dispute Settlement Board has driven the vehicle and another quot like vehicle quot and found the same problem I am hoping that the board rules that Ford take the excursion back 2 All California excursions have a quot flutter noise quot that sounds like five holes in the exhaust This information is in the auto s quot Technical Service Bulletin quot available at the dealer of purchase Ford is aware of this problem and has no answer for it The dealer has informed us that this car really maintains control only when it is filled to capacity with adults and is towing a heavy load They recommend lowering the tire pressure to below recommended levels We have had and been extremely satisfied with the Ford Lynx Sable Explorer Bronco and Expedition I would not AT ALL recommend the excursion to anyone br br " Neg," So it is the new fad for mothers to drive Expeditions Suburbans Land Cruisers and now Excursions ok maybe it isnt a NEW fad The Ford quot Death Trap quot Excursion is exactly how it sounds It is a monster but is it really worth the extra quot room quot This thing is an incredible undertaking to drive you must be constantly aware of everything around you The truck barely fits within its allotted space on the right side of the road Built off of the frame of the F 250 truck the Excursion has not particularly crash tested well either I test drove one of these while helping a friend s family pick out a car I must say that I cannot recommend it No pickup not that any is needed and terrible turning radius The extra insecurities are simply not worth its size Whatever happened to the mini van It s roomier more comfortable and more efficient but it just doesnt seem to be in style anymore Until then I believe every quot soccer quot mom feels its necessary to have a 4wd Expedition Suburban or Excursion When driving the Excursion you will not be worried about your own safety but those around you instead Make sure you can handle the ridiculous size before you join in on the large SUV fad Oh yeah and good luck finding a parking spot br br " Neg," Now I m no granola munchin hippie but this beast of a car is a hazard to the environment and everyone else on the road While it may be roomy can easily fit 9 people this means that the SUV must weigh 9 tons The vehicle is over 7 feet tall and wider than most parking spaces All of this excess means one thing if you are involved in a accident with one of these you will probably be killed It s like going up against a monster truck Don t let Ford fool you either these cars SUV s in general do not have any emissions standards so basically these things pollute as much a big rig With the surge in the popularity of these things that means that the earth is becoming polluted at an even more alarming rate So maybe the environment or the hazards to everyone else don t phase you You have your mind set on one of these babies Just check out the price and the gas mileage these things get If you live in CT like me then the price of gas alone equals the price of the car in a few years if you drive at least 40 miles a day All of these things means that this excess room is just costing everyone else including the owner If it s room you want then get an RV or a van Just not a stupid ugly SUV br br " Neg," I am going to start this off by telling you that I hate big cars They guzzle gas like nobody s business This one is in the 10 mpg range They are a danger to anyone not in them on the road and despite their ludicrous size they never have any room for their passengers Ford s new Excursion is the worst of them all This monstrosity is like something out of a horror film When I see it on the road I expect it to start roaring and try to run me over Seriously though I feel like there is a genuine risk to my life when I am driving near an Excursion and they are a horrible risk to the environment as well br br " Neg," drive these cars I don t care how many damn children you have or how many boats you tow daily this not a necessary car for ANYONE these trucks are eyesores and harmful to the environment i m so far from an being eco terrorist but these machines are inefficient gas guzzlers that make the air nasty to breathe bigger better deadlier these are not SAFE cars the momentum that a truck of this size has will give a whole new meaning to whiplash indeed these are long too long and tall dangerous because regular cars can t see the road ahead of them and even worse that people have no idea how to HANDLE these things why are these machines classified as class B vehicles like yugos volvos or fiats the only thing that makes me madder than the cars are the morons who feel the need to drive them soccer moms have traded their piece of cak mini vans which i m actually starting to MISS sharing the road with compared to these suvs explorer owners trade in for the expedition and the excursion it s an endless cycle of mechanical penis envy yuppie materialism and blind faith in SAFETY excuse me i ve got to go i ve got gastanks to urinate into where s my stepladder " Neg," Our big search for a larger vehicle started when I found out I was expecting another child At the time I was driving an old Volkswagon Bug and I had two children already We looked at quite a few brands The only one I didn t feel comfortable with was Ford s I had heard a lot of negative feedback on those cars When we saw the Aerostar on the lot my husband wanted it right then It was clean and comfortable with a sporty look I wanted to look a little more I researched it online to make sure we were getting a good deal We had looked at drove and researched over a dozen before thinking about narrowing down our options When the dealer lowered his price to what I felt was an awesome deal we decided to buy it For not wanting a Ford to begin with I would have to say that this vehicle has been one of the best we have owned It is very dependable and comfortable The air conditioning and heating works well It even has a windshield wiper on the back window That is something I never had on any of my previous vehicles The engine works wonderful Not a squeak or grind anywhere Though it is compacted into a small place I am sure it wouldn t be that hard to fix if something did go wrong I don t know much about the specifics of the engine but it will change from car to car so the specifics aren t as important here as the quality Recently we took out the back seat and went shopping for a very large toolbox for my husband s work I couldn t believe we fit it in there with one of the back seats still in I guess we don t need a truck after all UPDATED 11 24 00 My mind definitely changed within the 6 months we have owned this vehicle Within a month the door started having trouble closing In about a month after that the screws started falling out of the door and the panel was loose The latch to close the door started sticking also about a month ago The front passenger door has some problems also The panel started falling out there as well Though I have a lot of children we do no more wear and tear on this vehicle than a mini van should be able to stand up to since it is made to carry children I don t feel we are overly hard on it Yet the van keeps falling apart at an unbelievable pace I will stick with my gut instincts next time and stay away from Ford vehicles br br " Neg," We bought a 1994 van used in 1996 We fell in love with the beautiful conversion package it was very unique We received many many complements and offers of purchase over the past few years But our problems began within two weeks of purchase The ABS system went out so we took it to be repaired and within the next two months it was out again So to the shop it went It was repaired again and lasted until the end of 1999 In 1999 the ABS system went the rear end started going out the air bag went out and the transmission was slipping This van was babied the whole time we had it so we do not understand why all the problems We knew people with older Ford vans who had 200 00 plus miles and not a bit of trouble ours finally had hit 100 000 and was going out of commission We have now traded our Ford for a Mercury Villager and absolutely love it The Ford was nice for show but that was about it I will miss it but now I don t have to fight the wind put up with a slipping transmission or worry about my airbags deploying when needed br br " Neg," We bought a 97 Ford Ranger Extended Cab 4x4 because of its low price And granted it s a smooth ride an attractive vehicle and the engine has started even on the coldest of mornings But We live in the mountains and a four wheel drive vehicle is a must After just two years the hubs on our Ranger went out and cost us over 800 in repairs The mechanic told us that Ford is notorious for these hub problems a result of poor engineering of their shift on the fly 4x4 mechanism If you can live without a four wheel drive then the low cost factor of the Ranger may outweigh this consideration But if you re into off roading or just need to plow through winter snows don t buy the Ranger 4x4 br br " Neg," For generations the men in my family have insisted on purchasing Ford trucks and usually buy the F 150 series Sometimes the trucks where loaded with extras but most of the time they bought just a plain unusual pickup truck with standard transmission power brakes and power steering and what they thought to be a good solid engine and transmission True enough when first purchased these trucks looked great and were great to drive The exterior was flawless shiny eye appealing and had lots of showoff value The performance during the first year of use was near perfect And of course the owner was very proud to show off that new truck to his fellow hunters fishermen farmers and offered everyone and their brother free rides But now time has passed and several years down the road and lt 100 000 miles later their tune has changed drastically All the trucks have lost their luster the paint is peeling off numerous rust spots all over the cabs roofs and around the wheel covers and the owners are frustrated and certainly don t have the money to have a new paint job The standard transmissions all are failing miserably and the truck is often in the shop being repaired The universal joints are going out wrecking havoc in the life of the offshore worker who must be at work on time or face loosing a week s paycheck But the most common problem that has appeared in EVERY Ford truck that they have own is the sudden stalling out in traffic Push the gas pedal and the truck just stalls out and dies rather than go forward The trucks can NEVER be trusted to go into first gear and leap forward with any amount of speed safely My advice is to talk with long time Ford truck owners and way the pros and cons heavily before buying a truck that you expect to perform for many years to come br br " Neg," I thought it was odd that the front and back brakes as well as the rotors all went out before hitting 20K miles Also we had to call the CEO of our local dealer because their service center said that the factory warranty wouldn t cover the cost The repair bill was 550 00 but the CEO saw it our way after much arguing and we didn t have to pay it I guess they didn t like us too much because when we picked up the truck there was bird poop all over the inside of the truck and it had a flat tire We owned a 1997 F 150 Offroad prior to this one and like this truck the window mechanism on the passenger side tends to go out early on This truck has been in the shop 3 or 4 times since we ve had it not quite 1 year old just the deal with the brakes sucked The radiator had to be replaced at 5K miles and the transmission was leaking fluid like crazy too It is a comfy truck with a lot of room looks good but the reason I won t buy another is simply because of the service the crappy way we were treated " Neg," I was driving a 1987 Honda CRX that was about to die and needed something quickly so I hit a dealer specializing in used police cars figuring I d get something inexpensive and interesting I picked up a 1991 police package formerly owned by the Connecticut state police Since the car was only going to be driven a few hundred miles a week price was the main concern When the car was running it was a lot of fun Good acceleration lots of quot luxury quot features that the Honda didn t have and interesting responses from other drivers Unfortunately the bad outweighed the good The police package was the only Crown Vic in 1991 with a carburetor Not only was it a carburetor but an engineering nightmare known as a variable venturi The one I had was going bad The local Ford dealer wouldn t touch it saying that the best that they could do was replace it at a cost of 1100 I did manage to find a mechanic who specialized in them and only charged 500 to rebuild the one I had Eventually all of the major systems on the car were replaced one at a time just to keep the car operating When it was running the handling wasn t particularly good the breaking was poor and the ride was soft I can t even imagine what a standard Crown Vic would drive like The acceleration was awesome but at less then 20 miles per gallon stepping on the gas was an expensive proposition If you re looking for an inexpensive luxury car don t stop off at the local used police car salesman The sticker price isn t even close to what it will cost in the end br br " Neg," I just bought a used 1996 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and am not a very happy camper I belong to a volunteer highway safety organization and was in the market for a new used police car as my 93 Ford Taurus was on it s last legs After spending several weeks searching all over trying to find a used Crown Vic police car to my liking and that did not break the bank I finally found one at a dealer located two hours away from my home The dealer who specializes only in used police cars was highly recommended by a friend of mine who has bought three cars from him and has been very satisfied with the cars overall So after two trips up to the dealer and looking at dozens of cars on the lot I settled on a 96 Crown Vic police intercepter model with 95 000 miles on it and a rebuilt transmission Part of the catch was the price which was several thousand dollars less than I thought I d end up paying This car seemed perfect in every sense for what I wanted and needed The only problem was that I wasn t able to test drive it on the road because it hadn t been properly prepped So I was limited to driving it around in the parking lot of the dealership It seemed fine in the lot but the lot and a road are two different dimensions when it comes to testing a car s handling You may say that I should ve known better but I figured that a car with a police package was supposed to handle well Before making the final decision on the Crown Vic the dealer suggested that I test drive a 95 Caprice police car he just prepped for a sale latter that day He mentioned that the Caprices handle better than the Crown Vics I took the Caprice for a spin and the handling seemed nice and the engine was amazing But I had my heart set on the Crown Vic I ve just always liked the look of it much better and figured that there would be little difference in handling between the Caprice and the Crown Vic because after all both cars had police packages Boy was I ever wrong The day I picked up my Crown Vic it had been completely checked over and prepped by the dealer I was eager to take it for a spin on the open road to see how it handled before handing over the check To my surprise the steering seemed unusually oversensitive and the car seemed to ride very awkwardly around bends The dealer reassured me that that was typical of the Crown Vics and it was possible that the car just needed an alignment I figured that I d just have to get used to the different handling So I handed over the check and drove home with the my new used Crown Vic A few days later I took it in to my trusted local mechanic to have it looked over with special attention to the steering s oversensitivity problem and my mechanic said everything seemed to have checked out okay He couldn t find anything really wrong with the vehicle that might cause steering or handling problems and he came to the same conclusion as the dealer that Crown Vics were just built that way Well now I feel kind of confused and upset because I had expected the Crown Vic especially the police package to handle much more nimbly overall My 93 Ford Taurus with 140 000 miles on it shot front shocks a ball joint and tie rod about to go and power steering that gave out long ago still handled better for the most part than this Crown Vic In a way I wish I had gotten the Caprice but I didn t know better at the time My advise to anyone considering purchasing a used Crown Vic police car or for that matter any used car is to test drive it thoroughly and see if you can live with it s handling I ll have to try to learn to live with the Crown Vic s handling unless I choose to sell it which I m not quite ready to do yet The reason being that in the last 24 hours I found some useful forums and sites on the internet that discuss problems with the Crown Vic police packages and some suggestions on correcting them So to end on a little bit of a positive note there still may be hope for this Crown Vic and me But I don t have a lot of free time in my life to devote to fine tuning a car to ride decently that should have been built that way to begin with I will be far more careful next time before jumping into a car purchase based mostly on my preconceived conceptions and test driving limited to the parking lot p s One owner of the same year and version of my car responded to a message for help I posted on a used police car bulletin board and he suggested having the alignment done by a mechanic that is familiar with the special needs of a police package vehicle He said that having the alignment done properly on his Crown Vic improved the handling enough so that he decided to hang on to it I will update this review as soon as I have the alignment done on my car in the next week or so br br " Neg," The Crown Victoria is a breed that s siblings are dying fast The only major competetors in it s category is the Lincoln Town Car and the Ill fated Chevrolet Caprice Classic It s twin the Mercury Gran Marquis shares many of the same characteristics as the crown vic Acceleration is very sluggish for a car of it s heft The underpowered v 6 whines when the gas pedal is pushed Where it lack s in perofrmance it is justified by the comfort and roominess All ergonomics are well placed and simple This car is designed for the grandma that hates quot All Those Gadgets quot It s forward bench seat is comfortable and squishy But firm enough to support your grandma s Aching Hips If you are still in your prime years I would stay away from this car unless you like the bulky fleet car look " Neg," I purchased a used 1992 high top with all the toys t v vcr nintendo remotes queen size fold down bed built in oak cabinets built in coolers all the goodies of the tiarra package It was absolutely beautiful I purchased it with the intention of enjoying it while traveling to Florida from Ohio Never did make it though You see it didn t like warm weather for some reason It stalled every single time the temperature outside reached 73 or higher I would have to pull over to the side of the road and wait about 20 min then go on my way again for another hour or so before it would stall again I had it to 4 shops which all said it was fine and no Ford dealer within miles believed a word I said I replaced computer components 2x over 3000 of my own money and the problem never went away I replaced brakes on it as often as I changed the oil I wanted badly to sell the van but felt aweful at the idea of someone else getting as stuck with it as I was I finally traded it in for a new Dodge van and the day I did everything in it shorted out The t v wouldn t work the vcr wouldn t work the seats wouldn t move and yet all the fuses were tested and checked out to be fine The service men at 3 shops that day told me they could find no reason whatsoever for the things not being perfectly normal because it showed power going to all areas as if totally normal What s worse though was the lousy 9 mpg I got It was terribly expensive to drive to insure and to keep up Too bad too it was so beautiful br br " Neg," If you have a 1992 Ford Econoline van and bought the vehicle used as I did you will find that the dealer or the factory will not be of any assistance to you if you find that the paint on the horizontal surfaces is falling off I purchased the vehicle in 1994 and within a year the paint started to delaminate from the body and even though there was a secret recall This is a factory related defect confirmed by internal service bulletin 93 8 4 quot Microchecking quot sent to dealers in April 1993 and covered under your quot Owner Dialog quot program to date nothing has been resolved I have written numerous letters to no avail All I can say is if you are looking at Ford products caveat emptor " Neg," As I was driving off the lot in my 2002 Ford Explorer I thought for what I just paid nothing could be better I loved everything about it and drove it everywhere just to be driving it A few days later I drove to meet my family and saw another 2002 Explorer parked in the yard turns out my sister had just bought her one and we will get to hers later First let me explain that I drive 1 hour to work and then 1 hour back When I want to go shopping or to the movies that is another hour So I put a lot of miles on my car THE GOOD This car has awesome bright lights comfortable seats easy access and I love the two power outlets Great for a crowd with cell phones THE BAD Not long after I got it the sprayer on the back window didnt work and soon after that the back window wouldnt stay open One day as I was pulling out into traffic the transmission slipped and I was nearly hit my oncoming traffic and that lasted for about 2 months Oh yea it probably took about three days when the plastic around the seat broke At one time when my friend was in the back we had the biggest laugh because she couldnt get out because the door was stuck I didnt think it was too funny since it has done that since you just have to shove your body up against it to get it open Just the other day when I would try to put the car in park it would stop between the R and P You have to take it down and then shove it back up not problem once you get used to it Even though I never used the luggage rack the paint came off of it and still ford is being VERY slow about replacing it NOW THE SISTER S EXPLORER When she drove hers she loved it too Funny thing is she loved it until about three weeks ago when She Her Husband her daughter and me and my two kids We had driven up to San Antonio in two cars and were coming back in one Her Explorer didn t have the third seat so that left us with one person without a seat As we were leaving San Antonio there is a red light on the bottom of a hill and as we were coming over the hill we had to slam on the brakes and swerve to miss a car Well twice the Explorer went on two wheels and just as he almost got it under control we slammed into a rock wall and them spun around in an ending position of the back of the Explorer against the rock wall Everyone in the front seat was ok just sore from the airbags everyone in the back seat was ok except for the 8 in cut from the center consol and the seat belt marks and for me the idiot who rode in the back of the car with no seat was thrown from the back glass and surprisingly ok The Explorer held up but was impossible to control which given the facts that he just slammed on the breaks and got over not really jerking that hard the car was not safe My Recommendation is to not buy the Explorer unless you are a gambling person UPDATE Now the back left window doesnt roll down AND I am over warranty AND the plastic on the back glass is cracking AND when I drive through holes there is this horrible sweaking noise " Neg," I purchased my 1990 Ford Taurus GL Wagon in 1990 So far I have spent approximately 8 000 on repairs The main problem with this car is the automatic transmission it suddenly broke down and had to be rebuilt for the car to be drivable and that repair cost me around 1 200 There have also been a few recalls on the Taurus In my opinion this automobile wasn t built right in the first place so wether you like it or not there s going to be a big repair bill about every 3 5 months On the other hand this is a very strong car I used it to haul all of my belongings and furniture when I moved from my 2 bedroom apartment into my new house This car is as strong as an ox but unfortunately it s not very reliable If my Taurus didn t break down every once in a while I would with no doubt keep this car for a good twenty years br br " Neg," I bought this as a car to fix up and play with It is a 1974 four door I love the power the 26 year old motor 400M 2V has Tire smoke out of your Grandmas grocery getter I hate the damn AM radio but that will be fixed shortly with a cd player two subs and 8 midbass and treble speakers stereo is another hobby I hate that it is so looooooooooong It rides real smooth even though it is 26 years old It only has 94 000 miles though If you are looking for a car to play with or are looking for a drivetrain combination this full size is the way to go It looks good with a 2 inch drop flowmasters Cragar S S s and fat firehawks especially with Bright yellow paint with a black top and black pinstripes br br " Neg," I bought a 1995 F 150 in late 1994 I also sold it in early 1995 Here are the reasons why I drove the truck off the lot in November of 1994 I liked the way the F 150 looked I thought it looked pretty tough I also heard a few good things about them from my friends I didn t exactly baby this truck but I didn t drive it too hard I maintained it well I never beat it to the point where it might break One day as I knew inside it would it broke only 2 months after I got it I was driving through the snow about a foot or so of it and I put the truck in four wheel drive I noticed right away that something was wrong It was pulling hard to the left and was very hard to steer I brought it right back to the Ford dealer and they said I needed new hubs That was the first thing that broke In addition to that the speedometer broke most of the levers inside including my seat levers window roll down levers and many others began to just crack like twigs I then realized this truck was made with very little craftsmanship like any other Ford I ever owned The F 150 also lacked the power I wanted in a full size pick up It didn t get up and go like my old Chevys used to Being very disappointed with this truck I sold it right after winter and bought myself a 1995 Chevy pick up I was much more satisfied with that then I ever was with my Ford br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle last year because I wanted a professional looking vehicle that I could drive to a construction site I am an architect I found this Explorer and thought that this vehicle would be perfect for work and recreation I definitely thought this was a good looking vehicle black with dark tinted windows power windows and locks and the smoothest most luxurious ride out of the other trucks I have owned and I have owned quite a few Things started to go wrong when I learned about the recalls The truck was recalled for a hood latch cruise control problems and then the tires I was fortunate in that I did not have the recalled Firestone tires I wanted bigger tires than the ones that came standard with the truck and paid extra for them I consider myself lucky on that note As soon as the warranty went out on the truck I started to have more problems The truck would shake when it was running and I took it in to have it serviced I paid roughly 600 for exhaust manifold gasket problems I got it back and as I was leaving the service station I went to turn the alarm back on from valet mode and the button fell off into the dashboard Four days later my wife gets stranded at a meeting because the truck would start and stall when she released the gas Not only was she stranded but she was angry and embarrassed as well She was going to lunch with friends and had to be rescued She doesn t understand why her 5 year old Jeep which has 160 000 miles has never left her stranded and an almost brand new truck with less than one quarter of the mileage has left us stranded three times The truck was returned for a third time and another 200 later I drove it out of the service station Thirty minutes later I was stranded again The truck wouldn t start and it had to be towed This is where I am now I HAVE A TRUCK PAYMENT NO TRUCK ALMOST 1 000 IN BILLS AND I STILL DON T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK OR HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX IT I have a brake light that doesn t work an alarm button that is inside the dashboard and the rear windshield wiper doesn t work as well All for the small price of 35 000 Where else can you get service like that but FORD " Neg," I must say when my cousin pulled up in her new stang convertible I was impressed at first sight and then I came to a quick realization she d been taken for a ride She bought the car wanting something that would be an attention grabber Well I must say that the most attention that the car has received has been from the mechanic at the Ford dealership In the first weeks of owing the car the odometer stopped working which is not a big problem but still lead her to a day without a car Then the anti theft light started to come on for no reason along with the airbag light which made no sense The biggest problem remains the oil light if you park the car on a hill the light comes on A week or two ago the intake manifold cracked with left her with a big towing bill and another week and a half without a car It also lacks in power that one would expect from a V8 When you ride in the car you can here the top rattling whenever you hit the slightest bump The overall ride is not smooth at all With the upkeep expenses and the gas guzzler quality that these cars possess I would not recommend this to anyone unless you don t mind spending all of your time in a rental car br br " Neg," I bought a 961 2 red mustang convertible the car of my dreams Of course I go for looks and not practicality I did not research the car fully and I wish I did now Where do I begin To start after the first week of use I had to get the radiator fixed I got a flat tire and the power steering was messed up I have had various tune ups over the two years that I have had it Recently all of the oxygen sensors went at the same time And my trip mileage counter and odometer are busted They do not accurately measure the mileage For example a 80 mile round trip turned into a 5 mile excursion I drove for 3 hours total and all it measured was 5 miles And of course my service rep thinks I am crazy especially since I am a young woman And he tells me that to fix this problem will cost me alot since it not covered by my warrenty On top of this I have leak from the engine of what I do not know and a leak when it rains from the top I recently drove my car in a blizzard in Upstate NY I can t tell you what a miserable experience I had If you want a fun looking car then the Mustang is the way to go but if you are looking for a practical car that is reliable I wouldn t suggest it " Neg," I had and lemon lawed a 1996 Mustang GT Convertible Cute car extremely good looking Driving it was awful Front end shook brakes wouldn t stop Ford did not stand behind their product and instead implied it was all in my head Yet they had no answer as to why the brakes failed while I was driving it They couldn t answer why 3 different dealerships refused to do anything about my complaints They never checked the brakes further then to look at them They never tested the lines or anything else They insisted my front end problems were tire related yet I had 3 different sets of tires on the car in the space of 2 years the final set had about 9 000 miles and were practically bald down from 19 000 on the first set which still is less then Goodyear s 25 000 suggested mileage and I drive my cars baby like I do not beat on them or do anything such as that that would wear tires down prematurely I had 2 Trans Ams prior to that Mustang GT and guess what I got after I won the lemon law case and Ford had to buy back the car You guessed it another Pontiac Trans Am We won t even mention the fact that the Mustang GT doesn t come anywhere close to the T A and Z28 in horsepower I could get the same horsepower in a 6 cylinder 4 door car i e the 300M that Ford is offering in their supposed quot sports car quot I consider the Mustang GT to be a sick joke Every time I was at Ford there were NUMEROUS Mustangs being brought in for repair too many to make it worthwhile br br " Neg," My first car for college is likely to be the last Ford I will ever own Driving the Ford Tempo is like being behind the wheel of a death wish By the time I had gotten rid of the vehicle I had experienced all of the following Replaced a CV Joint Lost my Gas gauge and Odometer well it was still there just dead All interior lights malfunctioned Blinker arm fell off Driver side door failed to open from the inside Driver side Seat back went into a state of constant recline Had scalding hot water dumped from the heating coil onto my foot I ve never taken a shoe off going down the hi way 70MPH so quickly in all my life Lost A C Lost Heater Lost Defrost in a snow storm I might add Lost the Muffler The Tie Rod snapped on a curve at 50MPH causing the wheels to be perpendicular to one another consequently ripping the tire off of the wheel near death experience I could have reached out the window as I was flying through the air and written my name on the near by telephone pole before I landed in some farmers field Ball Joint snapped looked like the wheel had decided to take nap This was repaired for free the mechanic said after 6 repairs your 7th is free Radiator Problems Don t buy this vehicle I repeat Don t buy this vehicle Don t take a free Tempo After repairs its extremely expensive I d call it a million dollar car br br " Neg," I have read many reviews on automobiles from aesthetic interior power warranty options etc points of view I believe an important but always neglected area though is from an undercar point of view and let me tell you most people are missing a very important part of researching a prospective major purchase by not being well enough informed about the running gear There are some very well engineered and built suspensions out there but all the same some very weak and suspect ones in my opinion and my purpose is to help you make a more informed decision If a decision is being made between one of a few different vehicles I hope to help you decide based on my experience which one will be better for you from the standpoint of strength of and reliability of one of the most important parts of the vehicle as a whole the steering and suspension system The Ford Tempo was for years one of the most popular cars on the market It sold very well and there were Tempo s everywhere Suddenly Tempo s weren t all that hot an item any more There are many good explanations for this and one of those I will let you in on right now The suspensions on the Tempo were exactly the same as was on the Ford Escort absolute junk Having the constitution of the United States on my side is a very good thing because there is not one redeeming quality about the suspension of the Tempo and if they could the Ford Motor Company and it s engineers would sue me for telling you this First off nothing is greasable on the Tempo and the tie rods both inner and outer wear out at a rapid rate as do the lower ball joints The design of the suspension is such that there is quite an angle from where the inner tie rods screw onto the steering rack down to the steering knuckle and this angle dictates that there will be a small contact area where the ball on the rack end of the inner tie rod contacts the bearing surface The smaller the area the faster it will wear that s just basic physics And that is exactly what happens If the engineers designed it where the inner tie rods were more horizontally mounted there would be more surface area contacted and it would not wear as rapidly But now it s too late they are committed to mass production Even when you replace the factory unit with an after market part the name s still the same rapid wear The lower ball joints are another sore spot Not greasable and prone to rapid wear The ball joints on this car are integrated into the complete control arm so when the ball joint portion wears you have to replace the complete lower control arm This includes both the bushing on the strut rod and the inner pivot bushing This could really be a good thing though because you will get new bushings when you replace the ball joint but if you don t need bushings you have no choice and at over 125 00 each retail it is an expensive repair to replace both sides There are many problems with other portions of the suspension on the Tempo too like strut mounts and bearings but suffice it to say I am not at all recommending any of you to consider a used Tempo it just isn t worth it Even if you got one really cheap and got all of the front end parts replaced with lifetime warranty after market parts they will wear out due to extreme angles of operation And even though the parts would be covered with proof of purchase and receipt from the garage you got it done at the labor would have to be covered by you and the hassle of another trip to the garage and being without your vehicle is enough to shy you away from one br br " Neg," I have now had the displeasure of owning two of these quot vehicles quot The first was my first car ever then when someone ran a stop sign and hit me totaling that one my parents bought me another one I ll say this that was all the motivation I needed to save up the money on my own and by my OWN car The worst part about the Tempo was that I had the same problems with both of them The oil leaks the muffler rusting out completely the shocks rotting out I even talked to a ford tech to ask him what would be causing my car to smoke and smell bad if it wasn t over heating As soon as I told him it was a tempo he diagnosed it as an oil leak And then he asked me if my Muffler had fallen off yet it hadn t at the time but did less than a month later That oil leak a week after it started smoking and on the day I had bought the part to fix it CAUGHT ON FIRE That s right my car caught on fire in my friend s driveway Thankfully since we were there to work on the car we caught it before it did any damage Other various problems I ve had between my two tempos include not starting without recharging the battery when the temperature dipped below 30 which happened with two separate batteries so it was definitely the car busted alternator the seatbelt motor not working which cost 500 to fix and was required by law One window s motor not working and being stuck up two windows getting stuck down SUCKED in the rain a radio that didn t shut off with the rest of the car and had to be turned off manually And my personal favorite the electronic fuel door release just stopped working But that ended up working out for the best because at the time the door itself had stopped shutting I beg you not to buy this car life is too short to make all of the mistakes yourself sometimes you need to learn from someone else s br br " Neg," I had a Ford Taurus that was a deathtrap so I went to a Ford dealership to buy a new car thinking that they d have to take it I was planning on getting a Ford Escort GT but they only come in stick shifts So the sales person steered me towards the Tempo The price was good and it was shiny new so I bought it I also bought the extended 50k warranty Before the car hit 25k the fuel pump went Repaired for free Then the starter went Repaired for free Then it went again Free The third time was less then 6 months after 2 and they wanted me to pay a 50 deductible The boyfriend type man convinced them that they did NOT want to charge me The next time my car wouldn t start similar situation to when the starters went a friend suggested I put the car in neutral and let it roll and it started From that point on I was constantly rolling and starting it Looks stupid when you re not on an incline Finally the rolling technique stops working and I tell the Ford dealership to put in another starter They keep it for the day and say there s nothing wrong with it the starter is 300 and do I really want it I take it home and it promptly refuses to start I take it to the local car repair shop and they diagnose a starter cellanoid and fix it for 29 00 I also asked the Ford dealership to repair the stupid clicking noise the heater fan which is constantly on makes This is 200 and of course I ve already had this fixed The Ford guy just shrugs and says quot oh these things keep breaking quot like that means I should just keep paying for it The car just turned 86k so I m not happy about all of these repeat repairs since I m the one paying for them now " Neg," I bought this 1994 Tempo in June of 1995 for vehicle for business purposes It s the worst vehicle I have every owned and it s not even fixable To date no one has been able to diagnose what is wrong with this lemon I m scared to go anywhere with it You have to carry a cell phone when you do drive it for when you break down I drive about 25 km to work and on a hot day I may not make it to work and won t make it home During the hot weather it breaks down about three times a week on my way home and usually the breakdown point is within the same 2 km area I bought extended warranty which to date has covered very few of the repairs In fact they just can t find what is wrong with the car It quits when it gets hot just like an old fashioned vapour lock used to sometimes will restart within ten minutes but sometimes takes a couple of hours it quits or won t start when the weather is wet not even right after a tune up it quits when you go through a puddle and splash water on the lower part of the engine it may or may not start if the weather is cold and the service engine light hardly ever goes off The codes are of absolutely no assistance to diagnosing the problems Last summer it was in for service several times a month usually on a tow truck and it is still not fixed The gas mileage is just about the same as my old beater 1988 F150 Supercab 3 4 ton truck In fact the last trip from Halifax to Toronto was cheaper driving the truck than the trip 2 months before driving the 1994 Tempo And the truck made it no problems the car broke down Christmas Eve in Montreal and then again in Toronto on Boxing Day I buy a vehicle expecting to get at least ten years out of it My husband has a lot of mechanics tickets for heavy equipment and maintains our vehicles very well As soon as I finish paying off this lemon this summer it s going I still have a year s warranty left on it but I just can t afford the gas the downtime and repairs that aren t covered Nothing the Ford dealer represented to me on this vehicle is true br br " Neg," I bought this car thinking it would be a deal because my friend owns one and he said it has been great for him well little did I know how absolutely terrible this car is it breaks down every 20 miles gets bad gas mileage and it has this odor It s awful I can t turn on the heater because the element has broken down the radio hardly works I can only listen to KOZY 106 5 which is fine but it gets really annoying the steering wheel sticks I have had to call my friends and family so many times to come pick me up from work so many times it s embarrassing And noone will buy it off of me because unlike me they are smart and can spy a lemon I have even left the keys in the car in plain view in high hopes that someone would steal it but they wouldn t even do that for me This is seriously the worst car I have EVER had " Neg," I have owned my 1994 Ford Tempo now since July of 1995 and though Ford is usually a quot name you can trust quot it is not in this case This car has had constant problems with the brakes which no one can seem to fix with the engine itself an oil leak that I swear was there when it left the factory floor bad locks bad door handles I could go on and on and on I thought that this would be a reliable family type car big enough for groceries yet not so big that it would be hard to handle Instead I find that this car is so unreliable and shoddily made as far as I am concerned it should never have been built in the first place Due to financial trouble I got roped into paying 52 37 a week FOR FIVE YEARS For this lemon knowing what I know now I wouldnt give Ford the first MONTH s worth of payments for this money pit br br " Neg," I bought a used 1987 Ford Tempo GL for my wife At first it was a good car But then things went wrong I had to put several hundred dollars into the car in the past 2 years the air conditioner don t work I had to replace the computer and it s still running bad I guess I should have got the hint when we found all the paperwork on the car and there where several receipts from mechanic work done on the car And I have seen several Tempo s on the side of the road broke down I also know that Tempo s have an exhaust leak problem I ve seen a lot of Tempo s that are very load because the muffler need to be replaced The car is a nice car don t get me wrong but I think there are mechanical problems with it that make this car a bad choice br br " Neg," This was my first car unfortunately it s been a huge problem for me In less than a year I have already invested at least half it s worth The first day I drove it over 10 miles it locked up and was unable to drive My tailpipe and my muffler have fallen off My mileage has constantly gone done averaging about 15 miles a gallon I ve changed the brakes 3 times in less than a year and they still squeak when I stop When you are in park it feels like you are in an earthquake It rattles no matter what The central air is tricky you have to press off every time you turn off the car or when you turn the air back on it will be on defrost My right window on the passenger side doesn t even open The throttle cable hangs up and makes it so sometimes that you can t even make it go over 45 miles an hour unles you re lucky enough to hit that big of a hill The trunk doesn t open unless you have the car on The doors stick and you have to repeatedly press unlock to get it to unlock The scariest thing is that when you drive sometimes the door flies open No matter where you are the inter state or a rural road Even when it s locked I wouldn t recomend this car It s too unsafe Two nice things are the comfy seats especially when you are waiting for someone and the roomy trunk Dependable seekers look else where br br " Neg," I bought a 1994 Tempo after my Hyundai XL completely died It was one of two Tempos on the Ford lot and the only two cars in my budget range I was in college and working two part time jobs I purchased the extended warranty for almost 3000 and never used it which was stupid because the seatbelt motors went bad after I had the car for a week so my automatic seatbelts wouldn t work and made loud noises trying to work I just didn t have the time to go into the dealership because I was in classes and working constantly Needless to say they are still broken and it probably wouldn t have been covered anyway My extended warranty only covered major body work It worked fine right up until the point that my extended warranty ran out Of course I wasted 3000 and I still have nearly 3000 to pay on the loan on a car that isn t worth 1500 The driver side window has to be manually forced down and the driver side rear window squeaks when being rolled down Another con is that the back windows only roll down half way A couple of months ago the gas tank started leaking At first I could smell the gas and once my friend witnessed a couple of gallons just pouring out into the gutter I took it to a repair shop and they told me that nothing was wrong with the gas tank but they did find out that my rear right brake needed work That wasn t a surprise My brakes had been causing me constant squeaking and grinding problems for over a year I thought that my brake problems were solved Yeah right Previously I had paid over 400 at Midas to get them fixed and they ended up worse than when I took them in I took them back and they reported that there was absolutely nothing wrong with them My brakes make constant noise most of the time but that day they chose to remain quiet after I took it in Anyway I told the repair shop to fix the brake It cost me over 200 and I couldn t tell that there was a difference when I took it back Since then I still have bad brakes and while I no longer smell gas or witness gas leaking I get about 10 miles to the gallon My car has begun to make a rattling noise and the trunk catch is broken I have to tie my trunk down I m a student and I can t afford a car that causes me constant problems I ve heard about other Tempo owners who were constantly paying to repair brakes Shops will tell them that there is nothing wrong with them until the brakes have been damaged so much that the whole system needs to be replaced There have also been numerous reports about gas tank problems and cars catching on fire because of leaks I m not repairing anything on this car I m getting rid of it The only other good thing about it is that it has a lot of trunk room and plenty of back seat space Not that I get to use that space No one wants to ride in my death trap " Neg," My Family purchased this car after our 1988 Ford Taurus Station Wagon went out We thought well since that was a good car why don t we try this one Our mechanic sold it to us He had used it 5 months Since that time a muffler has come out the transmission has gone out the door quit working the windows quit and other technicalities Our family has big tall people This car is not designed for Big Tall people It is for Little people 4 8 5 5 We are getting rid of it DO NOT GET THIS CAR WE HAVE SPENT LOTS OF MONEY ON REPAIRS AND YOU WILL TOO br br " Neg," This car would make a great pic nic table or maybe a great fountain in the front yard if you gutted it out This car would be absolutely great just as long as you weren t driving it I absolutely hate my Ford Tempo It was a great car for the first day and I still think the interior is rather comfortable not roomy by any means but comfortable This is a very minimalist car no special features pretty basic interior pretty sluggish etc etc etc It s only great feature is that it s a cheap car to fix And fix you will do a lot This car makes more noises than a synthesizer unfortunately they don t sound as good Watch out for the harmonic balancer This happened to me after the first month Basically it makes a sound like a jackhammer in the distance especially when making a turn Apparently this problem is so common that when I took it to the shop the mechanic ran upto my car before I left it and told me I needed to replace my harmonic balancer Apparently Ford stuck a very cheap one in the tempo that cracks on a regular basis Ok back to the car buy a Taurus instead In fact if you can don t buy a Ford So to reflect on what I ve just written this is a bad car a very very bad car Don t buy one you wont be happy unless you are a really twisted person br br " Neg," About a year ago I sold my 1990 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 I had good reason to sell it It was so incredibly unreliable It was a four wheel drive regular cab short bed It had a 5 speed manual transmission 2 9L V 6 engine AM FM cassette My Ranger was a nice looking off white with tan cloth interior and bucket seats with console It was a very attractive truck but constantly needed some kind of repair Literally every month something went wrong with it My father had given it to me because he knew I needed a vehicle and he wanted something newer It wasn t terribly old though It had about 114 000 miles on it and ran great My father had the truck since new and pampered it Two weeks after he gave it to me the engine started smoking really bad I took it in to the local Ford dealer They said it needed pretty much all new seals and gaskets A 600 repair A couple of weeks after that the A C stopped working a 400 repair A month after that I accidentally pressed the four wheel drive button and it got stuck on I took it back to the Ford dealer I was told that there was too much grease on the front hubs and it was causing the four wheel drive to stick wrong When I took it in for the third time to get the stupid four wheel drive fixed I was told that it needed a new 4x4 engage disengage motor This solved the problem Within a month of that happening the clutch started slipping but didn t bother fixing it because I had already put so much money in to it and couldn t afford the clutch At about the same time the speedometer stopped working occasionally I don t know if poor reliability like this is normal for a truck or not but I will never buy a truck again Not to mention that it was rediculously slow on the highway You could floor the gas pedal without ANY acceleration It got terrible gas mileage too I only had it about six months during all of this before I traded it in for a car Don t consider a truck unless you ABSOLUTELY need one Trucks tend to be slow accelerating gas guzzling and unsafe vehicles compared to cheaper cars " Neg," We bought this truck back in 1991 from a woman in our community We got it with less than 80 000 miles on it at the time Now it has nearly 170 000 Sure it drinks and drips loads of oil and isn t very good on gas milage anymore but that truck is made like a Timex Presently it smokes from the wore out muffler and some other place on the engine I have to ride the breaks when I m at a red light and it never ever wants to start when it s the least bit cold outside but my little truck is paid for and it s never let me down With all of its problems it s never cost over 275 at one time to repair Mostly it s just replacing of belts and filters or adjusting the corborater Since this truck has lasted so long with its problems I would consider buying another Ford truck in the future I can t really recommend the new Rangers since I know nothing about Ford s quality now br br " Neg," I made a big mistake and bought a 1997 Ford Taurus SE I used to work at a large Ford dealership and thought I still had lots of friends at the dealership so I went there to buy my car When I bought the car it had 28 000km on it I thought the price was a good deal but let me tell you it was no deal The car has shown well in safety tests probably because its always in the shop and not on the road and is quite comfortable and roomy in the front and trunk is large and can hold just about anything Ford rates it as dependable and reliable Well the people who rate the dependability and reliability of this model must not own one This car spends more time getting fixed then it does on the road The dome light stays on whenever it feels like the heater motor went 6 months after we bought it the cable that runs form the steering column to the transmission snapped right after the 60 000km warranty ran out There are power surges when you slow down for lights or stop signs But the biggest problem is that the car has less than 117 000km and now the transmission has blown Even though I know a mechanic that charges me less than the going rate for labor this repair is going to set me back approx 3 000 with the cost of car rental for 10 days I can say however that the car rides nice and smooth and the steering so far has been good it corners well and does not shake and shimmy at speeds of 100km or more This vehicle gets good gas mileage and does not burn a lot of oil However the bad out weighs the good For a domestic car the repair bills are quite costly and the parts are not as easy to get as you would think With the time is spends in the shop and the cost to repair it just is not worth it When I spoke with the dealership one of the sales guys laughed at me and said that the Taurus is just not a good car thanks for selling it to me Not only that but the place that my mechanic sent the transmission said that he already has 4 Taurus s 97 and newer that have the same problem Unless you like to spend a lot of money and love to read the magazines and check out the guys at the shop I don t recommend this car to anyone I know that I will be unloading mine as fast as possible What the say about FORD found on road dead or fix or repair daily definitely applies to this model br br " Neg," UPDATE After this epinion was posted the car having about 55 000 miles on it had the transmission go out of it The trans would refuse to go into gear The cost of the repairs were estimated at 2500 I do also know for a fact that a close friend of mine who was a ford fan had also had a 97 taurus and his transmission went out at about 65 000 miles Apparently according to the dealership ford knows that this is a problem but will not really do anything to help their customers I definetally cannot reccomend anyone buying this kind of car original epinion While thankfully i did not buy the taurus i still must drive it My fiancee has this car as her company car it being a 97 model while the 3 0 L V6 has some pep the rest of the car is all down hill from there The exterior of the car is like the title said a Fish car Altho for 2000 Ford realized their blunder and tried to remedy the situation The round rear window and the low trunk looks very strange to me the taurus s sister the sable looks a bit better from the front using some chrome accents Inside there are a host of things that annoy both of us First off is Ford s attempt at stationary lumbar support When you sit in either of the front seats your upper torso namely your shoulders are pushed forward in an awkward position not comfortable at all The power lumbar in an upper model may fix this Secondly The control pod with the radio and climate controls is not well designed First the buttons are all similar and close together somewhat so making it hard to distinguish radio controls from climate controls The 3rd thing is that there is no good place for a portable CD player to sit My first choice would be an aftermarket stereo but it s a company car and the control pod limits the modifications that can be done to the stereo So we use the portable CD player in the car In order to have a place to put the CD player the armrest must be in the folded out position which requires the use of a corded Y adaptor for ciggaret lighter power because the armest when open will not allow the ashtray to be open Aside from these things the taurus is a rather safe car But if it were my money i think that i could find a better suited car for the money that it is worth " Neg," When we bought this car we did not want to spend a lot of money Ours was the last of its kind on the lot it s a 97 G but we bought it new in 98 It s stripped down it has an AM FM stereo and power windows but no power locks or trunk release from inside the vehicle a definite negative Still these issues were minor because we wanted a car with a good safety rating and we needed a car that was relatively inexpensive This car was both We felt we were OK because it was new and came with the manufacturer s warranty 3 year 36 000 bumper to bumper We used the car primarily for cross country trips and it did quite well But on our third trip we noticed the transmission was very tough to shift into gear We had 8 000 miles on the car The dealer found that the transmission had a problem and only fixed the portion that was causing the problem Some seals were bad as well as some valves I asked why they wouldn t replace the entire transmission considering it failed after only 8 000 miles He said they only repair the portions that failed In my opinion I have a defective transmission which is begging to fail and strand me or my wife and kids in the middle of nowhere Ford was not willing to replace the transmission Despite this major flaw the transmission is still not working perfectly and the warranty has expired the car has been fairly reliable During the three years we ve owned it we ve barely put 35 000 miles on it All of the repairs done were covered by the warranty see below I won t say it was free however because each time I took the car in for repairs they kept the car all day and I had to make other arrangements to get to work 1 transmission pseudo repaired it works but not perfectly 2 power steering pump noisy and replaced 3 emissions switch a light came on in the dash informing us to check the engine had to go to a dealer we were on vacation and spent the morning there while the switch was replaced 4 weather stripping on passenger front door seal was broken between the door and the car body replaced " Neg," Since 1997 when I bought my 97 Ford Taurus I have gotten to know my auto repair man very well I have spent more time waiting in his shop in the past few years than I have going out with my husband This car not only has given me a ton of trouble but it s always strange odd trouble Car troubles that no one has ever heard about Last year I had to replace the engine because I drove through a puddle That s right the engine Sometimes when I step on the brakes the rear defrost goes on Of course this is just the mild trouble other problems I ve had include the interior lights never going out causing the battery to die Sometimes the alarm goes off while I m driving I truly believe I could make a horror movie comparable to the Amityville Horror house move about this car My point is save yourself trouble and hassle and RUN don t walk away from that Ford Dealership br br " Neg," Ford taurus have to be the worse car on the road today mechanically sure it looked good but not worth all the money you need to sink in to it to keep it running I put a total of 4 transmissions in mine and even that one was on it way out when i traded it in There are also 2 safety issues i have with this car first one is the engine mounts fell off yes my engine flew to the ground just about they did recallit butnot until after ipaid that expense The second and more serious flaw is that on a 90 degree turn into oncoming traffic the turn signal switch that is inside the steering column broke off inside causing me to loose control of all steering They still have not recalled this even though i know many people this happened to and they called it in also I would never purchase a ford taurus again heck i wouldnt even take one for free unless i owned a money tree br br " Neg," I will NEVER buy a Ford vehicle again I bought my 2 year old Taurus from a reputable Ford dealer They told us that the car was just off of a lease It had never been in an accident the brakes were new and we still would have one year left on the original warranty We bought it the car and the story The brakes had to be totally redone after just two months The Ford reason for the rust and corrosion was the car had quot stood quot too long Yeah on their LOT Then there s the TRANSMISSION First it was a hard shift on my automatic transmission They adjusted the computer Then it needed still more adjustment This dealer couldn t fit us in for 4 weeks So we tried another Ford dealer They wouldn t touch a car that another Ford dealer had already touched We called FORD s 800 number They said the second dealer had to take us The dealer then said they were too busy to get us in We called the original dealer and asked for a loaner as we didn t want to damage the transmission They refused and said we weren t damaging the car When they did finally see our car they said we needed a whole new transmission They then said that the warranty had run out and besides it must have been something we did We ve since learned that Ford Taurus has a history of transmission problems and obviously don t back their product NEVER EVER AGAIN br br " Neg," In early 1998 I purchased a 1997 Ford Taurus SHO program car from my local dealer The car had been purchased and used by Ford as a quot Junior Executive quot automobile whatever that means The vehicle itself was in great shape with only 15K miles on it so my wife and I figured quot Hey it s practically new quot The car was back into the shop within the first two weeks to have the quot Football quot replaced The tape deck unit was not functioning properly so the entire radio climate control unit had to be replaced Within a month the car had 16K miles on it at this point I had to take it back to the dealer to have the drivers side rear window motor replaced It seemed a bit early to have this motor replaced but it was under warranty so I didn t complain too much Things seemed to go fine for about three weeks when the CD changer wouldn t register that there were any CDs and wouldn t release the CD cartridge This problem took about 7 visits 3 different CD units and the course of six months to finally get straighten In the mean time while visiting family in Iowa at Christmas time I accidentally pressed the sunroof quot Tilt quot button while looking for the map light in the dark of course The sunroof then refused to close It took about 25 minutes of me standing in 4 inches of snow and my wife trying from the inside to get the sunroof closed to this day the sunroof still doesn t close everytime you press the close button Upon our return we once again took the car to the dealer for warranty repairs A few months passed with no further problems from the car everything seemed to work properly One afternoon while leaving on another trip to Charlotte about 3 hours I took the car through one of these gas station car washes when the sunroof leaked water on my wife Upon further inspection we found that while being closed flush on the drivers side the passenger side of the sunroof failed to close the entire way leaving about an 1 8 quot gap I stopped by the dealer set up an appointment and we proceeded on our way When we arrived in Charlotte We checked into our hotel and decided to grab a bite to eat before the concert We drove maybe fifteen minutes from the hotel to a cafe We spent about another 15 20 minutes eating When I got back out to the car after eating it was dead Nothing Nada When I turned the ignition key abosolutely nothing happened The car didn t sound like it had a low battery it didn t make any sound I had to wait for about and hour and a quater for a tow truck to come then had to wait another hour while the local dealer supplied me with a rental car it was a Ford operated rental agency too I was further informed that FORD expected me to cover the costs of the rental and that my car might not be ready the next day since it was 5pm and that I would be charged to take the rental out of state and then they expected me to return to Charlotte to retreive my car I was floored at the apathy of Ford especially when my service records showed the unacceptable number of time that the vehicle had been in the shop for warranty repairs over 12 times in 12 months I bit my tongue and rented a car Crown Vic 60 a day Luckily my car was ready the next morning prognosis the battery had gone dead I don t see how when it happened out of the blue I had had NO problems starting the car at the hotel and then 45 minutes later 15 of the driving and recharging the battery and nothing pulling power fromt he battery when the car was turned off the battery is all of the sudden dead with no charge It was at this point that I starting telephoning Ford Customer Service who most of the time were rude and told me they had no further interest in me or my vehicle problems After 9 phone calls and 6 months of complaining a call to a lawyer and hassling with the local dealer who all they wanted to do was trade in this car and sell me another one Ford finally gave me a 75K mile warranty on my car It took long enough for Ford to show any signs of customer service I was very diasappointed in the way that Ford handled the situation I expect that cars have some problems but it seemd to me that 12 times for warranty repair in 12 months on a car with less that 30K miles was a bit unacceptable So far knock on wood the car hasn t been in for anything other than routine maitenance oil brakes etc in about 10 months or so Maybe the problems have worked themselves out I cannot recommend the SHO version of this car to anyone who doesn t have the time or patience to deal with a car that is constantly in the shop br br " Neg," Could things get any worse I loved how it looked after that it was all down hill Besides the neat oval theme there is nothing about this car I liked First problem was a short in the steering column ever time you turn right the radio would shut off Then as I drove home from a long vacation at night made a right hand turn and the headlights shorted out We ended up sleeping at a rest stop until the sun came up and comfort is not included with the oval theme Then I had problems with the tranny slipping and when you put it in reverse none of the electrical worked And to think this all happened before I could make my first loan payment br br " Neg," We bought our 1997 Ford Taurus used in 1998 It had 10 000 miles on it and was the GL edition Unfortunately we were looking forward to getting another Crown Victoria but none were in our price range As a whole the car performs well It started everytime you wanted it to and did great in the snow While driving around in suburban areas the car is a dream it s a smooth ride quite quiet and the car itself has no trouble However once you hit try to go on the highway things get a bit shakey In the beginning It seemed hard to get the car to cruising speed Once at cruising speed things cool down a bit but try to accelerate from cruising speed and the car will give out quite a shudder This isn t the best car to be taking on long highway trips Other than that the car will perform well Next there is the interior All the radio A C and heating controls are in one area which makes it very easy to memorize The dashboard is arranged in an orderly fashion The seats are very comfortable although the drives seat could have more lumbar support As a whole the interior is very roomy There is enough room for me being 6 feet to sit in the front and my friend of the same height to sit in the back without us having our knees at our ears Unfortunately much of the interiors moving parts were made of plastic which broke of when over used As a whole this car was ok I never got used to how many miles to the gallon you could get in the Taurus and the stuff you could fit in it Although towards 70k miles this car started needing expensive repairs it lived through a trip to Washington DC and my Mother who runs child day care in our house and used it many times to transport them For this cars performance i wish we had gotten another Crown Victoria we still our 1988 one which has 147 000 miles and still out performs the Taurus " Neg," I bought my 1997 Taurus LX from Tom Wood Ford in Indianapolis in April of 1998 It was a demo and had 6 000 miles on it Listing for 28 700 I paid 21 000 for it I asked the dealer twice to provide an owner s manual none was ever provided so I switched dealers to Capital City Ford I have had the Taurus in the shop MANY times for non routine items including The cigarette plug broke the overdrive switch broke a component in the steering linkage failed and the stereo is garbage Let me tell you about the 700 mach 460 radio Ford is so proud of It has intermittent static in the front speakers and I have taken it to Capital City Ford FIVE times to be repaired The static is still there The service department will not replace the stereo because they are afraid Ford will charge them for the item if it tests OK at Ford In the meantime both Ford and Capital City have ensured that my wife s next car will be a Daimler Chrysler In fairness I have a Ford Ranger that is flawless but my Taurus is a piece of junk I called Ford to have them tell the dealership to fix the problem and they gave me the runaround Goodbye Ford hello Chrysler 300M " Neg," I honestly can t complain about the engine or transmission or any other major component of my 1997 Taurus GL It has always gotten me where I need to go and has always started up in the morning etc However about 2 000 miles after my 36 000 mile warranty expired all sorts of things started to go awry First the passenger side window automatic of course stopped rolling down The driver s side went soon after that And now none of my windows roll down When you get into the car the little light showing that a door is ajar remains on along with the dome light and all other interior lights It s quite embarrassing driving down the highway at night with your car lit up like Times Square The parts from what we have discovered are only available through Ford which means big money So my husband messed with it until he got a couple of the windows working I m still waiting for the dome light to go out or the battery to run down first I m anxious to trade this baby in before anything else happens br br " Neg," The 1992 Ford Taurus was now in its 2nd generation many car companies for 1992 had revised their sedans to look more aerodynamic so Ford had to do something to stay on top in the style department Unfortunately this attempt resulted in a more blase look The 1992 Ford Taurus while improved in some areas never made it past 1st base in other areas The 1992 Ford Taurus is not much different than the 1991 models the 2 4 liter 90 horse powered engine is finally dropped but there still is an anemic 140 horsepower 3 0 Vulcan V6 as its base engine The 1992 also weighs more than its predecessor tipping the scales for the first time over 3 100lbs The next engine is the Essex 3 8 engine It too has 140 horsepower but unlike the Vulcan 3 0 it gets all its power at a much lower RPM and has more torque 215lb ft The top of the line engine is the 3 0 DOHC engine that was built partly by Ford and mostly by Yamaha in Japan This engine cranks out an impressive 220 horsepower and will burn rubber if you don t watch your right foot at a stop light This engine unfortunately is only available in the top of the line SHO models and they only come with a 5 speed manual for this year The AXOD transmission still after thousands of complaints comes in the GL and LX models with the OHV 3 0 and 3 8 engine Ford obviously did not listen to their customers very well i Driving Impressions i T he LX equipped with the 3 0 is what most of the critics called anemic boring and just plain sad this lack of power problem was obviously an issue that I did not share alone This car not only was slow in the lightweight models of the mid 1980s but for 1992 it s even slower with the added weight and no increase in engine power The 1992 Ford Taurus of course is not a race car however shouldn t acceleration onto the freeway at a decent pace be a standard amenity in an almost 20 000 family car I think so Remember when these cars were new they were not exactly cheap some LX models were as much as 21 000 a good engine with adequate power is not asking too much is it My Test car a 1992 LX only had 82 000 miles on it but felt like it had much more There were tears in the headliner and vanity mirrors the carpet was worn the back seat had tears in the cheap leather This car looked as though it had been through the war There was even a time while accelerating up hill that the transmission totally slipped out of gear I had to shift to neutral then back to D After letting off of the gas pedal the transmission let itself go back into high gear and I resumed my way up the hill at around 45 MPH on the freeway very dangerous when the speed limit is 80 but I had no choice i Interior Accommodation i The interior is not too bad I ve never personally been in a 92 Taurus when it was brand new lets see in 1992 I was around 14 years old But I can imagine what this car probably looked like The leather probably looked plush the headliner fitted like a nice pair of leather pants and the transmission as silky smooth as my skin that s me trying to be funny Anyway enough about probably s this car is now 10 years old and it is pretty darn close to what many would consider junk The interior does boast tons of room trunk room included There is 6 way power seats with lumbar support as an option for the LX leather a cold AC an optional electronic dash electric antenna 5 MPH bumpers front air bags finally ABS is an option The 6 speaker Ford sound system probably would have been good but it didn t work so I can t comment Exterior Innovation i The exterior looks much like the 1st generation s The rear looks a little more square there is modified tail lights and head lights body colored bumpers and door handles more attractive stock rims and paint has been revised so it doesn t wash off as easy as the previous 1st generation models When I say wash off in a number of cases this actually happened with first generation Ford Taurus i Price i The price for a 1992 LX Taurus will cost you around 3 000 dollars In many cases these cars are being given away or close to it Other Cars To Consider b i 1 Dodge Intreped 2 Eagle Vision 3 Chevrolet Lumina a href content 63653777028 http www epinions com content 63653777028 a My Review 4 Honda Accord 5 Toyota Camry 6 Chevrolet Corsica 7 Plymouth Acclaim 8 Dodge Dynasty 9 BMW 3 series 10 Ford Thunderbird Happy Car Shopping " Neg," My 1992 Ford Taurus has 85 000 miles on it and is ready for the junk heap It is just not a well built car I purchased it in 1995 for 5 500 and at the time it had only 15 000 miles on it no the odometer had not been turned back Since then I have put untold amounts of money into this lemon and it is nevertheless on its last legs The radiator has been replaced twice as have the cooling fan and hoses The brakes have been replaced twice in there entirety because Ford brakes do not have the tell tale squeal feature to inform one that the pads are becoming thin Thus you find out they are bad when you start to hear metal grinding at which time you realize you are about to owe an extra 200 Just this year I blew both heads on the engine needed a new battery new engine mount new sway bars new struts for the second time new battery cables new calipers another new coolant fan had to have my electric window fixed on driver s side when it froze and my transmission is shot but I haven t taken care of that yet The only thing on this car that has been reliable is the body which has not rusted at all and I live in NY with harsh winters and salt on the road Why do I still own this car Well I am lazy I don t know about you but shopping for a new car is something I look forward to with the same zeal as root canal It also is a process that requires many hours of time which I frankly do not have Now you may be thinking that with all this repair I must have been very hard on the car Actually no I garage the car usually have relatively frequent oil changes and tune ups and I don t drive like a maniac The car is either built poorly or has gremlins The 1992 Ford Taurus has sluggish pep and corners like a rhinoceros There is also an annoying momentary hesitation when the gas pedal is pushed down The brakes work fine between fixings and the car does have relatively ample trunk space but the Ford s cupholder is located directly below the radio so it is very hard to drink anything and change stations Also the cupholder is incredibly poorly made It has a thin hinged bar underneath that looks something like a quot U quot When you hit a bump that U sways forward If you hit a few bumps it sways enough that it comes out from beneath the cup bottle and you have drink all over your legs floor seat and in my case my passport which is now partially stained purple and redolent of grape soda Another thing I find annoying this is really a tangent as most cars have this feature is that when you touch the electric window button the windows rolls down all the way automatically Whoever thought this up must not ever crack their windows which is the preferred degree I want them open So what are the advantages of owning this car Well as I m sure you are all aware the Ford Taurus is one of the sleekest cars on the road with its sexy boxiness and sultry lack of curves I find women often turn there head as I drive by whistle and say quot nice Taurus quot lt Yeah right There are no advantages to having this car that I can discern I would say all in all stay far far away from this automobile br br " Neg," I purchased my 92 Ford Taurus in 1999 based on my loan officer s opinion of what size loan I could handle Obviously he didn t figure the maintenance costs into that estimate In less than twenty four hours literally I found myself stranded on the side of a major highway screeching into a pay phone that yes they most certainly would send a tow truck The water pump was shot Over the next seven months I got to know my mechanic very well The transmission nearly fell out from under the car and did manage to crack the planetary planetary what I haven t a clue but it cost 1500 to replace Soon after I also replaced the heater coil window motor and the air conditioner twice in southern Mississippi you have to have the AC I hitched a ride to the mechanic so many times that I honestly can t remember every thing that had to be fixed or replaced During the last month of my ownership the transmission began slipping again and the wiring went completely nuts I honestly don t know a single person who has purchased a used Taurus of any year that didn t have major problems with the car The car is very comfortable and a dream to ride in but you can never assume that you reach your destination They re just not built to survive more than a few years br br " Neg," I purchased my Eddie Bauer Expedition three months ago I compared the Tahoe and Expedition head to head before making my decision I hate to be a stick in the mud as everyone at Epinions that has rated their Expedition seems to really love them but I personally think I may have blundered in not buying a Tahoe What initially sold me on the Expedition was the overall cost My Expedition was about 2000 less than a comparable equipped Tahoe LT and I purchased it at a time when Ford was offering a great APR on all Expeditions I secured a loan for 2 9 over 60 months compared to GM s 7 9 The Ford had more gadgets and my kids went nuts over the entertainment system with the flip down TV that came as a free option from Ford on my particular model My Expedition has the 4 6 V 8 I chose the 4 6 over the 5 4 for better fuel economy or so I thought The window sticker stated that my vehicle should get 16 City and 21 Highway This couldn t be any further from the truth With numbers like 16 21 I should average about 18 19 MPG overall right I average 13 1 MPG Thinking at first that the problem may be my driving for a period I drove speed limits only and attempted to monitor my take off s and such and my mileage only improved by 1 MPG This is my main beef with this vehicle Either I purchased a lemon or Ford is inappropriately labeling these vehicles I d like to hear from other Expedition owners to see if their Expedition s had similar gas mileage claims One of my close friends purchased a Chevy Tahoe with a 5 3 V 8 He claims that he is averaging about 18 MPG I drove a Tahoe with this engine and it is a powerhouse Even GM s smaller 4 8 seemed to have a lot more power than Ford s 4 8 If you absolutely love the Expedition and don t care about gas mileage buy the 5 4 engine It will get virtually the same mileage as the underpowered 4 6 and will make driving much more pleasurable P S If you do purchase an Expedition or if you already own one think about replacing your factory shocks with a pair of Bilstein Shocks I did and they made it handle 100 better reducing it s rear end bounce and body lean " Neg," I always thought 147Windstar 148 was a dumb name Well it 146s not looking so bad now that they 146ve updated the Windstar and renamed it 147Freestar 148 Why the new name Well someone high up at Ford decided it would be neat to begin all Ford car model names with the letter 147F 148 The Mustang and T Bird get grandfathered but all other Ford car names that begin with a letter other than 147F 148 will soon be history Why do this Well beginning all SUV names with the letter 147E 148 seems to have worked well Also 147Windstar 148 had a lot of baggage But apparently not so much to get rid of the 147star 148 bit The downside of this new strategy is that it seems to be resulting in some awful names The upcoming Mazda6 based 147Futura 148 isn 146t bad But the upcoming large sedan the 147Five Hundred 148 makes no sense to me because there are no other cars whose names are numbers And 147Freestar 148 what 146s that At least if they name a car 147Freebird 148 they 146ll have a jingle ready to go Aside from the new name Ford has made a number of changes to its minivan The third row now folds Honda style into the floor A full battery of safety features is now available including stability control and curtain airbags The interior materials have been upgraded And the 200 horsepower 3 8 liter V6 has been replaced by two engines a 193 horsepower 3 9 and a 201 horsepower 4 2 both based on the 3 8 Why bother upgrading the 3 8 to a 3 9 One reason might be to suggest that the problematic head gasket blowing 3 8 is history Well the basic engine is still here but hopefully the 3 8 146s weaknesses have been eliminated This model year has seen new minivans from Toyota and Nissan as well Reviewing the Honda recently I concluded that none of the existing vans was perfect Each had significant weaknesses But I had not yet driven the new Ford I never thought much of the Windstar One I drove years ago felt much cruder than other minivans But might the Freestar somehow surprise me I took one for a test drive to find out b Styling The styling of the Windstar always looked awkward to me Something just was not right with the proportions For the Freestar most of the sheetmetal remains unchanged The front fenders and hood are new though The new front end is more massive than the old ones and is cleanly styled much like Ford 146s current range of SUVs with a large trapezoidal grille Thankfully the long side of the trapezoid is on top With some Windstars it has been on the bottom suggesting a frown At any rate the new front end seems to have done much to lend the van better proportions The fender flares from the Windstar remain but they look better on the Frestar 146s larger front fender Overall the exterior styling of the Freestar is not strikingly attractive on interesting but it appears thoroughly tasteful even somewhat handsome now Later in the model year optional 17 inch alloys will further improve the look of the van judging from the photos in the brochure The Toyota Sienna is the new ugly queen in this segment The interior possesses little in the way of style good or bad Unless you find the Passat 146s interior stylish because the Freestar 146s interior is a blatant knock off of the VW sedan 146s The basic forms are square most notably the nearly square center stack Few curves are to be found The instruments with their chrome rings are probably the nicest looking bit Most off putting is the fake wood in the SEL trim line The three lower trim lines S SE SES have matte black on the center stack and a strip of faux aluminum dividing the darker upper part of the instrument panel from the lighter lower part the rest of the interior is in the lighter shade With the top of the line Limited both pieces are faux wood With the SEL however only the strip is faux wood It doesn 146t look so good Maybe the Limited with more of the stuff will look better Sadly if you want leather you need one of the top trim lines so you 146ll be getting some faux wood with it Aside from this bit of trim the quality of the interior is superior to the Windstar 146s The low gloss materials do not look luxurious but do look durable They aren 146t quite up to the Passat 146s but they were clearly an attempt in that direction compared to past Fords The leather has a thick durable feel to it The top of the dash is soft touch material the lower part is hard plastic typical of this class of vehicle The various buttons feel a bit higher in quality than those of past Fords The controls are conventionally arranged unlike the Nissan there is nothing crazy here Overall the appearance of the Freestar 146s interior is at least mid pack better than the Nissan and GM perhaps a bit nicer than the Honda and trailing only the Toyota and maybe the Chrysler the latter comes across as classy overall but does have some cheap bits Accommodations The Freestar at 201 inches is within an inch of most competitors Yet the interior is tighter than all other extended vans with the possible exception of GM 146s it has been a while since I sat in the back of a GM minivan The front seat is roomy enough with good comfort The driving position is not my favorite as the bulky looking instrument panel is a half foot higher than the beltline bottom of side windows Especially in a Chrysler the view forward is much more expansive But some people might prefer the more closed in feeling of the Ford as it might make them feel safer As in the Windstar the interior front door panels actually rise a few inches above the beltline effectively reducing the side glass area I suspect some market research lay behind this decision Ford continues to offer a second wide angle rearview mirror to keep tabs on the rear seats A useful feature that Toyota has copied The pedals in the minivan I drove were adjustable With the pedals all the way back I had to position the seat all the way back even though I 146m only 5 9 reducing rear passenger room I like an arms outstretched driving position but would likely compromise this when carrying adults in the back The driver 146s seat itself is memorable for neither discomfort nor exceptional comfort Still the front row is easily the best in the van The second row captain 146s chairs feel a little on the small side for adults and are a little too close to the floor to provide good thigh support Luckily these include build in armrests for there is none on the door Get the bench standard on the S SE and SES and I 146m not sure what passengers will do with their arms The second row seats tumble forward to provide access to the third row I found it nearly as easy to simply walk between the captain 146s chairs The third row is perhaps the most cramped of any extended length minivan It sits low to the floor providing no thigh support and because of very thick sidewalls the left one contains the rear A C the shoulder room in this row is only 51 inches more than a foot less than the second row and about a half foot less than you 146ll find in the rear seat of the typical midsize sedan Notably the Honda Odyssey provides over ten inches more third row shoulder room Yet only two people sit in the Ford 146s second row even with the bench while three sit in the third row I don 146t get it Legroom or more specifically footroom is also limited in the third row The culprits are very thick inner pedestrals under the second row captain 146s chairs Between these pedestals there is only room for one foot to squeeze in Where should the second foot go The second row seats adjust fore and aft a few inches to juggle legroom However although the seat moves the pedestals do not So moving the seat doesn 146t help unless you move it so far up that third row passengers can put their feet on top of the pedestals At that point the second row will have no legroom Overall the Freestar 146s rear seating and roominess is very disappointing Compared to the Toyota Sienna it offers 2 2 inches less legroom in the front seats 1 6 inches less in the second row and a huge 6 8 inches less in the third row As moving seats back and forth shifts legroom from row to row these numbers are cumulative for a total legroom disadvantage of over ten inches This despite the fact that the Freestar is an inch longer than the Toyota in both overall length and wheelbase The Freestar s third row seat does stow into the deep well provided for it fairly easily Three clearly labelled steps are involved one more than in the Odyssey The extra latch permits the seat to be rotated rearward 90 degrees to serve as a bench for tailgating while the van is parked Unlike in the Nissan the tether used to pull the third row into the well is long enough to extend outside the well The split bench in the Toyota is the easiest to stow but the Ford edges out the Honda and the Nissan is by far the most difficult and finger threatening In the Ford unlike in the Honda and Nissan the headrests do not have to be removed before stowing the seat The downside is that they and those in the second row are not high enough in their lowest position to protect adults When the third row is in place the deep well can be used for cargo It is a good size to hold grocery bags upright preventing their contents from rolling about the entire floor The maximum cargo volume 134 cubic feet is about ten cubic feet shy of the extended minivan norm Probably those thick rear sidewalls again On the upper trim lines a center console is a 150 option It isn 146t very tall not even coming up to the level of the seat cushions and contains only a sedan sized storage compartment It is not very wide because the parking brake like the Windstar 146s is between the front seats The center consoles available in the Chrysler and Toyota vans are significantly larger Other storage compartments are located in the Freestar 146s center stack roof console doors and atop the center of the instrument panel A fairly large glove compartment is also provided There is plenty of storage aside from the optional console but some people will still want it because of its handy location b On the Road The 4 2 liter 146s 201 peak horsepower trails all the GM vans 146 3 4 liter among extended length minivans but it leads them all in midrange power with 263 pounds feet of torque at a moderate 3650 RPM Even the 3 9 produces 245 pounds feet tying the Chrysler 3 8 and leading all others Unlike the Honda Toyota and top line Nissan however Ford continues to use a four speed automatic Perhaps because its gearing is thus taller than the others or because the revised engine still falls well short of Honda 146s and Toyota 146s in refinement noise quality at full throttle and willingness to rev acceleration with the 4 2 feels just adequate The Japanese vans and especially the Honda feel considerably quicker That said how quick does a minivan need to feel From behind the wheel the Freestar feels larger and heavier than the competition partly due to the relatively high instrument panel but also due to the chassis dynamics The van understeers heavily in turns and generally communicates that it does not wish to be hurried The steering is not overly light unlike many past Ford products Lean is moderate The payoff for this below average handling is excellent ride quality This ride quality I suspect that Ford 146s engineers derived their priorities from those of van buyers I drove the Freestar along a road full of chuckholes and very uneven expansion joints Cars generally ride poorly on this road but in the Freestar imperfections were heard only a little and felt even less This ride quality was obtained through intelligent design not simply through ultra soft suspension settings As a result the van remain composed over rough surfaces and did not bobble about b Safety Like the Windstar the Freestar should ace crash tests It offers traction control stability control front seat airbags and curtain airbags in all three rows as much safety equipment as can be found on any minivan Topping the others the last as in the Explorer is linked to a rollover sensor and functions as a canopy keeping people from hitting the ceiling in the event of such an accident I doubt many minivans roll over but if one did this would be good to have b Pricing The 147price paid 148 listed below is the sticker price of the van I drove To make the Freestar more comparable to other minivans especially the Honda Odyssey with its very limited feature flexibility I will compare a Windstar SEL with leather power sliding doors side and side curtain airbags traction control stability control and rear obstacle detection The list price is 33 230 and the price after discount and rebate to about 28 900 Heated seats and automatic temperature control are only available on the Limited which even after adjusting for major content runs about 850 more Those uninterested in the Limited 146s two tone paint turn signal indicators in the mirrors message center and so forth will be better off getting aftermarket seat heaters installed Those who love every last knick knack should of course get the Limited Note Currently in many regions the 975 package that includes stability control traction control and rear obstacle detection is free on Limiteds and 750 on SELs I have included these discounts in my comparisons The Odyssey EX L lists for 28 980 Likely because of the increased competition Honda increased prices only 90 from 2003 and its dealers are now discounting these vans but still not by much Edmunds suggests that the typical discount reduces the price to about 28 200 After adjusting for content differences the Honda lacks stability control curtain airbags adjustable pedals and rear obstacle detection but has heated seats and automatic temperature control the Honda is about 200 more expensive The Honda is easily worth the extra money because of its superior powertrain roomier interior more comfortable rear seats and less rapid depreciation The hot van is now the Toyota Sienna The Sienna 146s options are bundled much like the Ford 146s Toyota 146s new system which puts everything into a huge number of packages is very confusing but I waded through the descriptions to find the best one 12 of 21 XLE packages The list price of a Sienna XLE with Package 12 and floormats is 32 871 and Edmunds suggests no discounting Adjusting for equipment differences sunshades automatic climate control heated seats 17 inch wheels power liftgate center console JBL sound system would narrow the gap by about 1 450 Even with a 2 500 price disadvantage 1 650 with the Limited the Toyota still seems the better buy but the Honda is better still The Nissan Quest SL is equipped between the Toyota and the Honda It has curtain airbags fold flat second row captain 146s chairs rear obstacle detection power passenger 146s seat power liftgate adjustable pedals and fixed skylights in back rows but it has no driver 146s side power slider and its automatic has only four speeds It lists for 30 030 Dealer discounts reduce this to around 29 400 Adjusted for content the Nissan is about 100 more than the Ford The Nissan is a less refined vehicle with inferior interior materials but it has a larger interior many innovative features and striking styling so those who care about such things should check it out In reaction to the Odyssey 146s relatively low prices Chrysler introduced value models of its minivans three years ago A Town Country eX with leather and side airbags lists for 30 500 The typical discount and a 1 000 rebate reduce this to about 28 000 The Chrysler has a power passenger seat and power liftgate and its third row does not fold flat but is otherwise equipped like the Honda Adjusted for equipment it is about 350 less expensive The Chrysler feels a bit more agile and is roomier the Ford has the trick third row GM offers the least expensive extended minivans once discounts and rebates are taken into account The Kia Sedona is cheaper still but is considerably smaller than the others and at any rate only marginally competitive The GM vans are less roomy and powerful than the others but despite the oldest chassis here they handle fairly well especially in their short wheelbase variants Their weakest area may be cheap looking interiors The seats 146 appearance is especially disappointing but leather helps a great deal A fold flat third row is available but only with cloth A Pontiac Montana equipped as closely as possible to the above Ford lists for 31 250 but the typical discount and a 2 500 rebate reduces this to about 26 200 Adjusted for content the GM van is 1 700 less For another 230 you can get a sport suspension complete with automatic leveling a rarity in this class I have not tested a GM van so equipped so I cannot evaluate this option An old design but still worthy of consideration by those seeking the lowest price and good handling in an extended length van Except for the Toyota Sienna on the high end and the GM vans on the low end all of the extended length minivans are priced within a few hundred dollars of each other right now All of them are arguably better buys than the Ford but only the Honda is clearly a better choice I do not like how Ford has made heated seats and automatic climate control two popular features available only on the knick knack laden Limited For those uninterested in all the bells and whistles the Limited is about 1 000 less competitive than the SEL I also find it odd that the SES with its slightly sportier exterior cannot be bought with many popular features including leather b Last Words The Freestar was the only extended minivan I had not driven I expected little based on my evaluation of the Windstar but was prepared to be surprised I was not surprised The Freestar rides well and has a fairly nice interior but its handling room and seat comfort are at best marginally competitive I cannot recommend this vehicle The Honda and Chrysler seem the best products when price is considered It so happens that both will be revised for 2005 As I suggest in my Odyssey review If you can wait then wait My reviews of related vehicles b a href content 12511907460 Chrysler Town and Country a b a href content 119778610820 Honda Odyssey a b b a href content 56591027844 Kia Sedona a b b a href content 79854145156 Mazda MPV a b b a href content 112571485828 Nissan Quest a b b a href content 108390747780 Toyota Sienna a b " Neg," About a month ago I purchased a new 2003 Ford Explorer XLT Sport 4 door not to be confused with the 2 door Sport Major options I chose were leather moonroof and a 6 disc in dash CD player with 7 speakers A few other nice touches that came with it are the auto headlamps and auto dimming rearview mirror I didn t want the 3rd row seating and it was difficult to locate one that didn t have it but my dealer came through and located one for me I d rather spend the extra cash on leather instead of a 3rd row seat that s hardly ever going to be used The Sport package on the XLT upgrades the tires from 16 to 17 with different aluminum wheels and includes side step boards door handles that match the color of the vehicle and platinum painted cladding and fender moldings These cosmetic touches are minor but really do make the vehicle look a lot nicer In fact these features are also part of the much higher priced Eddie Bauer package I like the exterior styling of the Explorer It s simple yet tasteful and not overly done with cheap looking plastic cladding or gimmicky stuff like that It s not a Hummer and doesn t pretend to be one One exterior feature worth mentioning is the rear hatch Most SUV s have a rear window that flips up in addition to the whole hatch opening Well the Explore has this feature as well but the window plus a portion of the door flips up which makes it easier to put stuff in the back since you don t have to raise a bag of groceries for example above your shoulders to load through the opening I am extremely pleased with the layout and quality of the materials of the interior The quality of the leather is great and the leather wrapped steering wheel feels solid The gauges are nicely laid out again nothing fancy There is a compass and temperature display with the digital odometer The CD player is mounted high on the dash which I like above the A C controls There are 3 cup holders an outlet to plug in a cellphone and a very deep floor console that stores a lot of stuff The pockets in the doors are spacious and formed so a large water bottle can fit Pretty cool The audio system sounds awesome and there are a lot of cool settings to change the output to suit different tastes and styles of music This SUV rides so nicely that I have to remind myself it s not a car Of course it doesn t ride as nice as a car but it rides MUCH nicer than any SUV I ve ever been in before It doesn t have that pick up truck feel that most SUVs have When you hit a bump you don t bounce up and down for another 100 yards The 17 tires really grip and the month long snow storm that just fell where I live put the 4WD to the test and this baby passed with flying colors At first I was a bit skeptical about the 210HP V6 having enough power for an SUV of this size but that thing puts out enough torque to move it nicely and has a surprisingly nice growl to it The size of the vehicle is nice also Not too big not too small Some friends have told me that they think the SUV is huge but I remind them that it s about a foot shorter in length than a Ford Taurus and the same width and they are always surprised In general I am very pleased with my Explorer and think it was well worth every penny I can t think of any one thing that I can complain about As I mentioned the gas mileage isn t great but it s better than I anticipated it to be I always find it ridiculous when SUV owners complain about gas mileage If gas mileage is important to you then don t buy an SUV To me it s like a biker complaining about the safety of their motorcycle Anyway before I get off on a rant quality appears to be Job 1 at Ford again " Neg," I recently wrote a review of the 98 Ford explorer xlt V8 AWD I hate this car which thank god my lease is up this summer I recently rode in a friends 99 explorer XLT V6 AWD Although ford made several minor improvements I still think this auto is an overpriced piece of garbage It is overpriced underpowered and is generally just a low quality high maintenance SUV I have had many many problems with my explorer and my friend said the same thing Also on top of all the problems their service is terrible I think if you are considering buying this auto look elsewhere I recommend looking at the jeep line or go with an import You ll be very happy you did br br " Neg," We have owned a couple Ford Aerostars The 1990 model had several flaws The drivers seat was broken through normal wear and tear The Anti Lock Break notification light has never worked properly yet there was never a recall or anything And the worst aspect of both is that these two and most of these models I have seen are more apt to rust then other vehicles They are both have rusted out the bottom side panel between the front and rear tires The 1988 van has ran fairly well however the 1990 model has had numerous mechanical problems Many flaws have resulted from the mini vans From the alternator not failing to a leaking gas tank They also have shakey starters in them as well and a fuel injected engine that will not start without pressing the gas pedal br br " Neg," We were fed up with the cost of repairing our old camper van so we set out to lease a truck The 99 F 150 series appealed to us with a solid build reasonable cost and great looks We got our new truck off the lot and within the first 14 days the transmission blew Apparently someone hadn t installed a part properly The warning lights came on first but the handbook did not direct us to stop driving just recommended to get it in for servicing We ve had more trouble since with those warning lights coming on without any other symptoms attached The good news we only have to keep the truck for three years and the problems are under warranty The bad news this truck spends as much time in the shop as our 20 year old camper van it s hard to go camping when it breaks down VERY DISAPPOINTING br br " Neg," I have worked in the Automobile Manufacturing business most of my adult life NO ONE has more stingent quality standards to uphold than Ford I have supplied parts to every domestice manufacturer you can name I have owned a Ranger for 12 years and now have a 93 Ford 150 4X4 I have loved both trucks Especially the 150 is built very solidly When the door shuts it shuts to a great fit you can hear it On the new 150 I am not sure I like the new body I liked the look of the pre 96 trucks esp the 95 The area I know live in seems to be GM truck land My friends that all drive trucks prefer the GM by far then the Ford with the Dodge Ram being close to the Ford There are more GMs in this area then Fords and Rams put together My friends report that they prefer the GMs for these reasons 1 Styling do not like the body look of 150 or Ram 2 Perceived Reliablity Fords seem to have the reputation of using much more gas per relative engine size as the GMs 3 All Full Size pickups are very expensive most around here are 4x4s and GM is the most slightly However GMs seem to hold their resale value and are worth much more worth the value in this area If I was buying a brand new truck at present it would be a GM " Neg," I have a 96 F 350 4x4 with 351 eng and C6 Trans In 17000 miles I have lost both exhaust manifolds due to leakage The transmission went out a spark plug rusted into the head and broke off the calipars have stuck causing poor braking the paint white vehicle developes small rust spots on it and mileage is 10 mph at best The service writer at ford told me that ford has had a problem for years with exhaust manifolds especially on 351 eng her own mid 90s ford developed the same rust problems When I bought the truck I told salesman I was going to use it as a tow vehicle I tow a 3500lb trailer and this eng trans combination with 4 10 gears has all it can handle Ford must be doing better with the newer super duties On yah I was told by the dealer that ford has now fixed the premature problems with exhaust manifolds they do not use that eng anymore Good fix " Neg," I don t even know where to begin This car while I had it had so many problems It seemed like everyday there was another problem First of all to be fair I ll list the good parts about this car its 1 6 liter H O engine does produce a lot of power for a small engine I have actually beaten V8 Chevy s and Fords off the line And it cruises with no problem at high speeds That s probably about the only good thing about this car The car itself has a very bland boring design It actually looks pretty ugly Don t ask me why I got it The interior is very cramped and there are no back seats Problems 1 Leaking winshield and sunroof 2 Car is so loud you can t hear yourself think 3 When you turn the vent on all you get is a smell of gasoline 4 Interior smells horrible 5 Handling stinks and power steering squeaks when you turn 6 Shocks and suspension are horrible can feel every bump on the road 7 Horrible gas mileage 15 19 mpg and I thought this was supposed to be an economy car 8 Frequent problem with the engine Overheating burning and leaking oil 9 Car spent more time in the mechanics garage than mine 10 Half the options on the car failed cruise control AC etc Ok this is pretty much my message STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR Its not worth it for 1000 treat yourself to a vacation or something You ll definitely need one after dealing with this car " Neg," While my a href auto review 3C55 AAC6464 38E3EDC5 prod4 1999 BMW 323is a was being serviced I was given a rental for 24 hours via a href content 74992291460 Enterprise a In spite of my previous bad experience this young man was very nice Although the situation was much different and was giving the 4 women ahead of me choices It appeared no one wanted to drive the Ford F150 I grabbed it since we are rethinking our configuration of cars and I really don 146t like my husband 146s a href auto review 6E8 A133239 38F5D3B7 prod6 1998 Chevy S 10 Pick Up a b The car 146s features This truck is the 2003 4 door SuperCrew XLT 4 Wheel Drive Styleside with an automatic transmission b It has a 4 6 liter engine with 8 cylinders This is a powerful huge truck The truck has a little more than 14 000 miles on it Remember it is a rental but in fantastic condition I will attempt not to compare it with my BMW but I can t promise I do have our Chevy S 10 in mind though these trucks are very different as well The Ford F150 has a 25 gallon gas tank with an estimated gas mileage of 14 miles per gallon in the city and 19 on the highway It has so many features that are standard there aren 146t too many options that I would look for except perhaps heated seats Standard not an inclusive list includes automatic transmission front independent suspension front stabilizer bar clock external temperature display Which I have on my BMW and really love low fuel level warning compass and trailer wiring cargo tie downs Which we need because we tow a 21 foot travel trailer a href content 87725346436 Sun Lite a This truck has a seating capacity of 6 people b The front has a 40 60 split bench front seats which mean that the driver 146s seat is separate from the other two seats which are attached The front driver 146s seat is also a little longer than the rest of the bench A fantastic feature is lumbar supports for both the driver and the passenger via a round lever It makes a huge difference One reason I don 146t like the Chevy is because it is so uncomfortable I found the Ford F150 to be quite comfortable There is cloth upholstery and in the car I am driving it is a soft material and in gray What I had never seen is the compartment between the driver and the window passenger If you only have 2 people in the front you can put down a compartment I can 146t call it an arm rest because it really doesn 146t come out long enough to rest my arm that holds cups and storage This truck has quite a bit of storage except for the glove compartment What looks huge is actually tiny once you open it There is storage on the doors and on the roof for glasses and kleenex Note though that there is a bump It isn 146t huge like in a bucket seat car where the middle passenger sits The is so much head and leg room that comfort in the front isn 146t an issue The back has cup holders as well and a split bench It is divided as in 1 3 and 2 3rd There are two head rests 2 3rds of the back bench fold down but not all the way but enough to get to a place where there is a small holding compartment where the jack is kept The other 1 3rd seat does the same There are also rear heating ducts The truck has remote power door locks power windows power mirrors cruise control front and rear 12volt power outlets air conditioning front and rear reading lights dual illuminating vanity mirrors and a leather wrapped steering wheel Other specs include Front Head Room 39 8 in Front Hip Room 59 8 in Front Shoulder Room 63 7 in Rear Head Room 39 8 in Rear Shoulder Room 63 6 in Rear Hip Room 58 in Front Leg Room 41 in Rear Leg Room 36 8 in from www edmunds com I am driving a white truck It looks nice in white Other colors are black beige red burgundy green dark green gray dark gray silver and a couple of shades of blue It has an AM FM radio with a cassette player with 4 speakers and 80 watts of stereo output The radio sounds terrific There are no side airbags you may want to note Also please note that this truck is high Luckily it has handles near the 4 doors you can hold onto to lift yourself up For many though the height of this truck will be a problem How the car handles The first thing I noticed when driving this truck which did not go away with time were the bumps I felt I think the truck found every bump on the road or made up some on the way That is a real negative for me because we drive for long periods of time and if we are spending this much money will spend a bit more for a vehicle that will tow and that won 146t get me car sick The second thing I noticed was the outside noise b That seemed to diminish in time Of course it really didn 146t I just noticed it less I could for example use my cell phone 146s voice command without being told it was too noisy The third thing I noticed was that it didn 146t stop like my BMW OK I know I said I wouldn 146t compare but this is a truck It stops just like our Chevy a bit too slowly for me Stepping hard on the brake will stop the truck immediately but just pushing on it will have it come to a slow stop The fourth thing I noticed was the steering b Considering how big this truck is it handles well It corners much better than I expected though I did move with the truck For something this size I didn 146t expect the steering to handle so well I easily passed cars that I was too close to and got into the lane again with no problem The fifth thing I noticed was the acceleration b OK it is a truck but with 8 cylinders I expect more power I had to really give it gas to get up a hill at 65 miles an hour I never feared for my life when merging onto the highway there is enough pickup for me to say it accelerates well enough I 146m just not used to having to put my foot down on the accelerator so hard to get it going I could feel it go into gear as I accelerated as well I could also feel the truck at 70 miles an hour b I wasn 146t afraid of going to fast in this Ford because it told me when we were above the speed limit 150 it shook a little bit I had a Maxima that did that and I don 146t like that We travel in places where there are no speed limits so I 146d like to be able to do 80 without feeling it The safety of this truck is not good according to http www hwysafety org vehicle ratings ce html summary lgpickup htm 0110 The overall is poor as is the safety of your chest head and neck left foot is acceptable right is marginal and the restraints using a dummy are poor 150 that is they don t keep you safe enough The standard basic warranty including the drivetrain and roadside assistance is 3 years or 36 000 miles The warranty for rust is 5 years This is one of the worse warranties I have seen 150 at least comparing it to cars b In summary I have said many times that if I looked at the crash tests on vehicles I probably wouldn 146t get into one but these letters P poor are glaring Can I not recommend a truck based on that alone Perhaps but there are other reasons I can 146t recommend it I love the lumbar support though why it is manual I don 146t know when everything is power Then again in my BMW my seat lever is manual in spite of other things being power Among the things mentioned 150 the bumps the noise the fact that the middle person in the front has a bump under their legs does that make it a 5 seater then really the fact that the acceleration isn 146t what I would like nor is the ability to stop and the climb up it will get 3 stars since I like it better than my Chevy which I don 146t recommend either So it is an average truck I am sure there are better I love the 4 doors and the 7 000 pound towing capability which is what we need but other than that I know I 146ll look elsewhere If you have any questions about this car feel free to e mail me Other car reviews I have written include a href content 115844746884 2003 BMW325I a a href content 79213727364 2000 Nissan Altima a a href content 77865193092 2001 Chevy Malibu a a href content 76926193284 2002 Chevy Prizm a a href content 27618807428 1998 Dodge Ram Van a a href content 24638426756 1996 Nissan Sentra a a href content 11450289796 2001 Pontiac Sunfire a a href auto review 394A 20D133F6 3A2D2C88 prod2 1999 Toyota Camry a a href auto review 1F30 22AB0899 39F2CE02 prod3 2001 Hyundai Accent a a href content 69343219332 2002 Subaru Impreza a a href content 56003366532 2000 Suzuki Swift a a href content 73785642628 2001 Chevy Metro a " Neg," The Expedition is one in a long list of truck based SUV s It s basically a short wheelbase Ford F 150 with a steel roof in back instead of a bed and a rear seat or two So despite their bulk and popular misconception they re actually not as unwieldy as your typical extended cab pickup is because of the shorter wheelbase Ford also tosses in a few minor luxury features and softens the suspension to differentiate it from the pickup and also to somehow justify the whopping 9 000 price differential Expensive rear seats and roof aren t they Here are my impressions on the Expedition Exterior Styling While not glamourous or sexy the styling works It s a bit top heavy due to the cargo maximizing design and the wheels are a bit narrowly offset with more body overhang than I d like But who are we kidding You re hauling around babyseats in the back You won t be crusing the boulevard in this SUV Interior Much like the F 150 it s functional though it retains some of it s truck based look and feel Buttons are large and well placed the guages are easy to read and the center console is huge and very useful Cupholders are fine which is one of my quot must haves quot Interior materials are tasteful better than the Chevy Tahoe but there is still a somewhat plasticy look you have to pay 40 000 for an SUV to avoid My main problem with the interior and this vehicle in general is Ford s incredibly uncomfortable seats and seating position I am 6 0 quot and cannot seem to find a position which does not induce severe discomfort after a minute or two The seat back is too hard and there is a lack of proper side bolstering to hold you in when the body rolls in turns and roll it does When I get the seat set where my legs are happy I can t reach the wheel easily This causes major back pain from overreaching And when I get the seat set so my hands feel right my knees feel crowded under the dash The 2000 models have been improved somewhat with adjustable pedals and improved seat materials but they are still not the greatest Be sure to test drive the Expedition well before buying You may regret it if you can t get comfortable Rear seat room is cavernous with plenty of room to put in car seats and full sized passengers Three accross seating is acceptable at least for short trips The 3rd row seats are a weak point however They come in handy when hauling large groups but are best suited for children The problem as with most 3rd row seats is that though they re best suited for small kids it s hard to get the very small kids back there and buckled in So again it s best for occasional use Buy a minivan if you are always hauling a team around The A C and stereo systems are acceptable though nothing special I would suggest aftermarket upgrading if you are an audiophile and skipping the included upgraded CD system Ride handling braking This is never the strong point of an SUV but the Expedition has a smooth ride due to its soft springs and suspension setting Wind noise is acceptable but handling suffers at least on 2wd models due to the excessive body roll This is a subjective thing but you tend to wallow in turns and it limits your ability to maneuver in emergency situations Braking is adequate though it s no sports sedan Part of the safety factor of big SUV s is negated by their inability to maneuver as quickly to actually avoid an accident So drive within the vehicle s limits Engine driveline The 4 6L V 8 is a tad underpowered by modern standards for a vehicle this size but it certainly isn t a pig The 5 4L gets up and going faster but adds to the cost and reduces fuel mileage slightly If you re hauling a lot of gear and people spring for the bigger engine If you re choosing between a less opulently outfitted Expedition and a loaded Explorer choose the Expedition and the cheaper engine It s a much better value The transmission is smooth with none of the lurching I ve found on Chyrsler products It s not in the class of a Toyota Tundra however But few other trucks and SUV s are when it comes to smoothness Reliability Safety Ford Expeditions have been fairly reliable The one I ve spent time in has zero breakdowns or warranty problems in 38 000 miles I would rank them above Chrysler and GM products though behind Japanese and German makes The dealer network ranks from great to pathetic so ask around to find a good dealer I have two excellent ones in my area Safety is a great reason to pay the extra money to get a full sized SUV rather than a more practical compact 5 000 lbs of bulk and increased ride height goes a long way in protecting your family in a crash Expeditions have not been tested but the similar F 150 has outstanding crash test results Some of the best around in fact Missing are side and head protection airbags But only the most high end cars had them when the Expedition was introduced Expect to see them in the next re design If you are looking for a minivan alternative and need seating for more than 5 the Expedition is a good choice The new Tahoes have a slight advantage in the on the road experience but I would be wary of their spotty reliablity With the Optional 3rd row seat you can carry 7 on a long trip But if you re like me and others I know and can t get comfortable in the front seats this vehicle is NOT the one for you It s unfortunate because this SUV is a good value for the money So is the Expedition really a beached whale Well if you do not have a family or do not really need the extra space there are some newer smaller better driving SUV s on the market They will be more nimble and cost less to operate I am very impressed with the new Acura SUV It s slightly more than a loaded Expedition but gives you a better faster ride more refinement Acura warranty and quality and more maneuverability in parking lots It s somewhat smaller but the newer design means more safety features side airbags that somewhat cancel out the Expedition s size advantage If you need the size but want more refinement wait and check out the new Toyota Sequoia Not cheap but resale value will probably be great Some other decent alternatives for those who do and do not require a full sized SUV Full sized or near Chevy Tahoe GMC Yukon Toyota Sequoia late 2000 Dodge Durango smaller but 7 seat capacity Isuzu Trooper the best dollar value out there compact mid sized Acura MDX Lexus RX 300 Ford Escape Nissan Pathfinder br br " Neg," Two years ago I had been dreaming about owning one of those monsters I had been seeing on the roads The Ford Expedition I love big Trucks and this one had just come out the year before It looked classy sporty and aggressive at the same time So I went SUV shopping I drove the Durango the Isuzu and many others Many but the Tahoe I cannot tell you why Maybe it was just the shape of it it looked old They had remaind he same for years a big rectangular box on wheels Well I ended up leasing a brand new 98 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition I live in the South East where it never snows and I don t have time to go off road so I decided to save money but getting the 2WD This truck just has everyhting on it Awesome 7 speaker stereo power everything 6CD changer turning signal integrated in the mirrors for aded safety lit running board third row seat automatic lights leater seats power driver seat etc It is very very roomy expct for people seating in the third row seat but let s not be too demanding It quot seemed quot luxurious and safe and so big i loved it we had taken the 5 4 liter V8 whihc I Highly recommend considering the size and weight of this truck The standard 4 6L has a hard time moving this truck in and out of traffic The 5 4L is powerful and is enough However it is noisy When you pus the pedal down the cabin fills with noise and it is quite disppointing for 36k luxuary car After driving this truck for a year and driving other cars and SUVS I quikcly became more and more disappointed What I thought was luxury was just a facade Plastic elements are of poor quality and are poorly assembled There are too many large gaps betwee dashboard elements and doors etc Second disappointment after the excitment of buying the Expedition was gone was the lack of torque and power Drive an expdition then a Tahoe and you ll understand what i am talking about The Chevy powerplant is a lot more powerful and efficient it ll let you spin the wheels at a red light The expedition is more like an quot Escargot quot Third and major disappointment is the ride mainly over bumps holes and the handling in curves You might not realize it as a driver but seat on the right side a few times and it ll become obvious I was wondering why my wife kept comlaining about my driving The truck bounces you all over the places when turing braking a little hard or drivig on older bumpy roads It also tends to lie on its side when turning A 36 0000 dollar luxury SUV should not bounce you so bad and force you to hold on tight ot the door handle and the dash board unless you wnat a work out i do not feel as safe driving it now I have since driven a TAHOE and ridden in a SUBURBAN the engine is a lot more powerful and adequate for such a car and the ride is a lot more comfortable Finally I will end saying that in a year I had to take my Brand New 36k Expediiton to the shop twice thre parts broke in the sunroof 10 days without a car and the Auto Air Valve broke Make sure you ride the Chevy trucks before giving up to the good looks of the Expedition and to the image of driving one Good car hunting " Neg," The Ford Expedition is supposed to be a top of the notch vehicle however there are many little things that just bring down the whole vehicle First of all there is no trunk space If you have a car that is made to hold 8 people there needs to be room to put all of their things My family got the car because we have 6 people all of whom are involved in soccer We need the large car to travel to our soccer games and tournaments There is never room to put all of our bags Another problem is that when the seats are put down they don t align properly On long trips it is so nice to be able to put down the seats and make it into a bed But since the seats are uneven the bed is very uncomfortable Another problem that just irks me is the windows The back windows don t go down all the way They go too low to be for child safety You can t put your arms out of the window and they get an annoying dirt line on them that is hard to get rid of If you haven t noticed I m speaking from the passengers point of view But I have also driven it many times The seats are rather hard and uncomfortable I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee which has extremely comfortable seats and the transition to the Expedition is not a good one The Expedition does drive nicely It shifts very smoothly It has average gas mileage and is relatively smooth riding Except once when it hydroplaned on the interstate not good at all All together I would not recommend the Expedition If you are buying as a car that you would like to be comfortable for your passengers as I assume you are since you are buying a car made for eight I would recommend something more like a Suburban br br " Neg," MY family has leased a 1998 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Version for 3 years now We have been fairly happy with it considering there are 3 kids and 2 adults WE have had more than our fair share of problems with this truck which i will explain later on This car is best used on the highway considering it gets horrible gas mileage in the city and its still not that great on the highway I would suggest leasing this car instead of just plain buying it becuase you dont want to buy this car and turn around and hate it like lots of people i know There are several pluses to this car though 1 No one will ever cut you off or get in your way and i mean never 2 Very safe in crashes 3 Good in wintry conditions such as snow but bad in ice since there is such a high center of gravity 4 Seats 8 5 Lots of storage space 6 Fairly nice sound system 7 They are very inexpensive at the dealerships right now 8 Removeable back seat Now for the not so good things 1 Insurance is sky high 2 Horrible gas mileage 3 Tons of mechanical problems 4 Loud 5 Drinks fall out of cup holders 6 Antena gets scratched if you go in your garage so in about a year you have to spend money to get a new antena 7 Vary hard to park 8 Bad turning radius 9 Possibility to flip over 10 cd player is in center counsol so you cant change cd s or anything while driving 11 Hard to wash 12 Very expensive to get repainted or get fixed Now for the problems we had 1 Windows got stuck and would not come up all the time during the summer 2 Oil leaks constantly 3 Winshield wipers wear out in about 4 months 4 Paint peeled 5 Tons of problems with our fule pump 6 Leather on seats tor for no reason 7 Winshield wiper on back window never worked and never will I suggest getting a smaller suv such as a cherokee or explorer " Neg," Don t personally own a Ford Explorer but can tell you it s not for me I have ridden in a few in my time and I am not pleased at all Yes they may be roomy yes they may have comfort options and extras but not for me Personally I am not all for extremely large vehicles I believe barges should float on the water not on four wheels taking up the roadway Granted if you have a large family and need a sporty type utility vehicle you may appreciate the roominess that the Explorer has to offer As a person who doesn t like not being able to see out of her personal car I would not want to drive this let alone attempt to back it up park it or heaven forbid parallel park it I wonder how many people have actually driven these monsterous crafts to take their driver s license exam in I would speculate so bravely as to say that unless you drive a tractor trailer on a daily basis you d probably fail the exam Personally know a mechanic who complains of working on these vehicles way too much They are a busy operation and they see about 10 15 of these each week with many problems Don t consider them too dependable For the price I don t think I would be too pleased If I were going to pay that kind of price for an automobile I d just as soon go by a sports car At least then I could see what was beside me behind me and yes even in front of me " Neg," When my friends started to find out I was driving an expedition they all called me big quot pimpin quot Shawn Cause The big SUV s are supposedly quot pimpin quot cars Well when you look at them yeah they are very nice in a monsterous way They are hogs of the road They need one of those signs on it that says oversized load I don t like driving it cause its just too big I always park it as far away from the other cars at parking lots cause I m afraid I might not be able to get out of the car or worse yet not able to back it out of the parking spot The worst part of the car is it s amazing ineffeciency with gas I end up never useing the air conditioner because the amount of money I m spending on gas is just so ludicrous And it is taking it s toll on me I live in southern California where the temperatures are soaring into unbearable levels I can t complain about the amount of space the car has It is very roomy and you can fit like 7 people in it comfortably This is defenitly a plus when your the designated driver at a pary or something of importance like that If you have no need for the very large amount of space this car has DO NOT PURCHASE IT however if you have to move around a bunch of kids every day or you need a very large carpool THIS IS THE CAR FOR YOU " Neg," We used to drive down the road and be jealous of all the people who were driving the NEW style Mustang so when we could afford one we bought it It was sitting in the back lot it was white and all the dirt had settled on it from sitting With the shortage of mustangs around we were thrilled to find one but we couldn t figure out why it wasn t on the showroom floor They didn t have any convertibles on display only hard tops It seems that South Florida is the place for convertibles year round and that s what we wanted 21 000 later we had BRAND NEW Mustang convertible 6 cylinder white top and white paint grey interior and 350 miles on it when we drove it off the lot We were thrilled it was our Christmas present Eight days after we purchased our NEW car it was a rainy New Years eve and I saw the car parked by the school 4 miles from home and nobody was in it I thought someone had stolen it A policeman drove by asking why the car was there he thought it was stolen Walking in the rain was my son and he said the car let out with a bunch of steam and the engine quit So we had it towed to the dealership and they were closed but when they looked at the car they told us we did something to make this happen But we didn t They had the car for almost a month and a factory rep came down to look at it and there was a factory defect in the engine which caused the engine to blow I wanted my money back and they said NO A new 21 000 car and a blown engine That could effect the transmission etc They did give me 1200 back for the extended warentee but they let us keep the warentee That was a deal We had the car for 15 months and a humming in the middle to rear of the car started It got worse There was also a vibration with it too We took it in many times anf finally I found out there was a defect in the torque converters and Ford was keeping it hush hush because they didn t have enough torque converters to replace it on all the cars I didn t want the car Luckily we live in Florida with the Lemon Law and we got back EVERY Penny we paid for the car I was thankful for that I felt FORD made it good so I used all that money and ordered a new 1998 Mustang convertible laserred 6 cylinder We felt it was a fluke that we had problems with the first Mustang The second Mustang we did eventually have problems with the torque converter but the dealer said there was nothing wrong with it That s another story See my write up about it and my 2000 GT " Neg," My roomate recently bought a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport The SUV is really nice but it is too bumpy and can flip very easily The front seats aren t very comfortable and the back seat is awful I feel like I m sitting on a big pile of wood If you are going to have 3 people in the back make sure one of them is a kid so they can sit in between the seatbelts in the middle of the seat At least the child is small enough to where they don t sit on them They hurt pretty bad when you sit on them The back hatch or 3rd door is nice but really heavy If you are a woman you will probably have to use two hands to pull it down to close it Now for the side doors after a few months of opening and closing the doors they get to where you have to slam them shut It starts to get very hard and annoying to close the doors If you own and know about the quot free quot oil changes that you can purchase for 2 or 3 years have all your paperwork with you the first and second time you go to the dealership to have it done If you don t and Ford doesn t have you in the system or says that they have never heard of that before you will end up paying for it and fighting with Ford to get your money back for that oil change After 1 or 2 times it gets better They usually have you in the system by then The body of the SUV is really nice but not nice enough for me to own one I ll have to stick with the Chevy Tahoe in this category br br " Neg," Disclaimer i Attempts at a detailed analysis based on the intensifiction of the fight between the two giants Call this bitter battle between these two giant companies whatever you want Call it the battle of the sturdy CEOs Lampe and Nasser John and Jacques The battle of the cream of the creams You may even want to call the breakup of relationship a divorce of Ford Motor Co from Bridgestone Firestone All of this has come after numerous fatal accidents and recalls of tires by both companies The victims have filed lawsuits in the meantime In what ways will this public battle benefit regular poor and suffering consumers Their loved ones are long gone No camp appears to take the blame for the lack of safety and the shredding and peeling of tires in last year s series of accidents One of the protaganists seems to say something that includes the consumers whose heart money and business both camps are looking for There may be some grain of truth to this statement by Bridgestone Firestone president John Lampe Business relationships like personal ones are built upon trust and mutual respect We have come to the conclusion that we can no longer supply tires to Ford since the basic foundation of our relationship has been seriously eroded b Which side to believe How about consumers safety in all of this b i Ford Motor Co CEO fires back We are deeply disappointed that Firestone decided not work together for the safety of our shared customers which is the only issue that matters Despite all the shots fired back and forth consumers become spectators of this major disagreement They are taking lessons They want to know which side is truly interested in protecting them giving them the assurance of safety on the roads After all they are the ones who buy the various Ford Explorers on which the Firestone tires were mounted Jacques Nasser decides to recall close to 13 million more Firestone tires on its SUVs It has already made plans to replace the Firestone Wilderness AT tires by signing a contract with Goodyear All of this news leaves John Lampe with no other alternatives other than to ask for an inquiry of the Ford Explorer This news is nothing but positive for the consumers and the plaintiffs of various lawsuits If anything wrong is found in the Ford Explorer design they will be able to use this new information against Ford On the other hand Ford CEO Jacques Nasser wants to continue believing that all the problems lie with the tire manufacturer John Lampe does not understand why his company s tires fair well in other vehicles but not on Ford Explorer He admits that this company is prone to rollovers This may explain why he is asking for an inquiry He has taken steps making sure the proceedings get under way i At that point Mr Lampe met with transportation secretary Norman Mineta and submitted to him a pretty long report about Ford Explorer s steering problem that may have contributed to rollovers Ford is blaming on defective tires For sure the battle has intensified Still the questions that most consumers are asking are How safe is the Explorer How safe are the tires b What has been known in this conflict a The federal government has files linking Bridgestone Firestone to 174 deaths and more than 700 injuries Based on these data it appears that Firestone had no other games to play other than to be forthcoming and cooperative to save its skin We all know how last Summer Bridgestone Firestone agreed to recall 6 5 million tires that the government linked to the previous deaths b Ford has a lot of ammunition against Firestone And Firestone has a lot against Ford too So much for the 95 year relationship that saw the marriage of blood and flesh over the years Plaintiffs of lawsuits filed against both companies are paying close attention to the tidbits of info that fall on their laps Who would not jump on them c Important features despite all the rumors Ford Explorer has been a best seller It is one of the Ford s lines of vehicles that has had some great returns over the years Most consumers continue to buy them despite the existence of its competitors as found in GMC Jimmy Chevrolet Blazer Jeep Cherokee 2WD and Jeep Cherokee 4WD The 2001 Ford Explorer comes with air bag driver air bad passenger side impact door beams theft deterrent system window driver side Express door etc and all the standard features While this breakup may be a catalyst to many plaintiffs lawyers grin what remains to establish to end all doubt is whether Ford Explorer is all that it s cranked out to be It will be up to the inquiry team to answer this question John Lampe can t answer it himself Let s hope that the truth the whole truth will come out without any problems The public the consumers are watching They have already paid with the blood of their loved ones They are suffering while they recover from last year s flurry of peeling tires accidents May the truth come out This way if any defect is found in the vehicle it may be corrected to save lives on the roads As far as the tires are concerned let s hope that more whistle blowers come out like Erin Brokovich It is said that Alan Hogan has been the Erin Brokovich in this case May he continue to serve society and the regular Joes with his moral values We need more people like him around Don t you agree " Neg," My 1995 Ford Explorer Sport was my favorite vehicle that I ve owned when it was running The things that I liked about this SUV is that it is very roomy and handles very well These are about the only things that I liked Every month I had a problem with it everywhere from that cooling system to the transmition Nothing but problems Not only was it always broken down but it also was terrible on the gas mileage The two other cars that I have had for an extended period of time were a Toyota pickup and the car I have now is an Altima I haven t had a problem with either of these vehicles notice that they are both foriegn cars I would not encourage anyone to purchase the 1995 Ford Explorer Sport unless given to you or you have too much money and you want to use it on repairs " Neg," I have a Ford Explorer Sport and I know I am going to get some flack for writing this epinion but I feel I must voice my epinion anyway I have read many other epinions about the Ford Explorer and many people seem to love this SUV I however would never ever buy another one The vehicle is very attractive looking roomy quite comfortable and not that bad on gas BUT the construction is extremely poor My doors quot dropped quot because the hinges were made so poorly The inside door panel and handle construction is so poor that my handles actually broke off just from regular use which in turn caused my inside door panels to crack split and then break altogether When I take the vehicle out of 4 wheel drive I am instructed to back up a bit to totally disengage the hubs What is that I don t see other people backing up all over the place to do that This can t be right but if I don t back up I hear crunching and grinding and I don t dare drive it What a poor system I was told by the service department that this was normal for the Ford Explorer though and that I need to backup My ABS system doesn t work properly either and I have had times when I wasn t sure I was going to be able to stop for school buses and such I found this to be a very scary experience Now I get a recall card in the mail saying the rear door hatch hinges are poorly constructed and could be dangerous NO KIDDING I have 4 years left to pay on the piece of junk and wish I had never bought it If I could get out from underneath it I would in a heartbeat I would not recommend the purchase of and Explorer to anyone and would never consider buying one again I have dubbed mine the Ford Exploder I consider it one of the worst vehicles I have ever owned br br " Neg," In March 1999 I decided to buy a Ford Explorer Sport after thoroughly researching information on suv s in my price range For the first month I truly enjoyed my new car I like the power it has but not the gas it uses but I knew it wouldn t get good gas mileage and I was okay with that But what I hate about this vehicle is how many recalls it has had already among the other problems I ve had with it One month after I bought the vehicle the back window shattered out while it was sitting in the carport When the dealer fixed it they in turn screwed up the back wiper so I had to take it back in I m glad I wasn t driving at the time Then I got the recall for the secondary hood latch then a recall for the cruise control then a recall for the windshield wiper blades because they would swish back and forth when you used the turn signal and sometimes even when you didn t use the turn signal Last week I had to take the vehicle in because it s running rough It sputters then very quickly accelerates when taking off from a stop or backing up and the transmission feels like it s slipping When I picked up the vehicle I had to go to the service person and ask them to explain the receipt He told me that the problem could not be fixed as it is under investigation by Ford They don t know what s causing the problem and until they do they don t know how to repair it Once they figure it out they will be sending out another recall That means I have to drive this vehicle with it running the way it is until then It s embarrassing to be in this V6 SOHC vehicle and have it sputter so bad you can hardly back out of a parking space then have it catch and fly out of that space I don t think anyone should buy this vehicle " Neg," Pros Looks nice when it s clean Reliable so far Sits up high like most SUVs It s not too big nor too small Priced fairly Cons Poor gas mileage 18 MPG around town 20 MPG highway The biggest single negative feature is the child restraints or lack of adequate restraints in the rear seats Child seats tip going around corners I have advised Ford of this problem and they have not seen fit to warn potential buyers I purchased this vehicle because it looked nice and I ve never owned an SUV I haven t seen many Ford Explorer Sports on the road so far probably because of the Firestone tire recall that was all over the news some weeks ago I m told that Firestone tires on this vehicle are not affected by the recall because they are 16 inch tires EXTERIOR 8 I purchased a black SUV and it looks beautiful when clean and shiny Unfortunately most black vehicles need a considerable amount of care The design is just right for my taste it s not too large like some SUVs but it does take some getting use to judging distances when parking The middle windows have a slight tint and the rear windows have a darker tint The rear window is dark enough so I don t have to change my inside rear view mirror at night INTERIOR 6 I give the interior a 6 primarily because of the potentially dangerous child car seat restraints are none existent My two and three year old grandchildren were tipping back and forth going slow around turns The rear seating is for two people only Seatbelts exist only for two people and no more If I d noticed this when I was considering the purchase I would not have bought the vehicle The interior color is grey with a synthetic leather which appears to wear on the drivers side very fast for only six months of use ENGINE 8 The V6 appears to have adequate power As mentioned earlier my only difficulty comes with the poor fuel economy Sorry but there s no good excuse for poor gas mileage this day and age RIDE 6 The Ford Explorer Sport is a truck of sorts and rides like one Obvioulsy not as smooth as a passenger car but I would have no problem taking this vehicle off road before I d take other passenger car You will feel most small pot holes and cracks in the road HANDLING 7 Highway driving concerns me the most I m very careful not to make any sudden steering control turns because I feel this vehicle will turn over like many SUVs have to date This is probably do to the higher than normal center of gravity The 4 wheel drive worked well during a recent snow storm The brakes are beginning to grab and make noises already RELIABILITY 9 So far this SUV has been reliable probably because I paid a considerably fee for extra protection at the dealership Like anything else I ll get very concerned when the extended warranty expires Car are very expensive to repair VALUE 6 Considering the price it s a fair value not great just fair EXTRA FEATURES 7 I purchased a model with a 6 CD Pioneer Changer in the dash The CD works great THE VERDICT I would not consider another Ford Explorer SPORT for my next purchase There has to be much better products out there for a better price AVERAGE SCORE 7 125 out of 10 Comfort Ok except on bumpy roads Quality Little noise but not too bad Roominess Adequate Handling amp Control Good Condition New Model Year 2001 Model and options Satisfactory Recommend to friends or family NO " Neg," In August of 1997 I Russell turned the age of 16 My parents told me I could have any car that was available to my choices on the lot no special oredering my dad said So as a 16 year old getting his first car a new one at that I was very estatic to look at my options I knew that I either wanted a mustang or an explorer Well my decision was made The explorer was mine After about 3 months of having my SUV my check engine light decided to come on As soon as that happend no more than 2 hours later i took it to the dealership and it took them 2 weeks to fix it It needed a tune up already Well in mid March my Mach 460 radio system factory blew The dealership did not want to fix this saying that it was my fault And needless to say my sunroof stopped working my leather seats started to tear and keep in mind I kept very good care of this car VERY GOOD she was my baby I do not think i liked anything about this car after having it for a year and a half Driving this car was an unbelievalbe experience Everybody where I live wanted to drive it It was easy on the handling very aggresive and super fast If you think that this was just a lemon then buy one on my opinion i have 3 other friends that just have gotten new ones in the past year and they have done the same I would not recomend this vehicle to my worst enemy Now however Ford has come out with the Ford Explorer Sport Trac this car is better by far I have had mine for about 3 months now and she has gave me NO problems at all I recommend the Ford Explorer Sport Trac NOT the Ford Explorer Sport br br " Neg," My experience thus far with Ford and my Ford Explorer Sport has been subpar Reviewing an automobile I d like to take the more Consumer Reports approach and just list the good things and the bad things I ve experienced since January 2000 Good 1 My dealer was fast and gave us what we wanted quickly 2 We got a surprise delivery of two very nice folding director s chairs with the quot Ford Outfitters quot logo that we use regularly It was a nice touch especially with them not even telling us about the gift 3 It s a comfortable car with effective air conditioning and practical seating The fold down rear seats are a very smart design Ok the bad 1 It was a bit overpriced for what I got I ve driven a Jeep Cherokee before this with the old body style and it was much cheaper and practical 2 The gas mileage is totally horrendous I have yet to obtain the average mileage advertised on the window summary at the dealer Very bad times to be driving gas guzzlers Again something the Cherokee was much more efficient in 3 Ford Credit has been very crooked We specifically asked not to receive their special warranty but the creditors charged us anyway and when we asked for a refund they simply applied the 1800 dollars toward the END of our loan And they have not cooperated or tried to undo the situation since So we are in effect paying interest on an 1800 dollar warranty we asked not to have That was a major downer 4 The stereo sucks 5 The suspension sucks 6 It s value has already depreciated significantly from the time of purchase and we are already after 5 months well into negative equity It s my first Ford And probably my last for a long time " Neg," I bought my first new car in 1994 After many test drives of other SUV s I chose a brand new Ford Explorer Sport I had it custom made and bought an extended warranty 75 000 miles or 4 years After a year I started to have problems I can t remember all the problems mostly brakes Every time I brought it in I had to pay a 50 dollar deductible even though I had a warranty It was always something I brought my vehicle to a reputable garage in town every 3 000 miles to have the oil changed and I went by the book with all the maintenance that was needed Ford gave me a book with maintenance checklists I never failed to miss a 3 000 mile maintenance I even had the tires rotated when I brought the vehicle in for a oil change I had the book checked and signed by the mechanic before I left I never beat on the vehicle or drove it recklessly I was at 78 000 in August 1997 I was in town and the vehicle died It was the transmission I had to have it towed to a local transmission garage They told me it would cost at least 1 000 to just get it going not including anything else to do it right I called Ford and they wouldn t even listen to me They didn t care that I had proof that I properly maintained my vehicle because a Ford mechanic didn t do the maintenance They said my Warranty expired 3 000 miles ago nothing we can do I had just paid off the vehicle 3 months before and I was stuck with a piece of junk I also have to say my tires lasted longer than the transmission I just replaced the tires for the first time a few weeks before No one at Ford cared or would listen to me I told the transmission mechanic to fix it quick to get it going It cost me 1 000 to get rid of it I traded it in for a Honda Civic and haven t had one problem with it in two years and my warranty has no deductible I am currently looking for another SUV My employer is currently advertising any Ford vehicle for purchase over 4 dealer invoice Even with this incentive I will never purchase another Ford again I can only recommend this vehicle if you have the money for all of the repairs or you buy an extended warranty without a deductible and trade it in before your warranty expires br br " Neg," Most car manufacturers have a line of cars that are highly profitable because they have not had to change them in years A few cosmetic upgrades here and there and the vehicle is launched as a new model year The Explorer has been around for over a decade and the 2001 Explorer Sport is the most modern interpretation of this old platform New grill body cladding and white gauges can t hide a rigid rear suspension poor gas mileage and some old demons such as poor build quality b Engine The dealer told me that the 4 0 V6 in the Explorer was the German built powerplant designed to lower emission levels Very smooth but very thirsty b Transmission Mated to this German powerplant was this new French transmission After 2 months this transmission failed and had to be replaced This left the car at the dealership for almost two weeks The flip side of this was that I had a nice little Focus to drive b Interior Wonderful seats and a nice update to the standard Explorer interior including white gauges and faux brushed metal door handles Every piece seemed to be made from quality materials However in the 2 door Sport model the front passenger seat was difficult to slide back to allow access to the rear seats Very strange given the wonderful 2 door mechanism there was in a Ford Probe I used to have the front passenger seat would slide out of the way This would have been a nice feature in the Explorer Sport Nice touches include the puddle lamps off the mirrors b Problem areas Rear fixed window leaked and had to be rebeaded and replaced Rear windshield wiper motor failed Matte finish of the front door arm rests wore off in just 3 months Ancient rear suspension meant very bad handling in parking lots over bumps As mentioned above the transmission failed right in the middle of traffic and it took almost 2 weeks to have it replaced The transmission problem lead to major arguments with the dealer Ford Customer Relations and the service manager b Dealer support Um non existent The problem areas had to be escalated to Ford Customer Relations to resolve Because the Explorer Sport ended up being serviced for over 30 days I qualified for the California Lemon Law and I eventually moved to a Ford Escape The dealer experience was so bad that this will be my last Ford since I ve been driving Fords in 1985 " Neg," You may think that a new design will improve the previous design not necessary with 2001 Explorer The only change is the head and tail light I went to the dealer with a very positive attitude to test drive the new Explorer Was I impressed when I left not at all the same opinion as last model The ride is very bumpy it feels like sitting on wood The engine sounds like a tractor trailer and cornering is a disaster I felt very unsafe driving without the seat belt because I was sliding all over the place Front seats are so so but rear seats are very uncomfortable You ll think that after all the complaints that people made about seat comfort that Ford will make some improvement but unfortunatlly they did not and 2001 model is the same as previous except for little minor changes Ford Explorer does not have the car like ride as Nissan Pathfinder Toyota 4Runner or Grand cherokee It has very rough bumpy ride Does it really worth 30 000 please think again br br " Neg," I always wanted a truck especially after owning a little ol station wagon for many years I wanted to go big but could only afford small and ended up with a 90 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT At the time of purchase and for the next few years it was the greatest truck in the world Got me where I needed to go and took everything else with it The extended cab was perfect to toss bags or anything else in and also housed a little bazooka tube for some extra thump when I wanted to turn the music up The V6 Engine gave me a nice ride though it was a bit underpowered compared to what I drive now And it turned out to be this engine that would cause me all the pain and suffering in the world a truck can cause you It started innocently enough when my car suddenly overheated and stopped in the middle of the freeway one day Pushing my car into the Temsco I was told it was simply a leak in the radiator fluid line which it was and I was told they d fixed it which they hadn t So the next day I drive from Southern Oregon to Seattle a good 600 mile trip Truck drives fine though the whole way I m scared out of my gord it s gonna die again and alas 10 miles from my final destination it does This times its a wee bit worse than before one of the heads has cracked and will need to be replaced This is done and after a few hundred bucks down the drain I come to find out not only one head is cracked but BOTH heads were cracked and the other would need to be replaced More money both heads fixed phew Except now my engine is loud with a constant ticking noise that just won t stop And for the next few years it kept it up never could get fixed until the truck was traded in for a Toyota Camry It was really one bad problem that made driving the truck a chore and kept me from being happy to own it and with the other problems I ve seen Ford drivers have I don t think you ll see me behind a Ford wheel ever again br br " Neg," Wednesday night who goes out on a Wednesday night There s this reggae party that happens at one of the beach front hotels in my area Kind of a tradition for the locals but I haven t been to it since 1995 Well a bunch of my fianc s co workers talked him into going with them and of course he wanted me to come Because I usually don t get off work until 6PM ish I knew we d have to leave as soon as I got home Wow almost 7 years and it hasn t changed much Because it s a beach party that involves cheap alcohol it can be pretty amusing But something about sitting outside when it s like 800 degrees and the food selection is limited to picked though chicken wings ripe cheese squares and crackers doesn t really make me want to drink But some of the people are interesting to look at like that little hippie looking guy with a camel toe and a belt buckle bigger than his head Or how about that screaming lady who forgot a bra that the bouncers are escorting out Hmm have another beer I m glad I didn t drink because my fianc friends did What s scary is one of them owns a 2003 Expedition and felt he could drive it home In short I got to drive a 2003 Expedition The Expedition introduced as a 1997 model is the 2nd flagship to Ford s high profit SUV line that lead Ford to introduce the Excursion which is still struggling So much so that Ford had to cut manufacturing in half about a year and a half ago Like GM Ford has a large selection in SUVs and SUV like trucks But in a market flooded with costly SUVs constantly being shoved down consumers throats consumers are now starting to choke on the high gas prices and cost of ownership The success of the 2003 Expedition is very important for Ford and their recovery after last years 5 45 billion dollar profit loss proving that not all consumers need 5500 lb gas guzzlers that is unless you re a soccer mom It looks like SUVs have taken over the reputation the minivan once had One of the main selling points for the redesigned Expedition is it handles much better off road and is not as soft and GM s Tahoe Yukon line I wanted to find out who the Expedition is really targeted to and how much it really improved over its predecessor B I Exterior At first glance I mistook it for the 2002 Explorer the Expedition looks very identical to it with the same front grill headlights bumper trims and overall body shape Maybe this helped Ford save money on the redesign I m wondering why they look so identical when the previous models of the Explorer and Expedition looked nothing alike I think some consumers are still weary about the Explorer after the whole Firestone mess so maybe this wasn t a smart design move The Expedition is 205 8 inches or 17 15 feet long 78 7 inches or 6 5 feet wide 77 6 or 6 46 feet tall It has a ground clearance of 8 9 inches and weighs in somewhere around 5 600 lbs depending on the engine and if it s 2WD or 4WD Color options for the Eddie Bauer Edition include white dark green black light green red and dark blue There is no silver option yet and I prefer silver but that s just me But you d think it would be an option because it s a basic color Color options for the XLT model include a plain beige tan dark green black dark gray light green red blue while silver and light blue All are plain everyday colors but I suppose it would look a little funny in bright yellow aqua or even the iridescent blue Honda offers But I would still like to see some metallic orange tones and maybe a dark plum purple b CON b Overall the looks are bland lacking the ability to turn heads but clean The Expedition does sport a lot of black plastic on the exterior like many new SUV Trucks depending on what trim options you get I m not really fond of that because it s a maintenance pain requiring regular polishing so it does not turn white in the sun I used to gripe about polishing the front and back bumpers on my old Tercel it took a lot of elbow grease get the plastic to absorb the polish and it was time consuming The Expedition has a lot more plastic than my old Tercel I recommend getting it professionally detailed every 6 months to keep up the plastic but that can cost around 200 for a vehicle that size each time Interior It s hard to say what people like in interiors everyone seems to want something different Some look for leather polished wood and a dial clock I ve never figured that out while others may want a unique layout with cool upholstery design colored gauges and lots of light up goodies But I think most want the interior to feel like a home away from home whether it s conservative or bold But it s not quite as easy to customize your car interior as it is your home I think Ford tried to please everyone with the Expeditions interior but did it with as little statement as possible and no real boldness and seemingly sucking the sport out of sport utility vehicle I say this because it s a little on the bland side according to Ford s site and the one I drove there is only one color option for the interior so far It s tan or light beige with a tan and black plastic like dashboard Because the dash is so big there is a lot of negative space on it with no controls or vents making it seem like an ocean of plastic I would prefer more storage cubbies instead of wasted space There s a large gap between the climate control panel and the stereo of just black plastic The steering wheel is beige but the background is black creating a strange mismatched feeling The power controls are located on the door armrest area and were easy to reach but did not get in the way The captains chair for the drivers seat is nice offering an armrest on either side The leather is comfortable but gets very hot in the sun may want to consider a seat cover for the summer The gauges are standard black background with back light Again this is bland old styling It would be nice if they used a white background instead like the Escape or even get a little crazy with the new metallic tones such as the Matrix Vibe duo The climate control vents are large and round and the AC seems to cool down the cabin fairly quick considering the size Both the 2nd and 3rd row of seats fold down creating 110 cubic feet of storage CON b But the seats only fold down they can t come out so they re still there taking up space Most minivans have an advantage in that aspect because both rows of seats can be removed creating more storage space The storage space isn t bad but not good compared to many minivans The Toyota Sienna has 133 4 cubic feet the Honda Odyssey has 146 1 cubic feet and finally the Kia Sedona has 127 5 cubic feet of storage with the seats removed all more than the large Expedition The Expedition only has 20 7 cubic feet of storage behind the 3rd row of seats while the Sienna has 26 6 cubic feet the Odyssey has 38 1 cubic feet and the Sedona has 21 8 cubic feet again susprisingly more than the Expedition For head room the Expedition has 39 7 inches of headroom for the front row 39 8 inches for the 2nd row and 38 2 for the 3rd while the Honda Odyssey has more with 41 2 inches for the first row 40 0 for the 2nd and 38 9 for the 3rd In fact even the new small to mid sized Honda Pilot SUV has more head room than the Expedition at 41 9 inches for the 1st row 40 9 inches for the 2nd row and 38 9 inches for the 3rd If you re interested in the Expedition for space and cargo capacity looks like a minivan would be the better choice An optional feature is the 3rd row of seats can powered down by using switch in the back reached when the back is opened up I m not sure that s really helpful and I wonder how that can go wrong in the future I would rather the seats be removable to open more space than powered down B I Engines There are two V8 engine options for the 2003 Expedition The first is the standard SOHC 2 Valve 4 6 liter V8 with 232 hp and 291 lbs of torque at 3 450 rpm Though it sounds powerful sadly it does not seem to carry the Expedition s weight well The Chevy Avalanche comes with a 285 hp engine that gets about the same gas mileage as this engine and it didn t seem much better Depending on 4WD the gas mileage on this model varies from 14 19 to 14 18 However you may not get this mileage right away I have read from other Ford owners that there seems to be a break in time of lower gas mileage for the first few months The 2nd engine is the optional SOHC 2 Valve 5 4 liter V8 with 260 hp and 350 lbs of torque at 2 500 rpm This is an improvement but the gas mileage is between 13 18 to 13 17 depending on 4WD This engine can tow up to 8 900 lbs The gas tank capacity is 28 gallons giving you 394 miles to 532 miles to a tank depending on engine type and city of highway driving and can cost between 45 to 60 or more to fill up the tank depending on gas prices in your area b CON b The gas mileage is a major gripe about the Expedition no improvements here I realize something of this size needs power but it s insulting when a V6 minivan that gets about 25 MPG can hold as much or more than the 2003 Expedition About 3 years ago Ford was making noises about a hybrid 200 hp V6 engine that gets around 40 MPG and possibly a V8 version with the new hybrid technology When it was first mentioned in 2000 I think the targeted release date was in 2003 But that seems to have faded possibly due to profit loss But if Ford can produce a mainstream SUV with a hybrid engine I think it would give them the market edge they need to recover the lost profit and change the standards for SUVs But I guess that technology is beyond Ford at this point and we ll have to leave it to the Japanese to introduce the first US hybrid SUV Ford can comply with car standards and have the new Expedition can achieve mileage of 17 22 or higher but Ford choose to keep the Expedition in the old utility class where the gas mileage requirements are lower they save money on manufacturing and the consumer pays more for gas Most consumers buying this model will not be using it for utility but more as a minivan commuter car In that aspect someone needs to tell Ford we re moving forward not backwards in technology B I Handling Handling is one of the major improvements in the next generation Expedition and I will say it s quite an improvement Road noise and wind shear seem to be non existent It s a quiet ride unless you have the stereo cranked But it was almost too quiet I found myself getting sleepy maybe boredom played a role in this as well The power steering was very easy and somewhat responsive and the brakes seem to work well But don t take that for granted something of this size and weight has a lot longer stopping distance than a car I don t recommend tailgating anybody in this because you may not have enough time to stop if they slam on the brakes The overall handling was a little mushy because it felt like the body was reluctant to turn with the wheel making tight turns a challenge It has independent front and rear suspension While I did not get to take it off roading I would imagine it would do well B I Standard Features b PROS b Standard features include Keyless entry pad and remote keyless entry 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS child safety seat anchors dual front airbags leather seats Eddie Bauer power steering low profile roof rack 17 wheels 40 60 bench seats in the first row XLT only captains chairs standard on Eddie Bauer 3rd row bench seats tilt steering column cruise control CD cassette stereo power windows power locks and dome light B I Optional Features An optional feature that proves the Expeditions minivan likeness is DVD rear seat entertainment center It offers 7 screen that folds down from the ceiling and a control panel with headphone jacks A interesting feature but I m sure parents will agree that if this kind of entertainment is needed a Gameboy or two is much cheaper and portable Other optional features include Safe canopy system tire pressure sensing power fold down 3rd seat climate controlled front seats Eddie Bauer only 4WD 2nd row captains chairs power fold 3rd row seats front hooks with 4WD only and moonroof B I Safety One safety concern about SUVs minivans and any vehicle with open storage area in the cabin is in the event of a bad accident any large items in the cabin such as a cooler groceries supplies for a beach trip or a sheet of wood can hit passengers and cause injuries or worse So if your in the habit of driving with a lot of stuff in the car all the time you may want to rethink that or look into putting some kind of wall or separating barrier between it and the cabin that s strong and will not come loose easily One thing mentioned in the ads is a Safe Canopy System with roll over sensor What the heck is that Well it s an optional safety feature that s basically a wall of side airbags lining the 1st and 2nd row of seats The roll over sensor allows the airbags to stay inflated it the vehicle is rolling and will deflate when it stops rolling I can t decide if this is comforting or scary with all the roll over controversy around SUVs but I did chuckle a little at the irony if I were a better comedian I could base a whole routine of this alone CON b This system does not cover the 3rd row of seats kind of cheesy If you re going to advertise such a complex safety system for a so called large family vehicle make sure it protects all passengers The 2002 model did very well in the government crash test ratings however the close relative the F 150 did horribly in the IIHS tests Because this is so new it s too soon to get crash test ratings on it I would assume Ford would only improve from the 2002 model Warranty The 2003 Expedition has a 3 year 36 000 mile bumper to bumper warranty 5 year 50 000 warranty on the safety restraint system and a 5 year 100 000 mile power train warranty B I Resale Like a minivan I think most people buy a vehicle like this hoping they won t have to drive it for a long time maybe just until the kids grow up or until the boat phase is over Mainly because it s expensive uses a lot of gas is a pain to wash and not the most exciting thing to drive So it s important that a vehicle of this price range holds a high resale value Being a new redesigned model that can be a gamble especially with possible gas problems in the future I recommend taking a look at reviews of older Expeditions from owners and look at what used Expeditions are selling for You can check listings nationally at http www cars com Parting Shots Despite the changes and improvements the 2003 Expedition does not stand out from the competition but comes across as another run of the mill SUV The looks are nothing to get excited about power is mediocre while gas mileage is poor and space seating capacity are average While it does have a promise of improved safety and improvements in handling and suspension for off roading uses the 32 000 to 42 000 price tag and yuppie soccer mom feel may not appeal to the class that will go off roading Overall the 2003 Expedition is a nice vehicle in terms of some what luxury with refined off road handling But I did not find it fun to drive When I say fun I mean something that handles with a little spirit is easy to drive and park and a little different unique in some aspects from other vehicles in it s class Like the looks of the Toyota Matrix Pontiac Vibe or the above average power and gas efficiency of the Nissan Sentra Spec V or even the new hybrid technology and looks of the Toyota Prius But I did not find any of these qualities in the 2003 Expedition I like something I can look forward to driving every morning but I think I would look forward to the Expedition about as much as I would to a bowl of bran cereal with skim milk There is nothing special about it and I can see where it can be classified with the tan minivan in terms of excitement Even though it has more luxury qualities it by no means has the reputation or demands the attention that one would get driving a luxury sedan such as a Lexus or an Acura that I think luxury buyers are looking for Nor is it as fun to drive because it s more sluggish and the handling is mushy I don t think luxury buyers want to be mistaken for a dreaded soccer mom even if they are taking their kids to soccer practice It gets a 2 star rating As stated in my Avalanche review my major complaint goes something like this The newest Expedition is another Ford contribution to the SUV Truck power craze that has brought dreams of big bucks to the big Detroit three and I must say I m not impressed As an answer to the now outdated SUV craze we are starting to see a lot of these over powered utility vehicles that are being shoved down consumers throats with high price tags through extreme advertising The problem By using loopholes in the emissions standards American and other auto manufacturers make more profit by selling vehicles such as SUVs and SUV like trucks classified as utility vehicles designed for utility not for commuting or everyday uses Problem is they re being advertised and sold as everyday use cars The Reason Selling a utility vehicle is cheaper for a manufacturer is because there is 33 mileage and emission standards required However consumers are the ones reamed with the extra fuel costs but the manufacturers are saving money and that s what s important right These loopholes have allowed American manufacturers to become dependant on the profit from selling more utility vehicles than cars A good example of this is Ford s latest advertising campaign with Bill Ford talking I ve only seen two versions of these commercials for trucks and for SUVs just their utility vehicles Not for efficient family sedans or compact cars because Ford does not make a lot of profit on those I wouldn t have a problem with large trucks and large SUVs if they had more efficient engines and better safety ratings It just seems that the consumers and the environment are the losers in this greedy game of profit Pardon my instantaneous rage I just read a disturbing article on how America s gas consumption and emissions pollution has nearly tripled since 1985 because of the SUV boom and what the government is not doing about it I like American vehicles as much as the next American but it seems that the Detroit three are shooting themselves in the foot by manufacturing all these trucks and SUVs we don t need with old standards when gas prices are going up the environment is becoming more of a concern and there is a big oil controversy on whether or not to drill in Alaska If the standards were tighter and they did not use the loopholes to manufacturer America would never need to drill in Alaska and gas prices would probably be cheaper now Agree Don t agree The comment section is open 6 25 02 I came across this article that s rather disturbing today http www thecarconnection com index asp article 5020 Other vehicles to consider Honda Odyssey Has more styling looks more versatile space better gas mileage great crash test ratings will seat 7 is cheaper and can even tow up to 3 500 lbs Ford Focus Wagon Has lots of cargo space head room good looks good gas mileage American brand is cheaper and comfortably seats 5 Honda Pilot Cheaper smaller better gas mileage seats 8 tows up to 4 500 lbs and has more head room Thanks for reading " Neg," After owning a 1999 Expedition XLT for 2 years and being very pleased with it in every aspect I expected the same from the 2003 Expedition Exterior looks great except for being a follower of the new Explorer but I have nothing against that I particularly loved the new interior design The third row seating is a vast improvement in the new Expedition I did not have the power fold option for the third row which is not a problem when letting the seat down but getting it back up is a little tricky I was pleased with the performance of the 5 4V8L and the independent rear suspension The handling of the truck was much better than the old model The wider mirrors were great just watch what you re doing when pulling into the garage But on to other things my truck had a constant rattle coming from both the driver and passenger side doors This absolutely drove me crazy I took the truck to the shop 4 times for repair with no success The dealer called in a Senior Engineer from Ford but he never determined exactly what the cause was So at that point I was extremely disappointed with the workmanship of the truck I hated getting into it each morning knowing I had to listen to the rattle for the 45 minute drive to work We tried to get Ford to buy the truck back but we got the run around They told us that it was a problem with the new design and they were going to develop a solution but as of right then they didn t have one To me it seems they were telling us just to DEAL WITH IT We have a really bad feeling about Ford and the new Expedition I really liked the truck and thought I would never go back to a car or smaller SUV but I did I now own a Jeep Grand Cherokee I didn t think I could love a vehicle as much as I love my Cherokee " Neg," My daughter recently took over control of the Family 99 Explorer Plus I just dumped our van With this I decided that maybe my 3 seat explorer wasn t quite as big as I once thought So I am shopping for a Full size SUV I hate mini vans Besides I need 5 cars like a hole in the head First Impression God this thing is huge It looks a lot bigger than a Tahoe but in reality its about the same size I liked the choice of exterior color although a rust color would look great I did not like the major use of plastic It gave it a cheap look Drive train The 4wd unit I drove had the 5 4 V 8 Plenty of power The gas gauge was at a quarter of a tank when I started the test drive and was dead on E when I returned I only drove 25 miles I did not like its handling very much either It leaned a lot and seemed bothered by large cross winds Plus this one had an annoying rattle in the roof Also it rode like a buck board My bum was very stiff Interior I liked the seats and I like how the dashboard was laid out But that is about all I liked It was just plastic and some faux leather stuff Plus I thought the DVD system took up to much room I did not stay in more than thirty minuets and that is about all I could stand Durability If the rattle was any indication it probably won t last very long " Neg," Ok let me start by saying I really enjoy driving this car It s low fairly spunky handles very well and looks great The front seats are comfortable although a bit difficult to climb in and out of The back seat is very small and not comfortable to ride in but I generally don t need room for more than 2 so this isn t a problem for me The trunk or hatch is pretty roomy and can be expanded by lowering the back seats Well now for the downside I bought this car in July of 1999 for just under book value I checked the title history and it had never been wrecked Since the time of purchase I have spent several thousand on repairs My first problem was the alternator After 2 days in the shop and a 200 bill I had it back and working fine Next came the ignition system requiring the distributor to be replaced for over 600 The next inspection required back brake calipers for around 300 My most recent problem is a bad headlight motor which sells for 400 Anyway these are just the major repairs Add this onto a new set of tires a timing belt oil changes and other general maintenance insurance and well you do the math All of this happened in under 12 months of driving I have really enjoyed driving this car when it was working properly It just hasn t done well at all for me Since purchasing this thing I ve been in contact with several other 93 amp 94 Probe GT owners with a similar story Taking all this into consideration I obviously can not recommend this vehicle Oh by the way mine is for sale if you re looking for one br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle used in 1997 It had only 42 000 miles on it a modest amount for Los Angeles and looked to be in great shape The previous owner certainly kept up the aesthetic quality of the car So I test drove the car and after doing a little research decided to buy it Well the problems started soon after that The first major repair was when there was short in the electrical components of the car s overdrive It would cause the car s RPMs to ramp up in spurts So I took it in and they had a hard time even finding the problem and then fixing it several days in the shop and several hundred dollars later I got it back Then I was driving home from work one day and a spark plug popped out of the engine block I know it sound implausible but it happened that required new wires The exhaust pipe broke at a seam in the middle that had to be soldered It was leaking tranny fluid from the pan All sorts of things that add up to a few hundred dollars And then the biggie a complete valve job and replacement of the O2 sensor It was leaking oil into the area of the spark plugs I found out that this is a COMMON problem of these 93 Probes That was 1400 and six days in the shop And then there are the minor things like the inner door panel on the driver side coming off The power window switch falling off the power attenae being power less The window fluid sprayer is basically not working There are a few noticeable rattles So this car at least for me has been nothing but a headache as well as a financial drain When it is operating it is fun car to drive I love the look of it and it certainly has some spunk with it s V6 although I wish it accelerated a bit better There is ample room in the trunk but equally quot un quot ample room in the rear seats for passengers The driver side seat doesn t really go back as far as I would like I would suspect for someone taller then me 5 10 quot it would be a problem But the seats themselves are quite comfortable It corners on a manhole cover i e very wide But it drives very comfortably especially if you like a fairly stiff ride I bought the car because I liked how it drove and looked My understanding is that the 93 and 94 models have a lot of problems 93 was the first year of their redesign which may explain a lot of the problems If you like the look and you like it when you test drive then if my experience is indicitive then perhaps you need to look at a 95 or later br br " Neg," I bought my 93 Ford Probe GT used in 1998 from a Jeep dealer STUPID I test drove the car and liked it because of the way it looked it was sporty and fun to drive It only had 48 000 miles on it with a purchase price of 9 995 which I now know was about 9 900 too much When we bought the car there was a couple of cosmetic things that needed fixed i e passenger side door panel falling off etc These were fixed within a few weeks About 6 months into our ownership some other not so cosmetic problems started happening brakes grinding loudly muffler not muffling normal wear and tear but things that should have been checked before the dealership sold the car We took the car in and 2 days later these simple things were fixed In October of 1999 approx 18 months after purchase came the motherlode The Probe overheated one morning when I got to work I shut the car off and fluids started draining from what seemed like everywhere under the hood The dealer I bought the car from came to my location and picked up the car After they looked at it they assessed that the water pump had gone out the oil pan gasket was leaking and it basically needed a valve job Thank GOD for extended warranty I was without my car for approximately 1 1 2 weeks Total cost for that job was around 1500 Then when I got the car back the quot Check Engine quot light was on I called the dealership back and asked why the light was now coming on when it was not before They looked at the car again and found they thought that the Mass Airflow Sensor was bad 226 They replaced it but it did not fix the problem Then they thought the O2 sensor was bad another 200 some replaced it to no avail Finally they told me after another week that they thought the EGR valve had gone bad but that it would not be covered under warranty 310 for the part alone I explained to them that even though they considered this a quot wear and tear quot part I should not have to pay for it We went back and forth I took the car back and drove it engine light flashing in my face and all until I contacted the Better Business Bureau and a local television station The dealership finally agreed to do the replacement I scheduled my appointment and took the car in It took them about 3 days to get the part When they replaced the EGR valve guess what it did not fix the problem Surprise surprise So they cleaned some vacuum lines etc still could not find the problem After about a week in the shop they decided to send it to the Ford dealer down the street and let them look at it Two and a half weeks later I get my car back but only after they put the car on their computer it told them a part to replace they replaced it and it didn t fix the problem Ultimately I think it turned out to be a problem with a vacuum pump or something Now 8 months later yet another seemingly quot impossible to figure out quot problem has surfaced On July 1 2000 my car quit running unexplainably Three different repair shops have looked over the car trying to determine if it is an electrical problem which I now understand these cars are notorious for having or a fuel problem No one can seem to figure it out So now I m back to the Ford dealer on Monday I wonder if they can pinpoint the problem I don t have a whole lot of faith I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone unless you have money to just throw away and a backup car to drive about every 6 months for about a month at a time and if you are just looking for a headache br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle from a friend in 1999 he made me an offer I couldn t refuse The car is beautiful sporty and ahead of its time Overall the Probe is a great looking car The body is very stylish today even though it was made in 93 it s an eye catcher There have been no major problems with rust I love all of the options ex power sunroof power seats spoiler alarm ect The Probe GT has a lot of power with it s V6 engine It also handles well in the snow and rain The front seats are very comfortable and adjust to accommodate your liking However the back seats have virtually no legroom and are not designed for the comfort of backseat passengers The ride is a little stiff and bumpy but generally speaking it s enjoyable Unfortunately I have had a lot of repairs made in the short time I have owned it All mechanics I have been to say that it is a tough car to work on Not to mention every little piece of the 93 GT is expensive to replace In the 8 months I have owned the car I have had replaced or fixed All 4 tires 350 Throttle sensor 200 all spark plugs 100 Tune up 200 Muffler system front to back 450 I also had the transmission worked on several times The mechanics couldn t find the problem until the third time I brought it in to them Finally they had taken it to the local Ford dealer and diagnosed it with a short in the transmission as well as being burnt up The whole system was replaced Luckily it was still under warranty from the person who owned it before me He had paid 1 000 only a few months prior One problem I have now is that the Rpm s are very jumpy I think this may have something to do with the computer as 93 GT s are known to have problems with this I have no washer reservoir for the front windshield because it had cracked I was told by Ford that the reservoir alone would cost 200 I had the entire sound system replaced the stock CD player broke only a few weeks after I bought the car and the speakers were already in need of replacement The problem with this is that the EQ only works with the stock CD player I had called Ford about replacing the old one with a new stock radio and the cost was 500 In turn I replaced it with an after market stereo which disabled my equalizer but my new system is fantastic I have a few squeaks and rattles that I probably should have checked out but with the cost of everything on this car I m afraid to find out Once I regain some money I will probably sell my 93 GT I have a few suggestions for anyone thinking of buying a 1993 Ford Probe GT Take into consideration the mileage if it s high don t buy Find out how many people have owned the car Don t forget that it s a sports car it may have been be abused Understand that you most likely will have problems with this car and be prepared to dish out a lot of money I would look into a different year and or model Another member of my family owns a first generation Probe 1989 and hasn t had too many problems even with 160 000K They are fairly reasonable to fix too " Neg," I bought this car on December 31 1998 Since I have had nothing but problems In May of 1999 my transmission let go This happened at 60 mph on the highway Transmission specialists rate the Probe as a Specialty car Therefore the repair price was inflated 3 000 All the specialists I contacted claimed it was a VERY complicated job I did find someone to do it for 1 500 The drawback was the Probe ended up being in their shop for a month Next the intake manifold gasket let go Again I heard SPECIALTY car Again I heard complicated to fix I received a quote of 300 5 for the gasket 295 for the LABOR I did find a decent mechanic who did the job for 150 I don t know if mechanics in others areas use the word SPECIALTY as an excuse to jack up the price In my area it seems to be the norm Ford Probes are known to have electrical problems So far mine have been minor just turn signals Just last week I got a flat Of course this happens to any make or model car The price for tires is higher than average According to the tire dealer the tires are specific SPECIALTY I GUESS to the car I have very little faith in the car s dependability I am just waiting to see what will go wrong next I bought the PROBE because of her looks She s a beauty Therefore I am NOT surprised by the problems I had hoped the FORD CO had paid some attention to mechanical parts I love the way she drives when in tiptop condition She s smooth as a baby s butt and purrs like a kitten Upkeep of course will continue to remain a problem It is fine for folks who have the budget to keep up with it Money is not the only factor The inconvenience and the waiting associated with the Probe going in and out of the shop is frustrating It s a nice little car but keep the Excedrin handy When I purchased this car it had 71 000 miles I have heard the engines last till somewhere around 150 000 All one can do is hope If you re considering purchasing a Probe please keep an eye out for its SPECIALTY problems TRANSMISSION and ELECTRICAL I really think it s best suited as a SECOND car br br " Neg," I can not place this vehicle on my love it or hate it list because both are true In 1996 my husband and I decided to purchase a new car He wanted something he could tow things with and keep his tools in I wanted something with four doors so I would not have to fight with car seats We searched around our area and came across the perfect medium It had what we both wanted We bought this 1992 Ford Explorer quot Eddie Bower quot Edition SUV We were both happy with our purchase We made our purchase in October of 1996 By May of 1997 we had to replace the transmission I attributed this to my husband going four wheeling in a two wheel drive vehicle This venture cost us 1900 We shipped the truck to Germany and for three years we prayed that we would not have transmission problems We did once but my husband was able to fix that on his own We did however have problems with the starter We replaced it several times while in Germany This ran us 300 each time We attributed that to the weather in Germany All of this puts us in the year 2000 We return from Germany and embark on a road trip from Pennsylvania to Texas Our move involved towing a trailer We were assured by the Ford Dealer and the transmission shop that the transmission would hold up for the trip They were wrong We made it as far as Odessa Texas To be exact we made it to mile marker 104 on I 10 That is where we were stranded because the transmission blew out Four days and 1900 later we have yet another transmission It is under a 90 day guarantee We are assured that we will no longer have problems with the transmission Sixty five days later my husband is on foot because the transmission has gone out AGAIN We now have to tow the truck over 200 miles to get the transmission replaced under the warranty Another 342 we have to spend just getting the truck to the destination Not to mention the money of getting there to get the truck when it is fixed It seems everyone knew about the problems with Ford A Cs another review all together starters and transmissions They just all seemed to forget until after we had all the problems The above is why I hate the Explorer This is why I love it It is paid for I have the title for it It is roomy I love that it has the 60 40 seats There is plenty of room for suitcases and tools all at the same time The car seats all fit comfortably I have had three bulky car seats in the back at one time Being a short woman I love the adjustment switches that allow me to be close enough and hight enough to see over the steering wheel This is funny to my husband because he has to move the seat back before he can even get in the truck When I am in my Explorer I feel as big as the other people on the road I will be upset when we sell the Explorer for the reasons listed above You can bet that I will look for something larger so I do not feel like a short person on the road I love my Explorer but I hate that I do not have deep enough pockets to keep it " Neg," I bought this car new in September 1992 principally because my wife and daughter liked the Forest Green color SUV s were popular then and my wife liked the idea of being higher than the rest of the traffic The truck is somewhat bouncy and if you are on a rough road you really feel it The good thing about the setup is the chair height Your knees are closer to a ninety degree angle when you ride and that is a lot easier on your back than a sedan While the body style may be unstable in sharp turns it sure holds a lot of haulage I have used it to truck each one of my kids to college I have found the truck to eat front brake pads I average around 15k a set I also think that there are problems with the design of the truck The catalytic converter is in a place where it heats the transmission and causes it to fail early It is also near the front control arm bushing and heats it so that it fails early These are expensive repairs The front suspension needed replacement as well At around 120K the transmission failed in a catastrophic manner and it cost around 2 200 00 to replace with a remanufactured unit My dilemma is this The truck still looks great It has around 138k on it at this point The engine is still tight However the AC Delco remanufactured transmission is now starting the same death dance as the old one Right now reverse is slow to engage when it is cold This is how the other transmission started to fail According to the transmission guy I deal with this is a common problem with Explorers He has one and his transmission does the same thing The truck is still expensive to keep up It is always needing something like brakes tie rod ends exhaust parts and such I have also detected weeping around the water pump I don t know whether to sell it now or keep it for the long haul This truck is for someone who likes to make a good appearance and has deep pockets for maintenance It is not for someone who appreciates fuel economy or low maintenance cost The 1992 Explorer is an early version and there are a lot of bugs in it Some of the bugs were worked out in the 1995 makeover However it looks like the biggest bug the tendency to roll over will not be worked out until the 2002 model " Neg," I inherited BOB T named by my brother stands for big old brown truck for my birthday 4 months ago I paid a symbolic 1500 and while I love it I m ready to sell it I d always wanted an SUV after a few years of driving my teeny tiny Toyota Tercel so I was thrilled to get my brother s Explorer When I got it it had just over 101k miles on it At first I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the seats were and with all the nifty little places to store stuff like under the front arm rest I was even more delighted to see that my gas mileage was much better than expected I get about 20 23 mpg in the city and about 25 on the highway The acceleration is pretty darn good I oftentimes beat sporty little cars out of stoplights Once the initial delight wore off that s when the problems started Now I understand that my BOB T is 11 years old but my brother took care of it well so I didn t expect to be shelling out this kind of money About 3 weeks after I got the truck I had to replace the tranny nice lil dent in my wallet All seemed well for a week but it started slipping again I took it back to the dealership and they fixed that problem to the tune of 575 About 2 weeks later the brakes went out on me Back to the dealership and had the brakes replaced my wallet is taking a serious beating by now The brakes haven t worked properly since then and no dealership or mechanic has been able to fix the issue Just two weeks ago I was driving down a busy street parkway and the brakes went out on me again This time I couldn t pump the brakes to get this behemoth vehicle to stop I ended up losing control and hitting a guardrail I didn t do any serious damage to myself or the truck thank God But to add insult to injury as I was creeping back home from my little accident the tranny slipped severely and I almost ran into the back of an ice cream truck At that point I just had the thing towed to the dealership and told them that it was now their problem They fixed the braked and the tranny again this time to the tune of 2400 my wallet can t take much more of this torture The last time I drove the truck was 4 days ago when I brought it home from the dealership I m a little scared to drive it I kind of look at it as a deathtrap now So now it s a very nice driveway decoration Although I ve had some serious mechanical issues I love this Explorer because it can haul some major stuff I was able to haul all of my stuff home from college in one trip that s nothing to sneeze at considering I had everything but the kitchen sink in my dorm room I love the feeling of being up higher than everyone else and it s a great vehicle to take on camping trips with a whole bunch of friends My best advice you want an SUV buy it new that way the warranty should take care of most any mechanical issue you can have These are great vehicles but older SUV s like mine are best left for off roading and camping not your everyday commute " Neg," I bought this because I needed 4WD and wanted something popular that I could easily resell I bought it used at 128k and have put about 60k on it In the 22 months of ownership I have spent over 6 500 in repairs and have replaced the A C the transmission the 4WD gears and lots of minor stuff The thing is my repair shop to whom I am very loyal explained they see the same repairs over and over on Explorers This is the 2 A C replacement and the 2nd transmission replacement I put a lot of highway miles on my cars and have had this truck in 4WD for less than 100 miles total I change the oil and have it serviced like a good boy and they fellow from whom I bought it was a nutcase for servicing This truck as popular as it has been is not engineered to last I will not buy another one of these " Neg," My Ford Explorer was the first vehical i have ever bought on my own The thing after i bought it was great Loved it to death I owned the road in it and i loved working on it Then one day the transmission went out No big deal i thought this happens after 138 000 miles After that all was good for awhile till something else broke When ever one thing would break it would break something else I spent over 1200 fixing sensors that blew each other out Finally the last straw was when my engine blew Evidently a bearing went out and is causing the crankshaft to walk out of the engine ITs off the road now waiting to be rebuilt then sold to some other unlucky person Driving it was great Off road or on road i only got stuck once i was dumb and it hugged the road In my buddies Explorer same year we spun out on a dirt road goin 55 and was going sideways down the road I figured we would have flipped over but it stayed stuck to the road when we hit the clay embankment injuries were non existant and the total damage was around 1000 It took the beating with out a problem I was in a fender bender in mine and all i had was a scratch on my bumper when the lady had to get a whole new grill and stuff I think the problem was that my bumper hit her grill hood Too bad for the small car This is a great truck for someone who wants to rebuild it and modify it but not for someone with a small budget me The costs of keeping the engine and sorts working with this many miles on it was just too much br br " Neg," First I would like to state that I did not choose to buy my 92 Ford Explorer My parents bought this sports utility vehicle for me on my sixteenth birthday With out any knowledge of this vehicle they bought it blindly from an auction no less one thing that you should never do As I was looking up good and bad trucks to buy from consumer reports it states that this years ford explorer was a bad choice to buy because it has many problems I absolutely hate this vehicle for the fact that every time I would like to go somewhere something goes wrong with it Every 1000 miles I have to fill the oil up one quart and it is such a pain to deal with Then another thing that goes wrong with this car is that the windows or electrical problems have started to arise If you have ever rode a horse it is the same feeling as riding in this truck Anyone who wants to buy this vehicle would be a fool br br " Neg," It s 8 30 AM and I am on my way to work in my economy Toyota Cruising in the fast lane I notice a Ford Excursion poking along in the slow lane ahead of me As I get closer to passing it I notice the wall of SUV next to me getting closer to me I slam on my breaks and the Excursions back end barley misses taking off the front end of my Toyota as it moves into the fast lane in front of me Did the driver even see me Were they even looking Maybe those big mirrors on the side weren t aimed low enough to pick up my car If they d hit me would they have noticed Now driving behind the mammoth I can see the silhouette of the driver the only person in it through the back windows Ah the driver is on a cell phone I honked and flashed my lights but I don t think they noticed Okay this review is not just trashing the Excursion I m mainly writing it to bring up a few important points about large SUVs to consider before purchasing As you know large SUVs have been stirring up a lot of controversy lately that buyers should know about before purchasing I recently purchased a new car but considered an SUV first and did a lot of research into them and promptly changed my mind First of all there are lots off hidden costs on large SUVs like the Excursion Of course unless you have 40 000 to spend on one you are going to have a high car payment Which is obvious most consumers expect this But did you budget the high fuel cost as well A Ford Excursion weights about 7 600 pounds Because of this it has a V8 or a V10 engine Which means it gets 12 5 miles per gallon or less the V10 averages 7 miles per gallon My Toyota gets 7 times that mileage Meaning that an Excursion driver is paying on average 4 to 7 times more for gas that a car driver This will add somewhere between 175 to 350 a month to your car payment Still think you can afford this Then lets talk insurance Because the Excursion is big and heavy if the driver gets into an accident like what almost happened to me above it will cause a lot of property damage and injuries that your insurance company will have to pay for On top of that there is a big risk that the drivers or drivers family of the smaller cars will sue you Which means you and or your insurance company could be out a lot of money They plan for this by charging a lot higher premium on SUVs than normal size cars You should get a quote from your insurance company first Now on average the Excursion puts out over 3 times or more with a V10 the carbon dioxide of a normal sized car This really angers people who care about the environment and causes them to do things to protest against this One of the popular things is SUV tagging Where they ll put bumper stickers on your SUV say mean things like your changing the climate and you don t care about the air Please check out the sites I have listed below for more information on this http abcnews go com sections us DailyNews madtaggers001225 html http www baaction org SUVticket index html http www idontcareaboutair com bumpers index shtml http www charm net marc chronicle suv may01 html http poseur 4x4 org topten html This is a new trend and who knows where it will go But do you want to constantly worry about your expensive SUV being vandalized and then pay for the repairs That s just more costs to worry about Like keeping your vehicle in your garage Not the Excursion and most large SUVs they won t fit unless you have a custom garage I bet that s expensive also Or just leave it out side all the time and worry about vandalism One more popular misconception about large SUVs is that they are safer for families For the most part they are not Especially Fords The new VW Beetle gets better crash test ratings that most Ford SUVs and trucks Do your research first " Neg," Sport and Sport Trac carry on for 2003 with some safety and equipment revisions to their 1995 vintage Explorer design the more popular Explorer 4 dr wagon was redesigned last year see separate entry Sport is a 2 dr wagon Sport Trac has a 4 dr SUV cabin but gets a 4 ft long pickup truck bed in lieu of an enclosed cargo area Both use a V6 engine with manual or 5 speed automatic transmission They offer rear wheel drive or Ford s ControlTrac 4WD that can be left engaged on dry pavement and includes low range gearing ABS is standard For 03 Sport Trac gets the 4 wheel disc brakes already standard on Sport Sport Trac is also due for optional curtain side airbags later in the model year Sport loses its optional front side airbags Newly available on both models are heated front seats and during the year Sport Trac is expected to add an option package with a high end sound system and special wheels New to the class this year Honda Pilot has taken the lead as a Best Buy It offers ample cargo space seating for eight passengers all wheel drive with a locking rear differential for added traction and above average refinement Toyota Highlander is our other Best Buy chosen for its on road competence convenience and attractive pricing and design Year to year sales for the three model Explorer line Sport 2 dr Sport Trac pickup and 4 dr wagon dipped 6 6 percent in calendar 2001 a decent showing given the year s turbulent events First half 2002 sales were down a nomimal 0 7 percent vs the year earlier period also not bad under the circumstances The mainstay 4 door wagon got off to a slow start but the factors working against it apparently have less effect on demand for the two Sport models Acceleration V6 provides good off the line power and fine around town response feeling overtaxed only in highway passing or on mountain upgrades Fuel Economy Test Sport and Sport Trac models averaged 15 16 mpg in our tests about par for a 6 cyl midsize SUV Ford recommends 87 octane fuel Ride Quality Sport Trac has a longer wheelbase than the Sport and a far better ride though it s still unforgiving over sharp bumps especially the 4WD model Sport has a bouncy unpleasant ride on most any surface Steering Handling Braking Sport Trac has more accurate steering and takes corners with slightly less body lean than Sport though both handle with reasonable balance and confidence Quietness Not car quiet but not excessively loud for a truck based wagon though tire and wind noise rise markedly with speed Instruments Controls Interior Materials Straightforward and logical but a mild stretch to climate controls Power window switches are illuminated Sport Trac s novel back window powers up and down at touch of dashboard button great for ventilation Materials range from serviceable to leather fancy workmanship is solid Room Comfort Driver Seating front Step in height is slightly taller than SUV norm but there s plenty of room and a comfortable driving position Room Comfort rear Sport Trac s rear seat is roomier than that of any compact crew cab pickup There s ample space for two adults and three can squeeze in Sport s 2 dr body makes getting in and out a real chore and for cramped accommodations once aboard Seat in both models is hard and lacks much shoulder support Cargo Room Good in cabin storage and both models split rear seatback folds in single motion without removing the headrests Sport has ample cargo room and separate opening liftglass For Sport Trac we recommend the optional bed extender that effectively lengthens the bed about 2 ft Both models have undercarriage spare tire storage Value within Class The uncomfortable 2 dr Sport is of limited appeal while the Sport Trac has a deserved following based on its unique blend of passenger space and open bed versatility " Neg," I have read many reviews on automobiles from aesthetic interior power warranty options etc points of view I believe an important but always neglected area though is from an undercar point of view and let me tell you most people are missing a very important part of researching a prospective major purchase by not being well enough informed about the running gear There are some very well engineered and built suspensions out there but all the same some very weak and suspect ones in my opinion and my purpose is to help you make a more informed decision If a decision is being made between one of a few different vehicles I hope to help you decide based on my experience which one will be better for you from the standpoint of strength of and reliability of one of the most important parts of the vehicle as a whole the steering and suspension system The Ford Contour unfortunately from an undercar standpoint falls into the category of a weak and suspect suspension I just read a great review by mkaresh on the Ford Contour from almost every other viewpoint but the undercar but he is an intellectual professional and I am a mechanical professional and I m quite sure he doesn t spend a lot of time on a dirty shop floor In times past I could look at my schedule at work and accurately predict by what vehicles were on it where I would be able to take a break because I would be sure I would just be writing an estimate and not doing an alignment on that one Unfortunately the Contour is starting to come into this category To start off with one of the things about the Contour that I don t like is that the ball joints and outer tie rods both are susceptible to premature wear out Neither are factory greasable but to be fair hardly any cars anymore allow for chassis lube In as little as 60 000 miles I have seen Contours needing both lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends replaced due to loosness It is not an extremely expensive repair but one would hope not to have to get that news at such a low mileage point I am sure if you are the original owner things should be covered under warranty but how many times has the dealer been very co operative with you and taken care of a warranty claim without any trouble But if you are the second owner Another bothersome problem cropping up with the Contour lately is the rear coil springs break They seem very small in diameter compared to other cars in this class and are in fact weak Usually in replacing coil springs on most vehicles you need a spring compressor to remove and replace springs due to the extreme pressure but I changed rear springs on a Contour not too long ago and was able to push the spring down and start the nut on the strut shaft with just hand pressure These were Ford motor company factory replacement springs and hopefully an aftermarket spring will be stronger The Contour is only toe adjustable not allowing for any caster adjustment nor front or rear camber adjustment so if you give it a little curb shot and it gets knocked out of align there just is no taking it to your tech and tweaking it back into align It is out and will stay out except for the toe angle If you are considering a new Contour read more reviews and weigh them out against this one to see if you can justify the purchase if you are considering a used one have it checked carefully by YOUR mechanic for the things mentioned above Hopefully this will help you in making an informed decision I for one would never own a Contour but I am basing this on just my experience from underneath you make the call " Neg," So I had to drive a rental car for close to a month and I had two choices The first was a Ford minivan which I simply would not drive under any circumstance The second choice was a Ford Contour and I have to tell you it was the worst car i ever sat behind the wheel in First off the Ford contour has all the visual appeal of Grandma s car in my humble opinion I suppose not a whole lot more can be expected from Ford Yes if you haven t noticed I am a touch biased But with that said I can honestly say I have not liked the look of one single Ford car since the early 90 s and the Contour is no exception The Interior is some what comfortable but the look is very drab There is no excitement to be found here An awkward factory stereo consumes most of the center console and the rest is used up by oversized dials for the heater and air conditioning One of my biggest problems with this car was the fact you couldn t turn the air conditioning on with the defroster on Now for those who don t live in cold weather the air conditioner will take the moisture out of the air and defog your windows Very poor design To top all the poor layout of the interior everything was just cheap cheap plastic Nothing fit snuggly so the whole cab of the car had rattles Even at less then a year old and almost no miles this car was in poor condition I hated driving it Now that I have pointed out some of the flaws of the interior of the car I will tell you how it drove It drove like a SUV Not only did it have a horribly stiff suspension when you hit bumps in the road but the car leaned like a SUV when you went around corners You would feel like you were about to roll the car taking a corner any faster then 25 It s acceleration was less then stellar as well Even with a V6 in the car you felt like it would take forever to get up to speed The throttle response was horribly slow as well If you needed to get some speed to make a pass you better plan ahead about three seconds Not only did the car take forever to get to speed it took just as long to stop Perhaps part of this problem is due to the incredibly cheap Firestones the car comes with I ended up having the ABS kick in no less then three times doing pretty standard stops When the ABS didn t kick in the car still took forever to stop due to its heavy weight This car needs to go on a serious diet Now the gas economy of this car was just as bad as everything else With my 80 mile commute every day I usually had to stop every other day and get twenty dollars in gas When I picked the car up from the rental company it had a quarter of a tank before I even got home I had a gass light flashing at me Another improvement that needs to be addressed are the headlights The high beams were average but the low beams were nonexistant If you drive at 35 mph at night with the low beams on you are overdriving them This car doesn t make a good commute car it doesn t make a good FUN car its not built well enough to be a family car I can t honestly think of anything good about this car It would be a nice treat if ford stopped designing plain cars that are cheap to mass produce and design something that is better built better to drive more practical and not so plain Agree or disagree with me if you like but this car goes into my books as a total blunder br br " Neg," My mother owns a 94 Ford Contour Special Edition four door sedan There have been Six SIX Manufacturer s recalls on various parts of the vehicle She was only notified of this AFTER the recalled item had effectively ruined another part of the automobile ex The wiper blades malfunctioned and gouged her winshield She takes impeccable care of it yet things are constantly falling apart The shop fixes one thing and another goes wrong Sure all cars have their weak points but it is ridiculous Definately not a car for someone who doesn t know how to do home repairs Other than that it s a good little car It has fast pick up excellent braking and the gas mileage is nothing short of miraculous for it s size I m almost sorry to put it down but consumers deserve the truth br br " Neg," I recently sold my 1 1 2 year old 1998 5 Ford Contour SVT What am I buying instead A 2000 BMW 323Ci This commentary will explain my recent and difficult decision First let me praise Ford s Special Vehicle Team for creating an extremely fun to drive and practical sports sedan Performance in the SVT is impressive based on a relatively small V 6 The engine is one of the top 5 most efficient engines in the world measured by HP divided by Liter Low end torque is not exceptional similar to other competing cars in the same class Mid range torque is adequate but high end torque is outright amazing All of the fun and acceleration in this car is over 4 000 RPM s all the way to about 6 500 RPM s It is not hard to chirp the tires shifting into second gear Handling is also superb nothing like a Contour SE Turn ins are sharp with almost no understeer I always enjoyed highway entrance ramps in the SVT by the time I reach the merge lane I could easily be going 80 MPH One thing the SVT is known for is its sweet exhaust note At idle it is a low rumble almost resembling a V 8 During acceleration the exhaust really comes to life If you are behind an SVT you WILL hear it accelerate As for the interior it is basic and functional The dash layout is not cluttered or overdone i e Pontiac Unfortunately it is very basic and almost seems to be missing something This is a result of Ford s quot decontenting quot on the interior since the inception of the Contour in 1995 As for the reason I sold the SVT for a BMW Two reasons overall quality and refinement My SVT was in for small pesky repairs on 3 occasions in the 18 months I owned it It started with a squeaky clutch pedal which is certainly annoying in rush hour traffic Next the paint on the sill panel below the driver s side door was beginning to peel This is unacceptable based on paint technology in today s cars Embarassing too Lastly the airbag indicator light began to blink intermittently Upon further examination the entire computer system was faulty and needed to be replaced I sold the car with 28 000 miles on it before the warranty expired and these pesky repairs started coming out of my pocket As for the BMW it may be more expensive than the SVT Contour approx 6 000 with similar options but it is a reliable refined sport sedan It has a better ride is quicker equal handling and I no longer have to deal with Ford dealerships Overall I would only recommend the SVT if you can live with pesky problems and have a well established relationship with the service manager of your local Ford dealership " Neg," My parents currently own a 98 Ford Contour the quot Sport quot version My dad says that this car is his biggest mistake he had ever made I always warned him about those Ford vehicles where quot Quality is our 1 Job quot hah This car has been recalled four times now that is quot Built Ford Tough quot It has comfort seating for people that are three feet tall When sitting in the back seat you find out how flexible you are and how far you can put your legs behind your head Good ol Ford engineering put the oil filter right above the exhaust manifold so where does all that oil drain onto The exhaust manifold and does it stink for at least three weeks after changing the oil YES Would I take this car if someone paid me to NO I think I would pay someone to take it away My dad does that now cause it won t start piece of FORD br br " Neg," Have you ever written an opinion only to have it be eaten by the server at the last second I have tried to write this several times now and with each revision I get a little less amused I would up renting the Contour because my minivan was getting new brakes The choices I had about driving my van until the parts came in no way borrowing a car from a family member haha or doing without led me to call the local U Rent It I was actually pretty pleased with the car It fit the three of us well there was an incredible amount of trunk space and I got really wonderful mileage about 36 mpg And then as I revised and revised certain things began to stand out in my mind I am not a tall woman I am not even five and a half feet tall And yet somehow I managed 50 of the time to bang my knee getting into the car I didn t need to readjust the seat or anything it was back as far as it could roll This is not a car for the NBA Then there was the issue of the trunk I like having space but not at the expense of rear seat safety The Contour has one of the folding back seats that instantly increases the trunk space I am always afraid of being rear ended and getting a passenger impaled as a result I don t trust the seat latches Most of my driving was normal stuff which is good because the Contour does not have enough pluck to get you onto the Interstate and merging Nor can it accelerate up hill This might be a good thing if you are trying to cure yourself of speeding but it drove me nuts The ergonomics of the air and radio controls were aligned in such a way that I had to wait and read the buttons to see what was where I don t like reading as I drive The arm rest between the passenger and driver s seat was interesting If it was down you could not use the drink cups or the storage and it was so high that I felt like I was resting my arm on a plane level with my heart There are some people this is going to be a great car for I am not one of them br br " Neg," I have purchased 2 Ford Contours in the past 2 years My reasoning for buying a Contour was the price I felt I was getting a pretty nice roomy some what sporty car for the money I needed a family car but did nt want a van or SUV With my first Contour I had very few problems besides the few recalls In August of 98 our Contour was in a accident It had flipped hitting numerous trees before coming to a stop Yes i was very surprised to hear that a Contour could be flipped by being ran off the road But that still didnt bother us we decided to buy another Contour in Sept 98 From September to December of 99 we received 7 recalls We returned 3 times for the same recall We had NUMEROUS problems with our new car Yet we still had faith in our car Until just last week Our car was in another accident trying to avoid a deer our car swerved as we tried to regain control of the car it also flipped In neither of our accidents did our air bags go off But yet they were both considered TOTALED I ask how can a semi family car have been so easily turned over not once but twice " Neg," I was lucky enough to get to drive my best friend s 2000 Ford Contour SE for a week and then drive it from New York state to Georgia I was pleasantly suprised with the overall performance of the car It felt very solid but was obviously not well built The entire top of the dashboard is peeling up near the base of the windshield and it looks awful for a 40k mile car Also the small pod that houses the power window switches on the driver s door feels very cheap and flimsy When you press one of the buttons the whole pod wiggles and creaks as if it is going to fall into the door if you press too hard I was not impressed with this However the car feels and sounds very solid overall and I was impressed The engine and transmission performance is questionable but not terrible The engine is snappy from a start and is powerful enough on the highway However due to it s small displacement of 2 0L it is weak on hills at any speed I also think the engine is a bit on the buzzy side It idles buzzy and is buzzy when revved up which it likes to do a lot Overall I think the engine is a good balance of performance and fuel economy at around 32mpg on the highway The transmission although silky smooth is a slow shifting dog of a tranny The shifts are very lethargic in nature The tranny shifts very slowly from gear to gear This can become a bit annoying in stop and go traffic when the transmsission up shifts even though you are already applying the brakes I realized that pushing the overdrive on off button to keep the car from shifting into overdrive helps the excessive shifting alot The front seating is very supportive with great bolstering to keep your tushy from sliding around during cornering I was really expecting my butt to be sore by the end of the 17 hour drive but it wasn t I also find the driving position to be very comfortable as well The stereo is a decent standard system Nothing too bad or too great just adequate The controls on the stereo are standard issue tick tack size Ford stereo buttons that can be a little tricky to use while driving The speaker performance seems a little weak but not horrible As far as the appearance of the car inside and out I think it s an attractive car although I prefer the front end styling of the previous design Contour I love the rear end styling It s attractive simple stylish and looks like it belongs on a much more expensive car The interior is modern attractive and functional overall I like the dashboard used on the Mercury Mystique better though My only major concern with this car is the overall reliability The trannies rarely last more than 100k miles These cars are also plaugued with electrical bugs Good luck to anyone who owns one Overall it s a very well designed car that was poorly executed " Neg," I drove this pathetic little car for a weekend as a rental in Detroit As I pointed out in the review of Detroit my arms were sore at the end of the weekend I was in town for a wedding and got the cheapo Hertz special at Detroit Airport I got myself an ugly gold Contour that I had to run out through the rain to get from the Hertz lot Now Detroit is a car city right Well these are some of the worst most beat up roads I have ever come across And the fine wheels of the Contour were putting all those bumps directly to my arms This thing felt like it was made of plastic except for the seats which were way too soft I am probably a little skewed because of the bad roads but this car had little going for it It had all the standard boring features of a mid size American car It had little gusto on the freeways although I didn t get a chance to try it on any hills because there apparently aren t any in Detroit The trunk was nice and big and the windshield wipers fine The maneuverability was fine if not well heeled The sightlines were fine I think that this car stood out most for what it didn t do stand out It was just another boring bad lifeless American car And I know a lot about those having grown up driving a Buick Regal and now the proud owner of a Mercury Sable Pony up a little more and try something besides the safe and boring American car " Neg," It s really too bad about my Contour It was an OK price The car is alot of fun to drive I have the SE version with the 170 hp V6 But I have the reoccuring NO START problem I go out to start it and about once a month it wont start Turns over fine but won t catch I have had it into Ford 7 times now and they can t seem to fix it I am currently intereing into Arbitration with Ford on it It s too bad because when it runs it is a blast to drive Fast as hell and corners like it is on rails With the 205 tires that came standard on the SE you can do anything and it will track great Worst cup holders in the world though I gave up drinking coffee in it after spilling about 3 fulls cups Also power window controls suck they are flush with the door and are very hard to operate br br " Neg," I have some bad news and I have some good news The bad news is that my car is in the repair shop with a leaking gas line More bad news is I not only have to incur the expense of the repair but I have to incur the expense of renting a car as it s a holiday weekend and my car won t be done for several days and I can t drive it like it is for fear that I ll blow up Now for the good news I guess Just when I was cursing my car and thinking about buying another the Ford Contour has made me appreciate my own vehicle at least I know I will appreciate it once the repair is done There are three things I like about this 1999 4 door Ford Contour that I ve been driving for the past few days one being the comfort of the driver s seat two being a nice cold air conditioner and three being a fairly roomy back seat My Geo Prism lacks in those departments Other than those items I mentioned I ve already decided I would never buy one of these Contour s The first thing I noticed was how loud the engine is My usual vehicle purrs in comparison The sound system for the radio isn t as clear as mine While I mentioned the air conditioner to be nice and cold it has some drawbacks too It s rather noisy and no matter how you set the control it s never just right On low it doesn t operate effectively and on the next notch it blows you away noise and all It s almost annoying to think about listening to the radio when it s on The humidity was horrific in my city today Usually I just open the window but today I had to use the air conditioner and I ve got to tell you if an ambulance or fire truck was in the area I never would ve heard its sirens The rental I have which is the higher end model of the Contour i LX does not have power windows and locks cruise control or ABS brakes etc so I can t comment on those but for what it does have I m surprised to say that my Geo Prism gives a more enjoyable ride at least a less noisy one However I d still opt to take a Contour over my car when going on a very long drive because the seat gives much more support to my back than mine does This model Contour is equipped with driver and passenger front airbags and has a decent looking instrument panel and dash While giving a nice outward appearance there is nothing particularly rich looking or feeling inside nor does this auto have any outstanding features to write home about and what surprised me the most not even a cup holder The interior has blah grey cloth seats Again it s only a rental so naturally I d customize it if I were buying so I can t knock the choice of interior or color or features I did notice something as soon as I rented it though and I mentioned it to the rental car representative First of all the side moldings of the car which appear to be made of rubber were the same exact color as the exterior While there were no dents to the exterior it was very noticeable that every scratch on it whether it be big or small had turned white White against the dazzling emerald green is very noticeable so I guess I d have to make a negative comment about the exterior paint finish if this is the caliber one is to expect from a Ford Contour A good finish does not allow every hairline scratch to stick out like a sore thumb As the Contour is bigger than my vehicle I was disappointed to see that its trunk was only slightly bigger if bigger at all than my car s trunk The depth looked the same so it amounted to the fact that you can probably fit two large pieces of luggage and no more if you consider the door hinges They say there s a reason for everything and a little good will come from something bad I guess this is true because while I was very disappointed to have the setback and costly repair and expense associated with my car s problem I m glad I got to drive a newer car to see just what I was missing While the Contour gives a nice appearance and a fairly smooth ride overall its bad features outweigh its good ones " Neg," The reason that I bought my Ford Contour is because we badly needed a dependable car At least that is what we thought we were getting On a whim we went to our nearest Ford dealer and started pricing new cars We were trying to trade in our old piece of junk But as we found out we enjoyed our old piece of junk better than our new car We purchased this vehicle in November of 1999 We paid approximately 18 000 The salesperson was very helpful and knowledgeable in his field Since November we have had several problems with this car It has a high idle when coasting in the city and rural roads usually under 45 mph It does excellent on the highway We have taken several trips from Indiana to North Carolina and have had no problems to speak of This vehicle has a lot of room in the front but very little in the back The side strip molding is falling off It does not want to stay on very well There is a constant rattling in the passenger side of the dash board We have not had to take this car in yet but we are in the process of taking for its first visit to the dealership This car comes equipped with cruise control tilt steering wheel ac am fm cassette stereo and a very spacious trunk Also has low profile tires which the only problem with that is that they are very expensive to replace The interior and exterior colors are very pleasant to look at I would not recommend this particular Ford automobile to the average person This is for the average family of more than three people I would not buy this car again because of the problems that we have encountered br br " Neg," The most negative of my rental experiences I have saved for last The 1999 Ford Contour If this car had the options like a larger engine than the 4Cyl a better sound system better seats something then this might only be a mediocre rating But there were none It allowed for an entire 10 days of disappointing driving Outside b Visually unremarkable the Contour has the plain lines of a scaled down Taurus The base model has nothing to make it look appealing it still has Ford s unfortunate taste for ovals dominating it s appearance Fit and finish is fine it had a smallish trunk that seemed full with two medium bags and a laptop case The doors are somewhat small making entry and exit more challenging The doors are also thinner and feel flimsy compared to other cars that I have been driving Inside The seats were small and uncomfortable The driver s seat reminded me of the long flight that I had just been through It was a long trip and being unable to get settled simply made it worse The panel display is flanked by a plastic divider that emphasizes how small the car is It really worsens the cramped feeling in the passenger cabin Engine noise is loud with the 4cyl engine whining at almost every acceleration It often overpowered the radio which was also whiny when played loud I could quickly see that this car was not going to make the 1 5 hour journey pleasant It does have the normal package of power windows and locks and they are easy to understand and use The other controls are as easy to understand but everything in the car has a cheap feel to it I was consistently nervous that I was going to break something But generally I was thinking of the engine Driving This is not a drivers car At least not with this engine As I dodged the 18 wheel heavies on the highway out of Cincinatti I wasn t at all confident about the acceleration or the handling of the little Ford Trying to pass a heavy dump truck on a two lane onramp I had the pedal to floor wishing for just some of the horsepower I had left garaged in Massachusetts It was pretty much that way for the rest of the trip Slow pickup and that only to the tune of the engine whining loudly Iffy handling in turns I felt the car was at maximum performance at 75 All around I won t drive this car again I began specifically requesting full size cars after this unless I could get a Grand Am or a Mustang at close to the same rate This car is fine for basic transportation or short trips but I found it small underpowered and uncomfortable " Neg," I was in the market for my first car in 1999 and I wanted to be very sure to buy a new car with decent credentials I shopped around and did my research in the smaller midsize segment Ford s world car triplets Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique for North America and Ford Mondeo for the rest of the world caught my attention There was quite a hype about these vehicles as Ford had spent 6 billion to create the infrastructure necessary to design a car that could be sold in just about any country a concept familiar to the Japanese but very foreign to American companies I do remember that these vehicles were named the European Car of the Year in 1994 and the North American Car of the Year in 1995 Just about everyone was raving about how these cars drove like the BMW 325 at only half the price These were American cars with strong European personalities after all most of the design and engineering were done in Germany and UK Since I was still young I was looking for a sporty vehicle not a utilitarian family sedan That meant that my preference was for European vehicles instead of the reliable but conservative Japanese sedans such as Honda Accord There was no way for me to consider a four door American sedan but I made an exception for the Contour Mystique knowing that they had European personalities and that the other triplet the Mondeo was the best selling vehicle in its class in Europe In the end it came down to a choice between the Ford Contour and a true European sedan the Volkswagen Jetta Ford s longer warranty and cheaper price won out To fully exploit the European character I chose a Contour that was equipped with V6 engine manual transmission 4 wheel disc brakes and a sport package I felt quite confident knowing that the only issues known were a few recalls and the rather smallish back seat In fact some people were even bragging about putting 150 000 miles on their Contours having to replace only the water pump That was not the case to be for me b Styling inside and out The exterior is definitely 1990s with full of bubbles and curves that lead to the model s name I liked the exterior because it was reminiscent of Ford s other European cars as opposed to Ford s American models My only gripe about the exterior is that the rear is just a blob of red lights and reflectors I personally prefer the more conventional styling of the Mondeo complete with amber turn signals The interior of my 1999 model is a sore loser Compared to the interior in the Jetta the Accord or even lowly cars like the Corolla my Contour is absolutely cheap This wasn t the case when Contours first came out for the 1995 model year those earlier Contours felt like high end European sedans inside with stylish center consoles useful and covered storage spaces and well designed switches In the early Contours the interior lights turned on with a switch next to the light itself in mine I must use the dashboard dimmer switch a cheap American trick I hate The dimmer switch even heats up when I dim the instrument cluster for rural driving that s REALLY cheap Even worse various switches and markings that once had been painted white were now simply embossed in my car making them harder to see And the newer center console in my car It looks so cheap and old it should belong in a Tempo or Pinto instead The only thing that didn t change and therefore retained its European character was the instrument cluster which is very legible and well lit On the other hand while the stalks for turn signals and windshield wipers kept their European look in my car they feel very cheap when operating I can even feel the click of the turn signal Adding insult to injury the dash was so cheap it warped It was an issue Ford fixed under a recall I had never heard of until I had my car towed into a dealership b Driving and Seating Position At least I didn t feel too bad sitting in the driver s seat Every time I drive I am treated to a decent seat a leather wrapped steering wheel with very thick grip and all switches however cheap they may be within easy reach The seat doesn t have the height adjustment of newer cars but it does have the standard fore aft and seatback adjustments The front passenger seat is identical to the driver s seat The rear seat is indeed very cramped Contours are saddled with ridiculously low headlines and that means the rear seat is farther forward than where it should be taking away legroom This midsize car is even more cramped than compacts such as the Corolla the Civic or even Ford s own Focus made even worse because of the cheap materials Vinyl door liners belong to taxicabs and police cruisers and are grossly inappropriate in my car This is the primary reason why Ford never had success in selling Contours and Mystiques in North America and it also explains why Ford increasingly cheapened these models selling them as heavyweight V6 compacts instead of midsize cars they otherwise should have been Eventually Ford billed the lightweight compact Focus as the Contour replacement in North America while it sells both the Focus and a redesigned larger Mondeo in Europe The compensation for the cramped rear seat is a large trunk unfortunately fold down rear seat was an option I skipped and that limits the usefulness of the trunk b Performance At least the BMW comparison was not an exaggeration I carved mountain curves with ease and cruised highways in style even going on a 6 000 mile road trip in October 2000 Steering is very precise acceleration is decent and brakes are superb ABS was an expensive option I skipped though so I must be very careful to avoid emergency braking Before buying my Contour I was used to cars that lean heavily into corners such as the Corolla this made me really appreciate the performance b Quality and Reliability Ford s 6 billion investment had to have something to show up for it In my car s case the engine has proven to be superb It still runs very smoothly and there are virtually no signs of the 67 000 miles I ve put on it There is some oil consumption but that is within acceptable limits Splurging on Mobil 1 synthetic oil seems to have helped but with the rest of the car being pure junk I don t know if the cost is justifiable anymore Ignition system was another matter though The engine uses distributorless ignition system and the ignition coil failed for no reason at 60 000 miles After a crazy round of parts swapping and shopping for nonexistent ignition coils at odd hours Ford dealers rarely stock these a dealership finally fixed it but only after putting in water into the fuel tank and blaming that water for the problems and charging 1 000 to drain the fuel tank The transmission the other part of the 6 billion investment is already history Manual transmissions are supposed to be virtually service free and trouble free but the third gear is already destroyed and the clutch has finally worn out I ve been told that clutches are not supposed to wear out before 100 000 miles even with severe abuse this means that the clutch in my car was junk to start with Adding insult to injury clutch replacement will be a very expensive job because the transmission area in my car is extremely cramped I remember that owners of the souped up SVT Contours usually upgraded their differentials fully knowing that the powertrain was too weak for the engine Exhaust is also gone The 3 way catalytic converter failed completely clogging the exhaust path and stalling the engine It was as if I put in leaded gasoline into my car something that could never happen these days I always used the best brands of gasoline possible usually Chevron leaving even fewer excuses for exhaust failure Perhaps the only excuse left is the water that had been put into the fuel tank by the previously mentioned dealership to blame the ignition failure on Currently I only have one section of the catalytic coverter repaired at least the exhaust is open again but fuel economy has dropped by about 2 miles per gallon and I will need a complete repair before my next smog test In the interior rattles are starting to take over and one of the radio speakers is starting to die And of course there was the warping dash which required a Ford recall In the exterior rubber window liners are falling apart as well The left rear door also has an occasional rain leak I cannot trace Over the years Contours have racked up six recalls way too many Even the best designed vehicles occasionally have a recall or two but when there are six recalls I must wonder what the heck the Ford engineers were doing with their 6 billion The Focus Ford s newer and smaller world car is even worse with already eight recalls and another four defects under U S government investigation If money were no object I would immediately have my Contour towed into a junkyard The engine would be the only thing worth salvaging and the rest of the car would be no more than scrap metal In reality selling the car isn t much better because the depreciation on Contours has been extremely steep In fact repairs have already cost more than the value of the car itself b Dealer service Ford has focused too much on its trucks The average Ford dealer keeps only a dozen or so cars in stock as opposed to hundreds of pickup trucks and SUVs Even worse Ford s SUVs are popular because they are yuppie friendly not because they are capable or well built What does this mean I get cut rate service when I bring in my Contour while SUV owners get first class service In addition to the dealership that put water into my fuel tank I also had to deal with dealerships on several other occasions often over body work One dealership improperly mounted the engine after the body work causing my car to rattle in the engine compartment I repeatedly went back to the dealership but the body shop workers claimed to never hear it hoping I would give up Only after six months of complaint did the dealership give in Another dealership chose to book me for body work and recall work on the same appointment even though the body work was sublet out to an independent body shop next door which was booked solid for the next two weeks I ended up having to rent a car twice because the works were done separately and insurance adjusters weren t happy At least the body damage was not my fault and was being paid by the other party s insurance but I had to do some explaining to avoid rental charges b Owner clubs With the dealerships being so useless I hoped the owner clubs particularly the online one at contour org would be of some help Sure I did get hints about having to upgrade differentials on SVT Contours which in turn meant a weak powertrain that couldn t handle the engine s power But I found the owner clubs to be of immature minds who have nothing better to do than to street race just about any car in sight from Acura Integras to Pontiac Grand Ams Moreover despite the Contour s European roots many owners were of the isolationist Pat Buchanan types Everything from high fuel prices to traffic regulations was from the liberal globalist conspiracy I often judge a car by the types of people who drive them I believe that driving a certain make and model of vehicle sends out a message about what kind of a person I am especially since I am in car conscious Southern California Given that criteria the Contour fails again miserably I don t have Rush Limbaugh or Dr Laura pre set in my radio and I certainly don t have a gun rack or a Buchanan for President bumper sticker Perhaps if I were living in Europe and driving a Mondeo the story could be different There are quite a few other cars some of them excellent ones like the Honda Civic that I refuse to buy for the same reason the image of the owners b Epilogue I just returned from a trip to Beijing and Seoul While riding on an expressway just outside Seoul I spotted a Mondeo cruising alongside me and mentioned that I drive one back home in the U S My acquaintances riding with me were rather blunt in their response Overpriced and crappy that car has no reputation here in Korea Get a Hyundai instead Even five years ago these people would not have said such things knowing how bad Hyundais were back then Now it s different Even after returning to the U S and losing the clutch on my Contour the first thing I heard was Next time get a Hyundai Sonata instead Considering Hyundai s generous warranty plus the fact that Hyundai dealers do care about passenger cars I m actually agreeing with them though I would rather buy a Japanese car or even better a Volkswagen if the budget allows VW has also doubled its warranty as well It appears that I ll have to start saving up for another vehicle fast as I will most likely sell or junk my Contour before its smog test is due next year The Mercury Cougar which has just ended production is an identical design to the Contour Mystique Mondeo series differing only with a hatchback sports car body Even Jaguar s new small sedan the X Type is really a Mondeo with all wheel drive and lots of leather and wood I know that I ll stay away from these choices as my next vehicle and suggest that you stay away from anything based on the Contour family Aside from the engine everything else has been a disappointment I never thought 6 billion could result in a car this bad And if I absolutely need the feel of a BMW 325 I will have to take out a mortgage to get a real BMW 325 " Neg," I should start out by letting you know that I do not know much about cars But after leasing this vehicle from Ford I am ready to go back to the horse and buggy The car has been in the shop more than it has been in my garage We have leased it for 2 years and it has already had 2 recalls It is extremely limited in space and anyone with small children will regret the day they purchase this lemon Ford has discontinued the model for the 2001 sales year and for good reasons Although you cannot purchase this vehicle brand new I would also discourage someone from buying it secondhand To top it off the service department at the Ford is horrendous They lack professionalism product knowledge and simple manners I have to spend a lot time at the garage because of this horrible car and I am not sure if I will purchase another Ford again The ride in the contour is rough and loud On a major expressway it feels like you are riding on Space Mountain The air conditioner is weak at best and the trunk can barely fit a stroller I guess I should commend Ford for discontinuing this model br br " Neg," The Mach 1 is back for the 03 model year after an almost 25 year absence in the Mustang lineup Even though the original Mach 1 looks almost nothing like the new version visually only sharing a shaker hood scoop spoiler and Mach 1 logos they certainly have one major attribute in common outright performance Like the original the 2003 version is designed for speed versus touring many luxury items that would have added weight i e heated seats an optional navigation system a sunroof etc are not offered in the Mach 1 In the end the Mach 1 is approximately 100 lbs lighter than a GT Coupe The Ford Mustang has always thrived on its amazing power per dollar ratio this is definitely the case with the 2003 Mach 1 For the 03 model year the Mach 1 is only available with Ford s DOHC 4 6 V8 basically the same engine that powered the 99 01 Mustang Cobra s This engine pumps out 305 horsepower 45 more ponies than the SOHC V8 powered GT thus making the Mach 1 one of the most powerful cars on sale in the U S south of 30 grand Keeping in tune with performance purposes a convertible which would have added performance hampering weight is not on the list this year a 2 door coupe is the only body style available with the Mach 1 trim b Note b A 5 speed manual is standard a 4 speed fully automatic transmission is available at 815 Driving Impressions b Like the original Mach 1 the 2003 version is fast The 03 Mach 1 makes it clearly known by its superior throttle response and its burbly exhaust note at both startup and under full throttle that it s not just a stripped down version of the Mustang GT trim levels If you own a 99 03 Mustang GT don t expect the Mach 1 to be loads faster though there is definitely a noticeable difference in standing start acceleration b Note b Traction control comes as standard equipment A few magazines report the 0 60 time of the Mach 1 to be as low as 5 2 seconds which is only a shade faster than the GT however the Mach 1 provides the driver with much more of a throw you back in your seat feeling than the GT The 5 speed manual coupled to this DOHC V8 engine makes a great combo The only major gripe I have here are the throws of the aluminum shifter they are far too long for quick shifting The 03 Mach 1 s shifter offers throws that are more reminiscent of a 1987 Ford Escort s manual shifter than a post 2000 performance car s 5 speed manual shifter So does the hood scoop really shake at idle like the original Hardly Ford calls it a shaker hood though if you don t have 20 20 vision you will be hard pressed to see it move The shaker hood scoop for the 03 model year is more cute than intimidating as it once was back in 1969 i Cruising through town or on the freeway is not the smoothest event although by far surpasses the ride quality of the current generation Mustang s predecessor Rattles and odd noises are still an issue with the Mustang however it seems as though with each passing year the Mustang s ability to keep the driver in a rattle free environment while cruising gets slightly better If you don t like the sound of your exhaust rumbling every second you are in your car then you might want to take a pass on the Mach 1 From idle to redline to just cruising at 65 MPH in 5th gear the exhaust and engine rumble can be clearly heard in the cabin at almost all times This is one of the Mach 1 s best features to most of the Mustang cult following though I suspect many naive consumers will be overwhelmed by the decibel level in the cabin The Mach 1 s robust engine exhaust note is unquestionably a case of you either love it or hate it Unlike many cars on the road that can claim close to the same 0 60 and 1 4 times as the Mach 1 the Mach 1 exhibits some of the best passing power since the late V8 Camaro s Thanks to a decent amount of torque at a relatively low RPM the Mach 1 never needs to be downshifted while cruising at freeway speeds to accomplish quick passing maneuvers The same excellent power in top gear is also beneficial for extreme hill climbing The Mach 1 accomplished every hill I put it up against up to 6 grades with no need to downshift in fact the Mach 1 was more than happy to accelerate up these inclines in 5th gear It seems as though downshifting into 4th to accomplish these types of road conditions just made for unnecessary engine noise I have never been overly fond of driving the Mustangs on the twisties Despite the grip offered from the big 245 Z rated 17 tires and the upgraded suspension the Mach 1 still feels big around turns Unlike the original however the 03 Mustang Mach 1 is acceptable on these types of roads The original Mach 1 was almost scary to drive on twisty back roads Not only did the original require huge arms to turn the vehicle at high speeds but the tires also seemed to howl at every sharp bend not the case with the 03 Mach 1 Braking is excellent With the 4 wheel disc brakes coupled with 4 wheel ABS I did not have a problem stopping this vehicle from 70 MPH to a stop something an owner of the original Mach 1 could only dream of Fuel economy is acceptable The Mach 1 is rated at 17 25 which gives it about the same EPA rating as most of the V8 powered Mustangs from 1979 2003 and most sport oriented cars on the market One should note that the EPA rating of the Mustang is sort of a laughingstock among V8 powered Mustang owners I have never talked to a Mustang owner who has received over 25 MPG my late 98 Mustang GT averaged about 22 MPG most owners whom I have talked with average between 18 21 MPG highway An added problem in this department is that the 03 Mach 1 requires premium fuel the GT can run off of regular With gas prices reaching 2 10 in many areas of the world just for regular another 20 cents per gallon for premium is really going to put a hamper on your pocket book The other downfall here is the small fuel tank At only 15 7 gallons your local gas stations will most likely be your new hangout Interior b The interior is where my major gripes lie To start the instrument cluster gauges are absolutely tiny These instruments are some of the smallest I have ever seen in an automobile produced by FOMOCO Why Ford thought that the muscle car enthusiast would want tiny gauges is beyond me Ford obviously is not catering to enthusiasts with less than perfect vision The plastics throughout the cabin also feel overly cheap From the plastic gadgetry to the door panels most surfaces feel like they were taken from an era where interior quality was an afterthought One of my concerns something I rarely mention in a review is the sound of the frameless doors when they shut they sound like they were put together with plastic and glue I have not heard doors sound this poor in quality while closing since the 1st generation Dodge Neon s rolled off the assembly line On to some positive notes Ergonomics are excellent As with all Mustangs I have driven all the gadgetry in the Mach 1 is logically placed and easy to use The leather seats are also a fine asset These seats are both extremely comfortable and supportive good bolstering in both the upper and lower portions of the seats The premium seats found in the Mach 1 are completely different from the less desirable leather seats found in the GT or the V6 powered trim levels Both the driver and front passenger seats offer manual adjustments 8 way driver 4 way passenger Rear seating is unfortunately made of a cheaper type leather This leather visually matches the more expensive front leather seats however there is a definite difference in the texture and quality of the rear seating surfaces As mentioned the 2003 Mach 1 is not loaded to the brim with embellishments though the Mach 1 does come standard with enough equipment to satisfy most consumers looking for a car in this particular market Some standard amenities on the Mach 1 include dual front air bags a decent sounding Mach 460 AM FM 6 disc in dash CD system with 8 speakers AC power door locks windows titanium pedals 1 cup holder two 12 volt power outlets cruise control etc Since the Mach 1 is basically a package in itself there are not too many options beyond the standard equipment In fact other than the optional automatic transmission 815 the only other optional package that will cost you money is the interior upgrade package 445 This interior upgrade package gives you stainless steel pedals an aluminum shift knob and chrome accents For more info on standard and optional equipment you can visit www ford com The Mustang Mach 1 might look like a roomy coupe though it is anything but The Ford Mustang remains one of the tightest fits next to the late Camaro Coupe Up front the driver and front passenger should have enough room Being 5 6 and my passenger 6 1 we both had enough room to stretch our legs and necks The rear however is a different story Not only is leg room next to none but head room is also limited Having owned a 1998 GT nothing has changed for the better in this department over the years For future reference the redesigned 05 models are said to have a much roomier back seat b Note b The Mustang Mach 1 can seat up to 4 adults Stowage space is actually not as bad as some people might think With the rear 50 50 seats folded completely down the Mustang Mach 1 can easily hold 2 weeks worth of groceries My 98 GT which was equally as roomy enabled me to haul around new computers huge vacuum cleaner boxes etc etc with no problem One should note that even though the Mustang does come with a glove box it will probably only fit a few parking tickets b Exterior b The Mach 1 is definitely a good looking muscle car and by far looks the most aggressive out of the Mustang lineup including the Cobra The major head turning feature of the Mach 1 is the raised hood with shaker scoop resting at the top The Mach 1 also comes with an air dam larger tires with very attractive 5 spoke Heritage chrome wheels spoiler and large Mach 1 logos to help segregate this car from its less powerful siblings If a Mustang Mach 1 is a must on your shopping list I highly suggest checking out a Mach 1 dressed up in black paint Models that are painted black do not carry a painted racing stripe which in my opinion makes this Stang appear more tacky than aggressive b Price Warranty b There is definitely one thing about the Mach 1 that you can count on a relatively low price With only 2 options available the Mustang Mach 1 tops out at just under 30 000 about 9 000 less than the Mustang Cobra and about 3 000 more than a fully loaded GT 2 door coupe If anything happens to your Mustang Mach 1 Ford unfortunately offers one of the worst standard warranties on the market a 3 year 36 000 mile bumper bumper warranty An extended warranty can be purchased at an extra cost Final Thoughts b I do like the Mustang Mach 1 though I do not recommend it for a few reasons most notably due to the tawdry interior Ford desperately needs to updated the interior with richer materials increase the standard warranty by at least a few years and another 12 000 miles and give this car a better shifter I do however recommend the Mach 1 over the GT trim levels Even though acceleration may not be that much better than the GT which is already great the Mach 1 is much more comfortable and will undoubtedly be a collectors car in the future I definitely forecast much better resale value with the Mach 1 over the GT Willing to sacrifice a few seconds off your 0 60 time and the backseat of the Mach 1 for a more refined sports car You may want to check out a href content 87909764740 my review on the Nissan 350Z a Thanks for reading " Neg," There is a great deal of history to contend with when talking about the Mustang Its appeal to a large segment of American drivers is impressive and to some degree a Mustang lover will not be swayed by better performance found in foreign automobiles that s not the point Their loyalty is to the Mustang brand first and foremost With that history of loyalty has also come a great tradition of performance tuning these cars so that there are several appealing options available to someone who has some money to spend and wants a true high end performance machine They will all cost you though the Ford produced Cobra SVT starts at about 34 000 while both Saleen and Roush make impressive models that will cost 35 000 40 000 or more This review however concentrates on the models at the other end of the scale the entry level affordable Mustang Coupe The base Mustang comes in three option levels Standard Deluxe and Premium starting at about 18 000 and going up 500 or so with each level ENGINE DRIVETRAIN The base Mustang comes with a 3 8 litre V6 which makes 193 hp and 225 lb ft of torque It is a dramatic step down from the V8 available on the higher end models both in performance and aesthetics Where the V8 has the throaty growl you expect from a muscle car the V6 of course does not Married to 4 speed automatic it is relatively quick but not overly impressive especially in the low end You ll be able to merge into traffic and pass without discomfort but is that really the performance level you want if you re buying a Mustang I think we re looking for a little more performance and to get it you need to step up to the V8 The transmission is another sore spot If you have to get the V6 stay with the default 5 speed manual instead of upgrading to the automatic You maximize the performance of the engine and still get some performance feel with the stick but the automatic is awful Early shifts still some lag when you mash the pedal not good The automatic increases your price by almost 800 so I wouldn t bother unless you have to For those who have grown up on today s front wheel drive vehicles it is also worth noting that this is a rear wheel drive car Yes it comes with traction control now but you will still be surprised if you get into rain or snow and try to gun the engine The rear end is twitchy and you ll have a hard time getting it back into shape once it goes EXTERIOR The Mustang retains its burly muscle car appearance The high rear end and sloping windshield into the fake hood air intake give it its distinctive appearance that ensure you won t be confused with any other car on the road That definitely has some appeal in an era when you sometimes can t tell the Jaguar X Type from a Taurus Individuality is good With that said some of the old fit and finish concerns remain The covers on the fake air dams are flimsy and look ready to come off at a moment s notice Those air dams are another pet peeve It smacks of pretend performance to include the hood intake with those behind each door They re not functional for my money you can leave them off next year The available on the Premium model 16 inch machined aluminum wheel are a positive though They re beefy sporty and fit well with the Mustang style INTERIOR Remember that you re essentially buying a detuned sports car so the interior is not necessarily designed for touring You slip down into the bucket seats and while they re not impossible to get in and out of some may find the extra effort needed to accomplish this annoying When inside the seats are comfortable enough though if you re any taller than me 5 11 you may be a little cramped Controls are conveniently located and are standard Ford issue The leather wrapped steering wheel available in the Premium model is a nice extra touch While on the road a driver unfamiliar with the Mustang may have a few complaints Wind noise while reduced from earlier model years is still more noticeable than it should be Part of the price you pay for that distinctive appearance In addition be aware that visibility is not on par with a larger higher ride sedan Again part of the price you pay for getting into a sports car where you sit low The rear seats are utile but not overly comfortable Children will have no problem sitting there but larger adults will be somewhat cramped especially on longer rides MISCELLANEOUS Ford includes some decent options Remote keyless entry 6 way power driver s seat and an in dash 6 CD changer are standard in the Premium model The ABS and Traction Control are also nice and offset a bit the difficulty drivers may experience with the rear wheel drive CONCLUSION Ford markets the Mustang to a very specific market of American drivers who appreciate the history the muscle car feel and aren t looking for a cookie cutter Accord or Camry to drive around For about 20 grand you get a decent ride a distinctive appearance and reasonable power The trade offs are iffy quality some slightly old technology in the engine transmission and design and poor visibility If you re comfortable with that trade this is the car for you If true performance is your goal with the Mustang consider stepping up to the higher end models available from either Ford or one of the performance tuning outfits like Saleen or Roush " Neg," This entry level version of the iconic pony car looks muscular from the flared wheel arches to the bumped up hood to the angled real lights and the agressive mean front headlights Overall though not classy or subtle I find the shape attractive Loading up luggage is not a piece of cake the boot is deep and wide but the narrow opening makes it rather difficult to insert big items A large size suitcase can barely be inserted and as a result blocks access to the remainder of the trunk space While on the topic the glovebox is very small too The instrument panel is clearly laid out looks the business Standard radio CD works decently but the old fashioned telescopic antenna sticking out of the front right wing is anachronic The headlights switch is a surprising design detail I don t know if it echoes a feature of the original Mustangs but its looks and its feel are really out of place pulling on this button and hearing a whine when you rotate it to adjust the instrument backlight is the kind of heritage that contemporary buyers will easily want to do without The front seats are not uncomfortable but lateral support came really short of my expectations Exploring the grip limits is a spine bending experience and makes you feel really uncomfortable The fabric they are made off is cheap synthetic stuff and the fit between parts forming the dash and central console does not leave a lasting impression of quality wide gaps mistalignment leagues behind german japanese or maybe even korean standards The steering wheel while a tad too big in diameter offers good grip an adequate thumbs in position and is thick enough The steering column feel remains quite numb however the steering is not overly assisted but does not communicate much about what s happening under the front wheels If I were to single out the one thing I disliked most about the car it would certainly be the 4 speed or rather 3 overdrive as I later discovered auto transmission Start from the fact that the gear change is located ridiculously far forward on the central console to be naturally within reach The 4th overdrive gear is as frequently ridiculously long making it really usable for highway cruising but a real annoyance in mid speed winding roads As the overdrive engages as soon as you lift the throttle it makes uphill or downhill driving a frustrating experience 2nd feels too short The only remedy is to play with the overdrive off button concealed on the side of the lever took me a while to discover it Another gripe the car I had was new 3000 miles but the transmission sounded like a 300 000 miles yellow cab with a vacuum cleaner noise in 1st and 2nd gear torque converter which sounded out of place at best worrying at worst Upshifts were not too smooth contemporary gearboxes can achieve much better results and downshifts felt busy and clumsy not the seamless power on demand response you can obtain from german or japanese 5 speed automatic gearboxes The engine itself is decently torquey max torque is reached at 2750 rpm according to the spec sheet and the car feels that way but for the sake of comparison a GM V6 like the Pontiac GrandAm s is far more convincing both in terms of grunt and noise Redline is low 5300 rpm and there is little incentive to rev it up that high the engine does not sound rev happy at all The car equipped with standard 16 inch wheels felt decently planted on its wheels with grippy 225 tires Turn in remained a bit lazy but the body roll is kept well in control The Mustang goes where it is requested to but there would be about as much feel as with a Playstation game Visually 17 inchers would not look or feel out of place at all The rear displays a hint of mobility read tendancy to oversteer although it is quickly tamed by the switchable anti skid control The absence of a blocking rear differential may cause occasional inner rear wheel spin especially on the wet If you are seeking to be the king of power slides in the neighborhood a V8 GT may be a better solution The live rear axle is clearly perceivable through occasional sideways wobbles on uneven roads not overly disturbing at a restrained pace but likely to upset the car s balance at the limit I would say that the chassis is good enough to cope with the 190hp of the base V6 without too much drama but without too much competence and margin either " Neg," This was my third car and my second Mustang My first Mustang was the 1964 5 I bought from my neighbor on my 16th birthday I loved that car It was a shame the drunken redneck ran over it with his pickup truck My next car was a 1989 Corolla completely serviceable never had a problem but very boring When I decided I wanted something new my first thought was an SUV I was looking at cars when they drove in a truck full of Mustangs I hadn t really seen the new body style at that time and wasn t thinking Mustang because of the boxier ones of the mid and late 80 s But this car was beautiful It was the first Ford that said I m a Mustang since the early 70 s I probably bought the car because of my first Mustang It was nostalgia as much as anything else Second reason was that I wanted a sports car again I could feel myself aging at the time I was all of 22 and about to graduate from college and I wanted a fun car again before I settled down Third reason it was a V8 at V6 prices What do I love about my Mustang I live in one of the busiest driving cities in America The average speed on Atlanta highways is about 80 MPH In the left lane you have to do almost 100 to stay alive My Mustang can do that Plus I can dodge the out of staters and foreigners who don t know how to drive in Atlanta and are freaking out in the left lane while driving 55 Third and probably the best thing I can hit the gas on that V8 and leave everyone in the dust well almost everyone What is not good about this car space There isn t any If you have to carry much more than yourself you re in trouble Another thing is the jealous idiots I have actually caught someone urinating on my car His friend was keying it at the time Last problem rear wheel drive If you are somewhere icy you probably know that a rear wheel drive vehicle is less stable When I lived in TN during the ice storms I had trouble in some areas and would fishtail While a 360 is fun on purpose it really sucks when it s an accident Finally my butt starts to hurt if I have to sit in the chair for more than 4 hours at a time So who gets the car Young people single people people with good driving records who can afford the insurance If you aren t that person or if you have more than two people you carry around with you on a regular basis this isn t the car for you Update Blew a head gasket at 100 000 miles Apparently the V6 also has a problem with this And Ford knew about it and claims they sent out a service bulletin to inform owners but they sent it to the wrong address and I never got it I was just over the extended warranty on it and they wouldn t fix it Repair would cost more than the car is worth " Neg," If you look around high school and college campuses around the United States you will notice one thing is similar about all of them that is the number of Ford Mustangs parked in the dorms and student parking lots I remember as a younger driver I always wanted a piece of the good old American muscle car and had narrowed my choice to a 68 Fastback and a 70 Mach 1 As my opinions differed and I grew up I noticed that the car I once held on to in my dreams became less appealing to me It was a simple explanation really I wanted to be different and how could I manage that without giving up the Mustang as a car choice Granted up til 96 the engines were 5 0 liter and it seemed that the 89 GT was the fastest GT on the market the one thing I could not overlook was the number of them on the road I knew of two friends from high school who had consecutive models of mustangs one was a 95 Cobra and the other a 96 GT 4 6 liter and that really discouraged me from buying one of my own Another thing I encountered was the actual materials used to make a Mustang My junior year of high school a friend and I were in a car accident involving a Mustang and an Explorer Needless to say i was furious at what I saw constituting as a front bumper on a Mustang styro foam granted it was hard styro foam the fact remained it was styro foam instead of some material more solid For that I made my decision final a mustang was not for me Now I am not knocking any Mustang lovers down for their opinions but I am saying that when it comes to actual muscle cars of the nineties this old boy will stick with the Chevy Corvette br br " Neg," I enjoy the style of this car and its sleek design One of the best features of this car is that it is a mustang and a mustang is a reliable car which can be trusted to last a long time My friend has a Mustang Coba and he got a special paint job done that makes it three different colors when looked at through different angles The ride is very smooth and the power is fenominal The front is a great feature wich makes this car stand out som much and this car will make your heads turn the power of this car can really be felt right when you turn the car on and you feel the reve of the engine and the feeling of power under the hood if your looking for a great car at a great price then put the Mustang Convetable Cobra on your test drive list " Neg," I am the proud well sometimes proud owner of a 1995 Ford Mustang I have found other owners of the same type of car as well However it s strange because we have all seemingly had the exact same problems with our cars I bought this car in 1998 and here are the following repairs that I ve had done on it since then I bought the car with 42 000 miles on it so it was fairly new August 98 Gaskets Had to be replaced found in many pieces Fan had to be replaced found in many pieces Fan motor blown out Several hoses replaced due to fragmentation and tears September 98 Gaskets replaced for 2nd time found in one piece November 98 Clutch had to be replaced At this time I was at 48 000 miles found in many many many pieces March 99 New tires destroyed when wheels somehow tear through them June 99 Had a total car tune up done spent almost 700 to get car in good shape September 99 Gaskets blown out for 3rd time found in several pieces Hole in Radiator October 99 Gaskets blown out for 4th time found in several pieces January 00 Belts replaced and gaskets blown out again 5TH TIME April 00 New tires needed as alignment mysteriously got put off and the tires were just bought not even a year ago and have a 50K warranty on them Only 20K miles have been put on car since the tires were bought April 00 New brake pads rotors brake kit etc needed on front and back brakes Now I ve compared this with other reports from other owners of the same car and I ve found continuing problems with the gaskets being blown out and parts actually exploding rather than just wearing away I had taken it to several different repair places so that I made sure it wasn t just the Ford repair centers but it was actually the car I ve found another 5 mustang owners of the same year with exactly the same gasket radiator and basically cooling system problems So I m pretty much starting to assume that their is a major design flaw in the Mustang and that something needs to be fixed or these cars need to be recalled and looked at It s becoming quite expensive to fix them all I love the Mustang and I know the older cars are worthwhile but I m starting to doubt the newer models I ve heard more bad than good about the never models and their repairs than anything Be very cautious br br " Neg," Well Here s your lemon story I bought a 1995 Mustang V6 new from the dealer I loved the car the body style the interior everything At 2000 miles a fuel injector was replaced At 4000 Ford was replacing my engine Not to mention the horror story of the dealership wars After that it was constant I had an electrical short in the tape deck that no one could ever find my oil pressure guage didn t work and was replaced the emergency brake was replaced and the window mechanism was replaced 3 times and I still had problems Needless to say the car was eventually bought back and I received a 1998 Mustang V6 I ve had this Mustang for almost 2 years and no problems yet Definately love the car Now the only drawback is the snow and ice mustangs are sleds in the winter br br " Neg," PARENTS beware I am now 27 years old I bought a 1995 Mustang 5 years ago I dreamed of having this car since I was a little girl however I really wanted the older models Anyway I ended up purchasing a red one 6 cylinders Very good condition However it proved to be a very dangerous item on the road I had little experience driving fast cars This pony has terrible handling in bad weather A little rain and you will hydroplane all the way to the hospital Its too light on the rear fishtailing became a regular problem I had an accident already on a draw bridge I lost control on that metal surface flooring of the draw bridge It had only rained for five minutes A little water is all it took and I almost ended up on the canal I purchase tires design to handle better in the rain but it still handles awful A teenager who has never driven a sports car may come to have their first accident in this pony Many young people pull up next to me to race It is a temptation that many teens are not willing to pass up Also it is rather small inside The back seat is not comfortable for friends to sit and relax There is noise in the cabin Also he may need to get a second job so he can fill up the tank twice week 25 00 each time In other words Buy your teen a relic for his first 4 years of driving After that he ll learn on his own when he sees how many of his friends have wrecked their stangs he might settle into a roomy Nissan Maxima " Neg," Well I for one am personally glad they stopped making the Ford Probe I actually love the look of the car It was my first choice for a new car just coming out of college Back in the early 80 s the look of the Probe did not really move me But when they redesigned it I totally fell in love with it For over a year it was the only car I wanted Well in 1994 I purchased a brand new 1993 Ford Probe It was the last one on the lot in the perfect shade a green the actual color I had been dreaming about Well from then on it was a jinx Within my first month I had to get a brand new set of breaks because they started squeaking two week after I got the car Afterwards I continued to have minor problems with it such as alignment and so on But I stilled loved the car because it was so cute Then for some reason my engine locked up right after Christmas I could not understand it because I got regular maintenance Well thank goodness for extended warranties Well I put the car in the shop to get a brand new motor and when I went to pick it up from the Ford service dealer low and behold someone had hit my car and completely tore the rearview mirror off the passengers side Well of course they offered to pay for it but I had to bring it back on the following Monday so they could get me a loaner car Well before I could get it back to them Monday morning another car hit me and totaled my car Well I was faced with getting a new car and I chose the 96 Ford Probe Stupid me Three months after getting the car my transmission goes out Completely I m still thankful for warranties Since then it had never really driven right The performance of the car used to be so good Greta pick up speed ect But the problem you encounter are sickening After talking to some other Probe owners they have all encountered difficulties with the car I m really sad that such a good looking car has so many problems under the hood br br " Neg," OK I finally went and did it I took a test drive in the redesigned version of my truck I guess I was kind of happy to be blissfully ignorant there for awhile I was so in love with my 95 regular cab Ranger that I didn t want to have the myth shattered by driving the new one and risking disappointment But nevertheless my curiosity got the best of me and I began to realize it s been awhile since I did a review on an actual car So off it was to my nearest Ford dealership to see what they ve done with my truck I was quite surprised to find that they let me take the test drive alone Not unhappy mind you but surprised I was standing there while they put on the temporary plates expecting the salesman to jump into the passenger seat but he just said You know the area well In response to my nod he tossed me the keys and said Enjoy the ride All the better for you the reader as I was able to get a better idea of performance than if I d had to treat it with kid gloves Equipment and options I drove a 2001 XLT with the extended cab four doors rear jump seats sliding rear windows air power mirrors locks and windows anti lock brakes and the premium stereo with CD and cassette Quite a nicely equipped truck There was nothing else in particular I thought I might need In fact I thought I could do without the cruise control which I personally don t like to use but it was a nifty feature for those interested All in all a very good bargain considering that it stickered for 18 600 Exterior I m not too pleased with it to be honest The front has been drastically redesigned while the rear is only slightly touched up with a lightly modified tail light treatment The front makes this truck look far too much like a utilitarian appliance with homely looking headlights on either side of a rather boring looking grill It doesn t look as bad though with the body colored grill and bumper My only problem with the tail lights was that it always seems weird to me when the white back up lights are on top of the cluster as was the case here The white looks better on the bottom I know I know a strange hang up to be sure but it s the way I feel Overall this truck is not particularly ugly or repulsive just boring looking They would have done much better by modifying the front fascia on the 98 2000 Rangers than they did with this one If it were white I might have trouble distinguishing it from my washing machine The cast aluminum deep dish wheels are beautiful I believe they had five spokes They re a carryover from previous years and probably my favorite rim that comes with this truck The 15 inch wheels and tires looked a bit small in the wheel wells though I d probably need to go for a 4X4 or an Edge 4x2 with something a bit bigger perhaps some 16 s The bed was a styleside not those uselessly small flareside setups you see on some street trucks The tail gate had the same removal system as the one on my truck which is extremely easy and convenient Pop two latches flip the gate to about a 45 degree angle and pull it out The whole thing takes maybe 30 seconds It took me awhile to figure out what these weird looking things on the side bed rails were I don t know if Ford was trying to come up with some sort of futuristic looking tie down bar or what but it seems like they re for style more than anything else They look like cheap gaudy body cladding except that it was on the rails instead of on the lower body panels I guess it was an honorable attempt to blend bed rail protection with cargo securing tie downs so I do give them points for that But the tie downs on these rails were actually pretty difficult to use as they were hidden out of sight beneath their protruding lips If I get one which is doubtful I will put on real stainless steel tie down bars not those cheap looking plastic pieces of junk Grade C for the exterior Get rid of those bed mounted tie downs and change the front fascia Interior As you might guess I was less and less eager to get in the longer I looked at the truck but I had already gone this far The first thing I noticed was the vastly improved seats My Ranger s 60 40 split bench offers almost no lumbar support causing small aches to develop in my lower back after a couple hour s driving The seats on this Ranger s 60 40 split bench were excellent for a truck I could feel very good contouring at my lower back right where the seats on previous Rangers got really flat There was also good thigh support and noticeably more side bolstering Not sports car like by a long shot but it was nice to actually feel the seats curve up just a bit to keep me in place in tight curves The interior was a charcoal grey with black accents for the door handle instrument gauge and the radio housing It looked a bit more upscale than the lighter colors and the only parts that really looked cheap were the smooth plastics on the black inserts This was a four door model which made access to the rear area very easy for placement of groceries and luggage One thing I would like to see on the Ranger that I ve found in the Tundra but no other four door pickup is handles on the outsides so you don t have to go though opening the front door first to get the rears open The jump seats back there are still a joke I wouldn t even put small kids back there because they d be unsafe in a crash due to the inward facing seating position And those are the only people who would be comfy back there Of course it s only fair to remind you that pretty much every pickup in this segment except the Dodge Dakota with its forward facing rear bench tells that same joke and you ll have to look at the extended cabs in full sized trucks or consider the light duty crew cabs if you want rear seating that is at least endurable in a pickup Any adults who are not shaped like children will not be happy after more than a short 10 20 minute hop in those seats which is about how long it usually takes for their novelty to wear off The cup holders for those jump seats are an even crueler joke since no one should really be back there The cup holders for front passengers are still in a bad place placed on the floor of the cabin where they re difficult to reach I d prefer a setup like I see on some S10 s where they unfold from the front of the center console But one now has a removable carrying case for hot thermoses and other drinks The glove box is deep enough to be very useful but that was about the limit of the lockable hidden storage inside the cab The only other storage was a map pocket in each door A locking bin under one of the front seats would be a welcome touch I did like the special compartment for the jack though On my truck it was just thrown back there haphazardly The gauges are all simple and clear pretty much standard issue equipment since the early nineties They have nice big white letters You get engine and oil temperature gauges a speedometer fuel gauge one to measure battery charge and a tachometer All the information I would wish to know A useful twelve volt power outlet is displayed prominently next to the radio This should be a very convenient way to run power tools and other small appliances off the battery Buttons to operate the power accessories are on the door armrests They were big clear and easy to figure out Visibility was a big problem though I get really annoyed nowadays at what seems too much of a willingness on the part of manufacturers to sarifice safety for style Sleek tiny side view mirrors may integrate well with a car s body but they make for anoying blindspots The rear view mirror was not long enough The side view mirrors were too small and weirdly shaped They angled upward sharply on the inside lower corner right at a big blind spot Buttons on the radio were big and fat and clearly marked It s too bad really The radio was very easy to use and offered dual media capabilities but it offered flat weak bass However it did have clear finely detailed sound The tape deck was a full logic unit with seek and scan functions always an impressive thing to me Definitely not powerful enough in the low ranges for my ears though I would have to either specify that ground pounding 500 watt plus unit that will soon be available in the Edge or just order the cheapest radio I can get and swap it out for an after market system I noticed much more head hip shoulder and legroom all around up front The Ranger has now finally improved from liveable to very comfortable with the much improved seating and increased space When I put the key in I noticed that that stupid latch by the ignition that you need to push to release it is finally gone thank god However the foot operated emergency brake no longer clicks when applied something I missed It just feels more reassuring when you can hear it go down to the last click when putting it on Overall A for the interior It was much improved Almost all serious shortcomings from previous models were addressed with just a few annoyances left Ride I started it up and pulled into traffic One of the first things I noticed was the extremely low engine noise levels The new 4 0 purrs like a kitten and makes smooth refined noises at all speeds None of the coarse boomy quality of the old push rod engines The noises that really got to me came from wind My 95 does not push air as loudly at over 90 mph as this one does at 60 One step forward in cost reduction for Ford one step backward for noise levels This is one loud truck I believe the wind noise would slowly drive me insane on long trips and that damn stereo isn t even powerful enough to overcome it Small bumps were well damped and never particularly jarring The big ones really upset the cabin though and even elicited some rattles Ride Gets a B that would be vastly improved if they didn t skimp on sound deadening materials Handling Body lean was very limited and the truck felt sharp and agile in all situations The steering was heavier than on some previous models I ve driven including my own allowing for much better road feel and requiring fewer inputs to plot a straight ahead course on the highway I felt just a tiny bit of rear end floatiness at high speeds but it was barely noticeable In rapid high speed transitions there were no excess body motions Even at over 50 mph it was the same over and over I steered sharply the truck turned to its new course and that was it No bobbing and weaving And what s best on some tire spinning maneuvers that always upset the rear axle in my Ranger this truck stayed composed and glued to the ground In low speed parking lot maneuvers it seemed to require fewer twists of the wheel in tight turning Braking was always straight and secure though the brakes didn t grab quite as aggressively as I would have liked on sharp application Handling A good solid A The truck points where you want it to go with no drama or excess body motions Acceleration This truck s biggest glaring weak point besides wind noise I just never felt like the 4 0 V6 and the automatic transmission were working as a team They felt more like enemies to me Downshift now screamed the throttle Who s gonna make me huh tough guy Are you is the defiant reply from the transmission The power curve is weak Sure you do get a sharp kick when you floor it from a stand still Things get quite boring after about 2 seconds though as it gets weaker and weaker towards the mid ranges There was a noticeable and disappointing lack of pulling power at medium and high speeds without a down shift and those down shifts were slow and reluctant usually coming 3 4 seconds after I asked for them Passing power at higher speeds was OK because this motor likes to rev and makes good power at higher rpm s but it still wasn t great even in lower gears I had a feeling this had more to do with the 5 speed automatic s gearing than any inadequacy on the part of the new 4 0 And the transmission still had a tendency to leave me hanging In general it didn t seem intuitive at all And two different times at a stand still I could feel the idle skip ever so slightly I wasn t sure if it was an engine problem or a torque converter problem but it was not reassuring The 4 0 does not come with stick right now or so I hear Guess that means I will not be going with the 4 0 The automatic just seemed to suck up too much of this engine s potential Acceleration The engine could use a flatter power curve with more low speed torque and both a manual transmission and an improved automatic C sorry to say Overall tally B but let me emphasize that it just barely missed a C The great ride handling and increased capacity really helped raise the grade My advice to Ranger fans considering this truck Hold on to your older Rangers a little while longer The 2001 redesign is not the huge step forward it would seem It seems almost like a mediocre stop gap measure to fill in until the totally new truck arrives Wait until the complete redesign coming up in 2003 to see if the Ranger can regain its greatness " Neg," Nick bought our little navy blue 1993 Ford Ranger brand new 10 years ago with all of 5 miles on it By 4000 miles the trouble had begun and they just culminated in a disaster that almost got me killed last week The Ranger is the little truck Ours is a regular cab and regular bed 2 wheel drive 5 speed manuel Nothing fancy or special 6 cyl 4 0 L It got relatively good gas mileage I m guestimating about 20 MPG It s a cute little truck resembling the Chevy S10 pretty closely The cloth interior was fairly easy to keep clean and for a bench seat in a truck was actually pretty comfy as comfy as it could possibly be for what it was It wasn t a race car so I didn t expect it to be fast but it actually did handle much better than I anticipated I scared Nick the way I took curves sometimes For a truck it handled curves pretty impressively actually When the brakes worked they worked well I could stop that thing on a dime Yes there actually were times in between repairs that I did enjoy driving this little truck The trouble began with the clutch fluid See the thingy is inside the bell housing on the Ranger which is pretty odd At about 4000 miles it started leaking First we were having to add fluid like every other month then every month then every day We finally took it in and had the unit changed about 2 years ago it was fine for 6 month then we had to start adding fluid again every month you get the picture Pain in the butt The oil was the same way I had to add oil every 200 miles or so About 4 years ago some hoses went out easy enough to replace a hose right Go in to the auto parts store and tell em ya want the hose to fit the 93 Ranger sure they have that Errr wait It doesn t fit There is no hose that fits As a matter of fact that hose was jerry rigged at the factory I kid you not You could see where they had to heat it and stretch it to get it to fit Real nice eh We ve gone through clutches and had the transmission redone once Accessories broke like clockwork The brakes didn t last as long as they should What else ooooh yeas the electrical system We have jet skiis and a dual trailer One year we decided to tow them on down to Key West for Christmas as our present to ourselves About half way there the lights went out We bought a fuse It blew This continued the entire trip I m not sure what got replaced finally to end that nightnmare but it sucked This thing was just one problem after another for ten years It was paid off so we kept dealing with it We should have gotten rid of it years ago It made that decision for us last Monday I had just gotten back from the shop New tires all around new brakes and oil change Got the Safety Inspection sticker on Monday afternoon So I decide to drive up to DC to see Nick who has been working up there during the week I get to the draw bridge and clank clunk screech can t shift can t move Dead in the middle of a slight curve on a damn draw bridge and the damn truck cannot even be pushed out of the way It s totally seized up at 2 AM The cars rushing past are barely swerving out of the way in time to avoid a major firey crash I m standing there in the middle of the night leaning on my cane in tears and there is absolutely nothing I can do about anything This was not fun I now have a mental block when it comes to Fords I ll never by another one Luckily a Tow Truck happened along on his way home about 15 minutes later and blocked the lane with his flashing lights then got me towed to safety even though I had NO cash on me i Double T Towing of College Park MD is owned by Tony and he is a sweetheart I paid him the next day So now it s dead and I am not going to resurrect it We re donating it to some place for the tax credit Cutting our losses as much as possible I mean we had just put over 500 into it that weekend Grr argh I do not recommend buying Ford Anyone can get a lemon that s true but you have to consider the hose issue Any company that sells a vehicle new off the show room floor with jerry rigged parts is a company that I do not want to do business with Ever You ve been warned " Neg," Well when I was test driving trucks I drove several late model compact pickups before finally decided on my 95 Ranger XLT One of them is another Ranger a stripped Base model I found on the same lot At first my parents thought cheap low mileage let s go for it So I had a closer look This was a stripped and I mean totally stripped base model No air no tape deck vinyl flat bench manual everything dough nut looking little tires and that was pretty much it There wasn t even any power steering This was a barest of the bare bones models designed to be a work vehicle It seems like little trucklets like this one are the ones predestined from the factory to become those rough running 200 000 mile little rust buckets with springs that sag from constant overloading But my parents liked the price so I gave it a quick test drive Well what can I say about the interior on this truck Well it s a place where you sit The vinyl floor isn t particularly attractive so if you like quality looking materials look elsewhere but it should be easy to hose out after muddy boots have made their mark The numbers on the gauges are nice and easy to read with the steering wheel made so the spokes do not block the view of the panel The controls are simple large and easy to read probably because there are no options so you don t have that many to clutter up the dash The dash is the older square shape before the interior was redesigned a couple years later The plain flat rectangle and square shapes do not bulge and curve like the dashboards on later models so everything is moved a bit farther away from the driver s reach and I found I had to look down more to operate the radio and heat controls I missed the center armrest that usually makes it easy to rest your elbow while your hand works the controls Did I mention no air Or no tape deck The am fm radio was tinny and fuzzy But good enough to break up the monotony of lunch break at the construction site By the way I see more XLT s at work sites than strippers by far Maybe even working men like their creature comforts The flat vinyl bench was well a place to rest your rear end Not much more Not designed for hours of comfortable cruising just plain functional There were also no headrests which I find unforgivable in even the most stripped pickup made in the 90 s Then there was that power steering Wait no I m confusing this with post stone age models There was none I ll admit that s one less thing that might eventually break or require extra maintenance but me and my parents ended up deciding it was worth it Just try turning the wheel for the first ten seconds or so after start up before you get going and the steering warms up and effort gets lighter I dare ya With trucks like this who needs to lift weights Just try maneuvering through a tight parking lot and you can get all the workout you need Handling was what could be expected with such a basic suspension setup This truck sits low and is stiffly spung so it leans a little less that you might expect but those puny 195 millimeter wide tires give out fast And those leaf springs with a solid rear axle make for a nice dance number in bumpy corners Ride damping was well truck like Small bumps close together made it dance The bigger ones were actually absorbed fairly well just a solid wump with the suspension taking a good bit of the punishment before it reached the passengers Of course the really big pot holes gave me a headache Sound deadening was probably another area where Ford did a little skimping as the engine noise was ever present The little 2 3 4 banger does its job well in my truck and in this truck it has considerably less weight to pull so I never felt like it lacked power Merging into street traffic was pretty easy with the 145 lb feet of low end torque that motivates what must be a sub 3000 pound truck Highway merging or passing are a different matter all together You can do it you just have to thrash this truck at 3000 rpm or maybe a little more where it starts to get coarse and boomy I don t recommend shifting below fourth at those speeds but it gets tempting as it only pulls in 5th in ideal conditions and it only pulls in fourth over about 70 mph All in all a work truck and no more It does not presume to be a commuter vehicle or a highway cruiser It is a work vehicle to be used and abused until it falls apart which should take quite awhile because of the lack of fancy extras or electronics that may be likely to develop problems in the future If you absolutely have to have a truck and it s all you can afford go for it with the reminder that this vehicle will not be much fun as a daily driver Best left to those who need a reliable work horse OK maybe more like a work pony and don t care about any options or frills Me I m quite happy that we paid a little more for my 95 XLT with 60 40 split bench and center console tape deck and rear sliding window I strongly advise using some of the money saved by ordering the most basic power train and suspension for interior upgrades br br " Neg," My son bought this 93 ford ranger a month ago and I had my doubts He found at a used car dealer dye s in grantsville wv When he took me for a test drive I said that it seem to shift hard auto He said That I found some thing wrong with every car he found The dealer said that the transmission had been rebuilt That ranger transmissions were week and that they had put in a larger pump and it would last longer that way My son asked him if transmission was warranted and yes it was Are state requires a 30 day 50 50 warranty Well the transmission slipped a few times and finally got worse When my son asked him about it before the 30 days was up The dealer said you probably should get a new trans my son then went to the place that rebuilt the trans They said some fluid leak was normal They finally said would order a modulator valve and let him know When a young college student works hard for their money this hurts more than you know He checked the gas mileage without the air on and it got a dismal 18 miles to the gallon It should be against the law for car dealers to make a vehicle that gets less than 30 miles to the gallon SUMMARY don t buy a ford ranger if your interested in fuel mileage getting a good transmission Talk to several people and see if they recommend dealer or not br br " Neg," My 2000 Ranger is my first Ford product in 12 years My initial reaction to this vehicle The quality of their products has remained the same or dropped in that time period vs the expected improvement As a truck my expectations were somewhat different vs a passenger car particularly in areas of ride and cab comfort Generally I was pleasantly surprised in both areas However the overall quality level of the truck quickly eroded any positive feelings for the vehicle Some of the quality problems were superficial or cosmetic incorrectly cut carpeting exposed wiring radio knobs that have no start stop points Not show stoppers but enough to leave you uneasy about things you don t see or use on a regular basis Other quality issues were more problematic The truck was delivered with loose front wheel bearings and was badly out of alignment to the point of ruining the front tires within 800 miles due to cupping I have experienced severe vibration in power steering assembly that it intermittent irregular idle and loss of power when clutch is disengaged air conditioning that fails to discharge evaporated water correctly causing mildew in the evaporator box that must be flushed and deodorized on a regular basis These are problems that I would expect to encounter at 80 000 miles not at 800 miles As a daily driver the truck is a mixed bag Gas mileage has been disappointing 18 in town 20 on highway vs 22 27 rating The ride is better than expected somewhat choppy but acceptable for a truck especially with a short wheelbase On the positive side the standard bench seats are comfortable and come with a 60 40 split Legroom and headroom is adequate for a 6 0 person The standard stereo system has a built in cd player and delivers better than average sound quality The heater delivers more than adequate heat but does suffer from A C odor problems Dash board control and gauges are easy to read and provide more than standard idiot lights A tach would be helpful with standard transmission models especially to monitor idle levels This truck initially caught my eye due to its sticker price which seemed very reasonable Unfortunately low price does not always mean value and in this case it didn t br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle because it is a sharp looking truck There I have said something positive about it Now let s get to the real important info The brakes on this truck are a joke It has been in the shop 7 times for brake problems ranging from flat out brake loss to a leaky master cylinder to the brakes locking up and or failing in the rain The stereo is excellent however the speakers fail to deliver more than an annoying staticky rattle The air conditioning won t allow you to adjust the temperature on MAX AC to anything but arctic The power steering pump whines and moans The power windows jump down in intervals instead of smoothly rolling down The ride is stiff and bouncy The transmission takes it sweet time going through the gears and sometimes missing one or two along the way Whether or not I make it to the end of the lease in this vehicle remains to be seen Having paid almost 19K for it a year ago and having it only worth 11 9K in trade now with only 13 000 miles is disheartening Do yourself a favor BUY SOMETHING ELSE br br " Neg," I have been the unfortunate victim of Ford ownership I know I have no one to blame but myself but the fact remains I have not one but two Ford vehicles that I wish I never laid eyes on One of these products is a 200 Ford Ranger which was purchased in September of 2000 The Ranger is a small truck 4 cylinder to boot so my expections in the power department was pre decided I bought the truck to skiddle around town in and haul a this and that from Home Depot so power is not something I expected although the very lack of power is something I never expected I am lucky to hit 35 after 5 minutes and the transmission does lag more than quite a bit It whines and cries upon any boot to the gas pedal and never gets up to speed Dont even attempt a freeway or an upward grade I believe you may roll backwards The gas milage is worse than bad and the promised 22 27 is far from being true in fact it is more like 16 19 if your lucky With gas at 2 00 a gallon I consider this a killjoy on the pocketbook But the worse part of this Ranger is the lack of response from Ford or our dealership to do anything about the lack of power not to mention the cosmetic problems On wednesday of this week it wil be my seventh trip into the dealership to secure my inside roof Yes you got it the interior roof is collapsing and no one wants to do a thing about it And living in a desert area I cant seem to keep the plastic molding from warpage no matter how ard I try But Ford and their bumper to bumper warranty doesnt mean a hill of beans if they refuse to act and honor that warranty as they did in my case Basically if there isnt a technician report sent out then there isnt a problem So since my transmission or interior doesnt have a tech report released by those wonderful engineers at Ford well I have to live with it and all the other rattles and hums this vehicle has and in the mean time I feel stupider than stupid for giving Ford anything but a good cussing So avoid Ford porducts unless you want to live the horrors of Ford ownership like I have for the past year and a half " Neg," I bought my Ford Windstar for a few reasons 1 I have two active teenagers and a grandson I wanted a vehicle that could also double as taxi for all of their friends 2 I love to travel by car and I thought that this vehicle would save me hotel motel fees 3 I love Lyndsey Wagner LOL First let me tell you I have the 98 version of the Windstar I hate this van It s less comfortable than riding a Greyhound bus cross country it eats gas like you wouldn t believe 15 city and 35 highway I ve taken it into the shop many times and the dealer always claims that the problem is fixed only to have many more problems I ve replaced the brakes more times than I can count and the Windstar drinks up more oil than a sailor on leave Forget windy conditions the Windstar bobs around like a ship lost at sea Last but not least the seats do not lay down to make a bed they fold So there s no way to camp out in the Wind Star The ford Windstar reminds me of a nicely made bed with no sheets on it In other words it looks pretty on the outside but there is nothing under all that pretty lace br br " Neg," I own a 98 Windstar that was purchased after we learned that we were expecting our second child I spent hours reading consumer magazines and researching full size cars and mini vans I pretty much knew that a mini van would be more up my alley so a larger car never had much of a chance All that I had read about vans was that the Windstar was what we were looking for but probably out of our price range Was I ever happy to read an ad in our local paper with a local dealer selling them at under 20 000 00 I must say that out of all the dealerships we went to while looking at various vans from different companies the Ford dealership won hands down as far as good sales people The salesman listened to what we wanted in a van and made sure that it s what we got When we didn t qualify for all of the rebates that were being offered he still made sure the selling price was in our range and we got some decent financing terms After 3 days of debating we went ahead and purchased the Windstar After only having the van for a month or so was when our problems started First it was a little thing The windshield had come unsecured to the van and had to be re glued After an all day stay at the service department we were on the road again Then after about 3 or 4 months of ownership we had a transmission leak After another stay this time overnight we were reunited 8 months after ownership we had to have a rod replaced Things went relatively smooth for a while before we were back to the service dept for mystery transmission problems and more noises coming from under the vehicle This time we needed to have a sensor in the transmission replaced As for the mystery noises that turned out to be many things We had another rod replaced the steering column replaced a cracked strut casing and something else that escapes me at the moment Holy cow I don t drive at breakneck speeds nor to I beat on a vehicle I have two children in the van most of the time so I can t afford to be reckless Now my van is acting up again with the transmission and the service dept can t find a thing wrong with it After a talk with the man that worked on my van I am no longer confident in Ford products He explained that the vehicle that was sold to me was originally designed for mail delivery and not highway use So at highway speeds it is possible that the van just acts up because the transmission can t handle them Not a comforting thought Also I was told by the service dept that Windstar s are known for having to have rods replaced Why didn t anyone tell me that before Now I have strange squeals coming form under the hood when I turn my a c on I am 1000 miles away from going on to my extended warranty plan and I am grateful I bought it I fear that I would go broke if I had not Unfortunatly I am stuck with the van until it dies or my husband s car does But I can tell you I look forward to the day when I can get a new van from another car manufacture br br " Neg," I am a proponent of domestic vehicles I realize that many imports are reported to have better quality assurance better final product I have never felt that the inflated cost of North America s favorite imports could be justified maybe now I do My 1998 Ford Windstar L has been a disappointment I live in the country and commute daily to a large metropolitan area for work It is a drive that could be considered quot easy quot as it is mostly highway driving on secondary roads at about 55 mph with not many stop and go s Because of my commute I put on about 28 000 miles a year I currently have approximately 41 000 miles I require a reliable comfortable and relatively economical vehicle Surprisingly enough the Windstar I own averages about 26 mpg and I have had up to 31 mpg in ideal weather conditions The fuel economy was a pleasant bonus On the other hand my Windstar has had MANY annoying small problems During the warranty period first 36 000 miles I have had the following problems a Check Engine Light on sensor defect b Mass Air Flow Sensor MAF when it goes you re dead in the water improper air fuel mixture it happened at 25 000 miles c Door ajar sensor this one needs to be talked about The sensor went due to a short in the ground Interestingly enough the rear wiper uses the same ground and as a result the rear wiper motor was fried When this sensor goes and it s over the weekend with no service dept open you have no alternative but to disconnect your battery as the dome light inside cannot be manually turned off and if you don t your battery will run down By disconnecting the positive battery terminal you reset the onboard monitoring computer which renders engine diags impossible until the computer quot relearns quot your driving habits and can set baselines for diagnostics Maybe Ford and other manufacturers that have the same setup should use a separate backup system battery like the lithium Ion backup battery found in a Personal Computer This sensor has gone twice once due to a short in the ground the other time for no apparent reason It continues to sporadically go on and off while driving d I have had occasional clunking in the front end I brought the vehicle into the dealership and told them I suspected the transmission It has occasionally had difficulty up down shifting at the gear cusp to overdrive about40 mph They could find no obvious problem but did find loose tie rods and replaced them I am now past basic warranty and have the air bag sensor light staying on 6 seconds past when all other sensors have been initiated at startup According to my manual I need the air bag checked immediately The feel of my vehicle is still not right I have sporadic shuddering from either the transmission the Mass Air Flow sensor or the tie rods or the idle arms etc etc My decision comes down to maintaining a safe vehicle by dumping money into an obviously sub standard product or getting rid of it and eating a large amount of negative equity I have had the vehicle only 16 months Any way I look at it keeping it may cost fortune trading it will definitely cost a fortune Either way I as the consumer have been shafted A colleague of mine has a 96 Windstar and just had its transmission rebuilt 52 000 miles It seems that Ford continue to use a transmission with a known engineering flaw an aluminium piston I had a 94 Sable wagon that had the piston go and the transmission was rebuilt with a steel piston as the replacement Why doesn t Ford just re engineer the transmission do a general recall and change the piston So what can I do I have 3 children and need the flexibility of a minivan I can t afford to change my vehicle every 1 1 2 years Ford Quality is no longer Job 1 Epilogue I buckled bit the bullet dumped the turkey The vehicle above has been traded for a Toyota Corolla Big difference from a minivan small for my family of five but a great little car Maybe Ford should pay out the negative equity that I just had to eat br br " Neg," The Ford Winstar may seem like to answer to all your family s needs but beware there can be some drawbacks to this vehicle that you ll want to consider PS I saved the worst problem for last Why we bought a Winstar After a lengthly search of all the auto market has to offer for a family of seven to ride in we settled on the Winstar I have owned several Ford vehicles in the past and felt like Quality was still Job quot this this brand I was torn between the modern looking Taurus wagon and the Winstar Although the Taurus wagon with the fold away jumpseat in the back actually seats 8 we felt like the benefits of the split front driver passenger seat in the minivan would be better for taking care of kids riding behind you What I Hate About The Winstar 1 Inadequate Air Conditioning System Problems began a few hours after we rolled off the showroom floor and the passengers in the back especially in the third seat became hot and sweaty We realized that the air conditioning system is totally inadequate for rear passengers We live in Texas yes it get s hot here however any temperatures above 80 degrees and the folks in the back get hot and sweaty very quickly I lost track of how many times I would arrive to the store or church and unload my poor soaking wet w sweat kids from the back My baby drinks an extra bottle each time we go somewhere because he just gets so hot If you get a Winstar pay extra and get the second A C system or you ll regret it 2 Strangling Seatbelts This has not happened to us before but the Winstar s seatbelts just don t seem to be satisfied with the hold they can have on you They keep tightening up until your neck feels like it s being sawed off or worse you get a lovely seatbelt hickey to hide I hate to say it but I even found myself dressing in certain garments in order to protect my neck I even bought short sleeved little turtlenecks in the summer now I keep a soft towel handy to tuck against my neck to alleviate I am 5 1 2 feet tall so this is not a short person problem for me however if you aren t that tall watch your neck 3 Power Steering Problems The hoses for the power steering leak and seem to be prone to developing this Wouldn t you know that you can only get the hoses from Ford and they are expensive too I have been having to add power steering fluid to the Winstar about twice a week or it makes a horrible grinding noise that makes nearby neighbors and pedestrians stop and stare as we drive by Get ear muffs for the neighbors unless you like being noticed alot 4 Flying hubcaps This is weird but the hubcaps just don t like to stay on this car Okay you probably think I am a lousy driver but after twenty years of driving I have never had to replace so many Of course the Ford hubcaps are 100 each forget that Good luck trying to by nice wheels for it I found out the front wheel drive rims for this baby are a fortune Get on with wheels 5 The Very Worst Thing About the Winstar This is the pathetic part With this many problems I wanted to trade my Winstar in for something else I found out that after buying the vehicle 18 months previously and taking very good care of it the Winstar I paid 22 000 for was now worth a trade in of 9000 only 18 short months and 16 000 miles later I couldn t believe it I was so upset I had to stomp out of several dealerships before I realized that this vehicle loses practically half it s value when you roll off the showroom floor No one can justify that to me folks What I Love About It I still maintain that the design of the minivan is an excellent one for transporting people of all ages comfortably The design of the Winstar is very functional If you like the design then may I suggest the Dodge Caravan Both minivans are of a similar design however the new Caravans are more streamlined cool the inside better and the seatbelts are friendly My mom got a Caravan and I am jealous It is a pleasure to drive the Winstar I like being able to see what s going on in the traffic ahead of me I will confess when I drove my Mom s Caravan it did handle better and the back seat can actually switch places with the middle bench seat and give you more options The Winstar does not allow you to switch the places of the seats only to fold them down or take them out completely I have considered myself a Ford person up until now I think I am going to go Dodge next time around that is whenever I finally get out from under my Winstar s ridiculous trade in situation Take Care Happy Motoring Love Your Margarine br br " Neg," Let me start off by saying that when I leased my 1998 Ford Windstar it was in July of 1997 I leased it because it was rated number one in overall safety for mini vans that year I leased it for two years and when the lease was up my wife loved it so much that I purchased the vehicle for her This vehicle is now 3 years old and has about a little over 12 000 miles on it When I leased this vehicle I thought it was covered by a five year 50 000 mile warranty I was wrong it is only covered by a 3 year 36 000 mile warranty After three years of driving this vehicle without ever having a problem the electric door locks started to malfunction First the driver side would not lock then it would not open then the side sliding door had the same trouble when I finally got a day off of work I took it to my local dealer Island Ford on Staten Island NY this is not the dealer I leased the vehicle from and asked for the locks to be repaired this is when I found out that my warranty had expired 6 DAYS EARLIER They told me they would not fix the locks unless I paid for them I was later lead to believe that it was because I did not purchase the vehicle from them or they would have taken care of the problem I came home and called Ford they said they would contact the dealer to see if this could be worked out and I should hear from Island Ford in 2 3 days A week later I contacted Ford again to let them know I haven t heard from the dealer they said they did the service manager refused to fix the vehicle After days of haggling with ford and trying to go up the chain of command I finally get some guy who tells me my decision is final and nobody can change it I wrote a E mail to Mr Nasser the CEO of FORD and kept getting answers from different people but I could never get to him directly Their customer service is terrible Now this vehicle has locks that don t work because I didn t get there 6 days earlier and with only 12 000 miles on it it sounds like the power steering pump is going This vehicle is going up for sale as soon as the winter is over and that will END MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FORD FOREVER Whats your opinion I d like to know " Neg," I feel compelled to write this so noone else buys a Windstar Maybe these vehicles are reliable for the first few years but then they go bad VERY quickly I suppose the Winstar would work well as a leased vehicle Any longer than 2 4 years and you re in for trouble I purchased a 98 Windstar and unless they ve made HUGE changes I can t imagine the new ones being much better We know a Ford engineer we live in Michigan and she say s Ford really cheapens out the Windstar parts Everything is taken down to the bare minimum for nearly every important part The Windstar is a big money maker for Ford During the 6 years of Windstar ownership I went through 1 Strut Replacement 2 Transmission rebuilt 3 times thank GOD for AAmco and lifetime warranty 3 Head Gasket blowout 4 Weird CLONK noise in front when going over bump very loud and nobody could find out what it was 5 Right side door lock made loud craaaaank noise when locked Never fixed 6 Replaced Starter 7 Gas tank gasket seal broke and interior smelled like gas 8 Serpentine belt tensioner pully broke twice 9 Back end continually rattled while driving Never fixed 10 Muffler had an O2 sensor socket blow out Had to have the threaded nut welded back into the muffler 11 Power Steering creeked and was hard to turn Never fixed 12 First 60 days of ownership the vehicle was in the shop for transmission issues nearly 45 days 13 The back plastic hatch handle inside broke off several times 14 Tiny hub caps were replaced several times Obviously I m no longer a Winstar fan In fact I regard it as the worst money I ve ever spent in my whole life The Firestone repairman constantly said the Windstar and the Taurus were the 2 worst vehicles on the road During the past 2 years we NEVER felt comfortable taking the Windstar on a long trip The last trip was 12 months ago through Virginia and we swore the transmission was slipping When we got back home the AAmco guy rebuilt the transmission for the 3rd time Needless to say I m done buying Ford and have moved to the Honda s This is the second Ford vehicle to let me down The first was the older Ford Granada but that s another story Dave " Neg," This van was in the shop 7 times in the first 6 months that I owned it The engine would stall and then it would not restart This happened once to me on the highway doing 120 kph 70 mph Very very scary First the dealer told me that there was nothing wrong with it The second time they claimed it was the O2 sensor The third time they said it was the computer and they reprogrammed it The fourth time they replaced the computer The fifth time they replaced the throttle body and it finally seemed to cure the stalling All of this was done under warranty but it was extremely inconvenient In addition I lost all confidence in the vehicle and ended up driving it in the slow lane etc in case it stalled out again Ford refused to replace the vehicle The van has also had 2 tie rods replaced on separate occasions as well This is on a vehicle with less than 60 000 kms 40 000 miles on it It was also in the shop to fix the cruise control as well Finally I was stranded again with an under the hood fuel leak Other highs and lows Rear seat removal is easy but the seat is very heavy Definitely a two person operation The rear seat moves forward about 6 inches which adds a bit of extra luggage space It folds down as well which is useful because removing the seat is such a pain The factory roof rack is flimsy with a very low load capacity I have the rear air option We only use it to cool the van down after it has been sitting in the summer sun Otherwise it can be almost too powerful In the winter there is no rear temperature control we usually turn off the rear heat because it gets too hot We never use the tilting driver s seat for access to the rear seats To allow for this feature the driver s door is extra long which makes it awkward in parking lots Front seats and the optional mid row captains chairs are comfortable but I find the rear seat too hard and flat The engine has lots of low end torque but runs out of steam as revs rise The transmission is fine on upshifts but can be hard on downshifts The transmission is geared for relaxed cruising Engine revs at 70 mph are around 2400 rpm This makes for a relaxed ride but ensures the need for a noisy downshift when passing The sliding side door rolls more smoothly and is easier for kids to close than some other mini van doors Sound insulation and ride is okay There is an optional kiddie convex shaped mirror which really helps to keep track on what the kids are doing in the back There is an optional control for the radio for the rear passengers which can be good or bad depending upon what your kids like to listen to I also got the optional center console which has a handy power outlet The console adds lots of storage space but makes access to the rear seats from the interior a little difficult The power outlet in the console is always on even when the key is out of the ignition which is handy I also got the optional power outlet for the center row seats which is useful for the kids There is a door lock switch in the back hatch area which is handy The bolt cover for the optional alloy wheels is huge It covers 1 3 of the wheel which is ridiculous considering that I spent the extra for the alloy not for plastic " Neg," I bought my 1998 Windstar used in April of 2001 I thought I was making a sound choice I did all of the research poured over articles ran a carfax report and took it to a mechanic Little did I know My van has given me nothing but problems I hadn t had my van for 5 days when I had to take it back to the dealer to get a transmission leak fixed all of the fluid was GONE I then had to replace my serpentine belt which still squeeks Then 4 months later my snap ring sensor on my ABS broke I had to get my camshaft synchronizer replaced not covered under my warranty and no mechanic would touch it I had numerous small problems with it that were covered under warranty but cost me 100 00 every time I had to have them fixed I finally thought I was all done with the major repairs then came the brake problems We had 3 brake jobs done in 4 months only to realize that the hydrolic control unit on my front drivers side brake wasn t working surprise surprise this was not covered under my extended warranty either 1 200 Not to mention my roof rack leaks so that every time it rains my seatbelts become soaked Then my passenger side automatic window stopped working and my rear drivers side window only works half the time I have sunk more money into this van than any other car I have owned I m shopping for a new vehicle now because I only have 8 000 miles left on my extended warranty and there is a knocking under the hood that we can t identify and it pulls unmercifully to the right I ve had it alligned and had the tow checked The only good thing I can say is that my dealerships repair shop and used car manager have bent over backwards trying to appease me Maybe I just bought a lemon but I will definately think twice before buying another Windstar " Neg," The vehical I own is presently out of commision so my parents are letting me use thier 98 Ford Windstar I am very greatful for them loaning it to me but what a lemon The inside light and dinger does not go off unless you are going 15 mph or faster and if you get below that speed limit the interior light comes on and the ding ding ding chirps as loud as can be I ve taken it in to be looked at more than once and the dealership always gives the van back saying quot the problem is fixed quot Maybe I should be gripping about the manufacturer but thats not the only problem the ride is really smooth as long as you drive 70 mph or more the seats don t lay down they fold which makes it impossible to use for camping I would have never puchased this automobile I wish they would hurry and fix my car " Neg," I purchased a 98 Windstar in Spring of 1997 and now have 50 000 miles on it I did not get a Dodge after having put a transmission in our last one 1994 so did everyone else I knew I liked the extra room however we have had many minor problems For one thing the wheels can not be balanced 2 new sets of tires several balances trip to dealer under warranty did not help Currently the brake light is always on they cruise control quit working the seat panel fell off and the rear heat operation is sporadic I still have my 94 van and it drives smoother than the Windstar Next time I will return to Dodge and just plan on putting in a new transmission at 50 000 miles " Neg," While our instincts told us not to buy this vehicle we did anyway We bought our Windstar and sold it 3 months later I believe Ford makes a good product but this in my opinion is not Our Windstar rattled and just felt cheap Having drove a Jeep SUV before the Windstar I missed sitting up high and didn t feel as safe in the Windstar It was easy to move around but had no sportiness or fun when driving I have driven other minivans that I felt were of a much higher quality than the Windstar The carpet stained easily and was hard to clean Just not a good buy in my opinion Dawn " Neg," I bought my 2001 Cobra in January 2003 I missed the power after selling my modified 1991 Mustang GT a couple of years ago My Cobra had 13 000 miles on it so it was practically new I was impressed with the power of the Cobra and the brakes However I had problems with my Cobra There was what some call driveline slop when shifting There would always be a loud clunking noise coming from the rear of the car Eventually there was a big bang one day and it turns out my rear differential failed There were problems with the warranty repair but that s another story See note at end After getting the car back it drove better Driveline slop was gone I was happy until a month later when the rear axle bearings went out and needed to be towed back home The car has left me stranded twice and it only now has 27 000 miles on it The axle was repaired under warranty and now I will sell the car as soon as possible I will not keep this car past the warranty period There are other things I should mention like the drivers s seat shifting during some cornering and the front bumper is loose You can move it up and down with your hands The Ford dealership says this is normal I don t think so The overall quality of the interior is kind of cheap looking with lot s of plastic The shifter console is loose around the shifter Just overall low quality Looks like Ford just built a piece of crap car around a good engine and brakes Note to anyone considering buying a used car from a Ford dealership If the car is still under mfgr s warranty have the dealership print you out a copy of the vehicle s OASIS report That s the Ford vehicle info database It shows all repairs done at Ford dealerships and it shows the vehicles warranty status This could become important later " Neg," I bought my Ford Explorer because of the way it drove looked and performed Last week I would have given the Explorer an A review However coming home from work last week I experienced the fear of a lifetime I always use my cruise control and never doubted that when I put my foot on the brake the cruise control would disengage This was NOT the case last week Instead it went faster I got off the Interstate going about 70 miles an hour I was relieved to be heading for a field where I could not hurt anyone else I tried to disengage the cruise control on the panel with no success As I neared the field I noticed that there was a rocky culvert and a barb wire fence surrounding it making it impossible to get to the open field Having slowed the car down to 40 with the emergency brake I was forced to throw the Explorer into Park When my knees stopped shaking I got out of the car and noticed that the tires were smoking A man on a tracker came by and called for help When my friend arrived he got in and the brakes worked fine This leads me to believe that it is a defect in the cruise control Now my Check Engine light is on and the car does not idle I have to push down on the excelerator just to get my car to move My tires are dangerous to drive on Hopefully Ford Motors will take care of the damage it caused But I am not sure they will as the car now has 50 000 miles on it and no longer under warranty Has anyone had this problem occur to their Explorer Whether under warranty or not I think they should take this episode very seriously " Neg," We bought a new Explorer in 1995 and felt we got a pretty good deal after beating on a couple of fleet sales managers Some of the reasons we purchased the Limited are we liked the leather option for the seats the privacy glass for all but the driver and passenger windows I really liked the interior door lock by the back interior door the ability to lower the back seats and move the front seats all the way forward to accommodate my 6 3 frame if I wanted to sleep inside the vehicle it was not as tall as most all of the other SUV s so it would fit in our not so tall garage the shift on the fly four wheel drive option and the classic lines that didn t look like a GM product Now mind you I have had a couple of other Ford products and had the same problem with at least 2 of them THE TRANSMISSION We never thought that there would be the same problem with the Explorer but at 8K miles guess what After coming to a full stop the transmission locked up and it wasn t going to go anywhere Fortunately the warranty covered the replacement and we were off to see the sights of Oregon Since then the only problem we have encountered has been the automatic shock adjustment for different types of roads They have not evenly leveled the vehicle and it is plain to see when you stand behind and look at it It doesn t seem to affect the ride but we don t know what would be an obvious sign that it needed repaired other than just looking at it One other real down side to the vehicle is the ride On long trips the lumbar support just isn t there and driving can become painful br br " Neg," We bought an Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer in 1995 We bought the car with a tow package and routinely used it to tow a popup camper We loved the interior of the car and the way the car looked In the winter of 97 the car had 46 000 miles We were moving to the Bay Area for 6 months and had rented a small U Haul My husband was driving the car out to California when in the middle of Nebraska the transmission gave out A Ford Dealer came out tow the car into the dealership His comments to my husband quot Didn t you know you cannot tow with a Ford quot We had to totally replace the transmission on this car All attempts to contact Ford to help with the payment were met with denial We even Federal Expressed a letter to the president of Ford about this issue 3 months later we received a form letter We have found out since then Ford has awful issues with their transmissions Check out all the web sites about this We sold the car immediately and have since owned a Mercedes M Class Great drive and great tow and a Chevrolet Suburban 2000 WONDERFUL Do not waste your money on this car It will fall apart on you and Ford will not care br br " Neg," After reading the positive reviews posted on epinion I thought I would share my negative experience with consumers It seems the Ford focus is a hit or miss model the cars built right run fine but those that miss the mark are unreliable and a hazard on the road We bought a new Ford Focus three months ago June 2002 in Las Vegas The research albeit a limited internet search told of a car which was inexpensive safe well built and sporty One week after we bought the focus the car died on a busy freeway It was repaired and returned in two days Trusting the reliability of a new car we drove from Nevada to Tucson where it died again on a stretch of road called properly termed Dead Man s Highway in the middle of summer Anyway this type of incident occurred twice more since we ve owned the focus And considering the car has been in the shop for almost half that time doesn t bode well for Ford reliabilty Fuel pump problems seem to be our burden but other focus owners have different but equally disappointing problems with their vehicles Something common to all focuses though are brake problems Car rental companies with focuses on their lot are told to replace brake pads at 15 000 20 000 miles because pads fail like clockwork Car owners unfortunately are only given a warranty on brakes for 3 years or 12 000 miles so replacement pads are an out of pocket expense A repeated problem continually found on focus complaint records are brakes that squeal and grind The problem cannot be fixed and Ford denies there are any design flaws A website dedicated to filing a class action lawsuit against Ford www fordfocusbreakproblems com might be of further help Also read the negative reviews found on carsmart com I believe my idea of a hit or miss car will be clear from the reviews posted on that site For those who love your focus I am jealous I wish I could spend my weekends some place other then Ford service centers For those who are looking to buy do the research Please heed my warning and don t risk your time and money into a Ford focus " Neg," The Ford Aerostar minivan is one of the worst minivans ever made It s not dependable it constantly needs repairs and is not something you want to stare at The only good thing about it is it s engine selection You can choose between a 4 cylinder a 4 0 V6 or a 3 0 V6 I have a 3 0 version When it s working it has good acceleration and horsepower It has seating for seven and a large cargo area It doesn t get good mileage and it gets pushed around by the wind It burns up master cylinders and transmissions I personally would like to set mine on fire because it is not running well My Aerostar s air conditioning hasn t worked in two years Over all this van is not a very good vehicle br br " Neg," While the Ford Taurus is a comfortable and rather inexpensive car it won t get high ratings from our family True to form this car has lived up to the FORD reputation of quot Fix Or Repair Daily quot Bought used after our beloved Jetta was totaled in an accident this car seemed promising at the start The front seats are plush and comfortable The back seat is roomy enough for children fits two car seats easily but the middle seat is hard and uncomfortable An arm rest can be brought down in the middle and there s even a lap shoulder belt for the middle seat but it feels like you re sitting on a rock hard surface The back seats also folds down to expand the trunk room for hauling larger items The trunk itself is fairy large not quite comparable to the roominess of a VW Jetta s trunk but still plenty of room for playpens or groceries The air conditioner and heater work well but sometimes seem slow to kick in The stereo system is an iffy item On one hand it has decent sound and provides enough bass to make most music palatable while on the other hand it is part of the console and pretty much irreplaceable I wouldn t advise buying this car if you re the type to pop stereo systems in and out However nice the amenities seemed at first we started having problems with it It features a faulty Ford transmission that s always begging for repair slipping in and out of gear If you use any brake pads other than the Ford ones they squeal squeak and squawk within a thousand miles The disc pads do not just go in with a C Clamp either you have to buy a special tool that looks like a little block This makes a simple job a pain to complete Overall while the Ford Taurus may be inexpensive fairly comfortable and feature decent power it is no fun to constantly be repairing something or trying to figure out just what is squeaking this time This Taurus needs to be put out to pasture br br " Neg," We purchased a new Ford Taurus in 1996 In the first 3 year we owned the car it was to the dealer several times for minor repairs The speedometer malfunctioned and had to be replaced and the alternator went out The major problems began after the car was out of warranty and had close to 60 000 miles on it The rear engine mounts were the first to go with repair costs being close to 800 00 Then once again the speedometer had to be replaced at a cost of approx 200 00 Over Thanksgiving weekend 1999 the fan that cools the motor went out It was taken to the Ford dealer for repairs at a cost of 200 00 When the car was returned to us with the new fan we noticed our heater was no longer working It was taken back to the Ford dealer and low and behold it had a blown head gasket 1000 00 The car is once again returned to us The very first time I drive it the check engine light comes on and I smell radiator fluid The car goes back to the dealer and this time has a split radiator with the cost being 200 00 I am almost scared to drive it now I really like this car due to the fact that it has a great safety rating and it is a very comfortable car to drive and ride in However I would recommend that you trade it in before it goes out of warranty br br " Neg," The Taurus I am driving is a company car assigned to me a little over 2 year ago The following information should be useful for someone who is considering purchasing one as a used car EXTERIOR 3 My white Taurus looks like an albino sperm whale The rounded windshield rounded rear window bug eyed headlights and the smiling mouth grill opening combine to make this a cartoon of a car INTERIOR 5 The interior appears to be well thought out with one exception the terrible ergonomics of the front seats There is no lumbar support or side support I ve developed chronic aches in my shoulders from leaning on the fold down center console and the inside of the driver door I am 5 5 quot and weigh 125 lbs Perhaps the seats were designed for much wider drivers Three of my colleague of various girth who also drive the Taurus complained the same of the GL s base seats Other than the seats The rest interior is very roomy and quiet at any speed Headroom and legroom are plentiful The dash is made of high grade plastic and rattle free even after 75 000 miles The trunk will swallow just about anything even plywood with the rear seats folded down The lift over height may be low but the wide tail lamps reduced the trunk width ENGINE 8 The 3 0 liter V6 accelerates very nicely and provides excellent fuel economy for a full size car nearly 30MPG freeway HANDLING 8 Sometimes forgetting that this is not a sports car I would take some curves too fast The Taurus is very forgiving however in response with some body roll and tire squeals Very good handling for an American sedan RELIABILITY 3 My company purchased about 20 of these vehicles and reliability has become an issue One Taurus definitely a lemon was in the shop 3 times within a one year period for the same problem The engine would just quit while cruising on the freeway The dealership replaced several electrical components before the problem went away At approximately 60 000 miles most of these cars began experiencing transmission quot slips or lurches quot We spent 1200 on one of these Just last week the mass air flow sensor some component for emissions control and engine regulation went out on mine The part itself costs 400 VALUE 4 The depreciation on the Taurus is horrendous from 20 000 to 5000 in four years THE VERDICT A VERY GOOD CAR WHEN NEW WITH UPGRADED SEATS Don t purchase this as a used vehicle unless you are a mechanic or have a mechanic buddy " Neg," My two year old Ford Taurus has been in for service ten times for the same steering and alignment problem Each time the service manager says quot It s fixed quot as they always replace some suspension component BUT it s never fixed In fact it keeps getting worse They will not provide a loaner even though it s under warranty and has been out of service at the dealer for OVER 60 days now I like the car based on its styling size features etc but now my wife will no longer drive it it s just too difficult to keep it going straight You have to exert a considerable amount of effort to the steering wheel to stop the pulling which gets worse the faster the car is going Now the service manager say quot We don t want to put any more money into your car so we ll give you 3000 off a new one to trade out of your car quot But they offered me 8500 to 9000 for my car that had a sticker of 25 250 only 2 years ago That s another way Ford gets to make money on you they try to shift their problem to you even though you have a warranty and they believe you should pay them for their incompetence and total disrespect for their customers What I think they would then sell this car on their used car lot for an additional profit of course and cause another customer to suffer with it like we did If they could fix it before putting it on the used car lot why wouldn t they fix it for me ANSWER They can t and they don t care who they hurt as long as they make money at the customer s expense My advice Ford makes nice interesting cars but when they make a bad one they don t care The Ford Customer Assistance Center CAC says you have to take these issues up with the dealer I told them my warranty is from Ford They do not care So beware of buying a Ford the warranty means nothing to them THEY DO NOT CARE " Neg," I purchased a 1996 Ford Taurus program car with 18 000 miles on it From day 1 I have regretted that decision and will until I am rid of this lemon I use my vehicles heavily and in the last year and a half I have put 60 000 miles on it I maintain my vehicles well but for this car it didn t matter In 1 1 2 years I have replaced the entire front end assembly three 3 times replaced the transmission and replaced the cam sensor due to hard starting None of these repairs have fixed any of the problems with this P O S I have written several letters to Ford to express my deep displeasure and concern with an inferior product and to my dismay no responses were ever given It is easy to see that Ford is perfectly happy to create an inferior product to sell to the U S public No way would I ever recommend to anyone a Ford Taurus I have a 1996 and have driven a 1999 The only good quality this vehicle has is that the ride is very smooth although the front end assembly clunks when you hit the slightest of bumps br br " Neg," This car is okay but not at all what I had anticipated I would classify it on the smaller end of mid size car at least in the passenger seating area Maybe because mine is a wagon they moved everything up to make the wagon end bigger I don t know But to fit 5 people in is very cramped Also it is a V6 but lacks any ooomph in its acceleration We bought this 96 vehicle in 98 with 30K miles and it only has 40K miles now but it already has problems starting on occasion On the upside I think it is a decent looking car for being a wagon and the rear seats fold down for more carrying area when needed Mine has the third seat in back too which will come in handy down the road For a smallish person like myself the car is actually perfect I get lost in a mig car anyway It is just not the perfect family size vehicle we thought a stationwagon would be br br " Neg," It amazes me to go through all the internet resources and realize what a wide spread problem the Ford company has with head gaskets I have always liked my Taurus yet at 47000 miles it is falling apart Since February 2000 It has been in the shop 4 times My warranty doesn t cover head gasket repair which is what my independent mechanic says is wrong with it Ford will not take the word of an independent mechanic only a Ford mechanic First they said it was the overflow tank which I had replace in March due to rusty leaking water Now in May I have rusty leaking water again the dealership says its not a head gasket now it s the freeze plug and I need a bypass kit Anyway I am frustrated and I would like to hear anything related to the 1996 Taurus I can sympathize By the way my car has been very well maintained and loved Please send any information or horror stories to C85k87n90 aol com Thanks " Neg," I bought my 1996 Ford Taurus at a dealership in Powhatan Virginia because I loved the way it handled and the way it looked In addition I spoke with other Taurus owners and was told that you couldn t beat the Taurus 3 liter engine for dependability I was a happy owner for the first 2 years Then one day my wife was driving the Taurus with my 2 children buckled in the back seat when the engine overheated badly She found a place to pull over as the steam came pouring out from the cracks under the hood She called me and I had the car towed to the nearest service station that evening The problem was that a freeze plug had corroded so badly it finally gave way The mechanic informed me that there was also a lot of rust in the cooling system He replaced the freeze plug and flushed the cooling system About 2 months later I had the same problem rusty water pouring out of a badly corroded freeze plug I took the car to my regular mechanic and he informed me that there was a recall on my Taurus for which I was never notified The reason I was given for the recall was that Ford had manufactured the 1996 Taurus 3 liter engine and installed it in the vehicle without treating the inside of the block with a rust inhibitor I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Ford dealer and they reimbursed me for the freeze plug that I had had replaced at the service station treated the block and replaced the most recently corroded freeze plug The very next day on my way to work coolant came pouring out of the block and the car overheated for the third time The dealer had the vehicle towed back to the shop and replaced the remainder of the freeze plugs over the course of the next 2 years I had the vehicle back to the dealership 2 times complaining that my temperature guage was going up almost to the red when I was idling and would go back down when I was crusing Each time the service manager informed me that he could not duplicate the problem The Taurus now has 83 000 miles on it For the past few weeks I had noticed that it had a slow coolant leak I took it back to the dealership 2 days ago Yesterday the service manager called to say that he needed to pull off the power steering pump and the alternator to find the source of the leak After doing that he called to say a freeze plug had to be replaced once again and that Ford would not be paying the bill because my warranty was expired I agreed to pay at a reduced labor rate for the repair After replacing the freeze plug he called to inform me that it was still leaking He said that it was his opinion that I should replace the engine rather than sink any more money into the rusted one He said he would try to get the Ford factory rep to pay for all but 500 of the repair but that I should call the 1 800 392 ford Customer Service line I called them and spoke with a lady there who informed me that Ford would have paid for the engine up to 75 000 miles but that since I had 83 000 miles on my vehicle that Ford would not pay anything It was my contention that since I have it documented at the dealership that I was having coolant problems all along that I was not out of warranty at all It is also my contention that my 1996 Taurus was doomed the day they manufactured the engine without treating the block with a rust inhibitor Ford Motor Company had to know that the 1996 Ford Taurus would experience catastrophic problems before 100 000 miles I will never purchase another Ford product again and I suggest that anyone reading this follow suit " Neg," Here s everything I have nice to say about this car I purchased my 1994 Thunderbird from a Seattle car dealership 6 months ago It was in impeccable condition and had 38 000 miles on it The previous owners were a retired couple who had kept the car garaged the entire time they had it They elected to trade it in because they wanted a full size Buick Purchase price for this vehicle was 7800 and the original sticker price for this V6 equipped version was 17 000 I would have never anticipated buying a Ford Thunderbird this old but the low mileage and condition of the car were what sold me Compared to the 1978 El Camino I d been driving this car was pure nirvana to drive One thing I like about the car is its smooth ride The suspension is not so soft that you feel detached from the road but far more comfortable than a subcompact like my Ford Escort a great little econobox by the way but that s a future epinion Fit and finish of the car is above average Seats are comfortable without being overly soft Leg room is ample in front but in back is only adequate My car has cloth seats leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter power driver s seat adjustment power mirrors overdrive cruise control and for speaker JBL factory stereo with cassette Sound system is OK and now that everyone has CD s the system is a candidate for upgrading Now for the bad news buyer beware At approximately 60 000 miles the engine suffered catastrophic head gasket failure and completely toasted the engine The engine had to be replaced to the tune of 4200 but in my case the bulk of this was covered by the extended warranty I purchased Ford s reconditioned engines address this head gasket problem The 94 T Birds did have a Ford Customer Care notification on record not exactly a recall but something just short of that because of the problem they were having with blown head gaskets Unfortunately this notification is no longer valid on 94 T Birds My advice stay away from this car due to this head gasket problem " Neg," Let me start by saying the first time I laid eyes on this car I fell in love with it The exterior styling was sharp yet not outlandish The interior was in my opinion absolutely perfect I could not imagine the controls being any easier to reach or more intuitive to operate I especially drooled over the automatic climate controls Why do more cars not have this feature Even the shifter knob seemed to fit right into my hand Though at the time I could not afford it new I test drove it the V8 version and loved the way it picked up and handled I wanted wanted WANTED this car A couple years later I totaled the car I did own in a huge snow caused multi car pileup I needed a replacement immediately To my great joy I found a 94 T Bird used with only 18k for almost half of the new price It was the V6 and the color was terrible but it still seemed like a divine gift of fate I loved the car for the first couple years I had it not a single notable problem Until In 2000 with almost 60k on it the head gasket blew Just like the previous review mentioned it was covered under an extended pseudo recall plan because it was such a common problem in the V6 models To Ford s credit the motor was replaced completely with no cost to me AND with a little coaxing they actually gave me a loaner to drive for the entire time it took to get the motor there and installed several weeks At the time I chalked it up to a bad engineering flaw which they atoned for at their expense Until 6 months later the transmission died I was kinda tight on money at the time and rather than dropping almost 3 grand to have it completely rebuilt I opted to replace it with a used one I realize the risk I took but I figured it was the best I could do and took my chances THEN in 2002 THAT transmission died on me I much considered dropping the car right then but I had JUST paid it off a couple months before and in spite of my better judgement a part of me still loved that car A few months passed and other minor problems popped up which I attributed to age including a brake cylinder blow out which luckily happened at parking lot speed and was fixed rather cheaply and less notably a bushing in the front steering assembly that rotted away due to winter driving and some hard braking on my part It also started making some noise due to a bad catalytic converter and some undiagnosed squeaky rattle coming from somewhere in the front brakes The death blow was dealt by yet ANOTHER problem with either the head gasket at close to 60k on the new motor I thought this problem had been remedied at the time it was replaced guess I was wrong or possibly intake gaskets in that vicinity At this point I have surrendered The maintenance nightmare has worn away even the most optimistic and forgiving parts of my deep desire to love this monsterous piece of metal In summary I did manage to get almost 100k miles out of the car though I probably sank more money into it than any logical person would The times when it was running problem free it WAS a dream to drive and I still hold to the belief that much of the car is of the highest design and ergonomic caliber But the incidence of MAJOR mechanical problems with the most essential and expensive parts of the car are absolutely unforgivable I have not heard any of these complaints with the V8 version only with the 3 8L V6 If you have one of these and you have not yet had problems not likely 9 years after production then PLEASE do what you can to either get rid of the car or get it serviced before it self destructs I really wish that cues could be taken from the interior of this car and many of the EXCELLENT intuitive features and transferred to other vehicles but as much as I once loved this car I cannot recommend anyone to do anything but avoid it like the plague " Neg," I am in a construction business that forces me to move from one area to another as projects end With a new project assignment comes a new company vehicle This time it s a 2000 Ford Ranger a step down from my previous Ford Explorer Needless to say I was not happy for this downgraded vehicle at first especially with the stripped down absolute base Ranger model But it s free so I don t complain I must confess that I am not a truck person so I probably would never buy one with my own money I have ridden a Ford F 150 that is much nicer than a Ranger but I would still prefer a car or an SUV over a pickup truck I understand that some people are just the opposite we are all different Another fact is that it is difficult to like a cheap vehicle once you have gotten used to a more expensive one Liking a particular vehicle is therefore all quot Relative quot to what you have been used to If you are stepping up to a Ranger from that 1970 VW Bug you will love the improvements such as acceleration quietness etc However if you have been driving a 2000 VW Bug this is a giant stepping down for its sluggish acceleration noisy interior and sheer ugliness There you get the picture of Relativity The Ranger I drive has no optional equipment other than its 4 speed automatic transmission It even come with manual window cranks that I thought have long gone away from automotive industry A pickup truck is good for carrying stuff from hardware stores to my new home It s just convenient to throw things in the back and go as long as it s not raining If it rains there s not enough room to put anything inside the cab And for the obvious reasons it s not convenient to shop from store to store as your purchases are exposed to open area unprotected My Ranger came with a standard vinyl bench seat and this is definitely a back killer for longer drives In another words it is very uncomfortable to drive more than 30 minutes or so For me a seat comfort is the number one importance more than any others The 4 cylinder engine gets less than 20 mpg for combined city and highway driving making you to think it has good performance However its acceleration is by today s standard very poor Also my accelerator pedal sticks in the morning so pressing it harder makes it quot jump quot initially This problem goes away after the engine warms up While driving it is fairly easy handling is not Making a turn requires a gentle touch needing to come to almost a complete stop Forward visibility is good because its higher sitting position but I was quite surprised to find out how difficult it was to check my blind spots It definitely has rear spots that are harder to check Again I drive it because it s free not because I like it If you are a quot truck quot person then this could be a no non sense worry free vehicle Then again if you are used to a pick up like F 150 just forget about getting a Ranger as you will be dreadful Where is your Reference Point br br " Neg," I have a 91 Ford Taurus 3 0L AXODE in Silver Grey This car is excellent for a family of four and has plenty of leg room and for a 91 a well designed ageless feel to it The car has 200000 km It was the first attempt by Ford to use Dr Deming s Japanese quality theory It s still going however I do use rust check spray every other year to stop salt damage in the Canadian winter The car handles very well is low and wide and I never feel unsafe driving The car still has original alternator steering radiator fuel system engine computer emission control convertor front shocks engine wiper motor master cylinder fuel pump tank I had to replace the transmission below starter failed relay brake booster front bearing front CV right muffler tie rods inner and outer front bearings water pump 2 plugs wires cap rotor battery A C clutch A C seals Apart from the transmission I consider this all normal wear and tear Now the A C has failed Last year there was a musty odour and perhaps the evaporator has failed Regardless it will cost 1500 2000 to fix and is simply not worth it at this age A C must be the most unreliable part of any car Transmission Failure Avoid cars with the 3 8L engine gasket failure and all cars from 1991 onwards They suffer from weak transmissions clutch failure and lube tubes All Taurus Sable and Windstar are prone to expensive repairs I have had to replace the transmission at 130000km and 6 5 years Ford attitude is unacceptable even though they extended the warranty I should have been a total recall Once the warranty is over Ford are not interested in further compensation All being said however for a second hand vehicle I paid 10000 and i ve owned it 8 5 years I think I have had overall value for money but I do not like the shoddy transmission If you own a Ford expect niggling problems and possible major component failures I suggest you invest in a web based extended warranty and buy a 2 3 year old product At least you still have service life out of the car and did not pay much for a decent family car Check out the web carefully for upcoming class actions and general comments on this car It also helps if you are a bit of a do it yourselfer and are able to figure out what might be the problem before you go to your chosen independant local mechanic br br " Neg," From experience I would have to say that this car is not worth the money you would spend on it This was my first car and it had eighty thousand miles on it It is a six cylinder 3 0 liter From the start I have had problems with my breaks causing me to have them replaced four times in two years One time my break pads actually fell out about three months after i had them fixed Other problems that reoccured with my taurus is the transmission and motor mounts I had to replace my transmission two time in eight months The same with my motor mounts When I finally got rid of my car the transmission was dying again and it has only been seven months since the last time it broke My motor mounts have cracked open twice both time when I was driving My alternator died twice again when I was driving At the time that I got rid of my car the alignment was getting unaligned for no reason I would be driving and it would get worse and worse I know another person who had a 1989 taurus gl and she has had the same problems I heard of a recall for a certain part of the car and went to check it out and I found that there are many parts on recall for this car I do have to say that this car does hold up well in an accident though I hit a car from behind and I was going about 25 m p h and all I really had to replace was the radiator My air bag did not go out but that might have been because of the angle I hit the car at Neither my passenger or I was hurt at all despite being thrown forward I like the interior of the car because it was very roomy and I could fit many people in there The trunk is spacious and the only downfall to that is things can get lost easily in there There was a dead spot in the steering wheel of about an inch in each direction When my brakes did work the anti lock system proved to be very effective This car is affected by the wind a lot though Perhaps not as much as a smaller car but more than I would like a car of that size to My rear view mirror has fallen off about four times one summer but that was the only summer that it did that That is an easy fix though My cup holder would stick a lot also It was the type that would just push right into the dashboard The change holder was very conveniently placed right under the radio " Neg," I have owned a 91 Ford Taurus since 1995 In that time I have sunk nearly 5000 worth of repairs into it including a transmission replacement numerous brake jobs and uncounted miscellaneous electrical and alignment based repairs In its favor it still runs after 146 000 miles The air conditioning still works However nearly everything else does not I bought the vehicle expecting reliability good performance and decent looks for the price The looks are mostly intact although the paint is scaling and flaking in spots particularly on the top of the vehicle I never got the reliability and performance has been decidedly spotty The Taurus provides good acceleration when the transmission is working and reasonably good steering although it doesn t corner very tightly It does have a reasonably roomy interior although we ve experienced major fading and cracking of the hard components such as the dash The major problem with the vehicle Anything that can fall part frequently and expensively does Currently the gas gauge doesn t work and whenever the weather is cold the speedometer doesn t either Consumer Reports lists the 91 Ford Taurus as a car to avoid and I must agree Buy the vehicle only if you can do your own repairs and don t mind lots of grease monkey time if you don t know your way around a Chilton manual forget this car " Neg," We bought a 91 Taurus almost 2 years ago It seemed to be in fairly good shape and drove well for a short time The first sign of problems to come was the CV joints After they were replaced the brakes squealed BADLY even after the pads and shoes were replaced Then the famous CHECK ENGINE light intermittently throughout the drive But saving the best for last the notorious TRANSMISSION BUG has to be the best icon for the 91 Taurus they should condsider changing their logo No downshifting on highway exits no upshifting when entering a busy street spontaneous shifting up AND down while going down the street Or MY personal favourite the NO shifting No up down sideways just no gear at all just a loud screaming transmission then a sudden neck cracking lurch into 2nd gear and on a related note I have NO speedometer now thanks to the transmission Currently relying on a radar detector to avoid tickets lol But to be fair I will say that when I am not getting whip lash from the jerky transmission which I can find NO mech to work on for less than twice what I paid for the car due to the quot upgrades quot ford made to the 91 model s transmissions or wetting myself from the ever worsening loose steering it IS a comfortable ride with lots of room front and back but in my opinion a 10 speed bicycle would be a better deal br br " Neg," I just got rid of this vehicle My family bought it used in 1995 and it was my first car that I had driven from the moment I learned to drive until just a few weeks ago During the time that I owned the vehicle the rotor cracked causing the wheel to fall off luckily while moving slowly The air conditioner went bad around 60K miles and never really worked again after several repairs The transmission started failing before 100K and finally went out around 110K miles I had the transmission replaced and it began to fail only 15K miles later The water pump also went out and the brakes began to stick Even though only the first rust spots were beginning to form on the vehicle it felt as though it was only a matter of days before something else would go wrong so I traded it in for a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire Unfortunately the dealer would only offer 450 for the trade in value because of its poor condition This poor condition after 127 000 miles was only the result of regular wear and tear and more than 5000 invested in repairs over the course of 5 years If you are a regular mechanic and think you can get a bargain on this vehicle then go for it but otherwise I would recommend steering clear br br " Neg," My husband and I were needing a bigger car after our 2nd child was born We wanted something larger than our civic so that we had room to grow and wouldn t have to buy another car for awhile We saw this beautiful burgandy Taurus It had great features It had only 17 000 miles on it It had power windows doors steering airbag etc The interior was very clean also It in a dark burgandy suede feeling like material The dealership said that it had been a rental car in Hawaii So we figured that maybe it was a pretty good car We wanted it really bad It was a closeout and they were offering a pretty good deal on it We ended up buying it and brought it home After about a month or so the air conditioner went out on it My husband took it back to the auto store that we bought it from and they hesitantly fixed it There were a few other weird things that went wrong with it We decided to sell it because we both thought that it would die on us any minute My sister wanted to buy it from us thinking that we were making up the weird things in our heads We hesitantly sold it to her thinking that if something went wrong she knew where we lived etc When we sold it to her we had took the miles up to 23 000 She hadn t owned the car even two years when she got stranded 200 miles from home because the transmission went out on it A year or so later the engine went out on it They ended up selling the car It was a bad apple They also ended up having to replace the struts on it Now I know that we weren t hard on the car In fact I really only drove it around town for errands etc If you are smart you will stay away from this year of Taurus I don t know about the other years but my husband and I have not had any desire to own another one br br " Neg," Wow Out of curiosity I started reading the Taurus reviews They only confirmed my suspicions I think the Taurus tends to be a lot like a cocker spaniel If you know cockers you will find they come in good and bad It seems they have two very different temperments Laid back and affectionate would be type one Nasty and very apt to bite is the second type With the Taurus you have the dependable joy to drive car and also the Found on Road Dead type My 91 Taurus couldn t have been a better car for me We did have a period of unreliability due to a bad alternator It took 3 tries to get an alternator that would work for more than a day or two but that can happen with any car After that it was clear sailing all the way I really can t say too much bad about this car at all I bought this 91 Taurus in 95 from a dealer We paid 10 000 for a nicely loaded car It had all the options I could have wanted My favorite options being the automatic windows and seats have continued to work well needing no repairs as of yet Now that this car is almost 11 years old I couldn t really complain too much if things started to go although I hope it continues to hold up for awhile This is absolutely the most comfortable car I have ever driven I am just under 5 tall and still I need not worry about sitting on a pillow or anything stupid like that I have had that problem with other cars in the past The automatic seats adjust all over the place making it easy to get a comfortable fit Also they are very easy to adjust even while driving I like this because if you start to feel cramped tired and uncomfortable you can just move a button or two and the change of position eases the discomfort right away The body of this car has held up well We are very bad at keeping it washed and waxed and it is just now starting to show some rust We are also very bad at managing to get the oil changes on time Still the engine is doing fine Nothing has really broken down on this car We did have to replace the knobs recently that work all the heating and air conditioning settings They just seemed to wear out and fall off a lot The only really annoying thing we had a problem with is that the trunk had a tendency to pop open while you were driving down the highway We did manage to correct that problem Now I feel safe and secure when driving this older car around It has always been very reliable I never had any problem with getting stuck anywhere due to a car problem As good as this car has been I am starting to get a little worried I do know a lot of people that have had nothing but trouble with the Taurus and we are some of those people We also have a 93 Taurus that I hate It has been just as unreliable as the other one has been reliable There is 160 000 miles on the Taurus I love and a lot less on the other car It really shouldn t be in the condition it seems to be in I have heard that they tend to die about the time you hit the 100 000 mark I do know that several that have done that exact thing I am beginning to get nervous about driving it because of the record of some of the others I want to buy a new car soon or a new for me but slightly used car I would love to have another Taurus but because I keep hearing bad stories about the Taurus owned by others I am leary of doing this I must make up my mind soon If I don t get another Taurus I plan to try to find a car as similiar as I can to the Taurus It is the perfect size and shape for me " Neg," You might be asking why I named my opinion quot Turbo Pinto quot Well as a high school graduation gift my father gave me his old 1991 Ford Taurus SHO The car was purchased brand new in 1991 with every option you can think of The color on the outside was white and the interior was black leather The vehicle has 220 horsepower and it is a stick shift In the two years that I drove the vehicle it has been repaired at least once a month The repairs alone would cost more than 1000 and the mechanic would take up to a month to fix the problems In the two years I owned the car my father spent out over 7000 fixing the problems At this time I was just starting college and needed a reliable car to drive my Taurus did not do its job Problems I encountered the last time I drove the car were the temperature of the car was always hot due to the coolant holder always leaking electrical system would malfunction during warm temperature days the brakes sweaked profusly my favorite one the air conditioning system would only work for ten minutes and last but not least the factory stereo broke I DO NOT recommend buying this car it is a complete lemon My Taurus deserves the title of TURBO PINTO It is unreliable and will put you in the poor house by the amount of the repairs cost " Neg," We bought a Ford Taurus a few years ago it was a 91 We bought it because it fit our family Well when we bought it we had to replace the transmission and the paint on the hood was chipped Now it is 2000 and it is already needing another transmission and the paint is really chipped off of the hood The check engine light is always coming on and it stalls out on you We have put so much money in this car I am afraid to buy another ford taurus thinking that it will have the same problem after a few years br br " Neg," I bought this car used from a dealer for 500 I thought that was an excellent price since the car was in perfect condition I mean not a dent scratch spot on the interior nothing The guy said it needed a new head gasket so I thought with a mechanically inclined husband that was great Well we bought a gasket kit for 124 and did the job and sure enough the gasket was split Well how exciting the car is back together and ready to run for the first time Won t start Needs a new converter but that was OK because sometimes that could happen when you blow a gasket because of the antifreeze getting in there Well 350 there ready to run Sounds little rough and doesn t shift properly Had to fix transmission gears broken By doing that job we found broken rear motor mount axles cv joints coolant lines 1672 completes this job Once again ready to roll remind you I haven t yet got to drive the car Runs rough and oil light comes on at idle I need new bearrings and a crank shaft Currently I have only driven the car for little test rides after each job and now the car is sitting for sale in front of my house after 2646 and the cost of insurance and registration etc I refuse to do the job because at this I feel that if I do there will only be another problem lurking All these problems and the car just now hit 100 000 I will never as long as I live own a FORD car " Neg," My little sister owns a 1991 Ford Taurus and I ve got to admit it really sucks Now I m not trying to cut down Ford Motor Company in any way I just think they can build a better car This particular Taurus has a 3 4 L V6 that barely has a downshift and couldn t go fast if your life depended on it and I m talking about when it was brand new Now it s even worse The suspension is too rough the transmission shifts too hard and the over all quality of the interior is just well tacky Not only is it too plain but it reminds me of something you would see in a 1970 Volkswagon Van Now I have to admit the stereo and sound system are pretty good because I installed them myself so I know I asked her if I could take it around town for a little while and see what it sounds like and see if I can get anyone to look and try to see where the music is coming from People did look well that s beside the point While driving her car I realized that it is just a pile of scrap metal on wheels I don t know what the newer model Ford Taurus handles like but this one can t and won t perform I believe I have told you enough of about the piece of mobile junk so I ll quit taking up your time Thank you that is all MAC " Neg," No I m not a princess But a few years ago my parents decided to buy me a new car Since they were trading in my Escort they wanted to stick with a Ford product and I was ready to go for something a little bigger with 4 doors A few days later my brother appeared with a nifty new green 93 Tempo GL 4 doors with almost all the bells and whistles It was mine and then I discovered the fit Even though the Tempo is bigger than the Escort there s less interior room I felt stuffed like a sausage Still it was new it was a gift and gosh it had AC and power locks and an airbag I ve had it 7 years now it s strictly a train and back car so I ve only got 44K miles on it In other words it s likely to last forever and it meets my needs However as a big person this is absolutely the most uncomfortable car in the world It requires amazing contortions to get in and out and the wheel is right in my chest when I drive I m only 5 5 quot and even with the seat back my legs overshoot the pedals Who did they design this for As for reliability it s had its share of woes The sparks went at 30K So did the tires It s had its share of buzzes and whirs all requiring 400 600 treatments from my handy neighborhood mechanic I put a new exhaust system on it at 35K The battery has never really taken to winter If I could do it again I d have taken another Escort No offense Mom and Dad I can t wait to trade up br br " Neg," I bought a 93 Ford Tempo 3 years ago for 3 000 Its A C didn t work and I haven t tried to repair it When I bought it it had 54 000 and now it has a little bit over 90 000 So far the biggest problem with it was the electrics Cruise control would work but if I went over a bump it would stop working Windows go down and up at their will I hate the brake I have to put a lot of energy into stepping on it to reach the stopping point I don t think that it s very stabile The only thing that kind of makes me happy about owning this car is that it never had any major breakdown It s engine works just fine and I have taken it to several road trips If you get annoyed by little things then I guess you shouldn t buy this car because they break all the time If you want to get something that will take you from the point A to the point B than it s OK br br " Neg," We have bought this car in Feb 2001 and kept for 9 months Because the car was really cheap the car has been working satisfactorily But the car requires maintenance every months causing minor problems here and there The car has 91 000 miles and we had to fix so far as follows the cost of labor includes starter 227 front end alternator 241 a hole in radiator 86 new radiator 125 a c not fixed yet door lining tipping don t bother fixing them This car has been teaching us how to maintain the car because it breaks down very often " Neg," I own a 1993 Ford Tempo Ever since I bought it I have had to do nothing but put money into it The car was great for the first year or so and after that I ve been spending about 1000 a year in repairs The tie rod design is very poor and they need to be replaced about every 30 000 miles I had to put three alternators in it already and the front end has given me lots of problems This has been a very costly vehicle to own and I will never buy a Ford again I ve had nothing but problems with mine and haven t heard anything good from anyone else about Fords Unfortunately I can t afford to buy another car for a few years so I am stuck with this lemon for awhile if I don t go broke first " Neg," Beginning around fall of 2000 I told people interested in buying a mid sized SUV that they should wait until a totally redesigned Explorer was introduced in January 2001 It ended up being delayed a couple of months but in March it finally arrived I promptly took one for a test drive and posted the following review on March 15 At the time there was no 2002 listing When a 2002 listing appeared I reposted my review to its current location I ve never cared for the Explorer in the past It was based on a very dated Ranger chassis designed in the early 80s This showed in how it rode and handled Like most SUVs and nearly every American car thirty years ago the Explorer used a body on frame construction The Ranger based frame was far too flexible for such a heavy vehicle Combined with soft body mounts between the body and frame used to help the ride this resulted in a vehicle that shimmied and shuddered over even minor road imperfections So why did I have high expectations for the new Explorer The first one was thrown together in a hurry on a tight budget No one at the time knew SUVs would turn out to be so hot Now Ford knows Even more than that it knows that the Explorer is the best selling of the all that this makes a huge amount of money for the corporation and that the Japanese are finally waking up and fielding some top notch SUVs Put all of this together and Ford knew that its continued financial success depended on redesigning the Explorer so that it was the best I d like to maintain the suspense as to whether or not the new Explorer met my expectations But you ve most likely already seen that I gave it three stars and a not recommended so you ve probably already guessed that I was quite disappointed once I had the opportunity to drive one But if you want to know why I was so disappointed you ll have to read on What s new for 2002 Why were my expectations so high for the new Explorer In an acronym IRS No certainly not the Internal Revenue Service The other IRS independent rear suspension Truck based SUVs like the Explorer generally have a solid or live rear axle This means that the wheels are rigidly attached to the end of a solid metal tube that contains the heavy differential in the center When you hit a bump with such a suspension this entire heavy axle and wheel assembly absorbs the shock without the mediation of any springs or shock absorbers Because so much mass is set in motion it has a tendency to jostle the entire vehicle it s a matter of simple physics force equals mass times acceleration To help absorb so much force the springs and shocks have to be made softer What s more the solid beam transmits anything that happens to one wheel to the other wheel So all else being equal a vehicle with a live rear axle usually handles and rides significantly worse than one with an independent suspension on all but perfectly smooth roads With an independent suspension only the mass of a single wheel tire brake assembly is upset when one wheel hits a bump So why don t SUVs simply have independent rear suspensions Well live axles are better for the sort of serious off road driving few SUV drivers actually do This is why Jeep uses a live axle in front as well as in back in all of its vehicles until the new Liberty comes out Live axles also tend to be more durable when driven over rough terrain Finally and this is the most important thing for a company like Ford they are very cheap and easy to manufacture Take all of this together and you might understand why I suddenly had such high expectations for the new Explorer when I learned that Ford was going with an independent rear suspension Because an IRS is so much more expensive I took this as a sign that Ford was doing whatever it takes to make the new Explorer have excellent on road ride and handling This is after all the same company that only recently has made an IRS available on the Mustang and even then only with the top of the line Cobra Information that the all new frame would be far stiffer than the old one provided further evidence that this might be Ford s goal I have now learned that Ford also had other benefits in mind Namely they wanted to open up space in the rear for a new feature an optional third row seat Going with an IRS made this seat possible even though the new vehicle is just a tad larger on the outside than the old one Sure it is a cramped seat much like those in the Acura MDX and Dodge Durango but many people want a third seat for kids and for them it should do just fine Going with an IRS also allowed for the amount of cargo room to be substantially increased and for the cargo floor to be significantly lower Anyone who has had to put a lot of stuff into an SUV will probably realize the significance of that last improvement Some other improvements are worth mentioning In the powertrain department the 210 horse OHC six is largely carried over while a 240 horse eight is new The latter replaces the venerable 302 which saw its final duty in the Explorer The new eight is based on the base engine in the Expedition but has an aluminum block to save weight While the old eight was paired with a four speed automatic the new one is paired with the five speed that only the OHC six came with before The extra gear is between first and the former second This should improve acceleration beyond first gear since RPM will not drop as much after the shift keeping the engine in its powerband The eight is a 695 option Are the extra thirty horsepower necessary enough to be worth this much money Read on Styling is not among the major changes Most people probably won t even notice that the styling has changed That said the new design has sharper creases than the old lending it a more upscale appearance The Mercury Mountaineer the Explorer s twin has more unique styling than in the past with a front end that people are likely to either love or hate Personally I prefer the classic styling of the Ford I admire what they have tried to do with the Mercury the trendy brushed metal thing but don t feel they have quite pulled it off Accommodations and amenities With the above knowledge I took a trip to the Ford dealer Things started to go wrong as soon as I hopped into the driver s seat You sit high Too high I got in and the sunvisor was just barely above my line of sight and it was up And I m not a tall person only 5 9 Hmmm is the seat all the way up I hunted for a power seat button and found a rotary knob that adjusts the lumbar in and out instead Was there no power seat in this vehicle I figured there had to be I was sitting so high Somehow my hand found it s way between the adjusters for the lumbar support and the recliner and found the control for the power seat way down there somewhere The seat was up but only about an inch Even in the lowest position I was sitting too high relative to the windshield header for my personal taste The dash is quite low providing excellent visibility forward The seat could be lower and still leave the driver well above the top of the dash Why isn t it Beats me Or why didn t they simply extend the windshield higher the top of the roof is well above the top of the windshield Again I haven t a clue Maybe I m unique in liking the windshield header well outside my line of sight I don t know I certainly don t like having it so low It s like having a baseball cap on all the time I don t like that either but maybe the market for these trucks does Somehow I doubt that was the logic involved Aside from the header issue front seat comfort is OK They provide an average level of back support Nothing to write home about good or bad in terms of comfort They could look nicer though The fairly small cushion with a rounded front edge just looks econocar ish The rear seat raises even more questions than that low header high seat in front In the new vehicle there s more room back there enough to fit a very comfortable seat at a very comfortable height As it is the height of the cushion is about average which is to say just a bit too low to adequately support the thighs of someone my height Few vehicles do have a sufficiently high rear seat cushion so I can t complain too much about this in the Explorer I can and will complain a lot about the height of the rear seatback It s really low as if it was designed for small children So low that when the headrests are down all the way they press into the upper part of my back This is actually more comfortable than you would expect Felt kinda nice having them there The problem is that in this position the headrest provides zero whiplash protection I couldn t raise the headrest because the seat had the plastic on it still and I didn t want to be the one to remove it I assume you can raise it about a foot as crazy as that sounds because otherwise the rear seat would be unsafe for tall people At the same time I doubt many people will raise the rear headrests so much most people leave them all the way down for aesthetics and driver visibility So this seat seems unsafe to me given how most people will configure it And hard for adults to nap in on trips A final safety detail the center belt is lap only The spec sheet touts all of the stuff Ford has done for safety in the new design including all sorts of airbags This makes it all the more surprising that they blew the most basic safety stuff Why did Ford make the rear seatback so low I suspect it has something to do with the low cargo floor I mentioned earlier This is great for loading cargo But it means the second row seat has to fold that much lower to form a flat floor which forces the seatback to be smaller This is my hypothesis at least I didn t fold the seat down so I haven t tested it Ford does provide two levels of vents for rear passengers with a switch to select between them This is nice but some of the competition namely GM is now doing far more for rear passengers Ford did do an excellent job with the cargo area It s large usefully shaped well finished and very easy to access First there s that low floor so you don t have to lift stuff as high as you do with other truck based SUVs to load it Then there is the matter of the liftglass It is nice to be able to open the rear glass without opening the entire tailgate if all you have to do is throw in a shopping bag or two The problem is that SUVs tend to be so high off the ground that it s not always easy to throw something in through the glass With the new Explorer Ford has addressed this problem by having some of the door open with the glass so that it is like a door within a door This reduces the liftover to a very manageable height The XLT I drove was about halfway between the base vehicle and the top of the line Limited It had your basic amenities such as power driver s seat height adjuster power windows cruise etc but no more Nothing you won t find in your typical Taurus from Hertz At a price of 31 265 perhaps this is all I should expect After all if I want more stuff there is always the Eddie Bauer or Limited and whatever options are available on them Except no matter how much you load onto the new Explorer it s going to still feel cheap It s a matter of the interior materials They look durable enough so I guess cheap really the right word But they look durable like materials designed for heavy duty commercial use do This interior looks like it was designed for a work truck not one often used as a family vehicle not to mention one bought more and more as a luxury vehicle The styling of the interior reinforces this impression It s a very plain very functional design Like with so many aspects of this vehicle nothing to write home about good or bad Except that it s not good which if you want good is bad On the road As many faults as I found with the new Explorer before even driving it they might have been forgotten if the vehicle delivered in the ride and handling department After all that s what I was really looking forward to trying out in the first place So how well did the impressive spec sheet translate to the real world Not well at all I was sorely disappointed Even in moderate turns I didn t attempt any aggressive maneuvers the new Explorer leans heavily and plows Heavy understeer The steering is fairly decent for an SUV it s only a bit on the light side for my tastes but there s just no joy to be had here IRS or no this truck remains a sloppy handler The sole bright spot in the handling is a very tight turning circle for such a large vehicle I wish my compact car turned this sharply And it s not just that the springs and shock valving are too soft Handling has not simply been sacrificed for ride quality Fairly minor imperfections in the road surface made the entire vehicle quiver I suspect the body on frame construction has something to do with this The old Explorer seemed to have soft body mounts to help the ride with the result that the body would shimmy on the frame over bumps Though the new truck is definitely an improvement it seems this trait has been carried over Very sad Worse every bump sends a shudder up through the steering column I like to be able to feel the road through the wheel but at some point road feel becomes kick back Don t get me wrong the ride is generally comfortable These problems may even be most noticeable at low speeds over minor to moderate road imperfections But all of this shimmying and shuddering makes the new Explorer feel far less solid than the stats on the new body and frame suggest it should be These sensations say work truck not family vehicle and definitely not luxury The main quality lapse I noticed in the vehicle I drove was a minor squeak in the dash around the instruments There may be other problems lurking The launch of the new vehicle was delayed about six weeks to fix lingering quality issues Overall I suspect quality will be about the same as with the old Explorer which is to say about average maybe a touch below average On the sparsely populated positive side of the ledger the new Explorer is fairly quiet In contrast to the smaller Escape road noise is especially low I had to strain to hear the tires which for the record were Michelins Wind noise is moderate even at highway speeds Unfortunately more bad news is not far away The six is just barely up to moving this much vehicle Thankfully Ford added a gear between first and what used to be second a few years ago so that once the transmission does shift you remain in the engines powerband I never felt like the engine was letting me down I could accelerate as quickly as I d want to in regular driving but the engine makes a lot of noise while going about its work It s not an entirely unpleasant sound I ve certainly heard nastier sounds coming from engines But it always seems like the engine is working quite hard if not quite straining In regular driving using about 1 3 throttle to accelerate the transmission shifted at about 4000 RPM This is a fairly high shift point for regular driving A bit more throttle and the tranny shifts at 5000 you get the idea So while this engine moves the vehicle well enough I suspect fuel economy will be very poor High shift points will do that All in all between the suspension and the just adequate engine the new Explorer was not at all fun to drive Maybe SUV buyers don t expect their vehicles to be fun to drive I personally do so this alone would be a deal killer for me The eight will not be available for another month or two I might test drive a V8 Limited once one is available I don t expect the difference to be large enough to sway my basic opinion of the vehicle but there is always that chance Update 9 19 2001 I recently drove a Mercury Mountaineer with the 240 horsepower V8 and leather The eight performed only marginally better than the six It lacked the torquey feel engines of this size usually have As with the six even half throttle resulted in 4 000 5 000 RPM shifts This engine should not have to work this hard I have no idea why it does At any rate the six in the GM SUVs performs much better than Ford s eight The Mercury s two tone leather made for a more luxurious interior but parts such as the console detracted from the ambiance I did not do any off road driving Given the on road experience I do not expect this is a good vehicle for serious off road driving The suspension is too soft the handling too clumsy and the vehicle is just too big for that sort of thing Of course few people use Explorers this way For light duty SUV stuff like driving on snow or unpaved roads it should be adequate Last words Ford has a lot at stake with the new Explorer From the spec sheet it appears they went all out to guarantee that the Explorer will continue to be the best selling SUV The inclusion of an independent rear suspension is especially impressive Unfortunately while the size and utility of the cargo area is exceptional the new Explorer surprisingly falls short in many other areas This fact was highlighted by my second test drive of the day GM has also just introduced totally redesigned versions of its mid sized SUVs There s no IRS there s no available third row seat at least not yet and GM has fallen short so often in the past that I didn t expect nearly as much from these new vehicles Once again a test drive surprised me this time in a good way For details check out my review of the GMC Envoy Though the GMC stickered for quite a bit more than the Ford I suspect that they cost about the same comparably equipped Once comprehensive pricing information is available I will update this part of the review As for Ford I d advise a bunch of quick revisions to the new Explorer Otherwise they can kiss their market leadership goodbye A mediocre SUV was good enough in the past But the competition is not staying still so mediocre just isn t going to cut it much longer " Neg," Ford Explorer has taken a lot of heat in the media of late It is a great product and has been the mainstay of the Ford line for a few years now From time to time Ford has tried some improvements With the media after them relative to roll overs and Firestone tires I guess this was the time to really give Explorer a new look There was a problem finding stashing places Where do you put the maps and the pocketbook and the wrench and those little items most of us carry around with us When I got in for a test drive the salesman pointed to the door and said here is the spot for your water bottle Well my fifty something neighbor down the street never leaves home without her bottle I must be the camel in the neighborhood I was not impressed Unfortunately I discovered that little curve meant I had less leg room The caddy in the center console has a crazy useless configuration in my 2000 Ford Explorer There is a definite improvement in the stashing capability in the redesigned console But then the seat is smaller Since 2000 my butt has gotten bigger and the Ford Explorer seats have gotten smaller That is where all the hidden space has come from They have a car like riding truck I had no complaints with the old ride But now my mother in law will not have to be hosted up into the passenger seat The Explorer is closer to the ground BUT my husband cannot ride in the front seat The height clearance inside the cabin is lower He hits his head and the man is only over six foot not seven foot The Explorer is wider on the outside but not on the inside With narrower smaller seats all those stashing places are useless I cannot fit comfortably inside with all my stuff By the way there are also extra seats in the back Great for car pooling That is if the members of the car pool are kids It is not seating for adults There is no leg room You have to climb in like a amusement park ride to get back there I would never ask an adult to do so especially if I was picking the crew up at the airport The ride is great and I am sure the reliablity is as good The visibility out the front window is also affected if you are an average sized person " Neg," I get a new Windstar LX as a company vehicle every year and I am disappointed by the lack of quality in this 2002 model This is compared to previous Windstars not to other makes and models This van was made at the Oakville Ontario plant This is a minivan not an expensive sports car With that in mind here are my observations Ride smooth and comfortable except for the out of round wheels and tires on this particular van making it vibrate at highway speeds Handling this is a minivan and it handles like one would expect it to At high speeds over 60 it doesn t like to go straight without constant steering corrections At really high speeds over 85 it can be tiring to drive as you are trying even harder to keep it in your lane Maybe this is how all minivans are I can only compare it to our Town Car which drives fine at ultralegal speeds Acceleration quite good This van has the 3 8 engine and has adequate power The 2002 model doesn t seem to blast from 0 60 like the 2001 did Maybe they changed the gear ratios It s still pretty good though Transmission not bad Shifts smoothly and usually picks the right gear for the conditions Much better than some other Fords I have driven although not as good as GM s I have driven Brakes seem fine to me The pedal pressure is just right and the van seems to slow and stop just fine Noise generally a pretty quiet vehicle The engine makes quite a bit of noise at full bore as compared to other vehicles but it is noticeably quieter than the 1999 model I had several years ago Interior The front seats are great I ve never used the back seats one of them is in my garage unused so I can t attest to their comfort The kids haven t complained though The back seats are the full width ones and are very heavy One person can remove and install them if you want a backache so I always get someone to help me move the seats I think other companies have done a better job at designing the seating on their vehicles Reliability so far so good Hasn t broken down yet In previous years I have not had to do any repairs to my Windstars just normal scheduled maintenance Quality WHAT HAPPENED This one has both front doors and the right sliding door and the rear hatch door all squeaking in unison as I drive down the road Two wheels are out of round which causes vibrations at highway speeds making everything that isn t adjusted properly shake and squeak I can see that the rear hatch door and the right sliding door are not adjusted properly and do not close tightly against the weatherstrip The front suspension makes squeaking and grunting noises at low speeds This is probably not a design flaw but an assembly goof I would accept these flaws from a 10 year old vehicle with lots of miles on it but from a new vehicle None of my previous Windstars were this poorly assembled BTW this is the first Windstar I ve had with the stamped el cheapo wheels the kind that need full wheelcovers on them In previous years the wheels were the cast aluminum one piece no wheelcover wheels and they were fine " Neg," I recently received a new 2002 Ford Windstar as a company vehicle I have to say that this was an extremely bad choice First off the body styling is very boring compared to the rest of the mini vans on the market The nose is long the body is a box and there are no accent lines to spruce it up The interior is equally as boring except maybe for the CD player The rear seats are bench style and not bucket style as was in my Chevy Venture This makes it difficult to get in and out even for the smallest person When removing the seats you have to take the whole bench out instead of simply one seat which is a headache because of the weight I doubt that a mother of three could attempt such a feat The space in the rear behind the last bench seat is non existent I m not sure why it even exists actually Should have eliminated the space and backed the seats up a little bit for more leg room If pushed the engine is loud and sounds like its going to explode as it sucks down the 20 gallon gas tank in a matter of 350 miles The ride is not bad but the stereotype of driving a boat is in full force here The transmission is a little choppy for a new vehicle Can t imagine what it will be like at 50 000 miles Ford was never known for their transmissions in the first place The steering column seems to be a little off center in relation to the drivers seat due to the dash board design The only pro I can see only applies to myself and that is that it is a free vehicle for me Unfortunately to all of you you ll have to shell out 29 grand for this beauty Do yourself a favor and shop around I guarantee you ll find a better selection at a different dealer " Neg," My wife leased a 1999 Ford explorer January 1999 It has been a nightmare ever since First problem was with the transmission It started leaking 1 month after we got it They decided a new seal was in order It went back to the shop a total of three times before they figured that the transmission was defective Then came the recalls one for the cruise control then the front hood latch then for a defective windshield washer which would come on intermittently To this day we are still having problems with it Now the airbag light stays on and the rear windshield washer refuses to work we had another problem with the check engine light This is our first Ford vehicle and quite possibly our last In the early day Fords were ok but now the quality has suffered br br " Neg," I bought my 1999 Ford Explorer in April of 1999 factory ordered Since then I have had approx 15 recalls That is annoying when I have to keep taking it back to the dealer to have something fixed I have put 16 000 miles on it and have had it in the dealer shop six times for repairs from fixing a window to the windshield washer and wipers not working I had to get new tires because of the Firestone suit When I went to change the new tires I had to pay for it up front which was more than 300 00 I had to borrow I was reimbursed within ninety days Cutting corners has about given me a heart attack on several occasions I m not the best driver but the potential for my Explorer to flip over on a tight corner is high I m not totally against my Ford Explorer it s roomy comfortable seats five people legally It has plenty of space in the back for traveling Safety rods that run across the back space I use the rod to secure my groceries Air conditioning a cassette radio I asked for a CD player and never received one I also asked for running boards didn t receive them Gold trim got Black trim instead I m finished experimenting with SUV S Next time I think I ll buy a Mercedes Maybe it s the dealer to blame but all those recalls I say something was made wrong " Neg," My first stop for car shopping was Toyota due to my previous experience for reliability The mini van was too mommish amp the SUV ceiling seem low floor board high I then went to Ford because I liked the look of their SUV enough room for 2 young kids amp all the consumer magazines gave it overall good ratings After one week 3 different ford dealerships amp more than eighty percent for a down payment I should ve taken this as a sign Once I finally purchased my 1999 Ford Explorer XLT I really loved it I had the few options that were important to me the fleet representative was very nice the finance was within budget amp the insurance didn t dent my pocket Well I was into month 5 8000 miles of owning this vehicle when I notice the transmission starting to slip I took the car to the dealer for a recall issue amp mention the trany slips of course the repair gentleman thought I didn t know what I was talking about It wound up the cylinoid bracket was a factory default The parts had to be ordered amp should be in within a couple of days I was covered for car rental for 5 days but it didn t pay for the insurance Week one goes by amp no call from the service dept I had to contact them because the rental was only covered for 7 days The parts were still not in amp Ford then had to place me in one of their rentals A ford Taurus OK I should say thank you they gave me something new The rental agreement was for 5 a day 1200 max coverage Everyone knows 1500 probably wouldn t cover a dented bumper After numerous phone calls to the service dept claiming the parts hadn t arrive yet I call their service mgr who never returned any of my calls so I had to go a step further I then mailed a certified letter to ford informing them of this issue amp letting them know I was aware of the lemon law I also sent written notifications to the California Consumer affairs cartalk com better business bureau amp other consumer advocates such as those we see on TV By day 30 of having my car in the shop amp 23 days of rental on a ford taurus the service dept calls me informing me my car is ready how convenient day 31 would ve qualified me for the lemon law The gentlemen in the service dept who kept in touch with me regarding my car stated that I caused some problems for them Oh did I mention that particular Service Mgr was no longer at that dealership This incident left me with nothing good to say about ford If they had told me after week one my car would ve been in the repair shop for a month I would ve known what to expect temporary insurance change so I could feel safer about driving their vehicle if nothing else Ford did cover my rental expenses and my car seems to run OK but I plan on trading it in before the extended warranty runs out or I pay it off I don t want to end up like BeccaM Now I know why I haven t owned an american car within the last 20 years Next time i ll go with what I know Toyota I wouldn t recommend my worse enemy to purchase a ford I ve only owned 3 brand new cars and this was the first to give me problems within my first 100 000 miles Usually they fall apart after the warranty has expired or you ve paid it off After reading all the positive epinions of Explorer owners looks like I ended up with a quot LEMON quot br br " Neg," One year ago driving by my local ford dealership I noticed a sharp looking SUV So I turned around and took it for a test drive Pleased with the price and the way it looked I traded vehicles I was very pleased with the way it drives for the first week then came rain Having owned two SUVs before this one and had no problems driving during bad weather Well it was a different story for the explorer IT S VERY HARD TO HANDLE ON A WET ROAD And if the wind is blowing hard you might as well pull over Besides driving during bad weather I have been haunted with recall letters I think i have had 4 so far and i am sure there will be more soon Now lets talk about ford quality parts that the explorer is made of 5 months after the impulse buy that I made several parts STOP working first thing to go was the back windshield wiper well it works when it wants to not when I need it to Then my fog lights ground lights work when its warm haven t figured that one out yet Nor has the dealer any suggestions Also when I turn on the turn left signal my wipers come on and then go off I m no expert when it comes to wiring but is this not a short in the electrical system now the cigarette lighter does not work there are many other small things about the explorer I don t like but I guess that s what I get for IMPULSE BUYING And after going through all of this in less than a years time I would NOT recommend the 99 explorer sport to ANYONE " Neg," The only title the Explorer can lay claim to is the best selling SUV in America It certainly can t call itself the most powerful the best looking or the best handling In a nation where the Camry outsells any car the best selling SUV title may not be so glamorous And the facts will back that up The base engine in an Explorer is a little 4 0 liter 160 horsepower deal left over from the early Explorer days Coupled to a manual transmission this engine is slow sluggish and a good choice Seem paradoxical Consider this The next level up is 4 0 liter V6 with 50 more horsepower Yet it is not a big step up for the money 0 60 figures improve by only 3 seconds and quarter mile times by 2 Still not convinced the base engine is the way to go Consider the top level engine It is a 5 0 liter V8 with scoff 2 valves per cylinder Given a whole extra liter of displacement and 2 more cylinders to work with the engine only gains 5 horsepower from the next step down Most surprisingly however 0 60 in a V8 Explorer will take you 9 seconds as opposed to 8 7 in the considerably cheaper base model I m almost always a fan of a bigger engine but in this case I say save your money Why shell out more for an 2 valve cylinder V8 that only goes slower than the base and has 14 miles per gallon quot efficiency quot note the V8 carries more torque so if you need to haul something e g a boat you might consider it but for hauling kids keep your money Roadholding in an Explorer is characteristic of an SUV That is a lot of body roll a lot of bounce and a generally uncomfortable ride Again the base model shows its true colors with a skidpad reading of 73g opposed to only 70g for the V8 Likewise suspension is nothing revolutionary It is a step up from the Ranger pickup that it s based on but still bouncy On the plus side the Explorer is safe given its standard airbags and disc brakes but please stay away from Firestone Wilderness A T s It is also roomy accommodating 4 people well 4 people who are not susceptible to motion sickness and 5 people for short hops br br " Neg," I own a 99 new Ford Explorer Sport for about a year I already had 3 warranty repairs and that s a brand new car After 6 weeks the ABS module broke which also caused the odometer and the speedometer to fail It took my dealer 4 visits to figure out that the ABS module was the problem A couple of weeks later one of the rear safety belts broke and last week the motor of the rear end wiper died Then there is still that rattling noise close to the moonroof which no dealer was able to find the cause of Also there were two recalls by Ford After getting that fixed suddenly my wiper come on whenever I turned or gave a turning signal This has stopped as suddenly as it appeared Maybe I got an especially bad assembled car but it makes one wonder about the quality assurance at Ford The Explorer Sport is a really nice car if two people are riding in the car To get to the back seat is kind of hard The cargo space and room that the Explorer provides is great It is easy to load big stuff into it I have the Comfort Package with the 6 way power driver s seat which is really great if two people of different height use the car It is very easy to adjust the seat and it provides a lot of quot fine tuning quot of your seat s position For the looks of the car I would definitely recommend the Premium Sports Package Driving the Explorer on a bumpy road is like riding a camel very shaky When turning on wet streets the rear end of the car is skidding which doesn t make you feel very safe in it When making longer road trips on a highway it is a very comfortable nice to drive car I still love my Explorer sometimes it s a love hate relationship but I would not buy one anymore nor would I recommend it to anyone br br " Neg," My wife loves the Explorer but she is 5 5 quot tall I m 6 2 quot and this vehicle is not made for people our height We had an XLT for 3 years and upgraded to an Eddied Bauer with a sunroof Big mistake for me because I can t sit straight up Also when will Ford learn to place their rearview mirror higher up on the windshield I think they are the only manufacturer that still mounts the mirror to the windshield so it s right in the way Also the seats do not have ANY head restraints for somebody over 6 tall I m surprised FORD has not gotten dinged for this The Limited version has this option but this is not the standard model Overall my wife loves it so we re stuck with it but I do not recommend it to a person with above average height br br " Neg," I loved my 99 Explorer XLT for the first 2 months Then we went back and bought the SUV we d originally intended to buy the 99 Expedition There are 3 main reasons why I traded up to the 99 Expedition Eddie Bauer drivers seat comfort cargo space and highway noise I began to realize that my back really was hurting every day and suddenly it dawned on me that my beloved new SUV was the culprit I was driving about 70 miles a day quite a haul I agree but I had never experienced back pains like this after driving The driver s seat is not comfortable for a 135 pound woman Even with all the ergonomic gadgets adjusted the pain was still there As I had previously owned a compact the Explorer was huge at first Then I realized something There s not as much cargo space as the brochures lead you to believe If you re a mom like me a lot of quot stuff quot gets carted around daily Strollers car seat diaper bag etc Add groceries or plants from the nursery and there is no room for folks My mother and father could not ride comfortably in the backseat during a visit even without all the junk and this was frustrating for everyone On the highway we found ourselves turning the radio up higher only to notice that on regular streets we were blasting ourselves There is a lot of outside noise in the Explorer much less than the Expedition So we made a painful decision Take the loss and get another SUV that will really fit our needs We ve owned the Expedition for a month now and LOVE everything about it except the locks that lock automatically when you step on the brake seems pretty cool until you realize how often the passenger hops in and out getting mail checking on baby one last time fetching diaper from back etc and I m still working on getting into a parking place on the first try but that s another story br br " Neg," We purchased our 1998 Ford Contour Sport GL with a 16 valve 4 cylinder engine in October of 1999 What attracted us to this vehicle It was nearly new it was in our price range and it was a pretty blue color In addition all of the literature that we read about the 1998 Contour was very positive Performance handling and fuel economy were highlights of reviews From what we read in the Lemon Aid book the car represented excellent value for money However having lived with the car for the past 12 months I m not so sure that all of the press that the 1998 Contour received was entirely accurate I think this car would have rated as above average within its class but my problem with this vehicle is a lack of confidence in its quality and safety I will address all of the realities of the Contour both good and bad including the numerous recalls and hopefully you will be able to better make your decision I would like to begin with commenting on all of the great things about the 1998 Ford Contour First this thing handles corners like nobody s business It hugs those bends and turns and what that translates to is a solid secure feeling through the car and steering wheel Who doesn t like to feel confident of the way their car handles This vehicle is definitely above average in this regard and this feature is possibly my number one favorite in the 1998 Contour Next good thing about the 1998 Ford Contour is its acceleration abilities It does really well getting up to speed in good time Whether merging on the highway or zipping in and out of traffic in town this car can meet your requirements I feel that this is important to note as several people will shy away from a 4 cylinder as it feels like you re driving a turtle I m sure the 6 cylinder just flies by comparison but the 4 cylinder is far from disappointing in this regard Lastly our Contour is absolutely great on gas We get excellent mileage I m certain this is due largely to the fact that this is a 4 cylinder vehicle and given the prices of fuel these days this is definitely a BIG plus Now I have seen reviews that differ on this point but they do not say if they are the 4 cylinder vehicle or the 6 cylinder We had some diagnostics done earlier this year and the results determined that we get about 13 5 kilometers to 1 liter of gas Things could be very different for the 6 cylinder Contour but if you are looking for an economical vehicle to operate consider this vehicle an option Now onto other matters Yes the Ford Contour definitely has a dark side Since we have owned the car there have been 2 recalls One to adjust the wiring for the airbags to ensure that they actually do go off when needed and one to readjust something with the rear brakes so that they would not seize in an emergency I know of one other recall to do with the headlights but we asked our dealer and apparently that problem was resolved with our vehicle with the previous owner So well there have been at least three recalls Let s face it recalls are a little inconvenient but stuff gets fixed for free so who cares right Well let me ask you this does the number of recalls reflect the quality of the vehicle overall I think it does As a result I m not entirely confident of the quality of the vehicle What else is looming in the future Will be get the next recall notice or will we be in an accident that leads to the next recall Which leads me to my big issue with the Ford Contour and with Ford itself Last Saturday morning as we were zipping along the highway my husband and I immediately noticed a very strong burning smell My husband is a diesel mechanic and he said it smelled like burning wiring All of a sudden light gray smoke starts pouring from the glove compartment and dashboard My husband pulls over immediately and we haul the kids out of the car in record time My husband then opens the passenger door pulls down the dash panel and rips out the offending article A plastic three way switch and the plugs that had been in it were totally fried resulting in the wiring burning and the plastic socket burnt and melted Fortunately the car is determined still operable and we are able to drive it to our dealership When my husband relates the tale to the woman at Ford she is very understanding and sympathetic She even goes so far as to tell us that she knows the exact problem they ve seen quite a few b She tells us that the problem will be fixed free of charge We ask her If this is such a common problem then why hasn t there been a recall on the car She then told us that usually something else goes before the problem gets as serious as this so when the customer complains of the other problem they fix the entire thing gratis Ford has not determined the need for a recall as of yet She must have noticed the stunned look on our faces because she quickly said But no one should have went through something like this Hmmm you know I think she s right No one should have to go through this experience but people have Quite a few people apparently So why hasn t Ford issued a recall to prevent another possibly more serious incident from happening Maybe this is like the Freestone Tire issue there has to be a certain death toll to make results happen In conclusion we had previously considered the 1998 Ford Contour a really good car We liked it We truly did To me it was a good car that handled well had a peppy four cylinder engine and was an economical drive But now we have to ask ourselves b Do we have confidence in this car s quality and safety standards b The answer is a resounding No b Frankly I have also lost a lot of respect and confidence in The Ford Motor Company as well I can t recommend this vehicle to others in all conscience despite our previous level of content with this car as their are just too many uncertanties and questions surrounding the safety and quality of this vehicle " Neg," NO ONE b b Introduction What was Ford thinking when they designed a four door car that is capable of 143 mph Obviously when their fastest Sedan is just as fast as their mid sized engine sports car they ve done something wrong The designers of the Contour should have looked less at the engine and suspension and more towards comfort interior exterior airbags headlights While the designers of the Mustang should have at least tried to compete with Chevy s race oriented cars b Pros Ford knows how to do paint it has a beautiful paint job If the headlights didn t explode they put out adequate light and the fog lights work good for daytime I guess for a mid priced sedan this thing moves pretty well 0 60 in 12 seconds Its agile too with very little body flex in sharp turns If you really want one resale sucks so you ll be able to get a fully loaded 1998 model for 10 000 Ok that is it for the pros b Cons The headlights and airbags were recalled The headlights explode The airbags won t go off in a crash The cruise control will get stuck on resulting in a crash The throttle cable may fray not returning to idle position resulting in a crash The rear brakes may lock up and refuse to unlock resulting in a crash If you own one of these cars take it to the dealer immediately to get these things repaired Thats only the first two years ownership god knows what will happen when Ford quits recalling and they start exploding like Pinto s On cold mornings sometimes this car refuses to start Battery problem sensor problem I don t know It starts fine when it is warm b It seats no one comfortably maybe people who stand five feet tall and below on a recent trip with four adults each and every one complained of being cramped The seats are almost comfortable maybe if there was more leg room they d be bearable The dash board is a joke I m used to dash boards where you can put things this one is sloped towards the front seats and anything and everything placed on the dash board will eventually fall This is so the airbags don t throw anything into you if they go off But don t worry about it they won t go off Ford has to stop trying to make their cars and components look like their emblem Ovals do not make for good climate controls nor do they flatter the exterior of this car b Road noise is terrible Vibrations at freeway speeds are horrible never mind trying to go faster than that it feels as if the entire car is going to fall apart After an alignment it got a little better but didn t go completely away To change the oil you must drain it directly onto an exhaust manifold which of course smells very bad until it all gets cooked off The muffler is welded to the frame which will make any replacement expensive The radio antenna is motorized which makes for a nice clean look but once that servo goes and you know it will it will be a pain in the butt to replace or it can probably be rigged so that it is always up since the CD player won t even work unless the antenna is up The gas mileage averages at 25 mpg with a 2 5 Liter engine that is obviously ridiculous a friend with a 1997 Sebring has the same size engine and averages 33 mpg on occasion getting as high as 36 b Overall This car has been deeply effected by the quot b Driver Returns On Foot quot syndrome it is about time Ford removed it from their line up It was nothing but trouble the day it came off the assembly line The model I speak of was a 1998 which is a refined version I would have hated to see a 1997 or before model of this car they probably have a lower life expectancy than the Mustangs at 2 5 years If you really want a family car with some pep get the Impala SS or an SUV with a 4300 Vortec which will keep up just as well and afford better gas mileage If you really want one and are set on getting it no matter how bad it is e mail me and I ll pray for you br br " Neg," First of all I have to say that the Ford Contour is a very comfortable vehicle and is a great family car My fiancee and I own a Ford Contour currently and it gets us where we need to go It is a pretty dependable car The engine runs great and we have not had any under the hood work in a year The problem however is the axles and the tires The axles are weak and if not aligned just right the tires where extremely fast I would have to recommend the car for familys but not for single young people with higher chances of accidents etc Once alignment is gone or anything happens then the cash starts pouring out of the pockets Something else is that the car looses value quickly Not a good investment if planning on selling it I do believe that the car would run forever if taken care of but once the miles get on it then be prepared to loose some money Believe me I know Well the sum it all up it is very roomy great engine and great gas mileage But on the contrary it depreciates quickly and often requires alot of body work But we all have our own opinions don t we br br " Neg," I originally bought a new 1998 Ford Contour A month after I got it I was not all that thrilled with it Before I bought it I had a Ford Escort in which I had no problems with for four years The reason I bought the contour is because I wanted a car that was more comfortable and bigger The reason that I would not buy this car again is because they did not make the gas tanks very well At most gas stations I go to it can take up to 15 minutes to fill the tank because the pump will click off every 20 cents It has been doing this since I got it and I ve had it for 2 years Another reason is that it has had 2 safety recalls I just think that if you are going to put that much money into a new car you should not have to deal with these types of problems It may be petty but after a while you get agitated while trying to put gas in your car when it is really cold outside There are good points to the car for example it drives pretty good and it is comfortable Overall though I wish I would have gotten a different car br br " Neg," My husband was transferred from Indiana to Georgia and decided my poor little Tracer just wouldn t make it on the racetracks they call highways in Georgia He had one free day to go to the dealership and trade it for something quot bigger better faster quot He came home with a new Contour I have been driving this car for over two years now and I love the fact that it keeps up with the 90 mph traffic on the highways It does have a little more interior space than my Tracer But I have had no less than 7 recalls on this car over the last 2 years Some of them were for minor problems but some of them were serious enough to have killed me or someone else I also had a problem that wasn t even on the recall list I would probably be much less upset about this had we not paid so much for this car We paid over 16 000 for this car and the only options we got were air conditioning not really an option in Georgia and a rear spoiler No power anything no tape or cd player etc I MISS MY TRACER br br " Neg," When I rented a Contour I was very pleased with the performance handling and economy of the car In fact I liked it so much that I bought one Now I wish I had bought a Buick In the year and a half I have owned the car there have been at least four recall notices and several service advisories issued I have replaced one wheel bearing at 43 000 miles and my mechanic told me it was never properly packed with grease I had over 175 000 miles on my previous car before I had to replace any wheel bearings I now need to replace another bearing the air conditioning does not work there is a leak in a right front body seal that allows water to drip on the floor if the car is parked on an incline during a rainstorm the left passenger door hinge groans and squeaks the seal around the left passenger door allows road water in the door and the carpet does not fit I have replaced one front speaker and now need another one I have also replaced the climate control switch but it still malfunctions during very damp weather when I need the defrosters most Complaints to Ford Motor Customer Service and the Better Business Bureau have resulted in quot Well your warranty expired so too bad quot This experience has not only put me off ever buying another Contour but possibly another Ford product br br " Neg," After more than two years of mechanical problems we finally sold my wife s 1998 Contour XL the other day Yes it gets you from point A to point B but that s about it Her car was in the shop numerous times for all sorts of problems I wrote Ford Motor Company to ask them about the quality of their vehicles and received a form letter in response thanking me for my feedback and telling me that Ford values its customers What a joke Ford can t build a car that comes close to standing up to Honda Toyota Nissan etc and they know it If you don t believe me check the J D Powers list of autos with fewest mechanical problems No Fords on it Ever wonder why If you want to spend your money on a car with less than average dependability and fit and finish then the Contour is for you It rattles shakes and won t always run very good But the good news is you get to visit the Ford Service Department often and enjoy coffee with other Ford owners " Neg," My wife and I purchased this vehicle when she was promoted to a manager at the restaurant in which she worked We needed a second vehicle for her to get to work This was not a leisure purchase We decided to buy it at a dealer for which my mother works Kenny Ross Ford in Irwin Unfortunately the problems began at the dealership Even though I was immediate family to an employee they tried to sell me the vehicle for almost 4500 over the invoice price Luckily I am an avid online shopper and visited the kelly blue book site before I went to examine the vehicle or I may have assumed that I was getting a nice deal This vehicle was purchased because it was the closest vehicle that Ford had to a Toyota Corolla we had a 1992 Toyota Corolla that we finally traded in 1999 after having driven it for almost 200 000 miles Compared to what we were used to we like the vehicle for the lighting features like interior lights that activate when the door knobs are pulled from the outside This is convenient in the dark when you are trying to get in and start the car Most everything else about the car is horrible For the size it doesn t get very good gas mileage nothing compared to the Corolla that we had It handles rough I don t drive it frequently but when I do it is my wife s vehicle I seem to have to work harder at controlling it There always seems to be problems with this vehicle I believe it has been recalled for at least 6 items I lost count after that some of the recalls aren t minor There is still a problem with the vehicle over heating They can t seem to find anything wrong but I have spent plenty on fixing things that aren t wrong I personally don t feel that anyone should buy this vehicle This one purchase of a Ford has convinced me that I will always buy Toyotas This Ford Contour has about 60 000 miles on it at this point and we are hoping to be rid of it by May 2001 We just can t waste any more time with it in service Compared to the Toyota that we own the Ford is driven less but serviced more at a higher cost I m sorry but if that is the best that Ford can do than no matter whether my mother works for them or not I d rather have the reliability of a Toyota " Neg," I purchased a 1998 Contour in July of 1998 I d had experience with the Contour due to renting Contours several times in the U S and Europe Its handling and MPG were acceptable to me so when it was time to bit the bullet I paid 14K new with only a few frills Overall the car has been wonderful its Ford that is working my last nerve In the first year alone I had to take the car back to the Ford dealership that it was purchased from 5 times for recall repairs What a hassle That being said I never noticed anything wrong with the car It is great for a small family it fits a car seat and two people in the back seat The roof of the car seems to be slightly higher than the Taurus so my 6 foot 2 husband could sit in the car rather easily It seems to me that Ford while trying to introduce a car between the soon to be gone Escort and the Taurus has not really thought through the building of the Contour in America My car was built at the Kansas City Ford plant and in spite of their kindly calls to see how I liked the car they still built a car that had 5 RECALLS UPDATE It s been almost two years since I wrote that review There have been more recalls But at least recall repairs are free The major problems have been coming out of my pocket Two months ago I had to replace the tie rod ends and tires 400 and now the transmission has failed and needs to be replaced due to a bad clutch plate Ford dealership mechanics have refused to accept responsibility for this problem by saying It s not our job to fix Ford s mistakes and It s a lemon you should get rid of it Ford Corporate says Sorry we make a bad car every once in awhile luck of the draw and that I should save my 2500 transmission bill as there will probably be another recall on it Other Contour reviews also describe major transmission problems Buy a Kia Ford doesn t stand by their work " Neg," I don t own a Ford Contour but I rented one for my class reunion in GA last weekend I had the car for only 4 days but I noticed immediately many of the ups and downs of this automobile I currently own 2 cars that have amazing stereo systems in them One has an incredible 7 speaker Nakamichi stereo see my Lexus LS400 review also The Ford Contour had a very basic 4 speakers system that took some getting use to The most obvious problem was the deck wattage output With the volume all the way up sound quality was poor and distortion from any amount of bass was unacceptable I ve heard some of the Mach systems in other Fords so I know quality is in reach if a potential buyer needs something better In Georgia it is humid almost year round so a top notch ventilation system is a must The Contour has that down pat The AC worked very well with simple knobs and switches for easy operation and it blew VERY COLD just how I like it Acceleration was a disappointment also Flooring the gas pedal resulted in a lot more noise than movement which was quite a let down for a modern day V6 Handling was a pleasant surprise especially cornering Taking a quick turn wasn t at all a frightening experience like in some cars this size but the rattles from the interior made me wonder if something might fall off the next time The classification of this car has a lot of competition The Nissan Altima Toyota Corolla Mitsubishi Galant and Saturn make it a crowded field in the similar price range I ve driven the all new Nissan Sentra and I think it s a hidden treasure in itself The Ford Contour is an acceptable vehicle for the die hard Ford fan that will never consider another brand but the competition is stiff and many better cars are out there for the taking at a comparable price br br " Neg," I bought my 98 Ford Contour in December of 1999 because I was looking for a reliable car Since that time I have had to take it in for 4 recalls air conditioning stopped working and needed new coil and unit fumes coming into car they haven t been able to identify the cause as of yet and they don t know yet why the car is beginning to be difficult to start All of these problems require drop off at a dealership waiting for a ride to work or making other arrangements or getting a rental car due to the work not being completed by end of day which translates into missed time from the job I have a strong feeling that this is only the beginning of the constant repairs I am going to have with this car I like the design leg room space and comfortable ride of the Ford Contour I dislike car repairs and unreliability I will not buy another Ford again nor would I recommend a Ford to a friend br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle because I read an article in quot Consumer Reports quot stating that this was a top quality vehicle and I liked the way it looked and handled at first However my respect for quot Consumer Reports quot went down rapidly This vehicle is nice to drive when you aren t carrying a load of any kind and when the sun is shining The Ford Ranger is a nice looking truck with comfortable seats and is good for those Sunday drives However the Ford Ranger is also a truck with very little power for hauling trailers or carrying any loads such as for moving a desk for the office or a chair for the living room The Ford Ranger is also a truck that is very expensive to fix and requires alot of repairs that need to be done at the dealership where costs are much higher For example I took my vehicle into my mechanic to get a diagnostic done and the diagnostic came up with nothing wrong so I went and got a second opinion and still nothing was wrong but my engine light was still on and I needed to know what was going on Finally I had to take my truck into the dealership and get a diagnostic which cost 159 95 tax They found the problem and told me that Ford trucks need to have diagnostics run on Ford equipment to get an accurate reading There is nothing about this in the owner s manual This vehicle is also very poor in inclimate weather In rainy icy and snowy conditions this vehicle is like driving a bumper car on the road Any poor road conditions and this vehicle turns like a whale and slides like it is on a quot Slip and Slide quot child s toy Basically this is a very poor excuse for a pick up truck This vehicle should only be bought by people in warm weather climates who just need a nice looking cruise around pick up truck and who can afford to make repairs two or three times annually Anyone not meeting this description should stay away from this pick up truck br br " Neg," The Ford Ranger is a decent pickup truck for light loads I bought this truck for moving stuff like a lawn mower and stuff like that I loved this truck because it drove really smoothly and it looked pretty sharp I hated this truck because it has no balls I mean come on a truck is suppose to be manly The only way i can feel like a man is if i can wax someone at a stop light good luck doin it with this truck The sound system in this truck is terrible The speakers are for old people who dont like to crank it Another reason why it is not a good truck is because of the sad engine that they but in these Come on a V6 in a new truck is not needed anywhere If you want a truck that can do something other then pull a small trailer with a small load i wouldnt recommend this truck at all br br " Neg," I was on vacation in Florida in 2003 and during that time I had the opportunity to rent the 2002 Ford Mustang Convertible I drove it for more than a week so I think that I was able to see the good and the bad sides of driving this particular car Engine and transmission The Mustang that I drove had 3 8 liter V 6 in it mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission The engine was adequately powerful and didn 146t need to downshift a single time no matter what the road was It was a silky smooth engine too with deep low satisfying engine note as a matter of fact I mistaken it for V 8 at first but then out of curiosity I opened the hood and saw that it was a V 6 The engine sounded just like V 8 The transmission that the engine is mated to is very smooth also with barely noticeable shifts Even the kickdown was smooth And that 146s where good stuff ends Handling The car handled like a van Slightest turn and the car was rocking and rolling all over the place While the car has very good ride in the straight line doing a very good job isolating driver from the road bumps if you need to make a turn and I am talking about just a slight turn not something extreme you better have your seatbelt fastened or you have a good chance of landing somewhere outside of the car Granted it is a convertible so it is not as stiff as a coupe but still it is considered a sports car afterall so it should at least drive like one Design and Ergonomics The car looks good from the outside It has nice curves but without boy racer look so it appeals to both older and younger drivers The visibility from the driver 146s seat is very good The front seats are cramped for such a large car It is as long as many sedans and wider than most of them but it is pretty cramped in the front and I am not even mentioning the backseat which is suitable mostly for children I am 6 feet tall and weigh 200 pounds which is pretty average Whoever was in charge of ergonomics should 146ve been fired or limited to designing floormats for Yugos The door release lever is below driver 146s knee in the most awkward spot right where you would never expect to find it It took me a while to find it the first time when I was trying to get out of the car at night None of the window switches are lit at night same goes to power locks There is no trunk release lever inside the car so you need to get out of the car and either use the key or button on remote control On the fifth day of driving the car I finally found the controls for moving the driver seat they were located in the front of the seat power seat in this case and not on the left or right edge of the front side of the seat but right behind driver 146s legs When you try to open or close the top you have to use the two levers one on each side of the windshield which might be troublesome for a single person In Ford Thunderbird they finally replaced them with single central lever which is foolproof and easy to use The heating cooling controls were designed in the dumbest way possible For example if you use air conditioning you can not direct the airflow to the desired spot because there is no separate button for A C Rather there is separate position for A C on the same knob that is used to direct the airflow so if the knob is in A C position it cannot be in defog position I could not use the A C for longer than 40 minutes since I was wearing flip flops Florida and was risking of freezing my toes off To be fair Ford took care of most of these stupidities in their Ford Thunderbird convertible but it also costs twice as much as the Mustang I drove In the end I would not recommend this car to anybody as after short period of time the feeling of rip off will set in as you start thinking about how much money Ford saved by giving the Mustang interior design job to a group of 5 Detroit bums " Neg," I don t own this car but I have driven and ridden in it as a passenger This review will share some of my experiences in the car First thing the car makes bumps feel like craters in the ground You will feel every little pothole in the road will tooth jarring clarity SOmetimes when driving the car when I hit a bump my arm smacks the armrest made out of hard plastic and my arm feels like it fractures This does not say a lot for the struts shocks or the armrest Next item the car sits straight up and down I thought that I would be lying down and driving with an arm extended but this is not the case I sit very up and down just like driving a regular non sports sedan One nice thing is that the driver s seat has a lumbar support that blows up to the size of the Goodyear Blimp If you have a crampy lower back this is nice However there is no passenger lumbar support The car has good leg room as I am 6 2 and do not feel cramped especially in the passenger seat The headroom is OK but the car is cut in such a way that I have to be VERY careful when getting in and out not to smack my head Once I had to bend over so much to get into the driver s side that I pulled a muscle in my chest and was in pain for the whole next day The car has an annoying feature of the window opening all the way when just pushed down a little on the driver s side Since I like to crack the window even in the winter I hit the down button just a touch but the whole window opens However I am told this is standard on new cars as is the lack of a cigarette lighter so I suppose I ll just have to deal with it The car has standard airbags but no head airbags or side airbags so just make sure that if you plan on crashing you get into a head on collision not a side impact On the plus side the car has a nice sound system and it looks cool to drive around in The color is nice too And the thing really moves The V8 in the GT has a lot of power and great pickup for highway merges " Neg," Driving the Mustang with its hard seats lack of lumbar support and a hard as a rock suspension is like riding a real mustang and you will get saddle sores I looked over the field before I bought the Mustang and it had the power edge All I was interested in at the time was power and edgy looks I also just had to have a convertible However all that changed when I realized that I spend very little time looking at the car and a lot of time being beaten to death by it on the road It feels like it will break apart over some of the bumps It is also very loud inside the car I can barely hear the stereo at cruise There is a lot of rear end whine It sounds like a big rig is passing me but there is no truck there It wasn t long before I was wishing I had bought the Celica I shouldn t have gone and looked at the Celica once I bought the Mustang because I could kick myself The Celica is much more quality oriented the ride is smoother and the image suggests that I am not a redneck idiot Mustang suggests a redneck with grease under the nails and an inferiority complex " Neg," I bought a 1994 Ford Mustang because of the looks and when I test drove it I enjoyed the ride I had always wanted a Mustang since before I got my license and I had just that for my first car The car looks very sporty and has plenty of curves It comes with either a V6 or V8 engine and hard top or convertible The seats were very comfortable with the exception of there not being much room in the car If you want a roomy backseat though this car isn t for you It can feel a little bit cramped though The controls on the car are easy to reach and not difficult to figure out And being short the power seats were very much appreciated It comes with basically power everything seats windows door locks It also comes with tilt steering and airbags and four disk brakes ABS at that time was an option for the car I believe which I didn t have It even has one cup holder which is convenient to reach exciting isn t it I recommend the Mustang having a spoiler because without one it doesn t look right to me I bought the car without a spoiler and ended up buying one down the road I loved how the car handled corners and the acceleration was decent for a V6 With good tires and a dry road it holds the road very well and hugs corners nicely I thought the interior was very well done and it was a big improvement from past year Mustangs which looked cheap and lacked taste I prefer the more recent Ford interiors over most other car manufacturers because they seem more appealing and are better made The car was horrible in the winter well if you consider going up a hill sideways in the snow bad Of course any sports car in the winter is a challenge to drive When you drive this car you can feel every bump in the road and it gets to be uncomfortable after a while Things tend to shake and rattle in the car at times because of bumpy roads but for the most part this car is best suited for an even well paved road because then the road is smooth and relatively quiet The gas mileage for the highway is very good It gets about 27 miles to the gallon on the highway Local driving it gets about 17 to 20 depending on the stop and go of driving With the gas tank only being 15 4 gallons going to the gas station at times happens frequently but when you drive all over the place it is expected The one thing against Ford and their sports cars compared to Chevy is that the older Mustangs are a little bit underpowered considering what the Camaro has even though with the newer model Mustangs they increased the horsepower To my best knowledge the 1994 3 8 L V6 Mustang has about 145 horsepower with 230 pounds of torque which to me isn t bad but compared to about 50 more horsepower with the Camaro Chevy puts Ford to shame if you want to see a comparison of the two I believe Vara has a review on these two cars I do not reccomend this car to anyone who doesn t have the money for repairs or who doesn t want to sink a lot into the car Why you ask I ll tell you First of all my transmission went at 40 000 miles and that was about twelve hundred to fix I had another friend who had a 1994 Mustang GT and her transmission went at about 34 000 miles Ford wouldnt even honor any part of the warranty and my family had been buying cars from that dealer for years Secondly I had to spend another four hundred dollars to get the frame fixed in the back because somehow it had cracked and i have never been in an accident The car sucks up gas like theres no tomorrow in the winter it handles poorly in any type of bad weather condition and it seemed like any time i turned around something was going wrong with the car or something was breaking Then again maybe I just had a poorly manufactured Mustang My car has a very loud and obnoxious engine knock that wont go away except when I put high octane gas it in When that is done the engine purrs like a kitten and I love the way the engine sounds when I hit the accelerator hard I have had a few problems keeping the wheels aligned and it has wore down a lot of my tires but considering I tend to drive it hard at times I most likely am to blame the most for wear and tear and the tires If you have the money it can be worth getting but unless Ford made better quality cars it d be sufficient to say you might be throwing money down the toilet for this car If you want looks the Mustang is nice but if you want reliability stay far away from this car In my opinion and I m not a mechanic so I can t say for sure pounding this car while accelerating does more damage to the transmission than anything else From what I have heard Ford s transmissions are very weak and that is why the Cobra Mustang only has a manual transmission because the automatic isn t strong enough And to top that off I have been told Ford makes a cr ppy transmission for the six cylinder cars anyway and its one of their worst transmissions Again I don t know how true this actually is so I am not saying for sure I am right Either way I do not recommend abusing the transmission and that goes for any car For the most part take it easy with the car Don t floor it from a dead stop unless necessary Once in a while is okay I m assuming but not constant Again this car is a pleasure to drive on a nice day cruising the roads and even though I partially hate this car because of all the trouble it has had its 80 000 miles strong and each time I have to go somewhere I still look forward to getting behind the wheel At one point I loved this car so much I gave it a pet name My car s name is Billy Everyone say hi to my baby Billy And when Billy goes one day it will be missed I ll almost feel like I ve lost a child I m not crazy really just a little too attached " Neg," About a year ago I bought a Mustang GT to fulfill a dream As many others I always loved the mustang Finally I was able to buy one I was very lucky because I found one that was only driven on the weekends The previous owner took really good care of it Everyone thought I had bought a brand new car I wanted to buy a stick shift vehicle but This vehicle was in such good shape that I opted to buy it even though it was an automatic A decision I have lived to regret More on that later Driving this vehicle is awesome Lots of power even for an automatic The seats are comfortable and the layout of the inside is shaped somewhat like a mini cockpit It handles great in dry weather and handles better than expected on rain DO NOT DRIVE ON SNOW Take the bus I love the rumble sound that comes out of the dual exhaust I love the looks you get when you drive it I love how you can blow away most of these little Honda cars that have all kinds of work done to the engines and they still sound like lawn mowers Don t get me wrong I love Honda cars I think they are the most reliable but not most powerful Yes the mustang is a great muscle car But that is it Now for the negatives For starters the gas mileage is unreal 18 Miles to the gallon if you drive like a retired old person If you drive like a 16 year old you are looking at about 10 miles to the gallon The automatic transmission died and had to be rebuild for a whopping 2000 The Idle sometimes is too low and the car shuts off at stop lights This is only a rare occurrence The windshield wiper relay function works only on occasion The ride is super rough I live in NY and the potholes here are unreal And in a Mustang they feel like the grand canyon There is virtually no head room and no back seat room The windshield is small and you will find yourself looking around the rearview mirror The tires are expensive and don t last too long so many little things I could go on forever I do not comprehend why Ford continues to build vehicles so unreliable and with so many defects One would think they would have improved the quality by now and maybe have some pride in building their cars The bottom line is this is not a car but a toy which has to be taken care of greatly and can only be abused on occasion I would recommend having a small reliable Japanese car that saves lots of gas so you can have that for everyday use and drive the mustang only on the weekends It will last longer and save you money in the long run I personally will never buy a ford vehicle after this experience Even though I kind of love the Mustang and don t really what to give it up I am looking into buying some little Honda for everyday use " Neg," The Ford Mustang was redesigned for 1994 although it was still based on a modified Fox chassis called Fox 2 that dated back to 1979 Hatchbacks were discontinued but coupes and convertibles remained Compared to the previous generation the 94 Mustang was longer wider and lower The weak four cylinder engine was also discontinued A 145 horsepower V6 engine was standard while the GT used a 215 horsepower V8 A Borg Warner T5 5 speed manual transmission was standard an electronically controlled 4 speed automatic optional Although all Mustangs for 1994 had 4 wheel disc brakes anti lock brakes were optional Convertibles included a power top and glass rear window with an optional rear defogger Mustang Cobras came with a powerful 5 0 liter 240 horsepower V8 and were sold in limited numbers With a stiffer suspension than ordinary Mustangs Cobras came only with a 5 speed manual and had standard ABS as well as a slightly different styling b EXTERIOR The Mustang s pony car styling was redesigned for 1994 with a sexy more rounded body This years body styling is a far cry from the boxy angular Mustang that debuted in 1979 The front hood vents look nice but serve no purpose The Cobra s 5 spoke 17 inch alloy wheels look great The standard GT wheels look okay but I prefer the Cobra s b INTERIOR My test GT made a LOT of noise If wind noise is not intruding at speeds above 65 mph then the rather loud exhaust engine noise is The interior looks very old school with cheap looking hard plastic everywhere The controls are easy to use and reach Build quality is sub par The front seats are comfortable enough for long drives but for tall people like myself there is just not enough leg room to stretch out and be REALLY comfortable I like the GT s power lumbar support feature optional It makes the seats even more hospitable The long heavy doors are a nuisance in tight spaces and when parked sideways on hills The rear seats are very small There is absolutely no leg room for the long legged and even people about 5 feet 5 inches will feel confined The mere act of entering the backseat requires a gymnastic that most people will find a hassle Just to get in you have to duck under the low roofline or risk bumping your head squeeze between the seat and the doorjamb and be prepared to have your knees digging into the driver s or front passenger s seat if you are tall Trunk space is insufficient for everyday living If you plan on keeping a Mustang as your weekend sports car then there is enough room to carry a few golf bags and other stuff b ENGINE The standard engine is a 3 8 liter OHV pushrod V6 engine that produces 145 horsepower at 4 000 rpm and 215 lb ft of torque at 2 750 rpm It is available with either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed automatic The V6 when paired with either transmission is adequate enough for most situations but I did notice that when paired with the automatic it was a little reluctant to downshift The GT comes with a more powerful 5 0 liter OHV pushrod V8 engine It makes 215 horsepower at 4 200 rpm and 285 lb ft of torque at 3 300 rpm With either transmission the torque comes on very quickly but has the tendency to run out of breath after about 5 000 rpm Other than that there is more than enough passing power and a LOTS of low end torque The Cobra uses a modified version of the GT s V8 and produces 240 horsepower at 5 000 rpm but the same 285 lb ft of torque at a higher 4 000 rpm Although the Cobra never feels weak at low rpms its engine was tuned for more mid range torque and all but eliminates that weak top end feeling that ruins the GT model s fun I averaged 15 7 mpg on the recommended premium fuel but Ford says mid grade 89 octane fuel is reasonable b HANDLING There is more than enough lateral grip in the corners and overall is very fun to fling around corners There is more body lean than expected in ALL models but nosedive is serious only on the base and GT models I feel the steering wheel could be stiffer than it is on the base and GT models but the Cobra s is nicely weighted for sporty driving Unfortunately all Mustangs of this model year have the tendency to have their tail ends skip around bumpy corners All Mustangs have a problem when it comes to handling in wet weather All models spin the tires when trying to come up a hill after a stop if you are not very careful with the throttle Snow practically immobilizes the Mustang b RIDE With a longer wheelbase and a few extra hundred pounds than the 93 model the ride is still stiff but not as jarring as before The GT s suspension is poorly damped and feels like it is crashing over large bumps Even on apparently flat smooth roads you can still feel the GT jumping on occasions picking up even the smallest road imperfection Although the Cobra model has a stiffer suspension it rides very much the same as the GT b RELIABILITY Unfortunately my test GT was plagued with problems The owner received 4 no that is NOT a typo recalls during his entire ownership of the car For more info about these recalls visit this website http www nhtsa dot gov cars problems Not to mention the trouble spots There is a chattering noise that can be felt coming from the rear during tight turns after highway driving I read that this is caused by a defect in the clutch packs in the Traction Lok PosiTrac differential My test GT came with the automatic transmission When I put it in OverDrive it had the tendency to slip and then the engine would flare to rather high rpms depending on how hard the gas pedal is pressed According to the owner when the Mustang had about 70 000 miles on it the transmission did the same thing He said that he had replaced it with a rebuilt automatic transmission that had 50 000 miles on it and within 5 000 miles started acting up again Make sure that if you decide to buy a Mustang GT with an automatic transmission have a dealer check it for any problems b VALUE All Mustangs deliver good performance at a reasonable price and should be an attractive buy for anyone at any age The V6 model is more of a daily driver than the Cobra or GT but is not as quick If you shop for a V8 model it would be wise to have another car in your garage for when the weather gets wet or you need the cargo room to haul " Neg," I always wanted quot The Mustang quot And a convertible to boot I bought this car after a divorce and I wanted something with some muscle and I wanted to go topless These turned out to be the best parts of this machine I liked the power it had although it needed more and it gets a lot of looks on the freeway from the opposite sex maybe because it was red or topless Who cares It is fun to drive most of the time I have not been totally pleased with the performance of this car The first year it seemed to have a lot more power than it does 4 years later I understand that an engine will lose some power but I feel a significant loss in mine It has been serviced well by the way so I don t feel that it is the problem It has also been in the shop a lot for some steering problems and items that should have lasted longer than they did I like the tightness of the car and the steering It reminds me of the 79 Trans Am if anyone has ever driven one This car left me longing for much more power though and I think I would shop around more the next time I want a sports car If you want looks and a fun car to drive you probably can t go wrong but of you want speed and performance then look again Also I do not recommend an automatic in this car You lose a lot of power and performance as well as my transmission is going out at only 100 000 miles maybe that s why I call her quot Christine quot " Neg," I bought a 1994 Mustang LX coupe for a decent price but quickly learned it was not quite a solid vehicle After having owned 3 Mustang convertibles in the past I was confident that the new body style wouldn t have been a compromise in quality but from the day I brought it home it had problems I was told that I would have to replace the transmission to fix the shutter but a full servicing fixed that problem for the most part it still didn t shift quite right but the shutter disappeared I d had transmission problems with my 93 so I was happy that it only cost 200 to get it fixed this time but within 3 months I was sorry I ever purchased the car At 136k miles the head gasket blew When I called the dealership to get a quote on repairs I was told there had been a recall on this car so I took it down there after the engine had cooled back down Turns out Ford won t back their cars after 100k and I was going to be stuck with 1200 1500 bill to fix it I traded it in got less than 1 3 of what i paid for it and got a 1996 Thunderbird and it s a very solid car My strong recommendation if you are interested in a 1994 Mustang is to check its history Find out if it was recalled for the head gasket before purchasing it because mine went FAST Also I was plagued with permanently squealy brakes that noone could figure out so make sure it has a good radio to drown out that annoying noise " Neg," UPDATE I am writing this update after owning my 2001 Ford Focus wagon only 4 1 2 months After taking my vehicle to the auto dealership to have them investigate why when the windows go down especially the rear ones an extremely loud and painful vibration occurs When the service tech was in the car for a drive to understand the problems noted to him my husband rolled down the windows The tech described the sound and discomfort to when his ear drum broke a few months back As you can see the noise is painful The tech then called the engineering department at Ford to find out how to deal with the problem The engineer had no idea as to how to fix the problem and said he had a stack of similar complaints on his desk Ford is selling Focus wagons knowing there is a window problem I am now in the process of finding out how to handle this problem How discouraging to buy a brand new car and be making payments and can t even roll down my windows Beware when checking into purchasing this vehicle We are spending too much on gas for that van I told my husband With that comment I went on my search for a new vehicle I knew I needed and wanted something big enough to still haul stuff like lumber or my kids bikes A regular car trunk just isn t deep enough for transporting lumber or long items So I knew if I wasn t getting another gas eating van it would have to be some sort of station wagon Now narrowed down to body type I went on my search of different makes and models of station wagons My first priority was price Being a family of 5 money is tight and I needed something affordable but of good quality I checked the prices of the VW Jetta wagon and the Saturn wagon Both were quite a bit more expensive The Ford Focus was by far the more affordable of the three Having access to a Ford A plan was another deciding factor Ford also at the time of my purchase was offering rebates and interests rates of 500 00 cash back 6 9 interest or 1000 00 cash back and 7 99 interest We all know you get what you pay for and maybe thinking it is cheaper because it is lacking in features This is far from the truth The Focus Wagon has standard features such as power door locks power windows CD player air conditioning and cruise control Unfortunately ABS breaks are not a standard feature and cost around 350 400 to have the option included The ease of getting in and out of the car was another factor in my purchase Unlike a lot of small cars the Focus Wagon seats sit higher I really like the crank under the seat to adjust the seating height I hate sitting in a car where my head almost touches the roof That is not a problem in the Focus Wagon The storage space in the back is extremely roomy and the pull over cover is an added plus I went shopping for 2 weeks of groceries for a family of 5 and had no problems getting all the bags in comfortably Space is definitely not a problem The gas mileage is the most important feature of this vehicle With today s gas prices going up this is a must feature to be looking at when choosing a new car The engine in mine is a Zetec 4 25 L It still has pep but doesn t need a lot of gas to achieve the goal My first fill up after driving about 110 highway miles and then some city driving also I figured the Focus Wagon got around 27 mile to the gallon If you are looking for something affordable roomy and has great gas mileage the Ford Focus Wagon is worth the money " Neg," If you re looking for a commuter car you ve found it I own a 2door 94 Aspire with no options This car is basically a lawnmower engine surrounded by sheet metal My friends call it the Ford Expire because if you crash in it you re bound to die I m sure that s totally exaggerated Actually it has driver and passenger side airbags That s about as sophisticated as the car gets Traction is ridiculous Those little BMX wanna be bike tires have hardly any surface area to touch the road Therefore breaking distance is pretty bad If you live in a cold climate forget about it This car doesn t like snow at all As for ice It s like sliding an egg across a frozen lake Power steering isn t needed the care weighs close to nothing A large group of friends can lift all four off the ground I don t recommend it though The interior is drab and cramped Seats are uncomfortably stiff The manual transmission won t agree with your passengers The stick shift hits their knees in 5th gear The back seat is enormous considering the size of the car The back seats two adults quite comfortably for a small car The instruments are easy to see even though they are few in number The doors are an ugly plastic as is the rest of the interior No carpeted doors or nice dash for this puppy Now that I m done trashing the interior and tiny little tires lets talk about performance If you re really lucky you might squeeze 60ponies out of that 4cylinder You can floor it in just about any gear and not even feel the acceleration Try passing someone on a highway and you re in for a shock When you drop down to 4th gear and floor it the only thing that happens is the engine hits a high pitched whine and the car doesn t go any faster Basically this car has no power If that worries you test drive it You can t possibly image the lack of power in an auto until you try this one Nothing I can say will prepare you for the feeling of helplessness you encounter on an onramp in heavy traffic You ll be struggling to hit 50mph with cars whizzing past you at 65 Just close your eyes cut into traffic and pray someone slows down It s not all bad though This car does have one advantage Maintenance The engine is as reliable as they come It can take quite a beating and keeps putting out that unheard of mileage I average 50mpg on the highway and 40mpg in the city Yup that s 50mpg With gas prices rising that s an invaluable asset On long highway drives I have even managed to get 55mpg This comes at a cost though Not only does the engine have no power as is but in order to get these wonderful mileages you have to sacrifice even more power and shift with the yellow light The light is on the dash and tells you when to shift up First gear is wound up so tight it ll blow the engine at a little over 5mph and kill your mileage on the way there 2nd can go to about 20mph or 25mph but for gas you shift out of 2nd at about 10 or 15mph 3rd can go to about 40mph but for gas it s 20mph 4th can go to about 60 at this speed the engine emits a high pitched whine but for gas it s 35mph 5th gear has no power whatsoever Notice a patern You re in 5th gear by the time you re rolling It takes forever to get to 55mph and in the meantime you re only in the other gears for a few seconds Nothing else on the car requires much maintenance It s a noisy unrefined egg with wheels but it ll get you where your going If you have a kid and are worried about him her speeding this is their car Believe me The first time they try racing a friend they ll be the laughing stock of their school I ve been passed by a four wheeler before The ride is bad as is control You ll be getting those little wheels balanced pretty often Overall it depends what you re looking for If you re looking for a car you don t want this If you just want a means of transportation at a cheap price this is your egg " Neg," Okay I wrote a review a couple of months ago that I have since deleted saying that the Ford Windstar was a great buy Unfortunately I have had a change of heart and would not recommend it to anyone not even my worst enemy Okay at least not the 1995 version or any version with the 3 8L V6 engine I have had a nightmare within two months time coupled with 4 000 00 repair bill First of all the head gasket blew and I had to have that repaired to the tune of 1 600 00 About one month later my van decided that it would no longer go into reverse Not a big deal unless you want to BACK UP So back to the repair shop it goes this time needing a brand new transmission to the tune of 2 600 00 I have yet to get this fixed because I simply cannot afford it So I hit the net and find out that Ford has known for a long time that this particular year Windstar has had constant trouble in this area They did offer to refund 900 00 of the head gasket repairs but will not replace or help with the transmission which they are very aware is bad Their response was quot Well it is not on recall yet When it is they will refund your money quot Hello am I the only one who sees something wrong with this picture Well I thought I was until I went to the consumer report page and heard some horror stories about the same vehicle If you are looking for a used car Go to carfax and run the VIN number and find out it s history It is 14 00 that I wished I had done Now I am stuck with a car loan owing more than the trade in value and a repair bill that this one income single family cannot afford Do not dump your money into this lemon I hope others with other years never have the same problems So far they have not had problems with the other years Sometimes you cannot take lemons and make lemonade br br " Neg," i bought my 1995 Ford Windstar GL brand new in 1995 i must have been drunk it was 18 000 with tax and came with the 3 8L MPFI V 6 i have been the only owner of this Windstar and i Always take good care of all my vehicles personally changing the oil religiously every 3000 miles keeping them washed engines always clean enough to eat off of armor all the tires every week etc i am a car freak and enjoy taking care of my stable but within 3 years this Ford Windstar received no less than 7 Factory Recalls some of the major ones are Defective Head Gasket but they wouldn t fix or replace unless there was Visible damage already ie white smoke overheating etc the Ford dealership told me Not to bring it in for the quot Recall Fix quot unless it was already Broken GRRR Hood Separation at High Speed the recall notice said at high speeds the flimsy plastic hood may Separate so they applied more glue to my hood Side Door Reinforcement the sliding side door needed to have a beam welded inside it the Stupid Fat mechanic that was working on my car Cracked one of my inside door panels while performing this recall when i informed the dealership of the damage at first they Denied it they said I broke it myself after complaining to the service manager AND the dealership manager they finally agreed to replacing the interior body panel the mechanic broke but the part had to be Special Ordered which took a week and another few days for them to Install it GRRR Transmission Fluid Pan was Leaking like Crazy it was leaking ATF fluid faster than i could pour it in my van had first developed a slow tranny pan leak after about 10K miles but the Ford dealership told me it was a quot normal maintanance quot problem and Not a Defect so i had to fix it myself grrrr Gas Tank Reinforcement the recall notice said the cheap plastic gas tank may Crack or Leak in high temperature conditions so a flimsy metal strap was installed to quot reinforce quot it Nitpicky Complaints the Rear Bench Seats are Very Heavy have a friend help you remove install the rear bench seats or you ll mess up your back the window cranks on non electric window are in a very Awkward location almost all the way to the floor and toward the front Don t try to open close your windows while driving Seatbelts are very uncomfortable Rearview mirrors are awkward especially at night the Air Intake duct sits Very Low sucking in air at tire level from the front driver side Don t drive thru even low flood waters or your engine will suck in water right thru the air intake duct this happened to a friend of mine as he drove thru a small puddle and his 3 8L engine was Mangled Needless to say i will NEVER buy a Ford EVER again what a complete Nightmare buy a Toyota or Honda instead they are Worth the extra money br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle used in 97 and for the most part was satisfied but leery The vehicle served us well but for a couple draw backs The ride was comfortable if a little noisy inside and seats were excellent Configuration was OK and we enjoyed and miss the electronic dash that came as an option As far as draw backs go we drove it on vacation to Myrtle Beach from Ontario Canada and on arrival fortunately the head gasket blew as per the Ford recall they would only replace blown gaskets not fix on spec Ford was good I was in the States as a Canadian and covered it including towing 100 In the final days as owner we had numerous problems with the ignition switch and undetermined mis shifts from the transmission The ignition switch was replaced twice and in the end left my wife stranded road side while I was away on business This was the final straw and we parted ways myself and the van not my wife I was leery of the transmission noises as the van is rated poorly for transmission problems and my fears in this regard contributed to our decision to go Japanese and get a 2000 Sienna All in all I did not hate the van but feel much as one does when a trusted friend starts to talk behind your back betrayed br br " Neg," I purchased a 1995 Ford Windstar in 1998 with 45 000 miles already on it From the first day we experienced problems that were minor and later had major problems Some problems were never fixed and were hard to trace The car always intermittent indicated that one door was ajar Usually this happened going around corners and over bumps We took the van back twice for service but the problem was never fixed We only gave up on fixing this problem after several major problems overshadowed the minor one The first major problem was the battery went dead which by itself is not major however we tried to jump start the car which ended up burning out the on board computer Battery cost plus tow was 100 The second time the battery went dead was within the next two days Again a tow was in order and a bill for 300 for the onboard computer Next the car overheated and was localized to the water pump Again not a significant problem by itself but later the van continued to overheat Cost for the water pump I don t remember but we eventually replaced the heads on the engine for 900 The overheating apparently caused the quot service engine quot light to appear When diagnosed we discovered that the oxygen sensor was now faulty Estimated cost to repair about 300 Now the O D overdrive light on the van began to blink and the transmission started to slip I was told directly related to the overheating A repaired transmission was quoted at between 1200 1500 we didn t even ask how much for the O D blinking light to be fixed The van had 110K miles on it in the end We performed minor repairs on the Transmission that cost 150 but the transmission still slipped but only when placed in reverse We eventually got too frustrated with the van failing and using tow trucks and finally traded it in on a Toyota RAV 4 Brand new I ll tell you about the RAV 4 in another review br br " Neg," I am not an owner of a Ford Windstar My uncle is This is a warning DO NOT BUY THE FORD WINDSTAR There is a current Class Action suit regarding the Ford Windstar models YES ALL MODELS UP TO THIS DATE Following is some information regarding the class action suit Note the following Premature head gasket failure Breach of Warranty Breach of Contract For those in Illinois and Michigan Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices quot Ford Motor Company Windstar On December 9 1999 in Chicago Illinois a class action lawsuit was filed against Ford Motor Company by Horwitz Horwitz and Associates Ltd on behalf of plaintiff Lance Lhotka Mr Lhotka owns a 1995 Ford Windstar which experienced premature head gasket failure Although the 3 8 liter engine in the 1995 Windstar and other Ford vehicles are infamous for repeated instances of premature head gasket failure Ford has refused to assume any responsibility for the defective condition of the 3 8 liter engine and the costly repairs necessary to the vehicles of Mr Lhotka and thousands of other Ford customers The lawsuit alleges that Ford s conduct amounts to Breach of Warranty Breach of Contract and violations of the Illinois and Michigan statutes prohibiting Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices The suit seeks compensatory damages punitive damages and attorneys fees Horwitz Horwitz and Associates Ltd is in the process of compiling a database of Ford Windstar owners who may be affected by this litigation If you are the owner of a Ford with a defective 3 8 liter engine and want to be considered for participation in this lawsuit please email us quot quot Persons wishing to discuss this case or with questions regarding the rights of those affected by the lawsuit can contact Clifford W Horwitz or Richard Daughtery at Horwitz Horwitz amp Associates at http www mylawyers com or by calling 312 372 8822 quot br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle because of it s 5 star safety rating as well as cargo room and passanger room We are a family with 3 small children and needed a reliable vehicle which was safe roomy and reasonably priced Since we bought it it s spent 50 of the time in the shop Although many things were covered buy the warranty several were not We bought it used in Feburary of 1999 4 weeks after we purchased it the first engine went due to head gasket problems 2 days after we bought it the engine went once again due to poor installation 2 weeks after that the transmition went In less than 20 000 miles we ve also replaced the air conditioning the water pump the temperature guage and several gauges and sensors Which does not include regular maintenance car rentals due to constant shop time time lost from work or aggrivation Just last month the head gasket had to be replaced once again It has an oil leak which although has been brought to the attention of 3 different dealers we have been told there is nothing that they will do to fix it The transmition is leaking fluid on a quart a week basis Quite possibly the most annoying fact is that ford is offering a quot buy back quot program for the windstars currently and because they have covered most of the problems lt although not all and certainly not car rental gt we are NOT eligible for these programs NOt that I would buy another ford Ford s customer service has been unresponsive to our problems and dealer s continueally refuse to return calls Not only would I not recomend this vehicle to anyone I wouldn t recomend dealing with ford either Before we bought it we had heard nothing but good opinions and coincidentally as they all reached 50 60 ooo miles they all began having massive problems br br " Neg," Note All of the bad things I am about to say about the Ford Windstar only affect Windstars with the 3 8 litre engine This is the engine used in over 90 of Windstars even the base models but if you have one with the old underpowered 3 0 litre you should be alright My parents bought a 95 Windstar LX loaded with most options in 97 It had about 50000km on it We really liked it It was in perfect shape when we got it and we bought it from a dealership we had bought from before and they were really good to us The bad part of the story doesn t start until our last year of owning the vehicle We got an extended warranty on the van because our previous vehicle that we traded in on it a 93 Mercury Sable had quite a few problems before the warranty ran out and we didn t want to have to pay a lot of money to keep the thing running The extended warranty went to about 120000km I think For the whole warranty period we didn t have one problem with the van It ran perfect had good power was comfortable and we really liked it I can t remember us having any problems with it at that time The bad news happens later on around 145000km we got a recall notice actually an extended warranty on a defective Ford product stating that they will cover the cost of repairs to the head gasket on Ford Windstars up to a certain mileage and date not very far ahead of the current date at that time We took the van in to our local dealership not the one we bought the van at and this was a big mistake They say they checked it out and the headgasket was fine About a month later past the extended warranty date for the headgasket at 150000km my parents were driving on the freeway and all of a sudden cold air blew through the heater Then my dad noticed the temperature gauge was almost as high as it could go He immediately pulled over When he opened the hood there was antifreeze everywhere They got it towed back to the local dumbas dealership They looked at it and basically said Sorry it s not covered anymore It s gonna run you 1800 2000 to get fixed Needless to say my dad was kind of ticked off The next decision we made was a good one We called the good old dealership we bought it at who we had been unfaithful to by bring the van to the other dealer in the first place They told us they would come pick up our van from the local dealership and tow it for free out to their dealership There had been a lot of complaints to Ford and we were waiting to hear there decision on whether or not they would cover the cost Meanwhile my mom has to drive to work every day a 45 minute trip and my dad has to drive to work at a different time in the morning and a different direction Our only running vehicle at this time was the trusty old 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix still running at this time We called the dealership to see if they could do anything about this and the guy we bought the van off called Ford and seemed to really make some noise Anyways in no time at all he got Ford to pay half the cost and he decided to chip in 1 4 of the cost This left us to pay only 1 4 of the cost and we were pretty happy about this A week later we got a letter from Ford saying that they were sorry but there is nothing they could do This notice meant nothing because our dealership had already got Ford to pay half If he hadn t done that we would have been stuck with a big repair bill In the end the dealership replaced the headgasket and while the engine was out they replaced the spark plugs which did need replacing and they also replaced a belt that was worn Even with all of this the total bill came out to about 1200 which we paid 1 4 of This was much less than the estimate the a hole at the other dealership gave us The van seemed to be running fine after this and we were planning on keeping it for a while still However about a month later with about 155000km on the van mom said something weird happened a couple times when she stopped at a redlight When she stopped at a redlight and then started to go again she stepped on the gas but the engine just revved up like it was in neutral and then clunked into gear with a lurch We had a trusted transmission mechanic take it for a test drive but it didn t do anything wrong when he was driving it and it didn t most of the time when we were driving it He said he would have to take the tranny out to find out if anything was actually wrong and that s already getting into big money We decided to trade it in as soon as possible on a smaller more economical car We traded it in and it had seemed to be working alright until the day we were driving it in to pick up our new car the worst possible time it started going into neutral at stoplights a few times and when my dad pulled into the parking lot of the Dodge dealer My dad felt terrible and was really upset by ripping off the Dodge dealer but if we hadn t traded it in we would have been broke Ford puts cheap a parts in their vehicles that are known to fail and the customer ends up paying for it in the end Our Windstar gave us reliable transportation most of the time we owned it The only other problem we had was when we were in Florida the starter connections had gotten corroded and the van wouldn t start We couldn t get it started even with a boost and had it towed to a Ford dealer They claimed it was a dead battery so they would rip us off when it only needed a new 5 part Ford dealerships suck I only know of the one good one that saved us a lot of money on our blown headgasket Our Windstar was totally reliable up until about 150000km but that s when the whole friggin drivetrain gave out This is unacceptable especially considering how much it costs to get these parts replaced It s also almost impossible for most people to work on these vehicles Our 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix has never once been in a garage the whole 3 5 years we have owned it We do all the work on it ourselves and have spent about 100 in repairs the whole time we have owned it The other day I just got off a long day of work and was driving in the grand prix with the windows up and the stereo turned up and there was a windstar on my right with a Quebec license plate and he had his left turn signal on I figured he didn t know where he was going and was trying to get somewhere so I slowed down a bit to let him change lanes in front of me He didn t change lanes and I soon realized his had his 4 way flasher on not his signal light and he was going about 25km h in a 50km h zone Don t know why I thought he was turning but anyways all of a sudden I realized I could hear an extremely loud knocking coming from the Windstar engine Right away I thought of our old van and all the complaints about the Windstars that I had read I passed the van and a little ways up the road I stopped in at a car lot to casually look at cars and listen to the racket from the Windstar as it passed by I waited for it to come over the hill and I could hear it before I saw it It was the loudest most unhealthy knocking I ve ever heard from any engine That engine had to be TOAST It looked like they were just trying to make it to their destination and give up on the vehicle If it s knocking that loud you don t keep driving it unless your not worried about fixing it anyways It sounded like the engine was about to blow up right then literally It s undescribable I m a major car nut and obsessed with engines and this was kind of amusing to me to be able to listen to an engine in such bad shape I thought it was fun but I definately wouldn t tell the owner of the van that Anyways with the amount of 95 Windstars giving up the ghost out there you are bound to see something like this eventually Now that I ve told you all the bad things about the 95 Ford Windstars I ll talk about the good things about it Performance The engine had good torque and power at all speeds The transmission shifted extremely smooth most of the time that we owned it The gas mileage that we got was surprisingly good for a van with this big of an engine Handling was alright for a van and the brakes worked really good Comfort Features The front seats were really comfortable The back seats weren t great for long trips and were impossible to fall asleep in but our van didn t have the bucket seats in the back it just had 2 benches The buckets seats actually called captains chairs I guess are a lot more comfortable The air conditioning worked great with the rear air There are vents in the ceiling that work good to keep all passengers cool You can close the vents if you want The rear heater was awesome I guess it was kind of a safety hazard as it could melt a plastic bag if one was left right next to the vent on the side of the floor But it sure heated us up fast in the winter There are plenty of lights in the van all the way to the back so you can see in the dark There was 3 power outlets in the van which was handy Sometimes I plugged in my Discman to the power outlet at the middle seat so I didn t waste batteries and on our trip to Florida we plugged a portable refrigerator thingy into the very back power outlet This was really handy The factory stereo only had a tapedeck and am fm but it was decent for a factory system I also liked the design of the interior on this van It was nicely done It s hard to remember all the little features cause it was a while ago but there were lots of them and it was nice Safety Most people know that the Windstar got rated for 5 star safety rating so I guess it s pretty good for safety in a crash Not so safe to get stranded out in the middle of nowhere in the winter but at least your safe in a crash I guess Anyways as you can see I have plenty of good things to say about the Ford Windstar but I don t think they re worth it unless you re rich enough to be able to afford the repairs In that case you could probably buy something a lot nicer than the Windstar though I have heard a lot worse Windstar Horror Stories than ours since we only had the 2 major problems I bet that guy from Quebec could tell you a good story about his Windstar The newer ones have corrected some of the problems but on www cartrackers com forums and then go to the Ford Windstar page its the only vehicle that gets its own forum on here lol or go to My Lemon there still seems to be a lot of problems with the newer Ford Windstars I wouldn t recommend one " Neg," I HAVE EDITED THIS DUE TO A VERY MAJOR EXPENSE ENGINE FAILURE ON JANUARY 29 2000 PLEASE READ THE BOTTOM FOR NEW AND VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION From the time we picked up our 1995 Windstar we loved the ride But as many new vehicles are prone to this one was in the shop for tweaking a few times This was probably an omen of things to come as we have had the brakes replaced at low mileage and under warranty because Ford claimed that they did not have the proper brakes to install in the first place when the vehicle was new I still don t understand that one Also the quot Check Engine Light quot is constantly on We have had it checked out several times when the vehicle was under warranty and they have not been able to find any cause for it nor could they fix it After the warranty expired we needed to have the Windstar serviced again because of an antifreeze leak this turned out to be a recall notice item but still cost us plenty The nearly 1 000 in repair bills was due to the structure of the engine which needed to be somewhat dismantled so that the mechanics could work on the problem labor costs Oh they said that we could take the chance and not get the repair work done since it was so costly but knowing that we could have major problems if we didn t fix it what else could we do but shell out the money to Ford MY HUSBAND TOOK THE WINDSTAR IN BECAUSE OF STRANGE SOUNDS IN THE ENGINE AREA 2 WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT AT 79 000 MILES THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING THIS WILL COST US 3 000 DOLLARS THE EXTENDED 3 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS WORK WILL COST ANOTHER 1 634 00 WHEN THE DEALER WAS CALLED YESTERDAY TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK ON THE REBUILT ENGINE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE LIFTERS ARE BAD TOO THIS WILL ADD ANOTHER 200 00 TO THE COST You bet Ford will get a letter on this one AND THEN SOME I thank goodness for the communication possibilities of the internet because I did a search on quot Ford Windstar Recall Notice quot and was alarmed to find that thousands of people who have purchased the 1995 Ford Windstar are having similarly costly expenses and all seem to be pretty much the same in the nature of the repair work Although it is comforting to know that we are among a large group of people having the same wallet draining experience I believe that it is time for the rest of the quot silent majority quot to speak up If enough of us get to the point of saying quot I m not going to put up with the way we re treated by the Ford Motor Company quot we should be able to force Ford to put out a recall on the engine so that they must pay for the trash we are stuck with One last note before I end this ranting through my research of dissatisfied customers on the internet I learned that the recall notice on the head gasket problem was apparently not received by everyone If you have not received this important notice be sure to contact Ford for whatever good that will do br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle when expecting my first child We chose the Windstar because it had excellent safety ratings I like the way the minivan looks and rides I have enjoyed the car overall until the last 3 months or so I received a Recall in 98 on a certain engine part that could cause the head gasket to blow I took the van to my local dealer from which I bought the vehicle and they claimed to find no problem and therefore would not replace a part that wasn t broken The exact thing that the recall was for happened in November 99 I was informed that the recall had expired and they could do nothing for me I had the problem fixed by an independent mechanic Approximately two weeks later I received another recall on the fuel tank This time stating that it could fall off the vehicle I definitely feel that unless you are willing to deal with the recalls and repairs you should not purchase this van I do not know of the status of the newer models but I am not willing to take my chances and buy another Ford Windstar br br " Neg," And I thought quality was Job 1 HA At 40 000 miles I replaced head gaskets and had the transmission rebuilt in my 95 Windstar Ten months ago at 72 000 miles the engine was replaced This is to say nothing of brake jobs every 25 000 miles and numerous electrical problems I won t bore you with a long defense but in case you re wondering this van is not driven hard Today I learned that the head gaskets must be replaced again but that I am 4 000 miles over the 12 month 12 000 mile warranty Ford refuses to bend the rules Now they expect me to invest more than 1000 in head gaskets that may last what maybe 10 000 miles maybe 25 000 The bottom line is that they know this engine is flawed and they can t figure out how to fix it and they won t stand behind it Take my advice if anyone offers to sell or even give you one of these things run away screaming " Neg," I have 1995 Ford Windstar that now has 72000 miles on it The van is great to drive and the interior has worn well and still looks great But mechanically the poor Ford has had it I had to replace the head gaskets at 70000 miles Which was a 1200 repair This bothered me but I figured after 70000 miles it could be worse I then found out that Ford knew this was a problem with all of their 3 8 liter V6 s that year and even had a program to replace the head gasket for free if the van had 60000 miles or less I contacted my local Ford dealer and Ford s quot Quality Care quot department both said they could be of no help because I had more then 60000 miles on the van So I went ahead and had it fixed 3 weeks later while returning from a funeral out of town the van broke down and left me on the side of Interstate 81 in the middle of the night I had the van towed back home only to find out that it had broken a connecting rod and I have to replace the motor A 3500 repair My next vehicle will be an import I also have a 1987 Toyota with 149000 miles and have never done anything to it but oil tires amp brakes Maybe one day Ford will be able to build a quality product and when they let a bad motor get off the production line they should stand behind it br br " Neg," My dad had always wanted a van He had owned an LTD ford wagon a white one with blue interior It was the best vehicle we had ever had to this day He decided to try ford again He purchased a 1995 model white paint and white interior It was a good vehicle for the first few thousand miles Mind you as soon as the warranty expired the transmission failed It cost us over a thousand dollars to get it replaced and to our disdain we find that the transmission was built with a plastic gear Who in their right mind would place a plastic gear in a transmission Well a few months later the head gasket broke White smoke billowed out of the exhaust and the car overheated like mad I did everything i could do to get it home It cost us 1500 dollars to replace the head gasket It ran fine for a few days but a mysterious knocking and loss in power suddenly appeared Antifreeze from the head gasket had worked its way down to the crankshaft and corroded the bearings and because of this we had to replace to whole engine With our horrible luck a week later we got a letter in the mail recalling our model van for the head gasket And then my father had to fight ford to pay us anything Initially they offered to pay us for the head gasket itself which was only 200 Then he managed them to pay for the labor the 1500 but refused to pay for the engine which had failed due to their faulty gasket We lost 2500 because of Ford s incompetence The car ran fine for an other year until the warrantees on the engine and the transmission expired Then just our luck the transmission failed again I was driving one day and the car started jerking Then it rode ok after i put some transmission fluid in it but it wouldn t change out of second gear We had it overhauled and they couldn t believe the condition of the transmission They thought it was the original transmission and thought the van had to at least have had over 100 000 miles but their jaws dropped when we told them the transmission was less than a year old A few days after that the engine started overheating It would overheat momentarily and then suddenly it would go back to normal In the end it was the head gasket again This time they said 2500 My dad said forget it We traded it in for a Pontiac Grand Am after that which is a great car We love it Someone bought our van by the way For 2000 Didn t even get it off the lot the engine locked up on them Ford called our house shortly after we bought our new car They said it was time for our 85 000 mile checkup on our van My dad just shook his head and hung up on them br br " Neg," We purchased this van to provide adequate space for our family during travel Boy did we get more than we expected This Van has not only provided us with the space we needed but we also have so many options and luxuries Beginning with the outside of the van We bought a 95 model the paint is in immaculate condition Looks brand new two tone paint green and tan Love the combination Engine Clean runs great sounds and drives like brand new van Not bad for 5 years old Looks like this one may be worth the money Interior Excellent Spacious Comfy seating with adequate leg room Not cramped Many options inside ie lumbar in front seats adjustable seat belt height heated outside mirrors and lots of extra storage room The inside is my favorite part I just cannot believe how nice this van is My overall opinion is spend the money and purchase this van It is well worth every cent I love mine and when the time comes to retire it I will surly purchase another Ford Windstar br br " Neg," Owners of the 1995 Ford Windstar should be aware that the 3 8 liter engine is VERY PRONE to early head gasket failure and FORD will not reimburse owners if the mileage exceeds 100 000 miles FORD customer service is virtually impossible to obtain and FORD dealer service is generally below average for Windstar problem areas High failure areas on the Windstar in addition to the head gasket are the electronics sensors and rear brakes A class action lawsuit was filed against FORD Motors on behalf of 1995 Windstar owners with defective head gaskets by a Chicago law firm on December 12 1999 If you wish to join the lawsuit e mail your request to Lawyers mylawyers com Their website is mylawyers com Also notify the National Highway Transportation Safety Board at 800 424 9393 Please notify NHTSB because if enough pressure is brought to bear on Ford they may quot do the right thing quot and reimburse owners for the defective head gaskets br br " Neg," PLEASE DO NOT BUY A WINDSTAR There are LARGE NUMBERS of owners experiencing mechanical problems with the Ford s 3 8L head gasket engine including Sable Taurus etc You are welcome to read my earlier Windstar review on June 8 2000 In addition to the computer brakes and head gasket the Ford Windstar transmission is being mentioned more frequently on the Net as a problem area I bought a 1995 Windstar new and like the roominess comfort and safety rating HOWEVER the Honda Odyssey Toyota Sienna is just as safe slightly smaller more quiet inside and MUCH MORE RELIABLE Please do not take my word for it simply go to the Net and read the information yourself BEFORE buying a Windstar Start with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations consumer complaints http www nhtsa dot gov cars problems complain Others include http home att net 7Eccatanese ford Fordmanx htm and http www lemonaidcars com home htm and http home att net 7Eccatanese ford mainx htm Please read these Windstar horror stories BEFORE you purchase one Also I request that you spread the word to family and friends ASAP as to the location of these websites My Ford dealer refused to provide the name or number of the District Service Rep Next I tried the Ford Consumer Help line waste of time and totally useless since they are not empowered to offer financial assistance only the District Service Rep can do that Welcome to Ford s Catch 22 " Neg," This van is great for families who have several kids with lots of friends It is safe and comfortable but it has had MANY MAJOR reliability problems over the past years and has NOT been driven that much Seriously investigate reliability before purchasing The options you have to buy to make this a decent car power windows locks make the price uneccisarily high Overall I would not purchase this vehicle without some kind of statement guarantee additional insurance from Ford But I must say this van has tons of cargo room and seating comfort especially with the captain seating option We bought this vehicle to haul seven people around town but we have used it for schelpping ping pong tables trampolines and more " Neg," When we found out about our 3rd pregnancy we also found out that our nice Explorer had to go Why Because our 3rd pregnancy was resulting in our 3rd and 4th children yep twins We looked at several used models and finally settled on a 1995 Ford Windstar GL It had less than 30 000 miles on it and had been a rental model for the dealership so we felt fairly confident it had been serviced properly But alas this was not to be During the time we owned our Windstar it came under various recalls Each time we took it in it wouldn t be properly repaired and the recalled item would have caused more damage to the engine that would not be covered resulting in money out of our pocket It drove fairly well more like a car than a van But the steering ratio was horrid Although we were told the van was the quot largest among the minivan class quot we soon discovered this was not interior space As our kids grew the van became smaller and smaller An adult could not comfortably squeeze into the 3rd row seat at all Door latches broke power windows malfunctioned cassette player stopped working And that was in 2 years of ownership In fact our Windstar was traded in for our new Dodge Grand Caravan while in the shop for yet another repair Ford says its improved the Windstar I hope for the sake of consumers out there putting their trust in them they have As for me once bitten twice shy br br " Neg," Dear Reader I regret to inform you that Ford motor company has the worst minivans in the world I bought a 1995 Ford windstar and since 4 months after I bought it Air Conditioner problems arrive A faulty clutch in the A C didn t allow the A C to run so my engine will keep every 2 minutes going up and down in the RPM Not to mention my major overheating during a 2 mile trip to church During that trip I got so mad that I went to church and drove back home with a white smoked cloud and the temp gauge in the H At the end a head gasket problem water pump and a Catalytic Converter full of Antifreeze Coolant try to beat that one My tires lack of pressure all the time and aligment is done every 4 000 miles Fuel economy is actually called Fuel Waste 13Mpg in my Windstar The bench are 150lb each and the rear vent windows don t open anymore My plastic headlights cover turn in to a crack yellow color and the windshield washer work when it wasn t to I am waiting to finish paying for it so I could just put it in front of a railroad track and see it blow Probably with the 5star rating on accident I will need to put it two or tree times on the tracks I almost forgot my sliding door don t close completely If you look from the back you can see it slightly open I don t even mention Ford recalls letter 17 in total " Neg," I bought the 95 Ford Windstar due to our 2 year old daughter and our future children My husband and I previously owned a Dodge Caravan we loved We found the Windstar for a great price 8000 with 89 000 miles Lots of miles but looked in good condition The van was great for the first 2 months then it got crazy First trouble with the air which turned out to be the computer 500 Then it started overheating We checked the thermostat no problem On the way back from the beach we blew the head gaskets 1200 And now the transmission is acting iffy And at this point we have so much money invested in the car we can t sell so we are stuck driving it until it dies We had read Consumer Reports before we bought the van and it checked out Unfortunately we didn t wait long enough because now it s coming out that it s a lemon So buyer beware br br " Neg," I am an extremely unhappy owner of a 95 POC Windstar w 120K miles I am posting this so that potential Windstar owners know what to expect a few thousand miles down the road It was a fight to get reimbursed for my blown head gaskets back at 57K miles There is constantly something wrong with this car from electrical problems to AC problems to electrical door lock problems to chimes and warning lights always going off I religiously maintain this car following the Ford recommended maintenance to the quot T quot One month after my 120K maintenance in which they reportedly quot inspect the engine cooling system quot the POC left me stranded with a blown front cover gasket and a failed water pump The repair shop told me the warning signs should have been visible during the quot inspection quot I have performed extensive research on Windstar problems and know my situation is not isolated Both dealerships in the Charlton SC area Jones and Palmetto have lousy service departments and just give me the run around when I bring these issues up So beware potential Ford Windstar Owners Ford claims to have fixed the problem but do you want to take the chance Don t believe all the Ford Hype Our 91 Honda is running like an old reliable clock at 140K with only routine maintenance No equipment failures on the Honda and I hear the same thing from many Honda Owners br br " Neg," Having been a FORD worshipper for many years I have finally quot de sourced quot FORD as a supplier for my family cars Dating back to to the late 1980 s I had not purchased anything but FORD products From a Taurus Wagon to two Escorts and two Explorers FORD products were in my opinion the best quality cars suv s on the market Lately though I have changed my mind Yesterday I received my second recall letter in less than six months Everyone has heard of the Firestone fiasco Today s recall concerns the suspension system And over the years I have had a huge amount of trouble with the 4 wheel drive system The new FORD Focus has been out for less than a year and has had 5 recalls already What s going on Since my company is a supplier to the automotive industry I can only assume that FORD will be going steadily downhill For the past 6 or so years to boost their profits they have demanded from all suppliers a 5 per year reduction in price Their Q1 program is supposed to reduce costs such as waste and inefficiencies to allow the supplier to pass along the savings How many years in a row can you reduce your price and not cut back Could you work for 5 a year less every year Sooner or later you would need to cut back some critical area affecting your quality of life Well the same is true with suppliers you can only go so far Some suppliers have redesigned their product so they can sell a cheaper product Note My company supplies a non critical item My guess is that they are cutting corners in quality which passes the initial FORD testing but is failing in the long run The blowouts involving Firestone were mainly on original equipment tires not the aftermarket I no longer trust FORD or their products They are our worst customer I will no longer buy a FORD vehicle br br " Neg," We own a 1994 Ford Explorer with the Eddie Bauer package It s a great looking vehicle all the comforts you d want Leather seats Lumbar electronic everything The most expensive component was the A C It eventually started getting warmer and warmer and this year we took it in to be charged Well that model already used R 134 But Ford charges a fortune for it Plus that had to fix the leak where ever that was A truck that s 8 years old didn t just spring a leak They could have charged it up and it would have lasted another 8 years But instead they fixed it and the bill was 1200 Then a week later when it finally got warm enough to use the A C I tried it and the car died at 55 miles per hour I had to steer up a hill and off the road The compressor went out AFTER THE FIRST USE So back the the repair shop and 650 later we had A C for two weeks Then it quit being cold We took it back and their new compressor had gone out but I made them pay for repair Another big headache was the Four Wheel Drive I need the four wheel drive daily because I live atop a large rocky hill You push the button and the light comes on and you go up the hill Well eventually it got harder and harder to climb and then you d have to romp up it in order to get home Well after spending 450 in tires in one year I took it in the Ford dealer told me they just get old and lose their power Well I wasn t exactly convinced I jacked it up and there was no power at all I took it to a mechanic and he found the automatic hubs to be bad Well with the Explorer you have to get them from Ford no aftermarket available So for 400 a tire I got my 4WD back My last Chevy cost me 129 for a pair of hubs from Warn and I was back on the road but it cost over 900 to get the Explorer working again The vehicle has plenty of great featurs and it s comfortable but the modern technology comes at a great price as it ages " Neg," I purchased this vehicle in 1998 as it was coming off a lease The mileage was low and the body was in great condition and when I drove it there were no problems Since purchasing it though we have had quite a few problems Brakes went early and of course you all have heard about the tire recalls We also had to replace the front stabilizer bar several times This was another recall but as a second owner we didn t hear about it and had to pay for it ourselves Finally our transmission died with still low mileage on the vehicle Doing some research online I found that this problem has happened to thousands of Ford owners and that Ford is aware of the problem but is unwilling to help with costs or to even address the issue See this website for an example http www carlounge com cgi carsbbs read php f 1 i 1722 t 1411 I decided to trade my car in since the cost to repair or replace the transmission was estimated at 2000 3000 I didn t get a whole lot for it certainly not blue book value since dealers are having a hard time reselling Fords I now have a used Infiniti Qx4 that has a 7 year 100 000 full warranty Can t beat that " Neg," Before I bought my 94 Escort Pony now gone and in its place a 98 Sunfire GT I owned a 1990 Ford Escort Pony While not as refined as its successor 1991 models and later the 1990 Escort did have some good features considering the price In 1990 the Ford Escorts that were sold in America came with 2 engines a standard 1 9 liter CFI central fuel injection that produced 90 horsepower at 4 600 RPM and 106 lb ft of torque A 1 9 110 HP EFI efficient fuel injection engine is available for this year only in the Escort GT i Driving Impressions i My Escort Pony came equipped with the 90 HP CFI engine which gave this car almost adequate performance for hill climbing but was shy of having enough power in high gear to make it up hills without lugging down The 90 horsepower is reached at a fairly low RPM so off the line acceleration is not too bad but this car obviously was not made for burning rubber The 4 speed is fairly low geared I do not know the final drive ratio however it s low enough so you can hear the 1 9 liter engine straining at highway speeds The 4 speed manual also was not accommodating in town as it would sometimes decide it did not want to shift into a certain gear at any certain time Cruising on the highway besides being noisy is also bumpy and aggravating The suspension is unforgiving and lets you know when you have hit a small bump or even when passing over reflectors on the road a hard jolt can be felt Handling is inadequate Significant roll can be felt and without power steering in the pony models you better have some muscular arms Note b Many options are available on other models This review is based on a 1990 Escort Pony The 1990 Ford Escort rides on a small 94 2 wheelbase and has an overall length of 169 2 The Suspension consists of Macpherson struts up front with coil springs and the same treatment in the rear i Interior Accommodation i The interior of the Pony is plain and as basic as it gets The dashboard is downright dated and so is the rest of the interior My Pony came with no options whatsoever not even a stereo Manual windows and doors were a way of life Arm rests on the drivers doors were of cheap plastic but had fallen off after a few years of ownership The drivers seat was not comfortable and offered minimum support the same can be said for the rest of the seats in this car There is adequate room up front for small adults but even the front is cramped the rear was apparently made for children only My Escort Pony was a 2 door coupe so getting people in and out of this small car was a real pain especially since the passenger seats would not fold forward all the way Vision is limited With the claustrophobic feeling cabin and limited visibility driving this car was no picnic Exterior Innovation i The exterior matches the interior perfectly they are both plain boxy and offer a dated design This car isn t going to turn any heads except those who have joined the Ford Escort following cult The Escort which was given a face lift in 1988 does look a tad more sophisticated than its predecessor but still lacks modern styling Even back in 1990 this car was looked at as a dated design In late 1990 as a 91 model the Escort got a major face lift and interior engine changes which made its successor much more desirable NOTE b The 1990 Escort is offered in either a 2 door hatchback or 4 door hatchback Price Reliability An Escort Pony in 1990 with no options would run you around 6 000 dollars and 9 000 dollars for models like the LX Today with poor resale almost all models of the 1990 Ford Escort can be had for less than 2 000 I have seen them in papers for as low as 500 00 with claims like runs great As for reliability My Pony was a real nightmare Problems included worn Cv joints torn boots Tears in the pleather trimmed doors shifting problems a multitude of interior Leaks oil leaks hatch struts went out faulty gauges overheating drivers window would not roll up all the way and rust was found in the fuel lines All this by the way happened in less than 2 years of ownership The car had less than 110 000 miles on it i Final Thoughts i A cheap car at a cheap price The Pony is only recommended as a last resort and if you can get a extremely good deal on one if not the 1990 Escort should be avoided Happy Car Shopping " Neg," A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME FIRST b I have read many reviews on automobiles from aesthetic interior power warranty options etc points of view I believe an important but always neglected area though is from a steering and suspension system point of view and let me tell you most people are missing a very important part of researching a prospective major purchase by not being well enough informed in this area You can find some very well engineered and built suspensions these days but all the same some very weak and suspect ones in my experience and my purpose is to help you make a more informed decision After reading my reviews read some on other aspects of the car you re looking for from the experts here at epinions and make your choice b NOW ON TO THE ESCORT b This is about the older Ford Escort the whole car including the steering and suspension system got a total re design for the 1991 model year It was then that the car was based on the Mazda 323 when Ford and Mazda had somewhat of a merger so this opinion is for the pre 1991 models Having the constitution of the United States on my side is a very good thing because there is not one redeeming quality about the suspension of the Escort and if they could the Ford Motor Company and it s engineers would sue me for writing this First off nothing is greasable on the Escort and the tie rods both inner and outer wear out at a rapid rate as do the lower ball joints The design of the suspension is such that there is quite an angle from where the inner tie rods screw onto the steering rack down to the steering knuckle and this angle dictates that there will be a small contact area where the ball on the rack end of the inner tie rod contacts the bearing surface The smaller the area the faster it will wear that s just basic physics And that is exactly what happens If the engineers designed it where the inner tie rods were more horizontally mounted there would be more surface area contacted and it would not wear as rapidly But now it s too late they are committed to mass production Even when you replace the factory unit with an after market part the name s still the same rapid wear The lower ball joints are another sore spot Not greasable and prone to rapid wear The ball joints on this car are integrated into the complete control arm so when the ball joint portion wears you have to replace the complete lower control arm This includes both the bushing on the strut rod and the inner pivot bushing This could really be a good thing though because you will get new bushings when you replace the ball joint but if you don t need bushings you have no choice and at over 125 00 each retail it is an expensive repair to replace both sides There are many problems with other portions of the suspension on the Escort too like strut mounts and bearings but suffice it to say I am not at all recommending any of you to consider a used older Escort it just isn t worth it Even if you got one really cheap and got all of the front end parts replaced with lifetime warranty after market parts they will wear out due to extreme angles of operation And even though the parts would be covered with proof of purchase and receipt from the garage you got it done at the labor would have to be covered by you and the hassle of another trip to the garage and being without your vehicle is enough to shy you away from one The newer style Escort s are a completely different story They are basically like mentioned above Mazda 323 s and are miles apart from the older models in quality The only real problem with the re designed Escorts are the outer tie rod ends like the older ones are not greasable and will wear out rapidly If you are considering an Escort from 1991 and newer it is a much wiser and acceptable decision and you should be pleased with this model br br " Neg," Thankfully I do not own this car because if I did I would curse myself everyday for making such a terrible decision much as my boyfriend does He bought this car nearly two years ago I told him then not to buy it and I still tell him now what a terrible deal it really was I have had the misfortune perhaps fortune since I will never have to deal with such an experience from this particular car of being present and experiencing every single one of this cars downfalls since the day he bought it Sometimes I even have to drive it myself when I am nice enough to let him borrow my wonderful Honda Civic For starters this car looks horrible form the outside I have never been able to get over where the side view mirrors are placed it looks absolutely ridiculous to have them sticking out right in the middle of the front door rather than at the front like most cars It is also very boxy in shape and is very high off the ground The inside is not much better there is hardly any interior room and as unimportant as it is the controls are tacky and poorly placed This car has cost my boyfriend almost as much as he paid for it in repairs and there is seriously always something wrong with it things he can t afford to fix He has to replace the transmission the struts are crap and he severely needs new ones it is so bad that you get a headache from all the bumps and vibrations There were serious problems with the steering when he first got it that needed to be fixed immediately it had alternator problems and the list goes on there have been so many repairs it s hard to keep track Many repairs can be expected with a used car but this is ridiculous However the biggest problem with the car is not all the maintenance it needed and still needs although that certainly doesn t help it is how terribly this car handles The shifting is terrible and even though this car needs a new transmission we were told that is always will shift poorly It accelerates slowly and seemingly has no power Perhaps the only good thing about this car is the fact that it is reasonable on gas not great but not horrible either I definitely would not recommend this car it is known as a lemon among most people If however you do decide to purchase an escort I would seriously recommend getting it looked at by a mechanic to assess the cost of repairs before you buy it So far you re probably thinking I m unreasonable in my assessment but consider this the car only had 46000 miles on it when he bought it " Neg," Well I don t exactly own this car but I have driven in it plenty of times over the last few years It is my neighbor s car and we used to go many places in it until I got my Corsica This review is on a 90 Escort LX 2 door HB THINGS THAT WENT WRONG This vehicle has only 98 000 miles on it but yet is breaks like it has 198 000 miles on it This car needs one significant repair at least once every two months Sometimes more From what I can remember these things went wrong Both door armrests and handles inside have fallen off The ignition system needed replaced radio died A C died the headlights broke electrical and cost well over 200 to fix washer fluid pump oil leaked and needed fixed water pump died map lights stayed on and would not turn off which drained the battery clock won t work right engine had some problems auto trans is going to go bye bye soon brakes wear out fast and there have been many more problems that I don t want to bore you with Now back to the review Interior exterior The exterior is nothing special however the back end is quite nice looking The wheel caps are nice too The front end looks big and old with the large 80 s volvo like headlights The interior is small and very cramped The back seat cushion is tilted funny which makes it uncomfy There is little leg room in all four seats The rear two seats have a lap belt with a separate shoulder harness They each have their own buckle There are coin holders below the shift lever and in the locking glove box They add a nice touch You have to be small to drive this car Tilt wheel What tilt wheel This car doesn t have one To me a tilt wheel is a MUST The seats are high off the floor and the lower cushions are thick The sun visors are very nice and have a covered mirror with lights This is a plus Under the hood Under the hood of the LX you will find a weak 1 9L four Cyl engine The brake oil washer fluid and coolant fluids are easy to fill and find The transmission and the power steering dipsticks are NOT EVEN LABELED She had to go to Sears and ask a worker which was which There is a light under there so you can see at night Please be sure to be VERY careful when buying this car If you aren t rich then DON T buy it FYI My neighbor bought a brand new 1994 Escort and sold it within a year because it was ALWAYS in the shop John9740a s own ratings 1 low 2 3 4 5 high Power 2 front seats 3 back seat 1 trunk 2 brakes 2 reliability 1 room space 2 overall 2 5 but due to reliability I have to give it only sad stars " Neg," The Product The 1990 Escort LX the sporty version is a four door with hatchback model that I have owned for the last year 1 2 I have driven approximately 2000 miles on it This is due solely to the fact that there are parts missing from the transmission I believe this is due to somewhat poor maintenance on the part of the previous owners and second due to that the transaxle on this model down to the LX is considered crap Try auctioning for a 90 escort on ebay If they list the cars faults it ll be busted transaxle on there for sure The Experience I may be the only person alive that was excited to get an escort I paid for it all by myself cash We were aware it had a slow shift but had no idea how long it was going to be before the car was a goner I ll tell you the exact expiration date June 25th 2000 I was driving along on Kingston Pike in Knoxville TN when I heard a fire engine I glanced in my rearview mirror and the guy in front of me who I left well over two car lengths between STOPS with SUCH SPEED must be nice to have anti lock brakes a feature my escort didn t have that I SLAM on my brakes and my brakes lock and I smash into him We patched up the car We named her doo wop as she had never bebopped in her entire 10year career as an automobile The car started having more trouble after we patched her up The transmission fluid tube that runs from the resevior to the transaxle came off on the interstate and I had to exit with my lurching car to the nearest service station The muffler fell off I bet it would have worked better if it were younger " Neg," This was the worst car I have ever owned Literally as the odometer rolled past 80 000 The fuel pump tranmission distributor cap spark plug wires CV axles both all went out Sure you are thinking this idiot never even changed the oil WRONG I know the importance of routine maintenance This car couldn t hold up to regualr weart and tear this must be why the Odometer has only 5 dgits on it it won t make it to six I know the car was never intended to be built like a tank that s why it costs as little as it does however everything is made of cheap plastic lacking any quality and value to the owner Also if you are even near 6 feet tall you will not fit in this car front or back seat " Neg," I bought this 1991 Ford Van to fit my family of 6 into I loved it at first Then things began to go wrong I have owned it for 6 months and in that time the starter the wiper motor and heater have gone out I am also experiencing some larger engine troubles but I realize that mine was probably the product of someone before me not taking very great care of it Besides the obvious mechanical problems nearly every screw has backed out and everything wiggles and giggles and rattles You tighten it it loosens There is also a stationary seatbelt in the middle seat which has injured several people getting into the van When I replaced the wiper motor I noticed the one I took out was a refurbed one which meant this was the third possible wiper motor on this car Otherwise it has been great it totes the whole lot of us around safely It does magnificent in the snow Is very roomy The back seat is a little awkward to get into It is very easy to drive and seems to be pretty powerful Gets decent mileage around 22 miles a gallon It has never left me on the side of the road And it has tons of space to take everything that everyone wants to bring " Neg," I own a Ford Ranger It is a love hate relationship This truck has never failed to start On the other hand I have had myriad mechanical difficulties with it Small things like wires fuses and that damn check engine light that comes on at 50 000 miles even if theres nothing wrong Also it gets pretty awful gas mileage But it wasn t overly expensive for a truck and it s great being able to haul any kind of stuff Overall I would say that I do not regret buying and owning it but it has provided me with a few headaches Just remember if you get one that if your check engine light comes on at 50 000 miles you may not need to pay for pricy repairs br br " Neg," Why do I dislike the Ford Ranger I purchased a 1998 Ford Ranger Super Cab Things were great until I reached 37800 miles 2800 miles over the warranty My Master Air Flow Valve went My Driver side seat started falling apart My Door Ajar light stays on My Air Bag light on the dash board stays on Well the Master air flow valve cost me 495 00 I am still fighting about the rest When I asked the dealership about the Air flow problem they told me that this should not have gone When I contacted Ford s Customer service all I received was 10 promises that either the dealerships manager would call or the Regional Ford Sales manager would call Well that was in November of 99 and still no call Trust me DO NOT PURCHASE A FORD In my eyes they are not worth the problems I am looking for a manufacture who stands behind there product Perhaps a Toyota Again please use extreme caution when buying from Ford Quality is not JOB 1 at ford Sincerely " Neg," This car is great the first couple of times you drive it but then the buyers remorse kicks in I have owned this car for over 1 year First the good things This car is fast and has good power throughout the power band I really like the nine inch wide tires and supercharger and the car drives great on the highway Now the bad things Too many to list but I will try Really cheap carpeting no floor mats either Aweful interior Very cheap 1980s look and build quality Leather quality is poor Post antenna is an eyesore Engine is very noisy Very audible engine ticking and clanking Transmission gear noise Thumping sounds when shifting Shifter is rubbery and hard to find 3rd gear A good seating position relative to the shifter and steering is impossible to find Body panels do not line up at all Seating is below aceptable Lots of body roll When you drive it it feels like it is going to tip over but it does manage turns good regardless Traction control doesn t work well stalls out the car and causes wheel hop Very antiquated headlamp technology Have to bolt a license plate frame onto front since bumper doesn t have it built in Exhaust note does not sound aggressive enough Rubber instead of polyurethane in much of the suspension Manual hood prop Plus the premium SVT service you are supposed to get when you buy a Cobra is nonsense I don t get any better service than someone who bought a Taurus Ford still has not issued a recall on the ticking engines even though they know about the defect My first and last Ford " Neg," My husband purchased a 1992 Ford Probe used in 1997 It already had 100 000 miles on it Unfortunately my husband was blinded by the sporty car that he could actually afford He was just starting his career at that time There were problems from the start of his even considering this car On the lot there was a newer model Ford Probe with less miles Obviously it cost more Well my husband really liked this car The salesman got him really interested in that car and offered for him to drive it off the lot on Saturday night and come back Monday to work out specifics Thankfully my husband did not take up that offer I should also mention my husband was in a hurry to get a car because his car had been stolen When he returned to the dealership the following Monday the same salesman told him that he couldn t afford the newer Probe and had no memory of even offering it Since my husband had gotten his heart set on this car he settled for the older Probe He got a pretty decent loan from Ford Credit Company and was paying about 200 month He paid the blue book value for the car Within 2 months things were going wrong Within 5 months it became obvious that the previous owner had quot worked quot on the car creating several problems Besides the regular payment the Probe was costing about 1000 in repairs every 3 months That s a lot of money Even though the car was sold qualifying under the lemon law by the time there was enough problems to take action the dealership was under new management and they supposedly could not do anything Ford was contacted but by the time they responded the dealership had dissolved The final straw came when the drivers side window broke It wouldn t roll up all the way The estimated cost to repair it was over 500 Immediately we started looking for another car We pawned it off on an unsuspecting Saturn dealership in Tucson who over valued the car They told us they would auction it off for parts so we didn t feel so bad We were never happier to get rid of a car We cannot recommend a Ford Probe to anybody especially because the Probe model has been discontinued and you can only purchase it used at this time Our treatment from Ford was also very poor We won t be buying any Ford cars in the future Please see my response to the quot excuses quot of why the problems of this car should have been expected in the comments section br br " Neg," Well where to begin I purchased the 95 Ford Aspire in 1999 It was a great deal I paid 4000 bucks for it and it only had 24 000 miles on it It was my first car so of course I was in love with it That changed as the years went by First of all the Ford Aspire is one of the Ugliest cars you will ever see It got to the point that I was embarrassed driving it Don t even try to put a spoiler on it that makes it worse Also my car was red when I bought it and orange 4 years later even with a fresh wax job it still looked orange That s the outside of the car The inside isn t much better The fabric they used to make the seats was ripping when I purchased it if that tells you anything WOW and it was so ugly So if you like getting teased for the appearance of your car this is the car for you My dad thought it would work well for either a go cart or a golf cart and one time when the aspire was broken down my father thought he could just go pick it up and put it in his trunk instead of spending the money to have it towed Another downfall was the fact that the car didn t come equipped with ANYTHING well except wheels The 95 Aspire does not have Power Steering This is horrible especially if you are used to having it I eventually got sort of used to it as my arm muscle started getting stronger Parking is almost impossible in tight spots unless you are HEE MAN The 95 Aspire also does not have rear defrost this is nasty especially if you live in Minnesota like I did I felt like I was scrapping the inside of my windows more than the outside Some other features that the 95 aspire does NOT have are cd tape player cruise and air conditioning As my car started getting older I felt like there was always something wrong with it I think I had oil leaks about 50 times the brakes had to be fixed often and the saddest of all was the time I hit a pot hole and the front wheel axle literally broke in half I put more money into the car than I paid for it originally So needless to say when I got in an accident with it 7 months ago I was relieved to see it totaled How embarrassing to get in an accident and have little orange pieces of plastic scattered around not to mention the styrofoam that was revealed underneath R I P Ford Aspire " Neg," I currently own an Aspire and there are some good things about it and some bad things about it One of the great things about this car is the mileage I can fill it up and it will go forever However this car really does not handle well One gust of wind and I am blown all over the road I recently had a blow out going about 55 mph on the highway The driving conditions were ideal but I my car was thrown into the side railing of a bridge and the damage accrued from this simple blow out is going to be about 2000 dollars This estimate is the average from 3 body shops When the blow out of my tire occurred I really did not realize how much damage the little bang had done until I tried to change the damaged tire These cars are not made well I would not call them safe cars because of the amount of damage I sustained from such a seemingly simple fender bender " Neg," Ford Motor Company makes many vehicles in all sorts of sizes to accommodate the needs of its customers Some are large and heavy and drain the gasoline faster than a reservoir following a dam burst Others are more economical and can really help stretch your fuel dollars to the fullest One vehicle that fits into the latter category is the 2003 Ford Focus a smaller vehicle designed with economy in mind Features Options b Ford Focus comes in several different body styles Hatchback Sedan and wagon This review will center on the sedan style With the sedan you can choose among three different trim levels LX SE and ZTS These three trim levels are arranged in order of price and overall luxury with the LX being the most basic the ZTS the most luxurious and the SE falling somewhere in the middle of the two Each of these three trim levels seats five and comes with a standard option package that includes most of the usual bells and whistles that one expects nowadays tilt steering wheel automatic transmission manual is an option front air bags power windows and locks 3 year 36 000 mile warranty CD player etc There are also a few unique options that are standard with the Focus like child safety locks along with optional features like leather heated seats heated mirrors and Audiophile Sound System Fuel economy is very good with this model from Ford The LX and SE models both have mileage ratings of 27 36 The ZTS rates slightly lower with 26 34 This is due to the somewhat larger more powerful engine in the ZTS a 2 0 liter Zetec engine with 130 horsepower The other two models have an SPI engine with only 110 horsepower All three models are available only with 4 cylinder engines b Price b Ford Focus will appeal to many people for one simple reason the low price The invoice price on the three models is approx 12 400 for the LX 13 900 for the SE and 14 700 for the ZTS Adding options will of course increase the price by a couple thousand or more But the overall cost is still low when compared to the average vehicle Final Thoughts b The 2003 Ford Focus Sedan is a simple vehicle with a few nice features combined with some real annoyances Let s talk first about the good points Besides the low price this vehicle does offer a reliable responsive steering system that makes turning a breeze Braking is quick and reliable and there is very little vibration or noise even at high speeds The price is low too and the smaller engine equates to greater fuel efficiency Cargo space is also very good with the Ford Focus The trunk contains about 13 8 cubic feet of usable storage area and this can be increased with the fold down rear seats The large trunk was one of the first things that caught my attention when I first examined this vehicle I m always looking for additional storage space and a large trunk is an important consideration when I m judging the merits of a car Now let s talk about the negative aspects of the 2003 Ford Focus Sedan First of all I got really annoyed with the seat belt beeper This is a safety reminder that is becoming more and more common in newer models of cars It beeps at you until the driver gives in and fastens the seat belt Seat belts are a good idea of course but it gets really irritating listening to that beep Another annoying sound is the turn signals They make this awful tic toc sound similar to what you hear with a wind up clock I didn t think the comfort was all that good in this vehicle either From the driver s seat I felt a little bit tight even after adjusting the seat backward I felt like I was too close to the wheel This vehicle cannot be recommended for very tall people I can t imagine how an individual over say 6 6 could fit themselves comfortably into this small space Probably the greatest strike against Ford Focus however is the weak acceleration The 110 horsepower engine in the LX and SE trim levels operates with a single overhead cam and two valves per cylinder This provides enough power for easy driving in the city but once it comes time to accelerate quickly the Focus has a difficult time gaining ground This is especially true when the air conditioner is running I often found that to pick up sufficient speed when entering the ramp of an interstate highway I was forced to temporarily turn the a c off I m afraid that 110 horsepower just doesn t cut it when it comes to quick get up and go The ZTS trim has a little more power 130 horsepower but not by much I didn t drive the ZTS but I doubt that the additional power of 20 horses would make a significant difference Of the three sedan trim levels the ZTS is a little more sporty and it offers the most options But the Focus overall is not a very fun vehicle I have read many reviews of the Ford Focus that try to hype it up and make it sound like a enjoyable car for young people but I fail to see their point It might free up some cash flow because the price is so low to spend on other things but the fun with Ford Focus ends right there My bottom line on this vehicle is that it s a very basic simple practical car for money conscious consumers With an invoice price range from 12 400 to 14 700 14 500 to 18 750 retail the 2003 Ford Focus Sedan will likely remain a popular choice for millions of Americans who are sick and tired of flushing so many dollars down the drain to make a car payment and to pay for fuel For myself I will stick with the more enjoyable vehicles that cost a little more and guzzle a little more gas They might cause a greater feeling of lightness in my wallet but they are also more in tune with what I want in a vehicle and what I am willing to pay for The 2003 Ford Focus Sedan is inexpensive but it fails to excite or even to satisfy Unless your funds are tight I recommend focusing on something a little more enjoyable " Neg," I recently had to rent a car to carry a bit more stuff than I could get on the back of my bike Harper Rental in Hilo Hawai i assigned me a 2003 Ford Focus sedan with 8 365 miles on it When I rode over to pick it up and first saw the car I thought Gee That s kinda pretty I won t mind driving that around Well it was nice in the PARKING LOT I was very grateful for the nice water tight windows and the heater air con But once I had loaded my amp a Fender Accoustisonic Jr not terribly big or heavy a couple of small drums other percussion and my costumes I had to pretty much floor the gutless wonder to make the speed limit going up the Volcano Highway This made me think it would probably be a lousy family car unless you just tool around town and use it for grocery runs so it doesn t have to work very hard Mashing the accelerator to stay with traffic sucked the gas down so I lost any fuel savings associated with such a lightweight car Acceleration was sluggish so I was unable to pass any of the heavy equipment or horse trailers which were averaging about 50 mph This made me really wonder what it would have been like with four adults sitting in it No idea what kind of engine was in it but whatever it was the exercise wheel could have used an extra mouse or even an upgrade to a mouse or a gerbil Perhaps adding a rubber band auxiliary engine would have helped Hmmmmmm Guess I wasn t at all impressed with the powerplant Handling was pretty decent though On the return home making the downhill run the car had no problems staying with traffic and handled quite well Nice and tight steering excellent cornering capability comfy seating At 5 3 tall when I stand up reeeeeaaaaalllly straight I found the leg and head room to be fine I did bump my head once when I was squirming around trying to adjust the seat so my 6 Sweetheart may not have been as comfy While the trunk CAPACITY was excellent I found the high lip on the trunk painfully inconvenient Lifting all of my gear that high was very hard on my back and shoulders I almost couldn t get the heavier stuff into the trunk and getting it back out was worse I did like how far forward the load can sit so the tail doesn t overload and lighten the front end " Neg," MY EXPERIENCE I test drove a 2003 Focus LX sedan at a local dealership My test drive lasted about half an hour and consisted of winding secondary roads and the freeway PERFORMANCE The Focus has many strengths but straight line stomping is not among them The engine in the LX model that I drove was among the weakest in the budget sedan brigade putting out just 110 horsepower Although acceleration felt adequate around town the Focus felt decidedly flat footed on freeway on ramps even when I wasn t pushing it When I floored the throttle for maximum acceleration the sensation was akin to driving through deep sand and the engine wasn t very quiet about it either Most car magazines have quoted the LX s 0 60 times around 11 seconds which isn t awful but places it among the slowest brand new cars To be fair this relative lethargy is less pronounced in other Focus trims that aren t all that much more expensive For example the SE gets a 130 horsepower engine along with a CD player and other useful niceties for a little over 1 500 more That trims the 0 60 time down to a more reasonable 9 5 seconds or so and although I haven t driven a Focus with this engine it s likely to add a measure of confidence in freeway merging that the LX model was short on TRANSMISSION CLUTCH The Focus transmission shifted well enough but lacked a precise mechanical feel that would have made it fun The shifter finds the gears accurately I never missed a shift but it has long throws and its action feels mushy Similarly the clutch engaged very smoothly making it nearly impossible to jerk the car during gearchanges but it had a long throw and engaged way up at the top of the pedal travel which made for lots of left leg aerobics when driving around town STEERING HANDLING The Focus fares much better in this area Its road manners have a distinctly European feel to them which comes as no surprise when you consider that the Focus was designed in part by Ford of England with the European market in mind Its steering was firmly weighted and responded quickly with a solid decisive feel that inspired great confidence on twisting roads There was also an unusual amount of road feel coursing through the wheelrim an unusual quality in a low priced car and one that allowed me to intuitively judge how much grip was left when I was driving hard on a twisty road The steering feels just a touch squirmy on center but is otherwise second only to the Mazda3 s for feel and precision The Focus s soft suspension allowed quite a lot of body lean in hard turns which was unsettling at first but once I learned to trust the Focus s chassis I found it a capable handler with plenty of grip in reserve on winding roads Two thumbs up for European driving priorities and their positive effect on the Focus s excellent dynamic qualities RIDE Another impressive quality of the Focus is how well it rides Usually agile handling cars make some noticeable sacrifice in ride comfort due to their stiff suspensions but not the Focus Its ride is quite soft and absorbent soaking up bumps and ruts quietly and without harshness Damping is a bit on the soft side meaning that the car bobbles over dips and humps in the road but most of the time it simply swallows the bumps without disturbing passengers As mentioned before the engine isn t all that quiet but road and wind noise are pleasantly muted INTERIOR The Focus s interior isn t perfect but it competes very well with the best in class There was a surprising amount of room inside both front and rear and space was especially generous overhead it felt like I could have worn a ten gallon hat while seated if I was for some reason possessed to do so All the Focus s controls were easy to see and use and while they didn t operate with the well oiled silkiness of the Corolla s or Civic s controls they were easily superior to the crackly switchgear in other domestic alternatives like the Chevy Cavalier and Dodge Neon There has been a good deal of griping about the Focus s front seats in the automotive press but I found them plenty comfortable during my test drive And while the high upright driving position wasn t to my liking I can imagine many buyers would love the commanding minivan like view of the road it provides There were only two notable caveats in the Focus s cabin One was the materials which were predominantly cheap hard plastic detracting from the sense of quality The other was the distracting styling of the dashboard where numerous slashing curves and unusual angles competed with the road for my attention during my test drive PRACTICALITY I ve already mentioned the expansive interior but it s worth mentioning again as it adds a considerable measure of practicality to the Focus from the inside it feels like a much bigger car The trunk is also quite spacious for a small car and a standard split folding rear seat makes it all the more flexible For further utility buyers can choose from a five door hatchback style the ZX5 or a conventional station wagon While I haven t driven either of these models their behavior should be identical to that of the sedans while adding a measure of cargo hauling ability and uniqueness RELIABILITY Ah here s the rub The Focus is quite a good little car but according to Consumer Reports its reliability is Much Worse Than Average a fairly scathing criticism And while this is purely anecdotal evidence and far from conclusive one of my friends who bought a Focus recently would certainly agree with CR s findings his water pump broke twice in one week stranding him out of town for days OVERALL So frustrating I really liked this car in nearly every respect and yet I can t give it my recommendation Although it s a fresh modern design and its road manners are fun and engaging its very poor repair record was more than enough to temper my enthusiasm and I simply can t give the Focus the nod with a clear conscience As good as this car is there are others like the Civic and Corolla that drive just as nicely and aren t nearly as likely to give you problems A new car should give its driver total peace of mind and that s something the Focus may not be able to deliver " Neg," I own a 2000 Eddie Bauer Explorer The car is nice has all the whistles and bells that someone could want and it rides decently But within the first year of ownership I have had numerous little problems that have turned out to be major inconveniences The rear windshield wiper would not work properly The door locks didn t work Warning lights come on for no reason and the dealer has to this day been unable to find the cause What s worse is dealing with Ford and their dealers Oh they do an absolutely great job with customer service always promising that they will do whatever they can apologizing for all the frustration etc In fact I would say they have the best trained customer service departments I have seen anywhere However its one thing to be nice and say all the right things on the phone but its another thing to be able to actually resolve the problem Their cars have so many little things that go wrong and its surprising how ineffective they are in fixing them I would estimate that in the first year of ownership I have actually only had the car 10 months It has been in the shop for at least 2 months of ownership Little stuff big stuff it doesn t matter This car has the problems " Neg," 1995 E 150 Econoline conversion by d Elegant 300 I 6 E4OD 3 55 1 aftermarket interior and exterior 7000 GVWR aftermarket rear heat and a c Background I have owned and driven Ford vans since I was 16 years old I started out with a 1970 E 200 with 240 cid I 6 I have owned Ford vans with almost every engine available in them I have used Ford vans for solo commuting recreation hauling band members and band equipment hauling merchandise for distribution hauling freight in the quot Just In Time quot expedited freight business hauling students and now pulling my 25 travel trailer Currently I own a 94 E 350 Clubwagon Chateau 460 V 8 E4OD 4 09 1 differential Formerly the topic of this review I owned a 95 E 150 Econoline conversion van conversion by d Elegant The front suspension on this van was bad from the day I bought it with 43 000 miles It was back at the selling Ford dealer about 5 times within the first month and then other Ford dealers and alignment shops thereafter The last alignment that I had done was at a reputable truck spring shop They told me that the front coil springs were almost worn out Because of the aged springs they had to change the bushings on the ball joints to the maximum angle to align the van They stated the condition of the springs and bushings on their invoice and stated that the next time it is aligned it will need to have the front coil springs replaced before they will align it I know that this shop is reliable and trustworthy but what about the selling Ford dealer I had the salesman write in the sales agreement that the van would be properly aligned BEFORE I took possession of it Well I found out that it was never on an alignment rack before I took possession of it After the sale the service department at McCandless Ford in Mercer PA gave me nothing but lip service about aligning it They even sent me out on the road with the technician so that I could approve the work Well it felt good on the 2 lane road that we drove it on but it pulled when I drove it home on the interstate That is when I made the appointment at the spring shop to take a look at it I think that Ford had a problem with the E 150 chassis in 95 and nobody told me about it The 300 I 6 engine was very economical I normally got 18 20 mpg hwy but it dropped drastically to 10 mpg pulling the trailer A quiet engine good torque but no power to pull our 25 travel trailer up hills and keep up our speed There was no room for acceleration when pulling the trailer The E4OD transmission didn t do to much hunting However I stopped the hunting by locking out OD when it would downshift the first time I would then ride out the hill in 3rd or 2nd The 3 55 1 differential gave me no problems The conversion company is d Elegant The short comings that I found with the d Elegant conversion is the bay windows by Creation seating by Dygert sub of Flexsteel now and the aftermarket rear heat and A C I experienced the wind whistling in one of my bay windows I found the rear chairs to have seats as hard as rocks and I found the after market air to be really weak as far as the blower and the freon There is more to a vehicle than a pretty looking interior and exterior paint job This E 150 had a tow rating of 5000 and I bought a travel trailer with a 4900 GVWR The 300 I 6 in stock condition would pull the trailer well if my speed was under highway speed However on the highway I could not ever maintain the speed limit if I were pulling any degree of upward grade In fact I was often locked out of OD to pull grades and even sometimes in 2nd gear to pull big hills While the E 150 was good for economy it was not a good camper toter I would recommend the drive train to anyone wanting a dependable truck engine who is going to use it at lower speeds I would not recommend it to anybody who is doing alot of highway travelling I would not recommend any conversion van to anybody because the parts that the converters use I replaced this 95 E 150 with a 94 E 350 In the deal I got OEM quad seats 6 way power driver s seat with lumbar support OEM rear heat and air OEM windows heavier front coil springs heavier tires heavier rear suspension I am very pleased with my trade br br " Neg," The Ford Econoline van was not only a mechanics worst nightmare but also the owners This van had numerous problems including severe break problems and an overall rough ride from light suspension The brakes had to be replaced at least every four months and the suspension seamed to always quot bottom out quot and not provide enough suspension for even the regular trip around town Sure this van was nice for carrying people and cargo but mechanical problems put this van on the bottom of my list So if your looking for a van out there I believe that you should shop around some more and definatly not look in to the Ford Econoline van unless your up for a rough ride and spending money on brakes every four months I really do not recommend this van to anyone The ride was horrible it got about ten miles to the gallon on gas and used up your money in many other ways br br " Neg," My 1996 Probe SE was a gift to me and the buyer got a great deal on it at least that s what I thought at first Appearance The Probe is a great looking car Some say it looks like an artificial sports car but with the sleek styling and flip up headlights it s got a very sporty look It even had a small rear spoiler which added to the sportiness The shape of the Probe makes its length a little longer than I tend to like It s difficult to park the car a lot of the time The strangest thing about the Probe are the windows There is no frame around the windows and the doors are sealed with a rubber molding around the door frame The problem with this is that it makes it noisy outside wind is easily heard and easy to break into All it takes is prying the window slightly and then using a wire hanger to unlock the door My car was broken into and cleaned out much to my dismay The interior looks great and the seats are similar to the bucket seats you see in many sports cars The material and workmanship of the interior seems top notch The rear seats are not roomy and passengers in the back seat will often bump their heads on the rear window b Features My Probe SE had some great features including excellent A C great pick up and handling and a decent sound system It is versatile for a sports car since it is a hatchback It allows you to fit a lot of things inside although the sporty styling means less vertical space for transport Ride The car is a front wheel drive and handles very well in the winter It accelerates quickly and handles very responsively At times the ride can be a little rough especially when going over bumps and potholes but overall it handles like a dream The automatic transmission makes for quick starts and the shifting has a sporty feel The RPMs will run high then quickly shift to give the quickest acceleration Despite the fast acceleration it gets great gas mileage I usually got 30 or more miles per gallon on the highway My chief complaint about the ride is the noise As mentioned before the windows are sealed with rubber molding but no frame This means that wind noise can be heard through the window and rain can easily leak in Sometimes in fact the window would roll down on its own The engine also rattles and squeaks a lot b Reliability Here is the Probe s weakest point reliability About two days after I got the Probe the engine stalled while I was in Chicago traffic It started again but then after I stopped for gas I couldn t get it started After having it towed I found out it was a bad connection between the battery and the engine and cost 30 to fix Little did I know that repairs were going to be much much more expensive later on During the two years I owned the car I had to replace the oxygen sensors twice 700 each time this happened I had to replace the catalytic converter 800 with installation and have minor work on the transmission about 350 After I had given up a few limbs to pay for repairs and had complete preventative maintenance done on it I figured it would run for a while with no problems In 4 months the check engine light went on for the 3rd time I was told that the car needed a new catalytic converter just replaced a year before new oxygen sensors just replaced 4 months before and electrical work all which would add up to 1800 In the end I decided to donate the car to charity and bought myself another car The gift would have cost me almost as much as the original amount paid This car is great for people that don t mind frequent repairs or those who are car enthusiasts who can do their own repair work It looks cool and it s so much fun to drive Even the automatic has power galore " Neg," I purchased a 1996 Ford Probe in May of 1997 It was brand new with only 15 miles on it when we got it Very clean very sporty It was my first new car purchase ever I thought I had the perfect car WRONG After only a month the A C went out And in Texas summers an A C is a given We took it in and discovered that our dealer wouldn t give us a loaner even though it was only a month old Eventually I got one anyway The fixed the problem and we were on our way A month went by and the same thing happened again Again we got it fixed This continued to happen at least 4 times over the next year or so On top of the A C problems the brakes wore out after 25 000 miles The tires were shot around 30 000 miles The seats tore up And the gas mileage was so so When you drive down the rode it seems as if you are in a wind tunnel or something And when it rained outside it usually rained in on us Needless to say after about 60 000 miles we traded it in just as the transmission was fixing to go out on it By the way to get a transmission fixed you have to fork out about 2500 bucks And that will be a normal cost for about every 30 000 miles after that Stay away from this and any other Ford if you can br br " Neg," The Ford Excursion is the largest sport utility vehicle on the market I would only recommend this vehicle if you REALLY need to tow 11 000 pounds b EXTERIOR Like some SUV s on the market the Excursion is based on a pickup truck In this case it s the Ford F 250 As far as styling goes I would call it functional but nothing more b INTERIOR The wide seats are very accommodating Power adjustable pedals are a nice feature but I m a rather tall driver and thus have no use for them There is a lot of head and leg room all throughout the front and 2nd row seats even for me Although the Excursion is not very aerodynamic I feel it does a good job of keeping wind noise down to a minimum not like a Lexus though My test car has the diesel engine It idles pretty loudly The optional Reverse Sensing System helps a lot because usually the bigger the car err SUV the bigger the blind spots To me an SUV of this size should only be used for towing or hauling However luxury options such as leather upholstery an entertainment system a CD changer and even automatic climate control is either standard or optional depending on the model b ENGINE There are gasoline engines available but gas mileage with those engines are horrible The diesel engine is a little more thriftier The 7 3 liter POWERSTROKE turbocharged V8 diesel engine produces 250 horsepower at 2 600 rpm and a substantial 505 lb ft of torque at an extremely low 1 600 rpm This may sound like a lot of power but in my opinion the 7 250 pound SUV NEEDS that kind torque just get moving This engine serves only 2 purposes Towing and fuel economy The diesel is more expensive to buy than the gasoline engines so take it for a test drive before you decide to buy one All engines use the same 4 speed automatic transmission I averaged 17 7 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving b HANDLING This is the Excursion s weakest point due to its size It s very ponderous on twisty roads and has a huge turning circle Getting in and out of parking spaces is like a chore to me I m surprised there is even a limo version of the Excursion The brakes feel strong but it takes a bit longer to stop from speed than other lighter I m talking 5 000 pounds sport utility vehicles b RIDE Small bumps are easily absorbed due to the 137 inch long wheelbase Hitting larger bumps to me can get annoying at times Despite being so large the Excursion feels very stable in a straight line b RELIABILITY Although nothing too serious has happened for a while I was hearing a popping noise coming from under the floorboard I have yet to figure out what it is but I will update this review as soon as possible b VALUE Despite its drawbacks the Excursion is a fairly good value assuming you need the towing capacity or room for 9 " Neg," My wife and I lease a 1997 FORD RANGER XLT She absolutely LOVES it but I wish I could drive it off a cliff When we purchased the truck in February 1997 it was a very sturdy truck with power and comfort all together However after only 50 000 miles it feels like it s falling apart at the seams In Ohio the highways and biways are constantly cracking and getting potholes in them The bumps on the roadways are enough to make an airsick person want to fly to get around What has happened over the past few years with this truck is that the suspension is not shot the steering is over sensitive it seems lighter around corners and all in all it makes me very uncomfortable driving it around Any vehicle that fish tails when it hits a little bump in the road while going around a gentle curve IS NOT SAFE My wife gets studs put on the rear tires for winter driving but we have to put 8 10 bags of sand in the bed of the truck for the studs to make any difference whatsoever We did not get an extended cab so needless to say the seats aren t as comfortable as possible However FORD puts the seats so high up in the cab that the roof seems too short I am only 5 9 and I feel like I have to slouch to keep from hitting the ceiling The blind side is HUGE This is because the rear window does not extend far enough to the side of the truck to increase the peripheral vision The electrical system shorted out after only 1 year of driving it For instance if I want to turn the wipers on I turn the knob but have to wait for about 3 4 minutes for them to kick in Then after I turn them off I ll be driving down the road a little way and the HIGH SPEED wipers will just start going AND I CAN T STOP THEM I wasn t going to mention the fact that the WASHER FLUID dispensers don t work either You may ask Why didn t you take it to the shop to get it fixed My answer I did twice They work for a couple weeks or even a month Then it starts happening again Well my wife loves it That s why we still have it in the driveway Next February when the lease has expired it s Bye Bye Ranger " Neg," I bought my 97 Ranger in 2000 and must say that overall it has been a good vehicle My two major gripes are the cabspace and lack of acceleration On a short trip 10 Min the Truck is fine after that you ll start squirming and trying to stretch your legs if 6 tall or more Want to try and merge onto the freeway DON T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT COWBOY Unless you ve got a good 150 yard headstart The gears are very tall One minor gripe is the 2 spark plugs per cylinder twice as expensive for tune ups due to double plugs and wires Another gripe are the electrical problems Ford is infamous for it s Check Engine Light Mine came on twice since I owned the truck Only one time did it cost me Highlights are Price affordable Utility move stuff fridges kegs sofas Durability fairly low maintenance " Neg," I bought a 1997 Ford Ranger to make a 6 500 mile trip from Alaska to the East Coast I had made the same trip two years before with an 1987 Chevy S10 I got much worse gas mileage on a the Ford which was 10 years newer Also the Ford would not handle the same mountains that my S10 had no problems conquering I have not enjoyed my Ranger because my Chevy ran and handled much better and was 10 years older I will never buy a Ford again I recommend Chevy S10 for peace of mind on a long hard journey br br " Neg," For the first four years of ownership I loved my Ranger Unfortunately I held onto it for about 2 months too long So you ask what was the problem I had with mine Here s the short list 1 Both O2 sensors burned out 2 The emissions computer crapped out 3 Multiple oil leaks 4 The transmission started to slip 5 Major crack in the intake manifold So you are probably saying that I beat my Ranger to death right Well you would be wrong I had a 4 liter Supercab that I took meticulous care of It was driven less than 15 000 miles mostly highway Aesthetically it was in near mint condition I regularly had it serviced even had the transmission fluid changed a couple times I was burned several years ago with a transmission that needed to be replaced prematurely and swore that I would never let another one go due to the slightest hint of neglect When I was getting rid of my Ranger I traded it in for a 2002 Toyota 4Runner I couldn t bring myself to try to sell that crap can to an unsuspecting private party my mechanic told me how several years ago Ford replaced the former metal intake manifold with a plastic one no doubt to save 5 to 10 in the assembly plant So in the end I can only warn people to beware of your Ranger when it hits that 60 000 mile threshold You may be sorry They don t call the company F ix O r R epair D aily for nothing Sophiedog " Neg," I had this car given to me as a rental from Enterprise I had for one day because that was as long as I could deal with having it I m used to cars that have a little up and go So when I drove this car I was fairly upset with it I went and a trip to another city which was about 90 miles away and it was the worst trip I had ever made A diesel drove past me and I almost got sucked into it It was awkward to drive and man was it ugly The only good thing about this car was that it did have air conditioning and a tape player It also got excellent gas mileage But man what an ugly car br br " Neg," I looked at all the other SUV s and chose a 1997 Ford Explorer XTL for the roomy and comfortable interior Until approximately 24 000 miles my only trips to the shop were for oil changes but problems have steadily come sice then First came a problem with the accelerator sticking the dealer said that nothing was wrong but 6 months later Ford had a recall At 37 500 miles just after the warranty expired the switch on the automatic seat broke and a week later the metal lever that controls the back of the seat literally broke in two Next I noticed a shaking sensation when braking replaced the brakes but the problem remains The check engine light came on which caused me to replace multiple sensors It continued to glow then one day it began flashing then went off Also the CD changer installed in the console only works sporadically When I took it to the dealer while the warranty was still in they stated there was nothing wrong A clicking sound on the right side started somewhere around 38 000 miles Later I noticed that my engine wasn t running smoothly my Explorer was hard to crank and it frequently chokes down I have taken it to several mechanics to attempt repairs but all of them have concluded that there is a crack in the intake manifold a major repair that has to be done by the dealer It has become unreliable and I have been advised by 3 repairmen to trade it soon br br " Neg," We purchased a used 96 Ford Aspire It looked great For a small car it s even roomy We got the two door What a mistake It s family unfriendly if you have small children in car seats Getting small children in and out of the back is a pure nightmare in the making You have to actually climb into the back seat to get them out It s even tough to fit the carseat through the room you have between pushing the seat all the way up You obviously can t put them in the front because of the air bags This car is great on mileage It s about the only plus to it It s got no get up and go My 86 Ford Tempo which is ten years older has more pick up and go than the Aspire You can put your foot to the floor on the gas but you ll find yourself saying a prayer when you try to merge on a Freeway that you don t get hit because it takes you forever to reach traffic speed There are only four seat belts in this car Unlike most cars there are only two seat belts in the back instead of three Why they didn t put one where there is obvious space for one is a mystery I get a work out just driving the car Power steering my foot You have to put a little muscle into turning the wheel The brakes make up for that They are super touchy If you aren t very light on the foot you will get to meet the dash in a sudden fashion I notice they tend to lock easily My husband drives this car the most and my older beat up car is my preference compared The Aspire might have air conditioning and a better stereo than my old Tempo but having to drive the Aspire just isn t worth the luxury of air and better speakers This car would be great for a grandmother or your average run of the mill Sunday driver It s slow Obviously you need to not have small children with this car It sure isn t child friendly for parents I thought the hatchback would be nice with children That was until I tried to fit a standard sized folded playpen into the back That was difficult very difficult but finally accomplished There is plenty of foot and leg room for such a small car but they sure didn t make the back storage area roomy The seats do fold down in the back to make more room That s wonderful unless you have children In other words if you need more room in the car to fit something in the back I suppose you could strap the kids to the top of the car in their car seats LOL Although it is a funny image of course that s not safe or legal What was Ford thinking when they made this car Obviously they weren t thinking about families children or their needs I have dubbed the Aspire the new and improved version of the Pinto I now know why there are so many used Aspires for sale The original owners got smart and bought something else br br " Neg," Ok So my title is sort of a rip off from a funny movie but when I think about the Ford Aspire I had that title is stuck in my head I bought a 1996 Ford Aspire I still can t tell you the exact color of it It was a purple blue It depended on the light outside or lack of I should have been warned right there that maybe this car wasn t one to buy Even the dealership couldn t name that color The price was affordable It matched my budget on payments I thought it was kind of small but since I drive a lot I didn t mind because I knew I d save a lot on gas money Reason one to hate this car is that it is small While the seats in the back fold down to make more room if you want to carry something large there really isn t that much space in the back When the seats are up so you can have passengers in the back the area in the back this is a hatch back no trunk is very small I discovered this after I tried to fit a few things in it after I bought it There wasn t room I couldn t fit a golf bag in it without it stick up My wife couldn t fit the playpen folded in it The large stroller we own for our child wouldn t fit We usually had to put some of our groceries on the floor of the car because all of it wouldn t fit in the small back space Also we had problems shutting the hatch back Sometimes it didn t want to shut Sometimes when I hit a dip in the road the thing actually popped open I was less than pleased Reason number two to hate this car is the lack of power it has While test driving it on surface streets you won t notice it It handles surface streets great It s when you get on a highway or freeway that you notice You can put your foot to the floor trying to merge with traffic going over fifty miles and hour and still not reach that speed at a decent pace I ve almost been in accidents because of this The car just has no get up and go Reason number three to hate this car is the wheel is hard to turn when you are doing U turns yet the brakes are super touchy You can barely put some weight on the brakes and they tend to almost lock up This you can adjust to which I did but I wasn t real happy about it The steering I also got used to but my wife refused to drive my car after a few times She felt it was too hard to steer While some might think the wife not wanting to drive their car is a reason to buy it remember reason one and two Reason number four to hate this car is that when you travel any distance in it the car seems to shrink on you While you might frown about this because we all know cars don t really shrink I know that it feels like it is After an hour or so on the road you realize just how much of a compact car this is The seats aren t real comfortable after an hour behind the wheel either It doesn t bother you at first but after an hour you start to feel it in your back and behind side Reason number five to hate this car is while traveling you really notice the flaws about this car While driving in the mountains you are going to experience power loss on the way up Traffic will start passing you by even though you have your foot to the floor There just isn t any power in this baby While driving in the desert I noticed that the car doesn t do well in extreme heat either You buy newer cars so you don t have to worry about them breaking down I was worried in this car Reason number six to hate this car is that since I bought it I ve had to take it into the shop four times I had to take it in the first time because the brakes needed work and they were new when I bought it They lasted less than a year I was told that they see Aspires in often for this The second reason I had to take it in was it was overheating The third time I had to take it in was because while driving on the freeway I could hear a bad noise coming from the wheel well on the passenger side I had to replace the front axal It was cheaper than paying for a new joint and boot which was the problem The fourth time I had to take it in was because there was something wrong with the transmission I could feel it slipping Reason number seven to hate this car was paying the huge bill that came with all four of those repair bills Reason number seven to hate this car and I blame this one one the dealership I bought it from was the alarm that came with it It was a cheap alarm system It was the kind that locks the ignition so no one can drive away with it if they break into it The alarm was a real piece of junk Someone could smash a window steal everything in the car and it wouldn t set the alarm off One day my battery for my remote died and I could get into the car but I couldn t get it started The alarm didn t even go off when I tried to start it The system worked fine that way The car wouldn t start I had to call AAA thinking I d just have it towed home borrow the wife s alarm remote and go replace the battery in mine When AAA showed up the guy just shook his head at me popped open a panel under the dash and pushed a button The alarm shut off so the car started again All anyone ever had to do was break a window pop that panel to push a little button rip out the ignition and take off with my car in less than a minute I was a bit furious over this fact Reason number eight to hate this car is that it only comes with two seat belts in the back seat There is room for a third one but Ford must have really wanted to cut corners when they made it There is about fourteen inches of space in the middle of the backseat that is totally a waste of space in that regard Would it have killed them to put in a middle seat belt I guess so They sure didn t do it Reason number nine is the total lack of comfort the car has and functions Mine was one of the better models made I had air conditioning It didn t work very well The ashtray fell out or jammed up when I tried to use it for a change tray The glove box is an actual glove box That s about all that you can fit into the tiny thing A pair of gloves I wanted to upgrade the stereo system but realized that again they had really made this car compact I had a hard time finding a unit that would fit in the very small space provided When I did try to buy one and have it installed the people just shook their heads at me and explained that they would have to do a lot of work to remove the factory installed unit and get a new system in This adds to your normal bill They assured me that the wiring was a nightmare as well Reason number ten is looking back at the other nine reasons and knowing that I paid too much money for this car regretting buying it in the first place and having to go out to find another car I no longer have the Aspire I couldn t wait to be rid of it after having it for just over a year I also want to mention that the trade in value of the car is painful It sure hurt me realizing exactly how much having that piece of junk for a year had cost me after they deducted what I d paid on it to that point deducting the trade in value and adding that remaining balance to my replacement car It was a costly mistake that I made buying it I don t recommend this car to anyone unless you feel like buying a car for someone you don t like who you feel needs one headache after another and a sore backside after a long road trip Maybe I should have given it to my Mother In Law LOL Just kidding I can t think of anyone that I don t like enough to wish that car on I have always loved Fords I bought another Ford It s just that Ford made a mistake in producing the Aspire It s the Pinto of the 90 s " Neg," Although my 1996 automatic Aspire runs well has decent pickup for a smaller car and gets great gas mileage I have been unfortunate to have had to replace the transmission 2 times and the transmission just went out again so will be a 3rd time The first time at 32k Ford honored the warranty but the second time even though it only had 22k on the transmission there was 54k on the engine so would not honor the original rebuilt or the extended warranty purchased with the car As the transmission was rebuilt by a third party this last time they are going to honor their work and cover the transmission but if left up to Ford I would have to pay again so this economy car is costing more than that " Neg," I had purchased a 1997 contour sport new from a Dealership expecting it to be a good trouble free family car The day after I bought it I had found the spare wheel and jack missing The Dealership had taken one out of another contour A few months later when the rain started coming down I found that I had two inches of rain in the trunk I took to the dealership and a week later in the shop they had fixed the leaks About a month later the brakes started squeaking when backing up it was loud They had told me the parking brake cables were sticking and had worn out the rear break pads So they had replaced the cables replaced the brake pads and machined the rotors due to wear The noise had stopped and the car ran good until the check engine light came on I took it back to the dealership and they hooked it up to the diagnostic and found all kinds of problems with it So they put me in a rental car until they can get the parts they needed to fix it The car was under warranty so nothing came out of my pocket and the people were nice About twenty miles over my warranty my coolant light came on I checked the coolant and it was at its normal level I called the dealership and told them the problem and they said it was probably a faulty switch and the warranty had expired I told them all the troubles I had with it but they didn t seem to care A week later my brakes did the same thing when I had bought it new I called the dealership and told them the problem had not been fixed since this was the same thing that happened the first time All they could tell me is its out of warranty and your going to have to pay for the parts and labor That s when I blew up and told them all the problems I had with this NEW car they didn t seem to care so I hung up and went to the dealership and wasted my time arguing about it I left with the problem still needing attention About a month later I had another problem with the car The car wouldn t come out of park until you messed with it for about ten minutes I called the dealership and asked for the service manager and told him what I was experiencing now I didn t get anywhere with him I finally had it and put the car up for sale and will NEVER buy another ford br br " Neg," Last year my wife needed a newer car than the 85 Buick she was driving I had read reviews and information about the Contour touting it as a pretty good all around car I was worried about crash worthiness though If I remember correctly the Contour doesn t usually score well in all areas of crash protection When I factored in all the considerations I decided to stick with the Contour nonetheless I do still quot like quot the car The biggest reasons are the comfort of the car in general the mid range size of the car that wasn t easy to find in other models the seats the fuel economy and the way it looks If only quot looks quot were everything The worst of the bad news about this car is that although it is only going on 4 years old it feels like it s going on 10 years old It hasn t quite gone over 80 000 miles yet but you d think it had gone way past Further we have just started experimenting with putting a car seat in the back for our baby and it doesn t look like it s going to be a good fit Also if you need the rear seatback to fold down at least on this non sport model you can t I agree with any of the professional consumer mags out there that say body integrity is poor Also mechanically for the most part we don t have much confidence If you own one of these and you haven t had trouble with the brakes yet you are very lucky Ours needs 4 new rotors because it vibrates or shimmies when it comes to a stop most of the time The car has been driven on the highway most of it s life and it already feels like it could use a whole new suspension under some circumstances The engine is noisy in most situations other than cruising at a steady speed and the car could use a little more power The car often stalls out after it s first started Thank goodness I can t think of much to say about the transmission although it s nothing to rave about Looking back on it although we certainly could have done worse than we did we wish we hadn t been so patriotic If we had bought a Honda Subaru Toyota or Nissan even if it would have had a few more miles on it I would probably be writing a more positive review now " Neg," I originally bought my 1997 with 25 000 miles Contour because it looked real nice and it was very comfortable About a year or so later I started getting noises from the dash center console and some near the rear window I have always loved Ford and have always bought exclusively from them but this car has irritated me with it s creaks and clicks After having it for over a year I am trying to trade it in but the lots are starting to get an inventory of the 97 and earlier Driving the car I must admit is very fun the handling is superb and with only a 4 cylinder engine it is pretty quick Everything is real responsive I am not sure about the later models but this one is a curse to all who hate noises as they drive But if you can get a quite one then you will love to drive this car everywhere " Neg," Bought a 1997 Contour Sport V6 5 speed with 58 000 miles on the odometer in 2000 Thought I got a good deal I was wrong This car came completely loaded power everything leather interior fog lights etc Unfortunately this car proved to be about as reliable as your average Yugo I had this car for all of 25 000 miles yet I had to replace the water pump twice the fuel pump the rear main seal on the engine a 1 000 repair and I sold it when it needed an 1800 emissions system repair This car only had 83 000 miles on it when I got rid of it yet the resale value was terrible and just about everything on the car had failed My opinion of this car is that it is a complete piece of junk Avoid at all costs spend some extra money and buy a Honda or Toyota The Contour V6 is fun to drive when it runs properly but is it not nearly as quick as advertised the 170 hp V6 seems pretty weak The manual transmission is very slow and the low end torque is minimal This car may seem like a bargain when you first look at it but look a little deeper Mine needed 1800 in emissions system repairs when I traded it in and this was at 83 000 miles Do you think a Honda or Toyota would require repairs like this at 83 000 miles Found On Road Dead is not such a bad acronym " Neg," This is probably a dangerous time to write a review since my check engine light just came on again but I have finally been provoked to dole out some public disdain for the current sedan offerings from Ford especially after a recent spike in expensive repairs on my Torridor Red Ford Contour GL As with many people I found the contour to be a good handling fun to drive car and it came at a price too good to pass up about 12 800 with everything a college student could use Power mirrors door locks A C an interesting but chintzy cup holder all for the aforementioned low price I purchased the Contour to complement the 1967 Mustang that I had inherited from my father thinking that it would reliably serve my needs as I commuted to College and began working after graduation Little did I anticipate that my 67 Mustang would be of so much use to me over the next five years as my only working car not scheduled for maintenance I have about 102 000 miles on my Contour and only keep it because I have finally set up the suspension and wheels tires just right to out corner unsuspecting BMW drivers on the 110 freeway in Los Angeles There is no cheaper car on the road that can handle corners better than my Contour and that helps keep my wallet open and me under the car or visiting my dealer But sometimes love just isn t enough especially when it is so confined to the cornering ability of my modified car The brakes are disc drum and fade at the hint of being used for spirited driving which isn t too much of a concern unless going down hill because they usually cool off by the time the under powered engine can get the car to the next corner that requires braking I am out accelerated by everything The four cylinder engine needs a lighter car to pull around than it s assigned mid sized Contour chassis The SVT would have better suited me but it was too much money for my budget and still carried over the same cheap looking interior In search of some performance I have tried an open element air filter and Flowmaster exhaust which did help a little but were too loud for me as I reached my mid twenties Searching for a quieter upgrade I use tires that are a little bit smaller than stock to keep the revs slightly higher I contest that the real nightmare for Contour owners is not the interior plastics quality that is more of an annoyance and embarrassment or the adherence to the standard Ford recipe for another overweight under powered car to add to their lineup of tubby cars and RV like SUV 146s but the real threat is the consistent lighting of the check engine light along with other various failures that I didn t expect before 100 000 miles The light is annoying in its frequency of attack and it has been reset two dozen times already as technicians have tried to fix re occurring problems by replacing one part at a time To make matters worse it comes on and then goes out leaving me wondering if it just burned out from over use Technicians cannot use the computer to pinpoint the problem when the light is out because it was told to me that the error code stored in the computer goes away unless the light has been on very recently The short list of unscheduled maintenance and expensive repairs is as follows Manual transmission failed and was replaced with the clutch catalytic converter failed and blocked exhaust oxygen sensor wire became loose and prompted hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repair before it was found rear window rain seal has been replaced five times and keeps coming off both front wheel bearings have been worn out and replaced windshield cracked when car was washed in the sun Other annoyances include the many recalls on this vehicle the creaks and vibrations in the dash and rear side door lack of rear legroom in such a large car This is the last Ford that I will buy because I have read too many stories reporting that these problems are not isolated to the Contour line and because I dislike the feeling that I have put too much money into performance products for a car that will just fall apart in the next few years I think that most of my problems occurred just after the 60 000 mile warranty had expired just as Ford marketing had planned the Contour to be removed from the US The Contour will never be a proper sports sedan as the ad campaign had suggested it would be and I only wished that I had realized this many years ago and sold it while it was worth 5000 I hope that pesky check engine light won t cost too much to get fixed this time " Neg," How many recalls can a car possibly have in 3 years time We purchased a 97 Contour for use as a family car liking the fact that is was a fairly affordable buy However from the very start we ve had problems with our vehicle Upon taking it off of the lot we had the check engine light on the salesman informed us that it was a common occurrence if the gas cap isn t put on tightly and that it needed to go into the shop to have the switch reset In 3 years time we ve had at least 5 recalls sent to us from Ford The excitement of having a new car wore off quickly when we noticed imperfections in the design and quality of the vehicle Almost immediately our clock light burned out The cupholder a single one mind you was broken after pulling a purse off of the passenger seat The carpeting on the floor was fitted poorly and hangs out from the plastic molding on the edges There is no excitement whatsoever to driving this car It looks like a clone to many other models out there that have no major design features to make it stand out in the crowd Save your money and shop around for a better buy you ll be thankful you did br br " Neg," What I said then I have always liked the looks of the Ford Contour but I never seriously considered buying one When my wife and I decided to cut expenses it was clear that the easiest way to do that would be to unload my beloved Ford Focus ZX3 check out my Focus reviews After much wailing and gnashing of teeth I set about looking at used sedans in the 8000 and under range I drove them all Corsicas Neons Cavaliers even an ancient Camry Then I ran across a black 97 Contour GL with 67 000 miles at the local ford dealer s used lot It had the best ride and except for the 3 1L Corsicas the most get up and go The Contour is also the least boring to look at of any car on the list I had the car in the dealer s service department the first three days I owned it Minor glitches that the dealer took care of at no charge for me They replaced the rear suspension links which were making a horrible thunking noise over bumps the belt and idler pulley and adjusted the driver s door to eliminate a bit of leakage around the seal Since then the car has been smooth running and trouble free Some of the interior bits are a little loose but no more than I expect in a pre Focus Ford car All of the options and gadgets work perfectly The highway ride is glassy smooth and quiet and power is typical of the Zetec engine If you keep it spinning in the mid range 3000 4500 rpm the Contour is capable of surprisingly urgent acceleration On the downside my Contour has a good deal of play in the drivetrain which makes smooth corner exits difficult and standing starts take a bit of concentration to avoid chattering the too grabby clutch I don t know if this is a typical Contour problem My biggest gripe with the interior is the retractable cupholder in the center console It s flimsy and too small for anything but a soda can Also it s too close to the shifter and parking brake I tugged the brake handle up with the cupholder open and lost some skin off of my knuckles In spite of my disappointment over giving up my Focus the Contour has become an agreeable driving companion and I believe it will keep me happy until our finances stabilize and Ford brings the Focus ZX5 to the States Update January 2002 What I say now The Contour started giving me trouble last August and hasn t stopped Out of the blue the engine began to die at random intervals while driving No warning of any kind it simply shut off The dealer had the car for the better part of a month and couldn t figure it out After a while they just gave up and I have had to live with it Then the airbag light started flashing intermittently So I traded the thing in on a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer I m much happier now Review on the Lancer coming soon " Neg," I bought this car because it was Saturday and I needed to get to work on Monday My other car died and I was in a jam My wife and I knew this car salesman so we told him to keep an eye out for us We couldn t afford anything over 5000 at the time so when my buddy called about the 91 Thunderbird I jumped at the offer We ended up paying about 4000 and the shirts off our backs Let me start by stating that I purchased this car with 97 000 miles on it and it currently has 145 000 miles I will reveal how this car has held up after 9 years and 1145 000 miles and what I have done to it within my first 50 000 miles This car is fun to drive There is something about owning a T Bird with the 5 0 V8 engine This car has everything power windows locks mirrors driver s seat rear defrost keyless entry and alloy wheels This car is fast too I m sure there are some 4 cylinders that can beat it off the line but let s see who s first to 100 mph turbos need not apply The handling is a joke This car likes to roll into turns no matter how slow you go It sort of wobbles when I turn It s not visible wobble but it feels like it moves from side to side while turning This got better after I purchased new tires for it but it s starting to happen again with only about 30 000 miles on the new tires Apparently this car only likes brand new tires Make no mistake this car is not a sports car Sure it has a 205 hp V8 but the car is just to heavy and long It bounces over bumps and you ll feel every one The steering wheel likes to shimmy too Again this may fix itself when I replace the tires At first the car s finish has held up very well There is little rust to speak of The only visible rust is due to a bent corner on the driver s door I m not sure how the guy before me bent that There is also some rust along the bottom of the doors This is only visible if the doors are open and you actually look at the underside of the doors There are a few specks of peeling paint on the black trim on the front bumper The trunk lines don t seem to fit together evenly but I suspect the guy before me was in a slight accident Now the clearcoat is beginning to peel on the roof After 150 000 miles though you can t be too surprised The interior has held up very well too except the front seats There are no cracks or blemishes in the entire dash board and there is no fading either The only part of the interior that shows any sign of wear are the seats which are very worn and uncomfortable The rear arm rests are bulging out of their notches too and the release levers on the front seats are busted You can move the seats forward without using the levers That s not a big deal though Speaking of broken the rear defrost took that path around 100 000 miles The fluid monitoring system is gone too I think the transmission missed the rear defrost because it went around the same time It took with it 3 02 sensors some belts and hoses the water pump the power steering assembly a turn signal assembly and some fuel lines The mechanic actually said there had been a fume fire on my gas tank I think I might have bent over on that one but who knows I think my tires are getting lonely I will have to replace them in a few weeks The passenger automatic seat belt is possessed I just try not to upset it I have spent about 6000 in repairs from August 1999 to May of 2003 It has been trouble free for the past few months knock knock At least the dealership where I bought it from agreed to pay for half of my new transmission which I had repaired elsewhere That s a Toyota dealership for you The speedometer only goes to 85 mph That s pretty wimpy for a V8 I ve had the thing burried way past 85 The radio rots I m not sure if it s just old or if radios weren t that good 10 years ago There is an absolute lack of bass My voice can go lower than these 6x9s I just put in a Kenwood CD player and some Polk speakers Even these entry level items are a vast improvement I may be crazy but I love my T Bird Despite it s shortcomings there s just something about driving a V8 T Bird I will definitely miss this car when it s time to trade it in for a familymobile I would recommend this car as a first car for people in high school because it is a cheap car to buy the resale value is horrible but the V8 would get them into trouble and the V6 is laughable It would make a good car for a single person or a couple who isn t ready smart enough to purchase a Camry UPDATE 07 31 00 The new tires solved the wobbly turns and the shimmying steering wheel This car handles much better now so forget those negative comments I made about the handling This car does handle more like a sports car now than it did It is still a little off balanced as far as weight distribution but the handling has improved Check out my review of the Firestone Firehawk tires UPDATE 09 09 00 Well the starter went out so I had to replace that 116 000 mile isn t too bad for something like that That brings the grand total for the repair bill to about 4500 since I bought this car in August of 99 I m not liking this car so much UPDATE 01 03 00 Well some clamp came loose on the radiator which caused some antifreeze to spill out Not too bad only 30 UPDATE 06 03 01 The airconditioner needed to be recharged Figures Another 80 down the drain 120 000 miles UPDATE 01 30 02 The O2 sensors needed to be replaced again This is the third time in 30 000 miles UPDATE 06 11 02 I put in another 2 grand into this thing I replaced the shocks oil pan and a bunch of brake junk I had to recharge the A C again which is becoming an annual event The Check Engine light comes on for no reason I must say the car rides so much better now that I have replaced the shocks I also had to replace the tire rods and a buch of crap related to that The car s more quiet now and rides much stiffer It s nice Still make sure you don t buy one of these things with 100k miles on it UPDATE 05 12 03 I have edited some of the content " Neg," An American legend After rented a 4 door Mazda for one week I was ready for something more powerful to drive around rough highways in the Los Angeles area during my business trip What did I rent A 2 door 2001 Ford Mustang which came with standard options such as dual airbags cruise control power windows CD player and A C In addition to those standard items the car had a traction control This I was impressed to find the traction control which definitely helps to reduce the chance of losing control of the vehicle under bad weather conditions Performance Basically there are two different models for 2001 Mustang The normal Mustang comes with a 3 8 liter V 6 engine with 196hp The GT models come with a 4 6 liter V 6 engine with 260 hp Because I only drove a non GT I am sure that GT performs totally different from my review As soon as I stepped on the pedal I knew that I chose the right vehicle to drive around the highways of the LA area I could not compare the way the car accelerated with a 4 cylinder sedan Despite the fact that the car accelerated very fast the noise from the engine was not annoying at all I no longer felt scared when I was merging onto a freeway People were flying on a merging lane As a trade off to the fast acceleration the fuel efficiency of the car was not so good Based on my rough estimate the car drove about 25 miles per gallon However this is not so bad for a V 6 with 196hp Comfort The driver s side seat was quite comfortable However the suspension system of the car seemed to be not working as nicely as a regular sedan like a Toyota Camry Basically the suspension system does not absorb shocks very well However this seems to be a quite common symptom for a sports car The inside space of the car as well as the trunk space seem to be larger than earlier models This is definitely a big improvement from 80 s Mustangs Design Compared to Mustang s long time competitors like Camaros and Firebirds Mustang definitely made a great improvement of its design and image While keeping its identity as a traditional American sports car the current Mustang body was designed based on the first generation Mustang this car looks classier than ever I guess I am not a big fan of those bad boy looking cars like Firebirds and Camaros Believe it or not Marketers for those cars target those people who are attracted to a bad boys image Overall I really enjoyed driving this car on the highways in the Los Angeles area With this powerful 3 6 liter V 6 196 hp engine this car definitely drives very well on those rough highways br br " Neg," I recently got to test drive a 2001 Ford Mustang with my friend who is going to buy it The particular car we drove was a V6 manual transmission convertible I ll say it right now the car looks really cool I felt like a millionaire driving it Bright yellow with a black convertible top and a black leather interior It s definitely a fun car but only on the outside On the inside you re treated to horribly uncomfortable font bucket seats and an even worse rear seat Even though everything was covered in soft leather the seats were hard and unforgiving I can stay put in my 1991 CRX for 6 hours without a single problem but my back hurt after half an hour of driving this beast Not only that but the legroom was awful I can completely stretch my legs out in my CRX I m 6 1 but in the Mustang my knees hit the dash with the seat scooted all the way back What gives I realise it s a sports car but how hard would it have been to give you a couple extra inches of legroom I won t even talk about the rear seat it s more of a storage space for your stuff that won t fit in the tiny trunk than a place for people to sit Next up performance For a car that looks so pretty you d expect it to have the innards to back up it s racey look Not so my friend I actually street raced someone I know not smart who was driving a Miata I could see they had a five speed too but here s the thing Miatas are rated at I believe 135hp they re also a 4 cylinder while the V6 Mustang is rated at 160hp The Miata won and I was disappointed by the lack of performance in this beautiful car I was driving It was like driving my mom s Civic except extremely uncomfortable and with poor handling That reminds me the handling I m used to my little CRX which can stop on a dime and with the right tires make 90 degree turns are 30mph The Mustang seemed to hesitate when making evasive maneuvers The car is pretty heavy too which made it feel more like a truck than a sporty coupe Needless to say I can not recommend this car It s too unrefined for my tastes and lacks the amount of power you d expect from a legend My friend bought it anyway and that s great for him But I ll stick with my CRX thank you very much " Neg," S ince late 1985 when the Ford Taurus first was shown at autoshows around the world it was almost an instant hit people loved this aerodynamic concept looking car with no front grille Finally in 1986 the Ford Taurus went on sale along with its sister car the Mercury Sable i Driving Impressions i My tester 1990 Ford Taurus unlike the 1987 models came with a more powerful 3 8 liter V6 as an option Actual horsepower specs are the same between the 3 0 OHV Vulcan and the OHV Essex V6 but unlike the Vulcan it reaches its 140 horsepower at a much lower RPM and instead of 160 lb ft of torque it has a more impressive 215 lb ft The 3 8 is fuled by multi port fuel injection and is a pushrod design This engine is found in a multitude of Ford Mercury and Lincoln automobiles first seen in the Ford Thunderbird as a base engine The 1990 Ford Taurus still has the same AXOD 4 speed automatic transmission but since 1989 it has larger fluid lines so ATF can lubricate vital parts more efficiently You will notice that the 3 8 compared to the OHV 3 0 models that acceleration from the light is much quicker hills are a snap and cruising is hushed At 70 MPH the 1990 Ford Taurus 3 8 is cruising at an aprrox 2 100 RPM With the 3 0 it was a higher 2 800 RPM For 1990 4 engines are available the base engine is a 2 5 liter that produces 90 horsepower This may not seem like a lot in fact it s not but it does not do too bad of a job moving this car around the 2 5 4 cylinder was dropped in 1992 There is the Vulcan V6 3 0 liter which produced 140 horsepower found in all models and the 3 8 which is found in the GL and LX models There is also since 1989 a new engine by Yamaha which is a 3 0 liter DOHC V6 engine that produces an impressive 220 horsepower and 200 lb ft of torque this engine unfortunately can only be found in the expensive SHO super high output models i Interior Innovation i The interior of the 1990 Ford Taurus is almost all new for this year The dash is totally changed from its predecessor and is much easier on the eyes than it once was Ergonomics are very simple and easy to use The LX model I drove had power everything including leather power seats with power lumbar support 6 speaker premium Ford sound system which sounded excellent for a stock system of this time period and manual keyless entry One of my major gripes with the 1990 Ford Taurus s interior is the lack of bucket seats Instead Ford uses a split bench front which aids in more seating however results in lower levels of support vs a bucket seat design Exterior Innovation i The exterior looks almost exactly like it did back in 1986 very little exterior changes have occurred since introduction The paint has improved over the 4 years and the rear tail lights look more modern Back in 1990 this car was still ahead of its time GM still had its boxy Buick Century and other boxy family cars but they were starting to get the hint that Ford had something going with this whole aerodynamic theme In fact this style was so adored in 1990 the Ford Taurus was the best selling car in America i Pricing Reliability i These cars go for very cheap today the Ford Taurus has terrible resale value But for those who need a car but don t have a lot of money this is good news This car can be found for around 2 000 The only problem is is that the 1990 Ford Taurus has a reputation for being a lemon I personally have never owned a 1990 ford Taurus but I did own a Mercury Sable for over a year with the same powertrain and it had loads of problems including transmission bands breaking lots of money to fix starter problems alternator fuel pump power steering pump lines new struts wheel bearings and a few other things The headliners on these cars are awful Since this is almost 2003 most of these headliners are already ripped you most likely will be hard pressed finding a 90 Taurus with a mint condition interior i Final Thoughts i I do not recommend the 1990 Ford Taurus however if this car is a must on your car shopping list I can t stress enough how important it is that you take it to a professional mechanic These cars have been known to cause their owners a great deal of misery Other Cars To Consider i 1 Honda Accord b 2 Chevy Lumina a href content 63653777028 http www epinions com content 63653777028 a My Review b 3 Toyota Camry 4 Buick Le Sabre 5 Dodge Dynasty 6 Plymouth Acclaim 7 Chevy Corsica 8 Chevy Beretta 9 Nissan Maxima 10 Nissan Stanza Happy Car Shopping " Neg," My parents bought the 1990 Taurus L brand new in August 1990 I thought it was only the second car they ever bought that wasn t dorky looking the other being a 1981 Monte Carlo It was white with a black interior which proved to be very hot in the summer time They gave me the car as a college graduation present in May 1996 with 42 000 miles on it I drove it to 148 000 miles somehow I ll start by saying what I liked Styling The taurus was a great looking car about the right size to carry 4 5 people comfortable seats very legible gauges good acceleration with the 3 0 V6 great handling good cargo room in the trunk I also liked the air conditioner which was much stronger than other Fords I ve driven when it worked I liked the fake wood strip on the dashboard it looked like wood not plastic The stereo speakers sounded good until I put a 50 watt per channel JVC in there and it blew them up in a few days I also liked the big mirrors on the Taurus Now for the bad And there was a lot of bad The car went through two transmissions each costing 1800 The ignition module failed 4 or 5 times The fuel injection had to be replaced at 69 000 miles I went through so many power steering pumps I forgot to keep track i m guessing five or more The five Alternators lasted maybe 30 000 miles water pumps lasted 40 000 went through 4 of those too I got really darned good at replacing things under the hood THe factory radiator was plastic and it cracked through at 70 000 miles The transmission s always shifted hard and abrupt with a lot of gear whine The CV boots were always disentigrating The Ford brake pads were good for maybe 25 000 miles a set front rotors lasted twice that rear drums went only 70 000 miles and this was with nothing but highway driving The seats were threadbare before 100 000 miles The windows doors and windshields leaked so badly that I eventually had to rip out the carpeting and padding and throw it all away due to mold That revealed serious disfiguring rust in the unibody and floorboards The trunk had a basketball sized hole in it from rust The windshield would drip on my feet it rusted the brake pedal Electrical problem that was never solved began around 90k entire electrical system would go dead except the battery which was fully charged It would sit for days and then BAM It would decide to start The ignition switch wore out every 40 000 miles Eventually the locking mechanism kept jamming so I took a crowbar and just broke the darned thing and started the car by just pulling up on the little rod inside the steering column Everyone thought it was a stolen car because of that no just poor Ford quality The turn signal stalk broke off and the one I got at the junkyard broke off too The cruise control worked sometimes The PRNDL gear indicator was way off so it looked like it was in reverse when it was really in drive The headliner fell out the door panels fell off the struts on the hood gave out so I had to prop it open with a 2x4 to work on it The suspension was forever out of alignment The dealer service WHAT dealer service The Ford dealers in Louisville KY are these giant conglomerate corporations that care about money not customer service I learned to just go buy the parts and do the work myself as they either didn t have mechanics who were competent or they just rolled their eyes when yet another problem Taurus came in for repairs By the time I scraped together the cash to buy a new vehicle the engine was just about shot and the cylinder compression was gone in two cylinders plus the oil pump was gone and the valvetrain was tapping badly sounded like an old Chrysler Slant Six if ya know what I mean The Taurus left me stranded so many times I almost got fired from my job for being late or no show so much The boss just couldn t believe there was a car this unreliable but it was true So finally in April 1998 I bought a new GMC Sonoma That s a total POS too read my review on that lemon here on Epinions I got 1000 for the Taurus on a trade in and still owed 3800 on it for repairs It took me 2 years to pay off on a car I didn t even own anymore NO MORE American made junk for me My next car will come from Germany or Japan end of comment " Neg," My mom had a 1986 Ford Taurus I belive it was the first year of of cars We were lucky to get the worst car ever a 4 cyl taurus So depressing My mom bought this car in 1994 after her last car was stolen Ohhh i remember going with her to pick it up It looked nice in the garage it was in really it did My mom started it and we were on our way It felt like we were riding in an enclosed lawnmower That is what it felt and sounded like The way it sounded was the very least that was wrong with the car In time the drivers side window became a problem It was fine to open but when it came time to close the window went out instead of up real nice for protection huh The car wasnt very mechanically well built either I was lucky enough to be driving the car when its transmission droppd dead Thats right folks pouring rain up a hill in the worst area of NYC and lots of traffic I wasnt too happy and niether was the 20 cars behind me Someone did help me push the car though So after the transmission was fixed it worked sort of A few monthes later the car went on fire now that i think about it it was taken to the mechanic at least once a week because the engine was smoking severly overheating Did i metion we kept water in the car incase the car went on fire Oh yea another thing the hood couldnt stay up by itself he held it open with a hockey stick oh yea and another thing about opening the hood well the thing u pulled back on to make the hood release broke off so we had to pull the wires with a vice grip The windsheild washer pump never worked and winshield wipers didnt work either OK OK and the rear bumber was falling off since the day we got the car Needless to say the tranmission died again and my mom gave to car away All these things happned within 7500miles of eachother when we got the car it had 49 000 miles piece of junk no br br " Neg," I had a 90 Ford Taurus wagon which I just got rid of The reason it cost more to repair the car than it was actually worth So we donated it to a local school and the car s problems will be fixed and it will be washed and waxed and hopefully whoever gets the car will be very grateful After all it was one of those quot low mileage cream puffs quot It only had 28 500 The first seven years were totally trouble free but in late 96 early 97 it began to develop problems The digital speedometer always a mistake and automatic climate control began to fail There was some leak in the line to the speedometer causing it to suddenly register quot 0 quot while driving down a highway And the climate control system would blow either too little or too much air it was basically as uncooperative as possible That Spring the transmission began to have problems It was mainly having problems going from first and second gear but it got so that we had to manually shift the car from first to second So we took it into the shop and they claimed to fix the transmission but of course it was a Ford dealership and they basically lied to us They temporarily fixed the climate control but it broke again Things were OK until December of 98 when the drivers side power seat simply failed I was never too confident in the design especially considering how much stuff is hanging down below that seat it just doesn t look as well designed as other power seat systems I ve seen And finally in May of 1999 a head gasket blew and a belt snapped Its been parked on the street every since while we debated and procrastinated deciding its fate The night it was towed away I still remember that the interior smelled fresh the car glistened in the moonlight and the tow driver was truly amazed we wanted him to tow this quot new car quot away And on the whole it was a very good car The 3 8L V 6 was very peppy handling was secure for a wagon and the climate control and trip computer were all somewhat ahead of their time a bit too much so it would appear We also miss the cargo space tremendously It was a good car but it simply was not reliable br br " Neg," My parents bought this car when i was elementary school and I loved it For a family car this had enough room to keep my parents from constantly telling my sister and me to stop arguing about space issues in the back seat But things began to take a turn for the worst about two years after the purchase of the car used it then being around 2 or 3 years old About 5 years ago my family was riding home in it and the air conditioning just went out like that No warning just stopped My family did not have a lot of money to just dish out around 1500 dollars for another air conditioner and I found out later that this is a problem with many Ford vehicles until the mid 1990 s So if you do purchase a Ford vehicle before 1994 make sure that the air conditioner is working or is new because if it isn t new 9 times out of 10 isn t operational I began driving the car two years ago as a junior in high school Living in Texas and not having air conditioning is a scary situation and led me to almost pass out on one ride home But there are other problems with the car I would just like to emphasize My sister has the car now and the last time I talked with my father he said that the transmission is about to go and for a 1990 model it only has 100 000 miles on it During the time I drove it it broke down on me three times Two of the times it was the water pump busting The third time it broke down on me it had something to do with my air conditioner indirectly Apparently when your compressor goes that is what happened to the air conditioning it is directly linked to the starter in a Ford vehicle So if you try using something that requires using the compressor it will stop you car I did not know this at the time so during a downpour I needed to use my defrost because I couldn t see outside of my window Upon doing this my car stopped in a busy intersection and I was forced to push my car to the gas station that luckily was right near where my car broke down I have no idea if this car just hates me or if it is honestly a bad car my suggestion Please avoid 1990 Taurus like a plague I knew two other people that had a car similar to this one and the air conditioner in their cars broke as well If you live up north where the high does not reach 110 that frequently then by all means this car is probably the car for you But if you live in a hot area take your chances on something else br br " Neg," My Ford Taurus experience began in October of 1999 when I purchased the car for around 2000 I was attending Stonehill College in Easton MA at the time and needed a vehicle to drive to Quincy MA where I live At first the car was reliable and drove fine but after a few months the problems started Here is a chronological list of the problems I have had over the last 2 and a half years b Jan 2000 regulator broken The car will not start I have this fixed b Apr 2000 car rattles Mechanic thinks it is the struts but I do not need to replace them b June 2000 AC broken Just in time for the summer I have this fixed b Feb 2001 Alternator broken I have this one fixed b Aug 2001 Problems shifting into reverse The car takes a few seconds to shift into reverse I m told there is a problem with my brakes but it is not too critical b Aug Feb 2002 Reversing problem gets worse Mechanic tells me that my brakes are the problem New brakes are supposed to fix the problem b Aug 2002 280 brake work Car still has problem shifting into reverse Mechanic now tells me that it is my transmission Estimated price for repair is 1500 That value of my car is only 1000 at best so repairing it is pointless I continue to drive the car as of June 13th 2002 but the transmission gets worse every day Currently the car is at 125 000 miles The thing that was surprising to me about the Taurus is that two of my friends Taurus died when the transmissions went One died at around 75 000 miles and the other at 125 000 miles I am no expert when it comes to cars but from my own personal experiences with the Ford Taurus and that of my friends I would highly recommend seeking another type of automobile From my current understanding the Ford Taurus is not built to last and if you have one expect the transmission to die Good luck " Neg," I bought a 1987 Ford Taurus station wagon in 1994 to obtain comfort and space at a reasonable price I have now owned it for five years It looked great on the used car lot had less than 100 000 and passed the inspection of professional mechanic On the positive side this car is smooth and comfortable The seats are nicely padded and wear well The controls help the driver and passenger determine the positioning and angle of each seat It gets about 20 MPG The paint has been durable The problem is the engine There are weaknesses in the transmission heating cooling system and power steering These require thousands of dollars to repair Most every owner I have spoken to have reported the same weaknesses Count on rebuilding the transmission at about 100 000 miles The heater and air conditioner are hard to get to and may cost about 1 500 to repair The power steering begins to leak at about 125 000 miles requiring the mechanism and hoses to be replaced I gave my car regular preventative care however these repairs cost me more than I paid for the car Ouch In summary buy this model if you can afford the repairs br br " Neg," The 1990 Ford Taurus offered a comfortable ride for the two years I had it But its list of problems are long and serious Starting with the outside the pain has a terrible habit of rusting at the edges of the doors While you can sand it off easily and coat it again in paint the rust simply keeps on coming back The engine is louder and a poor performer for being a V6 Gas mileage is average at roughly 30 The interior has problems involving squeaky door panels and power locks which break Idle can turn rough on a cold start its very apparent when sitting at a stop light the engine will rev up and down once per second causing the car to rock a new O2 sensor did not solve this problem By far the biggest problem with this car is the transmission When it works its sloppy has a late or no downshift and slips When it doesn t work you look at a 2100 transmission rebuilding estimate The transmission shop confirmed that this car has major transmission troubles My Taurus started losing fluid to the point where pouring fluid back was not sufficient it leaked out the front seal the second the transmission was set in motion While the car did its job moving to and from school once per day its not dependable " Neg," I don t like Fords as a matter of practice You see I ve had two really crummy experiences with them My first was a 1997 Taurus Problems started with that vehicle the first day I drove it home from the dealer and it needed a tow that afternoon That was one of thirteen tows that vehicle needed in the 55 000 miles I put on the vehicle and they never found the problem The second problem is my current vehicle the 1999 Taurus which is in the shop as we speak due to a recall and several electrical problems that are being fixed under warranty I know I know I m supposed to be talking about a 2000 Ford Windstar and that s exactly what this review is about I m renting one and have had one for the last week A Ford Windstar is a minivan I must also state that I dislike minivans very much I think without being insulting that they look dorky and they re made for exactly who I m not a soccer mom The trimline on this Windstar is the SE package It is your basic package not a whole lot of bells and whistles are included but it does have some nice creature comforts The one thing I have never been able to complain about with Ford products is that they do make a rather comfortable vehicle This vehicle comes with a six cylinder 3 8 liter engine that produces 200 horsepower at 4900 rpm and 240 foot pounds of torque at 3600 rpm It will climb hills especially when you shut off the overdrive By hills I mean the Rocky Mountains of Colorado which is where I live It is advertised to get 18mpg in the city and 22mpg on the highway Because I do a lot of mountain driving I got far less gas mileage than what was advertised The transmission shifts gears smoothly without any real jarring In fact I would say the transmission is as smooth as my Taurus It is a comfortable shift of gears that is barely noticeable unless you floor the accelerator This leads to a very smooth ride inside the van There is no flashy trim with this vehicle that would distinguish itself from any other minivan although it does have a factory roof rack and molded bumpers That s the extent of the fanciness outside Inside it comes with two benches in the rear that not only fold down but slide out of the vehicle totally turning it from a passenger van into a cargo van It does have an 1800 pound payload capacity and you can fit furniture inside the cargo area with the seats removed It also has front and rear climate controls which was a neat idea The front passengers can control the temperature for the front of the vehicle and the rear passengers can control the temperature back there This is neat for children who sometimes complain that they are too hot or too cold This vehicle is also equipped with an AM FM cassette stereo While the controls are simple to figure out the sound is rather poor I m not sure if that s something unique to the Ford Windstar or if that s something that s common in minivans Either way even hearing talk radio clearly means some heavy manipulation with the bass and treble controls Another funny thing with the stereo was that when I turn off the engine the stereo keeps running I can pull the key out open the driver s door and close it and the radio still runs This vehicle is equipped with an accessory delay which allows you to manipulate the stereo and the windows after you ve already shut off the vehicle As an insurance adjustor I ve never been a fan of this feature on cars There are far too many things that can accidentally be done where a car owner can be sorry about later Windows can inadvertently be opened and I don t trust electrical components especially Ford electrical components to work as advertised Ford has a lousy history with me and their electronics The seats provide plenty of room inside I certainly cannot complain about my six foot frame being cramped I would say that a seven foot tall driver would run into a headroom problem but legroom and headroom for me was not an issue On the other hand the seats aren t comfortable They are very stiff and thin for bucket seats There is a plastic armrest that can be lifted and lowered but it is at an unnatural position when in the lowered position My arm feels like it is sitting far too high for comfort I have chosen to keep the armrest up I noticed that the two passengers I took both women got in the passenger seat and immediately raised the armrest out of the way so it isn t just me If you don t wear a seatbelt the seatbelt indicator will stay lit One thing I did notice as I was sitting at a drive through window at a McDonalds without my seatbelt on was after about twenty seconds there is an annoying alarm that comes on telling you to buckle up As far as I can tell there s no way to shut up the alarm aside from buckling the seatbelt This is a good feature for people like my dad who for some reason refuses to buckle up The passenger bench seats are as comfortable as bench seats can be They provide little support for the lumbar or the thighs but then again I ve never been in a vehicle that does While they do come out of the vehicle they don t feel rickety and have a rather secure feeling Part of that secure feeling may come from a pain in the backside literally to take the seats out It s supposed to be a simple process you fold the seat down tug on a hook on the floor and the seat is supposed to slide right out I don t claim to be the most mechanical person in the world but it took some engineering thoughts on my end before I was successful in removing the seat from the floor The vehicle does come with power windows and power locks The power windows are rather neat The front windows go up and down just like in any other car However the back windows pop in and out like van windows did they just do it automatically As far as I can tell there is no way to raise or lower the rear panel window in the liftgate The liftgate does open straight up and is a single door in this model While this is a tall vehicle people of shorter stature is that the politically correct term these days should have little trouble reaching the liftgate in its open position I have to give Ford credit for this feature There are two sliding passenger doors on this vehicle which makes for a very nice option While I wasn t hauling around cargo or kids I could see where this feature was a blessing especially for cargo It meant that with the rear seats out you could slide the doors open and have someone pull from either direction to help load the vehicle With the sliding doors you can also park in very tight spaces and still gain access to the vehicle The doors do lead me to one major complaint When I was growing up my mother taught me that chivalry was not dead and that you open and close car doors for your women passengers As I stated before I had two different female passengers in this van The problem arises from the fact that some idiot at Ford chose to put the only outside key entry to this vehicle in the passenger door While many vehicles these days have keyless entry this particular van didn t This meant I had two choices I could leave the vehicle unlocked which I am not a fan of even if it isn t my car or I could run over to the driver s side unlock the door open it to unlock all the doors and then run back to the other side of the van to open the passenger door Well here s a newsflash Ford That s a lousy idea You lose major points with me on that even if most people would find that complaint silly Other features include power mirrors a SecureLock anti theft system and dual air bags So what are my recommendations Well I d say if you want a comfortable ride in a minivan then the Ford Windstar is for you If you want a comfortable minivan you may want to look elsewhere I m pretty annoyed with the idea that there s no passenger door entry lock I don t like the accessory delay feature and I don t like the strangely placed armrests for the front seats I m going to be generous and give the Windstar three stars out of a possible five For me that s a good rating on a Ford For a vehicle in general that s a mediocre rating overall br br " Neg," I rented a vehicle for vacation last week and unfortunately they didn t have much of a selection so I ended up with a new Ford Windstar My first impression was quot what a piece of junk quot The fit and finish is absolutely horrible the quality of the materials makes this van basically like a large economy car Maybe the 30 000 version comes with better material The stereo was decent but its radio reception on a scale of 1 to 10 was a negative 40 There s no antenna in sight anywhere so I m guessing it s just a wire hidden under the windshield or something Believe it or not my opinion changed when I first drove it It s a real blast to drive it has pretty good acceleration and braking although the unrefined drivetrain feels too much like my large E150 full size van Since it s built on a car platform it rides nicely very low to the ground and it doesn t feel like you re going to tip over like in most other vans Fun to drive or not the materials still kept their cheap quality and although the steering wheel was kind of nice when I reversed out of a driveway and tried to shift it into drive the position of the steering wheel never let me view the dashboard to see what gear I was going into The seats were pretty comfortable especially for this type of vehicle The power driver s seat is the best the passenger s is okay and the 2 bench seats in the back only hold a total of 4 very small children comfortably Family van I guess but definitely not a van to hold more than two adults Overall it s an okay van good for those on a budget and who don t mind admitting it by buying one of these The styling is kind of nice although it s apparent that Ford took a Chevy Venture and added some NewEdge think Cougar details If you re observant you can easily tell how much the owner paid for each Windstar by the regular or elaborate front grille The driver side sliding door is 99 useless and it s even hard to get in by the one on the other side because a large and very annoying seat belt makes rear passengers feel caged in The only other thing I have to say about it is Why is this van so radically popular when it is A Pretty shoddy and B A total spinoff of GM s vans br br " Neg," Our family recently purchased a new 2000 Ford Windstar SEL and so far I have been very pleased with the purchase which when you read on you ll understand that this is saying a lot We are a family of 4 with two boys 10 and 6 The wife an I both work outside the home and I drove a 1992 Ford Explorer and the wife drove a 1991 4 door Honda Accord We love to go camping and we pull a medium size Colemann Pop Up camper when we are able to go I was starting to have serious problems with the Ford Explorer and we decided it was time to buy a new tow vehicle After looking at other manly vehicles Tahoe Lincoln Navigators Suburbans etc I just couldn t justify their cost and fuel mileage Besides the wife typically takes the boys and their friends to recreational activities so she would be driving it as often as I did After some discussion and believe me I was not an easy sell we decided to look into mini vans as an option to replace the Explorer Needless to say I swallowed my manly pride and we are now owners of a mini van After looking into many different models we decided on Ford because they were offering 60 months 9 financing at the time on the Windstar and they came packaged with the best options for the price We purchased an SEL model with leather CD Cassette dual A C back up sensors and power sliding doors driver passenger side etc After owning this vehicle for 3 months now we could be happier yes me too Gas mileage in town is been running 17 18 MPG and 23 25 on the highway It has plenty of power to pull the camper and plenty of room for kids and related sporting equipment I am very picky about vehicles and this van has impressed me as being very solid and free from defects I do hear quick and slight drive train grind when initially driving off after the van has been parked for a while but it only lasts a split second and doesn t re occur until the van is stopped and restarted The other annomily that I ve heard is the occasional sound of water from the A C dripping on the exhaust when going down the highway Finally I thought that the power sliding doors was a bit too much when we first purchased the van but after owning it for a couple weeks I realized just how conveinent that option was No hands door opening keeps kids from scratching the doors ensures that they can get in even on hill sides and makes it nice for putting groceries in when your hands are full Oh yea I now drive a 4 dr Honda Accord to work each day quite a step from a SUV UPDATE We had just returned home from a 11 hour road trip only to have the transmission completely fail while trying to take off from a stop light It gave me no warning of any kind just a large crunch when trying to accelerate away from a stop light Get this The warranty expired less than 60 days earlier and after the road trip the van now has 37K miles on it Ford has agreed to pick up part of the cost but I m stuck with a 950 repair Oh yea a rebuilt transmission could cost anywhere from 2 200 to 2 800 The main problem is that Ford uses the Ford Taurse transmission in these mini vans These transmissions are alread plagued with problems and when you add the extra 800 lbs of a mini van it s just asking for trouble If your debating the different mini vans look beyond Ford and go with Toyota or better yet Honda I ll likely trade mine in as soon as it gets back from the dealer My advise stay away from Ford products with FWD automatic transmissions " Neg," I am a soccer mom And I got this car at a discount but if I were to do it over again and I WON this car in a raffle I d throw the keys away First let me say I ve driven this car for 18 months so what I write I write from experience Some people may find the following complaints nit picky But I live in my car I drive the kids to school I pick them up I go grocery shopping shoe shopping and clothing shopping and except for food none of it s my own I shop online for clothes because there are simply not enough hours in the day to shop for me And yes I go to and from soccer games and soccer practices for 2 of my 4 children I spend a LOT of time in this car If I could afford it I would trade this in for almost anything else but alas the loan is still worth more than the car Now you know I hate it This is why cup holders automatic door tracks storage keypad entry 3rd seat gas mileage snow noise and did I say cup holders Cup holders sounds like a trivial thing but it s a big issue There are two up front They pop out with the ashtray If you put in a heavy drink whether a full water bottle or a coffee thermos and you don t close the pinchers the drink ends up on your foot If it s heavy enough it ll end up on your foot anyway the first time you make a turn Also I should note that if you want to recharge your cell phone of you have a passenger charging his laptop he ll have to hold his drink There is an additional port by the passenger but it s so close to the floor that no cell phone could be used if plugged in and few laptop cords I own an SEL It comes with a front console between the bucket seats It has no additional cup holders in it This is significant SUVs often have a place for drinks on the console Not the Windstar There is no alternative place for cupholders for me and no place to hold a drink for a kid who can t reach his her own cupholder The SEL comes with 2nd row captain s chairs The cup holders are near the floor of the chairs and flip down Kids in carseats can t reach them at all Younger children not in carseats still have trouble reaching them Adults sitting in those seats have to grab the drink from the top If it s a soda or worse coffee from fast food the top can and does pop off The rear bench thankfully has decent cupholders but they are the only ones The Toyota Sierra has cup holders that fold into the sliding doors Almost everyone else does NOT have the pinchers With as much time as we spend in the car it is unrealistic not to have the kids or me drink something at some part of the day We get drinks spilled alot Then the car starts to smell It s amazing how fast and how bad a little orange soda or the smallest drop of a vanilla shake can smell Don t discount this Lack of useable cupholders is a big issue to anyone who drives but especially those of us with children Automatic closing doors The SEL has one on each side The smallest piece of crayon A stray nickel can keep it from closing Sometimes these things get stuck in the track to the point where the door doesn t quite close but can t then open easily either Storage If you aren t using the third bench the Windstar probably has plenty of room I wouldn t know I have 4 young children Which means my options are either a minivan with the 2nd and 3rd row intact or an extra large SUV Anyone who owns an extra large SUV and we do knows that they are not the car that you take to zip in and out of busy parking lots You may be able to park it but you might have to choose which side of the car gets to exit The doors are large and swing open wide So the third bench is stuck there more on that later That means there is less than 20 cu ft of storage space behind it That is peanuts folks If I put an umbrella stroller back there and that is the smallest version of stroller out there I am hard put to fit a weeks worth of groceries in the back If I put the stroller in the passenger compartment then the kids trip on their way in and out Even weekend trips tax our abilities to travel comfortably You leave the umbrella stroller home Add a portacrib Give everyone a small duffle and that s it You are out of room Half the Windstars around here have luggage carriers permanently strapped to the roof with good reason Let s talk 3rd bench It is big It doesn t split in half and it is heavy as hell My oldest daughter lost her retainer in the car I had to take out the third bench and both captain s chairs before I found it in the well of where one the chairs hooks in I did it myself I am a small but strong person but I can tell you I hope I never have to do it again Even with two people getting the third seat out is unwieldy at best And getting it back in is even worse The manual sucks and the levers stick And hope you never have to do it if you own one Everything disgusting and vile congregates in those wells Keypad entry All of Ford s SUVs have this feature The SEL is the top of the line It does not If anyone is going to get locked out of their car it s going to be a parent Because their kid is going to close the door on them before they have removed the keys Gas Mileage If I m lucky I get 16 city and 17 5 highway Not close to the 18 22 I live in a place that gets a lot of snow It s an urban area and we have pretty good snow removal The Windstar s version of ALLTrac isn t bad However it s ground clearance is terrible I have gotten stuck in parking lots and driveways where snow has built up by an exit or in the center of a lane However I think the ground clearance thing would be true of almost any Minivan Most of our relatives live a couple hours away Once this car gets on the highway it is LOUD No joke I don t hear as well out of my left ear driver s window side and with all the driving I do I can t tell if it s from the car or the baby who I usually carry on my left hip As I said I have four small children as in they would be crushed by airbags if they sat up front I don t have a lot of choices in cars And until I ve paid a little more off on my loan I have no choices Don t make the same mistake The Grand Caravan has tons of room behind the third seat I think almost twice as much as the Windstar But if I was to get another Minivan I think the Honda would be my car That way if I wanted to go to BJs I could easily make the 3rd seat disappear But once this lemon is paid down I m giving serious look at the Buick Rendevous With the snow around here Central Mass I need something that can fit 4 kids easily and please NOT with a 2nd row seat that you have to pop up to get to the back bench with more ground clearance that is still easy to park at the Soccer Field or the local Shop n Stop " Neg," That is what I was told by a a Ford Motor Company engineer who I met with to discuss a vibration in the gas pedal at 2 250 RPM since that time the vibration has gotten much worse and at times the transmission hesitates shifting to the next highest gear He also told me that his bosses 2000 Windstar had the same vibration He stated to me that it was a normal operating condition to me it was not anything normal and I would not have purchased a 2000 Windstar if I would have noticed it during our test drive The first time I noticed it was when we were driving 3 hours and I noticed it at highway speeds and my foot started falling to sleep I questioned the engineer at the time if this was normal then why did Ford fix the problem in the 2001 models He did not answer me I did not have this vibration in my 1995 Windstar why was it added in 2000 and removed in 2001 My concern is what does it mean Could it be mismatched parts incorrect tolerances something wearing in the transmission and will I have a problem after 36 000 miles are on the vehicle Consumer Reports even suggests to stay away from several of the model year Windstars including the 2000 model additional note I talked to an ex engineer at Ford and he was not surprised what I was experiencing because his parents complained about the same vibration in their 2000 Windstar The questions to ask yourself is what did Ford change in newer models and why if in their words the issue in the 2000 model is a normal operating condition " Neg," I am a former Ford salesman Yea I sold a couple of Windstars but practicaly had to give them away Before I go in to this I want to say that it did receive a five star safety rating which is the highest a vehicle can receive Very safe well from the impact of another vehicle I was particulary excited to show couples the windstars at the dealership because there were always high bonuses on them I sold a windstar that was a new 1999 model still leftover from a year ago at 6 000 00 under MSRP And I made close to a thousand dollars of commission off that one van The dealership took a big hit but they were losing 3 a month for just having it on the lot That happens after the vehicle sits on the lot for over 90 days but over 120 days it gets ridiculous for the dealership to hold on to So if you have to have a Windstar make sure you Don t pay for it Thats just the point of view of a salesman not a high demand now that SUV s are popular Think about an Expedition instead Low rating because of lack of popularity br br " Neg," We had owned a Dodge caravan but swore off them when the transmission failed at 70k miles The Windstar styling appealed to my wife and the safety features side airbags back up sensor were not available on other vans of that year The van is used primarily to carry the kids to school swimming etc Gas mileage is not great 15 in town 19 highway The first problem we had was excessive oil consumption The dealer fixed it under warranty The problem was never fully explained but we also had to have an update to the computer fuel injector cleaning and an oil change Cost 350 Next the automatic side doors started sticking open These were adjusted by the dealer under warranty We passed on the had to have cooling system flush tire rotation and oil change Saved 300 At 34k miles I wanted the transmission checked as it appeared to take too long to engage when shifting from P or N to D Ford said there was nothing wrong with it and specifications allowed up to a 7 second delay We had to have another computer update a transmission service and an oil change Cost 350 At 38k the front brakes had to be serviced Pads and rotors were worn beyond acceptable We didn t use the Ford dealer for this Saved 300 At 44k miles the lower tie rod ends had to be replaced Cost 279 plus the had to have fuel injector cleaning cooling system service and battery test Total cost 500 but after complaining to Ford we got 170 refunded against the tie rods At 48k the mass air flow sensor and the master cylinder pressure speed switch failed Plus another update to the computer Cost 450 And finally at 50k the transmission had to be rebuilt Cost 1800 Additionally there is always some little thing going wrong the electric seat the radio speakers the rear wiper etc I like the looks of the van but I will never buy another Ford " Neg," A friend of mine just paid more than 20 000 to try to get the comfort I have in a van almost ten years older and 13 000 cheaper We have a 1990 model Ford Aero Star This van is awesome and most comfortable The Windstar has much less head room than the Aero Star It is much easier to get in and out of the older van than the new one Even with the so called upgrades Ford has established in their newer vans it is apparent they cut too many corners in developing the Windstar Our Aero Star was modified by Qualico with more plush seats and interior courtesy lights for each passenger Even so the Aero Star vans that I have traveled in that are just off the production line are hands down better than the Windstar Aero Star were available with four wheel drive This is not an option with the Windstar If you only have town driving to contend with and real comfort isn t an issue buy yourself a Windstar If you are looking for comfort and a more road compatible vehicle buy yourself a used Aero Star br br " Neg," If you get this car I would suggest getting a cell phone because it is going to leave you stranded We bought a 92 Aerostar and as you can guess It literally fell apart We had to replace the engine transmission brake stuff and many other vital parts It left us stranded on I 17 200 miles from home with a 4 wheel drive This means that you need a flatbed tow truck so that the gears didn t get screwed up Also The electronics fail all of the time This means that the windows radio ignition lights air etc don t work The car currently has multiple undetectable flaws that leave us wondering if we bought the wrong car Now We know DO NOT BUY THIS CAR The only thing good about it is the space Any car company can do that though " Neg," In 97 I bought a used 95 Windstar Like another complaint listed I also had continual problems with the door ding going off I oiled sprayed and slammed but the ding and light keep going off and have learned to just keep the radio loud enough to ignor it I replace the brakes 4 times in 3 years transmission filter 3 times and Engine and ABS lights kept going on and off When the van hit 100K miles it self destructed Suddenly gas started pouring out of the tailpipe Replaced sparkplugs and wires thinking they may be worn out Gas kept pouring out I was informed by my mechanic it was the fuel injectors at a cost of 129 each 6 plus labor Gas kept pouring out It came down to the computer which is neatly hidden in a 3 hour labor cost to just remove Computer cost 260 plus labor of 900 After 3000 the van ran for two weeks when the whole brake line broke Here is where the van becomes extremely dangerous When towed to a mechanic who specializes in racing cars began working on the brake line we made a shocking discovery My mechanic tried to purchase another line from Ford but they no longer MAKE it While checking the path of why the brake line just blew out my mechanic realized that the brake line is right next to the catalytic converter The converter gets extremely hot heating the line up and causing extreme pressure to the lines Which eventually causes the line to break at a connection or melt down and explode My mechanic claims this should cause a total design recall on the part of Ford These vans could explode and you would not only lose your brakes but perhaps your life I am happy to be alive however someone else may not be so lucky br br " Neg," We were rear ended while in our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan which I love to pieces and had to have it repaired Needing a mini van we ended up with a 2000 Ford Windstar Granted it was the lowest possible model that the rental agency purchases but this van was terrible It had the get up and go of a snail and the blind spots Boy if you ever wanted to purchase a vehicle with really bad blind spots this would have to be the one You can turn twist and do all the maneuvering you want and you still can not see out of those rear windows The vehicle felt too light for being the size it was but then I am used to driving a 5500 lb Caravan It did stop quite smoothly though You did not have to mash on the brakes and throw everyone to the front of the van The seats were a bit uncomfortable and even in the basic model for being the price they are seemed to be missing quite a few features that you would expect to see like something besides a plastic steering wheel The road noise was also quite terrible I felt like I was yelling to the passenger so they could hear me Over all I would not purchase one these But please remember that this was a rental vehicle that we only had for a week I would stick with my Caravan any day br br " Neg," Make it simple Strengths Huge cargo area with the rear bench seats removed great when we moved Cruise control has been great on long trips gas mileage hovers around 18 mpg highway Weaknesses Transmission has been the biggest problem so far I m not pleased at the way the resale value is plummeting just 18 months after purchase Book value is half of what I paid for it just 18 months ago with 83 000 miles it may be time to cut my losses and go for a Suburban Also I don t like the fact that there are no headrests on the rear bench seats SInce my kids are small I didn t pay attention to it until some adult friends came along for the ride and now I m paranoid of serious whiplash injuries if we ever get rear ended Overall I m getting my money s worth out of this car but it could have been worse I bought it used with 45 000 miles on it and the dealer put in a new transmission less than a week after I drove it off the lot Fortunately this dealer offers a three month warranty on any used car so it did not cost me However the new transmission failed within a month so they replaced two sensors and put in another transmission again at no cost So far so good a year and a half later The only major repair after another 35 000 miles is the steering arm on the front passenger side otherwise just routine maintenance After reading other reviews I guess I can t complain yet The dealer has made all the difference so far they have treated me great I was in a loaner car for several days while the transmission was being fixed great service and great attitude from the service team so far and it s been the only reason I have continued to own Ford products I had an Escort station wagon and a Ranger 4x4 before this but nothing compares to my 95 Mazda 626 which gave me a quarter million miles of virtually maintenance free service before giving up the ghost " Neg," First thing is I did not purchase a Windstar I rented the Windstar for 3 days After the 1st 2 min of driving this vehicle I instantly did not like it at all This was a fairly loaded Windstar the seats were horribly uncomfortable It had powered seats but no matter where I positioned them my top of my back and up had no cushion I can imagine what kind of whipplash I could expect if I was in a accident Next I notice that good ole Ford continues to make cars without a choice of Circulated and Re Circulated ventilation I think all the other car makers do The ventilation system was very weak The fan only had 4 speeds and the 2 lowest fluctuated dramatically The buttons and temp slide adjustment was very loose I also noticed that the pedals where too close to the drivers seat so the peddals where close the steering wheel was far This vehicle had only 2400 miles on it I m average size man 5 10 quot When you get out of the van to open the back door it s quot locked quot very annoying The stereo had very small buttons example was the am fm button Ride was like a boat a lot of swaying from side to side engine noise was abundant and quot throaty quot Acceleration was uneven sudden jumps when applying the accelerator Braking was the worst Very mushy and very hard to stop I would not recommend this vehicle at all Go purchase a Chrysler Minivan br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle used in 1995 because I was expecting our first child and the sports car just would not do any longer This was not my first choice for a sports utility but at the time the price was right we paid 12 000 00 and it only had 40 000 miles on it It was driven by an older gentlemen who had kept it in excellent condition and had only used the 4 wheel drive in snow It has the Eddie Bauer package power windows and doors rear window defrost cruise control and a tow package I loved it at first but then after only a year I started having problems with it The check engine light would come on but whenever I stopped it would go off again It spent 3 weeks in the shop with no problems found On my way home from the shop wouldn t you know it the light came on only this time it never went off The shop at our Ford dealer said it was just a sensor gave me the bill for 856 84 and left me there almost in tears Two weeks later we started the same process with the rear anti lock brake light Three years later I am still driving with this light on as no one can figure out how to fix it To make a long story short we have in 6 years replaced the oil pump 5 times the brakes I couldn t tell you how many times and other items relating to the engine so many times that we finally had it rebuilt in 1999 and I am still having problems with it stalling all the time It now has 152 000 miles on it I love to drive this type of vehicle when it is running correctly I can see where I am going even in the pouring rain I live out in the boondocks so I really need this type of vehicle to get in my driveway at times I would recommend a sport utility in a heartbeat just not this particular one It has cost me almost twice what I paid for it in mechanical bills There are parts on this vehicle oil pump battery water pump fuel pump that you can count on breaking within a certain number of miles So whenever it gets close to the mileage on these parts I just stay close to home The wrecker service in this area is on speed dial on my cell phone br br " Neg," I bought my 1990 Ford Bronco 2 years ago It has a 350 5 8L V8 4X4 I bought it for 5000 00 and have spent that much plus more getting it fixed It had one owner before me When I got it it ran really great at first The windshield leaks the front of the roof leaks so everytime it rains the inside of my truck gets wet It also leaks wear the pedals are It is currently in the shop getting the back brakes replaced plus all of the seals the axle that the brakes destroyed My engine has 800 00 worth of work to be done I have replaced my left window motor twice and the left door lock motor once The air conditioner is also being worked on I have replaced the exhaust system The 4X4 has also had to be replaced I know I m forgetting other things I only get 12 mpg and with gas prices the way they are it costs me around 200 00 a month Right now I have 175 000 plus miles and a very big headache I am a little person and feel very safe in this big truck but that is about the only good thing about it DO NOT buy this vehicle Any one who has a Bronco I wish them the best of luck I think its time I get something else " Neg," We searched for and decided on this truck after the little Isuzu we had conked out We bought this truck with 13000 miles on it This is my husbands truck which I don t like to drive but have to sometimes What is there about the truck that I don t like I will try to be fair The truck is just a plain pickup truck nothing fancy It is an XLT 2 door regular cab and has a 4 cylinder engine and automatic transmission b Features Automatic Steering The steering handles well and responds to the touch Antilock Brakes They work Air Conditioning Cools off quickly Heat takes a little longer to kick in Power Windows This has a neat feature that I wish my van had When the ignition is switched off the button that operates the power windows can be used if the door hasn t been opened I always end up having to put the key back in my van and switching it on to operate the windows Stereo with cassette and CD player Shutoff switch for airbag on passenger side Can only switch on or off with the key This is a great safety feature if you have a small child riding in the passenger seat or a toddler car seat There is a third window in the truck that is in the back windshield This window slides back and forth like a sliding glass door b Comfort The Seat Belts are adjustable for comfort The Seat has a lumbar support that helps ease the strain riding or driving There is not much leg room between the dash board and the seat The seat slides back and forth and is adjustable There is only room for two people in this truck there is a third seat belt but it would have to be a small child to ride comfortably The instrument panel is convenient and easy to reach for the driver and passenger b What I like I like the way the steering responds I like the safety switch for the airbag b What I don t like I do not like the way it handles on a wet road The truck is light and feels as if it slides when it is raining If there is a strong wind the truck sways The power of this truck is okay to drive on the freeway without getting run over The Ranger drives okay in regular traffic and driving on regular roads Going up a hill or steep bridge it feels like it is straining to keep up speed Times like this is when I wish I had a straight shift The bed of the truck is big enough to hold a good size load we have used it to move a daughters furniture It drives more stable to me when it has a load I would not use this truck to pull a boat and trailer There has been a problem with the light that tells you a door is open It comes on when all the doors are closed and locked I think my husband finally got it fixed The noise level of this truck is high to me My husband says it is normal but it still sounds awfully noisy I would not buy another one For driving back and forth to work and hauling groceries it is fine I would not take a trip in it to the mountains " Neg," Okay I m not totally anti Ford Explorer They re decent cars And I think the Firestone tire thing is not a major concern But the 2000 and 2001 Explorer doesn t handle as well as other cars in its class namely the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Nissan Pathfinder It s just no comparison Maybe it s the quot one body quot thing Explorer is put together from different parts rather than molded from one piece of steel All I know is my 2000 Explorer which I sold after 3 months can t touch my new 2001 Pathfinder nor my 1998 Jeep which I leased before the Explorer And there were other problems For instance there was a lot of rattling Whenever I got out of the car after driving I could here all sorts of quot pings quot and other noises But the car was supposedly in excellent shape And it drove okay but I constantly felt like I was driving a big truck and would flip on quick turns not so on the Pathfinder or the new Jeeps or more expensive SUVs except the Mercedes Explorers have some major positives Keyless entry is great And the headlights are incredibly bright which is a nice thing if you live in a rural area But the Jeep s computer and the Pathfinder s better stereo and related features see my Pathfinder review more than make up for those loses If you have a good deal on a used or new Explorer I am not saying to definitely pass it up I would just check out the Pathfinder and Jeep and drive them all a lot around curves on the interstate before you pick one On SUVs handling is the most important thing i e does it feel like a car or a truck and I think Explorers finish last in their class br br " Neg," That 2001 Ford Explorer you may be considering is not as new as you think Sure it smells new it s shiny and it looks modern but the mechanicals underneath are anything but new The explorer started out life in 1990 It was at the time a break through It handled nicely for a truck had lots of room for people pets and cargo and did everything well The public reacted by making it the best selling sport utility vehicle in the country and ever since it has held that title I can see the practical reasons why Americans hold this SUV so dear after a number of hours behind the wheel of my company s jet black 2001 Explorer 4x4 4 door XLS The explorer does everything well for 90 of American drivers The afformentioned room reliability towing ability and resale value have made it a hit here But I am one of those 10 of Americans who would find the Explorer lacking Compared to new SUV s the explorer feels every bit of 10 years old Don t get me wrong I owned a 1991 explorer for 5 years when it was new and I liked it But compared to newer SUV s the Jeep Grand Cherokee for one the steering feels dead and it handles like a much bigger vehicle The stock ford stereo is among the worst sound systems I have heard in a modern car It is a stereo cassette unit with very bad accoustics and to get normal driving volume the stereo needs to be half way cranked up Spend a little more and go for the all new from the ground up 2002 model It handles much better is roomier and can finally truly compete with the modern crop of SUV s " Neg," I used to have this car Note the used to part It was sold for a much nicer Honda Accord The first thing you notice while test driving the 97 Explorer is how bumpy the ride is The shocks are a little too hard even for an SUV Going over speedbumps at 5mph feels like driving over a boulder in any other car After about 3 days of normal driving you ll have to fill up the gas tank And probably by that time you ll need an oxygen mask while you drive The pollution from this thing is tremendous typical of any wonderful Ford It s barely within our State s legal limits even brand new The gas mileage is advertised to be between 15 16 for a V8 but it doesn t achieve even that I found that under normal driving conditions I could get maybe 12 miles to a gallon if I was lucky Normally I got 10 or 11 on the average Pretty terrible yes The suspension on this Explorer was horrendous Every time you brake the suspension creaks and groans under the stress I tried to have it fixed while under warranty but nothing could be done Even replacing the entire suspension system did no help Plus the driver s side seatbel " Neg," I am a Mother of 3 small children who decided the time had come to purchase a minivan After reading as many car magazines as I could get my hands on I narrowed the search to the Ford Windstar SEL and the Honda Odyssey EX Both of these models were new for 1999 and they were the only ones who offered automatic doors a seemingly great feature for a mother with small kids At the time the Windstar had a 5 star safety rating the Odyssey was not rated The Windstar was readily available the Odyssey had a 6 week wait The Windstar was a nicer looking vehicle I purchased the Windstar It did not take long for me to realize that I had made a terrible mistake When we picked up the vehicle we noticed the door did not close flush to the vehicle The service department repaired it One month later the car battery died while picking up carpool back to the service department Since that time I have been to the service department for a rear view mirror falling off the gas gauge not being accurate the door molding falling off and a clicking noise from the steering column These however are only the problems that they repaired To this day the vehicle at times exhibits a quot surging quot sensation when going from drive to reverse or vice versa that they can not fix In addition the automatic doors are a HUGE safety concern The Ford dealers will tell you that the automatic doors retract automatically if there is something in the way What they don t tell you is that you need to exhibit force against the door for it to do this For an adult this can be done although I have been bruised before however a small child can easily be injured In addition the buttons for the automated doors are located within reach of a child This makes for a fun toy for the child and a nightmare for the parent You may think I was unfortunate to get a lemon However I have searched the internet and have found a high number of other Windstar owners who are experiencing the same problems that I have encountered I have also read of other owners having the front wheel fall off many electrical problems and I read of a child who s foot was badly injured from the doors If you are considering purchasing this vehicle I suggest you visit www cartrackers com and www edmunds com Look through the forums and town halls and you will be amazed at the number of unhappy Windstar owners I should also mention that Ford Motor Company has one of the worst customer service departments that I have ever come across If you want to speak to a supervisor you have to wait for them to call you and if you are not home you are just out of luck case closed The Windstar may be nice looking inside and out but remember looks aren t everything br br " Neg," I will be upfront with you from the beginning and tell you that I am not a Ford fan But that has nothing to do with the opinion I am about to write My family of 5 traveled to Hawaii for a vacation We had reserved a mini van on the Big Island Of course we didn t know what we d get we were willing to take whatever they gave us at the rental agency Ford GM Toyota whatever Well they gave us a Ford Windstar which was fine When we walked to the van it was a nice looking van and we thought this would be a nice experience to get over some of our dislike for past Ford products we ve had bad experiences with First problem was we couldn t even fit all of our luggage into the hatchback area some of it had to go into the back seat with one person sitting there Yes I know we could pack lighter but believe me we were within reasonable limits Had no trouble getting it on the planes in fact we didn t max out our limits there Next problem was the first time the driver opened the drivers door he wacked himself on the head because the door kind of curves down and in making it so you have to pay attention every time you open the door No stitches were involved but he did have a nasty looking cut for the duration of our trip Next problem is that the middle seat in the back doesn t go all the way to the edge of the vehicle like the Astro or Safari s do so the adults who were riding in the middle seat had difficulty getting in and out comfortably and when you are sightseeing there is a lot of getting in and out And my last complaint has nothing to do with Ford but we had to laugh when we left the rental agency in Kona flew to Honolulu to rent another van for a week and got another Windstar We asked for something different but they didn t have anything available Since we d already paid for it before our vacation we didn t have the heart to walk away and try a different rental agency I do know that in the future I won t rent or buy a Ford Windstar There were some good points about it Like I said at the beginning it is a nice looking vehicle it does drive nice and I particularly liked the rear controlled air conditioning br br " Neg," We originally leased a 1998 Ford Windstar and LOVED it We then turned it in at the end of the lease and bought a 1999 Windstar anticipating we d enjoy it also HATED IT First of all it doesn t look as sleek as the 98 Secondly it sometimes rides like a truck not a car After the wonderful experience of the 98 I don t understand what happened with the 99 It doesn t have as much room as the 98 either The good thing is that it does have rear doors on both sides now The bad thing is that you can only enter the second rear seat from one side it would be very helpful to enter from both sides Also there s no longer a door lock for the automatic lock at the rear door The sound system is good though You should buy this vehicle if you have never had a mini van before you will love it because you won t have any comparison Also it does ride well after the 1st 5000 miles and it s great for long highway trips And for the money it s probably one of the best values you can get Even though I don t love the car I will say it s not a totally awful car If I had never purchased the 98 I would probably think it s great It has done great in safety tests br br " Neg," We bought our 1999 Windstar SE in August 1999 We looked at the Windstar the Honda Odyssey the Nissan Quest and the Dodge Caravan We decided on the Windstar even though we would have preferred the Odyssey We didn t want to wait 3 months or pay over invoice We ended up with a completely loaded woodland green SE model because at the end of the 1999 model year the only SEL we could find was gold The only option we didn t add was the backing up sensors the beeping thing This is basically an SEL without the two tone paint What we like We like the controls They are very logically placed and if you have a large drink in the drink holder it doesn t block the radio or other controls the Quest was the worst for this We like the looks It is a very nice looking van in our opinion We love the dual remote controlled sliding doors My two year old loves to play with the buttons so for now we have it turned off on the main control and I only use the remote for it right now I m concerned too about safety I stuck the large plastic key holder box at the dealership in the door as it closed and it dented it I have VERY small hands and no way would I test it with my hand Not worth the risk The salesman did it though and the door opened back up It is very easy to get my 2 kids in and out of 10 months old and 2 1 2 years old It has a very nice albeit noisy ride It drives a lot like my 1998 Honda Accord did I replaced the Accord with the Windstar What we don t like The windshield washer button is on the end of the blinker control I can t tell you how many times I ve washed the windshield while turning the corner LOL This might seem petty but it is driving me crazy It is noisy Not in terms of squeaks and rattles but general road noise poor insulation My older son likes to sit in the quot way back quot and I can barely hear him talking It is quieter than the Caravan though I slammed the middle two fingers of my right hand in the passenger sliding door the first time I closed it from the inside The handle placement is VERY POORLY DESIGNED If you don t completely wrap your fingers around the handle WATCH OUT when you close the door from the inside I m afraid to close it now I ve never gotten more than 15 miles per gallon and I drive 80 highway The manufacturer claims 17 city 23 highway The dealer said there is nothing wrong with it It s not my driving though because I get 15 mpg in my husband s Tahoe which has a huge V 8 engine and weighs twice as much While this is not necessarily a bad minivan I would not buy this car again I m already wishing for a new one We have not had this car in for repairs yet we ve had it 6 months but I have heard some weird transmission noises when putting in reverse It also shifts from reverse to drive with a clunk and sometimes a lurch UPDATE 1 11 04 We ve had this car for 3 5 years now It has about 38 000 miles on it Most of our complaints repairs have been nuisances However last summer we had to replace the entire steering system at a cost of about 1 400 The cruise control from the beginning has only worked when it wants to work not necessarily when we want it to work They can t fix it because it always seems to work when we take it to the shop The rear air stopped working and luckily that turned out to be a fuse The automatic doors occasionally don t work We had the transmission reprogrammed and it doesn t clunk anymore We are in the process of trying to sell this car as we have replaced it with a 2004 Honda Pilot which we absolutely LOVE " Neg," Fortunately I did not pay for this minivan I took delivery of it in April 1999 as my company vehicle I ve driven company vehicles since 1973 and have looked after them as if they were my own I have always purchased them afterwards but this Windstar will probably be the first exception in 28 years When I drove it home from the dealer and parked in my driveway the hood looked like had condensation on it Unfortunately this was such a poor paint job it looked like someone had used an aerosol paint can to do it I immediately took it back to the dealer where I was met with complete indifference and was told to take it round the back to the collision centre They wouldn t replace the hood and would only repaint it Three days later I arrived home with the new Windstar a paint job and 12 miles on the odometer Once the weather warmed up the engine began to ping premature detonation of fuel mixture at 1800 RPM I heard all sorts of reasons from it s your ashtray to you must have had the van gassed up while playing the radio this corrupts its processor I had it in 7 times for this pinging until in September 2000 the engine rattled so bad that it clunked to a standstill totally seized at 25 000 miles It took over a week to have a replacement recycled engine installed and the Ford dealer would NOT provide a loaner Once the weather warmed up in 2001 the pinging started again with the second engine This time I went to another Ford dealer in the next town This dealer was excellent and within two visits have almost eliminated the ping by recalibrating the processor and installing a new style valve cover which has an additional baffle to prevent oil vapors from being burnt Other poor points Radio cuts out when a passenger gets into van This is annoying when listening the news in a parking lot Radio sometimes stays on when driver removes key and leaves van When this happens the power windows are still live this appears to have drained the battery several times Now I always check before exiting The horn is difficult to use You must first find the seam on the large airbag cover as it s the only part that will sound the horn quite dangerous Windshield appears to have a badly shaped area right in front of the driver which won t clean properly in icy weather Seats are rather thin and small I was in Europe recently and my small econobox car over there had proper seats that actually were wide and comfortable The Windstar has lots of wasted space either side of the seats The roof on Windstars has a strange seam on either side which appears to be filled with a hard putty The paint soon cracks on this material Rear speakers are intermittent because of poorly designed spring loaded contacts on sliding doors I often clean them to get the rear speakers to work In damp weather the plastic panels squeak Rear licence plate shield light holders broke off Huge turning circle makes these vans cumberson to park in tight locations Good points Good safety rating Heating and air conditioning works well Nice safe orange rear turn signals instead of confusing red ones Engine is quite powerful but harsh if working hard Fuel economy is actually not bad on long highway runs " Neg," I purchased a 1999 Windstar in November 1998 Initially the car operated perfectly However at 10 200 miles the car locked up while in drive and nothing I could do would get it to move After about 25 seconds the car surged forward very fast and I had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting a car crossing in front When the light turned green the car operated normally The dealer in Tampa replaced several computer transmission parts and assured me that everything was ok Three weeks later it did it again The dealer could find nothing wrong with the car Upon moving to Alabama in July the car repeated the lock up I explained to the dealer that it was a safety issue and that I could be killed if I accelerated from a stop sign and the car refused to move for 20 seconds and then surged into traffic Again they could find nothing wrong and there were no tech bulletins from Ford addressing such a problem In January 2000 we were left sitting in a busy intersection when the car refused to go and then in 15 20 seconds surged into traffic The Ford dealer contacted the regional rep and they promised me a new transmission in one week Three and one half weeks later the transmission arrived and seemed to be ok The second week I noted that the transmission abruptly downshifted at about 42 miles per hour and slowed very quickly even though I was accelerating It was as though I had downshifted to quot 1 quot The dealer gained access to a tech bulletin and adjusted the transmission Today I drove and found that the transmission does not downshift at 42 MPH it downshifts at 53 miles per hour So much for Ford tech bulletins so much for quot Reliability is job one quot I have written complaints to and called the NHTSB and they have done nothing I have called Ford several times without success Has anyone else had similar problems If so did you avail yourself of the Lemon Law Did Ford offer a financial incentive to purchase another Ford product br br " Neg," updated Jan 03 Hello all an update to my windstar review is required For those of you that do not tend to keep your vehicles for long periods you may not care for those of you that plan to keep your vehicle for 3 years or more please read my update at bottom I never thought we would buy a mini van I never liked the shapes some of them look like bugs Then I saw someone driving the 1999 Ford Windstar and I fell in love I sent my husband to look at them and he fell in love Why First off let me explain that we have 2 children one in a booster seat and one in an infant seat Plus my husband is 6 feet 6 inches We had to upgrade our car to a bigger car a SUV or a Mini Van The car seats and my husband could not fit in our car anymore We tried numerous SUV s but none of them in our price range around 25k could fit my husband with the seat all the way back and the infant carrier Until we got to the Windstar We all fit very comfortably in it My husband can finally drive a car without his knee s being in his chest The only place he cannot fit is BEHIND the 2nd bench row But even when he is sitting in the second row he is very comfortable We purchased the LX model with 2 doors one of which is an automatic door For the additional money we spent on it I was leary of it However its fantastic How many times do the kids run to the car to wait for you to open the doors not anymore just press the button and they can get in and start getting buckled in I have found that my mini van is getting excellent mileage I can go about 260 miles with a full tank before i HAVE TO get gas The car is user friendly and I love the overhead compartments that comes with the back seat headphone jacks so the kids can listen to their music and I dont have to The main thing that I do not like about it is that I keep the 3rd row seats in because I never know when I am going to need it however then I don t have a lot of room for my groceries Also they sell a cargo net but really they should include it for safety so that bag of canned goods wont fall on our feet One tip no matter what car you are purchasing I almost could not afford the monthly payments for this car Until we went online and found a dealership near us not the one we were using that specialized in online selling We drove to them about 10 miles from us and we got about 3 000 in savings because we used the internet to locate them so keep your eyes open Jan 05 04 Update We have now owned our mini van for 4 years and 6 months I have put somewhat more then average miles on it i now have 62 000 miles on it I have to say that i am looking to sell my car asap and will not get another ford windstar again Since my car was 1 year old i have had MAJOR mechanical problems of course these problems big and small were completly covered under the warrenty I have had 2 new transmissions a new axel 8 tires and i do service regularly including rotation fuel pump problems many recalls automatic door problems new brakes added humm what else i have had to have the lines flushed air conditioner fixed cd player replaced had to have the entire power sliding door mechanism replaced new front and rear break pads and rotors can i think of anything else well i m sure there is more it will come to me Unfortunatly i have also had major problems since my warrently expired that i have had to pay out of pocket for Since my warrently expired in july 2002 I have spent about 4500 on car parts service not including normal servicing I am shocked that i have had these problems but when we take our car into the dealer we find that others have these problems too It also seems that the dealers have trouble correcting our problems the first time because we somehow always seem to have to go back to get the same problem fixed 2 or 3 times before it actually gets corrected yet the service people never fail to remind me that the most important thing to them is getting an excellent rating on any survey card i receive afterwords yeah like thats gonna happen Inside everything is ok i still like the look the space the price etc but i will never get a ford windstar again due to the mechanical problems that i should not have with a car with only 49 000 miles and a provable service record " Neg," The vehicle that I am reviewing is a 1999 Ford Windstar mini van This is a company leased vehicle that is presently assigned to me while my new Crown Vic is on order This van is as underpowered as the three Aerostar vans that preceded it This van has the ability to SOUND like it is picking up speed but it is only an illusion The engine revs up and it sounds powerful but alas you can not see the speedometer climb faster Other than this being underpowered the roominess and creature comforts are average The average gas mileage is 15 MPG with most of the miles on the freeway This vehicle would be an OK choice if it s primary chore was toting junior to soccer or mom to the supermarket If this van is to be used in a commercial operation the Chevy ASTRO would be a better choice br br " Neg," When I went on vacation with my girlfriend and her family to Washington DC from Milwaukee they rented a Ford Winstar to drive there Well that was a huge mistake First of all the minivan is really crampt There were five of us and we were all squished together There is no leg room and the trunk area is pretty small There is a ton of wasted space up by the dash board and the seats are smaller so they could put in drink holders Once we got on the road we found out how loud the van was I sat in the back of the van and I could not even talk to the person in the front because the car was so loud There were two main sources of noise the road and the vents The vents are on the ceiling and let out this loud hissing noise whenever they are on Also we couldn t listen to the radio because there no speakers in the back and we couldn t hear the front speakers over all of the other noise The engine I think it was a V 6 was underpowered and took a lot to accelerate The van drove like a tank and did not have many extra features Also for a new van the air conditioning barely worked Overall I was really disappointed in the car but I have come to expect that from Ford I will never rent a Ford car or van again br br " Neg," I loved it the moment my mom drove up in her new Windstar I said my next van would be just like it but in white So when it was time to trade in the old van I jumped at the chance to get my 1999 Windstar It had low miles just under 36 000 and still had a bit of warranty left on it Sad to say it just wasn t enough time to find out what was truly wrong with my newly acquired vehicle The first week we had it the lights began to flicker inside We assumed that a door was ajar but the warning light was not illuminating We found out it was one of the many sensors inside the door That luckily was replaced free under the warranty Within a few weeks came a new problem The back windshield wiper would work only if you slammed the back hatch door Another sensor is what I was told and that bill was on me We replaced the sensor yet a few weeks later it was on the blink again This time it was as we were informed a faulty switch and would cost us to repair it Needless to say we don t have a back wiper at the moment Soon after this I noticed that my rear view mirrors were vibrating while we were driving down the road Figuring it was in need of balancing I had the tires and alignment done This did not help at all and the vibration was just getting worse Just when I thought nothing else could go wrong I found out that it could The service engine light continually comes on and no amount of times that we have it on the expensive computer to test it they can find no valid reason for the problem As my transmission was shifting rather hard I asked the dealer what it could be I was then informed that the 1999 Windstar is notorious for having transmission troubles This rebuild job is to cost me over 1600 00 No I will not be repairing anything else on the van It is going to be a trade in just as soon as possible I have heard from others who have this year Windstar that there are two types of 1999 Windstars The first being the one that never has a problem and has grateful owners And the second being the 1999 Windstars that got all the problems they could pack into one vehicle Guess which one we bought " Neg," First of all I would like everyone to know that this is my first time in epinions because i want everyone to know what problems we ve been having wih our 99sel We bought the van last jan 99 my mom was suppose to get an odyssey minivan but we had to wait for about 3 to 6 months which we should have done It is actually my mom s van she s been really taking good care of it 15 months only 8000 miles It s been to the dealer a lot of times with different problems first one we noticed blemishes on left rear behind the sliding door no quality control noticed a big blemish like that which was impossible to miss The dealer where we got the van had it brought to a bodyshop no problem with dealership they were nice amp helpful it took about 2 days then we got it back that was fixed then the electronic display on the van was reporting that there s a charging problem so we goback to the dealer it was the alternator so now they have to replace the alternator so this was solved And now the biggest problem THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR one day it just wont shut tight it closes but it opens up a little bit on both doors so another visit to the dealer they adjusted it so it was ok for a while Then it started doing it again so back to the dealer they adjusted it again now it got worse you could hear it scratching something inside the railing so now were up to the point of getting tired of this problem Now they are gonna change the two sliding doors if it s still not fixed then I think it is a lemon Because I think this vans were the first batch to come out that s why it has all this problems onna have to call ford soon br br " Neg," I bought the vehicle when it was 1 year old and had 32000 miles It looked terrific I bought an extended warranty In that year and a half I had to do the following Replace the rear window motor Replace the Tires Replace the Brakes 700 00 4 Safety related recalls Replace the front windshield wiper motor Replace a heater vent damper 300 00 mostly labor or I wouldn t have heat Check engine light came on they replaced the valve cover with a revised design Two weeks later the Check Engine Light came on again this time they replaced the Intake manifold gasket with a revised design plus a bunch of other emission control stuff that apparently got ruined by the bad gasket Even though Ford paid for a portion of a couple of these repairs under the warranty I had to pay deductibles pay for rental cars they only had a loaner once and only helped defray one of the rentals once and the majority of all repairs was not covered by the warranty I spent several thousand dollars to keep the vehicle running over the course of a year and a half Other issues that I did not try to fix Squeaks thumps bumps rattles plastic interior pieces that got warped by the sun gaskets falling off all the time around doors overall sloppy assembly and bad fit and finish My actions speak louder than anything I could write I meant to keep this van for 10 years but it was so bad I dumped it after a year and a half " Neg," We bought our 1999 Windstar LX used towards the end of my pregnancy with our third child This is our first minivan wanted to make sure it was well rated and safe so we did a lot of checking around The first 8 months went by without incident but since then we have had nothing but problems Ironically it all started immediately following recall service The first problem was a wiring issue It had died on me on my way home we had to have it towed They found that there were wires that had apparently been cut under the dashboard This was not covered being that we found out then our warranty had expired not by mileage but years we were told by the salesman we had 1 year almost 18 000 miles left As I was driving home from picking it up from that service I noticed the check engine light was on Upon checking my manual when returning home it said to drive the vehicle through 3 cycles before taking it for service I did that found out a week later that we had an oxygen sensor that needed to be replaced Also not covered I did at least get them to take the diagnostic charge off being that whoever test drove it after the service should have seen the check engine light Anyway moving on next there was the idle problem I could start the car it would run as long as I had my foot on the gas pedal Apparently a valve was getting stuck open had to be replaced Immediately after this problem was fixed I traveled to Georgia to visit friends upon trying to return home my transmission went out At 30 000 miles Luckily the only thing that happened is that the overdrive light started flashing after being on the highway for a few minutes I returned to my friend s house I have read about incidents where the van accelerates on its own or takes off into reverse 2 weeks after trying to go home and a lot of stress I made it home with my infant 2 sons just in time for school to start I got the dealer to cover half of the costs they have hidden warranties they don t tell you about called p05 and p07 but it was still 1200 Needless to say I will not only never buy another Ford but I would strongly agree with others stating how awful Ford customer service is Do a search on the internet about Windstars you will find as much information on transmission steering rack problems as you do for the Caravans They say the customer service is supposed to be improving but I don t believe selling cars that they know have problems is good customer service This has been a KNOWN problem for years " Neg," I was shopping for a new vehicle and wanted something bigger I thought I wanted a mini van it had to have room for kids and dogs and lots of stuff I did a few some quick polling of people and realized that no matter what brand they were either loved or hated I went to a local dealer and found a 1999 Ford Windstar LX It was a nice van with only 46000 miles on it Luckily I went on a Saturday afternoon and an agreement was reached where I would drive it over Sunday Easter and come back to finalize the deal on Monday On the test drive with the dealer it did fine except for the door sensors dinging whenever we hit a big bump I was told that was common and would be cleaned and fixed I really enjoyed the comfort of the drivers chair it was truly like being in my living room chair and the ergonomics of the controls were great My girlfriend loved the ride as well and was sold on that aspect of the van However as we began our drive for Easter dinner the mechanical nature of the van began to show First the sensors for the doors that had just beeped and flashed when we hit hard bumps began beeping and flashing for almost any bump or curve That is very aggravating and distracting More worrisome at highway speeds the steering was awful and very mushy for lack of a better word You could turn the wheel almost a quarter of a turn with no response and then the van would lurch the direction you were turning Every now and then the transmission would slip just a little The brakes gave once or twice as we were sitting at a stop light Luckily I had not paid for the thing yet and was able to return it I did a lot more reading that night and found out all of these problems were rather common in a Windstar I took the beast back to the dealer on Monday morning and drove home in an older Nissan Pathfinder with more miles It may not be as comfortable but I have no doubt I can be driving it in ten years with well over a hunred thousand miles on it If you are thinking about a Windstar beware " Neg," We Bought our 1999 Windstar in December of 2000 It had 26 000 miles on it We bargiend with the dealer and got a 6 year 120K warrenty too First Impression We liked the Deep Red Like a good wine hence the name Dark Cabernet Red The interior was nicley appointed but looked like it was done on the cheap The tires where also cheap but I blame that on the dealers replacements It had a good radio and good a c and comfertably fit a family of 6 Drivetrain The 3 8 V 6 has plenty of get up and go It gets 17 around towan and 23 on the interstate The transsmisson usually shifts smothly Handling Fine It does become a bit hard to handle in an emergancy situation but its fairly easy to control The dealer had put Ameri General tires on it We replaced them with a good set of Dunlops It brakes ok Interior Cheap Several small plastic bits fell off and the rear a c control fell out during hard braking The rear a c worked well the seats where comfertable for road trips and my family never complained The CD Cassette delivered pleanty of good rich sound Reliablity Here is my complaint and why we no longer have this van Ford doesn t make good trannies and this one was no exception It was worse than normal It whent out around 60K Fortunatly the extended warrenty picked that up Plus it had numorus electrical issues the interior was falling apart and it just wasn t well built I had all the usual Windstar problems do a little reserch like Car Trackers and you ll see what I mean I wouldn t reccomend this to any one " Neg," This is an update from a review I previously done almost two years ago First my wife and I test drove several of the competitors at the time before we decided on the Ford Windstar SEL Because I had a friend who was a Fleet Manager at one of the Ford dealerships I was able to purchase this vehicle for thousands of dollars less Which was a good thing because as time went on I would have to use the money I saved to the repairs that were needed to be done after the warranty expired Here is my evaluation in several areas of the vehicle Handling It is very similar to all the competitors out there My van had the upgraded suspension and 16 alloy wheels Going through turns at speed elicits some body roll but that is to be expected for a tall vehicle Turning radius could be better Both Toyota and Honda bests the Ford in this measurement The power steering in this vehicle is somewhat too boosted for my taste which means numb road feel I have the sense of being detached from the road The suspension absorbs large and small bumps very well to the point of almost feeling like being in a large cruise ship 0 60 in this mini van is approximately 9 5 seconds making it one of the fastest minivans available Much of the credit for the handling can be derived from the use of the Windstar platform actually using the Taurus platform Comfort You could almost live in the Captain s chairs that are standard in this vehicle It even has power lumbar supports for both front seats The only thing missing is memory seating Seven people definitely can fit in this vehicle more comfortably than the Toyota but is about the same in the Honda Long trips in any of the seats will not elicit lower back pains Freeway driving elicits 71dB on my sound level meter For comparison the Toyota and the Honda both registered 70dB Wind noise is subdued only engine noises when revved is somewhat loud Even today the mini van doesn t emit any squeaks or rattles Interior Features Power seats for both driver and passenger seats with power lumbar supports Leather seating AM FM Stereo Cassette with CD On Board Diagnostic Computer with outside temperature and compass power mirrors power windows keyless entry with remote open closing of sliding doors This was the first year Ford introduced an additional sliding door on the driver s side Auto headlight feature interior child light fake wood trim tinted windows Separate A C and heating compressors for the front and rear passengers baby view mirror garage door coin and cupholders security alarm and auto anti glare rearview mirror At the time Honda s mini van did not offer leather seating unless you went to an aftermarket place to have it done Ingress Egress The only weakness here is that the second row Captain s chairs are not moveable to one side They move up similar to cars that only have two doors If you are like me and have two kids in car seats and they take up the second row it is difficult for adults to enter the third row to sit You may want to choose the second row as a bench seat so that passengers will have room to sit in the third row more easily Getting in the driver s seat or front passenger seat is very easy because of the large doors and low step in height which is similar to most large passenger automobiles Drivetrain This is the mini van s weakness It is a four speed automatic with overdrive that you can defeat for those long uphill climbs so that the transmission will not have to hunt for the right gear to use The transmission is smooth when it is working properly The problem I experienced with the transmission was at 29 511 miles into the use of the mini van I had to rebuild the transmission Yes I had to have the transmission rebuilt Of course this expensive repair at 1200 happened when my original factory warranty ended The dealership denied my claim for warranty service even though the original factory warranty was 36 months 36 000 miles My transmission failure happened at the 40th month of ownership I also found out later I was one of three 1999 Windstars that the local transmission shop was working on for the same problem The problem is that Ford uses low quality materials to produce their transmissions and the replacement parts of course are of a high quality material When I saw the pinion gears they looked like they had over 100 000 miles of wear on them A design problem that contributed to this is that the transmission is from the Ford Taurus A transmission designed for a vehicle that weighs 800 lbs less than the Windstar Reliability Here is what I had to have worked on since the 3 5 years of ownership Four times I had to have the power sliding doors repaired because they always popped back open during a hot day Even today it still happens from time to time One time I had to have the cable that closes the driver s side power sliding door be replaced because the cable actually broke As I said in detail above in the drivetrain section I had to have the transmission rebuilt Recently I had to have the driver s door handle plus internal mechanism replaced because Ford uses plastic parts for this high use area to ensure replacement Economy Gas mileage in this vehicle is on par with other mini vans The EPA rating of 19 city and 23 highway is right on target Luckily this mini van uses regular unleaded unlike the Honda and Toyota which recommend premium Gas tank size is a very large 26 gallons for a great cruising range Insuring this vehicle is similar to all of its competitors fairly inexpensive Safety This vehicle has anti lock brakes front and side air bags a five star crash rating all around It was one of the first minivans to obtain this safety rating Now it s newest competitors from Honda Toyota and Mazda have the same five star safety ratings Summary This mini van can compete easily with its competitors on drivability handling comfort and interior features but unfortunately has a poor reliability experience for me I am very hesitate to recommend this vehicle to anyone because of the reliability issue It is fine for the family that needs to rent one to use for a special trip but over the long haul be prepared to pay the price for a Fix Or Repair Daily FORD That s how my wife and I have been feeling lately " Neg," Let me tell you all a story You can decide for yourself if you would consider purchasing this vehicle from this dealer or any other I leased my 99 Windstar about a year and a half ago from Freehold Ford in New Jersey When I picked up the van from the dealer I noticed a large tear in the carpet How can this be you ask after all dealers prep is always charged I don t know They agreed that it would have to be replaced and ordered the carpet I was also missing 1 of the original keys which they told me they had but never produced so I had to bring the van in so they could make a key Ok the new carpet is ready so I bring it in leave it for 2 days and then pick it up When I look at it the carpet appears to have been installed by a blind man no offense to the blind I tell them and now I have to leave it another day to fix that Well that s all taken care of but the sun is out and my wife lowers the visor which then proceeds to drop and dangle as if hanging from a thread now they order a new visor and when it arrives I have to leave the van another day so they can replace it A few months go by and I open the rear hatch door which proceeds to fall on my head It seems that one of the pistons that support the door went bad and had to be replaced Time to order a new one and another day in the shop A few more months go by and now the power sliding door doesn t always work the rear interior light fell out and wont stay put and the reverse sensors have stopped working I bring the van back to Freehold Ford once again and leave it for a few days to be repaired Everything is repaired but they can t find a problem with the door Now I have it and the door still only operates when it want s to Some more time goes by and the transmission is now leaking I bring it back again They keep it for 5 days and give it back saying it s fixed but guess what Still leaks and the door still isn t operating properly So now back it goes again where they keep it for 4 more days and decide they have to order a new transmission They will call me when it comes in That process takes almost 2 months in which while I am waiting the power steering goes and the interior power door button falls out and won t go back Yes finally I have had enough I go to the manager of Freehold Ford and explain everything that has gone on and tell him I want out of the lease He tells me that he has to speak to the Ford regional rep He will get back to me He then informs me that the rep told him he will not get me out of the lease because these are minor problems and the lemon law does not apply I also call Ford customer dis service myself and besides being totally useless a few of the reps were so rude I wanted to strangle them Now the trans is in so I leave the van again for 4 days Current situation is no transmission leak power steering not operating properly and the power sliding door still operates whenever it want s to i called Ford again and was told by the rep to quot do whatever you feel you have to do quot I asked the manager of Freehold Ford if I could speak to the rep myself He said he would call the rep and get back to me never did even after 3 requests Now I m not cutting down all Ford products but I am telling you that Ford and Freehold Ford DO NOT give a damn about their customers You would think that with ford in the papers and the news every day getting negative press that they would be a little inclined to show the world that the bad publicity isn t all true Decide for yourself " Neg," We bought this vehicle 6 months ago after the birth of my second child and felt the need for a little more room I have to admit I bought the car because it looks good The exterior is beautiful in my opinion and the color choices are many The downfall is the interior I m not a leather seat person and the SEL only comes with leather seats not heated The dashboard has your typical quot american car quot look about it The rear seat fold down very easily I must say The ride is smooth but loud as most Fords are But it serves it s purpose for our family Room for all and lots of trunk space I just don t feel we had to spend 30 000 for that " Neg," The story begins when we rented a 1999 Ford Windstar LX because our 1998 Nissan Maxima was in the shop for a routine check up then a mechanic went to park the car and had a 5mph run in with a garage wall So while the car was getting fixed the nearby dealership gave us a rental We had it for a week and loved it despite all the articles in Consumer Reports telling potential buyers not to buy this vehicle we had a pleasant time with it When you get in and drive the vehicle you can t help but notice it s size at 201in but I am not just talking about its length I am also talking about the height of this vehicle 66 5in Those things don t pose a big problem though because the visibility is great especially with all the glass and there is tons of head room The floor pan is low and that makes the Ford Windstar easy to get in and out of The only thing that disappointed me with this van was the amount of standard features The simplest things like a CD player center console and standard middle captains chairs would have been nice and probably got us to buy a Windstar but because the lack of standard features for the price we will just stick with the Maxima Lastly if you don t mind paying 30 000 for a van with less standard equipment than a Grand Caravan or Grand Voyager and having questionable reliability then the 1999 Ford Windstar is the van for you " Neg," My 99 Windstar is a great van to haul my family of 5 The exception is a Engine Spark Knock noise I first noticed it at about 7 000 miles currently at 17 000 I ve been back to the dealer five times now and each time they say it s normal unless the noise is heard during cruising speeds It rattles at cruising speeds during accelerations and quot whenever it feels like it quot I ve used all three different gas octanes and I still have the noise The highest Octane works best but can you imagine my gas expenses for a van rated for 87 Octane As far as fuel economy goes 19 MPG is all I can get out of my van The engine noise is most noticeable in hotter weather conditions The hotter it is the louder it is The noise is annoying and I believe will result in major engine repairs in the future as it seems to get progressively worst In my opinion there is a mechanical flaw but I can t convince the Dealer or Ford of it I also noticed on this web site that others have indicated an engine noise in their opinions as well br br " Neg," L ike the a href content 51265113732 Geo Chevrolet Metro a the tiny Ford Aspire has the same ultimate goal in mind excellent fuel economy between point A to point B transportation If you buy the Ford Aspire and aspire something from this car other than the fuel saving micro machine that it is than you are setting yourself up for a unfortunate let down S ince the Ford Aspire s introduction in 1994 as a replacement for the Festiva it has come in 2 trim lines a 2 door hatchback and a 4 door hatchback my test car The same 1 3 liter SOHC 4 cylinder engine has been used since introduction The engine out put remained the same until its last year in 97 at 63 horsepower at 5 000 RPM and 74 lb ft of torque at 3 000 RPM Ford offers 2 transmissions for the Aspire a 3 speed automatic and a 5 speed manual gear box i Driving Impressions i Off the line acceleration is what you would expect from a car pumping 63 horse power to the front wheels via a 3 speed automatic very slow I m sure the standard 5 speed manual transmission would have increased the performance a bit but we are still talking about a car with 63 horses and a curb weight of around 2 100lbs so even a 5 speed gear box would not have been the saving grace for this car At a light or from a standing start the Ford Aspire under full throttle almost doesn t know what to do At first the car stalls as if it is preoccupied looking at the much more intimidating car next to you then it realize s that the driver needs to move in a hurry and does its best to scoot from the light Unfortunately its best comes in the form of a buzzy exhaust note tons of engine noise poor shifting and acceleration that could match an 18 speed bicycle Handling is also not exactly something to write home about The 13 wheels and the tiny 90 7 wheelbase make this car very skittish over poor road surfaces and the suspension doesn t help this car achieve any driver confidence while on the twistys Cruising in the 1997 Ford Aspire is to say the most uninvolving and quite annoying The 1 3 liter engine when it finally does reach a freeway speed limit is still very loud Wind road and engine noise plague the cabin of the car Braking despite having a dinosaur set up of disc brakes in the front and drums in the rear braking was quite good Braking in the Aspire assured relatively quick emergency stops with little fade Fuel Economy b The 1997 Ford Aspire is rated at 34 city 42 highway yet I observed around 28 city and 32 highway this significantly lower observed rating is undoubtedly due to the optional 3 speed automatic that was equipped in my tester i Interior Accommodation i The interior unlike the performance of this car is not what you d expect Despite the tiny size this car is actually relatively roomy about the room you d find in a Ford Escort The Instrument cluster is easy to read but the dash looks cheap as does all the materials in this car Cheap kids toy like plastic is what Ford has always loved to use in their economy cars and the Aspire is no exception Amenities are far and few my option list included a 4 speaker cassette player air conditioning power steering and driver front passenger air bags are standard The seats are stiff and offer no lumbar supports but I found them to be relatively comfortable and superior to the seating in the a href content 51265113732 Geo Chevrolet Metro a Front leg room is adequate but like most compacts the rear is very cramped The seats in the rear fold down to offer a boat load of cargo room something I did not expect i Exterior Innovation i You have no doubt seen the exterior of a Ford Aspire they are almost everywhere on the road despite being in production for only 4 full years before its demise in 1997 The Body of the Aspire is very oval almost reminding me of an egg on wheels I believe this opinion is shared by many The wheels are also very small 13 so this exacerbates this unattractive egg theme My test Aspire came with a rear spoiler and semi sporty hubcaps I m not sure if this made this car look more sporty or made it look more like a mistake Price Reliability i Back in 97 the Ford Aspire ran for around 10 000 12 000 depending on the optional equipment Today most people who are selling their 97 Ford Aspire s ask for less than 3 000 If you go to a dealer used car lot you can expect to pay around 4 000 or more These cars have been very reliable over the past 8 years according to many owners although I have a sneaky suspicion that these cars will have their share of problems after 100K miles due to the engine constantly working overtime to keep these cars up to speed b Other cars to consider b 1 Hyundai Accent 2 Ford Escort 3 Geo Metro a href content 51265113732 http www epinions com content 51265113732 a My Review 4 Pontiac Sunfire 5 Chevrolet Cavalier 6 VW Jetta 7 Honda Civic a href content 59101580932 http www epinions com content 59101580932 a My Review 8 VW Golf 9 Daewoo Lanos 10 Kia Spectra a href content 61327838852 http www epinions com content 61327838852 a My Review Happy Car Shopping " Neg," I m not a car person I see a vehicle only as a means to get from point quot A quot to point quot B quot I don t know about cylinders or quot x liter engines quot or anything like that I don t care Never have and probably never will This is why several years ago I was looking at the Ford Escort It s pretty low price available in colors I wanted and had a lot more power than the Honda Civic POS that had spitefully sputtered and died on me on a deserted highway several months before I had everything worked out I knew what color I wanted and I had a down payment ready I was ready to sign the papers and drive out of the lot in my brand new car I was probably a little too eager to get a new car as I had been riding the bus to and from work every day for three months or so When I discovered that my insurance folks considered the Escort a quot sports quot vehicle and wanted to charge me twice as much per month as the car payments would be I was crushed Bitterly I returned to the car lot to see what else they offered The salesmen who I m sure was almost as disappointed as I was for not making the sale pointed me towards Ford s lowest level vehicle The Aspire As I understand it the Ford Aspire was only offered in 97 After seeing the vehicle I could certainly understand why the Aspire is an ugly vehicle and I can t imagine how it could have sold enough models to warrant being offered again in 98 Imagine a more rounded Geo Metro no wait imagine an egg Yes a giant egg that someone had the morbid sense of humor to fit with tires skinny little things that are almost impossible to find replacements for when they go flat I know this from personal experience twice over It s a tiny car but I was nevertheless amazed after opening up the hood by how incredibly minute the engine was After spending too many hours groping around my old Honda s engine in the past cursing every time I couldn t reach a vital bolt because of the cramped space I sighed pathetically at the thought of trying to navigate around the even tinier engine of the Aspire In fact the only big thing about the car is the trunk space Let me give you an idea how big it is I m a drummer with a seven piece kit I can fit the 22 quot bass drum in the trunk without folding the seat down and fill the rest of the car with the rest of my drums and hardware and still drive quite comfortable despite the fact that even after two years I m still a little embarrassed by my quot Nanoo Nanoo quot vehicle After folding down the back seat over half the space of the car becomes trunk space Impressive Another impressive aspect is the gas mileage the Aspire s flagship feature I suppose It has a pathetically small gas tank 8 gallons but that will take me about 250 miles I often go 300 miles on a tank on road trips So if you can get excited about pretty decent gas mileage and a lot of trunk space and don t mind driving around in a giant chicken egg go ahead and get this car it s cheap Otherwise don t make the same mistake I made Shop around and see what else you can get " Neg," I ntroduced in 1983 as an 84 model the Tempo was a sales success for many of its 11 years in production and in its day was quite the proverbial eye candy Today most of us frown upon Ford Tempo s The Ford Tempo has set a negative example for many once upon a time American car consumers that now look for cars made overseas For 1992 The Ford Tempo was available in 3 trim lines 2 different engines and 2 body styles the GL GLS and LX all available in either a 2 door sedan or 4 door sedan In 1997 I was the proud owner of a 1992 Ford Tempo GLS 4 door sedan The other models came standard with a 96 horsepower 2 3 liter engine while my GLS came standard with a OHV 3 0 Vulcan V6 that pumped out 135 horsepower at 5 500 RPM and 150 lb ft of torque at 3 250 RPM hardly anything to write home about but compared to the standard engine with the other trim lines the 3 0 powered Tempo was a real road rocket i Driving Impressions i Off the line acceleration came smooth and relatively quick even with the clunky 3 speed automatic transmission a 5 speed manual is standard The 135 horsepower matched with a sufficient amount of torque reached at a relatively low RPM made it easy getting up to speed While this engine also came standard in the sluggish 1992 Ford Taurus the 3 0 in the Tempo allowed for significant improvement in acceleration thanks to the Tempo s much lighter curb weight Handling in the Tempo was not much of a joy While the GLS sported a relatively sporty suspension the car would take to the turns just like the base models which was to say the very most languid and boring The steering was heavy and the car felt deprived of any sort of excitement whatsoever Cruising was also not the 1992 Ford Tempo GLS s strong points the car was jolting on bumps and punishing at high freeway speeds due to wind road and engine noise The 3 speed automatic shifted fine but at high speeds above 55 MPH the transmission was not geared high enough to give a smooth ride Hills were taken well rarely did the car have any troubles tackling hills but again only 3 speeds of gears really hurt this car s cruising capabilities Braking was only adequate the brakes never gave me a complete feeling of security while coming to a stop the front disc rear drum set up left much to be desired in this department Fuel Economy was also not the Ford Tempo s forte despite only having a 3 0 V6 the 3 speed automatic mated with this engine gave V8 Fuel economy I received around 18 MPG in the City and and around 22 MPG on the freeway b Performance Gripes b Where was the 4 speed automatic option Even the 92 Ford Escort had a 4 speed automatic option No ABS option Ford obviously did not have fuel economy nor handling in mind when they built the Tempo GLS i Interior accommodation Design i The interior of the 1992 Ford Tempo was anything but fancy Basic is the best word to describe the cabin of this car The dash even in 1991 seemed very dated and the instrument cluster was also something you d expect to find in a much older vehicle Amenities were adequate for me Ac an AM FM cassette player power windows and door locks cruise control and tilt steering were about as much as you d find in the creature comfort category The seats were made of cloth and offered little support or comfort no bolstering whatsoever The 92 Tempo was offered with annoying automatic seat belts that would constantly get jammed On a positive note the 1992 Tempo was quite roomy front and rear leg room were better than many cars and the trunk offered loads of room for a small car Reliability issues b In the 1 year and 40 000 miles that I owned my 1992 Ford Tempo 110 000 total miles it was plagued with problems Here is a list of problems I can think of Boots replaced fuel injectors replaced constant wheel allignments power steering pump went out transmission developed shifting problems paint problems clogged catalytic converters automatic seat belts would jam up constantly and the dash board began to crack i Price i New the Tempo GLS ran for around 13 000 today thanks to poor resale value a GLS can be had for around 3 000 or even less I have seen them in the paper for as low as 1 200 with the claim that it runs great Other 1992 Cars To Consider In Random Order b i 1 Ford Escort 2 Mazda Protege 3 Honda Civic 4 Honda Accord 5 Chevy Cavalier 6 VW Golf 7 Vw Jetta 8 Toyota Camry 9 Mazda 626 10 Toyota Corolla Happy car shopping " Neg," I have a 1992 Ford Tempo and I wish I didn t This car is the definition of the word lemon Everything that can go wrong with a car has gone wrong with this one I have replaced two starters the alternator and all of the hoses The electrical system has had to be rewired The power windows only work on rare occaision The power locks have never worked The power steering has gone out twice The brakes are mushy The gas mileage is frighteningly low The service engine light went on the second week I had it and no matter what I have repaired it never goes off You want more reasons to avoid this car The jack that comes with it is useless The windshield wipers stick The turn signals have a habit of sticking and not deactivating after you complete the turn The odometer doesn t work It leaks oil It leaks transmission fluid It makes funny noises It dies constantly Is there anything good about this car I like the color It s a nice bright red In conclusion I hate this car The Ford Tempo should be avoided at all cost br br " Neg," I remember the day my parent s came driving into the drive way with this piece of work Granted I didn t own a car at this point but something told me the Tempo was a bad buy To begin with there was no tape player while this was only a small problem the fact that the speakers were rather cheap and would blow if I attempted to play a song at a loud decibel The basic scheme of the Ford Tempo in my mind was to build a cheap car that resembled something sporty However along the way they seemed to forget that people have a way of remembering if a car breaks a lot To begin with the electronics that kept track of the fuel shorted out after about two months when my parents went to return the car so it could be fixed they were told it would cost in excess of 500 I had heard from a friend of mine that the car was pretty much just a piece of trash that breaks every 15 seconds but I could not believe this How could the makers of the Mustang and Thunderbird possibly make a lemon I had decided that the gas gauge was merely bad luck and one of those unexplainable things but a short while later when the alternator went I began thinking differently For the record we replaced the alternator three times and eventually just gave up on the car and bought something else My friend bought a 1988 Escort about a year ago and the transmission and seat belt motors went and presently my friend Josh has a 1995 Escort that makes strange noises that are suspicious Perhaps it s time for Ford to stop trying to bring out new models like the Focus and work on the lesser ones like the Tempo I d give Ford a B or A for the Mustang Thunderbird and Probe but a C overall because of the Tempo br br " Neg," It s a cheap car good for a quot first quot car but then again maybe not I bought the car from my sister for 1 000 it is a 1992 Ford Tempo GL I probably put about a 1 000 into it already My dad warned me though quot You get what you pay for you are going to have to put money in that car since it is so cheap quot Well I sure did I had it less then a year and It s been in the shop probably 7 times New Brakes Starter All tie rods battery muffler and a bunch of other little things that all add up not to mention a transmission leak that s been leaking for years OH and for the interior problems Two out of the four windows don t work AT ALL they neither go up or down The quot power locks quot never work and the car makes a lot of noises when idle The ride is pretty rough and loud I am currently looking for a new car hopefully a 1994 Honda Accord It tells you something when a car like the tempo is recommended 25 of the time with 2 out of 5 stars and the Accord is recommended 95 of the time with 5 stars br br " Neg," This is the first Epinions review I have done for a car I usually stick to PC games and the like and it might seem silly to review such an outdated car anyway But I m sitting here with nothing better to do and some things to get off my chest about this HEAP that I drove for five years and where better to do it than Epinions I got my blue 92 Tempo Sedan when I was 17 It was a hand me down from my father thanks Dad that s the best hand me down you gave me since I genetically inherited your asthma and was already a few years old Oh and let me say this right now I was working very hard to get good grades in a very difficult prep school and did not have the time to get a job and get something better for myself okay Let s just clear up this little question before anybody asks it Some cars are unreliable enough to be annoying A Tempo is unreliable enough to be DANGEROUS Things went wrong with the car almost immediately The automatic seat belts froze in place permanently The power locks failed so many times that my Dad just tore in and made them manual locks saving ninety dollars every three months for new solanoids The driver s side power window also quit working Of course this made going through the drive through at restaurants or just rolling it down for some fresh air quite difficult The only reason it was still POSSIBLE is that Dad glued a metal handle to the top of the window allowing me a very low tech way to raise and lower it The car lurched lunged and shook while I drove it It made grinding noises and occasionally made a sound as if a massive sledgehammer was hitting the hood The transmission linkage and suspension on a Tempo are pure garbage Cheaply made and shoddily assembled The air conditioner broke on at least three occasions The guy who fixed it on the second time pulled off the button panel to find that the plastic on the other side was melted and that I was lucky the car had not caught fire Tempos do that you know They catch fire And they burn At least the brakes worked If they hadn t I might have been killed ten times over by now I am over six feet tall and this car was so cramped I could barely squeeze into it My head touched the ceiling It was like trying to drive a clown car The paint came off of the roof in large patches It didn t chip but sort of faded away to reveal the primer Luckily a Tempo can t get any uglier no matter what color s it is I never expected much from this car Just a means of conveyance and one in which I could have some SEMBLANCE of trust and reliability I didn t even get that Hey at least I had absolutely NOTHING to worry about as far as car thieves were concerned A thief would have taken one look at my car and kept right on walking unless he had some giant stack of fifteen foot by twenty foot typing paper that he needed a weight for When Old Blue as I liked to call it sometimes other things I called it can t be written here as these reviews are censored finally died I was 20 and working a summer job between college semesters The transmission bled out leaving a trail of fluid in the car s wake I got in and started her up but the car wouldn t move I inherited my Mom s Buick Century infinitely better car after she got a new Regal There was just the question of what to do with the Tempo I wanted to push it into the Ohio River or maybe take it to a gun range and shoot at it but my dad decided to have it towed away and repaired He unloaded it on some chump for five hundred bucks I still think Dad won on the deal and I haven t seen it since So ends the saga of my first and last Ford car I am man enough to admit that on occasion this car terrified me I feared for my life when driving this car I did not take it on freeways for fear that it would malfunction at 65 miles an hour and kill me My father used to say things like You should be grateful for this car because you didn t have to work a day of your life to get it In my day blah blah blah Yeah Dad WHATEVER He could have afforded to get me a new Toyota or Honda but instead insisted on giving me this PIECE OF SH to I suppose Teach me the value of a dollar or whatever It was a lesson that could have killed me I saw that most other guys in the high school parking lot had nicer cars than mine Not because they had jobs but because their fathers weren t TIGHTWADS I felt jealous and underprivileged I m not much for wrap ups where grades aren t concerned so THE END PS If you are a parent you owe your kid better than a Ford Tempo for his her first car Ask yourself if it s better to teach your kid the value of a buck while putting his her life in danger or to get the kid a Honda Civic so he she can LEARN TO DRIVE A DAM CAR WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT HAVING TO FIX IT EVERY THREE WEEKS SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH Okay I m finally done " Neg," This was my first car I got it the day I got my drivers license It was used but it seemed like a good deal And not to say anything too bad about it this car served its purpose and got me around safely throughout high school and my first year at college However it is really not that terrific of a vehicle and it has some problems along with its good points First of all the alignment is off completely Once when I got the tires rotated the servicer told me that there was no use in balancing them they would just be unaligned the second i drove over a bump And he was right the wheels never failed to unalign themselves quickly This caused the tires to wear unevenly and it was annoying having to pull the steering wheel 20 degrees to the right to get the car to go straight Also the paint job on this car was pretty awful Every time I would dry the car after washing it my towels would be completely red Also the black paint around the windows on my car chipped off and every other tempo I have seen has this same problem Lastly the speakers were pretty bad one of them buzzed continuously whenever any base was turned on I did have a great time in this car It was a fun and great to drive around my small town but it is not a powerful vehicle and it does not handle very well I would not reccomend buying one of these used vehicles My old one now sits in a car graveyard after busting a rod through the engine Check out my review of the Mitsubishi Mirage to see how much happier I am now br br " Neg," We bought a used 1995 Ford Aerostar in 1998 Our initial reason for buying the van was that we have 4 children 2 of which are still in car seats With a family that size our options were very limited Initially we were pleased because with the 2 bench seats as well as the 2 front seats it is a 7 passenger vehicle which made it roomy enough for our crowd Even with the 2 car seats there was still plenty of room for the other 2 older boys to sit comfortably without being squished And during road trips our boys could get comfortable lay their head on a pillow positioned over the arm rest and go to sleep while still buckled securely into their seats Also since we had the extended cargo area van there was plenty of room for hauling whether it was the futon bed we bought for our toddler when it came time for him to move from the crib or the computer desk or all our luggage when driving from California to D C Roominess was never a problem with this van What was a problem was lousy gas mileage Another problem was the frequent problems with the front end alignment It seemed to never stayed aligned regardless of how excellent a condition the roads were in Also the van drives very heavily What I mean by this is that when going around curves or making a turn it leans on it s side and makes you feel like you are going to tip over True this vehicle is built like a tank and if it did tip over we d probably be safe But I m not willing to take that chance Also the manuverability for changing lanes pulling into parking spaces or any of the other simplist driving tasks is terrible The simplists tasks become major chores in this van And the fact that it squeeks and rattles and makes a lot of noise doesn t make matters any better Also I have to admit that I did not like the air conditioning vents for the back They did not cool or heat the back area of the van very well Even the children in the bench seat closest to the front of the van were often either not warm enough or not cool enough Also on the driver s side in the passenger area there are some controls for the stereo While this may seem a good idea for some it was a source of constant annoyance for us The children loved to play with the buttons and were constantly changing the radio station I can give this van one more bit of praise For those of you out there that have a large family and are frequently taking road trips the bench seats in the van can be taken out easily and rearranged We had the big bench in front at some points at other points it was the small bench in front But the arrangement that we used the most often and was what the children seemed to enjoy the most was when we had the front bench face backwards so that on road trips the children could be buckled in securely and yet still interact with each other and share toys back and forth And finally one last warning During the 1 1 2 yrs we had this van we constantly had mechanical problems with it Also since the front end alignment was frequently off the tires wore down unevenly very quickly and had to be replaced more quickly then they would have been otherwise br br " Neg," My father owns a 1991 Ford Econoline van and it the biggest piece of junk he has ever owend The van rides well but it only has a 302 V8 and does not any power whatsoever It has a spacious interior and alot of room but that is the only good thing I can say about it The van averages only 13 mpg you cannot see out of the rearview mirror and it has no acceleration and you cannot keep the front end aligned This is not a good vehicle to buy in general I cannot recommend this van to anyone it is nothing but a 7000 lb gas hog That is my opinion on the Ford Econoline van br br " Neg," I finally took a close look at a Ford Expedition I ve been a 4x4 owner since the sixties everything from CJ5 Jeeps to Ramchargers to Broncos I had the feeling from afar that this new Ford rig was not like anything I was used to I was right It drives like a big heavy station wagon with a slightly stiffer suspension than would have been found in the big wagons of the 60 s and 70 s Handling was fair but the old Bronco has it beat in terms of predictability on bumpy turns Loaded heavily the Expedition has a tendency to develop rear end sway and instability at highway speeds It did NOT feel like a truck at all and of course that s Ford s intent The interior was impressive all kinds of little gadgets rear air etc etc The seats were comfy the driving position good For forty grand or so it should be fancy When you look at the front suspension you know immediately why it rides as it does struts CV joints torsion bars it s a car suspension not really for trucks That s OK for the average owner who has gotten one because he or she needs a big tall station wagon with 4 wheel drive This machine will NOT do well off road in really nasty conditions It s obviously not intended to Raise the hood and you see a backyard mechanics nightmare If you like to work on your own machine say to change the plugs once in a while do oil changes and the like you will not enjoy this machine Half the engine is up under the firewall cowl Change the plugs Not from the top you won t But if you can afford one of these you can afford to have it worked on and cost of doing a job under the hood will be high lots of stuff in the way and lousy access means longer times for various maintenance tasks I don t like the Expedition at all Looks great drives OK nice interior appointments fine for anyone who is not a 4x4 purist But if like me you want something you can fix in a pinch and take anywhere then this ain t the rig for you br br " Neg," Things have simply gone too far I have long supported the SUV craze No I do not desire one myself but I believe in life liberty and the pursuit of happiness If an individual so desires one of these lumbering Goliath s known as THE FORD EXPIDITION Who am I to question their decision I am but a humble boy who drives a fuel efficient Civic I must now take a stand I must now declare that I was wrong in my support for I have only egged on the boggling dimensions of the SUV engineering philosophy I must now rise up and denounce all the soccer moms and all the weekend warriors I must rip apart my misguided goodwill and throw it to the side Things have simply gone too far This morning driving to work I well I er How to put this delicately I saw a midget driving a Ford Expedition This Fellini esque circumstance freaked my world if you know what I m saying I am six four Tall by some standards average size by these bean stalk kids I see sacking my groceries in the stores Despite my lanky stature I have always driven small compact decent minded cars It has not been a decision of preference but rather one of economy Why would I want a monster to guzzle up all my hard earned dollars on gas when I can blow them on beer video games and CD s I have long been content to tour around town in a minuscule ill endowed boy vehicle I have justified the Suburbans lumbering along beside my trusty old Civic with its dead head sticker happily advertising my social demeanor from the rear window as cars of practicality for some You see I have no children I do not coach a soccer team and my bikes can easily be hung on a trunk mount for my one weekend warrior exercise I called my Dad The not so proud owner of a Jeep SUV and informed him of the horror I witnessed this morning I heard him say Hey Cathy My son just saw a midget driving an Expedition to another worker in his office Then I heard laughter This was no laughing manner You see these misinformed people knew not of the psychological scars I had borne this frail morning I was sitting in wall to wall traffic listening to my favorite morning talk show I was laughing along with the jokes and feeling a bit peckish from not eating the night before when all of the sudden I felt the Earth move The sudden quake of the soil beneath me meant only one thing There was an SUV approaching I looked up to see the driver of the vehicle I love kids so I was expecting to see a weary mother driving her three kids to day care It s always a pleasure to see a group of rambunctious kids horse playing in the back of an SUV or mini van With a smile upon my face I girded my expectations for such a sight Then the Expedition drove up and inside sat one solitary little person Do not read me wrong I have nothing against dwarfs or midgets I have received much contention on this site in the past for my review of Austin Powers II I called Mini me a midget and I received hate mail from a person of little stature saying that he was in fact a dwarf Not to argue semantics but I have always heard people with the unfortunate condition called midgets so I m sorry if I offend anyone out there I was more disturbed by the sheer ludicraceness of the whole event Here was a person that needed a fourth of the amount of room as myself driving a car that was four times as big as my own Did they have children did they coach soccer or baseball why did they buy this mistake of a vehicle I was boggled beyond simple mundane ordinary confusion I felt the juice I had ingested earlier that morning swelling up in my stomach and my ulcer began to throb The Ford Expedition gets twelve count em twelve miles to the gallon My former boss owned a Suburban and he said it cost him fifty bucks to fill up his tank How much would it cost to fill up one of these My wife and I rented an SUV for our honeymoon A Rodeo It was a small SUV As we drove across Death Valley I would say to my wife Here s a gas station we d better fill up She would look at me in confusion and say Why we just filled up thirty miles ago Then in understanding she would pause a moment look down at the dash realizing the monstrosity of the vehicle encasing her and say Oh yeah we ll stop here I have to pee anyway When shopping for an SUV please do not consider size When the Ford Expedition came out it was test marketed in the Dallas area The news crews were interviewing people about it I remember clearly one lone man stating when asked if he would buy the boat Yes I like it It s big For those of you who feel the need to drive around in a monster raise the wheels on your truck take the muffler out of your Pinto so that at least it sound big Please do not purchase a Ford Expedition They are unsafe scary to little cars and impractical Buy a semi instead I m at least used to those I do not think a midget wearing a suit and driving an eighteen wheeler would cause me such mental distress br br " Neg," What is white not black and red all over ME After being struck head on in a collision while driving at least 35 mph I Klaxonman a Caucasian male became red all over Red from blood There is absolutely no need for such large vehicles they only spell trouble While the driver of these cars may be safe are the people driving the sedans No Not at all I suffered at least three broken bones in my rib cage and I lost quite a bit of blood from cuts due to shattered glass Had a smaller vehicle hit me head on the result may have been a bit different Another poor aspect of such large SUV s is the fact that they are gas guzzlers Virtually any sedan will get mileage that is twice as efficient as the Expedition That will cut your gas bills two fold What I am trying to say is don t just think about yourself when purchasing such a large vehicle think of the other drivers on the road While this review may not relate to the specific car I hope this may sway your decision of purchasing a tank of a car Do you need a lot of room in your car Try a mini van Having trouble handling in rugged terrain There are plenty of 4 wheel drive vehicles which come at a much lower price and a much smaller size Before you decide to purchase the expedition just think of these two points 1 Large SUV s are much more dangerous to other drivers than sedans 2 You will be saving a lot of money in purchasing a smaller vehicle With that said what advantages that the Expedition may have can outweigh the disadvantages of purchasing of such a large car I think the choice is easy br br " Neg," Expedition into vanity selfishness and irresponsibility I realize that this may not be the forum for such a discussion but I know some people about to buy an SUV will read this and I am curious about what they think Are SUV s a guilty pleasure or a bit irresponsible These days in America capitalism and consumerism are the twin gods that no one dares blaspheme and the auto market is perhaps the arena where these gods exert the most influence We love dogs dogs love trucks we love trucks I understand that for many many people an SUV is a sensible purchase However going off road is becoming more and more rare as there becomes more and more road and therefore less and less off road From what I have seen the bumpiest road that a majority of SUV s see is a gravel driveway But why do I care live and let live right Not really First of all because SUV s are bigger and bigger it becomes less and less safe to own a small car I mean a Ford Expedition could run over one of those Ford Festivas and not even know it This is an alarming trend The first Jeeps managed to be hardy without being Hummers but others don t seem to think this is possible Secondly and I am no eco terrorist here but the gas mileage thing does seem a bit short sighted Thirdly the sheer tonage of an Expedition does a lot more damage to city and suburban roads than a smaller car would In conclusion it seems to me that a lot of the reason many people buy SUV s is simply vanity Cars once had vanity plates and now are becoming big packages of vanity themselves I realize that often the American dream is measured in terms of how many cars fit in your garage Living in a city and near decent public transportation I have managed to live without a car for my whole life However I can t help it I lust after them daily But as much as I mull it over even if I had the money for it an SUV just seems a bit wrong And yet now everyone makes an SUV because the market for them is just that big Isn t it great that we have all this money Isn t it lovely that our country is at peace and has been for years Isn t it fantastic that we can write talk and exchange opinions with people all over the globe Isn t it about time we started caring for someone besides ourselves Please feel free to correct me but it seems that SUV s are a symptom of a larger problem I don t mean to condemn anyone I am just curious about the real causes behind this disturbing trend br br " Neg," Be ready to spend lot s of with Today s Gas Prices This vehicle is definitely a REAL GAS GUZZLER Just don t know how long I can afford to keep it Several things drove me to purchase my 2000 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition It definitely offers spacious comfort this is definitely a plus My kids have really enjoyed the ability of having rear CONTROL of the MUSIC and the A C Personally I like the built in earphone jacks that the rear offers and they do use them Only kids with their short legs can really enjoy the 3rd seat The 3rd seat is O K for now with kids that is However third seat definitely not for adults With two different drivers in my household for this same vehicle I have really enjoyed the feature that allows you to pre set the adjustments of the seats mirrors gas amp brake pedals using the key remote this I REALLY like At first I really had a concern as to whether I a 4 11 quot woman could really handle driving a vehicle this size With the handy step up boards and hand grips getting on or off is not a problem at all I was also concerned about turns and parking again not a problem at all OVER ALL it is really pretty smooth to drive and handles well With it s size I feel a great sense of safety although an impact is an impact I just feel it would be a bit different in comparison to the size vehicle I previously drove It also feels great to drive up high We took our first out of town trip in it last month I have only had it 60 days at that time I must say it s definitely much better mileage on long distance travel The one thing we really did not prepare for was the lack of luggage space Yes it does have an above exterior luggage rack however we found out at the stops along the way we had to try to park where our vehicle would be within view because of our luggage even though it was tied down and pretty secured we still felt unsure of leaving it out of sight AGAIN THIS VEHICLE IS JUST SUCH A GAS GUZZLER I JUST DON T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN AFFORD TO KEEP IT br br " Neg," I recently rented a 2000 Ford Expedition for a weekend outing and to road test the vehicle There are alot of pros and cons with this SUV I currently own a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe and have not one complaint regarding the vehicle so far it has went everywhere that I ve decided to take it and not once has it skipped a beat in doing so I rented this Expedition to compare it to the Tahoe Well there is no comparison the Tahoe wins hands down for certain The Expedition got an average of 11 miles per gallon throughout the whole trip which was 3 consecutive days I got it stuck in the mud 4 different times which required a tow out of the mud each time it handles terribly on and off road and seems to me that it is underpowered for it s size The Tahoe on the otherhand handles very well for a SUV will literally smoke the tires on dry pavement and gets anywhere from 15 mpg to 22 mpg Do not get me wrong the Expedition is a very comfortable nice riding luxurious SUV and does have an abundance of qualities that alot of other automakers simply do not think of when manfacturing thier SUV s I feel that the Expedition is suitable for the buisness executive type of consumer that needs the four wheel drive occasionally maybe to get to his her office in the snow safely and get there in ultimate comfort This vehicle is not made for the serious 4x4 nuts at all it s simply not designed to go off road too far and if you do you d better have someone following you with a long tow rope br br " Neg," 1997 was the year that we leased the Expedition from Kearny Mesa Ford and to say the least that was the beginning of our NIGHTMARE We got the Red Carpet Lease whatever the heck that means for 2 years and 15K Miles per year We got the vehicle September 14th and we were so excited since its been a while since we got a new vehicle much less an SUV The next day me and my family when to church and was on our way home and all of a sudden the truck made this weird sound We thought it was the air conditioning so we turned that off It continued to make that irritating noise so my husband decided to pull over to the side of the freeway That s it The whole truck died on us so we had to call a towing service and had it returned to the dealership That whole incident freaked me out to say the least After only one day of having the truck the next day it s back in the shop At that point we called the dealership and told them that we no longer wanted the TRUCK And the dealership said quot Sorry No Can DO quot To make the long story short we got stuck with that 598 00 per month lease but we are done with it and do you think I will recommend their dealership to anyone after they screwed us BIG TIME NO WAY And also they should consider redesigning the front passenger seats it s way too uncomfortable br br " Neg," The Expedition is seen as Ford s response to the GMC Suburban I must say that I prefer the Suburban to the Expedition which merely seems to be a larger version of the Explorer The Suburban was the original oversized SUV and Ford tried to imitate it I think that the Expedition is too big Bigger isn t always better For one thing it is hard to drive the Expedition on narrow roads because it is so wide You can t park in tight parking spots for the same reason It isn t good for hauling things when it is full because there isn t enough trunk space the seats are uncomfortable and cramped and it is built poorly I had neighbors who owned the Expedition and they had to take it to the shop quite frequently because of one problem or another The gas mileage isn t that great either That thing is a gas guzzler The Expedition seems like a ploy to sell vehicles by riding the SUV craze In my opinion you would be better off avoiding it br br " Neg," Is that a truck or a tank Its an ok car for a big family but has no room in the trunk for anything Its a very tiny space Also the gas bill is very high because it has a really big tank to fill the gass There are good things to the car though It has a lot of room for the children and yourself Another thing is that its a high up car if u like to be high up The bad thing is though that it is a very big car and can put smaller cars in danger if the get in an accident Make sure you make a really good decision before you buy the car " Neg," What a terrible vehicle for such a price This vehicle had nothing but flaws and defects It came delivered with dry ball joints a twisted brake line defective door gaskets a bad door latch rattles in the dashboard It was in the shop more times than not and the service department could never fix it right They were only good at making excuses for it Then of course the truck gained a terrible vibration at 46K miles that couldn t be resolved either The tranny became noisy at 10K miles The 4 6L motor is truly an embarassment significantly underpowered This vehicle couldn t even climb some highway inclines without downshifting and significantly winding out the engine Who would ever have thought that someday one would have to pay 30K or more for a Ford " Neg," I have to begin with a disclaimer there is no listing for the Ford Escort prior to 1992 There was a Mazda Ford integration in 1991 and all models beyond this date had significant changes in body style as well as engine specifications so some of the claims I make on this vehicle may not be valid on current models Please do not rate me down for off topic I am not very auto literate This epinion is part of a write off dedicated to roadiem an advisor in autos as well as a gifted writer someone who cared about others regardless of whether he knew them or not and who recently passed I would politely ask that if you have the urge to rate down for this reason then please don t rate it at all Any earnings from this post are for the family of roadiem I happen to own an Escort GT I sometimes wish I did not own this vehicle but I don t seem to be able to part with it I use it to travel back and forth from work and the drive from the Boise Idaho area to the Portland Oregon area Primarily for the gas mileage especially with the most recent ridiculous gas prices I recently went to the greater Portland area to visit my oldest daughter for a week end My gas mileage was about 35 MPG I had no mechanical or electrical problems This ugly little car is eleven years old with 112 00 miles on it I find the convenience to be traveling about four hundred miles on about 15 00 more important than how I look This model was designed and produced before the acquisition of Mazda by Ford It is the last year that the Escort was still fairly boxy in body style and attempted to be a sports car It is in fact rated a sports car for insurance purposes primarily I was told because it is a three door or hatchback model Ford also attempted to give it a sporty look by adding a pinstripe decal tail scoop and low profile tires but I see no justification in labeling any car with a 4 cylinder engine as a sports car And the low profile tires are far more expensive than standard tires Every time I look at it I have to fight the urge to peel the pin striping off Let me tell you what I do know about the internal workings of my beasty sports car The engine is a 1 9 litre with fuel injected cams I have no idea what the 1 9 litre spec is saying other than engine size but I understand the fuel injected part versus carburetor function so I can say something about that I have never had to have the injectors serviced but I do add cleaners to my gas tank every three or four months And I don t allow the gas tank to empty farther than 1 4 tank to avoid pulling stuff off the bottom I am certain this is good for any car s fuel delivery system I have already stated that the engine was 4 cylinder and the big disadvantage in this is it makes for a gutless ascention to higher speeds ESPECIALLY on any incline Gearing down can help but it is just a good idea to enter the slower lane if traveling a one lane highway when passing lanes are provided If there has not been a passing lane for several miles and the grade has been somewhat inclined you should be able to easily spot a three mile chain of ticked off fellow motorists driving on your back bumper It is just safer to get out of their way and look sheepish as they pass You will be disadvantaged in an Escort if you have a need for speed Declines are a different story and if you are like me by the time you have entered a declined grade you will be ready for a speed increase Control this urge within reason or you may have to explain to an officer as I did the reason you are doing 87 mph in a 65 mph zone after completing an easterly ascent into the Blue Mountains which is about a 6 mile 6 grade incline My best explanation is I had to begin my ascent at 120 mph just to reach the top on the same day and I was just beginning to slow down Mr Officer was not amused but did warn me that there were patrol cars hidden about every two miles for the rest of the mountains about 30 miles and at those speeds I could easily have to file bankruptcy by the time I reached the end of the mountain pass So I spent the rest of the day chugging through The choke is electric and apparently suffers brain freeze if exposed to lower than freezing temperatures longer than 49 seconds The engine does stall but once it has started stalling you can get another 50 miles or so before it refuses to run altogether I do not travel long distance in this vehicle during the winter months The opposing weather condition of prolonged extreme heat can result in vapor lock which also temporarily disables all engine functions so long travels are only smooth in moderate temperatures While on the subject of fuel one should know that the fuel pump here is a self propelling unit actually in the gas tank and within a year of owning the car I could hear it and I am certain anyone within twenty feet can hear it as well It is lessened by a fuller tank giving less space for the echo effect of the closed tank This can be very annoying My solution is to turn up the music The stock stereo cassette player is your basic run of the mill music provider I am not knowledgable on these systems so I won t attempt to appear that way If I can hear the music and the words are legible I am satisfied I have had no other troubles with this vehicle engine wise except I had to replace the water pump twice so far and the alternator once I do think that is pretty minimal for a car of eleven years I do wonder why the clutch has held up through all these miles because this is a common source of problems with most Ford compact cars So now I will tell you about the crawl space disguised as the interior The color scheme is pretty boring Gray on gray If you are in the drivers seat it does feel like the steering wheel is attempting to rest on your chest and your wearing a waist down body cast The back support is good and I rarely have a back ache even after long drives If you don t begin your journey with an intimate friend you may be that way at the end of the trip as there is maybe 4 inches between the driver and passenger seats in the front The back seats are actually roomier than the front ones if you don t count leg room and the two seats will collapse forward to make a larger trunk They also collapse independently if you only want half of the trunk larger Seat belts are in abundance with shoulder harness provided in the back seats and the annoying automatic shoulder harness in the front seats which generally scare your passenger if they are not used to them These are very noisy and no amount of WD 40 decreases this The driver harness jammed in the closed position a long time ago so I do not have to contend with it The other problem with automatic shoulder belts is that it makes it hard to remember your lap belt which is not automatic The dash panel is easily accessible mostly because you are sitting on it Standard Ford issue with A C included in the GT package No extra or flashy details except the idiot light suggesting when to shift It is my opinion that if one cannot shift by engine sound or read the magical tachometer then one should probably aspire to an automatic vehicle I tilt the steering wheel at an angle that blocks this light from my view because I find it annoying I also wish the engine warning display included an oil pressure display I asked a Ford mechanic about this once and was told that if the oil can with a slashed circle illuminates on my dashboard then it is probable the block is already cracked What the point is I don t know I just make it a point to monitor my oil level This car does not burn oil even now economically a plus Here is my one and only epinion on an auto I chose to write about this auto because it is the one I know the best We also have a full size GMC Sierra a Chevrolet S 10 king cab and a Mercury Villager mini van Obviously there is a clash of opinion for vehicle manufacturer choice I have pretty much stayed true to Ford for most of my life I suspect this is a subliminal choice as my high school boyfriend had a cherry 65 mustang and it was the envy of the school I have taken a lot of crap throughout the years especially from my GM mate I just remind him that the paint is not peeling off of any of my chosen vehicles and the cost to us when his fuel delivery system crashed last winter 964 00 In closing I would like to say if you are looking for a dependable commuting vehicle with good gas mileage and fair to average comfort with below average repairs and low maintenance you may want to consider an Escort Remember this is an epinion on a pre 1991 model after that everything changed and I know nothing about that except I think the newer model Escorts resemble the Mazda 626 This car is not for the vain or the self conscious sort I am old enough not to care and I have more money for other things in the long run The van is for family accommodations and the trucks are because apparently real men drive trucks The Sierra has a lift kit on it I get in it with a rope ladder If you are looking for durability low maintenance and good gas mileage then I can recommend this vehicle for these purposes Would I buy it again I don t know when I bought it eleven years ago it was the best buy I could make with the resources I had available at that time I don t really think it would have been my first choice if finances had been different for me then But I have few regrets and it has certainly been a true blue friend to me for the most part Thank you for reading this post it is my first participation in a write off The irony in this is that when I first started writing at epinions I was curious about what these write offs were The person that I posed this question to was roadiem and his response was prompt and encouraging to join in on one He also had comforting and supportive comments to my postings about my struggles with my eldest daughter in the past I did not know roadiem but it was easy enough to ascertain that he was extremely devoted to his family friends and mankind and womankind in general I am saddened to hear of his passing and offer prayer for the family My deepest sympathies to any and all affected by his journey s end on earth I am certain he will rise to the occasion of the next journey before him Others participating in this write off for roadiem are bjcuevas naphtalia seether166 sherrylee mattjoe viper1963 gollygumdrops noniaBidnis nightshade 01 obnox hawkseafan yyvonne diverpam t hall mtuairau jennifa pperky1954 hnnygrlca rcknrbn3 midoyle charlenep lattechick garfield12 bgoodday chrisceb alwaysstubborn nwinston hirohito99 sweetcece theworm ginahill jpmcgurk tiffer0220 juliette elorraine imames pipet sparkospunky disartain linda527 lisa j lgcurcio kristinafh pambo friskycelery tjarnold i culookn todd teddiec darbywalters wolfman309 emeleel joubert technologyrep gamblinfamily smithwoodside daturawest angelmommy liberator76 hadassahchana lark729 89 missy32 blonbabydawn bryrose merlot ladyvamp " Neg," I requested Budget Rent a Car for a Toyota Tercel during my 5 days in Illinois and Indiana recently but instead ended up with a green 2000 Ford Escort 4 door with 4000 miles on the odometer I was somewhat excited because this was like test driving a brand new car a feat I don t perform very often Furthermore the test drive was going to last the whole weekend b Basic Features Except for the automatic transmission and air conditioning the Escort I drove was barebones That means roll up window manual door locks and levers and knobs to adjust the seats no electrical assistance The car came with an AM FM radio with cassette which helped during my daily 3 4 hours drive from Monticello to Indianapolis and back I had to pull the antenna out manually keeping with the barebones spirit of the car b Interior It took a while to get used to the seats as I had to make several adjustments to make myself somewhat comfortable The seats can move back amp forth by the lever under the front of it and the upper portion can tilt forward and back with a rotating knob on the left a standard way to adjust seats on most cars I felt that the seat bottom could have used more cushion as it is not tiltable and I didn t get enough support on my thighs leading my hips to hurt the first 2 days of driving I cured this by taking my shoes off while driving which lowered my legs There was no remote adjust on either outside mirrors which was just a minor inconvenience since I only had to adjust them once The gauges on the car were very Spartan with 120 mph speedometer odometer fuel gauge temperature gauge and warning lights but no tachometer or oil pressure gauge One nice feature was remote trunk opener a yellow button underneath the steering wheel b Engine Transmission The Escort s Overhead Cam OHC 2 0 liter engine had a lot of spunk as I was able to drive 70 85 mph without stressing the engine I didn t floor the accelerator much during the entire 5 days The engine noise however was somewhat annoying sort of a choked buzzing noise that is common with both GM amp Ford s 4 cylinder cars If I wanted this much noise then I d want the engine to sound throaty not choked Most 4 cylinder engines in Japanese or European cars feel smoother and quieter than the Escort Furthermore my 3 cylinder 1985 Chevy Sprint with 110 000 miles seems smoother and quieter The 4 speed automatic transmission with OverDrive was actually pretty good with solid shifting and timely downshifting when I passed other cars A Toyota smooth transmission would not fit well with this car as it would contrast too much with the buzzy engine In a way I was happy with this quot quasi sportiness quot as I always knew which gear the car was in just by listening to the engine and keeping track of the distinct shifts b Driving The steering on the Escort was actually very good as it had good feedback and pointed the car where I steered even though it s power steering it felt more to me like it was quot power assisted quot I was greeted with thunderstorms every morning but the Escort felt just as solid in the rain and I felt very comfortable driving it 65 70 mph The gas mileage of the Escort was actually very good at about 36 mpg 9 4 gallons per 340 miles This included a little stop amp go driving to fight traffic around Indianapolis Speedway b Overall Impression The Ford Escort seems like a pretty good value for the money with usable horsepower solid handling and great gas mileage The car s styling is somewhat generic and there are enough minor annoyances like difficult to adjust seats and engine noise to remind you that this is a quot starter quot car suited for students and budget buyers With the Ford Focus and Toyota Echo in the marketplace now it d be tough for me to recommend the Escort as a new car purchase However time will tell if the Escort will become a reliable used car in which case I would highly recommended it for use as an inexpensive commute car like the Chevrolet Sprint I drive " Neg," In 1992 I bought my first car and it was a 1981 Ford Escort I just wanted a little car to drive around town get groceries take my son to the doctor etc without having to rely on public transportation It was a little rough around the edges it needed a new muffler and brakes but other than that it was fine It was a standard transmission and since I had never driven one before I had to teach myself how to drive it It wasn t that hard and soon I was driving it in my opinion like I had been driving a stick shift for years I only had it for a few months and then gave it to my father when I got married My husband had a car and my father needed a car so I gave him mine Sadly though the little Escort only lasted through one more cold Canadian winter before my father sold it for junk All in all I didn t have too many problems with this car but it was 11 years old when I got it so it had been through it s good times If I had to get another older car I wouldn t get a car that s 12 years old I would consider getting a 5 or 6 year old Escort It was great on gas very economical and an okay first car br br " Neg," I have owned to Ford Escort s in my life I bought these because they were older models and very cheap I soon found out why they were so cheap I used my first Escort an 85 model to commute over 60 miles to work I found it to be very easy to drive and extremely comfortable The problem was that the clutch disk wore out on it Being a front wheel drive vehicle the repairs cost over 600 on a 30 part Most people prefer not to drive a standard anyway so this won t matter to you My biggest piece of advice for this car is DON T BUY A STANDARD The repairs are extremely difficult for the home mechanic and extremely high in a shop Secondly I have found that the smaller 1 6 liter engine is far more fuel effecient and reliable than it s 1 9 liter counterpart The difference in power between these two engines is practically unnoticeable All in all a decent car just make sure you don t pay too much br br " Neg," In January of 1999 I bought a brand new 1999 Ford Ranger Extended Cab with the quot Sport quot package The total cost of the vehicle was around 18 000 This meant that it did not have CD auto locks auto windows etc It was is just a quot bare bones quot truck It did however come with a free 24 hour roadside service package and a 1 000 rebate The first thing that I noticed about this vehicle is that it isn t designed for people of slightly above average height Being 6 2 quot my field of view is very limited and the vehicle is sort of cramped But it was all that I could afford Almost immediately my truck began to malfunction I took it to a nearby dealer for an inspection Since I didn t buy the truck from their dealership they didn t act as if they cared to help me with my problem And when I finally did get them to look at it they said that nothing was wrong with it My main concern was quot power surges quot that caused my lights radio etc to go on and off in a sort of quot flicker quot fashion After 3 tries of trying to get is looked at I was told that nothing was wrong this coming from the Ford mechanics Shortly after that me and my father were almost killed due to their mis diagnosis The power system totally shut down while I was on a dangerous strip of highly trafficed road Barely able to coast off the road I was sure that we were going to die Thanks to the roadside service I was able to take the truck to the dealership They then admitted that there was a glitch and replaced the broken part with a used part quot remanufactured quot is the term they used When I complained about them replacing the part with a used one they stated that it was Ford policy to replace electrical parts with used ones And I was told that Ford no longer makes that electrical part so the only parts on the market are used When I inquired as to whether my NEW truck had come with used parts I was put aside My question was never answered Neither was a direct inquiry to Ford ever answered Now my multi functional switch is broken So every time that I try to make a turn my wipers come on But since it takes 45 minutes to 2 hours to even talk to a customer service rep from Ford I have yet to get it fixed Trust me my next truck WILL NOT be a Ford Ford Tough give me a break br br " Neg," I bought the cheapest American made I m a patriot so sue me truck I could find and it is a Ford Ranger with no options save the am fm stereo which I begrudgingly accepted As far as automobiles go I would consider myself an audiophile and car audio is the major concern that leads me to think negatively about this particular truck For some reason Ford insists on using 5 quot x7 quot speakers in many of their light trucks The reason this is a problem is because aftermarket 5 quot x7 quot speakers can be hard to find Even harder to find are top quality speakers in this size arrangement All that can be circumvented by inconveniently using the incorrect size for the available speaker mounting Of course unless you really know what you re doing Mr Car Stereo Installer will charge you around 50 to make sizers so that they fit properly That is just the beginning of the problem Unlike many other trucks the Ranger has almost no room underneath the seats What this means is that short of a minor miracle you can t place an external amplifier anywhere but behind the seats This arrangement creates another problem If a subwoofer were to be installed along with that amplifier the entire jack assembly behind the seat needs to be removed Due to this my jack is now underneath my passenger seat Not a real problem but lets say another amp were added for better fidelity and volume two amps and a subwoofer enclosure are almost impossible to fit behind the seats in this narrow cab This is where the underseat space comes into play because with many other light pickups an amp could be placed under either seat facilitating greater flexability in the setup behind the seat such as two subwoofers or a subwoofer and a pair of 6 quot x9 quot enclosures Now I realize no car truck is perfect However a new car should be relatively problem free for the first year in my opinion Inside of the first 6 months I experienced the following problems Straight from the dealer the plastic molding on the right front pillar wasnt installed properly The interior light for ironically the lighting controls ceased functioning The dashboard developed a persistent and very annoying creak The seat developed a slight tear And lastly the wheel alignment went astray to the right The conclusion that I have to draw is that the Ranger is not the most rugged of vehicles which is a bit disappointing it being a truck and all Overall the vehicle has not been a vast disappointment The gas mileage has been right where the sticker said it should be I have not needed to have any routine parts such as headlights or turn signal bulbs replaced The suspension is a bit bumpy but that s to be expected from a truck The power steering works great although on my particular vehicle the right tire rubs against the wheel well if the steering wheel is turned completely to the right The manual transmission is tight and the engine produces good pickup for a 4 cylinder The tires that come standard with the vehicle are terrible on anything but dry pavement My final analysis of the Ford Ranger is that it is a servicable vehicle but nothing I could find myself recommending to a friend or waiting in anticipation to buy " Neg," I bought a new Ford Ranger four door last day of June this year actually it was a lease purchase type of deal Red Carpet I paid 2 600 cash down and I had a four hundred dollar discount coupon making my total down 3 000 I noticed right away that it road walked and didn t handle well on curves I had traded in a little Nissan and it handled like a dream on curves with this Ranger I had to go slower than the curve sign amount of miles suggested Also every little bump in the road the rear end would like bounce off to the right or left road walk and at high speeds it would feel like I was about to loose control sometimes and startle me I convinced myself at first that it was just the difference between a big truck and a little one then I decided I would take it in on my next days off and get it checked since it was a fifty mile drive I never got the chance on the way home from work one morning I had a right rear blow out and rolled the pick up after only having it two weeks Then the air bag came out about the size of a basket ball and burst there I was lying on the driver s side and this nasty smoke coming out of the air bag about to choke me to death I turned off the ignition because the smoke alarmed me and I thought the thing was on fire To make a long story short after being given the run around by rude people at the Ford motor company and my insurance would not cover all the amount owed on the truck I drove an old car of my mom s for 2 and 1 2 months and still no replacement I will never consider another Ford vehicle of any type again br br " Neg," Sorry Ford lovers maybe Ford was good in the 70 s but now they have really lost it on quality Nice looking truck maybe but when will you get to drive it when it s always in the shop Ok here s the story A relative ordered a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT4WD loaded She was so excited and she had been a faithful Ford buyer for 40 years She waited and waited and waited finally after many delays it comes in and yes it s a nice looking truck It has lots of features BUT after a couple of weeks it s in the shop for one thing or another She gets it out and then something else goes wrong This goes on for months thank goodness she has more than one vehicle or she would be in bad shape You can t always get a loaner Engine problems wiring problems plastic parts break off in cab Seat adjusters won t work Ok so you say you didn t actually OWN this truck You are right but this is not the first Ford Ranger she has had and after awhile they start falling apart I was a witness to this I know that they are rated highly but please investigate before you purchase that is a lot of money to spend to have it in the repair shop all the time UPDATE 11 8 00 I have been getting a lot of feedback on this rating but I stick to my original opinion This truck MAY have been a lemon but keep this is mind within the first year the engine had to be replaced wiring worked on a c repaired door lock replaced twice and other miscellaneous repairs Be advised that she did buy the extended warranty and is very glad that she did She will Not be buying another Ford truck in the future She continues to have problems and this not even to mention the Firestone tires that had to be replaced Sorry again Ford Lovers Another UPDATE 7 01 Ignition had to be replaced Wind blows through the truck like a window is slightly cracked but you can t seem to find out where the air leak is A loud whistling noise Also the tailgate is hard to latch it doesn t seem to fit well I ve stated before that I am not the owner Thank heavens so I don t have to worry about the expenses but whenever I drive the vehicle it drives fine Without knowing the history of this vehicle I would assume that it was great so please ask questions if you consider buying one And just to let you know I have owned several Fords in the past both cars and trucks and were happy with them Those were the good ole days Buyer beware it ain t like it used to be " Neg," I purchased my 1999 Ford Ranger new in June of 1999 It was a four wheel drive flareside regular cab with the xlt and off road package Let me start off by saying that Ford offers excellent financing I got 2 9 they also offer competitive rebates Usually you have to choose either the rebate or the low finance rate In addition to the affordability I chose my truck because of its looks and style From the day I drove off the lot I got compliments on what a cool truck I had Initially I was pleased with my truck After a few months I started noticing creaks in the dash this seemed unusual for a truck so new I also received a recall notice from Ford for a faulty wiper switch which if not replaced could short out the system Into Ford I went for this problem to be fixed A few months later my entire truck began to shake above 50mph This brought me into the dealership again where after examination they determined that it was a snapped bolt in the driveshaft assembly This problem was fixed under warranty but disturbed me a bit as the truck had only 20 000 miles on it Shortly after that I received a flat tire on a road going aprox 40mph After careful inspection by a mechanic it was discovered that the tire went flat due to a faulty valve I m glad I was only going 40mph Gas mileage for me was slightly below the sticker I consistently got 18 20mph with mostly highway driving While economy and truck do not usually go together I was disturbed by the fact that full size Chevrolets average 25mpg with larger engines than my Ranger I had the 3 0 V6 Overall I liked the truck but not enough to keep it Rising gas prices and disappointments led me to trade my truck for a new Honda 2001 Civic see my review That leads me to my last complaint Resale value This truck only had 26 000 miles on it at the time of trade I shopped numerous dealerships and looked at several different model cars I just broke even on my balance due Ford of aprox 11 000 00 This truck had a sticker price when new of 19 135 00 I know American cars depreciate faster than foreign models but give me a break My truck was in showroom condition I guess you get what you pay for My final word is if your looking for an inexpensive truck that gets you from point a to b and you can handle constant quirks buy a Ford Ranger Otherwise shop around " Neg," Right now I drive a 1999 Ranger 4X4 x cab 4dr 4 0L but I d like to go back to my first in 1986 when I as 19 NEW Ranger 1My dad co signed for my first new truck I bought a 86 Ranger standard cab 4X4 STX with one of the first push button 4X4 systems I thought that was way cool back then As far as longevity goes for this one I can t say but I know it could take a lot Being a stupid 19yr old kid and adding a 100 000 mi bumper to bumper that I was told would cover any thing I drove it as if I was Mickey Thompson I lived to get all fours off the ground and being a 19yr old party animal in a rural community I found opportunity practically daily I was 4by n with a friend in this truck and making those tv commercials appear tame and in the mist of roaring laughter and fast paced action my friend turns to me and says quot next time around let me out quot I reply quot you scared quot and he says quot no I ve only seen this on tv quot and this was daily with this truck being reckless I totaled it with 12 000 mi on it and it NEVER SAW A SHOP ONCE That s damn good when you consider those off road racers rebuild those truck after each race To give you the sense of reckless abandon that 19 yr old drove his truck with remember in quot Ferris Bueller s Day Off quot the parking attendants faces in the Ferrai as it was flying through the air That was the elation I experienced for 12 000 miles My relationship with that truck is like looking back on old girlfriends from my youth The times I had and the memories I would never want removed but I could never have that type of a relationship with a vehicle again and have never had all four off the ground with any other vehicle in my life since By the way to this day I still remember the salesman saying quot You ll be a Ford man for life quot so far he s been right So now I go through a few used vehicle wondering if buying new is worth it NEW Ranger 21991 just broke up with a girl and replace her with a truck A little " Neg," I owned two Ford Rangers First 1989 STX Ext Cab and currently 1999 Ranger Standard Cab Both 4WD Something has happened in those 11 years First Ranger I drove for 8 years Ran great 4WD worked well nice bucket seats solid build good turning radius but a bit under powered This current beast is an entirely different animal It began to make questionable noises within my first year of ownership I m 6ft1 and a little too big for the interior Very uncomfortable and the seats did a number on my back Then came the recalls 1 Steering column wiper blinkers assembly 2 water pump 3 THE TIRES which I must ad are horrible quality When I did some investigating I found even more features Now I bet you re wondering if drive my vehicles hard NOT AT ALL I have owned this rolling nightmare for 30 months and I only have 14K miles on it All of which are basic city driving To William Clay Ford get to work you silver spooner you just lost another customer " Neg," I am a cautious driver with fairly decent maintenance record The truck is a fairly nice truck by looks and comfort I got what I paid for 12 000 But I am not impressed by the manufacturing and engineering of this 99 Ford Ranger I wish Ford would try to ensure quality in the mechanical and electrical parts of the vehicle That is after all what drives the trucks not the cushion seats and the pretty red finish although those are nice ABS ODOMETER SPEEDOMETER do not work no recall for my particular vin Multi function switch does not work properly wipers go wild and no recall for my particular vin Tierod recently went out Upper brake lights continually go out Insistent pinging while using low mid grade gas must use premium disgusted by the lack of recall of defective parts not very thorough in their recalls Would I buy again only if they improve their quality standards and maintaining a good service record with owners I e being honest to repair defective parts fs " Neg," What a car I test drove one today and loved it I was not expecting to be impressed I was expecting to cross this vehicle off of my list of prospective purchases in the next month or so It all started when a girl in my study hall started bragging about hers Of course from here I had to make fun of it constantly One day she had enough of it and took me for a ride I never made fun of it again b Pros The 1996 Thunderbird LX I test drove was definitely a well equipped car It had power windows door locks and mirrors that worked well The windows came down at an average pace This car came with a CD player from the factory in 1996 as well as an alarm keyless entry The keyless entry was just as good as any I ve seen from the factory Poor range but at least it was there The trunk release was very nice on the key ring The trunk release in the car was kind of hard to find but under the armrest is a nice place after you know where it is at The 3 8 L V6 with Fuel Injection put a hefty amount of power to the ground for a non turbo V6 in a medium weight car I d estimate quarter mile time to be about 18 and 0 60 time to be about 13 seconds The speedometer goes to 120 mph and I m certain this car could do it It even sounded pretty nice a little on the whiny side but still an agressive sound The dash is well laid out with the speedometer and tachometer The other five gauges oil pressure temp fuel amperes meter and something else I can t remember were small and oddly placed I have no doubt that you would get used to them quickly though I felt like I was in the driver seat of a truck this thing was so roomy My legs were not cramped the seat was easily adjustable Both of my arms were rested nicely The steering wheel had an adjustable height which the salesman insisted I had too high I lowered it and felt cramped but where I initially had it it was very nice The deep blue interior matched the sky blue exterior very nicely The seats were plush and comfortable The rear seat offered a lot more room than I was expecting similar to my Blazer It felt very comfortable It would be easy to fall asleep in the back seats Easily sitting four people comfortably The transmission drive shaft hump and the distance the center consol came back made the center seat useless This car did not afford the gas mileage I would hope for but the salesman insisted that it would get 22 mpg city This is a decent number especially when you can have as much fun in this car as you can The rear wheel drive was the culprit named by the salesman in the lost gas mileage I m not sure how this could have effected it but he did seem to know a lot about cars Handling was a dream I was darting in and out of traffic to the dismay of the salesman with no body roll I took a Clover Leaf onramp at 80 mph and a car could not have been more sturdy under me I believe with a larger engine I easily could have gone faster and been as secure With a rear defogger and nice windshield wipers your view would be unobstructed For a coupe there was a good bit of visibility both by looking back or in the mirrors I did not check the blind spots but they seem like it would be a very small space This is the most beautiful car Ford ever designed Compared to this the Mustang is a pug nosed box b Neutral My friends 1989 Turbo had automatic seatbelts This one didn t According to the salesman the government had outlawed them for two reasons First because when the motor died people could not put the belt on Second because the pillar was too far forward and instead of holding someone back at the chest it would move up to their throats The manual safetybelts were an inconvenience but I can definitely see their pros Although the driver seat felt as though it would be comfortable for long trips it did not offer Lumbar support A pillow would fix that problem The headrests left something to be desired although I m sure they could be adjusted with a bit of force To open the hood took a bit of effort something that you would not grow accustomed to This would only be a minor inconvenience The dealer said that you could not get fog lights for this vehicle This disappointed me because I think it would look very aggressive with a set close to the ground When I tried to engage the fog lights the head light dial came apart It was easily put back on but it was surprising the cheap quality of the plastic b Cons These are few the only thing I noticed was that the engine was kind of crammed into the engine bay Maintenance could be difficult There are lots of wires running around and other intrusive things Timing would be a breeze though with the location of the distributor the salesman called it something else but I can t recall The trunk space was adequate but the seat would not fold down The spare tire was a donut when it appeared that a full size could have fit The size of the rear tires 255 mm across made it impossible to spin or even squawk the tires Admittedly you don t need to do this but it is always nice to be able to make some noise Perhaps in a Turbo V6 or V8 version The automatic transmission was very smooth It shifted delicately and wasn t constantly searching for the right gear It only shifted down if I really hit the gas I m certain a significant amount of power was lost here My mothers Blazer has a 4300 Vortec V6 with an automatic transmission It will squawk the tires from a standstill I drove an S15 Sonoma with a 4 3 Liter V6 with TBI Throttle Body Injection that yielded 28 hp over the Vortec The GMC was a manual and I couldn t keep the rear end on the ground I could feel much more power being put on the ground with the manual transmission The 96 T Bird does not have a Manual transmission option You can get a 95 T Bird Supercoupe with manual transmission but with the supercharged V6 your insurance is going to skyrocket I can t believe Ford put only automatic transmissions in a car that seems like it has such sporty potential b Overall I would recommend this car to my older friends It is a good price lots of features very comfortable The power is ok and it is a gorgeous car It is not an economy car by any means but you ll have a lot of fun driving it I do not recommend this car to anyone that wants a sports car because you will have such a hard time regaining the performance out of it that is lost with the automatic transmission If this car came with a manual transmission I would probably purchase one I discussed the new T Bird with the sales man he said he really liked the styling I for one strongly disagree with Ford s design in this new car br br " Neg," I owned a 1996 Thunderbird LX v6 for 8 months and here s my first impression fun for the city smooth on the highway but I m not sad I sold it The engine is a low horsepower high torque v6 3 8 liters with only 145hp It does have 220 ft lbs of torque so it pushes you back in your seat leaping from stoplight to stoplight Get it on the freeway and this big v6 can hardly hit 100 I would say acceleration is good up to 55 then it tapers off The build quality inside was decent very plastic looking effects and velour everywhere It did prove very durable and quite comfortable The seats were like Barcaloungers soft and squishy They didn t promote great posture and after long trips it made my back a bit sore The trunk was voluminous but backseat space was pretty small Front seat room was huge lots of room over my head The Automatic transmission was one of the better ones I ve driven always shifting at about the right spot Occasionally on the highway it would disengage gears and rev the motor while trying to kick down for passing speed which was a little un nerving The stereo was horrid but very easy to replace including the awful little speakers This was probably the most important money I put in the car The only repair I had was when the torque converter acted up and made the car shake in 3rd and 4th gear Turns out the fluid used by Ford was less than optimal and a change to synthetic fixed the problem as recommended by Ford Motor Company The car did not have anti lock brakes an airbag or a limited slip differential all of which were promised by the salesman Don t go to a Ford dealer I would rate the mechanical quality of the car at good the interior at average I sold the car and bought an Audi Coupe Quattro the ownership of which I have not regretted for a moment I will rate it not recommended just because I wouldn t go out of my way to drive one again it was good but there are better out there " Neg," It s a way of life My wife had always wanted a Mustang so last year we bought one of the first 99 Cobras off the truck Our Cobra is a rio red coupe with medium parchment interior I had some experiences with the Mustangs of the late 80s but there is no comparison This is a true sports car The new IRS make the car handle like it is on rails What other car can you purchase for under 30k that has a hand built engine The SVT folks treat you right also The latest gift is a leather Jacket The only negatives is the noise level inside the car This is to be expected with a true performance car but it gets old on road trips " Neg," I ve had my Ford Explorer now since 1993 It s been every where from Washington DC to Miami FL where it was purchased to Alabama and now here to sunny yeah right San Diego I must say that it would have been cheaper renting a car during my long travels rather then pay for the repairs on my Ford Two months after I first purchased the vehicle I had to call quot road side assistance quot because of a dead battery When I went to the Ford dealership to find out what was wrong with the vehicle they told me that the battery was old OLD HUH Two months is OLD Come to find out the manufacture put a 1991 battery that was probably sitting around in some warehouse begging for a sucker that s me to get stuck with him in my 1993 vehicle Oh but the fun s only beginning My Ford Explorer 29 000 miles young needs what You guessed it tires At 135 dollars a pop guess ole Firestone loved that WRONG manufactures defect on the tires the treads were separating with no signs of normal wear and tear Joyous something free for a change 34 000 miles young ahhh you need a new starter we have a re call on your side mirror something about catching on fire blah blah blah and low and behold you need not only new brake pads but the entire brake system needs replacing for you southern Californian s I guess it s what Brake Depot would call a quot break system nightmare quot Well at least it was still under warranty but boy are the mechanics at Ford and I becoming close friends Bare with me quot auto experts quot if I don t explain something adequately You know us woman brake shoes shoulder pads what s the difference right smile All right on to the 36 000 mile mark what New tires AGAIN And a muffler etc etc and so on Seems as though the older Ford Explorer models have front alignment problems which cause the tires to wear uneven etc So that lifetime alignment I purchased the up keep on the alignment rotation oil changes fuel injector cleanings etc etc really haven t helped MUCH in the long run The biggest problem with having something go wrong with your Ford for those of you who drive Explorers I m sure you ll agree the Explorer would NOT start would not start long enough for me to drive it ANY WHERE It dies where it dies just the towing expenses alone would have been horrible if it hadn t been covered under my insurance On to the grand finale at 65 000 miles still young I had the pleasure of experiencing a Ford transmission failure unfortunately I was in the process of driving when it happened 1 800 00 dollars to re vive my Ford hard parts soft parts you name it my transmission needed it Now I know that in order to maintain the driving performance on your vehicle you have to service it and take care of it but in my case I ve basically bought enough parts to build a brand new Explorer over the past 7 years I know that 7 years seems like a long time but the majority of this work was done during the first three years of my little guy s life I would DEFINITELY not recommend someone purchasing an older model Explorer did I mention the fact that I ve had my tires replaced 8 TIMES I ve heard some really great stories from friends who have the newer Explorers but because of all of the problems that I ve had with this little quot baby quot I wont be trading him in for a newer model I might just try my luck with a Honda br br " Neg," Okay I m 19 and I ve been driving this death trap for 3 years previously it was driven by my mother so nothing you read is because of abuse at least not long time abuse I have to say anybody who says this is a good truck is so completely wrong that you might as well not read the review at all if they say so It is an AWFUL truck What s wrong Hmmm well that begs the question where to start Handling The truck actually isn t an awful handler but body roll is severe and it really bucks over bumps Dive the front end going down when braking is terribly pronounced Squat the front end going up under acceleration is not bad but that s more a factor of the anemic engine than the suspension On road at the speed limit the car is adequate However as I had the car when I was 16 and stupid I know what it will do at more than double the speed limit and that is feel like it s going to tip On easy or moderate off roading the Explorer is alright however on severe off road conditions it falls apart The truck bucks violently and generally feels like it s about to break Performance Well the engine is a 170 horsepower V6 in a 4000 lb truck It accelerates slowly from any speed and highway merging must be done at full throttle or you risk endangering people in the right lane I did a few mods to the truck a performance ha airbox a dual exhaust and a chip I d guess it had 180 horsepower after all that Maybe 185 Anyway nothing you can do short of an engine swap will make it accelerate fast Even after all those mods the thing couldn t even squeal its tires in a straight line unless it was raining And it s not just the engine The brakes on this truck are awful made even worse by a capricious ABS system which will activate in the dry going less than 10 mph or not activate at 40 mph when it s wet and causing the car to go sideways I could see straight ahead through the passenger side window All in all even if you expected a poor performing vehicle this one sucks Exterior I personally don t like the slab sided blunt ended aerodynamics of a brick look but hey that s subjective Objectively it isn t helping fuel economy My truck was also purple so that may be a small factor in my point of view Interior The main problem with the interior is that like many Detroit products it isn t well built Plastics screwed onto plastics screwed onto metal is a great recipe for squeaks and the Explorer definitely evinces these The seat belts also rattle against the doors and almost all interior trim panels can be wiggled by hand and mostly pried away from their mounting surfaces The cargo pad or whatever you want to call it is attached by velcro to velcro fasteners which are glued onto plastic These gave way within a few months so now I have no cargo pad And both passenger side air vents are broken because Ford couldn t be bothered to make them out of metal so they were constructed from cheap flimsy plastic like most of the inside The seats are fairly comfortable and there s enough room for 4 5 s a stretch and the middle rear seat absolutely sucks because of the always trying to retract lap belt that locks as tight as possible Why couldn t it be adjustable Because Ford motor company hates you The mirror in the driver s side visor is also broken because my mother put the window up when it was sticking out That WAS partially her fault but why couldn t Ford install some sort of stop on the thing Because Ford is run by fools Reliability Well it hasn t been good With 80 000 miles in 10 years you d think the radiator wouldn t have blown You d also think the visors wouldn t be cracked and falling down and that the car would get better than 14 mpg maybe 20 if I had a lighter foot The thing always has something wrong Lately it s been the power door locks not being powered anymore and the center console working it s way loose so I can shake it about 3 in either direction this of course is another example of plastic screwed onto metal which just destroys the plastic giving it the play The vacuum lines have all decayed so they had to be replaced The shocks were also replaced because the car was rolling diving and squating too much Then I realized the shocks were fine because the new ones didn t control body motions at all Misc One thing that really bugs me about the Explorer is that it has absolutely almost no safety features No airbags no traction control no stability control only pre tensioning safety belts Overall All in all I hate the truck My view is slightly skewed because my parents had Mercedes and BMWs and wouldn t even buy a newer Explorer but hey the truck really is a poor choice for anyone Please don t get suckered into buying one " Neg," We quot inherited quot a 1993 Ford Explorer in December of 1998 It was great until it had about 100 000 miles on it and just stopped at a red light It would start but when we put it in to drive it stalled We had it towed to a transmission place When we called the mechanic he said quot Let me guess it has between 70 80 000 miles on it quot We said no that it had about 100 000 He then told us how lucky we were because we got an extra 20 000 miles out of the old transmission He told us that he installs at least five new transmissions on Explorers a week It was a pretty good car up to that point other than the fact that it s small engine can t go up hills very easily We drove this car to Colorado from Texas and prayed the whole way It barely made it there and back struggling the whole way I urge you to call a transmission shop before you buy an Explorer They will be able to tell you much better than I am " Neg," My husband and I bought our Ford Explorer XLT in 1993 My husband HAD to have this vehicle It was great driving it when it was new but my husband drove it mostly until he obtained a company car and we sold our other car and I now owned this Explorer At 36k miles I had to replace the tires The vehicle began to shimmy and I have had the tires rotated balanced aligned and to no avail I have talked to other Explorer owners who have had the same problem and Ford could not fix the problem I have also had to replace routers every time I have had a break job done This has been a cost of over 600 dollars The passenger side rear door handle broke and will not open from the inside Again I know other Explorer owners who had this problem The computer died and had to be replaced Fortunately it was still under warranty and it didn t cost me anything The paint on the hood of the vehicle started to crack from underneath the clearcoat Not to mention the many recalls I also had to have the thermostat replaced because the vehicle started to run hot replaced may batteries Have had to replace the bushings because they are located too close to the engine and this causes them to melt faster I will be needing to replace them again soon at a cost of over 150 I have also had the experience of riding in an Expedition and I felt the same vibration starting on it as I felt on the Explorer when we bought it I feel that the Expedition will have the same problems as the Explorer br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle thinking i could take it on long trips access remote vacationing areas and hauling my boat What I got was a gas guzzling snail The Ford Explorer provides absolutely no power and is capable of nothing While unsafe for street driving it lacks the ground clearance for off road use i bet i could find a Ferrari with more ground clearance than that of the Ford Explorer I bought this car fully loaded It had the works and let me tell you about these quot works quot The leather is of lowest quality It comes with air holes poked all over the seat which look very cheap This rig is about as nimble as a 747 Watch out for the roll factor when cornering at what you think is a reasonable speed The Explorer has an extremely high center of gravity which makes it one of the most flipped automobiles on the road today dispite the minimal ground clearance Ford has found a way to still make the Explorer unsafe The constipated roar that lurkes beneath the hood is nothing but empty power There were VERY few things that satisfied me about this truck " Neg," There s good news and bad news First with the good news I ve managed to squeeze out 165 000 miles from this truck and she s still running That s more than a lot of other people can say for their vehicles On that point I am indeed satisfied The bad news I ve also had quite a few problems along the way I ll start by saying that I would be cautious about buying one of these trucks used During my first 36 000 miles I had to have a couple of repairs done to the front axle From about miles through 40 000 100 000 I had random problems with the electrical system that caused it to not start I don t mind paying to get a vehicle fixed but I absolutely can t stand being stranded by my vehicle At 96 000 miles the manual transmission went out and that had to be replaced with a rebuilt one This was a nightmare in and of itself but that s another story all together This cost about 1800 to get fixed Luckily it was covered under an extended warranty through my insurance company that was about to expire at 100 000 miles At about 130 000 miles the 4x4 went bad so I can t use that anymore Around 115 000 miles the air conditioner went bad Not knowing how much further this vehicle would last I decided not to get the 1000 dollar repair Had I not had those previous problems I probably would have pitched in the 1000 dollars to get the AC fixed Oh well hindsight is 20 20 These are the major problems that I ve had Along the way a number of other issues have popped up as well There was a recall on the emergency brake and there was also a recall on the rear window Additionally it seems like the plastics on the inside are really flimsy The handle to my driver side door snapped off at about 90 000 miles and the dashboard vents to the AC have broken so that you can t adjust the direction of the airflow The armrest that sits between the passenger and driver has even broken off So now I just lay the arm rest where it was once secured in place Oh yes the tape deck has always been screwy sometimes eating my tapes ever since about 20 000 miles on I don t even bother with it anymore All in all I m glad to say that I was able to squeeze out 165 000 miles from this and believe it or not my last 30 000 miles have been less troublesome than my first 30 000 miles Even with soooo many miles I m hesitant to try another one of these again considering the problems it s had Since it did actually get me 165 000 miles I m giving this a 3 and not a lower score Good luck br br " Neg," If my truck had been a boat I doubt I would have made it out of the port I have had so many problems with my 1995 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab since purchasing it brand new that it s a wonder it hasn t just spontaneously combusted but with my luck I probably would have been sitting in it if that would have happened The funny thing is someone even tried to steal my truck back in 1996 but they gave up pretty quick for some reason I suspect I now know why b i NOTE Prices in Canadian Dollars b The Good Stuff About My Truck It s a great looking truck When you sit and just look at it it really looks good Too bad it doesn t do a whole lot of good for me to just sit and look at it The seats are fantastic 60 40 split bench If there is one thing that has stood the test of time with my truck it s the drivers seat It is very comfortable for those long drives my parents live 6 hours away from Calgary and the upholstery is quite durable Have never had any stain problems and everything is very easy to clean I tend to take a lot of stuff when I travel The good thing about the Ranger with the extended cab is there is a lot of space I even squeezed seven people into my truck once not against their will Power is always a plus with any truck and mine is not too shabby in that department With a V6 4L engine and 170 HP it has quite a bit of kick for a small truck Definitely a good thing The fuel efficiency on my truck is also not too bad especially for a truck I don t know exactly what it is but I can generally make it around 500 KMS 310 Miles on of a tank of gas b The Forgotten Realms Series of Fantasy Books About The Time of Troubles Surprisingly Are NOT About My Truck Although They Could Easily Have Been The most defective part of my truck all these years has been the breaks I can t get through a year without having break problems such as pulling to one side or trembling when I push on the brakes I ve had my breaks replaced two times over the course of about 130 000 KMS 80 000 Miles and the problems always seem to return I do drive in the city a lot but I know plenty of people with a wide variety of vehicles and models that have never had the break problems I have had I d like to think brakes are supposed to last a little longer than 45 000 KMS 28 000 Miles and not have to be constantly serviced Total brake repair costs to date 2000 The most expensive one time problem I have had with my truck was a couple of years ago at around 75 000 KMS 46 000 Miles My truck wouldn t start a couple of times and I was informed by my mechanic I had to have my head gaskets rebuilt at a cost of over 1000 Apparently there was oil leaking from them which was causing overheating and setting off a sensor that was not allowing the engine to start None of the other Ford vehicles in my family have ever had head gasket problems we all have around the same number of KMS Miles on our vehicles Ford actually issued a recall of head gaskets a year or two ago on a wide range of vehicles which included some 1995 models but sadly the recall did not include Rangers On the bright side since the repairs have been done I have had no further engine problems knock on wood Shortly after my 60 000 KM 37 000 Miles warranty ran out on my truck I encountered a couple of annoying problems my headlights wouldn t turn on and my door ajar sensor would stick for up to a half hour Oh the sweet sounds of DING DING DING DING For some reason one day when I went to switch my headlights to high beam the system shorted out and all I had left was the daylight driving lights Cost to repair 300 And then there is the door ajar sensor I ve had to replace it twice because it kept sticking on no matter what I tried to fix it Cost to repair Around 200 each time My brother s Ranger has also had this problem although he only had to replace his sensor once In addition to these problems I have had plenty of minor problems such as the engine mis firing at higher speeds above 100 KPH 62 MPH but most were covered by the original warranty or a recent repair warranty This still doesn t take away from the fact I cannot seem to go more than a month or two without encountering some new or repeat problem with the truck b Overall Opinion Summary Although I m not ever planning on getting a Ford Ranger ever ever ever again I m still a Ford fan My family owns 4 Ford vehicles and mine has been the only true dud of the batch I really do believe I just bought the truly horribly bad truck of the batch so I am rating my truck 1 out of 5 overall b The Non Fun I ve Had With My Truck Not related to vehicle defects at least directly b Although some of the problems I ve had with my truck I m about to detail are crappy they are generally NOT related to the quality of the truck or the defects I have had to deal with I just want to illustrate the point that I honestly think my truck is cursed Anyone know a good exorcist It all started with an attempted break in while my friend and I were at a hockey game The thief had attempted to knock out the passenger side door lock with a screw driver or something but had failed I suspect the truck probably growled at the would be thief or something and scared him off I swiftly responded to the attempted break in with the installation of a car alarm After shopping around for a decent price I settled on A B Sound in NE Calgary for my alarm choice I left my truck for the day and the alarm was installed End of story Nope I had to return 3 more times because the alarm did not agree with my truck and would false constantly So we upgraded the alarm to try and solve the problem End of Story Nope Had to return 2 more times because the alarm still didn t agree with my truck Finally they figured they had the problem beat and even decided to compensate me by installing a remote car starter along with the final repairs for cost and no installation charge at 60 I took the deal and have never had any alarm or starter problems since thank goodness But the problems didn t end there for me of course The next incident I had with the truck was a near severe accident I was driving back to Calgary from visiting my parents in my home town and while driving down the highway I watched in horror as a fully loaded dump truck ran a stop sign heading right in my path I actually yanked the steering wheel and skidded down the highway at a 90 degree angle avoiding an accident I got off the highway and the guy walked over to me and profusely apologized for 5 minutes while I tried to calm down It was brutal to say the least I m not going to go into details about the next two fun events but they go like this 1 hit by a guy that ran a red light 8000 damage covered by insurance 2 my friend and I largely because of our silliness got stuck under an apartment garage door while moving stuff out of his old apartment causing damage to my windshield wipers and hood Cost 600 The last one I m going to mention is the doozy of the whole stack I had brake problems as usual back in 1999 and took them to a local mechanic to be serviced Upon leaving I noticed my breaks were making a ton of noise so I went back only to find out they had screwed the job up So a few hours later everything was supposed to be completely fixed So I headed home I was supposed to head across the city via our major freeway to pick up a friend after the repairs were done but he canceled at the last minute so I just headed home thankfully Upon returning home I decided to head to the nearby grocery store to grab some stuff and when I was a few blocks away from my house my breaks completely failed I had none I quickly kicked the truck into 2nd and 1st gears to slow down and coasted home luckily there was very little traffic around at the time What I found out when I had the truck towed to Ford where I had NOT had the repairs done at was that someone had put oil in my master cylinder this thing regulates the break fluid for your vehicle I actually still have the one with the oil in it in my possession I had service done at both Ford and a local mechanic within a two week time period so there was no way to squarely place the blame on either one or so I was told At this point or probably some point long before this point you probably asked yourself why didn t this guy get rid of this truck a long time ago Well that s a darn good question Every time there was a problem I basically hoped and prayed it was the last And it just seemed like I had invested so much into the truck that it would be an even bigger waste to get rid of it now Perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel is over the past year I have had the least number of problems since I ve owned the freaking thing A friend of mine speculated that if we poured holy water on my truck it would probably growl at us and catch on fire or something Don t suppose anyone else out there also has a cursed Ranger b Amount Paid In Canadian b 22 000 " Neg," I purchased a brand new bright red truck in November 1995 my husband said not another red truck Yes I like red and I like trucks I had brought home a darker blue truck but it was automatic power windows and other frilly stuff that I didn t want or want to pay extra for My truck had the following features 6 cylinder standard transmission 5 speed anti lock brakes back sliding window long bed A C power steering and a bed liner What I liked about this truck at the time I bought it was that we could all fit into it However for my older kids the fold down jump seats in the back section were uncomfortable on long trips The last big trip was from Tennessee to Oklahoma and then back My son at the time was 15 and my daughter was 12 They were most uncomfortable and had to take turns riding up front And I liked the price It cost 12 799 with all the financial stuff This was the third vehicle that I bought at Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville AL And If I still lived there I probably would have traded it there and bought another Ford product I was faithful about regular maintenance but this silly truck had a mind of its own First it was the door open chime it just would not shut off Back to the dealership it was covered under the warranty Then the wipers went off on their own back to the dealership covered by warranty By this time I was wondering if I had made a good decision about this truck Then the interior light would not shut off my husband just got a potholder from the kitchen and yanked the bulb out He was beginning to be frustrated by constant trips to the dealer for little electrical repairs I noticed a smell around 35 000 miles or so Something was hot under my truck I took it in and asked them if there was anything under there that might get hot during driving They checked the radiator and other items like brakes etc but not the problem After the big trip to Oklahoma it finally broke and it was a carrier bearing My mechanic basically told me that this was a design flaw since the drive shaft was not so long it didn t really need to be built like this Just another moving part to break Once all of the electrical problems were repaired and the carrier bearing was repaired the truck was very reliable for 120 000 miles And a trip to South Carolina Myrtle Beach At that time it was traded for a much more comfortable vehicle for our growing family of 5 We bought a Plymouth Grand Voyager van See my review on it please My truck was not a reliable vehicle in ice it froze to the ground and we could not budge it no matter what we tried hahahhaha only in Tennessee right Okay so maybe it was built on a Monday maybe it was just that model year But I did not buy another Ford truck and I had owned 2 so maybe I ll let Fords rest and get a Toyota or a Chevy next truck purchase " Neg," The early 90s were good for Ford Sales were strong recalls were few Firestone tires were the norm and there was nothing wrong with that By 1992 the Taurus had overtaken the Honda Accord as the best selling car in America In fact it held on to the position until 1997 when the Toyota Camry won the sales race So what was it about the Taurus that made it sell so well Was it the looks the performance the quality the price I had only one encounter of an older Taurus before last week a beat up 1989 model that a friend of mine used to own Last week I got to drive a 1993 Taurus GL with only 71 000 miles How would it compare to the last older Taurus I drove Powertrain C This Taurus like so may others had the venerable 3 0 liter pushrod Vulcan V6 It was good for about 140 horsepower Keep in mind that the Taurus was amongst the bigger midsizers of its time so it was not surprising that this 3 0 liter was not quite up to the job This engine makes quite a lot of noise for not much grunt and it knocked pretty bad The performance is not helped by a transmission that shifts too soon for my tastes The shift quality is poor either it clunks or it slips just a bit Taurus transmissions are legendary for failure and malfunction Being that this example only had 72 000 miles made all the less encouraging Update As of August 2002 this Taurus blew its tranny with only 76 000 miles It was soon junked Sorry it took my almost a year to inform you all of this Handling Steering braking D So many family sedans of this era had started to become more engaging to drive The Nissan Maxima and Honda Accord were the sportiest the Toyota Camry was the smoothest the Mazda 626 and Nissan Altima being somewhere in between But Ford tuned the Taurus to appeal to those who consider a car to be just an appliance The Taurus has perfectly safe handling but the driving experience is numb and devoid of any sense of fun The steering lacks any sort of feel It heft is completely artificial The response is imprecise The suspension is tuned for a smooth ride but its softness contributes to more body roll than is comfortable The brakes are horrid The pedal feels spongy and I had to apply way more pressure than normally do Overall this car does not inspire any confidence Interior D The Taurus was one of the bigger cars in its class I really expected to be impressed by the interior room But when I got behind the wheel of the Taurus I discovered that I have it made in my 93 Mazda 626 My Mazda was one of the smallest cars in the class back then however it has a lot more front legroom than the Taurus In this car the wheel arches intrude exactly where I like to keep my left foot whereas my Mazda has plenty of foot room The Ford s seats provide very little support and are not comfortable even on short trips This GL model has a power driver s seat but surprisingly has no controls for the all important thigh support The controls are fairly well laid out and the cupholder design is great IT HOLDS CUPS Too bad it blocks the low mounted stereo which has really small buttons The overall quality of materials is quite bad The plastic used on the dash and door panels just screams low buck The fabrics used are not much better The back seat is pretty roomy but like the fronts they offer very little comfort and support And for you skiers out there the seat does not fold down Thankfully the trunk is big albeit with a high liftover Exterior B As far as looks go the older Taurus was not bad In late 1985 when the original Taurus made its debut it was cutting edge The 1992 restyle made it look even better and more upscale Even today it looks somewhat modern if pretty generic It s a tried and true styling effort that certainly won t offend anybody The same could not be said for the 1996 1999 fish face model which offended many Overall D It s sad to say that the older Taurus was simply not a very good car I would like to have thought that given the low mileage it would have driven better But in reality this babied 1993 model drove pretty much the way my friend s old beat up 1989 model Just as an example my 1993 Mazda 626 with 161 000 miles on has not led a charmed life It was in a major accident once Yet my old bruiser drives way better than the Taurus It is better built better engineered and a whole lot more comfortable Plus its fun and has better resale value The Honda Accord Nissan Maxima and Toyota Camry are even better So I d say skip the Taurus You ll be glad you did " Neg," Back in 1997 we purchased a 1993 Ford Taurus Wagon We purchased the car because we needed a larger car for our family The car had problems the moment we drove it off the lot As we were driving down the expressway in our quot new quot car the Oxygen sensors went out meaning the car would stall out going 65MPH We called the dealership and they fixed them assuring us that the car had been very well taken care of and this was just a strange coincidence Well 2 weeks later the brakes went out so we got them fixed Then the head gasket went out And now the transmission is out in it We have only had this car for a little over 2 years and we have sunk more money into it than we had to pay for it even though we had a warranty I will make sure a mechanic checks out the next car I purchase and I would advice anyone to do the same " Neg," There have been two serious problems with the Taurus and Sable vehicles Mainly it s the transmission The AXOD and AXOD E automatic transmissions Introduced in 1986 these things have apparently been designed in haste It s noteworthy to mention that this same transmission has also been used in Ford Windstar minivans and I think in Lincoln Continental sedans AXOD transmissions have been used in Taurus and Sable vehicles from 1985 to 1991 An electronic version called the AXOD E have been used in the redesigned Taurus and Sable vehicles from 1992 to 1995 These transmissions have used an aluminum accumulator piston which has been known to crack Ford s TSB Technical Service Bulletin indicates that the aluminum piston must be replaced with a steel one When the piston goes the car will not upshift properly if at all These transmissions do not provide adequate lubrication to the planetaries The planetaries are a set of orbital gears that transfers the torque from the engine to the wheels Apparently the transmission does not distribute enough fluid to those gears that they overheat They eventually will break down When the planetaries go your car will not move If you were moving when those gears go you will coast to a stop This problem has also been indicated by Ford through a TSB This vehicle has also used the Essex 3 8 litre V 6 engine These engines are notorious for developing problems with the head gaskets A lot of vehicles in Ford s lineup have used this same engine like V 6 Thunderbird Cougar vehicles and V 6 Mustangs Fortunately these engines are easy to identify Just pop the hood The intake plenum which is a big slab of metal on top of the engine should have this written on it in big letters 3 8 FUEL INJECTED V 6 There is a TSB which lists replacing the head gasket material with an improved version along with replacing the head bolts with ones that have higher torsion to achieve a tighter compression of the gasket for a better seal However there have been reports of leaks even with the improvements Most leaks seem to occur after flushes of the cooling system Ford s execution of recalls to affected vehicles have been less than stellar Model years covered are only 1994 and up Owners of vehicles years 1993 and down are not being honored Off topic it has also been commented that Ford has had a reputation for lawlessness in comparison to other American car companies in terms of responsibility to their customers in the event that a potentially dangerous design defect becomes known Ford has been known not to take action in face of these circumstances The only other company I can think of that is worse in this regard is Kia If you want a second generation Taurus as they are the best looking Tauruses in my opinion opt for the 1995 model as they may have the updates applied to them Also in addition get only a Taurus or Sable with the 3 0 litre Vulcan engine If you wish get a SHO model All SHO Tauruses use super reliable Yamaha V 6 engines and some SHOs use manual transmissions which avoids potential transmission problems inherent in the AXOD altogether However When something does go wrong with SHO cars they are expensive to repair if major parts are required as parts for SHO vehicles can be difficult to find One way to check the transmission s condition is to check the fluid s condition If it s cherry red it may still be good although the fluid could have been replaced to cover up a transmission problem If the fluid is brown or brownish with a sharp dirty odor avoid the car as the transmission had been overheated Particularly a concern with cars using the AXOD automatic transmission Check the engine s head gasket condition by checking the oil If the oil looks murky and light brown and can even sort of have an appearance like chocolate milk then avoid the car as the head gaskets have leaked Smell the oil If it smells burnt avoid the car Burnt oil usually means that the engine had been overheated Overheated engines can develop head gasket problems prematurely and engines with head gasket concerns to begin with should be particularly avoided in this instance Also as always try to obtain all the service papers for the car in order to ascertain how it s been taken care of as well as to reveal if any major repairs had been done or not " Neg," In April 2000 I purchased a 1993 Taurus LX Wagon with the V6 engine My family was growing and I needed a larger safer vehicle I went the way I could afford It was priced slightly over the Blue Book price and it was super clean The odometer read nearly 120 000 miles but when I test drove it the Taurus wagon handled well and rode smoothly It ran quietly and shifted almost unnoticeably I was impressed as was my wife which was very important I made a 1 000 down payment and financed the remaining 3 700 through my bank The first monthly payment was due on June 1 2000 Roughly 40 days after the purchase was made a couple weeks before the first monthly payment was due I had a problem One morning while pulling out of a parking lot the transmission slipped out of gear And it stayed that way The mechanic told me that when he opened it up the case was full of shavings Totally without warning the transmission had chewed itself up A remanufactured transmission with a decent warranty cost me 2 100 Add to that over 500 in labor All for a seven year old vehicle I still owed nearly 5 000 on when interest is added Also at the consignment lot the keyless entry code worked A few months later it didn t and it cost me 45 to get some guy with a slim jim to open the car for me " Neg," I have a 1993 Ford Taurus with a V6 3 8L engine The Ford Taurus is a nice car It is very roomy for a family of four There is plenty of trunk space and is a comfortable ride for family trips However at 50 000 miles the head gasket cracked Coolant was leaking into the exhaust system causing billowing white smoke to come out of the tail pipe I opted for a rebuilt engine as purchasing another car was out of the question as a car with a cracked head has little trade in value Now Ford has increased the warranty for 1994 and 1995 Taurus vehicles with 3 8L engines to 7 years or 100 000 miles According to the letter if you have already paid to have the head gasket repaired prior to the date of this letter March 2000 you may be entitled to a refund of your repair costs Obviously Ford has had lots of complaints and bad press concerning their 3 8L engine Ann O Neill director of Vehicle Service and Programs even states that Ford quot is committed to maintaining satisfying and and long term relationships with our valued customers and demonstrating that commitment through actions such as this quot I guess I am not a valued customer as Ford told me that there is no recourse because my model year is 1993 It is a low mileage car as it is now close to 7 years old with 61 000 miles of which 11 000 is on the second engine My car clearly fit the textbook case of what they were trying to correct with 1994 models As previous reviewers of the Taurus have stated there is no gray area with rules only black and white with Ford br br " Neg," My family had high hopes when we bought our new Taurus from the Ford dealer We thought of the great trips we could it this spacious and quiet car We learned very quickly The car was the most unreliable thing we had ever ridden in When we owned it we went on about six long trips with it four of those trips it broke down It is relatively quiet and has a decent amout of space but those are qualities you tend to overlook as you manuver through the oveflow baggage from the small trunk in an attempt to get out of the car to examine the broken engine Actually the transmission gave us the majority of the problems It couldn t handle long trips at all This car is a lemon and should be avoided " Neg," I have the misfortune of having purchased one of these vehicles about a year and a half ago It is a 1993 Taurus Wagon Top of the line fully loaded black and very pretty to look at Unfortunately I have only been able to drive the car for about 5 000 miles since I purchased it First the steering went out 900 next it was the head gasket 1 700 not to mention various other minor repairs The last tow truck driver informed me that he tows the Ford Taurus more often than any other car and the garage concurred I was warned that the transmissions often go out in these cars and alas that prediction came true yesterday I have decided to donate the car to charity I would not recommend this car to anyone br br " Neg," I bought a used 1993 Ford Taurus in 1997 with about 50K miles on it From the beginning this car was a black hole with my hard earned money I spent almost 7000 on this car and have put almost 3000 into it since NOT including gasoline oil changes or regular maintenance First it was the neutral positioning sensor that left me stranded on the side of the highway That cost 180 for one part and 10 minutes of my mechanics time Then the alternator belt popped off again leaving me on the side of the road with about 200 in repairs Then it was the radiator the air condtioning compressor the fuel pump and some various gaskets About 6 months after all those repairs the spindle assembly in the front left wheel literally flew off my car while I was driving it I ended up in a ditch quite shaken up but very luckily unharmed That cost 120 FROM A JUNKYARD NOT THE DEALERSHIP The dealership wanted 445 for that work Then the rack went out along with the power steering pump and the CV joints Another 800 I found out from my mechanic that my car was built on a Friday and that explains a lot I say I wasted a lot of time and money on this hunk of junk and advise anybody out to buy a 1993 or same model Taurus keep looking elsewhere Perhaps I happened to get a bad one out of all of them but I doubt it I wish more than anything I could turn back time and NOT buy a Ford Taurus Buyer beware Now I have a piece of crud that won t even get me 1000 to put towards another car " Neg," This is in addition to my August 15th Opinion regarding engine problems which required the replacement of two engines due to head gasket problems I also noted that the transmission was replaced with 32K miles for 2 000 The Ford company wouldn t pay for the replacement eventhough they were aware of a quot front piston problem quot common with the Taurus transmissions I figured that with a new transmission tires engine what could go wrong I found out today 59K miles that the transmission must be resealed due to numerous leaks eventhough it has only 27K miles on it It will cost over 600 00 Also have to redo the power steering also due to leaks as well as replacing the front wheel bearings So far I have spent over 8 000 in maintenance costs to keep the car going and will probably run another 2 000 if I have the work performed which I doubt This has been the worst car I have ever owned and anyone who is considering purchasing a ford should get smart and look at other alternatives that have a much better maintenance record br br " Neg," I have owned a couple of these 1993 Ford Tauruses and they are great for roadtrips and long commutes The less options the better I hate the transmissions they all go out in the 130k range look for slips and quot thunks quot motor mounts are weak too especially on the 3 8s so don t mistake the loud thud upon accelerating with tranny problem The starters are sketchy and these cars suck when they don t work as you begin to realize that no one wants it no matter for how little money if there are electrical or transmission problems Don t spend more than 2500 for one unless the tranny s been rebuilt or replaced br br " Neg," First of all I love Fords I think they are good cars but the 93 Taurus has caused us some trouble First I bought it about 3 years ago It has power everything a good sound system and a sunroof But we began to have problems The 3 8 L Fuel Injected v 6 was a poor engine for a Ford product We have had problems with both front and rear calibers and the whole brake system We had to change the rotors the calibers and of course the pads But the back brakes were thankfully fixed for free Car X read the paper wrong and another problem that they noticed was when the parking brake is set it hangs up on the wheel So we don t use it seeing it s 300 dollars to fix But the rotors and all costed 900 to fix We have also had problems with the starter changed once also we have changed the engine once and replaced the motor mounts The head gaskets broke and air conditioner has stopped blowing cold air but it hasn t been checked They were all costly But other then that I love my Taurus It has a decent engine with good power and has a smooth ride The stereo is great and has good bass and the sunroof is good on warm days The seats our comfortable with lumbar support and power everything is good We also have the keyless entry and the code I like the Taurus but with all the problems I would stay away from the 93 94 model and get the 96 99 model " Neg," I just recently bought a used 1993 Ford Taurus Mind you this is the first and ONLY Ford I have ever owned I had the car less than three months when everything started falling apart First the radiator goes and then the water pump Then the driver s side mirror fell out onto the street while driving Next a piece of the muffler falls off in my driveway And finally the driver s side window won t open The rear brakes went 6 months after we had them fixed and to top it all off the molding around the windows inside the car is falling off This has happened all in one year and the car was fully inspected by MY mechanic the day we bought it which turned out as an A inspection So needless to say after 1 406 59 later the car is still developing things wrong or defective not to mention a nice recall on some of the car s interior parts which I have to have fixed UGHH Can we say HEADACHE Never will I buy a Ford again br br " Neg," big mistake buying a Taurus At almost 80 000 miles the air conditioner went out soon after that the transmission went out cost me big to get it replaced I went w a special kit to fix FORD S mistake If you ask me we should all get a class action law suit against Ford and Sue them Don t buy If you bought it get rid of IT SOON BTW I have a 85 Toyota Camry w over 270 000 miles on it with no problem Oh and the interier is falling apart too nice power and good ride but not worth the repairs what is the fewer than a 100 words JUNK lt paste gt big mistake buying a Taurus At almost 80 000 miles the air conditioner went out soon after that the transmission went out cost me big to get it replaced I went w a special kit to fix FORD S mistake If you ask me we should all get a class action law suit against Ford and Sue them Don t buy If you bought it get rid of IT SOON BTW I have a Toyota Camry w over 270 000 miles on it with no problem Oh and the interier is falling apart too nice power and good ride but not worth the repairs what is the fewer than a 100 words JUNK lt paste gt br br " Neg," Perhaps quot junk quot is too strong a word to describe my 2000 Ford Taurus Wagon After scanning some of the other Taurus reviews I may be too harsh but I honestly cannot recommend this car I realize that this is not a high priced luxury car so I guess I can muster two stars considering the car s price range I obtained this car about three months ago and it has about 2500 miles From the first day that I drove it there was a problem with the brakes Whenever I brake the car usually pulls dramatically to the left and sometimes it pulls to the right Like most people I have a busy schedule during business hours and it is not convenient for me to make an appointment with the dealer to have this fixed during work hours My next problem is the amount of road noise which gets inside the car I rent many cars each year and this car is definitely above average in the noise department On a recent business excursion it was difficult for passengers in the front seat to hear passengers in the back seat and vice versa due to the road noise Again I realize that this is not a luxury vehicle but I think Ford could do better I would also like to have a larger gas tank The sixteen gallon tank should be enlarged to a twenty gallon tank in my opinion My car gets about 18 miles per gallon so with the amount of driving I do I have to stop for gas about twice a week I do not think that a larger tank would take much away from fuel efficiency The fact that the gas gauge takes about 20 minutes to register after the car is filled up took some getting used to as well There are a number of puzzling aspects about this car For example why isn t a third pull out seat standard in a station wagon I know that it is my own fault for assuming that it would be but now I am stuck with a station wagon with no third seat Also why is the rear windshield wiper not centered The portion of the rear windshield behind the driver is not reached by the wiper Why does the cruise control have so many buttons and require two hands to operate I prefer the simple GM system which only requires one hand Why is the steering wheel so enormous in the center that you cannot see the instrument panel when you make a turn Other vehicles manage to provide airbags without obstructing the panel view Speaking of obstructions why is the driver s head rest so huge that you cannot see around it Is it me or is the road clearance unusually low on this vehicle By this time you are probably wondering how I wound up with this car This is my company car and it is the only quot choice quot that I am given I realize that this next annoyance may only apply to other fleet car drivers but why does Ford throw in a 1000 plus engine upgrade to allow the car to run on ethanol I live on the east coast where ethanol is not readily available I am sure that it has to do with some sort of government quota but I would have much rather had the extra thousand dollars put into something usable I usually like to be more upbeat when writing reviews so I concentrated and came up with two features I like on this car There is a nice thin shelf directly under the radio console I also like the fact that there is a second electronic adapter for electronic devices although this is somewhat standard now br br " Neg," I get my Fords for free I m an insurance adjustor with a large national insurance company they provide us with a new Taurus when we hit 60 000 miles I think this will give me an unadulterated opinion of the vehicle I ve had two so far a 1997 Ford Taurus GL and a 1999 Ford Taurus SE The major problems I ve experienced with both of these cars is electrical problems The first one was a disaster In 60 000 miles the car went into the shop 14 times for electrical problems They ranged from interior lights that would not ever go out when the car was on thus making it dangerous to drive at night I had to pull the lights under the dashboard and keep the dome light off to the power steering going out at 75mph right before taking a curve on the interstate I had the power windows go out the power locks suddenly lock or unlock as you re cruising down the street the alternator needed a change and I went through three computers The second one is quite minor I currently have 8500 miles on it and the radio clock keeps blinking on and off as you drive I ll have Ford look at it next time it goes in for maintenance As far as comfort this is an excellent car My office is in my car and the SE package is very nice with electric seats lumbar support and the remote that locks unlocks the door and opens the trunk is a nice touch you don t need to set down all your packages or in my case a ladder that fits in the trunk to open the trunk just hold it in your hand and pop it open then set your things right in it As far as safety being in the insurance industry and having the company purchase these cars exclusively for its employees should be testimony enough they have superb safety ratings They hold up well in crashes and they do a good job of protecting the passengers Remember one thing though in the purchase of a Ford product Fix Or Repair Daily I used to think that was just a joke however with my experience with the Taurus that is close to true br br " Neg," This review is only going to cover the most annoying quot feature quot I have ever experienced in a car I will mention that I love the performance and handling of this car It s also very roomy and attractive However if you want a detailed review of all the aspects of the Ford Taurus there are plenty of other reviews just click to the next one in the category This review will simply explain why I will never own one It is my husband s car provided for him by his company so neither of us is responsible for choosing this particular vehicle I have been driving it for a week while he is out of town I will be more than happy to give it back to him when he returns What is this quot feature quot that makes me want to drink gasoline right out of the gas tank It s a common feature on cars today the automatic door locking mechanism When the car reaches 10 MPH the passenger doors all lock themselves I can see only the slightest faintest benefit to this Maybe it will keep your passengers from getting yanked out of the car and mugged and beaten when you pull up to an urban stoplight next to the whores and winos who decorate the corners of your particular hometown That s the only thing I can think of i b But I do not want a car that decides for me when the doors should be locked i b You would not believe how often this aggravates me Any time that I get out of the car and have a need to open one of the passenger doors I have to remember the extra step of hitting the quot unlock quot button I did not lock the door why should I have to remember to unlock it i This happens nearly every time I get out of the car because I usually travel with my one year old sidekick who likes to ride in his carseat in the back In order to get him out I have to open the back door Seven times out of ten I have to try to open the back door then curse and re open the driver door hit the unlock button close the driver door and then open the back door The gas tank is on the passenger side So when I m standing over there filling up shivering waiting i ding i the tank s full I put the pump away and grab the door handle to open the passenger side door to get my purse so that I can go pay for my gas Nope Gotta trot my happy butt around the car open the driver s side door hit the unlock button and run back around or crawl in and reach through to grab my purse Keep in mind the average temperature is below zero where I live this time of year The less time that I have to spend dinkering around outside my car messing with locked doors the happier I will be Not to mention the likelihood of me hitting a patch of ice as I m scurrying back around to the driver s side to unlock the doors and winding up on my bottom So lately I ve been speaking aloud to this car and it ain t Christmas carols I m singing when I do Another annoying quot feature quot I have discovered is that the car not only wants to decide when the doors should be locked but it refuses to shut up about the seat belt It dings every fifteen seconds if I don t fasten my seat belt Sometimes I simply do not want to wear it okay I m an intelligent grown up I can calculate risk and make choices for my own personal safety I do not need the car griping at me about it This has only forced me to disable this safety feature by fastening the seatbelt and leaving it fastened sitting on top of it while I drive Instead of encouraging me to be safe this car is forcing me to be less safe in protest At the very least Ford should provide an option for these features some mechanism to turn them on or off as you desire I will never buy a Ford Taurus or any other car with these aggressive features I do not want my car telling me what to do br br " Neg," This car defines average There s a reason why it s one of the most widely used cars for fleets Skim the other reviews and see how many of these people actually own one of these cars Fleet managers love this car because it is well rated in crash tests rather reliable and doesn t inspire illegal surges in speed My 2000 is also a fleet vehicle ours is the second company it has served HP took delivery of this car first Now don t get me wrong I d have driven a used Yugo if the company determined that was what they wanted me to have I m grateful that we went to a medium sized car But I do have a few complaints not as many as I d have if I were forced to drive a used Yugo The initial visit to the local dealer was interesting They pulled the service history from their computers and found they had about a dozen recall actions to perform Oh things like the fuel pump pedals too close together windshield wipers alternator a whole range of things I admire Ford for fixing all these things for free but did Microsoft purchase them Perhaps the Taurus it goes through a complete makeover every couple of years uses the summer intern design teams I received the car with around 18 000 miles I m not certain why HP got rid of it so early but I ve a few ideas At about 75 000 now the leak started about 20 000 miles ago Oil is leaking from somewhere in the vicinity of the passenger s side headlight I ve a slick in my garage to show for it No one seems to know what it is that is leaking there It started with an odor of burning oil No clue and company policy seems to be to leave the car alone unless it s something affecting safety Uh kay The ride around town is fine Stiff enough to give the impression someone on the car s design team knew someone who was once hooked up with someone who designs sports cars Perhaps with a designer on the Mustang design team Power is decent but not inspiring I drive this car up to 3500 miles per month as a salesman for a relatively small company Long drives to various prospects and clients scattered about Iowa are made less comfortable by that stiff suspension You can count expansion joints in the road through the seat steering wheel pedals etc Frost heaves are another thing entirely For the 16 000 the company paid for this car I could have bought sorry off topic Handling is also good in the sense that when you turn the wheel to the left the car agrees that is a good direction to go and doesn t fight you in doing it It is good to obey the posted curve speeds as the tires protest too much if speeds are pushed The side bolsters on the seats are enough to keep you from finding too many alternate pressure points on your gluteus and padding thereof but not enough to keep you firmly centered under hard cornering The dead pedal is where you d expect it to be if your vehicle is so small as to have the front wheel wells encroach on the passenger cabin The upholstery is light gray Stone Perhaps medium vanilla gray is the best description The dashboard is laid out fairly well but I think the tachometer was put there to aesthetically balance the speedometer There are also many decorative little nooks and ledges to gather extra road dust The blower knob no longer sticks where it is supposed to stick It makes occasional lunges for freedom managing to get as far as the floor rolling about as far as the center of the driver s seat It eludes a casual reach so I ve to stop and fish it out to readjust the blower motor I d much rather have a thermostat but I guess Taurus drivers aren t sophisticated enough for that sort of feature HP cars have an option that wasn t available to the general public or so I ve read The center console can be folded up under the center armrest I guess so you can have someone in the front as well as the back sit on the nearly rock solid center and in the front almost on the driver s lap Anyway when this is down you ve two decent cup holders and a place to mount and connect a cell phone While connected the phone charges its battery makes use of the car s external cell phone antenna To answer you press a button above the rear view mirror The stereo then cuts off and you hear the conversation over the car s audio system Neat but the little cradle to hold your cell phone is 450 and specific to each brand Not that neat I ll stick to my Jabbra Normally according to the owner s manual where the cell phone mounts in this car is another bin The center bin is a nice place to keep tapes whatever other little items you need to keep close at hand while driving It also collects stray potato chip crumbs peanut M Ms etc Bins are also built into all the doors You ve also got the large deep pockets on the front seat backs that are good for holding marketing material I m not certain what the rest of you use these for The glove is of the bin variety tipping out at the top versus tipping out at the bottom and dumping the contents onto the floor Anyway it manages to hold the manuals a bottle of Tylenol an economy size of Tums and some extra pens full at that point and difficult to close I prefer the old style where the glove was fixed with a door rather than this tipping bin There is an extra power port just to the right of the ashtray The lighter is directly above and to the right of a totally worthless cubby Perhaps an engineer designed this as that matching doesn t really make sense to me a lowly salesman About that cubby nothing seems to stay within other than items too small to make it worthwhile I have a picture of my wife I in there now Under extreme conditions even the picture slides out Cell phone Forget it Just backing out of the drive way sends it skipping to the floor With two power points I can plug in my phone and my vibrating seat cushion I do like gadgets that work I keep business cards in the ashtray Headroom is very good even with my seat cushion in the driver s seat I haven t spent too much time in the back seat If that is good or bad you tell me The general consensus though is that the back seat is a bit cramped I drove three staff members of a prospective client four hours one way and back again and didn t anesthetize the two in the back sufficiently Combine that with my testosterone induced marathon driving style and I really don t need to tell you we didn t get the business Next time I ll rent a van or luxury car perhaps with a wet bar One interesting feature is the pedal adjustment Ford I believe developed this for those of you who need the seat all the way back to fit behind the steering wheel but then can t reach the pedals The car has a switch on the left of the driver s seat that runs a motor that moves the pedal assembly closer or further depending upon your starting point and the direction you push the switch duh It has quite a range of motion I ve a 34 inseam and have never had a desire to move the pedals beyond the hour I first brought this car home This is a gadget I ve no use for Perhaps it was intended for the one million chimps typing randomly on typewriters to get to work long arms and short legs I do like the stereo For some reason it is able to pull radio stations in for some distance further than my GM cars normally have Beyond that it is also rather average for sound The bass doesn t thump This car also doesn t have the available CD changer When the CD button is pressed on the stereo the display scrolls NO DJ Bless his heart isn t that just cute Whatever The interior sound level is rather nice No squeaks or rattles to mention Those are the kind of things that some members of society put other people in the trunk to check for normally people who owe them large sums of money They then drive to a remote location and ask them if they heard the rattle too When they blubber incoherently the driver understandably gets mad and Sorry off topic again I also like the key fob remote very nice gadget Press the unlock button once and the driver s door unlocks Twice and all the doors unlock Trunk release is very nice when running out to grab this or that Why do these things occasionally have an EMERGENCY button I ve noticed them on Ford Chrysler products key fobs How many of you accidentally hit it when your neighbor is checking out your car in the driveway while you re inside the house Can I see some hands It only works to test the bladder once The trunk is big enough to swallow most of what I need to carry You can fold the rear seats down to give you more room but it has to be very narrow and short Skis would fit as well as extra long golf clubs I don t have either That s about all that feature is good for except maybe if someone were to carry 8 boards home from the lumberyard I guess if you need to carry up to four 8 2 x 4 pieces of lumber at a time this would be a good feature Understand that these boards would selfishly hog all your armrest too They d also make quite a mark on the dash if you were to run into something The spare is of the doughnut variety and located under the floor of the trunk Normally you don t need to access that too often but I ve had to Twice Praise the Lord both days were otherwise pleasant enough that it wasn t a huge chore However there is a six foot long bolt holding the spare in place Okay perhaps more like six inches I normally don t exaggerate length but it feels much longer while bent awkwardly into the trunk with demo cases scattered behind me That s the other thing I didn t care to have the flat in contact with anything that was in the trunk and the donut hole is that what you d call that isn t large enough to store a full size flat Fortunately all that was on the tire was black brake dust and road grime it s not like I m herding horses with it or anything I wrapped the tire in the blanket I keep in the trunk for emergencies Great now I ve got black brake dust on my emergency blanket One occasion that prompted a tire change was when I hit a rather nasty pothole and actually punctured the aluminum rim Not just a bend It actually tore a hole in it and air was leaking not just from the tire bead but also from the rim The tire had also had a bad day understand but not near as bad as that rim Anyway I was amazed and began to wonder what a replacement might cost 150 200 no 350 That s 1400 for the set of four I could get a very fancy set on e Bay for okay back to topic The Ford garage admitted that the aluminum rims are rather soft and that s not as uncommon as I would have thought You know I didn t even get to keep the old rim That would have been quite a chunk of aluminum to bring in for scrap I could have defrayed the cost a bit eh Oh topic topic An area most manufacturers cut weight now is on the brake rotors Someone at HP either rode the brake a great deal or that pothole also bent the rotor I ve a really nasty shimmy shake when braking hard from Interstate speeds Not enough to be dangerous of course but extremely annoying Fuel economy is disappointing I d assume and be incorrect that this medium sized car would get better fuel economy than my land yacht 92 Buick Roadmaster Taurus 23 highway 20 city Roadmaster 25 highway 18 city If the difference in comfort weren t so extreme it wouldn t bother me as much This is also the EVO model engine It will run happily on environmentally friendly fuels I ve only seen one station with a 95 ethanol option and that is about four hours north I d have expected it to run better on the alternative fuel but it got the same mileage on the slightly more expensive fuel The paint white of course and exterior finish are well done I ve noted earlier models that took a bad primer coat and most of the paint has flaked off the hood and roof of the cars Ford seems to have fixed that issue I guess what this comes down to is that the Taurus has some design and mechanical quirks without the redeeming factors some other cars possess If your Ferrari has a stiff ride you know it s because it s a sports car If your old VW microbus leaks a bit of oil from strange places you accept that as part of the vintage But this for me anyway is just too vanilla a car Update 11 Dec 03 Okay folks As mentioned above this vehicle has the adjustable pedals Fine There is a solenoid on the brake pedal that tells the car when the pedal is depressed presumably so it can administer valium Why this is engineered this way is a mystery but to save thousands of dollars in wire over the manufacturing life of the car the two wires that connect to the pedal are just barely long enough to reach that solenoid when the pedals are set all the way forward to the firewall When you push the brake pedal when it is set in that far forward position I ve a 34 inseam those wires bend at the solenoid Are you following this Over time copper loses strength when bent back forth back forth Keep that in mind I was purchasing food at a local quick service restaurant sitting in front of their drive up window I d put the car into park as it was taking some time to harvest the potatoes for the fries and kill the chicken to prepare my sandwich yes it took that long When I went to leave I moved to pull the stalk into the drive position But since you need to depress the brake pedal to shift the transmission from park to another selection really not a bad idea and the aforementioned weakness of copper had resulted in an electrical fault that resulted in the car not being able to know when the brake was depressed Incidentally this also handles all the brake lights as well So the solenoid no longer was connected to the rest of the system that UN locks the transmission stalk I can t even get into neutral to push it out of the way of the other folks who want to purchase food as well Did I mention that it was 5 00 pm So it takes 5 minutes to figure out that I will not be able to muscle this into drive or at least neutral The store manager is leaning out the window making suggestions Nothing I tried would work I called my personal mechanic He d never heard of this happening we didn t know the solenoid was disconnected ever I called a tow waited for 20 minutes Now it s around 5 30 pm did I mention it was Friday night and the tow truck is trying to hook up to the car He s never heard of such a thing as this before either In the wait I ve discovered the wire has disconnected from the solenoid I ve the tow truck driver hold a flashlight while I attempt to reconnect the wire to the solenoid In a short time I also discover that the wire is a bit short I figure this out by reversing my seating position in the car My feet are up by the ceiling and my arms and head are wedged into the foot well I manage to push the wire into the solenoid and un wedge myself Still doesn t work The tow truck drops my car at my mechanic s garage he waited for me to get there Fortunately I ve a good relationship with my mechanic he s able to squeeze this little project in the next day He added two inches to both wires the second wire was about ready to go as well and now there s a little slack to the wires so they re not strained to the limit Have I mentioned my food was cold " Neg," I have owner a Ford Taurus 24V DOHC Six Seater Option It now has 5000 miles on it and is three months old Overall I love the vehicle My previous care was a 1996 Ford Explorer XLT with 150 000 That truck made me a believer in American cars again and the Ford Taurus is no let down Here are the Ten Best and Ten Worst that I think about my 2000 Ford Taurus Ten Best 1 Excellent Ergonomic Design 2 Great Options i e Six vs Five Seater Free Leather Engine Types 3 Very comfortable ride 4 Low road noise from the inside cabin 5 Unnoticeable gear shifting 6 Low maintenance costs i e 100 000 mile tune up 7 Great highway mileage I get 25 mpg 8 Enormous trunk space 9 Easy to drive 10 Spacious passenger cabin Ten Worst 1 Low city mileage 16 mpg 2 Not much color combination selection interior and exterior combinations 3 Floor mats are ordinary Looks like they got bought in Pep Boys 4 Not very good road handling at high speeds believe me I know 5 Braking is average 6 Cruise control is a little clumsy Takes time to adjust to cruise final speed 7 Radio reception below par standard audio package 8 Closing the trunk require much force 9 No ceiling handles for passengers Japanese car owners know what I mean 10 Slow pick up for the DOHC V6 24V br br " Neg," I have had the opportunity to drive several Ford Tauruses through business travel I have driven both the 1999 Ford Taurus SE and the 2000 Ford Taurus SE First off I have to admit that I am not a Ford fan and am not in the market for a sedan such as the Taurus But I have to say that the Taurus would be a decent family car for those who would like to get a decently equipped car for around 20K b Exterior The design folks at Ford have obviously realized what an oval all disaster the last generation of Tauruses were The oval shape was everywhere from the headlights the taillights the grill and even the rear window For 2000 the Taurus has moved away from the radical oval design in favor of a some sharper angles which give the car a more elegant look Most importantly the ugly mass of oval rear lights have disappeared being replaced by some simple angular tail lights b Interior Gone as well inside the car thankfully is the large oval climate control radio combination Ford still misses the mark by providing a though more attractive single unit climate control radio center The seats are your typical American car softer and ample sized seats The power driver s seat allows a good driving position to be found The rear seats appear to provide plenty of seating space for three adults including decent leg room The one interior fixture in the car that I absolutely disliked was the center armrest seat console combination I just believe that there is no such thing as a true three passenger front seating area unless maybe you are driving a 1970 Cadillac Eldorado or something and feel that most car companies do a lousy job at attempting to do so The largest person that could sit comfortably in this space is about a five year old child The storage console is one like those overstuffed sectional couches with fold down cupholders I imagine those who own those type of couches would appreciate this feature in this car Other than that the car is well equipped with power windows and door locks cruise control and a neat control that allows you to adjust the pedals forward and backwards which is good for really short drivers My overall impression of the interior was that it had a really sort of modular plastic feel to it There were places where plastic switch plates were placed on top of the plastic door panels rather than having the pieces fit together nicely with a minimal seam But for 20K I don t think that there is much to complain about b Driving I wasn t really impressed driving this car Sure it is relatively quiet on the road and the car eats up imperfections in the road but it is just not a FUN car to drive But I suppose those who are buying this car are less concerned about this I though that the 1999 model felt more powerful than the 2000 model The 2000 model seemed a little sluggish with the standard V6 engine I have learned that car manufacturers don t offer bigger engines for no reason at all If you have the extra cash opt for the larger V6 engine Since this car seems to have been designed with a more comfortable ride in mind the car handles with a bit of a bloated feeling especially on freeway on and off ramps b Summary I personally wouldn t buy this car but like I said I m not in the market for this type of car And if I was I would rather shell out a few thousand more for the VW Passat Sorry I am a VW fan It just doesn t have anything about it that makes me want to buy it But the rental car agencies seem to like them and there are plenty of them on the road so some people must like what Ford has turned out with the Taurus But if you are looking for just a plain old family car one that has a good safety rating and is decently equipped for around 20K check out your local Ford dealer br br " Neg," If you love American vehicles beware I personally don t care for them I find Japanese and German automobiles to have better service records more style and an overall better feel to them When renting a car for the purpose of travel however an American car is most often the only option So when I traveled to Connecticut for a week I had a choice to rent a Ford Explorer or Taurus I chose the Taurus I wish I had chosen the Explorer I disliked the car from the moment I sat down inside of it The seats were so uncomfortable To help illustrate how uncomfortable it was let me paint a picture My cousin has an old sleeper sofa with flat worn out cushions To keep people from sinking to the floor when sitting on the sofa she has a piece of ply board between the cushions and you really feel like you are sitting on a piece of thinly padded ply board That s what the seats in the Taurus felt like I can t even imagine taking a long road trip in this car let me know when you plan to arrive and I ll fly out and meet you I also felt like I was sitting too high up for a sedan and no matter how much adjusting I did to the seat I just couldn t get comfortable The ignition was hidden so far under the steering wheel that it required me to do a deep side stretch just to start the car And the console controls i e radio A C defrost etc are so far away from the driver that unless you have the wingspan of an albatross some major leaning is involved just to find a good song on the radio Speaking of the radio I had to turn it up really loud to drown out the loud interior noise Acceleration sounded like the takeoff in an airplane Now if someone would serve me a light snack and a beverage of my choice while driving to the grocery store I wouldn t mind it so much but they don t So I would rather do without so much noise And this tank of a car skids on the snow Even with all weather snow tires That was a major disappointment since I sprang for a larger car knowing that I would likely be driving in snowy conditions The heater took forever to heat up and the rear defrost took even longer The only positive thing was the roomy interior and trunk If you plan on taking a driving vacation and want to bring a lot of people and luggage this is the car for you But keep in mind they will have plenty of elbow and leg room It s just that their butts will be sore numb from the horribly uncomfortable seats If after all of this you decide to buy one of these vehicles I wish you all the luck in the world That and a good seat cushion You ll need both br br " Neg," I had a Red 2000 Taurus SES as a loaner car for almost 2 weeks I put almost 1000 miles on it in a combination of city driving and long trips Overall I was mostly disappointed with Ford s family sedan but it did have some good points I should mention Pros It was bigger than most if not all of the cars in it s class such as a Accord or Camry I m over 6 feet tall and I had plenty of room up front and so did people in the back even with my seat all the way back The only car in this class that has as much room is the Chevy Impala which is an incredibly ugly car by the way The trunk was very large and easily held luggage for 4 Compared to other rental cars I have had such as a Mazda 626 the Taurus was much better for long trips The steering was great It was the perfect balance of being communicative yet comfortable Not as sporty as a Focus or a Mustang but certainly not a boat on wheels like a Crown Victoria or an Impala Didn t attract attention I have been known to exceed the speed limit once in a great while and I think a Ford Taurus is just about as anonymous as you can get in terms of attention from the Police OK now for the things I didn t like Interior materials Although the design was ergonomic enough the dash had too much hard plastic and the switchgear felt like it came from an econobox I think my Focus has a better quality interior Also the steering wheel on the Taurus is ugly Seats The seats were flat and uncomfortable I did have the bench seat up front and so I would hope that a model with bucket seats would be better The car had that fake leather on the seats that looks nice for about 10 000 miles then starts to look like the plastic you would find the the backseat of a cab Noise There was too much wind engine and tire noise For a car that Ford claims was designed in a wind tunnel there is way too much wind noise coming off the side mirrors I suspect the door seams are sub par The engine did not sound nearly as refined as you would hear in a V6 Accord or Camry and when you put your foot down it sounded like it was going to crash through the firewall and end up in your lap The Taurus I drove had the upgraded engine and I would hate to think what an owner of a base model would have to put up with on a daily basis Radio The radio reception was terrible and the speakers were the kind you would buy off the sale rack at Walmart A Taurus has the stigma of being rental and a loaner car It has no personality whatsoever nor does it have the quality and reliability you would find in a Toyota Honda Mazda or even a Nissan or a Mitsubishi Don t get me wrong I am sure there are tens of thousands of Taurus owners who love their cars and are perfectly happy with them But if you are looking for a car with some character and even a mildly engaging driving experience you are better off in something else You might pay a little more if you want the same options but it s worth it in the long run not to mention resale value " Neg," Buying a Ford Taurus from a used car dealer can be a good thing it can also be your worst nightmare Buying a 1994 vehicle like the Ford Taurus that was purchased with 80 000 miles attached to it by 1997 my first question would have been whether or not these miles where highway or city or a combo I m going to bet you the dealer lied Keep in mind that most used car dealerships buy their cars from auctions at a reasonably lower cost than anyone will purchase them The warranty is there as a convienence to the customer and the dealers The dealers can and will set up vehicles to last just long enough Something as simple as a oxygen sensor will in most cases be overlooked or simply pulled cleaned and reinstalled along with other things Yes it does have room to breathe and the seats are comfortable but room and comfort won t get you where you want to go Be careful to find the best dealers look for bad and good track records watch out for the quick sell A vehicle that won t go over 65mph without dying on you would not be in my driveway I totally agree with anyone who hates their Ford Taurus A friend of ours had one it lasted one year Yes they put more money into this car then what it was worth The worst mistake they ever did By the way they no longer have it br br " Neg," I had a rental Taurus a few weeks ago I had reserved a Ranger Pickup but the company didn t have any in so they gave me a new Taurus I thought I was getting a deal but I sure was wrong Ironically the rental agent said to me quot I m giving you a new Taurus since you have the two babies I wouldn t want a car to break down on you quot An omen The car was fine for the first few days save the awkward placement of the controls and the layout of the interior in general that one comes to expect with most American nameplate autos It wasn t until a rainy afternoon when the car left my wife sit at some train station outside Boston Wouldn t start wouldn t turn over totally dead The tow truck driver whom I got to spend about three and a half hours of quality time with as we made our way to the rental car facility at Logan airport suspected the car failed because it was quot wet quot I ve never liked Fords and I used to own one that was an absolute piece of junk Needless to say this Taurus hasn t changed my opinion So for your own sake don t buy this car Test drive a nice Honda Nissan VW or Toyota Sure they cost more but you can drive them when its raining br br " Neg," I have always hated Fords except for the Explorer which is an amazing car but I absolutely hate the Taurus so much It is a waste of room on the Highway and it baffles me why people buy this car it always falling apart like a typical Ford sedan does Who in the right mind would buy this piece of JUNK No I really hate this car it has no positive feature to it and to top it off it is one of the number one selling cars in the country believe it or not I dont believe it but it s actually true I HATE FORDS i hate them so much They are terrible cars dont buy them br br " Neg," I got my new blue Y2K Taurus only 10 short days ago My previous vehicle was a red 98 Taurus with which I was delighted Now I am NOT delighted While traveling at the speed limit of 70mph on the interstate in my new vehicle cruise control on for ticket prevention I felt a strong JOLT and looked in my rear view mirror because I thought I must have run over something There was no dead animal ladder or D O T worker lying in my wake My car was rapidly losing speed and I turned on the emergency flashers as I made my way to the side of the road There was sudden apparence that my NEW 10 DAY OLD Taurus had decided to chew its transmission into powder and refuse to move Ford roadside assistance was very nice and the tow truck arrived after dark The mortally wounded bull was towed to a dealership other than the one where it was born The surrogate dealership was NOT excited to see the tag of the other dealer still on the back of the vehicle To say they were less than kind would be an understatement The made it clear up front they would get right to work in three or four days if they had time The new Taurus is a louder ride with stiffer seats and in my case a very unsatisfactory transmission and that s NO BULL " Neg," I recently was given a Ford Taurus to drive as my company car until my official car comes in look for my review of that car when it comes in either a Grand Marquis a Ford Crown Vic or a Mercury Sable LS Anyway I have been driving this for about a month Its an OK car but I wouldn t buy it The interior is nice enough but it is already beginning to show wear The seats are comfortable and adjust well but are nothing great The back seats fold down VERY easily This provides plenty of room for me to lie my bike in without having to remove the wheels One annoying thing about the car is that the power locks only automatically unlock the front drivers door via the factory remote You have to hit the unlock button 2 or 3 times to trigger all the doors to unlock So if you are driving park it and turn off the car when you step out of the driver door all other doors stay locked Some people may like this but it really annoys me As for fuel economy NOT This thing seems to suck down the gas faster than either my Jag or 4Runner The car I was given is a very nice shade of blue and as far as wagons are concerned the shape is nice Driving the car is easy and it handles fairly well Overall it is a fair car Nothing great but not bad either " Neg," Kinda Like the Girl in Pretty Woman Good Looking but pretty darn unrefined Face it the old Ford Taurus was butt ugly The front lights looked utterly bug like and the dashboard was so revolutionary it was confusing The new Taurus remedies some of the problems of the old one as the dashboard is pretty straghtforward and the body while not a knockout is far better looking than the old one While the car feels solid at least the doors The body panelling just has a thin look to it maybe from cheaper than average paint And while the dash is far less cluttered than before one has to think about the designers who thought that rubber plastic looks good and the little TV style volume markers on the LCD display I mean if it sounds loud enough for you who cares about the little markers When I first got behind the wheel of the Taurus the steering wheel struck me as a little odd its smaller than the average steering wheel by maybe about two inches in diameter My hands felt closer together than normal on this steering wheel and while it did nothing to detract from driving it it was disconcerting at first The wheel might have been designed for those with smaller hands in mind but it works for the bigger handed among us too The car does not seem underpowered but one would not get that impression by listening to the transmission which is loud rough and shifts very loudly especially when starting up from a red light When you floor the gas pedal the transmission will suddenly shift down to first or second and it makes the entire front of the car very very loud as it reaches and passes the 3000 RPM mark Fortunately this only lasts a few seconds however regular shifting is also quite loud At least it doesn t shift very much on highway driving and it rarely hunts on winding hilly country roads The front seats are comfy and the footrest is placed just about right for my length of feet and legs The rear seats are more cramped than other cars in it s class and they could be less angled at least in my opinion The trunk is not small however it is a tad shallow The pillars behind the rear seat are kinda wide so backing up is a slight chore if you have to look to the side for kids for example Also the brake light hump is incredibly large and it not only takes up a lot of space in the rear view mirror but it also covers up a lot of the trunk area so that it is hard to see the edge f the trunk when you look through the rearview mirror so it is difficult to judge the length of the rear of the car Another unrefined part of this car would be the brakes These brakes don t kick in until the pedal is most of the way down and the brakes gradually get stronger so that they are grabby only at the end of the pedal stroke and even to just slow the car down the pedal should be pushed nearly all the way to the bottom of the stroke B The Verdict B This car while not bad isn t up to the competition The Camry is a much smoother driver as is the Accord However if you are a die hard American car owner than this is probably the car for you whil it might not match the import competition this car is in many ways still far better than it s Chevy and Buick competition " Neg," Let me start out by saying that I own a 1994 Ford Escort DX see my review that that particular car gets great mileage it s only a 4 cylinder but considering everything it s been a great car and it s held together very well for all the miles that I have put on it not to mention the fact that it is a Ford Fix or Replace Daily Now on to the 2000 Ford Taurus I happen to work for local government I operate this vehicle in the capacity of my job duties and let me tell you that the 2000 Ford Taurus sucks First of all it get lousy gas mileage It has no real power despite being a 6 cylinder car my little 4 cylinder seems and feels escort has more power and quicker reaction than this vehicle I mean I have to put the pedal to the floor to get any real reaction out of this car and then reaction is slow and jerky The brakes are noisy not because the brakes need to be repaired it s just that the car just makes a lot of noise The body and the look and the feel of this car is just yucky It s very noisy Here s something positive that I can say about this car it holds the road well and the seats are sort of comfortable So I wouldn t say that I would not totally not recommend this car but I would say buyer beware " Neg," This vehicle was a nightmare My wife and I bought this car in June and it is falling apart So far now at 5300 miles the following has had to be replaced Wheel bearings Wheel mount Struts Fuel pump Brake rotors and pads They have also worked on the driver s side window mechanism and the engine The car still makes the rotational grinding noise and popping when in a turn or over a bump We bought this to replace an older car so we would spend less time in the service department but look what happened Save your time and money and purchase any car that is not made here in the US Our quality of workmanship is horrible in US factories Caveat Emptor " Neg," I would have to agree that the ownership of the Ford Taurus was not much fun I had one for a few years and rarely drove it Yes it was a comfortable car but it had so much problems I ll tell you what kinds of headaches this car has caused Until it s ultimate death at just a little over 100 000 miles I ve had the front brake rotors replaced twice an engine that overheated 3 times electrical shortages a whining and moaning steering rack and the unbelievable the subframe on which the engine is assembled fell to the ground Of all the monstrosities of owning an unreliable vehicle as my brother was driving it one day he noticed that the steering locked while in motion He hit a pothole and discovered that the engine suddenly fell on to ground I ve never heard of such a thing It really did happen Being already out of warranty we went to a local Ford dealer to see if this is normal It turns out there was a recall on the subframe connectors or mounts They fixed it for free minus a quot Metallica quot CD one of the mechanics decides to steal from the back seat I couldn t prove it After a while the Taurus developed this engine surge at all rests either at a light or stop sign with the brake pedal applied It was unexplainable to a mechanic so we tried to live with it Eventually the surges would increase in intensity and eventually stall the motor It s eventual demise came when I took a road trip to Florida from NY On my way back to NY it decided to finally die The transmission blew at 105 000 in the middle of Virginia In the meantime my brother and I had to hitch a ride back to the NY Not much fun " Neg," I purchased an 89 Ford Taurus new because I fell for the hype quot Best selling car in American quot THAT DOESN T MEAN A THING except a lot of people were deceived by the numbers I ve had expensive repairs all along and visited web sites that say Ford knew of the bad transmission just spent 3 000 for a rebuilt one 6 months ago when they were building the car They even have a site with a lawyer suing the company There are many many people like me Now I am faced with another 1 700 to fix the head gasket valve and engine mounts I want another car but can only spend 8 000 for a used car Don t talk yourself into a car before you do your homework and be practical about the car br br " Neg," I personally do not own this vehicle but my in laws do After listening to all the complaints about this truck that my in laws have I felt compelled to write an Epinion about it My in laws do not reside in any one State they are constantly travelling so they accumulate many miles on their vehicles Keep in mind that this truck has not been in the shop only in Utah but in several states sometimes more than once in the same State The following review will be based on my father in laws opinions and experience with his Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat written in question and answer form DnDn4kidz quot Why did you purchase this particular truck the Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat Father In Law FIL from here on out quot We bought the Ford because it was the only truck that met all the specifications we were looking for including full size rear doors We ve never had any trouble with any of the other Ford vehicles we ve ever owned and figured we would not have any problems with the Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat quot DnDn4kidz quot What do you like about this truck and what do you not like quot this list will be long lt g gt FIL quot We like everything about this truck except the mechanical failures we have experienced We like the looks the comfort and every other aspect The mechanical failures we have experienced have considerably overwhelmed the details we like about this truck quot DnDn4kidz quot What have been the problems with the Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat quot FIL quot Where do you want to start Hehe Within the first 1000 miles we drove this truck the transmission and the after cooler on the turbo failed Within the first 15 000 miles the steering box and the brakes failed losing complete control of the truck The torque converter in the transmission broke within 20 000 miles The transmission failed and the torque converter failed again a second time after Ford fixed them Several times we have lost all the gauges which are electronic to include fuel gauge speedometer tachometer overdrive on transmission fails etc If you lose the power steering fluid like when the steering box broke you can no longer steer nor stop the truck because the fluid is all in one column We continue to experience these same problems over and over quot DnDn4kidz quot What does the dealership do about these problems quot FIL quot The dealership in Utah where the truck was purchased continues to fix the problems within a timely manner but the problems continue to occur But for 43 000 you would expect to be purchasing a vehicle that did not need to be in the shop every other week or so it seems quot DnDn4kidz quot Why don t you turn it back in as a lemon quot FIL quot The law in Utah states that a vehicle can not be considered a lemon until the same problem has occurred at least four times within 12 months or unless it has numerous safety failures The next time one of these problems occur with our truck we will be able to turn it in as a lemon If we have one more major problem with this truck we re turning it in and buying a Chevy quot DnDn4kidz quot Aside from all the mechanical failures how comfortable is this truck to ride in quot FIL quot Well it would be a lot more comfortable if we weren t constantly worrying about something breaking The front and back seats are all extremely comfortable There is plenty of leg room for short or tall passengers and plenty of head room quot DnDn4kidz quot Aside from the constant worry of something breaking how is driving this truck Could someone such as myself who has never driven a big truck only my bus van lt g gt drive this truck quot My FIL is not much taller than myself so if he can drive it I m sure I could hehe FIL quot Oh it s easy to drive When everything is functioning properly it s an excellent vehicle to drive It takes a barnyard to turn it around in because it s a huge truck but you have to expect needing a lot of area to turn such a large vehicle in quot DnDn4kidz quot How does it tow quot My in laws own tow a trailer FIL quot It tows it s maximum allowed towing rate with no problems or lug on the engine With the size towing capacity and deisel engine it can tow about anything you would want to tow quot DnDn4kidz quot Would you recommend the Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat to anyone if so who quot FIL quot I would recommend this particular truck to my brother in law hehe but nobody I actually like I would recommend another Ford truck similar to this one but not this particular one We would even purchase another Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat and try our luck with it but we think this one that we got is a lemon and someone on the manufacturing line had to have been on drugs We know several people who own Ford F350 Crew Cab Dual Wheel Lariat who have not had any problems with thier truck we just got lucky quot Personally I do not know what any of the following specs mean but based on the above interview with my father in law it sounds like over all this would be a good truck that he would highly recommend but just not the one they got stuck with The recommend to potential buyers is a yes and no response He would recommend this truck but beware you may get stuck with a lemon also b Ford F 350 1999 Premium AM FM Stereo Cassette Single CD Player Leather Trimmed 40 20 40 Split Bench Seat seats for 6 Power Telescopic Trailer Tow Mirrors Harvest Gold Clearcoat Metallic Black Clearcoat 4x4 Crew Cab 172 quot Wheelbase F 350 Lariat Camper Package Maximum Front GAWR Package 4x4 Off Road Package Electric Shift on the Fly 4x4 7 3L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel Electronic 4 Speed Automatic Overdrive 4 10 Limited Slip Rear Axle DRW LT235 85R16E All Terrain BSW Tires Dual Rear Wheels br br " Neg," I m a commercial Industrial HVAC service tech The company I work for has quite a few Ford E 250 vans ranging from 1994 to 2001 I ve driven all including the 98 s however my personal company vehicle is a 96 All vans are nearly identical First I ll start out with the good points The engine in my 96 E 250 is a 351 V8 not the Triton This engine provides plenty of power in all situations Acceleration is excellent and I have no problem burying the 85 mph speedometer I would estimate top speed is around 100 mph In nearly 6 years 70 000 miles this van has NEVER failed to start on the first turn of the key whether it s 10 degrees below 0 or 110 degrees in the shade So far no repairs other than regular maintenance have been done to the engine Gas mileage is excellent for this big loaded down van and with the large fuel tank I can go several days between fill ups The silver exterior paint clear coat finish is excellent The van stays outside year round and goes into many hostile environments such as steal mills and construction sites yet after a quick wash looks new Cargo capacity is good I have the dealer installed shelves and cabinets and there s still plenty of floor space for big equipment I also believe the height of the cargo area is better than most other makes Very little wind noise The power steering is easy and quiet The high back reclining bucket seats are very comfortable and durable The heater is great even on the coldest days and the air conditioner does a really good job on the hottest days The 4 speaker stereo sounds sweet All accessory controls are clearly marked and easy to get at The dash layout is great Speedometer trip meter fuel gauge are all easy to see There s also temperature oil pressure and volt gauges Now for the bad We ll start off with the minor stuff The styling yeesh If you sent this van back to 1976 it would fit right in and wouldn t turn a single head Dash controls are cheap To get the windshield washer to activate I have to hit the stalk hard several times The plastic end of the gear select column where the overdrive button is was always flimsy and the stalk eventually broke off revealing wires and a small circuit board also happened to one of our newer vans Epoxy took care of that problem The cup holder wore out quickly and the single thin plastic tab that actually supports your drink broke off for me today sending my bottle of Sobe into the storage compartment under it The doors fit nicely however the weather stripping on the bottom rubs the center of the rocker panel enough so that a 1 section of paint wore off Applying new paint doesn t help much as it eventually wears off in a few months Now I just keep it clean and waxed otherwise rust begins to appear This has happened on both the drivers and passenger sides Dome lights don t turn on when side and rear doors are open The 4 speed electronic overdrive transmission has not been the greatest The engine provides enough power so that the transmission never has to hunt between 3rd gear and 4th overdrive something that plagued my previous 88 E 150 I have however had problems with it sticking in 1st gear on hot days Had several trips to the Ford dealer and they never did find the problem Also the Parking Pawl inside the transmission broke while parked on a steep driveway as I was pulling equipment out from the back doors of the van Luckily I had the parking brake on which slowed it down enough for me to get out of the way and then chase it down and hop inside before it made it to the street Van had 6K miles at the time Dealer repaired the transmission and parking brake under warranty Yes the parking brakes should have held the VAN Now for the big disappointment The suspension on this van is completely useless With the cargo area empty it drives fine Load it up and watch out As I said before I have the dealer installed shelves and cabinets There is more storage space on the drivers side than the passenger side due to the two side doors so of course there will be more weight on the drivers side This van cannot handle an average load let alone an unequal load Loaded down with test equipment tools and parts the van handles like a PIG The increased weight in the rear causes the front end to lift up which throws the geometry way off Having that little extra weight on the drivers side causes the van to pull hard to the right If you follow behind the van you can literally see it dog tracking down the road Needless say front tire life is pathetic at best 12K to 15K miles before the insides are worn to the threads and cupped Rears wear even but suffer from cupping too Lower ball joints completely gave away at 52K miles Ford had some kind of good will warranty on these but wouldn t honor it past 50K miles To try and solve these problems every van at the company was equipped with Air Lift bags Each bag has an individual air line so that the back can be leveled off perfectly Then the van is sent to a frame and suspension shop where the front end is aligned with special cams while the cargo area has its usual load This expensive solution eliminated the hard pulling and dog tracking while greatly improving tire life It still handles like a pig and the ride is a little rougher though In case there s any doubt I d like to mention these vans are NOT even close to be OVERLOADED I personally think Ford designed these vans more like trucks trying to give them a car like ride when empty Unlike a truck a service van is a garage office on wheels and always loaded down " Neg," I own a Ford Econoline E150 1998 model conversion van I like the quality of the van as well as all the convenient features such as cruise cassette air ABS etc However I was surprise to discover after I purchased the van that one safety feature is missing That is the Door Ajar warning is not included as standard So there is absolute no warning if one of the doors is not shut tight I can not believe the van with all the standard features does not have this important and basic feature So to the prospective buyers of this van make sure you check that feature and ask for it when you buy it br br " Neg," When we purchased this vehicle what sold me was the way that it handled I was afraid it was going to be like driving a bus but it handles like a car We wanted a car that seated more than just 5 because we have children and the older ones are getting BIG The first complaint I had was the back bench There s just no headroom And when I say quot NO HEADROOM quot I mean that my 7 year old fits the seat just perfectly Her head is just about touching the top We are very good with preventative maintenance but after a year of regular driving we started to experience problems with the vehicle 1 When we were idle the car would rumble and sound like it was going to cut off 2 The vehicle actually cut off a few times for no apparent reason 3 My ABS light would go on and off We took the truck to the Ford dealership several times before the warranty ran out throughout the first three years but they never found anything wrong Now that the warranty has run out three years after purchasing a brand new vehicle the truck runs like an old used chevy truck It s not bad but I expect better quality reliability and service br br " Neg," In December of 1994 I was 16 years old I was a newly licensed driver and was looking for a car that was economical reliable and most importantly safe The 1994 Ford Escort seemed to fit the bill perfectly The car I picked off the lot was a four door model The color was bright neon green The correct name of that specific color was quot Calypso Green quot Such a color really appealed to my teenage self at the time It did not include many options but it did include air conditioning cassette player and power mirrors When I pulled of the car lot with it I was a happy camper One day about six months later the trouble began I had been driving the car all day and it had been running fine I stopped at a store for a few minutes When I came back out again it simply would not start When you turned the key nothing happened No sound not even a click My brand new car was towed back to the dealership and was discovered to have a dead cell in the battery The battery was replaced and all was well again At about 15 000 miles from under the hood came a loud annoying chirping noise As it turned out the fan belt was frayed and needed to be replaced It was found to be odd that the belt had gone bad at such low mileage Upon further investigation the pulley that operates the fan belt was found to be defective Both the pulley and the belt were replaced A few months later at about 20 000 miles the car would not start again Once again it took a ride on the tow truck to the dealer and was found to have a defective ignition module Luckily the warranty was still in effect because that would have been the most costly repair of all about 500 600 The car is in pretty good running condition now and I hope all of the kinks have been worked out Currently the speedometer cable makes an extremely annoying chirping noise at low to moderate speeds and the temperature gauge does not work If I could go back in time knowing what I know now I would not have bought this car I can only hope that others have had a better experience than I have br br " Neg," Bought this car new in 1994 at night in a snowstorm I thought I was getting a champagne colored vehicle But when I picked it up it was a horrible pinkish bronze color Has to be the ugliest color Ford ever used What do I love It was cheap It s got 70 on it and still runs pretty well I ve recently had to replace broken springs struts brakes rotors and the exhaust system but until now other than an electrical problem below it has only needed oil gas and tires The guy who recently worked on it said quot you must really love this car quot To be honest if I could afford it right now I d give it to the kids and get something nicer and which had a quieter ride Early on I had a lot of trouble with the cooling fan rotor burning out Then the radio would come on when the car was shut off The fan rotor burned out three times before the dimwit mechanics at my dealership finally figured out that it was a faulty ignition which never really shut off Once the ignition was replaced the electrical problems ceased So if you think your car is possessed have the ignition checked I wouldn t buy another one just because I m ready to move on Our first Escort 81 was a fiasco We only bought another one because it was cheap and the dealership is close by br br " Neg," A few years ago while I was doing an internship in Los Angeles moving from place to place generous volunteers who d put us up for a few weeks each I rented a white Ford Escort to load all my stuff and drive to a few places It was the cheapest car they had for rent and I didn t have much choice as only one rental place accepted drivers under 21 years old to rent their cars the surcharge and insurance are ridiculous First the car looks okay It reminded me a lot of my dad s old 1991 Ford Taurus especially the sloped front and the sloped headlights In fact it s like a quot mini me quot version of the Ford Taurus Visibility is great all around and I sat high enough on this car to be able to see everything around me The stereo cassette player was pretty terrible I had the windows rolled down on the freeway and listening to the radio at almost full blast and the distortion was awful to listen to I could have rolled up the windows it s L A smog central after all but I like driving with the windows down The car felt solid though and I didn t feel unsafe in it at all except read below The interior is intuitive The gauges and controls are where they belong Nothing annoyed me which is a good thing The seats were a bit too firm but then I didn t buy this car and had to live with it I had the 2 door model and I loaded a lot of stuff in that car I was impressed by the space in this quot subcompact quot car The drive was what I expected not spectacular but enough power to not get blown away on the freeways This is definitely a great quot point A to point B quot kind of car with great fuel economy I think I got a few days of driving off a quarter tank of gas and I drove a lot too Now the most annoying thing about this car is the automatic seat belts I never understood this stupid invention It works like this The across your chest part of the seat belt is actually quot buckled quot by default and when your get in the car it stretches between you and the steering wheel When you close your door the part that is attached to the door frame quot slides quot back to the pillar next to your seat And then you re supposed to buckle up the lap part of the seat belt yourself Now did you catch the stupidity of that concept Let me explain if you re making quot automatic quot seat belts the stuff should automatically buckle itself up with no help from you Instead it s quot half automatic quot you have to buckle the lap belt yourself otherwise you re not doing yourself any good it s like not wearing belts because you say your car has airbags Another point if you happen to get in the car close the door and realize that it wasn t shut tight and then you open the door and close it again the seat belts slide back and forth and back upon every door movement you just made But the real gripe I have about this concept is that I am an injured victim of such brilliant invention who lives now to tell you about it albeit with some permanent war scars to show for it You see the first thing I do when I get into a car without any nanosecond of thought is to put on my seat belts Always even if I m just backing out of my garage 15 feet to wash my car yes I m that anal So naturally I get into this car close the door and immediately reach for the seat belts Whoah The belt isn t back there Oh no Here comes the belt Sliding into position like a roller coaster out of control Bam My fingers are caught on the rails as the belts slide into the pillar OOOOOOOOOOOuch It takes a good second or two to realize what just happened and then a loud scream and other profanities lurching outward from my mouth and then I realize that I ve been attacked by the seat belts I quickly open the door and the thing backs off taking a good chunk of ectoderm skin with it I m bleeding A lot Blood everywhere Not as bad as the brains in the movie Pulp Fiction but pretty bad Now how do I explain this bloody shirt to my boss quot Uh my car attacked me quot And you know what s sad I did it again a few days later even after spending a good meditative chanting session telling myself that I will wait two seconds for the belt to do its thing before moving any part of my body Yes twice Same bloody mess This thing is dangerous So as you can figure if a car has automatic seat belts I get no where NEAR that car quot Thanks for offering me a ride but I ll take the bus instead On second thought can I ride in your trunk It ll be much safer for me back there quot This stuff should be outlawed Anyone know who invented this thing The inventor needs to have his her patent revoked and be subject to having his her fingers caught in the rails of the belts AT LEAST two times Sheesh br br " Neg," A fter the Ranger was transformed from a large midsized truck in the 60s and 70s to a relatively small truck in the early 80s it s been on one of the best selling trucks in its class Good price good looks and a wide array of engines have contributed to the current Ranger s success Engine b For 2002 there is not too much new in the drivetrain department The base engine is a 135 horsepower DOHC 4 cylinder available in the XL models The next engine up is a 150 HP powered 3 0 OHV V6 engine the one in my test truck The 3 0 is available in the XLT XLT 4 wheel drive the Edge 4 wheel drive The top of the list is a 4 0 liter engine which produces an impressive 207 horsepower This is just an optional engine that will set you back around 800 extra dollars All engines are either matched with a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed automatic The test truck was an XLT 4x4 3 0 liter automatic Dressed in black clear coat metallic with tan cloth interior i Driving Impressions i Entering the vehicle was easy enough test truck had a lift kit and very large meaty tires but there was no problem getting my fanny into the seat When the key was turned the OHV 3 0 liter engine came to life without hesitation At low Speeds the 3 0 has enough torque 185lb ft for quick low speed acceleration but entering the freeway and trying to get up to 70 mph is a whole different story This truck equipped with the OHV 3 0 and a 4 speed automatic begs to be driven slow Hills are this truck s worst enemy With cruise control set 70 MPH this Ranger would down shift into 3rd with even the slightest incline Engine noise was louder than expected and at 70 MPH this truck cruised at a little over 3 000 RPM Handling is good enough not sports car material of course but I was surprised that I could keep up with small cars while driving through the Avenue of the Giants The XLT 4x4 3 0 can tow up to 3 800lbs I have taken other years of the Ford Ranger off road and it does fairly well not as well as the Toyota Tacoma which seems to have a better 4x4 system however is adequate accomplishing off road tasks i Interior Accommodation i The interior is not Lexus material but then again this isn t a Lexus nor is is made to be even close The interior of the XLT 4 wheel drive came with excellent ergonomics driver and passenger airbags 60 40 split bench a tachometer very supportive and comfortable seats There is plenty of room in the front and rear for small adults There was a very clear sounding Ford produced stereo system Power everything a factory installed alarm and many other options that can be had depending oh how large your wallet is Ford com has all the info you could need on optional and standard equipment i Exterior Innovation i The exterior looks pretty much like it has since 1997 There is a new grille for the 2002 model year The Ranger seems to get a different styled grille every other year or so to keep the style fresh The 2002 XLT Ford Ranger truck is very masculine and handsome despite its small package There is a XLT FX 4 package available that will give this truck a more rugged appearance huge tires and Bliston shocks are also added The price for an XLT 4x4 is around 20 000 fairly loaded With every amenity available The XLT can run for nearly 23 000 The 3 0 OHV is a proven engine it has been in cars and trucks since 1986 so reliability is probably good but I can t comment personally on this particular model year WWW CONSUMER REPORTS ORG has more info i Conclusion i The 2002 Ford Ranger represents an excellent value however the more competent competition offered from Toyota makes this truck less desirable If you are in the market for a work truck I d go with a Tacoma or a full sized Ford F 150 which offer an even more impressive package Looking for a slightly larger truck You may want to check out a href content 53380157060 my review on the 2002 Ford F 150 a Happy Car Shopping " Neg," I am writing this because of a difficult experience I am having with the Ford Ranger pickup truck I recently purchased from Peyton Cramer Ford in Torrance California After this involvement with Ford I will never buy from or recommend Ford Motor Company for the duration of my car buying days The reason for my dissatisfaction with Ford is a result of a mechanical problem with my truck that has not been repaired In short the truck has an extremely rough sporadic shake in idle I returned to the dealership with the Ranger the day after I purchased it and I spoke with the service manager He acknowledged the problem and advised me the shake could be caused by water in the fuel line or carbon in the engine and to bring the truck back after five hundred miles if the shake did not go away After five hundred miles I brought the truck back to Peyton Cramer where it was serviced Another service manager advised me the CAM timing pertaining to the California Emissions System was the cause of the shake and it was a normal condition of the vehicle I was not satisfied with the diagnosis so I took the car in for servicing with two other Ford dealerships and received two different diagnoses for the shake I left both dealerships without a repair and contacted the General Manager of Peyton Cramer Ford about my situation After speaking with Howard Herman I brought the truck in for servicing at Peyton Cramer and left a second time with this issue being unresolved I contacted the Ford customer service hotline they are helpless and I was told to contact my dealership again and the regional office So I did I get a call from the Ford Regional office in Los Angeles and they said they are reviewing their records and that they have determined that Peyton Cramer Ford could not replicate the problem with my Ford Ranger and that it is a normal working condition of the truck This is after I brought it to the dealership four times every time the dealership Peyton Cramer Ford acknowledges the shake accepts the vehicle in for servicing and then after not being able to find the problem denying that there is a problem in the first place I have yet to determine the real problem however I brought my truck to two independent mechanics These mechanics were able to evaluate and judge that there was a problem with my truck by taking a visual survey of the truck shaking Both have stated and recommended that there is problem with the truck and to take it back to the dealership where it was originally purchased I am completely dissatisfied with my Ranger not only because of its mechanical problem but also because of the great inconvenience and frustration I have suffered due to Ford s lack of responsibility The truck s condition is below the reasonable expectations of a new owner ALWAYS TEST DRIVE FOR AT LEAST 15 20 minutes on various road conditions even with a new car If you do end up getting a Lemon Ford will tell you to eat it b To see more problems with Ford search the internet with the words Ford Secret Warranties b This review tends to focus on the negative aspects of the Ford Ranger If I didn t have the mechanical problem with this truck I might be happier with it s overall performance Before I bought this Ranger I had an F 150 When I moved to Los Angeles I decided the F 150 was too big to be driving around a city so I went for the Ranger The maneuverability and size convenience is there and I lowered my car payment easy to park and move around on the smaller streets The ride is a bit more smooth than the F 150 however if you do hit a bump the ranger tends to bounce around a bit I have noticed that with all the Fords I have driven I have owned three in my life Taurus F 150 Ranger I am a larger person so I have been a bit squished in the Ranger If you go with this truck make sure it has power windows because it s hard to drive and roll up the window at the same time Also make sure you get the Supercab with the four doors it makes all the difference in getting in and out of the back seat However if you have kids or carry people around in your backseat frequently I don t recommend this truck because of the way the seats face sideways with your back to the outside If somebody was sitting in the back and there was ever a side collision the people in the backseat could loose their spines I don t carry many people often so I just use the backseat for carrying extras and locking things up in the car I have also found that the gas mileage is lower than what is reported on the sticker It truly gets about 16 18 mpg rd hwy If you go to the message boards on Edmunds com you can see this is a repetitive problem with the Rangers The engine power I feel if fair I have a 3 0L I can make it up a hill without downshifting most of the time however it does not accelerate well uphill My F 150 had the smaller engine and could not make it up a hill in fifth I always had to downshift so that I would not loose speed Beside the constant earthquake in my car and the fact that the Ford Customer Service reps and my Dealer have shafted me the Ranger LOOKS very pretty I have silver Good Luck in buying this truck " Neg," The Beginning I thought the poor 1992 Ford Taurus could use a good review Though unfortunately I don t imagine many people will be calling this car good in the end through my experience No this car isn t mine It s my father s He got it to replace the 1986 Dodge Aires he got to replace the Ford Tempo even before the poor Tempo Burst into Flames See my review on that for an even worse horror story My dad had serviced the car throughout its existence even though he hadn t previously owned it Dad s the head mechanic at a Sunoco Ultra Service station knows many people around the area and has access to many good deals when people wish to sell their cars Though he knew what problems Taurus can have he knew the history of the car and had taken good care of it as had the previous owner Despite having 120 000 miles on it it was all highway miles as it had been driven about 50 miles each day to work and back And furthermore it was chosen before for comfort something the Dodge Aires lacked So he sold the Aires and got the Taurus hoping for a better ride more power more comfort more cargo space and more features That much he got but he got a lot more with it than he bargained for Equipment and Features The 1992 Ford Taurus Wagon we got should be considered a near luxury car in my opinion So much more than anything else I ve owned really to that point Of course I didn t really own it Dad did but I drove it an awful lot The Six Cylinder 3 8 Liter engine is in actuality a Ford Eight Cylinder engine with the last two cylinders chopped off The design for the eight cylinder was about forty years old at the time of its manufacture if not a bit older Six cylinder engines are supposed to be inherently stable but because of the nature of this engine its not To make the engine stable they added a balance shaft to it and mounted the engine on liquid filled rubber Unfortunately these mounts were horribly easy to break it turned out There were attempts to use the Taurus as a Police car that failed because the engine would so easily rip off the mounts and the car in general was not durable under such stress Fords of this era had good computers but they couldn t be really be accessed with any ease Even my 1985 LeBaron s computer could easily be accessed with a simple hook up GM and Chrysler share a common link to which a small computer can be attached and all sorts of data be derived To fix an electrical problem on a Ford or get any information from the computer the process is much more complex involving electro voltage meter things And up until recently all Fords were like this A big pain Even so there was lots of information available in the car anyhow thanks to the Digital Dash feature and the accompanying computer that came with it From miles per gallon at any given moment how long until you ll need to refuel again to MPH averages the computer is a nifty thing Plus I adore digital dashes even if this one s green screen is hard to read during the daylight My LeBaron s is easy to read in daylight The engine is stable in the end though and gets decent milage for the size of the car and engine itself 18 MPG city and 28 Highway is what s on the sticker and I average around 20 miles per gallon with the thing However our engine has been replaced with the 1996 model thanks to the older one needing to be rebuilt well see the next section for that It should be about the same though http www fueleconomy gov feg noframes 9151 shtml The Transmission is rather good thankfully The four speed has overdrive features as well and I ve never experienced a problem here It seems sound enough all on its own It easily powers the car to a quick speed with little trouble and there s never a real lack of power from that 3 8 V6 Though I m afraid to use it for fear of damaging the poor thing The Rack and Pinion power steering feels more floaty than my other cars with less feedback Its not necessarily a bad thing and does give a fair amount of feedback in the end its just easier to turn Though after 120K miles it is a bit weaker than I d like There have been a lot of problems with it though see the next section for that The interior is spacious with 1003 cubic inches or 83 5 cubic feet for passengers The luggage volume is 463 cubic inches or 38 6 cubic feet which can be made much larger if you fold the back seat forward The Taurus Wagon can reasonably carry very large things in its spacious rear and has been used successfully as such for some time by us There s a series of useful hooks in the back too to make sure things stay in one place The driver s steering wheel contains an airbag and there s another for the front passenger as well as an option The car got four stars for driver and five stars for passenger crash test ratings http www nhtsa dot gov NCAP SList cfm vehyear 1992 vehmake Ford vehmodel Taurus The version of the 1992 Taurus Wagon we got was filled with all the best features Exterior wise there was the roof rack the 15 inch alloy wheels no hubcaps just the pattern there and a nice classic light blue paint with dark grey highlights The antenna is mechanical and adjustable from the inside Additionally the front doors have keypads for keyless entry codes to unlock either one door or all doors depending on the code Inside the first noticeable thing is the leather seats Even with all the use they ve gotten they re all in wonderful condition for being ten years old And they are comfortable with electric adjustment for both front bucket seats and even air bladder along the lower back The dash is vinyl all along and if taken care of won t split Unfortunately ours did when we forgot to keep it all shiny and nice Oh well Its not really noticeable but its annoying The floor matts are original and hold well on the clean fuzzy floor too The shifter is located between the center consol and drink holders Unfortunately the light died in there and one can t see if one is in park or drive at night But otherwise it works well and I can easily go by feel Its stiffer than most and the handle is a firm rubber which is easy to grip The center console has a compartment in the top which one can store money and other things in If you lift the top under is a place for tapes and CDs or whatever else you like The cup holders opposite it on the front click in and out and are sturdy enough We replaced the regular stereo and put a CD player there instead The stereo though worked well enough However all the buttons are flimsy plastic all the way up the front not only on the stereo but the climate control as well They break easily and a few no longer glow green instead showing the white light below The air conditioning is wonderfully cold never had a problem with it There s a small LCD above the controls for it which give you the ability to control the temperature to an exact degree in the car It will also tell you the temperature outside with the click of a button And just above that exactly the same as in my Tempo is an inverse LCD screen displaying the time brightly clearly and in inverse green and black all the time Along the driver s door is controls for powered windows locks and mirrors On the ceiling is controls for reading lamps and more interestingly a sunroof which retracts perfectly and adjustably with the button A screen can be drawn over the sunroof to block the light additionally if its bothersome The windshield wipers come on strong and do a very good job of keeping everything clear during a storm though there have been electrical problems with them See the next section There s a wiper for the back window as well which can independently be turned on and off Quite useful The sound system was mediocre even if it was Ford Premium Sound as was claimed It was easy to replace and upgrade and there was even for a spot for a subwoofer under the floor in the back wagon portion of the vehicle It s the perfect distance for wonderful bass which doesn t overpower The high beams can be turned on by pulling back the windshield wiper stick which unfortunately also can be a pest if the wipers go on by accident The lights themselves turn on and off automatically depending on the light level There s a knob to turn them on and off manually as well if you wish Furthermore that same stick controls the blinkers which are loathe to turn off automatically in a turn unless its very sharp Problems Oh boy We thought when we got this car that everything was basically new and fixed and in working order When I borrowed it Utoh I was used to driving my underpowered Chrysler LeBaron And thusly had a very heavy foot I ripped the engine off its mounts in driving to college and made it stall several times It wasn t really my fault I was told though We discovered that the engine needed to be rebuilt Not really worth it to do so though Instead Dad got a whole new engine from a friend A 1996 Ford Taurus Engine essentially the same as the old one straight from a car owned by older people that had been totaled from the back Only 60K miles too So he put it in on new mounts And it ran well after a bit of adjusting However another problem occurred promptly after The hose for the power steering broke partially So Dad fixed it It broke again He fixed it again It broke again He fixed it with an expensive kit again It broke again He fixed it temporarily it broke again as expected but by that time the super duty kit came That worked The engine is unbalanced enough for the hose to shake and break off each time This is a problem he knew about beforehand though Next problem is one that still is present Another known problem with the Taurus is the windshield wiper electronics are flaky And that s true with this one They don t always stop at the bottom when turned off and often stop all together when running Very dangerous One needs to turn them on and off after that to get them to go again The car creeks ominously in turns though its nothing to worry about I m told Wind noise is otherwise minimal though even at high speeds Though thanks to the engine being on those weak mounts fast acceleration is dangerous to the health of the car and should be avoided Those are major problems and I know it has suffered more in the past than just that Overall its miserably unreliable even if it is a comfy feature filled ride I m afraid I ll break it each time I drive it b Conclusion As nice of a car as it is its problems would prevent us from ever considering it again It really wasn t worth it overall to fix it so many times And just barely worth it to fix it each individual time as well As nice as it looks and handles the 1992 Taurus Wagon is a time bomb and we know we ll have to replace it sometime soon even if we ll miss all its neat little features " Neg," The first serious driving lesson I ever had was in this car so I have a certain soft spot for it My father frighteningly guided me through the suburban roads of Concord Massachusetts as I learned the nuances of control and timing that comprise the art of driving I will always love the 1992 Ford Taurus for heralding me to the wonderful amazing world of driving But I must concede that it is a far from perfect piece of machinery My father owns the Taurus GL mid range model with the optional 3 8 liter V6 engine With a reasonable price this car is the perfect family hauler or at least it would be if were not for a few problems This car is very spacious While the seats are not exceptionally comfortable there is plenty of leg room front and back for just about any potential passenger Because of this fact long road trips are not a large hassle with the Taurus The cargo space is simply massive larger than most other wagons and some SUVs The handling of the Taurus wagon is not spectacular The steering feel is somewhat heavy almost truck like The brakes are also very heavy although they work exceptionally well with the optional anti lock system On turns the car goes where you want it but torque steer is VERY heavy and the wheel does not smoothly spin back to its center but instead jerks and stops repeatedly on the way there Still the handling is appropriate to this type of car and compared to other American made station wagons it is actually pretty good The internal controls of the car are placed very well The window and lock controls are placed as well and are as easy to operate as those in Japanese cars The Speedometer and tachometer are very clear The speedometer does not go very high so the exact speed is very easy to determine from a quick glance The only control that I do not like is the gear shifter attached to the steering column Unless you have the exact sequence memorized which is not too hard shifting gears is difficult Despite my preferential gripe this feature frees more floor space and makes possible seating for a small person between the driver and the front passenger The Wagon looks nice enough Not terribly sleek but not heinously ugly like the 1996 and later Taurus models I personally think that this particular generation 92 95 is the best looking of all Taurus models The Taurus is pretty safe My father was hit on the side at highway speed and he walked away without a scratch the only result being a large dent on one door The frame was not warped at all and the door was all that had to be fixed The 3 8 liter V6 gives only 140 hp but they are available at a low RPM 3800 and they are accompanied by a whopping 215 pounds foot of torque These numbers mean that the engine has more than enough muscle to tackle any hill or haul any load just so long as blazing speed or off the line performance are not needed Actually the acceleration is pretty good for a larger mid sized wagon This does come at the expense of gas mileage In city driving the mileage is well under 20 miles per gallon Unfortunately this 3 8 liter V6 power plant is apparently one of the least reliable engines ever made by Ford Together with Ford s standard average to below average reliability we have a volatile combination My father spends quite a bit of money on repairs most recently and notably he had to have the transmission rebuilt and he had to have extensive work done on the brakes These repairs were done at both great expense and great inconvenience The Taurus is a good family hauler with decent power and good space however the reliability problems make it hard for me to recommend it even though I very much want to " Neg," In general AVOID this car at all costs unless you LOVE to crawl under the car every night to fix something Oh the list could go one forever visit the read this before buying a ford taurus website My personal problems transmission replaced twice motor mounts three times ignition switch twice broken springs on the rear fuel pump whines brakes failed three times power steering hoses blew wiper motor failed plastic ends of radiator leaked and many more that I can not remember at present Do yourself a favor spend the extra on a Camry Dont get sucked in by lower priceing You WILL live to regret and wind up spending the same in the long run " Neg," Introduction Man I can t believe I m doing this I m breaking my own rule I m updating and reposting the article Why am I doing this Because my opinion of this truck has completely changed It has transferred its weight from my love it list to my hate it list all in one day This truck is the SuperCab 4 6 Liter Automatic 4x4 XL with add ons Flare side pickup b Pros Not many The airconditioner is cold Very cold I love the airconditioner The cupholders are great Easily holding anything up to huge drinks confidently The radio sounds great and I love the controls easy to reach from the driver seat The paint is still beautiful even after 162 000 miles not on the same engine It is very roomy you could easily seat six in the interior You are sitting very high in the truck command of the road is there you feel powerful but you aren t We haven t put any transmissions in it lack of power from the engine is why I m guessing The doors are cool when you need to unlock them pull up on the handle and they are unlocked The single key is also nice b Neutral A third door is great albeit on the passenger side when it would be really helpful on the drivers side One gas tank is enough right I expect two in Ford trucks Especially with this gas mileage b Cons Bear with me this is going to take a while The engine that I thought was the original wasn t original replaced at 80 000 miles died at 159 000 miles It was gutless then I forgave it assuming that it was tired from 159 000 miles of service The new engine is worthless 4 6 liters of gas guzzling worthless junk Zero to sixty was measured not professionally to be 18 or 19 seconds Towing has to be less than 4 000 lbs Gas mileage is always nice this truck doesn t get it It gets gas footage It gets 67 584 feet per gallon Or more commonly referred to as 12 8 mpg In a tiny V8 This was with AC on not max on the highway with overdrive on This was my low average is about 15 with a maximum of 17 once 25 mph for two hours because of hazardous road conditions The bench seat in the front is stupid I hate it It moves with the driver so if the driver is short the passenger better hope s he is too The rear seat is no better very cramped The seat in this truck is ridiculous Lack of lumbar always leaves me with a back ache There is no padding which leaves my backside sore and the headrest pushed your head forward The cruise control freaked out on me I pushed resume assuming it would reach 65 mph assigned it looked down to the surprise of 80 mph and climbing Sometimes it won t work at all The radio has the curious gremlin of not shutting off sometimes It will continue to be on although the button is in Styling has to be the worst It looks like its trying to be aerodynamic but at the same time appears as if it is going to fall on its nose This truck will not hold an allignment After the first one wore off we replaced ball joints steering items among other things It has been alligned three times in the last year and was out of allignment yesterday b Overall This truck downright sucks The engine sucks the gas mileage sucks the little things drive me crazy I do not recommend this truck Look elsewhere br br " Neg," My apologies first off for the rambling course this post is about to take these are the things I ve encountered in the last 10mos as they occur to me If you are under 5 8 quot this truck is way too big for you I am 5 4 quot and when I shift gears my legs rub against the dash indicating that the truck would likely break my legs in the event of a front end collison The air bags are nigh on fatal for a person of my size and the seat has to be so far forward when I drive it that I look like a hood ornament If you are independantly wealthy and gas prices don t affect you Go ahead This baby s for you It ll quickly help you lose weight by first lightening your wallet spare change jar and mattress where you store that hidden stash of cash Kraft dinner for a month after repairs I researched the cost of a clutch in the event that I needed it 650 cdn for parts alone I nearly crashed the truck upon reciept of that information I bought the truck because I wanted to have something to haul materials for house renovations and for a horse trailer in the near future I learned afterwards that the modifications required to handle a horse trailer greatly exceeded the ins and payment savings of having purchased a 6cyl The truck has great quot get up and go quot but a word of advice if your performance or milage decrease don t let them reprogram it it hasn t run run right since It s been so expensive to me both the gas milage and the cost of quot diagnostics quot to find out what s wrong with it that I can t afford to gas it up anymore nor can I afford to take it in to find out what s wrong with it Following is a copy of the email that I sent to Ford of Canada To date this issue has not been resolved and I am about to trade the truck off on something more economical and less prone to breakage I m sure there s more but it s late and I can t remember anything else right now Storm Why in the world would something as dangerous as the brakeline freezing due to the exhaust pipe being in front of the wheels not be a quot recall quot I bought a 97 F 150 about 10 months ago upon the advice of a friend who had had wonderful things to say about the one that he has I recently noticed that it was increasingly difficult to get out of my driveway some days the truck smelled terrible like something burnt and my gas mileage was awful I have been releasing the brake the light was off the pedal was up but the brake apparently was still on I called the dealership because I had been told to watch for this problem and had wanted it fixed They said that because the truck was no longer on its quot original warranty quot that the repair would not be done by Ford and that to have it done is about 700 This seems a little steep doesn t it Especially since a catback system for my other vehicle was only 200 installed and that was tuned exhaust And also that they thought that I should bring the truck in so that they can make sure that there s no damage to the wheels or brakes So now because of a design flaw on Ford s part I have endangered my brakes and wheels as well Why should I potentially be liable for a repair like this This seems a little bit ridiculous to me and frankly with the way that this truck has nickeled and dimed me for the last 10 months power steering pump oil pan gasket MAF sensor computer reprogrammed 2x a check engine light when I silly me decided to wash the engine back firing 17mi ga combined driving block heater cord this was the last straw I don t even have the money to do this sort of work anymore It has steadily whittled my bank balance to practically nothing I have had it in for warranty work 4 times in the space of the first 6months I had it paid a deductible 2 times as some of the work relied on parts and I was asked to bring it back a second time was charged for things that WERE on warranty when I called Ford Customer Care I was told that it was an issue between myself and the dealership and that Ford would not intervene That sounds a lot like the dealerships have been given autonomy that s quite frightening and there are numerous things that are not covered by the quot don t worry it s all covered on warranty quot warranty so sayeth the salesman that I purchased the truck from as well as the Sales manager Service manager and several other people of the dealership coverage that I purchased I had purchased this truck so that I could park a car that I thought was costing me a great deal of money I had thought that I would have a vehicle that I would have to do only routine maintenance on and that would be reliable and not a source of financial drain Soon I will have a clutch to do possibly brakes they say that my exhaust is shot I think it s safe to say that I couldn t have done all this damage in the amount of time that I ve had the vehicle I have had to do rear brakes once in my other vehicle and a clutch once as I learned to drive a manual on this vehicle and had a leaky rear main seal This is in the space of nearly 8 years And exhaust doesn t corrode that fast I don t care how many kms you put on it Based on the last 10 months I might have to park the truck and I AM puttng my poor little 83 Firebird back on the road It gets 22mi gal even though it s shooting gas out of the top of the carborator If the brakes can freeze on what stops them from freezing when they are not on I m told there s a great deal of hydraulic pressure that stops this from being an issue but the system is only as good as it s weakest part and when using the brute force method to break them free I would think that something somewhere has got to give Not to mention what it will likely do to the tires such as icing them up This would cause poor braking conditions wouldn t it I would rather not find this out by hitting another vehicle or worse yet a person I understand that there were safety concerns that were the reason that Ford was making the modifications do these safety concerns go away once the truck is not on warranty I should think not I would think that this would be a recall situation and not just a bulletin This situation concerns me a great deal and if I do not find satisfactory resolution for it I may have to lodge a complaint with Consumer Reports br br " Neg," We took our 1997 Ford super cab truck in to be serviced as soon as we received the fuel line recall notice The servicing Ford dealer inspected the fuel line and stated that the fuel line had passed inspection and did not need replacing Evidently it is Ford s policy not to replace a defective part unless it is malfunctioning We drove down to Florida about two months later and noticed poor gas mileage When the truck was parked we also noticed a strong gas odor Upon examining the street under the truck we saw gas dripping from our truck We immediately called for an appointment to arrange for the problem to be repaired which turned out to be the recalled fuel line unbeknown to us The repair was made but we were not informed that the problem was due to the safety recall We were advised to take the problem to Ford directly We wrote Ford and subsequently received a phone call from their customer relations center advising us that the part repaired WAS the safety recalled fuel line and to get in touch with the original dealer who made the inspection That dealership is going to reimburse us for repairs but we have other expenses we incurred due to the safety recall not being repaired when first inspected We will have to go to Ford directly again for these additional expenses The bottom line is that Ford should be more proactive in repairing all safety recalls whether or not they are malfunctioning at the time As it stands now it is our understanding from two dealerships that Ford repairs only malfunctioning parts in safety recalls We might have been exposed to a fire or something worse had we not noticed the problem ourselves This seems to be an ongoing problem with Ford Motor Company and we feel they need an attitude adjustment if they are going to stay in business " Neg," I bought a new 97 F150 and I had it only 4 months and traded it in It was a v8 and it had no power what so ever We live on a mountain and I would have to shift into 3rd gear to climb it while little 4cy s were flying up it I was embarrassed Sorry but when I put that much money into something I want it to perform for me and this truck didn t I think this truck is best suited for flat areas it did do well at highway speeds but like I said no power pulling a hill To be honest I like a truck that is a little more flashy looking and this didn t make me say quot wow quot this was the only vehicle that we have owned that I could say I hated it I know some people are reading this and saying they love their truck and I am glad you like yours I didn t like mine br br " Neg," I own a 97 F150 supercab V6 with automatic transmission I now wish I had my old 5 speed Nissan back If you go to the NTSB website you will see that Ford has more recalls than any other car maker First some credit The truck looks and rides nicely But that s where it stops With the kind of money you put into a car these days you expect value I bought the truck for more roominess and a bigger payload I bought it used in 99 with 33K on it Since then I have been mailed 3 recalls one for fuel line leaks one for a timing cover gasket leak and one for a steering shaft possible breakage and accident The truck developed a rattling noise that sounded like a loose exhaust part it turned out to be both catalytic coverters This cost me 550 to replace During that time the check engine light had come on Why Because the head gasket on the right side had blown 97K miles Had to replace that and all 4 oxygen sensors The catalytics failed because they were filled with coolant from the blown head gasket Total 1200 Next the alternator went out 100K miles Then the oil pump went bad nearlt ruined motor Then the a c clutch bearings gave out and made the most horrible noise while driving Replaced that When this truck gives up and it s close now at 150K because I think my head gasket is going again and catalytics are rattling again I will strip what parts are still good and sell them off then get a Nissan or Toyota They may not be as pretty or have all the bells and whistles but you can take one 200K or more and never have to replace anything major with proper care " Neg," I own a 1996 5 speed v4 gl version of this car Happens to be green the most popular color I think so be sure you know where you parked Mine does not have all the bells and whistles I was looking for a reasonable priced family car and that s what I got Safety features It has a full body crash frame a nice safety feature I hope to never use I did not get the abs brakes I don t happen to like abs It comes with dual front airbags the passenger side cannot be turned off which I wish it could It has some feature that will drop the engine out in a major crash also not tested Exterior Green aluminum wheel covers molded bumpers nothing special Interior Light gray green illumination lights Okay why do they make automatics with a tach as standard equipment but it s optional equipment for a stick This has always bugged me Controls are laid out fairly well They didn t load up a lot of features on the stalks which is nice One side is the wiper controls and the other is the lights Cruise controls are on the steering wheel at thumb height Can t stand the rest position for hands at 4 and 8 o clock the new recommended safe position Horn is still in the center of the steering wheel but you gotta push hard Air heat controls nicely laid out well lit air is good heat takes a bit of time I replaced the factory stereo but the speakers are ok unless you re an audiophile all four in the doors It has a cubbyhole under the stereo for expansion or storage 4 cd s fit ok Hard to get into in 3rd or 5th Next to the emergency brake is a retractable cup holder Only holds medium size to go drinks or 12 oz cans sometimes tips Two map lights plus a 3rd light with door open delay timer in the center front Large glovebox shallow door pockets for both front doors Adjustable height restraints are nice Rear has two shoulder restraints and one middle lap belt Features Power windows Work well rear go only to child height child lockout Power mirrors good Remote entry About worthless you have to practically stand at the door to get them to work even with brand new battery Problems this will take some time get a drink Okay first the latch that releases the fuel door has never worked I often have to go out of the car to pry it open can t wait until the day I can t refuel The knob that adjusts the tilt of the front seat is hard to reach hard to turn The direction controls for airflow break really easily flimsy brittle small pieces of plastic The back seat is shallow and uncomfortable for anyone over 5 tall The middle back seat restraint is NOT SUITABLE for a carseat trust me on this The dead man foot rest is awful This year model did not come with the split rear seats a MUST for all cars of this type and a HUGE oversight on the part of Ford A rear seats that fold down even the whole seat is necessary and this one could have sure used it The engine temperature gauge constantly shows the engine as almost in the red Dealership told me this was quot normal quot and they showed me a Ford white paper about it The engine is LOUD and if you don t have the radio on you ll go nuts This is by far the most annoying thing about the car Assets The front seats are comfy for the short in stature Ford finally fixed the sticky reverse gear box problem some will know and understand what I mean No more forcing the car into reverse or repeatedly pressing the clutch until it goes In fact gear box is nice as is clutch on this car For a four cylinder engine performs nicely Don t expect to race anyone but you can get it up to 90 without the car shaking to death don t try this with a 91 escort Gas mileage is good Engine is laid out and marked well enough to know what s where Trunk space is large but beware the hinges which can crush tall items placed under it Overall Would be a nice cheap secondhand car but leaves much to be desired at new full price Has had 2 recalls so far br br " Neg," My wife and I recently acquired a used 1996 Ford Contour We were looking for something else but the car dealer convinced us this was quot the car for us quot This car has given us nothing but trouble It has been recalled twice The speakers are the current problem The right speakers will periodically stop working In addition to that the bass has never been really good but I do like to have a system that can at least vibrate the car a little The bass levels at their highest setting will give most rap songs a little beat but not a boost or a bang We have also had problems with the air conditioner and the brakes within less than a year from when we bought it It also does not get good gas mileage We have to refill at least once a week We are looking for a way to affordably get rid of it In all fairness I may be a little bias because I use to own an 86 Ford Escort and it gave me a large amount of problems and cost me too much money After the Escort I have developed a negative opinion towards and Ford compact car but this Contour is proving my opinion right I was hoping that I was wrong about how bad Ford cars are but the Ford Contour that we bought has proven me more right than ever before Positive comments Well it does have excellent pick up or quot get up and go quot That may attribute to the bad gas mileage This car is great for those guys who like to race little old ladies at the red light It will most definitely beat most small cars buses and semi trucks My opinion of this car and most Ford cars is that they are prone to failure Don t sneeze near it or kick the tires or else it could fall apart Maybe Ford s just don t like me " Neg," Myself being a young guy went to a Car Dealer Car Happy and wanted a car looked around was limited to an Automatic Transmission Looking Around I was surprised to have seen a big white Ford Contour for such a cheap price I test drove it big lots of buttons Great huh They Conned me in to buying it so I bought it thank God I got the Extended Warantee The Car was in the shop many times One day in the morning I was getting gas I learned the gas was on the opposite side of the car ok I ll reverse it pull to the other side IF I COULD ONLY SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK The Gear shifter was broken had to tear it off allright I got out of there Later that day strange Windows going up slowly Starter sounded like it wasn t ever gonna start again was driving all of a sudden wouldnt go over 30 and it decided to stall Got it fixed fine besides the foggyness of the front lights which ruined any attractive qualities the car may have had the Problems with Turning axle the belts to be replaced the parking light coming on while I was driving it was a good car Looked better at night great power if you turn the Air Conditioner off and there is noone but you in the car cant get that with a Honda Good first car if you have a warantee and a loner car The only problem I can t get fixed that I hate would have to be whipping around corners It feels like the Wheels will fall off when you go 15 around a corner the tires screeching no matter what the air pressure It is NOT a Honda don t confuse it as one it is Big Bulky and sorta slow Don t try to break a speed record " Neg," This vehicle was a first time lease for my husband and I It was the only car we qualified for so our choices were limited We really enjoyed owning a new car It ran great and we were very pleased with the outside body and all the functions of the motor We found the interior very disappointing From the first week we had the car there were problems with the interior The carpet pulled away from the frame and it took 18 months for them to get the parts to fix it We also had problems with the plastic molding that enclosed the seat belts This molding broke 4 times in 2 years and has to be replaced each time which put the car in the shop for at least one day At about 20 months the driver side window crank broke off and the dealer said it was not under warranty Then a week later the passenger side broke also Neither of the cranks had much use at any time This car drives smoothly but if you are looking for good wear and tear this car is not the one I can not see children doing well in this car br br " Neg," When you think of Mustangs the first thing that comes to mind is a muscle car Mustangs have long been classified with such cars as camaros firebirds chevlles and others But the question for this model is that with the new sporty look of the exterior which looks gay to me does the engine and the rest of the car hold up to my expectations As a young car enthusiast I went to a local Ford dealership and saw a nice GT Mustang with a V8 in it Very nice When I say that the Monte Carlo is better here s why I drive a 1995 Monte Carlo with a 5 year warranty on everything and I got the car for only 8 000 dollars more than half what I would have to pay for a new Mustang My car is better looking more powerful since I added a Venom Computer Module which totaled my horsepower to nearly 300hp and my car will last just as long with its warranty REMEMBER THIS IS EPINIONS MEANING IT S MY OPINION i b Exterior b The new model designs I don t particularily like I am more into a bigger car or if it s smaller and sportier like the new Mustangs I would like them with a lower center of gravity and with a big sporty spoiler on the back I would ve liked it if they would ve come out with more of a japanese car like version of the mustang if they wanted to create a more sporty version of the car Yet with this edition of the Mustang the car is small not good for a four seater and looks awful to me It doesn t really have a racer type look that Ford tried to do with the vehicle Interior b The changes compared to an older 1994 model of the Mustang sport very few changes which make me disgust this car There are cheap plastic dash boards for one thing They look very potentially destructive in the way that even a little whap would break it The manual shift control is a pain in the butt Not only is the car a manual something I hate but have to live with but the shifter blocks the controls to the CD deck The climate control was bland like in any Ford I would recommend Chevy s as being best for a nicely weathered interior Getting into the back seat is much more difficult than I expected Rather pain in the butt task to perform The car is kinda low and elderly or just plain old people will have trouble getting into the small back of the car It is more suited for 16 30 year olds The unspacious trunk of the car is another bad part of the model If you want a big truck with a sporty look I d recommend getting a Chevy Monte Carlo Engine b The new V6 engine is pretty nice with a 3 8L with 190hp which is nice but not as good as my much cheaper Monte Carlo which has 215hp But if you were to invest a little bit more money you could buy a V8 Mustang with 260hp and 220 pounds of torque If you ever put the pedal to the metal in a V8 model you would feel that power immediately This thing will whip you back like a rag doll If your thinking about getting a Mustang for the power don t A camaro will give you around a 5 2L with a lot more horsepower for only a couple thousand more dollars Driven b The drive is nice When you race it against another car or just press the acceleration all the way the car makes a nice rumble which will make you squeal like a school girl with excitement The handling of the car was decent It was a lot better than my Monte being a much heavier vehicle the Monte is Taking turns and corners the Mustang handles nicely I would have to say Price b The car is not a good deal at all I would recommend buying an older Mustang if you were interested The only good thing about buying a car like this is that they are very easy to upgrade and modify thanks to numerous magazines devoted to it where s my Monte Carlo magazine Versions b The Mustang comes in either basic V6 form a V8 GT engine or a Cobra style one which I am not sure how it handles But my friend told me that a Mustang Cobra is a lot more powerful and a lot more expensive as well Bottom Line b If you have 20 000 to blow on a car I would not recommend spending it on a Mustang Buying a nice Firebird with a V8 and a lot more horsepower and torque with a better interior and exterior look is a much better investment " Neg," This is my third time owning a Mustang I purchased 2000 GT Convertible August 1999 my dream car this is my third and the other 2 had transmission and BIG engine problems But I just knew this Mustang was going to be different Laserred camel color top and leather seats CD player Mach sound system and all the bells and whistles The gas wasn t bad but the pick up wasn t as fast as I had driven in Camero s and Firebirds When I had the top up because of rain and most of the time I drove with the top down in the rain as long as you drive you won t get wet I could hear a humming noise in the rear of the car Every week it got louder It just didn t squeal when I wanted it to The car was sluggish I had just turned in my 1998 Mustang Convertible 6 cylinder because there were transmission problems with it and I heard the 8 cylinder didn t have the same problems WRONG It ended up that some bearings or something in the rear end were no good to begin with When we got the car back it seemed faster but over a few weeks time it began making noise again We don t drive it fast all the time and we didn t do anything out of the ordinary to make this happen This car was having problems from the moment we purchased it NEW The leather seats were nice but they are low to the ground and your legs are extended so it is not as comfortable as a car but it s better than other sports cars I ve ridden in The sound system is to die for We live in south Florida and it s HOT there and we put the top up and the sun beats on the canvas and the a c doesn t compensate for the heat The canvas lets the heat in the car We sweat like a hore in church that s how hot it gets in the summer riding in the Mustang with the top up 28 000 you would think they could build a car that would last It isn t worth the money For the third time I m disappointed Read my review on the 1998 Laserred Mustang Convertible and the 1995 White Mustang Convertible I purchased a Ford Ranger in 1994 and was happy with it Not a problem Ford knows how to do trucks but cars that s a different story Needless to say we traded the Mustang in on a 2001 Explorer Sports Trac We love it We are cured of Mustang fever We miss the Mustang a lot the dealer gave us 22 000 trade in after only 1 year and they are now selling it for 25 500 They will make a nice profit on it We felt that if we kept the vehicle that we would have continuous problems with the rear end and transmission br br " Neg," The new mustangs dont really impress me that much One of my best friends have one and i find it a pain in the butt to take people around in it Dont get me wrong the car looks allright bt inside unless you are in the fron seat you are going to be very unconfortable The sound system in it sounds nice even without the subs he added Hes got a 6 cylinder and it feals like its got alot of power but only 190 HP my truck can out run that but of coarse i have a standard Having a CD player and a Tape was a good thing It takes corners well and its ok on gas The mustangs have gone way down in price i think that is why they are becoming a little more bland When i was looking for a car i test drove a 98 GT and i was impressed wth everything except the size of the back seat I will write a epinion on it too look for it The mustang carries a great name but they are turning int a 2 seater that really doesnt have the power that it used to ever since they stopped makin the 5 0 engines in 94 Overall you get a car wth a small backseat ok gas mileage looks kinda nice a name that every1 knows sounds ok It is great for my friend he is single and usually carries one friend But only one friend I would say get something with a little bigger back seat br br " Neg," I have never owned either a Chevrolet Camaro or a Ford Mustang My opinion is based purely on my sporadic drives Mustang My first impression of the Mustang is that I see it on the street WAY to frequently Everybody and their brothers aunts grandmas cousins and co workers has on Who would want to buy a car that everyone else has Not me How am I supposed to show off in a car that everyone else has The second thing that really drives me crazy about this car is the way it receives so much kudos for being more comfortable Sports cars should not be judged on comfort If you want comfort buy a Buick Sports cars should tear up the race track and leave two black lines down the middle of the streets The constant praising of the comfort on this car being better is really quite moronic Sure comfort helps but sports cars should be judged on the length of the black strips left behind o The Mustang is a nice looking car I do have to say that it looks slightly better than the Camaro It s a bit boxy but it still wins this battle The stereo on this Mustang just really sucks There is no other way of saying it This stereo is a senior citizen s stereo in the way that it has little bass and needs to be cranked near full blast before it can satisfy a music lover I guess they re pairing it with the quot comfortable interior quot to please their family car buyers They definitely aren t pleasing the sports car enthusiast who wants to go tearing up the hiways with the tunes bumpin On to the driving I found that this car drove quite nice It s pretty fast can turn well and do all of the stuff that a real sports car can do I didn t go test either cars sporty ability since the cars weren t mine to mess with But from what driving I did do it seems to handle nice and provide a pretty good ride Uhh I think the only other thing I being someone who doesn t own one can say about it is that the interior components look old They are the same dials and stereo systems that used to be in the old F 150 s back before they changed to their space ship design The components all seem functional they just don t look flashy at all The Camaro s aren t a whole lot better but they still are better Camaro I will talk about the same things in the same order with maybe one or two additions This car is not near as common as the Mustang I might see one or two a day and when I do it s a treat Put on some shiny rims and flowmasters in this baby and your bound to get some attention There s not as much competition to compete with This car is less comfortable than the Mustang but who cares The front seats are fine by my standards for two people to go wherever they want to go The back seats aren t too roomy at all but sports cars don t need back seats These seats were probably just designed to give grocery bags added comfort o But really comfort is not a huge factor in buying a sports car Your in the wrong class of cars if that s what your looking for Even though the Stang gets the kudos for looks I still think the Camaro is a nice looking car It does need an update but it is still a really nice looking car The SS version is extremely attractive The Camaro majorly wins the stereo battle between the two cars This stereo is comparable to the stereo I had specially installed in my Yukon It is really an awesome stereo with a ton of bass and enough volume to lift you out of your chair A definite pro in my book Driving both of these cars was a different experience for me because I was used to a big Yukon but the Stang s driving position was a little higher which made it easier to get used to at first but the Camaro s was just as good once you got used to it When you drive a car that isn t yours the driving position is always a little wierd The Camaro is one fast car I had the chance to open the throttle to this bad boy and boy did it move Amazing Braking was good on both The Camaro s handling was a little better I think Just my opinion though Everybody s different I loved listening to the exhaust sound in this car In the Mustang you just hear the buzz of the engine while in the Camaro you hear the roar of the exhaust Definitely awesome The components in this car are functional and are more modern than the Mustangs These components are logically placed and easy to use Gotta love that stereo If I was to buy one I would probably buy a Camaro because they look so awesome when they are fixed up whereas the Mustang s start looking a little unearthly as nearly all of Ford s vehicles do With Camaro s you can get more for you money so I ve read in Motor Trend and just about every other auto magazine out there Once again that stereo might make the decision for me though It would save me a few thousand of having to upgrade the Mustang s Oh and an addition on the Camaro you gotta love those T Tops What a compromise between a convertible and a coupe They are really cool " Neg," I recently went on a trip to Kentucky and I had to rent a car I wanted a mid sized sedan but the rental office didn t have any so they decided to quot upgrade quot me to this little car I won t call it a sports car because it lacked the performance I would like in a sports car and it was nothing compared to my Monte Carlo SS even when it was all stock I guess you can t compare apples to oranges though the Mustang did only have a V6 which had less power than my Blazer s V6 First I will start off with what I liked about the Mustang I did like the way the exterior looked It was quite stylish with its angled curves and fake ram air ducts I also liked the sterio it looked better than the ones in my Chevy s but did not put out the sound like them It came with a fairly decent package It had air cruise power windows and locks a tape player and a CD player I also liked the cruise control on the steering wheel it was much easier to get to than on my Chevys which have it on the turn signal switch That is about all I liked What I didn t like which proves my theory that Fords are made very cheaply is the abundance of plastic parts in the interior The doors were about 99 plastic which made it very uncomfortable to rest my arm on it It was cold in the mornings and when it got hot during the day my arm would stick to it The dash was also all plastic and did not look good at all Every part of the car that I touched felt like it was going to break if I put any pressure on it Next is the lack of power Now I know it was only a V6 so I don t want a million comments telling me how I should drive a 5 0 or a Cobra and see if my opinion changes I have driven a Camero with a V6 and I am not being at all one sided toward Chevy here it did have much more power I tried to spin up the tires a little on the Mustang and the only way I could was by doing a brake torque The Mustang was not a bad car to drive but it just wasn t a sports car The ride was very bumpy and when cornering it felt like you are going to lose control It had the sports car look but not the sports car feel I think I ll stick to my Chevy muscle cars and trucks for now my 85 Monte SS is 10 times the car the Mustang is Thank you Ford once again the Mustang turned me completely off of buying a sports car br br " Neg," My father recently fulfilled his dream of owning a sports vehicle He went out and purchased a brand spanking new blue convertable Mustang I guess when you reach the age of 71 you can do whatever you please When pop s showed up at my house with his new quot toy quot my first impression of the car was quot Wow quot It sure was a beauty And he didn t have to twist my arm to take a test drive Getting into the vehicle was quite an obstacle I think this car is made for people under 5 feet tall And it felt odd sitting so close to the road I m used to driving my Chevy full sized pickup so this was a very unusual feeling for me Almost like sitting in a little go cart Lowering the top was pretty easy once I figured out that I had to have the car in quot park quot and the quot emergency brake quot set Then with a simple push of a button the roof smoothly went down Away we went Not as powerful as I expected a sports car to be but a very smooth and comfortable ride You ve got to really pay attention to the speedometer because it s easy not to realize just how fast you re driving this baby In fact my stepmother got a speeding ticket within 2 weeks of owning this car There weren t too many features in this particular Mustang It did include a pretty decent stereo system with AM FM radio cassette player and CD player There were built in cup holders and a covered compartment for storing things The A C works great Automatic seat adjustments mirror adjustments windows and locks Sure it was thrilling driving this toy around I particularly enjoyed the looks on my neighbor s faces as I passed them by But is this car worth the price just to impress people I think not As a family man this vehicle would not make a good choice There is very little room for passengers in the back seat and they must have very short legs to even have some remote comfort Feeling pretty cramped I just can t imagine making a long trip in this car If you re single have the money the insurance is outrageous and enjoy expensive showy cars this one is for you Personally once the novelty had worn off I was glad I own a truck br br " Neg," I test drove this vehicle and I have to say that it was really nice decked out and it gave a smooth ride But it was very tight for space on the inside If you usually travel in your car with more than one person other than yourself I would not recommend this car Although If you want something sporty and nice I would definitely get this car although everyone else already has one I would recommend the 2000 Mercury Cougar for everyone Be sure to check my review on the new 2000 model Mercury Cougar V 6 Sport Coupe The car is magnificent br br " Neg," Considering a new 2000 Ford Mustang GT Think twice In fact don t think about it at all I m on my fourth late model Mustang and definitely my last The quality of the vehicles has gone down hill over the past two years and Fords service and support structure is even worse The car has been in the shop constantly since I purchased the car new late last year It still has unresolved problems that both the dealers and Ford are unable to diagnose and fix I ve communicated with several other 2000 Mustang GT owners with similar problems ruling out the possibility that my Mustang is anomaly The car has excellent power for the price paid is fun to drive and looks good with the top down Handling is good once the stock tires are replaced with a set of real performance tires However the rigidity of the car is marginal Several rattles and squeaks are present and one might think the car was going to quot fall apart quot over rough roads The key statement here is quot for the price paid quot If you can t afford a real performance car and are willing to put up with marginal quality and poor service then this is the right car Just be sure to sell it before the warranty expires br br " Neg," What is wrong with this car you ask EVERYTHING The 2000 Mustang GT is a total lame excuse for a sportscar I purchased a 2000 red Mustang GT in November of 1999 I was the first in my town to have one of the new bodystyles The car was loaded with sunroof leather CD with the premium speakers all power you name it this car had it I was happy with my decision to buy a Mustang until the car wouldn t start one morning My little red Stang was only 4 months old and had less than 6K miles on her I phoned the Ford dealership and explained my problem They didn t even seem surprised and they weren t apologetic or understanding After waiting THREE hours and missing a day of work the wrecker showed up and took my pretty red Mustang to the Ford dealership Wait I thought I don t have transportation now I phoned Ford and asked for a rental or loaner car Their reply I can give you the number to Hertz Car Rental Great I thought and Ford is going to pick up the bill right WRONG Ford told me I was on my own Come to find out the alternator had gone bad Ford replaced the alternator and I picked up my car the following morning No big deal right That very day the driver s side window wouldn t come back up after I put it down The motor had gone out Back to the Ford dealership with no rental car It took them two whole days to replace the motor I was furious I went to the Nissan dealership and test drove a Maxima That was not what I was looking for A friend told me to drive a Camaro Z28 I did just that The power ride and handling was phenomenal I had to have it After picking up my POS Mustang GT I took it straight to the Chevy dealership before anything else could break on it and traded it in for a 2000 Chevrolet CamaroZ28 I will be writing my review of my new Z in the near future If you re considering purchasing a Ford atleast drive a Chevy first I thank my friend everyday for referring me there Don t make the same mistake I did I try to let everyone know about my mishap with the Rustang and in doing so I came across the following website www fordtruckssuck com Seems I m not the only one who s had NUMEROUS problems with Ford " Neg," A few years ago in 1995 I bought a new Ford Mustang I wanted to buy an American car I didn t even think of getting anything else I was trading in my Ford F 150 I wanted better gas milage something cute The first morning after I bring home my little silver bullet it won t start Ford has to come over and give me a new battery I told them to come pick it up and take it back I expect for the car to be able to start after having it for like 12 hours No can do It s now my car I think I saw the paint turn slightly yellow Naw must have been my imagination It couldn t be turning into a lemon Ford built cars Ford Tough So I went to work in it It was fine For about a month Then the squeaking started The dash squeaked the whole time the car was on The really annoying high pitched squeaking Then the cassette player broke Ford said it was my tape Ok Then it ate 3 more tapes I want a new radio Ok bring it in and I m just out for the cost of the tapes I pick up my car and guess what Same radio I had got some hair spray on the clock and I could see that the same pots were still there Oh yeah well they knew that the radio wasn t replaced they just didn t have one in But the fixed the squeak Cool So I had to make another appointment to come in and have it put in The dash didn t squeak for almost 2 full blocks After that the back seatbelt broke Then the front one They wouldn t stay buckled Then the engine started having problems Then everything inside the car started breaking Everything made out of plastic that had to move open or shut broke It s a 1995 and has been in the shop 31 times " Neg," Why oh why do people continually by the Ford Mustang The answer is because they are cheap and some people think that they look cool The Mustang is a car that formerly had a proud heritage and used to stand toe to toe with the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird Now decades later the only car the base level V 6 powered Mustang can beat is the Honda Accord The fact that Ford quot upped quot the power output in the current generation Mustang V 8s just goes to show that Mustang owners everywhere were getting trounced at red lights by the GM faithful in their Camaros and Firebirds Is this not humiliating to a Mustang owner Can the Mustang loyalists hold their heads up proudly knowing that there are a plethora of more superior vehicles out there The answer yes they can In the past the Mustang was am amazing car and it single handedly defined the quot muscle car quot genre but the same cannot be said for the Mustang of today If I wanted a mid sized car that was reasonably quick and rather sporty looking I would opt for an Accord coupe Then at least I would know that my car would outlive me br br " Neg," The Ford Mustang Convertible is fast good looking and fun to drive Corvettes and BMWs are great sports cars too What if they were the same price The decision is easy The Ford Mustang is a clear example of a car that is just too expensive A Mustang Convertible starts out at 21 000 Of course the real sports enthusiast get leather and all the options If you can t afford the options then don t buy the car in the first place The options are an integral part to the Mustang ABS Leather Spoiler Power Seats dual and the Smokers Package aka the Cell Phone Package Doesn t everyone who drives a sports car have a cell phone They should Anyway my point is this A Mustang starts at 21K but add tax warranty all the options delivery and the price gets to 27 500 And this is the price for an LX version not the GT or Cobra So I would rather take this money and buy a real sports car that is worth the money I think the Mustang Convertible should be worth 20 000 for everything That is reasonable I find the current cost not reasonable because there are many more prestigious faster cars out there Why not buy a used Corvette It will keep its value longer A Mustang loses 50 of its value after only two years Or why not buy a brand new BMW the entry level 300 series for 23 000 base This will keep its value more and a BMW base model with no options is a lot more luxurious and more prestigious than a Mustang Convertible loaded whether or not it is a Cobra or GT It is your choice But if you want to be noticed have some prestige and spend your money smart Then buy a Corvette used or a new BMW A Mustang is great but it is just too expensive br br " Neg," This car has plently of power and handles well Also it is a pretty goos head turner in performance red Unfortunately mine has been plagued with problems Furthermore Ford especially my dealership has been very unreceptive and downright mean I have bought Fords my entire life expect for a little Toyota pickup once and this will be my last It is unfortunate that this car was not tweaked a little more because3 it would be awesome When I first bought it it wasn t even safe The car would accelerate to wide open throttle from a stop It was out of control The only way I could stop it was to turn the key off After 16k though Ford has been unable to trace other problems For instance the car dies a couple times a week at least during deceleration It is embarassing and it is dangerous when it happens on a curve They did fix the horn on the second try though Good car if you like to have a black box in your car and press a little button when you fear for your life " Neg," I know I wrote an similar review on the Lincoln Navigator but these SUVs are identical and the same information applies To bring up a few important points about large SUVs to consider before purchasing As you know large SUVs have been stirring up a lot of controversy lately that buyers should know about I recently purchased a new car but considered an SUV first and did a lot of research into them and promptly changed my mind First of all there are lots off hidden costs on large SUVs like the Expedition Of course unless you have 35 000 to spend on one you are going to have a high car payment Which is obvious most consumers expect this But did you budget the high fuel cost as well A Ford Expedition weights between 5 424 to 5 774 pounds Because of this it has a V8 engine Which means it gets 12 5 miles per gallon or less average Meaning that a Expedition driver is paying on average 3 to 4 times more for gas that a car driver This will add somewhere between 100 to 250 a month to your car payment Okay gas is cheap now but for how long When it goes back up typically the resale value on the Expedition and other large SUVs goes down considerably no one wants something that is going to use that much gas when the cost is unsteady That s a lot of money to lose Then there s insurance Because the Expedition is big and heavy if the driver gets into an accident it will cause a lot of property damage and injuries that your insurance company will have to pay for On top of that there is a big risk that the drivers or drivers family of the smaller cars will sue you Which means you and or your insurance company could be out a lot of money They plan for this by charging a lot higher premium on SUVs than normal size cars This can vary with no fault states You should get a quote from your insurance company first Now on average the Expedition puts out over 3 times the carbon dioxide of a normal sized car This really angers people who care about the environment and causes them to do things to protest against this One of the popular things is SUV tagging Where they ll put bumper stickers on your SUV say things like your changing the climate and you don t care about the air Please check out the sites I have listed below for more information on this http abcnews go com sections us DailyNews madtaggers001225 html http www baaction org SUVticket index html http www idontcareaboutair com bumpers index shtml http www charm net marc chronicle suv may01 html http poseur 4x4 org topten html This is a new trend and who knows where it will go But do you want to constantly worry about your expensive Expedition being vandalized and then pay for the repairs That s just more costs to worry about Like keeping your vehicle in your garage Not the Expedition and most large SUVs they won t fit unless you have a custom oversized garage another expense But if you leave is outside it s always dirty and that s a lot of SUV to wash or have washed One more popular misconception about large SUVs is that they are safer for families For the most part they are not Especially the Expedition it s based of the Ford F 150 chassis which has terrible ratings because it is still a truck body with out properly designed crumple zones or a firewall keeping the engine out of your lap Please check http www iihs org first The new VW Beetle gets better crash test ratings that most Ford Lincoln SUVs and trucks Do your research first on any SUV I recommend outlining why you need an SUV maybe a minivan would be better because you can save 10 000 to 15 000 have a safer more versatile vehicle and get better gas mileage Take the money you saved and use it for kids college or early retirement Or maybe a vehicle that large is not needed at all " Neg," I love my boyfriend dearly but his car is another story His 1992 Mustang LX is a car I d love to shoot over and over again I have had just as much experience driving this car as I have had riding it in Driving it didn t use to be so bad until the car s mileage went up and of course so did the repair bills The car was bought with about 70 000 miles and it is now up to about 125 000 miles but at least it s still running barely Now I can understand that once a car gets older that repairs are going to be needed but it s getting to the point it is worse than mine and I didn t think that was possible The engine in his car is a 4 cylinder with from the specs I saw researching on the web is 90 HP I almost laughed when I found this out At least it beats a Chevy Metro Surprisingly though I was in disbelief on how little it had if I m wrong guys correct me because for a four cylinder it was pretty quick off a dead stop From what I understand also is that this car is pretty heavy so I am impressed with this little engine I will say though that the gas mileage hasn t changed that much on the car except in cold weather and it gets about 22 city and about 30 on the highway At least with this car going to the gas station is a little less frequent then in my car The handling many many miles ago used to be pretty loose and somewhat stable and then I had more control over the car As time passed and mileage increased the handling became slowly worse to the point that if my hands aren t holding the wheel with a tight grip the car doesn t want to stay straight and more and more the steering is getting very tight I honestly never feel sure of myself driving this car anymore You could say try an alignment job thing is with this car you can t afford the money to keep up with the repairs The heat in the car really can t be considered heat and the air conditioning in the summer is non existent and for someone like me who can t handle heat this a problem There is also a possibility that this car also has a carbon monoxide leak and I have been encouraging my boyfriend to have that checked out as soon as possible I really don t like the interior of his car either It looks too cheap and well it s just not as stylish as the newer models The controls are similar to the newer models but the dash is just downright cheesy looking The seats are pretty comfortable though except it s very hard to use the lever to make the seat go up because those are breaking too The center console is broken and even the ash tray cover at one point broke which was probably my fault The glove box has a lot of trouble staying closed especially when going over bumps Forget about the back seat because with any Mustang you really can t consider it a backseat with how small it is This car also doesn t have power seats or tilt steering so when I drive it I basically need to sit on a phone book because without it I couldn t see the road To top that off the wiper blades sit too high and can sometimes block my vision of the road The driver and passenger side windows are ready to break and are very loose and you can tell any time you go over bumps The suspension is shot If you hit a bump hard you are going to FEEL it big time In fact one side of the car appears to lean a little bit With new brakes the car will come to a stop in a very short amount of time if you have to slam on the brakes but with worn brakes start praying basically The car has a very noticeable very rough idle I have sat in that car before for at least fifteen minutes or more and eventually got sick to my stomach because of how much this car shakes Sometimes at forty miles per hour the RPMs seem to stick and the car vibrates a lot if anyone has any idea what that is please let me know my car does that too I will say though when you hit the pedal to the floor it makes a very nice sound I love to hear an engine roar even if it is a four cylinder I can honestly say that I wish he had never got it The amount of money he has spent and still needs to spend on this car is absurd The car is in need of some more repairs and I m sure of it It seems like you can never keep up with this car It s almost saying quot please put me out of my misery quot half the time It would be easy to say quot well get all the repairs done and you should be fine quot problem is repairs were done and shortly after more problems came around I know it is an older car and I know it has a lot of miles on it but for the amount of things to break it gets to be too much The exhaust system for example was replaced and six months later it goes again and a new one is needed The transmission even needed to be rebuilt but perhaps that was just age Maybe if Ford had made better quality parts that lasted maybe this car would not have had so many problems I have written this as a warning to anyone who would consider buying a used Mustang of this year or before You may end up like my boyfriend sinking buck after buck into this car just for things to keep breaking on it and wanting to pull your hair out If you are young and just starting out like the two of us being able to afford cars like these may be a challenge if your luck is as bad as ours It is a nice looking car and a lot could be done to it appearance wise to make it look even better but I really don t think this car is worth the trouble And with New Jersey s stricter inspection laws both my boyfriend and I are most likely going to have to take out loans just to keep our cars on the road to appease New Jersey regulations But my view on these new laws is for another day " Neg," Now I can t say everyone will have the exact same experience but I recently sold my 92 Ford Mustang after it broke down 9 times in less than 6 months I ve sunk well over twice the cost of what the car s worth into repairs For the record I wasn t the one who purchased this car it was my ex husband s quot gift quot I m a mother of two little kids and we ve been broke down and stranded on the side of the road because of this car time and time again I ve had to replace the battery alternator battery connectors correct a short in the electrical system the time belt clutch two tires catalytic converter and something that was wrong with the radiator and exhaust The car s AC system would have cost over 1 000 to fix after it died out and I didn t even bother to check what the problem was when the heat went I just got rid of it To hear this you might think this car went through some rough terrain or was driven a lot but it wasn t To school the grocery store doctor s visits and not much more Now that I m in the purchaser s seat I m buying a Toyota Camry I have never had a more unreliable costly and problematic vehicle than that Mustang If you re a young guy or a mechanic who doesn t mind walking or being without a car in spite of the fact that you own a car then this one s for you However if you don t enjoy being stranded and you require reliable transportation then I would suggest your driving something anything else br br " Neg," You know I think back to the nasty car I used to drive and I was happy to get rid of it I think if you work really hard you deserve to treat yourself So at the end of 1999 I bought my mustang I wasn t too crazy about the new body style at first but I grew to like it I do have a few complaints however I owned the car for a month when I started noticing that a rust problem that was beginning on my tail pipe so I made an appointment and brought it in They replaced the tailpipe They told me it must have just been a bad part Then I started noticing that when I turned the wheel the car kinda made a grinding noise and and this humming noise So yet again I took it in and they told me my car had no power steering fluid in it How can they sell a brand new car with no power steering fluid So they filled it up and sent me off A couple weeks later the rusting started again I made ANOTHER appointment and brought the car in This time when I brought it in I MADE the mechanic get on the ground underneath my car so I could show him the rust I was starting to think I was think I was going crazy He told me that my car had more rust on it than a five year old mustang he had just worked on Luckily this time they were kind enough to give me a loaner since they kept my car for several weeks I mean I paid for a Mustang and I spent half the time driving a Ford Taurus If I wanted a family car I would have bought one Shortly after that I joined the military and my car sat at home for six months and wasn t driven at all When I came home to my surprise what was there more of RUST I have since had the parts replaced AGAIN Now the newest problem I have is my alignment Which after I took it to the dealership I was told that it will never be right because the body was cut wrong I have no idea what that means Oh and by the way that humming and grinding It s starting again a few days ago I m not saying they re all like this but from what I heard it s quite common " Neg," Update on August 25 2003 I need a new A C compressor and coil adding another 1000 to the repair bill So in my first 13 months out of warranty I ve replaced 1 Idle Control Valve Summer 02 250 2 ABS modulator May 03 1000 3 Rear differential gears May 03 1300 4 A C compressor and coil Aug 03 1000 Plus had to pay for a car rental during three of the above TOTAL 3 900 including tax and car rental I ve rounded down in the above Plus you can add routine maintenance to that figure Without my extended warranty which picked up over 90 of the above I would have been much better served by simply leasing a new car for 3 years rather than keeping my car for this additional year I ve also changed my buy recommendation from a Yes to a No keeping in mind that this review is for a 1999 car If you are buying leasing a new car under warranty go for it it s still fun to drive Original Review from May 2003 First off let me say I love driving the car I have a manual transmission GT when I don t do a lot of heavy braking It s extremely fun and there s nothing more satisfying during rush hour than blasting around some guy that s going to slow for your mood The main reason for writing the review is to share with people some of the less documented potential pit falls My biggest beef with the car and with Ford is my braking system Approximately 6 months after buying the car and literally over night my brake pedal went soft I can depress it 2 without noticeably observing a change in speed More scary than this on an occasion when I emergency braked the pedal went all the way to the floor The ABS did kick in but it was scary And if I brake heavily while the tires go over bumps the braking pressure becomes inconsistent not to mention that steering goes to hell to needs support I ve twice rolled into the middle of intersections because of this It s been to two different dealerships over four separate occasions for this specific problem and no diagnostics have ever convinced these guys to replace anything So I drive on If the dealership won t recognize a problem I guess I just don t have one right The second thing you may want to be aware of is that at 45 000 miles and a little under four years old the car needed 2800 worth of work The ABS system failed I have no idea if this is related to my first brake problem but replacing the ABS modulator did not fix that problem and my differential fell apart A bearing went bad and ended up chewing the gears there Those plus the rental car I needed during repairs plus the 45 000 mile service 400 added up to my 2800 bill I m also not writing because I m mad about the cash outlay I have an extended warranty that covered most of this expense I do think that 2800 is an extensive bill for non accident related repairs to a 3 or 4 year old car Beyond these things I ve had my door handle tightened up as it was falling off and my clutch replaced although that may have been due to me learning how to drive the car and not doing the shifts correctly I don t pretend to know if this is a reflection of a normal GT or I m just unlucky I will say that I take pride in the things I own and I take care of the car Oil changes and regular services And I don t abuse it with donuts etc although I m awfully tempted sometimes Hope this helps you potential buyers out there As a side note the seat head rests are useless but as I point out to my friends you don t buy this car for it s reputation of comfort or reliability It s all about the fun " Neg," I am a young woman and a first time car buyer who grew up around cars I have always wanted a true quot muscle quot car and when I had the chance to purchase a new 99 Mustang I did It was the car of my dreams Well actually a 67 GT Fast back was but beggars can t be choosers I bought my car in Canada at a reputable dealer and was thrilled Not long after I moved to the city for a new job I had never had any problems with my car and I loved it but as luck would have it little things started to happen Well I have now had my car for a year and a half and slowly but surely things have started to deteriorate I have had my heat sheild replaced twice My side mirrors have been replaced because the gears that drive them have gone bad My transmission is going already There is a major lack of power when going up hills For the longest time my brakes would work when they felt like and according to the computer system in my car there is nothing wrong with it I am writing this simply to warn all prospective buyers Please please please take the car for a long test drive first Make sure that where you purchase the car they are willing to listen to you when you tell them there is something wrong And last but not least search the internet for horror stories on any car you are going to purchase before you do You find out a lot more about a car that way then what the salesmen are willing to tell you br br " Neg," The Ford Mustang has really made a great car with there new convertible and witht the hard top The Car has plenty of power along with a great design that will turn heads everywhere One of the best parts about the car is that it has a roomy enough seat to have an average sized adult sit back there especially when the top is down It is a little cramped but much better than most other convertibles It has an electric top which makes it easy to get out in the sun with just a push of a button The car has plenty of power to get the wheels spinning and you won t need to bring extra fuel tanks it does pretty well on gas mileage One of the down sides to the car is that it looks as if the outer molding is very much like thinplastic and woul probably break in an accident However it still looks really great and for kids or adults that act like kids it is a great car br br " Neg," I had a 95 Hyundai 5 speed and wanted to step up What I really wanted was a 99 Cougar but the salesman was just too much of an idiot to deal with a women buying a car So I went to another dealer and he treated me well and I bought the exact same car that is in the picture above Love that red car The engine and drive train are great The rest of car is the problem The whole driver side of my car is incorrectly installed From the dashboard to the door to the outside trim to the interior window molding I have had them rip out my dashboard to find a rattle they can t find it but we all can hear it They have replaced my hand brake They have replace the rear window and molding And unfortunately it is slightly better than when it went into the dealer There are now stains on my seats tools left inside my manual is now under the hand brake console On the up side it is a guy magnet br br " Neg," This is an update of my adventures with this car I ve had it for more than a year now I ve driven back and forth to Portland four times I moved once in it I ve taken it up a mountain pass twice and you know what I don t like it any better It s been towed at least three times gotten two flat tires in a month and had to walk or borrow other people s cars far too often Just when I think I have everything taken care of and am beginning to grow fond of it the car betrays me again It truly breaks my heart A guy s first car should be something he can be fond of or something not a POS that he hates with all his soul and curses regularly The transmission fell out one and a half times before I just bought one and handed it to a mechanic I have scars from this car It hates me too I m sure This is not my fault as I loved it at first because it was my car and it was zippy and fun and it was wheels Now it is my wagon of the devil and we disrespect each other equally Negatives Maybe I got a lemon Brakes go from fine to shot in no time at all Front wheel drive makes it extremely hard to do routine maintenance on The body is easily succeptible to damage The tire and brake wear is very uneven Positives Does not guzzle oil Once you get a good tranny in it will wear for a long time Gas consumption extremely efficient b Original material I see millions of these on the road and I notice that all of them are LX s That s the model with a stereo and A C I bought about four months ago a grey Pony at the beginning of the summer It had a stereo and A C Never do this The A C fell out literally causing me to have to work on the serpentine belt almost all summer long the engine runs really hot and the seals around the axles gave out almost immediately Once I got used to running this car without A C it seems to run really efficiently not needing any thing to be changed much and with very little maintainence I should also point out the speedometer lead fell off and I racked up at least a 1000 miles that will never go on the odometer This is pretty disappointing My parents had an Areostar van they ran into the ground and it went forever I haven t even cracked 100 000 miles yet and it s already sounding like it s going to come apart around my ears I probably won t for a long time but who wants to drive a car that sounds like it could fall apart at any moment Doesn t impress the ladies much For a budget car if you can get a model like this that wasn t jerry rigged by some swine in a used car dealership it will probably serve you well My sister got a car like this wagon at the same time only two years newer and hasn t had a single complaint so go the little extra and buy a 94 LX You won t notice the difference because you ll have a car that won t have anything perpetually going wrong Before I complain too much I should point out that I really like the lines of this car and for a cheap pile of junk it hauls pretty well and I like it even though I complain Thanks for reading my opinion " Neg," I drove a 97 Tbird on a long road trip in the winter of 1997 The type I had was a fully equipped V8 LX with every option available This included leather dual exhaust moonroof JBL audio etc M overall impression of the car was favorable but the sheer size of it makes it undesirable Before I get to that here are the plus points First of all I simple LOVE the dash The way it curves and wraps around the driver is something that is just amazing It makes you feel extremely secure when you re in there The guages and controls are easy to read and very logical in design All switches and latches feel high quality Mechanically speaking the car is a gem The 4 6L V8 is a modualr engine that is found in other cars i e Mustang so you can be assured that it is a tried and true motor Service for it must also be rather easy to get as are parts The 225 hp with dual exhaust it puts out are quot push you in your seat quot ponies that remind you that you have a V8 The taransmission is a little too conservative in that it forces you to floor it to reach redline in every gear but fuel economy stays nice with that feature The ride is smooth and quiet Handling is typical for a big car The rear end bobs and shakes a little but absorbs road imprefections nicely The rear wheel drive set up is also a huge plus point FWD cars tend to be more expensive to service and require more services i e cv joints Now the bad part This design is basially one that Ford used since 1988 The first Tbird with this body and the 97 model are light years appart in refinement but it doesn t look to be that way at a glance Alos big American cars tend to look really tachy after they age only a few years I can t imagine spending over 15K on this thing and have it be a laughing stock of a car in 4 years Acura Legend coupes would be a much better buy even though they are FWD Ford should be commended for staying committed to the V8 RWD personal coupe but it s an idea whose time has come and gone The reintroduction of the 2002 Tbird made to look like the 1955 model is simple a horrible attempt to retro a car Using the Lincoln LS which BTW is a import copy stolen Mitsubishi Diamante front end BMW headlights and Acura style front bumper parts and rebadging them is in poor taste I hope this car flops and Ford learns to stop selling amp amp to buyers The story on the 2002 woudl have been different if they designed a V8 exculsive to the Tbird and REAL retro styling like metal dashboards with airbags huge white wall tires and sealed beam look HID lighting systems In other words stop making cars look like jelly beans give the people FINS and an exhaust that exits through the rear bumper br br " Neg," The Ford Taurus has survived almost 20 consecutive years since its first year in production that s more than many cars that have come and gone over the last 15 years or so So why is the Ford Taurus so successful It certainly has not received the best reliability ratings the ride is anything but smooth and despite being relatively cheap in cost the Taurus has never offered an extraordinary value On a recent trip from Eureka to San Francisco the 94 Ford Taurus GL sedan provided decent transportation but not without the typical problems so often associated with the mysteriously popular Ford Taurus For the 94 model year the Ford Taurus comes in 3 trim lines 2 body styles along with 4 different engines and 3 optional transmissions Trim lines body styles include the base GL sedan tester and wagon LX sedan and wagon and the SHO sedan performance trim line The base trims come with an OHV 3 0 V6 tester equipped and an OHV 3 8 V6 both producing 140 horsepower and both coupled with an AXOD 4 speed fully automatic transmission The SHO trim comes standard with a 3 0 DOHC V6 when equipped with the 5 speed manual or a 3 2 DOHC V6 when equipped with the optional new for 94 4 speed automatic Driving Impressions i With only 55 000 miles on the odometer my 94 Ford Taurus GL tester felt like it was on its proverbial last leg Off the line acceleration is adequate with very little wheel spin torque steer however under full throttle the 3 0 OHV Vulcan engine feels and sounds more like an unrefined 4 cylinder than the V6 that it is Despite being somewhat slow it was the transmission behavior that was the killer Under full or even partial throttle the transmission clunks into gear letting the driver know each time it up shifts or down shifts The worst part of this 4 speed automatic transmission is its low speed operation When driving between 10 20 MPH and punching the throttle the transmission would many times slip completely out of gear revving the engine towards redline only to eventually clunk back into gear when letting off the throttle I m not new to this feeling I have owned 2 Ford Tauruses and a Mercury Sable in the past to find similar transmission issues I have also found the 2002 models to carry some of these same transmission characteristics Like many mid sized family cars in the early mid 1990s the Ford Taurus offers less than exciting handling The handling limits on twisty roads are easily reached making the 94 Taurus GL uninvolving and uninspiring in this department Body lean roll and lack of feel in the steering are the main problems here The General brand P205 65R 15 all season tires only aggravate the situation While the Taurus finds its home on the freeway it s cruising abilities still pale in comparison to much of the competition for the 94 model year The base GL model I drove offered some of the most unrefined highway cruising in a family sedan that had an original MSRP of over 16 000 Engine noise is kept to a minimum even at 75 MPH however wind and roadgrain noise are prevalent throughout the cabin at high and low cruising speeds The 94 Taurus GL also suffers severely from rattles and sudden jolts when driving over small imperfections in the road The 94 Chevy Lumina and 94 Honda Accord both do a much better job keeping their occupants in a hushed environment when cruising on the freeway back roads or even through town Hills climbing is adequate I could not get the Taurus GL to go up one large hill in top gear although once the automatic transmission down shifted again clunking into gear the car could maintain a decent pace but not without engine noise and transmission fuss If a used Taurus is a must on your car shopping list and if you live in mountainous areas the 3 8 liter option is probably the way to go This particular engine offers much better hill climbing power VS the OHV 3 0 b Braking was also poor Having a front wheel disc rear drum set up without ABS can be more than adequate for many cars however it made for some scary moments going down steep hills in San Francisco with this particular 94 Ford Taurus The brake pedal felt extremely spongy and I found myself many times flooring the brake pedal just to get this car to stop my Mercury Sable LS had this same problem b Fuel Economy is good the EPA rates the 94 Ford Taurus GL 3 0 at 20 29 I observed about 30 MPG overall on my trip from Eureka to San Francisco and back The fuel tank is 15 gallons so fill ups are kept limited Interior Accommodation i The GL model I drove was bare bones no amenity options just basic everything no power door locks no power mirrors etc etc Dual front air bags came standard and so did an ashtray Instead of a cassette player that comes standard with most cars in 1994 with a MSRP of 16 000 my tester just came with an AM FM stereo system with 4 speakers A major gripe with the interior of the 94 Taurus is all the exposed screws in the doors handles and in the plastic moldings around the doors and windows one does not have to look very hard to find these exposed screws The plastics also used in the cabin are extremely cheap looking Cheap plastics and exposed body metal around the window seals also contribute to this put together with wood and glue theme Seating is adequately comfortable but the cloth bench seats in the front provide no bolstering whatsoever and the rear bench seats are full bench so they do not fold down for added storage like the more accommodating 60 40 split variety Interior room and cargo are by far the 94 Tauruses strongest assets Unlike the 94 Chevy Lumina there is tons of head and leg room up front and in the rear The Ford Taurus design provides very good use of the space provided also allowing for a very large trunk i Exterior Innovation i When the 2nd generation Taurus was first seen in 1992 it was all the rage unfortunately by 1994 these cars were getting quite dated looking In 1996 the futuristic yet ultra odd looking 3rd generation Tauruses arrived making the 2nd generation seem even more dated While not ugly by any means I feel the 94 Ford Taurus is more of a practical somewhat handsome grocery getter design than anything sporty or otherwise Price Reliability i New these cars could run close to 28 000 in top of the line SHO trim My tester had an MSRP of 16 000 today the retail cost is about 4 000 I have seen these base modeled Tauruses go for as little as 2 000 with the owner s claim that they ran great Reliability has been very poor according to my own research with the 1st and 2nd generation Ford Tauruses This particular Taurus has had few major mechanical repairs as of yet however hoses belts brake rotors thermostat struts front turn signal covers and power steering lines had to be replaced in 55 000 miles of use I would also like to note that the car is constantly needing front wheel alignments and I forecast a new transmission is already in demand i Final Thoughts i Like the infamous Hyundai Excel the Ford Taurus has showed us what it is made of over the years While it has provided flawless transportation for many owners it has created severe headaches for just as many if not more owners It s not only the reliability issues that has lead me to rate this car at 1 star it is its overall build quality ride and lack of performance If you are in the market for a used car in the 2 000 4 000 price range I urge you to test drive as many cars as possible Some of my personal favorite cars in this class and price range between 1992 1994 would be the Honda Accord Toyota Camry and the Nissan Maxima Looking for a slightly better built Ford Taurus Check out my review on the a href content 75710631556 2002 Ford Taurus a Happy Car Shopping " Neg," About a year ago my twin brother bought a 1994 taurus with about 115K on it for 4000 It seemed like a pretty nice car when we test drove it so he bought it and it turned out to be a pretty cool car his looks better because he added a spoiler bra and some chrome wheels It is a sharp looking car but he ended up having some problems with it POWER the 3 0L V6 is not one of ford s best engines though somewhat powerful in lighter cars it seems at some times strained by the weight and size of the massive taurus It does ride pretty smooth though About 3 months after he got it the heater core went out It was a 400 dollar repair Soon after they replaced that the air conditioning wouldnt stay cold They replaced the freeon and it was cold for about a week apparently there was a leak or some type of problem About another 300 to replace that MILEAGE His taurus does not get good mileage at all at one time it was getting only about 10 in the city Sure driving with a lead foot was part of the problem but 10 is still TOO low for a car with an engine of that type He had the oxygen sensors there are 2 of them in tauruses for about 250 and that made it improve by about 2 or 3 mpg Still not very good only about 200 on a full tank RIDE COMFORT It is indeed a comfortable cruiser The one thing i didnt like is there was no p ower seat so after being used to the one in my car 92 Lumina EURO it seemed kind of flat The car rides pretty smooth and takes the bumps pretty well I have driven this car and I do not like the way it handles The complete opposite of my car It is kind of a fake feel by that i mean there is no real feel for the road You can move the wheel with your pinky finger Some people may like that he does but not me Cornering could be better At low speeds the Taurus can pull U turns and sharp corners easily Once you get above 15 or 20 the car sways excessively Bigger tires would help although the 15 s are ample STYLING Tauruses are sharp looking although kind of bland If you like a car that isnt very sporty looking and that blends in with the crowd then they are for you I dont reccomend this car Apparently other tauruses have been known to have transmission problems that are very costly If you want a similar sized and similar priced car that has been proven to be more reliable and just a better car then i recommend you check out the Chevy lumina just a 92 94 91 s had brake trouble Altogether it s not a bad car Some like it some dont It has been known to have some trouble but there are many cases of people not having any trouble at all I dont really recomend it just because I feel there are better cars in the early 90 s 4 door sedan market " Neg," Just a warning this is a review of the Taurus station wagon not the sedan The car is nice Not amazing but nice Its a good family car good steering but both the braking and acceleration feel unresponsive The brakes have to be pushed pretty far down before they start working and it always feels as if the engine is trying to catch up with my accereleration Furthermore my transmission has started to die The transmission is always banging into place The car however has been very reliable It has 120 000 miles on it and has only been in the shop for a new head gasket It has not even needed a new timing belt which to the best of my understanding is expected to break after 60 000 miles br br " Neg," I knew that it was pretty the moment I saw it on the lot it was so gorgeous coming and going I was proud to drive it when I drove it however I never knew when I was going to get home first month run sluggish when hot we live it Houston Texas it will always be hot that is not a good sign however frequently it would just not run it would just suddenly stop second month tire separation we are cruising along the freeway toodling along and the rear tire completely separates thanks to some Firestones that came on the car and not only did we get a flat tire but the tread separation took the rear bumper off lovely third month motor mounts and wheel rotors okay fine it was used it had less than 50K miles on it maybe that was reasonable coolant flush why smelled funny to the mechanic coolant smelled burnt I blamed the service station for trying to pull a fast one my bad fifth month over heating again called Ford nope not their problem whose problem do not know but FORD said not their problem fine sixth month transmission slipping on corners great I know what a V6 is supposed to sound like when cornering under a freeway over pass this is definite slippage high RPM s no increased acceleration solution new transmission seventh month hard starting wonderful I am loving this car more each day solution new battery this is not my idea of fun I want to go out into the garage and just get in and go I do not want to plan ahead each day for when I will need a jump start eighth month more over heating mechanic still cant find the problem I am learning to nurse it by turning off the air conditioner and keep it going so that the breeze would keep the water cool in the radiator it would limp home ninth month rotor cap and wires anything to convince it that it would start in the morning and not burn up batteries tenth month serious serious money spent on the best truck battery Interstate that would definitely turn this car over the radiator eventually cracked the head gaskets eventually did blow out of warranty and the transmission did go out again all within 110 000 miles FORD customer service sucks I will never ever buy or recommend any FORD ever again the room in the car was unparalleled the class of arriving in this car was great It is a pretty car but sadly the car itself mechanically was horrendous I am religious about maintenance about repairs as soon as there is a problem I have never hated a car before but I hate this car " Neg," We bought our 1994 Taurus in 1999 when it had 52k mi on it The car was in pretty good shape I traded it in today at 72k mi In the one years time and 20k mi we have had the car I have had to replace the water pump serpintine belt thermostat brake pads rotors brake lines and other various suspension parts I traded the car because it needed another 3000 worth of work The AX4N transmission had justed started to slip requiring a rebiuld to fix The rear calipers froze and needed replacing Since the calipers froze it ruined the rotors so they also need replaced The front struts and c v joints are shot and need replaced I also needed to have the engine looked at as the transmission shop informed me that it was giving some engine error codes also The car was a roomy and okay to drive can t handle corners too well I hardly can believe that quality is job 1 at Ford br br " Neg," Dear Readers I think i have to start with a sad note saying never dare to burn yourself buying this vehicle I bought this vehicle in last September I think i must have gone crazy when i bought this I was actually misguided by its look for a 1994 model and the comfort it might offer for its size Later realized it s nothing but money eater What i like in this vehicle mm what could i say Probably the size to accommodate more friends of mine who don t have a car My list of hatred started with the problems 1 After just a week of buy i found that the engine bed bolts were weak and i had to change them 2 Two months later it was recalled for tightening the side frame bolts uh i didn t know what it was and what the dealer did No comments and details from the dealer 3 Three months later i had to change the rear wheel brake rotor caliper and shoes since there was misalignment with the caliper which eventually dug into the rotor disk 4 Now came the REAL BIG headache The oil pressure lamp started to glow I didn t knew what exactly was happening Few days later i found out that the Engine coolant was getting dried up soon and also the engine was heating up sometimes I am not a person who doesn t care for cars actually i luv to do Now i added higher viscosity oil But after few days of oil change the lamp started to glow again I took it to the dealer then he confirmed my fate that my engine was no good WHAT yes the timing case gasket which is at the lower part of the vehicle has some defects and now the water has started to enter the engine chamber Oh My GOD What can i do now Either replace engine or scrap the vehicle I tried contacting the FORD company but nothing worked out The company which was then offering warranty for Head Gasket leakage didn t offer the warranty for this I was helpless And now my car stands in my apartment parking garage for no mistake of mine except for that I bought a Ford Vehicle From my perspective except for those people who lease the vehicle or take rentals shouldn t go for this when there are cars which could easily run for 1 3 rd s of your lifetime br br " Neg," I own a 1994 Ford Taurus granted I should have done some more research but I didn t It was purchased in 1996 so it was only a couple of years old fairly low miles and I had seen the blitz about how safe the car is It s a family mobile you can even window lock the car so the kids can t roll down the windows nice touch The car is a V 6 but sure doesn t act like one it s pretty slow getting started but at least the ride is smooth Here are things that they don t tell you and it cost me dearly My car started to have trouble getting into reverse it was idle there for a bit then literally quot kick quot into gear it s scary it feels like the car is shaking apart Then it started to do that when I put into drive sometimes it would stall as well I was getting really worried so I go online and start checking my problems It seems there is a manufacturing problem with certain years of the Taurus Some of the parts are made out of aluminum when it should have been made out of steel There were even some lawsuits involved and Ford of Canada noted this as a problem and agreed to fix some of those cars This of course does not apply to Ford of America In fact when I called they told me there will be no financial help for a deficiency in their part So what was the resolution Let s just say it cost me about 5 month worth of rent I had to have a rebuilt transmission If I had gotten a new transmission I could be in the same boat again it really wasn t worth the time or the effort I don t know maybe I am a bit bitter but I ll never buy Ford again especially for the fact that it is a known problem yet they do nothing about it br br " Neg," I bought my 94 Taurus used in 97 it had 80 000 miles on it After 1 year the transmission refused to enter into any gear This required 2200 dollars worth of transmission rebuild work Four months later the transmission decides it wants to pick and choose when it will go into Drive Turns out that a valve sticks A little tranny lube solved this problem Five months ago the surpentine belt tension froze destroying the pulleys on the water pump and power steering pump Another 400 dollars One month ago the headlight switch wiring harness completely melted leaving me stuck at night with no lights what so ever I recently ran across a recall list for this model year of taurus and was astonished There are no less than seven recalls for it On the bright side the engine has run completely trouble free And the car is very comfortable on long trips and with 124 000 miles on it still has plenty of power Readers please research your next used car purchase very carefully Brian " Neg," The Taurus was a great car when we bought it in 1996 Low mileage everything worked fine And extremely comfortable But then 1999 came and boom At 100 000 kilometers the air conditioner quit At 120 000 kilometers the head gaskets blew Then at 155 000 the transmission had to be completely rebuilt This 1994 Taurus gl was equipped with the 3 8 engine I have learned never to buy a product with the ford 3 8 engine The car is now gone to the scrap yard at 185 000 kilometers This car was a very expensive lesson to learn Ford did rebate the money for the head gaskets But not for any of the other repairs which I believe happenned due to the faulty ford 3 8 engine Whatever happenned to cars lasting 10 years Keep in mind as you read this article that I have used kilometers not miles 100 000 kilometers 60 000 miles br br " Neg," I came from a Ford family and after driving a sports car for 9 years decided to purchase a 1994 Ford Taurus GL early in 1996 Finally a nice riding car with lots of space It did great for the first two years After that BOOM At about 55 000 miles it started overheating and the transmission did not want to shift into gear That s when I took it to my local reputable transmission repair shop It would cost 1000 00 to fix or 100 00 for a temporary fix The shop says it was such a high price because they would have to remove the motor and all the air conditioning equipment I opted for the temporary fix That part went just fine until I realized several months later that the transmission problem caused a broken motor mount Now I had a whole new array of problems The motor shifting around caused a hole in the air conditioning hose resulting in 240 00 worth of repairs Next a freeze plug blew Of course it was the one at the back of the motor so out came the motor again for another 1000 Lo and behold upon reinstalling motor the transmission was jerking again resulting in a punctured oil filter I m now praying that this car holds over a little longer until I can afford to find another ride br br " Neg," Ever had one of those optical illusion books with pictures that looked like an old lady at one glance and then a young lady looking away at another How bout the one that looks like a woman looking in a vanity mirror at one take and then like a skull at the next The same effect was revisited for me recently when I first saw the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Allow me to explain b You see up until now sport utility vehicles have been a well defined group Many of them are built on pickup truck frames i e the Dodge Durango Nissan Xterra The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is actually a reversal of this trend it s a pickup truck that is based on an SUV namely the Ford Explorer For you automobile savvy Epinions members yes you ve stumped me the Explorer was originally based on the Ford Ranger pickup However the Explorer has since become more rigid and heavier than its pickup cousin You can see how I had a tough time figuring out what to make of the Sport Trac I had originally hoped that the Ford dealership where my friend works would receive a delivery of Sport Tracs soon Alas it was not the case So I placed a call at a large Ford dealership in town requesting immediate notification when the first Sport Tracs rolled onto their lot Sure enough my call came and I was at the dealership in no time Note b Normally my reviews are based on test drives that take at least a full day Since this was a new model however I could only drive it for about an hour which is actually very generous of the dealer I plan on driving the Sport Trac again once my friend s dealership gets some in stock When I do I ll update this epinion and remove this disclaimer For now however consider this a quot short drive quot review i b EXTERIOR 10 I ll let you draw your own conclusions about the way the Sport Trac looks What I have rated so highly is the design behind the truck There is much to tell so get ready Although the Sport Trac was built on the Explorer frame its dimensions are different it s 14 quot longer than the Explorer and about an inch wider In order to compensate for this length increase the Sport Trac was modified to improve lateral rigidity by 40 Essentially what we have here is a Ford Explorer that had its rear chopped off and converted into a pickup bed The bed itself is not made out of metal but Sheet Molded Composite plastic Supposedly it can withstand 400 pounds of impact per square inch so Ford claims it s just as good if not better than steel in a car crash The bed itself holds 29 6 cubic feet of cargo which is about 3 cubic feet less than the cargo bay behind the rear seats of a regular Ford Explorer Optional on the Sport Trac is a cargo cage bed extender which increases the bed space by 22 6 additional cubic feet of space In addition you can fold the 60 40 rear seats to accommodate still more cargo Whether or not that surpasses the 81 cubic feet total cargo space of the Explorer is unknown to me The cargo bed seems like it can stand up to some good use Ford tested the bed with solid blocks of concrete and not a scratch was found Ten tie down hooks make sure your cargo is securely held in place An available option you might want to consider is a hard tonneau cover that protects your items Right now they re hard to find but availability will be better soon Another nifty feature in the rear cargo bed is a weather proof 12 volt power point for whatever you d want to power up back there camping lights compressors etc The protective flip up cap reminds me of the caps on outdoor power outlets On the roof of the cabin Yakima not Ford roof rails offer more space to stow your belongings They can hold 100 pounds of stuff when outfitted with the optional cross members b INTERIOR 7 The Sport Trac has many things going for it in this category and things I d like to see improved First the good The dash is one of the best I ve seen on a Ford The instruments are clearly marked and I especially like the black on white gauges The air conditioner did well to cool the cabin in the 85 degree weather The stereo system I had was the four speaker system which was satisfactory though I d opt for the 6 speaker option myself Another clever addition to the dash is an industry first a power operated rear window A dial on the right side of the dash can be tapped for lowering the rear glass by an inch or turned to the left to bring the window down all the way All of these controls were well within reach Looking down I noticed the floor of the Sport Trac is actually rubber not carpet This is great for keeping the car clean and according to the dealer has a hand in sound insulation Another feature you might find useful is the removable portion of the center console It s actually a soft carrying pack for storing CD s pens papers what have you A final clever feature I noted was a clipboard that flips over for a second cupholder Neat o Moving to the back the rear seats are quite roomy for a quot pickup quot b In fact there is a full inch more of leg room than the Explorer on which the Sport Trac is based Behind and under the seats there are small cargo compartments for stowing little knick knacks Having stated the positives there were many things I would change about the interior First of all I did not find the bucket seats on my truck to be very comfortable at all The water resistant cloth is all well and good for staying clean but it doesn t feel that great on the skin I also would have liked more lumbar support there was very little Another negative was the abundance of cheap plastic not just on the dash but everywhere that is endemic to all Ford vehicles When I shut the door getting out I was met with a resounding CLANG and not the solid thud that I appreciate hearing on cars b ENGINE 8 The 4 0 L 206 hp 5250 rpm 240 lb ft torque 3750 V6 is the same engine Ford uses in the Ford Explorer Sport and scoots the Sport Trac along quite well I was impressed with the engine s highway acceleration which I got to test extensively The Sport Trac is rated to tow 5 000 pounds so the engine is good for light work only b HANDLING 8 The Sport Trac s handling is very sure and confident for a truck Taking the car into a large parking lot I swerved it left and right noticing very little pitch Taking turnarounds can be accomplished almost at the speed of passenger cars without squealing the tires As far as emergency maneuvers the Sport Trac performs well too While driving on an access road an idiot pulled out right in front of me causing me to swerve out of the way just in time After I had recovered my composure I was thankful for the Sport Trac s performance in that situation and was happy to know the quot soil proof seats quot would be there for me should a need ever arise again b RIDE 8 The Sport Trac handles better than the Ford Explorer SUV no question The ride however is more stiff than the Explorer That may be good for some bad for others If you want a lofty ride then the regular Explorer is what you seek not the Sport Trac That said I liked the way the Sport Trac rode personally Yes I felt the road more but other qualities were pretty good Engine road and wind noise were all pleasantly muted at city speeds At highway speeds road and wind noise made themselves known As far as the engine however I had to look at my speedometer to know how fast I was going because it gave me little help that s a good thing b RELIABILITY 5 The Sport Trac is brand new for 2001 so it has no proven track record My truck s cargo cage rattled when I hit bumps and I also noticed some weathered rubber on the seal of the rear window These are little observations but they may paint a bigger picture later On that note be advised that you should be wary of any first year model If you can wait about a year for Ford to iron the kinks out If not you might find yourself taking your Sport Trac into the garage for unscheduled maintenance or recalls Ford is not exempt from this dilemma the redesigned Mustang the Ford Explorer and Ford Expedition all had numerous recalls on them their first model year Having said that while my rating of quot 5 quot for an unproven car may seem unfair and could be wrong I m going on past history here and am just making a point At best all Ford vehicles end up giving you average reliability anyway Food for thought b VALUE 6 The Sport Tracs were surprisingly in good numbers when I visited the dealership When I asked the dealer about it he said they were selling surprisingly slowly I don t expect that will always be the case because I feel the Sport Trac will become immensely popular This is something to consider though if a dealer tells you they are selling like hotcakes and uses that as an excuse to jack the price up For a base target price of around 23 000 the Sport Trac comes in a little pricey when compared to other trucks that most closely resemble it The Nissan Frontier 4 door and the Dodge Dakota QuadCab pickups come in 4 000 5 000 cheaper albeit a little more bare Load the Sport Trac to the gills and it tops out at almost 30 000 a sizeable sum indeed Ford argues that because the Sport Trac is actually an SUV with a cargo bed and not just a pickup with four doors slapped on it the sticker is well justified Well I d love to agree with them about that but the fact still remains that those changes are all underneath the skin Aren t the basic functions of the Sport Trac equal to the previously mentioned pickups anyway Don t they all make the attempt at blending SUV and pickup characteristics Who cares where the starting point is SUV vs pickup Remember that this is just my opinion and I m sure others think otherwise All I m saying is that the issue of quot it s an SUV not a pickup quot is all a matter of semantics these important differences notwithstanding By the way the Sport Trac won t always be the only quot SUV turned pickup quot on the market b THE VERDICT AT FIRST GLANCE WHAT DO YOU SEE b In closing I think Ford is really onto something here as far as new designs go The Sport Trac is probably the best compromise between an SUV and a pickup That s just my problem with the Sport Trac however what you are buying is a compromise It s neither the best pickup nor the best SUV on the market In addition this is an introductory year and I find it a bit pricey For these reasons put together i I would not recommend it to a friend of mine b My opinions may not speak for you i however Ask yourself does this compromise fit your lifestyle If so then maybe you should give it a look And when you look at the quot optical illusion quot that Ford s rigged up play the game for yourself is it an SUV or a pickup Ford hopes you ll see something entirely different love at first site AVERAGE SCORE 7 43 out of 10 b VARA S PERSONAL RATING 7 5 out of 10 " Neg," Yes this is an odd looking sports utility truck with a rear bed just a little over 4 feet long The bed is about 2 feet in depth and 4 feet wide by 4 feet in length giving it only about 30 cubic feet in cargo space After awhile you kind of do get use to the look The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4WD that are made after 6 22 2000 base list price is for 24580 00 without the destination charge It comes with a 4 0 liter SOHC V6 Fuel Induction SFI with 205 horsepower and 240 foot pounds of torque The gas mileage rating is 16 MPG for the City and 19 MPG for the highway with a standard 5 Speed Manual with Overdrive transmission The Automatic transmission 5 Speed with Overdrive gets 15 MPG for the City and 19 MPG for the highway When I drove it I was disappointed it road rougher than I expected and it seemed top heavy on cornering The performance of the V 6 was fair and it run a lot better when we run a premium gas in it The interior looked nice with two front air bags and a nice gauge layout for easy reading The rear seat wasn t to bad there was enough room for two adults and one child as long as the front seats were not all the way back The back seat has three child seat tether anchors I didn t test the air conditioner Too cold outside but the heater worked great b Standard Equipment Air Conditioning Power Front Disc Brakes and Braking System with F R Anti Lock Four Cup Holders Power Windows and Door Locks A 20 gallon Fuel Tank Oil Pressure Voltmeter and Tachometer Gauges Power Dual Mirrors AM FM Stereo with CD Cassette and Digital Clock Intermittent Wipers Three Power Outlets And more b Cons One thing I did not like is that the engine rattles occasionally using 87 octane so you need to use a higher octane gas b Warranty Ford Motor Company gives you 3 years or 36 000 miles Limited Bumper to Bumper and 3 years or 36 000 miles of 24 hr Roadside Assistance There is a 5 year with Unlimited mileage for Corrosion Perforation b My Final Thoughts I was really disappointed in this truck If you want a Ford truck then check out the Ford F 150 it rides and handles a lot better and you can haul more If you need an SUV get the Ford Explorer at least you can haul people more comfortably I had this truck for two days playing with it I had the 4 x 4 version with the automatic transmission they also make a 2 wheel drive version I did not use it off road since it was brand new and not mine Ford makes some good trucks I was just not impressed with the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4WD " Neg," NOTE read this part of the review first then read the update My opinion of this vehicle changed considerably over the year and a half we owned it Thanks When my husband and I were starting our search for a new vehicle we had several issues we needed to address First and foremost we wanted a 4 door vehicle Second we needed something with a decent cargo area because of my husband s sales job Everything was steering us towards a mini van until we spotted a Ford Sport Trac it was love at first sight We test drove one at a local dealership and got all the specifics on it Originally we were going to order one but held off and our patience paid off when we came across a dealer demo that had all of the options we wanted and a few we could have cared less about We purchased the Sport Trac at the beginning of July and already we have over 7000 miles on it The model we purchased is a two wheel drive with the limited slip axle 6 Cyl cloth interior and the option packages that include the leather steering wheel cover fog lights tow bars 16 wheels cruise control and the compass thermometer gauges I m not going to list the option packages because they keep changing them Ours also came with the cargo cage something I wouldn t have purchased had it not been included with this one but have used quite a bit For those who don t know this vehicle comes equipped with air conditioning power door locks and windows and a single CD player radio At the time we purchased ours it was only available with an automatic transmission Ours is Toreador Red and also has the running boards Because we bought a demo we got a nice chunk of cash knocked off the price but since it was under a certain mileage amount it still classified as a new vehicle Driving the Sport Trac is a very pleasant experience while it doesn t drive like any car I ve driven it also doesn t drive like a truck either somewhere in between Handling is very responsive with a minimal roll on corners Even so it has taken a bit of adjusting for me since I m used to driving Honda Civics Braking is a bit soft to me but that also may be due to the difference in the size of the vehicle The automatic transmission seems to shift easily and has the overdrive option which can be turned off and on with the click of a switch It rides very smoothly and from what I ve been told if we switch to passenger tires instead of off road tires when we replace them that will improve even more Acceleration is very good passing is a breeze on a flat area and climbing hills isn t an effort The interior is probably my favorite part of the whole vehicle The two front seats are incredibly comfortable I suffer from low back problems and these seats have been a god send The drivers seat has the power adjustments which come in handy since my husband and I don t sit the same way when we drive and we can change it quickly The rear seat is very roomy one of my pet peeves with most of the popular SUV s is the knees up the nose scenario for anyone with long legs sitting in the back I can easily sit in the back seat I m 5 7 mostly legs facing forward and not have my knees even touch the seat in front of me It also has a 60 40 split for folding down and makes a very flat surface for carrying things you wouldn t want on the seats or in the bed There are plenty of cup holders in this particular one as well two up front and two in the back guess person number 5 is out of luck The cloth interior vacuums easily and I love the fact that you can take the berber type carpet completely out for thorough cleaning with two furry dogs it will come in very handy There is also this neat little cargo compartment between the seats that is removable if you need to carry something valuable with you Interior noise is a little more than I would like but nothing you can t drown out with the stereo I ve noticed quite a bit of wind noise around the windows not sure if it s because the windows don t seal as tightly as they should or an aerodynamic design flaw One major plus though is the rear sliding window it can be opened several inches with the touch of a button or put down the whole way Even opened just a few inches creates air circulation sufficient to cool it off on a hot day and it keeps the noise to a minimum far better than driving with the driver or passenger window cracked I ve never been a big fan of cruise control but this one is very easy to use and operates very efficiently All of the other controls are easy to reach too and take a minimum of know how to use with the exception of the windshield wipers I think there are just a few too many notches in the intermitent section just how many different speeds do you really need In addition to the cigarette lighter outlet they have added an extra one something which is becoming more of a standard feature now in most cars but for the true sportsman there is yet another in the bed of the truck for use with various camping sporting equipment The sound system is very good while ours is only a single CD player you can get a 6 CD changer with one of the other option packages It is a very easy to use CD player radio and the sound quality is excellent for a stock stereo With two speakers in the front and two speakers in the back you can enjoy anything from a Strauss waltz to Metallica without having to change a lot of settings for maximum sound quality I do wish they had included a cassette with this package for some of us who don t have everything on CD apparently they have since changed this Exterior is actually very simple not a lot of flash or trim and washes up very easily While the bed is smaller than most pick ups it is generally large enough to hold most things an average family needs to haul and with the cargo cage it adds quite a bit of space to it We used ours to help friends move and got an amazing amount of stuff in the back as well as in the rear seat with it folded down One big plus with the cargo cage is when it s flipped into the bed it makes a nice secured space for hauling smaller items so they don t slide all over the bed My only concern with this bed is that it s made out of this mysterious composite material I am hoping it holds up with the elements and use Okay on to the things I don t like The biggest annoyance to me is that Ford has made it impossible to pick and choose what you want in the options department If you want one thing you generally end up with two or three other things you don t want and pay an over inflated price for it A good example of this is if you did want cruise control you can only get it if you purchase the Convenience Group and also end up with a leather wrapped steering wheel big deal auto lock relock which I hate with a passion and the remote keyless entry with keypad a nice feature for the person eternally locking their keys in the car I guess from an assembly line point of view this is a great idea but for the money conscious consumer it isn t My other big complaint is the crappy gas mileage Ours averages between 18 and 22 depending on where we drive it and how far but apparently this issue is being addressed with SUV s in general by the government so hopefully future SUV purchasers will fair better A tip for any potential buyers thinking of ordering if you are considering the Estate Green PLEASE go to a dealership and ask to see another vehicle painted in this color Apparently the guy setting up the color charts is color blind the real shade looks NOTHING like the brochure or any of the photos I ve seen of it Thank heavens we saw one or we might have been stuck with a truck in a color we didn t like Overall we are very pleased with our purchase I will be very curious to see how it drives a few years from now and if we have any problems with it Before purchasing it we spoke to several regular Explorer owners who had nothing but praise for them I m hoping we are as fortunate UPDATE 05 03 02 I have changed my rating of the Sport Trac by lowering it one star and actually considered two We no longer own this vehicle because of continued problems and poor customer service from not one but two Ford dealerships as well as Ford Motor Company itself In the year and a half we owned it we had 3 recalls had to have the wheel bearings repacked something I ve never had to have done on ANY other vehicle I ve ever owned and then to top it off had problems with it not wanting to start I don t enjoy being stranded someplace so I had it looked in to only to find that the idle sensor had to be replaced The last straw for us was when we took it in for a 30 000 mile check up We are in the habit of having the oil changed in our vehicles every 3000 4000 miles and when we took it in when it was right around 4000 miles THEY DIDN T CHANGE THE OIL What annoyed us even more was that they claimed it didn t need changed I m sorry but oil with 4000 miles of driving time is going to show some wear and it s part of the required maintenance at 30 000 miles We got in to it with the dealership who couldn t even understand why we were upset so we decided to file a complaint with Ford only to have some snippy customer service rep I use that term loosely tell us that they hadn t done anything wrong When we asked her who would pay for a blown engine if it happened because the oil hadn t been changed she couldn t answer our question She was rude and when my husband got a little bit huffy with her her response to him was there you go with that attitude again EXCUSE ME What ever happened to customer service Apparently Ford doesn t know anything about it Needless to say within two weeks the vehicle was gone we traded it in on a brand new 2002 Honda Accord I will never buy another Ford again and I won t recommend them to my friends They don t know a thing about craftsmanship or customer service and for that kind of money I think I should at least get one or the other in this instance I got neither I don t make a habit of getting rid of vehicles this quickly but I could see this was one that would be going nowhere literally as well as figuratively fast " Neg," I will begin by saying that I am not the kind of person who cares what a car looks like I used to be when my Probe was new I d wash her wax her etc Now I have gotten more concerned with other things too concerned to worry about how a car looks It has to be dependable My car is It s hit poles just a tap deer walls just a scrape and guardrails scrape again It s rather small but it still resists crumpling well After the last deer hit in fact I didn t even get her fixed Still drives fine Interior Small Can barely fit four people in the passenger compartment However the hatchback fits surprisingly large amounts of boxes or furniture Exterior Sporty looks Gas mileage OK about 24 mpg highway Only 17 or so local though Electrical system has been known as a trouble spot with this car Tires wear fast hard to keep aligned That could be the horrid Pittsburgh roads though Lots of potholes Summary I would buy it again but I would haggle to pay a lot less than 15000 I would not buy it used however because I think it s important to know the history of a car like this If it were a reliable car like a Honda I say buying used was ok " Neg," As a new vehicle this was a grand choice I have the V 6 LX Model which is by far a more well rounded vehicle than the Turbo GT Model I have found the reliability to be greater than the Turbo as well However all cars age and the Probe has done better than most other American cars I ve experienced but holds no match to a foreign make Normal wear items like both CV Joints have failed as well as the car now eats literally brake pads Some other items have died early on such as the A C Unit has not worked in a while and looks to cost over 800 to repair Also the fan switch for the climate control has quit This should be a normal relay but everyone I consult as well as my manuals say I need Climate Control parts because it has a high tech system However it does not have Automatic Climate Control to my knowledge The body has held up well just recently falling victim to surface rust and that sin a harsh New England Climate It has a leak in the rear somewhere according to Ford that causes some havoc on the electrical system every now and then To purchase one now would be risky I would recommend searching long and hard for a perfect model br br " Neg," It s funny as I read the reviews for the Ford Windstar it sounded just like my exact thoughts I had when I first bought the van I loved my 96 Windstar for the safety features strong engine low insurance costs roominess and ride Then the warranty ended and the problems began The cruise control worked only when it wanted the upper subframe mount broke the ABS light came on electrical short the automatic locking feature would lock every few minutes the one feature that I have come to hate even when working properly and lastly and most expensive the head gasket blew at 65 000 miles 2500 00 Ford has had many problems with the head gasket on the 3 8 V 6 in fact they have extended the warranty on 95 s to 100 000 miles to cover the problem but I have a 96 and that doesn t count in Fords eyes Calling Ford customer service 1 800 392 3673 is useless sorry sir your file on this matter is closed I m filing a complaint with the NHTSA and I am writing a letter to Ford for reimbursement Lastly I would like to break down the overall rating at the end of this review 4 the first two years of ownership 1 for the reliability and customer service dealership and Ford hotline and for after the warranty period br br " Neg," We had a 90 Caravan and test drove the first Windstar that came out We loved the ride and quiet so we bought one Big Mistake Picked up the car and two weeks later it was in the shop for 5 days to repair the A C I turned on the a c and the fan blew all the vents shut They fixed it but the car was in the shop for 5 days Two months later I turned on the HEAT and guess what Only Defrost worked They said the vents and passage ways for the heat were defective and needed replaced Another 5 days in the shop All sent smoothly except by now we discovered that not one roof top shell type luggage carrier fit a Windstar Ford will sell a 70 canvas water RESISTANT tent type thing We took out 60 000 extended warranty At 60 200 miles the transmission went and the engine gasket went The re built transmission cost us over 1000 and they said since it was close to the warranty mileage the DEALER would give us a little off the bill Luckily by now the gasket was a re call why was I not surprised I took the car home 1000 poorer and that week end discovered that my brakes failed When we bought this Windstar Ford advertised that it had more room inside than a Grand Caravan After we bought it I checked out that statement and found it was false I called Ford 800 to see if they d help with the 1000 bill on the transmission and the man laughed at me I mean laughed out loud that I thought they d help quot Lady when you re expired you re expired Even if you were only 2 miles over we wouldn t help quot I was furious I wrote to the CEO of Ford with a copy to Consumer s Reports I told him the whole story and asked for help His assistant called me and she said the exact same thing that the 800 man said When you are expired you re expired The Dealer and CEO assistant said that they used to help people when it was close to the warranty mileage but the stockholders didn t get much money then and they do now with this new policy I told her that it was interesting what she said and ironic because we were leaving to go pick up our brand new Dodge Grand Caravan P S 27000 miles later our Caravan has NEVER been in the shop br br " Neg," The Ford Windstar has both good points as well as bad We were sold on how comfortable the car was to drive and ride in I also have to haul equipment around in it so the room was also a plus About one year after we had the van we experienced out first trouble It was strange The car would not go in to third gear staying in 2nd instead of drive or over drive We brought it to the dealer for repair and got the surprise No the car was not pregnant we needed a whole new transmission on a year old car In the mechanic s ramblings we learned that he had to do this kind of work a lot on the ford minivan line While the comfort of the van was luxurious the hassle of having to get a major repair so soon after receiving the car was too much of an event to convince me to lease another ford The warranty of course covered the repair but I have to assume that this can happen again the new transmission can from the same people who made the year old one I return the van in three months and I think I ll get a fuel efficient sports car br br " Neg," We bought our 1996 Ford Windstar minivan used in May of 1998 with about 25 000 miles on it We immediately noticed little things that were annoyances but felt like we could live with it cup holders which immediately broke rear motor on vent window no longer working chair arms breaking The ride and glide of this van was great even though the gas mileage was not at all what we had hoped for I wanted this van because I wanted to keep my children safe It replaced a 1991 Ford Taurus station wagon which had had numerous problems all of which we attributed to Ford just having a bad year All was well until right at 60 000 miles the head gasket blew Because we were not under warranty we took it to a local reputable repair shop and paid 1 000 for the repair In less than two weeks I am driving down a very busy highway and my engine self destructs Now we have to have a whole new engine the 1 000 for the head gasket repair is down the tubes and we have to shell out 20 of the cost for the new engine which is in fact a remanufactured engine And on top of that they have NO idea how long it will take to get it in because there is such a high demand for these engines right now because there are so many people having the same problem as I have had I am thankful that Ford is only going to charge us 20 of the cost and I am thankful that they are giving us a 100 000 mile powertrain warranty which will be backdated to the time that we actually bought the van However after this has happened and we have read countless reviews of this happening to others not to mention the transmission troubles and timing gasket troubles we apparently have to look forward to I go back to my original intent in buying this van to keep my children safe This is not the van that I thought I was buying Never again Ford Never again Updated information Yes within two weeks of getting the van back with the new engine the transmission falls out That sucker is GONE We now own a 1998 Toyota Sienna and are very thankful for it NEVER AGAIN FORD No wonder y all are having such troubles " Neg," I will never buy a Ford Windstar again Mine has been in the shop nine times for transmission work or front end work As for the transmission it shifts hard going into second gear Ford told me this is normal on the Windstar Every time I took the van in they would do minor adjustments and give it back to me with the van still shifting hard A month after the warranty went out the transmission went out completely It took me threatening to take them to court before they finally fixed the transmission I have four friends who have bought Windstars and three of them are having the same problem with their transmission I am also having problems with the front end I have been talking to a man that works on vehicles and he has informed me that the Windstar has three problems One Transmissions Two front end alignment problems three gasgets on the engine Two of the three I have had problems with Ford has earned its reputation Fix or repair daily br br " Neg," I loved driving this van I would probably still be driving it if Ford was a responsible and reputable company At 80 000 miles my van started showing the classic symptoms of pending head gasket failure My dealer service manager discovered the problem but could offer me no financial assistance even though he agreed the failure was premature and identical to the problem on various 94 95 model vehicles for which Ford had issued extended 100 coverage warranties I spoke with the district office as well as the main customer service office in Detroit to no avail Ford d only answer was that if I could show where assistance had been provided to other owners of 96 or later vehicles in a similar circumstance they would try to offer assistance I got rid of the vehicle before the failure occurred Avoid any Ford vehicle with a 3 8 liter engine Also Ford has a continuing problem with faulty defective transmissions Of my friends and family members who drive drove Ford vehicles with 3 8 liter engines the following can sum up the experience co worker on his 4th engine and 2nd transmission in law on her 2nd engine and 3rd transmission cousin on 2nd engine also had 2000 damage repair from defective subframe failure " Neg," We have had so many problems with this van it isn t funny The head gasket blew and was fixed before we got it thank goodness but who cares really with all the other problems we have had what difference would one more problem make On top of a ton of other problems We had a check engine light coming on that was a cylinder 4 misfire code We took it in had the spark plugs wires complete tune up and it didn t fix the problem I took it to ford and they said that it was a head gasket problem I decided to get a second opinion because we were not having any other symptoms of head gasket problems and the guy i took it to said that we didn t have the problem like Ford had told me and suggested a few other things We first tried the coil pack and it didn t fix it so we replaced the computer and it corrected the problem completly I drove it about 500 miles and the oil light started coming on flickering on and off I stopped immediatly and checked the oil and it was not low I went straight to the mechanic and he said that he thought the oil pan screen might be clogged another 400 repair and suggested I change the oil to a heavier weight to see if it could help first The oil light went off and was fine for about 2 minutes and then the check engine light came on with a cylinder 4 misfire code I drove it home and parked it for the night The next day I was going to drive it back up and leave it with the mechanic and when I turned the key I heard a huge clunking scraping sort of sound and then nothing The dumb thing wouldn t start So I had it Towed to the mechanic and he said that he suspected a seized engine but will let me know tomarrow It NEVER seems to run out of things to go wrong I would DEFINATLY NOT recommend a Windstar unless you just like spending time and money at your mechanic for ENDLESS repairs updated to say that the engine IS locked I am hardly suprised I took it as a bad sign when we were looking to sell our van and 75 of them had either a new or rebuilt engine on it " Neg," Ford sets up extended warranty program costing ford 200 million dollar in response to class action lawsuit covering faulty engines in 94 95 Windstars Ford has since extended this program to cover additional models that have 3 8L V6 engine tauruses sables mustangs 2 million Ford vehicles are covered but not 96 Windstars Ford gives horrible customer support Replacement engine blocks are in high demand and on back order It takes Ford 8 11 weeks to replace faulty engines Center for Autosafety in Wash D C is considering further action against Ford on behalf of 96 and later year Windstar owners Stay away from Windstars " Neg," Alright so you re interested in buying a sport utility vehicle Time to look around The Ford Explorer a great car Size is not too big and not too small Huge trunk size Design is flawless especially the 1996 model Now four door or two door The difference in price is certainly one factor but let us look at the other factors My qualms about the two door The back seat passangers have very little room It s really no bigger than a regular car and gets ten times worse gas millege Basically two door cars are just a big pain to deal with from my standpoint Pay the extra cash for the four door It s easier nicer and just overall more convenient It makes driving enjoyable when everyone riding in the car is comfortable and happy If you are shopping around for sport utilities also consider the Toyota 4Runner my personal pick the Niessan Pathfinder and for a smaller variety the Honda CRV which in actuality is not small by any means I test drove one a few months ago and was extremely impressed with not only the size but also all of the special features that come even on some of the most stripped down models Happy shopping and drive safely br br " Neg," Okay perhaps this title is a tad misleading Actually I ended my ownership of my paid for Ford Escort after about a year This is a good car for some people but read further to ascertain if in fact it is right for you or someone you care about b Why did I purchase a Ford Escort My previous vehicle had seen its last days I meandered over to the local Ford dealership While I wanted a car I could depend on I was also seeking safety and reliability and wanted a vehicle which was also appealing to the eye I thought the Ford Escort was really cute and it was reasonably priced around 12 000 at that time It is probably around 5 000 at this time I purchased the Ford Escort LX 2DR which is the luxury model of the Ford Escorts The purchasing experience The sales personnel were pretty nice and were helpful I decided to pay cash for this car and obtained a three year 36 000 mile warranty However we were not pleased when the salespeople and sales manager made us sit there waiting playing games for HOURS They did not make points Some of the comparable models in the Ford Escort line 2 Dr Hatchback GT 2 Dr Hatchback LX 2 Dr Hatchback LX 4 Dr Hatchback LX 4 Dr Sedan LX 4 Dr wagon The Ford Escort is a 4 cylinder of course with a 1 9 liter engine The car seats 5 though of adults wouldn t be comfortable in the back seat My Ford Escort was turquoise in color had a c air bags am fm stereo hatchback cassette Here are the features and availability from the Ford website Anti lock brakes not available Driver and passenger side airbags are standard air conditioning is optional alloy wheels optional cassette optional cruise control is optional There is not a full size spare Leather seats not available luggage rack not available Power brakes are standard on this vehicle Power door locks are optional power seats not available power steering is optional power windows are optional premium stereo not available rear defogger is optional sun and moon roof is optional tilt steering is optional Here are some of the dimensions for the car noted on the website Cargo capacity 17 cu Front head room 38 Rear head room 38 Front leg room 42 Rear leg room 35 Exterior Length 170 Width 67 Height 53 Curb weight 2353 Wheelbase 98 Fuel tank capacity 11 9 gallon The mileage for this car is excellent at 30 38 b What I enjoyed about the car Other than the airbags for short or small people see below the car is very safe This car had absolutely no repairs required in the period of time I owned it I really appreciated the reliability and dependability all around driving was fine The vehicle turned corners well and I liked the compactness of the car and the ease in parking because of the small size It is relatively inexpensive to maintain I always have to have a cupholder and this had one in the center console as well as a change bin The ignition is illuminated which is a nice feature b What I don t like What I didn t enjoy about the Escort is it has almost no get up and go It is powerless It is not fun to drive It is not comfortable even in the driver s seat I have a back problem and if I drove for more than a half an hour or so I was miserable The seats are simply not comfortable as they are very hard The auto transmission is slow The driver s side air bag in the 1995 model that I owned was one of the first air bags that came out This meant that in a slow speed crash it would deploy and anyone child or short adult under 5 7 or so could die This made me nervous whenever I drove the car because I am 5 3 If I am going to die in a car crash I would like it to be for a valid reason like a high speed crash not because of a poorly thought out dangerous air bag The dashboard appeared to be made of plastic It was poorly constructed and frankly looked cheap So what happened with this car b Even though this car was completely paid for I couldn t wait to get rid of it due to safety concerns not overall but due to the airbag problem for small or short people me comfort concerns enjoyment in driving etc If you are not short like me and want an inexpensive simple basic economy car I would think the car is acceptable I now have a Saturn SC2 the sporty model and love it I feel safer in it it looks sharp it is fun to drive has all the bells and whistles dings can usually be rubbed out so the insurance is less expensive b Final wrap up This is a safe reliable vehicle for most people If you are short or small or have passengers who are you may want to really give this some thought As noted these airbags were the first out there so could cause serious injury or death if they were deployed during a slow speed crash I read this in a few website locations The motorized seatbelts are a hassle and the car is very noisy to drive The seats are hard and terrible for someone with back problems I did not enjoy this car other than the cuteness factor but it is reasonably priced inexpensive to maintain minimal repair problems Obviously others love this car but for me I give it a two stars well okay two and a half stars If you decide to purchase this vehicle be sure to check out the airbag situation as it could mean the life of you your child or a small person riding in the vehicle Thanks for reading Suzi " Neg," Real life comments on usability on our 1995 Ford Escort Wagon We sold our Toyota PU for a family car because we were expecting a child and needed to be able to have a child car seat in it We also are a one car family Going from the pick up which had good mileage and hauling capacity we wanted a station wagon We picked the Ford Escort over the Subaru for a few reasons but mostly cost and fuel economy The Subaru has become a quot sport utility quot and the cost has shot up while the fuel economy went down We have not been disappointed The Escort gets good mileage mid 20 s in the city and 29 30 mpg on the highway With a stick it s zippy and responsive We feel safe in it Ours we picked up used 45K for 5 500 in 1998 when it was almost 4 years old We bought from an owner directly But as I looked in used car lots I saw alot of similar cars in the 6 500 7 000 range and didn t have as nice packages automatic no AC etc So I think we got a good deal Plus all we ve had to do to it is regular maintenance b Good things about it are some of the features like the stock radio is nice having a tach and nice dashboard layout It s got several dome lights and has power rear view mirrors that make it easy for adjusting It s also got a tiny insignificant feature I like a little arrow by the fuel gage that tells you what side of the car the fule lid is on The front seats work nice and the back has a split 1 3rd 2 3rd seat for loading b Bad things about it are that the car is a bit small I m 5 10 quot 210 pounds sometimes I bonk my head but I don t feel quot cramped quot once settled in And while the car seat for the kiddo works my back does get a big tweaked from time to time and she s had her head bonked a few times as well I m not sure this car would work as the only car for a family with two teenagers Right now and until the kids are 7 10 I think it would be fine The other downer is that the car sometimes sounds a bit quot tinny quot this is kind of unfounded but my worry it that it won t hold up over time I mean will I be able to put 200 000 miles on this car or will things start to break A few insignificant things are starting to show wear at 56 000 miles My concern is how the car will age will I see lots of this in the next 20 30 000 miles I ll keep you posted b Andr b br br " Neg," Remember back in the 70s when grocery stores came out the generic canned goods They were quite popular and then were made fun of I remember seeing an automobile painted in the familiar blue and white generic color with the word CAR painted on the side The 95 Ford Escort Wagon LX strikes me as that kind of car In fact the entire Escort line strikes me that way It s a CAR Nothing fancy certainly nothing very desirable But it has four wheels and will get you from here to there It has been a fairly dependable car although squeaks and rattles showed up almost immediately For the first year I had that car in the shop quite often trying to nail down noises that I felt shouldn t have been there Still it has performed reasonably well if not exceptionally It has little pick up It is not particularly roomy The ride is rougher than I like Road noise is pretty loud But it gets you from here to there If you are someone who doesn t particularly care what kind of car you drive just need transportation or don t have a lot of money than this isn t such a bad car to own But if you re looking for anything with pick up style room or comfort and quiet then the Escort is not for you br br " Neg," Fine I ll just go buy something bigger and nicer Thats what I told the Toyota salesman a year and a half ago when we couldn t strike even close to the deal we wanted on a Sienna minivan We had a Ford Windstar that was nothing but problems so I was hesitant to buy anymore Ford products However with a bad experience at a bad Toyota dealership we went back to the local Ford lot to look I don t think all Toyota dealerships are bad you can see my review on my new 2003 Toyota Sienna The salesman recommended that we look at SUVs as opposed to minivans since they tend to hold far better value than minivans Majestically sitting on the front row was a good looking 1999 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition I ll have to admit these vehicles are eye catchers As we soon found out with eye catchers reality sometimes gets tossed out the window We struck a lease deal and soon headed out on a long road trip that very evening Thats when I soon realized what I had done 1 Problem Gas Mileage On the highway with cruise control on 65 and no major hills you can get a whopping 19 MPG Keep in mind I m a Republican but even those kinds of gas mileage upset me and my pocketbook 2 Problem Control The vehicle handles very awkwardly in curves and in situations requiring quick response I often found myself trying to overcompensate for bad timing in curves 3 Problem Cabin Design Folks this is one of the biggest vehicles on the road therefore there must be plenty of leg room and cargo space right WRONG The third row seat is made for munchkins Seriously Very minimal leg room back there So then you say Oh That must be to make up for the cargo room behind the third seat right Wrong again We have to sit our folded stroller vertically to make it fit and then you sort of have to slam the door to get the stroller to push against the back seat so the door will close Big disappointment 4 Problem You get to know your service department personnel by name We owned the vehicle for approximately 16 months and had approximately 800 in repairs over 4 separate incidents Good thing I purchased an extended warranty 5 Problem DEPRECIATION We leased the vehicle based on a 24 900 base price When we went to trade it in 16 months later the best trade in we got was 16 500 And that was a high offer from the dealership we bought it from because they knew the vehicle and had serviced it many times I m really glad I didn t pay the new sticker price of 40 000 plus Just so you don t think I m solely a complainer I will share with you some of the good things 1 Beautiful exterior with nice paint Definitely one of the best looking vehicles on the road 2 5 4L V8 Triton Engine has lots of power and can handle any load you put on it Definitely would be great to pull campers with 3 Leather seats are tough and durable even with small kids 4 Probably the best factory sound system I ve ever heard Beats most aftermarket stuff 5 Climate control and rear air make the cabin comfortable for all passengers To sum it up I was more disappointed with this 40 000 vehicle than I was pleased I m very glad to be the owner of a new 2003 Toyota Sienna Our family rides much more comfortably now If you still decide you want one of these monsters I highly recommend an extended warranty Good luck on your new purchase " Neg," We bought a 1999 Ford Expedition We had previously had a 1993 Jeep Cherrokee and it turned out to be quite the lemon I did my research and used Autobytel to purchase the car I do think that by using this service we saved several thousand dollars After looking at all the different Expeditions and driving the 4x4 we decided on the Eddie Bauer edition The 4x4 was a VERY bumpy ride and it sits so high I could barely get into the truck We have loved the size we did get the third seat and it works well for children BUT the truck is extremely bumpy compared to our old jeep and other SUV s There is also a recall coming up about the windshield wipers they go off all the time I do not think we will get another Expedition when out lease is up br br " Neg," i recently got an oppertunity to drive an expedition in Dallas Tx i will admit it does have a good look but it s made by ford I will also admit i have been a chevy man since i was a kid The expedition does have room though the seats were not really comfortable And it does have plenty of cup holder s this truck is good for that mom or school teacher who like s to run a rat pack of kid s to their soccer or basketball game It s loaded with options decent stereo with cd changer when i got the expedition on the freeway i was not impressed with the acceleration It seemed to take off as if though it was a six cylinder Now from my understanding these thing s come with a v8 which i believe is a 4 9 litre engine Compared to chevy s 5 7 litre i know there is no contest here I also noticed they have beenm recalled for tires falling off brake mastercyliders failing and sorry gas milage I wouldn t own one even if they gave it to me Remeber the four dangeruos word s kids Ford stands for fixed or repaired daily So if you have been brainwashed from child birth to purchase ford motor product s flame on If you are smart and do enough research You will see how often they see a shop Also note friends don t let friend s drive ford s see also www consmer reports com ford recalls don t say i didn t warn you " Neg," I have expressed my dislike of SUVs in many of my earlier reviews but as long as my relatives continue to buy them I will continue to write of my displeasure when driving them Ford s Expedition is now sadly a quot mid size quot SUV despite the fact that it in itsself is a monstrosity The car with its massive size offers an unwanted guarantee that it will kill the passengers of any car you come into collision with My closest friend s husband died in a collision with an explorer a smaller car and the child driving the Explorer is still emotionally wounded However it still is ridiculously flimsy and suffered 2500 of damage once in a five mph collision with a garage door Of course my biggest pet peeve is mpg This car gets a ridiculously low mpg of nearly 10 in the city I think it would be more environmentally sound to clear cut ten acres of rain forest then drive an Expedition around for ten years As usual I have experienced another SUV and grown to hate it I recommend buying any car that will not waste fuel and kill passengers of other cars you may collide with br br " Neg," My mother has one of these monstrocities and I drove it for the first time a few weeks ago It was the most nerve racking experience of my life Going from my small Toyota Camry to the Ford Expedition reminded me of the mock suv the Canyonero from tv s The Simpsons you remember the theme song quot fifty yards long and two lanes wide it s fifty tons of American pride quot I love all the features on it led showing quot miles to empty quot or quot miles per gallon quot six disc cd player auto climate control blinkers in the side mirrors and room for seven comfortably It was definately powerful and the power steering was very responsive but I couldn t stop worrying about hitting the car next to me or the curb In short if you are a very experienced driver and want luxury in an SUV buy this vehicle if you re even the slightest bit nervous about driving get something smaller br br " Neg," I used to drive a 88 Full Size Bronco Eddie Bauer I then took some vacation time in Colorado and decided to rent the Expedition Compared to the Bronco I HATED the expedition It s a larger truck but inside it doesn t feel like it AT ALL The parking brake constantly dug into my shin It didn t handle NEARLY as well as the Bronco did but thats not surprising being that it IS a larger vehicle I even wound up sleeping in the vehicle one night and found it quite frustrating that 1 the seats don t recline enough to sleep in very well and 2 with the design of the rear seats there is no comfertable way to sleep in the back It s also too luxurious I can t stand what car companies are doing to these trucks If you want luxury buy a bmw if you want a truck don t expect it to look and feel like car Although I must say my 88 bronco was able to outhandle my friends 97 VW Golf on dry roads which I proved when I wound up pulling him out of the ditch br br " Neg," After many years of driving a 3 door minivan with three kids my husband and I decided go for something more practical We both like the look of the Expedition and the fact that it has the third seat We got to the dealership and we gung ho and ready to buy I took it for a spin while my husband conversed with the salesman upon my return and to the dismay of the salesman I told my husband no way After he drove the Expedition he also agreed We were reluctant to reject this vehicle because until you drive it its great The interior is well designed and comfortable but the positive aspects of the vehicle are mostly aesthetic The truck feels narrow and quot pigeon toed quot while driving rendering it a poor handling truck The suspension feels too bouncy making the truck feel as though it were all over the road so to speak especially over bumps I drove the truck for about 45 minutes and my husband the same so in total we drove for an hour and a half and were unfortunately not at all impressed br br " Neg," I was not in the market for a new vehicle but my son was He asked that I go with to look at the Ford Expedition It didn t take long for him to realize he could not afford it However while looking with him I fell in love with the Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition of course and behind my son s back went and purchased one Sitting behind the wheel of this humongous vehicle makes me feel like the Queen of the Road The smell of the leather all the modern conveniences the sense of power one gets from controlling this huge animal and all the envious glares from on lookers makes one feel on top of the world However I soon learned that the cost of the vehicle as high as it is would only be a fraction of what it would cost to drive and maintain this animal Unless you have money to burn and a smaller vehicle for your everyday running around I do not recommend this vehicle After putting only 6 000 miles on mine I was fortunate to sell it just as gas prices began to soar I am now happily in a 28 33 mpg small car br br " Neg," Update 4 3 2002 I am downgrading this car to 3 stars and will not recommend this car any longer I have learned that there are four simultaneous government safety probes launched on this model regarding such items as unintended airbag inflation engine fires and bad rear wheel bearings There have also been eight recalls for the Focus which I reflected in the reliability rating I am also concerned with other Ford of Europe products such as the bigger Contour and even the Jaguar X Type which were designed by the same folks and share much of the engineering and some parts My Contour review has been downgraded accordingly i b Below is the original review from 2 22 2001 which I chose not to alter in any way despite the disturbing information above b I don t know why but my Ford Contour seems to have a huge affinity for body shops As soon as I brought it to Tucson from the harsh life of the San Francisco Bay Area the car acquired another huge dent in the front fender using the few drops of Bay Area gasoline left in its tank it had been towed here not driven That meant I had to arrange yet another rental car for the duration of the repairs of course after yelling out a few choice words on this final Bay Area curse I was happy to pick up a brand new Cloud Nine White 2001 Ford Focus LX 4 door sedan with a whopping 28 miles on the odometer Although it differed significantly from the spunky ZX3 hatchback most of the other reviewers wrote about I still found the car to be very pleasant b The Exterior The exterior of the Focus has often been described as love it or hate it styling It is very true and for the most part I love it The very geometric shapes of the wheel well arches the sharp and triangular headlights and the fixed antenna mounted over the center of the car all served to give this car a personality The Focus developed in Europe just like my Contour definitely looked the part features like the center mounted radio antenna are very common in small European cars and on the streets of Tucson where jellybean shaped Korean cars dominate this car was a standout Even the wheel covers on the standard 14 stock wheels looked decent I must however say that the Focus sedan looks rather boring next to the sporty hatchback version b The Interior Dashboard The interior continued the exterior styling with a dashboard full of asymmetric shapes and bold diagonal lines interrupted by perfectly oval vents Conventional would be the last thing to describe this dashboard but I liked it Although the dashboard was made entirely of hard plastic it did not feel or look cheap The instrument cluster was more conventional and it was extremely easy to read its legible letters bright warning lights and green backlighting bore a family resemblance to the boring yet legible instrument cluster in my Contour Sadly there was no tachometer in this bare bones LX In the middle of the dashboard was a large emergency flasher switch large and illuminated just like those on Volkswagens Below it a large easy to use radio cassette player welcomed me and even at low volume settings I could hear it clearly although I felt quite some distortion at higher volumes Below the radio was the climate control system with separate A C and recirculation buttons and many options for airflow adjustment just like the excellent systems in Japanese cars and Volkswagens and a far improvement over the old fashioned controls of my Contour And yes the A C was very cold b The Interior Seating It took me a bit to get used to the driving position but the seat was decent The driver s seat adjusted for fore aft seatback tilt and seat height I found that the seat somehow became more uncomfortable as I raised it The seat did not hug me as well as my car s seat but it supported me in the right places From the seat it was easy to operate the controls The steering wheel while not as nice as the one in my Contour was still good with thickened grab points at 10 and 2 positions and the turn signal and windshield wiper stalks were within easy reach Next to the parking brake lever I could even find a pen holder I also tried the rear seat and found plenty of headroom there but legroom seemed a bit more cramped than my Contour The seatback had a 60 40 split fold down feature which was easy to use from the trunk The trunk with its high lid was fairly spacious but not deep and thoughtfully it came with a fluorescent pull handle which trapped children and adults could use to escape I trapped myself in the trunk just to test it out and it was very easy to use Even better for children this car came with three child seat anchors above the rear seat but on the other hand the child lock switches are hidden deep inside the rear doors and requires the key to flip b Performance As the repairs to my Contour only took three days I did not have too much of a time to check this Focus out on the road Tucson s dead straight streets also offered little opportunity to test out the handling of the vehicle Nevertheless I drove around quite a bit heading out of town to nearby mountain passes to watch the beautiful desert sunsets and to test this car s cornering abilities Although the steering did not feel as direct as my car s it was still fairly sharp and responsive and I could take mountain curves at 10 15 mph above recommended speeds without feeling the car lean into the corners Too often I would find myself stuck behind a less nimble car such as Kia Sephia struggling just to maintain the recommended curve speed On the other hand I was not as happy with the powertrain while the 2 0 liter SPI engine carried over from the Escort was adequate the 4 speed automatic transmission was quite slushy and hesitant By contrast the ZX3 hatchback reviewed by others here inherited the more sophisticated Contour powertrain including the more powerful Zetec engine in the future I should drive a ZX3 for comparison While driving I found the visibility to be so so the view to the rear felt somewhat limited and the outside mirrors were smallish At least the manual mirrors were very easy to adjust precisely in other cars manual mirrors tend to be too sensitive and finicky to adjust precisely At night headlights were fairly bright both high and low b Workmanship Quality It appeared that the car was very well put together The paint seemed smooth the interior materials seemed substantial and I could not find a single rattle but then this was a brand new car so it had better be quiet Aside from a slightly damaged roofliner fastener I saw no defects I could hear some engine noise during acceleration but otherwise the car was fairly quiet Even the turn signal clicks were soft and synthesized soothing enough to inspire a few poems It seems that Ford strove to put the quality feel of a sophisticated European car into an inexpensive American built car and it succeeded On the other hand this car also felt quite flimsy in many aspects The way the hood and the doors closed and the way the car drove told me that despite what the Ford marketers may claim the Focus is not a replacement for the Contour Yes this is a fantastic car a superb replacement for the Escort and a formidable competitor to the likes of Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla but this is still a smaller car not in the league of bigger heftier cars like VW Jetta VW Golf and Ford s own Contour Yes the Focus has more headroom than the Contour but that is only because the Contour got saddled with a ridiculously low roofline b Pricing As I put away my rental contract in the glovebox I found the car s sticker The sticker revealed that this vehicle was a stripped down base model equipped with only automatic transmission and A C as options The base price was in the ballpark of 12 500 and the particular vehicle I rented after destination charge was 14 400 MSRP I think this is a bit too expensive But then Ford crammed lots of extras into this car as standard equipment including a high quality cassette player an electric not cable trunk release fold down rear seats power steering and a large 2 0 liter engine to start with True I could find a car for less but they would lack some of these features many people now take for granted Besides once I drop the 815 automatic transmission even a loaded ZX3 hatchback with cruise control and power accessories could be had for the price of this lowly LX and the top line ZTS sedan would still be under 16 000 I won t complain with this kind of pricing And since the likes of carsdirect com sell the Focus at near invoice prices the pricing will be even sweeter than these MSRP figures suggest b Verdict Contrary to Ford s marketers the Focus does not replace the Contour But it is an outstanding replacement for the Escort Although I was saddled with the rock bottom LX with lackluster powertrain I still was able to enjoy the car s thoughtful features European personality and precise handling I had driven a top line Focus ZTS last year on a closed track and was impressed then and this base model did not disappoint me either Unfortunately this car comes from a company that is mega obsessed with trucks not cars Visiting the Ford dealership where my car was repaired and this rental was picked up I could see hundreds of trucks and SUV s versus only two dozen passenger cars Ford kept cheapening the Contour before killing it outright and I am not sure how serious Ford is about this car either I ve grown a strong dislike for Ford because of its role in creating and perpetuating the current SUV boom and that will keep me away from the Focus Unfortunately at this price level the only viable competitor seems to be Hyundai Elantra another fantastic car from another company I hate Of course there is the option of buying Japanese or Volkswagen but for a price " Neg," After researching different types of small to mid sized cars earlier this year I decided that the Ford Focus was definitely the type of car I wanted for myself It was only a little bigger than my old car a 1989 Dodge Omni it had a ton of fun new features and it seemed pretty reliable from the information I could find on the Internet about it So after applying for a new car loan from my bank and finding the Focus I wanted from Carmax s website I went in and bought myself a new car P P I was excited I had all these new features and a bigger engine to play with My car came stocked with power windows power door locks AM FM radio a CD player and the new Ztech engine we had heard about I was very proud of this shiny new car showed it off to everyone where I worked took my friends and family on test drives to show how great this car was and recommended Focuses and Carmax to everyone P P And then the first problem hit Almost a week after we bought the car on the way home from work the check engine light came on When I pulled into Carmax I was brushed off by the service department there and told that they wouldn t be the ones fixing the problem it was still under Ford s 30 000 mile warranty I was surprised to hear that as when I bought the car I bought it with Carmax s MaxCare warrantly as I ve had my other cars in for service there and have been very pleased with the level of service I was unaware that there was any warranty under Ford I didn t even know American car companies offered them but figured the people at Carmax knew what they were doing and had them call up our local Ford dealer in Leesburg VA The next day when I picked up the car from Jerry s Leesburg Ford I was told that a sensor had blown that they replaced it and everything should be fine They were right for about three months that is Our first sign of trouble occurred on September 11 2002 when I was driving my husband back from his eye doctor appointment in Reston VA We were driving home and the transmission seemed to slip Having driven an old car for most of my life I just thought it was a normal thing and brushed it off but that weekend it got worse After going to our local mall on Saturday September 14th the car decided to throw us for another loop As we were driving down the road the transmission started slipping again more violently this time and the interior and exterior lights started to flicker on and off We got the car home as soon as we could given the traffic around our area and the next day took it out for a test drive since Carmax the dealer would not be open again until Monday morning to see if we could pin down what was causing the problem We drove it for about 30 minutes so that the car would be warmed up and then as we were driving by WorldCom in Ashburn the problem started again We hadn t done anything to cause a problem but slam on the brakes when a bird flew out in front of the car The next morning this would be Monday September 16th we took the car to Carmax again as they still had not sufficiently explained this unknown Ford warranty to us Again we were told to go to the Ford dealer as Carmax wouldn t touch it So I called into work telling them I would be late and we went over to the Koons Ford in Sterling VA to drop the car off I got a call from them later that afternoon telling me that the service technicians were unable to find any problems with the car and could we please come in for a test drive the following morning So my husband and I got up extra early that Tuesday this would be September 17th and went on a rather lengthy test drive with the technician and still the problem did not occur again At this point the technicians were being extremely helpful and said that if we didn t mind having extra miles put on the car the technician would drive it to and from his home in Front Royal that evening to see if it occurred during his drive The next morning still nothing was found and we were forced to pick up the car that afternoon with no resolution P P Surprisingly though the car behaved alright for the next couple of days and didn t exhibit any more signs of failing until Saturday September 21st when the car started doing the same things it had done to us on Saturday September 14th except that it was also making the gages on the dash go up and down making it look like we were doing 120 mph at a stop light Luckily for us the Koons Ford service department was still open that Saturday afternoon so we drove the car in as it was breaking down so they could visibly see what it was doing The service department at Koons took the car in right away and about a half hour later we were told that the car s alternator was dead So we waited until about 5 30 p m as we were promised they would have the car all fixed up by the close of business that afternoon and went to go visit Matt in the service department He told us that the car wasn t finished yet and offered to give us a loaner so we would have transportation until we could pick the car up on Monday P P We picked up the car Monday morning and it drove wonderfully until Friday September 27th I was driving with my husband to our local Enterprise car rental agency so we could pick up a rental car for that weekend for a family get together when the check engine light came on in the car again Clearly upset I drove the car back to Koons Ford that morning and demanded they fix the car this time They took the car in and later I was told that another sensor in the engine had blown but it was fixed I picked up the car on September 30th and again the car seemed fine for awhile and then it started doing the same thing it had been doing back when this whole thing started On Friday October 25th on the way home from my husband s oral surgery the car s transmission started slipping the interior and exterior lights blinked on and off and all the gages on the dash shot up and then went back down to normal Since my husband was still somewhat sedated I decided to wait until the next morning to take the car to Koons Ford That Saturday I took the car in and told them to call me when they had it fixed About 4 00 p m on Saturday October 27th we received a call from the dealer telling us that what was wrong was a loose ground wire and they fixed it and the car was ready for pick up It sounded plausible so we piled into one of our friend s cars as my husband could still not drive yet and picked up the car P P Again the car drove ok for awhile I ran into a little difficulty on Wednesday October 30th on my way to the National Zoo from work while I was sitting in traffic on the Beltway but I thought it was just my imagination and tried to convince myself that the car could not be breaking down again after all of that Well there s only so much you can brush off because on Saturday November 9th the car started exhibiting the same exact signs as before And as before we drove it straight back to Koons Ford in Sterling to be fixed I just got a message on my voicemail at work this morning that they can t find anything wrong with the car but they will check again today and see if anything shows up So my shiny new car that I was so proud of back in May has turned into my worst nightmare This is unfortunately not the first time I ve had this kind of trouble I had a 1995 Dodge Intrepid that cost us a lot of money in repairs but this Focus only has 23 000 miles on it I can t even imagine what horrors await me when it hits 50 000 I would only recommend the 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 to someone who doesn t plan on driving it much or who wants to learn how to fix some of these newer cars This car has proven to be very unreliable for people who need a reliable car to drive to and from work and take care of their family The car looks great and when it works it drives like a dream but who buys a car to have it in the shop all the time " Neg," You may have read my initial review of the 2001 Focus ZX3 where I lauded the car s impressive features for the price impressive handling styling and comfort To say I am dissappointed Six months and 7 000 miles into my ownership experience is a gross understatement This vehicle has spent 16 days in the shop because of a variety of fuel system and transmission problems 5spd manual The dealership initially insisted that there was nothing wrong with the transmission and that they could not duplicate my complaint After doing exhaustive internet research I found that the transmission problem affects ALMOST EVERY Focus with the 5 speed manual I also found that although Ford initially denied there was any such problem the company has recently issued a service bulletin regarding gear rollover noise Gear rollover causes a distinct chattering from the transmission The car sounds like an old diesel engine There is no doubt that the noise will substantially impair the trade or resale value of this car and it suggests that a more serious transmission problem is yet to come Ford says the noise is normal Gas consumption is MUCH less than Ford claims under all driving conditions The engine loses RPM and stumbles as if it s going to stall at almost every traffic light My dealer has been unable to fix the stumble There is a noise coming form the cargo area which sounds like a mechanic left a wrench or something inside the body I am filing for the lemon law hearing this week I highly suggest you run a word search in the USENET archives and check out the problems people are reporting with their Focus " Neg," In all fairness to Ford and people who rated the Focus highly I rated mine on a rental car It was a basic model with automatic trans but plain interior Perhaps the one I rented wasn t typical of all models Also I tend to base my opinion about cars on my 1990 Toyota Camry and this is probably unfair to American car manufacturers read that anyway you want b Some positives about the car b I liked the size of the car very compact b but with ample room for up to four people The front seats had plenty of headroom due to the high profile of the car The trunk was exceptionally large for a car this size The car turned around in literally no space at all b It has a very tight turning radius Gas mileage appeared to be very good but I didn t actually keep track b The things I didn t like b First of all who in Ford gets paid to style these things Maybe it s just not my cup of tea but I think the style to quote my 12 year old sucks b The car was quiet enough in the city but on the road Getouttahere New York construction sites are quieter I heard that droning road noise b especially from the rear long enough to put me in a straight jacket The dash board looks like Ford had stock in a plastics company Maybe the bulk was supposed to impress me but it looked downright ugly b The high rear deck caused me problems when looking in the rear view mirror b Road handling on the highway didn t impress me b It had minimal pickup and I didn t care for the road feel I kept the car at around 70 mph and it seemed to be straining to go faster The Focus seemed to wander too much and not give me a firm steering feel I didn t find the dash buttons door locks radio controls etc to be exceptional In fact the radio seemed to have two volume positions off and loud There was no in between and with today s rock that I had to listen to for hours well I think you know my feelings b Bottom line b the car simply didn t math up to my 1990 Toyota Camry in any category In fact if I were making a choice in buying a low price car I would look to a 1997 Camry or Honda for a much better value " Neg," This car is a lemon plain and simple My wife and I bought the car in April 2001 to replace an Escort that had just ended it s lease and we had no trouble with Brake problems Within the car s first week the brakes were grinding We took it in to the dealer where we were told That s normal Focuses do that Within 6 000 miles the front and rear brakes needed to be replaced Originally the Ford dealer tried to charge us for the repair but after arguing for about an hour and having to explain to them why the rear brakes should NEVER have to be replaced after 5 000 miles they finally did the work as warranty 14 000 miles we had the same problem Again the dealer tried to charge us to fix the brakes and again we refused The dealer went so far as to suggest that the problem is that my wife drives the car most of the time and since she s a female she was probably feathering the brake pedal causing them to wear out quickly 20 000 miles we had to replace front and rear brakes AGAIN This time At a different dealer they put on heavy duty brake pads and rotors that have lasted so far 50 000 miles on the car now They tried charging us for the work but I went in with a stack of about 100 pages of printouts from http www fordfocusbrakeproblems com and the NHTSA website of customer complaints exactly like ours They finally comped the service Poor mileage Ford bills this car as an economy car We ve NEVER gotten over 22mpg average on a tank of gas We took it back to Ford after having the car for about a month and they told us that is normal We asked why the window sticker said it would get over 30mpg but was getting under 20 at the time They said the sticker is just an estimate and cars usually get far less than the window sticker says We took the car back to two other dealers for the same fuel mileage problems and not once could they identify a problem After the car s warranty expired I looked into it myself Within half an hour I found a vacuum tube coming from the exhaust manifold that had been manufactured with a hole in it I replaced the tube with a new one and the car instantly ran better and started getting about 5mpg better Not one of the three dealers I had taken the car to was able to find it Other problems we ve had Radio turns itself off and on occassionally usually on long trips We ve had the radio replaced twice with no success Passenger side headlight burns out after about a week It just started doing this about a month ago but I m not bothering trying to fix it since I m turning the car in this week A thumping noise comes from the front suspension when going over bumps There was a recall for this and I took it in The thumping stopped for a few months but started up again Ford claims they can t hear it Our rear passenger side window fell into the door a few weeks ago and of course it did it while it was pouring down rain I had to try to fix it in the rain too The cable that pulls the window up and down is attached by a flimsy plastic piece that broke off The window is currently being held up by a piece of wood I wedged inside the door Our transmission will downshift for no reason I ve had the car on cruise control on a flat freeway and the transmission will downshift itself race the engine for a few seconds and then upshift again It does this pretty frequently On the freeway the plastic moulding around the rear wheelwell came loose and was barely hanging on I had to stop and snap the piece back on The passenger side air bag cover has started opening up three times All three times we had to take the car in and they fixed it The a pillar trim on the driver side came loose and was about to fall off The dealer replaced it Both rear seatbelts have malfunctioned The passenger side seatbelt doesn t latch securely and will often times undo itself The driver s side rear seatbelt will often lock after being pulled out about 12 inches which makes it useless and unuseable When it does that it will stay locked for several hours so anyone sitting there can t use the seatbelt on that trip Of course the Ford dealers were unable to duplicate either of those problems Our trunk opens itself randomly We ll be driving down the street and the door ajar light will come on The Ford dealer claims that is impossible and told me that I was probabbly accidentally hitting the trunk release button on the dashboard without knowing it Our windshield was hit by a small piece of gravel on the freeway Instead of creating a small pit it caused a large crack that runs across the entire windshield This thing has a horrible resale value In late 2003 the Kelly Blue Book wholesale value of the car is about 4 500 That s for a 2 5 year old car that started out costing 13 000 more The only good thing about this car is it is pretty roomy for a small economy car I m 6 3 and fit fairly comfortably in it If you want to read hundreds of other horror stories from Focus owners check out the following two web sites http www fordfocusbrakeproblems com and http nhtsa gov Go to the section to review customer complaints and defect investigations Three days ago we bought a 1996 conversion van to replace the Focus with We have almost a year left on our lease but we opted to pay the remainder of the lease off so that we could get into something safer and more reliable As soon as we get the check from the bank to pay off the Focus it will be going back to Ford Good riddance " Neg," This car was awarded European Car of the Year and the North American Car of the Year I was so impressed by these accolades and the positive magazine reviews that I purchased a silver ZX3 in May 2001 It only took a few months for it to be transformed into lemonade My family and friends warned me and I didn t listen After owning 6 European cars in 10 years I did something I vowed to never do purchase an American car Problems occurred with my vehicle within the first month A loud creaking sound was evident from the rear of the car when turning corners After a few unsuccessful attempts of the dealership trying to fix this one of Ford s engineers from Detroit was flown in Spot welds in the rear chassis were drilled out and replaced with rivets This DID NOT fix the problem Since nearly the entire interior was disassembled to resolve the creaking problem more squeaks and rattles were now present from the plastic trim panels coming apart There were a few driveability concerns with the car that were also not resolved The car died while driving 4 times and often felt like it was going to die when approaching a stop light The gearshift lever manual transmission would often stick and not go into 4th gear On cold winter mornings 2nd and 4th gears had to be bypassed for the first few minutes of driving because the lever would not go into the gears The dealership could not find any problem The car is rated 25 City 33 Highway miles gallon and I never saw anything close to this I drove 60 70 on the interstate daily and never averaged more than 24 mpg The dealer said this was normal All in all my Focus ZX3 was at the dealer 6 times in the first 6 months of ownership for a whopping total of 43 business days I contacted Ford s Dispute Settlement Board and asked them to repurchase my vehicle under the Lemon Law They reviewed my case and a few months later Ford offered to replace my car with a brand new Focus or apply my money spent toward any new Ford product I stood my ground and told them I would never buy another Ford and wanted my money back My case was heard before the board and I won Weeks later a check was cut and I was refunded full purchase price including tax title and license Based upon my experiences and a few of my friends that own Focuses I try to sway everyone I know away from a the car The initial price of the Focus is low but so is the quality If you really need a NEW car and don t have much to spend you d be better off with a Hyundai But better yet purchase a 1 2 3 year old Honda or Toyota and have a great car without the headaches of a Focus " Neg," http www geocities com archangel jjn I really loved this car it was small and fun until the cowl cover cracked and it leaked into the passenger footwell every time it rained or I went to the car wash moisture entered the headlight and it needed to be replaced the cruise control stopped functioning the rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced due to a recall the wiper motor stopped working in the winter and needed to be replaced and before I owned it it needed new brake pads and rotors despite having less than 15 000 miles a new transmission and associated cooling hoses a new hatch strut and finally after only having it 7 months and still being well within original factory warranty it caught fire all by itself by a recall that happened 4 months after my incident It ended up being totaled See the pictures at http www geocities com archangel jjn So far Ford s basic response is that it is an insurance issue so if you think your car is protected by factory warranty against catastrophic failure even from an issue covered by a recall think again they ll leave you out swinging in the breeze and you re left with only your insurance payout on the rapidly shrinking book value to pick up and start over " Neg," When it came time to replace my well worn 1987 Jetta I wanted a hatchback and the most logical choice was a Golf Apon seeing the hatchback version of the Focus however I decided to up the list of consideration to 2 After test driving both cars I found the Focus was by far the better deal and walked out of the dealership with a brand new 5 speed 3 door hatchback with the racy sounding zx3 badge with a c alloy wheels cd stereo and rather useless fog lamps for 3000 less than a Golf with only a c The focus is a great small car on driving alone it is by far the best small car offered in America the interior wouldn t be out of place in a luxury badge the car is pleasent to drive very quiet even at highway speeds My only complaint a car this size should get even better gas mileage though it averages about 29 mpg highway in city driving it can be much lower this with the 5 speed standard transmission not much better than the pinto ford built almost 30 years ago A few months of living with the Focus and I was sure this was the best economic choice I had ever made Then came the recalls BEginning with an axel related problem i ve had 2 announced and 2 pending recalls of the focus WHile the dealers are quick to correct the situation having to make a special trip and arrangements both recalls required leaving the car all day with no loner was not what i expected from a new car In addition The car has refused to start 3 different times and stalled out once the dealer is clueless as to the source of the problem I ve had the Focus for over 2 years now and am approaching the end of my warranty mileage and wonder if I ll be put in a situation where I have to dish out my own money to fix future problems That said having driven friends vw s honda s and saturns the focus feels like a car in a higher price range than these but it lacks the problem free nature these cars seem to have Advice Buy with caution the 2003 models offer a 100K warranty " Neg," My wife bought this car in 2001 and at first within the first 5000 miles the car seemed like a decent choice for a small sedan But in the last year or so we have regretted the day we signed the loan papers on this close to being a lemon Here s why Please note the Focus in question has 32 200 miles on it currently 1 Loud weak Engine even when this car is driven at speeds less than 30 mph there is a pronounced loud drone of the engine At freeway speeds gt 55 mph the engine noise is as loud as a delivery truck Yes this is a 4 cylinder vehicle that struggles to accelerate rapidly and labors to do anything But the problem is not simply due to being 4 cylinders In comparison to our other car a 2000 Honda Civic 4 cylinders the Civic appears to be a V6 and the engine noise is not 1 4 as loud 2 Bizarre problems including a trunk door that takes TWO slams of the lid to close down from THREE after a trip to the Ford mechanic A gas gauge that never shows FULL even when the tank is full leaving the pump This was due to bad gauge sensor anther trip to the Ford mechanic In addition the fuel pump on this car went out at 26 000 miles Trip number 3 to the Ford mechanic The brakes and engine belts squeak horribly whenever the outside humidity goes much above 50 The belt squeaking is especially embarassing I ve had people at stopped traffic signals ask me to roll my window down to say Excuse me but is there something wrong with your car sir 3 Poor fabric in seats where everything Lint hair etc sticks to like a magnet We ve tried the most powerful industrial strength vacuums out there with no luck 4 Rapid depreciation the bottom line is if you buy a Focus expect to keep it awhile as it depreciates at a rate much faster than your average car We owe in excess of 10k on the loan according to Edmunds com the car is worth about 6400 for a trade in 8200 if sold privately a loss either way we might choose to sell it 5 Driving comfort the ride for this car is stiff and the front drivers and passengers seats are cramped At higher speeds gt 55 mph the car shutters and every road bump is felt Long trips are an exhausting experience Needless to say this is the last Ford my wife and I plan to buy A Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla are much better uses of your car buying dollar In addition there have been numerous recalls on this lemon I feel like I should make a standing appointment with the Ford mechanic " Neg," I got the car from Sunnyvale Ford In my opinion it seems to be a good place to buy a car but not a good place to service it If you want to service your car in the San Jose area better go to Frontier Ford in Santa Clara I got the ZTS Sedan which had every option possible except Advance Track and automatic transmission One reason I picked ZTS over SE is that ZTS has standard 16 wheels with 205 50 tires I test drove Focus ZTS with an automatic and I must say that it felt very lame It shifts up at very low revs while the engine likes to be revved Later I learned that the new automatic transmissions as well as modern engines learn some program parameters during the first 30 50 miles This might explain the lameness of the Focus with automatic but that is just a guess The version with 5sp manual transmission is fun to drive The engine revvs very smooth The power is available from low 2000rpm to well over 5000rpm It is easy to cruise at 45mph in 5th gear But I can also rev it and have fun The thing I really like about this car is that it feels very stable in curves So far I have never felt that the car was loosing grip in a curve and I have tried to push it a few times The breaks are also very good and ABS helps when it rains And now the COMPLAINTS After two weeks about 750 miles I noticed a bulge on the hood near the right hinge I took it back to the dealer It took me a while to convince them that the bulge was something that had to be fixed and that it wasn t me that caused it The convincing part was that I found a bent steel rod under the front seat which turned out to be a support rod for the hood It appears that some moron at factory dealership closed the hood with the rod still supporting it It took them 4 days to fix the hood as it had to be repainted It looks like new I only hope that the paint will last as long as the original I got a rental car for the period that my car was being fixed however they initially did not want to pay insurance on the rental car Eventually I got a 100 voucher to compensate for the money I spent on rental car insurance The center arm rest seems to have been designed for cars with automatic transmission It is in the way when lifted up and one has to lift it up to use a hand brake comfortably In May when the outside temperatures got higher I noticed that the dashboard started squeaking like mutilated squirrel sounded like two pieces of styrofoam rubbed against each other It took me 4 visit to the service department before they finally fixed it by replacing the instrument panel bezel Before they decided to replace it they tried spraying WD 40 or something like it between the bezel and the dash and loosening the screws that hold it this made the dash rattle so that I had to take the car back to the service where they tightened the crews which made the dash squeak again Altogether this was very annoying experience At about 5000 miles I started noticing a rattle coming from the rear of the car It was noticeable and sometimes pretty loud when driving over 60mph It was difficult to locate precisely but it seemed to come from somewhere near rear right wheel I brought the car twice to the dealership to have this fixed First time they thought that some exhaust hanger was missing It was installed but the rattle continued Some 3000 miles later I brought the car again with the same problem This time I went for a test ride with a mechanic He could verify the rattle He said that it was a tough one but did not do anything about it apart from adjusting rear right door which was a bit misaligned Basically he told me to see if this helps and if not then to come again I am sick of coming again and again to the dealership Fortunately someone at www focaljet com forum gave me a hint to look at the aerodynamic deflectors placed in front of rear wheels and suspension It took one look at it to figure out that they were the source of the noise I wrapped some duct tape around them and the rattle stopped What it shows is that the Sunnyvale Ford mechanics do not really know the cars they work on In Summer I noticed that on hot days the engine has much less power especially between 2000rpm and 3000rpm In part this must be caused by airconditioning taking power from the engine However the power loss is there also with AC off I read some discussions at internet Ford Focus forums and it seems that the power loss in higher temperatures is partly caused by bad design of the EGR exhaust gas recirculation system It seems that the EGR valve opens too fast and at the wrong time robbing the engine of power when it needs it most i e while accelerating Pity because with the hesitation between 2000 and 3000rpm the car does not feel zippy anymore and is not such fun to drive So in Summer the car is fun to drive only in the mornings when the air and engine are cool At 16900 miles the battery light came on This time I took the car to be fixed at Frontier Ford I also requested them to make and program 2 spare keys I lost one do something about squeaking rear brakes and check if TSB 01 16 3 technical service bulletin applied to my car it is supposed to fix the engine stumble hesitation by reprogramming engine computer Frontier Ford did a good job on my car They replaced alternator made and programmed two keys for 87 replaced rear brake shoes reprogrammed engine computer and washed the car I haven t driven the car much since then so I cannot tell yet if the stumble hesitation has been fixed So what are my conclusions Sometimes I like my Focus e g morning drives to work and sometimes I wish I bought a different car e g drives on hot weekends when it feels felt weak I still have to see if this problem has been fixed Would I buy another Focus I don t think so If I were to buy a similar sized car now I would probably go for a WV Golf or Jetta Would I buy another Ford I do not know I think Ford has some potentially good cars They have good ideas but they fail in implementation I do have another Ford an Escape but I think that its build quality isn t great either I think I will try another car brand when time comes to replace my current Fords " Neg," Our 20 year old son purchased a Ford Focus a few months ago Paying 12 995 for this car we didn t expect luxury but we did expect good quality So far that s not what we ve found Shortly after purchasing it he received notification of two recalls which of course the dealer promptly took care of From there however it s been lots of little things things that will undoubtedly eventually nickel and dime him to death if the car even retains that kind of value The Focus feels like it s made of tin and plastic Leaning on the hood or trunk will sometimes cause buckling The bumpers are constantly detaching from the vehicle and the front side panels are too My son has finally resorted to a type of automotive super glue to fasten these parts back onto his car He has tired of the weekly trips to the dealership The Focus is an attractive car at an attractive price and this is sadly part of the reason young buyers are flocking to Ford dealers to buy them They are sporty and economical Fifteen dollars a week is all my son has ever spent on gas and some weeks have seen quite a few miles Yet I remain concerned about the safety of this vehicle as it doesn t appear to be solidly built and besides who wants to trust a vehicle to protect its occupants if the outside parts keep falling off Aside from these complaints my son does insist that his Focus runs like a dream It has good pick up and is easy to handle His is a standard My son s Focus came with cloth interior and a great stereo system The CD player was included I guess if one is looking for a cheap set of brand new wheels the Focus is enticing However because so many young people are purchasing it due to its affordability I do have deep concerns regarding safety " Neg," I was recently married My husband and I decided we should buy a car After much consideration and various test drives we decided against the Ford Ranger and went with the 2001 Ford Focus my theory being where would we put the kids in a truck This was my first mistake The car was awesome We had a great time bombing around in our brand new car and decided to take it on a road trip when I drove him back to California where he works I was to stay in California for a few weeks then return back to Toronto While down here I was in an accident I was rear ended by some punk kid The damage was minimal to my untrained eye so I figured that it would be in the shop for a couple of weeks and then I would have my car back This was six weeks ago What is the deal you ask Well let me tell you Ford puts out manuals of car parts Little pictures with all the parts drawn neatly in a little square and then a list of all the parts you would need to fix the car Unfortuantely someone somewhere was slacking on the job or was too high to realise what he was drawing and perhaps turned to drawing little doodles instead of the parts The result of this is the one part stopping my car from being on the road does not exist It is not on the parts list nor in the diagram of little pictures So what does this mean for me This means endless hours on the phone to my insurance company Ford Customer Service who by the way assure me that there will be an internal investigation the Body Shop who is fixing my car who are actually a Ford Dealership Body Shop and my parents trying to figure out a way to get my vehicle and get me home Rental bills so I do not have to be stuck sitting here with no car are piling up and although my insurance company is reimbursing me that does nothing for me now Apparently this is not the only problem they have had Seatbelts transmissions seats panels etc have all taken between 2 weeks and 6 months to arrive at various body shops in North America leaving you the proud Ford automobile owner stranded This has been one of the worst experiences of my life and I dread even thinking about what would happen if I were to be in another car accident with this vehicle " Neg," When my 2001 Explorer Sport s transmission died see my review I ended up with a Ford Focus 2 door as a rental for the week Coming from a big and tall SUV to a small city commuter I was worried about the Focus being under powered but I was pleasantly surprised at the pep even with an automatic transmission Engine Peppy for city driving even with auto transmission Highway driving is also smooth Interior Extremely cool dash design Though the dash is ergonomically correct some cost cutting is noticeable with the lack of warning lights and lights on buzzers Front seats were firm and supportive Rear seating even in the 2 door was fine for 2 smaller adults Rear hatch stores a big trunk space Over time however the seat fabric has begun to wear The Seatbelts anchor s plastic guards are cracking and the cheapie no tach dash is pretty uninformative Quality revised Though the car started off very tight fit and finish seemed to deteriorate after a year Overall Good design that seems to have suffered major Quality Control problems Commuter car in the 2 door format Much more stylish than a Civic I did feel as if I was sitting very low to the ground but then again I was coming off an Explorer The 4 door models lack the daring design of the 2 door and the station wagons are even more conservative " Neg," It is a 92 got it used about a year after it came out so it was basically as close to factory condition as you r going to get without actually being there so let me talk about ours the cigerette lighter in the back doesnt work is our only major problem but we don t need that anyway So we ve been in several accidents with it some in which would be classified as quot totaled quot to the cost even though it wasn t all that bad anyway so we got them all fixed and it still runs pretty good sometimes the heat doesn t work but besides that there little or no problems br br " Neg," I bought my Aerostar 1992 from a friend about a year ago with over 110 000 miles for a 1500 bucks He sold this van because he disliked the van Comparing to toady s new minivans the Aerostar is far from the good minivans Makes big noise at driving Steering wheel makes also big noise at each turn Rides very bumpy It s not comfortable to drive long trips Toady s new cars minivans are very smooth The Aerostar is not Braking is also poor All passengers are feeling that I m braking now If you don t wear seat belts you almost fall down when braking When I stop at a traffic light etc the van shudders and shivers Also the power windows doesn t work fine I have to push it down with my hands to HELP the power The sliding door is not closed unless you close it with full power and you hear a THUNDER noise and the whole van shudders So every time you have to try about 3 4 times to close it I also hate the design of the Aerostar Also had a lot of problems w the Air conditioning The stereo system sounds very bad I also dislike that you have to climb in into the van Like a big SUV The new minivans today excluding Chevy Astro has a low step in height which is great On the other hand it has a very strong engine It s a truck like van with the powerful and noisy engine And it s better than nothing It s my first vehicle so I m happy with it until I ll have money for a better one I need a minivan for the room of it I ve once rented a Ford Windstar 2000 and another time the Pontiac Montana 2001 and they re unbelievable Very smooth good braking comfortable seating and nice panels with a lot of features So when I got back to my Aerostar I wasn t happy No features no nothing Just a simple HEAVY DUTY minivan Sorry for my English " Neg," All in all the van has proven to be dependable Lots of little annoying things went wrong The most serious was that the large sliding door quit opening I have not had that fixed yet Tape player quit working along with the remote radio panel Bought the van in 96 and all these quit in 98 Power mirrors don t work now AC fan went out last year All these except for the large sliding door seem small Front end hard to keep inline but Arkansas roads seem to help that Motor is still strong after 121 000 miles and mechanically I would not be scared to drive this van cross country It would take alot to fix all the little things wrong to make this a real nice van again Plan on trading soon No problem with motor or drivetrain Put starter on last year br br " Neg," My father in law bought this car new in Nov 1993 It has the 3 8l v6 I don t have to tell you about the 3 8l Ford V6 From the beginning he had problems with the electrical system Ford repaired the tail light assembly The tachometer went out at 1 year Needed brakes at 2 years 14 000 miles Master cylinder and calipers at 20 000 miles 3 years My wife inherited it in 1996 At that time we had a 1994 t bird that I loved It had the V8 motor and was a blast to drive Very reliable Any way at 35 000 miles the brakes went out again One winter morning the temperature dropped to 5 degrees When my wife started the car the left turn signal came on all by itself the right side window kept going up and down all by itself the horn started blowing and the head lights started flashing between high and low beam and then off This car has a mind of it s own At 50 000 miles I was in a parking lot and started to back out and brushed up against a guard rail and the whole front bumper assembly came off Cost 1500 00 Both door panels are falling apart The drive side door hinges broke and had to be replaced Now the hinges on the passenger side need replacing At 63 000 miles it had a blown head gasket Cost 2500 00 The car has 64 000 miles on it now and last night my wife pulled out into traffic and the car stalled She almost had a wreck Some wonderful people pushed it off the road for her and that is where it is now Going to have it towed to a junk yard today and buy a Dodge Intrepid DO NOT BUY THIS CAR UNLESS YOU ARE A VERY RICH PERSON THAT WANTS TO THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY br br " Neg," I loved this car until everything started going wrong with it It has been in the shop numerous times just for recalls how safe can that be Then it has been in the shop for repairs and they can never seem to find the problem Now for the good things The interior is very roomy and comfortable Ours is loaded with power everything which is great Power windows are the best when you are alone in the car and need that passenger window down same with power door locks The car gets decent gas mileage on the highway but really sucks it down in the daily driving around town All in all we are pleased with it but are ready to pay it off and start with something else br br " Neg," This car has been a nightmare It is currently sitting in front of my house with a tarp over it because the windows no longer work or the locks or the a c or the headlights Before you jump to conclusions about how i have abused the car let me give you the cars history 1993 My dad bought a beautiful black t bird lx with red interior Within a week of having the car the back tail light almost caught fire and has been broken since The car was purchased in late november 1994 no problems my dad barely puts any miles on the car 1995 babied as usual car has always been washed at least once a week and waxed roughly once every two months The car did require lower ball joints and brakes this year though and an alternator car still does not have 30k on it 1996 Not a bad year for the car the door handle on the passenger side breaks loose this year though car still does not have 30k on it 1997 Car requires brakes again At 39 thousand miles the transmission goes out the a c compressor also begins to whine a bit lower ball joints again this year the speedometer breaks also 1998 I purchase the car from my dad in february I gut the stereo system install alarm and new rims The car begins to float all over the road At 45k it needs tie rods It also needs brakes again and a sensor goes out and the car leaves me stranded The door hinges on the drivers side actually brake in august of this year Late that year the transmission has to be taken back 1999 This was a big year for the car It took ford 1000 dollars worth of work to find the sensor that made the car shut off for no reason Car once shut off while i tried to cross the street and i almost got hit by all three lanes of cars the headlights die now both sides of the doors have broken loose cant run the a c or the car will overheat Another alternator and the entire ignition need to be replaced and a battery and more brakes and the car is almost impossible to keep in one lane while on the interstate In late december the a c dies car has 68 thousand miles on it now 2000 In january the headlights die for the second time and i have to replace the blinker switch has headlight controls in it also In march the locks begin to stick on the doors and the front end has a terrible sound coming from it in april i finally replace the rack and pinion lower ball joints and a few bushings for 862 dollars still no a c in car 3 days later it looks like it is going to rain for the first time in months i go to roll up the windows and neither of them work the power locks no longer work nor does the a c In a rainstorm with a trashbag over the windows i sit in the car at a friends house and replace the window switches now one window works and still no locks While driving the car home the headlights died for the final time and so did the radio final mileage 77 833 Cosmetically the car has no dents or scratches and still shines like new The interior is spotless no rips in the leather no stains nothing from reading the posts on this site its half and half on the reliability but overall these cars are a nightmare I would not recommend buying a t bird to my worst enemy br br " Neg," So there are a ton of reviews about this car saying it is the greatest Well it is But I m still here to burst your bubble It has problems I personally own one it s a 93 Ford Thunderbird LX with 80 000 miles on it I love it but it doesn t always seem to love me back Recently it has been having problems with the thermostat on the engine You may say quot No biggie it s only a 10 part that can be easily replaced quot and you d be correct It is However it keeps on breaking The problem is not the thermostat because I have tried different brands many with lifetime warranties and they still keep on breaking Still no biggie but it regulates your engine s temp and you don t want it over heating Also every once in a while the spark plugs will miss a step causing the car to shake Many say that the engine put in these cars is the worst one Ford makes But I m not sure about that Anyway have fun with any car you choose br br " Neg," My husband owns a 1993 Ford Thunderbird and it has caused us nothing but a headache and has put a whole in our bank account At 38 000 miles he had a problem with the electrical system At 40 000 miles he had to have all of the brakes and drums and etc replaced in which was a cost of 1 000 00 at 42 000 miles the head gaskets blew the cost to repair this was 2 500 00 Now there is 52 000 miles and two of the motor mounts need to be replaced the driver side door won t stop chiming when you have the lights on The molding on the drivers side is coming off I know my husband isn t to blame for these problems because he babies his cars and he is a very excellent driver This car does have excellent pickup handles uphill with ease When driving in rain or snow the rear end tends to sway while making turns The interior is very spacious seats five with enough extra space to seat six even if all the passengers were six feet tall The trunk space is very spacious The long roomy look this car has is very appealing but once you own one it s not worth it s looks br br " Neg," Everyone has heard of all these great new innovations that are intended to make our everyday lives more convenient you know disposable diapers disposable cameras disposable contact lenses and I believe this was Ford s idea of a disposable car I was so in love with my electric blue 95 Ford Probe SE Sport Edition in the beginning As I drove it off the lot with its 37 miles on it I lovingly named it Poindexter and vowed to wash it on a bi weekly basis It was truly cherished a car among cars mine I loved the way it handled the sleek body style the gas mileage the way men turned their heads as I drove past but all that came to an end except the head turning tee hee within the first year It all began when the vanity mirror fell off the passenger side sun visor It may sound small but you would be amazed how many people use that thing Shortly after the trunk on the hatchback decided to wimp out and tried to decappatate you at the first moment you weren t looking The windows rattled every time you drove and my cigarette lighter fizzled out on me Good thing it was all under warranty Right Well some of it Ford took responsibility for and fixed as well as expected I suppose Everything else was cosmetic and wasn t included in the warranty Great Although all women know that cosmetics are important I ve never considered myself stuck up enough to really care about trivial things It got me to school to work to parties and those were what mattered until suddenly it didn t About 4 months before the warranty was up the battery gauge on the dash would go from the dead center to quot oh no absolutely no juice quot every time I would come to a stop Driving a car without stopping is actually kind of difficult so back to the shop quot Dex quot went Two weeks later they deciphered it was nothing more than the battery and I was free to pay the 175 that was not covered by the warranty Yee Haw Well to make a long story short my warranty expired and suddenly they figured out exactly why my car was acting funny It needed a new set of belts Then when that didn t fix it it needed a new altenator then a distributor cap then spark plugs and eventually an idle speed motor The brakes have been done 3 times the last time costing me 1200 because I needed shocks calipers rotors and God knows what else I ve needed 4 new rims 3 sets of tires 2 new antenna motors and a partridge in a pear tree and have had to deal with the fact that the material is dangling off the ceiling of my car and my seatbelts won t go back in their slots I have sunk the value of my car into my car in the past year alone Now I am a girl and guys seem to always think I was ripped off but what do you do when you re single and your car is sitting in a shop with the wheels off No crying didn t help I tried that Reliability is definitely not it s strong suit Well I can finally write this opinion with a clear conscience because as of yesterday I am a Chevy owner I finally got my 00 Silverado extra cab step side and will not have to worry about dealing with Ford again I have named it Maverick in hopes that a tougher name might make for a tougher vehicle It is so nice to have a vanity mirror again " Neg," I bought my 1995 Ford Probe SE because of the sporty look the price and the great things I d heard about Ford cars My one and only mistake was thinking a car seat would fit in the back WRONG Well not totally wrong it WILL fit but not comfortably I ve had great luck with my Probe so far and I DO love it It s gone over 15 000 miles with no problems It s only been in the shop 4 times and only for oil changes and new tires It gets great gas mileage which IS good for a family but like I said there s just not enough room My Probe has more than adequate power rides great and is great to look at too This would be a great car for a single guy or girl but if a family car is what your looking for pass this one by The seats aren t the easiest thing to clean hard to get in the grooves should Junior spill some ice cream or drop his lollipop And with such a sharp look who wants ice cream and lollipop all over the seats anyway Though reasonably priced mine was around 3500 used you can get a much better deal on a more quot family quot type vehicle " Neg," All I can say about this car is yuck I can t wait to get rid of it Everything rattles squeaks and knocks Paint is peeling off of the side view mirrors and the hatcback hydraulics are shot The passenger room is close to non existent my fiancee is 5 5 120lbs and she complains about space The interior materials are cheap plastic and crack very easily The controls are inconvenient and hard to reach The back seat is a joke The shift action is squishy and non responsive The engine sounds like it is going to blow at 3200 RPM s and the acceleration is obscenely non existent It has this mysterious stalling problem at times and the CEL light pops on and off at random times It handles OK I have previously owned an Integra GSR and a Nissan Maxima both of which I was sad to see go especially after owning this pile I have even owned a 1990 Subaru Loyale that I liked better than this car and I had to change the alternator in the Subaru 3 times and the tranny once This is the worst car that we have ever owned Don t buy " Neg," I bought a 1995 Probe in 1998 with its sweet lines and smooth ride a black beauty with the spoiler the kind of car all your friends get jealous over But when it was less than a month after I bought it that it went into the shop to stay from March UNTIL September my friends were less than jealous Going from one mechanic to another with Ford people running tests on it After rebuilding the transmission for about 1800 I got it back in September or so I got to drive it until the end of February and back to the shop again Both times the O D light had come on flashing and over 60 MPH the car would jerk forward but the transaxle as the manual suggests was not the problem Once again the transmission was worked on from February March UNTIL almost June When I went to pick it up I got about 10 miles away from the shop and it was running hot back to the shop for the Water pump to get fixed THEN after 2 months I once again went to pick it up again and the engine was revving on its own So now it sits at the Ford dealership automotive department with a new they discovered after replacing the timing belt that that was not the cause of the trouble 525 timing belt with a suggestion that it might be the throttle body for another 825 or so If anyone has web links to other troubled probes HELP br br " Neg," Sick of politics After this election year who wouldn t be I mean all those amusing bumbles and hyperbolic exaggerations luckily things have subsided for now until 4 years from now that is But do exaggerations exist elsewhere to fill the void Let s try one the new Ford Escape has just set the new standard for mini SUV s Any response to that Will the media clamor to call me a liar I think not Why Because the Escape has raised the bar on this class and other car manufacturers had better fall in line quick Still there s a caveat and it s no less important to consider before going out and buying this vehicle b The mini SUV class offers several choices yet still offers you little On one hand you have the small car based underpowered toys like the Honda CR V and Toyota RAV4 although it s been redesigned and on the other side you have a relative behemoth the Nissan Xterra In my opinion the only compromise in this class was the Suzuki Grand Vitara until now Many reviews of the Escape on this site describing test drives came out when the vehicle just came out This made little sense to me because a glitch in the vehicle s steering forced dealers not to allow the car for test driving purposes in my city at least At any rate when I finally received the phone call that I could I was there at a moment s notice Here are my impressions b EXTERIOR 8 As you may or may not know Mazda had a pretty large role in creating the design for this vehicle The Mazda version is sold as the Tribute and has a few cosmetic and option differences with the Escape but essentially the two cars are identical The design is a unibody construction which automatically lands this vehicle as more of a road cruiser than off road warrior Still the vast majority of drivers out there are going for image and or carrying capacity so not too many will complain about that The Escape is what Ford needed to enter the small SUV fray It s the smallest SUV in its model line and is just a little shorter than a Honda CR V It sits on 16 Firestone Wilderness HT tires no cause for alarm here and has a ground clearance of almost eight inches which make it a decent beach cruiser or very lite off roader The rear tire isn t mounted on the back like other sport utes in its class which saves you tons of money in the event of a rear collision Do I like how it looks Does it matter The decision is yours of course I have seen the Escape photographed with more aggressive rims and liked that look much more If I had two words to describe how it looks I d say actively pedestrian I prefer the Mazda Tribute s exterior to this one it has more of an elegant flair to it that I find appealing b INTERIOR 7 Okay let s hit on the pros here the dash is a user friendly design with everything readable and within reach The white faced gauges XLT model are quite nice as well What s more you can fit up to 63 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats folded down Not bad at all for this class Bikes and camping gear should fit comfortably that is what you re considering this vehicle for right I was also quite impressed with the interior room provided for front and rear passengers In fact I d say that no other SUV in this class really sizes up well with the Escape in this category save for the Honda CR V There are plenty of very useable cubbies and pockets for you to store your stuff too including two nicely sized cup holders that don t get in the way of things The air conditioner works fine although the cooler weather here didn t give it a great bench test The in dash CD sound system is decent at best an available MACH system would definitely be on my list of must haves The cons Oh there s the minor things the column shifter felt strange and ambiguous kind of like one found on an 80 s Buick station wagon if that makes any sense I didn t find the seats particularly comfortable although the material did seem like it could stand up to some abuse Perhaps the available leather option would help things out a bit no models on the lot had the option so I couldn t try it But those are minor things after all There s major problems too though The most glaring fault of the interior is quality Even if we were to ignore the fact that hard plastic abounds in this SUV I guess it s to be expected it was very hard for me to ignore the fact that the bottom door panels were coming off and I could see the metal underneath Equally hard to ignore was the tinny clang sound the doors made when I shut them a far cry from the Suzuki Grand Vitara s thud A small rattle seemed to be coming from the front of the dash on the passenger side when the road got a little bumpy ENGINE 10 When I reviewed the Suzuki Grand Vitara I said it had an engine that was the perfect size for its class Well I was wrong The 3 0 Duratec V6 that is available on the Escape certainly levels the playing field I have yet to see an SUV in this class that has as much off the line grunt as this one does Like a few of the reviewers here I agree that power does start to weaken as you hit highway speeds but I still would call this vehicle a very competent highway passer The Escape s base engine is the one found in the Focus 2 0L 130 hp Zetec four I didn t try it but would strongly recommend the V6 option Ford predicts the V6 model will outsell it s four cylinder model The 200 hp Duratec V6 is taken from the Ford Taurus in fact the larger of two V6 engines offered in that car The Mazda Tribute also has this engine available The automatic transmission makes sophisticated shifts and hesitates only a little when the pedal is floored b RIDE 7 For an SUV Not bad at all Sure there s more road and wind noise than I d like The engine also makes itself known all too often perhaps some more insulation would help Still there s other aspects that should be praised On the highway the suspension makes this SUV a nice cruiser Bumps are muffled very well and there is very little annoying rebound on nastier irregularities HANDLING 8 Out of the mini SUV s that I ve driven the Escape is certainly one of the best compromises of ride and handling No I wouldn t call it cat like but easily car like There is very little body lean during everyday driving I took a turnaround curve at a speed that I thought was too fast initially until I realized that the Escape was holding up admirably Braking is very impressive once again car like In fact further research indicated that the Escape stops better than some cars Car and Driver made the Escape stop in only 171 feet from 70 mph 0 mph which is the best they said they had seen in a production SUV Wow The Escape is primarily front wheel drive although it does send power to the rear wheels if it detects any slippage Just my luck it was raining the day of my drive and although the Control Trac II AWD system probably engaged during the course of the day I never noticed it There is by the way a 4WD switch for full time 4WD which I did use later Not surprisingly there is no low range setting for serious off road treks b SAFETY 7 The Escape is equipped with your usual features like airbags and ABS XLT and upward I definitely would chalk some points up on the Escape s behalf as far as braking is concerned As for offset crash tests the Escape didn t fare too well scoring marginal one step above poor rankings are as follows poor marginal acceptable good In other crash tests performed by the NHTSA the Escape did better Front driver five stars Front passenger four stars Front side impact five stars Rear side impact five stars Rollover rating three stars b RELIABILITY 5 Ahh here s the caveat I alluded to in the beginning you thought I had forgot didn t you I have always always been wary of an introductory model car and I urge you to consider that yourself In fact the Escape Tribute was scheduled to arrive sooner to showrooms but quality concerns delayed things somewhat I have already read of a few recalls on Edmund com s Town Hall where the discussion topic is called Mazda Tribute Ford Escape Problems The few quality glitches that I picked up on during my drive the rattles the paneling coming off didn t help things too much either Would I dis courage you from buying it now Yes Would I en courage you to wait a little while to test the waters first Yes Obviously I m probably going to get a few nasty comments from happy owners and that s all fine and dandy I m happy for you that after 4 days of ownership nothing has gone wrong But what happens when you hit 20 000 miles Or 40 000 miles I ve been studying cars for a long time and be careful is all I have to say b VALUE 9 When it comes to dollars and cents the Escape makes plenty of sense I made a rhyme happens all the time can I borrow a dime The V6 XLT I had included all the features I would require minus the MACH stereo These included the V6 engine ABS cruise control an in dash CD player air conditioning remote keyless entry power everything and fog lamps All for a price of around 22 000 I feel this is a very appealing value quotient that is being offered here especially considering the amount of power that the V6 engine provides b THE VERDICT WHY MUST I ALWAYS BE THE ONE WHO S NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT b This vehicle has a lot going for it The only serious and it is important glitch is the concern for quality I will watch how the Escape performs as the months pass If and when I am proven wrong I will change my tune faster than Al Gore changes his personality or George W Bush can say subliminal For now however the caveat stands as pretty stong opposition to the new SUV standard that I spoke of Once Ford addresses these issues however and they will other small SUV manufacturers had better adjust or the electorate will leave em without votes b AVERAGE SCORE 7 63 out of 10 b VARA S PERSONAL RATING until reliability reports improve 7 0 out of 10 " Neg," Having recently suffered through a disastrous experience with a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport I ended up in an Escape XLT which I thought would ultimately be a better choice The Escape is a thoroughly modern SUV well proportioned with a large interior it matches or betters the Explorer in comfort in almost every area The exterior design is efficient looking though not as stylish as the Toyota Rav4 In the forest green I ve had people mistake the Escape for the new Rover Freelander b The Interior b The leather seats are not as firm contoured or supportive as the fabric seats in the Explorer Sport The dashboard styling is disappointing generic And whoever designed the automatic gear shifter arm should be shot because one can t see the defrost button Power outlets are not designed for cell phones to be used and plugged in they are too low And if you use a speaker cell phone cradle the hockey stick of a shifter will get in the way Interior space for 4 passengers is very good fine for 5 In fact if you compare the specs the Escape interior is almost identical to the larger Explorer Ergonomics are good everywhere else gauges are the currently trendy white with black markings The dash seems to be made of a cheap hard shell plastic as opposed to the cushioned dash of the Explorer I also have a wonderful 6 CD sound system that reminds me of the Mach 460 system in the Mustang Unfortunately on a very hot day the CD system mysteriously failed for the afternoon And recently the rear window wiper motor failed as well Also disappointing was that the Escape didn t have the same back lit switches as the Explorer has Power windows alone should be back lit at night The Explorer also had puddle lamps which were very handy b Engine b The V6 engine is smooth and torquey though not much better than the Explorer V6 for gas mileage in the city Highway driving seems to yield better mileage than the Explorer This is apparently a derivation of the V6 used in the Taurus b Dealer network b The first time I ve dealt with a Los Angeles area Ford dealer I was mortified at the poor support in the area of post sales After taking the Escape off the lot I spent the first weekend documenting a few things that needed to be tightened fixed or touched up When i brought the vehicle back you would have thought I had asked them for their livers I tried a different dealer who surprised me by telling me to go back to the dealer I bought the car from Hardly a unified Ford team b Recalls With the number of recalls on the Escape I ve received 3 so far the dealer network should be helluvalot more supportive to make sure that these cars are 100 Given the Firestone debacle with the Explorer the Escape should be job one When you get a recall the Ford dealers don t seem to see how inconvenient it is to take the car in in the morning get a ride to work get a ride back to the dealership b Driving b The Escape is a pleasure to drive in the city and on the highway Great pick up a commanding view of the road and yet environmentally friendly than the giant Expeditions or Excursions I see Very easy to park The seats could be more supportive especially given what the car can do With all the talk about SUV rollover the Escape startles traffic light racers with its speed and handling capabilities Surprisingly the turning circle is bigger than the Explorer so U turns end up being 3 pts b Overall b This is the first rational sized SUV and it made me rethink what city dwellers really need in an SUV The Escape is a nice compromise but in its first year iffy quality poor dealer support and poor gas mileage would make me choose something else or wait another year The Escape should be a very good car by next year once all the bugs and recalls are ironed out Don t forget this is Mazda engineering the Mazda twin is called the Tribute I m looking at the PT Cruiser for my next car see my review because its size and proportions fit my needs the styling is a lot more interesting than the Escape the interior is a lot more innovative and the bad Ford dealer experiences finished off my 16 year loyalty to the make " Neg," I was excited to get this vehicle as my next company lease vehicle as I thought the styling was good and offered utility in a better package Initial impressions were good as they were based on the engine performance and handling Both are excellent and it went pretty well in serious snowfall as well As I lived with it some interior CHEAP details started showing up I know the plastic world and Ford has used the cheapest plastics possible on this interior My seat panels next to the center console on the seat frame are warped so badly that they will not stay in place they pop off on one side The seat belt cover on the b pillar is cracked and fell off The interior light is horrible Instruments are fine but the dome light stinks You have to turn it on with a switch ON the light Ok it is on but 90 of its light goes to the back and when you turn it off you have to set the switch in the middle door position otherwise it is off regardless of opening doors etc Trying doing that while driving and you think cell phones are dangerous Try a simple dome light switch on the IP Ford Also hardly any of the door heaven forbid the steering wheel controls are lit I believe the only switch lit is the drivers window Also why does the window lockout switch also lockout the driver from controlling these windows CHEAP Front seats need armrests My XLS has a center console that is basically flat I think the XLT has a higher console that can be used for an armrest Needs a rear cargo net too NOISE The wind and tire noise not to mention the squeaking rear hatch window combo is horrible You have to turn up the radio so much that once you stop it is blaring I try to use my heads free cell phone headset and can t because there is too much noise Try turning on the recirculating AC you hear this big WAP from the HVAC system nice touch Warranty repairs My steering started screaming and whining so the dealer replaced the entire rack and 2 days later the tensioner idler pulley exploded losing all belt driven accessories which includes the power steering and required a roadside tow I didnt know the problem at first and losing steering assist 2 days after they replaced the rack is a bit disconcerting OH and I complained about the squeaky rear hatch and the dealership s remedy was to remove the dealership license plate frame and charge my lease co 85 Which did nothing for the squeak of course Summary Again nice styling nice engine nice handling nothing else is nice Noisey quality problems and obviously cheap on the interior I never get better than 18mpg 3 0L V6 Coworkers get 24 with the same engine in their Taurus That is alot of wind drag " Neg," When I was in the market for a new SUV the new 2001 models were just coming onto the market There are few things I love about this vehicle although the things I do like are major The offroading abilities of this car are average It has front and rear independent suspension allowing for a nice ride on the street but sometimes not the best choice for offroading However the car is short The negative thing about this is that it limits your cargo room which I must say is extremely limited The escape is almost undoubtedly safe as Ford s reputation goes Now for the driving The Escape s steering is not quite that of a BMW but its ok The pickup however is above average DO NOT BUY THE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE It is unbelievably slow and it is pitiful that Ford would even try to get people to buy it The more fitting SUV for this size is the Mazda Tribute the Escape s twin I prefer the tighter suspension and quasi nicer interior Consider it over the Escape In conclusion the Escape is OK for a person on the market for the average in compact SUVs and it is more of a car anyway br br " Neg," I recently rented one for 5 days to go skiing up in Lake Tahoe On the road the car you ll see why I call it a car performs well It has good power reasonable handling and for an SUV good gas mileage The seats are not particularly comfortable If there s a little snow on the road it seems to do fine I didn t need to chain up My primary complaint is that this so called 4x4 performs poorly when it get s a little deeper I got stuck The 4x4 system doesn t make sense I m in 6 of snow a bit off to the side of the road The wheels that have traction don t want to move while the wheels that slip continue to slip It s as if the system only powers the wheels that have the least amount of grip The system has an Auto 4x4 mode Neither system worked I could not discern a difference Ok that coupled with the questionable reliability I think that you get what you pay for I got pulled out by a Toyota 4Runner My next vehicle or perhaps a Pathfinder I was also considering a Honda CR V but I suspect many of these wannabe 4wd systems will eventually leave me out in the cold Granted I know real 4WD vehicles will also high center and get stuck but my situation was not even close " Neg," Well my landscaping saga continues as I venture to get stonewall siding and this time I got to borrow a 2003 Ford Excursion to get the siding You would have thought I would have learned not to do this after my less than impressive trip with a GMC Yukon Denali I borrowed But I figured another great review chance and I wanted to see if this vehicle is a great as many owners hype it up to be One of my co workers is a mother of 3 older kids and their Explorer and king cab Dodge truck just wasn t enough space for the kids and crap they usually lug along Before they bought an Excursion we were talking one day about what their next vehicle would be when the lease runs out on the Dodge and how she wanted more space I told her to consider the Honda Odyssey Toyota Sienna or even a Kia Sedona because they a lot of room and seemed to fit her needs She says No way I can t drive a minivan I m not the minivan type They re ugly However what they brought home was much uglier I thought her views were a little uh off considering they don t tow anything and never go off road but thought an Excursion would be better than a minivan Well it certainly costs more Problem is they re die hard Ford fans i i and there s not much in the minivan or car selection from them now Matter of fact it s predicted that by 2005 Ford will only sell trucks and SUVs i okay not really but this wouldn t surprise me I decided to check it out when borrowing the Excursion for another landscaping mission hoping I would not come to the same conclusion as with the Denali And that is that for these type of trips picking it up yourself can be more time work and money than simply paying to have it delivered So another half of a Saturday down the drain but with a better insight on the Excursion The Excursion was introduced in 2000 and sales have been suffering since so much so that Ford had to cut production in half in 2001 b i Performance Power and Handling This model has the 6 8L V10 with 310 HP but you can also get a 5 4L V8 with 255 HP or 7 3L V8 Diesel with 250 HP For a V10 I was not impressed with the power maybe I was expecting too much It was able to move but acceleration was minimal and not exciting don t expect much when passing on the highway this engine is designed to pull a lot of weight but not fast It can tow up to 11 000 lbs b with the V10 but despite the Dumbo like side view mirrors this elephant would not fly I think the major problem is it weighs in at about 7 200 lbs by itself not including passengers or cargo using a lot of power to move itself The Excursion has a 44 gallon gas tank and recommends a minimum of 87 octane fuel I had to put 32 gallons into it before returning it costing me 49 60 to fill it from empty to full would cost about 68 20 at current prices in my area This angered me because the delivery service from the landscaping place would have been cheaper not to mention less time consuming Depending on the engine the gas mileage ranges from 7 10 MPG to 11 15 MPG Problem is the low gas mileage has earned this model a spot on The Meanest Vehicles for the Environment for 2002 list which can be viewed at www greenercars com It will most likely make the list again for 2003 and may not be good for the resale value The Power Stroke Diesel V8 engine requires 1D or 2D diesel and achieves marginally better gas mileage than the other two options many owners report around 17 MPG and a max of 24 MPG Maneuverability is a big problem with the Excursion for making U turns I found it needed at least four lanes It s also a challenge to park in smaller single lane parking lots because of the large turning radius required you will most likely be readjusting in reverse at least once I would not recommend this for regular city driving With nothing in it the ride was fairly smooth not really noticing small bumps However larger bumps sent a sharp jolt through the Excursion and made the vehicle continued to sway afterwards something I also noticed in the Denali With the back end weighed down I was noticing every bump in the road and feeling many clunks making for a bumpy ride I was a little disappointed by this expecting something this size to handle smoother There was also a significant amount of body roll on tighter turns Shortly after getting in and taking off I started to despise the visibility issues with the Excursion and found myself constantly leaning forward and twisting around to double check everything getting a strange kink in my neck It s hard to get used to the larger front end and how close it is to other objects Looking through the review mirror it s hard to see lower objects The Excursion is about 6 4 to 6 7 ft tall depending on if it has 4WD or not and the added height makes seeing over traffic nice like the Denali I drove but I found lower visibility to be a problem making it hard to see lower objects This model had the optional reverse sensor that beeps when you get too anything close while backing up like a house Parking the Excursion was a hideous nightmare I m sure many people already figured this The Excursion is about 19 ft long and about 6 7 ft wide the average parking spot is only 18 ft long some less No matter how you park it will always be sticking out in the back and I was struggling to get it in as much as possible without hitting the car in front of it the visibility issues weren t helping it took 3 tries and a small portion of my sanity Also it s tricky to park next to other vehicles close to its size with those side mirrors that stick out so far It s important when parking it to make sure it s centered in the spot to reduce the risk of it getting hit by the door of the car next to it I found it was always close to the lot lines making something like this easy to happen b i Interior Looks and Features Overall interior space on the Excursion is close to the Honda Odyssey at 146 4 cubic feet behind the first row 100 7 cubic feet behind the 2nd and 48 cubic feet behind the 3rd The leather captains chairs in the front were comfortable but got really hot in the sun The instrument cluster is nothing to get excited about it s very plain and dated looking with white on black gauges black plastic and a steering wheel that was a strange shade of brown The controls were well laid out and easy to reach for the most part but all in black plastic and a plain layout Maybe that s the young wild side of me talking but I found the interior very plain and drab with lots of black buttons know knobs silver or wood accents kind of generic looking I did not like the all button climate control it seemed awkward to use compared to the large knob based systems I couldn t reach over and easily make adjustments while driving The power lock and window switches were easy to reach and seemed well laid out Power adjustable pedals for different sized drivers is an option this model had This model had the optional DVD entertainment system for the 2nd and 3rd rows but I didn t get a chance to play with it Remote keyless entry is standard on all models The Excursion can hold up to 9 passengers if you get the 3 bench rows seating option this one s body count was only at 8 with two captains chairs in the front and 2nd and 3rd rows being benches It can be as low as even 7 with the 1st and 2nd captains chair option The 3rd row seemed roomier than the Denali but still lacked a little in leg room for my 6 ft tall frame and my head was still close to the roof and could possibly hit on a big bump Up front there are four cup holders that would hold just about any size cup and they re easy to reach There are two interior color options gray and beige this one had beige that looked nice and warm I don t think I d like the gray too much in something this size the interior would seem too barren The 3rd row of seats is fairly easy to remove just flip them forward and pull a bar at the rear to slide them back b i Exterior Looks and Features The Excursion has the front of the Ford F 250 and up series the front end of a work truck and it s not attractive The front grille is larger and sticks up higher than the head lights I think Ford got this design from Dodge shortly after the RAM series were redesigned with a similar grille But they did not improve it the grille is big and blank looking with no crossbars just the blue oval in the center creating a lot of negative space on the front The headlights are standard no metallic effects or any hints of stylization Also the large side view mirrors stick out very far from the sides making me think of Dumbo looking at the Excursion from the front end The mirrors also made me nervous parking because of the extra width to the truck From the side the Excursion looks very boxy it has no sexy lines or curves just an enormous wall Getting two tone paint helps this a little but not much The front side windows have a gap in the front that slopes down maybe for better visibility but I did not find how this helped A sad thing about the one I borrowed it had been keyed twice on the driver s side The owners weren t very happy about it and they re still in the process of getting estimates to have it fixed Fortunately this happened before I borrowed it I m not sure why it was keyed but have some theories with the controversy around an SUV of this size however I didn t think that was a problem in this area Anyway the exterior color of this one is Estate Green only available to Eddie Bauer editions I have to say it was not attractive a light flat pea green that looks like it came from the 70 s anyone that has ever had a baby throw up on them is probably very familiar with this color I guess I was not the only one that thought this because while getting ready to back out in the parking lot of Home Depot two guys walking behind it made puking sound affects Other color options include aspen green hunter green with yellow hints black mineral gray flat silver white red true blue light navy and wedgewood blue lighter blue The ground clearance is 8 1 inches but it seemed a lot higher to me while loading the back maybe even higher than the Denali making it harder to load heavy objects I realize the back opens up in 3 parts because of the size but I still hate it To open the back first the window has to be flipped up then the lower tailgate is in two doors that swing out on either side Again making it less convenient to load things quick You can just lift the glass to load objects but the height almost forces you to heave them in over the tailgate Safety The Excursion comes with 2 front airbags and 3 point safety seat belts no safe canopy system like the Expedition but it does have side impact beams Reading other reviews it seems everyone mentions safety as being a pro for the Excursion but I can t find safety ratings for the 2000 2001 2002 or the 2003 model not on NHTSA or IIHS The Excursion is based of the F 250 truck and I can t find crash test ratings for it either Also there s no rollover information on it So I can t say weather this is a safe vehicle or not the only thing I know this model has going for it is weight b i Parting Shots Pricing on the Excursion ranges from 35 500 up to 49 900 I m young and don t have a family so I don t need to worry about a lot of passengers But growing up in a large family I can understand why having a bigger vehicle is nice I remember we had a large Dodge van that only came out of the side yard for family trips and or towing the boat my parents used their smaller cars for commuting to work and short trips After having experience with a couple of large SUVs over the past weeks I can understand why my parents did not want to drive the large van all the time It s just not fun to be stuck driving something this size all the time I felt that way about the Excursion It s big can tow and has space but it was not relaxing or exhilarating to drive because parking was a nightmare forget parallel parking visibility issues were stressful and it needs at least four lanes to make a U turn which isn t always available adding to the stress Get up and go power is just not there even with the V10 making for a sluggish ride Also I can see where loading kids might not be as easy as a van or a minivan because of the added height and the extra work to get to the 3rd row of seats and interior space is only slightly better that a minivan very slightly However the higher ground clearance can make this space less convenient to use This is a utility vehicle with a lot of towing power but pricey for something used for occasional uses and pricey to drive all the time I would only recommend it for people towing all the time like for maybe a horse business of some sort or landscaping business Off roading is not a big strength of this model because of the size long wheel base and weight I believe the Kia Sorento ad pokes fun at this I don t know how it would handle in snow because we just don t see that in Florida but from what I read having 4WD or AWD is good but having a heavy vehicle like the Excursion is not always good Something to look into and consider before buying if you live in a snowy area The reason I give this model such a low rating is because it has such a limited targeted audience very expensive for a truck that may not be used on a regular basis has terrible gas mileage worse than many in it s class except the diesel model and is not fun to drive If you need a truck for towing I would recommend looking for a good deal on one used to have around when you need it If you need convenient space look into a minivan that has equal room and is easier to drive cheaper and gets better gas mileage If 4WD is your primary need maybe for snowy weather look into a smaller more nimble SUV truck or sport wagon again you ll save money and have more fun driving it The Excursion tried to combine all these uses in a big expensive package with mediocre less efficient and less usable results This is essentially an F 250 truck without the rugged bed and only major strengths are towing towing and uh towing Did I mention towing But keep in mind many minivans and smaller SUVs can tow usually between 3 000 to 4 500 lbs enough to accommodate many boats and trailers The Excursion seems to be targeted to the larger loads and more industrial business uses hence the narrow targeted audience But hey if you paint it yellow with black stripes down the side maybe the county will help pay you to drive it " Neg," We bought an 04 Eddie Bauer hoping it would have the refinements to make owning a large SUV tolerable Wrong For a list price of 48 000 you re better off buying a fully tricked out Toyota Sequoia and still have plenty of money left to take a family vacation The Expedition interior materials and controls are of poor quality and feel cheap overall including the Special Eddie Bauer leather and carpeting The 2nd row captains chairs are narrow cheap and shallow The 2nd row leg room is no better than that of our Acura MDX Which is generous for a mid size but not for a full size SUV The storage in the cabin is limited with very narrow door pockets no sunglass holder nor a two tiered console storage system And if you get an aftermarket rear entertainment system they put the play unit in the console which already houses the multi CD changer which is out dated requiring you to load into a multi cassette instead of directly into the dashboard unit very hard to change CD s while on the move taking up what little room you have to begin with The vehicle is not outfitted to take on Satellite Radio either The ride is harsh and not refined at all The independent suspension does NOT make a difference on vehicle stability nor does it soften the ride The handling is very heavy and the engine is very noisy when accelerating The navigation system is outdated using multiple disks instead of one DVD for the whole country the screen is tiny and not letterbox which is easier to read The disks do not have the level of detail that you would expect with a multiple dvd system In fact the Acura Navi has more info on one dvd in letterbox format So why did we buy this vehicle We needed space plain and simple On long road trips with our two boys and our dog we wanted a substantial vehicle under our seats The Escalade Extended was WAY too much money for not much value and it s navi was outdated as well The Navigator had less room and a poorly designed cabin with the shift taking up needed room on the console and no loose storage room To get almost as much rear storage room in the Sequoia you have to lift and remove their heavy bulky third row seats and then you are seatless when you get to your destination The Expedition has a fold flat rear seat which is comfortable for an adult or two or three The Nissan Armada did not have the curb appeal nor the interior space of the Expedition and the large engine and drive train are in untested waters for Nissan We ll wait for the Infinity version of that one So that leaves the Yukon Denali XL which was nearly as costly as the Cadillac and the Suburban which is I m sorry to say just a cheap Chevy We wish that Acura would make a bigger granddaddy to the MDX which we feel is the best value in an SUV on the market " Neg," Introduction You d never believe it I d never believe it I decided to stop by the Ford dealer to take a look at this POS F 150 and compare it to the 454SS The sales guy walks up and starts talking about how great a truck it is Not wanting to damage my chances I agreed with him Then the unimaginable happened He says quot So you wanna drive it quot I really had no reason to but why not This offer was crazy because I m an 18 year old kid driving a Blazer with a brand new paint job that could maybe sell for 5 000 tops the Lightening was sticker priced at over 32 000 b The drive I didn t treat this truck like I should have for this article No all out acceleration no tire spinning but to tell the truth she surprised me The entire time I was driving the truck it kept occurring to me that it was as fast as it was going to get I took her around the city a little bit then a short sprint on the highway I wouldn t buy one even if I had the cash b Pros This thing is faster than the Ford Mustang Cobra It ll run 0 60 in 5 9 seconds and the 1 4 mile in 13 6 right off the lot It really helps that she has a big Vortec Blower under the hood It was a lot more comfortable than I was expecting The other F 150 I have experience in was very uncomfortable this one I felt like I could spend the whole day in and be fine The truck I drove had a bench seat I think you can also get sport bucket seats This is one up on the 454SS If you use it to tow just not a lot the exhaust is in front of the tire so you won t get carbon all over your trailer The CD player was pretty nice I brought along a Bon Jovi song to test it out since I ve heard good things about it I wasn t disappointed the bass was good for stock and the four speakers filled the interior nicely That s all folks I can t think of a single other pro b Neutral The ride was better than in the other F 150 I ve driven but still not as soft as a 454SS One thing that is nice in the Lightening that is unneeded that should be in the 454SS is a tachometer b Cons First of all the obvious opinion I think this truck is uglier than sin Its too big to be as low as it is It looks clumsy The 454SS is a much better looking truck even the generation one Lightenings are better looking You ll never get it to compete on the road tracks against the Cobra at least not in a reasonable price range The Special Vehicle Team SVT did a wonderful job pulling every last pony pound of torque out of the 5 4 liter V8 Your problem is that you ll have a heck of a time getting the truck going faster than 13 6 100 mph in the quarter mile My recommendations are underdrive pullies and new heads Or just stick a real engine in there After talking to an owner the only thing he was able to do to his was cosmetic junk The automatic transmission is ridiculous A sports car or truck has to have a manual transmission option Otherwise it is slow How about some gas mileage here Sure its not as bad as her arch rival the 454SS but it is awfully low at 14 miles per gallon Especially with that little engine One large selling point for the 454SS was that it will easily tow 10 000 lbs With the Lightening you ll be able to tow half that Which is less than the S 10 Extreme with 3 04 smallest rear end b Overall I d take a 454SS anyday You can get the Chevy for way less and for a little bit of money you can really get that big block moving The Lightening is pretty much torqued on to death and you won t get too much more speed out of it You ll have a little more trouble finding a 454SS but price difference and likeability will be much greater If you just want to go fast and don t care if it s a truck get a Camaro SS or Cobra Mustang Same price better handling better gas mileage more aftermarket If you re really interested in sport trucks I have written an article on the 454SS My recommendation avoid the Lightening br br " Neg," For years I had heard favorable things about the Ford Taurus So I took advantage of the opportunity to replace my 84 Reliant wagon with a 1995 Taurus wagon about six months ago The car has been reliable handles well for me I m no cowboy on the road though and I really like the lockable compartment built into the floor of the rear cargo area But the Taurus has lots of annoying design shortcomings that aggravate me daily For starters after locking the car with the electric door locks all you need do to open the car door is use the handle no need to actually unlock the door This feature places children or others such as my aged mother in peril since you need not actually unlock a door in order to open it There may be childproof locks for the rear doors I haven t checked that out since I don t transport young children It also means after I exit the car from the driver s side if I want to access another car door to remove something I have to remember to unlock ALL the doors before exiting the car The radio sound is of decent quality but I hate radios with all pushbuttons since you actually have to take your eyes off the road in order to turn the radio on or change bands A raised circular power volume knob would increase operability for this radio immensely Once the radio is on there is a convenient button located near the steering wheel that allows you to scan previously programmed channels in the current frequency band either AM FM1 or FM2 You can also adjust the radio volume using another button near the steering wheel The radio also seems to be much more susceptible to outside electrical interference than the radios in any of my other cars Buick Olds and Chevy forcing me to actually turn the radio off sometimes on my way to work Road noise also competes with the radio much more so than in my other cars I have a power seat with the car This feature is great to have but once again Ford engineers have screwed it up There is very little space between the left side of the seat near the floor and the car door Located in that small space are the power seat controls the rear gate release and the gas tank cover release Needless to say everytime I reach for the gas tank cover release I hit the power seat buttons moving the seat in some unpredictable way To avoid this I always open the car door just to release the gas cap cover The release doesn t actually pop the cover by the way It only releases it Thus gas station attendants will stand there yelling at me or motioning at me to pop the gas tank release when I ve already done so To be fair to Ford I did buy the car used and maybe in a new car the gas tank cover does actually pop open when you hit the release button My oldest car is now a 1992 Buick LeSabre I mention this only because in that car the front arm rest doubles as a storage area for tapes change and has a cupholder for two cups In contrast the 1995 Taurus built 3 years after my Buick uses a ridiculous split front armrest thus wasting the space other manufacturers have cleverly exploited for storage Oh there is indeed a cup holder that can be pulled out from the dashboard But its placement limits the size of the cups that can be placed there A 20 oz cup of hot coffee must be mildly distorted and angled to fit in the cup holder and more than once the cup has opened and spilled its contents upon removal You also can t remove the cup or replace it without actually looking at the cupholder once again limiting its usefulness I m not sure how to characterize the interior passenger space of the Taurus Two adults can fit comfortably in front and two adults plus a child will fit comfortably in the rear But the car is just too narrow to comfortably fit 3 adults in either front or rear However the wagon does have a third seat that can be popped up from the floor of the rear cargo area so in principle you can cram 8 occupants into the vehicle although not very comfortably in my opinion Gas mileage with the car with mileage approximately evenly split between highway and city driving is about 20 miles per gallon The Taurus wagon has both a rear defrost button and a rear windshield wiper button Unfortunately the rear defrost control is not located with the other heater and air conditioning controls and it s actually hidden from my view when I m seated in the driver s seat so I ve always got to hunt for it when I want it The rear windshield washer button is also obscured by the steering wheel another annoyance Overall I m satisfied with the Taurus but the poor human engineering will keep me from buying one again " Neg," My 1995 Ford Taurus with a 3 8 liter V6 was recalled for a head gasket replacement There was not charge for the replacement however a week later the timing gear cover gasket failed requiring replacement of both the gasket and cover a 726 repair This repair was out of my pocket because that gasket wasn t recalled even though the cause of the failure was similar to the problems with the head gasket If you are considering buying a used Taurus or Windstar with a 3 8 L engine you may want to find out if the timing gear cover gasket has already been changed Ford has issued a service bulletin on this gasket however I have been unsuccessful in trying to get a dealer to show me the actual bulletin Other than this gasket failure air conditioner problem twice and a window seal problem the car has been trouble free br br " Neg," I would like to start with a disclaimer I got my 95 Ford Taurus used from Car Max back in early 1999 It had 50 000 miles on it or so the odometer claimed Only the gods know what the prior owners did to it With that in mind I bring you the Saga Of The Used 1995 Taurus That My Father Bought Me Because Of The Safety Record Lets start of with acceleration my first pet peeve about this car You re trying to merge onto a major interstate traffic is going about 60 mph your merge lane is going about 20 mph What does your Taurus do I ll tell you what mine does it sits there and ponders life existence and the raising costs of tea in Nepal while I slam my foot into the accelerator It makes a few half hearted chugs It waits a few more seconds Then only then does it condescend to speed up a bit for you I ve had some very very close calls trying merge or get out of the way of a nut so driver due to the bad acceleration Basically you re more than fine if you re already doing speed of traffic and need to pass but if you need to get put on thirty to forty miles fast make sure the oncoming vehicle has a gap of roughly a mile for you to merge into No joke Continuing the front seat seems to be designed for and by chimps Normal sized humans end up having to bend their heads back at a strange angle to use the head rest and the way the seats are curved is almost exactly the wrong angle for my back O K lets move on to cost of repairs Admittedly I bought my favorite little piece of automative engineering used but still here s a list of some of the repairs I ve had to have in the past three years not including the 3000 mile oil changes I do religiously and all that jazz Water pump fan belt over 500 but it was in the middle of a snowstorm and the mechanic had me over a barrel Transmission a week after the snowstorm about 1 000 AC Went dead towards end of first summer of ownership spent 350 Went dead again trusted mechanic still couldn t fix it after giving me two free visits Ford Dealership said they might keyword might be able to fix it for 1200 They said there were metal shavings in the AC So I gave up and now sweat my way through D C area summers Brakes Had to be fully replaced another 1000 gone Fan belt again What s with the fan belt Another 250 gone Aside from the more costly aspects of 95 Taurus ownership the car is rife with smaller annoyances There are handy little buttons beside the steering wheel that allow you to search for the radio station you want It got harder and harder to get the buttons to respond in the first year of ownership and the main search one just eventually stopped responding at all So if I bang on the buttons really really hard I can still pull up preselected stations but no chance now of scanning the radio without leaning way over the the out of reach radio O K I m short but it still seems set awfully far left Then there s the drink holder Ah the glorious drink holder Only certain medium coffee cups fit A Coke can will slide right through so I use the cigarette lighter thing under the cup holder to support cans of Coke at an awkward angle If you get a large cup of coffee to start the day you ll have to bend it at an angle and wrestle it out if you want a sip while driving Gauranteed you ll slosh some on your cassette player or the front seat I think the designers had major phobias about people who drink coffee and drive so they were trying to discourage the practice Last but not least are the lights if your front lights burn out and there s someone at a place like Jiffy Lube you really hate take it to them to get the lights changed The poor dudes changing my burned out lights took two hours no kidding because they had to unscrew strange bits of metal hiding the screws for the actual lights and they had to do so at a really odd angle basically bruising their fingers Glad I didn t even try to change those things myself By the way if your rear light cracks you have to get the entire casing replaced including the part behind the bulb and it ll set you back over 100 Seemed silly to me when it was just a bit of red plastic that had been cracked As you can tell I m not a big fan of the Taurus now It has a good safety record for collisions room to sit five people and a good sized trunk It heats up nice and quickly in the winter largely I suspect because the engine seems to kick out a lot of heat that the car can t use " Neg," My family bought a 1995 Ford Taurus GL sedan back in 96 when the car was only a year old At the time the car was in excellent condition with low mileage and a clean interior However 4 years later the hands of time have taken their toll Our Taurus is now pushing 100 000 miles and the car is definitely showing its age and then some This particular model is a bare bones vehicle I think it may have once been part of a rental fleet Power is delivered by a wimpy 3 0L V6 which even when new produced a measly 140 horsepower Most mid size sedans of its time easily eclipsed its power output Now five years later it seems even weaker than before The engine is mated to the standard transmission in this case an electronically controlled 4 speed automatic with overdrive Ford transmissions are not known for their crisp shifts and this one is no exception The term quot slushbox quot never seemed more appropriate The entire car is tan Not that there s anything wrong with the paint in fact the paint quality is quite good it s just so drab This car s one asset is that it s invisible in traffic Unfortunately it s also invisible in the parking lot especially considering that 95 if I remember correctly was the year Ford Taurus out sold every other passenger car in the States Thank God they weren t all tan The interior is to its credit pretty comfortable The front split bench seat is comfortable but my tastes lean more toward buckets I also prefer a floor mounted shifter as opposed to this model s column mounted shifter but it wasn t my choice so I m stuck with it As I ve said the car is showing its age The engine has lost most of its pickup what little it had in the first place and the fuel mileage has dropped The transmission s shifting has gotten even sloppier if such a thing is possible and the seats have lost most of their comfort All in all if you re going to buy this vehicle do yourself a favor and find one with a better trim level br br " Neg," The Taurus Line of vehicles started in 1989 the concept was borrowed from the German auto makers Design a car that was ergonomically correct and customer appealing inside while being fuel efficient and aerodynamic on the outside This car had a great start in the eyes of the American consumer Taurus had been the number 1 selling vehicle in the United States for 5 years and customers loved it s pre Euro body shape that was very very slippery and fuel efficient But sad to say Ford has lost site of the Target the American consumer s love of driving and appeal for performance and speed in a vehicle I must admit I own a 1989 Taurus S H O and in my biased opinion Ford should have continued along this line of thought A family sedan that drives like a sports car The 1989 Taurus S H O was a collaboration between Ford and Yamaha motors that met the theme It drove and looked like a family sedan but had all the excitement and and appeal of a fuel efficient sports car I still own the 1989 S H O and still fully enjoy driving it By the way this article was written by a single man with no children I pray that Ford and Yamaha motors will reunite for one more encore 2001 S H O The newer Taurus lacks passion in the driving and performance departments br br " Neg," It simply amazes me that the Ford Taurus is still in production After many years of major transmission engine and general quality control complaints one would have thought this car would have landed itself in an early grave Unlike many other cars that had caused their owners so much anger and grief do to poor reliability quality control and lack of dealer support i e the Hyundai Excel the Ford Taurus somehow made it past all those thousands of unhappy customers and is still being sold for the 2002 year with the claim that it is one of the best selling cars in America b For the 2002 model year the Ford Taurus Sedan comes available in a multitude of trim lines that include the base LX the SE SES tester and SEL The wagon is offered in SE and SEL trim 2 powerplants are also available All trims besides the SEL come standard with the reliable yet anemic OHV 3 0 Vulcan V6 while a DOHC Duratec 3 0 V6 is standard on the SEL and is an option on the lesser trim lines Transmissions include a standard clunky unrefined 4 speed automatic i Driving Impressions i My tester Taurus SES Deluxe had the optional 3 0 DOHC Duratec engine almost a 900 option At one point in time 1996 I was impressed with this engine but alas other companies have moved ahead with technology and for 2002 this engine just seems like it s lagging in the refinement department Off the line acceleration with the Duratec V6 is fair but the DOHC Duratec seems lackadaisical compared to the 3 0 V6 in the 2002 Accord and totally anemic compared to the a href content 54731378308 3 5 V6 in the Nissan Altima a On take off the Duratec almost strains to get this 3 500lb vehicle up to speed Don t get me wrong the car is not slow by any means it just has to work much harder to get up to speed than the competition The 4 speed fully automatic transmission coupled to this engine only makes accelerating problems worse The transmission while loads refined over the AXOD tranny equipped in the 1986 1995 Tauruses still lacks the precise shifting associated with cars like the Camry or even the Chevy Impala Clunky automatic shifting between 1st gear and 2nd is still noticeable and shifting too soon high gear around 30 MPH is still annoying as the car has virtually no power at this speed in high gear so automatic down shifting and up shifting while driving through town is almost inevitable if you don t manually take it out of overdrive Handling in the 2002 Taurus is good however like most family cars on the twistys this car tends to lean which can be quite prevalent around bends at high speeds The 2002 Taurus SES is not a bad handler for what it is but like the powertrain most of the competition has the edge in this department as well Cruising in this relatively large family sedan is not exactly another downfall for the Taurus SES but it s also not an attribute worth boasting about When cruising at 60 65 MPH wind and engine noise can be heard in the cabin but for the first time while in a Ford Taurus it did not bother me With the older generation wind and engine noise would get very annoying and while it still can get annoying when accelerating under full throttle the 2002 Tauruses are nowhere near as noisy at least not with the Duratec engine Since it s redesign in 2000 the Ford Taurus seems to take bumps much easier and rattles are kept to a minimum jolts are also much easier on the spine I can remember driving the 96 1999 Tauruses and not believing how many rattles and unexpected jolts would be present on bumpy surfaces There is a major improvement vs the last generation in this dept Hills are taken well Surprisingly the Duratec V6 enables this heavy weight to tackle up to 7 grades without having to automatically down shift to maintain 75 MPH and can even gain speed up these sorts of inclines if given good right foot power again without the need for the automatic to down shift Braking in the 2002 Taurus SES deluxe is average good Despite this car having the infamous front disc rear drum set up it has standard 4 wheel ABS which help assure good safe stops I was somewhat impressed with braking however I still feel that with the price of the Taurus SES deluxe 4 wheel discs with ABS should be standard equipment Even with the tall gearing fuel economy is only average The EPA is 20 27 which is lower than the larger less sophisticated 3 8 OHV engined Chevrolet Impala Fuel Economy gov has more info on EPA ratings i Interior Accommodation i The interior of the 2002 Taurus SES is a mixed bag While the car possesses many strong attributes this car also has its obvious weak points The interior vs its recent predecessor s is much more desirable yet still remains cheap looking and the materials are still not up to par For example the dash seems dated cluttered and uninteresting The instrument cluster is relatively small but offers all the gauges you could want Tachometer temp gauge etc etc are added for driver convenience and are very easy to read while driving Some noteworthy options on the deluxe SES include AC 6 disc in dash CD player adjustable pedals these adjustable pedals may sound cool in theory but I feel Ford should have saved the money and used it on the poor quality leather seating WWW CARS COM has more info on all equipment that can be had with the SES deluxe trim Standard amenities include your basic family bag Dual air bags 4 cup holders remote keyless entry power everything and cruise control All amenities can boast that they are ergonomically friendly however the stereo system is very cluttered much like the systems in the Volvo line up This system also falls short in the clarity department and received terrible FM reception while driving through local mountain valleys Seating is average yet again falls short of the competition My SES tester was equipped with optional front bucket plastic feeling leather seats with a floor auto shifter and console betwixt the driver and passenger These seats offer good support and standard 6 way power adjustments but due to the cheap feel they really put a hamper on certain aspects of my driving experience with this car Wearing a T shirt and the outside temp being 55 degrees yes that s all it gets here during the day my arms felt like they were resting on ice cubes while first trying to get comfy in these pleather seats The quality of the leather actually reminded me of the poor leather seating in my a href content 48232304260 1989 Mercury Sable a The rear seats are made of the same cheap material which offers a 60 40 split configuration Like all Ford Tauruses room remains very good front and rear passengers will enjoy more than enough room for long trips Storage is also good Tons of room for a family of 5s weeks worth of groceries There are also many storage compartments throughout the cabin i Exterior Innovation i The exterior of the 2002 Ford Taurus while once looking like what many thought looked like a jelly bean back in 86 than a space ship in 96 has now joined the world of Plain Jane automotive design There are large see through effect head lamps and angled tail lamps but this car still looks like every car you see on the Hertz rental car lot The 16 5 spoke alloy rims and optional spoiler do add some sport to this sedan but still looks every bit the part of a car that was made to get lost in traffic The loss of the dual exhaust system on the Duratec equipped models just makes it that much harder for this car to look sporty Price Reliability Warranty i With the 2002 model year coming to a close I m sure there are rebates out there on these cars however my tester had none and was priced at a whopping 23 000 without taxes Reliability with the Ford Taurus has almost always been poor I always hear from Taurus owners that their new car has had no problems but after 3 years they are in the shop getting a new transmission This has been the norm for these cars for some years now and I am now getting complaints that the 99 models are having reliability problems Not sure if Ford fixed any of these problems but if this car is a must on your shopping list and you can afford it I would ask for an extended warranty as Ford only offers a 3 year 36 000 mile warranty with roadside assistance Other Cars To Consider In Random Order b i 1 Toyota Camry 2 Kia Optima a href content 62942318212 http www epinions com content 62942318212 a my review 3 Hyundai Sonata a href content 59795869316 http www epinions com content 59795869316 a my review 4 Nissan Altima a href content 54731378308 http www epinions com content 54731378308 a my review 5 Honda Accord a href content 52439649924 http www epinions com content 52439649924 a my review 6 Daewoo Laganza 7 Chevy Impala 8 Monte Carlo a href content 61018443396 http www epinions com content 61018443396 a my review 9 Mercury Sable 10 Dodge Stratus Happy Car Shopping " Neg," One of Newton s laws of motion states paraphrased that a body in motion tends to remain in motion The principle under discussion is commonly known as inertia Inertia we all know is not merely a physical phenomenon it s also a phenomenon that exerts influence over such varied arenas as the stock market and personal relationships how many couples do you know for instance that stay together far too long because the act of breaking up takes too much energy Inertia occurs in the marketplace of that we can be certain One of the most telling forms of inertia is a consumer s attachment to a brand or to a model Such devotion asserts itself in an It done me right the last time so I ll stick by it the next time attitude a sort of Tammy Wynette model for consumption We often sense inertia here at Epinions especially in the Automotive category where hardly a day goes by that I don t read a review stating that I have always bought insert car maker i cars In fact automobiles may be the only consumer product in which inertia is an inherited force hardly a day goes by in which I don t read a review that says my family has always bought insert car maker cars Perhaps I grew up in an unusual family my parents drove Pontiacs Fords Chevvies Dodges Chryslers Oldsmobiles Studebakers Ramblers you name it they drove it some time in the fifties sixties or seventies And so I never developed that somewhat slavish brand loyalty and I venture the condition best described by the observation that love is blind But I know that there are a lot of blind consumers out there b America s Most Popular Car b Advertisements tell us that the Ford Taurus is America s most popular car Note however that you can always tell when an advertising man is lying because his lips are moving What is true is that the Taurus is one of the most popular cars ever sold in this country and if you lump Mercury Sable in with the Taurus there are as many of them on the road as there are of any other vehicle More importantly the Taurus an ugly melted looking critter at its birth marked Ford s re emergence as a power in the mid sized car market after more than a decade of shoddy quality ill advised experimentation and simple ignorance of consumer trends Finally America was making a car that was competitive against Japanese imports so much so that it actually began making inroads into that import market Hooray for American ingenuity and engineering As such the Taurus developed a near cult following giving a new generation a vehicle on which to lavish the family s Ford addiction Suddenly if you ached to drive a stylish dependable car you didn t have to hide the Toyota from Dad or watch Uncle Stan sneer at the Honda And so the Taurus and its name plate twin the Mercury Sable became Ford s comeback kid Three cheers for Henry Edsel and the rest of the Fords b Fast Forward to 2002 Over the years I ve driven lots of Tauruses Tauri always as a rental I ve driven them through snow in the baking desert sun at the beach and on winding mountain roads While I ve never been tempted to buy a Taurus frankly it s larger than I need I ve never been unimpressed by the car either This is a vehicle that s always seemed to be a solid dependable if somewhat boring performer but then I d never reviewed one for Epinions either So here s my chance after having looked at a 2002 Taurus with a critical eye b The Car My ever faithful suppliers at Enterprise rented me a 2002 Taurus SE model a four door with the stock V6 Vulcan engine and a four speed automatic transmission This particular model has a convertible front seat which is a bench seat with a center panel that unfolds into a console and or armrest to create the illusion of bucket seats The vehicle came equipped with dual airbags power doors windows mirrors cloth seats AM FM Cassette tilt wheel cruise control intermittent wipers styled aluminum wheels and AC I picked it up with about 5500 miles on the clock I turned it back in with just over 6000 five days and 500 miles About 400 miles were highway driving the rest on city streets and freeways in the Austin and Houston areas Weather was mostly dry though my return to Austin encountered some moderate showers b Styling Notes For those interested in such things the vehicle was a metallic charcoal gray with a multi shade gray interior That particular combination is apparently quite popular one night in my hotel parking garage I had to choose among the Taurus a Mustang and a Contour all in that color combination I stayed with the Taurus cause I didn t have keys for the Mustang This model was restyled by Ford with the 2000 model year Speaking from memory earlier models were far more dependent upon the oval motif and still retained some of the original version s melted external contours The restyling possesses slightly more angularity than the old version with sharper slope breaks at the base of the rear window and on the trunk line The interior has much of the chunky look adopted by many automakers in the latest 90s and early 2000s Blocks of foam filled naugahyde tend to fight for supremacy with contoured plastic panels in the dash and on the doors The seating arrangements do not appear to have changed from earlier models and the instrument panel and dashboard layouts are little changed if at all b Driver Car Interface The Taurus handles moderately well for a mid sized family sedan cornering is responsive with neither crispness nor poor control The driver has a good connection to the road when compared to larger vehicles such as the Lincoln Continental but is more isolated than when driving most Japanese sedans Mitsubishi Galant Toyota Camry Braking tends to feel a bit mushy at highway speeds The stock 155 hp Vulcan V6 possesses adequate reserve power at highway speeds but is noticeably weak on acceleration from a standing start this is the least powerful of three available V6 engines I averaged about 21 5 MPG with this engine note mostly highway driving The four speed overdrive transmission shifts smoothly and responsively for the most part In this model the shifter is mounted to the steering column The cockpit is laid out comfortably with most controls easily accessible and few if any surprises The intermittent wipers and headlight dimmer switch are located on the turn signal stalk The cruise control buttons are on the face of the steering wheel on off on the left and accelerate coast resume on the right b Driving Environment The driver s seat in this configuration has a seat back tilt adjustment and forward backward adjustment both manual There is no lumbar adjustment Driver seating is relatively comfortable though the lack of lumbar support is somewhat bothersome Rear seat entry in the four door models is a piece of cake and rear seat room is average or above for vehicles of this class There are sturdy anchor points for two child car seats on the car s rear deck There is a single small rather strangely shaped glove compartment and the ubiquitous door side map pockets Ford provides a single cubby in the dashboard for front seat passengers Rear seat passengers have pockets on the seatbacks suitable for stowing a magazine and little else There are two power ports both in front one doubles as a cigarette lighter The rearseat passengers have two flip out cupholders front seat passengers have two cupholders molded into the underside of the fold up seatbottom This latter surface also has minimal storage for cassettes and a few coins it dumps its contents when inverted no surprise there to form a seat cushion The only locking space in the cabin is the glove compartment Note that when the seat is in bench configuration there are no cup holders and little storage probably moot anyway since the room would be rather limited The trunk is a capacious 17 cubic feet although the sill is quite high making loading cumbersome for shorter drivers and passengers The circumference is notched for a cargo net though there was none in the rental vehicle it may be standard and have disappeared The lid opens with a key or a dash mounted remote and there is also an emergency latch for opening from the inside The rear seats do not fold down nor is there any sort of pass through for carrying long cargo a disappointing lack of a feature available in other trim lines and on competing models Engine noise is somewhat intrusive partially because this particular engine seems to be rather grumbly Road noise is minimal unless the road surface is coarse but wind noise is also rather pronounced b Highs and Lows These are my personal observations about this Taurus model with additional explanation where necessary i Positives the Accelerator Pedal good rear seat room large trunk capacity good climate control clear dash and instrument panel layout fuel economy i Mmmmm Maybe The Neutral Zone engine acceleration road handling and braking an average climate control system road noise and wind noise i Negatives the Brake Pedal no fold down rear seat amateurish looking design to interior components especially the console engine noise a disturbing metallic rumble at idle cheesy stock sound system poor quality control see below that stupid front seat console and lack of interior storage b On Quality One of the reasons many US buyers deserted American carmakers in the seventies and early eighties was the perception of poor quality in US cars If all American cars are as poorly made as this particular Taurus the exodus should begin anew In only four day s exposure I noted the following defects The ignition key was hard to turn and more than once failed to release from the START position this left the starter motor engaged until I manually released the key At least one body seam had variable width along its length a definite no no one panel is therefore misaligned There was a quarter of an inch of mismatch between interior panels on the back of the front seat Flashing excess plastic from the molding process had not been trimmed off the interior of the trunk especially in the clips for the cargo net The fuel gage would not rise above 7 8 even when filled b Overall Ford appears to have decided to rest on its laurels with this vehicle and has not done what is necessary to keep it competitive with the Camry Accord Galant Impala and the like I suspect they re counting on brand loyalty inertia to keep the Taurus selling while they expend all their energy on their SUVs Not a good idea Ford Not recommended for unimaginative exterior styling some truly stupid interior styling poor quality and average drivability There are better cars on the road let s buy them instead i Tammy Wynette country Western artist perhaps most widely known for her counter feminist anthem Stand By Your Man i " Neg," Maybe it s just me I But my husband s white 2002 Ford Taurus SE is bland chintzy and nothing to be proud of The most redeeming quality of the vehicle is that it s his company car and we aren t forced to shell out our hard earned cash for the not quite mediocre piece of crap With that said I have nothing against Ford or the Taurus for that matter But the fact remains that the auto giant made very few if any improvements over the 1999 SE model I in fact have a sneaking suspicion that the company has gotten a bit too comfortable in the market and in the buying public They have a built in audience that will buy a Ford Taurus regardless of higher quality and similarly priced competition like my own lovely 2002 Chevrolet Impala LS THE EXTERIOR From the outside the 2002 Taurus SE looks pretty good The style is a definite improvement over the late 1990 s spaceship look It in fact is a combination of the more popular earlier and boxier Taurus lines and the style popularized a few years back by creative Japanese auto manufacturers The side panels are relatively blah while the back and front are slightly attractive Ford designers shouldn t be proud of their work on the car redesigned initially for the 2000 model year As with the 1999 model the vehicle has some issues with aerodynamics The car should have been tested further in the wind tunnel Why Well if you drive one and haven t yet noticed rode grime and mud collects in strategic locations toward the back bumper It s not a major issue when you re driving but goes to show that the body isn t perfectly designed THE INTERIOR Upon sitting down in the bland medium gray interior the first thing that struck me was that it looks and feels cheaply made Considering the fact that the car retails for over 20K this isn t a good thing There are strange metallic decorations a badly contoured dash and not in the least bit attractive console Fortunately for Ford the console is nicely arranged and can be accessed easily by the driver It s roomy enough for a mid size vehicle though the seats aren t nearly as comfortable as some other similar vehicles The already uncomfortable seats have no features to speak of You can tilt the back and push the seat forward or backward Aside from that the 2002 Taurus SE lacks lumbar support and any of the other perks that are sometimes available The passenger seat is similar while the back bench is a bit cramped and not particularly comfortable for riders It would be good for small children but by the time kids become teens the seat might be a bit too small With an adequate 17 square foot trunk there is plenty of room in the Taurus The trunk is rather thick though is lacking when it comes to deepness extending toward the rear seats The rear seats are fixed and cannot be folded down in any way to allow for added capacity This is a major flaw in the design The SE model we have came with a CD player with average speakers and no real bonuses There isn t anything special to speak of about the temperature controls aside from saying yes there is in fact air conditioning One minor complaint I have is that the visors are cheaply made and the back side mirrors lack lights If memory serves I do believe that the 1999 Taurus SE at least featured that luxury Other standard features include power windows mirrors and brakes and keyless entry Just don t expect any good surprises This is a pretty stripped down car b THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE I will admit that I m jaded because of the 2002 Chevy Impala LS That car has a lot of energy pick up and is easy to drive The 2002 Taurus SE on the other hand feels like a dog The usually adequate V6 Vulcan with 155 horsepower engine is slow to accelerate The automatic shifting at times has problems between 1st and 2nd gears adding to the already problematic driving experience Once you get up to speed the car functions decently though not perfectly Passing is a laborious process What I can say is at least the brakes work well on both highways and city roads The steering wheel mounted cruise control is easy to use and functions pretty well Just a tiny tap of the brakes and the cruise immediately shuts off So far as gas mileage expect to get an average of just over 20 miles per gallon despite Ford s claims of higher As compared to my Impala with a much larger engine that s not too good That larger vehicle gets about 25 miles to the gallon on average The Taurus smallish engine should in reality be more efficient So basically you get a low energy car with iffy gas mileage Is this car sounding good to you yet I hope not b FINAL ASSESSMENT When compared to the earlier style model the 2002 Taurus SE looks nicer from the outside though it took a big step back with the interior At well over 20 000 for this car it s not a good buy I would recommend buyers look elsewhere to the aforementioned Chevy Impala the Honda Accord the Toyota Camry and even the Chevy Malibu before settling on the Taurus It really is a disappointing vehicle b SPECIFICATIONS 3 Liter V6 Vulcan engine 155 Horsepower 4900 186 Torque 3900 Sequential Multi port Fuel Injection Electronic 4 Speed Automatic Transmission Power rack and pinion steering Front wheel drive Standard power front and rear drum brakes Luggage Capacity 17 Interior Room 104 4 Fuel Capacity 18 gallons Fuel Economy 20 MPG expressway 28 according to Ford Towing Capacity 1250lbs Undersized spare tire Keyless entry Driver and passenger airbags Power windows mirrors Available exterior colors Arizona Beige Black Dark Shadow Grey Matador Red Medium True Blue Patriot Blue Silver Frost Spruce Green Vibrant White " Neg," Having driven Ford Taurus frequently from rental companies over the years I have come to a love hate relationship Now I have one of my own and nothing has changed This Taurus was not my choice it is a company car which I use 100 of the time for both business and personal use Ford is slowly improving the style particularly phasing out the oval shape of just about everything The elimination of the oval shaped back window and the hardening of some of the exterior flow lines towards the rear of the car have helped its looks greatly This Taurus has a fairly smooth ride and a good grip on the road Steering control is fairly tight Steering range is another story I have never before had to back up and try again to navigate tight spots as much as I have to with this car You get used to how far a wheel should turn on most cars this doesn t even come close Inside they have made attempts at comfort though they miss the mark The power driver s seat option is great and adjusts well Having that also allows you to get the optional adjustable pedals I love it You will never again have leg cramps on long trips or find yourself adjusting your legs because the pedals are too far away or to close This is particularly helpful for someone under about 5 7 Even with this comfort your ride will be uncomfortable because the seats are cheaply done They have little contour or padding to them For someone who spends a lot of time in a car I would think twice here The sun visors are cheaply done as well They feel like painted cardboard and are just about as thick No luxuries like illuminated mirrors or extension for side facing sun The interior is roomy however If you opt for the six passenger seating you will even find the middle seat up front to have good leg room One poor design is the armrest center console on the six passenger seating Folded up for the sixth passenger everything is fine except that there are no cup holders available to you You can then unfold and open the armrest to expose the cupholders and the console storage area while a second piece becomes the armrest The major problem here is that there is no cover to the storage area Anything you keep here including coins in the coin holder is in plain sight until you again fold everything up leaving you with no cup holders again The CD player and stereo seem to work well although CD and a cassette combination are not available It also has a theft remote lock and entry system So far nothing has changed I still have that love hate relationship with the Taurus " Neg," I was given this car as a company vehicle when I first arrived in the US 2 months ago My first thought on seeing it was what an ugly heap I was more impressed by the luggage space as it fairly easily swallowed all of the stuff a family of 4 carry when travelling to a new land Driving from the airport to the hotel I was immediately struck by how soft the seats were Almost sofa like in comfort if you only travel for a few miles Problem is that for longer journeys they are completely lacking in support and I was in agony after only 50 miles or so Next nuisance item was the multifunction stalk for controlling lights wipers etc Really these functions should be seperated but the use of a column gear change prevents that These column mounted gear stalks are very quaint but personally if I never see one again it will be too soon Performance was well how could I put this without cussing absolutely useless That thing couldn t pull the skin off a rice pudding It is flatter than roadkill and only slightly more attractive I don t know its top speed as I never felt sufficiently in control to test it It felt like it would have trouble outrunning a moped but I never had the courage to try it Brakes are adequate without being startling I did find that parking brake to be hopeless Anybody living in a hilly area is going to become rapidly hacked off with not having a normal handbrake rather than the stupid foot operated system It is impossible to gradually release a foot system so making fully controllable getaways a distant dream Handling Handling Nope not on this thing This is the sort of softly suspended barge on wheels American cars used to be like This might have been acceptable in 1975 but things have moved on a long way since then My last 3 cars were 2 SAABs and an Audi A4 so perhaps criticising the handling is a little unfair Problem is that Ford s offering in this category in Europe is the Mondeo and it kicks bottom Now that is a car they should be offering to the American public rather than the shoddy heap of garbage that is the Taurus " Neg," Well lets get right to the point I was a big owner of Taurus I have own practicly all models except this one Taurus has always been on the cutting edge for technology and power over most manufactures cars that are comparable to the taurus One of the main reasons why Taurus made it into the nascar races because Taurus was building a name for themselves of making powerfull cars in 1995 Taurus came out with their ultimate car which was the 3 8liter v6 SHO taurus folks let me tell you if you ever get a chance to ride in a 3 8 liter v6 SHO taurus do so because the minute that person lays his foot on the pedal your jaw will be in the back seat Why am i bringing this up because this is all important do to the fact how ford taurus has progressed into a awesome car That i kept buying because each year they kept getting better and better Then all sudden the ovals came out and a smaller taurus Then next was the smaller engine when i ask the manufacture if they have more engine packages he said no 3 0 is it Come on So i forgave them and look into the interior i wasn t impress it wasnt up to par with the typical norm of ford taurus in the pass It was cheap material The hole dash board layout is totaly illogical It came with a cassete deck has default and no cd player I m sorry but cassete deck built into the dash Cassete deck shouldnt even exist anymore in the car I praticlly laughed my head off when i saw this ford most still be living in the 1980 s Most foreign cars if not all come standard deafualt with a cd player built into the dash cassete then becomes optional and thats how it should be Air climate control totally sucks should be digital and temperature driven by degress They moved the unlock and lock on the up part of the door and not down where the fingers would normally be who in the world came up with that idea they must have been smokin somethin The spedometer totally sucks also you cant tell what the heck speed your doing theirs more lines and dashes then their are actuall speed listings so you have to study the damn dash to figure out what speed you are doing The console cup holders arent big enough The sterring on the car seems like it has a huge understeer to it It almost seems like you have to turn the wheel around 5 times just to get it to do a square corner On the passanger side their is abosultey no place for you to lay you feet down flat When you sit down your feet are always propt up on something And of course i could go on with the list The only good thing it has going for itself is the fact that it has a smooth ride and thats it o and the trunk size is decent thats it O just though of another bad the sound system in the car is terriable its really tinney sounding and the radio stations sound really far away when their not Ford has ruined the Taurus and this model i will not buy It breaks me heart to say this but i will probably not by another taurus until i see improvement I will be heading over to the toyota series of cars now Because it seems like the foreigns have more innovation and techonolgy in their cars now Ford is still living in the 1980 s And i do beleive when they came up with the ideas for this new series of ford taurus that they must have been smoken something for sure " Neg," You d never see me buy one of those but I drove enough in a rental car to make myself a good opinion Quite silent at highway speed except for tire noise Handling is not too bad and healthy body roll is contained brakes are strong enough in spite of the absence of rear discs Seats have absolutely no lateral support which makes driving on twisty roads a real pain Auto gearbox 4th gear is way too long engine lacks torque to hold it unless road is flat Steering mounted gear lever is clumsy although it saves space for stuff between the seats Upshifts are okay although not without hesitations at low speeds but downshifts are slow Build quality is really average to low I had the steering lock mechanism coming out inadvertently Plastics quality and assy leaves to be desired we are far far away from Audi league " Neg," 1995 E 150 Econoline conversion by d Elegant 300 I 6 E4OD 3 55 1 aftermarket interior and exterior 7000 GVWR aftermarket rear heat and a c Background I have owned and driven Ford vans since I was 16 years old I started out with a 1970 E 200 with 240 cid I 6 I have owned Ford vans with almost every engine available in them I have used Ford vans for solo commuting recreation hauling band members and band equipment hauling merchandise for distribution hauling frieght in the quot Just In Time quot expedited frieght business hauling students and now pulling my 25 travel trailer Currently I own a 94 E 350 Clubwagon Chateau 460 V 8 E4OD 4 09 1 differential Formerly the topic of this review I owned a 95 E 150 Econoline conversion van conversion by d Elegant The front suspension on this van was bad from the day I bought it with 43 000 miles It was back at the selling Ford dealer about 5 times within the first month and then other Ford dealers and alignment shops thereafter The last alignment that I had done was at a reputable truck spring shop They told me that the front coil springs were almost worn out Because of the aged springs they had to change the bushings on the ball joints to the maximum angle to align the van They stated the condition of the springs and bushings on their invoice and stated that the next time it is aligned it will need to have the front coil springs replaced before they will align it I know that this shop is reliable and trustworthy but what about the selling Ford dealer I had the salesman write in the sales agreement that the van would be properly aligned BEFORE I took possession of it Well I found out that it was never on an alignment rack before I took possession of it After the sale the service department at McCandless Ford in Mercer PA gave me nothing but lip service about aligning it They even sent me out on the road with the technician so that I could approve the work Well it felt good on the 2 lane road that we drove it on but it pulled when I drove it home on the interstate That is when I made the appointment at the spring shop to take a look at it I think that Ford had a problem with the E 150 chassis in 95 and nobody told me about it The 300 I 6 engine was very economical I normally got 18 20 mpg hwy but it dropped drastically to 10 mpg pulling the trailer A quiet engine good torque but no power to pull our 25 travel trailer up hills and keep up our speed There was no room for acceleration when pulling the trailer The E4OD transmission didn t do to much hunting However I stopped the hunting by locking out OD when it would downshift the first time I would then ride out the hill in 3rd or 2nd The 3 55 1 differential gave me no problems The conversion company is d Elegant The short comings that I found with the d Elegant conversion is the bay windows by Creation seating by Dygert sub of Flexsteel now and the aftermarket rear heat and A C I experienced the wind whistling in one of my bay windows I found the rear chairs to have seats as hard as rocks and I found the after market air to be really weak as far as the blower and the freon There is more to a vehicle than a pretty looking interior and exterior paint job This E 150 had a tow rating of 5000 and I bought a travel trailer with a 4900 GVWR The 300 I 6 in stock condition would pull the trailer well if my speed was under highway speed However on the highway I could not ever maintain the speed limit if I were pulling any degree of upward grade In fact I was often locked out of OD to pull grades and even sometimes in 2nd gear to pull big hills While the E 150 was good for economy it was not a good camper toter I would recommend the drive train to anyone wanting a dependable truck engine who is going to use it at lower speeds I would not recommend it to anybody who is doing alot of highway travelling I would not recommend any conversion van to anybody because the parts that the converters use I replaced this 95 E 150 with a 94 E 350 In the deal I got OEM quad seats 6 way power driver s seat with lumbar support OEM rear heat and air OEM windows heavier front coil springs heavier tires heavier rear suspension I am very pleased with my trade br br " Neg," We purchased the 2000 Ford Explorer 4WD XLT Sport Utility Vehicle SUV back in August of 99 We previously owned a Mustang GT and a Camaro z28 Yeah Huge change The reason we chose this SUV is because we were able to get the dealer to come off the price and we needed an SUV or Family Car before the birth of my second child Since our purchase we are extremely disappointed and unhappy with our Explorer Don t get me wrong we enjoy the spacious seating and all the options But the all around product is very low quality for the big bucks you pay Engine options for our model included 4 0 liter 160 hp V6 Which feels like very little power when starting out For highway driving it handles okay but has a lot of wobble feeling on the inside and you hear a lot of road noise Our car is Wedge wood Blue with light gray interior The body is extremely durable We have had a very minor 3mph fender bender and it done no damage to our rear bumper but pealed off the paint and dented the other cars front bumper The interior is really easy to maintain We have two toddlers and you could imagine our fears with having the light interior but I am proud to say that there has not been one spot that we couldn t get out After about 3 months of owning this SUV we started having a weird problem with the windshield wipers For some unknown reason while driving down the road the windshield wiper would suddenly turn on by itself and swipe the window about 3 times and then stop We had one incident were they would not work at all very scary We of course took them in to get fixed along with another strange mechanical defect the check engine soon light would always stay on They fixed the windshield wiper motor and said that a sensor went out causing the engine light to stay on so they fixed that Shortly after this day we received a recall on the wipers During the next summer of owning this SUV we had a few incidents were the SUV wouldn t go in reverse with out putting it in drive first Not good when in tight places 0P The only happened a few times and we called the dealer about it but said that they couldn t duplicate the problem unless it happened while they were looking at it Well needless to say we never took it in because it stopped But it still bothers us Our latest problem with this really loud high pitched whining sound that comes from the under side but only happen while driving under 20 MPH and when its cold Well we took it into the shop yesterday to be exact and the darn thing wasn t doing it so they did nothing for us But What do you know it started doing it again that same night GRRRRR I know that all cars are not 100 perfect and that these problems are minor But the latest deaths and Tire recall as well as the big fears of the SUV rollovers The one SUV that seems to be involved in most of the rollovers is the Ford Explorer These recent facts have brought my husband and I to the decision of trading in our Explorer for 4door car If anyone asks me in the future what I think of the Ford Explorer I would say exactly what I have here I would most definitely NOT recommend it to anyone br br " Neg," Entering this vehicle without a key is easy On some models keyless entry systems are in use This consists of a number pad on the driver door The owner simply punches a combination to enter the vehicle quot What s so bad about that quot you say Well the problem is this If the correct combination is entered by itself or within ANY STRING OF NUMBERS the door unlocks A thief could find one of these vehicles in a dark parking lot and just sit next to it and punch random numbers untill the door opens There is no time delay and no maximum number of tries I tried this myself and was able to enter the vehicle after about 3 minutes of random number punching Also a permanant quot backup quot code is in the system in case you forget your personal code This cuts the time it takes to punch the correct random number considerably I would strongly caution anyone buying this vehicle to inquire with the car dealer as to whether or not this problem has been fixed on new models As for those who already own one I would consider disabling the keyless entry system br br " Neg," I rented a Ford Explorer 2000 for 3 days and was unimpressed This was an 8 cylinder and had less than 1K miles on it The gas mileage must have been around 14 15 The first thing I noticed in the rental parking lot was the Firestone tires on the vehicle The car seemed stiff to me in handling The steering is tight and any small movement will cause the car to pull appreciably So it is easy to see how one could turn one of these over with a sudden yank on the steering wheel The interior was nicely designed but the leg room was inadequate I am only 5 5 quot and found that I could not put the seat back far enough for my comfort Also I found that after a while the seat felt uncomfortable There were four different buttons for seat positioning but two seemed to have the same function The interior was great for cargo space but there seemed to be even less leg room for the back seat area This vehicle was hard to get in and out of because of the wheel height Even using the running board it was not easy to get into I had to pull myself up into it The visibility is good since you are sitting higher than most other vehicles on the road There are many settings and features on the radio and this one came with a very good quality cd player The quality of the sound was good The locking mechanism was on a fob key holder and it worked well Although I thought that they could have increased the sound to better hear the locking mechanisms for safety sake The power was okay this one was an 8 cylinder not impressive and not a real powerhouse despite the mileage or lack thereof I doubt that I would ever own one of these Explorers I currently own a Jeep Grand Cherokee and have been a Jeep owner for over ten years So perhaps my bias is showing br br " Neg," I test drove and was about to buy this vehicle It is large and roomy but somehow even on the luxury model it doesn t feel luxury It has a very basic feel to it After test driving this vehicle I looked this vehicle up in the Consumers Report This car rated fairly well but not great and for the price it should be great The Toyota 4 Runner is about the same price and is of amazing quality and reliability A friend of mine is a Account Executive for a large pharmaceutical corporation that purchased a fleet of Explorers for their account exec s she also had just owned a 4 runner and she said that her car has not been that great and is not that reliable She insisted that I not purchase the Ford Explorer First hand experience is a very reliable resource for information I am not telling you to not purchase this vehicle I am saying quot Do the research quot It looks pretty but if the maintenance and depreciation stinks you re not getting that great of a deal If you can buy another quality SUV even if it s a little bit more but it s not in the shop all the time and it has good value when you go to sell it you have made out Shop wisely and good luck P S A little tip to save you money Unless you off road more than once or twice a year buy the 2 x 4 and not the 4 x 4 The 4 x 4 costs several thousands more and raises your insurance rates Most people make the mistake of thinking that they have to have 4 x 4 You don t You have truck handling and height for rough riding a 4 x 4 is only really needed for off roading soft sands etc br br " Neg," I recently had the opportunity to drive a NEW less than 1 month old Ford Explorer XLT I approached this car with an open mind I d heard good things from my mother the owner of the car in question as well as bad things from those who didn t own one A spring break where I was to be the sole driver of this car should have been the perfect chance to bond with the new car Right Wrong At first glance I liked the Explorer The paint was nice console was nice leather on the seats was nice room looked nice When I stepped into the drivers seat for the first time my good impression of the car began to fade Due to the make of the seats in order to have the back at a correct position for driving the quot headrest quot just a continuation of the seat was so far back that I seriously had concerns about major whiplash in the event of a minor fender bender Despite trying different positions of the seat back at no point could I get the headrest at a position in which to stop my neck from being whipped back in the littlest of accidents The bottom of the seat was comfortable however which while a plus didn t make up for the headrests I approached the Explorer thinking of it as an SUV The front windshield would indicate otherwise It s about the same size as the windshield on my Chevrolet Prizm The size of the windshield isn t a great problem but a fairly large annoyance Because of the position of the console in reference to the roof the rearview mirror is literally in the middle of the windshield which makes viewing small items such as street signs difficult when in the correct position I ve got to belive there is some design that could solve this problem This car CANNOT take bumps It is astounding to me that a new Explorer shakes so very much when going over the smallest of bumps These are bumps that do NOT rattle any other SUV s including the Suburban and Tahoe When a 95 Suburban takes the same bumps better than a brand new Explorer I just cringe when thinking about how it will be in 5 years Going down a fairly bumpy road Expect to have a horrible headache from your brain being rattled around in your skull even at speeds as low as 10mph I really do love going to the gas station daily Really I do especially when the snow is blowing horizontally in my face SUV s while known as gas guzzlers do have standards The Explorer has a 17 gallon tank This is the same size as my boyfriends Toyota Supra which for those of you who don t know is a smallish sports car A 17 gallon tank wouldn t be so bad except when you factor in the mpg In average city highway use you get about 14 mpg if you re lucky This is less than both the Suburban and Tahoe For a car of this size to have such a small gas tank when the designers are aware of its low gas mileage it s completely insane I tried to like the Explorer but in the end I just couldn t I belive my first words to my mother were quot Didn t you research this car before you bought it quot I will be sticking to my original decision to buy a Chevrolet Tahoe the Ford Explorer XLT just isn t worth it " Neg," Momma said that if you can t say anything nice don t say anything at all Sorry Ford but I can t follow that adage when talking about my Explorer God rest his soul I bought my 1990 Explorer XLT 2wd used right after I graduated high school in 1997 With about 120k miles I ran it up to 175k albeit a high number but not outside normal boundaries within 2 and a half years And might I add not without signifigant problems Within those 30 months I replaced the transmission 2000 two air conditioner compressors 500 and it needed a third toward the end the radiator 100 patch that didn t work and the replacement was a Chirstmas present along with numerous minor repairs that only added to my frustration electrical problems faulty starters leaky oil gauges that ruined some pants etc When it was running I really enjoyed my Explorer The gas milage wasn t terrible for such a big SUV but still not too economical which was only compounded with my other truck related expenses I felt safe driving it not too topheavy but quite sturdy due to its broad wheelbase and had lots of fun piling up dozens of friends at a time for roadtrips While the good outnumbers the bad it doesn t really outweigh the bad Friends with Jimmys or Blazers never had the ammount of problems I did I wouldn t reccoment an Explorer to a friend or even a despised enemy It just didn t measure up to the expectations given to me by the SUV craze I m musch happier with my Honda Accord br br " Neg," I must say that when I leased my new Ford Explorer Sport 4WD it was to replace my 1998 Ford Explorer Sport I loved the 1998 model It was dependable reliable and got me where I needed to be even in the worst weather Even on the beach it was super When my lease expired and it was time for me to choose another vehicle I went to the same dealer and traded the 1998 for the 2000 model At first I loved it Then came very minor things that went wrong that I didn t think should have been wrong with a BRAND NEW SUV The dealership fixed these things without problems but then came the Firestone tire recall I must say I would not recommend the Ford Explorer to anyone after this tire recall It truly is not fair to be so down on Ford and I realize that the tires were not known to be defective when they were installed on my vehicle however it was the WAY THE RECALL WAS HANDLED or should I say mishandled that turned me off to my SUV I was told my car was safe to drive dependable and reliable I was also told that even though my tires on this vehicle were defective there was no need to worry and that I didn t need to replace them If it made me feel better they recommended I find the nearest Firestone tire dealer go there and have them replaced but that it was NOT NECESSARY to do so It was this mishandling of the incident that makes me hate this particular vehicle and I wouldn t recommend this vehicle to anyone Furthermore I took the SUV back to the dealership told them I didn t have time to be calling running around looking for Firestone tire dealers and that since this vehicle was under lease and I didn t own it and since I have been a loyal customer to this dealership for many years I felt strongly it was their problem and they should replace the tires I was told next that I should contact Ford Motor Company in Michigan and take it up with them because the dealership had no intention of replacing these tires " Neg," When test driving a new Ford Explorer it is easy to ask yourself Why How is this the most popular SUV in recent years What has it done to deserve this achievement The Ford Explorer was once new in hip but has quickly become painstakingly dull The car has not evolved seriously in the last five years The looks used to be daring no they are overdone The Explorer drives more like a nightmare than a dream The wheel jerks slowly there is not desired glide effect here The Explorer s interior as well is uninteresting the best new feature theyve come up with is the CD dial on the steering wheel Other than that the interior has somewhat of a cheap feel As the next millenium approaches it is time for Ford to think of something new The Explorer will not cut it much longer Maybe a 2001 edition of the Bronco will bring trusty SUV lovers back into Ford s open arms br br " Neg," Who wants one ANybody If you answered NO give yourself a pat and you can stop reading here If you said yes give yer self a kick in the butt This sour lemon of a vehicle oh where do I even start How about puttin 2 pistons through the roof 4 months after I got it Ok I got a brand new engine and since had no problems Till a year later I the jackass kept it The lemon would not start one day So I bring it to Ford 1700 later I get it back running like new 2 weeks later it rains lemon would not start I bring it to Ford 750 later runs like new Different problem yea right It ran good for about 1 month then it rained I bring it to Ford 1200 later runs like new Next day I went through a puddle Not a lake not a deep puddle a little puddle on the side of the road IT DIED SO it sat in my driveway for almost a year rusting away Ford explained to me many times that each thing they did was a different part and did not touch what they did last time So I had to pay all over again If you want to buy this Truck my suggestions are Send Ford a check for your purchase price add on another 5000 for the repairs then just leave the truck at the lot so it is not stuck in your driveway " Neg," We leased this vehicle for 2 years We began our lease in late 1997 just before our first son was born thinking that it would be a great vehicle for kids groceries travel and all that First off it was an absolute pig on gas Put your foot on the pedal and watch the gas gauge go down down down It had guts great passing power but you sure needed to feed it lots The 2 doors feature was kind of lame too I would have changed that out of everything that I found wrong with it Simply because getting a child in and out of a car seat is a real pain when you only have 2 doors Then of course there were all the mechanical problems From the electric seats breaking malfunctioning all the time making access to the back seat even harder to the 4 wheel drive kicking on and off without notice If the heating or cooling system was on while idling at a stop light you would hear this strange quot clicking noise quot which always made me nervous This truck kind of reminds me of Windows 95 when it first came out it needed the bugs worked out before putting it on the market And 4x4 it is not I took my Explorer Sport onto a gravel road and down a somewhat steep and bumpy slope and I couldn t get back out without a lot of effort My 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser makes the 97 Explorer look like a sorry excuse of a 4x4 that s for sure And I could pretty much guarantee a flat tire each and every time I took it down a gravel road 5 flat tires in less that 2 years I hear the tires on my truck have recently been recalled so perhaps that had something to do with it The the paint began to peel off the front hood the power windows would work some days and then not work the next 3 burnt out headlights umm should I go on Who should buy this vehicle A Ford Mechanic I don t recommend it Sure it looks good and is fun to drive but who needs the headaches br br " Neg," I can remember when the explorers first came on the market and I vowed I would someday own one I loved the looks of them At the time though we had only one child and room was not a factor We have had our Explorer for almost 2 years and it wasn t the best choice of vehicles for us We went from a Pontiac Minivan so the lack of room was definitely noticed The kids never have enough room for their quot stuff quot and constantly fight over it As far as driving an explorer we needed a 4x4 because of our muddy roads and snow and it s rough riding If you are wanting a leisurely drive I don t recommend the this vehicle We have recently had some problems with it too but it may be just OUR vehicle It will not start on occasion and fortunately hasn t left me completely stranded It will turn over but it sounds like it s out of gas We took it in to get it checked but they can t figure it out One minute it won t start and 5 minutes later it will drives me crazy In the are of comfort for me it s just not very appealing there either I need room for my purse and anything else I need for work and if I m the only one it s okay but get another adult in and there s just no room for us either I have to drive 18 miles one way to work every day so gas mileage is another factor I only get around 17mpg However no matter what vehicle I choose I will be faced with this because I need a bigger vehicle that sits me up higher and has 4 x 4 Overall I don t quot hate quot my explorer but now that I ve had one I ve satisfied my curiosity and will not own another for a main vehicle We should have chosen the expedition If you have children I wouldn t recommend this vehicle if you want any room at all However for a single person or two person family it would be fine It will seat 5 but adults struggle to sit comfortably in the back " Neg," I bought this car new in 1997 to replace my Nissan 240SX I was looking for a vehicle that was both sporty yet very roomy and capable enough to handle the winter s snow and ice The ability to be a cargo hauler was required The initial test drive as well as the first 3 months were wonderful The vehicle met all of my requirements not to mention that I felt it was a great looking vehicle The problems started around month three lasted for four years and ended just two weeks ago when I sold that car The minor stuff first a major annoyance was the tight access to the rear seat At first I thought I could live with it but it soon became very annoying That is really nothing to fault the explorer for because 2 door vs 4 door is really a personal opinion But some things are just downright ridiculous In the four years I owned that car I had the throttle body replaced six times intake manifold gaskets replaced various recalls too numerous to list and had multiple transmission and 4x4 problems Just before selling the car my explorer started to make a loud clunking noise as the transmission dropped out of gear every time I stopped at a stop sign Equally amusing was the way it refused to go in reverse unless I first shifted into Park and waited 3 or more seconds On top of all that the body was starting to rust in four different places The dealer serviced this car every 3000 miles by the book No matter what preventative measures I took this car would break down After 4 years I just learned to accept it So 3 weeks after I made the last payment I sold that car On the plus side the front seats are relatively comfortable The interior remained fairly squeek free though in year three the car developed a rattle coming from just behind the driver s side door Also the power and torque that the engine develops is very impressive I can not recommend this car It is a service nightmare If for some reason you feel the need to take the plunge into this Ford nightmare spend as much as you can on an extended warranty you will need it " Neg," this vehicle is as good a car as any but not the greatest I have borrowed my fathers 97 ford explorer many times for long trips or lengthy city drives and for these purposes it is fine It is roomy and comfortable inside it offers a seperate set of controls for climate and music aside from the front seats set he chose leather seats which i personally do not care for so much but it also has a range of adjustment buttons for the front seats which can be nice There is a temperature gage and direction indicator near the rearview mirror His has a 6 CD holder and a tape player and a large area in the back for storage and such I think this vehicle though was built from the inside out They either were too concerned about minor inner details or put them all there to cover up the real problems It seems he has had so much little troubles here and there and he shouldnt really have any at all with as new as it is When the air conditioning runs in the summer when you are sitting at a light you can hear it running poorly with a repeated tick in it i have personally never been able to figure out how to convince the cruise control to operate A mysterious breakage of a handle near the driver seat occurred and blame was placed but never accepted It seems to me that they forgot to screw all the bolts in this vehicle tightly enough and while you are dazed and fascinated by all the pretty gadgets on the inside there is chaos going on outside it seems to me that he also had problems with the driver window or maybe it was the MPH gage when they went to fix it they gave it back and it suddenly randomly began chanting that his door was ajar I think for the reputation of ford and the price and year of this ford Explorer he should have had another 3 5 years At LEAST before little problems began appearing That was not the case though I would recommend if you are considering this vehicle you may want to consider a few others as well get any available review reports and test that have been done to this vehicle br br " Neg," While the Ford Explorer may for some be a terrific vehicle two years with mine has me wanting more for my money First thing I noticed about it was how the rear view mirror reduces the visibility when trying to see objects in front and slightly to the right The mirror creates more front blindspot than I have ever seen in a vehicle Definitely a safety oversight on Ford s part In addition the power windows have failed twice in the first year the front tires have worn irregularly due to parts not originally installed for front end adjustments that need to be added and an exhaust manifold that leaks which creates a tapping sound The manifold problem has been addressed three times with the service department and the problem still exists to some degree The service of my Explorer at the local dealer Merced CA has been extremely poor They have on three occasions not completed the work as promised and left me without a vehicle offering no loaner Add to this terrible gas mileage and I m looking to unload mine Sad thing is the retail value is a lot lower than your dealer will tell you " Neg," I was looking for the best sport utility on the market and Ford said they had the best so I went to go look at it I was pretty impressed for what I saw When I sat down with the salesperson I couldn t believe all the options the Explorer had I told the salesperson I wanted power in the engine but didn t want AWD They told my option was a new 4 6 OHC engine that had 200 HP compared to the V 8 that had 215HP After all was said and done I leased the vehicle for 2 years When I drove the Explorer home I was very impressed It had the power I wanted and it drove like a car Well this feeling was very short After a couple of months I felt like I was sitting in the engine compartment It was so noisy I couldn t hear myself think On one cold day in November I went outside to start the truck and heard banging coming from under the hood I couldn t imagine what it was I drove over to the dealership to see what it was and the service manager looked at it with two mechanics and still couldn t figure it out They told me to leave the truck there so they could run some tests After a week of tests and a recall notice they told me I needed a new cam and the upper portion of the engine the truck only had 4000 miles on it When I took the truck home it was still noisy in the interior but it drove well The next year and a half had it s ups and downs I returned to the dealership 41 more times to fix a bunch of problems Some of the problems were the L S R door was getting stuck it started to burn more fuel then it should have and it had a whole bunch of recalls If your looking to by a used Ford Explorer make sure you look into the maintenance history The truck itself is a good truck but Ford had alot of problems with the 1997 s br br " Neg," Regarding my soon to be EX Explorer I can say very little positive about this vehicle Now that my daughter is away to college I am finally allowing myself to purchase my mid life vehicle probably a miata This Explorer has been a nightmare from day one Besides being somewhat over priced the repairs on this vehicle alone could have paid for the note for a year With in my first year I had to have the front suspension re worked and the brakes adjusted 3 times Always it seems not under the warranty I dont know if this was the dealers fault or the vehicle but even though there were very few miles put on all repairs seemed to fall under the wear and tear clause of the warranty In driving this vehicle I found that cornering was somewhat clumsy and I was continualy feeling like I would tip over Gas milage was what you would expect from a suv it ran close to 15mpg The carpet in the back pulled up from the edges even though the biggest thing I would put back there were grocries or luggage There are many other SUV s out there that I am sure are better but I am tired of them It is time for something fun " Neg," I bought my Ford Explorer XLT w 5 speed transmission new in 1997 I was primarily interested in the vehicle for its roominess and its 4 wheel capabilities during the winter months Although I enjoyed the ride for the first few months I quickly became disappointed with the gas mileage and at 45 000 miles I lost the clutch 900 and I only do highway driving round trip commute Worcester Boston at 6 00a and 2 00p I had not lost a clutch in a vehicle since my Volkswagon days back in the 70s In addition I am terribly disturbed by the cost of servicing the vehicle at dealerships labor costs have recently jumped to 70 hr which is absurd It now costs 500 1000 every time I take the vehicle in to be serviced suffice it to say my next vehicle will NOT be a Ford Explorer To continue this saga eight months and 25 000 miles later a second clutch has been reported quot burned quot out from normal use My driving habits have not changed from the above And now the Ford dealership wants another 625 to replace this second clutch Ford will not stand behind its product so i am dumping this lemon into the laps of the dealership I have been driving standard transmission vehicles for 30 years and never have I had to replace a clutch in any vehicle with less than 100 000 miles in it Ford is the worst vehicle experience of my life They will no longer have my business br br " Neg," It seems as if Ford is still in it s constant struggle to produce a quality automobile My Family and I purchased a 1997 Ford Explorer used from a dealership The Explorer cost us roughly 23 000 and came with a leather interior and was almost totally loaded except for a sun or moon roof When we bought the Explorer she had already lived about 33 000 miles of her nasty painful life After about a month with no problems the brakes started to give us trouble Then about a week later we realized another problem You can only fit the little munchkins from The Wizard of Oz in the back seat The cargo space however was very good and if needed the Explorer can be used as a truck All of these things are very trivial compared to the typical problem with Fords that we encountered about 8 months ago The transmission failed However after this we were o k The transmission failing once was not a problem We got it fixed and nobody got hurt The true problem was 1 month after the transmission failed 300 miles since the 1st transmission failure The transmission failed again Many of my friends drive Explorers and among the 6 or 7 that do I have only seen 1 other case of transmission problems and only 2 more cases of problems in general with the car However you can say why I must vent my dislike for the Explorer We now own a Toyota 4 Runner and it performs great It is an excellent car and anyone who likes can read an epinion i wrote on that If you can pay the little extra bit of money for the 4 Runner then you will most likely save money in the long run If you do however choose to buy an Explorer get a long term extended warranty because you will need it If anyone would like more info on these 2 cars then you can e mail me at Odoyell hotmail com " Neg," I have owned a ford explorer sport for about two years I love the ride and the extras but the engine leaves something to be desired I had this vehicle for about three months and the engine siezed up and had to be completely replaced what a disaster A friend of mine had the same excate SUV and the SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM Ford sent him a letter and told him they were aware of the problems but as if yet there as never been a recall or an offer to exchange the engine before it leaves you stranded on some lonely road I still have this SUV but refuse to drive it on trips because of the questionable reliability br br " Neg," I recently was in the market for a used SUV I went to the Ford dealer to see what was in their used car stock The salesman told me they had just received a 97 explorer on a trade and he thought the car was in excellent shape I took his word for it and took the car out for a test drive Let me tell you this car was from from good shape It drove terribly The steering was loose and out of control the engine sounded like it was going to explode and the acceleration and power were nowhere near what i expected them to be I told the slaesman what i thought and walked out of the dealership That testdrive indicated to me fords quality and their desire not to have you pleased with your car but to make a sale no matter what " Neg," I purchased two new Ford Escorts in 1996 One a manual transmission for my daughter The other an automatic for myself The price looks Sunrise Red handling safety and comfort were perfect for us They both are 2 door hatchbacks with alloy wheels The driving has been smooth and comfortable The Escorts operating cost has been minimal I have not had any problem with the engine of my automatic My daughter has had an overheat light that comes on and had to be repaired twice The light was a false alarm and the car never overheated Both of us have had problems with the vehicle speakers One or more speaker had to be replaced in my daughter s vehicle This was not too suprising since she was in her early 20 s when we first got the cars My left front speaker fizzled last spring and needs to be replaced My daughter had a speaker and radio on order which still hasn t come so she bought her own and replaced them This is the biggest problem we have had with the cars Parts covered under warranty are taken off taken out and put on order and we still don t have them There was damaged plastic molding on the side of my car which needed to be replaced immediately It took a couple of months to get the piece so it could be replaced Both cars have had speakers on order since last spring My daughter has played taxi to the city of Minneapolis so her car has more than twice the mileage on it than mine does They are still running well without major problems It is a good quot kid car quot The Escort takes a lot and keeps on driving A good solid car for a little economy which will pile up a lot of miles without repair " Neg," I bought my 1996 Ford Escort in January 1997 with 9 000 miles on it I drove it with only minor problems until this last year Over the course of the last 6 years we regularly maintained it changing the oil every 3 000 miles The speedometer broke with around 25 000 miles but was still under warranty The AC went out on us in early 2001 The cost to repair it was outrageous but fortunately a mechanic asked if it was a dirty plug connection or something which it was so the problem was fixed for around 60 The interior is fairly comfortable The cloth seats held up well Rear speakers stopped working after the second year Instrumentation is easy to read however the check engine and check coolant lights came on at random times and after numerous diagnostic tests at around 70 dollars a pop we learned that they just like to do that Leg room is sufficient although we are fairly short people both under 5 10 My husband always had to drive with a travel pillow behind his lower back on long trips but I was fine We definitely wanted to stretch after a few hours The paint on the rear bumper is faded Gas mileage was fairly good we got around 30 mpg on the highway unless the AC was running and then that sucked it down much faster If you have children know that the AC does NOT reach the back even though it s a smaller car Our baby was always bright red even with it going full blast And while the AC is on you will not be going over any mountains We turned off the AC then because the car felt like it was straining We replaced the windshield twice 150 each new tires twice which are NOT a standard size and so are much more expensive between 55 and 75 each and a new front and rear engine mount 200 Now as to why I am writing this review In July 2002 the same month we paid the car off it stopped in the middle of traffic while my husband was coming to the airport to get us At 86 000 miles regularly maintained the car needs a new motor The cost to purchase a used motor will run around 3 000 A new motor will cost 5 000 After speaking with several mechanics Ford dealers etc everyone has told us that the cost to repair the car is more than it is worth Yes it is We are now without transportation with a toddler and one on the way We did not expect to be in this situation for years based on the reputation of Ford But we are No trade in value no chance to sell it no car Everyone says that s so unusual they don t normally do that Well mine did I would recommend staying away from Ford Escorts Replacing a motor at 86 000 miles is ridiculous We will not be buying a Ford again " Neg," We bought this car for price and fuel economy as a 2nd car It is a reliable car that gets good gas mileage Unfortunately it is microscopic the ride is unpleasant it rattles like crazy uncomfortable seats no features and if it came into contact with anything larger than a basketball it would be smashed to bits Not a fun car to own buy only if desperate You feel every pothole like you are being dragged over it face first and it rides as high as a skateboard The front seats are bearable but the back seat is quite possibly the most unpleasant place on earth It s acceleration is weak from its pitiful 1 3L four but it can nip in between cars and gets you where you need to go though I wouldn t take it on the highway at gunpoint I could almost call it sporty if its top speed was higher than 85 mph But all it is is a small hatchback nothing more Go for a sedan you probably shouldn t buy this under any conditions Its only plus is that it never needs repairs but we never use it much it has 25k on it that s all Much more and I m certain there would be more problems It s lack of power locks and windows is infuriating I d more than trade the power seat belt for those What s more ironic is that this is the GL model which by all rights should be better br br " Neg," I am not intimately familiar with the Ford 350 Series beyond reading the corporate blurb graciously provided by Ford However having observed quot up close and personal quot some of the driving done by 350 owners as well as some proud 250 and 150 owners as well I feel qualified to comment on one aspect of the vehicle That aspect would be the snappy space age appearance of the front end Pickups and Fords in particular used to take a perverse pride in being utilitarian and ugly but those days are over I can say this with complete certainty as I have been privileged to have been able to catch many a close up view of the lights grill design general aero look and ubiquitous Ford emblem in my rear view mirror usually while traveling at or slightly above the speed limit in the righthand lane Apparently this vehicle imbues its operator with the notion that it is made to be driven in the manner of a semi like real close to your rear bumper in the mistaken belief that such roadway bullying will cause me to speed up pull over or spontaneously combust At night this unseemly intimacy is generally accompanied by the use of high beams as well I am working on a device that will refocus incoming light back onto the offending vehicle s radiator and boil it dry My usual reaction to such foolishness is to ease off the gas a tad until we re both going about 10 mph slower so as to get an even better view of that fabulous front end and perhaps even sneak a peek at the smoke coming out of Zippy The Pinhead s ears I m not ready to switch vehicles just yet but it is a comfort to know that when the day arrives I need but to tap the brakes to facilitate some timely financing for my next vehicle Anyway congratulations Ford for designing a front end that fills my mirror and other too I m sure with a view of serious design thinking and implementation I m not trying to leave Chevy and Dodge pickup drivers out of this they can certainly be irritating in their own way but not with the panache of the Ford It may be Found On the Road Dead but ya gotta love the way it looks when it does br br " Neg," The F350 v10 Longbed Crewcab has a hidden problem that Ford has documented but does not freely inform the buyer that there is a problem with the rear drive line In that due to its length it has the potential to vibrate at highway speeds due to the angle inwhich the drive line sits I found out the hard way by purchasing this 35000 00 vehicle and dealing with the dealership run around The vehicle was returned due to the fact that they said that the problem could not be fixed but that it would not damage the vehicle to drive it that way That was all fine and dandy but when I asked them to put that in writing so that if that part failed they would fix it for as long as I owned the vehicle to me that means that we re not willing to back up our product but have a nice day The vehicle was givin back although it had a comfortable riding with plenty of room for the family as well as for hauling Excellent power and fuel mileage for this large of a vehicle In all its a good looking truck that I would purchase again but only if they have fixed the potential problem with the drive line br br " Neg," I live in the Houston area so seing a big truck driving down the road isnt anything special but seing one of the new F350 s crusin down the road just leaves me at a loss for words I love theese trucks They are solid work horses that can handle just about anything you throw their way We use them for pulling big 5th wheel car trailers to the race track and hauling our cattle trailers around but they are more than just work horse They are also beautiful on the weekend it makes a perfect truck to take out on the town and with the crew cab their is room for plenty of people When its at the track we get just as many compliments on it as we do our 8 second camaro " Neg," If you do daytime only driving the Ford Escort is the car for you In the two years of owning the car we had the pleasure of installing four headlamps and two taillights This became my husband s hobby I am distressed that since we have sold our Escort my husband has no past time He sits sullenly looking at our non Ford Escort car and he begs me to let him replace the working headlamps in that car just for fun I m still trying to get my husband interested in Parcheesi The car was easy to get in and out of once you pushed the weatherstripping back into place The car held four people comfortably and the back seat was roomy The blue color we chose seemed to be very popular in the Detroit area Only a four year old s tricycle has less power than the Escort that is if Dad is not pushing the vehicle from the back The engine noise was loud enough to drown out the words from the rider s in the back seat and there were so many shake rattle and rolls in the body even the mechanic that worked on the car shrugged his shoulders and gave up trying to find the cause Driving this car is an enjoyable experience if it is the first car you have ever driven and have nothing to compare it to I would recommend this car for the quot little old lady quot crowd that drives 3 miles to the store and back every other Friday around noon during the brightest light of the day Anyone else takes the risk of needing a seeing eye car br br " Neg," Being that I rented at least 5 of these babies makes me wonder has ford just totally and completely lost it beyond all measure I don t even know where to start lets go with Exterior Exterior actually doesn t look to bad I would even go as far to say that it actually looks sleek and somewhat sexy The paint job is not very good though I have already notice on many rental cars I have rented the paint starting to wear away in places Which can be scary if you want to purchase a Ford Taurus The headlights and taillights are pretty good no complaints their Dashboard It so obvious that the designing and quality stop right at the air conditioning vents Considering Ford actually put a cd player in the car this time is quite surprising to me Finally they step out of the 1980 s with the old cassette style I found the radio controls and cd controls to be very confusing and on more then one occasions they have almost proved fatal while I was driving Just to change radio stations is difficult while driving Considering the fact alone that changing cd tracks in the car is close to impossible Theirs a button for everything on the dash A button for bass a button for treble for fade well you get the point With all these buttons its close to impossible to figure out while driving what button to press to change the radio station or change cd tracks It becomes almost a point of aggravation you almost feel like ripping out the entire dash at times Anyway onto the drivers dash area I find the dash board to be pretty lit at night with red glows etc My major complaint is the fact you cant tell what speed your doing theirs more line and dashes then their are actually speed postings So yet again another dangerous feature you will be studding the speedometer allot trying to figure out exactly what speed your going Moving on to the passenger side The Passenger side mystifies me totally The passenger side Dash sticks out like 12 inches more then the Drivers side does So the passenger will be pushing his seat back all the way just to get the maximum amount of leg room he can achieve in the passenger side Bad side is in return the backseat person behind the passenger will become very cramp and will run out of leg room Plus when your in the car this looks really stupid because the Drivers seat is not equal to the passenger seat in anyway It makes the interior look completely uneven when sitting in the car Also while where on the topic of passenger side dashboard we might as well bring up the fact that the passenger side dash is huge I mean my god its like something that came out of a horror movie or something the passenger side dash area literally takes up the entire passenger area That includes the leg room area as well What was ford thinking when they did this I don t know Electronics ABS on some model Cd player radio Driver Information how many miles to E Average miles per gallon how many miles done Driver and Passenger side airbags Cd player quality is ok the speakers could be allot better and I do mean allot better Driver Information is nothing new ford should have done this years ago Radio quality is good IT comes with a trunk remote entry and keyless remote entry Leg Room I find overall leg room in the car to be very poor Infact the only seat that has the most leg room is the Driver seat and that is no joke either Seat Comfort All four seats are at first comfortable but after about and Hour of sitting in them they provide very little support So your thighs and your butt will start aching terrible Trunk Space The Trunk Space is actually pretty big and is probably the most major plus about this car The trunk can hold two full size suit case one on top of each other and a travel suit case to the right of the full size suite cases and then it can hold some travel bins towards the front It can hold a full size garment bag as well So trunk space is deffintley good on this car Quality and Craftsmanship What can I say the material is very cheap on all 5 I have rented the seats are already tearing in certain places The whole car feels like its been put together by plastic Also the car always breaks down All 5 I have rented One I had the air conditioner fan go out The other I rented the Engine believe it or not just gave out and the car only had 5 000 miles on it I was just driving it down the road at 60mph and the all of sudden silence I called AAA I told them it was a rental car So they went ahead and picked me up and drove me to the nearest Hertz and I ask the Hertz if they could ever tell me what was wrong with the car I was just curious the guy gave me his number and said call him up in about a week I did and he told me the shop quoted that the Engine had completely been shot he and I were surprised considering the car only had 5 000 miles on it He said the car was covered by warranty anyway So I was off in another Ford Taurus This one was going well until The cruise control decided to quit and not work anymore I tried everything to get it to work again but it failed to work So after I was finish with business I return the car told them the problem So I had another business affair I had to go on so Hertz yet again gave me another Taurus I was like what problem does this car behold for me now Driving down the road I thought come on something gotta go wrong well a hour of driving went by and nothing happen I was like men a Taurus without a problem Well boy was I wrong All of sudden when I went to do a lane change my blinkers weren t working nor was the wipers working either This was not so good as because it look like up ahead it was going to rain And I definitely need my blinker because I was coming into heavy traffic So finally return the car to the Original Location and I finally stab another Taurus This one actually had no problems Expect that the engine kept making this knocking sound ever time I accelerated Which concerned me a great deal But some how it actually survived the trip and the return to its location Personally I consider the reliability to be very poor And ford should be very ashamed presenting a car like this to the general public The car itself is ok at best if everything is working correctly I don 146t know if I got a bad batch of Taurus or what But these Taurus folks where cars with less then 10 000 miles on them Personally I be very scared to buy one of these suckers in fear of god knows what going to go wrong with it Maybe the breaks could fail that would be great I wouldn 146t doubt it with the way the car was made The Ride and Steering The ride is probably the big plus the rid is very smooth and very plush The steering on the other hand is responsive but it always feels like it has a huge under steer which makes you feel like the car is going to lose it every time you take a steep turn Overall I believe that if you really have to buy a ford Taurus buy one used and drive it around and hopefully the used one will have had all the quirks worn out before you finally get to it I highly recommend that you don t buy this car The 94 and 95 model Taurus Was Taurus best year and that more then likely will be their last best year I think Ford should just scrape the ford Taurus or outsource the Ford Taurus to somebody that can really make it a fine car Considering that ford lowered that engine models from 3 8 to 3 0 which makes the newer model ford Taurus always seem under powered Ford is living in the past I do believe Ford needs to take a real hard look at the foreign cars and start implementing what the foreign have and that also includes the quality to I believe a better buy would be The Dodge Intrepid if you want American If you want to go Foreign go for Honda Or Toyota Camry " Neg," I purchased a 1991 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 in the spring of 1991 I trusted Ford since my 1986 Bronco II 4x4 had lasted so long But with another kid on the way I need 4 doors and extra interior space Since the Explorer at that tiem was basically a stretched Bronco II which in turn was a ranger with a backseat I decided to buy one The impresions were good I drove one and compared to the GMC Jimmy it was much roomier and so I ordered one I ordered a fully loaded XLT which had more options the way I ordered it than the standard Eddie Bauer The first 3 years were fine except for the squeaking doors the interir remained large and it drove nice and looked handsome and with my silver and blue two tone paint scheme there were no other explorers that looked like it Then things started going bad in 1994 The whole exhaust system was leaking like mad and then the muffler fell off I replaced the whole thing with a borla unit A couple months later my first transmission failed It not only failed but beforehand it refused to shift out of second gear so it was constantly bouncing off redline I had my automatic transmissiion replaced out of my pocket A short time later in early 1995 that transmission completely failed while my son was driving it Another expensive 4 speed auto out of my pocket By this time the explorer was looking elderly with a couple rust spots and with a bit of collusion damage to the rear bumper Soon after the hubs and 4 wheel drive system started giving me problems so I traded it in for 10 000 in july of 1996 for a new 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 5 2 litre 4x4 I always wondered who bought that lemmon of a car until I had another encounter with it last week My younger son and I were in our current car a Lincoln Navigator 4x4 when on interstate 70 an older explorer that looked identical to our old soldier albiet grille less extremely dneted in rear left door ripped seats and cracked glass pulls out in from of us I remember asknig my son quot I wonder how many transmissions he s been through quot br br " Neg," I ve always liked Fords and Explorers for that matter but my third one put me over the edge All three were bought used between 9K and 12K and all three were stock 1991 Explorers two Eddie Bauers and my favorite of the three a Sport First of all I like alot of things about Explorers To be general I like the size the feel steering and handling the design the price and the look It is a very practical SUV it tackles most off road trails minus serious 4 wheeling it performs well it gets decent gas mileage 91 that is new ones are much more efficient it is easy to service and it comes from an AMAZING car company Ford helps define American cars My complaints fuel pump anti lock brakes power steering transmission radiator overheats minor electrical problems starter alternator You d be amazed at the re occurances of many all of these problems in my three vehicles Maybe it was a bad year maybe we picked three lemons but they all fell apart We had the first one for two years before it was totaled in an accident We put 4 or 5 thousand dollars into it just to keep it alive that long Power steering went first then the brakes rotors pads calipers the works followed by hard starting and overheating The transmission was the last to go along with an overhauled 4x4 We were pretty happy with the car despite little things like the backseat armrests falling off When the time came we opted for another Enter the two door Sport I loved that car I felt very in control with it and it was incredibly maneuverable compared to the XLT or Eddie Bauer It had plenty of room got better mileage had more zip was easier to wash performed better and was just a fun car to own Unfortunately it had every problem I mentioned before Power steering BAD fuel pump alternator transmission and electrical glitches passenger window didn t operate power locks were broken The transmission was never replaced but it would have along with a badly leaking radiator if the anti lock brakes hadn t failed the right front tire locked up and totaled the car Another one bites the dust The third and current Explorer started off flawless and the previous owner gave us his personal guarantee that the car was in perfect mechanical condition It probably was until it fell apart on us We had the car less than 3 months when on a short road trip the engine burnt up melted DIED No warning just occasional temperature fluctuations from normal to way hot and back to normal The engine was very expensive to replace compared to other engine jobs my friends and family has encountered with other vehicles By the time the new engine was broken in the starter started to go the rear hatch power lock broke the oil pan and gasket needed to be replaced and the transmission started to slip The transmission hasn t been fixed yet but it is about to drop I don t think I have anything nice to say about this last Ford as it is a true lemon The sound system was very mediocre considering it was their premium JBL setup I only wish I could learn my lesson about Explorers or Fords in general but I can say now that I m probably not on my last Explorer They really are fun cars and they are very moderately priced or at least as moderate as any used car today could be If I had a choice I d go for a full size Chevy Blazer staying American but I know I d be paying a higher price tag for it If I ever get another Explorer I d buy a few years newer like 1994 1996 I hate looking at new car prices and I would surely opt for the Sport br br " Neg," A few years back 1991 to be exact my dad purchased a Ford Explorer used with about 20 000 miles for 10 grand At the time it was a good deal and it turned out to be a smart investment I enjoy the features it comes with nice stereo leather seats are comfy good for the outdoorsmen The only really obvious negative qualities is the backseats and the shocks The backseats are really uncomfy despite the leather seats It doesn t raise up high enough for me it was uncomfy when I was 5 5 and now that I m 6 feet it is killing me Also as someone getting a driver s license soon I have a permit I don t enjoy a bumpy ride I prefer my mom s 94 mercedes 520SE I think it is the shocks that cause it to be so bumpy It isn t horrible but if you hit a pothole it could throw you off the road Also on another note the engine began having some problems after 10 years We had to get a new one Overall good suv with nice features and a couple of halting problems br br " Neg," I drove a 91 explorer on a road trip from Texas to New York I beleive it was a 2 wheel drive XLT model with all options except leather seats This truck was nice in that it provided a nice view of the road felt strong during all driving conditions and provided more than the required cargo rrom for all of my gear However there was a huge downside to all of this To put it as simply as it can be said the truck constantly felt like it was out of control Braking distances were super long it bobbed and wallowed over the smallest raod imprefections and every turn made me wonder if a roll over was going to happen Ford did a terrible job of engineering this thing The wheel base is way too short and the center of gravity is way too high for a vehicle that is so massive People are sort of lured into a fasle sense of security with these things Just because it s classified as an SUV they think tahy can do anything and go anywhere The problems Ford and Firestone are having come as no surprise to me The safetly issue when through my mind back in 1993 when I took the trip Firestone my have designed a bad tire but the trck is also to blame for so many deaths and injuries On a typical passesnger car a blown tire may cause a collision but definately not a roll over Usually the most danage suffered by a motorist with a blown tire is a damaged wheels This is not so with this truck The thing that is most shocking about this is how people have continued to buy this truck after the safety issues surfaced I suppose that can be attrbuted to SUV s being status symbols instead of practical transportation Face it if you have children admit that you do and dn t try to be all tough and rugged looking in one of these death traps Money would be better spent of a station waggon of some type from a BMW 3 series for the snooty sort to the Volvo for safety minded people to American wagons i e taurus for economy buyers I really hope the congressional hearings uncover some type of cover up by Ford and result in a massive recall where all Explorers are bought back from owners and scapped we will all be safer " Neg," UPDATE Well at the bottom of this review I stated that I would keep the tour unless something major went it did At 124 400 miles the power steering rack failed Since the V6 contour is relatively rare blah blah it was going to freakin expensive to fix So I worked out a deal with the dealership that I would buy another car from them if they covered the repair I know another ford I must be insane right So I m picking up my brand spankin new Focus ZX5 mtx with the new 2 3L PZEV engine later today Look for a review with my initial impressions in the Focus hatchback section soon Cheers Ken S RIP 95 Contour SE 124 847 miles Rack was repaired now running well but 6 years is time to move on Here s to the good times she gave me Hello to anyone who reads this This is the first and possibly only review I will write for this website which by the way I think is great I mean the website is great not that I m only writing one review I have owned my 95 Ford Contour for 6 years and put 100k miles on it in the process Consequently I feel that I m qualified to offer a fairly competent review on this car I ll try to get as much info in as I can so I apologize if this gets a little long I purchased my blue 1995 Ford Contour SE in January of 97 with 20k on the odometer It is equipped with the 2 5 Duratec V6 with atx power locks windows mirrors cruise control traction control 4 wheel disc abs brakes and the sport suspension Even after 6 years of ownership I still thoroughly enjoy driving my Contour I won t lie and say that I ve never had any problems with it However the problems have mostly been minor and my Contour has never stranded me anywhere nor has it ever failed to start Below I will try to list my likes and dislikes about the car and as many of the repairs as I can remember I have had the car 6 years so I ll probably forget something Steering Handling Likes First of all I love the thick leather wrapped steering wheel It just feels good in my hands and is very comfortable on any length car trips The steering action is fairly quick with about 2 75 turns lock to lock and has a nice moderately weighted feel The handling dynamics of this car are just awesome My Contour corners predictably and almost completely flat with little nose movement during accel deccel It feels composed and confident right up to the tires adhesive limits The brakes seem very grippy to me As that I live in a somewhat rural area I have engaged in interesting maneuvers with deer on several occasions over the years managing never to hit one thanks to the handling and brakes Also as that I live in a Great Lakes region somewhat rural area I can say that the abs feature has kept me out of many a ditch and minor fender bender during the winter months Dislikes In this department these are mostly minor quibbles but in the interest of parity I ll list them anyhow Tire and brake wear seem to be a bit excessive to me I average about 24 months out of a set of tires 205 60r15 and only about 18 months before I m in need of new brake rotors although the brake pads last about double that Due to my semi aggressive driving habits I can t really fault FoMoCo for the aforementioned problems Well I guess in this blame someone else culture I can fault FoMoCo for making the Contour too fun to drive Another minor quibble that started at about 110k miles is that occasionally the rear suspension will emit a squawk during quick shifts in load mostly on quick right turns I believe I have isolated this problem to the rear anti roll bar bushings which I will replace when the weather warms up around here Finally the communicative steering and taut suspension that make the SE so enjoyable when driven hard lead to a somewhat rough on the back side ride on uneven pavement not for everyone Engine Transmission Likes The 2 5 V6 is just as smooth revving as it has ever been even at 120k miles It is not the fastest or most powerful engine in this class but it has plenty enough to move a light little Contour around quite nicely This motor seems to run best in the 3500 to 5500 rpm range though it is not at all horrible of the line I average about 22 mpg in the winter and 24 mpg in the summer with mixed driving and about 30 mpg on road trips Dislikes Nothing really on the engine however the automatic transmission manages to irk me every once and awhile The main gripe on the atx is that it is at times very sluggish on downshifts specifically at 25 to 40 mph highway merging speeds I don t think that there is anything specifically wrong with it other than bad gearing by Ford which probably had to take fuel economy into account when designing the atx Other than that it shifts smoothly though it is definitely due for a fluid change Interior Likes FoMoCo did their homework here the control layout ergonomics are excellent The turn signal wiper stalks are located perfectly They are completely visible and can be operated with just extended finger tips while leaving the rest of my hands on the wheel I think this design was copped from VDub but who cares it works The cruise control layout is typical Ford and the buttons have bumps and depressions for intuitive use at night The large sweeping instrument pod houses all of the controls surfaces a drivers side vent both of the center vent ducts a handy little bin for change a clock and a useful storage bin underneath the radio The center stack is skewed slightly towards the driver giving easy reach to the radio and HVAC controls lending an overall cockpit driver oriented feel to the cabin All of the window and lock switches as well as oddly enough the door handles are nicely backlit The center console is well laid out contains one cup holder more on that later and has useful storage under the armrest Finally my favorite interior features are the front seats For me at 5 10 and 185 lbs the driver s seat in the SE is extremely well side bolstered offering great lateral support during cornering However it might be a tight fit and or downright uncomfortable for people that are much wider than I am The seat bottom is also well bolstered and usefully long enough so that it doesn t cut off mid thigh like most any other car I have ever driven does I m not that tall and I don t have particularly long legs so why is this the case car designers The headrest is quite useful as it can be adjusted forwards as well as up and down to a point where you can actually rest your head on it while driving Dislikes Again nothing major just some nitpicky things in the interest of fairness The cup holders The original spring loaded virtually useless for anything but a can pair of cup holders are long gone In fairness and surprisingly they didn t break on their own My SE s original cup holders came to their untimely demise by way of my friend s foot when he was making an emergency transfer to the back seat to relieve himself in an empty ice tea bottle while we were hopelessly snarled in Pittsburgh s Three Rivers Stadium parking gridlock The replacement unit graciously supplied by my friend is a slightly more useful though just as cheap single unit which I make sure is in the closed position during any current and future trips to Pittsburgh sporting events The center armrest is for one elbow only preferably mine but it doesn t always work that way A coin flip or scissors paper rock are useful methods for determining armrest custody on longer drives The driver s window control switches require a minor wrist contortion to operate though the lock switch is perfectly located to be bumped thus locking the door when exiting the vehicle which is nice when you actually intend to lock the door not so nice when you are say going to pump gas and leave your keys in the ignition It has happened it is a bummer The unlocking mechanism for the gas lid only works in colder weather During the summer months I must open the trunk and use the auxiliary unlock lever located there a minor inconvenience A few rattles emanate from the dash area most notably from the vents The vent open close gates seem to be the main culprit There is also some rattling where the windshield meets the dash which I believe started after the original windshield was replaced Repairs I ll list what I can remember with an approximate mileage and some comments As earlier stated I ve had this car for a long time and it is after all a Ford so I m probably going to miss something Fuel injectors replaced at around 40k miles The car was hesitating badly so I took it to my friendly neighborhood Ford garage They did the work under warranty even though it ran out at 36k Who says that all Ford service departments are worthless Not I Coil Pack replaced at around 75k miles One of the cylinders was misfiring This repair cost about 215 New water pump at 90k miles Anyone familiar with the 2 5 Duratec knows that this is a common occurrence In my mind common enough that Ford should have recalled it but now I m being unrealistic I did this repair at home with a little help from a friend at a cost of 80 for the pump and 15 50 for the 30 pack of Busch Light New front wheel bearings at 98k miles The driver s side bearing started to sing the passenger s side bearing was fine but it made sense to replace both as a preventative measure The cost of this repair was around 150 New speedo cable and speed sensor at 110k miles Either the speedo cable unspooled and trashed the speed sensor or vice versa What ever happened the speedometer and cruise control took a break and the atx went into limp mode which means no overdrive and rough shifting Though it felt like there was something seriously wrong with the car and that might have been it for old Bessie but the new parts were only 80 and the repair was simple enough for me to do it myself New intake gasket at 117k miles This gasket is made of a fibrous material and is either nickel or aluminum plated around the intake openings The plating eventually wore away and the fibrous material degraded to the point where the many small individual openings became several large openings which in turn caused the engine to idle poorly I left this repair to the professionals at the Ford garage for a cost of 250 Very early on before 36k miles there was something wrong with my gas peddle where on an intermittent basis I would push it and nothing would happen I don t remember what exactly was wrong and the problem was fixed under warranty I should note that I m not much of a motorhead meaning that I don t particularly enjoy working on cars I do change my own oil and brakes and engage in the occasional minor repair because I enjoy even less giving my money to other people to do something I am capable of doing myself Summary Overall I have been satisfied with the ownership of my Contour The everyday drivability of it is still very good All of the accessories including the AC still work great I ve contemplated getting rid if it more than once but every newer car I have tried Focus Civic Jetta I don t like big cars failed to be sufficiently better enough to justify signing up for 5 more years of payments At this point with 120k plus on the odometer I m traveling into territory where few Fords have gone before It is almost like a neat little science experiment and sporadic repairs averaging around 300 beat the crap out of a 300 monthly payment As long as the SE doesn t drop its tranny or something similarly major I m going to keep it PS I don t know if anyone will even read a new review about a 1995 Contour but I would appreciate and welcome any and all feedback Thanks for looking Ken S " Neg," I bought a used Contour in 1998 At that time it had 34k miles on it I wanted the car right when I saw it and wanted it even more after test driving I had some trouble getting the car to pass MD inspection Minor stuff Brakes etc It took a while to accomplish this About 300 total cost The car was great Others would look at the car in awe and I loved it The car offered speed and comfort and made me feel like a queen on the road I was able to keep up with the big dogs on the road Nice right The truth about the Contour did not wait too long to rear its ugly head Six months later the transmission began to slip Although it was still covered under warranty I had to still pay 100 Summer 1999 Tire blow out The car had to be aligned and I had to buy 4 new tires The mechanic said that the car was so badly out of line he wanted to know how it got that way 600 for tires and a serious alignment Summer 2000 The engine sensor came on It began to make a loud humming noise I dragged it to the dealer and they told me that it had something to do with emissions That repair cost me 800 Summer 2000 The car began to make this horrible noise I was told by a mechanic that it was the Sway bar Another 100 Fall 2000 Winter 2001 Power steering fluid leak The dealer fixed the leak and charged me 400 5 days later the car had no power steering and the fluid leak was worse than before I took the car back and the dealer told me that the engine mounts were bad Another 400 Fall 2001 Speedometer goes out The car needed speedometer cables Another 320 I am dealing with this issue right now Fall 2001 The engine light is coming on and off again I have not had this one checked out yet I can t afford it Ford will charge me 80 for a diagnostic test Imagine how many times I have paid that Since the summer of 2000 my air conditioner has not worked I cannot afford to pay for it Perhaps later Other problems continue to surface that become more important to repair The blower switch only operates on the level 3 That gets pretty hot in the winter I have to ride with the back windows down while the hot air blows into my face Please understand that I keep all oil changes For the last year I have been driving 20k per day Before it was 80k per day for about a year I have paid for regular break work tune ups and transmission checks tire rotation I have one cup holder The car still makes a rattling noise underneath and makes a thumping sound when I am sitting at a light I can actually feel the thump And can someone please tell me how is it that the break lights go out so quickly I would estimate that I have spent close to if not more than 4000 on this car since I purchased it Everyone who knows me is waiting for that next event I have 18 more payments left I have decided to wait it out Once it is paid for I will be very happy I am a single parent of 3 and this car is bleeding us The sad thing about it is Ford does not seem to back their product Once I get out of this I will never step foot into another Ford even if the price is right My kids will know the same when they get older An entire generation will be anti Ford " Neg," I bought this car as a second vehicle and used it only for work in another city It was a GL model with an automatic transmission and 72K miles on it I paid 5350 for the car and it had a leaking radiator when I bought it The owner prior to me was trying to sell the car for over 6000 and I was the only offer The cup holder had long since broken off due to its flimsy design After the radiator was fixed for 400 it ran fine for the next six thousand miles It does seem to have a lot of road noise though In freezing weather it also had a distinct knock from the timing belt slapping the top of the timing belt cover After the engine warmed up and the metal expanded the knock would stop Thinking the timing belt was simply stretched I had it replaced for 300 including new ignition wires and plugs I never drove it in freezing weather again so I do not know if the new belt corrected the problem Since I moved to a new city I tried to sell the car for the retail price No takers no phone calls I lowered the price to 1000 under retail with still no takers or phone calls Finally I had to ship the car to my new address Again I tried to sell the car for 5700 i e half way between retail and wholesale according to edmunds com with not one single phone call in the entire Seattle area I finally offered the car for 5200 which is only 250 above wholesale I only got three phone calls The car only had 79K miles on it All during this time the car simply disintegrated The main seal at the flywheel began to leak prodigiously The car also had a distinct oil smell in the air conditioning system when I stopped at traffic lights I had to re seat the valve cover gasket taken off for the timing belt because it is a poor design and is easily mangled during installation The car also began to hesitate severely I believe this was tied to the Check Engine light which began illuminating periodically Finally the car would not always start which I believe was a failing starter solenoid I eventually sold it for 5000 but had to split the repair costs with the new owner In conclusion even when the car ran fine I could not get even close to the book values and finally sold it for 50 above wholesale In addition the car required over 1700 in repair bills for just 8000 miles of wear Needless to say I would not recommend the Contour " Neg," My husband and I leased a 1995 Ford Contour 4D auto with air and power everything We were pleased with it at first but slowly became disillusioned About a month after we bought it both cup holders were broken which ever genius decided to put them between the front seats and made of such flimsy plastic ought to be fired Then the drivers seat broke you couldn t move it forward or backward come to find out the seats had been recalled so they replaced it free of charge took them almost a month to do it Then the blower for the heater air would only blow on low kind of cold to ride in in the middle of the winter in New Hampshire Cost to repair 350 which it stopped working again in about 3 months Lastly the engine light would come on and off and we took it to Ford they said a wire was loose causing this to happen Well one day just driving down the road in 1997 the car just stopped running After all was said and done the engine had seized No one to this day has been able to explain this to us since it had oil in it was a well maintained car Cost to repair 3 000 We left the car at the dealership and haven t seen it again I feel sorry for the next sucker to lease buy it br br " Neg," I purchased a 1995 Ford Contour in August 1997 The car had terrific handling and decent performance from the 2 0 liter 4 banger For the first 6 months I thought I made a wise decision First it was the little things both spring activated cupholders broke No biggie but not covered under the extended warranty I passed on the service departments offer to replace them for 177 From there it was all downhill the blower motor for the heater stopped working 2 months later I was getting awful clunking groaning noises in the front end only to find my stabilizer bars and stabilizer links were shot Wouldn t you know that stabilizer bars ARE covered by the Ford extended warranty but stabilizer links ARE NOT To make a long story short during 1998 and early 1999 I was at my dealer 4 times for suspension related problems and 2 times each for tie rods and front wheel bearings With my 100 deductible for each visit plus costs for non covered items this car was killing me financially The last straw came in May 1999 At 64K miles exactly 1000 miles after the extended warranty expired the transmission dropped I don t care what car you drive but NO CAR should need a new rebuilt transmission at 4 years 65K miles My local Ford zone office manager refused to look at the car and further refused to offer any financial help He flat out told me the only way they would help me is if a court told them to Imagine that Great customer service huh I needed to fix the car but I wasn t going to let Ford touch it Instead I took the car to an independent transmission shop FIVE weeks and 1800 later my car was back Why so long Turns out it s nearly impossible to get the transmission parts because everything was on national backorder Plus my transmission guy informed me this was a throwaway design and by far the most difficult transmission job he s done He said he ll probably never do another Contour Mystique transmission again and if he did it would probably cost nearly double what he charged me After arming myself with a written statement from him as well as finding dozens of owner complaints online pertaining to the transmission I took another shot at Ford and threatened to litigate through my state s Attorney General s office Needless to say Ford would up settling with me nearly 3 months later for 1000 which was better than nothing By August 1999 I was totally fed up with this pile of rubbish and I traded it in for a 1998 Lumina which turned out to be a very smart move And it s not just the 95 s or the 4 cylinder automatics my cousin owns a 2000 Contour V6 5 speed which has been a disaster from day one specifically an oil leak that Ford can t seem to fix As of July 2001 he s in the process of getting Ford to buy the car back under my state s lemon law To any potential buyer you would be well advised to shop elsewhere My advice to current owners If you have had premature automatic transmission failure and have had to shell out a bunch of money let Ford know about it There s no way you should get stuck for expensive transmission work on a throwaway transmission Ford would never admit it but I m sure they know this car has been and will be a disaster for them " Neg," Like everyone else I waited to see what Ford was going to replace the venerable Tempo Topaz model with and was surprised to see the new Contour What s more as the motoring press praised the new car especially the upscale Duratec V6 SE model I thought I should go visit my Ford dealer and see what the fuss was about as I was in the market for a replacement car It just so happened the dealer had a Toreador Red SE manual demonstrator model with 600 kilometres fully loaded except the CD player The car was an absolute dream to drive a smooth powerful throaty V6 a nice 5 speed and wonderfully supportive heated leather seats with these nifty airbag inflaters that blew up for lumber support etc I am in Canada and leather on a minus 30 degree celsius day can really be uncomfortable The car also had a really nice traction control system and this seemed like the car of my dreams and was a great winter driver Being 2 months old and 3000 under list price made it a good deal plus it qualified for new car leasing So I signed a 24 month lease and drove it away late that week Well for the first month I loved that car It was a dream to drive and suited my single sport sedan lifestyle then things started to go wrong SERIOUS THINGS that no warranty covers you for One minus 20 morning I drove the car out of my garage and headed off to work The car seemed a little sluggish but I though it was ok as any Canadian will tell you how stiff and tight a car becomes on the first cold day of winter especially newer cars I was driving about 40 kilometres an hour through a 8 lane intersection when a school bus decided to turn in front of me I turned clear and hit the breaks and next thing I know I am spinning circles through the intersection I never had a car do that to me I didn t hit anything so I pulled out of the intersection at the time noticing my ABS error light was on When I stopped and got out I noticed steam and smoke rising of the rear brakes which was strange as one would have thought it would be coming from the front wheels with such a hard braking My car was fitted with the really nice looking polished spoked alloys from Ford stupid me reached down and touched the wheel big mistake as a chunk of skin burned onto the spoke Man was I fuming as I pulled into a snow covered car park to realize my rear brakes where locked on the ebrake was off and functioning fine I called the dealership and they send down a tow truck That afternoon they called me and said this was normal to have your brake piston caliper slide pin freeze when you take a warm car out of a garage and into the cold What a amp load They said they parked the car in the garage and an hour later it was fine So I went to get the car Well would you believe what happened two weeks later SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL again with the rear brakes locked didn t hit anything this time either This time the dealer had to deal with my wrath as I told them I was not going to pay my lease and they could stick that car where the sun didn t shine They calmed me down and called me later to say that they had noticed a few of the new Contours rear disk calipers brakes slide pins were not lubricated properly from the factory and they had done this to mine and that it was now better then new So I went to pick up the car Two weeks later brakes were now working great I noticed that the car was starting to get a slight grind putting the car into first The clutch was too new to be worn out and I am not a hard driver on clutches As the week wore on the grind got worse and worse until the car would no longer engage first gear hot or cold Back to the dealer They called me to say they could not know what was wrong without dropping the transmission all on a 2 month old car with 1500 kilometres So they took it apart and said the transmission 1st gear was faulty and needed to be replaced two weeks later and driving a dealer loaner my car was still not fixed The parts were on terminal back order Mad as could be I fumed at the service manager and many calls later to Ford customer service in Canada the dealer had a brand new replacement whole transmission being shipped from the Kansas assembly plant One week later I was back in my car but immediately I knew something was not right The car was all over the road and there was a strange thumping noise that got worse and worse This time the new transmission was working fine 2 days later back to the shop Turns out the mechanics had not completely tightened all the bolts on the front subframe assembly that cradles the transmission and motor That afternoon I was back in my car but now it was not driving straight pulling right but was tight 5 minutes out of the dealership the engine error light came on but I was too mad and tired I just drove it home and parked it in the garage Next morning I got up and went to the garage and thought I could smell gasoline I got in the car and the smell was unbearable What I found next was unbelievable behind the drivers seat the floor pan was protruding up about 4 inches and the rear carpet was soaked in gas I looked under the car and a pool of gasoline was all over the floor I poked my head under the car and it was clearly evident the car was hoisted incorrectly by someone at the dealer on the floorpan right along the fuel lines and one was ruptured No sales manager has ever heard such a mad customer as I tore up my lease on the phone A tow truck came and took the car away Two days later the dealer had me a brand new identical 1996 Contour SE V6 the only difference was this one was automatic with a CD player my new girlfriend wanted an automatic and the dealer gave me exactly what I asked for Same colour sunroof leather etc etc What I did notice on that 4month old 1st car with barely 2000 kilometres disturbed me the nice grey leather seats had started to develop creases in the drivers seat leather The car had spend some time in the cold but was garaged at night I would not expect such cosmetic problems to surface for at least a couple years My current car a 93 Honda Accord SE has 168 000 kilometres and the leather looks like new I am not a big guy and the seats are treated with the same leather conditioner I treated the Ford leather with The dealer took care of the lease and paid the cost differences to keep me happy on the replacement Contour that car lasted 1 month until on one cold Canadian morning I started the car and the starter motor stuck burned out and exploded into several pieces doing quite a bit of damage under the hood Ford cancelled my lease and I have never put foot in a Ford dealership again Now my story will may not be the typical ownership experience What I did like about these cars was the Duratec V6 was a dream to drive when it worked the fit and finish was OK for a domestic car the value for money seemed good the cars were nimble and sporty to drive the back seat 95 was a bit cramped but I didn t usually have rear passengers and the 96 had rear seats that were scooped out to give more rear knee room The factory sunroofs were nice in that they retracted into the roof fully The cars were nicely appointed with all the fixings you would expect on a premium SE model The cars handled really nice when they were put together properly with the sportier handling on the SE versions The 4 wheel disk brakes and the traction control did a nice job of getting the car moving and stopping even with the sport Firestone radials on the icy roads we have here in Canada I can t say to much about the gas mileage as I never did get to drive the cars enough The leather seats were really comfortable and very adjustable to any driver Driver leg room was good I am a tall guy and the telescopic tilt steering wheel could be set up nicely I never got to test the cruise control steering wheel mounted on my first car nor on the second as it never worked on the replacement car Would I recommend one of these cars I think you can answer that if you have read this far I don t know if I had really bad luck but I do know my 4 cylinder older Honda is not as powerful or new but it sure is reliable Regular maintenance only and no major faults Some of my problems were dealer technician caused but the problems should have never been there in the first place My dad summed it up best quot never buy a new model car wait a couple years until the bugs are worked out or at best buy your car at the end of its product cycle even it it doesn t seem as new anymore quot I think he was spot on with the 95 96 Contour SE models br br " Neg," I have owned two different Ford cars in my life and am not impressed with either one The first one was a 1987 Ford Escort bought new It broke down on the freeway less than a month after purchasing it needed a new engine head and was in the shop for two weeks waiting for parts from Detroit That was only the beginning of problems with that car needless to say 10 years later I am persuaded to give Fords another chance My husband and I bought a 1995 Ford Contour GL 4 door sedan It seemed pretty nice at the time with about 30 000 miles on it We have it only a couple of weeks when the cup holder breaks Now this may not seem like a big deal but they are made of very flimsy plastic and I accidentally set my purse on it which totally snapped it off The cost to replace it How about 68 The cupholder is still broken to this day Next the fan switch stops working Well it works but only on the lowest speed If you turn it up it turns off completely Visualize us desperate for some a c with our faces pressed close to the dash vents The rear doors start making this horrible screeching noise when they re opened WD 40 has no effect Then the engine light starts coming on and off randomly We take it to several different places nothing is found to be wrong The latest is that the transmission sounds like it s starting to slip I dread the thought of a 1500 tranny repair cost All I want to do is unload this car but unfortunately Fords do not hold their values that well and we probably could barely sell it for what we owe on the loan I will never buy another Ford again I know some people swear by them but I have owned many Honda Toyotas and Nissans that served me much better and I think I ll go back to what I can depend on br br " Neg," I bought the Contour in November 1975 as a second car About a month after I drove it off the lot I started hearing a rubbing noise from the front The problem turned out to be a front stabilizer bar bushing Unfortunately the bushing is pressed onto the bar at the factory so you have to buy the entire assembly another Ford better idea profit maximization at the expense of the customer The extended warranty refused to cover the repair so I was out approximately 185 A short time later my check engine light kept coming on The problem was diagnosed as a defective exhaust gas sensor Once again the extended warranty company wouldn t pay for the estimated 200 repair since it was not a covered component Ford s emission warranty likewise passed the buck despite the fact that the sensor is part of the emission control system In the summer of 97 the engine cooling fan fried and the blower switch to the heater air conditioner stuck in the low position After spending almost 500 to replace the cooling fan and fuse assembly I just received a recall notice from Ford almost 4 years later In addition this car chews tire suspension and brake components with reckless abandon I ve been through two sets of rotors both front and rear three sets of disc brake pads and two sets of tires The car has also developed a head gasket leak and drips oil on the exhaust manifold creating a most unpleasant smell when the car is warm Although this is a trifling problem by comparison with the other woes I ve had with the Contour the ergonomics are poor The power door lock button is located so close to the armrest that I ve locked the keys in the car on a few occasions getting out and I might be the luckiest Contour owner on the face of the earth because the cheap plastic springloaded cupholders in my car still haven t broken yet imagine that This is the 11th Ford product I ve owned since 1978 and the most trouble prone of the lot It will definitely be my last " Neg," I purchased this vehicle after driving my 86 Toyota Celica to the ground delivering pizzas I was then done with that job and wanted a decent car to last me a long time I found a two year old Contour for 9000 and decided it was a good deal and got it And in fact it hasn t been a horrible car Despite a few recalls it keeps running with minimal maintenance I think the worst problem I had was that the tires needed replaced But there is always a feeling owning this car that it is going to break down any time The engine is loud the V4 and doesn t have a very smooth sound There were some knocking too that had nothing to do with the type of gas I was giving it I had also spoken too other people who had owned the car and their opinion was more negative than mine They said that the car was plagued with recalls and was not very reliable The drive was decent nothing too notable Compared to the Celica I had it rode up high The V4 didn t have a lot of muscle despite the fact that my Contour had a manual transmission I am certainly glad I didn t get the Automatic All in all it was a good car while we owned it We traded it in after it had 65 000 miles I didn t want to press my luck any further Speaking of trade in I didn t get much for it 2k for a 1995 I know I could have gotten more but not much more But overall there are much better choices out there I traded it in for Toyota and I am very happy with that The quot comfort quot level i e the confidence in the car owning the Toyota is much higher than it was for the Ford If you can find a good deal on a Contour a really good deal go for it but otherwise keep searching br br " Neg," I have had nothing but problems with my contour since I bought it Within two weeks the cup holders broke They are ade from flimsy plastic located in between the front seats Next the driver s side head rest broke 280 to fix So needles to say I don t have a headrest in my car that is functional Numerous factory recalls and as Ford terms them extended warranties These include front strut springs both of mine failed within a week of one another Others include under hood wiring Heater blower switch and heater fuse These are just the ones that I have had problems with I recently found that this car has a 30 fail rate in transmissions above 75 000 miles Are you kidding me almost 1 in every 3 I know because Ford uses a type CE4E transmission that they have known is problematic since they started using it in 1994 If your transmission goes it ll run about 2000 to 3500 to fix rebulid or replace My second issue is with Ford itself I purchased my car and purchased the 100 000 mile power train warranty It was 100 000 miles or 56 months Get this my transmission failed 1 day after the warranty 56 Mos was up My advice is if you own one rid yourself of this car fast If your going to buy one don t And always ask a Ford dealership what kind of transmission is in the car If they say CE4E then laugh and walk away " Neg," I purchased a 95 Contour GL in Aug of 97 for 9000 It had only 29k kiles on it It had the 2 0 four cylinder and 5 speed Before the warranty expired the deal replaced free the rack and pinion steering syste the A C blower condenser and evaporator and did some recall service It was already a lemon under warranty The cup holder broke kwik the headlight plastic lense turned dark yellow deminishing light output The alternator failed I had to replace the battery twice and the alternator was very very hard to remove and replace My mechanic friend replaced it and ins not a good sign when a pro complains about your car The throw out bearing in the tranny was about to go out at 63k miles when I sold the car in Feb of 00 The car had bad resale value The only good thing was that my MPG never dropped below 23MPG in the city I routinly averaged 30 31mpg on long out of town trips and the seats and fron leg room was comfortable I m 6 00 with long arms and legs The back seat was very small Everyone complained Handling was bad too I replaced the tires with some Michelin Roadhandler Sports from Sears and made a huge differance in cornering Excellent tires can make up for a bad car It has horrible breaks They fade very quickly If you want a cheap car that breaks a lot and has no resale value buy the Contour If you want a cheap car that is dependable and has decent resale value buy a 95 altima from nissan " Neg," This is an update on the report I wrote a while ago on my car I currently have 108 000kms on the odometer and have had some more serious problems since the last review I still maintain my opinions about the awesome driving dynamics of the car and the powerful and delightfully high revving V6 engine that powers it Every time I drive the car it never ceases to amaze me and amuse me I absolutely love the engine It sounds so great and is more than adequate to move the car along I still waste much more gas than I should but I can t resist the beautiful music the motor makes when it reaches top RPMs and the corresponding pull it develops I recently had the brake pads and rotors replaced since the originals were warped and had hairline cracks developing due to age but hey 106 000 kms out of the original brakes is really something especially considering that this car has been DRIVEN The car has 4 wheel discs with ABS so the brake job was rather expensive but obviously necessary Now for the bad aspects The waterpump and its gasket blew in the summer some ABS regulator blew at the same time the low speed fan and some other components broke 2 days after I got the car back from the aforementioned repairs That alone would have cost me around 4000CDN if it weren t for the extended warranty The splash shield has been rattling around badly and actually fell off after the fan was replaced since it wasn t reattatched properly I ve had some dash lights burn out and I have also had a tie rod break somehow don t ask I don t know The car is in good repair right now except for the resonator which is bad just due to age but the rest of the exhaust system is looking all right The glitches have finally been sorted out it s about time However the time has come to sell the car and get something new A VW Golf GLS 1 8T is a definite prospect No matter what kind of car I get next even if it were a Ferrari I will miss the Contour It hasn t been the most reliable car by any means but it has definitely been a great driving car it still puts an ear to ear grin on my face when I drive it High performance out of a sleeper sedan I love it My ownership has definitely been characterized with a love hate type relationship with this car I love it when it works I hate it when it s in the shop As for the bad resonator I think I ll leave it be because if I fix it something else is bound to go wrong I can live with a slightly louder than normal exhaust system " Neg," The Ford Mustang My husband s dream car quot I really want this car quot he says Yes I m sure you do So I dutiful spousal unit that I am re arranged our family budget to include the extra insurance and payment that would trail the joyous ownership of such a car And so it was that he left one day and came home with a flashy hunter green Mustang Such a pretty car Well it was pretty until this one certain woman my husband is married to accidentally ripped off the driver side door Yes we are still married quot After all what is insurance for quot says he Indeed Unlike many men with new vehicular toys my husband actually tried to encourage me to drive his car He wanted me to like it as much as he did so he could justify the expense and claim that I used it as much as he did However at the time I had my own broomstick a Ford F150 4x4 Flareside truck I had no interest in his puny car but I did drive it once in a while when he stole my truck and following is a summary of that I think of this vehicle The FORD MUSTANG GT comes with a very powerful V 8 engine manual 5 speed transmission you can get them in automatic however you will get less mpg power doors seats mirrors dual airbags dual lighted vanity mirrors rear shoulder harnesses driver and passenger bucket seats fully adjustable power driver side seat air conditioning and lots of other nifty little extra features that any self respecting car should sport The glove compartment in the front passenger side contains the trunk popping mechanism and the center console has a nice divided change holder and cassette cd holder thingie Everything is pretty much within arms reach while driving In spite of the positive points and pure flash value I did not enjoy driving this vehicle and actually avoided it I found that the bucket seats put me far too close to the ground and I felt like I was in the cockpit of an airplane trying to peek out over the dashboard Yeah as if I have ever sat in the cockpit of an airplane I felt unsafe and nervous because I could not see very well behind me around me or even in front of me The tiny mirrors did not help matters much at all Had we installed a quot wink quot mirror I probably would have felt better about driving the car but we never got around to that because my husband liked it just fine he is much taller though and does not find his nose hitting the dashboard and he mainly drove it The 5 speed manual transmission shifted fairly smoothly but the gears seemed to be very close together This was not a problem for me because I have been driving manual transmissions since I was 14 My dad used to own a racetrack and I even drove his old 3 speed on the column H pattern trash truck for him Most young people these days have never even heard of one of those But those close gears could make missing a gear easy for inexperienced manual transmission drivers so I would practice on an old VW bug before driving this type of car if you have not had a lot of practice with clutches and gears The gas mileage we got was about 18 mpg in the city and a bit more on the freeway Not good but not horrendous either Additionally insurance rates are pretty high for this type of vehicle as you can well expect My insurance company USAA put out a book which rated the safety level of most of the popular cars and the MUSTANG did not score very well in any category despite the dual airbags and anti lock brakes I am sure there are many reasons for this but the fact that the vehicle is capable of great speed probably contributes While the leg area was very ample and could easily accommodate my husband s 6 3 frame the seats were very narrow My chunky lil bootie just barely fit comfortably A very large hipped person would not be able to fit in those seats and if they did manage to squeeze in they would have the seatbelt latch digging into their outer thighs Additionally the back area is so small that only very small adults or children 12 and under can really ride in any semblance of comfort My son had to lay down in back when he rode in this car Needless to say when my husband and I went out with our oldest son I got stuck hunkering in the back After a while I just stayed home Acceleration is needless to say very fast This car reminded me of a song by the band ALABAMA called quot I m in a Hurry quot A line in the song goes quot my car s not new but it ll zero to sixty in 5 2 quot While that figure may not be accurate for the MUSTANG it probably comes close I found myself speeding every single time I drove this car because you simply do not realize how fast you are going I had to constantly be on my guard One time I realized I was doing 80 mph in a 45 zone YIKES Another thing don t buy these cars in red especially if you have a lead foot unless you set up a separate speeding ticket fund They are cop magnets for some reason The dark inconspicuous color of my husband s car probably saved us both from numerous tickets The Ford Mustang corners like there is no tomorrow The low center of gravity and wide wheel base helps the car hug the road on even the sharpest corners Again however this can lead to disaster when drivers become over confident and misjudge either the sharpness of the corner their own ability to control the car or both Follow the suggested speed limits on corners at all times especially in this car because it is easy to loose control when you go 90 mph on a 20 mph curve I would recommend this car to responsible singles and couples It is not in my opinion a good family vehicle even though a car seat would fit in the back I would not transport my baby in this car if I had another choice There are too many safer cars on the market This car is NOT in ANY WAY suitable for teenagers or inexperienced drivers The combination of hormones inexperience and speed are often deadly Likewise it is not suitable for very elderly drivers who may suffer from vision impairment slow reflexes or distance judgment or ANY driver with such impairment for that matter Shortly after I ripped the driver side door off Don t EVEN ask how HAHHAHA we traded the Mustang and a deathtrap Plymouth Grand Voyager see my review on that hay wagon toward a 2000 Ford Excursion and I sold my truck We had 3 cars and not a single one of them was a safe large reliable vehicle for a family of 6 I felt bad about my husband s dream car flying the coop but I had to relinquish my truck as well so my sympathy level diminished rapidly The needs of the many definitely outweighed the need of the few Anyone know how to kill a Vulcan for coining that phrase br br " Neg," After we got all our money back from our 1995 Mustang Convertible due to the Lemon Law in Florida we used that money to order another new Mustang but instead of the white color we ordered the Laserred with the camel color top and interior We were disappointed in the 1995 Mustang when the engine blew after owning it 8 days it was brand new and then the transmission went later We were thrilled with the car 6 cylinder We drove it here we drove it there It s seemed like a nice car but typical Mustang The pick up was sluggish The seats were low and not comfortable The cup holder was situated over the button that makes the top go up and down and the water dripped onto the button and I was waiting for it to short out some day On a hot day in south Florida with the top up the a c didn t cool like it should because the sun beats down on the canvas top and there isn t any insulation so all the heat enters the car There s no room in the back seat for people to sit it is only good for either babies or double amputees The trunk is small The stereo average The gas mileage good The convertible is easy to open and close Our problem began about 12 months after owning the car There was a vibration and we kept taking it in and they told us it needed to be aligned so they aligned it and it still vibrated After months of going back and forth with the vibration and 600 later for new tires they told us the tires were the cause and we purchased new tires I told them that I had the torque converter and transmission and engine go bad in our other Mustang but they told me it wasn t any of that it was in my mine By that time I was out of my mind When the service manager opened his drawer I saw a notice for Mustang torque converters and I asked him about that and he fessed up The torque converters are bad and they have a quiet recall because they don t have enough torque converters to replace on all the Mustangs and they could only fix the ones with SEVERE problems Again this is the second Mustang with BIG problems We had the car for 20 months and I wasn t about to go the Lemon Law route so I told my son we would buy the 2000 GT Convertible and trade this problem vehicle in I had read that the GT didn t have problems with the torque converter WRONG AGAIN When will I learn See my review on the 1995 amp 2000 Mustangs Same problems different years The Mustang is neat to look at but a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT If only Ford would build a good reliable Mustang I would buy one despite their MAJOR FLAWS but they don t We now own an Explorer Sports Trac Let s see how that goes br br " Neg," I bought this vehicle in October of 1999 mostly because I was coerced and bullied by the salesmen at my local Ford dealership I liked the looks of it but being my first new car was extremely naive in how to go about purchasing one I had looked at a few other cars such as the Sebring the Dodge Stealth used the Camaro and the Avenger but never had the chance to really think about it and decide which one I liked best Anyway since then I have decided that I would never buy another Ford Mustang and would not recommend it to anyone First of all the pickup on the V6 engine is lame at best for such a quot sports quot car Secondly the interior is the most poorly designed that I think I have ever seen Let s start with something as trivial as the cup holders They have situated it so that the larger of the two holders is furthest back but it is so large the the average cup inevitably spills every time The smaller of the two holders holds the cup comfortably however it is so close to the stick shift that it makes it impossible to put a drink in it without knocking it over in the process of shifting gears Then the seatbelt holder sticks out so far that as soon as you sit in the seat it hits the side of the door 1 locking the door and 2 creating a dent in the plastic on the door The legroom is cramped and tall people have a very difficult time riding in my car The high beam device turns on opposite you have to push it away from you rather than pulling it towards you like a normal car to every other car that I have ever driven which is frustrating when you try to pull it towards you out of habit The trunk is pretty good sized but don t try to put a large suitcase in there because the distance between the edge and the top is so small it prevents you from being able to get it in there I ll admit that it s a pretty car but that s about it " Neg," After ten years I gave into my teenage cravings for a Mustang The adult in me limited myself to the V6 stupid adult The V6 with the sport package looks fabulous and in spite of being one of the most common cars on the roads gets complements from some those who can t tell it s not a GT I m sure Unfortunately that s all the good that can be said for it It is very cramped Anyone over 6 feet tall or who carries more than one passenger or who travels and needs to carry a lot of stuff should just pass on this car The trunk like the back seat is almost to small to be useful Much of the interior is not very well though out For example you can only put a drink in one of the two cupholders as one interferes with the stick shift I can t believe they let it go like that Performance is uninspiring Granted it is the V6 but my 94 Probe 4 cylinder was much more fun to drive They need a new category for the Mustang V6 It s not a compact and it s not a sports car It s too big on the outside to be call a compact I m sure It s worth noting that the car looks much bigger from the outside than it feels on the inside Kind of like Dr Who s Tartus in reverse I wil admit that the car is a pretty good bargain and I picked mine up as a year end clearout so I don t feel cheated But this is my last Mustang br br " Neg," I rented one from Hertz while on a business trip since they were out of the reserved type and was looking forward to driving it since I had heard people rave about it I was quite disappointed actually the engine was loud this could be a plus for some it had a rough idle and was generally unrefined though powerful it did seem to smooth out over 60 mph somewhat the interior layout amp dash were ugly and badly designed it actually looked cheap i strongly felt i could have designed a better dash my tercel had a nicer cleaner smoother layout the power seat controls were difficult to reach i m 6 1 quot and i had to actually get out of the car to properly adjust my seat This is not the kind of car i would like to own ever I guess I was spoiled after riding the Saab 9 5 which is a lot more expensive you get what you pay for i suppose I find it hard to believe that a nicer sporty car cannot be built at this price range Take one for a test drive and see for yourself br br " Neg," The first time I saw the Silver 1998 Ford Mustang I new I HAD to have it Needless to say I drove it home that day I bought the vehicle because it had the sporty appearance that I was looking for and it really was not that expensive compared to a lot of other sports cars What I love about this car aside from its looks is the fact that the power is there when you need it It gets really good gas mileage and of course my kids love the fact that there is a horse on the steering wheel The only downfall is that the back seat is not very roomy Right now my kids are small and there is plenty of room for them but I cannot see an adult being too comfortable sitting in the back seat The car handles really well and is easy to maneuver in and out of traffic I recommend this car to anyone in the market for a car with a sporty look at a decent price By the way the electric adjustment on the drive s seat is a must " Neg," I bought a 1998 Mustang 6 cylinder in May of 1998 The car started out to be great but turned into a quot sour fruit quot shortly after When I originally bought the vehicle I tinted the windows and put an alarm on it only to find that the power window module was poking holes in the tint After I had a couple of car full s of people 5 I noticed that the back shocks were not holding up the body of the car as well as it should Not only that but at 18 000 miles the tires became bald Also after I was able to get used to the car I noticed that the seat belts were not retracting properly therefore leaving the seat belts hanging out of the car when I closed the door The motor engine has been good so far except for this summer when the starter alternator and the battery gave out All of the problems I had with the car SHOULD have been covered under warranty But when I took the car in however they either said go to the manufacturer tires or we will TRY to fix it in which case most of the time it did not get fixed I have been told by many people that you either love your Mustang or you hate it I see it this way If you want something different from everybody else on the road and something that can handle normal car quot responsibilities quot then do not buy the Ford Mustang If you do have money to burn and you do not expect much from your car then the Mustang is right for you br br " Neg," This is a beautiful car Great styling very comfy The convertible top is almost childlike in it s ease of operation and the Mach 460 sound system is the best stock system that I have heard Now for the bad news The Mustang lacks quite alot in the performance area To be the flagship sports car in Ford s line of autos it is sadly disappointing I bought the Mustang after owning a 1998 Chevy Z 28 with a 6 speed transmission Supposedly these two are quot comparable cars quot Not Quite Though the Mustang s suspension rides nicer and sits better on the ground to allow for better cornering in the long run that doesn t remotely make up for the difference in power The Ford s 4 6 liter engine though good on gas lacks the gusto of the 5 7 LS1 in the Camaro If you are in the market for a great looking comfortable ride in a car that has a sports car imagine but passes up most gas stations due to the lack of raw power this is the car for you But if you want an all out beast and want to get your money s worth in a so called sports car I suggest you pass up the Ford dealership and head for the nearest Bowtie shop br br " Neg," October 1997 I decide to get myself a new car After driving heavy SUVs or Sedan I thought I could switch to a smaller more maneuverable more economical and quicker car Well after little shopping around big mistake I bought a Ford Mustang because they gave me a great deal and more money than anybody else for my old 4WD I first thought it was the best car because I had been used to drive older cars The Mustang was new clean runned smoothly and quiet and smelled NEW Then I quickly realized that it was NOT a SPORT car at all It certainly is a coupe with little room inside but the engine and chassis are far from being Sport car elements With a too big and heavy 3 8l engine they only get 155 HP which is ridiculous above all considering the very heavy weight of the car Too heavy to be a real sport car This car needs a smaller and more efficient engine with at least 30 more horse powers and lighter material to lose about 500 lbs Then you d start getting interesting results Might also need a 6 speed instead of a 5 I definitely recommend choosing a stick if you want some kind of sensation so that you can go up in the RPMs and get a little power The car max speed is alo limited electronically and usually varies between 115 and 120 Mine never went above 115mph but considering how dangerous highways are and how many cops are out there it is more tha enough The competition just left the Mustang behind in the dust as far as performance is concerned and handling probably too This car chassis is 10 or 15 year old suspensions are more comfort than sport and the weight also alters the handling The camaro V6 has a lot more horse power The Golf GTI is quicker The Mitsubichi Eclipse is quicker and more economical handles better A great buy Inside the car is pretty nice and well organized It is comfortable for a sport car unless you are above 6 2 quot Then leg room is an issue in the front seats IN the back forget about the seats you could barely fit a 14 year old Might as well be no seats and more leg room in the front like in a MR2 My friend who is 6 5 quot actually fits comfortably in his MR2 Access to the rear seats is not easy either The base Mustang model comes with a lot of features all power alloy wheels rear defrost remote entry CD player Big mistake form Ford not including floor mats How cheap A few positive things about my 98 Mustang IT is economical never had to fix anything well the CD player went dead but the warranty took care of that Gas mileage is great for a big V6 Basically an oil change every 4 or 5 k miles it seems reliable Except for that CD player no visit to the mechanic Quality improved The plastics used inside are not bad at all for a cheap car and it is assembled pretty well No noises in the car even after 36k miles Tires went slick fast though Quiet ride for a sport car it rides smoothly and is quiet The seats are also more comfortable than average The price is low and the car looks good it has a lot of standard features for the price including CD player However it DOES NOT DELIVER as a sport car Just buy it for the looks or if you HAVE to own a Mustang Overall it is a good ride but not a sporty one At red lights I could not even try to compete with most sedans like the ACCORD v6 MAzda V6 some pick ups For Sport if you have to own a MUSTANG GET THE AMZINGLY POWERFUL V8 but then be careful because the chassis suspensions will not tolerate driving mistakes They are not good enough for that power plant and on the rain better stay under 2000 rpm My husband bought a V8 after we sold the V6 and he loved the sensations I guess the Mustang v6 is a good car for a young driver as it is cheap and is not too quick I would not recommend it otherwise br br " Neg," Three years ago I finally could offer my own brand new car Coming from France I wanted something I could not find there something typically American I looked at the new Sebring and found it a little expensive and very heavy I was not that impressed plus it looked like a car designed for older people So I thought I would go for the Myth The So worldwide famous Ford Mustang I Was so excited by the purchase experience and the fact I was going to own a brand new car that I did not realize how bad this car was for me After a few months of driving the excitement of driving a new Mustang was gone and reality struck The Ford Mustang cannot seat four people so why bother with the rear seats Unless you put kids in the back kids up to 11 or 12 top my 11 YEAR old a little tall for her age was not even comfortable in the rear seat Well the truth is the Mustang can barely seat two if the front occupants are big or just tall I am 6 2 quot and over 200 lbs I drove I sold that car after 2 years even though it was paid off with the steering wheel sitting on my lap my left knee stuck between the turning signal and the door My legs would start hurting after a couple of hours of driving due to the lack of leg room and the uncomfortable seats which were also too short too support the top part of my legs A tall person would also find the passenger side uncomfortable because of the seat itself and the lack of quot knee quot room the dashboard above the glove compartment is extended toward the passenger to an extreme This significantly affects the leg room which would otherwise be decent for this type of car Next disappointent was the engine or more exactly its lack of power for such an heavy car which brings me to the next flaw of this SO CALLED sport car it weight How can you call that a sport car 155 horse power that do not deliver in spite of a pretty big engine 3 8liter A European or Japanese car equipped with such a big engine would deliver twice that power and be a lot more efficient Or they would only need a 2 0l to 2 4l to deliver 155 hp on a car 40 lighter A sport car should not be that heavy the weight affects the handling and decrease pick up I had small pick ups totally blew me away at red lights How embarrassing The Camaro six cylinder does better wit a more powerful engine I love the shape of the Mustang even though it is too high and massive for a sport car The quality is better than i expected and it is loaded What a value can t beat the price for a car equipped with CD player power doors mirrors remote entry rear defrost etc However I think all cars should come with floor mats it is ridiculous to make them an option Another plus for this compact 2 door not so sporty car is the size of the trunk HOWEVER the opening is tiny so don t even think about loading any big items The ride is acceptable at low speed but becomes unsafe when taking curves a little fast or driving on a rainy day This car rear end wants to get ahead of the front end So get used to it before playing the race car driver If you want the sport look at a low price without the power it might be the car for you if you are single No family in that car br br " Neg," I bought a 1998 Mustang because I fell in love with the car the moment I stepped foot on the car lot I bought it the same day I took the test drive The car is beautiful and amazingly comfortable Although Ford has great servicing for these cars I am disappointed that within six months of owning the car I am having trouble with the engine squealing tires loose windows and creaks of every possible kind I take great care of my vehicle and do not abuse it in any way The problems started with a horrible clicking noise in my left front tire and seems to escalate to additional problems on a daily basis It seems that I spend much more time at the dealership than I should especially with such a new car By the way they do find something every time I go I am not imagining things I have often heard rumors about Ford cars but chose to ignore them It seems they might not be rumors after all " Neg," I ve owned 87 cars in my life some new some very old but this Mustang takes the cake Over 80 000 miles and NO repairs NO problems Heck I haven t even had to change the brakes yet Whoop s my wife just reminded me we had a turn signal bulb that went out Total repair costs in 80 000 miles 2 95 AMAZING Plus we get 25 27 MPG around town and on a recent 1600 mile trip averaged 32 MPG on the road And that was as she purred along at 85MPH for a good portion of the trip The seats are comfortable yet offer enough support that even on our long trip we never felt fatigued The 3 8L V6 is smooth and responsive And this being said from a guy who drove BigBlocks in the 70 s with ample power She will sqaull the tires from a dead stop and when my wife isn t with me I just love blowing the doors off the Hondas Acuras Toyotas and what ever other piece of Jap Crap is cruising the local boulivard Even us grey hairs like to have some fun now and then My boss has the same year Camaro V6 and I can out run it out gas mileage it out handle it and I don t have to fix it once a month and all for only 4000 LESS than he paid Then there is the obvious It s looks Bright Red on one of the best body styles of the 90 s This car is just flat beautiful It looks mean just sitting there buy is sleek enough to slice through the air with outstanding aerodynamics Sure the back seat isn t that big but it holds my 2 teenagers who would much rather be driving her with no problems though I m sure they wouldn t want to take a long trip back there And yes the trunk is small but it IS a sports car not a sedan If you need more back seat or trunk room than what this car has then you shouldn t be driving a sports car I highly recommend this car to ANYONE looking for a car with some flare great fuel mileage Performance EXTREME RELIABILITY and less expensive than anything in it s class MUSTANGS RULE " Neg," I bought my 1998 V6 Ford Mustang brand new at the end of 1998 Despite poor salesmanship the car seemed a good looker had reasonable pace and I had every reason to believe in Ford reliability so I bought it At around 17 000 I believed and still do I got a bargain First and foremost with 40 000 miles completed this car has never given me any maintenance headaches touch wood In this respect it has filled my paramount expectation Of course the first Mustang question is V6 or the GT Well coming from Europe 3 8L seemed like a huge engine and the extra cash for the GT a little unnecessary Three years later and 40 000 on the clock I regret my decision to plump for the V6 Its not that 3 8L V6 lacks pace it just does not compete at that sports car level I imagine 4 6L makes all the difference in performance The interior has been forgiving of my carelessness with a little maintenance the upholstery and dash are in almost perfect shape Seats are not luxurious but none the less comfortable The front seat is electronically controlled while the passanger seat is a lever Outside this car is a looker bought in 1998 I still get complements on its sleek silver exterior Get the spoiler However I have become concerned about how my Mustang handles in the rain coming out of the car wash and on one occasion the Texas snow The car has a tendency to fish tail especially when building up from a complete stop I think the reviewed 1999 25th anniversary models compactness may take on board this concern That salesman told me a lie about them changing the design Overall this is a solid reliable car I have maintained it well and therefore expect it to run at least another 40 000 miles I very rarely have more than two people in my car but on the occasion I do it s less than comfortable in the back neither does the Mustang bless us with a lot of trunk space Bottom line this is no family car " Neg," I am not a car expert but I know I waited many years before acquiring what I thought was my dream car In January 2000 I bought a 1998 Mustang convertible 6 cylinder automatic No doubt this pony was beautiful to look at with its bright Atlantic blue paint and white top But in the department of performance the car was lacking Many Mustang fanatics told me I got what I paid for as they swear by the GT engine I was disappointed especially after driving three rental cars after the Mustang was rear ended and in the shop for repairs All three of the rentals were equipped with 6 cylinder engines and all out performed the Mustang 6 cylinder Rentals were a 99 Chrysler Sebring a 99 Dodge Intrepid and a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am I just expected more from the Mustang than Ford delivered I understand Ford has improved the performance of the 99 6 cylinder Mustangs but I am waiting delivery on a 2000 Mustang GT convertible Now I will sit back and let the Mustang fanatice criticize me for choosing an automatic 8 cylinder over the standard transmission br br " Neg," Unlike the fellow who reviewed an 84 Crown Vic by owning an 86 model I can give you the real story First the car has a good ride on dirt roads and a huge ten dead body sized trunk It also has a bunch of crush space to absorb collision impact The lack of road feel is a positive thing both in rural areas and over city potholes They look alike on the outside but the 1984 model has demonstable shortcomings My experience is based upon getting to borrow my mom s 1986 Crown Victoria which is a wonderful car except for the front bench seat and subsequently buying a 1984 Crown Victoria thinking that I would be getting the same critter The earlier car is a boat anchor that has occupied space in the yard for the weedeater to trim around while the 1986 model has soldiered on trouble free The 1984 has an igniton module that simply quits going down the road It also has the aggravating characteristic of testing out all right on the test bench but not working in the car The 86 model has a different system The fuel injector is a throttle body type in the 84 and a tuned port type in the 86 which is far superior in driveability and economy The seat back broke inside and it won t stay upright The seat has absolutely no lumbar support which is verified by driving mom s 86 model which is not broken Also the car has 14 wheels which makes finding used tires large enough difficult My car was really cheap with no body damage and only 80 000 actual miles but it was no bargain because it s ignition and fuel injection systems were badly designed I have only gotten a few miles out of it while mom has gotten another 50 000 with hers without a hitch Her car gets pretty good mileage has 15 wheels and has better acceleration Of course mine has no acceleration most of the time execept behind a tow truck Don t buy an 84 Get an 86 which is a fishing car beyond comparison if you want cheap transportation with room for your XXL buddies and all their gear " Neg," The company that I work at owns a 1991 Lariat that lives up to Ford s quot Fix Or Repair Daily quot reputation The pros although limited are as follows The 460 CI engine is full of torque and pulls trailers up relatively steep inclines 6 grade easily The cab is huge and easily sits five people six if they like each other The rear sliding window is a nice addition and the air conditioning is excellent This truck looks nice on the outside and the paint is in fairly good condition although off white was not a good choice Now for the cons this truck has 300 000 miles on it and has had three engines and seven transmissions put into it As of now the seventh transmission is in bad shape and will probably have to be replaced in six months or less This is to be expected being a heavily used work truck but I believe we should be getting a bit more mileage out of each component since not many people drive the truck and it is usually babied The seats are the most uncomfortable I ve ever sat in the contouring is all wrong and you sit way too far into the seats The headlight control between bright and dim is on the floor which is sometimes hard to find especially at night when it is most needed The tailgate had plastic elements that became heavily stressed and broke so the only way to open the tailgate was with two people and two screw drivers The exhaust mounting is hardly up to par and two have broken Manual hubs are ridiculous especially in a truck manufactured after 1990 Minor mechanical failures and electrical glitches have put this truck in the shop for much more than routine maintenance Gas mileage with the 460 is absurd averaging 10 13 the two gas tanks this truck sports are absolutely necessity and before going anywhere you have to make sure they are full We recently put a service bed on it and replaced the entire ignition system The company is purchasing a new truck near in the future and I won t be the least bit surprised when it isn t a Ford br br " Neg," I got my 97 Escort brand new in 1997 I was in the market for something that would be easy to maintain get me around good distances comfortably and be a good first car I initially was looking at used cars but decided that a new car would be good since the warranty was a big bonus to me having little knowledge about cars and car maintenance Within 15 000 km I started having to double clutch to get into reverse about half the time Yes it s a manual transmission and double clutching is when you take the car which is not moving from whatever gear you were in into neutral lift the clutch depress the clutch again and then engage it into reverse I took it into the dealership I bought it from and asked them to look into it during some other routine maintenance oil and air filter change They only did the oil change that day When I picked it up I inquired about the air filter and the double clutching They said they d have someone out to where my car was parked to show me how to use my transmission and install the air filter Well the assistant service manager I think that was his title came out He was very condescending until he had to admit that a he didn t know what type of air filter my car needed b he didn t have the tools to remove the old one and c he didn t know how to properly install the new one This is really confidence inspiring After this amusing demonstration he proceeded to tell me that first is a magical gear I m not making this up and that I always need to put it into first before trying to put it in reverse I explained that I usually have it in first because I m usually going slowly before wanting to go in reverse but I acknowledged that I might not always do that I went away trying to be sure to always have it in first before putting it in reverse I found that without double clutching I often wouldn t be able to get it into reverse anyway I took the problem back to the dealership and same condescending attitude from another staff person who proceeded to tell me oh no it s not first it s second that is the magical gear On my third complaint about it I got the nice fellow who works behind the counter to admit that based on his experience driving my car there was a problem getting it into reverse I wish I d gotten it in writing He no longer works there and I haven t been able to get it fixed Among the other admitedly minor problems and or complaints I ve had with the car include no interior trunk release I have to get out of the car with the key to unlock the trunk after many service attempts my car is still often hard to start when cold I m sure my starter will have a shorter life because of the amount of time I have to engage it to get the engine to start And I don t live in a cold climate interior dome light only works intermittently Upon complaining about it they reluctantly replaced the light bulb in it though I d repeatedly explained it wasn t the bulb because it was intermittent Overall I do have to say that I really like the little car and I like the refinements Ford has made to the Focus which really improve on the Escort However after my service experience there isn t a snowball s chance in Hades that I ll ever buy another And don t get me started about how much it s worth now I had a local Saturn dealership make a trade in offer on it and I was very sad and decided to keep the car a bit longer to get some value out of the depreciation I ll have to eat when I sell it Things I like about it handling gas economy sharp look if a bit cartoonish comfy seats trunk space even in the sedan model br br " Neg," I drove a company 96 Explorer XLT for six months which was used on and off road The Explorer is a comfortable ride and has ample cargo space as compared to my 88 Jeep Cherokee and other small SUV s With the back seats down the vehicle was able to hold all of my field gear while conducting drilling activities on a hazardous waste site Believe me when you work on haz sites there is a lot of gear to be toted around The duel open action of the back window and tailgate was a nice convience since you could just open the window to retrieve objects With the hinges of the tailgate on top the tailgate would act as a shelter during rain events where note pad could be kept dry I was very pleased with the on road handling of the Explorer but was disappointed with its off road use The auto 4WD function was a nice feature that operated flawlessly during the wet season That was the only thing I like about the Explorer for off road use My biggest beef was the low clearance of the vehicle Tree branches were snagged by the frame on two separate occasions On one occasion a stick interfered with the gears of the vehicle I could not get the truck out of gear until someone crawled beneath the vehicle and pulled the stick out Try that repair alone on an off road trail Another time the vehicle slipped into the tire ruts from heavy equipment and bottomed out I was able to get out by immediately gunning the engine I was surprised that the vehicle came out of that situation considering the lackluster of past 4 wheeling Several times the Explorer could not pull itself out of a muddy area without a running go These were similar areas that my 88 Cherokee handled with ease One note the Explorer probably would have done better with real mud tires I loved the vehicle for its on road use but hated its overall off road use Who should buy Anyone who wants the status of an SUV and does not plan any off road excursions except for maintained gravel roads Who shouldn t Anyone that needs a good 4WD vehicle for heavy off road use Because of the lackluster 4WD experience and low clearance of the 96 Explorer XLT I upgraded my 88 Cherokee to a 96 Isuzu Trooper which is also reviewed by me separately br br " Neg," The Ford Explorer is not the biggest SUV but it is too big for me I cannot stand driving in it for many reasons First it is a very flimsy car and a collision with anything larger would mean my death Also it has horrible suspension which makes listening to cds impossible because of all the skipping and every ride is very uncomfortable The gas mileage although good compared to an expedition or excursion is much worse than I would hope for It is about 13 miles per gallon city 18 miles per gallon highway With the gas prices as high as they are having a car which guzzles this amount of gas is killing my wallet Finally despite the atrocious size of this behemoth and the trouble I have in finding a parking place for it it is still impossible to fit into It has room for five people if you and your friends don t have legs br br " Neg," I purchased the Ford Explorer for its styling space and published reports about the excellent performance I love the safety aspects of the vehicle and I hate the current performance of the vehicle just crossed 50 000 miles The vehicle drives like a 10 year old truck ready to stop any minute The vehicle performed satisfactorily till about 48 000 miles when problems started 1 had to replace the engine thermostat main gasket and water pump 2 had to replace the exhaust sensor 3 the transmission appears to be slipping although the dealer says it is OK and it is giving 14 miles per gallon The above repairs are in addition to the normal maintenance done on the vehicle like 1 replace battery 2 replace all 4 tires and align wheels 3 replace front and back brake pads and turn rotor br br " Neg," My second Explorer a 2WD 1996 has been a different experience than my first a 1993 model I have 35714 miles on it and it is on its 3rd automatic transmission This time around I am out of warranty and out of luck and after pleading my case with Ford I was told they will offer no comment or assistance Outside of several thousand dollars in repair expenses on a 3 year old vehicle on its 3rd transmission the car has performed satisfactory The interior has remained solid free of cracks and fading amazing in the 110 degree summer heat of my area It has not given me any engine troubles and the brakes and normal wear and tear items have been uneventful They have reduced the cup holder size and removed the slot for coffee cup handles so that if you are drinking anything other than a fast food small drink it will be on your lap due to lack of room Handling is O K however as will as Explorers I have driven or owned the rear wheels slide in wet conditions when making a corner even at slow speeds The paint still looks new my color was called Mocha but looks Gold and the black trim cleans up well I would warn that dealing with Ford on repair issues can be painful at best and to document EVERYTHING with the service department " Neg," I drove a Ford Explorer for three years and I liked it until I realized what I was missing Because it was my first car I had nothing to compare it to but after having driven other cars I realize that the Explorer is not that great Its suspension and handling are really awful compared to other cars in its class and it cost me a ridiculous amount of money for gas and all too frequent repairs I was comfortable inside it but that was probably because I shelled out about 8 000 above the starting price for extras Although SUVs are traditionally intended more for off roading and that type of thing I assume most people buying one right now would be interested in driving it everyday as I did which is not something I recommend br br " Neg," Apparently the automatic closing sliding door feature is in earlier Windstars as well but I m sure we would have heard about more injuries if they were made so improperly i b The Windstar 2001 b I went to visit my fiance at work yesterday He works at a Ford Dealership b and often gets to see the features of new vehicles before they are released to the public The one good feature I saw is that the 2001 Windstars come with TV s and VCR s I m not a car person and I don t know whether the earlier versions have TVs or not Him and his co worker had a Sony Playstation hooked up and were playing games while in the comfort of a heated minivan b i The Downside b i They were sitting in the vehicle and I was outside The side door was open My Fiance s foot was hanging out the door I lifted the handle This vehicle has an b automatic door shut feature b The door started to close and wouldn t stop I yelled at him to move his foot Luckily he did The door shut and sealed itself quietly i I couldn t believe this He assured me there were sensors to stop the door but when he was trying to show me he had to wave his hands all over the place and even still it hardly ever stopped closing the door There are only two little motion sensors b b i Let me ask you this i b What types of people usually use minivans like this Families Mothers with children b If a mom were to turn her back and the door starts to close a kind near the door could be hurt very badly Since the closing is virtually sound less the only sounds would be the kid screaming over a lost finger b Other new features b There is a low tire pressure warning system that lets you know when your tires are low 3 8 Litre V6 engine Power windows locks brakes Child safety door locks b The Ford Company b As well as having a not so great vehicle here and there the Ford company also has its downfalls They don t honor warranty if you are at or even near the ending term or mileage limit Their parts cost more than you can get at an independent dealer FYI The employees are charge fifteen percent MORE if they want to get something before their pay day i i In general I don t feel that Ford Windstar 2001 is a very safe vehicle but that s just my Epinion i b Thumbs down or off to Windstar b " Neg," I first drove the 2001 Windstar as a rental in Orlando this January I was quite impressed It had a smooth ride convenient features and easy handling So when my husband switched to a job with a car allowance the next month my vote was in I did lots of internet research to find out what model we wanted what the price ranges were etc We settled on a very nicely equipped model and found one for 600 under invoice and 3 9 financing So we went to pick it up Things went relatively smoothly at the dealership since the deal was already worked out However I was still there for over five hours Anyway about the van Good Things COMFORT The Windstar has a very smooth ride and nice handling It is very easy to drive and comfortable to ride in It is so easy to get into that even my two and a half year old son can climb in by himself The seats are comfortable and the driver s seat has great adjustments The interior is generally roomy and cupholders are everywhere SAFETY All five of the rear seating positions are equipped with tether anchors The van is equipped with flashers on the side mirrors and cornering lamps The flashers on the side mirrors also flash whenever one of the sliding doors is open warning others that a child may be about to dart in or out of the vehicle Windstar has dual airbags and very good crash ratings All the doors automatically lock when the vehicle is put in drive There is even a sensor that is supposed to let you know if the tire inflation is incorrect CONVENIENCE When the rear seat is removed the back will accommodate a full sheet of plywood a real plus when you have to prepare for a hurricane The keyless entry system comes in handy when you are juggling groceries and a toddler The sliding doors always work smoothly You can usually put just about whoever and whatever you need to into this van Bad Things PROBLEMS FROM THE VERY START When we tried to install the cargo net we found that one of the knobs was broken The first time my husband removed the rear seat he discovered that there was a missing knob When he took the van to the dealership nearly 60 miles away they did not have all of the necessary parts to fix it He did not want to make another trip out to the dealership for something they had already had two opportunities to get right so they said they would mail the part to us when it came in We got the part alright the WRONG one This has yet to be resolved A few weeks ago the battery was COMPLETELY dead for no apparent reason Upon recharging it has been working fine Right now there is already some sort of front end problem The steering wheel makes a strange clicking noise when you turn it All sorts of unexplained sounds have come and gone in the short time we have owned this vehicle It is ridiculous In a nutshell I will be glad when Saturn puts out a van " Neg," Well its been a while since got a thread reply from epinion so will post what its been like with this car in over a year I too am very disappointed in what the car has to offer feature wise verus the MSRP price paid over 40KwTT L One of the biggest was the lack of a full drivers information center giving an account of the cars functions Your finding this now on cars costing half as much At least it should have had Gas miles to empty It does not have dimming mirrors or lighted vanities The vanity mirrors are a sight to see they are so flimsy and cheap looking The car does not have a memory system to set seats and other choices per drivers The seats are very limited in power choices too The passengers just goes backwards and forward Would it have kill ford to put in a simple homelink system on the visor like the lincoln LS after all its the same car basically No locking gas cap they had to work overtime to cheap out this car Another small item is the lack of clips to hold the floor mats in place they are just light material sliding all over the place The top is a major inconvenience off its laying in the corner of the garage waiting till can get some friends over to put it back on This seemed better than using that rickity looking cart The cloth top has not closed properly since day one I did go by a dealership but the repair recommendation made you wonder if would be worst off Now for those wheels they do nothing for the appearance of that car looks like a hubcap set As for running errands you are limited the trunk is very shallow a bag of groceries or even a slightly large boxed item will not fit back there So you try and put it in the seat beside you hoping a brad is not on the bottom to scratch the colored seats You do need a 2nd vehicle practical along with this thing On the motor I m not a mechanic but it doesn t have that much get up and go It will go but not like the old push rod motors You seem to plan your passing in advance Top may be good but low end punch would be nicer On the window dropping to allow door to open well don t open the door fast or it has not completed and shakes the glass If it forgets to drop you have to really push it open This may be a big problem as the cars age and more electrical glitches develop All the articles and reports of unsold 02 03 units just sitting on lots with Ford slashing prices and offering rebate to try and rid of these cars Does not make you feel good about spending this much on a car either Gosh 04 s coming and they still can t sell the 02 s Ford announced the cancellation of the car too after a year on the market " Neg," Ford has once again tried to bring back the Thunderbird But let s face it The car that has carried the Thunderbird name for half a century has really been about five or six distinctly different cars Other than the name these cars have nothing in common The only version that sparked any interest was the 1950 s T Bird s And the 1950 s were the last time a Thunderbird was ever a respected and exciting vehicle It s been a downward spiral ever since with the exception of the SuperCoupe from 1989 1995 arguably the fastest T birds ever made I own a 1989 Thunderbird and it happens to be a very ordinary passenger car with the exception of some luxury features not found on other vehicles The 2003 Thunderbird is more of the same except with a different look and a grossly inflated price Who is going to pay 65 000 for a Lincoln with a T Bird name on it These days it seems that anything with a different look is popular regardless of what lies underneath And what lies underneath is the same Thunderbird I drive everyday which was less than half the price compared to the 2003 The fact is the Thunderbird lost its Mojo after the 50 s and became yet another family car with a puny engine It s hard to imagine that this car was EVER compared to Corvette s It would be like Ferrari taking the Maranello adding room for four people popping in a 200hp engine and raising the price to a million dollars Anyone interested Didn t think so For the T Bird to be reborn Ford needs to drop a big time V8 engine in it with somewhere in the neighbourhood of 350 400 horsepower and 5 second 0 60 times Then we will have the Thunderbird the way it was meant to be originally A sports car again Chris " Neg," What you are about to read is what I got from a weekend rental of the 2003 Ford Escape I was kinda excited when I found out I would be able to drive one of these for a whole weekend in my search for an SUV Our local Ford Dealer had no problem letting me take the vehicle for the whole weekend He was sure I would be back on Monday to make a purchase Well once I first got in the vehicle I did feel alot of comfort After checking out my surroundings I did notice that the head room was incredible but how much do you really need The seats are comfortable but pretty boring they were just a plain tan color just average After a couple minutes I really felt as it I was in a Dodge Caravan of the late 80 s It just has the feel of a mini van I was very disappointed with the center console it is nothing more than a huge pit There is nothing there to really hold any Cd s spare change whatever it may be It was basically a 2nd glove box Nothing spectacular Once I started the car up I could tell the power upon trying to put the vehicle in drive I notice that the gear selector is on the column Didn t we phase this out yet very outdated Once I left the lot I noticed right away that the engine had power but was pretty loud The vehicle has excellent pick up The Escape I borrowed had very few options basically a stripped model with floor mats and mud guards The options it did have like power windows power door locks etc were all placed basically the same place as any other vehicle and they are all within comfortable reach of the driver Radio had some definite volume but you need to so you can hear music over the road noise Once I finally got on the highway and pulled out on the on ramp I was ready to take the car back to the dealer The engine though peppy is extremely loud as well as the road noise of the vehicle I found myself talking much loader than normal to be able to communicate with my passenger Very disappointing with the road noise but speed and handling were very nice To keep this short I had the vehicle all weekend and hardly drove it at all once I got home It is pretty basic and a little boring The V 6 Engine had more than enough power but they need to build something around it SUMMARY It is definitely one of the lower priced 4X4 vehicles but there are other options out there I would suggest looking to other makes and models As the salesman told me All the fathers are buying these for their daughters So maybe the road noise is an outta sight outta mind kinda thing Good luck in your SUV searches " Neg," I purchased our Ford Taurus LX Wagon used with 19K miles and we bought it because I was impressed by it s long list of features and by the way it drove We had just sold our Ford Aerostar minivan and we were looking for a smaller more economical family car What we ended up was a car that just cannot be repaired properly and is not very reliable We have had problems with the interior door panels cracking the dash bubbling the power window motors burning out turn signals that work when they want to a moon roof that has hardly ever worked inability to align the front end so we go through a pair of tires every 20K miles I have only had it serviced by Ford and they have failed to repair most of our problems even after numerous attempts The Ford dealers no longer believe in test drives they just look for a problem and charge you even if they cannot find it I got charged 75 00 to be told that I needed a new 55 00 battery I also took the car in to have a rubber seal around the door replaced and they charged me 30 00 just to tell me how much it would cost to replace This is my 3rd and last Ford I had two Ford Explorers and Ford bought both of them back under the California Lemon Law I wanted to love this car I wanted to forget about my bad experiences with my two previous Explorers but this car is by far worst in every manner I have had it with Ford Quality is not Job 1 Profit is Don t even get me started about the fact that Ford knew about the Firestone tire defects for years but still kept putting them on my Explorer and all others I was the lucky one who is still around to express my displeasure with Ford The only reason I still have our Taurus because the value has dropped faster than my loan for it If I sold it today I would lose a few thousand bucks " Neg," In 1996 my wife and I purchased our Ford Taurus GL wagon with an extended warranty The warranty was a GE Capital product that covered the car out to 100 000 miles When we first bought the car we were really happy with it At the two and a half year point the problems started On a trip my father noticed oil leaking from the car When I check the oil the dipstick came up clean no oil The car was four quarts low on oil and I had not received so much as an oil light The gage light in the vehicle checks only pressure of the oil and not oil level I immediately took the car in for service A failed gasket was found at the base of the oil pan This was repaired under warranty No further damage was apparent As for the oil light I was told that this only comes on in extreme conditions The service manager on duty informed me that if the oil light comes on the engine is probably to the point where serious damage is being done Well this ended up as the tip of the iceberg When the car had 78 000 miles on it my wife was driving and I was away on a business trip It was over 100 degrees and the engine seized up with no warning My wife and two young children were stranded for an hour before they got help When my wife called the dealership where we purchased the car they instructed her to have it towed their They made her sign an agreement saying she would be responsible for the cost of any repair work that was no covered under warranty They also told her that this repair would almost certainly be covered under warranty but the claims adjuster would have to look at the car I m sure you see the writing on the wall After several hundred dollars in labor and no real repairs my wife was told that the car was not covered under our warranty Her attention was directed to the fine print that stated that engine over heat regardless of the cause is not covered We had meticulously documented all maintenance on this vehicle and even in spite of our previous problems the vehicle repairs were not covered To make matters worse I later discovered that if I had purchased a Ford extended warranty rather than the GE warranty the repairs would have been covered The reason this made me furious was that I was going to buy the Ford warranty but the sales staff told me that the GE product was better and cheaper The final straw came when I made one of several calls to Ford Motor Corporation to complain I was told that the problems I experienced were quot due to normal wear and tear quot I will never again buy another Ford product I am only giving this vehicle 1 star because I can not give it less br br " Neg," What could anyone be thinking to buy this truck As my good friend Foxspy said its not a truck Its a compact car with an oversize trunk b Pro s you say You want pro s to this car Ok I ll try but its not going to be easy It sits five people That s nice What I left out in the original sentence is that it sits two people comfortably The red paint is really nice as said before Ford really knows how to do paint they might as well be able to do something right Four doors is awesome it has the two butterfly doors making loading easier but not easy The Tonneau cover that this truck came with is a nice addition but even it has its cons It offers a full size spare but what pick up doesn t That s enough for pro s I m worn out with all of this thinking I m going to something that comes a little easier b CONS b This is the Princess of quot Fix or Repair Daily quot The model of which I speak is a 1999 little over 15 000 miles on the clock How many times to the shop Too many lets see its already had to have a recall done on the cruise control IT WOULDN T SHUT OFF After that it had automatic windshield wipers but not as fancy as the Cadillac Rainsense wipers these wipers would just come on for no particular reason This has been happening to lots of these trucks according to the dealer Transmission problems are normal right Not three months after you buy a brand new truck Its been in the shop for other reasons but they fail my memory right now Not a reliable truck er car Updated 8 9 So the Ranger got good crash test ratings How about a real world account Two more teens I know just purchased 1999 s and 2000 s which is something I will not stop ridiculing them for What a stupid choice Anyways one of them got a little out of control at highway speeds and ended up totalling the front end of the truck The airbags did not deploy until she had successfully smashed her nose on the steering wheel If thats not bad enough then the airbag deployed and slammed her back If you even consider purchasing this truck I will never read another of your articles or consider you a peer as you are obviously mentally challenged Loading Good luck the fold down rear seats fold down so you have to CLIMB OVER THEM Updated 8 9 Four bangers are notorious for good gas mileage right Not with the Ranger with this iddy bitty inline four cylinder I d expect to get at least 40 highway my friend swore she got thirty miles per gallon which her particular truck did but any other owner of a 2 5 liter I4 will report never even touching 20mpg Now you may say this is ok I might too if it was a Vortec 4300 with power but it is gutless Its outfitted with a towing package but if you can find something it ll tow let me know You couldn t tow a jetski in this thing with all of the hills on the way to Lake Powell or into Phoenix for Lake Pleasant Updated 4 25 Rear spring weight is useless Me and a friend asked her why her rear end was so close to the ground she replied that she had some cement in the back No more thought given I was on my motorcycle and asked her if she could take my backpack home she agreed This truck does have better payload than a motorcycle I opened the trunk I mean Tonneau cover only to discover two bags of 85 lb cement Thats not even the weight of the average male With the rear end sag I was expecting to see at least seven bags The Tonneau cover looks awesome on this truck it is very nice that Ford is implementing their trucks with such a cheap accessory to try to make up for more expensive problems Tonneau is actually a company that makes bed covers but recently all bed quot lids quot have been referred to as quot Tonneau quot Snug Top and quite a few other companies make similar products I believe the cover on my friends car is a Snug Top the weather stripping has already let go and it feels really flimsy to hold lift up on the handle Rear gate lifters that are standard in most SUV s for the rear window and or rear gate are all that holds this Tonneau cover up it seems that a much more effective way could have been implemented The stock rims look pretty nice but with one minor deficiency They come apart Another friend who owns an even crappier 1999 had a rim disintegrate at 45 mph he is lucky he missed all of the trees I don t even want to get started on his truck because he has abused it so much its hard to say whether the problems are his fault or Ford s My other friend is a well mannered girl that is very gentle with her truck b Overall She did get a pretty good deal on the truck walking out the door with a brand new semi furnished barely driven truck for 12 000 A better idea would have been a Ford Focus Although after reading some reviews or Chevy Metro since she d have the same amount of room better gas mileage better back seat generally everything would be better b Alternative For those looking for a much better truck a Chevy S 10 with either the 2 2 liter Vortec or 4 3 liter Vortec are recommended by me after lots of research Especially the 4 3 liter Vortec The 4 0 liter version of this truck whom another friend owns is just as fast as the Chevy S 10 But guess what size engine the Chevy has in it 2 2 Liter Vortec So for the Chevy you ll pay less get better gas mileage and be able to keep up with Ford V6 s Not to mention my friend had to replace his engine at 107 000 miles b Rest in Peace Update 7 7 00 Well it is under unfortunate circumstances that I write this update My friend whom I ve recently fallen out of friendship with had a number of problems with her 1999 XLT Ford Ranger SuperCab 2 3 Liter Inline Four Cylinder Automatic It refused to start on numerous occasions it was running extremely rough and the recalls were just too much It turns out my friend didn t get the warranty I thought she did They traded this POS in on a 2000 F 150 4 6 Liter V8 with 5 000 miles on it Will they ever learn The Ranger was trouble from the day it was designed to the day it was traded in I feel guilty giving this truck one star since it doesn t even deserve that b R I P b i Little truck rest in peace i Born August 1999 Died July 2000 A total of 25 000 gentle miles were placed on this Ford Yet it was just too much she couldn t handle it She is survived by two sisters a 1993 3 0 Liter Ranger a 1996 Dodge Avenger a mother a 1989 AeroStar and has been replaced by a larger but probably as troublesome F 150 She won t be missed but won t be forgotten May others learn from her mistakes Who would I recommend this truck for My worst enemy br br " Neg," UPDATE Well I decided not to keep it Had a flat and the spare tire lock was corroded into place so bad the dealer had to tear out the spare carrier and replace it under warranty The brakes started grabbing pretty bad in the wet and the local dealer couldn t find the problem The only reason I went to them was because the dealer I felt I could trust basically told me to take my truck somewhere else Didn t even want to do the 35 000 mile check Bottom line Read the fine print Ford s bumper to bumper 36 000 mile warranty is only applicable to problems that they find convenient to fix or in fixing won t reveal a major costly screw up on their part Unfortunately there wasn t another truck around that met my expectations after having the Ranger Looked at SUVs no go Ended up saying to hell with it and bought a new 2001 Honda Accord EX V6 Hey Ford it could have been a maxxed out Taurus but well you know how it goes ORIGINAL The following opinion is as much a commentary on Ford as on my vehicle I ve got a 99 Ranger Supercab XLT Sport 2 5L 5spd 4x2 which I purchased on 12 31 00 It s been into a couple of local dealers in an effort to get issues worked out I now have about 31k on it and am debating with myself whether or not to take the hit and dump it I purchased the Ford as a replacement for my 87 Mazda B2000 Cab Plus which was getting a little tired after 12 years and 180 thou It still ran OK and got 22 23 MPH on the road but was getting pretty rusty and needed a new clutch I have had the fuel gauge sender replaced at about 2000 miles Ford has real problems with these accross all their vehicles from what I can tell problems with the heater doors the usual wiper switch problem etc What has surprised me is that Ford has had some of the same problems for years and doesn t do anything about them Right off the bat I started getting 16 MPH I knew that the engine wasn t broken in it was winter etc etc but 95 of my driving is on the highway I wouldn t have been surprised to get low 20 s as the EPA rating is 22 27 Took it back to the dealer who said they checked it with their computer and it said 27 MPH Pure BS this truck never has and never will get anything above 22 With EFI I had expected it to better my carbureted 2L Mazda The real clincher started to show up at about 5 000 I started to notice what felt like an abnormal amount of play in the drivetrain like a bike with a very loose chain accompanied by a noticeable clunk whenever I applied or released the clutch I brought it to the dealer s attention and after playing like they didn t understand what I was referring to said it was normal It kept getting worse and I kept bringing it to their attention everytime I took it in for service The service manager laid out a sheaf of TSB s which he said stated that it was normal for the clunk in the Ranger When I pointed out that all of the TSBs only related to 4X4s he couldn t come up with a justification Thinking it was the rear end I requested that they check it They did and declared it to be normal More on this later After getting the Ford District Rep to check my truck again normal I requested Arbitration I live in Illinois and that s the extent of their Lemon Law By this time the problem was affecting the shifting and was noticeable to anyone outside the truck After doing the dance with the Ford s Dispute Settlement Board it was agreed that I would get a new gearbox because after all the diff was OK Last spring a new 5 spd was put in my truck No change I started going to a dealer in another town They took a look at the problem and immediately noticed play in the rear end They found severe wear and ended up replacing everything but the ring and pinion Still no change A month or so later I stopped by to let them know I was still having problems and that it was now binding up on 1 2 shifts Tear down the new tranny and replace synchronizers Quite possibly my old tranny won t have had this problem A couple of weeks ago I took the truck in for its 30k service and to determine once and for all just what was going on The mechanic who had worked on the rear end previously test drove the truck and thought the problem was worse than ever He called Ford Engineering who basically told him that they weren t going to do anything about my problem Period end of story Another mechanic there explained that this attitude was the reason he had a Japanese SUV he couldn t trust the American vehicles So here I am Do I keep it and continue replacing differentials at my own expense or dump it for another truck I ve driven almost everything else out there and am even more disappointed The Sport package on my truck provides the 4x4 suspension which with the rack and pinion steering provides handling that literally nothing else on the market can match short of shelling out for a 4x4 that I don t need The 4x2 Toyotas handle like drunken sailors by comparison even with the TRD package The Dual Media 4 speaker stereo is the best I ve heard in a truck and many cars The truck is a dream to drive down the highway until I have to shift " Neg," We recently had the chance to drive 2 of these trucks through Budget Rentals We decided to rent the trucks because of the deal they were having One of them had 3600 miles on it and the other one had 3200 I think having driven two that I can compare really helps my insight into them Both of these were the 4 cylinder Automatic Transmition with the Hard top bed cover Both were the extended cab I liked the amount of room in the cab when there are just 2 people and the adjustable shoulder straps were a great asset The seats were very uncomfortable for such a long trip My husband ended up having to sit on a pillow on the way back With the hard top bed cover it made it almost impossible to carry much or to carry anything very large I ran into problems with it twice Once I left the item to home and the second time I loaded what I could and went home and borrowed my mother s truck a couple of years older and a 6 cylinder to haul the rest of the things The truck drove very well on the flat lands but when we got up in the mountains it had a hard time handling the inclines We often lost power in it Also it would often kick out of overdrive by itself My mother says that hers does not do that but it could be a feature on this model The air conditioner worked great and I loved the cd player that it had in it I would have to say that the part that I liked best was the cute little buttons that came on the keychain so that you could lock the doors remotely That was fun Great for scaring people because if you push it twice the horn blows The horn can also blow if you are inside the building and press the horn button My son tried THAT one out All in all I would discourage anyone that wanted to carry alot of things in it ie use it as a truck or if you lived in the mountains " Neg," OH I Just Love my Bright Red Super Cab Ranger with The AWESOME Sports Package But I m finding that Ford s Famous Saying quot Quality Is Job One quot is far from the truth I own an 1988 Ford Ranger with almost 200 000 miles on it that s much Superior to my 1999 Ranger I m finding that there s many flaws in the paint There are several spots where there was dirt under the paint and now the paint has come off The Optional Bigger engine with more horsepower as compared to the Imports standard engine is way below standards The cheap look and Quality of the inside door panels and Door Pulls are very Disgusting A Few weeks after I bought this Truck the Door Pull and panel behind it started to peel I had this replaced and guess what The Second one is doing the same thing Yes I Do Love the Outside Looks of My Truck But I seriously Doubt that I ll ever buy another Ford That s one reason why I just purchased a Subaru Car instead of a Ford Focus And I have bought Ford s all my Life May I Ask Ford why the price keeps going up and the Quality Keeps Going Down Better Be Careful Ford Because the Love of Money may just end up hurting you in the Long Run It Just Cost You An 18 500 Sale with me br br " Neg," Yes I am not kidding After only 9 000 miles and none in 4WD my dealer informed me the weird rattling noise I was experiencing required a new engine Six weeks for the new engine to arrive Two weeks in the shop with no loaner vehicle I picked up my brand new truck with it s even newer engine to hear the noise again Another three weeks at the dealer without a loaner for me a Ford engineer examined the truck and the customer service rep examined the issues and my request to buy the truck back the problem was determined inherent Warning I have heard from reliable sources the service people and others on line this is not inherent Ford knows about the noise and is refusing at this time to buy the trucks experiencing the noise back specifically 1999 3 0 V6 4WD Just thought you all should know br br " Neg," For all you folks who may own a 1994 F 150 have you ever had a flat tire If you havn t you just may want to check your jack Yes it should be there but it will do you no good The owners manual gives you 2 choices of jacking positions a primary and a secondary here is where the problem lies Your jack is too big for the primary point won t fit there and not tall enough to use the secondary won t lift the truck enough to put on the tire According to the service manager at the local Ford Dealer there was a notice on this four years ago but no fix I have been fighting for answers for three weeks now to no avail and no help from Ford Best advice the dealer could give me was buy an aftermarket jack not the answer I expected I currently own two Fords a Crown Vic and the Truck These will be my last all for the sake of a 20 00 jack SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMER a concept lost to the Ford Motor Company A word to the wise check this problem out before you too are stranded br br " Neg," I had in my head a great review for the 2000 Ford Ranger and then tires were recalled That alone made me want to return my truck Then to top it all off I open up the newspaper and lo and behold ANOTHER RECALL This time it s the seat belts This leaves me with the thought quot what next quot i I feel like I m driving a time bomb ready to go off I will share my thoughts and feelings about the 2000 Ford Ranger recalls aside but I really needed to let you know how the recent recalls have affected my opinion on my vehicle I will never buy another Ford ever again The 2000 Ford Ranger is a sporty truck with power I had previously owned a 92 Ford Ranger but with the 2000 model Ford had jazzed it up a bit It s an awesome truck for someone who wants to have the ability to haul with a pick up truck and the easy handling of a car What I like about my 2000 Ford Ranger b They made the hood look more like a Dodge Ram I think this gives the truck the illusion that it is actually bigger than it is The handling is sweet The truck almost steers itself You feel as if yo are just guiding the truck in the general direction and it is doing the rest itself The cab is roomy We have the extended cab but I noticed they had actually widened the cab from the previous 92 Ranger that I had owned I love how powerful the engine is It accelerates so quickly and smoothly It doesn t feel at all like a truck What I dislike about my Ford Ranger b Well aside from the fact that my tire could blow at any minute and my seat belt might fail I really don t dislike my truck Major tongue in cheek here I do LOVE my truck I don t the problems I ve had with the tires and now the seat belt so because of that it makes me wish I had not purchased this vehicle This is something I strongly dislike about my Ford Ranger Honestly if it weren t for these recalls I d have nothing to put here The truck is beautiful and handles like a dream It runs well and gets decent gas mileage crud from Ford anymore br br " Neg," That I am writing a review of this kind of truck is more or less an accident of fate I rented one for use on a project that required something with a little space for hauling electronic equipment around work sites It looked pretty good bright red shiny it even drove well Handling seemed adequate and the v6 engine delivered ok performance Crawling around the vehicle out of curiosity revealed that it seemed more maintainable that some of the more luxurious offerings in the truck classes by Ford It looked like you could get at stuff under the hood and the suspension running gear even looked truck like On closer examination I decided that I really did not like the cab arrangement the addition of the little extra doors is questionable There is no real body mass under the cab roof because of those doors and my impression was that rollover safety is reduced Behind the front seats there is so little space that all it would be useful for is to store stuff stuff like the flares and emergency road equipment that you might need You certainly would not want to torture anyone larger than a small child by putting them back there The bed cover seemed a nice touch but the latches were not reliable and you had to fiddle with them to get the lid locked down And it did not take long to realize the disadvantage of the lid versus a cap if you fill the bed up with stuff that wants to get higher than the bed walls you can t close the lid Payload is thus limited severely Oh and it leaked The thing that really solidified my opinion of this quot truck quot was that one morning it simply failed to start It turned out to be the security system according to the rental people when they arrived with a replacement for it and a flatbed to haul it off It was apparently not an isolated case The Ranger appears to be another attempt by a major manufacturer build something that will appeal to people who want a truck but are economy minded The corner cutting makes the truck not really desirable if you want any kind of workhorse br br " Neg," The Ford Ranger pickup with the extended cab is a great size it is nice looking and its probably a lot of fun to drive not that I would really know Here s my experience with one just last week Budget has a special on the Ford Ranger truck where you can rent one with a locking bed cover for 20 a day So I booked one Twice The first time they didn t have any so they gave me a Taurus see my review at a href auto review 778A 17C334B 390A32D3 prod5 http www epinions com auto review 778A 17C334B 390A32D3 prod5 a The second time they had several Rangers on the lot and I got a beautiful new white 4WD model I was really looking forward to enjoying this truck for a week Until I couldn t put my two childrens child safety seats in the truck b The Ranger has two fold down diagonally oriented jump seats in the extended cab They are equipped with an auto retracting lap belt Child seats were completely unusable in this truck except in the front bench seat provided I could detach my right arm to make room for the middle mounted seat This was a surprise to me since I own a Toyota Xtra Cab pickup that is similar in size to the Ranger and in it the properly forward facing jump seats very safely accommodate both child seats in the back The truck started easily ran well and was quite comfortable during my ride from the parking space at the rental car pick up area to the loading area where I couldn t put the kids seats in and back to the parking space a total of about 100 meters I had to trade the Ranger in for a Hyundai Now I m no fan of Ford but Hyundais are just embarrassing I did get the seats in that though So I have to give the Ranger a poor rating due to its family un friendliness Its a shame that I never had the chance to take it out on the open road drive with gusto and have it break down on me like just about all Fords I ve ever driven have Did you read the Taurus review But to its credit it seems like such a cool truck otherwise that if I happen to be renting again at a time when I don t need to use child seats in it I ll give the Ford Ranger another shot br br " Neg," Previously having owned a 1997 V8 Explorer Limited I was anxious to get into a 2003 Explorer as my rental while my Supra was getting more than a month s worth of repairs How did I like my new transportation for the next couple of months Other than having a lot more space than my sports car it was an overall terrible experience POSITIVES Before we dive into the bad stuff let s start with the stuff that I like 1 EXTERIOR APPEARANCE When you look at this car from the outside it looks very grand beautiful and much nicer than the previous Explorer It combines the more classic looks of the original Explorer with the more radically curvaceous looks of the model before this one It looks more like an SUV than a soccer mom vehicle or a glorified station wagon It s very nice looking on the outside 2 INTERIOR APPEARANCE Ford did make an attempt to stay with the times and add some strange trim to it It looks like a silly silvery fake carbon fiber trim on the dash and doors but for some reason I like the way it mixed with my silver Explorer and the dark grey interior It was a nice package 3 INTERIOR SPACE Immediately you notice this is MUCH larger than the previous Explorers Not only can you pop up a third row of seats albeit not as roomy as the middle row but you can fold down everything in the back to carry large items I relocated a 30 gallon aquarium twin sized mattress and desk many rounds of friends stuff from apartments during college semester moving times etc It really did have a lot of space much more than I was accustomed to with the 1997 Explorer Good improvement NEGATIVES The above really just sums it up for the new Explorer s positives now let s go on with the negatives This will be an easier and longer list to make 1 FLAWED SEATBELT WARNING SYSTEM In an attempt to encourage drivers to wear their seatbelt all the time Ford came up with a seemingly good system after you start driving if you do not have a seatbelt on you will hear a very loud and audible alert for about 10 to 15 seconds This reminded me many times to put my seatbelt on Why is it flawed Let s say you wanted to quickly pull from your parking spot to your apartment complex mailbox and run in there for a second You park you put your car in Park and you walk in while your girlfriend waits for you while the car is in park this seatbelt warning continues to beep and repeat every 20 or 30 seconds for about 10 to 15 seconds also if you put your seatbelt on immediately once you hear the sound you get to continue to hear the warning sign for the duration of its time Ford engineers should ve caused this to automatically disable when the car is in park and turn off when the seatbelt plugs in Their mistake Maybe it will be corrected in the future but it is not for the 2003 s We ll just call it Good Game try again since this feature can be disabled and maybe they can correct it in the future or make a recall 2 SEATS The cloth seats have a bad habit of bunching up and catching your clothes not to mention if you make a relatively sharp turn without any bucket like characteristics you will slide the opposite way of your turn whether it be into the center or the door 3 COUNTER INTUITIVE LOCKS I can t tell you how many times I had to unlock the doors cause all the passengers in the car couldn t figure out which way the door locks work It is the exact opposite of what you expect Maybe check this out next time you see one and you will know what I am talking about It s a switch you push or pull with no red indicator and it s kind of a half button thing it s terrible design 4 ENGINE The engine is terrible I sometimes wonder if there is anything slower on the road I see a Ford Festiva or a Chevy Metro across the light and I am thinking There is no way that can be slower than this thing It takes me a good long time to get to 60 mph Also if you are a speed demon and should drive at high speeds once you hit the 107 mph speed limiter instead of limiting you gently at that speed it violently cuts fuel jerking the car dangerously slower in a sudden manner and very roughly Of course you may not have enough time or road to get going this fast since it is so slow 5 OFF ROAD CAPABILITY Although it looks capable the 2WD version certainly is not I can t speak for the 4WD or AWD versions but the 2WD V6 is anything but it s just a jacked up roomy station wagon P 6 FUEL ECONOMY You can expect below 20 mpg if not right at 20 mpg on the highway and closer to 15 mpg in the city during regular driving even with this small engine The EPA window sticker fuel economy rating for this is 16 21 and seems to be pretty close In a foreign SUV even with more weight and power you can get better fuel economy 7 AIR CONDITIONING Not only is this air conditioner unbearably loud in fact so unbearably loud that when up all the way in the front and the back you can t hear anyone who is not within a few inches of your ear Makes conversation tough if not impossible this unit also takes a long time to cool down in Texas heat which may sound normal but it takes much longer than older cars I have driven Once you have driven for a while the unit gets extraordinarily cold though but it s very temperamental 8 CHEAP TRIM The outside trim is extraordinarily cheap Someone closed the rear door relatively hard and the trim started coming loose the rental car company said this was normal with their Explorer and noted it on the damage before I took the car 9 STEREO The stereo was terrible if you turn volume up at all it starts to crackle and mumble together This did succeed however in breaking my habit of listening to loud music since at loud volume levels it doesn t sound like music anymore in the Explorer Also when you forward or rewind it sounds like it is forwarding rewinding fast at first although it seems to be going at the exact same 1x play rate and just jumbling up the sound It takes a solid 5 to 10 seconds to increase the rate of forward rewind but spends too long doing so making this a very useless feature and much more useless than it otherwise could have been 10 HORN PLACEMENT This may seem like a small thing but usually when someone is in need of using the horn they are in a high stress tension situation often reacting to an emergency In this car you have to remove your hand from the perimeter of the wheel and push on the inside of the wheel The horn is not accessible with the thumbs in anyway while holding on to the steering wheel Other car manufacturers think of these little ergonomic issues while Ford apparently does not 11 BRAKING The brakes fade very quickly and if they did this while I was not towing anything I can only imagine how dangerous and amplified this would be if I were towing a boat The handling in this car is what I would expect out of an SUV although it feels less prone to roll over than the 1997 version of the car it certainly feels as if it is going to roll after each curve maybe this is because of the news attention Explorers have recently gotten about rollovers and me just psyching myself out but it is definately not a handling machine Ride quality is moderate on smooth road but still has quite a bit of road noise however a bump will send you flying higher than you expect I believe that sums it up although I may have mixed up a few things but I believe this car is not worth the money at all and priced into it is the hype that has come with the Explorer since it became the best selling SUV a number of years ago I would look to Chevrolet or a foreign manufacturer for a better built SUV you can even get a lightly used Mercedes ML320 which will probably be more reliable for less than this vehicle and although that is not a perfect vehicle it is far better value than this one Best of luck and I hope I have been helpful and I hope I didn t upset any owners of this vehicle best wishes on your automotive search " Neg," B ack when the Ford Focus was introduced in late 1999 as a 2000 model it boasted many attributes that surpassed the competition It had bold styling a modern interior with plenty of amenities a good price and good fuel economy Fortunately for us the consumers and unfortunately for Ford Motor Company other cars such as the Toyota Matrix Suzuki Aerio followed in the Focus s footsteps and created an equally if not better automobile to compete b For 2002 the Ford Focus Sedan comes in 3 trim lines the LX the SE and the ZTS While a 2 0 SOHC engine that produces 110 hp is standard on the LX and SE models my test SE sedan was equipped with a 2 0 DOHC Ztec 4 cylinder The ZTS sedan comes standard with the DOHC Ztec engine The 2 0 Ztec puts out a healthy 130 horsepower at 5 300 RPM and 135 lb ft of torque at 4 500 RPM 2 transmissions are offered this year a 5 speed manual and a 4 speed automatic which was equipped on my tester i Driving Impressions i Off the line acceleration is disappointing Having the 130 horsepower Ztec engine I was expecting close to the same performance of the old Escort ZX2 or the 2000 ZX3 5 speed which had the same engine The automatic transmission really hampers any sort of rush in power and when accelerating hard or even slightly hard the engine makes quite a bit of noise Since the Ford Focus SE s Ztec engine gets its peak torque at a relatively low RPM take offs are adequate but that s it nothing exciting just adequate The 4 speed fully automatic transmission plays a big role in this lackluster performance At times I could have sworn I was driving a car with a 10 year old transmission clunking into gear and odd shifting patterns were common Handling in the 2002 Ford Focus SE Sedan was quite impressive as it was back in its introduction year The Focus SE remains composed at almost all times and is surprisingly controllable through hard turns The suspension made this small sedan very nimble and relatively fun to drive on the twistys Cruising in this sedan is also quite good The ride is firm and sporty yet does not jolt the driver or passengers from their comfortable seating positions Cruising at 65 70 MPH can be a little loud with the wind engine and road noise but unless you are super picky it won t bother you enough to change your buying decision Hills are taken with a little strain the 4 speed automatic will down shift on steep inclines and the engine will get quite loud but you definitely will not be left in the far right lane on those 10 lane hilly freeways Braking is average my tester came with the so common front disc rear drum set up with no ABS so braking was not a grand offering but they did do their job of stopping this small sedan with little fuss Fuel economy is average for a car in this class the EPA rates this car at 26 31 MPG with the Z tec engine mated with an automatic transmission Interior Accommodation i The interior of the 2002 Ford Focus SE is very edgy new wave The dash board is very distinctive yet offers good good ergonomics and easy to read instrumentation Even despite not having a tachometer the instrument cluster is well designed with plenty of useful gauges While the interior of the Ford Focus is almost all plastic the plastic looks good and is much less plasticy looking many cars in this category Amenities are plentiful with the comfort Ztec package 600 Amenities include AC CC keyless entry power windows and locks tilt steering an Am Fm CD player that you will probably want to replace cup holders front air bags and more The front bucket eats are made of a cheap cloth but are surprisingly comfortable These seats offer height adjustments and adequate support Room is average plenty of room up front but the rear 60 40 split folding seats will most likely offer a cramped environment for rear passengers The Focus however does boast plenty of rear headroom and the trunk is spacious enough for 1 weeks worth of groceries i Exterior Innovation i The exterior of the Ford Focus Sedan remains unchanged since its introduction in 2000 While once considered an eye catcher the Focus now blends in with a profusion of other look alike cars i e Suzuki Aerio The exterior like the interior is very edgy with long triangular headlamps in front and more pudgy triangular tail lamps Price Reliability Warranty i The 2002 Ford Focus SE Sedan with the comfort Ztec package comes to almost 16 000 Since this is the middle of the year Ford is offer some good APR rates The Ford Focus has been a reliable car since its introduction and the Ztec has been a reliable engine since 1997 If anything does happen to your 2002 Ford Focus Ford offers an unimpressive 3 year 36 000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and an extended warranty at an extra cost Looking for a more refined economy car Check out my review on the a href content 74102312580 2003 Honda Civic a Happy Car Shopping " Neg," I recently went out and test drove one of these puppies and here are a few random thoughts I had from this experience In the event of a head on collision the car s engine is designed to separate for the car s frame and drop to the ground I guess consumers don t take too highly to being crushed by the engine It s a snug fit There is very little space between the seat and the door The armrest is a stand alone console between the driver and passenger seats and has a good amount of storage space for CDs and other things The back seat has very little legroom and is a bit cramped Even if the front seat person moves the seat forward very little room is yielded There are special child seat restraints and three seatbelts in the back Not exactly a huge family vehicle but equipped with child safety locks and other amenities Really good power for such a tiny little car Surprising in fact You step on the gas pedal and it moves Handles very good around corners Speaking of corners what is that loud clicking sound Oh It s just the turn signal I guess Ford wants to help eliminate those annoying motorists who drive 6 miles down the road before realizing their blinker has been on the whole time Since the turn signal is about as loud as a Mark McGwire home run swat I would say they are well on their way to accomplishing this goal All the doors automatically lock once the car exceeds 5 MPH Very good vision when driving You cannot see the hood of the car The wind shield affords a wide view There is a moderate amount of noise and you may have to turn up the radio just a bit when accelerating to higher speeds The clutch is very easy to push down on and transitioning from one gear to other is very smooth with the exception of reverse It was quite a task to put the vehicle in reverse You almost have to lift up on the gear stick It took about a minute and a half to figure this out the first time and about 30 45 seconds to do each time after that There is no RPM gauge Only this annoying light that comes on telling you when to shift up or down and usually at the slightest amount of acceleration I guess Ford thinks I m not smart enough to know when to shift The car gets pretty good gas mileage at 25 34 MPG but I would expect more from such a small car This car has a lot of truck space although its much longer than it is deep When loading the truck you really have to come forward into the trunk rather than placing objects down into it There is a hatch release lever inside that VERY useful if you are ever car jacked and forced into the trunk while the robber makes his getaway The back seats also pull down in a 1 3 2 3 configuration for added capacity Overall this is not a bad car but at a price of about 17 grand it is WAY over priced I see this car as the exact duplicate of what the Escort used to be when it first came out If you are looking for a car that will get you to where you re going then this will do But the price tag is just offensive and was the main reason we did not buy " Neg," I bought this car right after 9 11 out of a misguided attempt to show patriotism After being treated poorly by the VW and Honda dealers despite driving up in a brand new Saab wagon and willing to pay cash the ford dealer was actually the only place willing to deal That was where the good part of the ownership experience ended I have had 13 unscheduled service visits to three different ford dealers in the 16 000 miles I have driven since recieveing my car with 4 miles on the odomometer That does not include 2 cracked windshields due to a faulty design on the windscreen roof intersection The stereo still does not work other then presets 1 and 6 on fm2 despite 3 fixes and one replacement and this is only true when the faceplate does not pop off the radio over any pothole or expansion joint The alignment is continuously in need of adjustment the air conditioner refuses to work the trunk will not stay shut unless slammed so hard that your hand is bruised by the awful spoiler that I ordered my car without The stablility control does not consistantly work to the parameters specified by ford but no fualt can ever be found until 36000 miles rolls around the engine will run for 3 seconds with the clutch in having been at idle and the key out of the ignition the clutch slips already due to the perevious problem the parking brake does not work even on slight hills and the car will not always engage first gear when shut off due to the running engine problem There are numerous rattles in a car where the only thing that is in it most times is the rubberized owners manual The windshield wiper wear out in 2 months the defroster and demister are not up to even Virginia winters and the heated mirrors don t work at all The rear seatbacks will not consistatly lock upright and the automatic power window can no longer be overridden the fix would involve a new door or complete disasembly which would yield more rattles I average 21 3 mpg in maily highway drving with the occasional trip to the golf course or store This is due to the lack of a sixth gear which causes the engine to run at 3400 3800 rpm at cruising speeds on our higher speed interstates in the south The paint is easily damaged and the headlights are basically ineffective on the lowbeam setting The seats are uncomfortable engine harsh clutch downright wierd in it s action shift light annoining and it s use will yield a stall in most instances The traction control does not work and in snow actually needs to be defeated in order to be able to start forward motion it locks the drive wheels and digs them in to the snow when there is some freeze up overnight and the ford ski rack is awful The dealer service for the ford is abismal at all locations and loaner cars for major waranty repairs that take days are non existant even at the selling dealer a blue oval one at that My friend with a 1985 Volvo 240 with 300 000 miles on the origonal engine transmission clutch and belts will not drive my car due to the reliablilty issues and feeling of driving around in a tin can Her car has a rear door held to the car and hinges by duct tape and bondo And the leather wraped steering wheel must be covered with bionic cow hide " Neg," I bought my 1992 Ford Aerostar used in March 1993 with 42k miles on it It was an XLT extended model with the 3 0 V6 It did not have dual air conditioning and that was a big mistake The a c could not keep the large van cool in the summer no matter what The van was bought to haul Civil Air Patrol search and rescue teams as well as an Explorer scout post It was an excellent road vehicle very comfortable for long distance driving Problems began to appear with the fiberglass tailgate cracking at 50k miles The door glass would rattle when you shut the doors and the sliding door leaked badly The side windows leaked despite being replaced twice by the dealer The carpet was threadbare by 75k miles but to be fair that wasn t helped by carrying people and cargo constantly Mechanical repairs were very frequent with the dreaded Ford ECM IV ignition module having to be replaced every 30k miles By the time I sold the van at 103k miles it was on its third alternator second water pump third power steering pump and the transmission was slipping This was after exclusive highway driving not much stop and go city driving The van sheetmetal was very prone to dents with the large flat sides not having much reinforcement For some reason the headlights could never maintain a proper adjustment either By 103k miles the 3 0 Vulcan V6 was burning oil I tried to maintain this van to the factory guidelines and changed oil every 3000 miles but it just kept breaking down The power steering pump moaned and groaned constantly which apparently is a common Ford problem The engine in these vans is VERY difficult to access and work on for you do it yourselfers out there be forewarned One thing that I did like was the rather low lift over height compared to fullsize vans and the Chevy Astro Not as low to the ground as a Dodge Caravan but close The rear seats are really darned heavy close to 100 pounds and require 2 people to remove The velour upohlstery is a lint and dog hair magnet which never ever comes clean All types of clothing stick to the seats from static electricity The exhaust system lasted 50k miles exactly I had it replaced twice with factory Ford parts a bit disappointing on the quality there Brakes The Aerostar will eat a set of front brake pads every 30k miles almost as bad as a full size van As far as driving it the steering is responsive the brakes are a bit soft but the ABS worked very well Acceleration isn t bad with the 3 0 but I wish it had the 4 0 The gauges are large and easy to read and the controls are decent except for the power window and door locks which are right next to your knee and you will often hit them when you least expect it I m a big person so maybe it s just me The factory radio has a decent tape player but a horrible FM Spend the and get an aftermarket radio on all Fords Dealer service wasn t bad just expensive There is a dealer here in Louisville KY that sells Ford trucks vans exclusively and they know their stuff very honest The other dealers repairs were okay but they were pretty uncaring especially on warranty repairs I used to be a volunteer firefighter and this is not a good vehicle to run code 3 with due to the soft brakes and extreme body roll plus difficult blindspot vision In the rain I never felt really safe making a hard emergency run with the Aerostar Just my 02 cents worth if you happen to use your vehicle for that purpose Overall the Aerostar was so so It was slightly more reliable than my 1990 Taurus which was the worst thing I ve ever driven " Neg," I NEVER owned an American Car I bought this 1998 Ford ZX2 because my 25 year old son decided to work for a Ford Dealership and A he gave me a great price and B I didn t want his boss to think he couldn t sell a car to his own mother I ve had it a year and half now and I have to say that I wish I had my Mazda Protege back Not that I ve had any problems with it so far but the biggest problem has been the NOISE It is LOUD Between the road noise and the air conditioner I have to turn the radio to dangerous levels to hear the music And speaking of the sound system radio cassette well I ve heard much better It just doesn t have any pizzazz The engine runs hard Even when I m in 5th gear manual I find myself re shifting and trying to get into a higher gear because it sounds as if the engine is laboring About 3 days after I got the car I spent about an hour looking for the trunk release button I finally figured out that there wasn t any The only way to open the trunk was either with the key or with the remote trunk release button Except both methods require that the ignition be turned off unless you use a second key So that when I drop my partner off at the airport I can t open the trunk to remove the luggage with the car running Also it s supposed to be a 12 gallon gas tank but I feel like I m at the gas station all the time The car is cramped in front I m 5 4 quot and I have to pull the seat up pretty far in order to reach the pedals but the further you sit up the closer your head is to the sun visors They seem to be right in my face I don t know It s not a BAD car really but all in all it s pretty much a car that even a mother couldn t love " Neg," I bought a 98 Ford Escort sedan brand new It was a nice looking car and was affordable for me a divorced mother It had all the important options available had four doors and was easy to handle on the road I loved the Escort s appearance the sound system I had the Premium Sound option and the comfort of the seats I hated the leaky trunk I took that car in every few months to have the trunk fixed but still ended up with a moldy trunk moldy stroller and nowhere to put my groceries if I wanted them to stay dry After eighteen months of repairing the trunk without positive outcome I finally talked Ford into helping me into another car They would only help me out of the still topsy turvy loan if I went into another Ford I did so but NOT an Escort again I am too afraid that I ll end up with another unrepairable leaky trunk That brings me to the biggest problem with Escorts Anyone knowledgeable about the auto market will tell you that they do not hold their value well they are a dime a dozen Driving my Escort never gave me too much trouble even in snow It was easy to steer inexpensive to maintain was good on gas and still looked nice Its the perfect car for anyone wanting a new comfortable car for a decent price Just watch the trunk br br " Neg," This was the first car I got when I turned 16 and I haven t liked it one bit since then Sure it s cheap and it gets good gas mileage but it is not comfortable and does not handle well under bad conditions This past winter I went out one day to go get some baby food for the new baby while my mom was still at work it was snowing out but I thought nothing of it at the time No more then 1000 feet away from my house I go to hit the brakes and they lock up as my car goes sliding into a ditch The back seats in this car are very uncomfortable also I recently was going to take it on a trip to Niagra Falls about a 3 hour drive but decided against it because anyone in the backseat would be very uncomfortable the whole ride I wish I could trade it in and get a new car br br " Neg," My ZX2 I have had mine ZX2 for a little over 2 years and less than 25 000 miles I have disliked it greatly from the get go EXTERIOR I really like the exterior It is sleek and a little stylish A 2 door coupe with a little attitude INTERIOR A lot left to be desired The dash is cool but impractical There is no easy way to upgrade the stereo or any other in dash component since it comes in that nice oval box The cup holders are good for small drinks They are not good for the standard 32oz fast food drink Large cups hit the controls for the AC The interior is a little cramped feeling if there is more than the driver in the car The back seat is impossible to get in and out of On the plus side the back seat is roomy The center console is small and does not hold CDs very well The door pockets are small and pathetic The ZX2 does leave a lot to hope for in the way of storage inside the car PERFORMANCE The ZX2 has a lot of get up and go This will be great for you if you do mind feeling like you are riding a tightly bound rubber band The gear shift has also been stiff and unmanageable It has just gotten worse after time It is very difficult to go into reverse COMPLAINTS I have had a lot of problems with this car The brakes continually popping even after that got replaced twice The door seals and trunk seals leaking have fixed fixed only a dozen times so far If you drive the car with any speed the gas mileage is much less than the sticker claims it should be On top of this everything seems to rattle I have never had such a loud little car Overall I would not suggest the ZX2 May be it has gotten better since 1998 I did get one of the originals It was only on the lot about 1 2 a day before I bought it " Neg," I purchased this vehicle brand new in 1998 when it had about 40 miles on it It was in the shop within the first week with rattling noises coming from under the hood and the emergency brake light wouldn t go off Just recently I was rear ended at a stop sign The rear bumper of my Escort was completely totalled and there was damage to the frame of the car as well The person that hit me suffered only a broken headlight She probably hit me at about 20 mph but her car miraculously did not sustain the kind of damage as my Escort did For the external damages repair estimates are 700 They haven t taken the car apart yet to determine the estimate to repair the frame of the car You would think that a car could handle a crash of this speed without too much damage but it wasn t the case The body of the car was found to be pretty weak in this kind of crash Suffice it to say I will not be purchasing another Escort I don t feel safe in it at all UPDATE This crash was at 15 mph and the damage ended up costing over 1 000 Thankfully the other driver was insured and I didn t have to pay for it " Neg," I bought the 1998 Ford Escort Sedan Sport when I moved out of state for law school Needing a mode of transportation I opted to buy an inexpensive car to use for the 3 years while I was away at school instead of driving my family car back and forth across the country each term At the time of my purchase the economy was still strong and not many car dealers in Southern California were willing to sell their cars at a discount price Mitsubishi wanted 16K for their Mirage Toyota wanted 17K for a Corolla Honda wanted 16K for a Civic and even Chevrolet wanted 16K for a Prism It was insane I definitely did not want to spend more than 15K for a point A to point B car So finally I saw a brand new 1998 Escort Sedan Sport on sale at the local Ford dealer for a little less than 15K Anyway the first month of driving my car I thought that there was something wrong with the car In Southern California there is a LOT of highway driving even for short distances I was having problems accelerating onto the freeway it took me a good minute or two to go from 0 to 60 It was ridiculous I took the car in and they did a tune up on the car and could not find anything wrong Apparently the car s acceleration just sucks Period There is nothing Sport about this car 110 hp It felt more like 70 My old 90 hp 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza had more pep than this car I think the 2 door ZX2 s have a better engine and has more pep but the sedan is very sluggish And being in warm temperatures if you turn on the air conditioning while the car is climbing uphill forget it Your car will actually decelerate even with your foot pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor Also if you have 4 adults in the car forget about trying to accelerate at any good pace The car will basically be maxed out at about 60 mph without making horrible noises and shaking even though the speed limit in CA is 65 After about a year of owning this car the power window started sticking That had to be replaced but it was under warranty Then a few months later a fan in the air conditioning unit broke and was also replaced under warranty Also you can t upgrade the stereo on this car unless you buy an expensive adapter harness kit because the stereo is integrated into their heating cooling controls Who designed this thing All I have to say is that I was very happy when I graduated law school and sold this car I had it listed in the paper and auto trader for WEEKS before it sold for a couple thousand below blue book " Neg," We got our second escort a few years ago but i m not exactly sure why They are very light but the engines are not very strong If you get four or five full grown people in the car it definately struggles going up big hills It seems very much like a golf cart in the way that it feels and drives It zooms around town and handles well but it isn t anything special some of the advantages are that it is very reasonably priced and it has very good gas efficiency so it is pretty cheap to keep running This car is good for someone in a city who will not have much to lug around nor have many passengers to drive around " Neg," I bought this vehicle when my last car died I probably should have spent more time researching the car and the dealership but I needed a car My last car was a used one so I figured that this time I would go ahead and spend the extra money and buy a new one Worst mistake of my life I had picked the car up with only 3 miles on it from the dealership miles from my test drive It was in the shop within a week from when I purchased the vehicle It was a 5 speed standard I had just thought that it was just a problem with the gears grinding but it turned out to be serious There were problems with the clutch the transmission the brakes the radio and the cassette player The dealership that I bought the car from was 45 minutes away so I brought it to the one that was in my city They charged me for looking at my car everything was still under warranty Money that I never saw back I was accused by the other dealership of not knowing how to drive a standard and intentually damaging my new vehicle NO one goes out and buys a brand new standard and not know how to drive one Needless to say I was considerably unhappy So I contacted the FORD company itself and they weren t any help either they wouldnt replace the car or offer me a discount or even an apology what I got was we have to try to fix the problem first To this day the car still isnt right Last week my heater went out do to a hose coming undone second time its been fixed Something else I found annoying the bumper is plastic Back to my other gripes about the car I was way overcharged I was charged for things that I found out after were supposed to be standard on my car I was charged 25 for a cigarette lighter and ashtray I don t smoke I was charged extra for the cassette player I was charged extra for the non keyless entry And on top of being charged extra I was told that I had to go through a particular finance company a whole new problem and since I didn t have a co signer i was charged a few thousand dollars extra My credit report shows a co singer So not only did I not get a good car for a good deal I cant even trade this one in until its payed off and worthless not that it really isn t right now I cant rate this car low enough I would not recommend this car to my worst enemy br br " Neg," I used to drive a fantastic little 1986 Chevy Nova A Toyota in a Chevy suit but it finally got too old and wobbly I went on line to research replacement cars I considered the Toyota Corolla Honda Civic and Ford Focus but ended up with the Ford ZX2 for a number of reasons When I bought it it was 2 years old and had 25 000 miles on it but I got it through the Ford Certified Pre Owned Vehicle web site It came with a no haggle price of 8 600 and a 12 month warranty At that price the best I could do at Toyota was a three year old Corolla with 60 000K My ZX2 is silver and pretty cool and sexy looking for such a cheap car I drive it back and forth to work every day and cram my two kids in the back at weekends I get to work much faster now the car wants me to drive above 80 mph at all times But at that speed the gas mileage is only about 28 mpg and the car is NOISY The kids say it s even noisier in the back The car is pretty comfortable for me I m a medium sized woman but my 6 4 quot husband doesn t like to drive it for more than 1 2 hour at a time And when I had to put a couple of grown men in the back last week I wasn t sure I d ever get them back out I think the trunk is generous and the cup holders are fine but the glove box is way too small once you put the owner s manual in there you only have room for three cassettes and a Kleenex I ve had the car for a year and once last year some kind of pin in the axle or wheel fell out I ground to a halt and had to get towed but they fixed it for free and that s the only problem I ve had br br " Neg," I bought my ford Tempo about two years ago Since then it has driven 20 000 miles more or less I bought this car because I needed a car to commute 50 miles to school in So after some haggling my father bought me my Ford Tempo GL at a used car lot My car has not given me as much trouble as I thought it was going to So far I have replaced the alternator the brakes the battery and done basic maitanence I hope that this car will hold out for another year but that is not guaranteed I feel like a ton of things are about to wrong with it I recommend this car to commuters on a budget I do not recommend this car if you want to pick up chicks its not a very attractive car " Neg," IS THIS SUV FOR YOU The older style Ford Bronco 1966 1977 is most suitable for someone who has a working knowledge about cars is prepared to do a little maintenance This car makes a better hobby than daily driver However there is plenty of room and it is very simple under the hood so it is a good car to learn on if you are not confident with your automotive abilities It s a great attention getter on the street and performs very well off road It can weave through narrow obstacles yet has a long enough wheel base that it isn t too quot squirelly quot on the road It is nice because the hard top is removable but very heavy and can provide the open air feeling of a convertible Original equipment especially body panels can be a challenge to find for a decent price but there are many after market products available if you d like to modify it In my opinion the model fills the void between a jeep and full size SUV WHAT DO I LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING AN OLDER BRONCO It depends on what you d like to use it for If you have any intention at all of quot fixing it up quot one day the most important thing you can look for is a rust free body Body panels are expensive and tough to find A good rule of thumb is to check the floorboards under drivers feet if they are rusted through move on to another vehicle Be aware that many people put sheet metal over the rusted area to cover it here If you are looking to use it off road make sure to buy one with the Dana 44 in the front end and quot large bearing quot rear end all models came with a Ford 9 inch rear end The large bearing has stouter brake drums and wheel bearings Many models came with a Dana 30 front end The Dana 30 has many drawbacks parts are hard to find it s unique to Broncos it is more costly to upgrade to disk brakes and they are not as strong However the Dana 30 is sufficient for daily driving and occasional off road use The other main consideration is power steering and power brakes these options were primarily available on the 1973 1977 models There are many after market kits you can buy to upgrade to these options but these are pricey and can be tedious to install I see non power assisted Broncos as being better for off road use because there are fewer things that can break off road and leave you stranded However daily street driving is compromised without these luxuries especially if you install larger tires A Bronco with power steering and power brakes will bring a premium Finally you ll probably want a Bronco that has an automatic transmission even if you us it off road The manual transmission equipped on Broncos was a 3 speed on the steering column and it often has inoptimal gearing for driving off road There are many after market adapters available for upgrading to a 4 speed manual transmission from an older Ford truck but his can again be pricey and a tedious conversion If you want power find one with a Ford 302 cubic inch engine Not only is this a V 8 but the components allow for the quot bolt in quot addition of a Ford 351 Windsor motor if the 302 is not enough for you In summary the premium Bronco will have a no rust Dana 44 large bearing 12 inch brake drum v s 10 inch power steering and power brakes automatic transmission and a 302 cubic inch motor If you want to own the Bronco that everyone will envy and will be less costly to upgrade or restore in the future don t buy one without these options However if you have a specific use you plan on using your Bronco for buy the one that will best suit your needs WHAT ARE THE PROS OF OWNING AN OLDER BRONCO Every other Bronco owner you meet will wave at you it s almost like joining an elite club They perform very well off road especially with the right modifications After market components are abundant You get a lot of attention driving these cars They are fairly simple under the hood and are practical to fix off road and under poor conditions The front and rear drive lines are interchangable in case one is damaged There are many after market parts available They are a very fun SUV and one of the first ever made There is ample sheet metal and provide great protection in an accident but make sure a roll bar is installed WHAT ARE THE CONS They are expensive to maintain especially if you take them off road Even thought hey have a longer wheelbase than a jeep they still have a stiff ride on the highway Expect quot bump steer quot steering wheel will move when you hit a bump especially if you own one with no power steering and larger tires Body parts are scarce They are prone to rolling over under extreme driving circumstances Never drive one without a roll bar " Neg," Being a mechanic by nature my first reaction to this suv is to stay away from it and I will tell you why First and most importantly to me is what this vehicle holds in store for me or any consumer how much will it cost for repairs Large or small well i will tell you that if properly maintained you will get a long life out of these but when it comes time for suspension work or even exhaust work you can expect a large bill when the work is complete and the garage has had your suv for the whole day Suspension parts wear quickly on these for some reason weather or not you take care of them For instance the ball joints and tie rods are non greaseable and weather or not you go off road with this you will need to replace them Generally at about 40k miles If you were to replace all 4 ball joints on this vehicle be prepared to spend between 300 and 400 dollars In My opinion these parts should last at least 50k maybe even 60k if the vehicle is well maintained Exhaust repair will end up costing you about 200 00 due to rotting tail pipes and mufflers at least in this part of the country On the plus side of this vehicle is its handling and fuel economy and the comfort level is high I just dont like to repair suspension that soon and if you put off repairing the suspension remember your tires are next Over all with its decent fuel economy and roomyness it is an ok vehicle my personal Preferance is the chevy s series in my experience these vehicles last longer " Neg," What you are about to read is based on my recent test drive of the 2004 Ford Escape We went to our local Ford Dealer to see if anything had changed between the 2003 model and the 2004 Unfortunately very little changed It is still a 4X4 Minivan in fact the only visible change we noticed is that the limited edition Escapes were a bit cheaper than the previous year Down about 1000 dollars depending on what options you choose Once I first got in the vehicle I did feel alot of comfort and room After checking out my surroundings I did notice that the head room was incredible the Front Head room is 40 4 in and the Rear head room is 39 2 in The seats are very comfortable but pretty boring in styling they were just a plain tan color just average The seats are very easy to fold down and add extra cargo space once layed flat After a couple minutes sitting in the Escape I really felt as if I was in a Dodge Caravan of the late 80 s It just has the feel of a mini van I was very disappointed with the center console it is nothing more than a huge pit There is nothing there to really hold any Cd s spare change whatever it may be It was basically a 2nd glove box It is excellent storage for whatever you may keep in there it is just not designed to hold anything imparticular The dashboard is pretty basic and boring nothing really sticks out Once I started the car up I could tell the power of the engine 201 HP kinda roared once I starting it up Upon trying to put the vehicle in drive I noticed that the gear selector is on the column Didn t we phase this out yet very outdated Once I left the lot I noticed right away that the engine had zip but was noticeably louder than other vehicles The vehicle has excellent pick up Pulling out was very simple and the car like handling is a plus The Escape I drove had very few options basically a stripped model with floor mats and mud guards The options it did have like power windows power door locks etc were all placed basically the same place as any other vehicle and they are all within comfortable reach of the driver Radio had some definite volume but you need to so you can hear music over the road noise More engine noise on city streets but once you get on the highway the road noise kind of drowns out the engine noise Once I finally got on the highway and pulled out on the on ramp I was ready to take the car back to the dealer The engine though peppy is extremely loud as well as the road noise of the vehicle I found myself talking much louder than normal to be able to communicate with my passenger Very disappointing with the road noise but speed and handling were very nice More car like than most SUV s The 2004 Ford Escape is pretty basic and a little bit boring The V 6 Engine had more than enough power but they need to build something around it Car like handling is a plus but the interior needs to be more quiet Road noise isn t a big deal when you drive alone but once you have friends and family in the vehicle it can be down right annoying SUMMARY It is definitely one of the lower priced 4X4 vehicles but there are other options out there I would suggest looking to other makes and models As the salesman told me All the fathers are buying these for their daughters So maybe the road noise is an outta sight outta mind kinda thing Good luck in your SUV searches " Neg," I bought this vehicle for the room that it has Seats 7 with extra room in the back for anything else you need to carry What i learned and know hate about this vehicle is the sliding door I have had the door into ford a least a dozen times in the past year The top roller on the door pops out and the door is just hanging there It makes it unable to close or open properly It would seem to me that this should make the car unable to be drivable but as long as they fix it and it runs a month before it falls off again then it s ok In the mean time it is a pain and a hassle I would think that they could bond it or make it fixed permantly but that does not seem to be the case Beware drivers who are thinking of buying a mini van with a slider Just had to take it to the shop march 8th 2000 the hinesville ford department and the body shop that they contracted have finally told me that there is nothing else they can do They have replaced everything on the door except for the door itself Now what do I do I have to carry a cresent wrench with sockets every where I go My warranty has expired Now and they have made sure that I have gone over the miles that they warrany there work Basically I got taken big I want to warn every owner Make sure you get paper work for all the work that is done Even if there shop fixed it at there expense It is the only proof that you ever brought it back to there shop If any one has a suggestion please leave me a comment If you know how to get out of a contract let me know I still owe 2 more years of payments on this vehicle br br " Neg," If this car was an actual human instead of zero to sixty she would be doing ten to twenty for attempted vehicular manslaughter quot Vickey quot i is the unoriginal informal name that my 1991 LTD LX earned Before I describe the attack here is the quot fun stuff quot What s under the hood b This matrix grilled built like a tank rear wheel drive body on frame Ford is massive Accordingly the power plant is larger than most engines in cars on the road For those of you who do not know what a 302 5 0 EFI V 8 is let me explain for those of you who do please skip to the next section quot 5 0 EFI V 8 quot i means this engine is suitable for Mustangs and cop cars EFI means electronic fuel injection and V 8 means it is one the biggest engines on the road It is the same engine that is in a Ford Mustang and everybody knows that these are not slow Police require cars that can catch even the fastest of automobiles and this is why many police departments choose the Crown Victoria as their squad cars The next section I will try to get all this technical information out of the way so we can get to the good stuff The following sections are for people who are thinking about buying a 1991 Crown Victoria or a Mercury Grand Marquis and for people who have this large barge Knowing that for most people who are reading this neither apply I will try to keep it as brief as possible However I do have an abundance of information that I will try to shoehorn between now and the attack b You look young for a grandfather b The 1991 model is the last of the old school Crown Victorias The more contemporary model arrived in early 1991 as 1992 s You have seen the ones I am talking about they look like a mixologist put a 1991 Crown Victoria in a blender with a Taurus giving it a more rounded off appearance The previous generation before the 1992 s had not changed that much in looks since 1979 yes the late 70 s I feel this has a causal effect on the company grandpa car image that this car has The split bench seats perpetuate this image b I see in your past problems when ordering at the drive through b Would you like some information that is very useful at cocktail parties Any Crown Victoria owner all models up to 1999 has probably had problems with the power windows and I am no exception However I fixed it myself so I can give you additional information that others cannot The power windows use a nylon spool that breaks and tangles around the regulator and motor inside the door The local Ford dealer wanted 250 to fix my drivers side window so I fixed it myself with a part from an extra door see When Cars Attack section This was a hassle but creates less anxiety than handing a cop your licence and insurance information through the back window not to mention talking to customs when driving to Montreal do it through your back window and you are sure to be asked to pull to da side Now if you meet someone at a cocktail party with a Crown Victoria you can magically predict that they have had problems with their windows b Jiffy lube this buddy b Vickey had greaseable upper control arm bushings This is a nice feature however it is really hard to find a service station that will do it for you The wheels must be turned to access the zerk fittings meaning two more steps for the people who service your car Make sure that someone does this at least ever two years at the absolute most or you will have an expensive repair b Other problem spots For every single mile I put on this car 80 000 I had problems with the EGR passages EGR stands for exhaust gas recirculation which sounds good on paper but means big problems for people who have to get their exhaust checked upon inspection EGR runs your exhaust back through your engine to burn some of the pollutants that otherwise would be released into the air and if it is not working you will not pass emissions The air conditioning uses R 12 refrigerant which is no longer being manufactured It is still available at a current rate of 25 30 per pound To recharge five pounds of R 12 is utilized You do the math it isn t cheap Neither is the alternative You can convert your Crown Victoria to the new R 134A refrigerant at a cost of 200 300 which includes parts and labor Other problems include but are not limited to the alternator and the windshield wiper pump not to mention the imprecise suspension Vicky consumed alternators like a monkey eats bananas For the love of God if you have this car track all parts you buy for it It is a good idea to ask to see the used parts on any car before work starts on it even if you have no idea what the part is b Use the force Luke b Being from Vermont it is hard not to be a red neck when dealing with cars but it is a constant battle As you can tell sometimes the urges are too strong to win the altercation That is why I installed a K amp N air filter in my car This is a highly crafted air filter that is reusable Just wash it oil it put it back in and enjoy the extra horsepower you now have In retrospect this was a sound investment I also installed underdrive pulleys in my Crown Victoria which replaces the water pump and alternator pulleys with ones that underdrive several of the accessories freeing up engine horsepower I know you are thinking this is why I had to replace the alternator often three times however two of them happened before I made this adjustment so I ruled out this assumption After these two simple adjustments I realized I did not need to change the muffler to a high performance one as so many people do when trying to get more horsepower out of their car This car was very fast advancing from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 10 seconds before the adjustments and 8 seconds after However the acceleration of this car is more noticeable at highway speeds where these adjustments had the most impact On the highway this car is a bad boy b When Cars Attack I know your eyes are getting blurry and if I haven t lost you so far I thank you for reading Please let me conclude with this story After calling AAA once my car would not start they sent a tow truck to tell me some misinformation He said it was one thing and I found out it was another problem down the road I found out the complication the hard way It was a bone chilling morning 10 degrees in Vermont and I went out to start Vickey so she could warm up and I could get my things together inside the house I started the car got out and shut the door The previous night I pulled up close to the garage so I had to walk behind it on my way inside Just as I did the reverse lights illuminated and it lunged toward me As I jumped to the side it slowed down enough for me to open the passenger side door I realized the wheels had been turned to the left making the car continue to come toward me After I opened the door my self preservation function kicked in and I decided to spring away and I watched as she drove down my driveway I cannot describe the feeling of watching your car drive without a driver Just as Vickey completed a 90 degree angle the passenger side door caught on a metal fence twisting it to touch my front quarter panel As it scraped along the diamond metal fence it straightened out and proceeded to travel down my driveway Just imagine the next time you start your car what would happen if you turned your steering wheel all the way to the left shifted into reverse and let go of the break Now picture what would happen to someone if they happened to be standing to the right side of your car As I watched Vicky drive away sparking along the fence she slammed against the last metal pole on the fence and with a brief upward motion she rested at her final destination To make things worse I had just replaced that door after getting broadsided with no injury to my passenger by a Grand am I put the original door on it after pounding it out and sold it at auction for 200 Good riddance " Neg," This is essentially a re hash of the Crow Vic opinion that I wrote earlier I was driving a 1987 Honda CRX that was about to die and needed something quickly so I hit a dealer specializing in used police cars figuring I d get something inexpensive and interesting I picked up a 1991 police package formerly owned by the Connecticut state police Since the car was only going to be driven a few hundred miles a week price was the main concern When the car was running it was a lot of fun Good acceleration lots of quot luxury quot features that the Honda didn t have but it lacked cruise control so long drives were tiring and dangerous if there were too many radar traps Because of the size of the car and the engine it was easy to creep up to 85 MPH I did get interesting responses from other drivers and didn t have to wait behind someone to get out of the passing lane Unfortunately the bad outweighed the good The police package was the only Crown Vic in 1991 with a carburetor Not only was it a carburetor but an engineering nightmare known as a variable venturi The one I had was going bad The local Ford dealer wouldn t touch it saying that the best that they could do was replace it at a cost of 1100 I did manage to find a mechanic who specialized in them and only charged 500 to rebuild the one I had Eventually all of the major systems on the car were replaced one at a time just to keep the car operating It is also the last year for the 351 CUI engine When it was running the handling wasn t particularly good the breaking was poor and the ride was soft I can t even imagine what a standard Crown Vic would drive like The acceleration was awesome but at less then 20 miles per gallon stepping on the gas was an expensive proposition If you re looking for an inexpensive luxury car don t stop off at the local used police car salesman The sticker price isn t even close to what it will cost in the end br br " Neg," Well on a road trip to St George Utah I rode in one for 5 hours on each trip there and back It was a base model F 150 with a stick and base wheels and no rear bumper The ride was pretty smooth The suspension was really soft I don t think this one was made for towing or heavy duty work The interior however wasn t very roomy and comfortable The seats were rigid and not very comfortable As for speed it was fairly good at keeping its momentum on hills although it did lose some speed I think it would keep its speed better than most other cars with less than 200 horse power It wasn t that great on acceleration with the manual gearbox The transmission was not very nice either When you shift it and let the clutch out it jerks the truck no matter how smoothly you perform it It is also geared way too high It can t put any power to the wheels when it needs it like in acceleration If you are going to buy a new F 150 then get the one with bucket seats automatic transmission stiff suspension and a towing package That way you will get some torque going to the wheels when you want it The bucket seats would make it a more enjoyable ride The Chevrolet and GMC seem to ride more smoothly and be able to take more heavy duty work br br " Neg," I owned the truck for almost 2 years then I sold it Mechanically the truck felt good allthought it lacked a little bit of power and was bad on gas I would go for the 5 4 next time I loved the truck it had a great ride for a large truck I had the off road package which gave it bigger tires and higher suspension But the overall quality was not good Under 2 years old and the truck was rusting in many different spots This was not just mine doing it I talked to many other owners that had the same problems Also the sheetmetal on the doors cracked and the paint chipped off this happened around the window frame and this is on every 1997 and up f 150 I also read they are having paint problems like they did in the early 90 s paint on the top surfaces are letting go Not happy with the quality and was worried about the future of this truck Since I did not lease I financed I did not want to own a beat up old truck after 2 years or so br br " Neg," SHO is supposed to stand for super high output I personally wouldn t call 235 HP from a 3 4 liter DOHC V8 super high output but I guess Ford thinks thought it was worthy of the name Its 235 horsepower V8 and good road manners means that this Ford can almost hang in out right performance with the finest sedans from its European and Japanese rivals such as the BMW 325i and the Acura Legend i Driving Impressions i The latest SHO is much more manageable to drive than the original models Although sadly to say much slower and nowhere near as fun Unfortunately the SHO is FWD RWD with an added traction control would have been a nice feature The suspension set up provides a comfortable highway ride while keeping the car flat through fast turns letting you really enjoy this small V8 The only problem here is that rattles seem to be abundant throughout the cabin over slight bumps or at high speeds Throttle response is good and there is power all the way up to the 6 800 RPM red line It can go 0 100 MPH in less than 22 seconds according to specs whoopi di woooo you might say but this is very fast for a family sedan costing less than 35 000 for the 98 model year L ike the SHO s first V6 engine the 3 4 liter all alloy 60 degree V8 is a collaboration between Ford and Yamaha Each concentrates on its own strengths so Ford builds the bottom end with balancer shaft to keep it smooth at high RPM which is then shipped to Japan for the 4 valve per cylinder Yamaha twin over head cam heads to be fitted Although torque peaks at 4 800 RPM 70 is available at an almost idle 1 200 RPM U nlike Ford s other V8 powered cars the SHO has its engine mounted transversely and driving the front wheels It does this through a 4 speed fully automatic transmission Unfortunately A manual is not available The two electronically controlled shocks and multi link rear suspension give relatively good handling Despite being an all alloy engine the 3 4 is heavier than the previous before 96 3 0 and 3 2 220 horsepower engines i Interior Accommodation i The interior of the Taurus SHO is quite luxurious The comfortable interior is designed to compete with rivals from BMW and Audi Sorry Ford but the SHO does not compete in this category if you ask me The plastics in the SHO are of marginal quality and the seating feels cheap and offers nowhere near as much support as the seats in the BMW 325i The SHO does however have good ergonomics and tons of standard amenities power sunroof power door locks etc comes with an ice cold AC and power seats with lumbar support i Exterior Innovation i Some say this car is smooth and sleek I say the SHO s exterior design looks more like a big egg on wheels than anything else This design never grew on me in fact on the contrary I disliked it the more I saw it The only thing this car has going for in the looks department is the dual exhaust Ford has changed this design for the 2000 model year unfortunately the SHO trim line did not return making the regular 200 horsepower 3 0 Duratec V6 the top of the line power plant i Pricing i The price is getting pretty low for these cars Nobody really wanted the SHO beings that the competiton offered much more value i e the Grand Prix GTP These cars are not that fast they have good but not spectacular interiors downright ugly exterior looks they get relatively poor gas mileage are not on the top of the list for reliable cars yet Ford has the audacity to stick a 31 000 dollar price tag on it I don t blame the public for not wanting to pay that price A 1998 model however now can be found for around 14 000 or less typical Ford Taurus resale value i Conclusion i Because of the poor resale of the 98 Taurus SHO these cars are now an exceptional buy If you are looking for a cheap family sedan on the used market the Taurus SHO does offer good bang for the buck b Other Cars To Consider b i 1 Chevy Monte Carlo a href content 61018443396 http www epinions com content 61018443396 a MY Review 2 Chevy Lumina Z34 3 BMW 328i 4 Saab 9000 Aero 5 Dodge Stratus 6 Dodge Intreped 7 Ford Thunderbird V8 8 Mercury Cougar 9 Toyota Camry V6 10 Honda Accord V6 Coupe Happy Car shopping " Neg," Preface In August 1998 I was driving my one month old Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Daytona 500 Pace Car please read my review on that when some bozo in a Honda Accord pulled out in front of me I was NOT happy Nobody was hurt seriously I broke his car literally in two His insurance paid for the 12 000 repair to the front end of my limited edition car I ll bet they were really happy with him His insurance also paid for a rental while my car was in the shop from September 2 to December 15 no joke This rental car I had was a 1998 Ford Taurus The Taurus Since I had this car for 3 and a half months I feel kind of like I owned it Here is what I thought of it The Good What good can I say about this car Well for starters it was fairly comfortable at least in the 60 40 driver s seat I say fairly because even though I ve been much more comfortable in a car I never got sore during my 35 minute commute each way every day The wheel and controls were comfortable as well The gas mileage was pretty good It was a fairly quiet car too pretty solid and not a lot of wind noise That surprised me The car was also easy to maneuver Not bad for a low end family sedan The Bad I didn t want a low end family sedan I wanted my 240hp loaded out road rocket back So I always compared it to my car which was slowly coming back together in the shop In that aspect the Taurus weaknesses become very apparent It is quite weak That s probably why there s so little wind noise My Taurus accelerated like a small 4 cylinder despite the fact that it was a 6 cylinder This was a problem more than once merging on the highway Even worse in fact the worst problem I had with this car was the rear visibility Three times I almost hit a car coming up on my left I never rely on mirrors I always turn my head to look over my shoulder before changing lanes When I turned my head to look back over my left shoulder all I could see was the window post The visibility was terrible and I advise anyone who has one of these cars to be extra careful when changing lanes Furthermore I just didn t care for the styling The ovoid theme was carried WAY too far making this car look just as ridiculous inside as outside The oval radio console must make upgrading the stereo a nightmare The oval inside door handles were very flimsy The Verdict If you re used to well equipped fast cars you won t like this one It ain t If you re looking for a comfortable family sedan for a fairly inexpensive price you might want to check it out Oh yeah and those of you who have Taurus SHOs and think they are fast well okay Maybe That s not what I reviewed Besides my GTP will make an SHO look like it s standing still br br " Neg," Strengths The Taurus has an excellent ride quality With the upgraded suspension it takes in bumps smoothly and even corners quite well for a midsized car The seats are comfortable and well supportive and the controls though some looking quite tacky are in easy reach and easy to use The gauges are goodsized and understandable and the overall roominess is great Weaknesses It is equipped with the 3 0L Vulcan engine and there s not too much good I can say about that First the car is very underpowered It doens t even come close to matching the other competitors acceleration figures Also under hard acceleration the engine has noticeable vibration and is quite loud for a supposedly quot refined quot V 6 Also the axle ratio on this car is extremely low at around 3 90 1 This means it revs really high and not that high of a speed Also in overdrive it hits about 2300 2400 rpm while cruising at 65mph Our van only does about 1900 2000 at this speed Also mechanically I m not to impressed with the transmission on this car When you accelerate real lazy it shifts smooth out of first When you give it about half throttle it shifts pretty rough But then when you floor it it shifts smooth again Figure that one out Also when it shifts from second to third at no matter what speed it almost sounds like the engine hesitates before continuting on Lastly the design of this model year Taurus is pretty bad It s way too quot bubble shaped quot as my girlfriend says The circular rear window somewhat hinders rear vision and the bulge at the top of the doors make it kind of hard to use the side mirrors Overall I personally wouldn t really recommend this car to anyone especially if you look at other cars out there in this price range hondas toyotas etc This definately isn t the greatest car Ford has ever built It somewhat lacks in the quality department Kind of ironic considering their slogan quot Quality is Job 1 quot " Neg," When purchasing a new or used vehicle one always wants to be as knowledgeable as possible about the options available However sometimes no amount of research can prepare you for the treachery that lies ahead when you make an error purchasing a vehicle The Ford Taurus is a perfect example of this paradox When researching this particular vehicle you will find raving reviews from many reviewers everyone from housewives to the consumer reports The problem is or it appears that generally when a person is attesting to or commenting on the reliability of a car particularly a new car it is generally before the problems have taken place The Ford Taurus is relatively pleasing to look at with it s sporty areo dynamic design The interior is very comfortable and roomy The ride is quiet and smooth and it generally gets very reasonable fuel mileage Having all these things going for it however does not alleviate the frustration of the fact that there have been so many recalls on many different areas of the vehicle transmission steering stabilizers air conditioning electrical system etc that it spends more time in the repair facility than it does in a driveway As well I was incredibly disappointed and frustrated with the attitude and the lack of concern shown by the Ford Motor Company when notified of the seemingly chronic problems that arose with the vehicle Although this vehicle has been rated very highly in the safety tests performed on vehicles in this class and although it is a pleasing vehicle as far as aesthetics A consumer would certainly want to take into account the potential lack of reliability as well as the difficulty in getting the adequate and appropriate service performance from Ford Motor Company that would make this car acceptable to own " Neg," I originally bought this vehicle because it was well priced and I thought it met all of my needs As soon as I got it there were problems Since then I have been in every two months to have warranty service on the car done It runs terribly The car is two years old and it allready needed a new transmission The car accelerates slowly and is uncomfortable The engineering is terrible given that the seatbelts bunch up and everything seems to clatter around As for the positives the cruise control is easy to use I would not recomment this car to anyone who plans to drive more then 5 mins a day without having to shoot themselves I would also not recomment this for someone who does not have 5 hours a week to deal with the warranty service center or for someone who likes to travel at over 15 miles per hour " Neg," After having my second child I wanted a family car so I purchased the Ford Taurus The car ran fine for the first 2 years after that it has not been the same The speedometer odometer and power steering all went out It was still under warranty so we took it back to the dealership and they fixed the speedometer odometer and power steering but now 6 months later it is still not running right It has trouble shifting from first to second gear and the dealership said they could find nothing wrong with it That is just the way it runs If that is the way all Ford Tauruses run then they have a problem I do like the roominess of the interior and the trunk The backseat is large enough that with 2 children they cannot reach each other with is a plus The trunk is large enough to fit luggage and a stroller in it If I just lucked into a bad one in the bunch and they are not all like this then this would be a good car for people with children If they all run like this then I would not recommend it br br " Neg," My dad bought this car used He paid 15 000 for it It was used and had just over 28 000 miles on it So the price was right He needed a low mileage vehiclee because he s a salesman and piles on the miles incredibly in this thing After about 10 months of use he s already put over 55 000 miles on it It s been okay so far but I m hoping he ll replace it really soon and getting something much better like a Buick Regal or something I almost have him convinced on that car The Taurus is my dad s car It is equipped with the 3 0L Vulcan engine and there s not too much good I can say about that First the car is very underpowered It doens t even come close to matching the other competitors acceleration figures Also under hard acceleration the engine has noticeable vibration and is quite loud for a supposedly quot refined quot V 6 Also the axle ratio on this car is extremely low at around 3 90 1 This means it revs really high and not that high of a speed Also in overdrive it hits about 2300 2400 rpm while cruising at 65mph Our van only does about 1900 2000 at this speed Also mechanically I m not to impressed with the transmission on this car When you accelerate real lazy it shifts smooth out of first When you give it about half throttle it shifts pretty rough But then when you floor it it shifts smooth again Figure that one out Also when it shifts from second to third at no matter what speed it almost sounds like the engine hesitates before continuting on Lastly the design of this model year Taurus is pretty bad It s way too quot bubble shaped quot as my girlfriend says The circular rear window somewhat hinders rear vision and the bulge at the top of the doors make it kind of hard to use the side mirrors Admittedly the Taurus has an excellent ride quality With the upgraded suspension it takes in bumps smoothly and even corners quite well for a midsized car The seats are comfortable and well supportive and the controls though some looking quite tacky are in easy reach and easy to use The gauges are goodsized and understandable and the overall roominess is great Previous to this car my dad had a 1994 Taurus Compared to that this new Taurus is much above However a guy I know owns a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville and I would take that 10 to 1 over this car That is one slick car Not only is it extremely quick it is quite and incredibly smooth I personally wouldn t really recommend this car to anyone except older folks who don t drive too much This definately isn t the greatest car Ford has ever built It somewhat lacks in the quality department Kind of ironic considering their slogan quot Quality is Job 1 quot It s an okay car but it s not on the top of my list " Neg," I bought this car in the summer of 2001 At that point the car was just over 3 years old and had 23 000 miles on it It was a one owner local trade in and an internet title search revealed no major accidents floods or other problems I paid US 10 500 As of this writing 2 years later the car has 60 000 miles on it I am religious about scheduled maintenance so the car has been well taken care of I put a lot of miles on it in the first 15 months I had it but have since relocated and now only drive it about 10k a year So far I have not had to fix anything really major but I have been perturbed by a number of small annoyances First days after I purchased the car there was a problem with a sensor governing the cooling system it made the cooling fan run all the time so that the car ran too cold on the highway The dealer fixed this for free under the terms of a 3 month 3000 mile warrantee that came with the car Second the 6 CD changer never worked right It won t play a CD in the 1 slot I complained about this to the dealer when I brought the car back for the problem mentioned above and he replaced the CD changer unit But it didn t fix the problem Either I got two bad units with the same problem or the problem lay somewhere else Since I sometimes have more pressing matters than dealing with this stuff I never went back to the dealer again about the CD unit and live with a 5 CD changer instead Third like several others in this forum my Taurus has problems with the door is ajar sensor It s completely unpredictable Sometimes it thinks for days that a door is ajar then suddenly the light goes off and all is well again for a while I haven t had time to get this fixed yet so in the meantime I yanked the circuit breaker for the interior lights Check your owner s manual it s clearly marked and easy to do Fourth another strange electrical problem has seemed to go away inexplicably on its own for a while all of the lighted information on the center console radio clock A C info etc would disappear at random intervals When this happened I had to turn on the headlights which turned on the dashboard lights to work the radio or A C Very annoying Even weirder the problem hasn t recurred in nearly a year The fifth annoyance is that the entire center console between the two front seats seems to have one main function creaking and squeaking It drives me nuts It squeaks and creaks constantly I ll mention this to the dealer when I take it in for the door ajar problem but I m not optimistic about them fixing it so it doesn t creak and squeak Sixth with 60k on the car I m noticing the beginnings of a leaky valve cover gasket which will need to be replaced This used to be a job for the do it yourselfer I did one once on an old Mercury Comet V 8 and I m not all that handy really but these days the way engines are crammed into tiny engine compartments I woudn t want to try it myself on the Taurus A leaky valve cover gasket can happen eventually to any car but shouldn t happen at 60k in my opinion And seventh at 50k miles I had to replace both front brake rotors and both rear brake drums because they were all warped There was subtle brake pedal vibration at 30k miles and by 50k it wasn t subtle any more That shouldn t happen Even before I bought the car I d heard that the rotors warp easily on these cars and that has certainly been my experience So to sum up I haven t exactly been thrilled with the Taurus If I m experiencing these problems in the first 60k what is it going to be like at 120k True I can afford a lot of small repairs with the 8000 or so I saved by not buying a new Camry or Accord Thus for me the big question is whether the powertrain will hold up over the long haul If so the car will still have been a bargain despite its annoyances If not I would have been better off buying a new Camry or Accord " Neg," Back in December 1995 I purchased a 1995 Ford Thunderbird LX V8 with 15 000 miles on it When I was handed the keys after signing all the paperwork and had put a deposit on 4 days prior when I first test drovie it the car now had 16 000 miles on it One of the salesman decided he was going to use this car to commute back and forth to work this was the start of my problems I specifically had a car alarm installed by the dealer as my prior vehicle a convertible Suzuki Sidekick which was an absolutely wonderful vehicle was a target for theives Well they didn t install a second switch to cut off the alarm should the remotes die or the alarm short circuits I discovered this 6 months later and they said there was nothing they could do about it unless I paid Oh well I just hoped nothing would happen First thing I did when driving out of the dealership was get new snow tires it snowed that night Well during the course of owning this vehicle for 4 and half years I put about 50 000 miles on it Not too bad I went through 5 sets of complete breaks All the U Joints and CV Joints were replaced twice The radiator and fan not the fan belt but the fan was replaced three times When I got the car I noticed the antenna was bent and the windshield wiper motor was shot Brought it to a closer Lincoln Dealer to have these items fixed under warranty to discover the dealership I purchased it from signed me up under their own extended warranty not the Ford warranty which I specified 10 different times We had to go back over there and pay 800 dollars more Then they fixed the two problems Lets see the transmission was rebuilt twice the driver side window would stick on occasion and not shut completely the radio was awful and the kicker the Ford service people don t know what the problem is Ooooohhhh I get so steamed when I think of this I find out toward the end of my warranty after dealing with countless service people being rude to me telling me it was a figment of my imagination that the car is stalling and three dealerships to figure out that there was no oil in the engine even though the dipstick said there was oil They told me that happens when an engine gets old and refused to fix it under warranty During the time I owned this vehicle I contacted Ford corporate repeatedly and they never responded Finally 2 months before the warranty ended someone called me back all sarcasm aside they finally tell me there is a dispute settlement board oh I was supposed to get a free loaner anytime my car was in the shop for warranty repairs Never got it now I wanted my money back The Dispute Settlement board refused and conveniently stated this is between me and the individual dealerships They also said it was past my warranty I sent it in two weeks before it expired you get the idea I will never buy or claim ownership another Ford product again They left such a taste of vile in my mouth I have a Jeep now and its wonderful Ford may you rot in a garbage can your service and vehicles are way below acceptable standards " Neg," My husband fell in love with this car when he saw it on the Ford dealership s lot We needed another vehicle as I had totaled our Ford Taurus the previous month This vehicle has a V 8 which both my husband and I enjoy It also has all the little luxuries the premium sound system CD player sun roof keyless entry leather seats power seats windows and locks and automatic climate control These little luxuries really make for a nicer driving experience It truly was great until we had our daughter This car only has two doors and putting her in and taking her out of the carseat can be difficult at times If you re riding in the back seat behind someone who needs more leg room in the front you can get cramped if you re tall as well It might be ok for short rides but for longer trips it would be uncomfortable The trunk space is also limited This is fine if there s just one or two of you on a short road trip If you re trying to go for longer distances with more luggage forget it I went to the airport one time to pick up my sister in law and she brought two large suitcases One would fit in the trunk the other had to go in the back seat Thankfully at that point we didn t have our daughter and we could put the suitcase there This was a great car for us before we had children and will make a great car for my husband when we buy a more family friendly vehicle If you re single or a young couple without children this would be great for you If not spend your money on a four door sedan or a mini van br br " Neg," I have leased a 97 Thunderbird now for almost 3 years I have had it since it was new I leased the car based on it s nameplate and v 8 power The car has good styling and roominess The power from the 4 6L engine is impressive and a pleasure when on the highway I wouldn t opt for the 3 8L v 6 for a car this size All the controls are well laid out to give you a sports car feel but not the sports car s lack of space The seats could use more support though Long rides might be tiresome for those that prefer stiffer seats The six way power driver s seat is nice to get you in just the right position and the tilt wheel will help finish getting you into that right position The premium sound stereo is not bad for a factory unit and will make most people happy The semi automatic climate control isn t the greatest There aren t many positions to bring just fresh air in Most times you are either using the heater or the air conditioning These extremes will do the job though I do prefer the older R 12 refrigerant though it does a much better job at cooling the interior than the newer R 134a The two major downfalls on this car are it s handling and brakes The brakes are typical Ford not enough for the vehicle You will be able to stop but you ll wish you had more brakes than you do The ABS works well The electronic traction assist although doesn t On anything less than clean dry roads you will have to pay attention to what the car is doing This is easy to tell though by the feel you get in the seat Much of this might have to do with the independent rear suspension I don t believe Ford put enough effort into putting the right springs in the rear of the car It always sits high in the back which might be taking away from downforce on the rear for better traction This could be fixed if you are an avid automotive lover by aftermarket springs These would level the look of the car and lower it just a little all this would enhance the independent suspension Many finer cars from BMW Mercedes Benz the Corvette all use this type of suspension to give their cars a better ride If Ford had done a little more work the Thunderbird would have been a much better car This car is not for novice drivers or drivers who can t keep an eye on what their car is doing For those drivers who like a challenging car or a car that would test their driving skills this is the car for you I am still undecided on whether or not I will purchase this car at the end of it s lease The power is comparable to a Mustang GT or Sport Package Crown Victoria It s size is more roomier than a Mustang and with a few upgraded parts would probably run better than the Mustang The pride in owning a Thunderbird is in it s nameplate a nameplate with history More history than the Camaro Firebird Trans Am and Mustang It originally was the leading sports car from the U S until Chevrolet started making a more potent Corvette " Neg," Author s note this is not a review of the ZX2 it s a review of the 4 door SE for which there is no category even though there are 2 categories for the ZX2 Be forewarned There s not a single thing wrong with driving a small car in fact it s generally my opinion that there is something wrong with driving BIG cars This is especially true for condo dwelling attorneys and accountants who insist on driving diesel powered duallys and SUVs the size of school buses On the rare occasions that ms scmrak lets me have it I drive a Toyota Tacoma otherwise it s a Honda Accord So when the rental agency couldn t give me a standard car for my two week rental I went ahead and took the Ford Escort they did have Reluctantly though and not because it s fire engine red Reluctantly because I ve driven these things before Now at the end of my two week rental with 1000 plus miles of driving the car I m ready to take the little red sewing machine back to the rental people with my compliments Why It s not that it s small although it is rather cozy if there s anyone else in the car it s that nobody should ever have designed a car with an engine this small married to an automatic transmission There s nothing particularly wrong with that little four banger it gets around 27 MPG on the highway come to think of it though I ve driven 8 cylinder cars that get upwards of 24 Likewise there s nothing particularly wrong with the Escort design it s neither attractive nor unattractive just sort of a blah little car In fact it makes a pretty good car for running errands around town it scoots into parking places neatly turns on a dime and has a fairly roomy trunk for your purchases As a highway car though it s a dog even worse than its grandparent the Pinto The marriage of a low torque underpowered four cylinder engine to an automatic transmission geared for economy has created a puppy that can t outrun its own shadow Sure it s got lots of low end power for pickup away from a stop light but try to accelerate from 65 to 70 on a highway and you ll have plenty of time to pick out a new china pattern and get your teeth cleaned while you wait I could only hope that a five speed manual transmission would be an improvement over the three speed automatic b The accelerator pedal For better or for worse the Escort s built on Ford s oval concept like the redesigned Taurus and the Contour That oval motif abounds including dashboard instrument panel mirrors and trim elements The design makes for a clean shape and clear sight lines from the cockpit The cabin is relatively comfortable although cramped and the trunk affords plenty of storage room The engine runs smoothly and efficiently with good mileage in the 27 30 range for my two weeks and 1087 miles of mixed highway and city driving The vehicle handles nimbly at low speeds the steering is responsive Overall the construction is on par with or exceeds similar American made cars and approaches the quality of Japanese economy imports In point of fact the Escort is an excellent example of the timeworn maxim you get what you pay for Ford doesn t squander much of its budget on amenities which is a good idea for an economy car Unfortunately they don t squander much on engine power either b The brake pedal Ford s fascination with that oval design motif extends too far in at least one case the side view mirrors afford a dangerously small field of vision particularly at the outer edges The interior has plenty of headroom but the door openings are short sometimes painfully so as passengers are prone to bumping heads while entering and exiting The standard four cylinder engine is underpowered at high speeds and noisy at any speed At idle it sounds suspiciously like a sewing machine at full throttle the noise can drown out the radio My sample which now has slightly below 11 000 miles under its fanbelt has developed a few rattles and squeaks plus a tendency to buzz at certain engine speeds The air conditioning unit struggled to cool the car in direct sunlight even though Houston topped out at 75 degrees F while I was driving the Escort Where the rubber meets the road Overall the car is as mentioned above a good example of getting what you pay for If you have enough cash for a tricked out Escort though I d strongly suggest getting yourself a similarly priced version of an import it will hold its value longer and very likely be less prone to problems involving design and workmanship If you can drive a manual transmission it would be a better option for this vehicle the combination of a puny power plant with an automatic transmission is unsettling at highway speeds " Neg," I bought a 1990 White Ford Probe in 1994 It had 60 000 miles on it and according to my mechanic was in good shape It had a manual transmission a sunroof power windows power door locks and tinted windows It drove very well and it was my favorite car but that did not last very long I had to take it to the shop to get a new transmission after having it only four months I also had several other problems which I will not go into at this time The culmination of the problems was when the engine BURNED up in 1996 I was driving down the highway when all of the sudden smoke starts coming out of the hood I pull over look at the hood and almost open it before I noticed flames shooting out from under the hood Luckily I had a cellular phone with me and called 911 to get them to extinguish my car The engine was totally melted which basically the car was totaled I did not take any action against Ford but if I knew what I know now I would have I have heard from at least two other people who had owned ford probes that the same thing happened to them The bottom line is steer clear of this car if you can " Neg," I bought a 1990 ford probe gl in 1998 i payed 2500 00 for it used the car was a very good deal at the time I am a certified mechanic so i check out the car throughly Finding nothing really wrong with the car i purchased it About 6 months after i bought it the rack and pinion went out 1 week after that the radiator went out with the lower control arm the headlight motors the exhaust system the automatic seatbelts the passenger side mirror the power steering pump the rocker arms and oh yeah finally the fuel pump wires arched against the gas tank when i ws driving and the back of the car went up in flames I got out in time before it was too late So my opion is do not buy a old probe it is nothing but headache br br " Neg," I haven t driven an Escort since my 1993 model and now I know why Our Ford Ranger XLT was involved in an auto accident a few weeks ago so our rental car is this 1999 Ford Escort Now I ve owned a Ford Escort before it was a 1993 model and after two blown headgaskets a new radiator major engine work and 1500 later I traded it in for my first truck which was a Toyota 4X2 until I traded that in for the Ford Ranger Now that you know why I am driving this Ford Escort let me tell you about it b Dwarf Ponies or maybe mice b This little car may be economical but it certainly is comical when it comes to the horsepower this thing has To put it bluntly it sucks on hills You need to start hitting the gas pedal hard about 500 feet before you climb a hill or else it simply will max out and everyone is passing you b Park Place We ve been driving this car now for two weeks We have had to leave at least 5 to 10 minutes early so we can get this car out of PARK The button that releases the stick is a crap shoot if you get it to push in so it will release the shift I spent 10 minutes of my lunch hour yesterday trying to get it out of park I swore that when I did I was going right to the rental place to exchange cars They did not have any available but the guy told me that if the shift would not move out of PARK to push this little flat black button next to the stick and it would release the shift and allow me to push the shift s button all the way in so I can move out of PARK NOW HE TELLS ME b But there is a bright side The car gets excellent gas mileage In these days of high gas prices it cost us 15 00 to fill the tank up and it lasted for a good 200 miles of mostly highway driving Our Ford Ranger guzzles about double that but it is a 20 gallon tank but gets only about 100 miles more than the Escort b Price As a rental you can t beat the price 19 99 a day As a first family car I would also recommend it In fact I recommend everyone should rent the vehicle they intend on buying for a week to see if it will meet all of their expectations A simple test drive won t tell you how it performs in your daily lives and it is far better to spend that extra 50 to make sure it will " Neg," Ok we aren t rich and can t afford a new car but I have had the experience of this thing If I did have the money for a new car this would be one of the LAST cars I would pick If I won a free one in a contest I would sale it Ok We had a 1989 Ford Escort 2 door This is a 99 4 door RA was rear ended This is the rental car they gave us to use Ok What I really don t like is the electronic windows Which is a danger to me in a vehicle accident being in the Ambulance for 12 plus years electric windows and things of that make it a lot harder to access a vehicle once a battery is cut have to take out a window if the doors are locked The only thing that is not is the seat belts Go figure Our older Escort had automatic seat belts and that s the only thing I just find that funny Ok the dash center consul the radio controls and heat controls all sort of blend in together The dash lights come on automatically when the car is running When night time comes and you turn on the head lights the stupid dash lights dim yeah there is a knob to brighten them but not as much as we would like It s not exactly easy on gas as I was figured it would be It uses more than our 10 year older car Pretty much the same motor We travel a lot it s a hour to RA s family So at least once a week we travel there I didn t like the way this car rides After half the trip toward his family I decided I hate the way it rides Never before aside from when I was pregnant have I gotten car sick on this trip nor did my kids We all ended up car sick half way there and had to make a emergency stop Something else the baby would sleep most of the trip in our car He carry s on at least half the trip in the 99 and I think its the way he rides in this thing too Or maybe he can sense how uncomfortable we all are I like driving the car but RA doesn t The sun visors are too small The headlights which can be moved a bit are two low and outward The worst thing so far we were heading home first really warm day and we had the windows down it started to rain We smoke I know shame shame So up went the windows Well when we cracked the widows to smoke the design of this car the water poured in the windows They weren t even open a half of a inch I have rode in MANY cars and had windows cracked open over the years At least 8 off of the top of my head and this is the only time that s happened Granted I will give you the safety features have to have break depressed to put in or out of gear Locks on master window controls so that only the driver can control all the windows BUT that stinks because when it s on I can t open and close my window The dome light stays on till you start the car or for a time after you get out Talk about frustration till we learned all these things out Also maybe you will find this funny as I didn t and do now The first time I drove this car after dark after unloading kids handing them bags sending them toward the house I loaded up the last of everything into my arms and kicked the door shut almost losing half my load The dome light didn t go out So I butt bumped all the doors to make sure they were closed swearing at the light still being on I despirately with much difficaulty sat the soda s from Mc D s on the hood put the bags from my hand on the hood slide the bag from my wrist down on my hand and sat it up on the hood dug the keys out of my pocket and got six inches from the lock and the light went off again swearing and kicked the car got the stuff loaded back up and headed toward the house as RA came looking for me Then laughed hysterically at me only because he had done the same thing making it back to the house and noticeing the light on till he got his boots on and back out side it was off Ok there is a button for trunk in the glove box even if car is shut off I don t like that part but do in a way like the child that died from locking himself in and with the keys till they found him they couldn t get him help worth breaking a window to me that way to pop the truck with no keys but it makes it easier to get into for would be thiefs Electronic door locks with the extra by window button locks too I like that a lot Lots of trunk space The only advantage this has over our older model is three seat belts instead of two and four doors instead of two I just feel I found more cons with having this thing here for two weeks With the many MANY other brands and types of cars out there There is a lot of better choices to pick Sure I gave you a lot of things I don t like about this car But I feel the pros are few and this car would make a poor choice for anyone Maybe that s because I don t have the money for a new car Looking at spending that much on a car I would expect it to be lacking any poor quality in ANY way it s made I hope you understand what I mean br br " Neg," My first new car purchase was a ZX2 I wanted a car that was economical on gas I really liked the way it looked too But sometimes looks can be deceiving It s a snappy little car and it does get good gas mileage But don t try to smoke a cigarette when it s raining out The water drips right into the window It s really a hassle It s not from the rain coming from the sky either it s the rain wiped from the windshield that gets you Mostly it drips right onto the controls for the locks and windows The tires on this car are 15 quot This would not be a problem if you were not worried about the cost to replace them They only last for about 20 000 to 30 000 miles The cheapest tires I found were 91 00 and supposedly only Goodyear makes them That is not very economical in my book The cassette player died after 1 year The passenger side window failed to close after 3 months The ride is OK The struts seem a little stiff even after a year of driving it I think Ford could have done a much better job of creating this vehicle Do your homework when buying any vehicle Don t get stuck with an economical vehicle that costs too much to maintain br br " Neg," I recently rented a late model Escort for a month I m not one of those people whose identities are shaped and or expressed by a cool car the more anonymous the better is my motto Few cars are more generic than a beige Escort I kept mistaking other cars for my rental once even accidentally setting off the alarm on a similar looking sedan I cravenly ran away before the owner could show up Under 45 miles per hour and 6 feet of driver height this is generally a decent utilitarian car It handles decently especially in confined spaces like parking lots is extremely easy to park and goes in and out of first gear fairly snappily if somewhat twitchily There s a surprising amount of interior space for such a small car plenty for me although I never use the back seats so I can only speak for the front seats The trunk is also quite roomy for a subcompact I managed to shove a huge computer box in there which wouldn t fit into the trunk of a midsize sedan This would be a very nice car for running around town especially if you re a woman However most of my driving is done on Highway 101 in California This is where the two biggest weaknesses of the Escort are revealed it sucks on the freeway and the gas tank is really really small This car has no pickup at highway speeds now that the speed limit in many states has been increased this is a bigger concern than it might have been a couple years ago The brakes are also correspondingly weak and squeaky and cornering at highway speeds is not very secure feeling The ride is also extremely rattle y like small parts might be about to break off at any moment Finally with my 50 mile daily commute it seems like I rattle my way from one gas station to the next I haven t been blown away by the mileage I m achieving either which seems to be less than 20 miles per gallon Finally this car is clearly designed for shorter drivers I m 5 4 quot The steering wheel is small the car rides low the dash is low the ignition key is set super low and the seat can be pushed forward so far your thighs can be trapped under the console If you re a larger human being you won t appreciate any of this br br " Neg," As a Social Worker I find myself on the Georgia highways and byways usually doing a lot of commuting especially when it comes to traveling with a group of children If you ve ever taken a trip with a bunch of teenagers then you know the importance of traveling in the right vehicle Which brings me to my most recent outing to the movies with my group of weekend pre teens in the 2001 Ford Windstar LX Frankly as a bachelor the minivan would not be my first choice as a slime and trim sporty auto Primarily due to its style since minivans usually have family written all over them However for those looking for a family van you may find one of the six models of the 2001 Ford Windstar to your liking The models or trims which is a term used in the automotive world to describe the different styles available which includes your base model the LX SE SEL the limited or the SE Sport The vehicle we used was the Windstar 2001 LX passenger van The Windstar van made me feel like I was turning into my father I immediately began having flashbacks of our station wagon and all the family discussion regarding that vehicle The other families in our neighborhood referred to us as the Brady Bunch The Brady Bunch was 1969 ABC TV series in which the Brady family used a 1958 Plymouth Station Wagon The Windstar is synonymous with practical family transportation and although I don t consider it stylish and find it to plain for my taste for some this versatile vehicle is becoming as popular as the 1968 Plymouth Station Wagon This passenger van has a savage V 6 12 valve 4 speed electronic automatic transmission engine with an electronic ignition It s almost identical to its 2000 Windstar predecessor with its 3 0 liter 6 cylinder engine When driving this vehicle you can really feel front wheel drive the pulling to the front wheels On the highway this machine floats like a 1970 Cadillac If you ve ever road in a 1970 Cadillac you will remember how it almost floats like a boat on the highway The van is a little bouncy on the road probably due to the soft suspension that seems to sway when driving The front suspension uses the highly recommended MacPherson struts while at the rear a twist beam axle acts as its own stabilizer bar with its suspension coil springs The Windstar s steel body is very rigid despite it s rack and pinion steering system it s considered a heavyweight in the minivan world There is nothing fancy about the outside since exterior features are fairly rudimentary red color Its red from the front and rear colored bumpers to the red colored grille The Windstar s seven passenger seating offers lots of room and comfortable seating for smaller framed people however if you are traveling with a teenagers wearing baggy clothes it seats five comfortably There are three rows of seats the front bucket seats with the fixed headrest and armrest remind are fairly comfortable for the driver however you can only adjust these two seats so far Perhaps in a 2001 I was expecting a softer seat or perhaps captain chairs like the seat on the Star Trek Enterprise The seats were fairly comfortable during our trip to the movies however I would suspect that they would not be as equally comfortable on long distance trip It s nice that the passenger seat is adjustable and removable with full folding 3 person bench second row seating Legroom is plentiful if you are 5 9 any taller and you may feel a bit cramped The Windstar LX features the much talked about 4 wheel anti locking braking system and dual airbags with adjustable seatbelts plus daytime running halogen headlamp lights Although the daytime running lights are popular I personally don t like them Perhaps its related to my childhood memories of attending funerals with my Dad driving following a processional of cars streaming their lights during the day Standard equipment on all of the 2001 Windstar LX include tinted glass an AM FM stereo system with four speakers two in the front and two in the rear It also features a passive anti theft system cupholders and a locking glove box with a light installed The Windstar is a functional piece of machinery In a 2001 vehicle I was looking for more up to date features and gadgets The simple dashboard with the typical Ford layout is boring Ford is notorious for its poor ergonomics and dashboard layout On the dashboard you will find the typical analog instrumentation with a tachometer trip odometer water temp gauge and the usual warning indicators including the oil pressure battery lights on key in ignition low fuel low washer fluid door ajar brake fluid the only that s new to me is the bulb failure light In all fairness the LX does have a sliding door on the driver s side which seemed unusual at first and took a little getting use to This van is ideal for people that want to use their minivan for a small business because it allows you the ability to toss out the rear bench seat The Ford Windstar is an affordable minivan ranging between 20 000 to 35 000 depending upon the model you choose Although there are no recalls on the Windstar 2001 LX this particular Ford has a history of recalls and mechanical problems In 1996 there was a recall on the rear power windows because the connections failed and the wiper switch needed to be replaced So far it has not been reported that the Windstar 2001 faces the challenges of its predecessor s It s been noted by Ford that the Windstar is the first minivan to earn the U S government s five star front crash test rating The safety system includes dual stage front air bags crash severity sensors safety belt usage sensor driver seat position sensor and safety belt pretensions plus the lift gate comes with a high mounted lamp which provides excellent light at night We road on 4 good P215 70R15 BSW tires w 15 inch 5 spoke wheel coverings However if you get a flat you ll be riding around on a donut since this vehicle comes with a mini spare tire The Windstar 2001 LX uses unleaded gas yet guzzles it like a 1970 Cadillac In a time when gas prices are sky rocketing this 3 8 liter engine is not the most economical Albeit my experience with the Windstar LX was limited and in spite of this vans impressive safety rating this vehicle would not be my first choice for family travel It would be ideal if Ford would match safety and customer satisfaction I was looking for a little bit more out of a 2001 " Neg," Leased a 2001 Ford Windstar LX maintenance package daytime running lights safety package etc We really want to like this vehicle but the number of irritations makes it impossible Soem are the quality of the vehicle some are dealer together they generate a very bad ownership experience First it is a Gas Guzzler 13 MPG dealer Ford of Upland CA says so what The electronics are sloppy the Auto Mirrors Seats and Day Running Lights Don t Work The Memory adjustments for the seats and mirrors reset to neutral every time you hit the unlock button Dealer says Just reprogram why have memory if you have to adjust them each time you get in The day running lights generate an error on the dash that must be canceled to view mileage etc every time you start the van Air conditioner makes a loud clunk when you first turn it on Poor controls on the onboard video system Seats are very heavy and hard to get in and out Purchased the regular maintenance package on the basis of Oil Change is same as Quick Lube Service Our first oil change we had to leave the van for 5 hours FORD has very poor quality control over dealers Our 4th FORD Van with each FORD has gotten worse our last " Neg," I admit that I m not much of a mechanic so this will not be detailed or technical I ll just get to the basics Six years ago my parents bought a 1996 Ford Windstar and today it s a constant pain We ve had problems with all sorts of noises there have been times when we had noises whenever the car turned and noises when you apply the brakes Also the brake warning light is constantly coming on leading to road trips in which we worry if we ll make it home safely We usually don t use it for long trips unless we have a lot of stuff to carry We ve also had transmission problems The brakes have even stopped working once However when we take the van to the Ford place to get it fixed the mechanics claim that they don t hear the noises When they do fix it we end up with a different noise the next month Once we even had to take it back the week after taking it to the shop Further taking the car to the shop is a day long event or longer and a major incovenience It turns out that the Ford Windstar was recalled because of brake problems but not the 1996 although it appears that there was reason to Apparently we were among the truly blessed since others have had accidents caused by head gasket problems The epinions site wouldn t let me put the link here for you it read it as a word that was too long but look it up at consumeraffairs com All in all it seems sorry compared to our Toyota Camry which we rarely have to take to the shop and when we do the service is much better Over the years we have spent thousands on fixing this car My mom s credit card bill has risen because of repairs on this minivan Perhaps you would be blessed to find one of the good ones but I wouldn t risk it " Neg," After a disastrous encounter with a drunk driver in 1989 my husband bought this car new with the insurance money Although we thought it was cool when we first got it we soon outgrew it Unfortunately we could not afford to replace it until last year when we got a NEW 2000 Nissan Maxima SE b First what did I like about this car b It looked cool with front and rear spoilers and ground effects It had a low throaty growl that just sounded tough When I was 20 I thought this was quot kewl quot i Now that I m somewhere around 30 it s just noise pollution This is a car that announces its presence Guys if you re considering buying this car and you still have a curfew this car will make it impossible for you to sneak home after hours i I also liked the power of this car At 225hp the slightest touch on the gas would send the car hurtling forward I could pretend I was on the Batman amp Robin ride at Six Flags Somewhere around 1990 or 1991 I set my personal best land speed record on an unnamed interstate at 115 mph The car could go faster but we were gaining too quickly on some state troopers ahead When I started dating my husband he d just gotten this car I did agree to marry him so I guess you could say that girls dig this car b What DIDN T I like about this car b Where do I begin First let me say that this car was maintained very carefully even babied and garaged as often as possible Even so 1 The GT we had was an automatic transmission which made this car a lot less fun to drive Combined with a rear wheel drive and a lot of power it was almost impossible to control in bad weather Even on plowed streets the Stang had trouble getting up moderate hills Compared to my cars 89 Toyota Celica GT 90 Ford Probe GT there was a significant decrease in the amount of control even in the rain I ve done donuts across 4 lane highways going 10 miles per hour in the Mustang It s not an experience I d care to repeat 2 Overall poor design b There are horrendous blind spots out of both side rear windows making it difficult to pass other cars on the highway Given that the sheer power of this car makes you want to go fast on the highway it becomes very frustrating very quickly Same with the hood the slope of it makes it hard to ascertain exactly where the front end of the car is making parallel parking difficult The car has the worst turning radius of any car I ve ever driven There is no such thing as a 3 point turn in this car Try 5 or 7 points to get this car turned around The horn is contained in two little buttons on the steering wheel with the air bag taking up the center space In an emergency situation the last thing you want to do is to be looking frantically for the horn Honking the horn on this car takes finger precision you can t just slam on the steering wheel All you ll get is a little quot slap slap quot as you re looking for the horn The instrument panel and stereo are made up of lots of little buttons impossible to use if you re wearing gloves The only exception is the heat AC which are dials that are easily manipulated Same with the levers for moving the seats forward and back small difficult to find For a hatchback it does not have much room in the back The shape of the hatchback leaves the last foot of space virtually unusable as it is only about 8 quot high The hatchback is also very heavy Opening and closing it is a full upper body workout Needless to say given that the roof of the car slopes down sharply after the front seats the rear seats are uncomfortable for anyone over 5 2 quot The front seats do not slide forward and the front seat belts are attached to the rear armrests so the front shoulder belt quot clotheslines quot passengers getting out of the back Ever wonder what it feels like to be born Trying to get out of the rear seats of this car is a pretty good approximation Because of the attachment of the seatbelts which seem designed for people taller than 5 7 quot the shoulder belt is not really adjustable If you are 5 7 quot like me or shorter you ll get a red welt on the side of your neck from the rubbing shoulder belt 3 Things just break over and over again b This car does not have great reliability It was fine for the first one or two years and then it slowly began to fall apart We noticed a constant squeaking noise within the first year After several visits to the shop they finally determined that it was the speedometer cable After lubricating the cable the squeaking stopped For about two weeks Eventually we just learned to live with it From the 3rd to 5th years of owning it the fuel pump died three times i Each time was a 200 repair not to mention car rental There was never any notice that something was going wrong it would just fail to start Completely dead No turnover Somewhere around this time the A C finally died too I don t even remember what exactly the problem was I think it was a freon leak somewhere in the system Either way it was 500 700 that we didn t have at the time The hatchback pistons stopped holding the hatchback in the quot raised quot position after 3 5 years and the repair lasted another 3 years Getting groceries out of the back all 4 bags of them involves lifting the hatchback in a clean and jerk motion balancing it on your head leaning way way forward remember the 8 quot of unusable space at the rear of the hatchback grabbing the groceries and then ducking your head out fom under the hatchback without getting clonked on the head or getting the greasy hatchback latch tangled in your hair Now repeat 4 times After about 7 years the power windows and locks started to go They d only work some of the time sometimes the window would go down crooked and it made another loud quot SQUEEEEEEEE quot b noise as it was going up and down Eventually the entire console on the passenger side just died I could not lock or unlock the door or raise or lower the windows For a while my husband could control them from his side Then they died altogether and I had to climb in from the driver s side or sit in the back Not easy to do in formalwear The computer also did strange things from around the 5th year on For a few months the battery would drain overnight and we couldn t charge it up again After we brought it into the shop and they quot reset the computer quot it didn t happen any more The quot check engine quot light would come on occasionally especially in cooler weather below 40 degrees About 50 of the time there really was something wrong and the other 50 of the time there was nothing wrong Sort of like your own version of Lotto except each ticket costs 100 and you never win 4 It s expensive b In addition to the aforementioned repairs the quot sporty quot nature of the car means that equipment is expensive too The car came with Goodyear Eagle GT tires With the original tires on a dry road the car was a lot of fun to drive But the wheel size is odd and pretty much the only tires that would fit were performance Goodyear Eagles and Yokohama tires that didn t last all that long 30 000 40 000 miles In the ten years of owning this car we never found tires to fit that were under 100 apiece Insurance too was very very expensive Even with USAA which is often 1 2 or 2 3 the cost of private insurance my husband was paying around 1000 per year with a perfect driving record and in a state with low insurance rates To compare I had a similar value Ford Taurus insured through State Farm and it was about 300 a year His insurance went down a little when we got married but not by much At best the Mustang GT 5 0 gets around 15 mpg Of course it likes hi octane gas We noticed a significant difference in the pickup and in the noise between 89 octane and 93 octane Even before gas prices went nuts we d pay almost 20 to fill the tank 5 Comfort What comfort b Thanks to the sporty suspension the rock hard seats and the constant rumbling of the engine you get a good feel of the road every pebble and bump After about 30 minutes my butt would get numb from the vibration I don t know if this is a good thing or not on the one hand you no longer feel every little crack in the road On the other you don t feel your own crack either and you climb out of the car waddling like the Brady Bunch after they took the mule ride into the Grand Canyon In true muscle car tradition there is also no insulation from the road noise and the engine noise This was a typical conversation while driving in the Mustang i Dr kboo How do I get to RRRRRRR by the RRRRRRR i kboo Turn right at RRRRRRR and then RRRRRRR i Dr kboo WHAT i kboo Turn right at RRRRRRR and then RRRRRRR at RRRRRRR gesturing frantically HERE HERE NOW SUMMARY If you live in a warm sunny climate and you don t need dependable transportation the Mustang GT 5 0 is fun to drive when it s working It s barely comfortable for two people and can t carry much stuff Whatever money you have left after filling it with gas will go to repairs It is terrible for long road trips as the seats are only comfortable for about 20 30 minutes On the other hand even when we sold it last year 3500 at 10 years old and around 120 000 miles it still turned heads There will always be a market for this car because of how it looks and sounds and because of the Mustang name and tradition I would NOT recommend this car as a teen s first car it is difficult to handle even for experienced drivers and expensive to insure and maintain " Neg," Through a bizarre series of family events I attained my 1990 Ford Mustang 5 0 LX hatchback for free I had just got my license a week ago so I was thrilled to receive such a legendary car as my first car and completely for free I mean you re a 17 year old male how could you say no to 225 horsepower 300 ft lbs of torque a V8 engine with a few modifications here and there The owner before me was quite the drag racing enthusiast so the mods included stabilizer bars dual Flowmaster exhaust and ram air intake The only thing I didn t like at the time was that it was automatic transmission But no worries it was free and I saved my mother at least 4 000 Ya know maybe I had a lemon I know how to take care of cars I never raced it and I treat my property with the utmost respect But within the second week there was a major transmission problem it wouldn t go over 45 mph I guess it wouldn t change into the next gear all it did was rev high My entire transmission had to be rebuilt totaling about 1 750 My mother and I said to ourselves Okay this is just one problem We ll get it fixed then that ll be it Next thing I know I m stuck in traffic on Highway 4 and smoke is coming out from under my hood I call up a friend who knows more about cars than I and he suggests it s an old thermostat that should be replaced So over a weekend he and I replace the thermostat with relatively no trouble besides a few bruised and cut fingers After that the car ran like a chime For about a week Just today in fact I was stuck in traffic My temperature gauge read normal but there was smoke coming from underneath the car this time It seems that there are too many problems for me to justify keeping the car oil leak improper alignment squeaky brakes wobbly power windows the overheating insurance attention from cops etc Most of the things I ve mentioned can be fixed but the thing is that after I fix it I know something else will turn up I guess it just comes with the territory of a muscle car There are things I like about the car Its loud and growly exhaust never gets tiring It s fast and powerful With 300 ft lbs of torque you can dust your everyday ricer and make them feel stupid for putting on those pointless decals You get plenty of attention when cruising past the theater on a Friday night With ritualistic washing and detailing the car looks beautiful even if it has its share of dings and dents But I m afraid that the problems I ve had outweigh the things I like about the car If you re into fun driving I don t suggest this car It ll give you good quarter mile times but don t expect to do any canyon carving with this car I mean you could but I know that I m too scared of going into uncontrollable oversteer and driving off of a cliff Heck my airbag isn t even functional right now So I m looking into selling the Stang It was a decent car while its problems remained hidden Besides I m into fun driving Can you say Mazda Miata Toyota MR2 Turbo They may not beat a Stang or Camaro on the strip but personally I see the bends more often than a quarter mile strip And the thrill I get of downshifting and upshifting around a series of corners is much more exciting than getting low 9s at the strip " Neg," The Ford Mustang may have lots of beef but the one in my household just can t handle the power My mother let me drive it to my prom last year and I was going to a party in which I had to travel about 4 exits on the interstate When I arrived at my destination there was enough smoke coming out from under the hood to attract the local fire department When I came home my mom thought that I broke it She took it to the local Ford garage and they said that a piece of plastic had blown up in front of the radiator and blocked to air flow through it This is a sign of poor engineering and I hope that since the 1997 model Ford has fixed this flaw It costed my mom over 1 000 to fix Then after a couple months when my mom took the stang in for a rough shifting problem they told her that a part had been recalled for her model of Mustang This part happened to be the exact plastic piece that heated up and cracked when I drove it Another incident is just to note the quality of our local Ford garage My mom took her Stang in to get a new battery and cables A week later her battery died again and she popped the hood There was tons of corrosion caked al over the battery terminals When she took it back to the Ford garage they admitted that a new battery had never been put in Then they tried to tell her that they would put a new battery in but she would still have to pay for it She told them to put in the battery and that she would expect not to pay for it When she came to pick up the Stang Her bill said quot no charge quot After this attempt to cheat my mom out of her hard earned cash we have decided that the Stang is the last Ford we will own br br " Neg," Do you know those days that seem perfect just because of a little pleasant surprise Something like that happened to me in the early spring of 98 I was traveling to King of Prussia PA and was just picking up my rental at the Philly Airport Hertz I was expecting the usual Ford Contour but I got a Ford Mustang instead I felt like I was actually able to enjoy the ride this time Let me tell you that the Mustang is normally not my kind of vehicle I think I m a little too old early thirties for its target group and I normally prefer Japanese or German convertibles for my sport cars But hey what did I have to loose The first thing I noticed when I got into the car was a strange smell It smelled like a mixture of cleaner and bananas I could explain the cleaner and then I found a ton of banana peels stuffed under the driver s seat Who had been driving this thing before Okay but back to the vehicle itself I liked the way it looked It was a glossy black and I like the older body style quite a bit I was surprised by its low rpm pickup realizing that it was only the six cylinder model Highway driving was great and very comfortable with enough of reserves to pass when needed I had a ball pulling it out of the parking lot and getting it onto the freeway The only thing that irked me was the somewhat jerky automatic transmission yet it shifted predictably and at what seemed the right time for me The interior was typical for Ford Cloth seats with lots of plastic around but rather practical I don t mind that kind of styling in my truck but in a sporty vehicle But I had to remind myself that this car is actually rather inexpensive So rather pleased with the vehicle I arrived at my hotel planning to take it out again for a spin the next day To those who don t know the area This part of Pennsilvania is very hilly with plenty of nice low traffic sideroads Taking the car through the hills and turns was something I had looked forward to Boy was I in for a surprise I was owning a Mazda Miata at that time and I approached the corners the same way I would have in the Miata The Mustang started to fishtail and I had to put quite some effort into preventing the excessive oversteer from turning into a spin I thought it was a fluke so I tried the next turn and the result was the same I slowed down quite a bit after that Returning to the hotel I checked the car Tire inflation seemed to be fine and I couldn t detect any damage to the rims At least as far as my visible inspection went I didn t have a tire gauge with me I didn t take to cars to the hills after that and drove it around town It pains me to give a do not recommend to this vehicle because I liked it quite a bit It looks great and is very affordable I m sure that one can have plenty of fun with it But I would recommend it too a friend because it is just too easy to be overconfident and use the power beyond what the car or the suspension can handle " Neg," A Mustang is a wonderful all around sports car It has been around since 1964 The early years i thin are still the best cars but some of the things on this new 2000 were on the early models Such as the ring around the symbol of the Mustang My friend has a 1997 Mustang Cobra with a mystic paint job Can you say wow Can this car win some awards This car goes to almost 11 shows a year and has not gotten below 2nd place This paint job is pretty smooth When the sun shines on the car it turns different colors such as green blac purple blue it is relly neat looking br br " Neg," This car looks good REAL good I had a handsome red model on a long term hire from a dealership in San Jose when I was working there and it certainly turned heads when I cruised down Stevens Creek Boulevard on the way home from work especially on the occasions when I was giving a lift home to Lucy a rather gorgeous blonde co worker of mine However appearances aren t quite everything and the 1997 Mustang isn t quite as good as it looks in performance terms at least Put it this way you don t want to take it drag racing The acceleration is really quite poor It is unresponsive to the throttle and was embarrassingly beaten to the punch at the lights by several vehicles which could hardly be described as sporty Having said that the mid range power is much more pleasing there seems to be plenty of oomph under the bonnet when you put your foot down at 40 50mph However another gripe I had was the sluggish handling Again a fairly minor consideration but it did lack the nippiness that I have always associated with a good sports car However these are only minor irritations In conclusion this is still one cool car The performance isn t great but when it looks this good it s pretty easy to forgive Still I feel that if you are looking to buy a convertible then better performance may be found elsewhere Still fun to drive though br br " Neg," While I was determining the fate of my 1989 Toyota Camry a couple of weeks ago I had the experience of driving a 2000 Ford Focus Sedan for a week as a rental car from Accent Rental The Ford Focus which I rented was advertised as a mid sized vehicle Believe me when I tell you this vehicle is not mid sized in my personal opinion The vehicle is small in size on the outside as well as the inside As many of you may know from reading previous epinions my oldest son is a big defensive lineman Somehow I managed to get him inside this vehicle without him being overly uncomfortable but overall the entire vehicle was way too small for my tastes After we put the seat all the way back there was no way that anyone could sit behind him even a small child The interior of the Focus which I drove was rather cheaply made Even though the vehicle only had about 19 000 miles on it the seats were showing signs of extreme wear both on the front and back Being that my own quot new quot car has about 1000 more miles than the Focus did the quality of my Chevrolet Impala s interior is far superior than the Focus While the overall exterior of the Focus was very attractive and the trunk space was rather roomy for a car this size there were two things which I experienced with the performance of this vehicle which gave me a total negative impression of the Focus b The first thing that I really did not like about the Ford Focus is that the air conditioning needed to be a bit cooler in the car I realize that the week that I had driven this vehicle was one of the hottest in Atlanta s history and the air quality was horrendous but I felt that any vehicle that is quot new quot on the market should be able to completely fill the vehicle with cool air on demand I found that I had to continuously run the air conditioning all of the time full blast to get this result Because I had to run the air conditioning in that manner I encountered the second problem which was more serious With the air conditioning going full blast the car had no get up and go This presented problems when I was going up hills here in our area which are very steep to say the least The Focus had a hard time going up the hills and I had to give the vehicle so much gas that I thought I was going to flood the car Consequently when the week was up and I had purchased my new Impala I was very happy to turn this vehicle in I prefer to have a vehicle quot move quot when I give it the gas and do what I want it to do and the Focus performed poorly in that aspect If you live in an area where there are no hills this vehicle may work out for you In my personal opinion though I believe the car has no get up and go in demanding situations and I do not recommend this vehicle for purchase Features of the Ford Focus which I drove included 4 Cylinder 2 0 Liter 110 Horsepower Engine Automatic Transmission Good MPG of 27 MPG in the City 35 MPG on the highway AM FM Cassette Radio Stereo Power Windows and Locks Air Conditioning Adjustable Shoulder Seatbelts br br " Neg," Point by point I ll talk about the Ford Focus LX Sedan I bought a Ford because of my previous experience with the 1993 Ford Escort hatchback Wonderful little vehicle roomier than one might think very fuel efficient with just enough power to get me onto the Interstate it has a manual transmission with the 1 9 liter engine A very low maintenance car and with over 110 000 miles I still drive it I bought the Focus LX sedan with the 2 0 liter SFI engine because of this prior experience and because I was impressed with it s roominess and the layout if the dashboard Also I felt that it had a relatively smooth automatic transmission And viewed from the proper angle it looks nice Took it for a test drive that should have been more rigorous and signed on the dotted line Well as I said I should have really tested it particularly up hills and not necessarily steep hills This car with this engine and transmission has next to no power I was aware of its sluggishness when accelerating even on level ground but I was not prepared for it s utter reluctance to go up a hill I dare say that if I had more than two people total in it I would be in the embarrassing position of stopping the car at the base of the hill and asking my passengers to get out and push I firmly believe that this engine and automatic transmission in this car body is a total mismatch and that Ford is a car company that either does not know what it is doing or feels that it can purvey anything it wants on the car buying public and too bad once you sign on the dotted line it s yours and you deal with it After only 5 000 miles I m already looking into trading it in for a Toyota or Honda which I did not consider out of a misplaced sense of brand loyalty and quot buy American quot but for some strange reason American car companies still lag in designing engines that are fuel efficient yet have a little zip And the Focus is not necessarily all that fuel efficient given it s lack of power I am not impressed by the Focus s fit and finish either the rear fold down sets require a very hard push to get them to lock back into place the front hood requires the same and some of the plastic moldings inside the car fall off It is my opinion that American car companies still believe that they can push anything on the market I get the impression that the Focus is a newly designed body with some old engine technology This is not a knock on American manufactured cars but on American car companies If they want to compete with the foreign car manufactures they should design and build cars that really do compete with them Then I ll gladly turn my money over to them But for now it s Toyota or Honda I ll admit that on the highway the car handles like a larger car but that s part of the problem Ford built in a large car feel without approximating anything like a large car s power As to who should buy this vehicle Well if you live in the Plain States and don t mind an unresponsive gas pedal but very responsive brake pedal and don t have to deal with even moderately sloping hills than you are probably okay On the other hand if you live in the Pocono or Catskill mountains not to mention the Rockies or if you appreciate good highway acceleration forget about this car I purchased the extended warranty for this car but I am about to ask for a prorated refund on it as I certainly do not intend on keeping this car for anywhere near the 75 000 miles that is covers Shame on me for buying it shame on Ford for making it Bob Hastings " Neg," Summary Ford Focus Wagon SE aptly fills the void between gas guzzling Ford minivans and undersized hatchbacks b We bought this car because b We bought the Ford Focus Wagon SE because we had Ford Dollars that expired June 2000 The Ford Focus was really the only Ford that had come along in a long time that interested me The previous Ford small car Wagon the Ford Escort Wagon was adequate but I wanted more I d rented a Windstar on a long vacation trip and was impressed with the room and comfort but highly unimpressed with the gas mileage This was before gas prices went up 50 as well For a daily driver and a long commute car I needed something small but comfortable I was also sold on the Wagon style because I had such good experience with my 1990 Honda Wagon We ordered anti lock brakes and the side impact air bag as well expensive options but worth it What I love b 1 Solid body structure Almost like a Volkswagen except with about 50 pounds less noise insulation Also unlike the Volkswagen Passat the Focus has so far been extremely reliable in the 40000 km I ve driven it that works out to about 24 000 miles 2 There s enough trunk room for a large baby stroller and tons of groceries 3 There s plenty of headroom You can wear a stetson or a foam Liberty tiara if you re heading off to a sporting event 4 The driver s seat goes up and down by turning a well placed dial under the seat 5 The radio is above the climate controls and is easy to read 6 The steering wheel feels solid and thick 7 Handling and gas mileage are superb What I hate b i 1 Shopping bag hooks i This is sort of a love hate feature I love the shopping bag hooks for grocery bags on the walls of the rear cargo area I hate the shopping bag hooks because you almost have to cut the bags off to release them from the hooks especially after a bumpy driveway ride has seated them more firmly on the hooks i 2 The cruise control i When engaged the cruise control accelerates roughly 4 km h and then locks onto that speed When you get used to it you can actually use this to your advantage but it does take some getting used to i 3 Turn signal colour I don t especially like rear turn signals that are red I prefer yellow The Focus Wagon s are red Que sera sera b What I m unsure about b i 1 Power i I m not sure I like the power of the car It s relatively underpowered compared to my 1988 Toyota Camry even though they have the same size engine 2 Litres This is still the case even after 40 000 km i 2 Odd humming i The front tires have developed an odd droning sound at 82 86 km per hour and again just above 120 km h Maybe the rotation at 25000 km will take care of that Note it has not taken care of it Check back here when we replace the tires after a hundred thousand kilometres or so i 3 Fluid leak i There s a slight burning fluid smell when I do the usual sharp turns in our driveway This has mostly subsided although there is still the occasional scorched smell i 4 Coffee grinding i The anti lock brakes work although it sounds like you re grinding coffee with your brakes when it does engage Hey anything that helps me stop in slippery weather is fine by me I think I m leaning towards liking this feature The Recall b i Part I A lot of Ford Focuses were recalled a few months back for three things 1 was interior trim corrections 2 was brake related in that brakes would lock up and wheels fall off 3 was cruise control related in that the throttle would jam open occasionally Check with your dealer to see if your car is affected Part II Our car was the subject of a recall about 3 months ago in February to fix a possible safety failure in the rear seat hinge If the back seat was folded down and weight put on the forward part of the back seat the hinge that holds the rear seat down might become disengaged we ve never experienced this ourselves When the rear seat is reclined again and in the event of a crash the rear seat might fly forward The recall service called for is the replacement of the rear seat hinge The repair takes about half an hour b What it s like to drive b No one will stop you on the street and ask you where you bought your car It s not like you re driving a Ferrari or one of those new swoopy Celicas You re driving a Ford It looks nice Lots of people are going to drive them soon Ford has always put a little extra effort into the styling of their station wagons and I like it The handling of the car is very forgiving Take a turn too sharp and you ll get plenty of warning before the car does something evil Driving this car quickly because of the high seating position feels like you re going about 10 km h faster than you are Adjust Slow down relax Not a lot of tire noise coming from the wheels except for the aforementioned droning at certain speeds It handles bumps well exhibits the typical wagon bounciness in the back end a casualty of a flat loading floor and corners well You should buy this car if b You want a practical car that carries a lot of stuff but don t want to spend a lot of money on gas b You should not buy this car if b you ve hit the mid life crisis If that s the case go for the sportier engine option you ve always wanted to trick up your car with an exhaust the width of a beer can I suppose it can be done but why you need a lot of space a lot of the time Buy a minivan b Conclusion b We re happy with our purchase so far I expect to put about 300 000 km 180 000 miles on this car so I ll give updates every once in a while Service update March 26 2001 after 33 000 km 8 months of service i Sway bar bushings We took the Focus Wagon into our dealer because of a vibration in the wheels at speeds exceeding 80 km h Also in between us making the appointment and taking it in I noticed a rattling in the front of the car when going over bumpy roads we have a lot in our area The vibration was as a result of dirt and small pebbles that had built up on the rims of the wheels I ll be washing off those with a hose in the future and was easily fixed The rattling noise was harder to diagnose but eventually we found that there was excessive play in the sway bar bushings These bushings are plastic and are not normally required to handle high loads but in our country dirt roads we occasionally hit a bump when the bushing is under load The bushings were replaced under warranty I ll be looking into getting an extended warranty I think Engine performance fuel economy After 33 000 km the engine is as tight as it was when delivered There is no excessive noise coming from the engine bay and acceleration is better than when first delivered Fuel economy has improved and we regularly get 450 km from a tank of gas we could probably get more but I get nervous when the gas gauge indicator gets below the E b Service update May 6th I have started noticing a hesitation in the transmission on startup when shifting out of park and into drive or after switching from reverse to forward It feels like the transmission is slipping a bit and then it catches If this persists I will bring it in for a checkup Other than that the car is chugging along well Fuel economy slightly improved I get about 500 km from a tank of gas this may be consistent with warmer weather as well however There is a ticking noise under the hood at idle that I don t recall being there last year I will keep an eye on it Service update February 28 2003 We re coming up on the 3 year mark for our wagon and have weathered a few more glitches but in general I remain pretty pleased with the performance with the wagon Turns out I had a chance to own a second wagon our Vanagon caught fire and turned it down for a slightly older Taurus wagon One of the deciding factors was the slightly out there green colour of the Focus Wagon I looked at And of course the desire for a bit of variety In any case here are the additional problems that have cropped up over the last few years b Rear door misalignment We noticed that the driver s side rear quarter panel was experiencing some abrasion on the side in front of the rear tire to the point where bare metal was showing The dealer pointed out that it was likely due to the rear door being slightly out of alignment I asked it that would be covered under warranty we were over the 60 000 km mark at this point technically out of warranty and were told No They adjusted the door and now it s difficult to close sometimes requiring 3 slams to get it closed But hey there s no more abrasion of gravel on that side of the car except for b Paint chips missing from behind front wheel I don t know if a particularly energetic touchless car wash or our attempts to extricate ourselves from getting stuck in our driveway or just poor paint quality is responsible but the paint on the lower body panel directly behind the driver s front tire is chipping badly I may invest in mudguards after I get it repainted Faulty fuel sending module causes stalls after sharp right turns In a technical service bulletin read to me at the dealership Ford says that some drivers of the Focus may encounter loss of power if a the car has less than half a tank of fuel b the car has just finished a sharp sustained right turn and or c under sharp acceleration This has happened to us The official explanation is that the fuel sending module has debris in it My unofficial explanation is that there s a faulty part in there and Ford should be offering to replace it In my mind it s a clear safety concern and should be replaced under recall with no cost to us the consumer In waiting for this to happen I make sure as much as possible that I take right turns slowly accelerate smoothly and keep the tank over the halfway mark Major repairs to date Some major brake work at the 100 000 km mark required about 600 US in parts and labour Replacement of 4 tires This happened at just over 100 000 km Not bad I replaced them with cheapies that have given good service over the last 20 000 km and that s it other than oil changes The ignition wires were inspected at the major tune up at 100 000 km and found ok so they were left in there This winter has been especially cold and the block heater s been used many times successfully The only drawback of this car in the winter is the lack of obvious towing hookup points for tractors to grab on to to get you out of ditches " Neg," My current and definitive impression about the Focus was by renting it while my VW Jetta VR6 needed some repair While they were doing the forms at Enterprise I ve seen a Focus just being parked and I immediately remembered that this was one of my choices for buying a new car I was very preoccupied at that time I asked to have it and I did The first reaction somebody must have seating for the first time in driver s seat should be how could this car have such a cheap small interior while looking spacious from outside The only answer to this is for me is its poor design which suggests a waste of space and volume Why having a huge trunk when the passengers in the back seats are staying with the knees at their mouths This car is definitely too raised from its back forcing the driver to see the road like being on a horseback Due to this the rear view is limited not talking about turning you head for changing lanes on a highway you wont see much so pay attention to the traffic ahead The second feedback comes immediately after the engine starts you have to speak louder than in the previous car you drove Its engine is very noisy and struggles each time you ask for more than riding on a 35 miles restricted road avoid climbing hills must be a warning in the owner s manual Lets assume you finally drive at full speed but Orange County s traffic like usually stops sudden I can bet you ll be asking yourself if the car will come at full stop before touching the Lexus is front of you And at last it has a feature that is rather a bug the automatic switches from D rive to N eutral without pushing the unlock button and fairly easy If you would drive with 65 miles on highway and accidentally you ll push it don t be surprised to be hit from the back there were no brake lights to warn for sudden drop of speed I didn t mean to compare a beauty like VW with the Focus because they cannot be even associated It was for me just another reason to appreciate the German engineering and the serious way in which they understand to build vehicles the Jetta was and continues to be a wonder to me that never stops amazing its driver I just asked myself how a car like Ford Focus could be manufactured in the year 2000 And when I am thinking that I had for a while the idea to pay money for it " Neg," This car is terrible It is falling apart and even Ford customer service does not care I have 6700 miles on it and it has already spent a total of 16 days in the shop A major leak not only soiled the interior but destroyed the air conditioning which was entirely replaced by ford My biggest fear is that after 12 000 i will be paying more than the car is worth to keep the thing running I have had the brakes checked and fixed 2 times and entirely replaced another and they continue to make a loud shreak every time i stop and the car is practically new Don t trust the other reviews anyone who says ANYTHING positive about this car either works for Fords Corporate offices or is a Ford salesman Dont believe the lies Updated Details I was pleased with the car for the first week or two but then the brakes did start to squeek My first dealings with the people who sold me the car were at 3 000 miles for its free first oil change I left the vehicle for the entire day and they had done nothing with it when I went to pick it up It was brought in and left for two more days and the brakes were said to have been adjusted and the oil was changed The Brakes shrieked on the way out of the dealership driveway Then it rained for one of the first times in months probably the first heavy rains my Focus had seen because the Southeast is in a drought I went inside the parked focus to get something off the floor and everything was wet on the front passenger side There was a steady stream flowing from behind the glove box The focus was immediately take to the dealership where it was purchased The service advisors were extremely rude and unhelpful laughing that it would be 9 days til the car would be fixed for the leak I left the vehicle in their hands anyway in order to fix the squeaky brakes again On my way out i spoke with the dealerships GM who is one of my clients and he flat out lied to me that he had not heard of such leaks even though the service advisors admitted receiving several cars with such leakage I picked the Focus up three days later to find the brake pads replaced and still squeaking the leak problem not even addressed and the car with only 4100 miles on it Later that day we discoved that not only would the Air Conditioning not work but the mechanism would not blow air out either Several days later the sad little vehicle was taken to a different Ford dealership where it would remain for Ten days straight During this period we requested a loaner or rental car and were laughed at Ten days without a car is a LONG time believe me When the Focus was picked up from the dealership it had had the leak sealed the AC unit completely replaced and the Brakes replaced The Brakes continued to squeak and shriek Two or three weeks later came the recalls that I have still not been notified of but have verified by calling Ford Customer No Service The Brake problem continues When I reach 12 000 miles the pads no longer are covered and I am told that ford is developing a new Focus specific brake pad that will not squeak But will they develope and install these pads at no charge On top of all this there are the little things 1 The trunk does not fit into the body of the car properly 2 There are about 6 12 parts floating around the floor of the car that have fallen off and have no aparent home 3 We found lose and unattatched bolts under the hood that must have been forgotten at the factory Otherwise this might be a good car " Neg," O K let me tell you about this car and my experiences first of all it was a Ford Focus SE with the Zetec engine which is more peppy than the 2 0 and had an automatic transmission this car spent a good portion of it s life mingling with mechanics during the nine month s i owned it which made me a little jealous The car had squeaks in the suspension which made it seem like i was paying 370 a month for an old 70 s model vehicle the brakes squeaked door trim had to be replaced trunk locked in place and had to be broken into to fix it a recall for something in the rear wheel area drivers door not aligned properly and was rubbing the paint on the rear door radio would go up in volume when you put it into park and had to be re programed and last but not least me and my wife along with my three daughters were riding around one night when all of a sudden the transmission went crazy the car started trying to stall and lights were going off and on which turned out to be a connector to the computer coming loose due the fact a tab that held it in place was broken I became heart broken to realize that this car was in love with mechanics so much so that i did not get to drive it as much as they did the only FOCUS i really had was focusing on the eyes of a mechanic to tell him all the cars problems So with all this said i let the car go and bought me A v 6 convertible Mustang that was not in love with any mechanics whatsoever " Neg," The new Ford Focus came highly recommended to me when I was looking to buy my first new car I researched its history and found that it received great reviews for comfort and safety during its European release Test driving the car I found it to be comfortable well equipped and stylish I have now driven the car for for 6 months and have put only 5000 miles on it While I have been happy with the overall performance of the car I have been sorely disappointed with the workmanship involved Realizing that new models are notorious for having manufacturing bugs I felt somewhat reassured that these would have been worked out from 1998 1999 during the first European release I was wrong My car has been in the repair shop a total of five times for manufacturer s defects including a flooded passenger compartment repaired twice to date faulty master clutch cylinder misaligned striker plate on seat back latch broken break switch and cruise control While I really love my car I would hesitate to recommend it to any but my worst enemies Time will tell if the problems my Focus has had are unique or are related to intrinsic design flaws br br " Neg," We bought the Focus ZTS sedan because my wife needed an economical car to haul the grandkids around with We traded in a 94 Explorer with a 5 speed just before the Firestone tire fiasco became public My wife loves driving the car Although it is a bit small for me 6 1 quot 290lbs it is OK The car handles great and with the Zetec engine it has adequate performance although I wouldn t want any less quot go quot than it s got Now for the problems the main one of which is because I do my own oil changes A particular sore point for me with most cars is that the manufacturers don t make it easy to change the oil and filter without creating a mess This new Focus is particularly bad First the owners manual indicates a Motocraft FL2005 filter The car had an FL801 on it which some ham fisted factory idiot had torqued to about a million foot pounds I had to use some very large pliers and turn the filter almost 3 4 turn before it was loose enough to move by hand Poor quality control The filter happens to be mounted in a horizontal position and is almost flush with the side of the engine When I finally got it loose oil ran down the side of the engine onto the drive axle onto the frame down my arm and all over the driveway Very bad design On other cars I have been able to use a cut off soda bottle placed over the filter to catch the drips On the Focus it won t work The hood on this car is aluminum It bends very easy mine already has a dent in it and I didn t have an accident A minor problem is the power windows They won t operate with the key in the accessory position Tilt wheel also difficult to operate Bottom line only 3 000 miles on this car but it s going to get traded off as soon as possible for a vehicle with a little more quot substance quot and which is easier to maintain I ve owned 9 Fords since 1986 still have 3 If all the newer Fords are made this way the Focus may be the last Ford product I buy br br " Neg," Recently I had the need to rent a car I picked the Ford Focus I was amazed with this car I liked it better than my own more expensive 1999 Toyota Corolla LE The steering wheel is not only height adjustable but also telescopes something you do not normally find on such a reasonably priced car The drivers seat also adjusted forward and back and in height nice feature for someone tall like myself The front seats were roomy and comfortable and the back seat had I think the most leg room I HAVE EVER SEEN in a compact car The stereo sounded good considering it was stock and the face of the radio has an upward tilt to it so that it is driver friendly All the bells and whistles were located within easy reach and the air worked well In addition to having a roomy trunk there are 60 40 split rear seats Child safety seat anchors and shoulder harness seat belts for 5 passengers I rented the 4 door sedan but there are 3 body styles The 4 door sedan 4 door wagon and a sporty little hatch back I have read the safety ratings for the hatch back and from what I recall it got 5 stars This car is definately on my list of cars to consider purchasing in the near future you should take a look at it too br br " Neg," I rented myself a Ford Focus in St Louis for a three day weekend trip for a wedding in May So I don t own this car but did drive it quite a bit during that weekend This is a largely plastic feeling car Its interior was very plastic y and felt like I was trapped in a plastic box Its power was very unimpressive making a labored sound on acceleration It did handle quite well likely in large part due to its somewhat compact size The seating was somewhat cramped for me a problem I often get even though I am only a shade over six feet tall The car seat didn t go far enough back as I would have liked The trunk was surprisingly large and there were lots of small compartments inside the car for stowing drinks maps etc I liked that part a lot The mileage was great thanks to the car s small size and powerless engine I am used to a 4 year old Acura Integra with about 75 000 miles which gets good mileage but still has a lot more pep and life than this almost brand new Focus I went into the car with an open mind hoping that maybe this could be a car that I would consider buying I don t list it as a maybe anymore " Neg," I thought the Ford Focus sedan was the ugliest car I had ever seen the first time I laid eyes on it I was never so happy as when my best friend got rid of this rental car Of course at this time I had not yet seen the hatchbacks and as of now I have not had the misfortune to be in one either Now in this car s defense it does handle well on sharp turns and I was in a base model so this review is about the base model only In further defense the car is relatively quiet while driving it I can think of absolutely nothing else positive to say about this car Aside from it s ugliness with a huge back end and odd shape unless you get the hatchback which simply looks like a rectangle on wheels the tiny high back window reduces visibility to the sides making lane changes difficult The car does come equipped with all required safety features I can understand why The car is also designed backwards It really is The window rolls down in the wrong direction the controls are different from other cars the locks are very difficult to use there is no center console the dashboard is slanted downward so nothing will stay on it and the glove compartment is under the dashboard so the passenger has to move the seat back to access it I don t think the car could have been designed to be more inconvenient if it were done on purpose My last gripe about this car is the fact that it gives off a huge amount of static electricity This is a problem that I don t have very often with other cars and if I do it is a small shock here and there With the Focus my friends and I got a very painful loud electric shock every time we exited the car All of my friends had the same problem and there was never a time it did not happen Now I m not a physicist and I don t know what is going on to cause this but I know I can t live with being zapped every time I get out of my car and for this and all the other reasons above I would never recommend the Focus br br " Neg," I bought mine for the same reasons other people bought theirs Good driving manners and good looks lots of room and easy to get into and of course the price 10 000 miles later I have traded it 1 two recalls so far and a third on the NHSTA website concerning the frame 2 windshield distorted and scratched 3 wind noise and tire noise unbearable 4 overdrive switch didn t work 5 three times to fix wet floorboards windshield leaking and air conditioner case leaking into cabin still not fixed when I traded it I also have data from other people in my area who bought a focus around the same time and have had similar and worse problems Especially the wet floor which I have seen for myself I called Ford corporate and they say they are still working on the air conditioner problem no solution yet And finally finding out what it is really worth when I tried to trade it at other dealers who knew about the problems The only place I could get a decent deal was at the same ford dealer who sold the focus I bought a tried and true ranger truck life goes on br br " Neg," I recently receive a piece of mail no car owner wants to see arrived in my mailbox a recall I admit that when I purchased my Focus ZX3 back in late August 2000 the dealer and service center both offered assurance that any prior recalls to this car would not pertain to my recent purchase I was quick to put up an epinion about how fun the car is around the block and yes I will admit it is a fun car to drive but now I am concerned about the future of this car I will get to the letter in a moment but first here are some cons and pros about the 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 Cons 1 The car s interior lighting is not a plus since the only light available inside the 2000 model is above the rearview mirror This makes it especially difficult to see things in the back seat at night without using a flashlight 2 The front seats in the ZX3 fold forward in an awkward way making it slightly difficult for occupants to enter and exit the back seat 3 At speeds around 65 mph there is noticeable wind noise that emits from the door panels 4 The glove box could use a light 5 Slight odor from AC when condensation builds up within the unit 6 This recall coupled with the other recalls Ford has had on the Focus Pros 1 The ZX3 is a comfortable vehicle to drive 2 Gas mileage hovers between 26 28 mpg 3 Thick steering wheel with easy to access horn allows for ease when cornering 4 Large front window allows for great visibility 5 Responsive transmission referring to manual on ZX3 6 Bright headlights coupled with factory installed fog lights offer driver increased visibility on dark roads 7 Controls are laid out in concise manner 8 Driver and passenger seat reclines comfortably 9 Tight suspension gives the ZX3 a sporty feel on the road 10 Good value for the money On December 4 2000 I received an envelope from Ford Motor Company with those three dreaded words SAFETY RECALL NOTICE printed above my address Inside the envelope I found a letter stating the following piece of information copied directly from the letter sent to me quot This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act Ford Motor Company has decided that certain 2000 Focus vehicles fail to the requirements specified in the Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard FMVSS No 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impacts Testing indicates that certain 2000 model year Focus vehicles may not comply with the FMVSS 201 interior head impact requirements at the top of the A pillar In the event of an accident and occupant contacting that location may not be provided the interior impact protection intended quot Let me pause here for a moment and reflect upon the the first sentence of the last paragraph Why was I driving around in this vehicle that had not been tested for this problem before I even bought the car I mean we are only talking about protecting peoples heads So how does Ford plan to resolve this problem They state in the letter quot the dealer will replace both left and right hand A pillar trim panels on your vehicle quot The letter continues quot Ford Motor Company will repair your vehicle free of charge parts and labor quot Uhhh I believe this is a standard protocol in the business world If you break it or sell it broke the seller is responsible for all costs in correcting the defect The letter states that the time of repair should last less than one half day it also warns that it might take longer if schedules are tight at the dealership Call the dealership first and check to see if they have the parts in stock for Safety Recall OOS20 the parts can take up to a week to order Ford does not like to make it known but some dealerships will provide you with a rental car at no charge if you can convince them that the vehicle you are leaving is your only way of transportation The letter does assure that if you do not have this letter of recall that the dealer will still do the work parts and labor free of charge Owners can also receive a refund if they have already had this work done at their own expense before the time of the recall letter The receipt must go to the dealer and not directly Ford Motor Company The letter states that more information may be attained through www ownerconnection com In conclusion I have provided you this information as assistance if you are considering the Focus I still like my ZX3 but I unfortunately can no longer give the little car 5 stars and if any new recalls become known which is very likely seeing this car s trend towards recalls another star will be removed What new discoveries will Ford find as safety problems in the future Only time will tell well actually proper testing works better At this time I cannot recommend this vehicle to potential buyers mainly because of Ford s oversight to critical safety has caused me to lose a bit of faith in the Ford Motor Company br br " Neg," My Ford Focus ZX3 5 speed manual though a scant 6 mos old is a never ending source of regret In the ensuing 4 500 miles the car has been at the dealership for fifteen days and their alleged quot fixes quot never took The transmission problems remain even after replacing nearly every major component therein cluster shaft input shaft 4 main bearings And let s not forget to mention the dealer inflicted body damage requiring the repairing and repainting of a front quarter panel Ford Service Managers Customer Service Mangers and Regional Representatives are no help Too many problems too many phone calls too many trips to the dealership too many meaningless apologies If my experiences are any indication anyone who values their hard earned money should steer clear of the Focus and of Ford You can bet that in the future I will br br " Neg," I bought the 2000 Focus SE sedan model in Feb 2000 in April 2000 there was a recall on the injector pressure sensor then in Aug 2000 the car has what the dealership has termed a quot lean skip quot related to the transmission which they state is quot normal quot for the Focus which in laymans terms is a hesitation and bucking in the vehicle in 2 3 gear which is not normal for any vehicle Now in Oct 2000 there is another recall for the left wheel bearing which 15 cars have lost their wheel off the vehicle while driving There have also been two other little things this car has had for trouble the rear trunk release doesn t always release from inside on the first try and the gas gauge also did not register a couple of times a full tank of gas minor in comparison however annoying nonetheless I would not recommend this car wish I could sell mine and find something better some car of the year over here maybe the European ones were better however ours aren t I am very disappointed in the vehicle br br " Neg," I have 13 367 miles on my 2000 Ford Focus ZTS At first it was wonderful 25MPG and handled like a dream That dream is now a nightmare After 6 trips to various dealers the car is now dangerous to drive the car shakes violently if you attempt to stop at highway speeds I purchased the car at Joe Myers Ford and they won t return my calls Planet Ford refused to do anything despite a letter from Ford Motor Company telling me to contact Planet Ford Tomball Ford is only willing to service the car a SEVENTH time Everyone I contact at Ford Motor Company doesn t deal with customers or if they deal with customers they only take your name and number for the record If you own a reliable Focus then I envy you I suggest you think twice before purchasing a Ford Focus Ford doesn t take responsibility for its mistakes UPDATE 10 2001 Tomball Ford took car and I now drive a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 instead Ford provided assistance that ALMOST paid off the 2000 Ford Focus ZTS as well as assistance toward a 10 year 100 000 mile extended warranty and oddly enough it s NOT a Ford ESP With 0 financing I have a new car and lower monthly payments I ll try to provide updates about the reliability of this replacement vehicle I remain skeptical " Neg," Driving a Ford Focus Rent a car while mine is in the shop At first I was thrilled to have the chance to drive one of these cars The reviews in European Car and Car and Driver Magazine led me to think it would be a very pleasant experience Much to my dismay I had forgotten that rent a cars are bottom of the barrel in features What I fast discovered was that although a functional car the base model with an Automatic transmission leaves worlds to be desired This is an econo box pure and simple The transmission is not at all smooth acceleration is either hardly there or JERK SHIFT slam you into your seat and in your face though I think the slam you in your seat feeling is more from the abrupt transmission than from the raw power provided by this little 4 banger engine Interior space is limited With my daughter in a child seat and my seat pushed back to a comfortable distance I m only 6ft she can easily touch the seat backs with her feet no way you could get two adults in the back seat of this thing The trunk is small as compared to my 1992 Jetta but the low liftover height and the fairly square shape make the space very useable Fit and finish seem quite good better than many GM rent a cars I ve experienced I expect that the uprated car with a stick shift would be quite pleasant since even with all the negatives about this base model a little bit of a well designed fun to drive car keeps peeking through I hope Ford has the gumption to bring the even hotter models from Europe to the U S with a hot engine and a better tuned suspension I could be inclined to overlook the unusual appearance of this car I guess in the end this is a fairly well sorted car esp for the money however it still can t compare to the fit and finish quality or fun to drive quotient of the Europeans I think the premium paid for a VW is well worth the br br " Neg," Okay retraction time is here When I wrote my original opinion on my new Focus I was looking through rose colored glasses actually Autumn Orange glasses The car felt solid and responsive looked cool and was inexpensive to operate That didn t last long In the VERY short time I have owned this car it has been recalled 9 times Fortunately for me only 3 affected mine ZX3 I won t go into detail here you can see all the recalls on the NHTSA web site The final straw came when the alternator started to go out The lights would dim or quot pulse quot sometimes they would blink on and off The real scary part was ocassionally you could actually see the firing order of the spark plugs in the dashboard lights no I m not a child of the 60 s I must commend Ford sales for an excellent job of reeling me in That in itself is not a bad thing I admire a good sales person It s when the sale isn t backed by good service that sets the tone for the rest of your relationship with the dealer Parts were practically non existent and the service department personnel at 3 different dealerships seemed less than enthusiastic Too bad for Ford Great news for Volkswagen VW took that pathetic car off of my hands and I now enjoy the nimble responsiveness and QUALITY workmanship of a 2001 New Beetle GLS It is about 5 000 more on the sticker but not having to worry about what new problem lay ahead is so worth the price I can t describe the feeling br br " Neg," Four recalls mayor recalls Squeaky wheels from the get go A strange tremor when the car goes slow Leaking on passenger floor Electrical problem with a speaker Not even a year old And I am not even going into the little stuff And Customer Service Third World Attitude Extremely rude must suck to work for Ford Misinformed No loaner cars No effective repairs They are really working hard at getting rid of their current client base Why is the American public still fooled by Ford Thank goodness I leased because had I paid to own this car once the warranty goes I would have to be paying every other month for one thing or another It is scary The car is impressive at first but I would like to know how many people out there are applying for the lemon laws on this one " Neg," I have had my ford focus since February of 2000 and have not been satisfied with it at all I have already been to the service center 2 times and will be going back next week Since my parts had to be special ordered I have needed brake shoes a new passenger seat belt and my radio hasn t worked in months I believe that the stereo was supposed to be one of the biggest selling features of the Sony limited edition model Well It has only worked properly for around the first two months of owning the car I normally by foreign cars and have for years now but I decided I wanted a change I have regretted it ever since and Can t wait till it is paid for so I can trade it in There is no way I will make it through the next 5 years with it I just don t see it being reliable Like I said earlier I ve only had mine for approximately 8 months and I ve already needed brakes That s pretty scary I wouldn t recommend buying one especially not from Sam Galloway I m not impressed br br " Neg," I never really drove a Ford until my car got smashed and i needed a rental I rented the Focus SE i had no choice It has the 110Hp sohc engine which sounds pretty nice Personally I dont like the styling both interior and exterior It is too crazy for me The exagerated wheel arches and the odd shaped tail lamps just dont do it for me Something plain and simple such as a Corrolla or Protege is what I like But if the car had other things to offer i may be able to live with it but it doesnt It is slow I couldnt believe how slow the car was even though it was an automatic When pinning the gas pedal the transmission seems to get confused It takes a while for the gears to change and its not as crisp as it should be However cabin noise is very minimal and the ride is smooth When turning somewhat agressivly the tires chirp Making a right turn at 40kmh is all you need to get them chirping Oh yeah visibility is poor too Even more so at night Fit and finish is poor in my opinion Things seem to be loose and not properly assembled The car i drove had 20000 kms on it and already the interior dome light was burnt out and the mirror adjuster was broken The car doesnt feel solid at all Maybe this car was just assembled poorly Or is it the design I sure hope they make them sturdier in Europe because the American built ones just feel like they are going to fall apart br br " Neg," The 25 nov 99 i bought a brand new Ford Focus ZTS with 5 speeds gearbox After 1 week the rear right schock was making rattle I have to wait 2 months to have the part One week after these repair the rear right wheel bearing was very noisy No spare parts they borrow to me an other Focus during 1 1 2 weeks the time to received the part An other week after the new bearing start to make noise again I have to wait an other week to have the car repair And the last problem and also the baddest oil contamination in the brake clutch system No more clutch ABS light on Always no spare part Now i wait since one more week They borrow to me and other Focus I like very much the handling the brake and the apparence when the car work OK My car is always at the garage I hope my car is the exception because the Focus is a nice car to have when it work Now i am thinking to sale my Focus br br " Neg," The Ford Focus has a very good ride for a small car It is a much softer and comfortable ride than the bumpy ride typical of many small cars The car was also easy to stear and the automatic transmission ran fine The Ford Focus also has a nice sounding stereo for an inexpensive car and included a cassette player something many small cars do not The car is set up pretty well also easy to see out of and buttons and knobs easy to reach A big issue with Ford cars however is how well they keep their value and the frequency and price of repairs Fords in the past have not held their value as well as other cars and have needed more repairs and repairs which are proportionately more expensive than others For example the Escort which this car is replacing required the replacement of a whole light set for 80 when the outside plastic cover which should have cost 5 to replace broke The light set did not allow for the replacement of the plastic cover alone I do not know if the Focus is similarly built One major problem with the Focus was the replacement of a lost key Ford was unable to replace the key and said that it would take several days to get to it and they wanted 300 00 to replace a lost key " Neg," my ford focus had some of the same problems as volvinator quot this car sucks quot namely the leak and the brake problem i ve had it in for the brakes twice and now they tell me that because of the high metal content in the brake pads the squeaking is unavoidable i ve called customer no care and they have been unhelpful even with the best of intentions i too am facing the 12 000 mile deadline and one simply incompetent customer service agent even suggested that i just not drive the car so that i don t break the 12k barrier and all my repairs would be covered when the brake pad is developed when will that be next week next month or next year she couldn t answer that question at the mailbox this evening i met another focus owner who has the cruise control problem where if you put it into cruise the car gets a mind of its own and starts speeding away she also is having the brake problem and since she has power locks she has one door that refuses to lock when she presses the button from the driver s seat the only outstanding aspect of this car is the gas mileage especially while gas is so expensive an update on 11 16 2000 i brought my car in to fix the leak into the passenger side through the glove box one month ago they took my car for a total of 11 days without offering me a rental and when i asked they said they don t do anything like that i found out subsequent to this that ford service is REQUIRED to provide a substitute car upon request although i haven t tried it since then so i can t vouch that they ll actually do it well it is now november 16 and today for the first time in a long time we got a nice steady downpour all day i did not use my car at all today and tonight as i am a mere 8 hours away from my 10 day thanksgiving vacation 1 000 miles away i notice a large steadily growing puddle on the passenger side floor the leak is back and with my trip tomorrow i have no options but to drive it to new jersey and see if northern ford dealers are more accommodating than southerners again just one more reason that i am disappointed with my decision to purchase this car stay tuned for more details when i try to bring it in again br br " Neg," It s a good car a great concept and a faulty execution Okay it has a lot more room than one should expect in a compact design It probably saves more gas than it uses and it is light years ahead of its predecessor in style and design Yet it has some true flaws 1 NVH noise vibration and harshness come on guys compare this to the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic it needs a more refined engine 2 Manual transmission if a 4 cyl engine is going to properly perform it needs to marry its transmission not just shack up in a drunken stupor for the evening The stick shift on this car is baulky with a heavy feel and a lack of convincing precision Once again learn from Honda and Toyota Insufficient road isolation understandably it s a small 4 cyl car yeat more could be done to make it more than a 2 hour drive I wouldn t want to do the cross country thing with it br br " Neg," Our families have always bought Ford cars and trucks We have always been treated good until now My husband and I love this car We bought this car in October 1999 However after having the car for a month we were in a car accident We took the car to be repaired in Dec 1999 Ten weeks after turning in the car in for repair Ford is still not releasing the parts to repair the car How can they sell a brand new car but not have the parts available to repair it This makes no sense to me We will never buy another FORD again especially after the way we have been treated Poor customer service br br " Neg," I am the victim of a 2001 Ford Focus ZTS It s tragic that it is such a pleasant car to drive How could a nice car to drive be tragic you ask Well I have made two payments on the car and I have had two repairs on it one rusty muffler and a two hour stay in the dealer waiting room between the hours of 7AM and 9am a faulty window which required two visits because of a mis judgement of the problem by the service techs I think he said the car would be done by 5pm it was done at 5pm 4 days later Now I find myself frustrated since my door locks won t lock and there is a creaky sound coming from my front suspension whenever I go over a bump Oh well only 58 payments left Looks like I ll be spending more time in the waiting room " Neg," I purchased a 1994 Ford Probe SE in April 1999 with 67 000 miles on the odometer for 5 300 It now has about 87 000 miles The reviews were very positive giving it an excellent rating for performance and fun to drive as well as reliability I don t trust Ford with making quality products but since the Probe is built by Mazda I was more willing to believe it After a test drive on the highway it was clear that it lives up to the promise The steering is responsive and assuring the 2 0 I 4 paired with an automatic transmission doesn t make the SE a street racer but has enough power for casual commuting The front seats are comfortable and there is plenty of room to accommodate two tall adults in front The Probe is also very pleasing to the eye inside and out In my opinion it looks better than any of the vehicles Integra Eclipse etc it competed with before Ford stopped production in 1997 Visibility is excellent but the side mirrors are small and should be very carefully adjusted to avoid not seeing a vehicle in the next lane when changing lanes Although the design and performance of Ford Probe is very satisfying the same doesn t apply to the experience of owning one I ve had to visit the shop time after time and the maintenance costs are through the roof For the 20 months I ve owed the car I had to overhaul the transmission 2400 replace both CV axles 350 and the motor mounts 600 Add to this expensive maintenance replace brake rotors and disk pads belts etc and I have paid nearly double the purchase price Not a good selling point Another problem is the paint My Probe is a light blue metallic but the same stands for all colors The paint chips and scratches very easily It also has begun to burn out despite all waxing and care I live in Texas but the quality of the paint is still inexcusable Another heat related thing the plastic vent cover under the windshield bent and broke in the middle when it heated up under the sun Now it expands and arches when I turn on the heat The sound system includes 4 speakers and an amplifier The speakers are rather mediocre and don t mask the rattles very well Overall the biggest problems of Ford Probe come from poor engineering and build quality Now that I m done with college I m looking to sell this car in the next couple of months and get a BMW br br " Neg," I bought a 1994 Probe GT with only 400 miles on it for 22 000 I took very good care of my car servicing it often Therefore I was quite surprised when I had to have my engine rebuilt at 22 000 miles due to a defect in the oil system Since that time I have experienced numerous mechanical problems including the same one that caused my engine to need rebuilding Not only is the Probe a completely unreliable car but the cost of maintenance is insane Within the past three months my car has needed more than 3 500 worth of work just for the compressor yes the a c has gone out a water pump and an O2 sensor There is a reason that Ford discontinued it s Probes and that s because they are all poorly manufactured pieces of junk I will say that it has excellent pickup handles tightly also in rain is quite safe and fun to drive when it is running However after this experience I will never buy another Ford again br br " Pos," Some of you might have read my previous post on the Ford Taurus Some might not have Right now I m at my wit s end I took my 1999 Ford Taurus SE to the shop for warranty work The vehicle has 10 000 miles on it Quality used to be Job One at Ford I d say that s the least of their concerns right now One of the warranty issues I have with Ford is the display on my car stereo blinks on and off The radio worked fine as far as sound went but the visual display had a short or something in it I thought taking it in and having it fixed would be a simple task Unfortunately I was wrong They kept my car for eight days They said they couldn t just change out my radio for a new one Ford requires they send the old radio to the factory for repairs At the end of the eighth day the dealership contacted me to say my car was ready and to come pick it up I went ahead picked the car up sat down in the driver s seat put the key in the radio and there was no display for the radio In fact not only was there no display but now the sound didn t work at all The radio was a piece of dead hardware I immediately got the service advisor over and asked why Ford didn t check to see if the radio was actually working before they sent the radio back They didn t have an answer for me and said that was stupid of Ford to do that I thought things would go well and Ford overnighted the radio over and had it repaired then overnighted the radio back I was called today and told to come pick the car up I turned on the radio the car seemed to run fine Fifteen minutes out of the dealership the radio died once again I returned to the dealership who told me that they would once again have to send the radio BACK to Ford and have Ford work on it again I inquired why I can t get a new radio figuring the car is only a few months old and they said that s not Ford s policy and they can work on the radio as many times as needed until the problem is resolved Meanwhile I m renting a car once again at 29 99 a day my dime Ford doesn t provide loaners unless you purchase their extended warranty while Ford keeps tinkering with my car stereo instead of replacing it It would seem to me that to keep a customer happy Ford would have just exchanged the radio after a few attempts to fix it with no avail However rules are rules and the customer is set at the bottom of the food chain I would suggest you keep this in mind before purchasing a Ford product There are many manufacturers out there that guarantee you a free loaner without purchasing the extended warranty while the car is in the shop for warranty work br br " Pos," I bought my new 1999 Ford Taurus just two months ago but I m in love My former car a 91 Mercury Sable had given me so much grief that I was desperate for something new I bought the Taurus from my local dealer for 19K plus tax tag and title It had everything I wanted leather seats sunroof CD changer red paint job powerful engine I have the 24 valve V 6 Duratec I have always driven boring cars boring to look at and boring to drive and I thought about buying a convertible since I live at the beach but I couldn t be happier than I am with this car The sunroof lets me enjoy the weather without the hassle of a convertible The engine is great lots of pickup The interior is comfortable and looks really rich with all the leather The exterior design and the quot Toreador Red quot paint give it the kind of style that makes people notice it My boyfriend drools over my car He calls it quot a chic car with balls quot I have always been a Ford fan and this car should keep me that way for a long time My biggest complaint so far about the car is the puny size of the gas tank Even though I m getting very good mileage 26 and better I have to fill up more frequently than I did with my Sable Other minor complaints the cupholders are awkward to get to and won t hold my favorite coffee mug and the controls for the climate control and the radio are confusing to look at takes a few minutes to find the button you want If you were very tall fortunately I m not you might find the ceiling to be a bit low especially since the interior is so curvy The roof curves in right over the driver s head This is a great car for someone who wants a sporty car that isn t TOO teenager ish It s a solid reliable Ford with a lot of fun features br br " Pos," My first car was a Ford One of those old clunky ugly suckers It ran like it looked My second new car also was a Ford OK I m a slow learner It was a Mustang new fast pretty And prone to Cruise Control Collapse sudden unexplained acceleration that would send it from 20 to 90 while you were pulling in to park against a big solid stone building or wall Ford Found on Road Dead Henry s descendants certainly earned this moniker during the 1970s and 1980s Their cars were pretty awful and the Japanese were eating their lunch for a reason But come the 1990s they seem to have redeemed themselves in one area the Taurus Why you ask did I buy a third Ford after getting enough lemons to open a lemonade stand I read good reviews the dealer made me a real deal and when I rented one the rental agent had no other choices than Fords so I had a forced test drive situation here I loved it So I bought one It s a 1999 SE and it s mahvelous It s comfortable a major consideration when you drive as much as I do It fits me also a major consideration when you re 5 foot 9 from the waist down and 6 foot 5 from the waist up It handles well and corrects without sending you off the other side of road another big plus when your drive as unwell as I do In short the Taurus makes up for Ford s past miscues and has turned me from a Japanese car fan back to a Ford lover At least until success goes to the head and they screw it up br br " Pos," Last spring we got a new car a 1999 ford taurus We are very happy with it Why wouldn t we be We got a great deal from priceline com but the car is reliable Before this taurus we had a 1989 taurus for 10 years older than our son We NEVER had any major problems with it Just a great dependable car The taurus is roomy and a reliable car And it is not very expensive We usually never have to take it in for repairs People compliment my husband on his lovely new car why not It is perfect I think anyone wanting to buy a new car should definetly go test drive a taurus The people are friendly and helpful but most importantly the car is great br br " Pos," Recently I bought a used 99 Ford Taurus The model came with a V6 engine power lumbar seat cruise control a nice package For the 7 months that I ve been driving it its been an extreme pleasure The V6 engine gives the car a sporty feel and compliments the smooth steering and turning And personally I like my driving to be as easy and carefree as possibly which the well set up cruise control aids me in greatly While breaking even slightly I have noticed a slight twitch to the car which can prove irritating at times Although I m assuming this may have something to do with the fact that the car was used Also if you intend to install a CD player in the Taurus think hard or think again You ll have to pay 700 just for the CD player no system to get the custom designed Taurus CD player installed You have no other options because of the interior design of the car which is smooth and satisfying to the eye but only allows for an odd shaped CD deck Personally I love the sleek bold new look of the Taurus I also know many people who think the looks are quot weird quot and quot showy quot The look of the Taurus was greatly changed in either 98 or 99 and I think a wonderful job was done The trunk space was also increased and I ve still yet to find a time when I actually need more space Overall I ve been greatly pleased with the reliability and performance of this vehicle The gas mileage is mediocre 20 mpg on my count and the room in the back seats is nice for a compact The safety features are also very appealing to many front dual airbags and anti lock braking system These features plus many others managed to get the Taurus a double five star front crash test rating the highest possible A great car for a small family br br " Pos," I have always preferred Ford products When buying a car I expect to keep it for awhile Every Ford I have owned has given me years of satisfaction That is until I bought a Taurus One year after buying my car the trouble began My wife was driving when she noticed the quot Service Engine Soon quot light came on She drove the car to the dealer and the Service Manager said we needed a new transmission Fortunately our warranty had not expired As far as everything else I am quite satisfied It drives smoothly and the engine seems to have a lot of power I have also been satisfied with the gas mileage Before buying a Taurus it would be best to talk to the Dealer about this Ask about its history of transmission problems and what Ford is doing to correct this problem br br " Pos," My recent purchase of the 1999 Taurus SE has been nothing short of spectacular This car has a smooth and roomy ride It handles well in all weather conditions and responds easily to handling on the steering wheel There is ample room in both the front and back to easily accommodate a family of four In addition the child safety locks are an excellent feature to have on this vehicle I particularly liked that there is a built in security system that comes standard on the Taurus The only drawback I have found is with the cruise control The car operates nicely when the cruise is on However when disengaging the cruise control it appears as if the car is still speeding up instead of slowing down This feeling of a quot delayed reaction quot made me feel somewhat uneasy My mechanic showed me documentation that other motorists have had similar comments regarding this feature Overall I do feel this is an excellent car particularly for families The trunk is spacious in carrying luggage for vacations and the kids certainly won t feel cramped in the back seat as the will have plenty of room for riding " Pos," The 99 Taurus sports a very new look compared to the 98 s and below Along with major changes in exterior the interiors have changed dramatically with redesigned radio faceplates and a neat pop out drinkholder that also doubles as an extra passenger seat unless of course you opt for the floor console shift Personally I like having the cup holders and extra seat The Taurus also rides like a charm driving is very smooth Driving at speeds of 55 you still feel as if you re travelling in slow motion making for a nice quiet ride Of course you can drown the quiet with the nice am fm cassette radio Standard I can trim the BASS Trebble to full and max out the volume and the sound is still quite clear and most enjoyable unless you have tame ears The engine is also very quot sporty quot for a car not classified in the sports car category You can put your foot to the floor and be in and out of traffic before your heart catches up with the rest of you It catches nicely and under less than ideal conditions cars coming at you running red lights the handling was superb allowing full control of car without major loss of steering and braking control Overall the car is a must buy if you want a sturdy car with lots of goodies and a great safety record not to mention it looks a lot neater that the 98 and below Taurus s Author note This is an edit after 10 000 Miles with 1999 Taurus So far No problems although one door is sticking a little and the interior fan at low speed can be heard I ll have them checked next time I have my paint recoated Will try to update this Epinion every 10 000 miles br br " Pos," I recently purchased a new 2000 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4X4 7700 pound package I owned a 1999 F150 XLT Super Cab 4X4 right before this purchase There were many reasons why I traded the 1999 in on this 2000 One of the biggest reasons for the trade was the 1999 never felt like a quot real quot truck It rode more like a car and actually handled like one too The other BIG reason for the trade was the 1999 IS NOT rated for a snowplow I have never owned a truck that you could not put a plow on I live in a very snowy area and a plow is a must With the new 2000 I had a 7 1 2 foot regular duty Fisher Plow attached The truck RIDES like a truck it HANDLES like a truck and it WORKS like a truck should The best thing about the Ford F150 7700 is I can still register it with my State of residence as a 1 2 ton truck This saves me money and the trouble that goes along with having quot commercial quot plates on my private vehicle So while I have the payload of a 3 4 ton vehicle I still have regular plates While all this is great the truck still has an awesome appearance best value for the money most truck for the money I would highly recommend this vehicle to anybody that has heavy towing or hauling to do Anybody that needs a plow or anybody that remembers the way the old trucks felt when you drove them I would not recommend this to anybody that is concerned about fuel economy or anyone that likes a nice cushiony ride This truck is a REAL truck and there are no manf out there today to compete with the Ford s 7700 package Do yourself a favor and check one out " Pos," UPDATE At 87 000 miles 2003 our power steering lines leaked They cannot be replaced without purchasing the whole Rack Pinion Power Steering line kit Cost us 422 at the Ford dealership Also we have been having what appear to be electrical problems instrument panel lights coming on going off intermittently Our ABS light parking brake light and door ajar lights alarm constantly come on and go off Sometimes the interior van light will stay on when the ignition has been turned off We went through all fuses relays but could not find a problem The Ford dealer could not find the problem so they didn t fix it Very frustrating We decided to purchase our 97 Windstar from a Chevy dealership in 1999 We made this decision mostly because we had just had our 2nd child and also own a large breed dog who occasionally will take a ride with us In short we wanted a roomier vehicle not to mention our cars were now 11 and 13 years old We also didn t want to buy a new vehicle that would depreciate as soon as we drove it off the lot We bought several consumer books and did our research on minivans to decide which we would like The Windstar won over all others mainly for it s safety record but also for it s price I have to say that even though my 1987 Nissan Maxima was getting old I will always miss all the features that had me spoiled Boy how I wish that I didn t have to keep opening the front door to lock unlock all of the other doors without using the key for each one what a pain What feature really burns me up isn t really even an extra option It s is the simple fact that you cannot close the outside front vents and keep the fan running without having to turn on the A C or turn the fan off completely I can t say how many times I ve gotten behind a tractor trailor with smoke and exhaust billowing out it s stack and have had to either turn on the A C or turn off the heater just so that the smoke didn t get inside the van Every car I ve known from a Ford Escort to an Acura Legend has had a control for outside inside air vents On the plus side the ride is great not at all like a truck it has cup holders for each row a sliding rear seat and seats that remove easily for more cargo space One of the best features of all is the rear A C and heat vents which help heat up or cool down the large interior faster than just using front vents It also has stereo controls and a headset jack in the middle row great for the kids as long as they don t fight over it It handles very well does not sway and has a smooth ride has very good visibility you can see the road not just the hood and the anti lock brakes are excellent I also love the fact that you don t have to climb up or duck down to get in So far so good We haven t had any major problems with our Windstar though we did purchase an extended bumper to bumper warranty from the dealer and that s probably why just our luck Only annoying break dust that makes a couple of squeaks when we back out of the driveway UPDATE After a couple of visits to our mechanic for a noisy belt the mechanic notified us that this is a common problem on Ford vehicles He told us there is really nothing we can do This along with the noisy brakes vent problems has us considering another make for our next purchase " Pos," A year ago we bought a 1997 Windstar I have not regret the choice since I have never had a minivan before and we started off looking at Caravans Grand Caravans and Voyagers I found that the Caravan amp Voyager had too little room between the back and middle seats And the Grand Caravan was to large for my small frame Then I can upon the Windstar Not only does it have the room I require It also came with two Captain chair in the middle not all Windstars have them but I recommend them This left plenty of room for my 3 children and even my two large dogs I highly recommend this van It is as spacious as you need and on top of that it is one of the safest minivans on the market It was point out to me that there is actually two latches to secure the back door while most minivans have the single latch on the floor This makes it less likely the back will open up in an accident So all in all this is the best van for your money br br " Pos," We traded in my Saturn for a 1997 Windstar after traveling with our older son when he was an infant The Windstar drives just like a littler car like a Saturn which I still miss on occasions but gives you much more room to pack things in Now with two children I could never imagine getting them us and all of our stuff in the smaller car for a trip We fill the van to the brim I feel very comfortable driving the van and have had very little maintenance trouble with it We recently took it in for the 45 000 mile tune up and everything came out fine The only thing that we notice is that the quot check engine quot light comes on frequently when we take long trips It was explained to us that when you go up or down in elevation quickly it comes on no big deal It goes off after the car is started several times We have yet to replace the tires and have replaced the brakes once but they were under warranty still Overall it is a great drive We will be trading in for a new one when our lease is up in a couple years br br " Pos," Well since this is my first new car I might be a bit biased but I have had a very good experience with my ZTW The total price with taxes extended warrenty undercoating and bike racks was about 28000 Canadian I got this price with a 1000 dollar university graduate credit from Ford as well as a Z plan Discount of about 3000 dollars my grandfather worked for Ford so I can buy any Ford car from the dealer at below cost I will admit that the Z plan price was the main reason I looked at the Focus in the first place but I have become rather impressed with the car as a whole and would buy it again if I didn t have any of the discounts Pros I previously owned a 1995 Honda Civic and with a wife two sixty pound dogs and two mountain bikes life was a bit cramped My wife and I settled on the Ford Focus because we didn t want the expense of owning and maintaining an SUV but we still wanted the increased cargo space During the Christmas season I had to commute from Canmore to Calgary about 100 kms each way and I m amazed that I could get so much in the car The road noise is almost non existant with the optional factory undercoating and the milage is getting better every day If you can afford the extra price I highly recommend getting the ZTW Our dealer had a stick shift ZTW on the lot with a moon roof and we were more than happy to take it off of his hands The moon roof can retract completely into the roof or raise up at the back at the touch of a button and I m finding the ABS brakes combined with the traction control allows me to drive through anything which is a blessing when dealing with the snow and ice My wife loves the heated seats and the Cruise control is very easy to use without needing to take your eyes off the road Our Ford dealer Metro Ford in downtown Calgary has a connection with a rack company and supplied us with two Yakima LockJaw bike racks at cost The racks are unbelievable as far as quality but others have reviewed the Lockjaw so I won t go into any detail As with other reviews I have to agree that Ford has tried to think of everything There are pockets compartments and features everywhere I don t like where some of the controls are located the parking brake is directly below the drivers armrest making it difficult to get to but all the controls needed while driving are easy to see and reach witt minimal distraction to the driver And unlike our Civic the back seats are roomy and comfortable Cons My only major complaint was the factory installed dog barrier Our dogs like the taste of steering wheels dashboards emergency brakes etc etc so we needed a dog barrier for the rear cargo area I didn t want a cheap piece of junk from Canadian Tire and Ford was more than happy to supply one although they couldn t show me what it looked like or describe it in any way Even the service guys admitted they had no idea what to expect as far as installation was concerned Here s the problem The dog barrier supplied by Ford looks like it was made to withstand a battling ram and is not removable The dealership also needed six hours of labour to install it requiring the removal of the back seats and two rather large holes into the side panels in the back I have to question why Ford would market the Focus s cargo capacity and then engineer a non removable dog barrier that completly eliminates the ability to use that cargo capacity Thankfully the dealership listened to our complaints and removed the dog barrier replacing the back panels as well free of charge I have also read some reviews regarding painful wind noise caused by the rear windows rolled down at highway speeds I tried it yesterday and I must admit that there is a bit more noise than I would like but since I have a moonroof and air conditioning I doubt I d ever be driving like that again so I can t complain Thanks for your time and have fun buying a new car Adam Price Calgary " Pos," This is just the first time Ford has decided to put a permanent camper shell on it I love this vehicle and I ve never set foot in one but I have done my research so bear with me through this Epinion This truck definitely offers its share of pros For starters it is the biggest passenger vehicle you can own without requiring a commercial drivers license At nineteen feet long and almost seven feet high you can easily seat ten people and their luggage comfortably Have something to tow This vehicle will do it Have a 10 000 lb boat No problem tow it up to the lake Ford only produced a few of these vehicles this year so you re guaranteed a limited edition This gives you a nice interior towing package among many other things Where as many people agree this truck is too big it does offer things to counter that Such as oversize mirrors reverse sensors optional and drop down window sills that make it easier to see out of the sides I ve heard that the sound system is quite exceptional in this vehicle although I don t know the exact number of speakers or the setup Ford has heard the cry from the compact car drivers and they have run support bars that will keep the Excursion from decapitating your Metro I ve heard people complain of parking in this vehicle no matter how bad the steering is you get used to it and soon you won t even realize that you have to turn a bit more watch a little better and swing wider than in the car Safety is a big part of this vehicles selling point Do you think anything short of a Semi could hurt you in this vehicle Just remember to wear your seat belt Like all vehicles the Excursion does have its share of cons I have heard it was built on the F 150 frame F 250 frame and F 350 frame I can t seem to find the exact frame I ve ruled out the F 150 frame as that is what the Expedition is on I don t think Ford would put their biggest vehicle on the mid sized frame I m almost certain that the Excursion is on the F 350 frame The F 350 pick up is not know for it s comfort it is know for getting the job done and having plenty of room to do it So when you notice that you re feeling more of the bumps in the road than in a car don t be surprised this is the more rigid suspension which helps you to be able to tow so much or load the back of the truck version with three tons of sand At 3 5 tons of Excursion don t expect to get good gas mileage You ll get between 9 and 14 mpg depending on driving conditions This isn t that bad if you consider that you are carpooling with the best of them With a fully loaded truck each person is getting 10 so you pull off an amazing 100 mpg tell that to the two person Honda getting 60 mpg You also have a 44 gallon tank so range won t be lacking but bring the Visa to fill it up Come on Ford its the year 2000 When you purchase a 4x4 version of this vehicle be prepared to climb out in the mud to lock the hubs to get it locked into four wheel drive This vehicle is also not cheap expect to pay 35 000 for a stripped version and up to 50 000 for the XLT One thing to look out for Ford brags that the drive train is made to withstand up to 500 ft lbs of torque The diesel version of the Excursion pushes 540 ft lbs of torque you may experience transmission problems in the long run If you need one of these vehicles I definitely recommend it If you are planning on using it as your daily driver I d think otherwise it may be best to get a small car and this vehicle to be a little more economical Where as the Excursion does look like a very nice vehicle I would recommend the Suburban over it any day For starters the Suburban comes with a 5 7 Liter V8 or a 7 4 L V8 With the 350 Cubic Inch engine I ve heard of gas mileage approaching 18 mpg You ll never have to lock the hubs on the Suburban and you ll have Chevy dependability to look forward to On a final note I think Nissan sums it up nicely with quot Yeah we made it bigger quot br br " Pos," I spent a lot of time researching and test driving many other vehicles before I made my decision to purchase my Ford Excursion When I first started shopping I must admit that I was not even considering the Excursion I drove practically all the SUV s on the market and while at my Ford dealership they put the Explorer Expedition and Excursion side by side The Excursion is indeed very big and intimidating at first Then I drove each one To my amazement the Excursion handled beautifully and much smoother than the Expedition or Explorer I need a vehicle that can transport people and all their things I also cook for 200 kids at a week long camp in the summer and the Excursion met all my criteria and then some I filled it from one end to the other with food for one week This is something that I required three vehicles to accomplish in the past It handled the load like it weighed nothing I use it to transport kids in a carpool to and from school The things that impressed me when I was shopping is that it meets the Low Emission Standards for pollution in all 50 states it has a blocker beam that absorbs most of the energy and keeps a smaller car from sliding under the vehicle in a crash More than 85 of the vehicle can be recycled at the end of its life and Ford has used recycled materials in producing this vehicle It seats all my passengers comfortably with lots of elbowroom to spare I have had 8 adults in this vehicle and they were all amazed at the spaciousness of the interior and all the creature comforts We had a pull down monitor installed in the center part of the ceiling just behind the driver s seat and a DVD player along with an electrical outlet to plug in my son s Sega Dreamcast in the back of the console that fits between the driver s seat and the front passenger seat It has been a lifesaver on the long trips we have taken with the kids and their friends This is the first year that we have traveled in peace because everyone had their own space and was not touching the person next to them It is a bit of a shock at the gas pump filling up the 44 gallon tank Most gas station s pumps shut off at 50 00 and it takes right around 60 00 to fill the huge tank but I don t have to make a trip to the gas station as often as I used to with my old minivan It averages about 12 miles to the gallon driving around town and about 15 miles to the gallon on long road trips It took about two weeks of practice in and empty parking lot to learn to park it It does not fit in many of the mall parking garages You need at least 6 6 quot of clearance room to fit in a parking garage It fits in my home garage just fine I have the back up sensors I feel every vehicle should have back up sensors It goes off if someone or a small animal walks behind the vehicle while backing up It beeps faster as you get closer to an object and emits a solid tone when you are twelve inches away from an object or wall It has a switch to shut the tone off while towing It only emits the tone when you put the vehicle in reverse I don t know how I ever lived without the seat warmers I just recently used the Four wheel drive and it was so easy You just stop the vehicle and turn the control on the dash to the four wheel drive setting you wish to use When you are finished you stop and turn the control back to 2 wheel drive That s a big difference from when my Dad used to have to climb out of his truck to put it into four wheel drive It is a big step to climb up into it but it is nice to be able to see the roadway ahead I know that my kids and passengers are safe If you do not wear a seatbelt it will chime intermittently until the seat belt is fastened I would recommend leather seats for easy cleanup My family practically lives in this vehicle and it is so easy to clean them You will be glad you spent the money Even with adults it is amazing how much stuff can end up on the seats The cargo space in the back is perfect for my dog s kennels and for putting everyone s stuff The tailgate is split in half and very light weight and easy to open I really liked it much better than the Suburban that has a bar that runs down the center of the glass Its back gate is much heavier than the Excursion I have had two hand surgeries and the Excursion s back doors are a breeze to open and close It has big mirrors that can be folded in to give more room if you are in a tight spot and people need to walk by the vehicle The mirrors also pull out for towing I have had many people come up to me and ask if they can see my vehicle I even had one guy sit in it for 20 minutes on a ferryboat admiring everything it had to offer He decided that he would trade up for an Excursion that weekend It takes a little getting used I spent about a month getting used to it in some areas that were not very populated Then eased into the city I have had my Excursion since mid March of 2000 and one day in early May 2000 I noticed that I was truly confident in driving it I do take a little more time in making lane changes and am very careful to check mirrors and the area around my vehicle If anything I think I have become a more conscientious driver and I watch for areas that are more open in traffic to make maneuvers that require more time and space The Excursion is a very versatile vehicle It can be a very comfortable car and a very hard working truck I have had many uses for it and it has given this busy Mom much more time and ease to get the big jobs done If you need to transport a lot of people and their gear or big loads of stuff the Excursion will serve you well It takes less gas to haul 8 people around in an Excursion than it does in two small cars It s safe for your passengers and safer in a collision for a smaller car than any other SUV out there It is also more environmentally friendly I read on another review of this vehicle that it emits 6 pounds less pollution a year than other SUVs and as I said earlier more than 85 of the vehicle can be recycled when the car s life is over The Excursion has good things to offer and they far out weigh any of the disadvantages of owning this vehicle It is a pleasure to drive You just need to be a responsible driver and take the time to get to know the vehicle just like you would any other vehicle Be a safe courteous driver Leave a little earlier so that you are not in a rush to get to where you are going Don t talk on your cell phones while your vehicle is in motion I pull over in a safe place and in my voicemail I mention I might be driving and to leave me a message and I ll call them back as soon as it is safe for me to do so Most people are very understanding of this SUVs are not all that bad it s just the drivers that do not use their common sense while driving Any car can become an assault vehicle if the person operating it does not do so responsibly Driving is a privilege not a right We do have the right to choose what we drive I chose the Ford Excursion and I am willing to take on the responsibility to drive in a safe manor so that I can accomplish the tasks that I need to accomplish with it s assistance It helps get the job done I highly recommend it You really have to drive it see what it is like Chris " Pos," Just last year GM had an untouched SUV class that of the Suburban A class that sold about 150 000 vehicles one that Ford just couldn t let go unchallenged The answer The new Ford Excursion This hulking SUV is now the biggest in its class How big Well about 4 tons Its about 3 3 inches wider than the Suburban and about 7 2 inches longer Its set on a f250 frame and from the side looks like a van but the front end is that of the superduty It accelerates 0 60 in about 10 6 seconds which is quick for a 4 ton vehicle It comes with the Triton V10 the 5 4 V8 or the optional 7 2 liter Powerstroke Up front it boasts two plush captain s chairs with a center console The dash and instrument cluster is that of the f250 Further back there are two rows of seats which can fold down or be removed to give the Excursion 16 Cubic feet of cargo space over the Suburban It is 5 4 5 8 inches taller than the Suburban featuring one of the flattest cargo racks available The rear hatch opens three ways to cut down on those huge rear doors The spare rests inside neatly packed away against the driver side of the vehicle After testdriving I found that the ride was smooth but firm The 4X4 suspension is different than that of the 4X2 but being as long as it is high centering is a problem Even though this is a fully capable 4X4 off road use is limited again to its size Added guards under the front bumper keeps cars from sliding under the vehicle in the case of a head on accident Even weighing 4 tons doesn t keep the Excursion from towing around 10 000 pounds The V10 sports 310 hp 425lb ft while the diesel comes with around 500 lb ft of torque or a 5 4 Triton V8 rated at 255 hp Safety is great due to its size What could hurt the thing besides a bus It has a massive 44 gallon fuel tank which takes upward of 60 dollars to fill But it has a surprising 700 mile range on one fill up The cool overhead console displays besides other things about how many miles you have left in your tank Price is a big factor About 34K for the XLT model 40 800 for the limited Which for the dollar isn t a big increase from that of the explorer or a nice f2 or 350 Roll over is that of any big SUV Ford has taken great pains to limit roll over as much as possible without sacrificing too much clearance My personal interaction with this truck is of testdriving br br " Pos," My reason for considering the EXCURSION was its size primarily The ones I had looked at seated at least eight When I test drove it the ride was smooth and controlled I have had it now for about two weeks and it is the best vehicle I have ever owned All the instruments are within reach and I am a very small female The seats are adjustable and heated The space is incredible The kids love it The leg room is ample enough for adults to sit VERY comfortably all the way to the back bench seat I traded in a 1998 Toyota Forerunner Limited for it That was a great car too but it didn t ride half as smooth on the road as this vehicle One thing to watch is how long it is on the nose and on the tail It was a bear to park the first time but I have the hang of it now anyone who has several people to drive about needs this vehicle It is heads and shoulders above the Suburban First of all it is bigger more beautiful and a better bet as far as towing capacity It can tow up to 10 000 pounds Great buy I got mine a Limited with leather seats for around 37 000 br br " Pos," I own the limited version of this vehicle and also have a large family I ve had an Expedition which I was very happy with for the past two years but we are currently selling it Unfortunately our family has outgrown it One of the reasons for buying the Excursion is the extra room behind the 3rd seat which the Expedition didn t offer There is plenty of room for strollers suitcases camping gear etc Most the complaints about this vehicle is that it is too large and uses too much gas People with large families really don t have many choices when it comes to a vehicle which is able to carry the entire load I didn t want to buy two vehicle which together would use more gas than the Excursion alone While I knew I needed a large vehicle common sense also tells me that the gas mileage would be poor While many people think this is by far the largest vehicle minus semi s buses and RVs on the road I must disclose that this is not true The Excursion is 226 7 quot long 80 quot wide and 79 5 quot high and 7150 lbs The Super Duty Crew Cab 350 Pickup is 257 6 quot long 95 5 quot wide 5604 lbs and unknown height That s a difference of almost 31 quot in length and 15 5 quot in width The shorter truck version is 241 4 quot long The 150 Super Duty Crew Cab is 225 9 quot long 79 8 quot wide and 77 2 quot high This is almost the same size as the Excursion The trucks and Excursion obtain about the same gas mileage 12 MPG give or take about 1 mile to the gallon although the Excursion Power Stroke engine is about 17 MPG The Excursion obviously weights more but it also has to protect more passengers These figures are based on 2000 and 2001 truck models All seats in the Excursion offer generous leg head and elbow room I have even sat in the 3rd row seat very comfortably The seats are very comfortable for long trips I have the 7 3 L Power Stroke diesel engine which obtains about 17 MPG compared to the 12 MPG of the other version Personally other than the recent spike of gas prices which is already working its way back down I have no complaints in the amount of gas I need to buy The 17 MPG is very comparable to the many mini vans on the road Once you familiarize yourself with this vehicle it s surprisingly maneuverable and easy to park It drives and rides smoothly and handles corners with ease If you re in the market for an Expedition take your time in test driving it and contemplate what you will use it for because it isn t for everyone but I am extremely happy with it " Pos," There were really only two SUVs that I was considering The Chevrolet Suburban and the Ford Excursion After doing extensive research and test driving I realized that the Ford Excursion was in a class of its own The Ford is safer and larger than the Suburban and was obviously designed with safety and capacity as a goal I won t argue that the Suburban is a great 4x4 but if you test drive both and can afford the gas for the Ford I think you will also realize that the Ford is the better truck I found myself stopped behind a Suburban at a traffic light when I was driving home from the dealer with my new Excursion and it was at that point that I realized how much larger the Ford is I was blown away by the acceleration of the V 10 engine it sure didn t seem like I was driving a 4 ton truck This truck is meant for people who want safety towing and cargo capacity and the great feeling of a luxury LARGE truck br br " Pos," This vehicle may not be for all people but if you tow a trailer and have children this vehicle is for you The ride is firm but not horrible It is built on the F 250 chassis so don t expect a Cadillac ride I opted for the diesel which gets me 13 to 14 mpg around town and over 18mpg on the hwy while not towing The fit and finish are excellent The interior is quite comfortable and the stereo system is very good Space for carrying things is second to only a van I really can not say much bad about this vehicle I will say that unless you own one keep your opinions to yourself people This is not a site for do gooders or moral opinions People want the hard facts Consumer reports gave it a lousy report but I think when reporting on a vehicle like this you can not compare it to the BMW or LEXUS suvs Sure it takes longer to stop it weighs 7200lbs Consider that is nearly 80 heavier than those two car like suvs and its braking distance is not bad by far It has 4 wheel disk brakes load range D tires a class4 hitch and will tow 10000lbs The diesel has plenty of get up and go and should satisfy most people It is a bit noisy compared to the gas models " Pos," I have a 19 year old vehicle which needs to be retired I looked for something to replace it with At the time there was not much around which really qualified And along came the Excursion with a king size price tag to go with it But everything else filled the bill Size comfort capability and everything else I could ask for Fuel mileage is tolerable at about 18 20 mpg imp This is not much different than the 1998 explorer 17mpg on a good day which we traded in for the Excursion Ha Handling takes a bit to get used to but once you get on to what to expect its an absolute darling Parking is initially a real experience It takes practice before you go shopping or towing Its nice to have a large fuel tank so you don t have to keep looking for pit stops I checked out the cost of the recommended oil for the diesel and its not much more than what I had to pay before The oil filter is a behemoth but still not extraordinarily expensive Ford provides lots of descriptive literature in the owners manual and also provides a manual for the 7 3L Power Stroke The back up beeper works as advertised It starts beeping at about 5 something feet from an object The sensors are susceptible to ice snow and dirt so you have to keep them clean Cant find any squeaks rattles or other annoying noises to complain about Lots of people seem to be complaining about roll in the corners but to them I say slow down and take the corner intelligently according to what you are driving and you will find that there ain t no roll Speaking of roll there is no binding on the discs so when you take your foot off the brake the vehicle will roll very easily from a dead stop The Excursion is not for the faint of heart nor just for the rich and famous Its a well built beast and will work as advertised and last a long long time Fix or repair daily applies of course since any vehicle requires proper maintenance on a regular schedule Treat it right and you can t loose on this one br br " Pos," We just purchased our Excursion this past week As a past owner of a F 150 Conversion Ford Van for over 10 years I have found that the Excursion is not much more than what I have been driving We purchased a car also this past year to try and keep miles of Van but I found myself going back to driving the van because I never felt safe in a car My reason for the purchase of the Excursion are being safe towing power we have a 27ft travel trailer room for passengers comfort What I am saying to this as I read many opinions about how big and unsafe it was for the Excursion to be out on the road might I add that it is most of these small cars and trucks that are going over the speed limit and taking the chances We big car owners respect the roads and are more observant of our surroundings I m sorry all you small car owners feel this way but keep your eyes on the road and off our big Trucks I might I also add there have been F 150 F 250 F 350 on the road for years the only different in this Truck is that it is covered It handles like a charm hugs the road great and as for parking I just park it like I did my Van As for gas well I did not buy it for that I knew it was not much on gas and we have not had it yet long enough to find out We purchased the 6 8 V10 Limited I have also read that people have strong feelings about the pollution problem with these big Trucks might I add to this when you are in the cities look around at our transit system and count how many people might be riding at that time I have seen at times when there are maybe 5 people on the buses so what do we do about this problem As for the tilting effect No but then I have driven a Big High Top Van Maybe to those who are going from a car to this may feel this But I can not say that As for rattles have not heard any and the seats are great So as my opinion goes No this is not a Car truck for everyone Yes it is a great driving Truck handles well and I respect it We did fill it up last night and our gas range was about 8 9 However that was the first fill up and we only drove it around town We have been told once we get it broke in and out on highway we should do better Again this is only my opinion and I hope those of you who have just purchased one enjoy it as much as I do mine Again to me it is no different than what I have always driven Just everyone be it small car owners or large car owners keep your eyes on the road and what you are doing and not on what someone else is driving " Pos," The new Ford Excursion is a huge truck with lots of room for both family and cargo This truck has excellent power and still handles similar to an Expedition or an Explorer It comes stock with a Triton V 10 engine which will not let you down If need room and always had a van but want a 4x4 than this is definitely the perfect vehicle Don t worry about the comfort because this is extremely roomy I use this truck at my work I drive a Ford Explorer which is also and Eddie Bauer package The two trucks are quite similar Since the Explorer is one of the biggest sellers on the market I have a feeling that this truck will succeed because all it is is a much larger Explorer or Expedition One might say that Ford lacks creativity but if you drive this truck you will see the differences as well as the similarities Talk about power even in 4x4 on some of the toughest trails and inclines this vehicle is not to heavy to get up a large hill If you have a big family and a sense of adventure than this is most definitely the truck for you br br " Pos," We owned a 1993 aerostar for over six years We bought it new and sold it in 1999 with 88 000 miles on it We bought it because we were planning yearly vacation educational trips with children and friends and thought it would be an excellent vehicle for this purpose as well as serving as our family work vehicle The aerostar met and far exceeded out greatest expectations In fact the present owners are still using it for trips to a hospital in a nearby city every week It now has 120 000 miles on it There is nothing to hate about this vehicle The gas mileage was wonderful There were no major mechanical problems during its entire stay with us We did conduct regular maintenance tire replacements and so forth The seating was most comfortable and convenient Even middle aged ladies from our church enjoyed riding with us to church conferences across the country No one minded if they had to ride in the middle or back accommodations In fact the option of removing the back seat from time to time proved a helpful asset when carrying luggage groceries or other items Our family mechanic often stated that maintenance access was convenient for working purposes The smooth ride easy driving and comfort of the vehicle are exceptional If you are looking for a reliable vehicle that shelters people and possessions from the weather that is easy to maintain and easy to drive then this aerostar is what you need to buy br br " Pos," We bought our used 1994 Econoline E150 Mark III Conversion van in 1998 from friends who didn t need the large van anymore It had 49 000 miles on it and was in good shape inside We have thoroughly enjoyed the van for the last two years You can t beat it for long trips You don t arrive at your destination feeling beat up My kids enjoy watching movies or just being able to stretch out in all that space My concerns have only just now begun Our ABS light on the dashboard started appearing randomly shortly after we purchased the van When we checked with the Midas place locally about it they said it was okay to drive the regular brakes would always be available and they couldn t check it unless the light was actually on Well it always goes off when the van is turned off and of course never comes on when we are close to a place that can check it So that has been an ongoing concern We still don t know what is wrong there Now recently on a trip of course the quot OFF quot button on the overdrive control started flashing indicating that something was going on with the transmission Luckily we found an AAMCO place that was willing to take us and check it immediately They explained that the transmission clutch was starting to slip and reset the button so that it wouldn t be flashing on our trip home They told us that we could continue to drive it don t push it by running on cruise control and sometime the light would come on again indicating problems again but when that would be would be anybody s guess Well of course to fix it would entail big bucks The bottom line is that we are now babying the van trying to decide if we want to fix all the problems or buy a new one Yes we would buy a new one if we could afford it They are wonderful vehicles and a joy to drive Once you get used to driving the size you ll never go back to small cars The entertainment for the kids on long trips is priceless No more are we there yet or how much longer I d recommend them to anyone in a second and I have Just as an update It is now August 2000 and two things have changed We did finally get to Midas and have them check out the brake light They went over it thoroughly and didn t charge us by the way and couldn t find anything wrong with the brakes The manager there told us that this is common in these vans and is probably an electrical short which they couldn t fix Kudos to Midas Second the transmission light came on again as we were going on vacation Finally decided to suck it up and take it to a local nonchain transmission shop owned by an friend He checked it over thoroughly again for no charge and said he wouldn t be driving the thing much longer if it was him Right now as we speak it is in the garage having the transmission replaced Looks like I ll be driving this one a few more years br br " Pos," I 146ve never owned a pickup and possibly never will But I just had to drive the redesigned Ford F 150 as soon as it appeared on dealers lots Why Ford s financial health has been shaky lately and no product is more critical to this health than the company s full size pickup the F 150 This truck the best selling vehicle in the U S for the last quarter century contributes a major chunk of Ford s sales and profits Consequently as goes the new truck so goes the company Well aware of the stakes Ford spared little when fully redesigning its large pickup for 2004 Partly as a result the new F 150 is much more expensive to build than the old one Given the importance of the new F 150 and the amount of effort Ford put into it I felt compelled to check it out Since I 146m not used to how large trucks drive I also drove a Chevrolet and Dodge for comparison Note This review is identical to that posted under the general F 150 heading except that I ve added a section on reliability b Many Many Choices But which one The new F 150 comes in five different models base XL work truck low end sporty STX midrange XLT which will probably be most popular high end sporty off road ready FX4 and luxurious Lariat Trim lines are just the beginning of the choices Three bodies are available regular cab SuperCab rear seat accessed by rear hinged half doors and SuperCrew larger rear seat accessed by four conventional doors Going up one size cab will cost you about 2 500 Three bed lengths are available 5 5 6 5 and 8 feet The 6 5 comes in both regular and Flareside styles Going up a bed size costs 300 while the Flareside will set you back another 845 For 2004 two engines are available both V8s a largely carryover 231 horsepower 4 6 liter and an extensively upgraded 300 horsepower 5 4 liter The latter with three valves per cylinder and variable timing for higher efficiency and a broader torque curve produces 365 foot pounds of torque at 3750 RPM For 2005 there will be additional engines includes a V6 and a supercharged V8 A manual transmission should also be available in later years For now either engine hooks up to a four speed automatic Although this automatic is supposedly 147new 148 I would expect another before too long as Dodge and soon Nissan offer five speed units Drivetrains include rear wheel drive mechanical shift on the fly four wheel drive and electronic shift on the fly four wheel drive Unlike in Ford 146s large SUVs automatically engaging all wheel drive is not available As in other large pickups many different axle ratios with and without limited slip are available to suit different needs highway economy towing etc Although the new truck is only available in light duty 147half ton 148 form suitably configured it can carry up to 3 000 pounds or tow up to 9 500 The FX4 and Lariat come standard with a 40 20 40 bench like other F 150s but as an option they offer buckets separated by a full center console that flows cleanly into the dash and mounts the shifter a first in this class Even the performance oriented Chevy Silverado SS has a column mounted shifter This option is less practical but to a car guy like myself it takes full size pickups in a whole new direction Although every possible combination of the above is not available the range of variants is staggering and will only become more so in later years as additional powertrains are added Further complicating matters this year the old F 150 will continue to be sold alongside the new one Ford did this the last time the truck was redesigned for the 1996 model year At least this time around the aesthetic jump is not as drastic I 146m not going off road so the faux wood trimmed city slicker Lariat probably best fits how I would use such a vehicle But I prefer the rugged yet sophisticated styling of the FX4 I also felt that the SuperCab with 6 5 foot standard bed represented the optimal combination of functionality and maneuverability I suspect this configuration will be most popular with non commercial buyers The SuperCrew is available only with the shortest bed and the 8 foot bed is available only on the XL and XLT and makes for one ungainly 248 inch long truck when paired with the SuperCab At 230 inches the SuperCab with 6 5 bed is already a lot of vehicle As luck would have it the only F 150 I could find to drive was this configuration Even this one might have been pre sold 151one salesman thought so but the other was willfully ignorant of its status Styling The F 150 146s styling has been updated much like the Explorer 146s was for 2002 and the Expedition 146s was for 2003 Almost too prissy for a truck curves have given way to a more formal more massive broader shouldered look Unlike the last time around the new truck is not clearly a step ahead of the old one it 146s just different The new sheetmetal is much less striking than the a href content 113078275716 Dodge Ram s a b click for my review and even less distinctive than the aero influenced old truck 146s but to my eye it is the most refined and handsome among large pickups It is hard to imagine it ever looking old or dated already the fate of GM 146s current pickups Like on Ford 146s heavy duty pickups the front side window dips down to lend the styling one brand specific detail and perhaps permit the large side mirrors to be mounted a bit lower The largest wheels are 18s and though no match for the cartoonish 20s available on the Ram they further enhance the truck 146s bold stance While the exterior styling is clearly evolutionary the interior is revolutionary I 146ve already mentioned the available full center console In comparison the center console in GM 146s trucks clumsily integrated with the instrument panel looks even more pathetic than it already did The tall cylindrical chrome trimmed shift lever might be a bit too space age and it could feel smoother but it catches the eye and demonstrates the extent of Ford 146s desire to reinvent the pickup cabin The click square edged styling of the leather trimmed buckets looks very upscale The pebbled texture of the FX4 146s black 147sport 148 leather further connotes this is one tough yet ritzy truck Want leather in something other than black Tan leather is available only in the Lariat Although the XL and STX share a non tach instrument cluster the other three trim lines have six gauge clusters that not only differ in graphics cream faces in the Lariat for example but in the location of the gauges Varying the latter can be costly and I don 146t see the point Some subtle differences in preferences might be involved but I imagine any of the three gauge layouts would have been fine with pretty much everyone So perhaps they tried too hard and have added unnecessary cost as a result Aside from these interior features what most impresses is the level of fit and finish in the interior The materials might not be suitable for a Lexus but they 146re nicer than any other Ford I 146ve been in Fits and seams appear very precise which is rarer than it should be in domestic vehicles After test driving this truck and wondering why Ford doesn 146t outfit its cars this well I read a review in Automobile that ventured the same question Between the styling and the materials the new F 150 146s interior shames those in other domestic pickups b Accommodations The front buckets first impress with their size They feel like thrones Then there is the matter of design The comparison between them and the front seats in the competition resembles that between modern furniture and a traditional American sofa Okay maybe not quite that large a difference but it 146s getting there These seats are considerably firmer than the pickup norm such that you sit on them rather than in them They possess side bolsters but these are too widely spaced to serve any function for all but the widest people I found these seats comfortable but traditional pickup buyers might find them somehow foreign As expected in such a vehicle visibility forward and to the sides is excellent To the rear it 146s not so good owing to the tall distant rear end I would highly recommend the optional reverse sensing system I don 146t see the point of such systems in most cars but here I see the point The truck I drove lacked this option but based on similar systems in other vehicles I 146ve driven it should work well The driving position is the most carlike of the domestic trucks The Chevrolet is similar while the Dodge seat is mounted so high I found myself planting my left foot flat on the floor 151no need for a dead pedal In the Ford you could almost be in a car if one with large seats positioned well above the ground In the Dodge you 146re clearly in a truck Given the truck 146s height off the ground the optional tubular steps were a great help getting in and out The Chevrolet and Dodge trucks I drove lacked such steps though they are available either from the factory or aftermarket and getting in and out was much harder especially with the latter The Chevrolet 146s seating position is the lowest of the three Especially if you are short or have kids you 146re going to want some form of step with any of these trucks When Chevrolet introduced fully redesigned pickups five years ago they eclipsed the competition in rear seat comfort for the first time offering a rear seat in an extended cab with enough knee room and enough angle to the backrest to seat adults in adequate comfort Well the GM product is now the granddaddy of the bunch When Dodge introduced its new truck last year it offered an even roomier rear seat Now it 146s Ford 146s turn to offer the best of the bunch Unlike Ford and Chevrolet Dodge offers only a single extended cab model with four conventional doors Although the Ford SuperCab still uses rear hinged half doors it contains a roomier more comfortable rear seat than the Dodge The SuperCrew rear seat offers another six inches of rear legroom but unless the front seats will be most of the way back i e for tall people up front the SuperCab 146s rear seat provides enough room for medium sized adults and more than enough for children The SuperCab 146s rear doors might be rear hinged but unlike before and still in the GM products they contain windows that fully retract rather than just pop out One major innovation was missed however I 146ve been told that rear hinged doors can be difficult to use in parking lots as you end up with insufficient room to move about alongside the vehicle when parked next to another vehicle with both doors open Nissan 146s upcoming large pickup solves this problem with a rear hinged door that opens 180 degrees The Ford 146s just opens about 90 Could be an argument for the SuperCrew 133 An optional power sliding rear window is another first with this truck No power folding rear seat yet though As in all large pickups beginning with the 1993 Dodge Ram cargo compartments within the cabin are generously sized Ford offers an innovative track system that fits various accessories as well as storage on the ceiling but this was replaced in the truck I drove by an optional sunroof Yes a sunroof in a large pickup They must really be targeting people used to cars 133 Even regular cabs have small rear hinged doors to provide better access to an enlarged internal cargo area Unlike the Chevrolet but like the Dodge the SuperCab 146s folding rear seat is split 60 40 Unlike the Dodge there are no nifty storage compartments beneath it but this frees up a big more volume The new pickup beds are a couple of inches deeper than the norm To my eye this significantly enhances their cargo volume However one review I 146ve read suggested this together with the Ford 146s height GM products sit a bit lower makes it hard to reach into the bed and grab stuff Unfortunately I did not check this out but will the next time I have the chance An innovative torsion bar makes the tailgate easier to open and close than other pickups b On the Road The styling and interior comfort of the new F 150 suggest a better driving truck Is this accurate The FX4 comes standard with the three valve 5 4 liter V8 In comparison the GM 5 3 liter produces five fewer horsepower and 35 fewer foot pounds of torque The latter seems an especially significant difference The touted 147Hemi 148 5 7 liter in the Dodge kicks out 45 more horses but only ten more units of torque 151so in the midrange the two engines aren 146t far apart The Dodge also has another gear ratio to play with How does all of this shake out Well even though I tested the GM engine in the Avalanche which is heavier than the Silverado it felt the perkiest of the three in normal despite having the weakest stats Both the Ford and the Dodge have to be prodded more to get them to perk up At full throttle the Dodge might well have the edge but based on the seat of my pants the difference is too close to call I suspect differences in mass counterbalance those in power The truck I drove weighed about 5 700 pounds Glass sunroofs step bars the FX4 146s standard skid plates the stiffer longer frame 133such features can add serious mass In comparison a base GM 4WD extended cab truck weighs under 5000 pounds though the 4WD Avalanche clocks in around 5 700 The Dodge falls between the two I also drove the Chevrolet Silverado in 345 horse SS form It 146s quicker Bottom line Even with the revised 5 4 and optional 3 73 axle the Ford is hardly quick I especially expected more passing power on the highway What the Ford V8 is is quieter and smoother than the others The Chevrolet produces considerably more intake roar with little provocation while the Dodge 146s Hemi produced so much mechanical noise at idle that I almost thought the salesman had grabbed the keys to a Cummins diesel by mistake The Hemi engine will later be available in Chrysler 146s large cars that should be interesting given its very trucky character EPA ratings are 14 18 with four wheel drive 15 19 with rear wheel drive similar to GM 146s 15 18 and one mile per gallon better than Dodge 146s 13 17 However word of mouth suggests that real world fuel economy is best with the GM trucks People I know with GM trucks typically report fuel economy in the 14 15 range those with Fords in the 11 12 range or worse I suspect the additional weight of the Ford trucks which forces their engines to work harder is to blame Ford claims major frame and suspension improvements for better ride and handling The frame is nine times stiffer than the old one while the cabs are twice as stiff The rear springs are wider while the shocks are mounted outside the frame The steering is rack and pinion a first for four wheel drive trucks The Dodge uses rack and pinion with the rear drive chassis only But how does it all pan out In character the new F 150 resembles the current Expedition body motions feel more precisely and tightly controlled than in the competition and the steering is firmer and also more precise Lean in turns feels more restrained than in the others especially the non SS GM products 147Taut 148 comes to mind That said the GM products handle more responsively and intuitively They feel somehow more natural despite their overboosted less precise steering The Ford in comparison feels technically superior but distant Another downside the large Fords share a faintly jiggly ride over minor pavement imperfections 147Taut 148 has a price Granted I drove the F 150 in FX4 form which includes a stiff off road ready suspension But the Expedition feels much the same and the current Explorer does as well so I suspect this jiggle is inherent in Ford 146s suspension philosophy Throwing some mass in the back might help I 146ve long noted in Consumer Reports that unlike most cars Ford 146s cars often ride better when heavily loaded If this is true for the cars it must also be true for the trucks which are designed to carry loads In short Ford 146s suspension philosophy might include optimizing the ride with the vehicle heavily loaded Noise of all forms is unexpectedly low in the new Ford This is the common finding from my test drive refinement refinement refinement Did the Blackwood come a generation too soon I did not evaluate off road performance given that this was a test drive I lack the skills at any rate I would be surprised if the new FX4 did not perform well off the pavement though One nifty feature the electronic throttle is more progressive in 4 low b Safety Like the GM trucks but unlike the Dodge four wheel anti lock brakes are standard On the other hand side airbags of the curtain variety are only available in the Dodge Traction control and stability control are not yet available on any of these four wheel drive trucks b Reliability First year designs from Detroit brands are often troublesome Will the new F 150 prove unreliable On the one hand if Ford could get any product right straight out of the box it would be this one as they no doubt threw scads of their top talent at this truck The engines and transmissions are also largely carryover with the exception of the heavioy revised 5 4 liter V8 eliminating a common source of problems The V6 in my second year Ford Contour required replacement at 66 000 miles because of an issue known within Ford but not admitted to by Ford dealers On the other this was a very complex program and recent first year Fords Focus Escape have been especially troublesome I guess it all comes down to whether you are a betting man If the truck does prove troublesome I hope Ford dealers know more about this product than the Contour I recently disposed of Even in the Detroit area I experienced much difficulty finding a dealer with a skilled and personable service department I once asked a dozen Ford owners if they knew of a good Ford service department and they all said no b Pricing As you might have noticed I drove a truck with most of the available options They add up The sticker on my truck which still lacked a few minor options and the pricey Flareside bed read 37 770 Go with the SuperCrew and check every box and the sticker will easily top forty Edmunds suggests dealers will discount the truck I drove to 35 000 Currently no rebate is available though low interest financing is Since many features on this truck are not even available on the competition to get a sense of relative pricing it is better to look at an SuperCab XLT 4WD with the 5 4 liter engine automatic electronic 4WD limited slip differential rear defroster power driver 146s seat alloy wheels and towing package I expect this will be a popular combination This truck would list for 33 105 and 30 700 after the typical discount Note Doing without four wheel drive would cut the price by over 3 000 A similarly equipped Chevrolet Silverado LS extended cab with 5 4 liter V8 lists for 32 080 with a heavily discounted 147light duty power package 148 I suspect this package is intended to counteract Ford 146s new truck After the typical discount and a 1 500 rebate the cost drops to about 27 600 A similarly equipped a href content 113078275716 Dodge Ram a b 1500 Quad Cab with 5 7 liter V8 lists for 34 500 The typical discount and a 1 000 rebate take this down to about 30 600 So about dead even with the Ford The Chevrolet is the oldest truck here and GM has priced it to compensate the other two are 3 000 more quite a difference I see lower transaction prices from Ford and Dodge in the future but in the case of the former perhaps only after it stops selling the old F 150 in 2005 Until then the old truck can be used to keep price sensitive buyers from defecting to GM i Update i I ran the above numbers assuming that the Ford s electronic four wheel drive system optional on XLT standard on 4WD FX4 and Lariat is a ful time system as the salesman claimed as much But I see no such claim in the brochure and Consumer Guide states that Ford offers only a part time system in the F 150 If so then I have overstated the price of the Chevrolet and Dodge by about 400 The new Ford just seems pricier and pricier b Last Words The new Ford F 150 impresses with its style fit and finish and all around refinement I cannot recall ever finding a standard full size pickup so appealing The truck s major weakness is too much poundage even for its new stronger engine Overall the new pickup shows what Ford can do when it pours talent and money into the development of a vehicle But can the new F 150 recoup its large investment and relatively high manufacturing costs Can it bring good times back to Dearborn That remains to be seen The Chevrolet and especially the Dodge seem very trucky after a drive in the Ford But the new Ford is priced far above the Chevrolet and I 146m unsure how many people will be willing to pay the premium A few months will tell " Pos," INTRO Trucks you either love them or you hate them Me I love them Trucks in England are extremely rare if you did own one it would be almost impossible to afford to run one I wanted a truck so bad When i moved to Oklahoma i could not believe the amount of people who owned trucks The one way for me to fit in For me to become Americanized would be to buy a truck And i love the F 150 FROM DEALERSHIP TO DEALERSHIP With so many dealerships and so many different types of trucks out there my wife and i set out early I knew i wanted a ford I m a ford man Always have been always will be you always know what you are going to get with fords Reliable dependable transportation at reasonable prices I started out looking at used trucks i found a 2000 XL model for 10 000 and was really tempted to buy it but i wanted to look around at one more dealership So we went to Hudiburg There was a beautiful red pickup right by the entrance to the show room The salesman told me it was a 2003 i told him i could not afford it and then he told me the price 12 988 After i picked my jaw up off the floor and put my eyes back in their sockets i was ready to take the beast for a test drive He told me that it was the special Oklahoma Texas Package that made it so cheap It is just a basic F 150 XL but oh boy do i love it FIRST IMPRESSIONS If you have read any of my other reviews on automobiles you will know that i am quite particular on what i like I like my vehicles to be curvy I have no idea why This was a big deciding factor in what truck i wanted to buy The F 150 looks beautiful Sleek curves and lots of chrome and a re designed grill for 2003 The XL comes with chrome wheels as standard and they look pretty sharp The F 150 is very easy on the eye a pure joy to look at The Interior of the truck is basic but everything you need is there The XL is the low end model of the F 150 so there are no extras what you see is what you get The dashboard is once again like the exterior very curvy and real appealing it is nice to look at and is not harsh on the eyes The layout is simple and looks clean and tidy On the XL there is no rev counter just the Speedo oil gauge temperature gauge and fuel gauge The mileage counter is digital which is pretty standard nowadays in most vehicles The dials are big and are very easy to read and in classic ford style they light up green at night The stereo and the a c and heat controls are within good reach of the driver and they are very easy to operate though i think the stereo could be better i also wish that ford would stop fitting double din stereos in their vehicles That just adds extra cost when you want to replace the stereo which i have just done The A C and the heater work very very well It gets cool very quickly in the truck which is what you really need here in Oklahoma and the truck gets nice and warm quickly too My truck comes with a bench seat which is actually pretty comfortable and gives a reasonable amount of support It folds forward so you can put a few small items behind the seat I have a complaint about the material used on the seats though It really isn 146t very good I would have thought that being a truck the fabric would have been a bit tougher but it is not About 2 months after buying the truck the stitching begun undoing and holes started appearing and that is just through normal use so i have now brought seat covers to stop further damage to the fabric The steering column is not adjustable and the bench seat only moves back and forward and the back really doesn t move very much so you are always sitting in an upright position ON THE OPEN ROAD The F 150 i have is the 4 2 v6 with standard transmission The engine puts out 202BHP and is plenty powerful for everyday use Correct me if i am wrong but i think the 4 2 V6 is only 20 BHP Less than the 4 6 V8 The Truck is quick not lightning quick but there is ample power there Over taking on the interstate is not a problem nor is having little fun at the lights The truck does about 19 MPG on the interstate and about 17 MPG around town which is pretty good It costs me about 25 00 to fill the tank from scratch The Interior Noise is pretty high but compared to earlier model F 150 s it has improved greatly The truck handles pretty well and it comes with power steering as standard which always makes life easier Another thing that really surprises me with the truck is that there is very little roll when you turn into corners More so than if you were in a car but still impressive The ride quality is very good You get the usual bouncy ride that you get from most trucks but overall the ride comfort is very good My only other niggle is that the truck is rear wheel drive I understand why that is but when there is nothing in the bed of the truck the back wheels tend to spin very easily so you have to take great car when driving this vehicle the wheels spin if there is loose gravel on the road and it can be pretty bad when it has rained so you just have to be that extra bit careful There is plenty of room in the bed of the truck for whatever you want to put in there and man does having a truck come in handy We just moved into our first house and i do not know what we would have done without the truck you can fit tons of things into the bed it comes in very handy Overall this truck is great I love it For 12 988 i cannot complain to much it is a basic model truck that will do you proud and will probably last you a life time " Pos," On a tight budget after first getting married my wife and I bought a brand new 1993 Ford Escort Wagon for 9 300 It came with A C dual powered remote mirrors manual transmission roof rack and a cassette stereo Seven years and 93 000 miles later the car is still running great It hasn t been quot perfect quot but what has gone wrong have been minor annoyances see list at bottom of this epinion The car has lots of room for cargo and the roll over cargo cover is great when you want to shade frozen groceries or just keep a passer by from looking into your car The 60 40 split folding seats are life savers when taking trips to home depot Controls throughout the car are too small Small radio buttons with completely un intuitive radio clock settings small fuel filler release lever small climate control levers Admittedly it is a small car but I ve driven a Saturn and the controls were far larger One big problem were the original tires After 30 000 miles the car started handling very poorly and I noticed the tires were wearing in an odd fashion A mechanic thought the suspension was shot based on the wear of the tires but a friend of ours said a good pair of tires fixed her problem Sure enough a pair of Goodyear Weatherhandlers and 60 000 miles later we have not had a recurrence of the problem The wipers have only one intermittent setting It lasts for about five seconds between wipes and it is a feature seldom used unless the rain is coming down at just the right rate An annoying engineering problem is the windshield wipers are different sizes After sizing up just one of the wipers I went to the store and bought a package of wipers they always come in two s I had to go back to the store after realizing the second wiper was a different size but at least the next time I need wipers I ll have a complete set Gas mileage has been excellent averaging about 28 mpg The gas tank is only 12 gallons so expect about 300 miles between fill ups Two child seats fit in the back seat but only the smallest of children could fit between the two child seats essentially making this a four seater until the children get bigger Ride comfort is acceptable for short trips and bearable for long trips Road noise is pervasive at high speeds and handling is fair The interior is very spartan in appearance and the vinyl and plastic look cheap Compared to other cars in its class Saturn Civic Cavalier Corolla it s on par To conclude this is not the most comfortable car heads will not turn when you drive it it s had some problems But and this is a big but it s never broken down it holds lots of cargo only cost 9 300 new and has a current Kelley Blue Book trade in value of 2 400 what s not to love about this car What s gone wrong related cost 1 Plastic cap holder on windshield washer fluid broke never fixed 2 Plastic driver seat belt holder broke 15 part did work myself 3 Rubber insulator around rear passenger door 6 part did work myself 4 Broken rear suspension spring 400 including labor br br " Pos," I had a 1993 Escort Wagon I owned this vehicle longer than any other vehicle before or since I really liked this car Believe it or not I was one of those people who swore that I would never own a station wagon Then my first child came and the extra room just made sense We could throw the stroller diaper bag portable playpen crib all in the back of the Escort for a trip to Grandma s house This car was really nice to drive The seats are comfortable It handles well on the road even in the snow This car would normally be fairly inexpensive It that were true in my case I would probably still have this car Unfortunately I made some bad choices and ended up with a lot of negative equity This car ended up with the brunt of the inequity and an extremely high interest rate to go with it So as much as I loved this car I hated the price I had to pay for it I was lucky enough to find a car dealership that would help me rectify this situation and gave me a great deal on my last 2 vehicles if you live in Western Washington check out Automotive Alternatives in Bremerton they were great I really liked this car I can t think of anything bad about it No costly repairs no breakdowns just routine service br br " Pos," Ok it s not new anymore The brake pedal looks worn and the new car smell is long gone but I still love my Ford Escort Wagon I bought my Ford wagon brand new in 1993 It s been afforded all the basic upkeep required i e regular oil changes the ocassional trip to the car wash etc Now 105 000 miles later I still can t bring myself to part with it Even today it is my main source of transportation Oh I haven t babied it any This tough little tiger has seen seven unfriendly Montana winters and faithfully carried me over small back country wooded one lane gravel roads It almost single handedly served as a moving van for my family several times and has served to push another of our lesser vehicles to a safe parking place when the other vehicle failed me I am absolutely amazed at how My Ford Escort Wagon performs for me My fuel economy is favorable and manuerablity is faithful I m not ready to go shopping for a new vehicle just yet but one day when my little station wagon has reached the limits of it s usefulness there is no question that I ll be back on the Ford lot looking to bring home the next generation br br " Pos," My wife and I currently own a 1993 Ford Escort LX E 4 door hatchback and never cease to be amazed by its economic upkeep reliability and capabilities We live in South Texas and use the car for local travel only the best use of its service We usually travel limited access highways and the Escort keeps up with the BMWs Mercedes and 18 wheelers reasonably well although the power we have is obviously lower Our quot little car quot does 55 to 65 MPH without breathing too heavily And best yet unlike these other vehicles the Escort only requires an oil change cost about 20 about every 3500 miles and a major service costing about 600 every 25 000 miles How do you like that BMW and Mercedes fans My wife is a real do it yourselfer who likes wood working By using the hatch back feature we have been able to haul at different times of course a table saw a treadmill walking machine a router and router table several sheets of plywood and over 10 2x4s The October 1999 NADA values on this car make it a great buy if you can find one in good condition Trade in 3 175 Loan 2 875 Retail 4425 A really good price on this vehicle in good not perfect condition would be about 3 000 and a good price would be about 3 500 Anything above Retail is a rip off br br " Pos," A few months ago my wife and I went car shopping We went looking for a Tracker A really good car when we have a car seat and a 2 year old LOL Well that day we test drove about 10 cars Just as we thought our search was going no where I saw the Escort sitting right by the Tracker we tried 1st We test drove the car and loved the way it drove A lot better car for a growing family than a Tracker I have to say I never saw me owning a station wagon but I will not trade it in now Being an Escort the gas mileage is great We get about 30 mile to the gallon and with todays prices you can not beat that The one thing I worried about was the leg room Being 6 5 quot it is hard to find a good car with leg room To my surprise the wagon is very roomy Well as long as no one has to sit behind me So I have to say I really do like my new car even though it is an 1993 Does this mean I am getting old LOL " Pos," First off let me state that I do not own this 1995 Ford F150 4wd XLT Supercab Pickup that I am about to review My best friend owns this truck I borrowed it from him recently on a 320 mile round trip to pick up an item I bought out of state Some of you are probably asking yourselves how can he write up a review on a vehicle that he doesn t even own Let me add though that my job provides me the opportunity to drive A LOT of different makes of light duty trucks 1 2 ton 3 4 ton and 1 tons These trucks are work trucks I do not baby them I use them With that said here is my opinion of the 1995 Ford F150 This particular Ford is a teal colored yuck short box with 73 000 miles on the odometer It is fitted with the optional 5 8 liter 351 c u V8 mated to an automatic overdrive transmission This engine provided very adequate power I set the cruise at 75 mph and the truck held it even going up steep inclines that brought tractor trailers and vw buses to a crawl The automatic transmission seemed to be very smooth and precise during shifting With the cruise control set at 75 mph the tach read a very respectable 2200 rpm I was very impressed with this since engine life would probably be extended with such a low engine rpm I have no complaints whatsoever with the engine and tranny in this Ford I would recommend this engine over the smaller 5 0 liter 302 c u V8 especially if you plan on pulling a trailer of any size Also I checked the mileage on my 320 mile journey all interstate driving I got 15 6 mpg I would say this is par with other makes of 1 2 tons in the 1995 model year Not as good as our 97 chevy 1 2 ton 4X4 350 c u I use at work I can squeeze 20 mpg out of her This Ford contained two gas tanks to minimize gas station stops A nice plus I thought the ride quality of this 1 2 ton Ford was quite harsh compared to other makes of 1 2 ton trucks I have driven I could feel every crack and bump I traversed on the interstate I could even feel the vibrations through the steering wheel I couldn t blame the poor ride on bad shocks since I know my buddy just replaced the shocks Maybe the poor ride quality could be contributed partially to the type of tires he is running I don t know Secondly I thought there was more road noise entering the cab then was acceptable Thirdly I found this truck quot wanders quot When this truck would wander into a rut on the interstate it would pull suddenly to one side than the other If one wasn t holding onto the steering wheel with both hands it could take you by surprise I don t know what caused this tires suspension This model was equipped with a 60 40 split seat in front I found the seats to be fairly comfortable The driver was treated to a power lumbar support In the center of the seat there was a fold down console This was very nice It contained 2 cup holders able to accommodate my rather large coffee mug The console also had compartments inside for currency notebooks cell phones etc I am 6 2 quot and found legroom to be acceptable Rear passenger legroom is limited though as is with any extended cab pickup The small fold down back seat is designed for small children not adults I did not care for the stock sound system It was an AM FM stereo cassette w four speakers Sound quality was very poor and could not drown out the excessive road noise that this Ford exhibited The buttons were extremely small making it very easy to hit the wrong button Also the stereo was placed in a very awkward position in the dash I had to reach very far toward the center of dash to turn channels This could prove to be very hazardous when driving First thing I would do if this was my vehicle is upgrade the stereo with an after market system I had the opportunity to use both the air conditioning and the heater on my short 1 2 day trip gotta love Wyoming I found both worked fantastic No complaints in this department This truck was equipped with the power window door package I found the power windows locks to be very efficient The windows rolled up and down very fast I own a 1987 K5 Blazer and my power windows are pathetically slow So this was a welcome change In terms of safety features this truck contained rear anti lock brakes don t quite understand the reasoning here and a driver side airbag A passenger side airbag was non existent In terms of reliability of this truck my friend has had darn good luck thus far Like I mentioned above the truck now has 73 000 miles on the clock He has had some problems with keeping the truck aligned might be linked to the quot wandering quot problem and front wheel bearings going out I believe that is the only problems he has had in the four years he has owned the truck I personally like the styling of this 95 F150 better than the new styling of the Ford F150 s But if it was my choice I would choose the 95 Chevy 1 2 ton over this Ford " Pos," I chose this vehicle for several reasons mainly the ability to comfortably carry a family of four haul lots of stuff and tow It is used to carry construction supplies and debris take the family and accompanying baggage toys camping or traveling and tow various things boats trailers etc It does all of these things very well I bought the Eddie Bauer version 2wd 5L auto trans towing package My commute is comfortable Even during long drives to New England all the family has adequate room The size of the truck gives a good ride The truck weighs about 4500 with fuel driver I ve crossed the scales at the landfill weighing 6800 On one occasion pulling a trailer load of asphalt to be recycled the combined weight was over 14 000 Okay maybe I ve overloaded once in awhile The truck now has 109 000 miles on it Oil is changed regularly tires rotated every 5 10 000k miles I ve had NO PROBLEMS with it The original tires weren t replaced until 63 000 miles Still the original brakes with 20 wear left good for another 15 000 miles or so Fuel mileage is around 15mpg which I consider reasonable for the way I drive Two fuel tanks are a nice thing to have If this truck ever becomes a repair problem 175 200k miles I will definitely purchase another Ford Probably a bigger one If you want a vehicle that does many things well and reliably this is it If you want something to zip around the city in you may consider something else Although there is the intimidation factor " Pos," I bought a new Ford due to the history I have with the company I have owned 3 Ford pickups and all have lasted past 300 000 miles with understandable maintenance I recommend this pickup for everyone who truly needs a pickup In the first 4 months of work this pickup has truly proven it s self In my line of work I go places and sometimes carry more weight than most people would even try Believe me or not I feel this pickup could go anywhere a army jeep can strait from the factory The gas mileage is decent 18 20 with the 298 v 8 better than I expected and that does not seem to change much when hauling heavy loads 5000lbs The engine performance is ok given it is such a small motor I would love to have the old 460 v 8 in every pickup ever built The ground clearance is larger than in pervious models This pickup also has several in cab dodads that I like Such as more comfortable seats additional compartments outdoor temperature indicator and easy adjustments to it all It was difficult to find a pickup with all of my specifications that I needed and had to special order this one I do recommend the following hand crank windows for longevity of use 5 speed manual trans for better mpg less engine strain in mud and towing and emergency push starting I do not like the new body style although it is growing on me The lack of front fenders with this body style allows a steady rain of mud amp gunk to fall on the overly large front windshield when 4 wheel drive is needed I also do not like the car like interior set up Although the cab is roomy this set up wastes space and is hard to clean Another downside of this pickup is that unless you are a mechanic you can not fix any major problems that may arise yourself Just open the hood for yourself br br " Pos," This review is written in memory of our late friend and fellow Epinionater Mike Lambert Roadiem Okay let me be straight up front about this Yes I am Australian and no the cars driven in the USA are not the same as here in Australia But there are strong similarities The main Australian designed and built cars are little different from those used in the USA So how do I know Well about 18 months ago I had to spend a week in the U S and I sought to rent as similar a vehicle as possible to that that I drive and own here in Australia The perfect vehicle for the role was the Ford Crown Victoria even though the name conjures up the Queen yuk or a famous Australian beer Since I drove one 1 800 miles around the U S East Coast without hitting one kangaroo I feel qualified to report on it s virtues And try as I did I found it impossible not to make some comparisons with Aussi cars well sufferin snakes I tried Apart from getting in on the right hand side incessantly I found this vehicle to be near identical to my Aussi Ford Futura That brings me to the only real fault in this car and all USA cars that being there is no warning to get in the left hand side if you want to drive it its so damn embarrassing jumping in the right side for a quick take off with nothing there Now seriously to me and I suspect most people a car is either working or its broken so you won t be bored here with a whole lot of mechanical jargon However I do know enough to realize the Crown does follow the near universal basics of medium and big cars That is rear wheel drive and a penchant for effortless highway cruising while still being quite maneuverable enough for the rigors of big city traffic For the average motorist its obvious that these basics are still the preferred vehicle type despite the plethora of mostly Japanese and Korean buzz boxes on offer in both countries Perhaps this is because both Australia and the USA are relatively large with long distance driving common Things have changed a bit though with US cars no longer having Football Field size trunks and engine bays big enough for a spare engine resulting in much more compact designs compared to those of say twenty years ago Fuel consumption is no doubt the major reason Here by US standards the Crown does quite well but there is substantial room for improvement since equal Australian cars do about twenty percent better Perhaps the slightly cheaper fuel due to differing Taxation makes the difference While the Crown Victoria I rented drove extremely well I was surprised to learn it still had the old solid axle type rear suspension instead of the newer Independent Rear Suspension or IRS However the two most important safety features being ABS and Power Torque Control were standard as would be expected The debatable air bags that have swept the world are of course standard They ll have the damn things on pushbikes next I noticed Crown Victoria s everywhere so they must be high in the sales stakes and surely that alone speaks for itself I understand they are even the vehicle of choice of many if not most Government Agencies including the Police This too speaks volumes for its usability and quality So thats what an Alien thinks of the Crown Victoria in a nutshell this vehicle would hold its head high in any company as a practical well priced family car with outstanding touring capabilities mixed with good city driving attributes I found it both easy and enjoyable to drive the ultimate test of any vehicle and I have no doubt it would be at the top of my list if I was a USA Citizen B The proceeds of this write off go to Mikes wife in his memory May he rest in peace B B This review is a joint effort between SMITHSWOODSIDE and LadyCynic whose personal generosity in this regard makes me cringe in disbelief please also visit LadyCynic s site Please read the other write off entrants listed below bjcuevas napthalia seether166 sherrylee mattjoe viper1963 gollygumdrops noniaBidnis nightshade 01 obnox Hawkseafan Yyvonne diverpam T Hall mtuairau jennifa PPerky1954 hnnygrlca rcknron3 MiDoyle charlesnep LatteChick garfield12 bgoodday chrisceb alwaysstubborn nwinston hirohito99 sweetcece theworm ginahill jpmcgurk tiffer0220 juliette elorraine imames pipet sparkospunky disartain Linda527 Lisa J lgcurcio yahoo kristinafh tgreenway pambo friskycelery tjarnold iculooking todd teddiec Darby Walters wolfman309 emeleel joubert technologyrep gamblinfamily " Pos," This was one of the best cars I have ever owned The gas milage isnt too bad I feel very secure driving this car I feel like I could pickup and go to Florida if I felt like it I would highly recomend this car to anyone I know that alot of people say it s huge but when you are behind the wheel it dosen t feel that big So if you are looking for a good reliable and inexpensive used car and size doesnt matter try it out I thin you ll like it Also if you can find one with a premium sound system you certainly will not be disapointed br br " Pos," In normal everyday life I drive a Volvo S70 While working I drive my Crown Victoria This is a very nice car and I have had it since new It is very comfortable and I love the color it s Dark Green a k a quot Willow quot I was given this car for work as my Buick Park Avenue Ultra was totalled I liked the Park Avenue because the dashboard doubled as a M amp M dispenser on long trips The Crown Vic is great for prolonged surveillance operations The gas mileage is poor and the power is lackluster however I convinced my employer to designate funds to make a couple of changes A 2 chamber flowmaster dual exhaust was installed very quiet underdrive pulleys hypertech chip and a K amp N Air Filter These have made a remarkable improvement and has deleted the 110 MPH engine cutoff I got the 1995 model which has the updated transmission and new interior that like of a 2000 model Very good ergonomics There were a few problems with the car that are typical with any 92 Crown Vic The tranny needed to be tuned up at 60K Miles 100 at 65K the quot Check Engine quot light illuminated which 99 of the time indicates that your EGR passage in the intake manifold is carboned up 125 and at the same time the horn button discentigrated 50 New tires at 70K and Front brakes at 85K All prices were at the Dealership out of warranty parts amp labor No problems during warranty This vehicle is nearing 92 000 miles and will be decomissioned at 100K I hope to god that I will get another one Who should buy this If you have a big family I have had 11 people in this car once live in your car or travel a lot for work this is the car Amazingly it is very easy to park it has been shot at three times and all three bullets missed so it is not as big as it looks If you love rear drive performance at a good price look no further My next car 2001 Crown Victoria br br " Pos," Lets put it this way my grand mother drives this car It is rahter big and some what comfortable in the interior But it has horrible gas mileage and is quite ugly If your are under 60 years of age and want to hold up any kind of an image this car might not be a good idea It handles turns pretty well but the acceleration isn t that great and it is a real pain to park because it is so wide and long However it is dependable so if that is what you are looking for this is a good car br br " Pos," The birth of our third child obliged us to sell our Mustang 5 liter in 1992 and buy a new Crown Vic after test driving every full size car on the market The car just turned 142 000 miles and it still seems brand new The car is boilerplate reliable The biggest repair has been a power window motor replacement The car s only weak point is its oil consumption about 1 quart per 250 miles For its size the Vic handles well has plenty of power is comfortable and quiet The trunk is huge I keep a notebook in the car and it shows that we get 27 mpg on the highway year in amp year out Because we recently adopted two more kids we bought a new Chevy Venture minivan But my wife continues to use the Vic as regular transportation to work shopping etc We plan to keep the Vic as long as it makes economic sense to do so and as long as it remains such a pleasure to drive If all goes well when our 12 year old turns 16 he can drive it and take himself amp the other 3 to school The Crown Vic is a keeper I sold this car May 17 2000 we weren t using it enough to justify keeping it The book value was about 1600 but because it still drove so well and looked so new I sold it for 3000 to the first person who came to see it He thought the car was a bargain at that price " Pos," I have wanted this car since they changed the body style all those years ago I couldn t afford it the last time I bought a new car but this year I could I m not a mechanic I m not a car buff I don t choose a car because of the engine I m a teacher I want a car that looks good rides well and is dependable I chose the Crown Victoria and it has been all of those It also has a trunk that holds all of my sister in law s luggage with room for that of her husband and son too an amazing feat all by itself I have owned the car for 5 months and have had no mechanical problems with it It gets good gas mileage for a big should I say huge car I live in Ohio where winters are sometimes severe I needed the traction control only a couple of times during the winter always to climb a steep driveway The traction control gives back what rear wheel drive takes away The anti lock brakes have also kicked in a couple of times The first time it startled me felt like I hit something on the road The car is very comfortable My son and I agree that we could go camping in this car no tent required The front split bench seat is pretty comfortable to make out in too Take my word for it or try it yourself grin However the car is not perfect The problems are in the fit and finish There is a wind sound from the front passenger door the right windshield wiper is never quite hidden there is a whistle from the driver door there are several imperfections in the paint in one place the edge of the windshield shows instead of being protected by the molding in several places tolerances are unacceptable None of these things affect performance but they are annoying " Pos," SuperCab Super Ranger THE FORD RANGER SuperCab 2003 GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Ford Ranger pick up is manufactured at the Ford factory in Edison New Jersey It is one of the most popular pick up in its category It comes in a large variety of models and it is the least expensive of all the other pick ups amongst the competitors within the same category Ford offers their customers a choice of three engines an economical 4 cylinder a 3 liters V6 and a more powerful 4 liters V6 As for transmissions again Ford 146s will give you three options a manual 5 speeds an automatic for the 3L and a different automatic for the 4L engine THE INSIDE OUTSIDE The interior The interior of the Ranger I drove was well finished and the materials seemed to be of good quality There were no fancy rug on the floor an example is that the flooring was made of an easy to clean and maintain rubber mat The controls are easy to access and there is a complete set of gauges that are also easy to read One thing I noticed about the gauges is their simplicity By this I mean that if a person while driving surpasses the normal zones on a gauge there is no red zone on that gauge to indicate that the driver is in a dangerous situation The cabin was tight and I did feel that the interior was closing on me there seem to be very little elbowroom maybe I would have felt differently if I had driven the standard model The exterior The paint job on the truck was excellent and the panels seemed to fit tightly It was equipped with a plastic fuel tank which will prevent rust but the inside of the rear box and the fenders seemed to have very little protection against bumps and scratches It would be a good idea to have a liner install when purchasing a new Ford ranger pickup I really liked the way the exterior looked every thing seems to be in the right proportions and well built THE ROAD TEST The model I drove was the Ford Ranger SuperCab it was equipped with a V6 3L motor and an automatic transmission I found that there was a lot more noise than expected for a new truck but after all it is a truck and because of the stiff rear suspension I felt the drive to be a bit bumpy Probably it would offer a smother ride once there is a load in the rear box Breaking seemed satisfactory on a dry pavement but harder to control on a wet pavement TECHNICAL INFORMATION The truck I drove was as follows Engine V6 3L Transmission Automatic Drive 4 wheel drive Brakes Front discs rear drum Anti lock system on the rear wheels Tires P225 70R15 Truck weight 3 220 lbs Cargo weight capacity 1 250 lbs Towing capacity 4 000 lbs PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I feel this is a better than average pickup truck I felt a little cramped in the driver seat and the ride was a little rough I think that although this truck looks good it is truly a work truck I would not drive this vehicle on a long trip and I believe it is also limited for off roaming but if someone needs a truck to transport tools and equipment to a working place this is the one of choice " Pos," As the proud owner of my fourth Ford Explorer I can honestly say the 2002 Explorer is absolutely the best model yet Ford proudly touts the 2002 as being all new In fact there are significant differences in the 2002 that made my 2000 model seem practically obsolete New Body Style The most noticeable difference is the new body style It s quite a bit larger than previous model with several enhancements The wheelbase is 2 inches long and almost 2 1 2 inches wider With a more rigid suspension and better insulation it also provides a noticeably quieter ride The independent rear wheel suspension really helps provide a smoother more comfortable ride And yes it looks different It s definitely bigger and the door handles are completely different The rear window door has been changed it definitely looks different than previous models There s a practical reason for this that makes it easier to pop open the window and have almost full access to the cargo area B More Room Yes there really is more room inside the 2002 Explorer I can easily tell the difference in how much room there is between the front bucket seats This allows a wider console that easily provides two cups holders a handy storage tray and a roomy storage compartment with latched top There is also an outlet for charging my cell phone in the top of the console This console is very convenient and ergonomically arranged There is a tissue holder inside the top of the console I like this better than the previous models where the tissue was accessible from the outside of the console There was always a ton of tissue fuzz to deal with The hard part about this is finding the travel size Kleenex boxes that fit here Target has been my best source to find these Junior size boxes My husband loves the extra head room it provides He is very tall and often found his head bumping the top of our 2000 Explorer He has head room to spare in the 2002 model We purchased the optional 3rd row fold down seat so eight people can comfortably ride inside The second row seat folds down in three pieces giving you six different configurations to aid in hauling cargo B Lots of Extras The CD player holds 6 CDs and is located in the dash The dash itself seems lower and wider and it s easier to see out Dual climate control allows the driver and front passenger to choose their own temperature settings You can also set it to display the outside air temperature There are redundant controls on the steering wheel for the sound system and climate control And of course there is also cruise control The tilt steering wheel is also height adjustable The electronic monitoring display tells you just about everything you need to know about your car miles to empty miles per gallon fuel level oil level wiper fluid level The Home Link b option lets you pre program up to three codes No more worrying about keeping up with a garage door or gate opener I did notice you have to hold down the button a little longer than expected to get it to open the garage door The electric memory driver seat allows both my husband and I to set the seat positions we prefer then when we open the doors with our controller everything is set for us It s so nice not to constantly readjust the settings between drivers Heated rear view mirrors come on automatically when you turn on the rear defroster The front seats are electric and adjustable in a variety of ways And yes they re also heated I never thought I would enjoy a bun warmer but it will be nice in the dead of winter when those leather seats get cold from being in the parking lot all day at work B And let s not forget the middle seat b There are air vents and separate temperature controls as well Even with two baby seats there is still plenty of room for an adult to ride in comfort There are also additional air vents in the very back for the comfort of any passengers who might be riding in the third row seat B Easier trunk access is provided by allowing the glass to open lower making it easy to get groceries or suitcases in and out The rear seat folds down almost completely flat allowing 44 5 cu ft of storage space Even the fuel tank is larger holding 22 5 gallons of gasoline Improved Performance We purchased the optional 4 6L Triton V 8 engine With 239 hp and 282 lb ft of torque I ve had to be careful not to drive too fast No I do not have a lead foot i It really offers a smoother quieter ride and handles very well I just thought my previous Explorer drove like a car This baby is very responsive and handles like a luxury automobile B Eddie Bauer Version vs Limited My 2000 Explorer was a Limited and we had planned to purchase a 2002 Limited but they were in short supply After looking closely and comparing features the primary difference in the two was that the Limited offered certain colors that the Eddie Bauer did not The Limited also lets you have monotone leather seats instead of the two tone Bauer leather seats All the other luxury extras especially Home Link are now included in the Eddie Bauer I don t feel that I am missing anything from the luxury or the extras that I had in my previous Limited B We Love It My husband and I have owned this car for three months now and we love it It s extremely comfortable and it is a great looking vehicle It s averaging about 16 MPG in the city so far and we got it up to 21 on the highway It s still breaking in and the mileage seems to be steadily improving We recently took a day trip in which we spent about six hours in this vehicle We kept commenting how much we enjoyed the extra room and the smoother ride My husband definitely enjoyed the extra head room We have the Eddie Bauer model with leather two tone seats I wasn t too crazy about the two tone look at first but I m liking it better all the time I ve gotten several compliments on the interior so that doesn t hurt either B Ford Provided Extras Ford offered several incentives to buy 750 owner loyalty rebate 0 financing for 36 months Look Ma no finance charges i A nice tote bag was given to us just for taking a test drive We received a tailgate party kit for purchasing this included a canopy grill and cooking utensils We received our gifts last week after mailing in the postage paid cards Ford provided Later we received a 75 gift certificate from Eddie Bauer nice for Christmas shopping B Highly Recommended I can t think of a better time to buy than now great interest rates extra incentives and a really comfortable good looking SUV I really love this great Explorer " Pos," I recently traded an amazing 230 000 mile Honda Accord for a brand new Explorer The main reason being that I need more space Space is what you get with the Explorer The 3rd row option opens up this vehicle to a much larger market Most SUVs seat 5 people the extra seat boosts that number to 7 The Durango and the Tahoe went under close scrutiny before I decided on the Ford This redesigned truck is great There is new independent rear suspension a new shock strut system a new exhaust fuel tank layout and a new footprint This Explorer is a bit longer a bit wider and even has a bit more ground clearance all while being a little bit shorter This SUV feels solid and comfortable while driving There are several small details that add to this truck as well The running boards and doors are designed to keep dirt off of the lower door seal keeping you and your kids clean while entering and exiting The rear window s bottom seal dips down farther than before making it lower and thus easier to load and unload without opening the door Automatic headlamps are nice and the doorlock switch mounted near the back door is handy I have been extremely impressed with my new vehicle It was a big step to move from a 2 door Honda to an American SUV I have not been disappointed yet " Pos," I recently had the opportunity to purchase a 1992 Ford Explorer 2 Door as my main vehicle I have since driven it for 12 000 miles changed the oil three times and really have not had any problems with it The vehicle has a little over 131 000 miles on it and I am still getting the rated 23 highway 18 city mileage and sometimes better but never worse My Explorer is a 5 speed with is a very dependable piece of equipment Coupled to the 4 0L V 6 it has enough power to do what I want to do with it It has the room a college student needs to move in and out every year and haul people during the year It is economical enough to be a daily driver Dependable enough that it really has not seen the shop under my possesion and small enough that parking it is not compared to parking the more mammoth of SUVs The only time it has seens the shop is when I had to have a synchronizer 1st 2nd shift replaced Point of note dont believe your friend when he says he thinks he knows how to drive stick My Explorer does not have 4wd but that has not stopped me from taking it offroad Coupled with my Firestone Wilderness ATX 235s I have taken mud sand and water within reason of course The interior on mine is vinyl but the seats are very comfortable The front seats are a high backed bucket which makes long trips easier on your neck I have been pleasantly suprised by my Explorer and from how it is fairing I will have it for a good time to come " Pos," I leased a 99 Ford Explorer Sport 2WD 2 years ago and have been very happy with it I did a lot of research into SUV s before picking the Ford Explorer The Toyota 4 Runner seems overall a better vehicle but it is underpowered and sluggish in comparison even the v6 very expensive and does not come in the more economical 2 door Sport version that the Ford comes in And the Jeep Cherokee for the same money had none of the cool doo dads that came with the Explorer I opted for the fully loaded vehicle It is very comfortable has a fantastic sound system and its SOHC engine has all the pickup I need The compass temperature gauge rocks and the tissue dispenser is indispensable I have made several road trips with up to 4 people and everyone was comfortable the entire time Also it s really easy to fold the back seats down for extra cargo space One of my favorite things about the truck is its turn radius It has an awesome turn radius None of the other trucks I test drove could make such incredibly tight turns But it does have some problems Ever since I got the truck the air bag warning light has been flashing erratically Sometimes it stays on sometimes it flashes and sometimes it doesn t come on at all The air bag warning light does frighten me but according to the user s manual there is a warning beep that will sound along with the light when there s a real problem with the air bag I have had the truck serviced by Ford mechanics and another service shop as well and neither garage could fix the problem Also for the first year I had the truck whenever I would use my turn signals the windshield wipers would turn on this was good for a laugh but not much else This weird bug was fixed by Ford mechanics I would not recommend this 2WD vehicle for off roading and it sucks in the snow It handles dirt roads better than a sports car but I wouldn t trust it in real hard core off road situations Then there is of course the tire recall I have very little confidence in the electrical system of the truck which makes me glad I leased it instead of buying My doubts as to whether or not I will lease another Ford have more to do with Ford s eagerness to sell people death traps than with how much I ve enjoyed driving my truck They re losing so much money from the Firestone recall though they ll probably have to offer really good deals I probably will lease another Ford Explorer Sport but I will not buy one and I will make damn sure I m not being sold recalled tires I wouldn t put it past them to try br br " Pos," My sister got a 1999 Ford Explorer 2WD 2 Door Sport for her 16th birthday It was a great SUV to start off with At first everything was great and nothing went wrong Now from what we thought was a little problem we re ending up having a big problem The first thing to go wrong was the back seat head rest After it went up it didn t come back down The Ford dealership had to send it to an upholstery shop so they could take the seat apart to get the headrest back down and they still have not fixed It takes them 2 days just to figure out they have to order a part for this seat and they still have not gotten the part in Next the front passenger seat wouldn t slide up Well after that was fixed we had the bomb dropped on us THE TIRES She HAD Firestone Wilderness tires on her Explorer and they ve been recalled The tread is coming off and the tires are worthless so to speak The worst part is is that we are in the 3 phase of the recall so it will not be until next year that we can have her tires replaced It had been bearable until we found this out I do however recommend the Explorer I just recommend that you check the serial number on the tires before you make your final decision Other than these few problems the Explorer has been a joy to drive br br " Pos," I bought a 1996 Mustang GT convertible in late 96 with 4 000 miles on it It looked great and seemed a great way to take advantage of the Atlanta weather Three years later how do I feel Well it s been a lot of fun and I m converted to convertibles The Mustang itself has limitations understandably given the price The only design criterion is power as there are niggly issues elsewhere such as if you use the cup holder it is difficult to use the handbrake And you need a handbrake because if you get this car you should be buying a manual transmission Why would anyone buy an automatic sports car As for other design quality issues I had problems with the driver s seatbelt fraying The lower guide was rough and gradually wore through the belt Also the handbrake was misaligned within the center console causing the rubber edging to the slot in the console to tear The a c also failed and took 3 attempts for the dealer to fix A piece of the roof came loose and had to be replaced The roof is pretty quick to put up or down about 15 seconds but requires a bit of manual effort to lock into place or unlock especially compared with the Toyota Solara Convertible I now own Road noise is not bad for a convertible albeit not as quiet as more expensive models I ve been in The car is OK for reasonably long journeys as long as you don t have to sit in the back There is tremendous acceleration if you get the revs right If you don t you get zero benefit from at least half the 4 6L engine as Ford Escorts can give you a run for your money And if it s wet don t even think about using the accelerator If you do anything more than contemplate putting your foot down the rear end will be all over the place even if going in a straight line or trying to The handling is good when dry and the ride us hard as you would expect from a sporty car If you live in a neighborhood with speed bumps make sure you test drive going over them before buying the car I ve owned other Fords and like them the gear shift and clutch operation is smooth with a clear response to tell you you are in gear Still on a nice day it s great to put the top down and hear the noise of the V8 The top goes up and down pretty easily It takes 15 seconds The car looks even better with the rear cover but that is so difficult to put on that I ve only used it twice There is a surprising amount of room in the trunk The rear seats are very cramped for anyone bigger than a small child I have a 10 year old that complains about lack of room so I ll be trading it in soon Fuel economy No idea I m English and the gas in Georgia seems virtually free to me compared with 5 gallon in the UK so I never measured it I believe that the official figures are low 20s If you want fun in a convertible this is a fairly cheap way of achieving it Don t expect practicality or high design though If you want that pay 50 more and get a BMW " Pos," I had a 1996 Ford Mustang GT I say had because the car was leased I turned the car in because 1 driving a 5 speed in Chicago s traffic was driving me nuts 2 rear wheel drive during winter in Chicago is a horrible experience and 3 my wife just had a baby and we needed more space Don t be mislead from the above statements I loved this car It had lots of power It looked great It took off from the starting line like a rocket ship It took the corners like it was on rails Overall the Ford Mustang is just a fun car to drive I must admit however that I was pleasantly surprised at the ride of this car It was much smoother than previous models I had little to no problems with the car except for the front end alignment going out on me What didn t I like In 1996 Ford replaced the 5 0L engine with the 4 6L engine The gas mileage isn t that great I have driven the Chevy Camaro the Pontiac Firebird and even the Chevy Corvette I own a 72 and I would have to say that the Mustang is much more fun to drive than the Camaro or the Firebird It not in the same league with the Corvette but it is the next best thing Who should buy the car Only people without children Who should not buy drive the car Parents who s 16 year old kid just got his driver s license " Pos," I bought this vehicle in February of 1996 when it had first been released The dealer had it before I did and the car was in excellent condition with about 3000 miles on it Fully loaded I love this car I was in the military for a while and it got me from Texas to New Jersey almost twice a year if not more This is the best vehicle I have ever owned It is fun sporty and reliable I get a smooth ride out of it EVERY time I drive no matter what the road conditions are like If you like this type of quot luxury quot vehicle without the prices I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to anyone who loves to drive and look good br br " Pos," Get an old Tempo and stick to your beat Yes we re talking music here I have been and still am the proud owner of three Ford Tempos A l987 a 1989 and a l990 I am a woman who drives approximately 40 to 80 miles a day in all kinds of weather I am a consistent driver in that I keep relatively the same speed for the same length of time while commuting to and from work These cars are easy to drive and easy to control They are great in snow and icy conditions They have a front wheel drive that s excellent WITHOUT snow tires and I live in Northern New York State near the Canadian border The gas mileage is great and at a steady pace of just below 55 miles and hour I use almost no gas at all If you re a careful driver mind the speed limit and don t peel out too often I d sure recommend a Tempo to you There s just nothing about these low key cars I don t like I ve been driving them for 12 years Blue Book value should increase in my opinion br br " Pos," This opinion comes from a girl with no experience with trucks of any kind except maybe the toy trucks I buy my son This is strictly a review on why I like it not on anything under the hood i My boyfriend loves trucks I had never driven a standard before Since we both use the vehicle I thought buying a truck wasn t a smart idea He said I needed to learn He earns the money I was out voted We just bought our Ranger last week It was only 600 00 definitely in our budget I must say that I am pleased The truck is great on gas which is a major plus with the gas prices rising and falling everyday Although it isn t a full sized truck it can carry a load a lot bigger than you would think it could The cab isn t very roomy but it gives me and my boyfriend some quot close quot time lol I learned how to drive it in a day which surprised me because I m not very coordinated when it comes to doing more than one thing at a time and no it s not because I m blonde It was very easy to learn on The truck is still in great running condition for being 10 years old and having over 100 000 miles on it It s not too big either which is great for me so I don t try to run people over if they get in my way I was very pleased with our purchase and would recommend a Ford Ranger for anyone in the market for a cheap dependable little truck It s a great one for us women drivers br br " Pos," I m in the market for a new car and have been test driving lots of vehicles lately When one is a serious candidate I also look around for one I can rent for a couple days to take on a business or family trip to get a better feel for how it works for me in a day to day situation b i Most of the vehicles I ve been driving recently have been well equipped 4 door sedans in the 25 35 000 range but a lot of my friends and neighbors have been buying big trucks and I ve got to admit there s a certain appeal to the truck I ve had small Toyota trucks before and I always liked having the open cargo area which gave me the flexibility of buying big items on impulse or doing home improvement projects easily No need for delivery I can just load that topsoil into the back of my truck thank you very much b i I m a firm believer in considering as many options as possible in order to really know what s best and to really get the best deal Comparing apples to oranges can be loads of fun when buying a car A few days after driving the Ford F 150 I went into a Mercedes dealership to check out the C 230 The saleswoman asked what kinds of vehicles I was comparing to the Mercedes I rattled off the de rigueur competitors like the BMW 330 and Jaguar X type then threw in and a Ford F150 crew cab The look on the woman s face was priceless We don t compete with pickups she informed me with a sneer I had to struggle to keep a straight face b i Unfortunately for her it is the customer who defines the competitive landscape not the salesman and definitely not any suit wearing monkey from corporate marketing She didn t understand that and it s her loss because the C 230 was a good car and she could have gotten a sale if she was smart enough and quick enough to deal with a smart a s customer like me who happened to have been shopping with a checkbook in hand i Smack i We don t give a poop Get back to talking about the Ford Oh yeah right This is a Ford F 150 review Sorry about that My impressions of this vehicle are based mostly on a 2 day weekend rental from Thrifty Car Rental yes some locations do rent pickups by the way here in Houston Budget seems to be a good place to rent Ford Rangers if you like driving small pickups I also test drove the King Ranch version at a local Ford dealer but just as a 30 minute test drive can t tell as much from that but it s kind of fun to check out the fully loaded deal b i b Exterior Styling Fit and Finish and Etc Too I like the looks and styling of full size Ford trucks They aren t as boxy and square as they used to be but they still look utilitarian enough to be taken seriously as trucks and not as glorified cars with a little cargo space tacked on which is I how I view some new trucks which I will identify only as Ford Explorer Nissan Frontier and Chevrolet Avalanche Ground clearance is excellent even with the two wheel drive versions Of course that means that short people are going to feel like they re forever climbing Mt Everest just to get up into the thing but that s the price you pay for driving one huge hulking chunk of Dearborn steel If somebody complains tell the girly man to get a Volkswagen b i I really like the feel of the F 150 Everything feels thick heavy and substantial One of the things I didn t care for when I drove a Toyota Tundra was the way things clicked when they should have clunked do you know what I mean I expect doors on a full size truck to feel heavy A thin door feels okay on a little Tacoma truck but not okay on Tundra What I want on the Tundra is a door that feels like the door on a F 150 It feels like a man s door not like a little kid s door Ditto on the tailgate Ditto on the front hood Toyota makes a good reliable truck I m sure of it but they don t make a full size truck that feels as good as a Ford Dodge or Chevy full size truck b i i Right Bed for You i There s a bit of an on going debate over the right bed length for a full size truck The problem is that with trucks like Ford s F 150 Super Crew the overall length isn t really increased over what you get with a standard or extended cab Ford s engineers simply stole the space for that back seat from the bed The argument I always hear is well people don t carry stuff that requires a long bed They don t eh Well maybe a typical family doesn t often want to carry huge bulky things nor do the firefighters depicted in Ford s oh so heartwarming commercials but other people do Yes the short bed will do fine for carrying boxes boots maybe even some rolled up fire hoses What it won t do fine at is carrying the kinds of things that most people in the construction trades want to carry b i Think about it and think about what people who work for living typically want to carry What length are most boards Sheet rock PVC tubes Fence posts Conduit Ladders Right 8 feet to 12 feet Not 5 feet at least not at the Lowes I go to b i In my opinion the bed is too short on the Super Crew especially for anyone considering this vehicle as a work truck Yes you can put the tailgate down Yes you can use one of those extender racks to give yourself a little extra occasional space but don t those only give you about 7 feet max In my opinion the tailgate and extender strategy is not quite as good as having a genuine 8 foot bed which you can also drop the tailgate down on giving yourself 10 feet Some guys are going to want more space in the cargo area than you get on the typical Super Crew cab F 150 Before you buy this truck think about whether the bed length is a problem for you If you are a typical suburban mom who just wants a snazzy looking beefy vehicle to drive around town then hey no biggee Go for it But if you re working in the trades and thinking about using this vehicle as a truck then think long and hard about whether that bed is adequate otherwise you ll be regretting the purchase for a very long time b i b Interior Comfort Features and More Etc Too The big draw on this big truck is the interior space You get a real live back seat genuinely usable back doors and enough space to seat 5 comfortably 6 if you have a bench style front seat even on longer trips No more scrunching or using the back seat of extended cab trucks as seating only for contortionists and short midgets b i This is really the perfect truck for families I like the looks of the extended cab better than the super cab but for practical value and overall utility and comfort the super cab is tough to beat Because I m a dad I always check out the back seat when I look at cars I want easy access for moving car seats in and out and putting little people into their seats I also prefer quite a bit of leg room not so much to make things comfortable for adults but so that little feet find it not so easy to kick the back of the drivers seat Hey We all have different perspectives on these things b i Most people are probably going to go for the XLT version of this truck because it offers everything that most people want today while at the same time keeping the price somewhat reasonable It s got a nicely appointed interior with automatic transmission air conditioning power windows and door locks stereo with CD player cruise control captain style bucket seats with lumbar support and power adjustment on the driver side and a console between the two front seats As I said a comfortable combination Ford also offers a Lariat package leather upholstery is the big plus there and specialty versions called the King Ranch version and the Harley Davidson version b i i King Ranch package The King Ranch version that I drove at Central Ford had the Highland Green paint which is a very deep forest green Together with the brown leather interior with the independent captains chairs in front it was a sharp looking vehicle no doubt about it I wonder how well their rugged sales pitch is going to do I sure didn t buy it My opinion is that the King Ranch version is not a very practical vehicle for rugged use I d call this truck the Waltham Soccer Mom edition It s plushy power everything and too overloaded to be a real practical work truck I could never see it really being used on a ranch a construction site nor anywhere else where rugged conditions prevail Hey Get your muddy boots off that plush pile carpet You raised in a barn or sumpin I laughed out loud when I saw the heated seats in the King Ranch version Last I heard the King Ranch was about as far south as you can be and still be on U S soil Do you know where the real King Ranch is I do because I drive through it fairly often It s in south Texas only a couple dozen miles north of the Mexican border It s an area where palms grow and coastal farmers raise grapefruits and ranchers raise as many cactuses as steers Not exactly the kind of climate where heated seats might come in handy Yep on those icy cold 80 degree winter days when the nor westers blow through you really wanna crank up the heated seats Sure nuff this is the truck for real Texas cowboys Uh huh b i Don t even get me started on Ford s Harley Davidson package b Power Performance and Yet More Etc b The truck I drove had the 260 horsepower 5 4 liter Triton V 8 engine With that powerplant the truck was very responsive Ford also offers a smaller 4 6 liter V 8 in the F 150s but with only 220 horses at its beck and call that seems too little for a truck as big and heavy as the F 150 especially if you plan to pull a trailer 220 horsepower is about what many family sedans have According to Ford this truck can tow up to 8 000 pounds and has a payload capacity of 1 765 pounds Hmmm I could even take my mother in law for a ride I was impressed with the handling of this truck The advantage of shortening the bed and keeping the overall vehicle length about the same as with the extended and regular cabs is that the vehicle doesn t handle like a tank The F 150 Super Cab has a 139 inch wheelbase Sure it s not going to corner like a Z3 would but it turns tightly for its size and is easy to get used to I don t see anyone having a problem handling this truck in normal suburban traffic b i The truck is equipped with power anti lock brakes and in normal driving conditions the braking felt good I don t recall trying a hard brake situation with this truck sorry b i b General Impressions Conclusions and Any Remaining Etc b Official info on features performance specs pricing etc for these trucks is on the web at www fordvehicles com trucks f 150 Prices are a bit high on the F 150 the one I drove runs about 27 000 MSRP however I have recently seen quite a few ads from Ford dealers in the local area offering these trucks with the XLT package at prices around 22K I think 27K is too much for this truck and I wouldn t pay that price but at the 22K level it becomes a a fair value and I might consider it seriously b i For my purposes the Ford F 150 represents a pretty good package for use as a family car and I might come back to it if I can t find a better deal elsewhere Stay tuned for more info on the Great Car Purchasing Adventure of 2002 Til next time see you in the showroom b i " Pos," The truck I purchased and am reviewing is a 2002 Ford F 150 Supercrew with the FX4 Offroad package new for 2002 I love this truck If you think about it when was the last time you were able to pull over at a garage sale with you and three people loaded into your SUV buy that large enlongated oversized treasure you just had to have and stuff it into the rear Only to have to drive home in icy conditions Well this hasn t happened to me yet here in Southern California but who knows The point is when I first saw the Supercrew a few years ago I fell in love with the concept I could still do somewhat oversized hauling and at the same time fit one two three four five or even six people into the cabin and still have headroom To me the Supercrew exceeds the practicality of and in itself is a superior SUV The short 5 6 bed is questionable for any type of tradesman Since I won t be using it as a work truck it suits me very well Mine came with a cargo cage bed extender and will haul my surfboards very handily The model I purchased has the 5 4L Triton V8 motor I find it to have more than enough power It sounds like a big V8 during acceleration and quiets down nicely when up to speed and cruising Of course it also likes to drink its lions share of gasoline I m not sure what the mileage is but I don t think I ll expect anything better than 14 mpg on the highway even with the 3 55 limited slip rear end It s equipped with an automatic transmission and shift on the fly 4x4 transfer case I can engage 4 wheel drive from the dash while driving less than 55 mph The FX4 Offroad package upgrades the Supercrew for individuals who like aggressive four wheeling It includes skid plates beneath the transfer case gas tank and front axle assembly They lifted the truck tastefully and stiffened the suspension with heavy duty shocks It also includes 17 inch aluminum five spoke alloys with Goodyear AT S LT 265 70 tires They also throw in stainless steel lug nuts To finish the FX4 package off they include a red FX4 Offroad decal two tone paint and a matching red decal stripe separating the two tones of paint FMC must be trying to attract sportier younger buyers Personally I m not into the offroad thing I m looking to buy some acreage with incline and I do like to go skiing So this big heavy 4WD without the leather interior will do me fine Downsides 1 The vertical size is such that I wont be able to fit it into my garage if I decide to install any type of rack system 2 It gets very poor gas mileage so for those who commute unless money grows out of your pockets it doesn t lend itself to becoming a daily driver 3 Being a non traditional SUV it s missing a third row of seats and luggage storage is a problem on trips unless you enclose the bed Overall the truck lives up to the image that Ford creates with their big truck built tough advertising strategies It drives with surprising comfort considering it has the offroad suspension and doesn t drift like aftermarket lift kits tend to do Since it s new dependability has yet to prove itself I also purchased a 2002 Thunderbird on the same day If you would like to read its review you can copy and paste a href content 51622219396 http www epinions com content 51622219396 a Good luck and happy driving " Pos," In previous years I always thought of the Taurus as my Grandfather s first choice but since the revamp of few years ago my whole opinion has changed Over the past twelve years I have always driven T Bird s but in 1997 the T Bird was put to rest for a major overhaul and I began to look at the Taurus I am really glad that I did First off the interior is really comfortable and roomy for this size vehicle The dashboard contains exactly what you need speedodometer fuel and a few other things that you need to know The sound system is outstanding for a stock item A C and heat perfect One of my favorite items is the flip up console which is hidden under the arm rest this allows you to use it or hide it In the console you can store eight cassettes and has space for that soda coffee on the way to work The back seats flip down for access to the trunk not a feature that I would ever use but I am glad that it is there Speaking of the trunk I have not seen this type of space on vehicles this size in many many years Performance and handling have been more than I could expect Gas mileage has been a very respectable as most of my driving is over the tollway freeway Appearance and paint surface are brilliant and show no sign of fading over the past two years Interior buttons dials are large and very easy to access from the drivers seat One nice feature is the drivers side power window has a quot one push quot down button touch it and your window opens all the way I know it sounds silly that I cant hold the little button for a few seconds but I really like the one touch feature Visibility is great todate I have not had any issues of blind spots With all the good I do have one item that is poor When driving on the freeway exactly at 55MPH and either the driver or passenger window is down there is a very annoying wind vibration that fills the car I can t really explain this sound but it is kind of like a monk humming over and over and over directly behind your head rest This vehicle that comes in under 20K is well worth your investment I never thought I would own drive a Taurus but I sure am glad that Ford took this car back from Grandpa br br " Pos," I had leased a Ford Taurus for 3 years and although not too flashy or great in any one area it is a pretty nice set of wheels Its dependable runs smooth and with no problems at all in my experience Once the automatic locked doors weren t functioning properly and needed to be fixed but that was most likely an isolated problem to my car The interior is comfortable and it is relaxing to sit in Althought a quot compact quot car it doesn t really feel like it as there s plenty of space It also seems that your a bit higher up while driving also giving the feel of more room compared to smaller cars The exterior of the taurus is although plain and common looking still pretty good There isn t much bad to say about this car though it isn t the greatest either I do recommend it to anyone who is intrested in buying a car all ages families single people it doesn t matter this car can fit you br br " Pos," I bought a Taurus GL with power package cruise automatic cell phone 6 disc cd changer in late 97 It was a previous rental with 15000 miles so I was able to defray some of the initial depreciation and have been satisfied every day since I have always been a Honda man and have generally steered clear of american cars for their rapid depreciation however when we had our second child I found it difficult to go on long trips with the stroller port a crib luggage and various other newborn necessities due to the limited trunk space that Honda s have I started looking around at larger cars I wanted something with a v6 plenty of room comfortable on long trips limited outside noise there is nothing worse than listening to the wind outside for hours and hours on long trips cruise and power amenities and a cell phone in case of emergencies I got all of that with the Taurus with plenty to spare It is plenty roomy the trunk is nothing short of Huge very comfortable on long trips I can take all of the hills with ease a definite joy to drive My one suggestion would be too consider one with a little bit of mileage as long as it has been cared for to cut down on depreciation I was looking at a new 97 when I bought mine with most of the same features for 24Grand I picked up mine with 15000 miles for 15Grand Can you see the initial depreciation on these vehicles I currently have 50 thousand miles on mine I take it in for regular maintenance and have had no serious problems I would definitely recommend this to anyone with a family who enjoys traveling br br " Pos," I ve owned 5 cars in my lifetime now and I can honestly say that this is the most comfortable commuter car of all I commute around 150 miles each day and now have 125 000 miles on this car And yet the only thing I ve had to replace is the alternator battery tires and the windshield wiper mechanism This is a solid car with the highest safety rating possible with my insurance company As an added bonus it seats 6 while you d be hard pressed to find a car that does that these days If I had to complain though I don t want to it would have to be about this unexplicable quot popping quot sound while making turns This has only happened occasionally and it s occured since the first day I ve owned the car I m willing to bet that this is a flaw of this particular car s design rather than reflecting a flaw on the entire series I have had it checked out several times and no one seems to be able to fix it or even tell me what it is It hasn t caused me any problems though except mild bewilderment I owned a 1990 Cutlass Calais before this car Although they were both excellent vehicles I d have to say that I like the style and comfort of the Taurus better I would recommend a 97 or older Taurus to anyone and everyone I bought it used with 24 000 miles on it for 15 000 minus 5 000 from the trade in on the Cutlass when I started college hoping it would last until I graduated I am starting my senior year this fall I have 131 000 miles on it and no major problems yet " Pos," I am not first in line to bash American vehicles and I am also not a Ford disciple which means I am able to remain objective about this car My feeling is that this isn t that bad of a car yet not great I purchased my Taurus GL used in 2001 with 70K miles and it now is at 130K There are a few things that bother me about the car but the transmission has always been my greatest concern Not long after I purchased the car there was a strange hiccup while driving that seemed to happen after longer trips I never determined what caused it although it hasn t happened for a long time It could actually have been the brakes which I replaced although it felt like it was in the transmission More recently I had a very strange problem with my transmission which started with alternator and power steering problems Both would malfunction while driving which later I found was caused by some kind of transmission sensor module I later found out that if you don t fix it immediately it really messes up your overdrive which is what I am experiencing now I would say the other problems with the car are more annoying than major The interior lights have a tendency to stay on after you shut the door which I solved by pulling out the bulbs The interior in my car is cheap and the rear window is hard to clean because of its oddball shape Also on a more personal note the person who owned the car prior to me burned holes in the interior and stunk up the car with their smoking habit I still cannot get all of the smell out which annoys me On the good side the V 6 3 0 liter Ford standby has been a good performer I used semi synthetic oil in it which may or may not help If not for the transmission I would be more than happy with the car adding that Scosche sells kits for getting rid of the stupid stereo console It is what many people call a grandpa car but if you are not vain about those things it is not a bad car If you are mindful of the transmission problems and take steps to prevent the problems it could be a good deal used " Pos," I received an invitation in the mail from a new car dealership that just opened in Kenton Ohio back in August of 1999 Statewide Ford had bought out another dealer and was having a kind of grand opening Present this letter and test drive any vehicle and receive a free tool kit What I got was one mean SHO A 2 year old just turned in from a lease with only 21 000 miles burgandy with tan interior chromed spoke rimmed leather seated 3 4 liter 32 valve duel overhead cam fuel injected V8 with a moon roof and am fm cassette player with 6 CD changer in the trunk auto temp a c and heat auto lights and a leather covered steering wheel Oh did I mention it will do every bit of the 150 mph that the speedometer registers Well it will And the best part is it was only 16 000 I wouldn t trade it for a field full of Monte Carlos Grand Prix or Intrepids Despite how fast it is and how well it handles it s also my family car Fixed or repaired daily Not this Ford I love everything about this car and hate nothing about it I wouldn t recommend it to the faint of heart or someone who thinks only a mechanic can raise the hood After all I do add my own windshield washer fluid br br " Pos," I picked up a 1997 Taurus SHO after looking over several quot sporty quot four door sedans The car is very refined for a Ford Almost everything in the car is improved or updated over the V6 Taurii It has SHO specific engine brakes transmission steering upholstery the list goes on Ford did not market the SHO very well They are hard to sell For this reason new SHO s can be found at the dealer for thousands under MSRP Positives The car is a performer It is not a stoplight racer so much as it is an executive cruiser It has the brakes and suspension to keep up with the motor but not at the expense of a comfortable ride It has been 100 reliable since the day I bought it It is the most trustworthy car I ve ever owned Good ergonomics One could drive this car for hours on end with little driving fatigue Negatives The styling is definitely love it or hate it The V8 is thirsty Frisky drivers can expect no better than 15 mpg in the city The oval shaped stereo climate controls make it nearly impossible to upgrade the sound system br br " Pos," My husband and I bought a new 2004 Ford Focus ZX3 comfort package this past weekend and here are my impressions so far it is a really great little car very responsive very easy and fun to drive and has enough pep with the 2 liter engine We also tested the Toyota Echo and the Focus felt much better We were planning on buying a Hyundai either an Accent or an Elantra just because they re so inexpensive and they ve got that great warranty But the Hyundais FELT cheap By comparison the Focus feels VERY well put together very solid very reliable There s a lot to love about the Focus lots of head and legroom plenty of cargo space with the seats folded down they re really cute very easy to drive fun even There are a few things that I ve discovered I really like such as the fact that the reverse lights are VERY bright so you can actually see where you re going when you back up the turning radius is great I live in a big city so this is a plus the seats are quite comfortable the gauges are easy to read and the controls are simple and easy to get used to I like the fact that the cabin lights come on automatically when you turn the ignition off that s really handy A few things I ve discovered kind of annoy me about this car the main thing I don t like is the clock I have the CD MP3 player stereo and when the radio is off it s fine but if you re playing a CD or listening to the radio the time is displayed in the bottom left corner and is so small that it s difficult to read you have to press the clock button on the upper right to get the time to display across the top for a few seconds I wish it was the other way around you had the clock display all the time and had to press a button to see what track or station you were listening to Another thing is the overdrive I don t know if this is standard for AT s with OD but its default is ON and you have to press a button to turn it off if you re driving in the city on hills etc Since I live in a hilly city and rarely drive the freeways this is kind of annoying since I have to remember to turn it off every time I turn the car on The seatbelts are a little far back requiring a bit of a reach Other than that I am completely happy with this car " Pos," Well I don t know where to start about my rig My wife and I recently had a lil boy and the truck we had a 1998 Dodge Dakota Sport extended cab was just not big enough to handle a car seat in the back for the lil man My wife called me one day while she was out of town and told me that I should start shopping for a new rig So that was what I started doing I new that Chevy was coming out with a new Super Duty rig I also knew that Dodge made a good 2500 rig So in all fairness I really started shopping around I drove the new Chevys Dodges and the Fords In fact one dealership went to the local Chevy and Dodge dealerships and borrowed a brand new 2500 Chevy and 2500 Dodge Both gas engines I drove them both then drove the Ford again He then brought over a Chevy 2500 diesel and a Dodge 2500 diesel Drove both of them and again as before I drove the Ford again Well to make a long story short I literally took one month to shop for a truck Now here are the reasons why I chose the Ford over the competition 1 The Ford drives like a truck I personally buy a truck to ride like a truck Not a Cadillac The Chevy truck yes is a very beautiful rig however when going down a bumpy road I didn t feel to of the road Personally that is not what I want I want to be able to feel the road 2 The Dodge transmissions have been known to have a lot of problems I personally had to have the transmission of my Dakota replaced 2 times When I was looking for a truck I went to a very close friend that just happened to be the service manager of the local Dodge dealership He informed me that the fullsize trucks have more problems with their transmissions than any other truck on the market 3 The Dodge Diesel was the loudest diesel on the market Even in the cab of the truck the knocking of the engine could be heard 4 The Ford V 10 was by far the most powerful gas engine on the market The Ford was a lil less roomy than the Chevy but it road like a truck should ride Like a truck The Ford Diesel was by far the well excuse my French but it was the ballsiest diesel I have ever driven I was sitting at a stop lite and I punched it with out even thinking about Wow Is the only thing I could say The truck actually squawked its tires at the line and was in the process of spinning them when I let off the accelerator That was very impressive in my mind I bought my truck which has the following options F 250 Super Duty XLT V 10 Supercab 4x4 Air Conditioning Stereo cassette CD Player 3 75 rear end towing package towing mirrors Not a lot of options But it is by far the dream truck that I have always wanted I can t think of a better truck to own I am currently in the process of making it my absolute dream truck I have been told that with a 3 inch lift a set of 38 will fit just fine Well I am about to find out Well since I put this e pinion on here I have made some changes to my truck It is now 6 inches taller with 35 s underneath And one hell of a lot more powerful The only cons that I have is the seat belt design in the front and the lack of child seat anchor points As fas as the seat belts well I am a large man and when I get out of the truck if I am in a hurry and don t look back my seat belts get all tangled up in the door when it closes And the child seat anchors are something that all vehicles should have in them but you have to order them from the dealer and then they will put them in Thankfully free These are my only complaints " Pos," I recently purchased my 92 thunderbird from a women who took good car of the car and was the only other owner She has papers on everything that she has had done on the car But now it seems like I have been getting all of the headaches of the car I have only had the car for 4 months and I have had to replace the alternator belts tires and some gas filter thing can t remember the name I know that these are the standard things to go in the car but the parts are VERY expensive We have to other brands of Ford cars and their parts aren t nearly this expensive This is my 1 warning the parts are expensive Also my insurance tripled with this car and I have never even had an accident or speeding ticket There are also many unidentifiable noises in the car Popping noises from the brakes and somewhere in the back There is also water leaking in when it rains Of course the mechanics can t find out what is wrong Overall the car is ok but not really worth all of the hassle and money I just recently got into a car accident with this car in April of 2001 and ended up totaling the car I was hit on the drivers side by a dodge ram that was going 60 miles an hour Luckily I walked away from the car with only a bruise from the seatbelt I was very lucky However the car had to be destroyed The car held up very well in the accident and I was very surprised that I didn t get hurt This car is very safe to drive around in and you won t have to worry about getting hurt if you do get in an accident " Pos," Buying my first car four years ago I searched high and low to find what I thought to be the quot perfect car quot for my needs 400 and one lemon later I realized that I needed to be a bit more circumspect when searching for a used car I sifted advice from a dozen sources read books and did a lot of looking around My decision was to buy a 92 Ford Taurus with 119 000 miles as much as for the excellent offer as for the technical knowledge I d gained about the vehicle A bit of background first on buying used cars This is surely not comprehensive One owner is always a plus If you can find an older person who is willing to sell that is also good More likely than not they will have religiously taken care of regular and preventative maintenance and will not have beat on the car as young people tend to do no matter the make or model I might add they drive it as if it s a sports car It s also convenient to have access to all repair records There are stores that will even run the VIN vehicle identification number to determine if it has had any factory work performed on it I ve driven my car for four years now and I have logged over 35 000 miles bringing the total to 156 000 miles I have driven in rain sleet snow and hail I ve driven on new tires bald tires performance tires and touring tires I ve driven cross country and I ve driven locally My point is I ve taken this car through every condition possible hmm haven t made it to the autobahn yet and I m very familiar with it Over the four years I ve owned my Taurus I have made substantial repairs Thus far I ve replaced all four brakes two front disk and two rear drums all four struts the water pump four tires one window motor and two front CV joints These repairs have been costly but they were necessary for the mileage and their cost was certainly leveraged by the utility I received from the vehicle Most of the miles I ve logged have been highway miles from commuting The vehicle fully loaded with two passengers would attain a fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon avg on long trips more than 100 miles For the shorter work home commute it averages 22 25 Around town the average drops but that is to be expected from the extremely reliable 3 0 V6 The engine is well known in auto circles as an economic choice that provides power when necessary I have found it to be a great compromise without moving to a larger V8 The car accelerates well which is not only fun to do occasionally but necessary when making quick and aggressive driving decisions Indeed most reviews will give the 3 0 L a hands down appreciation over its larger counterpart the 3 8 L because of its reliability the latter has often had technical problems The ride of a vehicle or how well it handles inconsistencies in the pavement without disturbing the passenger depends on many factors Certainly the road is a factor but so are tires inflation and type of struts and shocks Many cars today have progressive shocks which adjust to the road conditions and change the ride according to speed Though they weren t standard I chose to have these put in when I replaced them With properly inflated tires the vehicle provides an excellent ride even more so at high speeds as compared to a smaller vehicle The car has power steering brakes locks trunk windows as well as AC and a 4 speaker stereo These amenities are all standard the GL While the car has an average wheel base an average length compared to other vehicles of similar size the trunk is spacious I was able to pack modest luggage for four people into my trunk with some room to spare While I wouldn t recommend towing with the GL I found it to have the capacity and power to capably transport a full load of people and their luggage One inherent problem with a seemingly large number of pre 1995 Tauruses enough that this problem had a small write up in a major automotive magazine seems to be a knocking in the front strut area This has occurred in my vehicle and while I don t see any dangerous effects such as uneven tire wear or sloppy steering this doesn t mean that it couldn t propagate in the future besides the sound is not only annoying it causes alarm in my passengers sort of a bump in the night Though my be loved vehicle is aging and I may soon have to lay it to rest it was dollar for mile one of the best vehicles I ve purchased and if you as a used car buyer are in the same position I was I would encourage you to consider the Taurus as a possible vehicle br br " Pos," If you re looking for a reliable and safe family sedan then look no further than the Taurus I ve had mine for nearly eight years and it still performs like the day I drove it off the dealer s lot The car handles extremely well and has plenty of passenger and storage space to accommodate a family of four The gas mileage is adequate I d prefer it to be higher but the ride is comfortable and the design is appealing to the eye Price wise there are few cars that can offer you what the Taurus does at its price Overall I have been extremely satisfied with my purchase and expect to keep this car for at least another 5 years br br " Pos," I bought a 1992 Ford Taurus LX about 1 1 2 years ago and haven t had any problems with it at all Aside from regularly scheduled maintenance and the fact that I got into an accident I haven t had to take this car to the shop for anything The car has 108 000 miles on it now I bought it with 97 000 and the engine is still as smooth as silk It has a lot of power behind it wiht a 3 3L V6 EFI engine The front seat is roomy and has lots of features but the back seat can tend to be cramped especially with me driving but for smaller people is still very roomy I wouldn t giv this car up for anything right now and will keep it until it finally dies for the last time br br " Pos," Every year or two I decide that it s time to purchase a new car My wife and I have owned several car models and two motorcycles Our last car was a 1997 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition This was a program car that we got a good deal on We quickly racked up 50 000 miles on it in just over a year Last month we decided to shop around for another SUV We looked at the Dodge Durango the Envoy and a few other vehicles However we eventually ended up back at Ford looking at the 2001 Expedition XLT We bought it the same day I guess when you find something you like it s best just to stick with it b Seating The Eddie Bauer model we owned did not have a third row seat The salesman stated that the third row is now standard in the Expedition The extra seat allows for comfortable seating for eight passengers The third row is accessed by folding down the short seat on the passenger side of the truck Because the third seat sits up higher than the front two rows the leg room is much more limited However it still allows enough room for average size riders to remain comfortable It is an added benefit knowing you can carry extra riders with everyone in a seatbelt b Climate Controls The Eddie Bauer Edition had a sunroof which meant that there were no rear climate controls I find this to be one of my favorite features During the past few HOT weeks the XLT seemed to cool down faster than my Eddie Bauer model did The rear climate controls have vents in the second and third rows The rear climate controls can be shut off from the main control switch that the driver operates just in case you have young children that think it s fun to run the heater during Summer months b Engine The Eddie Bauer has a larger engine sporting the 5 4L Triton 8 cylinder engine The XLT has a smaller more fuel efficient 4 6L 8 cylinder engine Both models are 4 wheel drive I have not experienced a noticeable loss of power with the XLT but have not taken either vehicle four wheeling I have ample power for passing I towed my motorcycle and trailer on the Eddie Bauer model with no noticeable lugging on the engine The XLT does not come with a tow bar and I haven t installed one yet I believe that I may notice the difference in engine strength once I start using the truck for towing Other than that the power is more than sufficient for normal driving I have been getting around 13 or 14 MPG in the city and around 17 or 18 MPG on the highway b Radio Controls The Ford Expedition comes with a decent stock sound system I am not a power freak when it comes to speakers As long as I can hear my music at a moderate level without distortion I am satisfied The Ford Expedition delivers on this point The sound system also comes equipped with a six CD changer The CD changer is located in the center console which is much larger than the older models Ford removed the armrests which were installed on the older models and extended the width of the center console to compensate This allows for several additional CDs other than the ones located inside the CD changer The old center console did not even have enough room for the six CD jewels for the CD s inside the changer The radio has rear controls located on the back of the center console These controls adjust volume and change radio stations It can be very irritating when a youngster realizes that they can change your station with their toes while your tooling down the road listening to your favorite LRB song BUT you can shut off the rear controls by pushing two of the pre set buttons on the radio simultaneously b Remote Access The Ford Expedition XLT comes with two remote control buttons that allow you to lock or unlock the truck from a distance away I have tested it from inside the house and have successfully unlocked the truck They claim that the controls are unique There is also a keyless entry pad located beneath the driver s side door handle which contains five buttons with the numbers 1 through 10 two numbers per pad The vehicle comes with a password that allows you to unlock the door with a combination A great feature in case you lock yourself out I m still not sure where I stand on that issue as far as security goes but I figure it would be quicker to break the window to steal a car than try and figure out the password b Comfort I liked the armrests that the older models of the Expedition had on them However I have adjusted my ride to allow for resting on the center console The seats are very comfortable and are great for long rides I prefer the cloth seats of the XLT to the leather interior on the Eddie Bauer because leather is VERY cold in the Winter and VERY hot in the Summer The climate controls are efficient the mirrors adjust easily and the seats have numerous settings to get that just right position In case you find the comfortable seat position and find yourself short of the gas and brake pedals they have an adjustment for those as well Just pusht the button and they ll come to meet you b Handling When discussing SUV s you would expect to hear how they handle off road However I do not intend to drive mine off road I got a 4 wheel drive vehicle to handle the sometimes treacherous Winter storms we get up North Since I have only owned this model for two months now I have not driven it in heavy snow However I have driven over the rough post Winter pot holed roads in my area and it has handled the bumps well Smooth as glass No Yet still comfortable The vehicle corners well for a top heavy SUV and accelerates smoothly except on steep inclines b Car Seats I still have one child in a carseat I have found the Ford Expedition to be one of the best vehicles I ve owned in regards to installing removing carseats b Overall Impression I have been happy with the Ford Expedition I think that the highest compliment that an automobile manufacturer can receive is to have a customer duplicate their purchase I have never owned a Ford product prior to the Ford Expedition but have become a believer at least in this model The Ford Expedition costs a little bit more than some of the models in it s class and less than others The market has become flooded with SUV s with everyone getting in on the action In fact four classes of SUV s have emerged mirroring the car market However Ford Expedition is among the oldest and most time proven models of SUV on the road As long as my Goodyear tires hold out I ll be happy with my purchase " Pos," When my friend Brian called me and told me he had bought a new car to replace his 1995 Ford Explorer I thought he bought a more sensible car maybe a sedan or something Nope I was completely wrong Brain bought a 2001 Ford Expedition with Eddie Bauer trim Boy that is quite a truck The Expedition is so large that it resembles a small school bus However it doesn t drive like a school bus not that I have ever driven a school bus and certainly doesn t look like one when you consider all that the Expedition offers i So What Does it Offer I know nothing about the engine and so forth so I am focusing mostly on the interior of the car and the exterior appearance You could use those as a mirror Chrome Boy it sure is beautiful I am not sure I would want to keep up with chrome having to polish it and keep it clean and so forth but it sure is pretty to look at on other people s cars The Expedition has lots of chrome to look at Between its chrome bumpers both front and rear and its chrome wheels there are plenty of shiny surfaces to look at Too bad you have to keep them polished and clean Brrrr It is cold Darn The windows and mirrors are fogging up As it did today in D C sometimes it snows And snows And snows And other times it ices But then there are also the times when the windows just fog up With the good old American defrosters on the Expedition that ice or snow or fog will melt right off But what about the mirrors They fog up and get icy as well How do you clear those Well the Expedition offers something new and exciting heated mirrors No more foggy mirrors that wind up being useless De fog them and they are ready to go Speaking of the cold and the fog Fog lamps The Eddie Bauer line comes standard with fog lamps mounted below the regular head lamps Fog lamps are not only for show they also do help you maneuver in the fog Another cool feature heated seats The driver and passenger seats are both heated A very nice addition for those cold tushies And there is also automatic temperature control Set the thermostat at say 72 degrees and it will stay there automatically Daddy where should I put this When you have little kids or are just a pack rat yourself you need lots of storage Brian has two little girls who are always in need of a tissue another pacifier a different CD a cracker or something else Well where do you put all those things that a child might need How about in your ample storage There are two consoles in the Expedition floor and overhead The floor console has a general storage compartment a coin holder headphone jacks a tissue holder and 4 cupholders The overhead console has map lights sunglasses holder a holder for your garage door opener and a compass Overall there are 6 cupholders throughout the quot cabin quot of the Expedition Going on a trip There is plenty of room for cargo As long as you remove the 3rd seat more on this in a minute there is a large area for cargo There are cargo tie downs on the floor of the truck and a luggage rack on the top of the truck on the cargo rack It is easy to add some small packages to the cargo by opening only the glass on the rear hatch There is a window door split so that you can open only the glass or can open both glass and door together Someone has been driving my truck Brian is exceptionally tall so when I got in the truck to drive it I of course needed to adjust EVERYTHING ranging from the seat to the pedals there are adjusting pedals for different height people But when Brian gets back in the truck there is a memory feature that resets the seat mirrors and pedals to his original setting NICE Daddy I m bored When going on long trips the girls often get bored The nice thing is Brian s new car has a rear seat entertainment center complete with a VHS VCR Now Brian can put on a movie to keep the girls occupied during the trips I am sure that is a Godsend And for the adults entertainment there is a 6 CD changer standard with the truck Analog Gages voltage oil water temperature speed odometer fuel Warning Lights door ajar 4 wheel drive seat belts low washer fluid bright highbeam lights on Anti Lock Brakes Cruise Control parking brake low fuel check engine airbag temperature low oil pressure turn signals and security system Power locks Windows and Cruise Control Removable Third Row Bench Seat Remote Entry Child Proof Doors Airbags Overall I think this is a great truck I don t see any negatives yet except for the fact that it gets horrible gas mileage and that it is so expensive Overall it seems like a great truck And it works GREAT with both girls carseats so Brian is happy Judging from my experience driving the Ford Expedition I would recommend it to anyone who has the need for a SUV br br " Pos," I didn t buy my Expedition so I could run errands in town or drive my kids to practice I bought it to tow our 5000 lb travel trailer and all of our camping gear We couldn t have picked a better truck With the 5 4 liter V8 3 92 limited slip rear end and heavy duty tow package we can pull 7300 lbs The step up is very high but once inside you re greeted by a panoramic view around you A great feature is the power adjustable pedals which have a range of 4 inches Believe me they really make a difference There is a 14 inch height differential between my wife and I but we can both find a comfortable driving position More importantly my wife can remain a safe distance from the steering wheel air bag Reliability has been stellar Based on the time tested F 150 chassis the Expedition has proven itself both durable and reliable Our experience has borne this out After 6 months 15 000 miles and several towing trips my Expedition has required only one unscheduled service call to repair a slow leak in one tire yes Firestone Wilderness all four of which will be replaced by Ford in the next several weeks Gas mileage is a big drawback I have averaged about 14 8 miles per gallon in mixed driving 10 when towing the trailer But again I didn t buy it to replace my minivan If you don t tow you probably don t need the 5 4l engine But even if you don t tow the Expy offers size safety and security for your family " Pos," The sporty appearance is unmatched The interior w comfort convenience group rivals that of a limo When inside the vehicle the interior lighting and optional leather interior create an atmosphere of comfort and luxury The stereo system performs well with a 6 disc changer as optional The third seat area is a bit hard to access and not made for very tall people but is adequate Removing the seat is a snap for extra storage space It will also tip up for extra space in the cargo area I have owned a Mustang and in my opinion the handling of the Expedition considering it s size is comparable The optional 5 4L V8 has tremendous power The acceleration is scary for such a large vehicle Both from a dead stop and while passing the performance is awe inspiring Road noise is minimal Shopping around and using dealer against dealer will save you 3 5K off of MSRP Overall a great vehicle 9 out of 10 in my opinion " Pos," Well this is not the type of review that I generally write I am a mom to 4 girls and am busy doing things related to raising them I don t know much about the technical workings of cars but I drive them A LOT I really felt compelled to write an epinion about this car We recently traded in our Ford Contour and purchased the much bigger Crown Victoria Try getting a family of six in a Contour No can do So out we went to buy a larger sedan for my hubby to drive He is no car expert either so we had to drive and redrive and sit in every car that seated 5 6 passengers comfortably We did this 23 302 times while we were deciding what was the best car for us The Crown Vic was our choice hands down It is plenty roomy in the backseat My teenagers and kindergartener have plenty of leg room and space for all the stuff they must carry no matter where they go The front bench seat will sit 3 but the middle person is a bit cramped The airbags make it unsafe to put a child there but that is really the size of the space However we can put an adult there for short trips and it works okay The drive is really smooth and the car handles like a much smaller car There is ample power on acceleration and people get out of your way because they think you are a cop I especially like the way this car brakes I don t know any technical terms but it is very responsive The Crown Vic gets pretty good gas mileage about 25 mpg on average The tank holds about 20 gallons of gasoline The gas cap is easy to get on and off The trunk is huge and has a safety release strap in the event that you should somehow become trapped in there Great for those with adventurous youngsters The only drawback of this car is that it is rear wheel drive We feel that this issue was effectively dealt with the addition of traction control which my husband swears by We are thrilled by our purchase and it is a dream to drive this car We got a great deal on the car and Ford gave us extra incentive 0 financing for 60 months Can t beat it I hope this review helps those that are not car experts but want to find a really terrific car The Crown Vic will not disappoint " Pos," My wife and I purchased a 1999 Ford E 350 15 seater for our growing family with our sixth child on the way Our van is not loaded with options while we have tint windows cruise control and running boards we opted for no carpet or power features to assist us in keeping the van clean with active children and to minimize worries about equipment breakages down the years We purchased using the Internet Autobytel com to locate a dealer and set a price We are pleased with our vehicle after three months and with the purchase process Our van has the 5 4 liter V 8 engine and it delivers very good power and acceleration The gas mileage comes in at 14 16 mpg on the highway and a consistent 11 12 mpg around town The visibility while driving is excellent with the height of the driver from the ground and the large sidemounted mirrors Due to the vehicle length lane changes require slightly more planning than a conventional minivan however the large mirrors provide excellent situational awareness Both the turning radius and turning response are very good and were much better than anticipated Parking requires patience but is not a difficult task including parallel parking The rear bench removes very easily with two people One person who is capable of lifting 60 pounds can remove the bench as well With the rear bench removed there are twelve seats and a tremendous amount of cargo room although thought must be put into to securing cargo in the rear to prevent shifting Do it yourself oil changes and fluid refilling are a cinch with this van The engine was designed with easy access to wide mouthed filling spouts in mind The great height of the bottom of the vehicle from the ground make it completely unnecessary to jack the vehicle for oil plug or filter removal We found the height of the vehicle made running boards necessary in order to facilitate the handling of children and groceries around the vehicle We have found our E 350 to be a superior value to any minivan out there Fuel mileage and luxury features are the only advantage we have seen of a minivan over our conversion van br br " Pos," My family and I own two Aerostars and we just love them We have three kids and need the extra room if we are going on a trip or to the grocery store My husband have also hauled many things with these vans He used to work as a service tech for a window company and had to haul 3 hundred pound windows around for some of the services He now works for a plumbing company and hauls pipe everywhere We have had little trouble with these vans The biggest problem we have had is a Transmission leak The vans are still running and one has over 150 000 miles on it and the other one has over 200 00 miles on it These have been some of the best cars that we have owned and we got them both used I could only hope that all the rest of the cars that we own are this good br br " Pos," The 2000 Ford Econoline E350 12 passenger van we purchased in November is a perfect fit for our growing family We ordered this van in August before the birth of our 6th baby and while we had to wait a few weeks longer than anticipated it was well worth the wait After driving a minivan for 6 years the size of this van was a bit overwhelming at first But I love the height when driving around town and on the interstate Scraping ice and snow from the front windshield is tricky because of the height Getting in and out of the van is good exercise for me since we have not gotten running boards yet The van handles wonderfully even in snow Parking the van is a learned skill since some parking lots are designed with smaller parking spots The cd cassette radio sounds great and is easy to use and program The spaciousness of the van allows me to move pretty easily from front to back to help buckle and unbuckle my youngest kids from their car seats and there is plenty of space to put grocery bags during our monthly shopping trip The only thing I have to complain about is the space between the front bucket seats and the engine hub There is not enough space to sit sideways in the seat and slide around to the front This van is a must have for growing families Even if your family hasn t outnumbered the seats in a minivan the kids will eventually be too uncomfortable in the cramped space br br " Pos," I have been looking for many years for a truck that will stand out from all others I have found it Ford has made many models and sold millions I went to the Ford Dealership where I live and I was shopping for a truck and as I walked into the show room there it was This truck was the big foot of all Custom style with all the extra This truck was made to stay in the showroom and their was not one other was like this one I then looked it over and it had all I wanted and I was sold I test driven and I was surprised that this truck was made for me I seen trucks of the same model on the lot and this one was made special Large tires with mag s California Concept detailing I said to the sale man I ll take it There was group of people there wanting to take this truck out of the showroom and was told its sold If I would of walked away and went on looking elsewhere it would of been gone People come up to me and ask where did you get your truck Its one of a kind custom made Rear Cab is custom with closure of the body color and lock Not with cab liner as most truck This make more safe when traveling and packing all your extra in the rear California Concept is a company that specializing in detailing with all the extra as tires and shields and medal steps side for that sporty look If you go and look for a truck of this kind ask the dealership for information about California Concept and then you will have a truck you will love " Pos," We purchased a 1999 Ford F 150 in May of 1999 We bought the base model and added only the 60 40 seat cruise control and a cassette player We bought the truck to serve as a reliable vehicle for me to commute to work in and for us to take long trips in We kept the standard V 6 engine which works fine if you are towing a small trailor and reasonable loads In fact I have never run into a case where I needed a larger engine but I am certain that towing a large trailor or heavy loads would tax the V 6 The manual transmission is great and it shifts like a car It is very forgiving however the clutch is stiff and could be difficult for someone with knee problems The truck handles the road very well in rain and snow and I have only a couple of times wished for 4 wheel drive We have traveled from NJ to La and from NJ to IL several times in the truck and it rides extremely well There is plenty of room in the front seat The rear seat on the other hand is not made for an adult to ride long distances in We have put our two kids in the rear seat and they seem happy The 4th door makes putting a child into and removing a child from a car seat extremely easy and a car seat fits perfectly behind either seat or in the middle of the rear seat It is important to get measurements of the car seats though because some brands of car seats will not fit behind either seat The bed of the truck is full sized so there is no problem hauling plywood unlike the new 4 door F 150s I strongly recommend adding a topper about 800 1200 since it greatly increases the utility and security of the goods you are hauling as well as nearly eliminating the disposing of garbage in the truck bed It is a difficult vehicle to enter so if you are going to have someone whose mobility is less than normal riding in the truck check to see how easy it is for them to enter and leave the cab Whenever I drive my mother I must give her a boost to get in and a hand out Riding boards help but do not eliminate this problem 4 wheel drive makes this even worse Fuel economy is reasonable I generally get 19 20 mpg normal use and about 21 22 on the highway Overall it is a great truck for the price and a great vehicle to see the country in br br " Pos," The F 150 Ford Series offers many people what they will be looking for in a full size truck The front 60 40 seat offers comfort with driver side lumbar control Lots of leg room and head room for those that don t like to feel boxed in All of the climate controls and radio are well within reach to improve road safety The front seat offers a flip down console that locks in place for added storage The rear seat is good for smaller children but adults don t think there is enough leg room Especially if the front passengers have there seats all the way back The 4 doors make entering and exiting the vehicle quite easy for my 7 year old son If your looking for a truck that offers a smooth ride than look no further than the F 150 The 4 wheel drive is a must for those who have to drive in inclement weather No need to get out and quot lock in the hubs quot either the F150 changes from 2 wheel to 4 wheel drive with the quick and easy shift of a lever The 5 4L Triton v 8 offers all the power you will need Whether you want to tow the boat up to the lake or have to drive up a snow covered hill the F 150 should be your vehicle of choice br br " Pos," Hello I love my Ford F 150 supercab The fourth door in the 99 s was a wonderful idea I have had three F 150 s and by far this on is my favorite It is so convenient to be able to go and open the doors from either side Packing and unpacking is so much better The only thing I can think of is the noise reduction needs to be worked on There is alot of noise driving down the highway I have had it checked out at the dealership and they have told me that is the truck Nothing is wrong as far as the truck goes Please make it a more quite ride for people that enjoy cruiseing down the highway listening to there music Also the fold down console is not very convenient for your arms Make the console longer The fog lights are wonderful I have been able to get home at night many times with your fog lights I lived fifty miles out of town in the mountains There were nights it was snowing so bad I could not see the road in front of me The fog lights is what got me home I wouldn t have a truck without them If anyone wants a wonderful truck get yourself a Ford F 150 supercab You will wonder why you did not do it before now The seats are very comfortable but solid This makes for a long drive a very pleasant and comfortable drive Remember drive a Ford F 150 and you will see what I am talking about " Pos," The F 150 that I have has been the best truck that I have owned the comfort level of the seats and the interior is great It came with the standard installed sound system that has been superior The rear opening doors have been a plus easy in and out and with good latches and seals The model I have has a 300 cubic inch 6 that has plenty of power to handle the 4X4 operations the automatic locking hubs leave a little to be desired other then that the truck handles and operates with ease The hub locking is not what I expected the thing I don t like is you must travel forward about 10 feet before they lock in so if you don t lock them in before you start you could be in trouble and if you have to back up for any reason they will unlock and the whole thing starts over again Not one of Ford s better Ideas The manual locking hubs are still the way to go I bought this truck because Fords are the only trucks I have ever owned this one makes number 10 br br " Pos," This is a Vehicle to Love I bought a 2000 Ford F 150 its terrific it has 4 doors all the luxury s of a car rides wonderful it has a cd player power windows abs brakes on all 4 wheels The cost was 24 000 00 was like a steal While theres no four wheel drive on this vehicle they do make them I didn t want 4 wheel drive nor did i want a V 8 this truck is a V 6 and still moves great I had a Dodge Ram before this and it rode just like a truck on the freeways it made me sick to ride in it so if you want a truck with all the luxury s of a car and the ride of a car this is the truck for you They are priced well and look great and run terrific This truck has lots of room for a truck it fits 5 adults comfortably br br " Pos," All I have to say is if your looking for a Truck the F150 would be a good choice The F150 that I am telling you about is a 2000 F 150 4x4 Supercab Lariat 139 quot WB flareside with a 5 4 EFI V8 engine When I was out comparing trucks I was looking for one that had the power to pass at any given time and the comfort of a car I compared price and that seemed about the same The selling points for me was the look the drive and the power This truck rides smooth and doesn t do bad on gas as well As for the power it was unmatched Their are many different styles to choose from as well Some other selling points would be the compartment between the seats has plenty of room for anything you might want to put in there Although this truck is sleek it probably would be a little difficult for some people to get in and out of it " Pos," When the demands of family life outweigh the number of seats in your regular cab pickup what can you do TRADE UP This is my second ford truck In fact I would say that this is close to my dream truck My wife and I looked at the Taurus Wagon the Volvo Wagons Ford Explorer Subaru Wagon and a few minivans Our main goal was to get a roomy car for long trips and to have a second car that could hold two child car seats and two more adults A secondary issue was replacing my truck which is a 1997 F 150 regular cab I also wrote review on that truck My wife was leaning toward the Volvo and I of course wanted more truck After shopping around I went on a test drive with the salesman In the middle of the drive I called my wife and we stopped by to get her and my two boys So during the test drive we had two large male adults me and the salesman both 250 lbs my wife and two car seats with the boys riding comfortably My wife was really amazed at the space in the cab with the bonus of having a truck bed Let me describe my truck It is a silver 2003 F 150 Supercrew XLT 4x4 4 6 V 8 with the Class III towing package option and ABS all around It also includes cruise control AC 17 inch wheels w OWL tires 3 73 rear axle an in dash single CD player power windows power locks power mirrors fog lights and a Ford bed liner For all those with kids there are tether anchors in the rear During the first week I had the truck I put approx 1000 miles on it doing my work commute and routine errand running My initial impression is that Ford really softened the ride so that you don t get that jarring truck feel when going over bumps No mistaking it doesn t equal a car s ride but it rides like a very smooth truck In addition Ford fixed the issue that I had with my 1997 F 150 by moving the exhaust pipe to exit behind the rear wheel The rear seats fold down to provide dry storage inside of the cab It is a split bench in the rear so I can still fold down 1 3 of the seat and have the two car seats in the back In the front you can also ride three adults comfortably so it really is 6 passenger seating This car is perfect for our 4 member family and is a great utility for us as homeowners Before we started our search I thought we would have to forsake the utility of a truck However the Super Crew and other four door trucks covers a lot of bases Some of the other things I have noticed about the truck are that the driver has excellent visibility of the road around him her This truck has large mirrors and the hood drops away so that the driver can see what is immediately in front of the truck The factory radio is decent but is easily drowned out when you have the windows down The over head console has a compass and outside temperature but no other information I would like to see maybe distance to empty gas mileage etc The electronic odometer has a trip computer The gauges on the truck show speed tachometer oil pressure system charge coolant temperature The middle seat in the front folds down to be a storage compartment and has two cup holders There are also two cup holders in the rear I also have two outlets in the front radar detector and cell phone and an outlet in the rear located in the seatbelt anchor This outlet in the back is perfect for cell phones and laptops My wife likes the under seat storage in the rear also Behind the rear seats are storage compartments and one of them holds the jack and tire iron for the truck The truck came with floor mats and treated upholstery something similar to scotch guard So far the drawbacks are pretty standard The gas mileage is an issue but is to be expected with a large truck that is V 8 powered The other issue is that the brakes while adequate feel a little mushy The 4 6 V 8 also only rates in my opinion as adequate I have learned not to drive a truck like a car so this isn t a big issue to me The tires that came with the truck are Goodyear Wranglers I don t have any complaints so far on the tires but I like the Dunlop Rover LT s which are excellent in the rain I will let you know how the Wrangler s do b 2500 Mile Update b This truck has done pretty well during the break in period One minor issue is the adjustable pedals gas brake there is a switch on the dash for moving them and it is NOT deactivated while the truck is in motion I sometimes nudge the buttons with my knee Towing I towed a 88 Ford Crown Victoria to the auction on an auto transport trailer 30 miles The 4 6 V 8 was adequate task but could really use more power when towing something that large like the 5 4L v 8 With the overdrive disabled the truck would really lug going up hills with the added weight Other than that the engine is more than adequate for family hauling and highway cruising I was able to 4x4 with a full load of wood with no problem in wet muddy terrain With regards to gas mileage I monitor with trip computer and gas receipts I am getting 17 mpg on highway and 14 in the city My initial mileage first 1000 miles was around 14Hwy 12City If we can put a man on the moon we can make a light duty 4x4 V 8 funtional truck that gets 18 MPG city and 22 MPG HWY Family Duty is where the truck really shines Trips to Sam s Club with the family are a breeze with plenty of room for bulk paper towels bulk food and other gargantuan grocery list items At highway speeds the truck has very little wind noise in the cabin compared to my 97 truck Also when the truck has a few hundred pounds in the bed and 4 5 people in the cab it rides like a luxury car When the bed is empty and you are by yourself prepare to bounce over every bump price you pay for HD suspension and having a truck All in all I am very satisfied with my purchase at this point My wife also really likes the truck now We have to fight for the keys She feels very comfortable driving it good visibility she likes the functional privacy glass in the rear to keep sun off the kids the child locks in the rear are a plus and so far her only issue is getting used to climbing up into the truck " Pos," This is our nickname for our Ford Expedition why you say Because it is such a huge beast of a truck We first purchased the Eddie Bauer version of the Ford Explorer last summer because I was rapidly outgrowing my Ford Explorer With two kids car seats baby strollers and expensive makeup cases to haul around we decided it was time to expand We had always wanted an Expedition and searched high and low until we found the exact one we were looking for a black one with a sun roof It s like a taste of freedom to open that roof and the closest thing I ll get to a convertible We just needed more room for our family and this is the perfect vehicle if that s what you are looking for too It has a third seat in the back of the truck that can also fold down flat or you can remove it altogether Gripe 1 However you must be very strong to both remove and or fold the seat down I have found it impossible to do this as a woman weighing 112 pounds My husband even has a hard time with the seat removal so a lot of the time we just keep it flat My oldest son is six and he had so much fun riding in the third seat but I found it to be unsafe back there I am a big believer in booster seats for kids and that is not the place for him And once all three seats are up there is almost no room for storage at all Gripe 2 So now that you know how much I weigh let me tell you how tall I am now 5 5 Why you say Well this is my problem with this vehicle Gripe 3 I am just too small to see behind me especially when I am backing up The front seats are high bucket seats which I think are an obstacle I am thoroughly convinced this is a MAN S truck and not made for women even though I see more moms driving them I even tried sitting on an elevated foam pad but that made it even more difficult Since purchasing this vehicle the price of gasoline has gone up daily Gripe 4 Can you say GAS GUZZLER To fill up THE BEAST It costs 40 00 at least So part of the proceeds of this review will get me a gallon of gas If you live or work in a building with a parking garage better check the height allowances Gripe 5 because this bad boy needs clearance of 6 6 I ve scraped many a garage roof And let s not forget about parking Gripe 6 Parking spaces are meant for cars not trucks It is ALWAYS a tight squeeze to get into those spaces at the malls and once you get in to the spot getting out of your car is a whole new issue You must be thin as you try and squeeze yourself out between the cars So what do I like about THE BEAST you say Three words FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LOVE IT It has never let me down and that s worth it s weight in gold I also feel very safe in this vehicle and absolutely hate riding in cars now THE BEAST sits high and proud and it s V8 engine can really take off All in all this has been an excellent truck very dependable and spacious But I m thinking about trading it in for a slightly smaller truck I have become convinced that it is not the most comfortable car to drive and it is just too big for me I take a lot of flack from men that I work with about driving such a monster truck Most of them are very envious of THE BEAST everyone has something to say about it It s kind of like BEAST envy This is definitely a macho truck and well worth every penny So soon I may have to part with THE BEAST parting will be such sweet sorrow But rest assured my next one will also be black four wheel drive and a sun roof too it just will have a girlier nick name like BEAUTY hmmm The search is on anyone wanna buy a slightly used BEAST " Pos," I ve driven Fords since I got my Mustang when I was 16 From there I bought a Cougar then an Explorer I now drive an Eddie Bauer Expedition I guess the one common denominator with all my Fords is the awesome air conditioner Living in Texas with our summers air conditioning is very important and I believe they get a good testing here when the temperature reaches over 100 for days in a row To make matters more interesting my current Expedition is black While driving home from visiting relatives several months ago I blew up the engine in my Expedition I had just had the oil changed that morning I crept into the nearest Ford dealership in Mineral Wells Texas and was given the bad news Ford paid for all but 1000 of the new engine and most of my rental car for the next 3 weeks What happened to the engine I do not know Did Ford handle the problem correctly I don t know The interior of the Expedition has met all my expectations There is ample leg room in the second seat for adults as well as children Behind the back seat is enough space for groceries without moving the third seat at all With the third seat folded down I have been able to tote anything I have need to even with 5 kids and a dog Golf clubs trips to Sams camping trips etc have all been accomplished without me ever having to take out the seat The radio and CD player have been fine with good sound and easy to manipulate knobs and buttons The handle in the back seat that hangs from the ceiling has gotten loose and the clothes hook has come off on one side Otherwise I have had no interior problems at all I know that the car runs well however my prized possession the great air conditioning is not the same It takes almost an hour to get the ice cold air I used to have immediatly I have plenty of freon and no one knows the problem I will be getting a new car in the next 6 months or so and I probably will not be buying another Ford Not because of anything except I guess at 36 years old I should drive something else so I can have a reference to compare it with " Pos," The Ford Expedition is a wonderful SUV The Expedition that I have the pleasure of owning is a 1998 Eddie Bauer edition with a 5 4 liter engine The engine is more than capable of pulling the Expeditions weight plus another four or five thousand pounds of trailer I have used the vehicle to pull a 22 foot sport boat to Arkansas and the truck did well in the hills of the Ozark Mountains Stopping power with a trailer is also very good though added distance is needed of course The 5 4 is also a very capable engine option in the mountains of Colorado The truck moves well with the automobiles of lesser weight and ascends quickly up the steep inclines Though 20 of a vehicles power is lost in the mountains the Expedition had power to spare The Expedition does exceptionally well in the snow I have four wheeled in about 8 inches of snow and could not get the vehicle stuck in drifts or otherwise The vehicle is equipped with part time four wheel drive which allows it to be driven on dry roads with four wheel engaged The truck senses wheel spin and puts it in four wheel drive only when needed Full time and four low can also be selected with the flip of a switch which lock the four wheels in drive mode The Expedition has been a trouble free automobile for the past 30 000 miles It has been to the dealership only to look at new Expeditions that I will definitely purchase when the lease expires The lease that Ford offered has been trouble free and was explained well when I purchased the vehicle from Woodhouse Ford in Blair Nebraska If you are hauling many people i e 8 then the rear seat is worth the 300 option price However if you do not need it the seat is more of a hassle When you wish to haul large objects in the back the seat leaves you with only one to two feet of cargo space when installed The seat is however easy to remove with two people at each side Also if you plan to buy a lot of groceries with the seat installed plan on putting them in the back seat or picking up your canned goods that fall all over when placed on top of the folded seat back The truck has only needed routine maintenance such as oil changes and windshield wiper fluid The oil is extremely easy to change for the do it yourselfer because the oil pick up and filter are separate from the engine block The filter is located right up front and is vertically placed so no oil drips out when unscrewing the filter Spark plugs on the overhead cam 5 4 engine last until 100 000 miles so I am not able to comment on changing those however they look difficult to reach because the engine is recessed in its bay The leather on the seats has held up well to wet swimsuits and dirty jeans It cleans easily with a little leather cleaner The only bad thing that I can comment on the vehicle is that it was not equipped with an outside temperature gauge which is nice if the roads get slick and you want to see if it is freezing It does however have an electronic distance to empty and compass gauge The truck provides a commanding view of the road and is obstructed only by semi trucks and other trucks of that nature Plan on spending about 30 to fill the tank from empty at 1 20 per gallon gas prices The 5 4 goes through the gas rather quickly getting about 300 350 miles from a full tank " Pos," When we were faced with buying a bigger vehicle suitable for transporting more people my husband wouldn t consider anything other than an Expedition He s wanted one since they came out in 1997 His wish finally came true In late February 2000 we bought a 98 Eddie Bauer I m trying to I really want to like it but I m going to tell you about our experiences in the 2 shorts months we ve had it I hope this isn t an indication of what s to come Our timing could have been better in buying this vehicle We found it bought it on a Saturday and the interest rates went up the previous Monday Need I mention the price of gas Okay both of these are nobody s fault I ll start with the positive The main thing I like is it gives you a commanding view of the road sitting up so high I LOVE the fact that the doors automatically lock when put in gear Since I have small children I appreciate the child proof lock option I do not think it s hard to maneuver but I am used to big cars The temperature controls and radio controls for the back are nice A neutral point small children or shorter adults are the only ones comfortable in the third seat The middle back is very roomy and comfortable The back quot hatch quot if you will is kind of hard and heavy to put down Observation the further back you sit the bouncier it gets Now for our negative experiences First the third seat didn t come out as easily as we were told or as the owner s manual indicated My husband ended up having to use some tools to undo something I don t know I wasn t here when he did it I wish there was more room behind the third seat and the door We hadn t had this vehicle for 2 weeks when I put the back window right back door down and it wouldn t go back up We live 3 hours from the dealership where we bought it We got it fixed locally and they reimbursed us Two weeks later on a Monday I m on my way home from taking kids to preschool when the quot check engine quot light came on I couldn t get it in to the local shop until Wednesday 60 later we found out that my husband didn t put the gas cap on properly after getting gas Since the gas cap wasn t on correctly it was emitting illegal emissions thus triggering the quot check engine quot light The only way they can figure this out is by hooking it up to their computer wherein they get the error code Even if we knew the gas cap wasn t on properly upon seeing the quot check engine quot light the mechanic told me that it would not automatically go off once it had been tripped it had to be reset by a mechanic Okay so why doesn t Ford put a quot gas cap quot warning light on your dash or something instead of having to go through all of this I let my husband get gas once in the fourteen years we ve been married and he can t even do that right I ve taken his keys away So this vehicle has made two trips to the shop before we made our first payment I m not sure how to answer the reliability question since we haven t owned it all that long and the two trips to the shop haven t really been engine related When I have a full vehicle while making the quot preschool run quot I feel like a bus That s what the kids call it and the teacher commented that it was a pretty nice bus I ve never ridden on a school bus as nice " Pos," We traded in our Ford Explorer on an 1998 Eddie Bauer Expedition and it was the best choice we have made by far The cabin is roomy the seats comfortable and easy to clean when the little ones get them dirty and feels like you re riding on air I do wish we had a more current model since now the foot pedals on the 2000 models adjust to peoples height as I am 5 4 quot I would like that little perk This SUV turns on a dime which is great compared to the Crew Cab Ford Pickup we used to own Much easier to handle in those parking lots at the mall amp grocery store In addition I didn t know that there was airbag suspension we bought the Expedition but there is and it makes it a much more comfortable ride compared to that jolty Explorer I would recommend this vehicle to a family of three to seven and the smaller the family the better for a roadtrip We just take out the third seat and pile up the back with our stuff I highly recommend this one br br " Pos," I really love the Ford Expedition I ve had it a year now and it still drives like it did when I first bought it I used to own an Acura Integra but after having two children we needed a more spacious vehicle The Ford Explorer was the most popular at the time but the Expedition caught our eye because of its size and luxury look It looked like more than just a truck We got the leather interiors chrome accents and running boards and it sure looks great The kids love it because we can take all their friends along and they also have quot kid room quot The far back seat is fun for them cause it has a little bounce to it My husband has found the vehicle useful for his new Disc Jockey business He just pops out the third row seat and his equipment fits nicely in the back I love how it rides and turns It rides just like a car and handles really well The only problem we ve had with the vehicle was an oil leak The dealer was really great about getting it fixed right away We re back to smooth sailing again We also took it on a west coast vacation trip from Southern California to Northern California We ll never take a road trip in a little car again You ride up high you re in control of the road It s great family fun br br " Pos," After owning 3 Ford Explorers we decided to order a new 98 Expedition in the Fall of 97 We ordered a 4x2 w leather 6pack CD 4 6L engine and without rear seat or towing pkg We also purchased the extended 6 yr 100 000 mile warranty We have traveled extensively in this car since then Putting over 50 000 miles on it Total repairs have been to replace the front brakes at 36 000 and the rears at 50 000 miles Other than that we have changed the engine oil every 4 000 miles and the transmission at 36 000 miles The original tires are still doing well having rotated them every other oil change They look like they have at least another 15 000 safe miles NO other problems Fuel mileage on trips averages 21 MPG around town about 15 or so I m satisfied in every way with this car and would recommend one to just about anyone that wants this type of automobile The only down side is that it won t fit in all parking garages We have found a couple where the roof rack will hit I have found it an easy matter to remove the roof rack if I am going to be exposed to this situation The car is a very smooth and stable vehicle on the road It will cruise 80 miles per hour all day with no effort When you get out of the comfortable leather bucket seats after a 10 hour run you are not totaled as you are in some cars We really enjoy it Another plus is the visibility my wife enjoys the safety afforded by this and the size of the unit If you are in a wreck you will probably be safer than in a smaller car " Pos," I just cannot say enough about the Ford Expedition I have owned one for the past two years and have been extremely happy with this vehicle I have taken the family to Myrtle beach on two separate occasion in this vehicle and the drive was pleasurable My wife particularly loves the vehicle because she feels secure behind the wheel It is a very safe vehicle and extremely reliable in any type of weather During the Labor Day storm we had in the northeast my wife was out shopping and got caught in the store during the storm The power went out in the store and the customers were told that the store was closing Outside there was a number of trees and power lines down My wife was very confident that this vehicle would get her home safely and that is what it did There isn t a driving situation that this vehicle will not overcome This vehicle is for everybody especially for a large family lots of room Love it " Pos," Dear Prosepctive Car Buyer We just got our Ford Expedition 1 year ago and we just love it At first we had the next best thing a Ford Explorer and that was the tops Now we have the Ford Expedition and we just live in it We have a Huge Triton V8 5 4 litre This is just a monster We can pull boats trailers mobile homes You name it and the Ford Expedition can take it on With just the right amount of space inside this Ford Expedition does not even compare to the GMC Sonoma or the GMC Suburban Other cars we had considered when purchasing the Expedition Ford has such an excellent reputation and it sure lives up with this Only in the shop for an oil change it really lives up to standard From torque to comfort and from luxury to power the Ford Expedition blows away all other competitors Thanks for reading my article write up " Pos," As soon as I saw this SUV I fell in love and I knew no matter how long it would take me to save the money for this beast I had to have it For one it s truly a luxury vehicle it has all the luxury options of a Lexus or BMW in a truck It was when I drove it though that my love turned into lust and I couldn t get enough I went to different dealerships every couple of weeks to quot test drive quot it more like get my fix There are some things I d suggest getting on an Expedition 3rd seat it s light and easy to remove and you ll be thankful if you ever need to take 7 other people somewhere Rear Air those 7 other people will be thankful if you have it I enjoy the 6 disc CD changer it s great for the music lover and you commuter s out there I think the Expedition looks a heck of a lot meaner with the 17 inch rims which in turn require the illuminated running boards and last but definitely not least do not I repeat do not let any salesperson talk you out of the 5 4 liter engine It s like the difference between a Ford Escort and a Mustang No matter what other options you give up get the larger engine br br " Pos," For 10 years I owned a Jeep Wrangler and I loved everything about it Then I got married and we had twins a couple of years later Well the old Jeep wasn t gonna hold all the baby things that come along with the babies so we went looking for something else It seemed to me that the choices were a mini van or an SUV I just couldn t go from a Jeep to a mini van There would have been way to much therapy involved As we looked at the SUV s on the market I noticed that the Ford Explorer and others like it were nothing more than a large sedan with a really tall trunk We would still have to take two vehicles if we wanted to go somewhere with our kids and other friends and family The Expedition provided just the right mix It holds all our kids stuff is easy to get in and out of handles extremely well this baby will turn on a dime and still allows us to take our kids and our folks out to dinner in the same vehicle I have taken it off road on many occasions and have only minor complaints about its abilities there It s easy enough for my little wife to drive and it fits into my garage A fairly amazing feat with the size of garages being built these days but that s for another review Bottom line is it is easy to drive holds lots of stuff and fits in the garage Sure the gas mileage really blows but it s a small sacrifice for the comfort I get I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone who needs space comfort reliability and something more manly than a mini van br br " Pos," I purchased a used Ford Expedition in late 1999 when my job begin requiring me to go to remote radio tower repeater sites in the Ozarks The Expedition was simply the most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned I felt very safe and secure with nearly 3 tons of metal around me the 4 wheel drive relieved me of hiking into remote sites carrying 75 or so pounds of radio test equipment I thoroughly researched available SUVs before I made the plunge and the Expedition was the only one which met all of the criteria for my uses The only problem I have had has been a small hole was worn in a T fitting on the engine resulting in a check engine light and rough idle About 45 dollars at the deal fixed it I will probably be getting rid of it soon as my job duties have changed once again and I no longer need the 4 WD and I am driving farther to work The Expedition has the 5 4 engine with the trailer towing package and only gets about 13 14 MPG on the highway I will most definitely miss it but it s running me nearly 40 week for gasoline " Pos," I ve been a proud owner of a 1966 Mustang convertible for five years It is one of the best cars I have ever driven I recently watched a TV program where they investigated the exploding gas tanks in 1960 s mustangs I think it is not as big of a deal as they make it out to be In this TV report they blamed Ford Motor Company for the deaths of several teen age mustang drivers In these accidents when the mustangs were rear ended the gas tanks were punctured causing gas to get all over the driver and burn them The gas entered the car because of the fold down back seat I know that in my convertible there is no possible way for anything to get from the trunk to the back seat Only fastbacks have this fold down seat Ford shouldn t be blamed for any of this If you own a car from the 1960 s you should know that it isn t going to be that safe When compared with other old car problems this seems to be very small I suggest that if you do own a 60 s mustang with this problem you buy a metal barrier so that gas cannot enter the car You can get one in any mustang restoration catalog for about 200 It is a very good investment to make If you own an old car you should be responsible and make sure it is safe Classic mustangs are the best cars ever and they don t need a minor flaw like this messing up their reputation " Pos," I got this truck new and it took all my money but it was worth it since it s a keeper I thought it was a bust at first because it kept going into 4 wheel drive for no reason but I just called the Ford assistance line and they sent a tow truck out It turned out that the factory had left an extra spring shackle wedged in the front end somewhere which would rub on the front axle when you turned causing the automatic hubs to engage Anyway they fixed it for free There was a problem with the rivets on the frame but they fixed that for free too The only thing they don t fix for free is the automatic hubs which went out once on me I figure they need fixing once every three years which is better than getting out to lock them manually I didn t like how low the truck sat so I got a 4 lift big tires and this reverse shackle thing on the front which makes it ride better on the freeway where it s all rippled It s an animal on the ranches goes up anything even when the roads are washed out Once I dropped the right rear in a ditch and the left front was in the air and I had to pull it out with the dozer but that s the only time it got stuck It s got this turbo charged power stroke diesel which will out accelerate the 460 gas version here in California Some people don t like it making a lot of noise but I don t care I live in the country " Pos," Go Big Red is what our F150 seems to shout to everyone who looks on This flashy red truck with a V 6 and 5 speed manual transmission seems to have enough power for me and can spin tires without even trying We purchased her recently from Jim s Dodge Country located at 5402 L St in Omaha The salesperson was originally asking 12 600 but we were able to negotiate down to 10 800 which was the bottom of the range that First National Bank of Omaha quoted us for a loan I will discuss financing possibilities later in the review We bought this truck to go back and forth to work and for camping note my camping reviews We do not intend to tow anything such as a boat b Positives Some of the features that we enjoy are wide seating enough for 3 adults in the front seat heater that heats up quickly within the first mile in 12 degree weather after a 2 minute warm up reliable starting in cold weather long wide bed for camping relatively smooth QUIET ride unlike my Mazda B2000 22 000 miles with 14 000 miles and 6 months left on the warranty There are also gauges on the dash including temperature oil charging and fuel The dome light turns on automatically along with a couple of auxiliary lights in the same compartment behind the driver s seat There are four speakers in the cab giving a luxurious sound and GREAT separation There is a dual cup holder which pops out of the dash just above the ashtray This cupholder holds a 20 ounce soda perfectly There is a dual cigarette lighter perhaps one for lighting cigarettes and the other for power toys such as a TV cell phone charger or auxiliary defroster If you should not shut your door properly a light comes on to tell you that your door is ajar This truck features a 30 gallon gas tank with 15 mpg city and 17 mpg highway as stated on the original window tag Also I have found that this vehicle has more leg room than my Mazda did I normally would drive the Mazda with the seat all the way back even though many mechanics would move it up I have found that I can drive comfortably with the seat moved forward about 4 inches There is plenty of room in back of the seat which is split 60 40 and carpeted on the back There is ample storage in back of the seat in case I wish to keep store purchases out of view The dash is deep about an arm s length which I guess is neither here nor there but perhaps worth mentioning There are also pockets on each door which would be handy for maps coupon books etc There is also a compartment near the steering wheel for one to put small items in The glove box is wide but not very deep One can see the traffic up ahead as this vehicle sits higher than most other vehicles This vehicle has dual mirrors the passenger side one is slightly convex b Negatives Some of the drawbacks the bed in this full sized 2 wheel drive pickup is TALL It can be difficult to reach items that you put in the box It will be difficult to scrape ice off the windshield in the middle of winter Also I tend to hold the steering wheel by the horizontal bar that the horn is on while driving This is wider in this vehicle than in the Mazda that I am used to driving My large hands barely fit a smaller woman probably wouldn t be able to use this gripping method as the airbag is contained within Speaking of airbags there is a place to turn off the passenger airbag It may take a key as I see a key slot as well as a button I will need to investigate this however we have no small children in our household The vehicle itself is wider than I am normally used to driving I am unsure about fine points of parking this larger vehicle The key can be awkward to turn off as there is an extra lever which needs to be turned off but perhaps it is this way in all Fords 3 10 01 OK not even one month later I am discovering that the heater control switch the dial which switches the air from hot to cold is not functioning properly Sometimes you have to turn the knob back and forth to get the warm air to properly fill the cab It can force you out when it is zero degrees out or feel lukewarm when it is 30 degrees out Guess they ll have to replace the switch Being too hot is not a problem being too cool is Seems it only happens SOMETIMES but not when it is in the shop As well as I was stopping at a stop light this afternoon the check engine light came on The owner s manual said this could be because I was out of gas had water in the tank or a couple of other variables including emissions problems Wasn t running choppy at all I turned the engine off and back on and it was still there Could this be a Fix Or Repair Daily I hope things don t go wrong this regularly when the warranty expires in a few months When I took it in for warranty work they noted that a bad oxygen sensor needed replacing which they did free of charge As well the hazard lights do not always work properly and sometimes only one out of four lights blink 7 29 01 I took the Ford in earlier this week because the overhead light did not come on consistently when I opened the drivers door They replaced the switch free of charge one month left on the warranty Also I noted that when I drove home during a 3 hour trip on a very humid day there was a bit of condensation coming off the air conditioning unit placed above my sandal clad feet The water was not excessive but noticeable upon my nearly bare feet nonetheless 05 12 02 Things seem to have gone well with this truck and we just put on 2 000 miles on a one week trip The truck handled well on the rainy streets It can burn rubber easily when backing up a wet hill however I back into my driveway which is on a hill If I park on the hill rather than the base of the hill I can occasionally hear the truck creeking backward My husband has successfully parked half way up the hill when encouraging the sun to melt the snow in the winter time Occasionally the passenger seatbelt will make a ratcheting sound It works but the sound is annoying 11 02 The starter is starting to go out It is not releasing retracting or whatever it is supposed to do We have 50 000 miles on it The cost of a replacement lifetime warranty was 250 Our average distance driven one way to work is 10 miles We also run errands with this truck It is also used for pleasure and long distance trips 1 2 times a year 7 03 I was shifting gears quickly to change lanes in heavy traffic That is when the manual gearshifter knob came off in my hand I suppose it could have caused an accident Mileage 60 000 Replacement gear shift knob approximately 14 7 03 We have about 61 000 miles on the truck I was driving along perfectly well I stopped for a minute and attempted to restart the truck It kept turning over but never started When I did coax it to start it ran VERY rough and I was scared to drive it Seems the FUEL PUMP went out Bill 360 We had a range of 290 from a private garage to over 400 at the dealer The fuel pump is located by the fuel tank and one needs to take off the fuel tank to gain access The hood may be made from aluminum or plastic as it will not hold a magnet Unsure of the gauge of tin used elsewhere on the body What I REALLY like is the warning bell when you ve left your headlights on The pockets alongside the doors are handy for maps etc I like the mini storage behind the seats b Criteria Before I took delivery of this vehicle I wanted to see what it was worth We both looked in the classifieds and online We called my bank First National Bank of Omaha and they said they would loan anywhere from 10 800 to 14 000 or so for this vehicle I inquired as to financing and they quoted us 9 1 with my excellent credit I also checked with my insurance company State Farm who quoted us 8 25 on a 60 month loan The dealer Jim s Dodge Country went through Commercial Federal and was able to get us a 8 1 loan when a day earlier he quoted us a loan rate somewhere in the high 8 range for persons with good credit Another criteria that I had was to have my mechanic Keith Pauley owner of All Pro Muffler and Brakes located at 4646 S 60 St Omaha Nebraska do a free mechanical inspection before the deal was finalized We have been doing business with Keith ever since he opened about 5 years ago We went in there to have our brakes replaced on our Chevette only to have him tell us that all they needed was a free adjustment He has had our business ever since Keith informed us that the parking brake did not hold on our new Ford when it was on a hill and the brake light on the dash had a short and suggested that we have this fixed at H P Smith Ford as it was still under warranty He also advised that the tires needed replacing All Pro specializes in brake and muffler repair service Other than brakes and mufflers Keith s customers have demanded that he go into virtually all kinds of mechanical repairs He is a straightforward person and will tell you the way it is being nice in the process We asked the salesperson at Jim s Dodge Country to see if he could get us a good deal on tires He called a nearby company T O Hass Tires located at 5120 L St who made us a good deal We also went to H P Smith Ford located at 5051 L St who very agreeably set up service for the items still under warranty He even informed us that the warranty was 5 months longer than the salesman originally told us Also the salesman mentioned that there were no recalls on this particular vehicle Speaking of seats I work the night shift I make it a habit to take my lunch sleeping in the cab of this vehicle It is very easy to throw your legs over the bench seat rest your head on the driver window and take a nap Taking a nap in our Mazda pickup cab is a chore compared to this All in all we are very pleased with our purchase If things change you will be the second folks to know FYI We used to have a Ford F250 1981 which was a Fix Or Repair Daily However the truck was a 3 owner high mileage truck with a strong 460 V 8 my husband adds For some odd reason my husband wanted to buy another Ford Hopefully we will have better luck with this one " Pos," OVERVIEW I ve been a Ford man my entire life They truly are the best made automobiles in the world Anyway the 2 door Explorer Sport is definitely my favorite It s an all around great looking vehicle and I always get tons of compliments about it LIKES I am very particular about my vehicles and the Explorer still met all my needs Leather seats power seats and windows moon sun roof cd tape radio deck thermometer compass and rear temp and stereo controls are all the great options I got I think it is very smooth riding even for a SUV While its only built for four adults comfortably five can still fit except you are short a seatbelt DISLIKES There are not many things I do not like about the Explorer Sport I do wish it had the on board computer that 4 door Explorer Limited and Eddie Bauer have Its just nice to know exactly how much gas you have left your mileage and instantly know your systems diagnosis of potential problems all of which the inboard computer provides DRIVING Driving the Explorer Sport is awesome In late April of 2000 I was at an overnight camping party No tent needed just fold down the back seats and throw a sleeping bag back there Well overnight it started pouring and never stopped We were at the end of the muddiest minimum maintenance road I ve ever seen While everyone else got there cars trucks stuck on this muddy road I flipped into 4 Wheel Drive Low and drove through a muddy cornfield for 5 miles It was great The Explorer drives well in any conditions I especially likes it 4 wheel drive handling It is just great WHO SHOULD SHOULD NOT BUY I really don t think you can go wrong with the Explorer Sport Since there are only two doors dealing with little children and child seats is probably not suggested But for singles a young married couple an extra work pleasure auto or even a truck replacement this is a perfect vehicle br br " Pos," To all of those who dislike their SUV s think again This is finally a truck that lives up to the term SUV After owning many cars and not having any luck I finally found a vehicle that is dependable This is my second Explorer and I love it I purchased this one 4 months ago and have only minor complaints The only problems that I have had were paint related and that was the dealers fault Seems they scratched it when prepping the car for delivery I feel that the value of this vehicle is better than average The reliability is better than I have seen with other SUV s I traded in my Pontiac Grand Prix Early and am completely satisfied I have been reading a lot of other people s reviews and am a bit confused I am reading about how uncomfortable or how bumby or how much this car uses gas well just a few questions This is a truck right It is not supposed to be a car correct Knowing this why did you buy it if you are going to complain There are a few things you should know about this truck before buying it It is bumpier than a car it does not get 25 30 miles to the gallon and it will not do 0 60 in under 8 seconds but then again get the right setup and you can pull just about anything drive through or over pretty much all that gets in your way and feel confident that you have lots of vehicle around you The only major complaint I have is that it does rattle a little However I knew that going in to it That is what a truck does As I see it you pay for the power and ability All I can say for the skeptics is if you are looking for a well built reasonably priced truck this is it If you want comfort room and gas mileage buy a bigger truck or get a luxury car cause this aint it " Pos," Ford Explorer Sport provides a perfect blend between sport utility capability and practicality for everyday use While smaller SUVs lack the weight size and 4wd ability larger SUVs sacrifice fuel economy and drivability For instance a Honda CRV is not nearly as well suited for rough terrain and or snow With a structure that is derived from the Honda Civic economy car it is nowhere near as durable and imposing towards bad weather On the other hand a larger SUV such as a Ford Expedition or even a 4 door Chevy Blazer for that matter can make a driver feel disconnected to the road and make one nervous when trying to maneuver these battletanks around crowded city streets With the back end somewhat shortened over 4 door models one might expect a significant problem with cargo space This is not the case Explorer Sport has plenty of space to hold several pairs of skis with the rear seats folded down Also visibility is a strong point of Explorer Sport Pillars are arranged in a manner that cuts down of blind spots fairly well The Ford Explorer Sport offers a great deal of strong points not the least of them value About the only complaint that I have with this car that offers incredible build quality is that the base motor is uninspiring Go with the 4 0 SOHC as opposed to the OHV model The extra 30 horses is a definite plus particularly if towing is in your plans All in all though I have nothing but praise for this well built capable truck that offers a great blend of four wheel drive ability and normal day drivability br br " Pos," In September I purchased my Ford Explorer Sport 2000 model At first all was well but once we went in for our 8000 oil change everything went straight down the drain Several days later we heard a knock in the engine while the car was in park I quickly called the service department and told them what was happening with the vehicle After having my car for 2 days it was decided that Ford was indeed responsible for this defect although no one wanted to call it that legally but indeed it was Apparently some of these models made for the 2000 year have a high incidence of carbon forming around the pistons and can and will if not taken care of completely ruin your engine The catch no one knows how often to have this problem serviced and how to keep the so called wolves at bay because it is a new problem No one knows anything about it but this new problem can lead to disaster after time even with the routine maintainance Ford prescribes No one would guarentee that my engine would not blow up nor could I even get as much as a report to the engineers about this problem because Ford doesnt consider it to be a defective engine or the inner workings thereof No one concerning this product is willing to take responsibility for it nor are they willing to replace the engine ect because Ford doesnt want to admit fault with their product at least not just yet I am basically driving a time bomb and I would suggest to look for another vehicle to purchase because it is becoming clear that Ford Motor Corporation doesnt stand behind their product as well as it should F O R D Fix Or Repair Daily br br " Pos," My husband bought me a Ford Explorer Sport for Christmas last year and told me that it was going to be our family I was so excited to have a Ford Explorer Sport The prices do very depending on the options you get I have seen prices as low as 17 000 00 and as high as 25 000 00 Our SUV was priced at 21 500 00 I was disappointed because it seems like we got nothing for it Our SUV is pretty simple All it has is power windows and power door locks I really wish it came with an alarm What I have discovered over the year is that it is a good car to have Its very dependable on and off road I was staying with my parents and where they live theres a lot of dirt roads This SUV can handle sand clay and rocks I usually would drive about sixty on these dirt roads and it drove great It rides bumpy on the dirt roads and very smooth on the paved streets Off road lovers will love this car The SUV is pretty roomy It would be ideal for a family with child that don t have to ride in a car seat As I found out it is difficult to install a infant carrier and remove it as needed For that reason I wish I had A Ford Explorer Besides that its really roomy As for gas mileage mine gets roughly 288 to 295 miles per tank A tank holds roughly 17 gallons I feel that s a lot of gas for those mileage I do suggest that couples with babies consider the Explorer 4 door instead of the 2 door sport For couples with no children and children that don t need car seats would be a good buy " Pos," We recently bought a 2001 Ford Explorer used with only 3500 miles on it It has the leather package AM FM CD and Cassette upgraded speakers and power everything Yet after all this negative hype from the media we still wanted to purchase it We love it just as much we thought we would Compared to the Chevy Blazer which we also test drove extensively the Ford was the best bet for the money Although we paid 3000 more than we would have paid for the Chevy the Ford came with options that made it well worth it The interior is very roomy and since we re starting a family we needed the back seat which ample adult seating and leg room The leather makes it nice because it s easy to keep clean and since I m a little short I can slide right in once I hop up high enough It hardly feels too big to drive and it s very easy to park I love it " Pos," Confession I am a former member of the I hate SUV club But having three large dogs a seven year old a 19 foot boat that I trailer a wife who does arts and crafts shows as well as living in New Hampshire I had to revoke my membership and take the plunge for what made sense an SUV I had driven an older 4 door Explorer and a 2000 Blazer Both seemed cushy had roll and lean when cornering and lacked any type of road confidence I test drove the 01 Sport and was very impressed The 01 Sport it has more than adequate power There are no rattles which my 95 Taurus wagon specialized in The vehicle seems solidly built I love being so high up Also the vehicle drives with confidence steering is responsive and it corners better than any truck I have been in no roll or lean Beware of overconfidence The sound system is the best I have ever had in a vehicle You do feel every bump on the road and be careful of taking a corner above 45 where there are noticeable bumps in the road But remember this is a Truck not a car The ride is quite and on a flat surface very comfortable as are the FRONT seats Mileage is around 19 all round but this is a big 4 0 engine and not all that bad for its class Oh yes towing I can t tell you how many times I could not haul my boat out due to low tides Yes I previously towed with a Taurus Wagon which probably hastened its premature death This truck is an awesome tower It does not cease to amaze me how well this truck tows a 3000 pound rig There is no strain on this truck at all I am sure this 4 wheel drive monster will be great in the snow and off road if you do that thing I paid 16 900 for this 01 truck with 13k on it from a dealer This may be the best vehicle value out there for my needs haul the family boat art dogs and family without mortgaging the ranch As for the back seats stop winning you bargained for a 2 door and that is what you got saving you a couple of thousand in the process and giving you a much better looking vehicle than the 4 door as well as adding a few miles per gallon " Pos," I 146m personally not a big fan of large SUVs They use massive amounts of gasoline 151mileage is generally in the low teens 151and owing to their nearly three ton weight and high bumpers constitute a danger to anyone in a smaller vehicle especially if that vehicle is a lower riding car or minivan Yet even I am not entirely immune to their appeal There is something fascinating about vehicles so large probably the same thing that is fascinating about large beasts such as elephants and hippos and large anything for that matter Size is impressive to the animal brain Recently I had a coupon for a free oil change at a Ford dealer It was supposed to be a 147fast lube 148 but with nine cars in line ahead of me it was not So I took the opportunity to indulge my revulsion fascination complex with large SUVs by taking a 2003 Expedition for a test drive My motivations were a bit more sophisticated than I have let on I knew that Ford had substantially revised the Expedition for 2003 The revised styling follows the path set by the 2002 Explorer with the largest change being a less round and more massive looking front end Most intriguing to me steering changed from recirculating ball to rack and pinion and the live rear axle was tossed in favor of an independent rear suspension to improve handling Handling more than any other area affects my satisfaction with a vehicle As in the 2002 Explorer the new rear suspension permitted a much lower load floor promising a larger rear seat There 146s also some history here GM used to own the large SUV market Then Ford finally got around to introducing its own full size four door SUV in 1997 and that first Expedition was instantly a success GM responded with its own substantially redesigned large SUVs in 2000 and they 146ve regained some of the lost ground This intense competition for high margin sales large SUVs command much higher prices than mid sized SUVs but do not cost that much more to produce explains why Ford so substantially revised the Expedition for 2003 b Styling As with the 2002 a href content 39524011652 Explorer a b click for my review I like the new styling much better than the old The rounder front fenders of the first generation Expedition as successful as they were at adapting Ford 146s aero look to a truck were just a bit too pretty for a truck The new styling makes the vehicle look stronger and more up to date rounded forms are on their way 147out 148 without resorting to an overly macho theme i e the Avalanche Some people complain that the Explorer and Expedition look too much alike I don 146t have a problem with this personally The point of styling is not to entertain auto journalists or third parties The point is to give owners the 147look 148 they want If they want the 147Ford SUV look 148 and the Explorer is large enough inside then that 146s the way to go If they want this look but need a larger SUV then that 146s what the Expedition is for No one complains that Cheerios uses the same graphics on the 15oz and the 22oz box right And if every different size cereal box had a different look wouldn 146t this lead to even more confusion in the cereal aisle By similarly styling and naming its SUVs Ford presents a clearer image and simplifies customers 146 decision making Finally wouldn 146t it be worse if they looked different and people who only needed a mid sized SUV but really liked the look of the big one were thus forced to buy more gas guzzling truck than they need So I have no problem with Ford SUVs looking alike Inside the Expedition has also been de rounded The round forms of the old dash are gone replaced by a more conventional arrangement The most prominent features of the new dash are a large swath of black plastic across the driver 146s side and Audiesque rotating metallic finish rings that adjust the volume flowing through the vents To my eye the latter are much more aesthetically successful than the former I 146m not sure what all of this black plastic is for Minimizing glare based on the Mercedes line of thinking The Lincoln version isn 146t similarly blessed so even if this is the line of reasoning Ford can 146t be too committed to it Overall I find the interior restyle less successful Ford claims that the new truck 146s interior materials are an improvement with VW as the benchmark They are an improvement 151this is a nicer interior than that of the new Explorer 151but VW is still a ways off There 146s still a large amount of hard plastic to be found here Accommodations Hopefully people who buy an Expedition do so for reasons beyond an infatuation with size To whit hopefully they need to carry a large amount of people and or stuff over nasty roads or even off road Let 146s cover the capacity issue first The Expedition is a big vehicle in all dimensions length wide and height This permits a large interior even after allowing for generous ground clearance Now just about any car claims to fit three adults in the back seat However few have enough shoulder room to fit three comfortably i e shoulders not crammed into each other middle person not sitting on a high hard lump etc No problem here All three rows have enough shoulder room for three adults to fit with little or no touching A split bench is standard on the first two trim levels up front so an Expedition can be configured to carry nine people The upper trim lines including the top of the line Eddie Bauer I drove are fitted with buckets and a center console I found the driver 146s seat fairly comfortable especially after I deflated the lumbar support an earlier driver had pumped it all the way up I found the driving position much better than that in the current Explorer In the Explorer the windshield header and sun visors intruded on my vision It was like a billed hat I couldn 146t take off In the Expedition I sat well above the dash affording an excellent view out all around yet the top of my vision was also unblocked Much much better No improvements possible here Huge mirrors were also much appreciated Many cars these days do not provide enough interior storage No problem with the Expedition I drove The center console which reduces seating capacity to eight has a HUGE storage compartment in it A small dog could be stored in there or more likely a laptop computer and or good sized purse This compartment was topped by a padded leather armrest Also nice Smaller storage areas are scattered throughout the interior The Eddie Bauer Expedition I drove had the 147climate control 148 seats These include not only heating but also air conditioning each with five strength settings I set the seat A C to 1475 148 but never noticed a difference I would suggest saving 625 by forgoing this option except it 146s the only way to get heated seats and these can be very nice to have on cold mornings with leather You 146re call just know the seat A C isn 146t worth much In the second row the truck I drove had a bench split in three pieces The middle piece can be slid forward to position it closer to the front row something parents with small children might like Two captains chairs separated by a center console with a large storage compartment as in the Lincoln Navigator are a 795 option Be aware that while the seats fold the console will not so with all seats folded it sticks up a few inches above the otherwise nearly flat load floor Second row seat comfort is pretty good definitely better than that in most smaller SUVs and minivans The seat cushion is nearly high enough to provide good thigh support The cushion is padded and contoured enough so you don 146t feel you 146re sitting on a board To get to the third row either outboard section of the second row tilts forward in two fairly easy steps Not quite easy enough for children to manage which might not be a bad thing The real surprise is in the third row Ford 146s main reason for eating the approximately 200 additional cost of an independent rear suspension was to avoid packaging a center differential with 10 148 or so of travel This permitted the floor to be lowered nine inches a huge amount This lower floor permits two things First it permits a surprisingly roomy third seat Now many vehicles these days offer a third row seat including many minivans and an increasing number of SUVs I 146ve sat in many of these third row seats I didn 146t sit in them any longer than I had to though They tend to be uncomfortable and they tend to be mounted so close to the floor that my knees are at chest level I don 146t like sitting like this In the Expedition in contrast the seat cushion is generously sized and padded and is mounted high enough above the lower floor that I had plenty of thigh support move even than in the second row Overall I found the third row seat to be the most comfortable in the vehicle more comfortable than the second seats in most alternatives are far ahead of any third row seat I 146ve sampled Among SUVs only the even larger Suburban comes close Quite an achievement The lower floor also permits this large comfortable seat to fold completely into it leaving a flat load surface behind Ford faced a choice here They could have used the lower floor to expand cargo volume by making the seats removable as before They elected instead to keep cargo volume constant 151and thus substantially less than a minivan s 151and eliminate the need to remove any seats ever I suspect the great majority of buyers will favor this decision as removing and storing seats tends to be quite inconvenient For maximum cargo volume though a minivan remains a better choice as the reduced ground clearance and removable seats permit a taller cargo area My test vehicle had the 455 power folding third row option Worth the 455 Probably not to me but I 146d suggest personally evaluating the effort involved in the non power version b On the Road The revisions for 2003 have added a few hundred pounds to an already hefty vehicle So even with the 260 horsepower 5 4 liter V8 acceleration is just adequate with a moderate load By this I mean it felt neither underpowered nor equipped with power to spare It moved as quickly as I wanted to which admittedly is not too quickly this being a large vehicle The a href content 6904319620 Toyota Sequoia a b is about equally powerful the GM SUVs have an edge here Towing a heavy load and or carrying a full load of passengers might lead some people to desire more power but as I did neither I cannot say I can say that even when pushed the engine sounded quieter and more sophisticated than past Expeditions and competing GM products With the accelerator floored the transmission shifted well short of the redline at about 5500 RPM perhaps because going above that level on an engine with a low power peak makes no sense Handling was another pleasant surprise The steering and brake efforts were nicely firm where they used to be overly light Roll in turns is moderate Unlike past Expeditions I no longer felt I was driving a boat Not a sports car either but I generally felt the new Expedition could be handled with adequate precision and perhaps most important a sense of control Overall its handling felt similar to that of the Toyota Sequoia Sadly the ride is not quite up to the almost Lexus like Sequoia 146s or even the Tahoe s Over some surfaces the generally composed if not quite luxurious ride felt a bit jittery though never uncomfortably rough Still I never felt the degree of body on frame shimmer that turned me off the current Explorer Overall ride qualoty is adequate but I expect better The interior is fairly quiet even at highway speeds with one qualification Whenever the A C was on at any setting a loud blower stayed on at the rear of the vehicle I tried and failed to find a way to cut this blower off without turning the A C completely off I think this blower recirculates air pulling it through a vent at the very back but even turning off 147recirc 148 didn 146t kill it There has got to be a better way On the positive side the climate control system appears well up to handle the task of heating and cooling all three rows of this large vehicle Pricing The moderately loaded Eddie Bauer Expedition I drove carried a sticker of 45 190 Yes quite shocking But corrective actions are possible The new 147safety canopy 148 airbag to protect the first and second rows in a rollover and 147AdvanceTrac 148 stability control are impressive safety features but together add nearly 1 400 to the sticker I 146ve already mentioned the climate controlled seat and power folding seat options another 1 080 Not yet mentioned is the nicely sized but 800 moonroof Yet more can be saved by going with the XLT trim where the luxury of leather is still available Equip an XLT to a href content 68354674308 Honda Pilot EX a b levels and the sticker drops under forty Still nine grand over the smaller but in some ways nicer Honda but more help is on the way The Honda sells at or above sticker while according to Edmunds Ford dealers typically accept four grand under sticker Add in Ford 146s current 2 500 rebate and the likely transaction price for a still well equipped Expedition comes to just over 33 000 Suddenly the price seems quite reasonable doesn 146t it Even further reductions are possible by doing without leather front buckets and so on GM s full size SUVs such as the a href content 75746086532 GMC Yukon a b tend to cost a bit more than the Expedition For reasons discussed in my review of the Yukon I prefer the Ford The a href content 6904319620 Toyota Sequoia a b costs much more than the Ford or GM SUVs even though dealers are finally discounting them The big Toy is more refined but low on power and not as roomy I prefer the Ford b Last Words Generally I 146d still recommend a smaller more fuel efficient vehicle but if you need to carry seven or more adults comfortably there are few other choices and those aren 146t much more efficient For many uses a minivan will do as well or better but off road and or travel over uneven or unplowed snow covered roads can justify the space robbing weight adding ground clearance of the Expedition With these qualifications I can recommend this vehicle With the changes for 2003 the seating comfort interior versatility and handling feel now exceed the closest competition Acceleration some areas of handling and ride quality still lag but among large SUVs this is now my favorite b Update November 2003 b This fall Nissan has entered the large SUV arena with its Pathfinder Armada and Dodge has introduced a new singificantly larger Durango After driving both my preference for the Expedition remains though the Dodge is a close second The new Durango is much quicker than the Expedition feels more maneuverable rides better and costs less Its disadvantages include a less comfortable third row less shoulder room and a cheap looking interior The Nissan is also much quicker than the Ford but its chassis feels very trucky and its interior quality is abysmal for a 40 000 vehicle I ve noticed that Expeditions front wheels are often thickly coated with black brake dust They appear to have a problem in this area If you must always have a clean looking car plan on washing this one s wheels often My reviews of related vehicles b a href content 75746086532 GMC Yukon a b equivalent to Chevrolet Tahoe b a href content 119115910788 Nissan Pathfinder Armada a b b a href content 6904319620 Toyota Sequoia a b " Pos," Let me first preface my thoughts by assuring you that I do not work for any car manufacturer After considering the Acura MDX Chevy Tahoe and Toyota Sequoia I went with the 2003 Eddie Bauer 4x2 5 4L Expedition I must admit that I have been reticent about American cars in recent years and at first was leaning toward the MDX My primary fear was quality However after extensive research and a test drive of all four I think Ford has the best product for the price Ford really did a good job with the new Expedition It looks like Ford actually listened to the feedback from the previous Expedition drivers strange concept and then built the new Expedition Examples of what I am talking about 1 Design The interior design while still American at heart is clearly not the same old Ford For example Ford seems to have a habit of slapping together a confusing array of tiny plastic buttons and lights and then calling it a dash Did Ford actually think that people like to have a readout that looks like one of those blinking light panels that Spock always used to stare at The new dash really looks somewhat like the new Audi See the air conditioning vents and two tone black and tan dash I just wish they had gone all the way with this concept There are still some of the old Ford here with tiny buttons and green led lights I d prefer 100 analog except where absolutely necessary 2 No More Noisy Wishy Washy Ride The frame is stiffer Outside noise seems to be less There is also rear independent suspension The ride is really nice and the steering is apparently much improved 3 Convenience The third and second row seats fold down completely flat Storage is everywhere The Eddie Bauer edition even has buttons to lower the third row from the back No need to haul in and out huge unwieldy third row seats Seat memory In dash 6 CD Pop down mini wide angle rear view mirror to keep an eye on activity in the aft section DVD for the kids Second row middle seat slides forward This is great if you ve got a kid in a child s seat back there 4 Quality I know that I just bought the thing But the fact of the matter is that the Expedition just seems to be built to last No jiggles on the highway and a general sense of solidity 5 Price Maybe I just had a better negotiating experience with my dealer but the price I got it below invoice bringing the 41 000 sticker down to 33 000 When compared to the competition this was hands down the best option On the downside while apparently more efficient than previous models the Expedition still likes to consume gasoline Also while most of the upgrades seem quality a few seem like less than first rate To give you an idea what I am talking about and I concede this is nit picky the sunglass holder kind of jumps down at you when you push the button In my 1997 Pathfinder when you hit the sunglass holder button it gracefully slides open The leather also seems to be a little lower grade than some of the top of the line SUV s e g Acura " Pos," My husband and I went on the dreaded search for the new family car We knew that we wanted an SUV and were leaning toward the Tahoe I come from a diehard GM family My parents have leased 2 Tahoes in the last 4 years and I had driven them frequently I found them to be comfortable however they always felt like they were top heavy when turning corners and such I had read that the new Expedition had come out with flat fold seats and I knew that we had to check this out I have to admit I never thought we would buy a Ford but the minute I drove it I LOVED it It seems to have way more room in it than the Tahoe My husband is 6 4 so we need all the leg room head room that we can get I also love the way that you sit up high it seems to give a better view of your surroundings The interior is very driver friendly everything is within arms reach The center console is HUGE Lots of cupholders even in every door The seating is the real winner Ford really designed this well The 2nd row of seats are separated into 3 individual seats which allows for any number of seating arrangements Plus the middle seat in the second row slides forward to be directly up against the console It puts a infant right behind you But for those of you without children it allows for the people sitting in the 3rd row of seats to have a ton more leg room We went on a 90 mile round trip with 6 very tall adults and everyone commented on how comfortable it was They could not believe the leg room The 3rd row fold down seats are the best We knew that we wanted a 3rd row of seats for those rare times when we would need them but we also knew that we did not have the room to store them This was an answer to prayers I find them very easy to put up or down Overall we are very pleased with this vehicle It does tend to slurp up the gas in town but what big SUV doesn t It is very stable turns on a dime makes us feel very safe P S My mom is jealous she hates her brand new Yukon " Pos," I have a 1993 Ford Probe SE It has approximately 88 000 miles on it It is a five speed The car has power windows power door locks power sunroof and power seats These are very luxurious and make the car very enjoyable to drive I have the low profile tires for it which are standard on the SE The probe has an equalizer to compliment the stereo which has a tape player I am going to get a cd player for it soon The color is blue green and the inside is black and gray The car looks very sleek and very sporty I enjoy driving it every time The car is quick and handles very well It has an driver s side air bag and anti lock brakes which are nice to have On the highway the car is very smooth and quiet You can barely hear the engine running The one thing I do not like is that once in a while there is a little rattle inside the dashboard which is common for probes When I am driving it I definetly feel like I am driving a sports car If I didn t know it I would think I was driving a Porshe Everyone on the road checks out the car because of it looks and style The sunroof is nice to have in the summer just having the air rush in over you The people who should buy this vehicle are people who love speed sporty cars and quickness There are plenty of saftey features on car so parents will like it for their children Anyone who wants a big slow car shouldn t buy it br br " Pos," I bought a 93 Probe GT in 97 5 speed no automatic for me when I first saw the new designed Probes I knew I would someday buy one so when I got a good job I went out and bought my dream car At first it was awesome I never drove a car that handled so good or accelerated so fast everyone gave me compliments on how nice the car looked But when I bought the car it had 84 000kms 52500miles and with most cars this is when things started going wrong with it I will list in order my problems I had 1 o2 sensors the probe has two of them when not working properly the car will use a lot of gas and show a engine lite on parts are very expensive note if you live anywhere where they do emission testing the car will fail with the o2 sensors not working 2 valve cover gasket oil will leak into the spark plug holes causing the wire to short out gasket price is cheap but there is a lot of labor involved 3 ABS sensor the car will make a buzzing noise and show the ABS lite on you can still drive the car like this but the abs will not work parts are expensive 4 water pump there is a lot of labor involved in this job too I would definitely recommend to change the timing belt when doing this job because the probe has a interference engine and if the belts ever breaks the valves will crash into the pistons 5 Air bag sensor lite a lot of Probes owners I have talked to have had these five problems the air bag lite sensor is usually the problem but I was told only the dealership can do the diagnostics and they are expensive Now I know that all cars have there problems but the Probe is special in which almost all the parts on it are twice to three times more than most cars from the exhaust to the struts but I think sometimes in life you buy a car that just can not part with and this car is mine I have heard of a lot of other problems the Probe has like the automatic transmissions have a lot of problems But now that the probe is discontinued you can get one for pretty cheap just make sure you check to see if the previous owner got this work done above Just remember parts are expensive and winter driving in deep snow is not fun due the fat tires and light back end of the Probe I still own this car today and have no plans to sell it the probe has it own unique look where most new cars are all looking the same " Pos," I fell in love with the looks of this car the moment I saw one on the road I finally got around to buying one last October 93 GT 73K miles and I paid 5K for it Looks like the previous owner hadn t done much with it I got it from a dealer so within a month I had replaced the water pump and the muffler both of which failed on my first long drive in the car Cost me about 600 bucks for everything put together but thats it water pump replacement is part of the 60K service which apparently wasn t done I ve currently got 91K miles on it yes I drive quite a lot and the only periodic expense has been the oil changes At the 90K service I got the rear brakes changed and also the spark plug wires total cost of service 400 or so and since then things have been phenomenal Its a lot of fun to blow off V 6 camaros and mustangs at stop lights even though they catch up with you down the road but I have only praise for the acceleration of this car My car is black and I wash wax her every fortnight and I get a lot of appreciative looks for the trouble She s a good cruiser I ve done two trips of 2000 miles and 1400 miles with no complaints whatsoever The niggling points are 1 body noises on all but the smoothest roads thats supposed to be a problem for all 93 probes though 2 the idling screws up sometimes varies between 750rpm and 1200 rpm but gets alright in an hour or so 3 the power antenna is stuck another common probe problem Probes are cheap I have seen 94 GTs with 70K for about 5000 recently so if you get a cheap deal buy it you certainly will not regret it if you keep the car well Forget about resale value though you won t even get peanuts for this car Since I plan to run mine until the bitter end I m not concerned about that I ve also done a lot of driving on back roads I think the turning cornering capabilities are pretty good too Its a hard ride though and I m too poor to replace the shocks and takes some getting used to The tires are dunlops previous owner and have decent grip no fishtailing in the snow and that sort of thing If you want to buy this car remember that the rear seat is strictly for emergency purposes I dont know why Ford put it in to begin with This would have made a great 2 seater br br " Pos," In October of 2000 I bought a 1993 Ford Probe GT and it is the best car of its kind I love the front room and the hatch room but no one can fit in back unless they are under 4 I dislike the performance probably cuz I m used to my old Mustang 5 0 Off the start it aint to bad but after 3rd you just get blown away if you don t have mods which I am in the process of putting on Overall the looks kick ass and I would recommend the car for anyone who doesn t have 60 000 for a corvette br br " Pos," I bought my car in 1995 It was built in 1993 I was in college at the time and it was perfect for my lifestyle It is a fun sporty car that was just right for a college girl Since I ve been married I wish I had picked a slightly more practical model There is very little room for groceries yard stuff and other things that you have to buy when you live in an adult world with a house And the backseat is a real pain in the neck to crawl in and out of I haven t given it up though because I love zooming around in it The radio is great the car is comfy and it handles wonderfully I have had more than what I consider average problems with it The brakes exhaust and muffler have all had to be replaced The trunk latch has been broken for the past year or so which makes it next to impossible to put anything in the trunk The lighter was broken for awhile Overall this is a wonderful car if you have a lifestyle conducive to a sports car but no money for a sports car br br " Pos," Our family purchased our 1992 Explorer XLT in March 2000 from a good friend of ours who had to move across the world We knew the car had been impeccably taken care of so it was an offer we couldn t pass up After driving around in the Explorer for a few days I soon discovered a new dimension of driving seeing the road ahead Now I rarely go out to drive my father s car I feel like my rear end is dragging on the road In XLT trim the Explorer fits anyones requirements for a vehicle The bright beige interior is showing little sign of wear the leather seating is slightly torn on the drivers seat near a seam on the bottom after 100 000 town hopping miles a slight tear is much less than to be expected Ours came with 6 way power seats for both front passengers with lumbar and bolster for the driver and just lumbar for the passenger they re still supportive and comfortable The rear seat is like new the only thing on bumpy roads the springs in the rear seat squeak The rear cargo area is very durable with a thick padded carpet The cargo cover still operates and provides added safety and privacy The nicely equipped instrument panel is still fully operational as is the radio cassette player Occasionally a tape will jam probably needs greasing up again Also the center storage area has two large cupholders and a huge storage area for cassettes and underneath the cassette holder there is an area for CDs or other stuff Exterior treatments are shiny and the chrome glistens in the daylight The factory tint or privacy glass is handy in high summer and really sets off the deep forest green exterior with the beige interior The aluminum wheels are shiny but the lacquer covering was chipped on the edges following the Firestone tire recall bad mechanic procedures I simply repainted it with regular lacquer and they re fine again The 4 0L V 6 purrs every time it is started and never has hesitated and can pull me away from a stoplight with pleasant acceleration It also comes in handy when pulling boats out of slips even without a 4X4 system it s still quite a capable vehicle The ride overall is well controlled and with accurate inputs the turns can be made so you don t feel like you re gonna fall out the car Shortly after we purchased it the freon in the A C system leaked out Where the car is located you can still purchase R 12 from retailers so I filled it up again with a can or two only to have it gone in a few weeks time I have since abandoned repair until I can find myself a R 134a conversion kit with some leak stopper where I live Recently a few other things have cropped up that are slightly annoying Inside the power window motors are three plastic cogs which slip anytime a finger or something gets in between the window But you can see this one coming the plastic wears away over time and now the motor just sits there spinning around with no window movement A good Ford dealer told me to replace these with metal washers which have indeed done the trick Next the muffler has begun to break down First the tail end of the pipe started to crumble and now both silencing boxes are on the slippery slope of corrosion I ll have to get this fixed soon Finally the latest issue has been the paint The car is in the Bahamas and the roof and the hood basically point to the sun and bake for hours on end The clear coat on top finally broke away leaving bare base coat In a hurry to preserve the steel panels of the car I had it repainted and it looks lustrous again The doors and fenders i e anything that doesn t face the sun were left with the original paint and are really shiny UPDATE The AM FM Cassette unit which came standard died in the summer of 2003 After a little research I found out the Ford AM FM CD players can be substituted with no wiring changes Then I hunted eBay for a few months until I saw an early 90 s unit which would fit the 92 dash I eventually found one plugged it in and it is fabulous If you re interested in making this change the radio removed was Ford base part 19B165 the radio with the toggle style volume knob The Ford base part 18C815 with the rotary volume knob is the perfect change for 91 and 92 model year Explorers " Pos," In 1992 I bought my daughter a new Ford Explorer with a promise from her that I drive it until she started college a year later When she started to college she took the Explorer with her and I drove another car She drove the Explorer until 1999 when she purchased a 1999 Ford Mustang I sold the car I was driving at the time and took back the Explorer So you can see why I entitled this quot Recycled Explorer quot We had problems with vibrations from the beginning which I understand was a problem with most 1992 Explorers The dealer from which I bought the car tried to correct this problem by installing shims That didn t work and I ve been told that they should not have done this This is the only major complaint we ve had with the car Obviously it was not so big a deal that we sold the vehicle It now has 103 000 miles on and still going strong We have had to replace the anti lock brake system and I recently had the rotors replaced but the rotors are a part of wear and tear that you would normally expect br br " Pos," I recently purchased a 1992 Explorer December and have loved it I was looking for a SUV but because of financial restraints my options were very limited I have a taste for quality so i couldn t settle for an old or bad looking vehicle especially because of the size of a car investment My choice on this explorer was great Now to get to the car I would like to say that it has tons of room both in the front seats back seats and rear cargo space It is very comfortable and with all automatic features it couldn t be more simple The seats mirrors windows and locks are all automatic When looking at other SUV s of it s relative size one overlooked feature that I have found to be very convenient is the option on the tailgate for opening either just the glass or the whole door itself It makes quick trunk exchanges very simple It has so far been very maintenance free I have had it for just over 5 months now and it has not been to the shop once With 68 000 miles on a sport utility that is not bad And the price was great too Oh yeah and not to forget the four wheel drive feature This too is activated with the push of a button making the shift quick and easy for the emergency situations The room inside with all the convenient features make this SUV a great purchase for anyone whether it be a family or just someone who likes the extra space for cargo or other needed use looking for comfort and space " Pos," My mom bought this SUV a few years ago and its been nothing but trouble The motor and the transmission was already replaced in this SUV and it s only 8 years old 1992 We bought it because of its sporty looks and durability and off roading ability But we had no idea what was in store Since I have gotten my learners license I was actually allowed to drive this car The Explorer I noticed at first is very very preppy and has lots of horsepower Just stepping on the accelerator and it leaps forward ready for action When I m waiting at the stop line at an intersection sometimes people look at me as a learner who just puts along and avoids everything When the light turns green I leap forward and I beat everybody and zoom ahead You should see the looks on their faces when I am way ahead of them The 4X4 in the winter works really well handles any kind of weather conditions The only thing is that its really noisy when you turn it on and you have to go outside to switch the switch to go offroad When you do its a bumpy ride and juggly The steering is crisp and responsive but the power steering groans when you turn it too much The brakes respond very quickly and straight The bad thing is that it has gone through a lot of repairs Either that or this is a lemon we got The door handle has broken off radiator replaced timing belt broken electrical problems the lights go on and off for no reason Of course there was the daily tuneups and fixes etc The windshield wiper switch is broken and the light switch is in a weird spot Sometimes the oil leeks into the motor and burning of course creating smoke It doesn t really go well up long high hills without overheating The seats are alright but in the back its kinda uncomfortable after a while not very cushy When it gets to high speeds it jiggles around and starts squeaking and you can t hear the radio that well at highway conditions At city speeds its fine The radio that they give you is fine but not great Also the gas mileage is not that great especially when you have the 4X4 on it just gobbles the gas up like crazy not very good these days with the gas prices rising So this is a pretty reliable SUV and if you want lots of pep this is the car for you The only thing is that the repair bills is high and your wallet will get lighter Maybe ours was a lemon but its good for a family br br " Pos," I bought this 4 wheel drive truck in February of 1995 because I liked my 1987 4WD Ranger so much The Supercab has greater room for seat back movement and a larger 4 0 vs 2 9 engine The only thing I wish it had is air conditioning The autolocking hubs and push button on the fly transfer case engagement have worked flawlessly I get 22 24 MPG and the original 265x15 quot tires lasted about 65K miles amazing One does get used to the power of the engine and it now seems a little weak though I am sure it hasn t lost any ooomph The cassette player started refusing to change directions and ended up quot eating quot tapes after 4 years 55K miles I replaced it with a JVC radio cassette 12 CD changer from Crutchfield I then heard vastly improved sounds from the speakers I will buy another Ranger when the time comes or an Explorer if I no longer need a truck If you can find this truck with reasonable mileage and price go for it It is terrific in snow Tis tough to give the quot amount paid quot below cuz I traded in my 1987 Ranger The price I have put in was the sticker price Get list and invoice prices from Edmunds com before you go looking for any vehicles br br " Pos," At first glance it looks like you Uncle Ernie in Florida s grand marquis and some other times it looks like the feds or local police are after you but on the other side of the windshield lies magnificent comfort and classic large interior and seating in leather on this sport model Look downwards to the police radio lol and find a leather wrapped floor shifter for its butter smooth 4 speed auto transmission This is not Uncle Ernies retirement car it s a rocket ride Thats right police and this sport share in the 235 horse power motor 4 6 new modular technology v 8 motor along with real dual exhaust I wish it were a tad bit louder like its big cousin the Maurader but you can add from my research Dynaflow for a slightly louder rumble Gas mileage has been fair to good keeping my feet off the pedal is hard to do especially when you turn traction control off you can lay one hell of a big burnout ala 60 s and 70 s style The paint finish is fabu no defects inspected the engine and it is well constructed although they could fancied up the engine area and added a nicer air cleaner i would opt for a after market air filter and canister and nicer trim in engine compartment would help The wheels are 17 inchers and the tires Goodyear now if you read my article on the 97 Jetta you ll know that Goodyear tires are somewhat soft and wear faster we will see how these LS model tires work out Ive seen the 2003 Crown Vic Sport and i can honestly tell you that the 2002 is bound to be a classic the wheels on the 2003 are narrower to make way for clearance with the new rack and pinion front end on 2003 models i prefer the 2002 look my self also gone are the plush leather seats they are now ALA Marauder style ribbed leather SO far i have put on 5 900 hundred miles and have had the first service done also i might note that insurance for this car was alot less than most cars thank goodness for Uncle Ernie " Pos," 108 000 miles 3 brothers and 15 years later our little 4 Door LX Hatchback Blue Escort is still capable of cruising down California roads Four days ago however the Escort entered into retirement when I purchased a new car The car has held up excellent throughout the years and is only showing signs a few minor problems now well after 100 000 miles Compared to cars today the LX Escort offers very little in terms of options It has an air conditioning system which provides ample amount of both cold and hot air but when it s turned on the engine really loses a lot of power It is not recommend to turn on the air conditioning when traveling uphill or at times when you need every bit of power the engine can give you The car comes with a standard Ford stereo which is basically an AM FM stereo minus a cassette player The speakers do an adequate job of handling any power but again compared to today s standards sound terrible They are not capable of handling very much bass before they start to make a crackling sound The car also offers powering steering automatic front shoulder belts and a warning noise if you leave your lights on The best feature of the Escort has been it s gas mileage I ve been able to achieve 320 miles on one tank of gas With high gas prices in California refueling my tank every 3 weeks or more was a blessing The car is capable of getting more than 320 miles to the tank but you may start dipping into your reserve fuel The worse feature of the Escort is unfortunately the safety concerns This car was built before airbags were required in cars and because it s so small a massive collision could be potentially very harmful Although the shoulder belts automatically strap on they provide very little safety it seems I ve pulled on the shoulder straps violently several times and they have failed to catch I m not sure if this is age or if it happened when the car was new since the car was passed down to me The car also offers poor handling The tires are small and overall the car is very light High winds have a tendency to blow this car from side to side and you can t take turns too fast without feeling like your going to tip over But the Escort LX did exactly what it was supposed to do It offered a quality car to get you where you wanted to go This car offers no luxury but it wasn t purchased for luxury It was purchased to get three boys to and from college and it succeeded in doing that for 15 years If your looking at purchasing an Escort LX Kelly Blue Book recommends that the car price not exceed 700 to 1100 This is for a car with no major mechanical or body defects I think the car would be perfect for someone on a really tight budget that just needs a car to get them from point A to point B " Pos," The Ford Contour a driver s car for the rest of us For under 20 000 here is a domestic sedan that can keep up with the entry level offerings from Germany The Contour s driving behavior is comparable to the Audi A4 Volkswagen Jetta and BMW 323i What these models have over the Contour are uprate interiors of fancy plastics and bank vault feel as well as brand panache better resale and superior available mechanicals like Audi s Quattro and BMW s sporty rear wheel drive But if you can t come up with 25 000 30 000 you don t have to settle for an garden variety Accord Altima or Grand Am Unlike many inexpensive cars the Contour has a playful yet composed personality and is more than willing to be your curvy back road eating friend My Contour is a 1998 5 SE Sport model with the 2 5L Duratec V6 and the MTX 75 5 speed manual transmission The Sport trim level added features like alloy wheels the V6 spoiler fog lamps leather wrapped wheel shifter floor mats My car also features leather trimmed seating and a power sliding moonroof Since I had to take delivery on a car from a dealer lot to get cheap 0 9 60 months Ford financing I didn t get all the options I wanted It is difficult to find the Contour in the V6 5spd form at least in my urban location Other options I wanted as well but could not find on a lot were ABS traction control and a split folding rear seat The Duratec V6 is one of the Contour s greatest assets It s not a perfect engine and some close competitor s engines are arguably better like VW s 2 8L VR6 but the Duratec helps elevate the Contour from a Tempo replacement to something unexpected for an inexpensive domestic compact sedan It loves to rev It makes sweet mechanical music It doesn t wheeze or sound stressed It pulls all the way to the fairly high redline of 6750 rpm Mid range torque is excellent for this class Tasks like passing and highway merging are relaxed fun when you have the Duratec The power the Duratec generates surprises other drivers in their 200hp V6 mid size sedans It also surprises the college kids in their Integras as you pull away from them I wouldn t necessarily call a V6 equipped Contour FAST but it is certainly spirited What limits the Duratec s appeal is a lack of low end torque and an unrefined transition when the secondaries kick open at 3500rpm Some people LIKE the kick from the engine at 3500rpm However after driving German V6s I prefer a smooth build up of power not an abrupt one But the kick is part of the engine design not a problem and helps give the Contour a little edge a little personality Overall the Duratec is similar to a Honda VTEC engine albeit with less refinement and turbine smoothness but with a more workable powerband One of the best things about the Contour is the availability actually it s standard of a 5 speed manual transmission with the base 4cyl engine AND the Duratec V6 You can t get a V6 5spd on the Accord Grand Prix Regal Intrigue Galant Altima Malibu or Grand Am Alero The Contour s manual transmission is easy to use The shifter is of the notchy variety While most enthusiasts prefer the rubbery feel of BMW s stick shift the notchiness makes it easy to find the Contour s gears The clutch is fairly strong and relatively easy to engage It doesn t require much pressure and isn t as quot spring loaded quot as some other clutches The Contour is my first stick shift car and I found it a very good candidate to learn on Honda s manuals are probably the best for novices As any car geek will tell you a manual transmission allows you to have real fun with a car The 5spd transmission allows you to keep the Duratec in its powerband for passing and for turns Together they make the Contour a reason to get up in the morning If horsepower and flat out acceleration were everything I d be driving a Camaro Z28 with its 305 hp 5 7L V8 But as I ve said before the Contour is a driver s car not a stoplight racer What allows the Contour to be compared to the German models is its grasp of the driving fundamentals handling steering brakes You can throw the Contour around It s easy to brake before a turn and control the car through the turn with throttle There is moderate but predictable understeer The steering is very communicative and adjusts its attitude over various speeds At low speeds you can feel imperfections in the road and anything that might get you in trouble It is also responsive At fast highway speeds the steering is appropriately heavy and not twitchy The suspension feels very European The ride is supple though some American drivers will find it too harsh Since I am in my 20s I don t care so much about ride as I do about handling Unless you buy a world class car like the BMW 740i you have to make a compromises between ride and handling A base SE or LX will have a smoother ride than my SE Sport but with lower roadholding limits The Contour has a very reassuring pose that rewards spirited driving Body roll is present though not a problem and is a bit better controlled than others in this class Steer the Contour through an emergency maneuver and the car stays planted to the road After a sudden move the car regains composure quickly and waits for your next input Although the Contour may not be loaded with the latest quot safety feature of the month quot I consider its excellent driving mannerisms a big safety feature The Contour s brakes are very good a result of a nice progressive pedal feel and a system that stops the car straight and short The brakes have a good bite that may surprise you if you are used to the weak stuff GM makes All these qualities add up to a car you ll probably drive just for the heck of it You ll want to find those little used back roads to play on I ve taken my car out for a few drives where I try to nail it to redline take turns at high speeds and of course develop a very brisk pace The car is very stable at 90mph and I have managed to take it to 108 At that point I feel like my driving ability is at its limit rather than the car Even after a tiring day of play the engine and brakes maintain their performance This car has high limits If you don t typically drive in a spirited fashion you ll still appreciate the Contour s driving competence It produces few if any surprises and the reassurance it provides might make you pick up your pace a little bit likely without you realizing it The Contour is America s 3 series It has a real enthusiast s engine a proper manual transmission a suspension that grips the road well steering that communicates and brakes that stop without incident It is NOT a 3 series equal however and I do not consider my car an apple for apple replacement of a BMW For instance the Contour is front wheel drive while all BMWs have rear wheel drive BMWs have better refinement and higher limits BUT we aren t talking about a 30 000 car here a nicely equipped 323i You can t reasonably expect a 17 000 car to equal a 30 000 one And the Contour doesn t Rather the Contour gives you the best version of German engineering of any American Asian car under 25 000 That includes the Intrigue The toughest argument against the Contour is the VW Jetta The Jetta certainly has a better interior by far and its VR6 engine is a real thrill But it costs thousands more doesn t handle as crisply and has a meager 2yr 24K bumper to bumper warranty On paper the Jetta appears to be a winner but since you can get the Contour near invoice whereas the Jetta goes near sticker the battle lines blur From a practicality perspective the Contour is less impressive though still capable The trunk is fairly large and has much usable space Entry exit is easy from the front seats though the much scorned back seat has room for improvement It s tight back there and I can t imagine having 3 adults sit there anymore than a very short distance Since I am single I use the back seat floor as a way to convenient way to haul groceries and other items they roll around in the trunk Visibility is good from the front and sides though the rear view is a little abbreviated The dashboard has a simple design and buttons are easy to locate However the stereo is too low in the dash The front cupholders are possibly the most pathetic feature in the car They can t hold anything I really like the appearance of the instrumentation crisp and easy to read However I can t stand the econocar plastic that abounds in the interior VW does a much better job in this aspect and I wish Ford would give the Contour better feeling and looking plastics The door panels in the Contour are completely plastic there should be a cloth leather insert The seats are comfortable and although they don t have an adjustable lumbar there is plenty of lower back support for long drives Since I drive the Contour in a spirited fashion I wish the seats would hug you a little better The Contour s heating and cooling systems are first rate Although they have the old fashioned hot cold dials not an actual temperature setting the heater puts out tons of heat and the AC can be downright icy Regrettably the Contour can t completely shed its American car reliability stereotype In 15 months I have had 4 warranty claims The first was to replace a strip of trim on the roof The second was to fix a wiring harness behind the headlight switch The third was to fix a heater blower resistor assembly The fourth was to replace faulty insulation in the front bumper crash sensors The last three were official Ford recalls ADDENDUM 12 17 1999 The number may become 5 I read in AutoWeek that 1998 Contours are being recalled for frayed accelerator cables All of these claims are troubling but I don t know what to make of it Having 5 warranty claims in the first 16 months of ownership would suggest the car is a junker or lemon However my Contour really hasn t let me down The warranty repairs themselves haven t been major in scope the dealer has been able to make the repairs the same day Also Ford has been the one making the recalls I haven t had to bring my car into the dealer for problems that I ve found myself I suppose I can put up with these issues simply because I love the way the Contour drives and since it HAS been reliable However I think I will be looking for another car after the 36 000 mile warranty expires That s a shame To be honest I was scared to buy the Contour because I feared it might be a repair nightmare I was driving a 1997 Honda Civic at the time which had not given me any problems in 19K of driving I was used to the stereotype that Japanese cars drive forever but American cars are Fixed Often Rarely Driven I got over my probably misfounded fears and bought the Contour using the fact it had a fresh warranty as an excuse Although my Contour hasn t been flawless in the defect department I don t worry about it breaking down on me It may not be a Toyota Corolla but it is a reasonably well made car I ve taken it on many trips including a cross country one without incident From what I have read from others the Contour is no Ford Tempo and bests the poor reliability history of the Stratus and Malibu Other areas of interest I m not happy with the fuel economy fetching 20mpg in suburban driving and a max of 26mpg on the interstate My heavy right foot is partially to blame but the thirstiness is made worse because of the smallish fuel tank 14 5 gallons Fortunately the Duratec happily drinks regular 87 octane gas The stock tires Firestone Firehawks aren t performance tires and limit the car s performance abilities The headlights are abysmal I find myself using the high beams a lot Cabin noise is unremarkable on the highway with some wind and tire noise protruding but nothing out of the ordinary There is a convenient storage space for CDs in the center console though the right driver armrest can get in the way While the Contour as a complete package is flawed so is the competition What makes me and others such fans of the car is its remarkable driving behavior You just can t get this kind of performance and joy from any other sub 20K sedan The Contour is a reasonable choice it is functional inexpensive to insure and operate not a theft target comfortable fairly stylish and is reasonably priced Unless you have a growing family the car should accommodate all of your passengers in reasonable comfort The Contour s last model year will be 2001 as it is being replaced by the new and excellent Focus That s a shame because Ford has a real winner here one that can be made great with some reworking and refinement FINAL NOTE While I recommend the Contour with the V6 and 5spd options I do not recommend the car with the 4cyl Zetec AND the automatic transmission This drivetrain takes all of the life out of the car If you need an automatic stick with the V6 If you can drive stick the 4cyl Zetec is an acceptable and economical choice br br " Pos," With 1 daughter preparing to get her license and inherit mom s 91 Passat I went shopping for a replacement The short list got very short however when I decided to consider only cars with timing chains rather than belts Demanding a chain limits your choices to most GM products including the Saturn 4 cyl s and the Ford Duratec V6 family The Contour was the perfect size it ll fit 2 adults in back quite comfortably although 3 will be tight and it has a large useful trunk This year it comes in only 2 flavors the loaded SE Sport with the quick 2 5 V6 or the very loaded SVT with the VERY quick 2 5 HO V6 And given that it was mainly designed by Ford of Europe where it is sold as the Mondeo its character amp demeanor are markedly European making it the natural successor to our old VW Volkswagon has taken its prices so far upmarket that they didn t even rate consideration The seats are more sculpted and orthopedically shaped than anything else Ford or any other domestic offers very similar to those found in Volvos The thick leather wrapped wheel fills your hands While the interior isn t plush with all vinyl door panels and no chrome or wood trim the car has some nice thoughtful touches such as a fold down armrest for the driver s bucket and door rocker switches for locks amp windows that illuminate at night The car we bought had the automatic transmission and premium stereo with in dash CD I passed on ABS amp traction control sticker price was 18500 The local dealer that participated in CarPoint responded with an offer for 17300 or about 3 over cost I feel this is an excellent price for a car with this level of equipment and the deal was made all that much sweeter with a 1500 rebate from Ford This car is a joy to drive The engine feels eager to run and the revs come up with turbine like smoothness Shifting is crisp without feeling harsh and the computer has adaptive capability so that the car soon acts as if it could anticipate exactly when you want it to shift The car steers precisely and responsively It s nicely balanced and very easy to drive quickly It feels very much like the Cougar which is based on this car but has the stealthy innocent look of a 4 door sedan The Contour and its Mercury sister the Mystique qualify as Ford s best kept secrets The cars receive virtually no advertising and are destined to be dropped after this model year This knowledge has induced many enthusiast owners of older models to trade in now for the latest model It s a pity to see this car go away because it has sporting yet sophisticated qualities that don t come through in its replacement the Focus " Pos," I had never considered buying the Ford Contour SVT but I happened to see one at the dealership I thought quot I can t afford that quot But after looking at the sticker and the markdown sticker I seriously considered it As part of a former job I have driven quite a few cars I would have to say at least 100 different models Honda Accord Civic Prelude Chevy Cavalier Beretta Camaro Monte Carlo VW Golf GTI VR6 Jetta Passat Pontiac Sunfire Grand Am Acura Integra Ford Mustang Taurus Escort BMWs Audis Volvos Mercedes Lexus Many SUVs Etc I test drove the SVT and IMMEDIATELY knew this was the car for me PROS Power V6 200hp 2 5 liter DOHC Made by the same guys who make the Ford Mustang Cobra Wow great mid range and high end power Exhaust The sweet tone is like no other Really reflects the power of this car Handling It outhandles any car in it s price range hands down Even better than cars around 30k such as the BMW and Audi Sticks to the roads and carves the twisties Short clutch many 5 speeds such as the Mustang have a clutch that s really high The SVT was the perfect height Loaded car moonroof leather power windows doorlocks amp seats keyless entry amp trunk release for lights 16 quot alloy wheels z rated tires Huge trunk actually is a little too big should have made the back seat bigger Euro styling and feel to the car CONS Road noise at high speeds Back seat Way too cramped Quality the interior plastic and parts seem kind of cheap I have just passed the recommended 1000 mile break in period somewhat babying it I have opened it up since then and am completely addicted The SVT begs to be redlined and the exhaust makes it that much more difficult Winding roads are a blast to cruise on SVT has done a wonderful job with this car It s too bad it s to be discontinued after the 2000 production year I would highly recommend anyone looking for a 22k ish car to check this bad boy out br br " Pos," The Ford Contour was introduced as a 1994 model and was Ford s first attempt at building a world car The Contour was designed and built in Europe and is sold there as the Ford Mondeo What model is the best to buy When I was shopping for my car I drove several different models of the Contour I tried a 4 cylinder automatic a V 6 automatic and a V 6 manual I also tried the base and sport models The best model is easily the V 6 mated to the 5 speed manual However if you prefer automatics that transmission is a good choice too It never lets the engine strain and always chooses the right gear quickly and smoothly Performance This car s performance is the most convincing reason to buy it The sport model s wide low profile tires have superb grip The car s suspension holds the car down great and it definitely has a European handling flair The front disc rear drum brakes are excellent and have a great feel to them The suspension of the V 6 model is definitely stiffer than the base model though it never feels like your riding in a sports car either The V 6 engine is far smother than the four cylinder and has a great sound to it s exhaust The 4 cylinder engine accelerates fairly well but the V 6 is by far worth the extra money Interior The interior is the only sore spot of this car and especially in back The front seats on the sports model are extremely comfortable and really hold you in place when the going get s rough The dash was redesigned in 1998 and can still use work The vent on the passenger s side is positioned awkwardly and it is hard to get the air direction right The lower part of the dash houses two very low and shallow cup holders and a storage shelf that can barely hold a pen The power window switches are mounted vertically on the door in a position that makes them hard to use The rear seat is cramped but like the front seat it is very comfortable The stereo sounds great but the buttons are small and many serve dual purposes that are hard to decipher Other than those minor glitches the interior is definitely designed for driving and the driving position seats steering wheel and climate control system are excellent Reliabilty Consumer s Reports rates the 1999 contour average The V 6 is more prone to problems than the four My friend receives a Contour as her company car and has had an electrical problem and a recall on the engine mounts Besides that she is very happy with the car Overall Anyone in the market for a small car should definitely take a look at the Contour If the Contour s interior proves to be a problem than take a look at the Mercury Mystique which is basically a Contour but sold by Mercury The Mercury has a redesigned dash and interior which solve most of the Contour s problems Why is nobody buying the Contour My guess is the interior The rear is not sufficient for a family with older children and the minor details done wrong on the inside affect a person s decision greatly However if you re looking for a fun to drive comfortable affordable alternative to a Corolla or Saturn the Contour is definitely the way to go " Pos," As opposed to the the Volkswagon Jetta which I also looked at this car has plenty of power and at about the same price as many of the foreign counter parts At about 18 000 you get a well equipped vehicle with a V 6 engine and performance tires to match Road noise is a little loud and the stereo system leaves a lot to be desired Overall comfort however is very nice if you are under 6ft 2in There s plenty of room for 4 large adults and if you not too picky about the stereo system this car makes an excellent all around car Trunks space What can I say there s plenty I put a rack stereo component system 5 units and a computer Gas mileage is pretty good however they only put a 13 gallon tank in the car so it seems like you re filling up all the time I average about 300 miles per tank So if you re looking for a vehicle that has sports feel both on the road and on the pedal this car is for you I mean you can feel the road and the steering is easily readable If you looking for luxury this may not be the car unless you get the leather package with power seats supreme sound and all the little perks It s an ideal family car for the small family wife and two kids and an excellent singles car that can be used for business or pleasure br br " Pos," Greetings What follows is a blow by blow account of a head to head comparison test of the Ford Contour and the Plymouth Breeze If you own or are thinking of purchasing either of these vehicles this should prove to be very interesting reading for you I have toned it down to about 1 300 words in the interest of not posting a novel here on Epinions com Earlier today I found myself with an interesting assignment to pick which of two cars was the quot better quot car A close friend was shopping for a compact sedan but she hated the idea of not buying American After much discussion mostly related to styling she narrowed it down to two cars the Ford Contour and the Plymouth Breeze You see this all began several weeks ago when my friend s car a wheezy old 1987 Ford Mustang was diagnosed as needing a new automatic transmission within the next month or so The car was driveable but definitely on the way out Knowing that I am a quot car guy quot she called me up and asked me what she should buy choosing from only compact four door North American models that can be bought for well under 20 000 she was thinking 18 000 or less We immediately ruled out the Pontiac Grand Am as she felt the styling was simply too funky for her more conservative tastes especially the dashboard which appears to have been lifted straight out of a sci fi movie I actually like it myself She also ruled out the Ford Focus as it too struck her as a little too weird Interestingly she really liked the looks of the Ford Contour She also liked the design of the Plymouth breeze saying that is was definitely quot neato quot and was not too weird for her So having effectively narrowed it down to a used Ford Contour or a Plymouth breeze we set out in search of a prime example of each She decided that she would probably be best off to pick up a used 1999 model of the car she chose as this would save her several thousand dollars you know the scenario champagne taste Coca Cola budget So as luck would have it after lots of searching for a couple of really clean cars we happened to find one of each on the same used car lot a red 1999 Plymouth Breeze with 24 000 miles and a white Ford Contour with 25 400 miles Both were automatics and had power windows door locks and mirrors AM FM cassette stereos cloth interiors and 4 cylinder engines We drove the Breeze first Inside the Plymouth breeze is deceivingly roomy There is plenty of room for four 6 foot adults to get comfortable The back seat even features a nifty fold down and pull out dual cupholder in the back of the front armrest The opposite was true of the Ford Contour The back seats are tight for six footers and rear headroom is non existent Hitting a nice bump on the freeway would definitely result in the rear passengers bumping their heads on the roof if they were 5 9 quot or taller The breeze won that one hands down It feels much larger from any seating position even though on the outside it s almost the same size as the Contour The Breeze has the nicer looking gauge cluster and more in the way of interior storage compartments Of course as is typical of Chrysler company products the interior looked and felt like it was put together on a strict under allocated budget The plastics are definitely rental car grade and the controls do feel unsubstantial and sort of rubbery On the other hand the Contour was missing something I insist on in any car I drive a tachometer Even with an automatic a tach can be very useful especially in a car with overdrive transmission The Contour feels smaller both in terms of interior space and overall size Without a doubt the plastics used on the dash are of higher quality than those found in the Breeze The steering wheel in the Contour scored major points with me for it s thick meaty feel Conversely the steering wheel in the Breeze is nothing special and is immediately forgettable Despite being direct competitors these two cars feel very very different The Breeze feels more like a typical American car in that it feels large and roomy and it handles like a small boat Road feel is not a term with which Plymouth is well acquainted The steering is vague and uncommunicative leaving the driver feeling like they are driving a small Buick Conversely the Contour derived from the hugely successful European Ford Mondeo offers the driver excellent road feel For an enthusiast this makes the drive more fun and makes the car more predictable inspiring more spirited driving For the average consumer the Contours excellent steering imparts a feeling of having better control over the vehicle thus making them feel safer This elusive trait is why BMWs are known as the quot ultimate driving machine quot The road feel in a BMW is quite simply the very best in the world As for power neither car is exactly a road rocket but thanks to its superior handling the Contour feels both faster and much more fun to drive In all honesty the Ford felt faster from a standstill although we obviously did not conduct instrumented testing The Ford s brakes were definitely better than those in the Breeze but bear in mind that both were used cars Surprisingly both cars have great trunks One would expect the Contour to have a small trunk and while it s not as deep as that found on the Breeze it is surprisingly large and usable Of course the Breeze s trunk ultimately is the larger of the two One of the biggest subjective differences between these two vehicles is the quality of materials and level of fit and finish The Ford felt like it was put together very well in fact if I may be so bold it felt downright European Conversely the Breeze felt like it was good for maybe another 50 00 miles before it came apart at the seams The plastics are super cheap and squeaks and rattles were certainly noticeable The Breeze left us with the impression that we had driven a cheap car while the Contour felt like a shoe string budget BMW wannabe no kidding So which did we choose In case you haven t guessed yet she bought the Contour We both felt good about the purchase especially since we negotiated a great deal on the car She is thrilled and she especially likes the styling of the Contour When we took a good long look at it she felt the Breeze looked like a plastic toy especially the grill and mirrors and I must admit that the front end of the Contour is very pleasing to look at The cat s eye headlamps are very elegant Apparently the Contour is one of Ford s most reliable products Time will tell and I must admit that I am somewhat pessimistic about its projected life span Of course it s not a Plymouth I am not a fan of Chrysler products so I definitely think she picked the better built car Overall I was very impressed with the Ford s performance and overall packaging except the rear seat headroom thing I had pretty much written Ford off as a manufacturer of below average quality automobiles with little or no finesse the new Focus excluded A pleasant surprise I could actually sort of envision myself driving a Ford product and actually liking it for the first time in years of course I would probably opt for the 6 cylinder SVT Contour All in all the Ford struck me as the better car I think she choose wisely Of course neither car would hold a candle to a used Nissan Altima Honda Civic or VW Jetta in my books But hey this car wasn t for me My pal insisted on an American car and I personally think she got a great set of wheels for her money br br " Pos," I was able to drive this car for the past couple of weeks when me and my brother decided to switch cars He drove my 98 Mercury Mystique and I drove his 99 Ford Contour I was very impressed with it s handle on the road and the little added horsepower that the Mystique doesn t have I ve been driving the Mercury Mystique for the last year and have been pleased with the car What really surprised me when I started driving this car is how similar it is to the Mystique The interior is almost exactly the same and the feel of the car is also similar So with that in mind price should also be compared We paid about the same for the car his being a year newer gave him the advantage I think that Mercury Mystique is a special kind of ford manufacturer so you spend some money on the fact that it is a Mercury Mystique Things about the car comes with the nice anti lock brakes for all wheels power windows and door locks I think the Contour is the SVT and in the 99 models that particular type of Contour has more horsepower 200 to the SE and LX s 125 it has a V6 engine it has more torque than the other models also miles per gallon which is important now adays is 20 29 city hwy has cruise control and air bags seats now more than 5 comfortably it is a very luxurious ride if I may say so it s a safe ride even though it has more horsepower than the Mystique the feel when you drive it makes it just as safe It s hard to explain other than it feels safe when you drive it brother bought it at about 13 000 I would recommend this car to parents who want a safe and dependable car for their children to drive Also to people who do a lot of driving to work everyday it s gets good MPG Is it better than the Mystique Even though they are two very similar cars the added horsepower and cheaper price makes this car a little bit better br br " Pos," I m publishing this review for those of you who are considering a purchase of any V6 model Ford Contour I bought a 1999 Ford Contour SVT Special Vehicle Team because I like high performance European type vehicles without the high costs usually associated with any Euro model car that fits this description My initial test drive of the 1999 Ford Contour SVT made me smile which isn t all that easy to do when it comes to cars I demand a vehicle that can REALLY perform and handle well in the twisties and at the same token deliver good looks and carry four people with relative ease I purchased my 1999 Ford Contour SVT new in December of 1998 it is now November of 2000 and I currently have 42k miles on the odo In retrospect I can give an honest and well experienced review of the pro s and con s of this 4 door performance sedan If you are on a budget and want a 4 door performance sedan this is definitely a car to consider Performance is right up there with most BMW s at a considerably cheaper price What are the pro s By far the biggest pro is the performance the SVT model offers but even the non SVT models are good performers for those who don t want to pay the premium attached with the limited production runs that come with all SVT cars Car and Driver hustled the SVT from a standstill to 60MPH in just under seven seconds 6 9 and through the quarter mile in 15 4 seconds at 91MPH For those of you unfamiliar with performance statistics lets just say this 4 door performance sedan will keep right up with almost all V6 sport coupes on the market priced under 30k and beat quite a few of them in the process Handling is even better generating 0 90G s on the skidpad which means you ll most likely exceed your own personal tolerances well before you approach the car s handling limits The SVT s front bucket leather is standard in the SVT models seats are VERY comfortable and VERY supportive during spirited driving maneuvers Overall steering feel is excellent with only mild understeer once the handling limits are reached or slightly exceeded and the power assist works wonderfully at any speed As far as the ergonomics go the trunk is spacious for a car this size and the controls and gauges are all laid out clearly and easy to use So what are the con s Mostly fit and finish in the interior areas I ve also noticed some suspension noises clunks and rattles especially during the colder seasons of the year Interior noise isn t up to par with most cars even in its own price range Cup holders are horrible up front and non existent in the rear there are inserts that Ford sells that solve the problem up front though Interior lighting leaves much to be desired There is no glovebox light a REAL inconvenience at night to say the least and no rear passenger lighting exists either Rear brake noise has been an issue for me personally from time to time as well Dependent upon whether or not you like it you may or may not appreciate the exhaust engine noise Keep in mind this car and especially the SVT model is designed with the performance enthusiast in mind so the exhaust and engine are tuned accordingly I personally love the growl from under the hood and from the exhaust Overall I think the V6 1999 Ford Contour s are great contender s in the market segment for which they compete Unfortunately for me but fortunate for others the resale value is about average for a Ford vehicle which means you can get a REALLY good price on slightly read 1 2 years old used models that have been well cared for and even better deals on slightly older models br br " Pos," I recently spent a week with a 1999 Contour SE on a 3000 mile vacation When I first picked up the car I thought that it would be a total drag I was pleasantly surprised though It is a very roomy car with all the features of a more expensive car The ride quality is excellent and managed 400 miles per tank with a lot of highway driving at speeds of 80mph Mountainous driving requires manually shifting the automatic to get the most out of the 2 0 4 cyl engine Braking is sure with no fade even after driving down a 8 grade for two miles The trunk is large and roomy enough to carry luggage for four Though billed as a 5 seater four can sit comfortably I have also driven V 6 Contours in the past however the 4 cylinder wil be more than adequate for most peoples needs br br " Pos," I just purchased a Ford Contour LX It is a 1999 model and cost 11 500 I got a great deal considering their was only 9 000 miles on it At first I was somewhat hesitent to test drive it because it was an automatic and I usually hate automatics But after just driving around the block I was sold I was amazed at what a great car you can get for so little I looked at the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camary but they were both overpriced The Contour was not only thousands cheaper but I actually thought it drove nicer than the other two The in dash CD player produced a sound that make the Camary s radio look like a alarm clock in comparison The only two complaints I have about the Contour are small One is that when you pop the trunk it is a little heavy to lift Two is that the cup holders are positioned a little too far away from the driver Two inconviences yes but not enough to deter a sensible buyer away from this great buy br br " Pos," This car is a GT Premium which has 260 horsepower as advertised It is above the standard model but it s about 3 800 more than the base model My 1 recommendation pay the extra money for the GT if you can it s worth every penny and then some Power acceleration The acceleration in this car is quite phenomenal I m more than happy with it I ve added an American Thunder cat back exhaust system to give it a really cool growling sound under open throttle It has more horsepower because of the modification Handling I am very happy with this rear wheel powered vehicle Keep in mind this version of the vehicle has 17 performance tires That surely improves handling significantly above the standard trim level I ve hugged some tight curves with excellent grip on the road On dry pavement the handling is excellent On wet pavement care must be taken Spinning the tires is fairly easy during heavy rain when accelerating onto a highway Beware of your usual high speeds when turning in wet rain and leave plenty of space ahead for braking Breaking on dry pavement is very good the 4 wheel anti lock disk brakes had been used in an emergency situation once with maximum sustained pressure and they lived up to their expectations Deceleration from 50 0 on a tight curve was better than expected Maintenance and Upkeep After 8 000 I am very happy There s no major or minor problems to date Only time will tell Keeping the zinc yellow clean is more challenging but it is well worth it it s an outstanding color and gets noticed I wonder how long my clutch is going to last I surely make it suffer when I have fun with the car It s doing good so far Gas mileage The gas mileage can average as low as 14 5 MPG during a week with above average traffic problems I drive about 3 4 city 1 4 highway and the average MPG per tank goes up to about 17 5 18 when there haven t been significant traffic problems on the commute Surprisingly the cruising MPG averaging about 65 for 1 000 miles I received 26 27 MPG That was a pleasant surprise If you want to take advantage of the full power of with this car your gas mileage will suffer gt it s unavoidable but it s never gone below 14 5 MPG for me Comfort and interior I m definitely used to the black leather seats and power everything My dog loves the back seat If I expected to have 2 or more adult passengers regularly I would not purchase this vehicle The rear view mirror is slightly obscured by the spoiler and the side mirrors are slightly obscured by the body form in the back it took some getting used to backing up into a parking spot Climate control is fine and the 400 watt stereo is very clear at the maximum volume level which is awesome The ride is not overly uncomfortable for a sports car I love the feel of control obtained from a sports car as opposed to the floaty feel of comfort and luxury vehicles The road needs to be felt when drying hard and fast Price The price I paid includes all taxes and fees 24 000 for the GT Premium that deal was through carsdirect com which by the way provided fine service and stuck to their price " Pos," The Mustang coupe in premium trim offers a lot for a low price Present 3k rebates make the car a steal at about 17K Philosophy moment Owning a proud American car takes a bit of self esteem The Camry conformity group will try to co depend you into their faceless society of stellar reliability It is too dull a life for the expressive and passionate driver Key attributes 193 horsepower 225 ft lbs of torque 225 55 R 16 tires 5 spd with traction control 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS Mach 460 6 disc CD changer 6 way power driver seat Leather wrapped tilt steering wheel From the list above it is clear you get a lot for your money in the Mustang Coupe Premium Further the trim and badging are tasteful subtle and true to the Mustang images so familiar to most Americans Handling is predictable and mild mannered in dry conditions The goodyear eagle LS tires are surprisingly squeal resistant This allows pushing the limits without attracting much attention The brakes are decent but not on par with Ford s SVT vehicles They will stop the car but are not made for the abuse a racing car might see The powertrain 3 8L V6 with 5 speed is flexible and torquey As the rpms build past 3500 so does a considerable amount of horsepower The car will chirp the tires in second and third if you are not smooth with your shifts The car is happy to cruise at 90 to 100 MPH but is governed to 115 MPH top speed As a long term member of the 100 MPH club I can say that this is fast enough to pass 99 99 of the cars on the freeway For this type of vehicle gas mileage is respectable ranging from 22 to 26 mpg on average You can do even better on the highway with cruise control The fit and finish is good but some interior parts show uneven gaps between panels There are no squeaks or rattles and the materials seems very robust By and large fit could improve but this year s Mustang shows Ford does care about quality The feel of the car is extremely solid The gear shifter feels like it is part of the transmission it is and the engine seems composed and strong even with the throttle wide open To be objective there are areas for improvement Wind noise is noticeable but not excessive The back seat is not comfortable for adults And the rear live axle can occasionally make the back of the car feel a bit sloppy These gripes withstanding it is clear that no other car can match the Mustang s equipment performance and comfort levels at this price Any questions Or are you on your way to the Ford dealer already Get a Mustang It will revive your love for driving Or get a Camry so it can steal your soul " Pos," I wanted a Ford Mustang Convertible for years ever since I got my driver s license When the 95 model came out I thought it was the most beautiful car on wheels that I could afford of course It had a powerful V8 engine gorgeous design lines leather interior an automatic top so I wouldn t have to wrestle with folding and unfolding some unwieldy thing it had a glass window in the back with defroster so it wouldn t get scratched like a plastic one It also had a back seat so I could pack friends or stuff It was my dream car I kept it cherry with weekly detailing In 1999 I totalled my dream car because the combination of the huge high performance 17 quot tires and the powerful V8 engine although a blast to drive on dry pavement were a disaster in wet weather I was going below freeway speeds when I hydroplaned spun out and hit the center divider twice The air bags deployed perfectly and although I had to get out and run from the dead car to avoid being hit by oncoming traffic I was virtually uninjured Both the front and the back end of the car were smashed and twisted and virtually gone But I had no trouble opening the door in a hurry And not only did the airbags save my life they prevented injury I had had the car for four years and it didn t have a scratch Now it was gone But I was alive I read later in Consumer Reports that many people have had similar experiences with the Mustang big tires big engine in wet weather But that did not deter me from wanting to get another one It was still the only car for me But the 99 model is ugly Its lines are no longer powerful sleek and lovely but sharp angular overly aggressive and masculine I ve looked at it and looked at it and the design is just repulsive It s still a Mustang it s still a great car but it cannot compare to the look of my 95 I am dismayed that the designers at Ford are again on the downhill slide with the Mustang In my opinion the Mustang of the 70 s and 80 s was one sad looking underdeveloped machine a far cry from the hot innovative little pony car of its beginning I hope that the Mustang of the new millennium will not share that fate Go back to the drawing board guys and make it beautiful again You can make it powerful and hot looking without making it look like a shark Start with your 94 96 models I still haven t bought a new car and the money s burning a hole in my pocket and I m itchin to feel again the way that car made me feel br br " Pos," This was the first new car I ever purchased it was my dream car My 1995 Ford Mustang 2 Door Coupe was Forest Green with Saddle tan interior The 6 cylinder 3 8 liter 145 horsepower engine was all the power I needed Sure I would have liked to have had a bigger beefier engine but did I need it No I have the two speeding tickets to prove it I only had my car a couple weeks and we decided to take it on a quot road trip quot up to the mountains to show it off to my parents It handled like a dream with 3 passengers that engine pulled us right up the Sierra Nevada Highways passing people left and right It was a great commute car with good gas mileage I could go a week traveling 60 round trip miles a day on one tank of gas The only draw back for this car was the comfort level for long trips As long as you were driving it was fine but the passengers were not as comfy The head rest on the front seats were to far back to recline and enjoy the ride The back seat area was small Only a petite woman could sit back there comfortably for any long period of time We traded in my Mustang for a 1997 Ford Explorer when my due date approached It was going to be too difficult to get a child in and out of the back seat Let alone all the quot stuff quot that goes with one in the trunk area I really miss my car and breathe a sigh of regret every time I see one on the road Hopefully one day in the future we can get another one I will bet my daughter would love one when she starts driving Fourteen more years wonder if I can wait br br " Pos," Wanna get hold of a fun fast car that s fairly good on gas has a great reputation as an American classic and holds up well over a five year period Then the 1995 Ford Mustang is for you I bought my Mustang in Dec 1995 one year after the re designed Stangs came out My little champ is a basic model V 6 3 8L engine that still performs like the day I brought it home from the stable It gets good gas mileage 20 city 27 hwy has great suspension corners awesome and has been relatively trouble free I ve recently turned 80 000 miles by October 1999 A few parts that I ve replaced include tie rod ends struts serpentine belt and tune up parts just did that myself about 3 months ago and 4 new tires last year Other then regular oil changes there have been no major corrections needed for my Mustang The engine is top notch the transmission excellent a none worse for wear under carriage relatively rust free exhaust system and good body still makes for a beautiful ride in this classic car A few cons include limited cab space I wouldn t recommend this car to people over 6 4 quot I m 6 2 quot and the back seat is very cramped only good for little kids really Also due to the tight suspension potholes can easily mess up the wheel alignment I ve corrected this twice in five years " Pos," Just about 2 years ago I re entered that oh so wonderful market of used car searching Having driven a 1990 Bonneville for the last 3 years of my life I was ready for something a little sportier Because of insurance Mustangs Eclipses and Cameros were instantly out of the question At the time power didn 146t matter to me as much as looks Finally I stumbled upon the car that would soon become mine through the good times AND the bad It was indeed a 1997 Ford Probe p b Appearence i Outside From the start this was without a doubt the factor that sold me from the beginning It 146s styling is amazingly intricate and for it 146s day in age seemed much more aerodynamic then most of the running competitors While it didn 146t offer the ground effects or better looking rear bumper then the GT model it did still sport the same front bumper However it disappointingly did not come with premium rims or even alloy rims at that It 146s hubcaps were very loosely attached to 14 148 black steelies and looked like one of the worst designed I 146d ever seen Its taillight brakelight display pattern was clear bright and consisted of a 3rd brake light on the upper border of the hatch window Pop up headlights were extremely smooth looking at the time but because of maintenance became more of a nuisance over a good period of time It also sported a factory spoiler which helped to complete the car 146s small compact design The trunk helps to tally up yet another plus for the Probe offering ALOT of space to store move stuff The back seats could be put down to allow for more room I was once able to fit a whole 10 speed bike in the back end with no problem at all and room to spare i Inside On the inside it seemed extremely roomy However that was before I ever tried to get into the back which almost didn 146t even exist because of its tight quarters The upholstery was made of a cheap looking plastic and appeared to snap into place everywhere That didn 146t exactly thrill me but it was going to have to work The seats also available in leather were made of cloth and provided individual bucket style seating They were very comfortable but after a few long trips I found them to be a little odd in shape and hard on your neck Mostly because there is no separate headrest to be pulled up or down It came factory with a cheap tape deck which I yanked out within weeks of having the car It 146s wiring was easily noted and color coated However unless you have a work manual telling what you what is what that doesn 146t really help much Another huge plus of the car was its overall visibility from the inside Since it is a hatchback it 146s comprised of many good sized windows Because of this small factor backing up and maneuvering on the road was made simpler and more worry free In my opinion the driving display was seemingly a little plain but has everything that you could need to know while operating the car Consisting of MPH RPM Oil Level Engine Temp Gas and Battery I found that it got the job done At night the display was seemingly a little dark and only emits but a small green glow which can be adjusted by the intensity knob Its single overhead dome light doesn 146t create much light in pitch black instances but was sufficient enough for the time being i Engine Bay Under the hood I found there to be alot more open space then I was expecting Wiring however was kinda messy with tons of stray wires running every which way and appearing in no logical order or pattern The engine crankcase was based almost directly in the center of the engine bay and seemed well proportioned for a 4 cylinder When changing the oil I immediately discovered that the oil filter was located in a HORRIABLE place To reach it you must run your arm almost 3 feet deep in the engine bay from the bottom up and this included sliding your arm by the exhaust manifold and piping BAD idea Because of its extremely high temperatures you must let the cat sit on ramps for almost 1 2 hours before you even dare stick your arm up by it While on the topic of heat the car 146s engine tends to run extremely hot While the temperature gauge reads that it 146s in normal range it is a VERY hot engine and must be allowed to cool down for a good amount of time before working on b Engine Stats The standard engine in the 1997 Ford Probe is a 2 0 liter 16 valve DOHC inline 4 cylinder While the car is manufactured under Ford 146s name the engine itself and most of it 146s components and counterparts are actually produced by Mazda When I first got my Probe it purred so quiet that you could hardly hear it running No sudden drops in RPMs were present nor spark or engine knock Now about 2 years after it was purchased 86K miles at time I 146ve got 123K on her and she 146s still running smoothly Some spark knock has occurred but is quieted by using plus 89 octane grade gasoline Under my experience the engine is extremely reliable and has yet to leave me stranded or screaming at my car At the flywheel it produces 118 horsepower while it is closer to about 100 horsepower at the wheel Redlining at 6500 RPM it 146s apparent that it 146s not a Ford engine My specific model was a manual transmission so I found it to be awfully peppy off the line I also found the engine to be extremely weak and it tended to struggle on just about any hard acceleration applied below the 2000 RPM line Once you got to about 3500 to 4000 RPM is where the power band begins to kick in and is short lived to about 5500 RPM Running the air conditioner takes an extremely dampening toll on horsepower and appears to make the entire car 146s operating performance more sluggish While this car does produce a good amount of horsepower and pull for a 4 cylinder it is by no means a powerhouse If you 146re looking for that it might be wise to start elsewhere If you 146ve got your hopes set on a Probe I might suggest looking into it 146s more expensive and step up GT model sporting a 164 horsepower 24 valve Quad Cam V 6 p b Performance Ride Quality As for road stats completely stock my Probe was running about around a 17 8 89 MPH in the Ford 146s recorded road test records slightly better results but this is about what you would expect from a 6 year old car The car 146s governor kicks in at 115 MPH at right about 5200 RPM Braking was decently quick responsive and smooth However my car was not equipped with the optional ABS Anti lock Brake System so i 146m not really able to comment on that aspect Turning and cornering was yet another strong point for the car making it extremely maneuverable As mentioned previously teamed up with its excellent level of visibility it makes for a very easy and effortless driving experience when weaving in and out of traffic However because the large amount of glass fogging of the windows can start to become a problem Especially during the wintertime you may find yourself waiting and waiting and waiting even longer just for your windows to defog When it comes to gas mileage the Probe does put forth an extremely good effort Stats for the car read 25 in town and 29 on the highway My person findings have been must better On the average I 146ll normally get about 29 miles in town and almost a whopping 35 MPG on the highway Cruising on the highway creates a very comfortable and smooth ride ranging the smoothest from 45 to 95 MPH However another negative you that may very well hear from multiple Probe owners is the infamous rattling sound coming mostly from the back hatch area While other rattles are present the most obvious by far would be from the back I 146ve tried multiple times to find out exactly what it is that caused this and have yet to come up with an answer Also while on rattles the windows start to come into play Since they are rimless windows they don 146t have a base or track that they follow when rolled down Because of this even when rolled all the way down they tend to rattle inside the door This can be fixed but requires taking the door apart to apply 147buffers 148 along the windows path p b Options The 1997 Probe like any other car could come fully loaded or bare to the bone Some of the available options are as follows Power Seats Power Windows Power Door Locks Power Mirrors Powered Sunroof ABS Anti lock braking system 4 Wheel Disk Brakes Premium Sound System w equalizer Spoiler Premium Wheels or Alloys Rear Window Wiper Ground Effects Side Airbags Keyless Entry Cruise Control Fog Lights Leather Seats Sports Suspension and Intermittent Wipers If fog lights were not included on your model but are desired you will be happy to find that the harnesses for it 146s wiring was still ran through the car making it easy to plug the factory fog lights button up to custom fog lights Swapping out the factory Tape CD Tuner is made very simple because of its economy standard sized opening which requires no special harnesses Many of the other options can be added as well rather it be by use of aftermarket parts or even managing to find order original factory parts from Ford Prices At the time I bought my Probe you could find most of the 1997 models ranging anywhere between 3000 to 7000 depending on mileage shape and overall condition However since then there has apparently been a drop in the marketing price and the prices have dropped through the floor If you keep your eyes peeled you could pick up a great steal for right around 3000 4000 However when taking in account of the car you had best put a good amount of money aside because this car has been known for it 146s expensive repairs p b Repairs Within months of owning the car I was sadly introduced to the number one gripe of owning a Probe Prices tend to be 2 3 times as much as they would be on say a Taurus or Escort Reason for this would most likely be because when the Probe came out it had a very rare set of tools that were needed to work on it Since it 146s a Ford Mazda hybrid it was a total mess when it came to trying to using tools for only Fords or only for Mazdas Also it 146s not exactly considered a plus that this car was discontinued much less that the 1997 model was the 147farewell 148 year model Since 1997 was the last year the Probe was produced in the US many loose ends and problems were left unsolved and fixed It is because of this reason that even Ford dealerships aren 146t able to answer some of the problems that tend to occur p b Overview After all is said and done it all comes down to personal preference and choice Would your money be best invested in this Mazda Ford discontinued hybrid or spent it elsewhere Well that 146s really for you to decide In my personal opinion I am planning on sticking with Probe until it 146s end However if you are looking to a Probe don 146t make the same mistake I did Maybe the 4 cylinder model is perfect for you and gas mileage means much more then performance But if you 146re in the run for more power and somewhat upgraded or better styling you might wanna slip into a GT It obviously would prove to be much quicker and yield more power in about every aspect But when it all comes down to I can 146t completely rip on the Probe too much because it has got me from here to there with some style and has never left me stranded While repairs can range from pricey to ridiculous the car itself is almost more of a mystery then anything The final standing question would be if you 146re willing to give this enigma a chance " Pos," My wife bought this car 4 years ago Jan 97 and we use this car as our around town car Other than tires oil and brakes we have never had this car in the shop This car has held up through long road trips cramming with luggage and a couple of small fender benders We like this car because of its looks as well as its design The controls are all in easy reach of the driver and passenger We have the 5 speed which for a car in this price range is surprisingly agile The car could use bigger tires and wheels to help it stick to the road but the suspension is good and firm in most turns We have the 4 cyl engine which is not the most powerfull engine if you like this car but want power get the GT The engine is a high revving engine that most people can have some fun with All in all a good car for the money Would be suitable for a teenager the gas mileage is great the car is reliable and it has dual air bags " Pos," This 1989 Ford Probe is a sporty and spunky little car It is reliable and always ready to run My 1989 Ford probe has 212000 miles on it to date I have had very little trouble with the engine It blew a timing belt but when replaced it ran great This problem was my fault as I was aware that timing belts should be changed periodically The 1989 Ford has quick pick up with the turbo engine and it gets in and out of traffic with little trouble The paint has held up very well for an eleven year old car It is fun to drive but watch out for tickets It gets good gas mileage even at this late stage It continues to get 29 miles to the gallon and the spark plugs have not been changed in 2 years The air conditioner has been the only problem and that is because there no protection in the grille It is very easy to get a rock in the condenser This can be eliminated by putting in a screen to protect the condenser I would rather have this little stick shift model then a new one I believe the 1989 Probe will be considered a classic in later years and I am going to hang on to this one This is the car for someone who likes the sporty look likes the feel of a car is interested in reliability and value and may want to keep it for future appreciation " Pos," My husband recently traded our 1996 B4000 Mazda for a 4 door Ranger V 6XLT 4wd We loved the Mazda but it was getting lots of miles on it and wanted something new The Mazda and Ford are the same vehicle basically and we knew we had good luck with the Mazda for years The controls are exactly the same and I mean exactly This is fine since everything is laid out well and is good quality Several things have changed on the inside like the steering wheel is a little thicker which is more comfortable This truck has 4 doors but not full size doors that make you lose bed space They make it easier to store things behind the seat as well as being easier for passengers to get into the back The back is still not the most comfortable spacious ride but it s okay for short trips I personally don t like the seats sitting sideways in the back as it can make you feel sick on twisty roads but we don t use them much We had one bold break and one loosen frequently on the armrest in the Mazda They have since added bracing on both sides of the armrest which makes it much more sturdy There is also an airbag turn off switch for when you need to have children ride up front He got the single CD stereo which has very good sound and easy to read buttons The biggest and best change is the engine It s the same size but more HP with more get up and go It s also geared differently manual where you can be in a higher gear at a lower speed which has been a good thing with all of the snow and ice we ve had The 4wd is great and can take you anywhere you want to go It rides like a truck because it is one but the ride in the new one is much tighter and takes the bumps a whole lot better One thing I don t like is the programmed keys They are 25 plus 25 for programming if you have them do it We bought 3 extra keys and programmed our own but it was pretty scary because we didn t want to mess it up and have to have it towed 40 miles to the dealer It was pretty easy though It s supposed to make it harder for thieves and is considered an alarm system It s a good truck that has been relatively unchanged for many years which shows that it is an idea that works No new trucks seem to come with a bedliner and I m quite sure why seeing how expensive the trucks are and they save the paint We got a bedliner installed by them and it s very nice br br " Pos," I love it My truck has a great look and definitely turns heads I trade in a 95 Ford Explorer Sport 4x4 I have to tell you that I already miss the full back seat My two daughters like riding in the back but I can tell the novelty will soon wear off The Explorer had more power and the turning radius was much better however at 83000 miles the gas mileage was horrible I went to the Dealership with the intention of buying a new Ford Explorer however the 30 sticker sent me looking for something cheaper I looked at the new Sport and Sport Track but like it s big sister the price with options put it near 30k Too much for a car in my opinion I immediatly noticed the truck on the showroom floor It looked very tough and extremely Sporty Be advised I am a 36 yo white collar professional not an 18 yo looking to buy his first truck The salesman was steering me toward the new Escape yuk The Escape is boring inside and out I kept going back to the Ranger After a long solo test drive I was sold The wind noise is average The Nissan I test drove was much worse Take offs from traffic lights are more than adequate The internal controls are easy to reach and attractive I opted for the 6 disc in dash CD player It reacts a little to slow for my taste but the sound is clear it makes highway driving fun I play music loud and cannot hear anything going on outside the truck I especially like the way Ford increased the Ranger s height It sits at the same level as the Explorer Overall I recommend the Ranger Extended Cab 4x4 4 0 V6 It handles well and does great off road The stylish improvements and interior do a great justice to this Truck If you are in the market for a small SUV or pick up try this out in your search You will not be disappointed It matched the foreign competition in every way except was typically 3 5000 thousand dollars cheaper Good luck " Pos," Real Truck people know who 146s got it in the compact class most would agree 147nobody but nobody 148 can touch Ford 146s Ranger Although the Japanese may have an advantage in car sales they remain on the outside looking in when it comes to trucks GM has never been a serious contender with the S 10 and Dodge is only starting to make some inroads with the Dakota Quite simply none match the build quality Ford puts into the Ranger For instance I drove my last Ranger a 1989 2WD for 13 years before recently upgrading to a slightly used 2001 4X4 Supercab Edge During my ownership covering 110 000 miles I replaced one set of brakes and shocks did one tune up replaced a leaky valve cover gasket several mufflers two batteries and a water pump Basically just routine maintenance quite a record for any vehicle especially one that cost just 9 000 For those of you that may not know the Edge series comes with fewer goodies than the top of the line XLT It lacks some of the finer things you 146d consider indispensable in an automobile such as tilt power windows and locks keyless entry etc However this model was exactly what I was looking for as it contains a hose me out interior The extra room the 4 door cab offers is great for hauling around my constant companion a German Shepherd named Barney Barney seems to have 3 times more hair than any dog his size would require most of which he 146d leave behind where it would stick fast to the seats and carpeting of the previous truck The Edge with its vinyl floor and seats is one heck of a lot easier to vacuum and keep clean And after all this is a truck not the family go to Sunday meeting luxury vehicle Having said that I must admit I was somewhat disappointed with our test drive of this vehicle For one thing there was more engine noise and a much choppier ride than in my far older 2 wheel drive truck The difference was very noticeable so much so we went home without purchasing the truck much to the chagrin of our sales person I guess we just weren 146t prepared for the difference you 146ll find between the 2 wheel version and its bigger 147at least taller 148 4X4 brother After some discussion my wife and I decided even though we preferred the 2 wheel suspension a 4X4 would be better suited to our current needs Point being if you don 146t live in snow country unless you 146re into status that is you 146ll be a lot more comfortable in a 2 wheel model Here you 146ll find easier entry since it 146s lower to the ground in addition to a much softer ride Of course serious truck lovers wouldn 146t consider anything but a 4X4 why because they 146re macho They just look bigger and meaner with their taller stance and huge tires Often owning a 4X4 is all about image not necessarily need Maybe some of that was true with us too as the Edge 4X4 is one mean looking vehicle It just says 147drive me 148 when sitting in our garage I consider the 3 0 V 6 sightly undersized especially since the truck is rated to haul up to 5 000 lbs can 146t help but wonder where they got that number Ford must have known that because newer models come with the 4 0 a 50 HP boost as standard equipment Although the smaller engine is adequate for most needs and probably does better at the pumps Gas mileage is in the 16 17 range not exactly outstanding The fun to drive aspect is hard to measure Ride is toward the harsh side but the truck handles incredibly well and doesn 146t feel the least bit tippy unlike many SUV 146s Seats are very comfortable wind noise is minimal I have noticed some creaking noises undoubtedly attributable to the 4 door design that lacks the stabilizing nature of a center post As noted earlier the vinyl interior of the Edge makes cleanup a breeze Nevertheless it does make one wonder why Ford had to pad the seat backs with a velcro like cloth that nearly defeats the clean ability feature for dog lovers The Ranger is literally bullet proof from a mechanical standpoint Combine that with its good looks rugged suspension right size flexible utility and fun to drive aspect you have one heck of vehicle It can haul wood cruise effortlessly on the highway or carry campers through some of the worst terrain without taking a deep breath And it retains its value better than 90 of all the other vehicles on the road No wonder it 146s the number one selling compact truck it sure gets my vote " Pos," We live on a farm and purchased a big truck in order to pull a horse trailer to transport our horses cows and or sheep as well as haul feed for them I buy a ton at a time We also needed it to pull a car trailer for our antique and classic car collection At first I was intimidated by this monster of a truck being a small woman But once you get used to it I think anyone would enjoy driving this truck It has a lot of power and rides very smooth It handles very nice and makes you sit up so tall you can t help but to feel powerful Ours has a v 10 in it and I wouldn t want anything less I really like the power br br " Pos," We recently purchased a new Ford F 150 Super Crew for the reason that we wanted a truck We looked at the Dodge Ram the Dodge Dakota and the Ford Ranger The F 150 was the most comfortable and economically sized When we decided to test drive the ride was smooth and quiet All controls were perfectly situated for an easy ride That was when we decided that the F 150 was what we wanted Since then I have been more than happy with our purchase We have taken it with us on long road trips and even had to sleep in it which made for an accurate night of sleep I was impressed with the comfort I felt that the F 150 had made during the long drive I highly recommend this truck " Pos," I own a 96 two tone North Woods limited edition Ford Ranger whats so limited bout it I don t really know its a 2 3liter 4 banger w a stick five overdrive standard cab long bed Though I wish it was the otherway around ext cab short box Not enough leg room and it doesn t have tilt I heed you this Dont get a Ford Ranger that doesn t have tilt steering Thou can be dealt w but gets frustratting on long trips Overall seating is ahh well I guess comfortable for short rides but w standard cab your bound to feel confined after an hour or longer trip trust me I know And I m not that tall either at 5 10 quot my knees start to bother me on long hauls due to not so perfect seating arrangment No its not the clutch either that I would add is very controled and perfectly calibrated Not to hard or to mushy just right feel and very strong even after one hell of a rigorois beating of tryin to sport the damn thing and revin up the r s to a point of redline and popping the clutch numerios times if I may add too even after 41k miles feels just the same as new exactly the same actually better due to break in Brakes extremely well even though only has front anti lock chassis settles very well and keeps comepletely controlled under exteme hard braking manueverabititly well Very well built no problems at all Stong frame that can take much streess when pushed hard can handle heavy loads very well obvios engine lag and clutch stress but never seems to be a problem Ya gotta consider its only a 4 and its not built for speed or much power either But is indeed an all around very trustworthly truck Interior wise again 96 was the year that Ford transferd over to the more streamlined sexy looking interior all rounded off and flashier looking Not enough elbow room left side door side seats pushed to close to door to make more room between seats don t like that Good visibility for instumentation Very easy to use and explanatory fuctions make truck easy to drive Like the rear cargo light that isn t available on the S 10 so thats a plus for ford but would like the option to have it on a separate swith they come on w the interior when turning on interior light which isn t to bad thou Biggest disapointment again the leg room on standard cab The truck as a whole isn t all that aerodynamically designed or looking but there isn t much road noise anyhow Long bed accomates enough space thou wish bed was just at least a bit deeper Rear tailgate good weight not to heavy and not to light to bounce around on freeway when open either Good overall road site though having tilt would allow more over the hood has great lighting for night driving Thou one thing I dont like about fords new design of the wind shield wiper blade speed is that everytime you use the blinker you can t help but to hit it and accidently change it it being located right on the outside of the blinker lever Thats where I give props to chevy having the dial in the middle of the lever 0 60 with stick isn t all that bad w no load but can t sustain high speed cruise over 90 95 for the life of it Winter months w out any weight in the back totally suck here in MI w all the snow we get if you live in a snow climate i d strongly advise 4WD It looks better for the trucks anyways the big tires high stance its speaks RANGER 4 banger s good on gas but if you crave power then its the 4 0 that you need w out a doubt Its a good starter truck thats really all to it Anyquestions feel free to E mail at Tama1000 hotmail com br br " Pos," We went to a dealership where a friend worked so we knew that we wouldn t be quot taken quot for a ride And we looked and looked wanting an extended cab 4x4 pickup with Air conditioning But in our price range the extended cab was out of the question amp hard to find So we ended up with a 1993 4x4 Pickup with A C and cruise control It had 35K miles on it when we got it in 1996 amp it has been great to us It has bucket seats with a little quot bench quot type seat between them so that our daughter can sit in the middle It drives very nicely amp isn t all that bad on the gas mileage We haven t had to use the 4x4 feature that often but when we have it has met or exceeded our expectations all the time One thing I really like about the 1993 model is that the body style is so similar to the current style that many times people think our truck is New Kind of nice that Ford hasn t changed the body style much over the last few years We haven t put that many miles on the truck in the 4 years we have had it since it is our second vehicle but we hope that will help preserve the value of the vehicle " Pos," My 93 Ford Ranger is a great truck to own It has over 90 000 miles on it is running great and has had no major repairs or service done on it other than regularly scheduled tune ups and replacing the tires Although hard core off roaders might prefer the 4WD model unless you live in the outback the 2WD is much more practical and economical The engine is a large straight 4 cylinder with decent power and it shows no signs of needing any repairs any time soon It has had no problems towing small camping trailers or being heavily loaded with items like pianos and couches when I helped my uncle and aunt move and so it s a very practical truck to have Plus it s not as large and unwieldy as most other pickups that are a pain to park or that you would worry a lot about in underground parking I enjoy driving it but I try to keep too many people from finding out that I own it or I end up having to help people move all the time I guess that just comes with the territory in owning a pickup truck My only complaints are 1 It could use a little more power for the big hills I live in a mountainous area so it would be nice to still be able to accelerate up those steep hills rather than just maintaining my speed but like I said it has decent power 2 I wouldn t mind a little more passenger space at the expense of a little cargo room but then again I m 6 7 so it should be fine for most people As far as towing and hauling this truck actually rides better when it s loaded down If you do want the extra power at the expense of a little gas mileage go for the V6 model rather than the 4 cylinder It just depends on your needs preferences " Pos," I 146ve had my 14686 Ranger since 1996 I bought it for 700 and consider it a great investment I 146m a contractor on the side a salesman full time One of the first rules of business is to keep expenses down and profits up Sales have been slower lately but are building up again I stay busy doing jobs smaller than most guys take on but no matter the economy I cringe at the thought of covering a new truck payment every month Why pay someone else money I made Let 146s see buy new truck and throw money away I do electrical plumbing dry walling tile work and more This truck has been great for all of it Tax deduction I 146ve two great tax deductions I get to tuck into bed at night when I 146m not out on a job late Then I 146d also rather spend some time with my tax deductions girl in 1998 and boy in 2001 rather than running ragged all the time I 146ve got about 130 000 miles on this little critter and figure I 146ll drive it until it falls apart around me One day I 146ll close the door and the thing will disintegrate into a cloud of dust I 146ll rummage through it and pick out my tools I do believe the next work truck will be a van though But off topic One of the first things I had to do was have the exhaust system replaced 300 for the whole thing Another 200 for a topper I was ready to go to work and not letting the entire neighborhood when I came went This never was a beautiful truck It was originally dark brown with a tan interior But now the rust has given it a two tone color scheme The only body panel that has not been eaten away at least partially by rust is the hood All the wheel wells are slowly expanding The right pivot point for the end gate has fallen off I found it and have it on a shelf in the garage Believe it or not I 146d rather drive this than a new truck I never worry about door dings in the parking lot at Lowe 146s Menard 146s Home Depot I cut shingles on the hood and use the side panels to knock concrete out of my mixing trough Why Because I can it 146s convenient Nothing I do to this truck will reduce its value at all because it is far from the showroom Nor has this truck ever been considered powerful The 2 3L engine is sufficient to keep it moving with traffic but not to pull anything large and continue to do so I 146ve driven from Des Moines to Chicago with it to do a basement finish for my brother in law and even in Chicago traffic I was able to hold my own I 146m never 147chosen 148 at stop lights but people give me room when I signal I 146m changing lanes I think other drivers see the rust and are afraid that if they get too close it 146ll jump onto their car too A POX ON YE Fine Once when I rented a lift and was backing it into position up a driveway the clutch began smoking A lot It 150 the clutch not the smoke lasted another year or so until I could barely make it up my own driveway So I dropped the transmission with someone who knew what they were doing and replaced the clutch for about 300 The mechanic who does the work on my car quoted me about 750 I hate paying retail The only issue I 146ve had with the interior noise level 150 it 146s tolerable even at Interstate speeds 150 was on that trip to Chicago I turn the radio up to cover the engine noise Even though I say it is tolerable that doesn 146t mean you can hold conversation with a passenger I 146d also noted a great deal of wind noise from the passenger door and could see daylight through the top seal So at the next rest area I stopped and tweaked the door a bit It wasn 146t quite enough So at the next exit I tweaked it again Harder That tightened the door to the point that it 146s difficult to open But the wind noise is gone I like the bench seat It really is comfortable Compared to the seats in my sales car 2000 Taurus it is very comfortable On the longer trips it doesn 146t limit you with bolsters or even attempt to cradle you It just supports you and does this job very well I keep my cordless drill Sawsall in the space behind the seat I 146ve also mounted a first aid kit behind my head over the seat It hangs down over the window but doesn 146t obstruct the view Since the seat doesn 146t have whiplash protection the first aid kit has a dual use Perhaps someone will encourage me to purchase a newer vehicle someday by rear ending this truck It wouldn 146t take much so I hope they 146re gentle The rear view mirror sought new employment one day out of the blue It came groveling back from under the seat and now sits close to the end gate pivot in the garage The view out the back is limited by stuff in the topper anyway I 146ve quite a lot of tools neatly boxed in those cheap plastic 50 gallon bins They keep the tools out of sight and small parts easy to find I 146ve tested the payload capacity a few times too many The tires have been the only suspension on the rear at least a couple of times once with a too large load of shingles and the second with a way too heavy tree trunk A couple of other times since then I 146ve had the rear bumper drag on the way out the driveway It doesn 146t take as much as it used to to do that The right front brake hangs up once in a while I believe I need new calipers but don 146t feel like dropping the money into the truck and don 146t have the time to spare anyway I just avoid using the parking brake and things work fine The windshield is cracked from a large extension ladder being strapped to the roof of the truck I just laid it over the top of the topper and roof of the truck and strapped it down in the front and back It caused a bit of stress on the roof and some cracks developed Iowa doesn 146t have laws concerning cracked windshields so I 146ll let it go until it becomes a problem I carry the ladder very rarely as it looks like a hook ladder truck coming down the road Well perhaps more like a tight contractor who won 146t spring for a ladder rack The windshield wipers don 146t like to be too cold If the day is under freezing they need some time for the engine to warm them up a bit Not a huge deal Most old trucks have a quirk or two this one just has a dozen or so A more annoying thing is that when the humidity is high or especially if there 146s been heavy dew the truck is very reluctant to start I 146ve replaced the starter twice The first time was because it was worn out The second time because a damaged flywheel was actually the culprit the first time The second time I opted for the biggest starter that would fit in there Teamed with an oversized battery what 146s 147reluctant 148 for me may be 147not at all 148 for someone else I don 146t know I 146ve also noted a lot of leaves end up in my vents Then occasionally the blower shreds them fine enough that they blow out but normally I need to dig them out I gave up and tore the vent louvers off the dash Now the leaves just blow whole out of the chute while I 146m driving down the road Just wait until this winter when the heater really gets going Picture flaming leaves 133 Anyway the vent louvers have joined the collection on the shelf in the garage This may be related to the leaf thing but when it rains I 146ve noticed that the floor on the passenger 146s side is wet I just make certain anything that I put on the floor isn 146t going to be damaged by moisture copper fittings small bins of screws I 146ve had a couple of cardboard boxes disintegrate with a couple of pounds of screws in them before I began to watch what I keep there The bed has taken a great deal of abuse but looks pretty good I found a bed mat in a garage I was working on one time that a previous owner had left It keeps those plastic bins from sliding around as much It 146s also a bit more comfortable than the metal when crawling up to reach the bin with the power tools That 146s why I 146d like to go to a van when this truck gives up the ghost The radiator or a hose has developed a small leak I 146m hoping it 146s a hose or clamps myself Three cans of stop leak and it slowed down a bit more Reflecting upon that it 146s probably the water pump I notice this leak better in the winter as when the water mix gets too low in the radiator it doesn 146t reach the heater core and the cabin blower blows cold air Otherwise the heater works great You could almost scald tender skin on the hottest setting I 146m not certain what tender skin you 146re thinking of 133 No A C but I grew up without A C and am generally fine without it when dressed in grubby clothes On really bad days I just knock off early You can 146t work on a roof or in an attic when it 146s that hot anyway and if you 146re in an A C controlled house or a basement then you 146re golden 150 so to speak anyway working in the dark I get rather pasty I think the carpeting is after market At least it looks like it Not very well fitted either Heck for 700 you think you 146d get something a bit better eh The shifter knob for the five speed transmission has fallen off a few times No doubt from that blistering acceleration No threading on the lever or in the knob so I wrapped electrical tape around the lever and pounded the knob onto it No problem Many items on this truck seem ready to jump ship I 146m not certain why Electrical tape fixes many things not as well as duct tape but I 146m more of an electrician not a heating air guy The dash holds note pads gloves and assorted ends well The blowers also contribute an odd leaf or two There 146s a nice bin above the glove that is at least as big as the glove box itself and that is great for the smaller things I don 146t need in my pouches but need to have along The glove box is the tip out variety and doesn 146t hold much It also doesn 146t always want to stay closed On harder bumps it will fall open and try to steal items from the bin above it It takes two or more tries to get it to stay closed again Even while closed it looks like it 146s threatening to open A cautionary glance stops it but it seems to be muttering to itself even as it stays closed Insurance and licensing are almost silly 50 per year for registration 240 per year for decent insurance coverage Again one of the first rules of business is to keep expenses down and profits up This truck does it well When I was an employee we had most everything delivered This truck was more than sufficient Now that I work on my own I 146ve learned that I personally need something that can carry a bit more A ton or one ton van would be right Would I recommend this to you I guess you need to evaluate what you 146re going to use it for and what you 146re willing to put up with I 146m out to impress exactly no one Now if you need more cargo room more tonnage towing power I 146d certainly get something else If you want a good solid truck to occasionally take a new bed home for yourself or your neighbors then this truck is plenty You won 146t catch too many new truck owners hauling dirt or garden manure in their new truck I 146ve no qualms The decision is of course up to you " Pos," My 93 Ford Mustang finally gave up the ghost at the most inopportune time right before my Spring Break trip to Paris Not about to lose the second trip of a lifetime see my review of Belfast for the first I scoped the Eiffel Tower before coming back and dealing with reality Fortunately my Ford dealer pulled a mess of strings and ta da I was driving home from Houston another long story in my new 2000 Ford Ranger Of course you ll run your usual gamut of Ford anagram for Fix or Repair Daily putdowns but the Mustang yep even the recently deceased has always been an old reliable for me and there was just something about the Ranger that made me want to go for it I wouldn t open a hauling company with one but other than that this baby will tote whatever you like down the highway without the excessive fishtailing you see in similar economy pickups It s got about six feet of bedroom that will allow you to flag any oversized loads comfortably without expecting a pork wagon to pull you over As I said it also handles well enough but don t get happy and make any fancy moves out there or you ll be picking junk up off the road as a result Inside the cab is a foldaway armrest which acts as an extra stash for CD s your tape player guns or whatever It s a nice place to prop your elbow when alone and will gladly make room for your Special Someone to cuddle up The cushy seats also pull back enough to take advantage of what you will find to be an unreal amount of space Hey I fit my briefcase a full semester of textbooks a crowbar a six pack of hard lemonade baseball caps and dozens of assorted papers back there so you couldn t even see it I don t know if those seats are gonna take that kind of abuse in 2006 but I won t bet against it The vinyl steering wheel is starting to wear a bit but the upholstery is standing up well and the seats look like they re ready to go quite a few rounds It comes with a cool speaker system and for a few bucks your car stereo dealer should be able to hook up something that ll make your cab come alive Also it s got a hideaway spare and jack that hasn t seen the light of day CAUTION this baby came with squeaky Firestone radials that haven t popped yet but I m planning to swap them someday real soon and so should you All in all this is a good looking dependable little ride that will haul your stuff around smoothly for some time to come Keep your oil changed regularly drop a few bucks for upholstery cleaning once in a while and the Ranger will reward you with reliable performance and low maintenance that you will long appreciate " Pos," I m semi retired and about to retire shortly so I wanted to find a vehicle that would serve my needs I decided to buy my 2000 Ford Ranger XLT LWB after I looked at the competition My desire was to get a truck to haul lumber home for special projects the LWB is 7 long carry my big RC model airplanes to from the field drive something that was economical to run my 2 5 ltr 4 cyl w automatic amp overdrive gets 24MPG The seating room is better then my old 87 chevy C10 PU I sold a few years ago I am overweight and felt that I might have to get one with a supercab but the regular cab fits me just fine It rides just fine with a load of lumber but is a bit bouncy as they all are on poor roads The only option I added was a tarp cover that fits over the bed and rests on 4 arched aluminum rails to allow rain to run off My truck also is helpful on trips from the nursery with loads of mulch lots of plants or moving a few appliances for neighbors This is Not a truck to pull a big boat or trailer nor does it have the HP or torque to carry big loads like a full size truck but it works just fine Like any pickup caution must be used when driving in snow ice I looked at trucks from all the manufacturers and had 2 basic needs good milage and something I would enjoy driving I found both in this truck and recommend it to any one going on a fixed income and yet wants to have a certain amount of flexability in their vehicle br br " Pos," My boyfriend owns a 1992 Ford Ranger and he loves it He generally has bad luck with cars and after his second car a mustang broke down he decided it was time for a new car I begged him to purchase a truck because I think they are great When he pulled up in his green truck I fell in love It is so nice It has a nice sized bed and is perfect for those people who do not need a full sized car or a huge truck It has nice pick up and is pretty fast It has never given him any problems It handles good in the rain or snow This is a perfect truck for teens and people without families or people with one child I said that this truck is very roomy even in back because there is no option that says quot Very roomy no back seat quot " Pos," I bought my 92 Ranger back in Dec of 91 right off the showroom floor It was just a bit above factory standard amp cobalt blue my fav color I was on leave from my Air Force technical training course and was about to be shipped off to Offutt AFB I needed a truck that could handle a 500 mile trip without breaking this little airman s wallet 04 25 00 Here s some requested information about the engine 2 3 liter 100 h p 4 cylinder As I stated earlier the truck was cobalt blue here s the rest of the info XLT 2 wheel drive 5 speed manual transmission 4 cylinder standard sound system All said and done it cost me 9500 2 9 financing over 5 years I had this truck until 1999 when I upgraded to an F 250 During that time I had only one thing that went wrong The cellenoid sp freaked out twice and I had to jump the posts to get the truck to turn over I also had two factory recalls Recall 1 A bad seal in the drivers door that might cause the door to open suddenly if water seeped in and froze Recall 2 A faulty oil pump I loved this truck It was small enough that it was able to get 28 MPG on the highway and wasn t a nightmare to park while still being big enough to haul around things like queen size mattresses with no problem This truck is a great quot first truck quot and is also great for people who need a truck that gets great gas mileage My one complaint about the Ranger and Ford trucks in general is the location of the spare I had a flat once and I had to drag myself under the truck to get the spare off it should be a bit easier than that br br " Pos," Every family needs a truck at one point or another My family has personally retired four trucks in the last 8 years When shopping we look for something that gets good gas mileage requires low maintenance and is comfortable to ride in We ve had a Chevy a Dodge and a GMC but once we got our first Ford we found out what driving a truck is all about The Ranger has a good size bed for hauling a strong enough motor to tow just about anything and all the amenities you get from a car Ranger s with the extra cab and jump seats are especially nice for families with young children Part and repair on the Ranger are very reasonable not that I have had to repair anything My truck gets about 22 miles to the gallon which is good for a truck Being a woman I am always looking for a reliable car I don t want to deal with repair work I want to feel protected even in a small truck I want to know that I won t break down in the middle of no where at night In my Ranger I have all the securities I am looking for It has duel air bags with a shut off switch for the passengers side Adjustable shoulder belts allow anyone to wear the seat belt comfortably Anti Lock Breaks allow me to drive the California Freeways without fear Reasonable price and easy on the insurance the Ford Ranger is the best small truck on the market br br " Pos," Is it even possible for FORD to make a good auto Hey it could happen Model Info 2000 Ranger Edge Price Paid 20000 Strengths Looks 4 0L engine power Edge styling ride great CD Weaknesses Interior doo dads No map pocket on back of seats no vanity mirror no map lights You must get the 6 the 2 5L cant pull anything My dome light sensor makes the light stay on Not after the hammer They replaced it 3 times until my warranty ran out Now I have no lights and a lil red light on my dash that always stays on That has been the worst mechanical problem for me I have replaced most Ford s OEM Air fuel and suspension parts They are to weak to have fun with All I can say is I hate dealerships I will never have another car of mine worked on at one The people they hire are usless Compared To Previously owned 1996 Ranger STX Checked out Chevy S10 Toyota Tacoma Nissan Frontier Review Summary My former Ranger was rock solid and the new Edge is just as good I custom ordered the Edge model 4x2 4 0L engine automatic extended cab power equip group 6CD changer I have had constant coments on the looks and no one can tell that it it NOT a 4x4 The Edge package is a little sparse on interior extras but that is by design I have plenty of room for my gear inside bikes in the back great power acceleration and the automatic is a must for Seattle traffic Gas mileage is pretty good as well 20mpg right out of the gate I love this truck and would recommend to anyone " Pos," I purchased this fully loaded 2000 Ford Ranger for my wife The truck is the four door 4X4 off road model with every option available The sticker price was 25 000 I purchased this truck to replace our 1997 Ford Ranger Without a doubt the 4 door option is the greatest improvement It makes the extended cab both useful and convenient Ford also introduced a combination cassette cd stereo this year which has great sound We couldn t believe that our 97 model was without cupholders Ford corrected the problem in the 2000 model The 2000 Ranger handles very well on the road We have a cabin near Yellowstone and the Ranger manages the unplowed roads 10 14 inches with ease It has tow hooks in front and back which make it easy for us to help friends without 4X4s when they take on more than their truck or car can handle I would not recommend that the off road package be purchased unless the buyer really had off road use We love the flare sides on our sport model and really appreciated the automatic transmission and 4 wheel drive on the fly All of the options are expensive but it is a great looking sporty truck to drive br br " Pos," We recently purchased the 2000 Ranger trail head We haven t seen any on the street since we bought ours I feel it isn t getting enough publicity The new Ranger Trailhead has a similar package to the 4 x4 big guys with it s 16 quot wheel base and high suspension From the first look to the last you will mistake this new Trailhead for a 4x4 truck It however does not ride like any ordinary truck we ve driven before It is quiet and comfortable Get down to your Ford dealer right away and test drive this sporty and definately great looking Pick Up " Pos," I bought my sport in July of 2002 and have not had any problems with it I am really happy with the way it handles I used to have a 93 explorer sport and the 93 handled like a dump truck compared to my 02 The steering is tight and there is minimal body lean The power is very good My 93 had pretty good power of the line but was a dog on the highway My 02 is another story My 02 has 204 hp versus 160 hp and you can really feel the difference on the highway and the off the line power is real good too The seats are real firm but comfortable My sport has the pioneer 290 watt 6 Disc changer with Subwoofer Man this stereo sounds great The interior looks great too with high quality Mine has the overhead console too with compass and outside temperature with i find pretty useful although i did not think i would initially The exterior styling is totally awesome the best looking Suv out there I get between 16 and 20 miles per gallon which i think is acceptable for a Suv So i can say that i am really happy with my 02 sport " Pos," We had a 1992 Ford Aerostar and really liked it But when the transmission started to go we decided to shop for a new to us van We didn t know what we would end up with since we were shopping used When we found the Windstar we ended up buying we were pleased We had to sacrifice on a couple of features we wanted but it had better safety ratings than the Dodge Caravan which were everywhere on the used car lots We sacrificed on the dual sliding door when we were shopping we were close to having 4 children 6 and under and we wanted the ease of it But reading safety reviews we realized that while giving up on convenience we were gaining in safety As it turns out it wasn t a real sacrifice as the front drivers seat slides forward in such a way that a child can easily get into his seat and the driver slides the seat back into place easily One thing we were not happy to give up was the heat air controls to the rear of the van Thankfully we live in a very mild area with few temperature extremes so the boys don t get too hot or too cold Our gas mileage has been much better with this van than with the heavier Aerostar I also like how it handles like a car We knew when purchasing this van that there is NO TRUNK space it has a lot more than the Dodge Caravan however It is difficult to fit a stroller in the back one of our double strollers is too big and won t fit We had been spoiled by having the Aerostar extended so this has been an adjustment I actually damaged the window tinting film by trying to cram a larger item into the too small trunk If you have the choice by the extended version The seats do pop out fairly easily But while they can be done by only one person it is better suited to two people doing it We have had problems with the LOCKS We have keyless remote entry Sometimes either the sliding door or the trunk lock will not unlock that way Thankfully we did discover that we can disarm the alarm and then use the key to unlock the stuck lock We also have a van that makes a very funny whiny noise We ve grown used to it and it doesn t affect how it drives but it is a bit annoying We ve had our van described as a rocket van due to the noise I really like that carseat tether straps attach directly to a metal piece on the seat rather than the floor It makes it much easier for the passengers in the rear bench seat to get into his seat It is nice and roomy for our four boys and all the seats are quite comfortable I would definitely buy a Windstar again and do recommend it highly after all all vehicles have minor quirks " Pos," We own a 1998 Windstar We and everyone else who rides in it is completely impressed by how well it handles and how smooth the ride is I really love this car We got the basic model with very few extras Still it is a great car for the money I didn t realize what an awesome vehicle it was until we were in a car accident Another vehicle pulled into the drivers side of our vehicle We were going 30 he was probably going 15 20 We were thrown off the road and I was 4 months pregnant Very scary However the Windstar shut off when we were hit so we avoided a huge pine tree in front of us Also from the looks of the inside of the vehicle I though no damage had been done I calmed myself down then got out and saw that the entire drivers side of the van looked like it had been bent in half It was unbelievable The drivers seat and all passenger seat areas on that side were not affected AT ALL I was very impressed and relieved Neither of us had any physical injuries or problems At that point I was sold on driving a Windstar for the rest of my life We have put 60 000 miles on our Windstar in 2 years We travel an awful lot We have had ONE malfunction with the vehicle Our transmission went That is the only complaint I have about this vehicle I am not sure if it went because of how much we use it or not We have a theory that it could be related to the accident we were in As a side note we were told that is a good idea to have the transmission serviced sooner than the owners manual suggests I love the way the vehicle is laid out I like the cup holders the little compartments and the handle to help you get in and out Also there are tether strap holders for car seats on every possible location standard in the Windstar In addition my husband s brother a 6 3 quot basketball player has accompanied us on road trips and he prefers the back bench So I guess it is fairly roomy back there We plan on buying another Windstar when we do buy again " Pos," When we first married my husband and I thought there wasn t any need for one of those staid quot family quot vehicles the 90s equivalent of the station wagon It didn t take long two kids to realize what the attraction is all about The Windstar first caught my eye by being the only US made minivan that had received a 5 star frontal crash rating from the U S government Interest piqued when the Insurance Institute showed us all how bad an off set crash can be Now I had to drive one of these for myself The base Windstar GL is a no frills van with the 3 0 L engine producing 150 hp Not enough for someone trading in a Ford Mustang 5 0 so we decided that at the least we needed the optional 3 8 L V 6 which produces a more satisfying 200 hp Vroom Vroom The 3 8L engine also provides very sufficient power for highway merging and passing and is fairly fast off the start line ok my nickname used to be quot Mrs Andretti quot Match this with the 4 speed transmission and we are ready to roll Literally Since we knew that we would spend part of the ownership time in warmer climates we sought a van with the rear air option This can be operated by the controls on the dash or the controls set into the pillar behind the driver the B pillar in guy speak Air flows into the cavernous rear area from a vent on the same pillar and from four other vents two above the middle seat and two above the third seat We have not had any problems with the A C even living in muggy Hawaii The van also cranks out some heat enough to have to lower the settings after only a few minutes Did I mention we used to live outside Seattle hmm Minivans overall tout seating for seven with Ford not being an exception We have found that two adults can sit comfortably in the third seat with a child but three adults in that seat are a tight fit The seats themselves are very comfortable on long trips but you pay for that feel when lugging them out For smaller people this could be a two person task The third bench folds down onto itself and rolls forward to touch the middle bench opening up the rear cargo area even more Ford had the correct intentions when installing tether strap anchors in the Windstar putting two on the middle bench and one on the front passenger seat That s correct one under the front passenger seat This puzzles me even more when I note that they neglected to put even one on the third row bench Most buyers in the market for a larger vehicle have come to expect that you pay for the safety and roominess at the gas pump Again Ford is right there in the pack with all the other auto makers We average about 17 mpg in the city and 23 highway The 20 gallon tank keeps me from living at the local supply hut gas station but it does hurt when refueling On newer models Ford now offers a 26 gallon tank but that could just be delaying the inevitable Our van of choice was a great find at a Washington dealer For 16 000 we ended up with exactly what we were looking for We have many options available with the LX such as the roof rack aforementioned rear air privacy glass quot Premium Sound quot system more speakers basically power locks and windows and headrests for every seating position except the third bench middle seat The power rear quarter windows are great for airing the van out and the power side view mirrors make an easy task of adjusting for individual driver tastes The only option lacking from the step up is the power driver seat which may be more hassle than it is worth The 1998 Windstar has a good list of standard options ABS brakes dual front airbags nicer cloth seats than some other auto makers Plymouth comes to mind power steering and brakes height adjustable seatbelts for front passengers tilt wheel and cruise control which has controls set into the steering wheel itself With the 1998 model only Ford delayed jumping on the driver side sliding door addition in a very interesting way The driver door is longer than other model years and the driver seat is positioned on rails The seat will slide up against the steering wheel allowing easy access through the doorway When I first saw this option I wondered what idiot thought of this I didn t see a need for entry on that side not with a 5 ft entryway on the other Ahh motherhood As the mother of two small kids my husband and I can position ourselves on each side of the van to load kids The space left open behind this seat is large by any means I can stand hunched over adjusting my daughter s car seat and I am 6 ft tall While I envy the driver side door since it would be a much easier option I know I would lose the convenient cupholder recessed bin and rear A C control access that my 4 year old has right there The drive The van can t corner on rails and I wouldn t recommend trying it but it does have a comfortable ride Small bumps in the road are hidden the steering wheel has a solid feel to it and very little road noise intrudes into the cabin area At highway speeds some tire noise is heard but it is not very loud We recently had to have the transmission rebuilt under warranty thank you Ford and it was a little soon in the life of any vehicle at 35 000 miles Oh those pesky AXOD transmissions Ford is reputed to have known of problems with certain transmissions linked to certain engine sizes but luckily we were able to have ours fixed under warranty Because of the infamous 3 8L engine head gasket problems and transmission problems I can t give my van 5 stars as much as it pains me to admit After over a year of ownership we don t know what we would do without this wonderful invention called the minivan I do have to note that it has been to the shop twice this year the quot check engine quot light came on requiring a trip to the dealer for an evaporator and an oxygen sensor replacement It was during this visit that the dealership noted for us the transmission hesitation and scheduled us for a second visit The service department at the local Ford dealer was very helpful as dealerships go When it was determined that necessary parts had to be ordered from the mainland the dealership paid for a 3 week car rental my choice Ford Explorer heehee All of this was covered under warranty so our only out of pocket costs so far have been for oil changes Anyone in the market for a used minivan looking for the safest used van available Well you just found it " Pos," I purchased my new Windstar on January 9 1998 and have driven it some 36 350 miles I keep complete computer records on mileage maintenance and repairs and would like to report that I have averaged 23 07 mpg during this time with a low mileage of 17 65 and high mileage of 27 25 mpg while always using regular unleaded fuel in this V 6 3 8L engine About one third of my driving is on interstates and the balance is short trips I view the Windstar as reliable but the following items had to be addressed to wit 1 replaced both headlight assemblies due to moisture invasion 2 replaced the transmission field sensor 3 repaired the transmission due to a faulty mid range part 4 replaced a cruise control assembly 5 replaced a defective driver side door window activator and 6 re calibrate the computer This sounds like a lot of work but all was replace under warranty by my excellent Ford dealer and the vehicle is performing well I really like the excellent ride probably due in part to the larger 121 inch wheelbase The van is relatively quite and is most responsive during acceleration and de acceleration " Pos," We 146ve had our 98 Windstar since it was new and give it an overall excellent to superb rating PROS The Windstar is a decent sized minivan There is enough cargo space behind the back seat to load a couple hundred dollars worth of groceries Other minivans I looked at such as the Dodge Plymouth Caravan Japanese models and the Chevy Astro were lacking in this area The Windstar is a nice riding vehicle with great driveability The seats are very comfortable for long trips and the dash is laid out perfectly This van is probably heavier than it 146s counterparts which will affect gas mileage and performance but it 146s worth it for it 146s 5 star safety rating This vehicle feels very very solid Weather sealing is superb Road noise is not bad at all The brakes have performed flawlessly and still do not require replacement at the 60K mile mark The engine and transmission have performed flawlessly and are very smooth though shifts can be mushy at times You 146re better off turning off the over drive in town or the transmission may 147hunt 148 for the right gear I like how Ford put the over drive button on the gearshift making this very simple and easy CONS The door ajar sensing switches are prone to failure causing the light and audible alarm to continue to annoy you until you exceed 15 MPH This is very frustrating It will usually quit within the first mile or two but Ford needs to find a permanent fix for this problem This same problem existed in the Aerostar You 146d think they could find a better system UPDATE I found that if you spray WD 40 or a similar light oil in the door latch this problem may go away Dirt seems to be the culprit since the door ajar switches part of the door latch This area obviously isn t sealed The driver side and passenger side front doors are too large This is great when you need them but when you park on an upward incline they tend to slam shut at the most inopportune times I E on your legs or back when leaning in the vehicle Even worse your kids This is the only safety factor with this vehicle For some reason each of the four Ford cars and vans I have owned have had problems with excessive battery corrosion The batteries usually last two years at the most My GMC pick up has seven years on a four year battery and is still starting fine RECOMMENDATIONS If you want a 98 Windstar look for the following options and or problems 1 Get rear air conditioning even if you live in a cool climate It 146ll add to the resale value and the additional air ducting will help with heating for the rear passengers in the winter 2 Opt for the large engine The 3 0 is what I have and it 146s very peppy but the 3 8 would provide nearly the same gas mileage with an increase of torque and horsepower 3 Check the front suspension for loose or damaged components I had a bolt loosen itself on the front stabilizing bar in the passenger side wheel well It made rattling noises whenever a bump was hit I torqued it down and have had no problems since 4 Test drive the vehicle to see if it has the faulty door ajar sensors Other than the things mentioned this vehicle has been very reliable and a pleasure to drive Other brands of minivans also have their quirks and problems too which you 146ll find if you look at reviews for those I feel the Windstar is a very safe and reliable vehicle for the entire family and a good value UPDATE As of March 2003 the Windstar is still a reliable vehicle Some problems noted since writing my initial review are Drivers side window quit working and sliding door lock quit working These items should not have failed with 70 000 miles on the vehicle Resale value has also dropped faster than I anticipated I would still recommend this vehicle though even with these flaws " Pos," I don t even own a minivan but I wish I did I have a two year old and a three month old and drive a small car That is one tough thing to do My father recently purchased a Windstar and I fell in love with it I love the fact that there are climate controls in the front and back the doors can be locked from the tailgate the seats adjust nicely and the windows can be rolled up after the ignition is turned off I think my favorite feature about this minivan is that the driver s seat can be moved forward to get to the back seat without having to go around to the other side I have borrowed my dad s Windstar many times and this really comes in handy The safety ratings on this vehicle have highly impressed me and the ease of use has me sold When I do buy another vehicle it will be the Windstar It drives great and rides even better br br " Pos," After being in a horrible accident with the 5 of us in the van I decided to look quot only quot for a mini van with the highest crash test ratings for safety That is the only way for my family Ford Windstar rated the best among all the mini vans on the market today I love my Windstar Its nice looking and very safe for my family It has the ABS brakes front and passenger side airbag And the drop down motor in the case of a front crash to keep the motor from coming in on the driver and front passenger Keyless entry and for those of us with our hands full and unable to use the key to unlock the doors this is a great feature that I definately wanted and needed and its a wonderful thing to have The seats and everything are nice inside and looks and feels great The price is right too for this nice mini van And the style is a wonderful atribution to the Ford Family br br " Pos," We were expecting our fourth child and knew that riding in two cars was just not economical or expectable I always have wanted a mini van and to be honest never considered a Ford till shopping around YES the sales people did make a difference but what really did it for us was that we could get WHAT we wanted for the price we wanted without upgrading it and getting every little add on We chose the one we did because of the room the simplicity little computer components which to us means lower repair bills What really surprised us is the mileage We have driven it to Florida twice now and it beat our Honda Accord hands down and was so much more comfortable The turning ratio is not as good as some we drove but the roominess and the comfort is fantastic and a better trade I am overweight and everything fits me which is another bonus We will always by one just keep trading it up for a new one I test drove them all and will never turn from the Windstar again br br " Pos," I was very skeptical about buying a mini van Once I test drove the Ford Windstar 1998 model I knew it was the mini van for me I bought the Windstar because of the price and because of the five star safety test I have three kids so I need lots of room for soccer balls book bags and other things boys collect I would have to say that Windstar has tons of room on the inside The back seat folds down fairly easily and there is tons of space behind the back seat to store a stroller and groceries I haven t had any problems with my Windstar so far but I highly recommend it " Pos," Right now I am a year and a half into my second Windstar and couldn t be happier with it I leased a 95 Windstar and returned it after the lease was up I would have loved to have purchased it but financially it just wouldn t work Because of the good luck I had with the 95 when I was in the market in 98 I bought another Windstar Even with all the hype surrounding the redesigned Dodge I felt the Windstar was still the only minivan that didn t drive like a truck The Windstar felt and handled like a larger car The only thing I didn t really like is the front end design The grille work and lights make the van look quot unhappy quot Look at it and you ll see With the facelift the 00 received and the addition of another sliding door the Windstar has just gotten better Recommendations Definitely get the V6 you will need the power Two minor annoyances The cupholders for the front are not too sturdy One of mine broke already The sensors for the sliding door are very sensitive They give false readings that the door is not closed all the way br br " Pos," BULLETIN Our Explorer was nudging 30 000 miles during a difficult month for us a major service was needed but I was paralyzed with indecision about how the nearest FORD Dealer in Carson City NV would react My preliminary inquiries about the car and possible warranty issues Were simply brushed off with condescending comments no offers to FIX things b We were filled with misgivings for months I did not trust them Our laundry list had grown a bit The front passenger seat belt was hanging up now That was preceded by troubles with the Hazard Lights switch the rear window wiper would not work and a couple of minor irritants Came the day of decision I took the Car over the hill Sierras to Sacramento CA where we had purchased our prize The service consulant appeared wrote up the 30 000 mile service 379 I added a 112 including labor set of mud flaps then he lent a very interested ear to my woes He looked at all four items wrote them down I asked him to estimate the costs to me I was willing to come all the way back 224 mile round trip to accommodate their schedule He blinked then took the keys And offered me a free rental car b The best place to be while enduring dentistry and car repairs is elsewhere and I went there for several hours I returned after several hours to find the Explorer still sitting in its stall Of course it was a big service and I had added the mud flaps at the last second After another hour came the call 542 24 OK 379 plus 112 491 plus Sales Tax 50 Deductible on Warranty Seemed OK What about the repairs estimate Huh Those items were fixed on Warranty b I fainted It is incredible how much difference a Dealer can make With the recent models of their EXPLORER SUV the Ford Motor Company appears to have beaten the Import Market at its own game In fact Ford HAS BECOME an import company having absorbed such as Jaguar and Volvo recently These acquisitions came with new foreign expertise combined with the best of a century of manufacturing and merchandising in the USA With these assets Ford is producing new products that deliver what the buyer has become used to getting during the past 25 years What did Ford do Study the competition and note what the buyers like and try to do it better Rather than torment buyers with agonizing decisions about options that should be standard items Ford has created and delivers a standardized vehicle in three basic versions any one of which can overcome buyer resistance with an ample complement of attractive and useful features that make sense and are easy to use It should not be necessary to mention but high quality workmanship should be evident everywhere in the vehicle It is WHAT MADE US CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE b From 1973 to 1999 we owned imports by BMW Audi VW and Toyota in that order They offered reasonable pricing fuel economy needed few options and were readily recognizable They delivered performance and at times lots of satisfaction but a graph would show how we fared monetarily outrageously costly maintenance says it all Our son cured of his addiction to Toyotas purchased a Camry replacement last year One of his best friends is an executive with FORD It was a Ford EXPLORER With TWO Wheel Drive And so we were ready to be converted back or domesticated THE PURCHASE b After two years of planning we ventured into the car market For budgeting reasons the used car market was suitable for us and the search began My wife wrote the specifications Explicitly what she wanted had to be WHITE have FOUR doors less than FIVE years old have LOW mileage a reasonable PRICE and COMFORTable My input was limited to avoiding 4 Wheel Drive Fully prepared we went off on a joyride one Friday and found our dream car No luck on color otherwise they had a 1998 that met her criteria Exceeded it in fact The mileage was only 16 400 Marilyn currently the breadwinner of the family did the road testing It was a GO The light green car sold itself OPERATING The first impression when entering the EXPLORER is of the ample head room provided in the opening as well as the roof ceiling height No more contusions on my poor pate Although the EXPLORER is a relatively complex vehicle it is easy to drive The engine power is ample easily overcoming challenges from changes in terrain Although the center of gravity is higher the EXPLORER glides around curves Being a car on a truck chassis the ride becomes jouncy when passing over bumps and depressions in the pavement at slow speeds This is a negligible nuisance i The transmission gear changes are barely perceptible The transitions to and from OVERDRIVE are detectable only on the Tachometer The overdrive control is within reach of an extended finger on the gear selection stalk Acceleration is startlingly effective The SOHC V6 needs only the lightest touch on the pedal to take the EXPLORER from standing start to road speed I estimate that adequate performance in traffic requires only about 1 4 of pedal Why all that power For towing a ton and a half trailer with full passenger complement The EXPLORER is also available with a V8 engine the operation of which must be pretty exciting i The instruments and controls are clustered to allow the operator to run the machine without undue distraction from the road and traffic Crucial instruments are larger crucial controls including windshield visibility are within reach of an extended finger One must reach for others an effort that usually involves taking one s eyes off the road Driver information from the instrument set is abundant although some warning lights are so small that anxiety can replace knowledge As in an aircraft cockpit an operator should know the instrument layout so well that a sweeping scan is all that is needed to ascertain that operations are normal Close scrutiny is advisable only when the vehicle is stopped The same goes for the Steering Wheel tilt adjustment Simply stated DO NOT try to do this while the vehicle is in motion Handling is rewarding and crisp the EXPLORER has a very tight turning ratio making it one of the most nimble vehicles we have driven At road speeds the steering is VERY sensitive requiring very little input from the operator This advantage has a price One should maintain high levels of attention to the task at hand Both hands that is Braking is steady and smooth We have not tested the panic conditions for which the ABS system was designed The parking brake WORKS an easy push of the foot will set it The controls for the Cruise control labeled Speed for some reason are located on the steering wheel One should get to know the 5 buttons by touch studying them on the road is foolishness The system is very accurate requiring only a touch to set and to disable CAUTIONARY ADVISORY Since it is a relatively high performance design the EXPLORER is demanding on drivers who must learn to concentrate on the task of running this finely tuned machine All too often drivers seem to become intoxicated with the SUV concept and design and allow the vehicle to govern them An operator who is distracted by passengers usecured items items in the seating areas comfort and audio control settings and of course the infamous cell phones is out of control and is a hazard to persons and property A lack of attention can lead to an unpleasant emergency situation Of course the aggressive driver is a threat to all A high performance vehicle like the EXPLORER is unforgiving of driver errors which can account for some of the highly publicized rollovers Tire air pressure is problematic the recent spate of highly publicized accidents illustrate that In the Ford EXPLORER operator s manual the recommendation is to inflate per instructions molded onto the tire itself 35PSI on our present equipment On the EXPLORER itself a door sticker advises a conflicting pressure of only 26 PSI This utterly silly and dangerous advice probably stemmed from some anxious sales executive who meant to soften the ride for some target buyer segment that dislike hard or bumpy rides or trucks in general The Explorer design came from the Ranger pickup chassis Anyone with experience with radial tires going flat will recollect how sloppy the handling becomes FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TIRE YOU ARE INFLATING i DISAPPOINTMENTS We had some at first exacerbated by an indifferent dealer in Nevada 15 miles North of here Per the above all disappointments were remedied by a crackerjack dealer 112 miles West of here SATISFACTION It is a complete success with us We have had it for eight months now and expect to keep it for 6 5 years So far each day has brought a new and happy surprise for us Ours is a 1998 2WD two wheel drive NOT a 2D two door Model SPORT which is otherwise similar but shorter FEATURES This is a high end model variation commonly referred to as Loaded which package includes many optional items 1 1998 Ford EXPLORER XLT 2 Wheel Drive 4 Doors 2 Actual miles 16 240 or 5 900 miles avg Yr 3 Engine Single Overhead Cam 204 HP 400 CuIn V6 4 Transmission Automatic 4 Speed with Overdrive 5 Instruments Fuel Engine Temp Tach Speedometer Oil Pressure Alternator Voltage 6 Controls on Dash Headlamps Panel Lights Air Vents Hood Release Parking Brake Release 7 Controls on Steering Wheel Horn Cruise Control 8 Control Stalk L Turn Signal Wiper Washer 9 Control Stalk R Gear Selector Overdrive on off 10 Steering Wheel Tilt on Steering Column 11 Center Console Twin Air Vents CD AM FM Stereo Speaker 4 Controls Rear Window Wiper Washer Rear Window Defrost Foglamp Climate Control Fan Air Temp Zone A C 12 Safety Devices Shoulder Belt Harness 2 Front Top attachment point is adjustable to occupant height Lap Belts 3 places rear Supplemental Restraint System SRS Air Bags Driver front Passenger Padding on all inside surfaces exposed to Occupants Warning lights for door and rear window latches Rear door Child Locks Electric Defrost Rear Window Foot Operated Parking Brake Emergency Flasher 13 Annunciators Key in Ignition Chime Door Ajar Light Overdrive Off Light Speed Control On Light Tiny Lighted arrows on all window switches At night it is like being in an aircraft cockpit 14 Rear Center Console A C direction and vents Fan Speed Earphone outlet The grandkids really LOVE this 15 Front Bucket Power Seats Rake Fore and Aft Tilt Lumbar controls Leather Front Passenger seat has mechanical adjustments 16 Rear Seats Locked Back Fold down lever Leather adjustable head rests 2 places 17 Cargo Deck Privacy Cover and Heavy Duty Mat Heavy Duty floor mats 4 places Rear seats fold down have a 60 40 split which accomodates a third or fourth occupant 18 Digital Outside Temperature and Compass Dome lights over front rear seats and Cargo Deck 19 Personal Security Keyless Push Button Entry Code Pad Remote Keyless Door Lock Controls Remote Panic Warning Controls Illuminated Entry includes Outside Puddle spotlight on base of each rear view mirror Extra Lamp in Dome Light Housings Automatic Door Locks activate as vehicle begins to move THEFT light on dash flashes when security system is activated 20 Other Standard Rear Bumper Trailer package Roof rack Overall once the ample controls are set up to suit the driver the Ford EXPLORER is easy to drive quiet handling is steady and comfort is high " Pos," I love my 1995 Ford Explorer with automatic transmission and four wheel drive For one thing the ride is smoother than the ride of the average truck And I love the increased height of the vehicle My Honda Civic is a great little car but I feel like I m dragging my butt on the ground in comparison In quot Christopher quot yes I name my cars the great explorer and protector I can survey the road from a dominant position Other drivers stay out of my way I m Canyon Woman Queen of the Wild Frontier When it rains hard we have many flood sites here in San Antonio But I need not worry If that sedan in front of me can make it through the water I ve got it made I m Canyon Woman Queen of the Wild Frontier When I go shopping for small furniture I need not hire a mover I m tough and able to carry my own purchase I m well you know In case of deep snow well it COULD happen even here in South Texas I m ready Rough terrain is my Christopher s forte I love my power seat package and plan to buy the equivalent in any future vehicle The ability to fine tune the seat position makes a significant difference in driver and passenger comfort Air conditioner heater controls for back seat passengers greatly increase their comfort The V6 engine is the perfect blend of power yet economy The extra wide cargo space is home to furry pups as well as bricks and garden supplies you name it My only error in choosing this vehicle was in the color The quot Mocha Frost quot okay TAN exterior looks exactly like 40 of the other Explorers on the road I often approach a look alike in the parking lot wondering why my quot clicker quot isn t working to unlock the door Also the tan interior shows dirt far worse than my previous vehicle with a gray interior The left turn signal seems a little glitchy often turning itself off before I get to the turn My friend s Explorer does the same thing I had warranty work done to fix a problem with the column shift when Christopher was new The service was problem free After five years my only service expenses have been for routine maintenance I love to take my Explorer out on the road after a good wash and wax with tires gleaming and the radio blasting okay so I listen to talk radio and my hearing s not as good as it used to be I m Canyon Woman Queen of the Wild Frontier br br " Pos," I wanted something that could haul anything anywhere and at anytime At the same time I wanted it to have a comfortable ride and good handling My Ford Explorer Limited has done all of this and more I ve only had to do regular maintenance services If I were to knock it I wish it stood taller on the road Mine is a 1995 and has performed better than I expected I do wish utility vehicles got a little better gas mileage The seats are comfortable on long trips I m not beat up nor fatigued when I get to my destination It s a nice compromise between a regular road car van amp pick up truck I d highly recommend one to any one looking for versatility If you want a vehicle that will do many things besides get you there you should definitely consider a utility vehicle You won t be disappointed " Pos," I have found that used Explorers are a good investment most of the time It seems that previous owners take pride in maintaining these vehicles in top condition I own a 1995 Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition This vehicle still looks new and drives just like new It handles well and gives a firm ride which is what a sport utility vehicle is supposed to do If you are looking for a soft luxury ride don t buy a SUV buy a luxury car But if you are looking for a good handling firm ride and towing abilities then consider a new or used Ford Explorer in the 4 door body style not the 2 door Sport it is short and the ride is not as good The only problem I have encountered in 86 000 miles is when towing the gas mileage drops dramatically I have the V 6 should have had a V 8 br br " Pos," My husband Jeff is a contractor that travels all over the country Up until December of 1999 he did this in a very large very old very unsafe Ford passenger van I knew he had been looking around for a used vehicle to pull his 20 foot cargo trailer around the country with then one day I got a call from him He was in Chicago and he had just test drove a brand spanking new 2000 F350 dually He immediately fell in love with it It was a long bed 4x4 with a powerstroke diesel The dealership even let him hook up his trailer for the test drive After much haggling he finally got the price down from 42 000 to 36 000 He then filled out the credit application and headed home then told me about his little adventure but that s another story He got the call a couple of days later to come pick up his shiny new truck so he back off to Chicago Of course from the beginning I held a grudge and hated everything about this truck I was a 530 payment we didn t really need it was brand new and with the amount of miles he drives I just knew it was a bad investment to buy a new vehicle And it was big Extremely big But Jeff convinced me that it was much safer for him than the old van and that the diesel engine would last a very long time Slowly but surely this truck that I had deemed so evil started to grow on me Of course it was hard to get used to driving this monster vehicle after driving my 1997 Ford Taurus for the past year and a half but I soon mastered it Soon I grew to love this truck more than my trusty taurus The Powerstroke Diesel is much quieter than the Cummins that Dodge and Chevy use and it has more power so when you re pulling a 20 foot trailer loaded down with shingles carpet and linoleum the truck doesn t lurch It also doesn t use any more fuel than it normally would without the trailer The Powerstroke is reliable and the transmission behind it very strong Being in the construction business my husband knows many guys with different trucks and many of these guys have had their trucks in the shop several times getting work done on their Alison trannies Any down time on your truck in this business is a week without a paycheck so we appreciate the dependability of the Ford But there are times although few and far between that my husband isn t on the road and we use the truck to haul friends and family instead of a trailer The width and length of the crew cab makes the interior enormous We have had 6 adults in the truck and there was still plenty of room to stretch out The crew cab was made for just that a crew The folks at Ford did a wonderful job of designing the interior of the cab In addition to being roomy it offers plenty of adjustable cup holders front and back seats extra power outlets and storage Any road noise and diesel noise is deadened inside the truck The seats are very comfortable and the design is ergonomic which is extremely important when you drive up to 16 hours a day to get across the country When Jeff bought the truck it had 52 miles on it Now a year later it has over 65 000 and over 50 000 of those miles have been pulling a trailer We have not had any hint of trouble so far and have never done anything but regular maintenance and tire changes on it Of course regular maintenance is a bit more expensive than on my little Taurus which only takes 5 qts of oil but the longevity of the diesel will be worth it This truck is very practical for anyone that has many people to haul around for people that pull trailers or RV s or just desires a strong truck to do everyday chores such as pulling large stumps helping stranded motorists or hauling heavy loads The only thing I don t like about the truck is the fact that for in town use going to the grocery store and such the sheer size of it makes parking very difficult and it may catch a few curbs in town while going around corners Make sure you re ready for that before you purchase it But all around this is a well thought out powerful truck that still rides smooth and will last a very very long time " Pos," At the time of this writing I have had my SVT Focus for about two weeks and I am in love Let s start with the visuals Personally I have a very slight issue with the way the window line travels up to the rear of the car on the sides and then back down to a point on the gate I don t think it looks bad per se but I can t tell you exactly what the issue I have actually is I can only say there s something about it So I ordered mine in black not only because I love black cars but also to de emphasize the rear window line I even blacked out the windows with dark tint I think it looks completely sharp in black and let me tell you if Darth Vader drove a car this would be it I love Ford s New Edge design concept which traces it s roots back directly to the Ford GT 90 concept car of the early nineties who says concept cars serve no purpose in the production world and I think they did a particularly bang up job with the Focus 3 door much better than the new style Cougar The car looks like it s hauling a even when it s parked I often find myself standing and staring at it after parking just because it looks so darned cool The agressive angular front end mates well with the curved swooping roofline that tapers off in the rear and the custom fog lights rear spoiler and 17 inch argent five star rims that SVT installed put the icing on the cake Not that cheap sugar icing either we re talking gourmet butter icing baby And although it is defined as a small car it really isn t that small It s taller than most of the cars I park next to and the wheelbase is 103 inches Let s talk about comfort now The smell of the leather interior is absolutely dreamy and it is outdone only by the way the SVT seat wraps around you and makes you feel completely comfy while driving They fit me so well in fact that when I m driving I actually cannot feel the seat Say what You read that right Let me explain You know how after you ve been in a car for a while you can tell what parts of the seat are pushing on you Maybe your thighs are pressing against the side supports or the lumbar support is jutting into your back a tad too much or maybe even that darned seatbelt extension is about an inch too long and it s poking your beer belly No problems for me in the SVT Even after extended periods in the car the seat feels completely natural This is due in part to the nice adjustments Ford built into them Not only can you adjust the lumbar support back angle and forward position but you can also adjust the ride height of the seat Very nice for adjusting the headroom and seeing over the steering wheel should you need a boost BTW I m 6 1 200 lbs just so you can gauge Driving position is excellent and sporty The steering wheel and gear shifter are exactly where they should be in relation to the driver All controls are within easy reach and the leather wrapped wheel and shift knob are a dream to grab The silver faced guage cluster is awesome and easy to see At night the faces glow green and the numbers are black The red SVT graphic on the panel glows purple under the gauge lights pretty cool I think the stereo controls could have been laid out a little more stylishly but they aren t bad They re definitely better than the plastic toy Speak n Spell style buttons that GM loves to put in their vehicles The stereo display is large and very easy to read Oh by the way it sounds great too The subwoofer is very powerful especially for an eight incher It is concealed in a nicely finished ported box that sits on the driver side wall in the cargo area This takes up a little bit of your cargo room of course but hey did I buy an SVT to haul groceries and gear in huge quantities No I can deal with it The six disc in dash CD changer is a luxury no annoying cartridge to deal with you just load them all in the slot There is also a radio stereo control stalk that comes off the steering column on the lower left side for easy finger tip sound control while driving In summation when you close the door and seal yourself inside the relationship of driver and car is T I G H T Road noise is a bit of an issue due in large part in my opinion to the low profile ContiSport tires and large 17 rims That s a lot more solid material to transfer sound and you can tell It s not bothersome to me but if it irks someone like you then the application of some aftermarket spray undercoating would take care of a lot of the noise Yes the ride is rough on less than desireable roads but I wouldn t have it any other way You pay a price for a car that performs and handles as well as the SVT Focus Handling is a dream pure and simple I didn t think it was possible but the SVT handles as well and is as fun to drive as my hopped up Alfa Romeo GTV6 and that is saying a lot If you have ever driven an Alfa you know what fun they are and the SVT matches The car goes exactly where you point it and there is no perceivable torque steer which is something that has always irked me about front drivers How tight is it Last night I took a corner that was marked for 30 MPH at 65 I don t recommend you try this at home Coming into the unexpected turn I thought I was going to dig a trench but instead the SVT dipped its nose dug in and sprung right back out again taking the turn and teaching the road a lesson while it was at it Amazing It behaved like it had a tough racing torsion bar suspension In dip and out For a front driver especially 61 39 weight distribution b the handling is amazingly neutral There is no pronounced over or understeer unless you really want it to be there Once again the driver is in command The engine is amazing Ford took the already nice Zetec I 4 found in the ZX3 and cooked up a variable intake valve timing system which ups the HP from 130 to 170 and gives you 145 lb ft of torque to work with Couple this power with the gorgeous Getrag six speed gear box and you have speed on demand through the entire range of the engine Seriously There are no dead spots in the power curve From stop to redline the motor will pull and go like a champ with no perceivable lag anywhere and it sounds great doing it The gear ratios are right on target too Normally with a modern manual transmission esp a six speed I expect fifth or sixth gear to be sort of an overdrive gear not worth much for performance However sixth gear in the SVT is actually a useable gear All of them are very nicely and smoothly spaced In addition to the VIVT system Ford also stuck in some other improvements including forged steel connecting rods aluminum pistons and a dual stage intake system which dramatically improves torque and low end performance The compression ratio is also higher at 10 2 1 so you have to use premium fuel There are also some pretty cool mods after the engine including the dual mass flywheel and one in two out shaft design of the gearbox If you want to know how these work you can find the info at http www svt ford com You have to be careful when shopping for an SVT Focus because many dealers will charge an extra fee on top of the MSRP simply because it s an SVT and therefore more collectible However if you shop around you can find dealers that won t gouge you I found mine at Covert Ford in Austin for sticker 19 265 00 which is exactly what Ford says they should charge Northside Ford in San Antonio wanted 23K for the same car In case you didn t know not all Ford dealers sell SVT cars Only specially authorized dealers get them and they are only allotted a certain number per year If you find one for MSRP don t expect to talk them down on the price either SVTs are also usually exempt from any special deals or rebates Having the SVT badge on your car guarantees a certain level of collectibility and the dealers know it Being an SVT owner has other perks as well You get a free one year membership to the SVT Owners Assoc and a free loaner car when yours is in for servicing Nice touch If you re into it there are also TONS of aftermarket performance parts available for the Focus Not that it needs it " Pos," When I started looking for a new auto I became focused no pun intended on the specification and configuration requirements that were important to me Now to tell the truth I may be a little biased as I generally like Fords and would only consider Subaru as a Japanese auto but nevertheless I still made it my mission to be informed about all autos that met my criteria Out of the models that I narrowed it down to the Subaru Forrester 03 only came with an unremarkable power source the Subaru Impreza WRX kind of suited me but I was a little concerned about the interior room this was a close one I still love this car The upcoming Subaru Baja would not be out for a while and still only had a mediocre engine Actually I hadn t even considered a Focus Why I wanted to get away from front wheel drive vehicles I had a front driver at the time my first and was a little put off by the quirkiness of its handling characteristics I was about ready to just wait until something came along that suited me and then something made me decide to give the Focus a try I drove a normal 2002 ZX3 and I loved it enough to consider buying it but before I did I at least made the attempt to locate an SVT model To make a long story short I bought one The handling is great The looks are cool subjective The interior room and features are incredulous You may find it hard to believe but it does handle better than the WRX though not as fast This is what front wheel drive should feel like Only problem mine came with a defect the radiator had a hole or puncture warranty item There is no perfect car for everyone rhetorical but if I could be greedy then I d like to see 4 doors ZX 5 more power and all wheel drive like the WRX This car is astounding for the price but many may not consider it because they may group it as a small car associated with the younger genre " Pos," In dire need for a car to take to school with me in the fall I was looking for something dependable since it s a 600 mile round trip as well as affordable since well I don t have much money First I test drove a Dodge Stratus and thanks to Epinions I was able to see it would be nothing but a hassle and a money pit So I re scoured the Classified section of my newspaper and saw that there was a 96 Ford Taurus GL for 7995 available quot Loaded quot the ad read so I called the guy and went to look at it Surprised that the car only had 65K miles on it I was thinking that this blue green beauty just might be a vehicular reality for me I took it for a test drive and this 3 0L V6 practically drove itself out of the parking lot It just wanted to go I was very pleased with the way it handled turns acceleration reversals and noticed no palpable thumps or rattles which would indicate problem spots The dealer made sure to mention that the rotors may have to be turned or replaced and that I might feel a slight vibration when I break quite the courteous remark no In seeing that I know nearly nothing about cars in a technical sense I sent my older brother to look at it In beautiful shape he agreed that it seemed to be an excellent deal so I purchased it at 7 495 since I paid in cash This car handles like a Grand Am around tight turns even when the speedometer is pushing 40 Acceleration is no problem for this car as I have made it to 100 with ease i I was just testing it i The sound system is by Ford but they do an excellent job So far it is a clear seamless system which features a detachable radio antennae so that when I go through a car wash I won t lose my FM Also there are 2 extra speakers in alignment with the side view mirrors which further beautifies the sound as it envelopes you even more However if you are looking to put in a new stronger system with a CD player mine just has AM FM cassette you may not be able to because of the way the Taurus b radio face is set up It is too big and basically encompasses the AC and heat control as well so I am not aware whether or not a new system can be put in very easily I have a feeling that you sacrifice performance for looks and convenience b LowDown Overall however I love this car An excellent ride I feel extremely safe in all respects The trunk is deep an especially important consideration for a college student such as myself It is a very roomy car and as a rather big person at 6 2 quot 210lbs I have had no problem fitting comfortably The power everything features of this car make it quite a pleasure to drive and as for dependability I consistently hear stories of historically pleased Taurus owners who praise its longevity Try one today br br " Pos," History I purchased this automobile at 6K and have driven it on paved to gravel roads Most of the miles on this car have been highway I have replaced two unrelated engine sensors in the 60K I have driven it These two sensors were backed up in the programming and did not disable the car before I took it to the shop Look and Feel This automobile is more stylish than the GM equivalents that I was comparing it to at the time update your car interiors GM and I have not been too impressed with my previous ownership encounters of Dodge and Chrysler products Has a smooth ride and handles good for a larger car It is very comfortable and it didn t feel like I was riding on the ground like some of the Honda Subaru or sporty autos Economy The car averages 23 25 MPG on the highway but does prefer the higher octane 89 and can ping under load on hills when driving slow back roads using 87 octane Body Integrity Body is still in great shape and the paint still has a good finish Wiper arms were frozen one winter and were a problem The wiper bolt will not keep arm fixed on the shaft This part has aluminum splines and sheered off never to work properly again without modification or replacement Final Comments It has made for some comfortable 10 hour trips for four people numerous times However the weight of the full trunk of luggage and the two people small people in the back seat is a bit too much for the rear suspension On some sharp quick inclines the car bottoms out on the springs and is that is not very comforting Recommendation I will buy this auto in the future when I need another 4 door sedan br br " Pos," We purchased a use 1996 Taurus LX earlier this year Now I like the car Don t get me wrong I just feel like a little old lady every time I get into it It reminds me of my grandmother who has always driven a Ford Since my husband is 4 years older than me I ll give him a break The Taurus LX is the most luxurious car I ve ever driven but then I ve only driven fun cars like Trackers and Eclipses This vehicle is power everything It s an automatic I m still young enough to love a stick shift The seats are the epitome of comfort who wants to fall asleep when their driving It handles beautifully there is a bare minimum of bumps in the road give me my tracker any day I love bouncing down the road It is very spacious lot s of room for groceries or bodies depending on your hobbies Overall it s very comfortable In about 5 years when my husband goes through his midlife crisis and buys that red convertible sports car I guess I will be ready to settle down into a nice old lady car It s nice to know it will be here waiting for me I just hope it doesn t come to soon br br " Pos," After my daughter was born I just knew that I would have to give up my need for speed Sports cars and kids just don t mix I began my journey for an affordable family car with a little sport and never dreamed I would find it in the Taurus My husband actually convinced me to test drive it and I loved it The back seat is wonderful for car seats It is easy to put them in and easy to remove them There is child locks on the doors and locks for the windows The front middle seat pushes down for easy access to the kids or folds up to reveal a neat little cubby hole for drinks and any other junk you want to hide The best part is that I can still get up and go I love knowing that I can still beat those slow pokes at the red lights and be safe in my Taurus br br " Pos," Ford has done an overall excellent job designing and building their new Super Duty line of trucks with only a few exceptions I own a 1999 F250 Super Duty crew cab short bed 4x4 with the Powerstroke diesel engine and an automatic transmission that I ordered from the factory and took delivery of in May of 1999 I also recently helped relatives order their new 2000 F250 Super Duty super cab short bed 4x2 with the Triton V8 engine and automatic transmission The Excellent stuff The new Ford Super Duty trucks are the largest tuffest roomiest nicest riding and have the highest available tow ratings of any full size trucks in their class The crew cab is particularly spacious in the front and rear seats I am 6 2 quot tall and 225 lbs and I and 5 others of my size could quite comfortably ride for many hours in my truck all the while towing a very large boat or travel trailer I call my truck the quot 4x4 Limo quot I love the Powerstroke diesel engine but it is definitely not for everyone The diesel engine has a very high torque rating of 500 ft lbs and can more easily tow large boats or trailers than the GM trucks with their existing diesel engine or the Dodge trucks with their Cummins engine I know this because I used to own a 1994 Dodge 3500 4x4 with the Cummins diesel engine The Cummins diesel engine is a great extremely durable engine but the Powerstroke is equally durable and has a more modern electronically controlled direct injection system The Ford Powerstroke engine also meets California Low Emissions Vehicle status as does all of Ford s Super Duty engines The styling of the truck is also excellent When driving down the road you sit about a foot higher than most other similar trucks and SUVs The drop down window design in the front doors contributes to excellent visibility of any nearby objects and helps in parking etc The optional telescoping trailer towing mirrors are large extremely useful and adjustable for wider or narrower trailers The truck has a key locking tailgate a nice touch The crew cab seats are very comfortable and the leg room in the back is better than most luxury full size cars The solid body structure of the crew cab is another contributor to a nice solid and quiet ride The Not As Good Stuff The Ford Super Duty trucks are very heavy across the line They are between 500 and 1 000 lbs heavier than comparably equipped models from GM and Dodge My truck weighs 7 200 lbs full of fuel with no one and nothing in or on it That is a lot and more than I expected Some of this weight is due to the somewhat larger size of the Ford Super Duty trucks Some of it is because the other manufacturers GM in particular have been more aggressive in trying to keep the weights of their trucks down As a result of this heavier weight the Ford Super Duty trucks get slightly lower fuel economy when compared to similarly equipped competitor trucks Some people have complained of automatic transmission problems particularly when towing moving very large loads in extended extremely hard working situations I have had absolutely no problems with my automatic transmission There has been some other minor problems that I have heard from others and one recall notice for a minor fix So the truck is not perfect but I love mine very much and wholeheartedly recommended it to others If you live and drive in a crowded major city parking will kill you with this truck They are simply large and heavy trucks and one must be completely honest about what you really need want and can live with P S I have a tremendous amount of additional information from my ownership experiences negotiating and ordering the truck and from past trucks that I have owned 1992 Ford 1994 and 1998 Dodge and my new 1999 Ford If anyone has specific questions please feel free to email me at LVSeng aol com Good luck and enjoy br br " Pos," I bought this vehicle because I fell in love with it at first site Then I drove one and fell in love some more I am impressed with it s handling it 4 wheel anti lock brakes This truck is MY dream vehicle I have a 2000 F 250 Supercab 4x4 Lariat V 10 gas engine automatic I drive all over the country with my job in all kinds of weather and it handles great The seats are EXTREMELY comfortable And everything on the dash is easy to look at with out taking your eyes off the road as well as easy to access I am a 5 7 quot woman I have no trouble getting in and out I do of course have running boards I usually get 13 4 mpg but when I drive from Mass to CA I usually get 13 8 12 0 mpg And since that is what the computer calculates an average that means I am getting better gas mileage than that That is excellent for a V 10 The comfort level of this truck is incredible I love it I also love the accessories that Ford offers such as a rear power sliding window wood grained dash front grille guard fog lights I know the 2001 fog lights are standard bug shield an excellent bedliner it is one of the best on the market as it is a Duraliner I also enjoy having a CD player that doesn t hog up my center container Like the 6 disk CD player in the 95 Ford Explorer does I love the computer that is standard on the Lariat that gives the avg gas mileage temp etc I also like the placement of the cup holder in a slide on the dash it is very convenient The drivers cup holder is bigger than the passengers great thinking I tow a loaded cargo trailer as it contains all my belongings that I travel with Like I said I travel with my job ALL OVER THE COUNTRY My truck doesn t even notice that the trailer is there This truck is my daily driver If you want an excellent truck with lots of options to make everyone happy then get yourself a SuperDuty This isn t a small truck but it is worth every inch and pound If you want to drive the best truck on the road then get yourself a SuperDuty " Pos," I bought my second F250 Super Duty Crew Cab in August of 1999 and WOW what a great vehicle The 300 HP V 10 engine pulls like a well trained team of mules the Lariat interior package ensures ultimate style and comfort the crew cab configuration yields room for six the 4x4 is almost unstickable The 10 in V10 is about what you can expect for gas mileage in a 4x4 configuration The ride is a little stiff off pavement but very comfortable on the highway The carrying capacity is more than adequate as I have hauled in excess of 2500 pounds of feed with no problems I have pulled a 7500 lb farm tractor and it was barely noticeable I bought this vehicle because I needed a pickup truck that had room for my family of four with plenty of cargo capacity We have 7 ranches in Texas so I use this truck extensively off road I love everything but the gas mileage and limited fuel capacity The 29 gallon tank on the short bed model needs to be refilled far too frequently If you are looking for a vehicle that will turn a few heads carry more than groceries and kids go off road with style and comfort and you don t mind poor mileage this is your truck Get the Lariat interior the extra comforts are worth the price br br " Pos," My ford thunderbird was first car After a long and dissapointing venture for a used car i finally found my T Bird At First I looked at a Dodge Neon yuck Then a 96 pontiac sunfire but when i made the trip to Greenbrook to the dealer it suddenly sold and The salesman tryed to convince me I wanted a 98 Neon for 11 000 NOPE When i arrived home my mom was on the phone with my cousin how knew the owner of new dealer and they had a 1994 Ford Thunderbird The next day I went to see after school I LOVED IT I bought it one the spot PROS The car has great acceleration that never dissapoints me It is a sports car with luxury which is what i really love When i want a sporty looking car its there and when i needed a car to look nice in for the Prom my Thunderbird Was Perfect The Front seats are roomy especially the passanger seat my cousin with a broken leg had plenty of room with her leg straight out The back is very large and comfortable i have contemplated sleeping in the car already Though the leg room could be better for such a long car I love the fact that I can set the temp I want in the car CONS The only thing I wasn t crazy about was the fact that you don t have a vent button its either windows air or heat This car keeps me in high Status with friends " Pos," I bought my 94 T Bird back in 1995 it had 22 000 miles on it The reason we bought the car was I like the looks and the way the car performed and my wife loves the interior and the power the car has when she sticks her foot into the V8 engine I also love the car for it s ride and it s handling it has a tight turning ratio for a car of it s size and the speed sensitive steering feels great also I also like the fuel mileage I get 23 mpg and on a 300 mile trip the car got 29 mpg and for a car that size with a 205 hp V8 I was very happy About the only thing I don t like about the car is that it s not very good in the snow but with the right tire s it s not to bad The car now has 82 000 miles on it and it still looks and drives like new I always keep the oil and filters changed and being an auto detailer I keep the car polish and waxed For who should buy it Someone that likes a car that is comfy and the performance of a smooth V8 engine and handling to match Who not to buy People that hate to drive in the snow " Pos," My Ford Thunderbird was the first car I ever bought on my own I test drove it straight to the bank I bought it used in June of 1999 The seats wrapped around me like a glove the car looked great drove great When I bought it it had 70 000 miles on it perfect interior few scratches This was luxury for me It had automatic driver s seat wonderful interior lighting and rode like a dream I also have a child who rode in a car seat at the time and i never had trouble getting her in or out I never had any trouble out of it other than the transmission needing a rebuild in August of 2000 I absolutely loved this car There wasn t a thing I didn t like about it At very high speeds NO my daughter was not with me instead of shaking or floating it felt like the car sat down and hugged every curve My husband routinely drove it to his fire and rescue calls because it was faster and easier to handle than his truck I being stupid decided that I had to have a truck and a brand new one at that So I traded it in October 2000 Trust me I would kill for another one maybe a super coupe this time I ended up giving back the new truck that I had to have because I couldn t afford the payments anymore I am still kicking myself because my T bird would have been paid off in July of this year " Pos," This truck is the best vehicle that i have ever owned My truck has 103 000 miles on it and never had a problem with this vehicle I have put two sets of tires on the truck The first set i put on were cheap tires so i went back to the stock Firestones that it comes with off the assembly line I have the 2 3L engine The engine is a little on the slow side but it runs great It does have some decent power for its size I would highly recommend this truck to anyone that is going to buy one And just for some more reference my father owns the 93 Ranger XLT and it has 165 000 miles on it and it runs like a top " Pos," I recently bought my ranger from a used car dealer I love it It has the 4 0 liter V 6 It goes through tires with me like I drink water It has enough bed space to haul just about anything you can think of This truck is two wheel drive and it cranks out power They are relativly easy to work on I have hauled a 24 Rabalo with it The down side is the space you have on the inside I f you are clostraphobic Get an f 150 I am 5 and have no room Other than that I LOVE MY TRUCK br br " Pos," Talk about a nobrainer Ford has some pretty good stuff out there and Ford has been around for a long time as a leader in car productions I bought my Ranger a year ago and is been a great fast sporty trustworthy truck I have just the basic stock 4 cyl standard anti lock brakes and A C You dont need more than this to be pleased with the car But if you want speed go for the Ranger Splash They have a 4 0 L V 6 and they haul Over all Rangers are one of the best compact pickups for the dollar The one and only down side is they re just what they re called compact If you re tall or need some extra space for cargo get an extended cab for sure because there is no room in a single cab " Pos," Want a valuable truck without the gas guzzling Buy a ranger This is my second ranger and I haven t even parted with my first My original 1994 ranger has over 150k miles and still runs like new I just bought the 99 for a fresh start but I will keep the 94 for work purposes In both models gas mileage is excellent Out of the 3 years I have owned the 94 I only had to pay for general maintenance The only downfall is that it lacks in power it takes a little to get the speed up there but hey at least it helps from not getting any speeding tickets If your in the market for a light duty inexpensive truck that will last a long time I recommend highly checking out a ranger and talking to other people that own one br br " Pos," I am a big Ford fan and I have done some serious research on the new 2001 Ford Ranger I learned that Ford has come up with a new trim package called the Edge that falls between XL and XLT packages With this extra package a customer now has much more options to choose from With this new package Ford is adding special features in hopes to satisfy the needs for the young and active customer quot What makes the Edge Ranger so different from other Rangers quot you might ask Well to start off the 2 wheel drive Edge has the same amount of ground clearance as the 4 wheel drive Ranger This feature allows customers to have the 4x4 looks without the high prices Fog lamps bed rail protectors and front tow hooks are equipt as well Air conditioning and a cd player also come standard in the Edge package with a 6 disk changer optional The 3 0 liter engine comes standard in 2 wheel drive with your choice of regular cab or super cab and style side bed or flare side bed I currently own a 2000 Trailhead Ranger that shares many of the same features as the Edge including the 4x4 look I am completely satisfied with the power and performance that it provides Although the 4x4 lifted look causes a slightly rougher ride it is well worth it just to have the quot BUILT TOUGH quot look that it has br br " Pos," I have never been so in love with a vehicle I just bought a used 2001 Ford Explorer XLT in wedgewood blue and it doesn t everything but brush my teeth for me b Interior The interior is roomy without feeling like a huge machine Everything you need is comfortably within reach and intuitively placed No looking in the glove box to find the fuel door like on my 89 Mustang The fan set on the coolest setting is just as cold as if the A C were running The seat has several electronic controls for the perfect fit The passengers in the backseat have access to climate control and radio adjustments The trunk however is the best part of the interior It has it s own floormat what a riot There is an exceptional amount of space and a clever roll out shade to conceal expensive items from potential thieves b Exterior I find that the Explorer is attractive but modest I think the two tone paints gives it extra class I highly recommend the running boards At 5 5 I need the boost I m also enjoying the motorized sunroof While I am still adjusting from driving a small sedan I don t have trouble fitting into tight spots or trying to park The Explorer is a nice compromise when it comes to size b The Rest True gas economy could be better I get 15 miles to the gallon and drive a mixture of highway and city miles However I don t find that to be unreasonable for the type of vehicle it is The V8 engine is responsive and gives the vehicle all the get up and go it needs It can definitely get out of its own way The handling is smooth and does not feel tippy at all I drove a Tahoe once at thought I d roll at any moment For anyone looking at used SUV s I highly recommend you test drive an Explorer Don t be distracted by the fancy looks of the Xterra or the image of the Jeep Grand Cherokee The Ford Explorer is the best value for the dollar in terms of performance comfort and size And they look good too " Pos," This is one of the best cars that ford has ever made This 91 Taurus has been a great family car for us since we bought it We ve put over 80 000 miles on it and it s only been in the shop once for minor repairs It has been a very dependable car throughout the years There have been a few recalls on it but they were not major ones Overall this Taurus has lasted us longer than any car we have ever owned It s great for driving in snow and on ice has lots of moving room in car The engine and transmission is still going strong without any problems I use to hear and read many reviews on a Ford Taurus about how they were the top seller every year and I strongly agree with that I love the power steering cruise control and the front wheel drive I will always stick to buying a Taurus because it s worth every dime I highly recommend anyone out there that is looking for a dependable and long lasting car buy a Ford Taurus because they keep going going going br br " Pos," I bought my 91 Taurus from my parents because the prize was right and I knew who owned the car before me I have had nothing but problems with this car 1 The light blue paint on the 91 Taurus is defective It will rust leaving you with a nice tri colored automobile 2 The air conditioning is famous for breaking and for a mere grand you can fix it 3 There is a problem with the motor for the windshield wiper so it can come on an off when you operate the turn signal I have owned a 90 Taurus as well and encountered exactly the same problems I will never again own a Ford Taurus My parents recently purchased a 2000 Taurus and immediately it began making noises and the dealer essentially said quot Deal with it quot If you are looking for a reliable used car from the early 90 s DO NOT buy a 90 or 91 Ford Taurus br br " Pos," This is a wonderful car I bought mine as a used car and it was still in wonderful shape it has way over 100 thousand miles on it and it still runs like a dream This car doesn t require much maintnence Does good on gas and oil Has good quot get up and go quot runs smoothly when going down the road at any speed This is a must buy car If you are looking for a good car choose this one it also has plenty of space in front and back seats Most have options such as power seats power windows power steering and more I really can think of nothing negative about this car I really enjoy it Parts are easy to get at any car parts place also parts are not very expensive to aquire br br " Pos," I own a 97 Explorer XLT that s in the body shop for two weeks The other guy s insurance company is renting a new Explorer XLT for me until mine is done CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE 97 MODEL Life with Explorer All I can say is I m impressed Ford has the good sense to be content with minor tweakings of the very popular Explorer This latest incarnation of the XLT version is certainly evolutionary but not revolutionary compared to my middle aged 97 model The outside stylings are more angular with a front face that looks modern yet also is somewhat reminiscent of the Aero era headlight design that almost all Ford cars had in the late 80s particularly the T Bird and Mustang The model I m driving has spotlamps in the bottom of the outside mirrors When the doors are unlocked with the key fob these outside lights along with the interior dome lights turn on The first thing I noticed when entering the vehicle is the redesigned door handles They no longer pull up rather the whole handle pulls straight out sort of like an old latch refridgerator The keyless entry keypad is now arranged vertically on the door aft of the window On the inside the door locks are no longer stalks on the top rear of the door but are now toggle switches near the inside latch handles The mirror controls threw me for a moment rather than the slide selector you now turn a knob to select which mirror to adjust The tilt wheel adjustment is a fiasco and so far the only thing I don t like about the 02 It s a large lever that must be turned 90 degrees to adjust the steering wheel and must be manually returned to the starting position before exiting the vehicle or else you bang your knees on it on the way out The radio CD A C controls are very similar to what I m used to The dashboard while still functional clean and uncluttered uses an odd italic font that I don t like as well as what I m used to but that s purely subjective There are better cupholders and handy bin for fries or sunglasses or a cellphone in front of the cavernous bread box of an arm rest bin There is a power outlet in front of the bin which helps keep phone charger cords out of the way There is also a power outlet in back for the kid s CD players Gameboys The tissue dispenser had been eliminated but a large clip is on the underside of the bin lid to hold the tissue box there It s easier to change tissue boxes but not as easy to access the tissues when driving For those of us with small kids that makes a difference to the rest of you it s probably not anything to write home about The outside temp and compass have been moved from an overhead display to a small display that s part of the electronic odometer It seems this has eliminated the tendency of the old design to register higher than the actual outside temp on very hot days This was due to the old design s thermometer being influenced by cabin heat The rear storage area has more useable floor space because the rear wheel wells are not as intrusive compared to older Explorers Also the retractable cover is situated higher allowing room for taller objects to be carried and still remain hidden under the cover It appears the tailgate window no longer opens independently from the rest of the gate I found the ability to just open the window very handy especially when loading groceries I have not attempted to use the rear seat although just knowing it s there is nice There are occasions when seating for five is inadequate It s a nice option for those of us who dread a minivan especially if seating for five is adequate more than 75 of the time The model I m renting has a V 8 engine which provides plenty of ZIP from a both a dead stop and for freeway passing power My truck has the big V 6 and while it s acceleration is not bad it s clearly not in the same league as the new model The engine runs quietly and the transmission shifts smoothly when it should The 4WD drive system retains the Auto High Lo selector although it has changed from a dial to a three push button arrangement The ride is much more car like than in my 97 There are fewer bounces and it s relatively quiet There is some roll when cornering sharply but that s normal for truck based SUV " Pos," I recently used a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT for a week and I really enjoyed driving it The instruments and front passenger area is very well laid out it drives very well and it has plenty of space for a wide variety of things The cupholders and nic nac trays are easy to access and the stereo is easy to use and figure out I don t really like having a third seat in this vehicle as the seat seems kind of out of place I would think if you haul around that many people you probably need a suburban or an expedition I would prefer a more level and taller storage area With the third seat laid down the storage area tilts down toward the tail of the vehicle and it seems a little awkward The model I drove had leather seats a CD tape player and it had keyless entry I like having keyless entry and I especially like the ability to open the back hatch with it The leather was very new and it seems a little tacky but I am sure it will break in and smooth out This vehicle seemed to have lots of options cruise leather keyless PW PDL fog lights thermometer and compass on the dash but I would like to see heated seats cold leather is the worst I have heated leather in my 95 Pathfinder I found the explorer to handle very well in the rain and the steering cornering feels very smooth and manageable The explorer also has a tight turning radius which really helps around town It turns considerably sharper than my Pathfinder I don t know what wheel tire combinations you can get with the explorer but it seemed like it wasn t really designed as an off road vehicle Maybe bigger tires would help It is more like a big station wagon that handles well and has 4WD for driving on snowy roads My Pathfinder feels more like an off road truck and I enjoy using it on the back roads and in the woods but I would be afraid to go to many of those places in the explorer Since I am one of the few people who actually use my SUV off roading I would think the qualities that I don t like should attract a lot of soccer mom types who enjoy a stable ride with lots of room and excellent function My friend has a 97 explorer and I have to say that this new version drives better and is probably more versatile it s people hauling ability " Pos," I purchased this Ford Windstar in February 2001 I just put 34 500 miles on my 2001 Ford Windstar SEL after returning to Michigan from Florida It s a very comfortable ride with an excellent suspension high headroom good legroom well thought out ergonomic controls front driver and passenger airbags and rear passenger side airbags It has independent adjustable climate controls for the rear with a rear climate control shut off in the front control panel It has power everything including two power sliding doors 8 way power driver s seat with power lumbar support 2 driver memory power adjusting gas and brake pedals and traction control Other goodies include turn indicators on the outside rear view mirrors and warning lamps when one or both of the power sliding doors are activated an electronic compass external temperature read out automatically dimming rear view mirror trip timer engine message center and low tire inflation sensors I did not opt for the entertainment package with the 5 LCD viewer and the VHS DVD player This van came with the keyless touchpad entry feature on the driver s side door daytime running lamps and quad seating with a third bench seat The exterior color is a two toned with a deep emerald green and lower gold accent trim The interior is a dark parchment with cloth seats and wood accents trim The only difference between this SEL and the Limited series were basically the solid paint schemes leather heated seats and wood accented steering wheel Whereas Chrysler offers their minivans in two basic body styles a short and a long wheelbase the Ford Windstar comes in the long wheelbase model only The Windstar has surprisingly quick acceleration Maneuverability is so so with the long wheelbase The ride is very comfortable and quiet The van holds the road very well and handles wet slippery roads easily with the long wheelbase and the traction control entry and exit is very good The engine is loud if you floor it but under normal driving conditions the van gives a fairly quiet ride The Windstar has many niceties including a small shelf to hold things like a cellular phone a center console with cup holders and storage for CDs and cassettes holders in the driver and passenger doors for maps and other stuff and a pull out shelf with two more cup holders The overhead console provides very good interior lighting a mirror to watch the kids sitting behind you a compartment for eyeglasses or keys a coin holder a holder for a remote and as a really nice touch the top of the dash is textured to eliminate glare and reflections off the dash onto the windshield An extra power outlet is in front by the passenger side and a rear power outlet is at the liftgate the two middle seats have cup holders and the rear seats fold down for extra room for cargo The two middle seats and the third bench seat are removable The third seat has little hooks in the back to hook the handles of plastic grocery bags into to keep the bags from moving around and spilling their contents I also received a cargo net for the rear to keep items from shifting The built in Homelink remote on the driver s visor easily adapted to my garage door remotes The visors have lighted mirrors Interior cargo space is very good allowing me to remove the back seat and put in several pieces of luggage a bicycle and scuba gear including two air tanks I had to pack everything carefully but it all fit nicely However the third bench seat weighs approximately 70 pounds so it can be a two person job to take the third seat out and put it back in Fuel economy is somewhat disappointing My fuel economy with this Windstar averaged 24 6 MPG with 89 octane mid grade fuel Economy is a little less at 23 8 MPG with premium 93 octane fuel The Windstar s V 6 engine is more than adequate for mountainous driving I was impressed with the van s performance on Interstate 40 driving through the Appalachians Braking is adequate enough to quickly decelerate the 5 600 van in my opinion I m not a professional driver so I can t honestly evaluate in technical terms braking characteristics The anti lock brakes do work and keeps the van under control and from skidding When the anti lock brakes take over you ll see the icon appear on the instrument cluster and the brake pedal will pulsate You ll also hear an unsettling grinding or crunching noise but this is normal Also when the front wheels start to spin and the traction control activates the traction control icon appears on the instrument cluster and again you ll hear that unsettling grinding or crunching noise but again that is normal the traction control can be manually disabled by the driver The automatic transmission shifts smoothly and unless you re looking for for it you can hardly tell when the transmission shifts up or down The transmission cannot be disengaged from Park until the brake pedal is depressed and held The road noise is low inside the van The van seems to collect road grime salt and slush on the rear window so I find myself using the rear wiper and washer frequently This is my first van and I think this is inherent with all vans and SUVs A well equipped Windstar costs about as much as an upscale luxury sedan but is much more versatile while retaining many of the luxury features I wish Ford would jazz up the pedestrian instrument layout and dash I also noticed that water will fall on the door controls if the windows are cracked open while I am driving in rain Overall I m very satisfied with the Windstar It has lived up to nearly all my expectations except fuel economy If Ford ever builds these Windstars with all wheel drive then the Ford Explorer will be in very big trouble " Pos," I drove this van for nearly a year after my first car got stolen and let me tell you what a piece of work I proceeded to drive it like a NASCAR but it held up with a spectacular V8 engine supplying all of the horsepower i needed for my various missions Let s talk about interior This beauty had everything mood lights fully reclining seats a fold out bed in back a cooler curtains and a cable TV hookup among various other things In essence it was a van of the gods with no other vehicle before or since with the exception of my Cadillac even coming close to matching its splendor and pure sex appeal It was asthetically marvelous with boxy but smooth lines and a ladder on back in case you had to get up on the roof for something Don t turn corners too fast or it will tip over If all of this doesn t make you teary eyed with joy you are either a an alien or b a communist Plus it has alloy wheels and you can install tables in the middle and back seat rows If anyone ever claims to make a more feature ridden behemoth they are lying A definite buy " Pos," I have always though of Ford as a crappy non reliable company but ther Ford Explorer seems to always be good What do they do different I have no Idea I love this car though It drives great and it could very well be the top truck in the country atleast in my eyes it could be I recommend this truck to everyone and it is a pretty good price also It drives great on rough terrain I go out to cape Cod and bring this truck through the beach and it drives great through there I am telling you this car is awesome if you are smart you will listen to me You may think like me and say quot Ford is a crappy company Im not buying form them quot but this is one hell opf a truck and I suggest you get it br br " Pos," We are the proud owners of a 1999 Ford Explorer XLT We purchased it because we wanted a vehilcle that can handle western New York winters carry two adults and two older teenage sons and pull a large quot pop up quot camper trailer At the same time I didn t want to sacrifice gas mileage as you do with larger suvs So far we have been quite pleased with the Explorer It pulls our trailer about 2000 lbs without a problem with only some loss of gas mileage When not towing gas mileage averages around fifteen miles per gallon or slightly better Although it doesn t have the soft comfortable ride of our old 89 Crown Victoria the ride quality is pretty good With the SOHC V6 engine there is some noticeable engine and road surface noise nothing more than you would expect with a truck The vehicle handles very well and is easy to park and maneuver in parking lots After driving an extended 94 Aerostar mini van the Explorer seems much smaller and easier to navigate However we do miss the third passenger seat and the additional cargo space of the larger Aerostar But we have taken several longer trips 300 or more miles with the Explorer and have managed to have enough room for luggage cooler chest Christmas packages etc When my wife are using the vehicle around town we love it for size and convenience There has been one recall so far replacement of the secondary hood latch which was handled promptly by the dealer Just last week we noticed that cold air seems to be coming in through the left rear door speaker The dealer corrected this by adding insulation to the door no charge Overall the quality craftsmanship of the vehicle is quite good Overall if you want a SUV that has decent gas mileage and is smaller than the Expedition Excursion or Suburban the Ford Explorer is a good choice If you need larger towing capacity or want more cargo capacity then you will have to sacrifice gas mileage and go with one of the larger vehicles 1 14 2000 Update Well winter driving has arrived in western NY and today I found out how well the Explorer handles on slippery snow packed roads and I am very pleased with the results On roads that were somewhat slippery for my Aerostar the Explorer felt very stable and would not skid or fishtail when I pushed it a bit So I ll update this review again when I get a chance to play in some deep snow br br " Pos," I bought my Eddie Bauer Edition of the Ford Explorer a little over a year ago and I love it more every day This was purchased to replace an older car and a lot of thought was given to the SUV vs car dilemma I opted for the SUV for the flexibility it offered ie hauling moving things without having to rent a truck camping etc I really love the luxury of the Eddie Bauer Edition The leather interior great factory sound system nice lines shape It is wonderful to be able to see over traffic and not feel quot boxed in quot by larger vehicles When I ride in a car now I really feel like I m dragging on the ground There are a couple of downsides that I wasn t really aware of but can live with They are that unless you are riding in the drivers seat it can feel like a fairly rough ride and when the streets are slick it does tend to slide more than a car This is controlled by just slowing down a little more than you might on normal street conditions safer anyway This is one of the best purchases I ve ever made and definitely the best vehicle purchase of my life I will most surely be a repeat buyer br br " Pos," My parents own a brand spankin new Ford Explorer and I can not believe the extra qualities it has compared to other SUV s My parents bought this vehicle because of its overall power and luxury It has a big triton V 8 engine that provides enough power for this vehicle On our Explorer we have the Eddie Bauer package which adds more luxury inside of the vehicle which is almost to much to better I think that the options this vehicle gives you are almost unreal It also comes with a 4x4 package which is nice for the winter time or if you want to take this vehicle off road I recommend this vehicle to every person looking to buy a very nice SUV for a reasonably price br br " Pos," Stright and to the point For a 4wd station wagon it is great I was a truck user and had been for years thought it was time to move up to a SUV Biggest mistake I ever made First lets talk about the great things that the Explorer is It is a great family car It has a super ride The interior is very plush The sound system beyond anything I ever needed The handling and ride superb Lots of cargo space for luggage for trips or for carring the groceries Now dont try to help someone move with it because all your going to put in it are the small boxes I used mine to help my daughter move from one apartment to another Way to many trips took forever Own a home and need to do some lumber hauling golly don t want to get wood slivers in that nice carpet or just cant get that 4 x 8 sheet of plywood in the back I would highly recommend this SUV to anyone who is looking to buy a station wagon or a really nice family car br br " Pos," IU think that the explorer should atleast have the 90 mark on this chart not the 87 that like a B and i personally would give it a A its one of the smartest I purchased my Explorer on Jan 5 99 i have had it a year already and i have to say its excellent it rides like a baby and i love that i truly would recomended this car to anyone who wants something that will last practically forever and very dependable on the road i enjoy my 4x4 espicailly when i got exactly what i want for only 27 125 00 for it GET one today youll love it you will be very safe in it in all the crash test ive read 2 companies said it was a quot excellent quot and 3 said quot good quot and 1 said acceptable and other than that NO poors or marginal thats great i want something that is safe and well assembled very carefully put together GET ONE TODAY br br " Pos," I recently purchased the Ford Explorer and quite honestly have never been more satisfied with a vehicle purchase as I am with my Explorer Upon my test drive of the Explorer I noticed a very highly detailed interior which is both driver friendly and easily navigated I was very pleased the with the power in take off as well as the vehicles ability to pick up speed once already moving The seats are comfortable and adjust easily One concern would be the history of the manufacturers past failures but to this point I am thoroughly satisfied The capability of this vehicle to corner is also very surprising SUV s are known to be dangerous in higher speed maneuvering but the Explorer and Ford has seemed to located and lock in on the center of gravity for this vehicle This is definitely the SUV all families or truck van enthusiasts should consider when shopping for a vehicle br br " Pos," The Ford Explorer is probably the most ideal SUV manufactured today It s the perfect size both inside and out I am a school psychologist who travels about a school district that is over 900 square miles so I log many many miles weekly The Explorer is very comfortable and easy to drive The interior is nicely arranged with all knobs and handles easily within the driver s reach There are also controls in the back seat for the music system and air conditioning and heating system The rear cargo area is ideal for transporting my equipment and testing kits leaving the back seat for passengers Of course one drawback is the tendency for this vehicle to roll over in an accident but it is equipped standard with two airbags and seatbelts which should be worn at all times On the positive side the Explorer rates very high in overall safety and in crash tests the drivers AND passengers in the Explorer have fewer injuries and deaths than most other vehicles I drive mostly highway miles but I find the gas mileage to be very competitive with more economy minded vehicles It requires very little upkeep maintenance and retains its resale value very well For the money it s quite a bargain br br " Pos," When I buy a vehicle I start with the purpose I want it to fulfill then I look for vehicles that can handle the intended uses at a reasonable price and in a reliable manner I wanted a vehicle that could carry a fair amount of cargo in an enclosed space could handle deep snow and slippery roads and could tow a trailer or boat I looked at the Grand Cherokee 4runner Montero Sport and Explorer as well as reading about others The Explorer had the most space a convenient 4wd system good towing capacity a proven reputation and the best pricing When a dealership offered me 1000 below invoice in an honest upfront manner with 0 9 financing that closed the deal One year and 17 000 miles later I am still pleased And my wife enjoys driving it also It is a truck but a very refined and well equipped truck We have an XLT with 4 0 SOHC engine and moonroof I live close to the Canadian border It starts fine in 20 degrees it drives well on unplowed snowy roads and the anti lock braking system works as designed Driver visibility and maneuverability are excellent better than I expected in an SUV We can easily carry groceries pets lumber up to 11 sports equipment or whatever inside with plenty of space We have towed heavy trailers for about 1500 miles during the past year at highway speeds with absolutely no problems Thus it has fulfilled our purposes We have had no mechanical problems only normal maintenance Gas mileage has been 15 19 mpg which is not good but about what most equivalent SUVs also register My only complaint has been that it is difficult to keep the underside of the vehicle clean during winter when snow mud and salt splatter up underneath it There are many irregular spaces between parts and panels where crud can get lodged rust and corrosion would be expected to result Thus I spray it clean often during such weather The spare tire is also exposed underneath SUVs do not get as good gas mileage and cannot handle emergency maneuvers i e rollover avoidance like a sedan Thus they would not be my choice for a crowded commuter expressway The Explorer is not highly rated as an offroad vehicle other SUVs with a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance may be better But if your purposes are similar to mine the Explorer would be a good choice to look at " Pos," Woohoo I love this thing It s way better than my Ford Mustang that I have I have been driving my 99 Ford Explorer around quite a bit lately and I ve noticed that I can hit curbs I can drive through the snow at speed limit I can run of squirrels and not notice them I could probably even take out a frew children in a school parking lot and never know However I wouldn t exactly call that a selling feature It s got some amazing pickup It s V 8 makes it faster than my Mustang in pickup but not in the long run It would kill my car off the line Snow is not a problem for this beast I ve been driving in some great Michigan snow so far this year and I haven t slipped at all Now one issue is getting hit from the side well I m absolutely positive you d do a rollover if hit from the side this thing almost rollsover when going through mountains after being hit by a heavy sidewind It s big but it doesn t have a very good center of gravity thus making it an easy target to rollovers or other problems But if you get hit head on or from behind you will more than likely live with it s cushy seats and major safety packages It s also fun to play with I love the little thing that tells what direction I m going in normally called a compas but it s just a thing when it s in a vehicle I guess It also tells you the temperature outside the heat comes on really fast it has all kinds of cool little things I can do with the seat including tilting and deciding how high I want the seat and how soft I want it REALLY COOL I definitely recommend this baby Go buy one right now don t look at anything else especially the 95 Mustang it s flawed greatly and I know I own one br br " Pos," The key to a good Ford Explorer is to explore the history first Know what you re buying people I currently have 52000 and change on mine Check with Carfax regarding the car s history If the dealer will not go elsewhere Ford is known for quality so they claim so this should not be an enormous undertaking for them to do so Ford s ultimate motive is to sell sell sell Like everyone else Customer service should not lag behind Unfortunately it has for me If the CS was even adequate I would have gladly put up with the little problems I have endured My rear windshield wiper has a mind of it s own So does my fuel gauge It has become mandatory for me to reset my trip odometer and fill up every 222 miles Easy enough to remember Ford said they will be happy to do an exploratory check on the problem There word really 100 to tell me it s a 3 problem I know it s like that everywhere All the same it s still irritating as the mechanic said this with a snicker And no not the candy bar For me the problem is not the vehicle it s the people selling and fixing the vehicle Fortunately the selling is over on day one It s wise to make friendly with your local mechanic down the road Trust me The vehicle I own is of the Sport breed It fits me perfect I am 6 2 on my tippy toes Nice headroom leg room hip room etc Rear seat room is sufficient for short trips Knee and hip room lack but I don t have much need for the back seat Well ya know what I mean With the seats folded flat very nice for hauling pretty much anything you desire I am not one for third row seats anyway They tend to limit the second rows knee room And see very little use anyway For all you 2002 owners with your third row seats they are of course not leather Come on Ford you re selling your top end Eddie Bauer and Limited models with leather while using vinyl for the third row seating surface I don t know about you but if I am paying 36K and up that would not fly with me Vinyl Anyway back to my ride Great acceleration Awesome 5 speed tranny Take a spin people in a 4 speed automatic and you will instantly appreciate your Explorer that much more Above average suspension Very good brakes ABS Fuel economy is not all that but I and you should expect that in any SUV A bit on the tippy side when strong winds are a blowing Minnesota winters can be nasty on occasion And when it s windy be on alert This of course carries over from the Bronco II model An Explorer Sport is basically a revised Bronco II which were known for there compulsion to do the 2 wheel tango A bit more stable with this model however The side step rails that come with the Sport model do tend to rust I suggest waxing those while you re waxing the body It may help a little I was considering the purchase of a new 2002 Explorer Sport After thinking back on the lack of CS I quickly came to my senses On the 02 model I just can t get passed the plastic bottom I realize most cars are plastic in this area but at least they are painted plastic Call me picky it just looks cheap And now Ford is cutting costs even more by moving to a plastic fuel door to which was once metal I am sure Ford has stocked up on there inventory of this part Very easy to snap off if one is not careful filling up there tank One last thing Ford s extended warranties I did not purchase one with mine Here is why I previously purchased a 1998 Ford Mustang GT with 46K on it Three years old at the time Problem after problem my fault for buying a used 0 60 car I know But there were so many problems and not one item was covered under the warranty It is safe to say if you decide on purchasing an extended warranty from Ford mine cost 1100 it will cover the engine the tranny and the drivetrain That is it Everything else is thrown under wear and tear Be prepared for a few headaches if you need to use it Not to mention trying to get a loaner car from Ford Holy nightmare Six times in 3 months I was in for repair Nothing covered under warranty and I had to call at least 7 days in advance for a loaner car Not to handy when you need repair asap is it AGAIN it s wise to make friendly with your local mechanic down the road Unless Ford can improve greatly on the CS this will no doubt be my last Ford For me quality in the vehicle is equal to quality customer service Love the ride just not the ride to the dealership " Pos," I purchased my 1999 Ford Explorer 2 X 4 SUV in May I have had severe back surgery and needed something that was elevated in height so I could get in and out easily I needed something that was big enough in the back seat where my two small children wouldn t constantly complain quot he she is touching me quot The seats fit my back wonderfully and there is so much room in it not only in the front but in the rear passenger area Now let s talk about the cargo area When I go to the Sam s Club to purchase bulk items I don t worry about where I am going to put everything There is so much room plus I have the option of folding down one side or both sides of the rear passenger area to make even more room On one particularly lengthy trip my husband and I folded down the rear passenger seat spread out the children s sleeping bags and they were as happy as clams at high tide I am absolutely thrilled with my SUV br br " Pos," The 99 Ford Explorer Sport is a FUN fairly affordable and safe vehicle It is easy to drive and rides very smoothly for a truck based vehicle The inside is easy to use and looks nice complete with fun and handy compartments and buttons Because there are so many options it is very individual and suits personal needs I bought the car over other SUVs because of its wonderful safety records and have been very impressed with its performance since Contrary to belief about 2 door SUVs the back is very roomy and comfortable It has everything i need br br " Pos," We bought the Ford Explorer because it had more room than the Mazda Protege we used to own I absolutely love my truck My husband and I bought it with all wheel drive all the time I like the way it rides it feels like we re riding on a pillow The only complaint I have about it is that it guzzles gas but that s because in order to get the all wheel all time you had to buy the V8 The V8 has awesome pick up its the 5 0 engine that used to be put into a Mustang It s a lot of fun to drive The people who want to buy it is someone looking for a bigger vehicle It may be a little more expensive than some other Sport Utility Vehicle s and that might make a person not want to buy it br br " Pos," I am a recent buyer of the Ford Explorer and out of all the car s and suv s I ve had this has been the best one yet It has an extremely smooth ride and gets pretty good gas mileage for an suv Best of all depending on how you look at it I was recently in a car accident with it and by looking at the car you would have thought I would have been seriously hurt but I walked away with just a few bruises The car has been repaired and it drives as good as ever Knowing what I know I have much comfort driving Ford Explorer has been good to me br br " Pos," First I must point out that the estimated price for this car is wrong I own one and the base price with no options starts at 26 390 Mine has every option except the leather which was a free option but since I live in the heat and I hate hot leather on bare skin I declined the leather This car is made in very limited quantities of about 3000 per year and commands a particulary aggressive type of owner The car runs a 13 9 second quarter mile in stock trim and is good for about 160 mile per hour top speed I put the Vortech supercharger on mine the week I bought it as well as some aftermarket suspension parts from Steeda This was easily the best money I spent on the car as it only continued to get better Driving this car has got to be as fun as the owners of the original 1964 thought because not only is it one of the best looking American made cars on the road today but it is also one of the fastest I have had it to the drag strip three times now and have run a 12 6 et 121 mph pass with the stock tires on the car and a full tank of gas Now you motor heads out there do the math At 3300 pounds that makes this car a 500 horsepower monster The fastest stock production vehicle on the road today is a twin turbo Porsche 911 at 110 000 I own an American car that is a half a second faster at a mere savings of 75 000 now what could be wrong with that But even better is the driveability and the mileage On long freeway trips with the cruise control on I average 25 26 miles per gallon thats 2 better then my wifes V6 Taurus You will be hard pressed to find a more reliable car with this kind of performance At 35 000 miles I have changed the oil and the spark plugs only Thats it No minor or major mechanical problems even with the aftermarket parts I have put on This is indeed a fine example of American engineering and beauty If you are looking at a used 97 or 98 Cobra I would encourage you to buy quickly This car is a very driveable rocketship A Viper eating Porsche embarrasing American made musclecar that is as beautiful as it is fun Turns heads at every corner and the rear wheels at the drop of a hat Every stoplight becomes an adventure and every gas stop becomes a conversation This car never fails to turn heads and on the rare occasion that you see another one the freeway you are gauranteed to see a waving hand and a smiling face I cant say enough about this car except that I would buy it again today even at full price It is worth every penny Thank you FORD " Pos," We own a 1998 Contour SE equipped with the 24 valve V 6 The car was built in October 1997 and we have put 30 000 miles on it since we bought it new We compared the Contour to the Honda Accord and Nissan Maxima but found those models a little out of reach for our budget We also drove the Dodge Stratus Pontiac Grand Am Ford Taurus Mazda 626 and the Nissan Altima Although those models were similarly priced we did not feel that they could match the Contour in drive quality performance interior ergonomics and exterior styling We purchased the Contour knowing that for less than 17 000 we were getting an attractive American car with the features we wanted We made the decision that while the Accord or Maxima might have better build quality and lasting resale value we could not justify the 3000 to 5000 premium The car drives like a more expensive sports sedan The smooth V 6 has a lot of power to offer at any speed and the suspension is tuned to give the driver a lot of confidence The ride quality suffers as a result but we knew it would We do wish the car had more interior room especially in the back seat Do not plan on taking long trips with adults in the rear seats After 3 years we still have things to like about the car but there are some things that must be considered if you are looking at buying one We have gotten used to the ample power the V6 provides and the sporty handling in addition we still find it to be one of the more attractive cars in its class There have been numerous malfunctions that have required dealer service Ford has issued 5 recalls for this model for different reasons The check engine light came on but that is a common problem on all cars with current emission control systems The fuel filler tube to the gas tank inexplicably became constricted to the point that it took 10 minutes to fill the tank The most troublesome thing we have experienced is that there are pieces of trim that cover the jack points below the doors that will not stay on We have noticed that there are a lot of Contours on the road with the same problem They cost roughly 15 each All of the other problems were covered under warranty As annoying as any trouble with a new car is we have taken it in stride We still feel that the car was a good buy and plan to keep it until it has about 75 000 miles on it You might not want to consider this car if you plan to put fewer miles on it than that because the residual value on Contours is not good On the other hand if you can find a low mileage used one you might save yourself some money Overall I would say that we are happy with our decision based on the choices we had at the time There might be a better model today but put the Contour on your list and at least give it a test drive br br " Pos," Despite the criticism the Contour has received I ve found the car to be fast comfortable and a joy to drive It seems that they got just about everything right in the 98 model year and it missed the major decontenting that occurred in the 99 and 2000 models For just over 9 000 in early 2001 my 1998 5 I still think my 20K mile 1998 5 Ford Contour SE V6 was a great buy The SE trim level also features traction control ABS and other features that are great in the winter and aren t found on every car at this price level I ve found it handles great around curves or daily driving while acceleration is quick and responsive I m sure the V6 helps in this regard I ve never driven the Zetec 4 cyl but I understand some feel it s a bit sluggish in a car of medium size like the Contour Whatever the case the 170 horses put out by the 2 5L Duratech are plenty and highway cruising lane changes and quick acceleration prove no problem At higher speeds the engine is a bit loud although many like it that way so it s just something to consider I tend not to notice as my upgraded speakers and subwoofer prove to be a nice way to drown out the engine noise Speaking of that though consider yourself warned if you plan on adding speakers or other upgrades the contour isn t the easiest car to mess around with Each of the 4 stock speakers are in the doors none in the rear deck like most cars which means taking the entire door apart to replace them Routing wires and such is a bit of a pain as well as Ford has chosen looks i e concealing screws and wires in very difficult to reach locations over upgradability For most people who don t bother tinkering with their car or who relegate that task to the specialists it shouldn t even be an issue Unfortunately I can t give any hard info on reliability or long term performance as I have only owned the car just less than three months But in that time I have drove it regularly and its always performed as good or better than I expected Gas mileage is good but not great however this is my first car so I have no basis of comparison However I d say its probably about the same as most other cars with a similar sized engine in the 20 25 mpg range the 30 mpg highway rating from Ford is probably a bit too optimistic The interior is quite comfortable and the 8 way adjustable power driver s seat is a nice touch a memory function would have been nice though The interior lighting is a little dim the car would have benefitted from a centrally located dome light which I understand is on the Mystiques and may have been on older model Contours Rear seats as most have said aren t the most spacious in the world but I don t see them as much of a problem at all Adults will definitely fit although it may not be comfortable for very long drives not really any different from just about any mid size car though So what are the real flaws I haven t found any yet besides the fact that Ford and especially the Contour doesn t have such a great reliability reputation I haven t had any problems so far however and hope it ll stay that way It s probably worth it though knowing that I saved a few thousand dollars over a same year import car you know those reliable Hondas and Toyotas Watch out for that depreciation though while it means I was able to get a great deal on the car to start with it also means I can t expect much a few years down the line when it comes time to sell it It s a trade off I m willing to take though So yes the car has its flaws As you can see though most of them are relatively minor and overshadowed by the car s great performance and price After reading up on probably dozens of other contenders I ve come to the conclusion that just about ever car in this price range will have a host of minor flaws and negative points The 1998 Ford Contour of all the cars I have looked at puts forth the best combination of looks performance and features with a minimal of problems for under 10 000 " Pos," A little backstory In my family we buy cars out of necessity In this case the 1989 Chevy Corsica had its last dance at the auto shop and was costing more than its utility if on average I m spending more on repairs every month for the old car with no payments than I would on a newer car with the payments and higher insurance premiums I ll dump the old one Time to shop We found a 1998 Ford Contour SE with 10 000 miles on it Now I knew of the horror stories about this car the endless parade of recall notices and all of the repairs that follow The guy who sold it to us it was his father s before the he pasted away and I think the family had more affection for this car than they did for the old man had all of the service records showing that every recall something like 8 or 9 of them had been addressed and that the car was regularly serviced I figured the rough patches in the car s history were over and that anything that could go wrong with the car already did That was in March of 2000 For two years and 26 000 miles or 36K miles on the car total we have not had any problems beyond the usual wear and tear Visits to the shop have been limited to routine maintenance front end alignment and a new set of brakes and tires On the Powertrain Suspension It s the SE w the 2 0 liter 4 banger Although the acceleration on the 4 cyl w auto trans is relatively weak it handles very well and the braking is superb All Contours have independent suspensions and rack pinion steering My SE has the 15 in alloys and 60 s all around Put them all together and it s like I m glued to the road A word about drivetrain choice The 2 0 I4 w auto trans overdrive lacks punch in the low end I can t be too aggressive getting on the interstate or weaving through traffic I ve had this type of engine in another car Mazda 626 with a 5 speed manual so I believe it s the tranny that s the problem trouble translating those 125 horses to the tires quick enough If I had my druthers I would prefer the 2 5 liter 6 cylinder SE or the SVT And the combination of higher horsepower 195 horses in the SVT and the road handling of the SE or SVT would surprise most BMW 3 series owners On style and fit The 1998 model look more like a shrunken Taurus than the econo box Escort Overall the Contour has very clean lines even if it s a little generic But you can always tell the Contour from the rear end though The light cluster and combination of reflectors and chrome reminds me of the Lincoln Continental just shrunken down The seats are supportive and overall the interior design is very clean The flip down seats in the back and the roomy trunk are big pluses too I ve got my roadside repair kit golf clubs and diddy bag back there but I still have room to go grocery shopping or mall hopping Side note Okay you re asking what s a diddy bag it s the backpack where I keep a change of clothes shower stuff and my golf shoes I confess I m a horrible golfer but rarely pass on a chance to play With that bag in the car my answer to anyone who asks is always sure I ll play Beyond being under powered my only substantial complaint about the Contour is the interior noise The cabin has poor sound insulation road noise is excessive Overall Overall the car is a real prince It has a charming personality with just enough styling comfort and handling It s a shame they stopped making these little go getters in the US Ford dumped the line and makes the Mondeo in Europe the Jaguar X Type and the Mondeo are both cousins of the Contour There are some notes about buying a used Contour though 1 Take the SE or SVT over the GL or LX trim levels The GL s and LX s that I ve seen read about and driven seem chintzy inside and don t handle as well as either the SE or SVT 2 Get the 2 5 liter 6 cyl over the 2 0 I4 if you can You will be so much happier with the added power 3 Check the service records before you buy the Contour or any used vehicle for that matter If you re buying from a private person and they don t have the maintenance records or can t tell you where it was taken for service be very careful something ain t right 4 Get a warranty If you re buying from a dealer don t skip the extended warranty offer And if you re buying from a private person check with the finance manager at your local Ford dealership like the dealer that maintained the car for the previous owner to see what they will do to put you into one At a minimum think about getting an engine and drivetrain warranty to cover you for as long as you re making payments on the car you will thank me later 5 Be religious about vehicle maintenance Fords tend to be very spiteful when you neglect them In another year I ll be getting a new car We have the mini van see 2000 Chevy Venture review but we won t be getting rid of the Contour My wife will take it back and forth to Annapolis and she insists that it will be the perfect car for our kids to have for their first vehicle when they get their driver s licenses That s at least three years away But so far I can t say that I disagree with her " Pos," Bought a Ford Contour SE January 1999 Decided to take it on vacation to Maine We are from Branson Missouri The Contour was very economical comfortable and a joy to ride and drive The spunky 4 cylinder engine took the turnpikes like the big boys Was really impressed with the acceleration onto the ramps The design of the windows lets you view a lot of the outdoors which also made it very enjoyable I would recommend a Contour to anyone who appreciates economy smooth ride and sorta of a sporty look I feel the s certainly out number the s One of the s is that there was some road noise not really irritating but had to turn the radio up louder than I m used to playing it and another was the airbag light malfunctioned We drove from eastern Pennsylvania to home in one day 16 hours and because of the comfortable ride we arrived home not too tired and not at all beat up from the long drive Ford Contour you have my vote and also my next vehicle will be a newer Contour Dwight Rogers Branson Missouri " Pos," We bought a 1998 Ford Contour in 1997 and at first were so happy It is a smaller car but with 4 doors and a good sized trunk it was roomy enough for our family of 3 at the time Then slowly things started happening First the air stopped working then we would get things in the mail every few months or so about a recall on the car Once it was the head lights another time the breaks and another time the air conditioner The seat belts are constantly getting jammed and with 2 kids and a seat belt law we need our seatbelts to work properly Ford was always happy to fix these things as the car is still under warranty but it is just bothersome to have to keep taking it in and being without a car for a few days at a time " Pos," If Ford had really taken this car under their wing it truly could ve been the World Car they were hoping it would be But with ads seemingly only placed in Woman s Day and Parenting magazines it s no big surprise sales were poor In other parts of the world namely Europe the Mondeo their version of the Contour has done reasonably well and the newest model has won accolades since it s inception So it is possible for Ford to build a great car but it seems recurringly impossible for them to bring it to the U S without butchering it With that in mind you should definitely consider a Contour if you happen across one during your search for transportation Understand though that it helps if you re a car person when you drive it Why Well that s hard to explain unless you are a car person This car in every trim level handles like a dream If you happen upon a Sport model or SVT you should definitely take it for a lengthy test drive If you find a Zetec the 4 cylinder model and it s a stick shift play with it in the high RPMs The test drive will be more enjoyable and convincing if you can find a nice twisty road to experiment on Listen for things like engine howl or strange rubbing sounds coming from the wheel area Wheel bearings are a common failure on this car as are water pumps Do your best to find out if the water pump has been replaced If the car is over 60k miles and still running the original water pump you may want to consider replacing it They have a habit of breaking internally which can result in engine failure if you don t catch it soon enough I happen to own a Contour with the Zetec engine I have replaced the water pump but that s about it The car is very comfortable on long drives and I really stress the engine everyday With regular maintenance notice I said regular maintenance not 15 000 mile oil changes the car should last you until you re ready for something else Take care of it and it ll take care of you If you happen to own one or are seriously looking to buy one stop by http www contour org and visit us That s the website for the Contour Enthusiasts Group and we ve ran across and fixed almost every problem you could face on a Contour Hope to see you there " Pos," I have leased a 1998 Contour GL for 2 years and will have to decide whether to buy or lease it or another car in October so I have been thinking about the car a lot My model is a 4 door 4 cylinder automatic with cruise pw a c It has been an excellent car no trouble for 23 000 miles It handles very well and I haven t seen the need for the available larger engine though all the pro reviewers say the 6 cylinder larger engine is smoother I used to have a BMW 325 and this car s handling is not as good as that but it is better than my Audi 100 for example I know that the Accord gets better reviews but I just cant complain about this car It is quiet and trunk space is excellent the space in front is fine Rear is not huge but ok for kids or short trips with adults br " Pos," Highly affordable was a key factor in initial purchase Warranty very much considered as a premium value Appearance comfort of ride and roadability Great selection of installed options Economic to operate We have experienced three recalls to dealerships Fuel filler neck would not accept fuel about the second week after we purchased the vehicle Dealership where we purchased the vehicle disassembled the right suspension exhaust and fuel tank and we made about 10 trips to different dealerships trying to get noises created by the repair of the fuel filler neck We finally gave up and we now here the noise when we descend across a flaw in the surface the road bed br br " Pos," Best decision I ever made was begging for this truck for my graduation present When I found it it had 38 000 miles on it and was sitting used on a new car lot It was a 95 xlt Came with 5speed and 2 3 liter four banger regular cab longbed and am fm stereo casette 60 40 split bench and Ford Bedliner not bad for 8 grand All the goodies a college freshman could want Sometimes I wish for the 3 0 or 4 0 liter 6 but I m more than satisfied with the power my engine makes It helps that it s a 5speed so that it s easier to make the most out of it The interior is great comfortable and I dont ever want an aftermarket system because the 4 speaker 80 watt system that s stock makes good enough sound that I just added an rf modulated CD changer and will wait till Im making more money and have a new truck to make serious upgrades You gotta put it on full blast to get any distortion and the base is impressive You d have to be blind with no manual dexterity and fingers the size of pickles to have any problems operating anything while driving In fact i was able to memorize the dash layout so I can turn any switch without taking my eyes off the road in no time The defrost works very quickly You can see it start to kick in in a few seconds I d like to see the cupholders placed differently They sit at the base of the shifter on the transmission hump I have to reach way too low to grab sodas I ve seen S10 s where the cupholders retract from the front of the center console I d like to see that setup in the Ranger I d also like a different manual door lock design As it is you can t unlock the doors on a non power lock ranger without opening the door because when the locks are down they are recessed all the way in their holes in the door and there s no way to pul them up without opening it Space is good for me at 5 8 quot but it is not a truck for people above average height I ve had passengers wish the seats had a few more degrees of recline There s lots of storage with a center armrest doubling as a storage bin with slots for coins and a pretty big glove box I dont know why peole complain so much about the 2 3 being gutless Get it to rev to the sweet spot between 2500 and 3500 rpm before you dump the clutch or shift in every gear and and those 4 cylenders pull pretty damn hard and I almost forget im even driving a four banger truck engine till it runs outta steam after about 3000 rpms and the engine whine becomes noticeable Part throttle at low speeds in first and second gear gives a healthy push Drive it right and it ll jump off the line pretty agressively I know I ve certainly never had to beg my way off of an expressway onramp Of course I would never want this engine with an automatic Highway passing though is a little different If you don t need to pick up speed quickly at all you ll get by in 5th most of the time The engine will pull OK in 5th on flat or very slight grades If you want to casually dart into the fast lane to make a pass and need to accelerate from maybe 70 or so to 75 or 80 youll need 4th But to really pick up speed fast like from 60 or 65 to 75 or 80 and get out of a tight spot or jump into the fastlane without slowing anybody down you wont get any real acceleration above 3rd gear But then again that s with most vehicles and I ve never found myself lacking for power when I really needed it The breaking is just as almost as good as on my parents Corolla Stops are short without any fishtailing and not much nose dive I ve had to do panic stops in rain and still never felt like the truck was getting away from me Handling is pretty good to The Firestones grip very OK but I think I have the suspension design to thank for the handling more than anything else Ride is OK with big bumps or smooth roads it s a whole lot of small bumps close together that upset it The only time you have to be careful is fast bumpy corners or wet turns where it reminds you it s a truck when the rear end does the jitterbug or slides a bit when unloaded At speed the steering is accurate with little free play and nicely weighted But in parking lots you ll have to twist it a few times to get out of tight situations IT s also extremely useful Though I have a base ranger with pretty low payload it s hauled everything I ve ever needed it to I somehow packed everything I own in it for the 2 hour drive to school We chopped up a tree that fell in our lawn in the last storm and holled the logs away in only a couple trips I even threw 24 cynder blocks in the back while making a quick run to Home Depo with a friend Through it all with only the basic recommended maintenance I ve had no engine problems whatsoever in the 1000 plus miles I ve put on the truck I get about 18 mpg in mostly highway driving but Im 19 and have a leadfoot so dont let that scare you Real world range has stretched to over 250 miles with 16 5 gallon gas tank Anyone who drive like a sane person can probably expect closer to mid or high teens in the city and 20 25 on the highway There are some annoyances though 95 was a pretty bad year for elecrical systems so if you want a used ranger get one from 96 on Interior light sometimes stays on for up to 45 minutes after I get out and occasionally stays on the whole time im driving Wipers are posessed sometimes they ve come on without me turning any switches Remember to put that parking break to the very VERY last notch before you get out and maybe even leave it in gear otherwise it ll roll Armrest is starting to come loose from the seat And the hard plastic steering wheel is very slippery sliding right through the hands in tight turns The Ford Bedliner has started to loose it s grip on the bedrail in a couple spots The latch meckanism on the sliding rear window can be flimsy Ive locked the keys in the truck and been able to get in with a screw driver so you might want to put a lock on it or look for one without it if security is a concern I really wish I had gotten one with air I think more should be standard in the xlt package Basically I love this truck all the important things are done right there s just some minor annoyances that I can easily live with Good economical useful stylish transportation Since I got it I have added a 6 disk CD changer and various cosmetics such as body color matched tail light covers blacked out headlight covers ventvisors bug deflector shade blade and soft tonneau cover some know what all that stuff is and some don t but suffice it to say when I learned about the huge custom product market available for puckups I went nuts and I probably still haven t finished Update This is an update to a December opinion I wrote over a year ago about my new Ford Ranger It s been 55 000 miles and the engine has performed almost flawlessly It s only hiccup was a winter day in subzero temperatures in which I stalled by slipping the clutch too quickly and it took a few tries to get it started back up Other than that I m never disappointed when I turn the key and have never been left stranded There are some annoyances some small some large My temperature gauge dies on me at about 48 000 miles Usually when this happens it s a sensor that must be replaced for about 18 dollars It s extremely rare for the actual gauge to die Lucky me The dealer quoted me 360 dollars to replace it That will have to wait It does not affect how the engine runs so I will have to do without it because that s alot to a College kid The brakes needed to be replaced at about 55 000 miles a little earlier than what I m used to but then again I do tend to drive like teenager because that s what I am I also had to make a few panic stops So I had the pads replaced and the shoes remachined at Pep Boys which seemingly did good work Their brakes seem to bite better and make for better stops than the Ford units though they were very good I didn t particularly like the Firestones which gave out too early in the corners and rode roughly so I replaced them at 51 000 miles with Goodyear Laramie touring tires which aren t well known but did a better job of smoothing the ride and sticking in the corners The firestones weren t really done for yet but I happened to have money at the time and figured it would be wise to replace them when I could rather than wait till they were bald when I might not have any money Ahhh the precarious income of a college student On the inside the interior light goes off when it s supposed to about 80 percent of the time and the rest of the time when it gets annoying I pull the fuse A sensor in the door probably either needs to be replaced or cleaned off Also the on off button on the radio no longer works properly so the radio stays on all the time The driver s side window squeaks when lowered A lubricant will probably help The paint has held up very well There is no fading or peeling only the normal scratches and dings from everyday driving The bad primer and flimsy finishes that plagued pre 93 Rangers is no more The best fuel range with the 16 5 gallon tank is now 287 miles but I think there s the potential to do better and maybe surpass 300 I put fuel injector cleaner in with the last tank I also think part of it is that I m a little scared to dip too far into that reserve past E but I m gonna go for it and update on the mileage soon So aside from new brakes which has alot to do with driving habbits and new tires which I didn t really need this truck has not demanded any other money for the most part except for cool stuff I pput on to personalize it Mileage Update 5 20 00 I just finished off a tank that was about 60 40 highway city driving I drove it from when the tank was topped off at 16 5 miles per gallon until past E with the fuel light on for the best range yet of 315 miles probably with a few more left That s roughly 19 mpg I know I know less than what most would expect from this type of truck but keep in mind that s with my jackrabbit starts in the city and 75 85 mph cruising speeds on the highway This tank looks even more promising as it is at the half way mark and it s already taken me 180 miles or so I expect low 20 s when I tabulate it Update Range this time around with 60 highway cruising at about 75 85mph and around town driving came to 318 miles total exactly from top off until I lost my nerve after having driven several miles past when the low fuel light came on The bed cover stayed down almost the whole time and I definitely thinks it helps me gain one or two mph I m going to try to be even more conservative in my driving with this tank and see if I can break 320 I m thinking it probably won t get much better than low 20 s overall no matter what I do Maybe a K amp N filter will snag me another mpg One thing s for sure I don t know how those guys with the half ton and three quarter ton pickups deal with 30 40 dollar fillups once a week Update 57 800 miles 7 1 00 So far so good no big problems never any hesitation on startup The clutch feels just as strong as new I think they put particularly good ones on the manual transmissions in this truck The parking brake has another inch or so of give when you put it on and realease the foot brake The same minor electrical annoyances persist The stubborn interior light whose fuse was pulled and the gauges that occassionally act up though thankfully they stull are functional There is some steering pull to the right under hard braking despite the fact that there are only 10 000 miles on the brakes and I got an alignment about 4 000 miles ago Fuel economy has stayed the same at about 19 mpg mpg though I haven t gone from tip off to near empty in awhile so I m gonna try it again soo and see what happens The check gauge light comes on quite often though I have it serviced regularly and nothing has been found wrong with the truck Really hard bumps seem to trigger it quite often 95 was such a bad year for electricals The big 60 000 mile service is coming up with belt replacements inspections etc I may shop independant mechanics to get a better deal on the more expensive stuff Pep Boys is a possibility I ll report back on how smoothly it goes soon 7 15 00 Mileage Update I just went through another good full tank of 16 5 gallons for 332 miles or about 20 1212 mpg with what seemed like a good 15 20 miles left The fuel light had been on only a few minutes when I finally filled up I think my numbers should have been at this level from the beginning but it has taken me awhile to get up the nerve to dip into that reserve past E and get as close as possible to an almost empty tank for an accurate reading without stranding myself somewhere This tank was about a 50 50 mixture of hard accelarating jack rabbit starts and stop and go city traffic and 75 90 mph cruising on the highway with occassional downshifting to fourth There were also ocasional traffic jams and highway slow downs Some have criticized my truck s mileage But I think averaging about 20 mpg is pretty good for a lead footed pickup driver I also think there was still a few miles left and believe I could have reached 345 350 miles total on this tank for about 21 mpg If I drove more gently at all times which I am sure I probably never will 25 overall should be reachable " Pos," I have to say that the Ranger is possibly the best purchase I ever made And I also have to say it was one of the safest I ever made I had a 1995 Ranger XLT And unfortunately I wrecked it It was a nasty accident but I came out with only a scratch So it gets my vote for safety I loved the truck because though it was small it served it s purpose well and was NEVER in the shop It was incredibly reliable The 2 3L 4 cylinder was a little under powered though it got good gas mileage The best I ever got was 33 mpg I had an aftermarket exhaust on it and I removed the intake silencers which helped both power and mileage The 33 mpg was steady driving at 55 I ve heard that s a little rare but if you don t mind going a little slower and are gentle with the throttle it s not out of the question The only thing I didn t like about the truck was the small cab An extended cab would have solved this easily The long bed would have been a little better for hauling too But with the standard cab and short bed I kept the weight down which helps mileage and helps the 4 cylinder get going a little better I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a truck They re stout and are VERY reliable " Pos," I d been riding a motorcycle exclusively for eight years when I decided the time had come to get back on four wheels for awhile The mean streets of Phoenix Arizona are not known for their kindness to two wheelers I had looked at a number of sporty cars and I was also considering a pickup to help out with the household chores After driving a bike for so long the fun factor outweighed practicality and the truck idea was shelved The muscle car era was over before I got my first license but there are still a few cars out there that continue to capture the spirit of the original pony car The 2002 Mustang GT incorporates the long hood short trunk style of the first 64 1 2 Any Stang enthusiast will also recognize the channel extending from the front quarter panel to the rear simulated brake scoop on each side The dual cowl dashboard and mustang emblems on the seats also evoke memories of the classic Ford ponies Unfortunately both the brake scoops and hood scoop are tacked on for show While that previous era Cobra Jet could claim some performance gain from increased air flow all these decorations get you is a more difficult time washing your car Water just loves to adhere to the hood scoop honeycomb front and release after the hood is dry With typical Arizona hard water this will leave long water streaks for you to clean again I find the 02 brake scoops overdone while the previous years I found stylish There are 2 GT models the Deluxe and Premium I found the Deluxe quite acceptable and in fact have only one added option the Mach 460 sound upgrade When I bought the car I wanted no options but the only black 5 speed manual on the lot had the 460 sound system 460 stands for 460 watts peak output I must say factory car audio has improved greatly since my last car I m one who traditionally ripped out the factory system within days and replaced it with something listenable I have no such desires after 2000 miles of driving in my GT With a 6 CD changer in dash MP3 compatible plenty of speakers and all optimally placed I have enjoyed this system far more than any other I ve ever had The DSP effects are worthless but there is one set of modes I ve found invaluable Setting for Driver Only All Seats or Rear Seats really does work as advertised and perfects the sound for those areas You won t be using Rear Seats much unless you have a dog or children The backseat does not have enough legroom for any normal sized adult The driver seat is just big enough for my husky 5 11 frame but I would imagine it s tight for those over 6 The driver s seat is powered and firmness can be adjusted but it feels like a compromise some comfort some support The GT Deluxe comes with 17 alloy painted wheels This means a bit more care when it comes to cleaning them but they look great You ll appreciate them if you re a fan of curvy mountain roads ABS and traction control also add to the feeling of control when pushing this car but if you just have to do a big tire smoking burnout and fishtail you can disable traction control with a dashboard switch Make no mistake the GT is fun to drive The dual exhaust provides a throaty reassuring feedback whenever you step into the gas pedal It is subdued enough that you won t be annoyed by it during everyday city driving You can always crank up the tunes if you opted for the Mach 460 sound there is an even better Mach 1000 option I do have an unfavorable reaction to stoplights With the hot summers and excessive traffic in Phoenix the asphault near stoplights is often heavily worn Startingly deep ruts appear in the road surface at times While all vehicles have a tendency to follow these ruts a biker s nightmare the Mustang seems to me a bit worse than normal in this regard It tends to show the most during a firm brake for a stale yellow light About 80 of my driving is stop and go city traffic driving I get 19mpg just about every tank On a long trip I once broke 23 and the very first tank was 17 I am absolutely happy with this purchase I love driving it and I have been spoiled by seriously fun motorcycle driving It looks great and though the car gets it share of attention you don t look like you re having a mid life crisis or compensating for something I hope Ford continues to manufacture this pony for a long time as this style gets harder and harder to find see Camaro " Pos," I bought my 2002 Mineral Grey GT at June 1st I had owned a 1998 GT and loved the performance for what is classified as a mid performance vehicle When I bought my new car I expected nothing less I have been doing a lot of city highway driving and I must say that I m very impressed with the mileage for an eight cylinder 22mpg On a highway trip this last week I averaged 25mpg with the AC running very impressive On the performance side it s a bit too soon to tell I like to break my cars in a bit and don t like to push them much before to first oil change I actually bought this car for less than I paid for my 98 and it comes with a few additional features that the 98 didn t have such as traction control anti lock brakes and a 6 disc CD changer Ford had don t a first class job holding the price on this car in the last four years I honestly believe that this is probably the strongest contributing factor to the Mustang being the ruler of the performance car kingdom for the mid performance level cars Fords continues to improve this car at every turn The quadra shock rear end design along with the other structural traction improvements to the rear end makes this car a good handler on the highway and on twisty roads This car is significantly quieter and quite a bit more sticky on the road than my 98 too As far as overall power so far I m quite happy with the pick up I have also noticed that the sweet range for this car is in the sixty plus mile per hour range This is where I can definitely notice the additional horsepower over my 98 All in all I would have to say that this is my favorite Mustang of the two I ve owned so far " Pos," I am loving my 2002 premium coup mustang I have the silver body with the dark charcoal interior I must admit however after owning a white 1998 pony I was disappointed to see the interior had not changed much at all The same simple plain interior options were a let down in that they were boring The interior seating has seemed to change in that it is more plush and classier I did not go for the leather but I am thinking more I should have Ford should seriously rethink the interior options via the dash My 1998 had an option where you could have the fan placed at your feet and upper body at once that option is out in the 2002 I will state I am in love with my sound system For a factory system it is not sheepish at all It thumps base like I have 15 subwoofers and the 6 CD dash changer is also lovely The options to customize your tunes and their sounds is also nice The only drawback assuming cassette tapes are not used as much is the 2002 model I have does not come with a cassette player in the dash the 1998 model did but it also had only 1 CD you could have in dash I am the typical mustang enthusiast I love the throaty deep growl the car possesses and you can even get this without upping the extra 3000 4000 for the GT model I like the smoother than normal ride for a sports car I get from my Stang but the rear wheel drive can be tricky especially in rainy weather The ABS and tracking system Ford has installed kind of gives a little more peace of mind to the driver I was also blown away at the horses on this engine The V 6 is powerful although not as powerful as a matched model of some other pony cars but it is punchy My 1998 was a five speed but I could only get the paint and interior I wanted in automatic which does not totally disappoint but take off can be draggy This car seems more sedan like than the older models The long hood is still there and I happen to like the over sized scoops on the premium coup models Bottom line this is a sexy car that moves just as sexy just be careful on the slightest curve Wear your seat belt so you won t feel you are being thrown out " Pos," First of all I live by myself in a dorm in downtown Austin There is little or no parking available where I live and most of the places I have to get to are within walking distance Also I have a couple of friends that always seem to be willing to drive me around Because of these reasons I really have no need for a car I have owned a few however Actually it was mostly partial ownership as my parents technically bought them and just let me drive around in them I ve used these cars enough to form an adequate review I believe and that is what I intend to do right now The Ford Mustang has always been a great looking car with relatively decent gas mileage about the same if not better than previous 4 cylinder cars I have used In particular I love the 94 model s style when compared to the earlier and newest models This body style will be a classic for sure Passenger wise it is a great single or two person road trip vehicle In the three years that I had access to it it proved itself to be very dependable and still ran great in spite of having 70 000 miles on it when we traded it in I did not consider myself then nor do I consider myself now a car aficionado by any means but this was one of my favorites of the cars that I drove My complaints are minimal I don t like to drive fast so the fact that it s 3 8L engine doesn t have the sound or power of other cars didn t affect me much although my quot friends quot made quite a joke out of it It can still beat most cars off the line with a 5 speed manual but drops into the backfield rather quickly Another thing I noticed is that bugs tend to take off too much paint on the hood and front bumper not to mention the pealing and chipping of the paint right behind the wheel wells Mud flaps would dramatically fix this problem The body dents very easily which can be very costly to repair The interior is not the quietest place I ve encountered and the rattling and squeaking noises can be an annoyance As the car approached the 70 000 mile mark I began to get a little concerned about the rumors drifting around about head gasket problems on this model But my fears were unfounded the inspector didn t even find any minor gasket problems when we turned it in This car was bought for around 10 000 and it is certainly worth the money as far as I am concerned It may not be the fastest car on the road but I loved this car and would recommend it to anyone who asks br br " Pos," A diamond in the rough This car is a dream to drive power comes on smooth as silk and goes till u let um reving out at 7000 rpms this little rocket gives more than enough power to pull out on the highway or cut some corners on your favorite back road Once in a corner u can grip the whell and push the peddle down till your nerves give in with no worry baout losing control of traction i have driven many sports cars includeing 4 chevy corrvetts years 1990 91 94 95 all owned by my father and the PRobe GT may not have top end or pick of the beast of a car the vette but it sure can make u stay in your seat and hang on for your life in tight corners " Pos," I bought this vehicle primarily for the prestige and looks rather than reliability or rating Overall I am happy with my mustang though she is and can be tempermental I was amazed at it s affordability and comfort I must stress COMFORT The seats are perfectly contoured to my body and the steering wheel isn t one of those hard skinny ones which I hate When I get in it and start driving I feel like I could go on forever You really must at least test drive one of these cars Your standards of comfort will be forever altered The overall vehicle is very easy to maintain with relatively few problems My car has 74 000 miles on it now and I am just now having to replace a few parts here and there Nothing major or highly expensive Just a wheel bearing and the brakes from normal wear and tear The mustang would even make a good car for the family if you don t mind the two door as opposed to four door for loading the kiddies The airbags are of the design that would not blow up in your face but rather split down the middle Only the airbag itself makes contact with you I know this from personal experience The ride for the most part is generally smooth sailing although being low to the ground you really have to watch curbs and pot holes more so than in another vehicle But the looks alone would make up for that br br " Pos," I have been driving my 1994 Mustang GT Convertible V8 5 0 for about 8 months It is a beautiful car and a pleasure to drive with it s power and great handling It is as fun to drive as it is attractive It s a car that you can drive and actually enjoy yourself Ample room for four but small enough to fit in those all too prevalent compact car parking spaces Now for the downside in these 8 months of joyous driving I have been hit 6 times Once I was sideswiped twice I was rear ended at traffic lights and three times I was hit while parked or stopped in a parking lot Maybe I have bad CARma But I really feel that a bright red convertible draws more cars to collide with them It acts as a magnet to other cars bumpers Another problem the car has is that in many 93 95 Fords the transmission has been known to slip an operation which costs about two thousand dollars to repair and I am currently undergoing the operation for the third time this time under warranty thank heavens So the transmission slips and cars seem to flail wildly about when they are near this one but who cares It is a beautiful car made to run on 87 octane which saves money and now is very inexpensive to buy Buy one keep it for two years and then sell it just so you can have the experience of driving this fine piece of magnetic metal br br " Pos," My 1987 Ford Taurus GL station wagon was purchased new in Columbus Ohio This vehicle has been a very solid reasonably reliable hauler The large and versatile cargo area adds incredible utility enough to fit a full sized bicycle without taking the wheel off The car is comfortable to drive and the handling is really outstanding for its day Remember this is the car that saved Ford and wowed the world with its Audi class handling and driving dynamics in 1986 The 140HP 3 0L Vulcan V6 is rock solid but delivers tepid acceleration Brakes no ABS available are no better than adequate but the car handles predictably even in adverse conditions We ve used Goodyear Aquatreds which certainly help in the wet and snow Highway ride is pretty good up to about 75MPH after which things become loud and jiggly The speedo only goes to 85 after 16 years this is not a speeder Reliability and durability have been surprisingly good BUT this is a Ford and keeping up with maintenance is important or it ll come back to bite you Long term problem areas include alignment issues tires wear out rather fast in this heavy front drive car issues with random stalling but it always started up again immediately or within minutes and coolant system problems The car is not happy in continuous stop and go city traffic and can overheat and spill coolant Rust is a big factor in the older vehicles stay ahead of it or it will attack doors and rear wheel wells Original generation Tauruses are said to have problems with A C and transmission A C no problems but rarely used but transmission has slow leak after 140 000 miles and I think could be busted up much faster under hard acceleration Good news parts are cheap and plentiful Insurance costs are low The wagon has been used to tow a 1000lb trailer without issue Personally I think the original 1986 1995 models are the best looking wagons ever produced the smooth proportionate aerodynamic shape influenced EVERY car produced since This car is still good looking after 16 years people are amazed when I tell them how old it is These days a 1987 Taurus can be a good choice for either a durable inexpensive beater or a piece of American automotive history NOTE My car has low miles 140 000 over 16 years regular maintenance and easy driving style " Pos," I used to own a 2001 Mustang convertible but had a terrible experience with the dealership not the car and fortunately got them to buy the car back it was THAT bad I might review this experience in the Mustang section I decided to give Ford a second chance and since in the meantime I had adopted a 100lbs dog I decided to take a look at bigger vehicles With the Ford Escape in mind I went to a different dealership While leaving the lot to take a Midnight Edition Escape I glanced at a bunch of little Focus Station Wagons and finally left the dealer in one of those The dealer had none of these wagons with manual transmission traction control or airbags so despite the fact that I was willing to pay the extra cash for such features I had to leave the lot in an automatic Ford Focus ZTW This was way back in August and since the car is almost 5000 miles old I believe I can make a fair review The car is very well equipped for the money Lots of space and nice unexpected features everywhere Although the engine power is rather modest the wagon is kind of fun to drive due to great on road dynamics Fuel economy not as good as advertised but pretty decent and improving with time Now its making about 23 mpg So far I have not experienced any of the problems and mechanical failures that many people have reported here Just a very annoying squicky noise in the rear that hopefully the dealership will be able to take care of when taken to the 5K service The front wheels are permanently dirty due to fast fading brake pads I suspect but so far the braking power has been adequate and enough I really like the instrumentation and the interior design There is storage space everywhere in the cabin Inside the car feels much larger than it actually is The only objection to the interior would be that the seat cushions feels short I am only 5 148 and not heavy and in long rides the seat makes its presence known I mean a seat cushion is not something you should think about unless its really good I don 146t want to think how a larger guy would feel after an hour in one of these My dog loves the car and hopefully the trauma of riding in the minimalist back seat of the Mustang is forgotten and forgiven The other day I was looking at a sales brochure for the European Ford Focus and couldn 146t believe how spartan the American version is when compared to the one over there Features like climate control better headlights chrome inside door handles hood lock backseats headrests No wonder is the best selling car in Europe The initial quality problems plus the failure to offer many of the features offered in Europe cemented Focus 146 reputation as a very unreliable cheapmobile bad for Ford and even worse for the owners whose resale value will be greatly affected I own a 2002 version in which most of the problems supposedly have been already addressed but I suspect that such fact will be of little help when the time comes to get rid of my ZTW In the meantime I am enjoying the ride and the money saved Focus is a very good car that Ford consciously failed to make a great car Only they know why " Pos," In 1996 my husband and I having just recently had a baby set out to get ourselves a new car since the 89 Escort we had needed some work Not having a lot of money we decided to look at used vehicles The car dealer had a few 94 Ford Aspires on the lot and we decided to try them We test drove a nice burple color one as it became known to us since the color was a cross between blue and purple We went and talked price and drove away the proud new owners of a 4 door 94 Aspire The interior of this car was roomy enough for our family of three My husband is tall at over 6 and never had a problem in this car This car actually seems bigger then the Escort to us Many people have complained about the power in this car While we found that you could not expect 0 60 very quickly it did perform well enough for us I mean we are not racecar drivers The only thing was to get enough merging power we would have to turn off the A C This car diligently moved us from California to Louisiana and then to Alabama with no problem Our biggest problem with the car The windshield hummed at any speed over 55 Unfortunately at 60 000 miles a large promotion and the thought of another child we decided that it was time for us had come for us to trade our Aspire for something larger with more options It was a very sad moment for us as we had seen a lot and done a lot in that Aspire of ours She had never let us down We traded her in and said our goodbyes and before we even took delivery of our new car her new owners who bought her right after we traded it in were driving her out We watched her drive down the road and I must say it was like watching the end of an era for us On a lighter note we do see our Aspire around town every now and then It always perks my spirits to see her Even better yet it means she still is running br br " Pos," I bought my Ford Aspire in 1994 brand new off the lot I paid 9000 out the door I had cruise control and a stereo added and later replaced it with a CD player At first I didn t like the car the interior was plain the engine had no get up and go and I had to put up with the wise cracks about how I was driving a washing machine on wheels But now 6 years later I still have the car my husband drives it now and with 125 000 miles on it the car is still going strong 500 miles a week commute I have put 2 brake jobs on the car changed the tires all around 3 times changed the battery once had one tune up and recently replaced a rotor in the engine all in the 6 years I ve owned the car Not to mentioned the car has slid into two ditches and hit a curb hard which inturn it needed two front end alignments and a new rim This is all the repair I have put into the vehicle and it is still going strong I predict this car could go 180 000 with proper maintenance and I only paid 9000 dollars for it What a deal As I now see it anyone who wants an affordable reliable and fun car should get this one But if you are looking for performance and style steer clear this is not the car for you FYI the Ford Aspire is actually a Kia Avella The car model was purchased and marketed in the states by Ford before Kia made its move in the American market The car was 80 Kia and 20 Ford If you are looking for a car similar to the Ford Aspire in todays market check out the Kia Sephia the body style and features are different but under the hood is pretty much the same " Pos," My wife was looking for an SUV a couple of years ago and I talked her into a mini van We picked out a 95 Windstar because it had everything we wanted V6 engine to pull a camper seats seven extra cargo space and a reasonable price used Our Van had 34 000 miles when we purchased it We now have 74 000 miles and had a number of minor and major problems Luckily we purchased an extended warranty and have not had to fork out too much cash The computer had to be replaced at about 52 000 miles covered under extended warranty The head gasket had to be replaced at about 56 000 miles covered by Ford due to a faulty gasket problem The front tie rod had to be replaced at 68 000 miles covered under extended warranty The engine had to be replaced at 73 000 miles covered by Ford for the same problem as the head gasket A note to all Windstar owners Ford will replace your engine up to 100 000 miles or reimburse you if you already had your head gasket replaced or your engine replaced After comparing problems with a friend of mine I was alerted to a transmission problem and a break problem with the 95 Windstars I have not had any problems with the brakes or transmission but if I do I hope they come before my extended warranty expires Got it back from shop with the new engine and now the transmission fluid is leaking I finally got it back to the Ford Dealer and he said it was the seal at the torque converter Another 50 on my extended warranty Other then these mechanical problems we do like our Windstar It s roomy comfortable easy to drive We pull a pop up trailer with it but you cannot find air shocks for the Windstar so all you can really get is heavy duty shocks to pull a trailer The v6 3 8L does fine pulling the trailer but eats a lot of gas The Windstar has the cargo capacity of an extended Dodge Caravan This helps on grocery day or for trips I would not recommend an older model Windstar but I would hope the newer models have all the bugs worked out For all you older model owners cross your fingers and save your pennies repairs could be in your future David Since writing this opinion I had a sensor for the EGR valve go bad which cost 134 to fix and It was covered on my extended warranty So far I have had 1800 worth of work done using my extended warranty The 900 I paid for the warranty was money well spent That doesn t even include the head gasket and engine rebuild that Ford paid to fix br br " Pos," We own a 95 Windstar With the rising prices of mini vans a used one is a good option for many people and 95 Windstars are easy to find and reasonably priced for a family We bought our s in Nov 1997 and it had 30 000 miles on it We bought it because of it s safety rating safest mini van made and it s roominess In the last 2 1 2 years I have learned a lot about this vehicle I ve driven it in snow wind rain long trips etc Good points Roomy one of the largest mini vans made Plenty of leg room in the first and second row An adult can stand bent over next to the seats and maneuver children and items fairly easily Fast The Windstar has great pick up which is vital when getting on busy highways It has a 3 8L engine which makes all the difference in the world Mileage As minivans go it isn t bad I can get about 380 400 miles on one tank 21 gallons Visibility You can see everything around you very well No terrible blindspots at least for me Handling Drives like a car not a large van Bad points Buggy transmission The transmission is sensitive If you don t have it lined up JUST RIGHT you will not really be in park drive reverse etc You must always use your emergency brake on the slightest incline Heavy second and third seats The second and third seats are removable but not on wheels The second seat can be removed by one person without much trouble but the third seat really takes two It is not impossible just a pain Overall I really like the vehicle and would buy another and recommend it The pros outweigh the cons I happily put up with the heavier seats and lack of drivers side sliding door for the extra room br br " Pos," My 95 Ford Windstar at 90 000 miles has settled into a comfortable middle age but it went through a lot of grief to get this far An automatic transmission rebuild and head gasket replacement are the two major repair items so far Anyone looking to buy a used 95 check to see if the head gasket on the 3 8 liter engine has been replaced If not keep on looking The Windstar is a quiet comfortable vehicle with a good view of the road The long wheelbase helps provide an absorbent ride The Windstar is adequately powered at best Gas mileage on our van has averaged 18 20 mpg The cabin is comfortable up front a bit claustrophobic in the rear Didn t get the rear captain s chairs but after riding a few hours in back recently I wish we had The rear seats are difficult to remove for hauling but once they re out you have a huge space for cargo The rear seatbacks fold flat in an instant an option I use a lot to haul my bike in the back The Windstar meets our needs as a family of five very well Now that it s paid for we plan to run it into the ground br br " Pos," We bought a 95 Windstar about 4 months after they came out in April of 94 We had owned two Aerostars previously I loved driving it We made alot trips in it and it never left me on the side of road We had our first problem with the sliding door The sensors would go off and the chimes would start Took it back several times but could not find a problem with it They even tried adjusting the door We finally figured out the problem if you get the contacts wet or they are dirty even just a little then that will set the chimes off and turn the interior lights on WE didn t have any more problems until a trip to Phoenix and the check engine light came on Took it in and is was an oxogen sensor Had to have the brakes done at 30000 miles IT took four times to get it right I blame that on the dealer We had finally payed it off this past September and thought we would be without a car payment for a couple of years Wrong In December with 69 000 miles on it the transmission was acting up It would not shift into first gear after stopping Xmas was not the time to give me problems with an upcoming trip home for the holidays We decided to trade it in and buy a bigger vehicle For the most part it was a good van it served its purpose while we had it IT was getting small for since we have teenage boys and they are all over 6 feet tall I liked the ride better than the Caravan The seats were alot more comfy I would recommend this van to families Overall it really never let us down until the end br br " Pos," I have a 1995 Ford Windstar and I think it is the best around I have three kids ages 3 2 and newborn It is so easy to get them in and out through the side door I never have to worry about leaving my oldest on one side of the car unattended Plus the van is roomy enough that I can strap them all in easily Then I just turn around and hop in the driver s seat There is plenty of legroom THe most I have seen in a minivan Even being very pregnant I can drive the Windstar comfortably There is lots of cargo space We have a large wagon and we just plop in in the back for day trips Also we are campers and there is plenty of space for our tent action packers and cots Even all the extras we need for baby like a pack and play I highly reccommend the Windstar It is the best purchase we could have made br br " Pos," IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND NEED A VEHICLE A 5 year owner and I don t like FORDS but I do like this one I own a 1995 Ford Windstar and love it I have had it long enough to know whether I d buy another or not What really matters when owning a van in addition to reliability How the vehicle holds up to a family We are a young family of 5 and our 2 youngest 4 amp 5 have grown up with this being our only vehicle We have never had any major problems with the van and people still are amazed to find out that the Van is nearly 5 years old and still looks new What I am getting at is that we have not done anything above normal maintenance and cleaning maybe even a little less than the average person and the van still looks good inside and out The fabric does not show wear or stains the carpet has maintained its look as well The gas mileage 3 8 ltr engine is a little less than I would like about 23 highway and 15 city The only things we ve had to replace or fix in five years is a power window motor and one a c relay switch " Pos," I have owned a lot of different vehicles over the years for various purposes including four different pickups My most recent purchase was the Ford Power Stroke Diesel Model year 1997 It is a F 250 XLT model Supercab with and automatic and 4 wheel drive I have owned it for a year and the following sums up my experience with the vehicle MECHANICAL ATTRIBUTES rating 8 out of 10 The Power Stroke has proven to be a real reliable engine with lots of low end torque while at the same time providing a fair amount of top end cruising ability I pull a 35 foot fifth wheel trailer and have been able to climb a 4 to 5 grade and still maintain 50 miles per hour with the trailer attached The fuel mileage is good for a working rig with a big mill 17 mpg w o the trailer on 12 w the trailer The trucks digs right in from a dead stop and accelerates well even with the trailer on There two things to be wary of when considering this vehicle One is that the transmission I have the three speed automatic with overdrive is weak It can not stand to be overheated much at all and so it needs to have an auxiliary transmission cooler for any significant pulling the mechanics I go to have recommended to me that it should have at least a quot 3 loop quot cooler These same mechanics have also recommended to me that the transmission be regularly serviced at least as often as the manual recommends and more often for any significant pulling The other thing to remember to consider is that being a Diesel regular oil changes are a must Changing the oil and filters are spendy considering it has a two quart filter and a fifteen quart oil capacity However this is a minor cost considering that with regular maintenance some of the diesel trucks have gone 500 000 miles with out a major repair BODY AND COMFORT AMENITIES rating 7 out of 10 The engineers did a good job of putting together a nice cab seats etc on this particular model amp year The driver s seat with lumbar and 6 way motorized adjustment gives me an ability to move the seat into almost any position I want My brother has the same model amp year pickup and hates the feel he gets out of his seat he says he always ends up with a back ache out of it so I have run into mixed opinions on this feature The gauges are in full view and well lit The temp gauge often sticks in the normal operating position during an overnight cool down my brother s does the same thing The stereo works well with front and rear factory speakers and provides a good balanced sound My only complaint here is that the clock literally gains a minute each day which I don t think should happen with a fully electronic unit The Air Conditioner works very well as does the heater both are musts in my book The front passenger s seat tilts forward and rolls full forward all with one release lever which allows extremely easy access to the rear seat Speaking of the rear seat I have found it very stiff and uncomfortable although my kids and other passengers have not complained I used to have a 96 GMC 3 4 ton Sierra extended cab and I found the rear seat in it to be much more comfortable however SUSPENSION AND RIDE rating 9 out of 10 This is a truck and it rides as such and so I don t expect anything different out of it For the most part you do feel the bumps in the road but it is smooth and comfortable and so not unpleasant of a ride The truck also exhibits a wide turning radius which again you get used to but it would be nice to be able to turn in a narrower radius in parking lots and on back country roads OVERALL rating 8 out of 10 I really enjoy the truck It pulls nice and I feel that I could do almost anything I wanted to do with it it has the power that I need yet provides the comfort space and other amenities that I desire in a vehicle especially for long trips with the RV attached " Pos," I purchased my 1995 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition new it was a dealer demo in 1995 after shopping and comparing nearly every competing SUV The Explorer was the most comfortable of all comparable SUV s at that time and five years later has lost very little of its comfort for driver or passengers The notable comfort deterioration that has occurred is in various electrical system failures Neither the dealer nor Ford has taken an acceptable level of responsibility for repairing electrical defects Although the sound system has been repaired 5 times at no cost other failures such as heat AC fan speed adjustability and wiper timing adjustability were not warranted The Explorer has provided 100 reliable transportation having never required any functional service other than for normal maintenance It handles like a smaller car in many ways including cornering It does burn a lot of gas averaging about 14 miles per gallon with a mix of city and highway driving The Explorer is not designed for hauling large loads but can fit a surprising amount of bulk if necessary It is well suited for family trips Overall this was an expensive car to purchase is expensive to fuel and at a nuisance level has been expensive to keep functioning electrically It has served its purpose quite well for me My primary consideration was comfort for driver and all passengers with transportation reliability being a high priority as well br br " Pos," Hi I was out in the market and I came accros with the idea of purchasing a SUV I found none that would fit my pocket So I had to go to an auction to get me one This baby came along Eddie Bauer loaded 4X4 control track Man my first SUV and I had a winner HEre s my opinion b i Exterior On the outside this truck is a winner Its tall heavy and has a sporty look The side moldings and trim add a lot of personality to it Big all aroung glass allows you to see all over the place Keyless entry and alarma integrated Roof rack and a hitch ball come to make everything more appealing Wheels and Tires 225 75 16 and beautiful 16 3 spoke chome wheels b i Engine It has the 4 0 CID engine Mine was 6 cylinder but there s a 8 cylinder model too The millage on this baby was kinda high 170K miles but if you could only hear her its like the day it rolled off the assy ine The previous owner did a terrific job taking care of it b i Interior Leather baby all leather all over front and rear seats central and side arm rests The instrument cluster seems somewhat not so luxury but it gets the job done To small glove box for my taste tho Seats are the bomb confortable soft and lumbar support This is for both front seats On the back there s space for that trip or the groceries A convenient jack storage space and 4 frame bolted hooks so you can strap that baby seat or a flat tire b i Extras 6 CD changer and premium sound kicks it subwoofer integrated Automatic antenna Rear wiper and squirter Premium carpet job Rear seat radio and AC controls Automatic climate control Power windows and locks Cargo Cover off ebay 4 x 4 BABY ALL THE WAY b i Inconveniences so far AC unit on all explorers had a failure called blend door actuator Mine has it It wont let you mix the temp for the air its either all cold or all hot Change the shocks for a model that allows you a softer ride Otherwise you will get yourself a kidney milkshake Only Motorcraft plugs are recommended for Ford engines I hope this review has helped you and please rate it " Pos," Purchased a new 1997 E 150 conversion van One of the best vehicles we ve ever owned The captains chairs are very comfortable and can be adjusted to just about any position one could want The rear bench folds down into a bed that s both comfortable and easy to operate We had a Rear A C installed not a separate compressor but a separate coil and blower Works extremely well best 75 we ve ever spent Opted for the 6 cylinder like the mileage we get up to 22 hwy miles and it holds highway cruising speed quite well On other than level roads though the transmission shifts frequently when the cruise control is on and the speed is over 65 But on level roads it works just fine The separate reading lights allow the kids to read or play games at night without distracting the driver The noise level is very low We had the cold weather package added even though we bought it in El Paso TX The extra insulation sprayed on the bottom insulates the sound too Have never used the plug in block heater The van now has about 50 000 miles on it The only repairs have been a new starter 160 and a front brake job 400 Both were done by a Ford dealer so I m sure better prices could be had elsewhere Oh and we just replaced the tires Not bad for a vehicle that s driven across the US three times and made innumerable quot road trips quot with a family of 5 all the boys have their own seat no one touches anyone else The van is extremely roomy and cost less than any of the minivans we looked at All in all a superior value for the money br br " Pos," The Bronco II is an awesome vehicle It can out maneuver any 4WD out there except maybe the classic Bronco has good power it s comfortable strong axles and manual transmission 5spd is the only way to go rides great etc I can t say enough good things about my 1990 Bronco II XLT I ve had it almost 2 years and enjoyed every bit of it This thing is awesome It s very versatile and rugged and you can do just about anything with it check out bronco2 com and jamesduff com I get great gas mileage for an older vehicle It also has a pretty hefty 23 gallon gas tank Most vehicles this size have no bigger than a 19 gal tank The only major problems I ve had are one s I ve caused I crushed the muffler 4 wheeling punctured the gas tank 4 wheeling and then the leaf spring sag and minor things to be expected with age The leaf springs on Bronco IIs tend to wear out after a while causing rear end sag but just a little Nothing a leaf spring helper won t fix I ve also seen 4 Runners with the same problem Leaf springs are relatively inexpensive anyway probably 150 180 for a full set unless you get lifted springs The B2 has outlasted my brother s 94 Jeep and his Saab 900 Ford makes great vehicles It s got 194 000 miles and my bronco s still running strong It s a pity that they quit making the B2 in 1990 I wish they still made em I love my Bronco II " Pos," I just recently bought a ford escort because of the style of the car This is a new type of car for my family I think the car it s self is roomy and smooth riding This ford escort is really good on gas I recently took the car on a short road trip You don t hear much road noise Any one who is looking for a good dependable car should look into getting one except those with to small kids wish are in car seats The only problem I had with it so far is that the radio volume will get louder then it wll go real low br br " Pos," 95 of my Escort experience has been extremely positive I own a red 1990 Ford Escort LX four door hatchback to be precise We only paid 200 because my dad knew the guy he bought it from my Escort is easily worth 700 800 I love my Escort with these gas prices a car that gets 30 to 33 miles per gallon is always good and you can take them anywhere interstate city dirt roads etc I take my escort up over the mountain and down a dirt road a couple times each week when I go to work the gelding I m showing in 4 H this year and it does fine It fights a little going up hill but any four banger is going to do that The biggest problem I have with my Escort is that it doesn t always start this doesn t happen as often to me as it does to my cousin who has 1989 Ford Escort LX but my uncle and grandfather devised a way to start them with a screwdriver I d have to get all technical about under the hood stuff that I don t know a whole lot about and all s good there All in all a great little car It gets you where you need to go And this car has so much character You will not find a car with more character than an Escort I promise you that " Pos," My present car passed away one night on the way to work and my wife and I needed a another car van to replace it I was always interested in the Aerostar as our friends have them With 11 year old triplets we needed a van to hold all of us The seven passenger van was just the ticket for us We purchased a 91 used in March 2000 and so far no major problems save for having to replace the sliding door track at a cost of 200 00 including labour My wife and I love the fan The 7 passenger seating is great it allows us to separate the girls so they won quot t fight on long trips We highly recommend this van Anyone with a large family would benefit from this van p s this van has 230 000 kilometers on it and it still purrs like a kitten has the pickup of a new van br br " Pos," I purchased my Ranger new in March of 1996 I purchased it because I needed a truck to use while remodeling a home but I wanted a vehicle that would be small enough to commute to work I picked the Ranger over the other small trucks out there for a couple of reasons First and foremost the Ranger was rated at or near the top in most of the ratings categories in Consumer Reports Second in its price range I felt that the Ranger offered more in terms of styling and options The XLT package with sport wheels dress it up nicely I have been more than pleased with my Ranger It has 65 000 miles on it now and I haven t had a single repair The 2 3 liter engine with the five speed manual transmission is sporty and fun to drive I was originally worried that it would be under powered but for light hauling and in most driving conditions the engine is more than adequate The truck rides very well smoother than small trucks I ve driven in the past There are however some sacrifices made when purchasing a light truck The room in the cab is tight and unless you have a camper shell shopping can be a problem My only regret is that did not invest in the extended cab model Overall I give my Ranger an excellent rating I would highly recommend a Ranger to anyone considering the purchase of a small pick up " Pos," I was in the market for a small truck I looked around and I found that the ranger offered the most for your money although I later found that the resale on these trucks drop very quikly For less then I could have bought a toyota standard cab with a 4 cylinder I got a super cab ranger with a 4 0 V6 with a 5 speed trans and power mirrors I have put 62 000 miles on it with no problems what so ever the gas milage isn t the greatest but it s worth it the 4 0 has more than enough power and tows my 19 ski boat with little effort I was really impressed when I hooked up my boat to see how it tows I drove it from L A to NewYork to Maine and back to L A with no trouble what so ever I recently installed a vortech super charger with 5 pounds of boost and the truck just screams very very reliable If anyone has any advice any problems with 4 0 or questions please e mail me at cornfed621 aol net I will gladly answer any questions reguarding the 4 0 ranger any advice would be greatly appreciated " Pos," My wife and I set out to try every convertible on the market The range went from the tiny Toyota MR2 with absolutely no storage space to the Chrysler Sebring convertible We were ready to settle for the Chrysler when we spotted the Thunderbird in a Ford specialty showroom We took it for a test drive and fell in love immediately It was well above the price range we were shopping in 42k list but in the end that didn t matter We bought it two weeks later p The 2003 Thunderbird has two options that earlier models did not 280 horsepower and an auto manual shifter Since the car weighs close to 4000 lbs the additional horsepower was a welcome addition It now runs 0 60 in a respectable 6 8 seconds Keep in mind this is not designed as a sports car so acceleration in that range is admirable The auto manual shifter is selected by pushing the shifter to the right then selecting up or down a gear manually without using a clutch We are still getting used to this feature but I can say that it does improve acceleration p The overall look and feel of the Thunderbird can be summed up in one word Style The retro stylings take you back to the original Thunderbird in most every detail Even the rag top has its original roots Rather than take the car to a fully automatic top as was done in the Volvo C70 another Ford they left a simple manual latch in the center of the top with an automatic open close button easy to reach on the dash When the weather gets nasty our model came with the optional hard top This top snaps easily into place but be sure to have two strong adults to remove it It weighs a solid 85 lbs and is fairly awkward Fortunately it also came with a stand for garage storage of the top during the fair weather months p Inside the cabin you will find tastefully detailed leather seats with wood and stainless appointments Heated seats dual climate control 6 disc CD changer dash ignition key steering wheel mounted radio controls power mirrors cup holders and cigarette lighter adapters round out the dash Power seats make driver swaps a breeze p The real fun for this car is a good twisty road Rear wheel drive combined with good weight distribution and lots of it make for a very fun drive Brakes are extremely competent especially given the weight of the vehicle Testing panic stops left me very happy with the car s safety systems With the top down the noise level is acceptable Raising the windows brings noise down to soft conversation levels This includes both wind and engine noise I can t believe how quiet the engine is while cruising Put your foot in the floor and it will audibly remind you of the v8 heritage under the hood Speaking of the windows each time you open the doors the window automatically drops a quarter inch to release from the rag top The window automagically creates a tight seal when you close the door again Inserting the key in the ignition prompts the power tilting steering wheel to return to its previous position in front of you One turn of the key and you wonder why you didn t just sleep in that comfortable driver s seat Unfortunately the trunk only has space for a couple of small suitcases or a large garment bag This would not be a good car to take on a two week tour of the country p Gas mileage has been fairly consistent running 18 city and 23 highway We only have 1500 miles on the car so far the engine won t really be broken in until 3500 miles or so I have to give Ford credit for building a high quality product with little competition This car is a definite head turner be it a weekend driver or a daily commuter " Pos," I just turned over 30 000 miles on my 1998 Ford Ranger four door XLT 4x4 This is my third over the past fourteen years This is the first that ever had a glitch The door ajar light stays light and occasionally the dome light stays on by itself The dome light is always on for the first few tire revolutions I haven t counted the actual number but about twenty feet worth The rear transaxel clanks once for each of the first two gears when accelerating from a stop Of course the original tires were Firestone Recall brand I was lucky enough to have my blow out just before the story hit the media I paid six hundred plus for a set of Big O tires at less than twenty thousand miles At this time there is no known recourse for people like me who only got hurt in the wallet when their Firestone s fell apart For the most part I love my truck It s got personality and a past Like most of my friends br br " Pos," This cobra is the second of this particular breed that I ve owned the first being a 2001 Cobra Convertible My initial reaction when I saw the reveal of this car is wow The statistics alone are mind boggling for any car 390 Horsepower underrated by Ford intentionally realistic figures are somewhere around 381 at the rear wheels and 415 25 at the flywheel 390 foot pounds of torque 0 60 in 4 5 seconds 1 4 mile time between 12 5 and 12 9 all OUT OF THE BOX Finally an auto maker took the drawing board out of the engineering room in the basement and took it out the enthusiasts that are actually buying and driving the car and said OK guys what should we do next From the beginning you go in knowing that you re getting a frighteningly fast car but the deal just keeps getting better As you sit down inside the car you noticed the snake badged two tone leather suede seats the electroluminescent instrument cluster Mach 460 6 disc in dash CD player and the coveted 6 speed Tremec T 56 6 speed manual transmission shared by the Cobra s arch nemesis the Dodge Viper The front seats are VERY comfortable for a sports coupe strongly bolstered yet still supportive and soft The driver s seat is power with adjustments to the height angle pitch side bolster rear end bolster lumbar support etc The backseat is small as is to be expected in this breed of car most cars that can compete from a performance standpoint don 146t even HAVE a backseat so my theory is be glad I have one at all Popping the hood of the vehicle reveals a beautifully trimmed 32 valve Dual OverHead Cam 4 6 litre 281 ci American V8 A small metal plate will grab the eye of anyone looking at an SVT engine for the first time as each engine is hand signed engraved by the two man team that built them Mounted proudly atop the large American V8 is an Eaton Roots type supercharger capable of 8 pounds of boost from the factory The engine has been modified from its aluminum block cousin that was in the 1999 and 2001 cobra The new engine block is cast iron to increase strength for the added stress created by the supercharger The compression ratio has also been reduced again to accommodate the forced induction After the typical male rush of testosterone not a sexist comment have seen plenty of ladies sporting Cobras as well as gentlemen I closed the hood and took a tour around the outside of the car to gauge it s styling The hood has been modified from the previous hood both to add room for the blower and with the addition of finally functional hood vents to vent hot air from the engine compartment The front fascia has been modified with more open areas to allow cool air to pass into the engine compartment to facilitate better engine cooling and venting of the massive front disc brakes Along side the vehicle Ford has changed the rocker panel trim slightly and the side scoops unfortunately not functional have been modified from the 1999 2001 run The rear of the 03 is very different with a much cleaner look than its predecessors and it s own siblings in the Mustang corral The spoiler is now more integrated into the body reminiscent of the spoilers on the BMW M series cars The tunnel like large tail pipes make themselves very visible as does the Badging naming this Mustang the head of the SVT pack Minor tweaks such as spoilers on the windshield wipers making them functional up to a frightening 130 miles per hour body color keyed break away mirrors and the restyled fascia set this snake apart from the others in the SVT cobra den Now that I had investigated all that I could about the car with it motionless it was time to wake the beast up for a little stretching of the legs Immediately upon ignition the car makes its intentions known with that typical American V8 burble turning every head within 300 feet After playing with the shifter I decided it was time to set out on this little adventure As I pulled out into the highway I noticed how mild mannered this supercar seemed to be as I drove it into afternoon traffic This car could very easily be slated into a comparison with Clark Kent Superman With a light foot on the throttle its not jerky or hard to control in the least It was when I decided to put my foot into the floorboard that the car underwent a metamorphosis The Boost needle went full tilt to 8 PSI the tachometer started its screaming climb to 6500 RPMs and I was firmly planted goofy grin and all to the back of my seat WOW As I shifted into second at about 6000 RPMs the whole cataclysmic process repeated itself Approaching 6300 RPMs this time I noticed OH MY GOD I am in second gear going 73 miles an hour in just a bit shy of 6 seconds Deciding that I wanted to keep my privilege to drive I was in a 55 zone I backed off the accelerator and shifted into third giving my internal organs a moment to catch up to my body I got on the interstate and repeated the jet like acceleration up to about 100MPH and back down Ok now I don t just THINK the car is fast I KNOW it is Lateral acceleration however is just one part of the equation that makes a great sports car What goes up must come down Once I made sure I was in the clear with cars around me a firm stomp on the brakes brought the massive 13 inch front Brembo rotors to life and as expected in true Cobra fashion the car stopped on a dime and handed over 9 and 1 2 cents change Ok that 146s two parts of the equation passed with flying colors it can accelerate like a tomahawk missile and stop like it had reverse thrusters but can it handle anything less inviting than Interstate 75 I took the car to the road that my house is off of in rural Paulding County Georgia The road is a blast for a driving enthusiast two 90 degree curves and soft slopes that turn halfway down a hill etc I made one run at a normal pace just to get a feel for the car The second run etched an image of the car driving around on tires lined with double sticky tape This car is glued to the road Pushing it near its limits will illicit a bit of a happy rear end in hard cornering which is to be expected and is welcomed as long as the driver is as capable about handling it as the car is doing it The handling is brilliant with many welcome tweaks to the suspension in 2003 The body roll is very minimal as the body feels more rigid than did my 2001 On the open highway the ride is as nice as to be expected in a car with the handling capabilities of this vehicle if you want a smooth ride opt for the same base engine in the Mercury Marauder this is after all a supercar Wet traction is also above average with help of the car s Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and the standard traction control I do at times find it easier just to reach down into the endless pool of torque and start out lazily in second gear in heavy rain to eliminate any rear wheel slippage The ABS system on the car is very advanced and even in panic braking in wet conditions the car comes to a very confident stop I have yet to experience it in snowy weather but I am hoping that this car will have to experience very little of it with me residing in Georgia The steering is firm and responsive as is the clutch shifting engagement though the shifter can be a bit quirky at times The clutch does take some getting used to as one person that I let drive the car put it you ll have the legs of a linebacker after driving this thing every day All in all one couldn 146t ask for a better balance of ride quality and handling ability in a better package That basically sums up each of the individual parts that are required to make up a good sports car Tallying all of the scores the Cobra is simple an achievement on the part of the Ford Special Vehicles Team The Cobra unfortunately lost its competition from GM this year with their F body cars no longer being produced after 2003 Authors note the 2003 Cobra is faster than any F body GM offered in 2002 snicker The price on this car at its release was 34 750 though many dealers across the country are price gouging it anywhere from 1000 dollars over sticker to 10 000 in areas where the car is hard to get I absolutely refused to pay a dime over sticker and finally found an honest dealership here in Atlanta that was selling the car for the same sticker it got onto their lot with The price tag on this car is a true steal considering the next rival to this car is the Corvette Z06 the two vehicles are truly not in the same class but as the 2003 Cobra is faster and more powerful than the stock C5 Corvette the Z06 is its most loved comparison in the GM Ford war that 146s been raging since the 60 s The base price tag on the Z06 is in the neighborhood of 51 000 For comparison s sake a 1300 dollar investment into modifications will put the Cobra to a performance level of 500 Rear Wheel Horsepower not that this author would every encourage the modification of such a beautiful automobile Calling the 2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra anything less than a supercar would be underselling it dramatically The 2003 holds the title of being the most powerful 5 more advertised horsepower than the 2000 Cobra R Mustang to roll out of the Ford plant and it carries the honor with flying colors The Mustang platform is going to be retired for the 2005 model year in favor of a modified version of the Jaguar X type and Lincoln LS platform code named DEW lite One can only wait in stitches to see what kind of work of art the guys at Ford s Special Vehicles Team will produce on that platform " Pos," i am sixteen years old and i have recently purchased a ford probe i have owned this vehicle for about six months and i love it i don t really have the cash to be buying new parts and having to fix things so this car is ideal for me i haven t made one stop at the shop yet I like the way that all your controls are right there especially the turn signal which you can easily turn on with a flick of the pinky the back seat may be my only complaint but being in my young years still it doesn t really come into play the probe is quick sporty fairly cheap and very fun to drive " Pos," I bought my 1995 4 door hatchback Aspire used from my neighbor It had 70 000 miles on it and I paid 2 000 for it I just love this little car My boyfriend is tall and was very surprised about how much leg room he has in it I get excellent gas mileage 40 mpg Its air conditioner has a hard time while driving in town and sitting in traffic but works fine when on the open road It will go fast speeds 85 if you are in a hurry but does tend to start vibrating at 70 Excellent for shopping trips fits well into tight parking places and has plenty of cargo space I drive this more than my new 4 wheel drive Ford Ranger I really enjoy owning this little car " Pos," I own a 1995 Ford Aspire base model 2 door hatchback with air cassette and the standard transmission I purchased it recently for a very low price because it had been previously wrecked This car is however in excellent condition for a 5 year old mini with 75 000 miles I ll be honest most people would probably hate this as a used car It has several quot where the heck is that coming from quot rattles buzzes and clunks It used to vibrate at higher speeds because the tires were a cheap off brand Michelin Weatherhandlers fixed that problem This particular Aspire having been previously wrecked probably will not last much longer but for right now it is doing me just fine as a courier delivery vehicle There is plenty of room for cargo and the rear seat not only folds down but flips up against the front seats to provide a flat cargo floor It is fully carpeted too This car always starts right up and runs smoothly does not smoke or knock and has enough power for me Some people might say this car is underpowered For these folks do not worry Most 1 6 and 1 8 liter Mazda engines will bolt in with little modification as will the better geared Mazda transmissions I have been averaging an honest 35 mpg with this car under hard driving in Dallas Texas with the AC running about 75 of the time Having no power steering is only a chore during parallel parking which I have to do little of because most of my deliveries go to businesses I have learned that keeping the tires inflated properly will keep the steering light above a crawling speed The brake rotors are warped now I am sure turning them will help at least for a little while The only major problem I foresee with this car is the clutch it is slipping slightly when I drive harder but if I take it easy it shifts and engages fine The shifter is rubbery but if you are gentle with it it will slip right into and out of gear The rougher you treat it the tougher it is to get it to shift I would say this car is not the best for long trips I have a Buick Century for those But to do the basic point A to B to C to D of courier work this car is okay I used to own a Geo Metro and this car is a welcome change not necessarily better but it is different br br " Pos," In June of 1998 a 1996 Ford F 150 XL was given to our family as a company vehicle It was grey green two tone with grey cloth interior and automatic transmission Inside the truck is a well designed and easy to use dash Most knobs and dials are easy to find and fit well in your hands Most materials of are very high quality However the radio controls are awful the buttons are too close together and you have to take your eyes off the road just to turn it on However the radio and cassette player put out amazing sound quality The speakers work well and surround the whole truck cab with your choice of music The bench seat does not give enough back support You get a quot sinking quot feeling when you sit down The air conditioner keeps you ice cold in the hottest weather and in the dead of winter the cab is red hot in only a matter of minutes Outside the whole truck looks great The paint is average but there are swirl marks all over after washing and the alloy wheels where equipped corrode quickly so one must keep them clean The chrome wheels and bumpers along with the two tone paint really accent the exterior The box is huge and can handle most loads but the tailgate is too high and rather heavy Loading the box requires 2 people The ride is bone jarring You feel almost every vibration the road can throw at you There is little wind and road noise though The V6 engine provides ample power and torque but you get the feeling you re driving a family sedan instead of a pickup The 4 speed automatic with overdrive transmission robs the engine of much needed power and shifts roughly However it handles curves responsively and with confidence and parking is not a problem You could steer this truck with your index finger Surprisingly this truck is a blast to drive You can throw the F 150 any curve and it inspires confidence every time Reliability is not a problem The only problems I ve had with it so far is a broken driver s door lock a cassette stuck in the cassette player and a minor transmission repair If you are looking for a truck to do basic hauling moving or just to run back and forth to the store then the F 150 is the truck for you It s tough reliable and fun to drive It s a combination truck family sedan and it s one great buy " Pos," Bought truck brand new September 1996 XL Shortbed 4 9 engine 5 speed with 3 55 rear end has 100 000 miles I bought this truck for use in my landscape buisness it has never been driven without a trailer in tow usually about 3 000 lbs Still has original clutch amazing has only gone through one set of front brake pads I had a problem with a leaky smog tube which was misdiagnosed and ended up costing over 1200 and have replaced both fuel pumps and had the fuel system cleaned out at a cost of 1400 however this may have been caused by running the tanks low to avoid gas stops I live in the Arizona desert and the truck is parked outside so I am very impressed that the finish still looks like new as does the interior this vehicle is very sun resistant The engine runs flawlessly in stop and go driving with heavy loads in the Arizona heat of 100 110 degrees and is pleasant to drive I must say I am very pleased with this vehicle it has made me a ton of money and still looks and runs like new " Pos," Why Ford Focus b Of the choices available to us through our leasing program the Ford Focus was simply the cheapest model with the required safety features twin airbags anti lock braking system We have been driving a leased 2003 Ford Focus auto sedan for about 6 months now in Australia b Driving Experience We have certainly enjoyed the improvement in our driving experience as compared with our previous 7 year old small car Daewoo Cielo Much quieter smoother more powerful We found ourselves more relaxed after longer drives From that perspective we are very happy with this car b Features and Options Some of the features are annoying particularly that the indicator controls are on the wrong side of the steering wheel Also the indicator noise is incredibly loud its unbelievable that the designers included such an annoying noise in their design The stereo controls on the steering wheel are so close to the actual stereo controls its of no benefit to have a second set In fact the track radio station control on the steering wheel is not intuitive and I have to work it out every time I use it I ve stopped using it now A common problem with the Ford Focus is that the fuel gauge fails during the first two months this happened on our car and on several others that we know of A further issue is that the cigarette lighter does not seem compatible with our phone charger the same charger works in a number of other cars that we have used Finally the air intake defaults to open every time that the car starts so closing it in traffic becomes a regular chore for us So much for the negatives The features that we like are this car s comfort handling and performance Its got high headroom which is a big plus The door lock and boot lock remote is something we love Plenty of space in the boot The options that we got were roof rack we removed this immediately the noise on the highway was shocking scuff plates yes we like them passenger seat bag too big gets in the way boot liner excellent for cleaning up spills and boot carrier net saves the shopping from rolling around " Pos," Note I have not driven the 2000 Cobra R Many people have criticized me and given me NR ratings for lack of personal experience I have ridden in this car and since there are only 300 of these cars in production I feel my personal experience will suffice I have a vast knowledge of this vehicle due to research This and my love for this car is why I am writing this epinion If you feel I deserve an NR for not driving this car then that I will accept it Thanks hope you enjoy the review b To say the least the year 2000 was an interesting year for Ford s Special Vehicle Team SVT With delays on the production of the 2000 Mustang Cobra because power outputs were lower than listed SVT produced a limited edition of the 2000 Cobra which was given the glamorous name Cobra R The most powerful Mustang automobile ever produced the Cobra R brings awesome power and mean looks to the road Because of limited production of the vehicle only 300 were made the prices have boomed past 50 000 Some people think it is crazy to pay such outrageous money for a Ford while others are willing to pay the premium to own such a majestic vehicle b Performance The Cobra R packs a 5 4 DOHC V8 engine This huge piece of equipment forced the redesign of the hood of the car just to fit this bad boy in the front of the car The large bulge in the hood gives evidence to the size of this mammoth power house Intake and exhaust ports were redesigned by SVT to improve the air flow for the car Despite the rather heavy weight of this car the 385 horses under the hood make this car zoom 0 60 in about 4 7 seconds and 0 100 in about 10 9 seconds Due to the powerful engine and amazing aerodynamics of the Cobra R the top speed exceeds 170 MPH Exhaust on the Cobra R is also been modified greatly Because of rear suspension and fuel tank complications rear exiting exhaust pipes had to be voided The car has side exiting exhaust tips directly in front of the rear wheels This automobile also comes with a new 6 speed manual transmission as opposed to the standard 5 speed which comes with most Cobra vehicles b Suspension The suspension in the Cobra R is rock solid This is good and also bad For track use which is basically what the Cobra R is intended for the Cobra R handles exceptionally however for road use the rock solid suspension creates a rough ride The Cobra R has a lowered ride height and 18 inch wheels wrapped in 265 40ZR18 tires Exterior The Cobra R s most noticeable features on the exterior are definitely the front racing air dam and the rear spoiler Both body pieces give the automobile a definitive look as well as the look of a mean racing machine The 300 Cobra R s produced are all the trademark color of red When I first saw one of these cars at a fairly large Ford dealership where I live I was in awe There is a majestic aura about this car that is difficult to explain maybe it s the fact that only 300 of these vehicles exist or maybe it s the combination of beauty and power Being a huge Mustang fan I believe this car is stunningly beautiful I actually got my friend who works at the dealership to take a couple pictures of me and the Cobra R b Personal Experience with the Cobra R I have a friend who works at the SVT licensed Ford Dealership in my town I convinced him to let me come in and ride with him in the Cobra R he wouldn t let me drive it Being a huge fan and having read every known article on the Cobra R I took this opportunity without a second thought When he started up the car I was amazing at the ear pleasing sound which resonated from the exhaust pipes I have always thought that Mustang s have great sounding engines but all I can say about the Cobra R exhaust tone is quot Wow quot Although we only were in the car for a minute or two it was amazing When he hit the gas I was awestruck with the power of the engine I literally was pinned to my seat The ride was slightly rough but I could care less The Cobra R is truly an All American sports car b Other notes about the Cobra R Most people who know some information on this vehicle know that this car comes without an air conditioner and a radio The car is strictly a racing vehicle not for every day driving Because of the rarity of this car prices have gone over 70 000 the Cobra R I rode in went for 74 000 SVT Ford has created a legendary special edition of a classic car The Cobra R is truly an amazing vehicle that I would love to even be able to see another one in person again The Cobra R is a pure muscle car which is probably owned by people who have money to burn One thing is for certain if I had the money I would definitely do what I could to get my hands on the 2000 SVT Cobra R br br " Pos," We bought our first Explorer in 1996 I have to admit I was reluctant about driving a quot truck quot but was soon won over It was almost as luxurious as any car I d owned and boy could I see better on the road I really enjoyed it and it was very reliable After a couple of years we traded it for a 1998 Eddie Bauer version Even more bells and whistles and again very reliable At this point I knew I would never go back to a quot car quot again Recently we bought the 2000 Limited edition I absolutely love it It has power everything Probably more buttons than I ll ever be able to figure out but I will have fun trying My favorite new feature are the memory seats My husband is tall and I was constantly having to re adjust the seat when he would drive my previous Explorers Now we with just a click of the remote opener the seat is perfectly adjusted for me when I get in It has a very smooth ride and handles well It also has beautiful very comfortable leather seats The sound system is great and has the optional 6 CD player That is perfect for long trips The Explorer is just the right size for me and my husband and is comfortable for our occasional back seat passengers It also holds lots of suitcases golf clubs and or dive gear when needed It really is the best of both worlds the comfort of a luxury car the cargo capabilities of a truck There s plenty of room in the back to haul groceries or even sustain a massive shopping spree Trust me b Update added January 7 2001 b Having driven this Explorer for almost 8 000 miles and several months I am happy to report knock on wood that I have had absolutely no problems with it I very much love this vehicle My husband won t let me call it a car I refuse to call it a truck and SUV is so well you know This Limited Explorer rides very comfortably on the road and it is great for driving around town It is averaging about 19 miles to a gallon of gas I get rave reviews whenever anyone rides with me to lunch as well That s always a nice plus We ve hauled a lot of stuff in it especially right before Christmas We have grandkids The rear seats fold down for carrying larger items such playhouses and bicycles in the box I can also tell you we have hauled a new computer with 19 quot monitor big boxes and 8 foot step ladder at the same time It was a bit interesting on the drive home but we got it all in there One friend laughs that my husband and I have single handedly kept the economy going by our weekend shopping sprees b Bonus Bun Warmers b I ve also discovered during the unusually cold weather we ve had in Memphis that the seat warmer is an absolutely wonderful option Both the driver and passenger seat comes equipped with this option It s easy to use just depress the button on the side of the seat and in a few minutes the leather seats are comfortably warm We ve had snow and ice a couple of times recently very unusual for Memphis and these seats have kept me toasty warm b Convenient Rear Controls The rear heat and air controls have been very convenient for transporting passengers It allows them to control the blower and keeps them comfortable You can even let them hookup headphones in the rear This would be great if I was hauling older kids in the back b Some of my favorite options b Memory seats only available on the Limited This has been such a convenience No more arguments with my husband you moved my seat Power seats driver and passenger You can move seats forward backward up down there s also the ability to tilt slightly forward or backward The memory feature remembers how you like all these options Power windows standard on Limited and Eddie Bauer versions Windows can be locked and unlocked by the driver Dual controls on steering wheels it s really nice to be able to adjust the temperature and fan as well as control the volume of the radio or cd without moving your hands from the steering wheel Power moon roof is nice on warm sunny days The console display gives me several options to view my gas consumption gallons used miles per gallon and gas remaining It also performs various system checks at my request The CD player has great sound There is a 5 disc changer in the console as well as the ability to play a single disc in the slot in the dashboard The speakers seem to be everywhere and you can easily adjust their performance to your taste Remote Lock Security alarm Two clicks on the remote lock assures me that all doors are shut and locked and the alarm is activated There have been a couple of times a door didn t shut well and I was alerted to by using this feature I love this car and think it would probably be a great buy when it starts showing up in the used car market if you ever find one The owners may just hold onto this baby for a while It s the perfect luxury car that just thinks it s a truck As a happy 3 time Explorer owner I highly the Explorer Limited 2000 br br " Pos," I bought this 2000 Explorer XLT as a replacement for my 1997 GMC Jimmy I wanted a new Explorer but my Jimmy was a piece of junk see review on it and I spent a lot of money and I had to buy what I could afford I purchased this Explorer at the local GMC dealership with 34 600 miles on it I have put about 1 000 miles on it so far and I have had nothing but good service When I purchased my Explorer it had new General tires on it I like the feature content such as rear air and radio compass CD player and power equipment I also like the rear wiper washer the running boards and the fog lights The engine and the transmission are powerful and perform smoothly The gas mileage isn t great but it s an SUV and the mileage is just as good as that of my Jimmy was I know some people say Explorers aren t stable even with tires other than Firestones but my Explorer seems very stable " Pos," The E150 is a nice family van to go on long trips It is also nice to drive around except for the fact that it is about the size of a semi It gets bad gas mileage because our has a 5 8 liter engine but it has very good power for being as big as it is It is also very comfortable in the front and back and for kids can be very enjoyable since their is tv and vcr plus any game consoles they want The only thing I had a problem with was when I was getting off the freeway and I took the turn at 45 mph and the tire ripped off the axle causing it to break the running boards and me to do a 360 degree turn If you live somewhere where it snows a lot this is not very good in the snow and I added a lot of weight in the back and it still wasn t " Pos," I purchased my Probe SE 5 speed used in 1998 with 53 000 miles Up until a few weeks ago she was going strong at 198 790 miles I drove her hard fast and rough Only had to replace the O2 sensors Airflow sensor and tires Great ride fun road tripping car and handled very well in all kinds of weather Only drawback was the price on replacement parts To replace an O2 sensor retail price from the dealership was 300 each and both need to be replaced when one goes out pricy 600 for a set of sensors Airflow sensor was 300 retail price from dealership as well This did not include labor so unless you want to put them in yourself these are costly The design lacked in handling tire blowout I had to retire my baby after she was totaled beginning of this month I had Cooper Cobra tires on the car when the front driver s side tire split causing the entire front fender front quarter panel side panel undercarriage panel and door panel to become squashed as if I d run into a pole requiring complete replacement if I d decided to pursue restoration Also the electric wiring shaft was severed causing the car to lose power while driving 70 mph on a curvy interstate The entire car would ve had to be re wired The cost for the panels start at 2000 a piece to replace with upper cost of the door panel to 2700 these are after market value prices The damage was caused due to a poor design in handling tire split Granted sports cars are not meant to handle these situations beautifully but having made minor design changes could ve prevented some of these damages Overall I ve never had such a great car run so well with so many miles I m sure she would ve kept going for another good 40 000 miles easy All parts excepting for the sensors mentioned above and the tires were stock and still going strong I d recommend this vehicle for someone who performs regular maintenance on the Probe and loves to drive long distances " Pos," Purchased from City of Seattle in an auction for 2000 I ve been the owner of my 1991 periwinkle blue Ford Escort LX for a little over a year now Receiving this car when I had first received my drivers license this car and I have been together through a lot Mainly driving the car to school and work the interior is quite nice and comfortable for myself although I wish the seats had more adjustment options because they can get to be quite stiff at times and aren t very back friendly for anything more than a daytrip There isn t a lot of room in this car either so I wouldn t reccomend it to a family of four or more however it s just fine for a short ride Driving this car has always been enjoyed especially on day trips up to the ski resort In the city this is the perfect car becuase it runs smooth and is easy to drive Freeway driving on this car however isn t very fun The car starts to get a little shaky anywhere after 60mph although 60 is where the car is happiest to sit and is very slow to accelerate I must give it credit though for maintaining speed smoothly The only problem I ve ever had with this car is the alternator and don t go to a ford dealer to have this one fixed and the pesky little check coolant light that mysteriously flashes on for a while randomly and randomly shuts off when the coolant is just fine Gotta love Ford If the car does break down however be glad it s light Because this car is really easy to push out of intersections and very easy to tow with a tractor if need be I know this from personal experience and I was pretty glad My favorite thing about this car is the spacious interior not for hauling people but things The hatchback with the removable cover and easy fold down backseat make it very easy to stick a lot in there The feature of being able to fold down one seat alone or the entire back bench has been very nice in many situations as well I drive up to Mt Baker Washington quite often to snowboard this car is perfect for an intensive hour long drive around fast corners with three friends for passengers and one seat folded down for the snowboards The only shame is sometimes going around the corners you slide a bit when it s not expected the car s ride can trick you sometimes into thinking the car can do things it really can t Cheap cars when it comes to purchasing parts and gas They ride really well and are fun little cars to have My car may be no Audi but it s mine and I love it The only thing I ve done to my car was buy it a new stereo because ford factory radios aren t worth a thing So if you would like a cheap car that will last you forever is pretty dependable and nice for commuting this is a decent car for you " Pos," This was my very first car ever And my husband could not have chosen a better car We originally chose it because of the price It was economical and good on gas and we were hoping to have a family at some time during the cars life so we chose the wagon Nine years four kids and 125 000 miles later the car is still taking care of us There have been very little problems with this car The only recurring trouble that we have had to fix year after year is the air conditioning They told us a few years ago that it was a broken O ring they tried to give it a recharge of freon but it still never worked properly Other than the air conditioning we never had any problems with the car So considering the price and the mileage we have gotten out of it I think that the Ford Escort Wagon was a fantastic deal br br " Pos," I have a 1991 Ford Escort LX I m 16 years old and this is my first car I totally recommend this vehicle Throughout the time I have had it I haven t had any major problems which is suprising considering the age of this car It s reliable and gets good gas mileage This is the perfect car for a teenager For parents it is a relief to know your child is protected and won t be broken down on the side of the road every other week It s an automatic and easy to drive and handle The only problem I have noticed is when the car reaches 65 miles per hour on the interstate It becomes a little jumpy and the steering loosens slightly But my dad is basically a car expert and he believes this is nothing to worry about Buy this car you will be happy you did br br " Pos," I love Escorts I think they re great I owned this European 1 6 S model for about 6 months and had a few problems The main problem in mine was the fuse box Its a really common problem and was why the escort was considered unreliable I know enough about cars to change it myself but it took a long time and a scrap box cost me 30 45 This may not be too much but if you got the Ford dealer to do it for you it would cost 200 labour You would be looking at over 400 600 Each escort model has a different fuse box so finding the correct scrap one was hard The other problem with Escorts is the locks and alarm system The barrels wear out very easily although if you know how to dismantle a door panel and remove the lock the dealer only charges a small amount to change the barrels for you The alarm is another problem on other European Fords as well If you lock the door from the passenger side and then unlock the door from the driver side the alarm will go off It is caused by a faulty electrical part on either the drivers or passenger side door locks or both It can be fixed but the parts will probably break again Check this if you are buying one and use it to knock the price down Also check ALL electrics Check the heater inside fan engine fan and electric windows and anything else you can think of I would not recommend buying a GHIA model or high spec model with a lot of electric parts as there is to much room for error The main fuse blew on several occasions Other than this i found the car nice to look at nice do drive and the handling was good as well Seats were a little uncomfortable on long journeys though Mechanically they are actually very good and the engine problems that occured were purely electricaly related Check the exhaust for rust on the back box though as they do not last very long The engine was the same model as the ones used previously in the 1984 91 model and so are not advanced and can be very noisy if worn Listen to the tappets If they are very noisy and the car claims to have done 30 000 miles then it is more likely to be 130 000 The noises can start from 60 000 miles onwards depending on use People try crafty methods such as using thick oil or if the oil is not clean then this will also dampen the noise find out what oil was used Don t be put off by this If the car is clean with a full history and is quiet ish then if the price is right buy it All electrical problems can be fixed very cheaply if you do it by yourself You may never even experience any problems but be aware of them and carry spare main and regular fuses at all time Conclusion Popular car and good value for money Cheap spares availiable never go to the dealers br br " Pos," I owned a 91 Escort LX Wagon passed down from parent while first having gotten my license This car had a 136 000 miles on it when i received it and sold it to a friend with 139 000 miles It keeps on asking for more punishment because we were both teenage first time drivers While I will admit that the interior materials are cheap the stereo sucks and there were no power windows or locks I think that it was bought new for about 11 000 dollars so what s to be expected The engine was fairly punchy for being only 88hp The car is light enough for it The steering is a little sloppy but not bad I felt very secure in this car and always trusted the reliability It had rust under the back wheel wells but I fixed it myself The paint had begun to faid as well it hadn t really been cared for before I got it Either way I think that it is a safe bet and a good easy car for first time drivers to learn on I drive a 95 Dodge Avenger now and probably would hate to go back to the less refined Escort read my gushing review of my Avenger love that car but I probably would get one real cheap if the Avenger was in an accident But that Escort is an amazing car br br " Pos," The Ford Excursion Limited 2002 An Oversize Status Statement Looking at the Ford Excursion 2002 there is no doubt that it is a formidable machine This oversize SUV is really beautiful whether you look at its exterior or its interior Two words can describe the interior of the Ford Excursion Limited ROOMY and LUXURY Sitting behind the steering wheel of the Excursion you have the impression that you could park a second car inside The Limited Edition comes equipped with leather seats a 6 way captain style seat for the driver and rich looking wood grain trims on the interior door panels and also on the front console These features really give the Excursion s interior a fantastic appearance As for the front cabin the rear of the excursion will again offers lots of room The second row of seats can either be completely folded or folded in a 60 40 manner The third row seats can also be folded and you will also have the option to remove it from the truck if you need to transport cargo For the driver with the exception of the glove compartment which is to far on the passenger side all other gauges and controls are easy to see and reach The sound system an AM FM cassette single CD stereo is superb and it is only surpassed by the quality of the sound it emits The exterior body of the Excursion Limited is as attractive as the interior The color of the Excursion I test drove was Deep Blue with beige body side moldings and this made for a super color combination with the tan leather interior I really liked the tri panel rear door it sure makes it easy to load cargo and equipment in the Excursion The top part will open upward as for most other SUV but the lower portion of the rear will split open in the middle The Excursion also comes equipped with a class IV load equalizing trailer hitch that will allow to safely pull a load of up to 11 000 pounds Driving the Excursion on the highway is a great experience but aside from driving it on the open road I do not believe it makes for great driving within city limit and for off roading It is a very comfortable truck to drive and it is dead quiet to me it is like a Lincoln on a truck frame A friend of mine who owns a marina uses his Excursion to pull boats around he told me that his old Suburban would do a much better job at pulling a loaded trailer than his new Excursion The 2002 Excursion Limited I drove was equipped with a V 10 powerful engine The transmission is a 4 speed automatic transmission with a shift on the fly 4X4 system The towing capacity is 11 000 pounds and the cargo space with all seats folded and third row removed is 146 cubic feet As you probably noticed after reading this review is that I really do have mixed feeling about the 2002 Ford Excursion Limited It is a very beautiful truck actually I think that it is too nice to be used as a working vehicle But then it is also much too big to be used for city commuting I guess this leave that it is an expensive SUV TOY for those who have it all " Pos," Purely Physical Originally I fell in love with the looks of the truck The side steps the sliding rear window the emerald green paint job the plush front seats the little cupholders and of course the awesome stereo system The Ranger has been a decent vehicle mechanically until this last year but I will get into that later Besides the physical appeal the truck is incredibly economical to drive That is important especially with these gas prices The only car that gave me better fuel economy was an old VW Bug The bed of the truck is capable of hauling small lightweight loads I like it because not that many people ask me to help them move since the capacity of the bed is limited If you are looking for a truck with a lot of power this is not the one The 4 cylinder engine would not be my choice next time around I hate when those big trucks pass me by on the onramps The Ranger provides a smooth comfortable ride under normal weather conditions However I have had several problems with slipping in the rain and snow even on the lightest of days I weighted the truck down last winter with 25 lbs of sand and still had trouble on snowy days Bad News In the last year I have had to have the switches in both doors replaced that control the overhead lighting system It really is annoying to be driving down the highway with inside lights that won t go off This was a freebie because the dealership said there was a recall I also had to have the accuator switch on the ignition replaced just recently One day I just hopped in the truck and all my panel lights were on as well as the radio but there was no key in the ignition When I went to turn the key nothing That little trip to the dealership was 267 00 Of course my warranty ran out about 3 months ago Now the check engine light has decided to come on and continues to shine brightly even though I have had everything checked out Who knows why b Overall Rating Overall I would say that this really has been a good truck but I do plan on going with a larger version next time with more power The Ranger is priced right with a lot of features for the buck but whether you like the truck or not is going to depend on your ability to deal with the downfalls " Pos," I m 6 4 quot and own a 97 Ranger XL Regular cab pickup I give the truck a rating of 5 stars because it is perfect for someone who wants what my particular truck has to offer That being said I would buy a truck with different options features and configuration if I had it to do over again Keep the following things in mind when you go to buy a Ford Ranger or any other small pick up b Color My truck is gorgeous black with metallic gray trim and a gray interior I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BLACK TRUCK AGAIN Ok I say that now and when I see another black beauty in the showroom I ll probably buy one again The problem is that there isn t a hotter looking color for a truck than black It looks tough it looks sophisticated it looks like Marty McFly s 1986 Toyota pickup that he dreams will be in his garage when he comes Back to the Future Heaven forbid that you use your truck like a truck though Any little scratch shows I had a heart attack the first day I took my truck to the car wash only to see it come out with swirls where the dryer s terry cloth towel had been You can imagine my dismay every time I haul mulch around or put bags of cement in the bed When clear coat gets scratched on a black paint job it shows up white Black also looks terrible when it gets salt on it from a the Northeastern roads I would say your best bet for truck colors is 1 silver 2 tan 3 white 4 red b Cab Size Regular cab trucks have no benefit in riding convenience over a Mazda Miata As a matter of fact you might be able to get more stuff out of the weather in a Miata than in my regular cab Ranger I bought a truck box just to solve the problem of no interior space At least the box gives me a place to put 1 or 2 bags of groceries Really though if you plan on hauling kids or even going on long trips either buy an extended cab or buy another vehicle A regular cab Ranger is only useful for around the town hauling and possibly longer trips with only 2 people Don t even think that you can fit a 3rd person in the middle seat especially with a stick shift b Bed style I ve got a fleet side long bed and I love it Fleet side trucks are the only ones that will fit 4x8 sheets of anything The only advantage I can see to a step side is that it may have more stylish lines Even that is debatable Oh yeah and it might be easier to climb up into the bed if you tend to need to get in there often b 4x4 or 4x2 If you live in any location that has snow please do not buy a 4x2 pickup truck I can t tell you how many people in the Northeast I see with their 4x2 s loaded to the hilt with sandbags only to still have no traction I load up my 4x4 with sandbags just so that I don t have to have the 4 wheel on as much The extra ground clearance of a 4x4 while making the truck a little top heavy is a great when you want to clear the 3 foot snowdrift that the plow left for you at the end of your driveway My truck has locking hubs and a shifter on the floor to engage the four wheel drive This is a really nice system as I only lock the hubs between November and April snow season The truck gets better gas mileage when the hubs are unlocked When I need the four wheel I just shift the extra shifter and it s on even at full highway speed Now the alternative is the push button four wheel drive which is the equivalent of having the hubs locked at all times This means a little worse gas mileage but a little easier operation only having to push a single button whenever you want 4 wheel b So what s so great about your Ranger b Well the stick shift V6 is smooth as silk There s plenty of power there for all road conditions I can t vouch for the towing power until I get a nice toy to test it with I have a rubberized floor which means a whisk broom and a hose cleans out the interior quickly The seats are the most comfortable of any of the trucks I tested Dodge Chevy Toyota While the regular cab is small I have no problem taking the truck on long trips The aluminum alloy wheel are stylin and non corrosive so they should stay shiny forever The price was right with new college grad discounts and rebate I only paid 15 000 for a brand new 4x4 set of wheels b What sucks about your Ranger b The thing didn t come with a cup holder Now this is not indicative of all Rangers because I ve seen other Rangers with cup holders I guess it was just my combination of stick shift with 4 wheel drive shifter on the floor that made the designers think that they couldn t fit a cup holder I managed to install one of my own no problem The Regular cab my next truck will have an extended cab or be one of those SUP s Sport Utility merged with a pickup so that I ve got ample interior space and still have a bed for hauling dirty stuff The Black paint for the reasons mentioned above All I can say is know what you re getting into before buying a small truck They re not for everybody If they re for you I would definitely recommend buying a truck in the Ford Ranger series " Pos," I recently purchased a 1997 Ford Ranger XLT It is the 2 3 4 Cylinder engine with a 4 Speed Automatic It is the single cab shortbed version It s Caymen Green with a prarie tan cloth interior First off this truck was a screaming deal it was very low mileage and the price was very nice and the dealership Hemborg Ford of Norco Ca is a very reputible and good dealership This truck feels solidly built the ergonomics are some of the best for a compact The standard engine is peppy enough to not aggravate you and the interior feels very nice The stereo is the AM FM Cassette player and it sounds great for being stock the A C will either freeze you or toast you if you overdo it so needless to say it works good The ride is bouncy but it s a truck so that s normal but it does handle good though This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship As of Mar 15 2002 my truck is still running strong no squeeks or rattles of any kind No mechanical problems save for a burnt out lightbulb that was easily replaced and a flat tire due to broken glass The Twin I Beam suspension is very competent off road as I found out in the Cajon Pass is So Cal for a 4 banger with an auto tran it hauls off road with only a touch of oversteer that is easily controled I was expecting poor braking performance due to the rear drums but I was pleasantly suprised about how good it stops The only things that I don t like about it is that it has no tachometer and the speedlimit governer stops the party at 96 MPH when a lesser Toyota Tacoma tops at 105 MPH Otherwise I m quite happy with it and when I get out of college and get a better paying job I ll get a brand new Ranger XLT or Edge with the 4 0 Liter V6 5 Speed Automatic Transmission 4 Wheel Drive CD Player Power Equipment Group Off Road Alloy Wheels and the 4 Door Supercab " Pos," I bought My 1997 ranger not knowing a whole lot about trucks in general and was pleasantly surprised with the test drive It handles and accelerates fine and is very handy when moving furniture and crates from place to place though I m guilty of not getting regular oil changes I haven t had any mechanical problems all of the instruments are easy to reach and operate and the air conditioner will freeze most anyone The cold missouri winters aren t a problem either the cab is usually too hot over a long period of time Be forewarned please purchase the 4 wheel drive option If you live ANYWHERE where the roads tend to ice up kansas city YOU WILL need it I have to pile a minimum of five 35 lbs sandbags in the bed to have any traction at all this is my only regret and will buy another Ranger with that option when this one is paid for Another problem is portions of Missouri roads are horrific and I have potholes memorized for my route to from work due to the fact that I have nearly lost control after hitting uneven patches of highway in my ranger If the patches are unavoidable the only option is to get off of the gas pedal and ride out the turbulence this is a small problem at least for me because the bad roads are only in particular areas I can t fault Ford for Missouri s bad highway maintenance so all in all I m quite pleased with the Ranger " Pos," We now own our third Ford Festiva Well actually the first one was a Fiesta the forerunner of the Festiva it still has the same features actually I am a happy camper here The durability is tops The gas mileage is tops We have traveled numerous miles in this auto spending very little in fuel or maintenance It s economy features is astonishing It s rugged and durable Also cheapest tires on the market If you are looking for economy this is it If you are looking for luxury forget it This auto was popular for it s economy not quality of ride I do not have a problem with it s ride etc I have thoroughly enjoyed each one we have owned Bought all of them used It s sporty look and cuteness appeals to the young and old alike I realize some are eye soars as with any automobile and it s savings appeals to all It s ease of parking is wonderful squeeze into those tight spots that others have to drive away from It has great pick up and go power I prefer the automatic over the standard any day however the standard shift has more go power as with any standard really br br " Pos," Okay I have to admit this is my first Ford Up until 1997 when I bought my Ford Explorer Sport new I had always been a Volkswagen girl I LOVE the way Volkswagens handle and look but I spent more time gettin them repaired then driving em So in 1997 I decided to shop around for an SUV and fell in love with the Explorer Sport THe Explorer is the most reliable car I have owned I never worry about getting stuck somewhere because the engine won t start or having it die on the freeway NOT fun in L A I have 70 000 miles on it and have only needed routine maintenance on it oil changes filters brakes Oh and then there was that minor recall on the tires Of course I m grateful that nobody was ever injured because of my Firestone tires I have to admit though that in my situation the recall worked in my favor I had 60 000 miles on my car when the recall began and needed new tires I got 5 brand new tires for free I should comment that since trading in my Firestones for better quality Michelins the ride in much smoother If you re worried about a bumpy Explorer or any other SUV the tires will make all the difference in the world Since I don t have children the 2 door Sport works for me If you have children or frequent rear seat passengers you may want to consider the 4 door In the Sport the rear seat is not the easiest to get into and getting car seats in and out is time consuming The standard stereo with CD player sounds great speakers are high quality I cannot drive without tunes in my car so this was important to me The interior is attractive richer looking than other SUVs in my humble opinion and the body style still looks current despite Ford s yearly body style updates on Explorers The mileage is not that great I would say I get on average 15 16 MPG and I drive a 5 speed still got the original clutch When I lived 30 miles from work 60 miles roundtrip this was a problem Too much time and money at the gas station But now that I am 4 miles from work I only fill up once a week and am much happier Poor gas mileage comes with owning a big car Ford Explorer or other I highly recommend the Ford Explorer People tend to either love or hate Fords I ve heard it all Ford stands for Found On Road Dead blah blah blah but I can t say enough good things about my Ford It is the best car I have owned When I first purchased it I thought I would keep it for 2 3 years tops But why give up a good thing " Pos," My husband and I like trucks for the fact that it does anything and everything you want From moving yourself to transporting our dogs and anything else you need to going over terrain that most cars and some trucks can t even begin to handle We have the extended cab version and it has six seats total The only down fall is that the gas mileage is not that great We average about 17 miles to the gallon But there is two tanks that hold 32 gallons total so it is nice not having to hit the gas station so often I also like the size you don t feel so small on the road parking is not that great but it is worth it for saftey reasons I would recommend having a large vehicle for any family I was in a wreck a drunk driver hit me from behind at about 50mph while we were sitting at a red light and We felt nothing it took out my bumper but that was all we were fine an the other van was very badly damaged It pays to have a ford br br " Pos," Working for the rescue squad in my city I occasionally get the chance to drive a Ford Crown Victoria We use them as chase cars basically but we call them zone cars When an ambulance responds to a scene a paramedic can chase the ambulance or beat the ambulance to the scene using one of these cars Response time for paramedics is much more efficient this way It keeps us extremely mobile First I need to comment on the handling of these cars There are plenty of other vehicles out there which would have worked just fine for the job we use the vehicles for but I can see why the city chose to use these above all others They handle like a dream They have a very tight grip on the road and the steering is not lose at all and has little to no play in it unlike the majority of Ford built vehicles The seats in addition to this are designed deep in an effort to keep you in place while going around curves All of these factors take a big role when you are traveling at 90mph through rush hour traffic with lights and sirens at full blast With that said we are glad they have airbags as well Next on the list the power I m not sure what size engines these cars are normally sold with it could be the same size we have or it might not The ones we use sport a 4 6L V8 I could be wrong though because they may just very well be sold to the general public the same way they are to us minus the white paint reflective stripe down the sides that say rescue and the red and white strobe light bar on top Considering the size engine they have in them I have noticed that they still have excellent gas mileage It usually ranges from 20 to 21 miles per gallon This may not seem like much but just think of how many times we gun the engine with these cars everyday Also keep in mind that they are usually left running all the time at scenes For an added bonus in case most people don t know strobe lights sirens a computer and several radios draw a lot of power from that hard working alternator and to make up for it the city sets the engines to run at a high idle Even after all this abuse they can still conserve a considerable amount of gas Now for the room in the vehicle They have a very large amount of space We can carry everything an ambulance has on board with the exception of the stretcher and still have plenty of room for a couple of passengers Most of the equipment will fit in the trunk if not all of it if you position it right Along with tools a jack and the spare tire The space in the front is very good as well Located up there is a clipboard many map books a mounted computer several radios the control panel for the lights and sirens and yes still room for passengers I think these cars are very comfortable I have to drive them constantly around the city for 12 hours at a time and by the end of the day other than being tired of working I still feel just as comfortable as I did when I first got into the car A direct quote given to me from one of the people that spends much of their duty time in a zone car The city garage maintains the cars however we still get the chance to see what repairs have been made if any They go into the city garage once a month for preventative maintenance and for the most part all we have seen done on these cars is fluid changes engine cleaning and adjusting the alignment balance rotation and changing tires I can say that the tires seem to get worn more often than a lot of other cars but once again look how we drive these cars and besides a different tire brand could help that but our city is pretty stubborn Once in a great while something other than that will have to be repaired but what car does that not happen on If you can find one let me know because I am going to own one soon Generally speaking as much as these cars get beat up every day I am amazed at their ability to stay in great working condition One owned as a private vehicle would work positive wonders on your maintenance bill These cars are built very solid They can absorb much force in a collision They are designed to do just that absorb most of the impact and protect the driver Loaded down with brake and sudden motion activated seat belts dual airbags shatterless windows and a crumbling body they can be trusted to get you to where you need to be safely They even have a very sturdy roof If you re wondering where I became familiar of how well the car protects the driver they have been rolled wrapped around poles had head on collisions been T boned rear ended etc etc and drivers walked away from all of it with nothing more than seatbelt sores airbag abrasions and a bruised ego statement based on info gathered from sources in this rescue squad as well as the local police departments I have yet to wreck one and I hope I don t " Pos," I bought this car as a repairable for 3k and I am glad I did In the condition I have it in now it is valued at 6 000 Anyway it is a great first car for a student and is very safe with dual front Air Bags The seating is comfortable for about a few hours then may get a little tiring No long road trips I was a little hesitant to get on the freeway the car being so small in all for the first time but a few times after It was all right I strongly recommend this car I have had a great time driving this around town Seeing it is so small it can go anywhere Not that far in deep snow trust me on that one I put a new Sony sound system Yes all Sony in a car It sounds good in it a few months after I bought it the previous owner did not take care of the old one I would recommend the four door model over the two door because it has Power Steering and it is easier for the rear seat passengers to get in I would also recommend for those in the North like me to get one with a Rear defroster or have an after market one installed I also recommend getting A C Little cars with big windows get pretty warm in the summer When looking for an Aspire look for one with under 60 000 miles I bought mine with 43 000 on it and it has run fine A friend of mine bought one with 96 000 and has had to have the transmission and various other things replaced If Ford was still making the Aspire I would send the 11 000 base price and buy another " Pos," The Ford Contour is a nice roomy little sports car that won t sack you in the wallet It s got the option of a sporty engine still small liters for good gas mileage a 2 5 liter V 6 under the hood that packs a little kick behind the pedal It has a lot of room in the back for all of the passengers or any other cargo that you had to carry The trunk is really big so you can fit whatever you need it to The steering is tight and responsive and the car is solid I drive cars hard and have yet to have a problem with this one The stereo is what really shocked me though For a Ford stock radio and speakers it really sounds nice I have the stock tape deck I don t think that they offer any other options for the radio but I could be wrong All in all the contour is a nice car for a little money if you re in the market for a small compact car It has good gas mileage which is necessary for these recent gas price increases and it handles beautifully The suspension and other parts of the car should last you for a long time It is a good buy if you want a small car br br " Pos," Sporty sturdy cute that s what I thought when I first saw the Contour on the lot of my local and thankfully reputable used car dealer Overall I have been very pleased with the gas mileage drive ability and passenger room Also the car looks great and feels great All of the buttons are reachable and the cup holders are a great feature Here are the issues 1 The trunk It leaks Granted this may have been the result of an unreported collision by the car s first owner However it took me three trips to my local Ford dealer the car was still under warranty to fix the problem 2 The recalls They re copious Every other day I seem to get a friendly but pointed letter asking me to bring the car back to a licensed Ford dealer for yet another tune up While I genuinely appreciate Ford s commitment to their drivers safety I wish they would iron out these issues before the cars come to market My mechanic and I are becoming best friends br br " Pos," When we purchased our 1991 Ford Thunderbird Sport with a V8 and automatic almost 5 years ago I really had to do some convincing to get my husband to buy a Ford He has always been a Chevy man I must say it has turned out to be a really good decision on our part We wanted something big enough to accommodate 3 children in the back seat because we weren t ready for becoming a minivan family and this car is perfect to seat 2 car seats and another child comfortably in the back My Thunderbird has 106 000 miles on it and we have only experienced two minor problems One is the transmission gave out a few years ago and my husband contacted a transmission guy he knows who told him how to fix it with practically a twist of a wrench Of course my husband is a mechanic so maybe he just made it look easy It still slips on really cold mornings but it s something I have learned to live with and expect As soon as the car warms up the transmission stops slipping The second thing that we have experienced is a headlight problem We will be driving down the road at night and suddenly the headlights will go out My husband has replaced the headlight switch and it didn t remedy the problem A friend of his who owns a Ford says that he also has this problem with his headlights so maybe it is a known problem that can be easily fixed I don t drive a whole lot after dark so this isn t a real major problem for me but it is quite bothersome when I do have to drive at night Those are the only two problems we have ever had out of our Thunderbird and it is 9 years old at this point so I am very impressed with it And we aren t easy on the old gal either It has primer on the door panel where I had a slight mishap and she gets way over due on her oil changes but she just keeps on trucking along for us I have been really happy with the ride comfort and the reliability and I would recommend the 1991 Thunderbird to any of my friends br br " Pos," Cruising In My Big T b I have had my 91 Thunderbird for 4 years now bought it way back in my freshman year and it has served me well throughout college I am a horrible Northern driver and brutal on my vehicles but this piece of Ford craftsmanship refuses to bail out on me It s a rough and tumble vehicle that remains an incredible deal for the price especially when bought used from a reputable dealer b The Advantages 1 Seat Space These are big seats people with the kind of legroom that only those pretentious you know whats in first class usually get their hands on And that spaciousness isn t just about spoiling the people up front either it extends to the back seat as well which means that everyone feels just a little bit more comfortable and relaxed when you get to wherever you re going And not only are the seats big but the generous amount of padding in each makes for an especially comfortable ride 2 Appearance I ve gt to admit it to you I just love the look of the Thunderbird though it is an acquired taste to be sure I can best describe the style as quot Italian quot sleek in a chunky way and available in colors like burgundy that make it look like a cross between a hit mobile and a hearse 3 Smooth Ride Riding in my Thunderbird has always seemed quite smooth to me especially when you consider how low to the ground it is Why so low That kind of positioning allows the Thunderbird to provide the rider with great control as your quot feel quot for the road is significantly enhanced In the same arena as the ride is the ease of use of the console which for me equals smoothness and ease The Thunderbird s radio and air console is incredibly well designed with everything within reach and intuitively organized Seem trivial to you Try changing the station at 75 miles an hour and see how important knob placement is 4 Trunk This is a important feature for me as I seem to move every 3 6 months The trunk on the Thunderbird is big enough for all of your luggage not to mention the corpse of Vinnie The Chin from a rival family b My Defense I have read another review of this vehicle that criticizes the brake quality and I have to vehemently disagree with it I ride my brakes hard and I have never had a lockup or other incident The brakes do tend to squeek a bit but the noise is no indication of a performance issue b The Final Verdict The bottom line is that the Thunderbird is a comfortable and well designed car at a reasonable price As long as you like burgundy vehicles and live in an area that s at least 30 Italian the Thunderbird is a great option br br " Pos," I arrived in the states from Australia at the end of March 1999 to stay there for a year and come home at the end of March 2000 I stayed with friends in South Carolina who is a Ford man as I have always owned GM or Chevs they lent me a 1979 red corvette until I bought myself a car so after 3 months I did buy a 1985 Z28 Camaro 350 to fix up and use for the 9 months after looking at it I thought this was a bad idea so looked in the local paper and found a red 1991 V8 Thunderbird with 114 000 miles on it for 3000 After taking it for a test drive offered the lady 2800 and drove it home it had a slight water leak from the water pump so while replacing it I installed a set of under drive pulleys which I could notice the power increase the first time I drove it put a K amp N air cleaner in as well I had a friend come over from Australia so we drove from Greenville SC across to Sequin TX did about 3000 miles in that trip we took the long way and had no trouble at all and got 27 MPG sitting on 80 MPH had a radar detector it has a highway ratio in it 2 75 My brother came over from Australia so we went from Greenville SC down to Daytona Beach and back then drove across America to California which we did about 4600 miles trouble free When we left Williams AZ the car was buried under snow as we had a cold snap and snow dig the snow away and turn the key starting the engine at once and never missing a beat The car came with the premium sound system but the radio cassette was playing up so replaced it with a Pioneer radio CD I went to the wreckers and bought an electric motor seat assembly for the right hand side so when converting to RHD will have an electric adjustment Also bought a sports instrument cluster and centre handbrake assy out of a super coupe These cars were never made for export or for Right Hand Drive so have to get all the parts needed now for conversion I did 18 000 miles in 9 months without the car stopping or letting me down I gave the car 4 oil changes added fuel octane booster with every tank of gas it has the factory 15 quot alloy wheels with Michelin tyres I found the car very easy to drive and steer but did experience brake shudder which appears to be a common problem due to thin brake rotors I added a rear spoiler and had the windows tinted which makes the car look sporty as in Australia the only 2 door cars are mainly Jap imports so in the end I shipped the car back to Australia where I have to convert it over to Right Hand Drive for our road rules this cars owes me 10 000 Australia 5200 US landed back at my house in Australia which when converted to RHD they sell from 35 000 to 40 000 18 000 to 21 000 US BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED br br " Pos," This review is about Ford Mustang 3 8L Coupe with stick shift I test drove when I considered buying it I say considered because I did not buy it and here is why b Test Drive The dealer talked too much during the test drive They always try to do that to distract you but I noticed the following things b Styling You can argue but I think it could be better The car looks bulky the C pillars are thick which increases blind spots I was afraid to run over somebody while backing up the standard wheels look crude The previous Mustang looked more balanced b Engine The 3 8L 193 hp engine does not seem all that powerful even with stick We went on the freeway onramp and I was disappointed Strange considering the 220 lb ft of torque rating at as low as 2800 rpm European and Japanese manufacturers manage to extract more than 200 hp out of 3 0 liter engines Note the A C was on during the test drive and was very efficient It might eat some power but not that much b Transmission The shifter has quite short travel which is good but the clutch does not provide any feedback you cannot feel it engage by the pedal pressure or the dealer talked too much The clutch also engaged very high in the pedal travel I drove some Eastern European cars for several years and never had complaints like this one Or maybe I m getting old and grumpy b Suspension The suspension is not only stiff but creates a lot of unnecessary up and down motions The car uses live axle in the rear so I didn t expect much anyway b Standard Equipment The list of standard equipment looks good It includes power windows mirrors locks and remote keyless entry alloy ugly wheels AM FM CD cassette player A C dual vanity mirrors etc b Interior Interior materials fit and finish looks cheap I did not expect walnut for 16K but Ford could have done better As I said the C pillars are wide in coupe and the interior room is smaller than I d like The steering wheel tilts but does not telescope which might be a problem for the tall people b Insurance and Safety Insurance rates are high especially if you are a male younger than 25 The crash test results are not encouraging either the overall rating is Acceptable with Poor death rate and Marginal injury rate b Fuel Economy I didn t get a chance to see the actual fuel consumption myself but on paper it s 19 MPG city 29 MPG highway Not impressive for the car of this size with manual transmission b Warranty and Reliability b Consumer Reports b magazine says that Mustang has poor reliability Ford provides 36 000 mile 3 year warranty and 5 year corrosion warranty Majority of other manufacturers offers 60 000 mile 5 year powertrain warranty 100 000 mile 10 year warranty for Hyundai Kia The last three safety fuel economy and reliability also depend on the way you drive b Pricing The price was good in theory I know that you can get the car for less than 16K at CarsDirect com for example but the particular dealership I went to wanted more than 17K and did not want to negotiate the price at all Besides they were very pushy and rude Needles to say they did not earn my business they didn t even try The dealer was constantly asking what monthly payment I can afford Well I can afford the payment I need to get better car I walked after which they called me several times asking how they can make me buy the car today I was unable to produce any kind of positive reply on this one I In car buying a lot depends on personal taste If you like Mustang s styling and features and decide to buy it it is a good deal providing you with electric everything remote keyless entry radio CD cassette V6 engine and alloy wheels for less than 16 If you want refinement fit and finish safety and reliability get ready to pay more for something else I " Pos," Ford has made little or no buzz about the fact that the current Ford Mustang is based on the current longest living platform in the American auto industry and probably of the American market as well the current Mustang is based in the Fox platform first used in the 1978 Ford Fairmont Mercury Zephyr Maybe they are not sure whether this is a good or a bad thing to let people know If you ask me I think is a great thing Why Lets see First Mustang was able to retain the rear wheel drive configuration that is the way a pony car is meant to be In the late 80 s Ford tried to make a front wheel driver out of the Mustang but at the very last minute they backed up The result was the Ford Probe not a bad car in any respect but definitely not a Mustang Maybe a Celica or a Prelude but not a Mustang Second Is really cheap to buy own maintain and repair Third Ford has had over 24 years to improve this platform and it shows Mustang 3 8 V 6 Convertible Ride The Ford Mustang 3 8 V 6 convertible with a stick shift is a really fun car to drive In a very different and less relaxed way however than more sophisticated entries in the market Mustang is all about rough power and it shows all the time Is a throw back to the days of the original pony cars but with a very contemporary feel provided by a extremely well behave steering quick to respond and very linear The ride is the best you can expect from a rear wheel driver with a solid axle rear suspension and that does not mean is bad at all It actually is a very enjoyable ride with a very distinctive American flavor Cowl shake is not nearly as bad as you would expect from a convertible in this price field but there is some which I guess is the price you have to pay in exchange for the pleasures of open air motoring Interior Seats are supportive enough if you are not an NBA player and there is plenty of space in the front cabin and nearly none in the back which anyway is a given in the pony car segment Interior materials are far from being the best and I would advice to take a good look at Ford s accessories catalog to personalize an although well designed monochromatic and cheap looking interior None of the above means that the instrumentation is not well laid out and that controls are not at the reach of your hand when needed Power Power is more than adequate 190 hp inV 6 form moves the Mustang convertible from 0 to 60 mph in 7 7 seconds this is former GT territory Top Convertible top is simple fast and powered Two latches one switch and no roof Many may not agree but to me Mustang looks super sexy especially in convertible form The current Mustang is the best value you can find if what you are looking for is power No other car offers you such bang for your buck now that the Camaro Firebird twins were killed by corporate father GM and those two were super uncomfortable cars anyway The all new 2004 Ford Mustang will be based in the DEW98 platform the state of the art base for the Ford Thunderbird Lincoln LS and Jaguar S Type That will be a whole different proposition and will see about it then Surprisingly good quality " Pos," The 2001 Mustang is a fun car to drive and look at With its rear wheel drive it handles the corners quite nicely Be careful on wet pavement though as the tires fight to get traction The v 6 engine has some pep in it This car really takes off from a stand still Passing cars on the highway is not a problem as the engine has a lot in reserve Two small problems with the engine First between 35 50 mph the engine seems to lose power and gets sluggish Secondly when you accelerate it takes a few seconds for the engine to respond When it does respond though you do have some decent power If you are looking for performance I would recommend getting the GT v 8 When you get to the interior of the car you start to see where Ford cut costs The light knobs a c controls are very cheap looking If you want rear floor mats for this car you have to purchase them seperately The glove compartment is too small and in a very inconvenient location I do like the OPTIONAL mach 4 audio system It is well worth the extra money IF you want a decent stereo system The body styling of the Mustang is beautiful Many people tend to stare at the Mustang longer than most cars One complaint the front end Where the optional flood lights would go the Mustang has some plastic air vents These break EASILY and it somewhat ruins the look of the car The antenna is in an awkward place and it also detracts from the look of the Mustang Overall the Mustang delivers a decent sports car for the price " Pos," With the upcoming demise of the GM F body cars the Mustang remains the first and last of a long breed of American muscle The 2001 Mustang GT certainly holds itself to some pretty steep standards and it does just fine in meeting them too First off let s talk power The thing is rated at 260hp and 300 lb feet of torque For those of you who don t know what those numbers mean it s fast At 260hp it s easily out muscled by Camaros and Trans Ams but not much if anything else in the general price range provides the tire shredding power that a properly driven GT can produce and the F Bodies generally cost a little more anyway Mine is temporarily and automatic so I lose a little in the 0 60 and 1 4 mile numbers but it s still no slouch Onramps have never been this much fun and passing is a breeze The motor responds well to pressure on the pedal but isn t as harsh as many of the other big V 8s With the traction control it even survives hard mashing on the accelerator so you get some extra traction that s somewhat atypical of RWD muscle The exhaust looks and sounds good but I would have preferred a slightly throatier note from it Next up is the handling This thing hugs curves like a car half its weight You have to be careful because the short light backend is highly prone to scampering out from under you but on dry clean pavement this thing holds the road tight and doesn t let go Just watch it in the rain though and snow is out of the question On to more practical items the car is fairly comfortable considering its lineage I have charcoal gray leather and they look good and feel very supportive but not hard The ride is however jarring because the suspension is fairly stiff to accomodate it s excellent handling It can grow tiresome very quickly on constantly rough pavement Also don t try to shove anyone except the smallest children in the back Anyone over about 10 years of age is not going to be please with you otherwise Gas mileage is acceptable but this is a moderate size V8 so don t expect miracles I get about 19 26 with my driving habits The car overall looks good The interior overcomes the annoying Ford plastic dollhouse look and unlike say the Probe doesn t look cheap and flimsy at all In fact what clinched the Mustang for me over a brand new Tiburon GT besides the extra power was the less cheesy looking insides of the Mustang The paint is also very nicely done The only issue I have with the looks is the plastic inserts in the fake hood scoop and side vents From a distance they look fine but up close they re not very attractive I might go so far as to recommend actually removing them from the side vents The only complaints I have otherwise are that the transmission in the automatic is somewhat sloppy for a purported Muscle Sports car It doesn t like to shift too hard which hurt performance However the stick has issues of it s own so I would recommend following my lead and just get a good aftermarket system if you don t want to live with the annoyances of the stock 5 speed and the power loss of the automatic " Pos," When picking out my first car I had a lot of factors I considered First I wanted a car that was fun to drive and attractive I also needed a reliable that was under 15 000 At first I didn t realize that I could afford a 2001 Mustang I found a great deal and purchased my red Mustang It was once a rental car and it has 15 800 miles There are three types of Mustangs The 194 horsepower V6 the GT V8 and the high performance Cobra I purchased the V6 with the Deluxe package ABS traction control power seat spoiler CD I ve owned the car for about 7 months and I haven t encountered a problem yet The car is very fun to drive When driving around town the car quickly accelerates and passing is very easy However all this power means below average fuel economy I ve been averaging 18 miles per gallon The steering communicates lots of road feel and the car handles well The car has the firm ride of a sports car and is relatively quiet The brakes are exceptional Inside the Mustang is well finished The cabin has a high quality feel for the price All the controls are within reach and very well designed and the cup holders are of the best in any car I ve seen The sound system provides great quality even with the base system One weakness with the car is the lack of rear seat room and the small trunk However most people in the sports car market don t have a spacious rear seat on the top of their priority list Overall the Mustang is an excellent car A sports car should be fast attractive and fun The Mustang has all these qualities and then some which is why it has been one of America s most popular sports cars for almost 40 years " Pos," Captured by the styling b I have to admit we were captured by the appearance of the 2001 GT Convertible As teenagers in the early 70 s the stying is obviously a through back to that era We love looks b Strong V8 b Although I wouldn t want to race a 325 h p Camero SS the 260 h p V 8 has an amazing amount of power Ford must have also done their homework in producing the exhaust note of this engine It has a beautiful beefy sound under acceleration but is quiet at steady speeds Small but comfortable on the inside b I am 6 1 and 230 lbs but feel very much at home in the cockpit of the Mustang One caveat though if you opt for standard interior instead of the premium the seats are much less comfortable a least for a guy my size Make sure to test both before deciding b Good fit and finish b I have read less then favorable remarks about the fit and finish on the Mustang However I am very pleased We own both a new style Camero and the Mustang The Mustang seems to have more durable components in the cab then our Camero Time will tell as we have only had the Mustang since June of 2001 Relatively poor gas mileage b To date I have only one minor complaint about the car it is thirsty We average 16 miles to gallon in town I guess we should have expected this but I actually thought it might be closer to 20 " Pos," I ve been driving a 2000 6 cylinder 4 door 4wd Explorer for six months now So far it has its ups and downs The ups you sit higher and get a better feel for the road it reacts quicker than most vehicles because of its short wheel base plenty of room to stretch my big feet The downs although better than some SUVs it drinks gas like a dog on a hot day the interior is fairly noisy it is not the ideal choice for towing large loads The instrument panel is put together very well It is easy to read and everything important is exactly where you want it to be The back seats fold down easily to make an eight foot bed Plenty of room for spreading out a sleeping bag I wish it had a cable release for the back window The back door which lifts up has a glass that can also be opened up Ideal for putting small items in the back without having to put all you weight into shutting the big door This window lacks a release from the inside You have to open it from the back door I titled this review quot Explod er quot because of the tire incident this past summer I believe you should really look hard at this vehicle before buying it The Explorer certainly fits some lifestyles but for others there are better vehicles br br " Pos," I have purchased an 1989 SHO sedan with 97k miles 2 900 in 3 2000 vs 4800 book and a 1990 LX sedan with 85k miles 3 000 in 8 1998 vs 4500 book Both were mint condition no damage and like new inside and nearly new outside Both have proven to be solid cars reliable and safe However if you are considering these vehicles you must get them at a price that allows you to address the maintenance and repairs that are common to this vehicle The repairs that will typically cause the owners to sell are front axle boots drive joints engine rear seal oil leak and cooling system leaks particularly the heater block which is inside the fire wall and very difficult to replace At times there can be engine block problems particularly with the 3 8 engine usually caused by people driving away without allowing some warm up time I didn t have the vehicles checked by a mechanic I used my relatively good judgment on condition After investing 1 000 in the 1990 and 1600 in the 89 SHO I have two vehicles that are in my opinion as good as new certainly good for 75 000 to 100 000 more I care for my vehicles currently with a Corsica 1990 at 193 000 and still going strong Since I was buying very well cared for cars and still had to pay for major repairs I urge you to only purchase one of these vehicles at below book even below average wholesale For example my SHO carried an average wholesale over 3000 and retail 4800 but I bought for 2900 You must anticipate these repairs If the seller does not believe you go to the NTSB web page and printout the repair and recall lists for the Taurus in those years and show them what to expect I do not wish to scare you away with these stories these are very good solid cars if you find well cared for ones However the design has flaws which once fixed and usually with upgraded Ford redesigned parts that replaced the original design you end up with a super very reliable car Just anticiate the extra investment These are solid heavy cars that even with no airbag or one airbag will often in an accident hammer the other vehicle as hard as a SUV Remember bulk and weight are very important when in an accident the heavy guy usually wins The SHO has a 5 speed the LX an automatic The LX is loaded with everything like climate control electric seats etc all continue to work well The SHO has many sport car luxuries such as sun roof fog lamps powerful engine etc The automatic has had no problems but the clutch plate for the SHO must be upgraded because the original is too weak and will fail If this was not done by the original owner anticipate a 700 repair by an honest good reasonable shop twice that by a dishonest shop br br " Pos," the 1990 year ford taurus is a excellent family car there is ample room for cross town trip or cross country trips the ford taurus gives you a very reliable means of transportation and you get very good gas mileage on average i get 27 mpg in town and 36 mpg highway this car is a good car for some one with a family but i would not recommend that you get a taurus for a young adult if they a sports car kind of driver it is not made to be driven like that the ford taurus does have very well take off and is a very reliable car and very comfortable car to drive or ride in br br " Pos," I bought this Taurus used in 1996 for 5 800 00 with 63 000 miles on it and have had it ever since I have kept up with the maintenance and the car has served me well It only left me stranded once during all these years and even then the mechanics could not figure out what had happened It would not do that ever again The car rides comfortably and the radio works well I am still on the original 1990 factory radio The display has long burned out but i have memorized all my presets Repairs have included replaced alternator and battery in the fall of 1999 replaced front shocks in spring of 1999 replaced water pump in the fall of 2000 replaced a c system in June 2001 Considering the age of the car it is not too bad I have 135 000 miles on it and will drive it till it disintegrates into small particles " Pos," The ubiquitous minivan is frequently sold on consumer feel good items such as the placement and size of cup holders the presence of map pockets or the number of zones in which the climate control can be split Ford s 2000 Windstar does well on these creature comfort areas but excels in safety and reliability critical areas for the family oriented minivan market segment I just spent a week driving the Windstar through a variety of street and weather conditions This is the third minivan I ve test driven in the last five months and so far is my favorite I still haven t driven the Honda Odyssey which has better all around numbers but the Windstar performs better than the Plymouth Grand Voyager and its Dodge Caravan twin Since this was Dodge s baby to begin with that s a hard statement to write but Ford has done a terrific job with this van b THE RIDE Feel the acceleration The Windstar has plenty of get up and go There s a 3 8 liter V6 with 200 hp more of both than the Odyssey or the Grand Caravan This van has torque to spare with 240 foot pounds at 3600 rpm again better than both vehicles I found myself passing slower moving vehicles with just a tap on the responsive accelerator There was always plenty of power left over to respond to changing road conditions I also found the ride itself to be smooth The Windstar weighs a good 100 pounds more than the Grand Voyager and although neither are in serious big SUV territory at just under 4000 pounds they are solid The Windstar s wheelbase is bigger than I would have liked at over 120 inches contributing to a bigger than expected turning radius Several times I found myself faced with the choice of making a three point turn or doing some curb cutting I knew that acceleration was there for some reason The Windstar s critics have complained of the same top heavy swaying feeling I found in the Grand Voyager I didn t find much swaying at all even when accelerating in curves In fact the biggest criticism I could find on the ride was that there is a small but significant blind spot just off the right rear bumper Some jiggling with mirrors restricted from field of vision to other sides but stopped me from driving several smaller cars off the road b SAFETY Let s face it Families buy minivans And along with reliability family buyers treasure safety above every other attribute Airbags including side airbags are standard on this vehicle but that only comprises a small portion of safety The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA or http www nhtsa gov is the agency responsible for crash testing vehicles for the federal government They gave the Windstar 5 stars out of a possible 5 for crash worthiness A safety group run for the insurance industry the Highway Loss Data Institute found that the addition of the side air bags made the Windstar one of the safest passenger van in its 40 mph crash tests The van finished third behind the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey in their tests This was actually a step down for the Windstar which used to be rated as best in its class but the Odyssey s redesign catapulted the 2000 model over the Windstar Still these three vehicles were the only ones to receive HLDI s overall good rating in their class Self sealing tires and a reverse sensor system that alerts the driver when the rear bumper is within five feet of something are safety options that are well worth considering Ford has packaged multiple options into several safety packages so depending on what you want to put on your van you might find it cheaper to buy a package than to add single options b CREATURE COMFORTS The very first thing I noticed when I settled into the driver s seat was the ledge over the window well It s a perfect height for resting a driver s arm yes I know you should drive with two hands on the wheel These little things like the aforementioned cup holders and map pockets make a surprising amount of difference in overall consumer protection And speaking of the cup holders the two recessed under the ashtray in the front were adjustable and fit different sized cups with a simple squeeze of the ratcheted plastic ring I was very impressed with the interior lighting which gave plenty of directed illumination at night without making it difficult to continue driving Even the climate controls for the passengers in the rear two rows are illuminated at night a nice feature that not every minivan shares The stereo was big and bold sounding with the requisite tuning and pseudo equalizer buttons I particularly liked the oversized radio station buttons The stems off the steering wheel were the only item that caused me concern On the right side stem the driver finds the gear shift lever with the overdrive button recessed into the tip That s simply annoying design but the dangerous design is on the left side stem which controls turn signals and dual interval wiper systems On more than one occasion I signaled for a left turn only to unexpectedly spray the windshield with fluid and start the wipers The turn signal control is a silly place to put a wiper button anyway That said the dual interval wipers are neat and do a tremendously good job in maintaining visibility through even heavy rain Interior visibility is terrific however thanks to a mini mirror that swings down between the driver and passenger seats in front This is not intended as a rear view mirror but as a way to watch folks even in the back row Parents with kids are going to love this feature because it doesn t detract at all from the rear view mirror and is easily seen from either driver or passenger seat Finally the killer comfort issue was found on the fourth door Yes the Windstar is available as a four door unit too perfect for families who can enter on driver or passenger side I also found that the bucket seats in the second row were nice and roomy while the third row bench seat easily folded down or was removed THE BOTTOM LINE Auto dealers are still getting near sticker price for the Honda Odyssey last year s minivan darling If price is a factor at all I find that the Windstar stacks up very favorably against the Odyssey and now is the time to buy 2000 models since the 2001s are now in stock Ford is also trying to move the 2000 units and has a 2500 customer cash offer out through October 31 That gets you 10 of the way there if you use the money down and based on your trade you might even be able to lower your payments if you mix 1000 cash back with a Ford Motor Credit APR offer Until I get a chance to drive the Odyssey Ford s Windstar has leaped to the top of my minivan list " Pos," This is my first vehicle that is not a car I have never owned a motorcycle motorhome pickup truck or anything else other than mostly big roomy sedans I like my creature comforts when tooling down the highway enroute to one golf resort or another With about a year left to go on the Oldsmobile I got to thinking about minivans and decided to do some research I relied too on a friend who is now in his third straight minivan no Fords for advice on what besides the cupholders are the advantages of minivan ownership I used the Internet to do the research relying heavily on Kelly Blue Book www kbb com and www edmunds com Both are really good sites whether you are buying or leasing and whether it s a car or a truck Bottom line is that between them and my buddy although he is absolutely not a Windstar guy I decided that if I was getting a minivan it was going to be Ford s It was a close call over the Honda Odyssey Truth is there are a lot of great vehicles out there nowadays Maybe you won t go wrong with any of them but I am thinking that for the money you can t get much safer or more comfortable I ve been driving mine now for about four months and I believe that I am ready to evaluate it I don t know much at all about the technical stuff but I do know that I am satisfied with the gas mileage The ride is nice of course when your vehicle is new you are careful to miss most bumps larger than a bottlecap but nevertheless I did not miss a few and I can tell you from experience It s a nice ride I got the SE model with the quot radar quot in the back That s the rear sensing system that saved me from an accident in a supermarket parking lot this past week I never saw the guy and I never would have had a chance if it wasn t for that alarm going off just in the nick of time It s been the better part of 30 thirty years since I hit something I wasn t aiming at and I can tell you I am real grateful for this alarm system It would have been a minor ding I am sure but it would have ruined a great driving record Thanks again Ford If this model doesn t have enough bells and whistles for you well I gotta tell you that you are pretty spoiled No matter though they have two others I think loaded with even more stuff if you have to have it The right side back door opens and closes at the push of a button That s pretty neat makes me wish I had gotten the left door that way too You know what else is pretty neat the outside mirrors not only are they quot powered mirrors quot they are heated To melt the ice which we will be getting our fair share of starting any day now No more scraping mirrors Works for me I could go on with what I like about it but if you re looking to buy one of these or one of the competition s versions then I better tell you what I don t like about it as well Gotta be fair The right front door cannot be opened with a key there is NO keyhole My vehicle has quot keyless entry quot so I shouldn t complain but I don t keep that little quot doo jigger quot on my keyring It s my emergency backup in case I stupidly leave my keys in the car again and sometimes it would be handy to access that door with a key For someone else or for packages for example I am not crazy about my cupholders The ones in the front section of the car just under the radio that you have to pull out like a drawer Well they re a little chintzy if you ask me I don t trust them to hold my medium diet pepsi and they don t hold my coffee mug So what are they good for Like the song says quot Absolutely Nothin quot The only other thing that really bugs me is the back door lift gate or whatever they call it If anything ought to be quot powered quot this is it I m guessing that if there is one feature that costs Ford the most customers this would have to be it I believe that the Ford people would do well to hire themselves a woman engineer to check this door out from the point of view of people who are less than 6 1 220 and make it so it s a wee bit more user friendly Dumbest door I ve ever seen If you are thinking minivan for your next purchase You might want to just take my word for it I did the research Windstar is a good deal br br " Pos," I ve recently purchased a 2000 Ford Windstar LX We traded in our 1996 Windstar and are very pleased with the refinements that Ford has continued to make to the Windstar with each successive model year Ford was a little late in adding the fourth sliding door option and quite frankly they were probably caught a little bit by surprise when Chrysler introduced this innovation to the minivan market a couple of years ago But while Chrysler and GM were adding the additional door Ford was continuing to place an emphasis on Safety and Ride Quality The Windstar is the only Domestic Mini Van with a 5 Star Collision rating and for the year 2000 side impact air bags are an option The Windstar is adequately powered however you pay dearly for the additional boost in the anemic gas mileage you ll get The Windstar has a decent road feel but steering can at times feel vague But the Windstar is relatively easy to maneuver is quiet and is quite pleasant to drive and ride in The Captains seats are well padded and comfortable and are quite improved from earlier models The 6 way power driver s seat option with lumbar support adjustment is highly recommended Also optional is on the LX is remote controlled automatic passenger s side sliding door This is a great convenience when toting small children Ford also offers a premium sound package with a CD player as an upgrade for about 300 The sound is exceptional for a factory installed system Also recommended is the rear heat and air option This allows all passengers to ride in comfort The styling on the 2000 model has also been refined The front end is more rounded imitating Chrysler s styling initiatives But on the plus side this also seems to have improved visibility over the front nose of the van Next time your in a parking lot look at all the bent front license plates on earlier Windstar models Due to poor visibility over the nose Windstar drivers were are constantly hitting parking rail guards A minor irritation becomes evident in rainy conditions you ll notice that the rear window wiper only seems to clear about half the driver s side of the window While I personally didn t have any problems with my 96 model my sister had some of the renowned Windstar problems with her 95 model head gasket electrical and has vowed never to purchase another Ford However from the group of people I know she is the only one to have serious problems with the Windstar Chrysler and GM have had there own share of problems mainly transmission related with their minivans If you are in the market for a Minivan and Safety and Comfort are a priority I d highly recommend that you test drive the Windstar I think you ll agree that it compares quite nicely to its competitors br br " Pos," We bought our new 2000 Ford Windstar last October and have been extremely happy with our purchase so far There have been no mechanical problems at all Here are some of the features that we like best about our Windstar It drives much more like a car than a van It doesn t have that top heavy awkward van feeling to it on corners We were also impressed with the amount of pep the engine has While it s not a Porsche it does have very impressive acceleration for a van much more similar to a car again than to other vans I have driven On the back of the back seat there are these great little hooks that you can use to hook grocery bags onto when you go shopping This seems like a small feature but we really love it You no longer have to worry about the ice cream falling onto it s side and leaking and you never have to repack your bags with all the items that spilled out during the drive home The idea of removable seats is great We often take them out when we go camping and put a mattress in the back It makes for an extremely comfortable sleep The only thing that would be better would be if they could make the seats lighter You need to be fairly muscular to take out the single seats we took the four bucket seats in the first two rows and the bench at the back option while the bench seat at the back is really a two person job to remove and reinstall Having the sliding doors on both sides is a very helpful feature that allows you to easily access just about anywhere in the vehicle We used ours to move across the country and found it very helpful in packing and accessing our belongings once they were packed in We were quite impressed with the stereo system Before hearing it we had discussed having a better system installed but once we had our first listen we decided we d keep the factory installed model The climate control system is quite good for the people in the front two seats From a cold start it heats up or provides air conditioning very quickly however there are no air vents to provide circulation to passengers in the back A couple of times now when we ve had a full load of people we have either had to bake or freeze in the front to keep our passengers in the back comfortable I m not sure if there was an option to have rear climate controls but if there is it will be something we will think about getting next time We don t often have many passengers so it hasn t been too big of a problem for us but if you frequently carry a full load of passengers it s something you might really want to think about I should add that there are two windows at the back that open slightly to help with air circulation which is great for your passengers when it s hot and you don t want to use air conditioning The tinted windows that we opted for help with this too Finally if you like to bring beverages in the car with you there are more cupholders in the van than you would believe " Pos," We recently traded in our 1996 Dodge Caravan for a 2000 Ford Windstar We had had the Caravan for three years and I was very happy with it so when it came time to make the change I was a little leary However I found that the Windstar had almost all the features that I had had in the Caravan When I found out that the Windstar had a five star safety rating I was convinced The first time I drove our new Windstar I was amazed at the amount of power it had Our Caravan had always been rather sluggish when pulling out of our driveway and onto our uphill street But the Windstar took right off I ve been guilty of giving it too much gas many times because I expect it to need the extra push It doesn t One of the most important features to me especially with getting three kids in and out is the sliding door on the driver side I was so glad to hear that the new Windstars had this It makes it so much easier getting small children and packages in and out without having to climb all the way inside Plus I feel much safer knowing that if we were in an accident there would be better accessibility to my children The Windstar is also a much heavier vehicle It does not get swayed by the wind nearly as much as the Caravan I feel that it would hold up in a collision much better than the Caravan I feel much safer driving the Windstar knowing that it has a good safety rating I have three children of my own and always have my friends children in the car as well so safety is extremely important to me The only thing missing from our new Windstar is the built in child restraints in the middle seat I don t use them for my own children but it is handy to have when extra kids are in the car unexpectedly These are available in the Windstar but we did not want to add the cost of having them installed Our new Windstar is a beautiful vehicle It is practical and safe I would recommend it to anyone br br " Pos," Being a young single person such as myself there is not much of a need for a minivan but I checked it out nonetheless Aesthetically it has the same look and feel of other minivans but with a significant advantage Upon getting into the minvan you first notice the room no more cramped legs up front or in the rear with plenty of room to add accessories such as a console for beverages cd s tapes etc Space aside the seats also have a great deal of maneuvering power so it is definitely possible to achieve that comfortable position you had in the last car Another plus is the rear sliding door as there is one on either side of the minivan No more line ups to get inside the van Once the seat is adjusted and you turn the engine on surprise a nice healthy engine with no obtrusive noises After you hit the gas pedal and start driving you notice the immense power this vehicle has it is so smooth and able to achieve your desired speed rather quickly It s almost like driving a car When driving uphill you never fell the need to quot floor quot it just to be able to drive above 2 miles an hour When you see the light ahead about to turn red and get ready to hit the brakes the Windstar brakes so effortlessly coming to a complete stop exactly where you want to stop Even for those sudden slam on the brakes moments you will notice that this vehicle does not at all jerk you forward It adjusts were well to abrupt and harsh driving conditions The only downside is inside the minivan Parents may notice that the rear window latches are a little on the clumsy side and have the potential to result in jammed little fingers While this isn t necessarily the most affordable minivan it is a good complete package boasting a modern appearance and a good ride making this a very good choice for people who need the roominess of a minivan but don t like traditional minivans br br " Pos," We ve had our 2000 Windstar SEL since July 2000 It s a much nicer more refined vehicle than our previous Chevrolet Astro and Plymouth Voyager Here are the things we like best about our Windstar The ride is very comfortable The interior is very comfortable The controls are laid out logically the rear ventilation system works great the seats are relatively comfortable and the power side doors work perfectly The styling is gorgeous Even though the Windstar design is getting a little old it s still the most distinctive beautiful minivan on the road Safety Five stars Front and side airbags Reverse sensing system Anti lock brakes Traction control Conveniences like cup holders rear passenger ventilation system controls power side doors and the entertainment system They all work great Concerns Long term reliability So far we ve had the van into the dealer for 3 minor recall issues replacement of the intake manifold replacement of the front disc brake rotors and replacement of a front seat belt buckle to repair the malfunctioning seat belt warning system These are relatively minor issues but I am concerned about long term reliability because we plan on keeping this van for many years Leg room for rear seat passengers is extremely limited Our sons are 15 and 12 and sometimes groan when they re relegated to the back seat As I said this is our third minivan Our kids are 8 12 and 15 and we ve worn out a Chevy Astro and Plymouth Grand Voyager through the years By far the Windstar is the most comfortable user friendly minivan we ve owned It s holding up well to kid abuse and the normal wear and tear of daily life The reliability issues concern us a little but it looks like we have the bugs worked out now We re looking forward to many years with our Windstar It s too bad however that this will likely be our last minivan By the time we wear this one out our 2 older kids will be off to college and all we ll need is a car That ll be a switch I d recommend the Windstar to anyone It s relatively spacious comfortable safe fun to drive and a good value " Pos," First I ll say this The 1995 and to some extent the 96 Windstar SUCKED reliability wise The 95 model was the first model year so it s sort of understandable The 95 year had transmission problems and all sorts HOWEVER The new vans are GREAT Several people I know have Windstars of various vintages 96 97 98 2000 Only the guy with the 96 has had problems My family has rented 3 Windstars a 95 98 and 99 each for over a month We used them for long drives we went two days constantly on the highway and also around town We ve been completely impressed with all of them The interior is humungous Every time we rented a Windstar it was used to haul 6 people and luggage on long trips No problem Still comfy for everyone in the van The only complaint was with the 1995 model the air conditioning wasn t very good in the back bench However this was completely fixed in the 98 and 99 models we rented All the vans were very comfortable and the sound systems were excellent important if you are on long trips They all had the 3 8L V6 and drove nicely especially the 99 Absolutely nothing went wrong with any of them including the 1995 and we were so impressed that we nearly bought one we decided on a Focus because we don t really need the extra space I highly reccommend the Ford Windstar but only models from 1997 and on This is the van for families Tips Don t get a Windstar without the 3 8L V6 engine The extra power is very nice and the engine is smoother br br " Pos," We have had 2 Ford Windstars in the past 4 years But we didn t trade in because of any problems We traded it in to get a newer model and we are not sorry We love our Windstar The ride is superb and quiet It is so comfortable to travel in We ve been to Niagara Falls Canada Toronto and Montreal also And we ve also done closer trips to Vermont New Hampshire Rhode Island We are from Massachusetts I have never had any problems to speak of with these vans and love the dependability of them There s plenty of room for a family and cargo too The seats are very comfortable I happen to like Fords anyway Haven t had any complaints in the 29 years we ve had them in our family So I have good reason to stay with them Our van also has the automatic sliding door in the right rear We especially love that convenience When you re bogged down with tons of shopping bags from a shopping day at the mall you really appreciate this feature " Pos," We did extensive research and drove every mini van in town This is the fifth mini van that we have owned but the first Ford We love the car The built in TV and VCR are wonderful for the kids The car rides beautifully has lots of room nice features and is generally a perfect car So far 3 months we haven t found anything about this car that we do not like It even gets better mileage than was advertised We recommend this car with no reservations For the first time we have chosen to lease and this is also a good experience We plan to get another Windstar in 2 years and our lease payment is only 350 per month br br " Pos," I bought my Bronco in 1999 It was an 89 XLT with only 84 000 miles on the clock and it showed The 89 is the same as the 90 which is why I posted it here I bought this vehicle because I was moving to Northern Iowa and I had a 2WD 1986 GMC Sierra Classic with 160 000 on the clock and needed something new for Iowa s winter weather This Bronco was a one owner and I paid a fairly reasonable price for it People who don t know much about truck models think it is new There is plenty of interior space and seats 5 very comfortably No one has to ask me to move my seat up It has a 302 V 8 which is plenty of power for this vehicle The previous owner towed his RV with this rig I have actually tried to get this tank stuck and had difficulty at doing so with the 33 quot tires it is equipped with right now As a previously stated this Bronco is a tank It is 11 years old and runs great sounds great and looks great One thing Broncos tend to do is wander when traveling in a straight line It is not recommended for people who will only drive it around town Elderly people and or people wearing skirts dresses or high heels may have trouble climbing in this vehicle You must also be prepared to get 13 18 MPG and even lower in four wheel drive The Bronco is great for someone who needs a dependable powerful and comfortable four wheel drive vehicle at a reasonable price " Pos," I have already written an epinion about a 1992 Ford Ranger that I used to own but last week I traded it in for a 1998 model This time I decided to go with the off road package which gave me the 4 0 liter V6 I love the power A few nice emenities are a center counsel five speed tranny larger wheels and tires and a hard tonneau cover As for how it rides it s pretty smooth much better than I had expected out of a truck with an off road package I also like the fact I sit higher than most other traffic that is except for the onslaught of Suburbans and Expeditions I am pretty comfortable driving this truck it s a little cramped but tolerable I m about average height 6 feet so my legs are bent a little bit but it s not like my knees are rubbing on the steering wheel or anything I don t think I can say enough about the acceleration and towing power of this truck I love it After driving the standard 2 3L Ranger for awhile it sure is nice to have a little something behind the gas pedal again Just to test it I tried towing my dad s car trailer with my mom s Bravada on it to see how it did and it handled it with no problem Now I can t wait for summer to take the boat or jet skis out One draw back to the extra power is the extra cost of gas I don t think this is all directly due to the larger displacement though now that I have a little power I m putting my foot in it a lot more as well but on the highway it s getting right around 20 22 mpg br br " Pos," I give this truck a definite thumbs up It is affordable and good looking The Ford Rangers have come a long way since they first were introduced This pickup truck has taken me where I wanted to go and for a reasonable amount of money There is nothing in this world that could compare to getting in my truck and taking it wherever I want to It goes when you want it to That s why I chose this truck Although it is a challenge in the snow I find that the good far more than outweighs the bad It is comfortable but could use a little extra leg room if you ask me To drive this vehicle feels secure It s a safe vehicle and knowing that makes it much easier and more fun to drive For someone who is looking for a powerful safe rugged midsize pickup this is the truck I personally would suggest checking out br br " Pos," When I set out to purchase a new auto I did not really give the Explorer that much consideration But now after owning it for just over a year I can say that I am truly pleased with it I was impressed with how much you can tow the pulling power of the engine and the stereo is not too shabby In my occupation I am sometimes required to bring a lot of gear with me and I kind of wish that the cargo area was bigger but the Explorer is still larger that Chevy I think that while driving at a high rate of speed on the highway the exterior sound is too great to enjoy the stereo I wish Ford did a little bit more to make the auto more to insulate the exterior noise In my occupation I am sometimes required to bring a lot of gear with me and I kind of wish that the cargo area was bigger but the Explorer is still larger that Chevy I think that while driving at a high rate of speed on the highway the exterior sound is too great to enjoy the stereo I wish Ford did a little bit more to make the auto a little bit more to insulate the exterior noise Oh ya last night while driving to work I got a flat I think that engineer who designed the tire changing system never had to USE this system It was a real pain I think that I like SUV s more simply because sitting at a higher elevation you get to see more of the road and it gives you time to mentally digest more information in a timely manner When I was a truck driver this is one thing that I found to be of particular value when driving long hauls I like the seats they have found to be comfortable on long or short drives I think that the side step bars or great for my wife who is a little vertically challenged My kid uses them as well to climb up and out of the auto Pleased I got it overall " Pos," My wife and I bought a 2000 F250 crewcab a little over a week ago Everything we wanted was not on the vehicle but it was a good compromise Our intended uses for this truck include hauling our cattle to market farm chores and occasionally hauling the family around two adults three teenagers and one younger We sat the kids in an extended cab to check legroom and found that size coming up short When I drive I don t care for kids knees in my back Once we had decided on the vehicle size that fit us we realized only Ford made a well equipped truck that large We looked at the Ford commercial pamphlet and decided for long life the 6 8 liter V10 and heavy duty automatic transmission would be able to perform the tasks we were buying the truck for It is a stout engine and has torque that becomes available at a lower r p m than the Chevy 6000 V8 Driving home and subsequently I have found the Ford to be quiet with a high quality ride more at home on a car than a truck We have driven bumpy roads to test the ride quality as well as the ability of the cd player to withstand bumps without skipping and it passed The power trailer mirrors are great and the amount of glass in the body lets you see forever almost The gas mileage is about normal for a truck perhaps slightly better than I had thought for a large engine I enjoy driving this truck it is comfortable and not bouncy I put a half ton of feed in the back and didn t notice any difference I would have liked the captains chairs and a different color but I am happy with the purchase and it looks like it will last for years " Pos," we have now had our v10 F250 for 2 years we bought one of the first 2000 s back in October 1999 The truck has an automatic and the v10 engine having 310bhp and around 450ft lb torque Its a pulling monster We have the truck set up with 3 73 rear gears it is not a four wheel drive We pull a 19 foot boat weighing in with trailer gas and all of us at about 4500 lbs The truck still runs like there is no weight behind it gas mileage drops from about 15 to 16 to around 12 to 14 depending on speed we have found that about 65 is the best speed to gas mileage ratio The interior of the truck is wonderful it is a xlt with all options It has a cd player which could be better The air is ice cold and the heater blows out air hot enough to burn you It relativley quiet inside the main thing you hear is the ten cylinders in front of you working Room in the back is exceptional Room in the front is more then anyone would ever need We have taken the truck on many vacations and it has gotten about 17 miles to the gallon then not to bad for a 6 8L engine With a roll top cover the bed is virtually waterproof and lockable " Pos," Hot rod trucks are not a new form of radical transportation by any means however Ford really is on the proverbial ball when it comes to this one Add an intercooled supercharger to Ford s already potent Triton 5 4 liter overhead cam V8 engine then drop it into a lowered F 150 with a dramatically stiffened suspension and huge disc brakes and voila you have the worlds coolest hot rod production truck not to mention at the time the fastest i Driving Impressions i A ny full sized pickup truck gives you that sense of power most notably the 2002 Dodge Rams towering over small passenger cars In the case of the 1999 F 150 Lightning though the feeling is enhanced With 360 horsepower at your right foot coupled to a silky smooth 4 speed automatic transmission don t expect a boring ride In terms of acceleration the 1999 Ford F 150 Lightning is astonishing ripping 0 60 in under 6 seconds and to 100 mph in an estimated 15 2 seconds according to many specs Unlike most trucks where weight and poor aerodynamics come into play at around 80 or so MPH the Lightning pulls far past that Add flat neutral cornering with excellent grip responsive steering and very supportive seats and the mixture is just about perfect for a hot rod show truck SVT special vehicles team selected the 5 4 liter Triton V8 offered in the F 150 and Expedition as the powerplant for the 1999 Lightning Very good idea if you ask me The 4 6 found in the Mustangs would have lacked Torque and power if they would have selected that particular engine The Trition was conceived primarily to deliver a lot of low rev torque 440lb ft 3 000 RPM with a smaller bore than stroke of 3 60 x 4 22 Realizing that the Lightning buyers would want substantially more horsepower some significant changes were made over its predecessor and its lesser models The main power increase came by way of an intercooled Eaton Series II supercharger also found the Jaguar XJR The V8 got a special forged steel crankshaft sinter forged alloy rods and special dished alloy 8 4 1 compression pistons A Larger 2 28 dual bore throttle body was also installed Suspension b The basic ladder type separate frame as used on all F 150s is retained for the Lightning as is the basic suspension short long arms up front and a leaf sprung live axle out back Modifications include a lower height recalibrated springs modified shocks thicker anti roll bars and some massive four wheel vented disc brakes i Interior Accommodation i The interior of the F 150 Lightning is very much like the regular F 150s All Lightnings comes with split bench seats with center arm rests and storage bins The steering wheel is thick and meaty The stereo system in my test truck was not stock it was a 6 speaker Alpine system but from what I hear they came with excellent sounding stock sound systems The gauge s are white giving you that sporty feel while looking at your speedometer rise same gauges that are in the SVT Mustang These gauge s can be found in a number of Ford performance automobiles There is plenty of room for 3 adults and the seats are very supportive and comfortable to boot Like the regular F 150s for 99 model year the Lightning is very car like in configuration The drivers position is especially good allowing for easy access to the HVAC controls and all of the gadgetry in the cabin i Exterior Innovation i The exterior while not as bold as the 2002 Dodge Ram or any current generation Dodge Ram is much more bold than the regular F 150s There is no confusing a F 150 Lightning with a regular F 150 or any truck on this planet for that matter The F 150 Lightning comes with side exhaust a very cool feature would have been better if it had dual side exhaust A SVT badge of honor in the rear Huge 18 rims matched with high performance tires and an aggressive nose lets other drivers know this is one serious truck All Ford Lightnings get the practical and convenient opening rear window Red black or white in all three of the available colors the F 150 lightning radiates real aggression and style with its lowered stance and sexy five spoke alloy rims and body extensions Because of how collectible these trucks are the price is actually higher then what they were back in 1999 I have seen F 150 Lightnings go for around 40 000 New these trucks had a MSRP of around 30 000 even i Conclusion i While most owners will not utilize the power provided in the Lightning the Ford Lightning offers amazing performance attributes This vehicle may not be the best for off road use in fact off road use is best avoided however this type of a truck is one that will turn heads and burn rubber fair enough trade off The Lightning is recommended 100 to anyone looking for an exclusive non off road hot rod production truck Looking to read about another truck You may want to check out a href content 49617079940 my review on the Dodge Ram a Happy Car Shopping " Pos," I utilize a F 150 XL Model through work It s a base model featuring a 5 Speed Titan V 8 and a tape deck This truck is abused Numerous people drive it for deliveries getting supplies and weekend use There is no doubt in my mind it takes a beating I have to say it s durability has impressed me Our truck is approaching 40K in mileage and the only work required has been regular maintenance and self induced The later primarily refers to several flat tires a broken front grill someone bumped on of our bigger trucks and a sheared off Lug on the right rear wheel You can see what I mean about abuse However the drive train remains quite solid Considering the base model and I drive it in workboots the thing picks up quite good and breaks loose quite easy Rain is the biggest enemy as with most trucks That big V 8 will break the wheels loose quickly and efficiently The ride is comfortable considering it s work status It equipped with a basic cloth benchseat I ve made several day long runs in it and it could be more comfortable but it could be a lot worse The lack of cruise control is a bigger factor to me than the seats The bed is sized to hold most of what we need The tailgate easily disconnects if necessary nice feature This truck has an excellent utility aspect and I would recommend it to any fleet or local shop However if your shopping for a personal truck I would recommend a better equipped model The build quality is certain to be the same but you don t want that bench seat br br " Pos," Late in the summer of 1999 my husband and daughter were in an accident that left our 1993 Chevrolet Lumina minivan totaled We spent the next month searching for a replacement When buying a new vehicle my husband and I have different priorities My concern is generally limited to the passenger area and comfort while he is concerned about what is under the hood We both have been very pleased with the minivan we chose a 1999 Ford Windstar After test driving many new and used minivans the first thing I noticed when I got into the Windstar was how well built and sturdy it felt It handled well and was very comfortable I liked how the instrument panel was designed everything was easy to find and clearly labeled I was also impressed with the amount of space there was both leg room and hauling space The rear bench seat can be moved to the center allowing even more space in back I also noticed the arm rest by the window A person in the front seat doesn t need the window down to rest their arm as if it were Every seating position was comfortable and the upholstery and door design were very pleasing to the eye Having the second sliding door is something we wanted as was keyless entry No more fumbling for keys in the rain The Windstar had everything we wanted and two hours later it was ours I realize that engine power and size are important and my husband is very pleased with that aspect of our new van Of course safety played an important part of our decision and the Windstar consistently ranks among the safest If you want comfort along with reliability in a minivan I highly recommend the Ford Windstar " Pos," Everyone who knows something about cars and or anything about the Ford Windstar then they know it is a very praised van 5 star crash test rating what could be more important numerous awards and more This is arguably the most popular mini van on the market for good reason I ve owned a Ford Winstar for about a year and a half now and have had no real problems to date This is a very reliable car not to mention its performance This car still has that new car feel when you first test drive it it is very smooth running Another thing that is great about the Ford Windstar is that IT IS A FORD What car company has the experience that Ford does With Ford you know that you are getting a good quality automobile that will last you for many years to come For instance my father just sold his 1988 Ford F 150 which was in perfect condition from the inside the body was somewhat rusted and it turned out to be a bargain from the price he paid for it to last him 12 years with very minimal visits to the shop Back to the Windstar itself If you have a large family or even a small one you cannot go wrong with this car Just by looking at you can tell it has quot family car quot written all over it It s perfect to take the kids on long trips and the car is very versatile All in all the Ford Windstar is a great car that you and your family will enjoy for a long while br br " Pos," Ford is making it very easy to find a Windstar that fits you First its only real competition this model year is the new Honda Odyssey and good luck finding one of those Second Ford Credit is willing to throw free money at buyers who rate it Third the Windstar can be dressed up in about any configuration imaginable Unless you are buying for some institution you ll skip the base and deal with the LX which comes with the second sliding door Next you ll scratch your head trying to figure out what the difference is between the LX and SE models All the same equipment is available on each so sooner or later your salesman will have to breakdown and confess the only difference is the chrome trim which mars IMHO the SE s grille and sides It looks like the chrome tape you can buy at Pep Boys but evidently some segment of Ford s market research showed anything over 25Gs has to have chrome Next you ll wonder why anybody in their right mind would pop for a top of the line SEL with the garish two tone paint and three spoke wheels which actually look LESS luxurious than the down market Windstar alloys The SEL also harbors Ford s hyped but likely high nuisance factor rear sensor array which is supposed to tell you when you are about to back into something but I bet sounds every time a cat swooshes past If this sounds like a big gold star for the LX you get a gold star It can be loaded up with nearly every available option including a rear passenger stereo set up which has to be the envy of Honda traction control quad seating etc The drive train for all models is solid if unspectacular The 200hp V 6 moves the machine nicely at highway speeds providing for effortless cruising and passing But hey it is a mini van and not a dragster even though the copious amounts of torque in the low end can come on quick providing a less car like ride than the Odyssey or say the Sienna As dealers are getting rid of Windstars pretty fast and pocketing the several hundred dollars in factory holdback in the process it shouldn t be too hard to come in with a price at or slightly above invoice Couple that with the aforementioned special financing and anyone in the market for a people mover needs to check it out br br " Pos," I live in the Netherlands Europe and bought a new Ford Windstar SEL which comes unfortunately with a 3 0 ltr engine in the Netherlands only We a family of 6 like to go on holidays on long trips like driving to Spain or Southern France occasionally with a trailer caravan When I was in a hurry to get home I drove about 1000 miles from Spain to Netherlands in a consecutive night and day with hardly a pause Under such circumstances you really value the Windstar as a family limo 5 people are just sleeping and I am driving with comfortable seating music on a headphone fan to keep you awake and the small inside rearview mirror to watch over your family in the meantime dragging a fully loaded caravan mobilehome through the rolling hills I have driven Mercedes Volvo Audi Buick and other good cars but like this one most cause driving it doesn t tire you The only thing I don t like is that models exist with a bigger engine and I don t have it even at a gasoline price of 5 dollar a gallon and that car probably costing as much as 50 000 over here If Ford starts to export 3 8 ltr models to Europe that will probably be my next one next year or so One other thing is the remote sensor In European cities you don t have much parking space but with this reverse sensor you can park it anywhere with great pleasure and people watching and admiring you for your craftmanship Of course this car also had minor drawbacks sofar like electric side doors not closing without some help every once in a year and plastic details just falling of but hey nothing is perfect and a Ford isn t a Ford with some less significant loose parts easy to be clicked back Auto Detroit is French for selfdestruct Also the seat configuration is hard to change with some European cars like Renault or Opel you need only to point to a seat to remove but in Windstar it is real work One more important positive part my wife doesn t like to drive big cars in general but really loves this one " Pos," Wehn my parents were looking for a new car they were especially interested in a van Only problem was that they didnt know which one Whether it be a Quest Sienna Caravan or Windstar First we were interested in the Sienna but they were very hard to find available and they are a heck of a lot of money Then we came across the Windstar What a van it was very spacious and we got it at a great deal In the front seat there is an unbelievable amount of leg room And don t worry about the back seats plenty of room for any sized person I recommened to get bucket seats in the middle seating area Much more attractive and private like for the riders The seating is very comfortable and the remote door feature is an ideal one for youngsters and elders C mon think about it you know how heavy a Van door is Right Well all you have to do is press onw button and it is opened for you I also recommend that you select the option of no middle console because the van is much more spacious without And you really dont need it because there is a big bucket type drawer on the fron console The trunk of the van is also unbelievably huge I couldn t believe it when i saw it So take my advice and go look at a Ford Windstar br br " Pos," My wife and I own a 99 WINDSTAR that we bought in Feb 99 and we have had no problems with it at all WE HAD A 97 AND HAVE LEASED FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS FROM FOR WITH ONLY A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS WITH 3 DIFFERENT VAN S WHEN WE DID HAVE A PROBLEM FORD FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME IS WAS IN THE SHOP WE WOULD BUY ANOTHER ONE WHEN THIS LEASE IS UP THE RIDE IS GREAT AND IS VERY COMFORTABLE SHE REALLY LIKES TWO SIDE DOORS AND WITH A SET OF TWINS AND TWO OLDER KIDS ITS EASY TO GET IN AND OUT WE HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL TRIPS AND HAS A LOT OF ROOM br br " Pos," I have a Ford Windstar LX 99 It is so comfortable quiet and spacious The redesign of this car was a complete success it is larger with more available amenities and the option of a much more powerful engine 3 8L V6 The addition of a second sliding door makes the all new Ford Windstar a very good choice in your Minivan In the van I felt very safe knowing that is got quadrouple five star safety ratings very high marks It is the most comfortable quiet and spacious minivan I have ever been in and I was only in the LX model It is priced right at about 20 000 to start and boy it is well worth it I had an early nineties sedan that was much less manuverable than this van and it is three times the size br br " Pos," I purchased my new Windstar in August of 1999 from Bankston Ford in Frisco Texas I would recommend this vehicle to my best friend Ford continues to put out the highest quality cars and trucks on the road The Windstars safety record speaks for itself My insurance went down 15 a month when I purchased it trading in my 95 Dodge Van My insurance agent was as happy as can be because the van comes factory equipped with a passive anti theft system The ride is great there is lots of room for my family and the gear that comes with two kids LOTS If I had to do it all over again I would buy the exact same vehicle 10 times out of 10 If you are in the market for a van that the whole family will love Ford has the van for you I have the Windstar LX which is the middle of the line as far as accessories go and highly recommend it The gas mileage is great for this big of a vehicle also Go buy one and you will love it too br br " Pos," When we bought this van we had an Aerostar for almost 5 years and loved it It was very reliable and lots of fun to drive It was also one of the safest vehicles on the road at the time Last year 99 we bought the new model Windstar It was like a dream car it is so pretty and rides really well It sits all five of us comfortable and if there are a couple extra people with us they are fine also My father in law mentioned it rides like a caddy and it does Handles well and everything The gas mileage is good and it has taken very little to maintain it It has the highest safety ratings of all cars and this was a huge selling point for us comfortable and safe Both my husband and I were in an awful accident in Italy and don t want to take any chances again Well now what I don t like is this A It has an engine knock that has been checked over and the dealer said that there isn t a knock It must be the cheap gas well we upgraded to a name brand and the knock is worse We also have been having problems with the transmission slipping again we were told they couldn t duplicate the problem This isn t as bad as it was but is still there The engine knock is bad from time to time was so bad the other day that it was hard to accelerate We are leasing and in 2 years our lease will be up and we will have to decide whether to buy this van or go on to another vehicle If the problems are not fixed you know where we are going To another dealer br br " Pos," If they did they probably wouldn t be millionaires No one in their right mind should have to pay 2000 to 3000 above MSRP like some dealers are charging for the 2002 Odyssey In fact I looked at a used 2000 Odyssey in my area with 40K that was 27 000 So I purchased a very clean used 99 Ford Windstar SE with 32K for 14000 My second child will be here in a couple of months so I reluctantly had to make the big break from a car to a minivan Would I have liked a Honda Odyssey or Mazda MPV Yes Could I have afforded a Honda Odyssey or Mazda MPV Yes Do I want to afford a Honda Odyssey or Mazda MPV NO It was a simple question of value Getting something that works for not much money Let s face it The majority of Post 1980 s vehicles are ALL much more reliable than they used to be Ford Chrysler GM etc A hundred thousand miles is nothing these days 250K is a more realistic goal now You don t need a Honda or Toyota to achieve that anymore Furthermore I ve owned three Hondas Two Accords and one Civic They are not without their glitches And regular maintenance costs mufflers brakes any other parts you may need are roughly twice the price of parts for domestic vehicles The newer Hondas and Toyotas may be made in USA but usually the parts are made overseas and are subject to import tariffs Also a trademark of all my Hondas was a hard uncomfortable seat and a harsh ride that would be a good feel of the road and stiff handling to the Honda fans I drive 400 miles frequently with maybe one stop for gas It became almost unbearable with a Honda seat sometimes I would be saddle sore the next day Seats may seem like small things to consider but your hiney has a major interaction with your vehicle Most models of the Windstar have the features you most need as do most of the minivans out there that aren t the absolute base model It has comfortable seats a comfortable quiet ride and most of all it is a good value The thing is going to run for a long time and I didn t have to break the bank to get one Not only can I haul my kids with the Windstar I have money left over to put a little away for their college fund If it needs a few repairs so be it The extra 13 Grand I would ve had to spend on a similarly used Honda will go a long way to any would be repairs " Pos," As a former employee of Ford I found the Aspire as a wonderfully refreshing replacement to the Festiva My first Festiva went about 18 000 miles before the rings came unseated and blew the oil out The Aspire engineers have cured this problem and I have the only GT Aspire that I know of I was with Ford for 22 years and can do just about anything that can be done to a car mechanically speaking The Aspire has the 59 HP Festiva engine otherwise known as a Mazda 121 Cosmo engine and is set up to run on fuel that is subgrade to US unleaded I decided to try an old trick of boring out the throttle body to increase the airflow through the engine and got a little more than I asked for The dyno gives me 64 HP with a decent highway mileage figure of 38 MPG Therefore I stuck some quot GT quot logos on the lower front fenders and added the FACTORY spoiler on the top of the rear deck The take off from redlights is a little bit better but if you were looking for tire burners get a Mustang The Aspire is a great little car equivalent with the Bug of the 60 s and 70 s but with real seatbelts and airbags to boot I have the intent to drive this car for a least 200 000 miles on the first engine and will periodically report the performance and cost of maintenance to quot Little Red quot If you have any quirks to comment on I m open for discussion I will try to share what I have learned from the parts books and mechanics I have picked up a lot of info this way br br " Pos," I bought another used 1999 Crown Vic with the insurance settlement after my first a used 1997 was totaled The car was T boned at the front quarter panel by a driver on drugs who plowed a 78 Trans Am at 50 mph through a stop sign The air bags did deploy See http www stormeyes org tornado nt000117 jpg for details p Though the car was knocked well off the roadway and totaled my family and I escaped with only scrapes scratches and a minor concussion from the air bag impact That was a high speed side impact collision folks more than testament enough to the safety of this car Its use in police and taxi fleets was convincing enough already regarding the Crown Vic s durability but now as long as Ford makes the Crown Vic with body on frame construction I will not buy another make and model p The vehicle is a little over four years old as of this writing and I have used it very heavily 101 000 miles of mainly highway driving in sometimes dreadful conditions I am a storm chaser and have equipped the car with a custom electronics rack that holds equipment very steady in such a stable smooth riding vehicle This car has been through severe wind sand storms large hail day after day of 100 degree heat subzero temperatures deep mud blizzards and once standing muddy water higher than the door bottoms all with no mechanical breakdowns or major problems It just passed its first tune up with flying colors I cannot imagine a more comfortable car in which to travel hundreds upon hundreds of miles per day Its top caliber suspension makes even notoriously rough Oklahoma and South Dakota back roads tolerable and on a smooth interstate it s hard to tell from feel alone that the car is moving at all The Crown Vic has an SUV s weight but with a far lower center of gravity making it amazingly stable in intense crosswind It also is 5 10 mpg more fuel efficient than most medium to large SUVs Unless one needs and frequently uses 4WD who does really a used late model Crown Vic should be given strong consideration as a primary family car p There is no more spacious trunk in the world of sedans My friend jokingly suggested I could stuff six bodies in there with room to spare Seriously I have a Gall s police trunk organizer in the bottom and there still is room for a long vacation s worth of luggage for a family of four plus groceries Although towing officially is passe I pull a 17 ft Bass Tracker with no problems There are some minor problems which I can tolerate for the sake of room and safety The LX models which I have had could use more power My car just cannot accelerate up hills very well Fortunately there is an option here that doesn t involve expensive retrofitting Used car buyers should consider Crown Vic Interceptors equipped with the police package dual exhaust for best results Also my paint on the doors and front panels began to chip and peel in small spots at around 80 000 miles revealing the white primer beneath Maybe that is related to the extreme conditions I have driven it through but a truly well done paint job should endure far worse for far longer " Pos," For those of you who were born after the 70s or were not old enough to drive then you missed something special That was the experience of owning and driving one of Detroit s huge old style luxury cars Though each manufacturer had its own fleet of flagships all of those cars had one thing in common Luxury And it was luxury that you just can t find today in any American car because nothing else is like owning the sheer mass of a 70s American luxury car The 1974 Ford LTD was a fine example of this departed breed Mine was a two door coupe with a landau top despite the car s huge dimensions the styling gave it almost a rakish appearance Being manufactured nearly 30 years ago natural resources weren t in such scarce supply either thus the rich appearance of the chrome grill and bumpers I find these vastly preferable to the plastic creations of today Mass was another thing this car has in abundance the two door model weighed over 5 000 pounds Besides being almost completely invulnerable in a collision with another car its huge cast iron V 8 made it nearly impervious to overheating in the summer In fact there were several times during my ownership that the radiator failed completely yet I drove for miles without knowing the cooling system had broken down simply because the car didn t overheat Ride quality was fantastic nothing upset this car s poise not bumps railroad tracks potholes or debris Driving on the expressway at speed was like floating in complete isolation of the road The interior was dead quiet no wind or road noise no rattles squeaks groans or vibration That only enhanced listening to the stereo you didn t have to turn it up to overpower road noise to the point that the sound was distorted Whatever your pleasure be it hard rock or string symphony you could relax and listen to it at a comfortable sound level Interior room simply has no comparison in a modern American car unless you go to the truck like Suburban or its kin Vast airy and expansive six adults sit with room to spare The old style bench seats give you every possible square inch of seating area Likewise the trunk is huge easily swallowing a dozen or more bags of groceries plus two spare tires or enough luggage for a whole family Naturally a car this old has its quirks though they weren t seen that way when it was built because it had the technology of its day and not the 21st century The engine was nothing sophisticated cast iron block no computer parts or modules and pre electronic ignition Tune ups and engine maintenance in general are much more frequent than on a modern car Can you handle tune ups every 10 000 miles and oil changes every 2 000 You ll also pay for replacement parts that no longer exist on modern cars and for servicing they don t need Are you old enough to remember points and condensors Did you have to take your first car in to have its joints lubricated every 3 000 miles If not you re going to learn something Other aspects of the 1974 LTD may also require some deep thought before you buy The model I had boasted a 351 cubic inch V 8 It was a smooth running engine but only had moderate horsepower about 170 Cars were like that then not like cars now which can give you 200 horsepower in a 200 cubic inch engine The point The car s power will do for everyday driving including emergency passing but you ll never burn any rubber Fuel costs to run this car may seem preposterous but remember it was built when regular unleaded sold for 43 cents a gallon Suffice it to say that even with the smallest V 8 the 351 which was advertised as an economy engine then you ll get about 10 miles per gallon city and about 14 miles per gallon highway And by the way there s no fuel injection in this car it s got a carburetor Still there s nothing like driving a car like this with a hood that s long enough to be the prow of a yacht and a cabin that s big enough to be the command room of a battleship Such cars may never again be built by American industry but this essay is in remembrance to the times in which they were " Pos," We need to start with the model I own The XLT with Appearance Package Several of my comments relate to features found in this model The premium sound system not the Mach system lacks low end bass I fixed that with an add on sub The good point being that the receiver is capable it s just the amp that is lacking The cargo area needs a net and some hooks to keep things in place My biggest gripe is that the cargo area does not come with a cover and there is no aftermarket ones available I fault Ford for not adding two little pieces of plastic into the sides that would have allowed me to add one This is coming from someone who has had their vehicle broken into because of what was visible in the cargo area I got the 5 4 V8 and it gets about 12 MPG My comment here is don t kid yourself if you don t like paying for gas then this is not the vehicle for you My particular model has some unique 17 factory rims Something is not right because my wheels require balancing every 5000 miles My tire place tells me that the wheels are designed so that it is hard for balancing weights to stay on This is not normal but I like the distinct look of the wheels The AWD system is not the best in the world producing noticeable slippage in snow However Ford compensated for this by adding in the unusual option of allowing a 4WD mode The 4WD mode is superb in the white stuff This being my 6th AWD 4WD vehicle I prefer 4WD in snow I refer you to the motto Transfers power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip The key point is that some slipping must be going on When this is done well see my epinion on the Subaru Outback then you don t notice in the Expedition s case it is not done well but the 4wd mode compensates The 3rd row seat while improved over previous years is still a pain in the butt to get in and out It is heavy and bulky and I always strain my back dealing with it Yes the manual says use two people but I don t happen to have an official seat moving helper on staff at the moment No normal feature of a car should require two people to use it They tried to compensate by allowing the seat to be folded into a shelf or tilted up Both of these features are nothing more than marketing The tilted up seat does not provide that much more room The folded down shelf is useless because anything placed on the self slides right off The new line of GM full size SUVS seems to have dealt properly with this feature by allowing two separate seats I tend to keep my seat removed and only put it back in when I have a lot of people to move The vehicle definitely looks cooler with it out Now on to the many many good points Design Room Room Room I am 6 4 and no part of this vehicle comes even close to any part of me shoulders head etc Good use of room In checking out the wildly popular line of Chrysler minivans I found roomy vehicles but a lot of wasted room Not so with the Expedition The console is fantastic the cup holders LARGE and enough little storage areas to please a pack rat I would ask for more storage in the cargo area though If you ve done your research you know that there is 4 feet between the wheel wells allowing for sheets of building materials Everything seems to be solid no thin plastic parts check out the console on a Blazer for an example of cheap plastic parts The steering wheel is large and cushioned and feels good in your hands I really like the CD changer being accessible in the center console yet still having plenty of room left for stuff try that with a smaller car The controls are standard Ford 3 rotary dials for climate cruise control on the steering wheel and minimal usage of steering wheel stalks This being my third Ford I like my controls predictable so I am very happy with the interior ergonomics The rear cargo area is cavernous and the pull down handle on the rear door is nice The step up bumper allows easy access should you need to actually get in the cargo area The Appearance Package provides step bars instead of running boards Being tall I don t like any step up features at all considering them to be a wuss feature however the women in my life all consider this to the best feature of the truck go figure Personally I have to be careful or they get my pant legs dirty There are grab handles for all 4 outboard passengers Mechanicals The ride and power is comparable to other SUVs Remember I have the 5 4 In test drives I found the 4 6 to be underpowered which is not true for the F150 Pickup One interesting note is that there seems to be so much power and low end torque that extra weight in the car seems to have little effect I have had 800 lbs of passengers and could not tell from the way the vehicle handled and accelerated The handling is great for something so large and the ride is exceptionally smooth for what is essentially a dressed up pickup The anti lock brakes are better than the average It comes with massive 4 wheel disks and does a good job stopping quick The electronic AWD 4WD works perfectly and is easy to use and understand although it is a little close to the ventilation knob both in distance and shape While I feel that this vehicle is tough enough to take off road see my Subaru Outback epinion I found the suspension to be a little spongy for off roading When combined with the tremendous weight of this thing I suggest keeping it on the pavement In all fairness I have taken some roadway dips at higher speeds and never actually bottomed out This might all be a perception thing on my part Seating The front seats are comfortable for longer drives The second row seat allow 3 adults to sit without touching one another or the seat backs in front of them The 3rd row seat is good for smaller people I have had kids back there and they actually enjoy it kind of like riding in the back of the station wagon when you were a kid In 14 months of ownership I have not had a single problem The quality of this vehicle is truly first rate All in all this is one fantastic vehicle and I will probably buy another one in a few years " Pos," I personally never owned or liked Fords until my husband and I went shopping for vehicles I was a GMC kind of gal and was really looking more at the GMC Suburbans My husband is a Ford fanatic and has owned Fords all his life I didn t like his F 150 because of the leather seats and even though it was a 3 door it was too small for us and his 3 kids On this trip we went into a dealership and I was looking around while he arranged some maintenance for his pick up I actually liked the look of the Expedition and was asked if I would like to test drive it I said quot sure quot knowing my heart was set on a Suburban I LOVE the way the Expedition handles and the comfort level while driving It was perfect and it opened my eyes It handles and rides like a car The seating is more comfortable than any SUV we had previously driven and the adjustable pedals are a blessing The back seats are even comfortable The third row seats are fine as long as you don t try to put a 6 tall person back there a teenager or two would fit back there comfortably The only thing I don t like about this SUV is the small amount of space behind the 3rd row seats I guess that is why there is a luggage rack on top We opted for the 2 wheel drive model as we live in Arizona and don t venture much in snow That is where the posi trac rear end comes in handy It senses slipping and the posi trac kicks in Hubby really liked that feature and was glad to have had it while going up through the Colorado mountains I think this is the perfect car for families wanting to travel in comfort or for people wanting to start a family sometime soon The automatic locking doors are perfect for keeping small children in tow while trying to remove groceries and such This feature also keeps the curious kids from accidently opening the door while the vehicle is moving An excellent choice in my book Lots of other features and goodies are available but my advice would be to test drive one and fall in live with it on your own br br " Pos," In November of 1999 my wife decided that she was interested in an SUV and wanted to trade in our 1997 Dodge Ram I had bought a 1999 Jeep Wrangler for myself earlier in the year so who was I to argue We went to all of the differant dealers in the area and checked out the Dodge Durango the Jeep Grand Cherakee Chevrolet Blazer GMC Jimmy and Tahoe We then went to the Ford Dealer to see an Explorer before we went back to make a deal on the Duango While walking across the lot to the Explorers my wife spotted the Expeditions She immediatly locked on to a gold XLT and the Durango was forgotten A test drive cinched the deal Since then we have taken a 1200 and a 600 mile trip experiencing all types of weather each time The Expedition is a dream to drive handles well and the gas mileage is reasonable We get about 15 mpg in the city and about 18 on the highway I have owned a good many vehicles in my time including a new Cadillac Sedan Deville and this is my all time pick for comfort Safety is another factor as you sit nice and high and the Expedition has a nice heavy secure feel We have the small V8 and power is not lacking When we fold up the third seat we have all of the room we need and if we remove the third seat and fold the second seat the space approximates that of a pickup Long objects like lumber fit on the roof rack We have added tinted window vents about 40 tinted front windows about 70 and a K amp N air filter about 55 When backing the vehicle seems longer than it is and the rear window being up so high makes it appear that vehicles and objects behind you are closer than they are One special luxury that we enjoy is the power operated adjustable gas and brake pedal My wife is 5 2 quot and runs the pedals all the way up and I like to have the lowest pedal setting A touch of a button is all it takes The only item I wish that it had was the memory settings for the seat adjustments but we can live without them All in all Ford has a winner with the Expedition the comfort of a luxury car while giving more room for passengers and cargo I had doubts at first about getting rid of our pickup because it was so handy but no more I am sold on the Expedition We looked at the Excursion while we were at the Ford dealer but it was just too big for us Try one on for size and I ll bet you will be the next buyer br br " Pos," When I see a Ford Expedition on the street I decide for buy it Because it was excellent It is better than Lincoln Navigator and Dodge Durango Because It is more powerfull than Durango cheap than Navigator and has same luxury whic I buy a Eddie Bauer 4x4 Fully Loaded You can drive it ar snowy rainy days without dangerous It is an excellent car More roomy than Durango and strong than Navigator ENGINE V8 The current V8 gives out 260hp I feel more which are adequate numbers for adequate engine performance We could feel the power draining a bit when we loaded the truck with people however Still the shifts are smooth and the power curve is evenly proportioned throughout acceleration My main gripe with the engine is the sub par fuel economy Even for an SUV the Expedition especially 4WD models I hear seemed excellent The rather not small gasoline tank is not to blame for frequent fill ups I would not recommend the 4 6 235 hp 8 cylinder that is also offered Manual transmissions are not available for either engine selection although automatics are far more popular The Expedition uses an on demand 4 wheel drive system and can be shifted from 2 wheel drive into 4 wheel drive while the vehicle is in motion Maximum towing capacity is 8000 lbs br br " Pos," We purchased the Expedition XLT Sport edition in Jan 2000 upgraded engine cloth seats upgraded running boards 6 disc CD player We have 4 kids 3 of which are still in some form of carseat booster seat So when we went shopping for a larger vehicle one major requirement was being able to seat 3 carseats alongside one another without any complications In many cars vans and even some SUVs it s almost impossible to do that without having one carseat pushed up against the other to the point where the seats don t sit evenly Amazingly enough we were able to put all 3 carseats in without any trouble at all The other problem we faced was my husband his height He s 6 6 That leaves a lot of cars out of the running because he s either scrunched up in the driver s seat with his knees hitting the steering wheel or his head is hitting the interior ceiling Personally I favored the design of the Dodge Durango but alas my husband s head not only hit the ceiling but if it had had a sunroof his head would ve been out of the car After looking at the Fords I really wanted the Excursion because of the extra storage space but my husband was concerned about the gas mileage Moot point in the end because he works from home therefore no commute We only spend about 40 a month on gas price being about 1 60 gal in N Calif because we only drive places a couple times a week as a family We solved the space issue in the Expedition by folding down the two middle row seats leaving the 3rd seat behind the front passenger seat up and being used then placing the other 3 kids in the back row This freed up a bit more usable area for groceries or the stroller Overall I ve been happy with it I like the fact that the driver s seat is adjustable as are the brakes because I m only 5 5 It s been an easy vehicle to drive unlike some of the minivans I ve owned before ie Dodge Grand Caravan the Pontiac Transport and it actually doesn t drive like a large vehicle My only real complaint is the lack of storage if you are putting more than 5 people into this car I still think that once we re ready to trade this vehicle in I m going to push for the Excursion or possibly a Suburban " Pos," My family has been a Ford family for the past 40 years if not longer My husband and I have just purchased a 2000 Ford expedition earlier this month we are expanding our family and needed a bigger vehicle to fit our family and our belongings The third seat in the back is a great idea it can be removed if we need the space or it can be used for extra passengers It is so much more convenient then a compact car We went from a dodge stratus to the expedition and in the car we could not have anyone ride with use so if we want to go some where with some one we would have to take at least two cars and that got pathetic My mother has owned a expedition for 3 years now so we were not really getting into something new She has had no problems with her expedition and we hope that we will have no problems either This is a great car truck SUV what ever you want to call it it is comfortable to drive and easy to ride in so now I cant wait until our next long road trip br br " Pos," This review comes about mostly as a rebuttal to my wife who insists on comparing her car a 1995 Honda Civic DX to mine 1993 Ford Escort GT Let us take a look at the individual parts and then the Gestalt whole shall we ENGINE 9 Possibly the strongest reason for buying the car Mazda s 1 8L DOHC pushes out 127 hp and it does so pretty effortlessly Willing to rev the secret formula is that the engine feels so strong because the car is so darn light When new the published 0 60 times on this car were in the high 7s low 8 second region That was faster than many cars twice its size mostly because they were twice its size This allowed me to surprise many Taurus Olds Cutlass and Chevy Lumina owners at stoplights The only problem I have is that the car is geared relatively low for quick acceleration and so cruising at 75mph it is turning between a fairly noisy 3500 4000 rpm The upside to this is if you mash the pedal even at 80mph the engine is right in the sweet spot of the torque curve and surges forward nicely HANDLING 8 Again excellent in a car so priced The car feels light and tossable in corners yet tracks straight at speed Stiff spring and shock rates coupled with wide tires make this thing hang on tenaciously in turns There is one large BEWARE however Lift throttle induced oversteer can be extreme when cornering hard I personally enjoy it because I can flick the tail out easily when I m in the mood but to the novice or inattentive watch out My wife was driving with me in the rain about 8 weeks after I bought my baby and she let off the gas mid turn on a wide sweeper and the tail came right around sending us grinding across a low stone wall taking out the entire undercarriage almost 9K damage The dealership did a bang up job of putting it back together and it has tracked straight as an arrow ever since RIDE 6 The stiffness that makes for such good handling translates into so so ride comfort A little tire noise and bounciness over bumps is tolerable The lightness comes at the expense of not having much sound deadening insulation I do have to say I have gone through 3 sets of brake pads but I drive pretty hard and this may be normal wear for 146K miles I also seem to go through tires pretty fast which may also have to do with my relatively aggressive style sidenote OEM tire size is 185 60R15 and the ONLY tire made in that size is the OEM Goodyear Eagle GT 4 which are expensive 99 apiece My solution after 100K miles was to switch up safely to 195 60 s which are available in more and cheaper brands TRANSMISSION 8 Shifts just fine not crisp but not sloppy even after 146 000 miles never been replaced original clutch effort is light The only thing I wish I had was a quick little wrist shifting car like a Miata or Toyota MR2 The throw on the GT is not nearly as long as on my old 84 EXP but it s not as short as I d like EXTERIOR 8 My wife will argue this to death with me but I still think it looks sporty I first fell for this car in it s 91 92 Iris package trim with the alloy wheels that matched the car s paint color I ended up with the silver alloy wheels and I think they look even better It s no vette but it still looks better than a Tercel or Corolla or even my wife s Civic anyday INTERIOR 7 OK this is not a luxury car by any stretch of the imagination First of all the GT comes with virtually nothing power no power windows locks seats airbags etc The logic behind this is that all of those things add weight which would slow the car down The interior is sparse the cupholders good dash has usable space plastic is hard not great but not tacky either The controls are intuitive and well placed none have ever broken on me The stereo is good though again its speakers are odd sizes that are only slightly more difficult to replace with aftermarket than usual The A C is ICE cold still a good freon system not the lukewarm R134a system my wife has in hers The seats are comfortable for me but in all honesty not the greatest for long hauls but the side bolstering is good and adjustments are easy with a lot of room if you re tall and up closeness if you re short The one feature that I am continually AMAZED at is the amount of cargo space I have if I fold the rear seats and load from the hatchback This car is cavernous I haul to the dump carry lumber have moved twice with it it just has a ton of room for such a small car RELIABILITY MAINTENANCE 10 So far this is where my baby has shined My wife talks on and on about her Civic s superior quality but here is a stone cold fact my car has virtually no repair history to speak of No kidding And this car has 146 000 miles on it Replaced the timing belt at 100K the 90 degree elbow off the exhaust manifold finally rusted through 6 months ago I replaced it but the all stainless pipes from the flex pipe back is all original I mentioned tires and brakes going quickly due to my driving habits No tranny clutch problems a LITTLE tiny bit of oil leakage finally the last few months what do you expect after almost 150K all original hoses belts brake lines master cylinder suspension cables etc The A C compressor just went on me this week July 2000 and will need replacing I put new plug wires on it 5 yrs ago and I think I had one small leak quickly sealed around the rear window when I first got it One small niggling problem I feel like I have replaced a lot of headlights and foglights but what is that 10 or so for a bulb All in all for 150 000 miles I have had nothing but trouble free driving pleasure from this car and isn t that what it s all about OVERALL Well tallying it up it looks like the average score for my little pocket rocket is solid 8 0 even though she s a 10 in my heart For the money some of the cheapest fun you can have on the road Good looks great performance solid reliability tough to beat in its class What a package br br " Pos," This is a nice little car but when i say little i mean it You could not fit four good sized guys in this cars it would come apart at the seems The only other downfall is that is has aluminum heads on it and if you overheat the car once you will most likely crack the heads But other then that it is not a bad little car if you are looking for a beater to get back and forth to work And they get great gas mileage about 30 miles to the gallon I would recommend this car to anyone that is looking of cheap transportation " Pos," I discovered yesterday that it would be cheaper for me to rent a car than it would be to take a taxi or shuttle to get home So I called Hertz and said quot I want the cheapest car I can get quot They set me up in a Champagne colored Ford Escort A rather nice looking vehicle For day to day use I like larger cars like my Dodge Intrepid But I simply needed to get from point A to point B and then briefly to point C to drop the car off so I wanted something with four wheels and an engine If Hertz s cheapest car is the Ford Escort anyone who pays for an upgrade is just throwing away money In a hurry we threw all the suitcases in the back seat of the car It looked like it had decent legroom I got into the car and immediately noticed how it different from other rentals I ve had several 98 and 99 Chevrolet Cavaliers and a 1998 Ford Escort Disclaimer I ve also rented a 1999 Jeep Wrangler but these are for two different types of uses The 2000 Ford Escort looks and feels nice inside The steering wheel is pretty thick My Dodge s is a little thicker but it s still formidable The window and lock controls are firm and sturdy the gear shifter well made and sturdy in your hand The other rentals felt plasticky with snap together pieces that didn t always fit well All of the climate and radio controls are easily reachable by both the driver and passenger The radio sounds clear and the air conditioner blasts cold air pretty well What s really cool is that the radio displays the time and the radio station at the same time No having to push buttons back and forth The seats are comfortable and you have a good view of the road The rear columns are thin meaning less blind spots The windows go up and down quickly and quietly But you probably want to know how does it drive b This is where the 2000 Ford Escort impressed me the most The car handles very well Its steering is crisp and its acceleration is amazing I m used to a much heavier car and I was incredibly surprised at how quickly this car accelerated It cruised well at 75 and is a very quiet car inside The engine noise is very muted It also breaks quickly If I were still in college and had had a chance to drive this car I would have wanted one br br " Pos," My best friend had just recently purchased a Ford ZX2 When I found out that he had traded his Camaro for this small gas saver I was greatly disappointed in him But my opinion changed when he was telling me about how little it cost him and how great it was on gas I was starting to get interested He invited me for a ride in his new car and I accepted As soon as I sat in the comfortable seat i fell in love For a small car it rode like it was at least 20 000 with a 6 cylinder motor under the hood But that was just the beginning We drove for about a half an hour and i was surprised when he asked me if I wanted to drive it I accepted in an instant I got behind the wheel and off we were The ZX2 is such a blast to drive and the handling is outstanding Maneuvering through traffic is no problem with this peppy little four banger What I like the most about this car is its ability to get up to speed quickly its comfortable and sporty interior and its dual airbags make this a safe dependable low maintenence car for anyone who wants to save money and have something sporty at the same time I highly recommend going to the dealer and at least taking one of these for a test drive " Pos," I feel that you can not go wrong buying a Ford Escort whether your buying it brand new or used My husband and I bought an 85 wagon two years ago It had 130 000 miles on it when we got it and now has about 300 000 miles on it We ve taken it on several road trips stuffed several people in it and loaded it down the groceries We also had an awesome Pioneer system in it that should have in all reality should have shook the car apart A couple of time we with a month or so over on oil changes and never had a problem with it Eight months ago we discovered that the head gasket was blown We decided to drive it until it blew up Well guess what it is still running like a champ We also purchased an 87 Escort about six months ago To our surprise it had the original factory oil filter tran filter spark plugs and wires The same parts for twelve years I have never heard of any other car running on the original parts Ford has definitely won us over We don t plan on purchasing another vehicle any time soon but if we where to buy one it most certainly will be a Ford Escort " Pos," I bought my Ford Escort ZX2 in November 1999 It was the first new car that I ever bought I d previously purchased used cars I didn t do a good job comparison shopping and ended up paying more for it than I should have p The car is great I love the way it runs the way it looks and the way it sounds I get about 28 miles per gallon and that s so important with today s gas prices p The only drawback that I ve found with this car is the price of the tires Ford Motor Company decided to use a certain size tire on these cars and Goodyear is the ONLY manufacturer of this particular size There is no other size that fits on the rims I went to 4 different tire dealers looking for cheaper tires The lowest I found was 79 00 per tire plus installation p Since 2 of my tires were bad and the other two had a lot of wear I replaced all 4 tires These 79 tires lasted only a few months I went to another tire dealer who told me it may be possible to get different rims He looked in a junkyard for me and found 4 rims for 60 yes used BUT I was able to then get normal sized tires at only 35 each The big drawback of all this is now I have ugly rims black with no chrome on my car that I should now paint p All in all I do love my car " Pos," My wife and I are on our second Ford Ranger We leased our first one two and a half years ago We ve found that the Ranger is tough and reliable Not a thing has gone wrong with either Ranger that we ve owned The Ranger that we currently have is an extended cab model which I highly recommend The space that you get behind you seat is worth the expense The jump seats come in handy when taking on unexpected riders We also got the four door option which is also very convenient My only complaint with my 99 is that I wish I had gotten a bigger engine as my new one is under powered Leasing frightens a lot of consumers we have found that there is nothing to be afraid about it The first Ranger that we leased went over the given mileage by twenty thousand miles But the Ford dealership that we went to forgave the mileage when we got our new one The Ford Ranger is a very good vehicle and I recommend it to anyone br br " Pos," I had been driving an 1987 Ford Bronco selected by my husband who wanted a big vehicle which was slowly rusting away over the last few years and beginning to have some mechanical woes I started out shopping for a used small truck with automatic transmission I didn t particularly want a 4x4 although had gotten out of some situations with the Bronco s 4 wheel capabilities I looked on line in classifieds and at local car dealers It was very difficult to find anything to meet my needs most trucks were standard transmission and had high mileage Finally one of the dealers called they had just gotten in a new 1999 Ranger XL which met my needs It also had a 6 cylinder engine which was strongly recommended over a 4 cylinder by my male relatives and trusted mechanic I m really glad I spent the extra money and brought this truck It is easy to drive and I feel secure in it It s isn t as high off the road as the Bronco was but enough height to feel I have adequate vision The Ranger doesn t have too much room in the interior My son who is quite a bit taller feels that his left arm is cramped against the door I recently added a cap and feel this makes the truck feel more solid now For example when I crossed train tracks the rear of truck would bounce Now it holds the road better I also added a floor mat and that seems to have made it a quieter ride I think the a c and heater are really great and do their jobs well the radio has good quality sound I have a cassette player which I like as I often listen to speakers on tape I would recommend this truck to someone who wants a vehicle for every day use I think it would be a uncomfortable for a large person And a person who depended on a truck for business would probably want a long bed But for my needs it is super br br " Pos," My husband has always wanted a new truck and last year we went searching for a new vehicle We waited until the end of the year clearance time and we found it We got in on a Ford red carpet lease at 3 4 interest For real This was a terrific deal and the saleswoman and entire staff were easy to deal with and it is very fast getting regular maintenance appointments with our local dealership We have the extended cab flared sides 6cylinder and it gets excellent gas mileage In fact it does about the same as my little car and we can haul with this baby We put a hitch on it and took it to the home improvement store with our trailer on the back and it rode so smoothly you would never know that you had a trailer in tow We are used to towing behind a Suburban so that is saying a lot The only thing I would change is that I would have more room in the extended part for seating but I know that is really not what the truck was designed for Driving this vehicle is as smooth as driving a car It handles terrific and the paint job just gleams in the sun after being actually almost two years old We have had no problems with this truck and IF we don t buy it at the end of the lease we will jump into another one No question in my mind about that This is not a large family vehicle for certain You can easily allow two children to safely ride in the jump seats but they would have to be small children and I would not suggest a long trip because they would not be comfortable But anyone who wants a truck for the smaller hauling jobs or trailer towing this is perfect This is also great to go shopping with put your large purchases easily in the body of the truck and you still have plenty of room for your groceries behind the seat I do it all the time br br " Pos," I had a 89 Ranger up until 9 months ago I finally decided to look for something newer I also have a Bronco so I was already set on a Ford product After going from lot to lot town to town I finally found just what I was looking for The truck I bought is a 99 XLT Ranger 4X4 Supercab quadcab It has the 3 0 engine as I don t need the 4 0 which has a few more hp and less mpg I have no problem pulling a boat with this truck I have the automatic with overdrive transmission My hardest decision was whether to get the flarebed or straightbed I went with the flarebed It looks so much better This is a very sporty truck that lacks no power It is a very comfortable ride with minimal windnoise I have had it in the mud and snow on several occasions No problem I have the off road package 4wheel drive with the skid plates on the transmission It came equipped with driver airbag and passenger airbag The passenger airbag can be disengaged Good feature My truck is loaded with the exception of the power package which consists of power doors locks and mirrors I am very satisfied with this purchase The sound system is awesome The Ranger was the best small truck I test drove and had the best overall looks I know performance comes first and it performs trust me on this I love the way this truck handles on and off road The ONLY setback is the bed inside to inside is not 48 quot wide I understand that we are all different and have different needs So if you are looking for a truck take a look at the Ranger This is my first NEW auto purchase as I have always preferred buying used br br " Pos," We bought the 1999 Ford Ranger for our daughter She was headed off to college and needed reliable safe and affordable transportation We haven t had one misgiving since purchasing it over a year ago My husband liked the idea of a vehicle with a full body frame I like the idea of the dual airbags The 4 cylinder engine doesn t use up excessive amounts of gasoline making it a vehicle she can afford to drive The cab is small but that s okay with us too This ensures she won t have loads of passengers with her We bought the basic model which included only a cassette player radio but no air conditioning Hey we were buying her a vehicle what more could she ask for My husband likes the idea that with a 4 cylinder she doesn t get a great deal of pick up when accelerating I just like the idea that it starts every time she turns the ignition whether in the heat of summer or sub zero winter temperatures The truck bed has come in handy especially when she moved all of her belongings away to go to college We purchased the Ranger with Ford s 0 9 financing With a little homework we discovered that we actually saved money buying her a brand new Ranger rather than the 1996 we had first considered " Pos," When I first saw this bright red 1999 Ford Ranger XLT Sport with quot aerodynamic quot striping I thought it would be the perfect vehicle for my teenage daughter I d bought her a 1999 Mazda B3000 Cab Plus 4 pickup three months earlier and assumed this adorable truck would steal her heart and give ME the stodgier four door Mazda truck She refused to give up the Mazda and I realized this was the perfect truck for a 40 something Mom who never had anything so cute What s more the 4 0 L engine allowed it to pull a horse trailer with horse I bought the truck used with 100 miles on it from a man who had won it at the local Ford dealership It had never been titled or registered and was covered with the stickers of the local radio station which had sponsored the contest Luckily they came off easily I must admit that the powerful roaring 4 0 L engine has brought out the teenager in me and I sometimes just can t help leaving everyone behind when the traffic light turns green When I drive more responsibly I can get 20 MPG out of the truck although 18 19 MPG is the norm It was 15 MPG in the very beginning but increased as the truck broke in Unfortunately this truck has Firestone Wilderness HT tires and I ve already made Firestone replace one for free when it was almost bald at 12 000 miles despite recommended rotations and balancing They gave me a big talk about different qualities of rubber but I know I ll be replacing all four tires within the year After one year I ve had no problems whatsoever and have not even visited the dealer I ve changed the oil myself and had the rotations balancing done at the local Tire Kingdom I have another 20 000 miles warranty but hope I never meet the service department of the local Ford dealership The interior is comfortable but not plush The seats are a mixture of a tweed like material with a little velour thrown in Very adequate I wish I had an extended cab but I ve learned to simply take all the junk I ve accumulated out of the truck each weekend I knew I never needed to keep that gallon of windshield washer fluid with me all the time but now I KNOW I can t This is the first time I can honestly say I love my vehicle br br " Pos," This past summer i bought my 1999 Ford Ranger extended cab off road truck I am pleasantly surprized with it s options and handling ability My truck is fully loaded with all the options and is manuel and i love it It handles great on all the turns and since it is a V 6 i have plenty of power for all my needs The 4x4 is great in the winter and whenever i am hauling or off roading If you are looking for a truck that isn t huge but has all the power you would need the Ranger is the way to go The ride is quite smooth considering it is a pick up The only downfall that i have found is that the seats in the extended cab area are tight You surely would not want to make someone travel back there for long " Pos," I have a 1999 Wedgewood Blue ext cab 4 door automatic ranger It has a v 6 engine and it s fully loaded I love this truck Not only is it the best looking truck i have seen in a long time it is so nice I would rather be in it than anywhere else The gas mileage could be a little better but if you want better mileage i would recommend a standard v 4 which is what i had before this truck This truck has great features like a switch to turn passenger side air bags off and on some extended cabs come with 4 doors which makes getting in and out alot easier mine can run on ethanol fuel and everything else that you can think of This truck is also safe I was recently in an accident The other car hit me pretty hard and my damage was minimal This truck is built quot FORD TOUGH quot This truck is worth every cent that I paid for it 19 998 There is a ranger for every price range And all of them are wonderful The only thing that I don t like about this truck is the color that I picked It gets dusty where I live and my truck is constantly dirty A ranger is a great vehicle for anyone but since it is so easy to handle on the road it s a wonderful first car This isn t really a family truck but what truck is If you have long legs or a large build you will not be comfortable in the back seat " Pos," My T bird has been a great car so far Everyone who has driven it has commented on how smooth it drives and how well it handles the road Rain and snow are not a problem this car is built for all weather conditions Not to mention mine came with the climate control that allows you to control the temperature of the car so it s REALLY a joy to drive no matter what it s like outside The only problems I ve had have been that the vacuum hose disconnected itself somehow but that caused minimal problems mainly it just made an annoying sound I need new engine mounts right now but I attribute that to the roads in this area my husband just had all 4 replaced on his car I love the options on my car and it s good for getting the baby car seat in and out It s great for local driving or roadtrips My sister has had to replace the engine and transmission on hers but it s been driven rough Treat this car good and it will be a joy " Pos," I am a proud owner of a Ford Explorer I received this car about 3 years ago and would not trade it for the world An Explorer can fit tons of stuff in it trust me I fill it to the brim everytime I go back to college Not just things but you can fit several people in there and still have a comfy ride In fact the Explorer is so comfy I can drive 4 hours without having to stop and stretch The Explorer has electric seats which makes it perfect for any size person to drive because it so easy to adjust Gas goes a long way as well granted it is expensive to fill up but once you do you won t have to for a while An Explorer is dependable and sturdy Over Thanksgiving I was rear ended by a car that was rear ended by a mack truck and there was no damage done Rarely do I need to take my car in for anything other than an oil change I know when this Explorer dies the next car I will get will be an Explorer br br " Pos," I bought my Ford Explorer in 1993 when they weren t the quot station wagon quot of the 90 s I have a dirt road 1 3 mile long with lots of ruts and bumps I haul pot bellied pigs and my dog straw heavy food bags and drive on the lawn My Explorer has lasted with general maintenance and new tires This vehicle is great for riding tough I change the oil regularly and the air filter maybe once a year This vehicle is not made just for good looks This vehicle is for someone who wants to run their car haul and off road br br " Pos," I bought my 1993 Ford Explorer because I wanted a bigger vehicle to haul around all my and my brother s stuff For hauling it s great It even tows very well I towed my brother s boat 400 miles with absolutely no problems It handles great with no real problems and putting it in 4 wheel drive is easy just push a button My biggest problem is that in the winter I m from Iowa this vehicle does not stop very well on snow or ice Unlike most vehicles that may slide slightly my Explorer is all over the road You have to start stopping over a block before the stop sign Anyone is fair weather climate should have no problems with this vehicle Its great for hauling all of your things and towing your boats etc and it gets around great br br " Pos," A few years ago we bought a Ford Explorer used at the dealership where it had originally been purchased Three years ago we traded it for a custom van I miss my Ford Explorer so much The ride was comfortable and the seats were so comfortable Throughout the time we had it there were the regular maintenance needed It did get to the point of needing the transmission replaced the repair shop never told us it needed to be serviced So when we had the transmission replaced we decided to trade it before it started needed more work Even though we have a van now it was easier to carry groceries or anything in the back of the Explorer I hope to buy another Explorer or perhaps an Expedition after the van is paid off br br " Pos," I am overall very pleased with my Taurus I am a student and my budget was tight Accords of similar vintage cost roughly double and up of what I paid for this Taurus Car was purchased with just under 140 000 on the odometer Car currently has just over 162 000 The price paid includes conditioning costs New Brake Pads New Tires Good Year Regettas New Oil Pan New Fuel Oil Air Filters Thorough vacuuming shampooing and vinyl conditioning Things done prior to purchase by previous owner New Struts 7 months New Exhaust 1 yr old New Hose Belts All maintenance done records included with car All recalls taken care of Air conditioning switched to R 134a and refilled New battery Problems with car Surface rust on drivers door fixed with friend The Little Things I Like Self supporting hood with light Courtesy lights on front doors Drivers side dual sunvisors allows you to put one to side and one to front Blue tinted factory reduced glare mirrors Secondary controls for radio Separate clock Bi level dash Vents include a positive off position Roof racks Console Powerful Air Conditioning More powerful then our Toyota Powerful Heater Interior gas and tailgate release Hatch can be opened with just window or whole tailgate Large controls for power windows and power door lock Power window drivers lock out Dual air bags ABS Standard The 3 8L moves the wagon better then our 3 0L Camry under a load Starts in 25C and 40C weather first try every try Large alternator and battery Ride soaks up bumps barely feel speed bumps Storage compartment in rear floor Blue gauges The Things I Don t Like Weak Speakers AM FM Cass not CD Foot actuated parking brake Seats dirty spills from previous owner One cupholder Small Steel 14 wheels Headlights aren t as strong our Windstars Rear turn signals are red No fender mounted turn signals Common in N A Rear wiper doesn t have intermittent setting Front passenger window lazy Stories heard about the 3 8L engine Space saver spare No Tachometer The Ride Quality The Taurus is not as sporty as our Camry The Taurus sounds busy when accelerating However once up to speed the Taurus is fine Dash shakes at about 180km h The Taurus seems more stable in winter driving conditions then the Camry Brakes take a bit long to stop on black ice The Taurus has very light steering Power steering assist is a bit extreme Not much feedback through wheel Going over speed bumps is no problem The Taurus doesn t like taking corners at much above the posted speed limit When taking corners in the wagon you have to be careful due to the long rear overhang Traction in the winter is adequate I just worry about people slamming into me who don t have ABS has happened twice The exterior Front marker lights are large The car has clean lines but lacks styling and personality Rear taillamps are only adequate in size Turn signals aren t as noticable as our Windstar Camry since they are not amber Lower body cladding Car seems lighter then the new Taurus Windows are large The curved rear window seems like it would cost a lot to replace My body handles are easy to operate but are black and ugly When you lift any of the four handles the interior lights turn on The interior The low dash gives good visibility all around reminiscent of a Honda Interior has that old version of modern feel to it The front seats seem to be the same shape as the old Camry Interior of my wagon only holds 5 people Not much lumbar support Seats are covered in a soft material The material in the Windstar is much plusher Overall I like the seat comfort more then our 2000 Camry The Taurus has more windnoise inside then the Camry although part has to due with the age of the car Cars have come a long way in comfort Interior plastics seem a bit too shiny The interior plastics in the 2002 Ford Windstar have a softer more luxurious feeling to them There is a handy built in pen holder All controls are easy to reach Radio has many small buttons but that can be said about any DIN sized radio Handy storage compartment below radio The ashtray my coin holder is illuminated All switches on the door and dash are illuminated except for the controls on the steering wheel Wheel mounted cruise control is easier to operate then the stick type found on the camry Dashboard clock is a nice touch Overall I am satisfied with my Taurus It has been no problems with only oil changes every 5000km So far the car is holding up very well " Pos," After wreaking the other car we decided on a mid sized car Well we have had it for about 3 weeks and are really enjoying it It seats 6 comfortably 3 in the front and 3 in the back it has auto windows with a window lock power door locks lots of foot space in the front and back and power steering I am really enjoying the power steering it turns corners so easy and smoothly The comfort level in the car is great And talk about trunk space The trunk is huge You could probably fit a small calf in it I highly reccomend this car br br " Pos," I bought my 1993 ford Taurus a few months ago and I m totally pleased I purchased it mainly because for an older used car it had very low mileage and was kept in great condition with 1 owner I have to say the size of the car took a little while to get used to since I had only had compact size before It drives smoothly and only had to make 1 repair since I purchased it And that was something small a hose The mileage is fairly good for a bigger car Any used car should be looked at as that a used car Don t expect to have no problems especially with a 7 year old car However in my case I am extremely pleased with my purchase I would suggest this car for people who have a medium sized family and don t want something too large " Pos," I was looking for my first truck in 1997 and after looking at all the makes I settled on the Ford Ranger I chose the Ranger because of the Consumer Reports Rec and the price Went to a dealer in Feb 1997 that had leftover 1996 models First I test drove the regular cab but I just didn t fit as I m 6 2 and my knees were jammed into the steering wheel Then I tried the extended cab model and found it roomy I bought the Ranger Extended Cab XLT 2WD 5 speed manual with AC cruise power windows remote entry I have loved this truck since I m still driving this truck today with 105 000 miles on it Last week I just got a tune up for the first time for 240 I only had this truck repaired twice once for a noisy wheel bearing for 90 and another time to weld a loose tail pipe for 40 That s it I find this truck very comfortable with the 60 40 split bench seat and the spacious cab Another feature I like is the 19 9 gallon fuel tank I average 22mpg for mixed city highway driving so I can get at least 400 miles between fuelings This is handy on long trips There is one minor problem that I m living with The dome light stays on intermittently When I park and lock the door the light stays on so I pulled the bulbs out of the sockets so I don t drain my battery The ride is decent but a little noisy not too serious though Handling is decent The 4 cyl has enough power to do the job but sometimes I wish I had some extra power to pass slower cars and for steep hills It has 105 000 miles on it but I m not finished with it yet I plan to keep it for another year at least 130 000 mile update This truck is still going strong No problems and made it through the winter without a hitch " Pos," I know my limitations My knowledge about automobiles is practical and every day rather than research and engineering I hate popping up the hood looking at the engine and I can t tell a cam from a ham However I m sure I ll be just as happy with my 2000 Ford Taurus as I was with my first two If you re looking for a mechanical high tech motor minded review of the Taurus stop right here However if you re interested on why I love my Ford Taurus please read on I have always been happy with my Taurus for three reasons Service and reliability safety and My Wallet I always have had a 60 000 mile lease on the Taurus With my first two my only quot major quot expense in over 120 000 combined miles was a small engine part less than 100 I do follow the service manual for maintenance relying on my friendly Ford dealer in Franklin Wisconsin for repairs and support with reasonable competitive rates The manual says take it in at 25 000 for this this and this I take it in This system works for me I might save a dollar or two by going to a quick lube place for an oil change but the peace of mind is worth going to the experts Plus they keep an on line historical record of what maintenance has been done Ford has implemented a quot Personal Safety Package quot for the 2000 Taurus This includes quot smart quot air bags and deployment side crash bars and especially important child safety seat anchors If you ever lost a wrestling match with the back seat seat belt trying to connect your kiddie seat this offers ease of installation and added safety against shifting Front Wheel Drive is a must in the midwest as even in May a snow storm can hit and make driving dangerous FWD as technical as I can get gives me the additional traction necessary for safer driving The interior is very roomy for driving plenty of head and leg room The bucket seats are comfortable and the console is easy to use The trunk is more than adequate for your needs All this allows you a pleasant driving experience relating to a safer drive As for the wallet factor as I mentioned little or no major repairs just routine maintenance My gas mileage has ranged from 31 mph to 25 mph The power to reach top speed is there when necessary freeway ramps etc The Taurus is not a gas guzzler by any means The lease cost has always been competitive with prices compared to other similar competing models and dealers But why mess with a good thing I have a winner so stay with it There s a reason why the Taurus has been one of the top three selling models in America All three of my Tauruses Tauri have been reliable roomy maintenance free fairly stylish and economical br br " Pos," I bought a 1988 Ford Taurus in 1996 It was a one owner four door sedan Now I got to tell you I do some serious driving I drive back and forth to work 50 miles one way This is a Monday through Friday driving experience and sometimes in not so nice weather because I live in Minnesota After racking up the miles on our Ford Taurus my husband took it over because he only drives 1 mile to work each day We love that Ford so much that we went out and bought another one in 1999 Not just any Ford Taurus my friends but another 1988 Ford Taurus It was also a one owner four door sedan with low miles We have been very pleased with the Fords They run and run and run and run I can depend on my Ford I know that when I get up in the morning it will start and when I drive home it will get me there We make sure the cars get a regular 3000 mile oil change and a six month check up with the old Auto Doc Maintenance costs have been low and repairs not much to speak of really I figure that I will be looking for another car in about 2 years and I can tell you with confidence that it will be a Ford Taurus br br " Pos," Well I have had my 2000 Taurus for about 4 000 miles now and would recommend it to anyone The new design is much more eye appealing and the 200 hp Duratec V6 adds plenty of punch for a mid sized sedan I looked at the Intrepid Impala and the Taurus The Intrepid was also great but I opted to steer clear of Chrysler after being poorly treated by several Chrysler dealers in my area The product was very good though The Impala was also good but very pricey in comparison and I was concerned with the new model design ot being proven Back to the Taurus I purchased the SEL model which has almost everything except a moonroof The engine is smooth and quiet it shifts great and handles good for such a heavy car I believe it s the heaviest car in it s class The ride is smooth as silk and shifts are hardly noticeable It has great passing power in the 50 70 mph range ABS works great as I found out right after I purchased it The traction control is also great on slick roads no snow test yet However both of these features are pretty noisy when the kick in which is not unusual The steering is also very responsive and again it handles well for a heavy car The one thing I could not figure out is why it does not have 4 wheel disc brakes The rears are drums Come on Ford get with the program I have been averaging about 22 25 mpg on a 50 50 mix of highway city driving Leather interior is nice seats could use a little more side support As for the interior the design is very conservative compared to its competitors Very basic but functional controls It s not as fancy as the Intrepid or Camry or any other of its competitors I also have the Mach stereo system as the car on the lot I chose had it already installed I would not recommend this system I believe it was a 675 option You could do much better at your local car stereo shop for the same price It s not horrible but for the money there is better out there The six disc changer is nice even though it s located in the trunk Ford should take a lesson from Chrysler with the four disc in dash CD much more convenient The Taurus has a lot of great saftey features to go with its 5 star crash test rating a big factor as I begin to start a family Front and side airbags ABS fuel pump shut off to prevent fire glow in the dark drunk release in case a child gets locked in the trunk I also have the keypad entry which is a cool feature although I have yet to use it The heated mirrors will also prove to be useful when old man winter comes a knockin Automatic headlights are great although they do not go on automatically when you put on the windshield wipers many states require you have your lights on when you use your wipers The trunk is huge and the rear seats fold down The climate control is great and I have actually received several favorable comments on how fast the A C kicks in even on 90 degree days Have not used the heater yet Front and rear defoggers work very well If you can live with the plain interior this car should be at the top of your list I believe the 2000 model is back as the number one seller in its category this year but I m not positive br br " Pos," Well not a whole lot to be honest I ve always driven trucks or SUV s and I was very reluctant about buying a car You see I m very short This may sound unrelated but I m just over 5 feet tall and I never really liked the idea of being so close to the ground while I drove Whenever I was forced to drive a car when my car was in the shop or being used by someone else I always felt like I was driving a go cart So when I recently decided to trade in my Explorer for something more fuel efficient I figured I d stay with Ford and go for a Taurus I purchased the Taurus LES the luxury model complete with leather interior and climate control And I have to tell you it s been absolutely incredible Apparently Ford has been working on the new design for the Taurus for somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 years Although I m still closer to the ground than I d like this model is much better than my mother s 1996 Taurus The car rides much smoother than my Explorer ever did and it s much more fuel efficient So if there is anyone out there who s been hit as hard by the gas price hike and is nervous about buying a car I d highly recommend this beautiful economical car " Pos," When we bought our 1995 Ford Taurus we were in the market for a four door car We were looking to trade in our 2 door Chevy Cavalier We had just had our first baby and the 2 doors weren t helping getting the baby in and out of the car along with the other baby items When we saw the Taurus we loved it It had leather seats very roomy and power everything But we have encountered problems with it I don t know if it because the previous owner didn t take care of it or what We have had to fix the transmission twice and replace the fuel pump once Overall it s costs us over five thousand dollars But I still love this car It s not a gas guzzler and it s not a huge vehicle I would recommend any person with kids to buy this car It has lots of trunk space as well great if you have lots of things to take with you anywhere The seats have lumbar support for those long travels Only thing I wish it had was heated leather seats The cold seats in the morning aren t the best " Pos," If you had told me when I was 21 that I would be driving a station wagon within 5 years I would probably have laughed myself into a stuper Well I was 23 when I decided that my kids and I had outgrown my little Calais and we needed something with more room so I started looking for the perfect vehicle and I found it very quickly My sister and I had been out and about when we first saw the 89 FOrd Taurus Wagon sitting there on the lot saying quot buy me buy ME quot but I passed it off as quot probably too expensive quot Well with out my knowing about it my sister went to the lot and asked about the car for me It was a 1989 Ford Taurus Wagon with 100 some odd thousand miles on it air conditioner AM FM radio tape electric seats locks and windows rear defrost and a few more nice little odds and ends and the price was ONLY 2500 Well I called my loan man and he said offer 2100 they took it and I was the proud owner of a very roomy and trustworthy vehicle I had that vehicle for over a year when I decided to buy a new used vehicle but the only reason I decided to get a new one was because my family was growing I now had myself my 3 kids my fiance and his daughter amp now one on the way so we talked it over and decided to get a Mini Van I still miss my wagon but I realize that for a family of 5 it is perfect but when you have a family of 7 that you need a bigger vehicle If you are a family of 5 or more and looking for a nice roomy vehicle the Ford Taurus is the perfect family vehicle but if there are more than of you it starts getting crowded br br " Pos," I have been driving my 2000 Taurus for four months and have yet to have a single problem with the vehicle I must admit that I did not buy or lease the car My employer supplies me with a vehicle due to my line of work Our company has been leasing the Taurus since 1997 and this is the best model year yet In the past we have had numerous problems with the front brakes and rotors This problem area was most noticeable on the 98 and 99 models My 2000 Taurus has 6000 miles on it and has shown no signs of any brake deficiencies In the past we have had repeated problems with warped rotors and premature brake pad wear When the local Ford Dealer told me that the problem had been corrected for 2000 I was skeptical Now I am a believer Additional improvements abound My vehicle is the 4 Dr SES model with the OHV Vulcan V6 For 2000 the Vulcan s horsepower has been increased slightly and its NVH reduced I have found these improvements to be noticeable if not significant The freshly restyled exterior and interior are also subjectively improvements over the old model The visibility through the rear window is much better due to Ford quot deep sixing quot the oval rear window The reduced blind spots are welcomed when trying to merge onto the freeways in Southern California The quality of the interior materials is substantially better than in the past There is no longer an abundance of cheap plastic on the door panels center console and other areas The interior is now much more mainstream The oval dashboard has given way to a more traditional one which is slightly more ergonomic in design Radio controls are grouped more logically and the auxilliary 12v power receptacle is now more accessible My car is equipped with the full floor console with a floor mounted gear shift In this configuration Ford has designed a unique and very versatile cup holder It can be adjusted to handle a beverage container of almost any size This is particularly nice for those of us who spend hours stuck in traffic My model came equipped with a standard power driver s side seat This is a nice feature on a car in this price range as it offers me an infinite number of seating positions The seat also has an adjustable lumbar support which is handy on longer trips The only aspect of the old Taurus seats that I liked better were their side bolsters For 2000 the seats do not have nearly the lateral support that they did in 99 This is a small quibble considering the other improvements Interior details have also been attended to in the 2000 redesign Effective map lights are well placed and easy to use Split sun visors allow the driver and passenger to simultaneously cover the front and side windows This is especially nice on those days when the sun cannot decide which window it wants to quot attack quot The visors also have nicely illuminated mirrors which were lacking from my last car I have been particularly impressed with the lower level of noise inside this year s model While still not up to the Accord or Camry standard it is still much improved from 98 and 99 The Vulcan V6 still roars when under heavy acceleration However now the roar is more muted The overall ride for 2000 is also enhanced from past years A switch to 16 quot tires and rims has certainly helped Also I have been told that Ford made a number of small suspension improvements to improve ride quality and responsiveness I certainly have noticed the difference The ride is still far from that of a touring car but not at all unpleasant When compared to my 98 Mazda Millenia the Taurus falls short However I feel it is not that far off from 99 Honda Accords and Mazda 626 s I ve driven It is certainly better than anything Ford has produced in the past in this class of vehicle I like the fact that Ford includes alloy wheels as standard equipment on the SES model They add an upscale look to a quot fleet quot vehicle Access to the trunk is also significantly better as is the usable trunk space The squaring off of the rear deck provided these improvements Forward visibility is much better thanks to the redesigned headlights All in all this is a very nice vehicle at a really great price point In fact I like it so much that I may end up buying a Taurus or Sable Wagon next year when I retire my old Volvo 740 Wagon br br " Pos," I just bought a new 2000 Ford Taurus 3 weeks ago and I ve put on 2000 miles so far Overall I am very happy with it BODY DESIGN The 2000 Taurus has a much cooler design than the bug eyed ovals of the last few year I ve had many comments on how cool it looks which is unusual for a family car I read that they changed every body panel except the doors Unfortunately the design of the doors should have been changed too It is very prone to door dings since the top half curves out past the rubber bumper on the door INTERIOR The interior is great Both the front and back seats have a lot of leg room and elbow room The controls are all easy to reach and easy to understand ENGINE I have a 24 valve engine It has significant power It accelerates well from a standstill and at high speeds The engine is very quiet in the passenger compartment I also test drove a Volvo S40 and the engine was very loud SOUND SYSTEM I have the Mach audio system which is Ford s top of the line It sounds like a great home stereo system My last car had Ford s premium sound and I was not impressed The Mach system is much better One nice feature that my car has is a 6 disc changer with the cartridge inside the passenger compartment This is available on the SE Comfort model if you get the floor shifter and center console I also like that I have both a CD player and tape player OTHER FEATURES Automatic Temperature Control The automatic temperature control is a very nice feature I can set a temperature and the car stays there It is designed so most of the air blows toward the floor for maximum comfort I really enjoy just setting the temperature to 68 or 70 and not messing with the controls after that Adjustable Pedals This is not a feature that I particularly wanted since I m pretty tall However it came with the car I bought It seems like it would be a neat feature for someone who was shorter but wanted to sit further away from the steering wheel With the touch of a button you can adjust the pedals as much as 3 inches Air Bags I have side air bags which is a nice saftey feature In addition the front air bags have extra sensors The air bags will deploy at 3 different speed depending on the speed of the crash the position of the seats and whether the passengers have their seat belts on The driving experience is wonderful in this car It is quiet roomy comfortable and had a great sound system I actually look forward to my commute for the first time in my life I also love the new design I have had 2 minor problems My airbag light came on 2 times in the first week The dealership is not able to tell what may be wrong unless the light is on when I bring it in The second problem is that one of the back windows makes a clunk sound when it closes The dealer attempted once to fix it but he was unsuccessful I will take it in again later br br " Pos," My 36 month lease is set to run out on my 2000 Ford Taurus wagon I have really enjoyed the large cargo area provided with the rear seats folded down My experience is that the drivers seat was very comfortable although the seat backs could use more side bolstering This car was definitely not a sporty handler but the ride was stable at speeds into the 90 s and was very comfortable under most conditions My car came equpped with leather seats side airbags and adjustable foot pedals which made it easy for the driver to find a comfortable position The stopping distances recorded by independent testers were longer than average for this mid level bracket Another complaint is that while this is not a noisy car neither is it as quiet as others in its class Since I take some extremely long road trips noise is something I really notice If Ford could reduce the engine noise road and tire noise and wind noise each a little bit it would greatly improve the driving experience I felt that Taurus wagon had good materials and features for the price " Pos," I m a Toyota person but I came very close to buying the 2000 Taurus I know that some people who have posted here have talked about reliability problems with Ford But I think that was with their older models This car has a very handsome outside styling to it and beautiful colors to choose from Their power driver s seat was one of the most comfortable especially with the adjustable pedals 2000 I have ever sat in and I can t begin to tell you the discomfort of my Corolla driver s seat Also in my never ending new car search the Taurus was the most quiet at freeway speeds The big full center armrest adds a touch of luxury that seems to be missing from other cars in this class The inside just felt so solid sturdy plush and of course saftey saftety saftey which is Ford s whole selling premise with the 2000 Taurus Smart So why didn t I buy it The gas mileage was a little low 18 19 street And in the end I just became obsessed with saving money and getting an quot economy quot car not realizing that there s no value in saving money if you are dissatisfied in the long run And gas prices are not going to stay high for ever Me and my quot poverty thinking quot I realize now that I should have just went with what I really wanted There s more to buying a car than simply trying to save money on gas My advice is to buy more car than you think you will need You ll be happier in the long run I ll have a difficult time deciding between a Camry and a Taurus the next time I go looking for a car which could be sooner rather than later " Pos," I do not actually own this 2001 Ford Taurus My parents own it I own a 1991 Camaro and am used to a pretty uncomfortable ride I am also used to extreme acceleration The Taurus has got the RIDE covered It does not have the ENGINE covered Every time you start out riding in the Tuarus weierd engine noises accur A sort of rattling and clanking if you will It is a brand new car so I DO NOT expect anything like that to be happening It also has a really hard time starting up and idiling at start up if it is cooled out The Main and worst problem about this car is the pick up speed very very pooor We took it to the shop and told them of the poor pick up and they said its running fine Throttle response is very poor You can push the pedel up and down when travling above 50 or so and nothing will happen until you take it all the way to the floor Keep in mind that it is only a LX and is not a sports car but that is saaad Also the radio is not very loud either But it is very very roomy with plenty of head room and leg room especially in the back seat Very large trunk space to put my bodies I mean No noise from the outside when in the car with the windows up " Pos," I purchased my 1988 Ford Taurus in 1989 and at this time I have 87 000 miles on it It has a 3 0 liter engine and when taking it on vacation I got 34 miles to the gallon I have replaced tire rods on it but by keeping the oil changed and keeping good coats of wax on it I hope to get more time out of the vehicle There was a couple of winters I stored it but the vehicle has been ran all year round for about the last 5 years I really like how solid the vehicle is The reason I know is I was hit from behind with a lot of force and it put just a little scratch on the bumper The car rides very nice and has a large trunk perfect for taking on vacation This car may not be for the single person but it surly makes a good family vehicle " Pos," While definitely not the most glamorous car to drive the Taurus wagon is an efficient quot soccer mom quot car After owning the old Taurus wagon model for a few years and having some problems I decided to trade it in for the 99 model and I m very glad I did Driving this car is a very pleasant experience I have had no trouble with brakes acceleration or unlike with the old model the air conditioner heat The driver s seat adjusts in many ways so that I can be comfortable when I drive and stay alert Even though there have been minor incidents in which this car has gotten roughed up the only injury was done to the exterior appearance of the car Even though I ve only owned this car for about a year I am still happy with the fact that I have not had reason to bring it in for any repairs After owning the previous Taurus wagon model and a Volvo wagon I m glad to say that this is the best station wagon that I ve come across br br " Pos," I have owned my Ford Econoline full size van with Regency custom conversion for just over a year now I love the van It is such a comfortable ride compared to the other large vehicles on the market like an Expedition or Suburban because it isn t built on a truck frame However I have to say that dealing with the conversion people is like pulling teeth Because all of the interior parts are considered part of the conversion I have to wait for EVERY part to be ordered even the seatbelts which had dried glue on them And any electrical problem is automatically blamed on the conversion people The ground wire to the drivers side lighted vanity mirror was loose so the light only worked intermittently and it took several tries for them to finally get it right because they just kept trying to replace the part not find the root of the problem I realize that parts of this problem lies with the dealership but they are the only Regency approved dealer in my area so I am forced to use them instead of an alternate Ford Dealer br br " Pos," Wow what a truck Or should I say Car With the way the Expedition drives and handles it does not feel like the 5 800 lbs truck it really is I have the first model year 1997 with the 5 4L engine and 4wd It has the rear bench seat towing package dual zone climate control and the premium sound system The steering is variable power assit which makes driving a car of this size a lot easier Also the larger engine helps with accelerating from a stop but because of the immense weight of the car you can forget about those quick 60 80mph passing acceleration and don t even try to pass anything going up a hill at a fast speed Don t get me wrong this car doesn t lack any quot oomph quot especially when it comes to towing You don t even feel the weight of a 3 000 lbs boat behind you And with a 8 000 lbs towing limit you can certainly tow large loads Of course if you are towing anything you want to make sure you can stop with all that extra weight No problem I think the Expedition probably has the best brakes in it s class You can t stop instantaneously but for a car of it s size you will be very surprised at how tight and responsive the brakes are If you are going to use this car as a quot people mover quot also I would very strongly recommend that you buy the dual zone climate control The powerful fans in these systems are ideal for any climate They can heat the car faster then an explorer can partly because of a very strong and powerful floor blower in the back Likewise they can cool the car very quickly and keep it cooled While the four wheel drive differential lacks a neutral setting I highly doubt this will discourage most buyers from purchasing this car The best and most used setting by me is the quot Automatic Four Wheel Drive quot In this setting the car is supposed to enage the 4wd system when it feels tires spinning un evenly It is a great added comfort for wet or icy roads and can be used up to 60mph the system will automatically detect if you are going over 60 and won t engage so as not to damage the transmission All in all Ford really came through with an amazing successor to the Explorer br br " Pos," My Expy came with a trailer towing package full power inside and inclement weather package The motor a 4 8 liter is very weak on power when towing If your thinking of buying an Expy and plan on towing anything I strongly urge you to consider the bigger motor You will find that while towing anything slight upgrades in the road will cause your Expy with the little motor to kick out of overdrive and into high gear If you live in a mountainous area then be prepared NOT to use overdrive Overall my Expy is a comfortable ride and we have had little problems with it The longevity of all Ford motors is proven but do consider an extended warranty as this vehicle has numerous sensors that can nickle and dime you I did have a bad ride and alot of road noise with the Goodyear tires that came on the expy from the factory I switched to Michelins and found the ride much better and the road noise gone Consider the Michelin LTX M S series tire for your expy if you change tires I enjoy my Expy and found it to be a comfortable ride easy to manuever stable at high speeds and during changing lanes and a real joy to drive Hope you have as good a luck with yours br br " Pos," When I was first on the market for an SUV I was really looking for the Ford Explorer A friend of mine has one and I absolutely loved driving it It was a great truck however I couldn t find any decent inexpensive Explorers and I settled for a Jeep Grand Cherokee This was a huge mistake After having the Jeep for about three months I was in an accident I was coming home from work when someone slammed into my passenger side the car buckled and was ripped apart Not only was I extremely shaken up but I was also on the prowl for a new car Thankfully my insurance company is very understanding and was extremely quick with my claim I again set out looking for an Explorer however when I got to the dealership I found that love at first sight does exist When I saw the Maroon Ford Expedition I was in love This car is amazing I know many people who look at it see only a massive road hogging beast however the Ford Expedition is one of the most stylish sleek sporty SUVs in my opinion However don t get me wrong my Expedition definitely has that rugged edge Driving an Expedition is something that everyone has got to get used to Even if you have driven an SUV before the Expedition is rather large it takes some time to get used to Judging the distance from cars on your side and front is the most frustrating at times but after a few drives everything falls nicely into place Once you ve mastered driving you get the uneasy task of learning to park the beast My first tip Stay away from parking garages until you are confident in your parking techniques Parking in a parking garage is generally awkward however when you ad the size of the Expedition it gets even harder Not to mention the fact that and it never fails the first time you drive into the garage you will worry that your car won t fit If you live in a city be forewarned parallel parking is rough It is hard to find spaces to fit the car into but don t stress it too much because although rare they are there With a mastery of driving and parking the car is perfect The seats are remarkably comfortable and the car is extremely roomy The only part of the car that there is little to no headroom is the third seat in the way back The third seat is slightly raised and because of that you lose a little bit of headroom and if you are a taller person you lose all of your headroom Also because the seat is raised you don t have a place to put you legs For my unfortunate friends in the way back I apologize next time you ll remember to call shotgun won t you A few of the features that make the car even more comfortable are the heating and radio features First my radio is a grade A CD Tape player with a six disc changer for the CD player The speaker system is very good and although many people will add a specialized stereo system to their cars the factory works fine for me Not only is the radio a great quality but it has two sets of controls The main console is in the dash board however in the back seat there is a separate console with a head phone jack for the people in the back to set their own stations according to their musical tastes This feature is also found in the heating system Both the front and the backseat have climate controls to set the temperature for both portions of the car If you are looking for a massive car that handles amazingly well I d recommend that you at least test drive a Ford Expedition The car is great and it is one of the most comfortable rides I ve ever had " Pos," Dear S U V shoppers Your reading my review on this vehicle in hopes I can tell you all about the Ford Expedition Well your in a lot of luck because I have recently purchased one This vehicle is a big thing on comfort It used to be that if you sat in the back seat you were very uncomfortable but in this vehicle the back seats are just as comfortable as the front Not only that but as well as holding 8 passengers when the THIRD row is set up this vehicle can tow a trailer behind it For all you who show horses and have a big family you no longer have to rely on a pick up to get the job done This means no more taking two vehicles and wasting money on gas As for you who can t seem to stay away from the lake you can pull that nice boat behind you oh yeah and don t forget all of your fishing buddies When we first got our shiny new Expedition everyone wanted to ride in it One of the options we decided on was a six C D changer Now there was no more reloading discs every time you wanted some new tunes This came in as a nice option for the people in the back for they could listen to the radio on headphones in the back when grandma up front wanted to listen to Jazz no offense to jazz I love it but some people don t Another thumbs up for the rear seat passengers are the separate heating and air conditioning controls for them If they got could there was no more yelling at the driver to quot Turn the heat up quot I think we all know how annoying that gets That means comfort for the drivers ears and no more headaches either Well to sum it all up which is pretty hard to do With everything this special S U V comes with there s too much to say Now there s only one problem who gets to drive br br " Pos," As a busy mother with two children and always on the go I live in my car it is like my second home I have to be able to keep things in my car quot just in case quot when I am away from the home My Expedition is big enough for me to do that without being quot TOO BULKY quot and still look good We have been looking at the Expedition since it first came out We finally purchased one this past month We looked at all the comparable SUV s but we felt the Expedition always came out ahead It was big but not too big We had the features of the larger SUV suburban excursion without the bulk and still the sporty look of the smaller SUV Driving this vehicle makes me feel safe with the kids THAT S IMPORTANT It drives smooth sturdy and strong I don t feel as if I am going to be blown over by the wind If you are a busy mom that needs a reliable vehicle with lots of room yet doesn t look like a bus this car is perfect for you unless of course you don t like driving big vehicles br br " Pos," I leased this vehicle for two years It was the best vehicle I have ever owned leased What I noticed the most was how well it handled I was worried with such a large vehicle that it would be hard to control It had a very smooth ride and the steering was so much better than the Explorer I had before I loved the heating cooling contols in the back of the vehicle The room was so nice for my family of 5 as no one had to be crowded while traveling The four wheel drive switch on the dash was awesome I loved not having a shifter on the floor The vehicle I leased had running boards which made it nice to get in and out of in a dress It had a console with the CD changer inside I loved being able to have 6 CD s in at a time and the ability to change them easily I am not much up on the details of the engine all I know is that it ran great and never gave me any trouble in the two years I leased I am seriously thinking of leasing another one when the lease on our truck expires br br " Pos," I purchased an Expedition in April 97 quite by accident The Explorer that I had ordered was destroyed in the St Louis floods Anyway about the vehicle A 1 The Expedition was a joy to drive luxurious and car like wonderful on a long trip Four wheel drive made towing a large boat out of the water a breeze even tore some trees out of the ground for a neighbour no problem The only problem I encountered in two years was a faulty solenoid on the four wheel drive motor Got it stuck in 4wd low For anyone that this happens to its an easy makeshift fix The solenoid is readily accessible on the side of the drive motor It is vacuum operated so if the solenoid goes just disconnect the vacuum lines and switch them around This will get you to a dealer without being restricted to 20mph Gas mileage is not for the faint of heart or those relying on economy 9 miles per gallon in the city 13 16 mpg on the highway Shear size alone guarantees when two cars are going for the same parking spot you win everytime Braking was excellent for such a heavy vehicle 6200lbs I miss my Expedition br br " Pos," We purchased our Expedition after test driving both the Expedition and the Explorer We are young with a growing family so cabin space was very important to us The Expedition had much more cabin space with the ability to put three car seats across in the middle seat With the Explorer only one car seat would fit comfortably in the middle of the seat We are very pleased that we purchased the Expedition which gives us ample room for traveling to haul all the extras It also has a third seat which is nice when there are more than 5 passenger It has a very nice ride and is very comfortable to ride in The only draw back is the high cost of fueling the gas tank If you have 2 or more kids and are looking for a sports utility vehicle I definitely recommend the Ford Expedition br br " Pos," All right now that I m married and we have a great dane I have grown out of my regular cab Chevy It has served it s purpose well and done everything I ve asked of it but there is just not enough room anymore Now being from Texas I m sure I m living up to every stereotype when I say quot I love the Ford F 350 Crew Cab quot This truck is a giant sure but when it comes to comfort power and styling you just can t beat this truck The one I drove had the Lariat package which included all the bells and whistles If your familiar with Ford trucks you know that this is the top of the line and they like to charge you for it The leather seats do more than just hug you they embrace you After a hard day at work they just call out to you And this is a truck that actually makes you look forward to the commute It s that comfy This truck also makes you feel really safe The one I drove was a 4X4 so I sat higher than just about everything else out there I was almost eye to eye with the big trucks That was kinda cool As for power how does 235 HP 2 700 RPM and 500 lb ft of torque 1 600 RPM sound Yes I had the Powerstroke diesel Although this is not a choice for many people this truck will out pull just about anything And it looks good doing it Another thing I like about the diesel is that it s like riding on a Harley The sound of it demands attention Of course this Harley has a cab for 5 I got the bucket seats air conditioning CD changer trip computer and reliability One thing I haven t mentioned yet was rear seat comfort Well you won t be disappointed here either I believe it s rated at 41 quot of head room and almost 43 quot of leg room This shockingly is more leg room than even the front passengers have At 6 0 quot I was more than pleased Things I don t like ground clearance The truck I drove had the Off Road package This includes two skid plates one for the transfer case and one for the fuel tank and a decal With the size of this truck you think it would be perfect for doing a little trail riding However the quot pumpkin quot has only 8 quot of clearance I know I know that s what lift kits and 35 quot tires are for Little news for you even 35 quot tires look a little small on this truck Only other thing I don t like parallel parking Never had to do it just wouldn t happen So if you re in the market for a work truck a crew cab or even a half price Hummer this truck is for you br br " Pos," Don t laugh but I love my Ford Escort I am currently driving my second Escort purchased in 1994 I call her Trixie and she has carried me to and from work daily on vacation and around town for the past six years The odometer reads 67 973 miles but you need to add a digit to realize that it now has a total of 167 973 miles on it Yup 167 973 miles and still putt putt putting up the road I put well over 100 miles per day on the odometer not counting side trips My first Escort lasted for seven years so this one has already outlasted that one All jokes and smug looks aside anyone who has owned an Escort will tell you that they are a good little automobile Replacing worn out parts is a fact of life so I have never worried when I needed new brakes timing belts or unfortunately a new transmission A NEW TRANSMISSION YOU SAY Yes but it was no fault of the Escort it my own negligence that caused that problem I remember well the day the mechanic asked me when I had last had the transmission fluid changed and I replied quot Changed quot I think you can almost imagine the look on his face The new transmission cost 1200 00 parts and labor but it was well worth the money I preferred to invest that money in my little car rather than to put it toward the purchase of a new auto I consider it the same theory as paying for a heart transplant for a loved one The mechanic who put in the new transmission even admitted that he liked the little Ford Escorts and said he had purchased one for his son to drive He explained that he called them quot disposable cars quot because typically owners of Escorts purchase them and drive them until they die along the side of the road tires pointing up like poor little dead insects Most Escort owners drive them until they have 200 000 miles on them How many other auto owners can make that claim I love the size of my Escort since it is easy to maneuver Living in Ohio where our winters can deliver deep snow and freezing rain the front wheel drive is a life saver literally So all in all I am terribly disappointed that Ford has decided to stop making the Escort I have no idea what I will purchase next but then I guess I still have over 40 000 miles left to make that decision br br " Pos," After 9 years and 196 000 miles it s time to retire the Escort 3 door I cant say enough about this little car I bought the car back in 94 for 13 000 After 9 years of commuting logging over 196 000 miles it s time for a new car Why you ask The family does not fit in this little economy car anymore It s still running great and ready to go The only repairs to this car over the years have been 1 wheel bearing 1 timing belt 1 battery and the head light bulbs I cant believe it All these years and so few repairs The ride of the little Escort is on par with most cars in this class Handling is good at speeds even up to 90mph The fuel economy is amazing This little car was outfitted with the 1 9L in line 4 mated to a 5 speed manual transmission The best highway mileage I have recorded is 41mpg on a trip from Reno NV to Salt Lake City UT The air conditioning works great although there is a noticeable lack of power when the air conditioning is on The seats are comfortable for the day to day driving but for the long trips bring a pillow The controls are all located in right places no hunting for missing controls The trunk and fold down seats are perhaps the best feature of all I used this car for commuting around the San Jose area as a Computer Networking consultant For one particular job I needed to haul some computers to Oakland I was stunned when I fit 11 computers into the back of this little wonder Over the years this little car served me well and I would not hesitate in getting another one The stereo is not great The little speakers that come in the Escort are junk If you like music go out and get some good speakers installed The Transmission is great with one exception REVERSE Sometimes reverse can be a little tricky to engage This problem was present from the first day I got the car Every mechanic I spoke to said this is normal for these cars No big deal though just put the car in first gear before you try to put it in reverse Doing this will get the gears to line up and reverse is ready to use " Pos," I bought my Escort in 1997 with 48K on it Now it has 88K and it is 7 years old Still it hasn t had any serious problems I only had to change worn out brake pads and tires that s it Engine and transmission work like Swiss watch It handles road very good I don t feel any inconveniences with steering The only problem as one reviewer had mentioned was icy condition You d need to learn pumping breaks with your foot I did not have any crushes on icy road but I was close once Some people consider automatic belts a nuisance I even like them Never got caught by a trooper with belts unfastened Mounting a Christmas tree on the roof though creates a problem Front seats have enough space for legs but it may be a little cramped in the rear Trunk is surprisingly large for such a small car I have a hatchback but my friend owns a wagon which I think is smarter He cannot be more happy about how much stuff he can load in his car Insurance I pay 280 per year for liability only living in Cleveland area The size of the car makes it quite unsafe You can feel being blown from the highway when a large truck passes you Also bumpers are plastic Sometimes it s hard to see what s ahead when an SUV is ahead of you The position of the rear view mirror is totally wrong My wife is short she can see from under it but I have to bend my neck each time I need to look to the right I general the car is very good You won t have to worry about someone stealing it It is great to commute Insurance is reasonable It makes it excellent for students What else Reader s digest rated Ford Escort 94 as a recommended used car 2000 " Pos," I grew up worshiping the quality of Japanese German and Swedish cars but I have to admit my last few years driving this very inexpensive Ford have convinced me to consider another one the next time I need a new car While it isn t much to look at it has been immensely practical and reliable I inherited this vehicle from my parents and as a poor college student at the time I couldn t say no despite its quot grocery getter quot nature Now that I own a house commute 20 miles to work in heavy traffic and park in cramped lots I appreciate its sizable cargo space good gas mileage and nimble handling I recently recommended it to a friend and I recommend it to anyone out there who is looking for this type of vehicle it is small and agile with an excellent turning radius it gets about 35mpg on mixed driving can haul a lot more than you would think and it s very reliable Mine has 119k miles with only minimal maintenance new belts and an alternator at 100k and oil every 3 5k It is a small car with a small engine 1 9L so don t expect to outrun anyone but it does have enough pickup for a normal driving even in the aggressive Washington DC traffic The biggest problem it s a station wagon and it looks like it If you can swallow your pride you ll save a lot of money with car br br " Pos," We bought our car brand new four years ago It was everything I wanted in a car even the perfect color of green We have an automatic with power windows cd player from the factory and air conditioning This car has been great No major problems We have had to replace the power window switch once but other than that nothing major The only thing I would change about the car is something very simple and that is I would have a middle arm rest for the driver Like I said that is something that anyone can live without The car has great pickup pulling out on a major highway and also does great up mountains At first I worried about having a two door when taking others on trips with us If I were to buy another car today I would probably buy a four door because it is a little hard for adults to climb in the back seat of the car As far as leg room it seems to have plenty for four adults We have taken two other adults on many trips with us and never hear any complaints on the leg room Our car came with the extra stereo package which is great It has a great sound to it The car rides very smooth and handles well I would recommend this car to anyone In fact I just went with my little brother to buy his first car He also got an Escort a 92 model and he also loves his Hope this helps " Pos," I just want to say that I ve had my 1992 4x4 XLT fullsize Bronco for 4 years now and I love it I couldn t ask for anything more in a vehicle The first thing that sold me on it was the intimidating appearance of the thing It looks mean The interior is very roomy and comfortable and gauges and switches are clear and easy to reach Currently it has 135 000 miles on it with not a lick of trouble Everything on the Bronco is stock besides the 33 quot tires and a Dynomax turbo muffler The ride is decent for a truck like SUV but the stiff suspension can really help out when off roading The 5 0L powerplant is surprisingly powerful I can beat my friend s stock Chevy Z71 0 60 even with my 33 quot tires although he hates when I bring it up I don t see why people gripe and complain about the reliability of this vehicle Me and about 8 of my other friends have gone over 120 000 miles on our Broncos 135 000 for me without incident I just think that some people don t know what the term quot routine maintenance quot means " Pos," I had the opportunity to rent a fully loaded 4wd 4 0L Edge edition Ranger supercab for 10 days recently I was traveling through Northern California and camping in Big Sur with stops in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe Initially I was surprised that the Ranger I d reserved was such a highly optioned model I d been expecting a 2wd 3 0L V 6 extended cab model Apparently this is the only way Budget equips Rangers rented from SFO This was a pleasant surprise but a surprise nonetheless especially considering I d been quoted a rate of 18 00 day Truly a bargain The white Edge edition is a sharp looking vehicle with the performance to back up it s aggressive looks The first thing I noticed when getting in was how stiff the seats seemed compared to my S 10 pickup I felt like I was sitting in a truck The lateral support seemed pretty much nonexistent The interior was handsomely trimmed in typical Ford style Driving the vehicle out of the garage one of the first things I noticed was a lot of tire noise from the knobby Goodyear Wranger RT S tires This may not be the best long haul driver I thought to myself During the course of more than 1000 miles of driving in various conditions including some off road runs around Big Sur I found the truck to be a trusty friend It corners competently on the highway with the power to pass and accelerate from a stop quickly Driving the winding roads on PCH around Big Sur the truck felt solid and well planted Switching to 4wd was a seamless affair with a simple dash mounted dial The 5 speed automatic transmission was also faultless and very smooth The driving impression is quite different from my 1998 S 10 which feels so carlike in most driving situations The Edge never let you forget it was a tall truck The trade off for all the power was woeful gas mileage 15 17 mpg range in all driving conditions With gas costing 2 00 and more per gallon for regular in many California cities it made for some painful gas stops The 2 forward opening doors on the extended cab were very welcome The chassis also seemed very tight and squeak free despite the large openings the truck s doors could provide Anyone who has these 4 doors will wonder how extended cabs ever did without them Overall I would say this is a very versatile vehicle with good looks and strong performance The unremarkable seats tire noise and poor mileage might make it tiresome to live with for some people The 6 disc CD player also decided it wanted to keep my cds just before I returned the vehicle I had to fiddle with it for more than 10 minutes before it decided to eject my cds For the type of people in the Wranger Xterra demographic however this is a great vehicle " Pos," What does my Ford F 150 4x4 Offroad Have in common with Submarines Airplanes and 18 wheelers I ve flown my f 150 airborne many times I ve driven in water over the hood I have the pictures I ve towed overloaded Trailers I ve chased coyotes through rough terrain I ve loaded the truck with over twice the weight rating I even put in a supercharger and pushed the 4 6 liter overhead valve Triton V8 engine s power way past its design limits It s been to the shop for oil tires brakes plugs a rear end oil seal and one O2 sensor in 90 000 miles We consistently choose our F 150 for Long trips over our 2000 F 250 and our 94 300ZX It has the most sophisticated suspension of any truck I know Don t let that scare you its been VERY durable It rides like a Cadillac on the road but handles bumps rocks mud gravel like a racing 4x4 It holds onto turns in a gravel road very well Doesn t slide sideways The interior is very comfortable Fully adjustable seats and steering wheel Although the gauges are out of view with the steering wheel lowered all the way The three door system and small rear seats are great for kids but I wouldn t subject an adult to a very long drive back there Colder air it was 110 this summer than the 2000 F 250 My biggest complaint about the drive system is the lack of limited slip If you get one wheel in a muddy ditch it will spin in the mud and rob torque from the other three You can get an accessory that will eliminate the problem over 500 00 It does not have as much power or gas mileage as the Chevy but generally Ford does seem to forego power for reliability and frankly I d like it to last longer even if it isn t as fast About the quot 4X4 Offroad quot option You get 17 inch wheels with recalled lug nuts your wheels can fall off with the old ones two quot 4X4 OFFROAD quot stickers A guard plate under the engine quot Offroad quot does have a higher book value and does sit up higher but ask yourself if its worth the price And remember 17 quot tires can be hard to get and pricey br br " Pos," My former boss had one of these precious trucks and she let me drive it Well I am originally a Chevy only type but when i took off in this particular truck i feel in love with it The feature that i like the most are the third door and the bench seat in the front and back are so comfortable Its like a couch We hauled around a dozen kids a soccer team all day from game to game and they said it a smooth ride From the cab when we went over rail road tracks it was very smooth I gotta have it br br " Pos," Ok right off I love this truck We bought the 97 Ford F 150 XLT shortbed standard cab truck and it was definitly worth buying The price was very reasonable for the great quality we received It was used but the milage on it was very low and the warranty had been extended for us for the term of the financing Big Plus It came with A C ABS both driver and passenger airbags and another plus is that the passenger side airbag can be turned off great if you have to fasten a car seat in the truck We have had the truck almost a year now and it has been outstanding No major issues at all Because it is a truck it would not be good for families because of the lack of room but this is an excellent work truck Even on long road trips the seats are very comfortable Driving it is a real pleasure very responsive and handles well You want a good truck go with the Ford F 150 br br " Pos," If you are a person who needs an all around versatile vehicle then the Ford F 150 Extended Cab pick up is what you want I recently purchased one and it is the first full sized pick up I have ever owned I have 3 children and did not think a pick up would be a practical choice for me considering the fact that you need room in a family vehicle for the entire family I had always borrowed a pick up from my families shop when I needed to haul a load of wood hay etc Much to my surprise this pick up had MUCH more room than the sport utility vehicle I had previously been driving and it has a third door which completely erases the problem of trying to load kids groceries saddles or whatever you need to put in the back seat Three seatbelts in the back ensured the safety of ALL my children and in front are 2 air bags with a shut off for the passenger side air bag in case you have a fourth child The rear seat is also split and can be folded down entirely or independently depending on how much room you need and when folded it is a solid metal bottomed cargo area It has a V 8 engine with a convenient switch to take you easily from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive it is the most comfortable and easy to drive vehicle I have ever owned and I can haul anything I haul wood hay wood chips gravel rocks the pretty kind I am an avid rock hound lumber you name it you have the room and the power to haul just about anything So the next time someone says quot Pick ups are a mans work vehicle quot you can say quot Pick ups are for women and families too quot br br " Pos," We bought our 97 F 150 Extended cab XLT Flareside 4x4 in 1998 It has the 5 4L V 8 We ve now had it for just over 2 years We don t put much mileage on her and she just turned 4000 miles Our biggest complaint is low fuel mileage She s only getting about 10 2 mpg That s all city driving It s roomy sharp looking runs great probably not even broke in yet and has plenty of interior room Back seat folds down so can use that area for cargo without getting the seat dirty The seats are comfy the sound system is awesome It s nice to hit a button on the dash to go into 4x4 rather than having to step out to lock in hubs That 5 4L V 8 has plenty of power for towing a horse trailer boat or r v We do love the look of the interior but feel that Ford could use a little less plastic for that caliber of vehicle br br " Pos," I bought this vehicle along with my husband his dream truck and fell in love with it to I couldn t believe that I as a woman older one at that could find this 97 Ford XLT pickup so comfortable and so much fun to drive I find the control and driving real pleasureable and exciting The only disconcerting thing is that I have to step up into it I m just glad that it has handles to assist The driving is just as easy as driving my Sable which is a power steering The XLT has 4 wheel drive when you need it and it s easy to shift it into 4 wheel drive I would recommend this truck to anyone It s comfortable fun and easy to drive even for a 50 year old bat like myself I wouldn t say that a young person would appreciate all of the qualities of the XLT but I guess that s why they built them quot Ford tough quot even for an adventerous young person " Pos," I bought my 1996 Contour used last June My overall impression of the car is good I bought the 5 speed because I think it is more fun and easier to control especially in the snow Front wheel drive also makes it great for snow driving There are so many things I like about it cruise control and tilt steering wheel dual airbags ABS brakes A C and power door locks windows and mirrors I guess what I am saying is that it has all the bells and whistles I like I bought it because I wanted a larger car I had a 2 door Neon that was more comfortable The seats in the Contour are so comfy I test drove a brand new Escort ZX2 or something like that the newest one and sighed a huge sigh of relief when I got back into my Contour This car is not a sports car by any means but it has get up and go as well as comfort There are a few things I would change though one is the cupholder yes only ONE it is pathetic and broken already Another thing I would change is the mechanism to recline the seat I have to roll it backward over and over to recline same to put it upright again A major waste of time I would love my car more if it got better gas mileage I average 25MPG There have been several Ford instigated recalls for warranty repairs however in my case they were all preventative as I have not had a single problem in the past 8 months I did buy the extended warranty though those bells and whistles get pricey to fix I would say test drive one you might like it br br " Pos," My previous car was in the shop for repairs and I had to rent a car 1997 Ford Contour was what I rented and I really enjoyed The car has a personality that I love to drive While the price for a new car was out of my reach I found a great value in a barely used 96 model While the car doesn t have a large engine it has plenty of pickup and handled large inclines easily The only problem I found is head space I am over 6 foot tall and it can become a little uncomfortable in long drives The front wheel drive and stable wheelbase makes it a easy car to drive and get through town to get the daily errands accomplished Update August 2002 The car is now 5 years old and has 75 000 miles plus The motor continues to run smooth and very reliable The interior has held up and is in very good condition The exterior is very good for this amount of use I drive is daily thus there are many dings and scratches from rocks and other debris in the road The car has had a couple of recalls and Ford has fixed them quickly Both recalls were for things that I was not experiencing brakes and exhaust The only negative thing to mention is the ride Our other car is a 2001 Dodge Caravan The smoothness of the Caravan makes the Contour seem alot rougher Over a week may go by and I won t drive the van and the Contour seems very smooth But then I drive the van and the I become less pleased I would definitely recommend this car to anyone who is wanting a good car to last a long time " Pos," The car is one of the best I have driven but if you live on a gravel road you are in for some surprises The gravel roads tend to put the car to the limit I have occasionally had to do some adjustments to the cars suspension system and had to rewire some of the wiring in order to get the car to perform the way it was intended A few of the places that need to be fixed were the dash lights i had to put in a wire protector in order to keep the wires from wearing from the bumps on the road The other problem i have had is with the courtesy lamp after about 1 year of driving it i had to replace it because the switch fused together and kept blowing fuses The car I really don t think was meant for driving on gravel roads Another problem is you have to constantly have to lubricate ALL hinges and locks in order to keep them from locking up and causing damage These things are minor but they provide numerous headaches if you are not expecting them to happen " Pos," Our lives were in the early stages of a complete overhaul Well not entirely We were driving an old Corolla with nearly 200 000 miles on it and were becoming cramped My wife was in the end stages of her first pregnancy and we wanted a minivan Truthfully I hadn t even considered a Ford no pun intended I was focusing primarily on the Mercury Villagers We wanted something with power reliability comfort and a good look Quite frankly the Aerostar was not my first choice Aerostar s have a tendency to rust I certainly don t want to drive a rust bucket They seemed a bit bulky and their style never really changed in all the years of their manufacturing It just wasn t the van I was looking for However some friends of my parents were selling their 1994 Ford Aerostar Extended van I just happened to be visiting my parents in Detroit and thought it might be fun to check out an Aerostar I have to say that I was impressed The van was a two tone maroon and tan It had fiberglass running boards giving it a sort of solid quot cruising quot appeal This Aerostar was clean and elegant The interior was customized boasting of quad captains chairs plush carpeting color TV and oak trim throughout The extended rear left plenty of room for strollers pack n play s and luggage Passengers found themselves in a comfortable situation without feeling cramped or inhibited I fired up the 4 0 liter V6 engine only to find it quiet and smooth The van rolled down the road with ease and the acceleration left nothing to be desired Handling was impressively good considering its size and shape The odometer read only 68 000 miles Needless to say I bought it I have been very pleased with this van Not long after I purchased it we packed it with seven people an over abundance of luggage and drove to Pittsburgh There was plenty of room and the engine bolted up and down those steep Pennsylvania hills like a champ My only criticism is the cost of repair Though it is not scheduled for a tune up until about 100 000 miles it will cost me approximately 400 because of the compact engine compartment I did have the drive belt replaced recently and it only cost me 36 I suppose like most cars the various repairs will balance out This is a good vehicle and one that deserves consideration I would buy another br br " Pos," The F 250 is a great work truck its also a great family truck It has many options which include Power windows and door locks Quad Cab four doors Bed cover Cd Player Four Wheel Drive It is easy to work everything in this truck Its roomy in the front and the back It has a very smooth ride This truck can tow a good sized travel trailer or a good sized horse trailer I love the Four wheel Drive I probably have over 1 000 miles of four wheeling in this truck and I have never gotten stuck Its a good truck for people who want the towing ability and also the roomy cab It is big so I wouldn t recommend it for people who feel insecure about big vehicles br br " Pos," Ok I have reviewed the 97GT and the 89GT mustangs but currently I can t locate any better place to post this opinion that might save you 1000 The intake manifold on the 1996 Mustang GT was made of a composite material Unfortunately the material was not strong enough to handle the horsepower of the V8 so at around 40 000 to 50 000 miles it cracked Intake manifold acts as a cooler where water and antifreeze circulates You can probably drive your car for a few miles after there is no water in it but its damaging and dangerous You can even burn your engine doing this And believe me SOHC V8 does get hot Ford recalled 1996 GT s and replaced the intake manifolds with more durable ones which were used on 97 and 98 GT s If you do a research for a recall on your 96GT you will find that there is one Unfortunately some of the 97GT s also came out of the factory with the weak manifold There is no recall on the 97GT and quite a few people have spent 1000 bucks on a new intake because of this Here is what Ford won t tell you The intake manifold is really their problem and even if your car is out of warranty its their responsibility to replace it If you own a 97GT and your intake cracks do not pay for a new intake Take it to Ford and tell them what happened They will say that there is no recall on your car Act like you know what you are talking about and tell them you spoke to Ford and they said there is a program on the manifold They will change it within a day at no cost to you given that the manifold is indeed cracked Make sure that it is otherwise they will charge you 100 just for looking at it Also you can get the SVO supercharger or the aliminum SVO intake with a 500 discount if you loose your manifold The supercharger is 3k and will be dropped down to 2 5k its worth about 100HP The aliminum intake is worth about 20HP and is a good base power mod if you are planning to go real fast in the future ex get a Vortech S Trim etc br br " Pos," I m not exactly an unbiased author I ve owned a corral of late model performance Mustangs that include a 1991 LX 5 0L 1993 Mustang COBRA and a 1998 GT 4 6L for my wife I recently purchased a 2000 Performance Red GT is there really ANY other color to replace the 91 upon its mechanical demise I researched the 2000 thoroughly and quickly discovered that its entry level invoice price was below all the other American vehicles of comparable size that offer styling or performance to match such as the Camaro Z28 Pontiac Firebird Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac Gran Prix GTP amp Chevy Monte Carlo Even factoring in a fully optioned GT the price remained about 1500 below comparable models When you see the 25k price on my Epinion keep in mind that it is 25k out the door with every option available My 2000 is a GT coupe with leather auto 17 quot wheels and the Mach 460 sound system Those are option packages provide all the extra stuff included with the option package price the GT package gives you all the mechanical amp performance stuff to go along with the 4 6L the leather group provides all the electrically adjustable seat controls just for the driver though the 17 quot wheel option gives you the bigger tires amp wheel locks and the 460 package gives you all the extra speakers and cool stereo with CD Virtually all Mustangs come with the quot Power Equipment Group quot which gives you the power locks windows steering brakes amp mirrors There s another quot Convenience Group quot which comes on virtually every Mustang which provides front mats air conditioning and rear defroster The GT option also provides 2 new since the 1999 2000 models features for the Mustang ABS amp Electronic Traction Control The ABS is what you d expect The ETC is a system that senses rear wheel spin on acceleration now how would THAT happen and uses the ABS system to apply the brakes to the spinning wheel and uses the Electronic Engine Control system to temporarily quot de tune quot the engine to stop it from revving up until the wheel stops spinning It s definitely weird to experience the ETC system at work but I guess it s a good thing thank goodness it has an quot off quot switch though So 25k is about all you can spend on a well equipped coupe the convertibles amp Cobras would require more money I may have forgotten to purchase the lighted vanity mirrors but if my wife can live without em so can I that s got a genderist tone doesn t it How s the performance I was skeptical about the 4 6L s ability to carry on the Mustang s mystique and performance image but I am consistently impressed I am certainly no stranger to the push rod performance of the 5 0L and though the 4 6L is considerably different in its personality smoother amp silkier its performance is every bit as respectable as its predecessor Some people may dislike the 4 6 s decided lack of harshness typically associated with old school pushrod engines but time marches on and the 4 6L will definitely win you over As far as the modification potential of the 4 6L goes I can t say as I am a bit of a lightweight there and usually stick to stock Styling In Performance Red the heads turn The 1999 2000 is a bit bulkier amp angular and more likely to appeal to the men sorry if that s genderist I didn t mean to be but it definitely looks great from any angle Exterior styling is always a matter of personal taste so glance at a picture and see what you think the car does seems to look better with more time spent looking at it The interior is a carry over with subtle refinements from the 1994 re style It is modern without being quirky and very functional Comfort abounds and I really don t have any criticisms You can visit one of those online car buying services like carOrder com and take their quot 360 interior view quot virtual tour for the Mustang and what you see there is pretty much what you get no surprises From my vantage point it is unchanged from my wife s 98 Interesting side note Ford may be saving money by making leather available on only the front seating surfaces now my 91 had 4 seat leather And no option package has rear floor mats so be prepared to shell out an additional 19 00 for them Not a deal killer but irritating Other irritants mild for the interior include the lack of glove box light I m nitpicking here and the seat belt loops attached to the seat backs must go I removed mine and I hope I can do that without compromising the safety or operation of the belts Well maybe now my forehead bruises from reaching into the back seats and banging into those stupid loops will heal The rear seat back fold down trunk entry feature is a real plus I guess I m getting older because I care about the stereo in a sports car the Mustang s Mach 460 system is heaven no complaints here All in all the interior is a comfortable thoughtful and handsome package irritants aside Another interesting side note for the money the late model Mustang has always provided FULL analog instrumentation included in the base cost That instrumentation includes a speedo duh a tachometer temperature gauge oil pressure gauge fuel level gauge duh again and ammeter All of this is presented in an attractive and properly placed cluster that avoids all of that stupid gimmickery that plagues less thoughtful vehicles No digital stuff excluding the odometer that will burn out blink and stop working No overly large speedo temp and fuel level gauges that are large in order to hide the fact that all 673 000 engine sensors are wired into a single quot service engine soon quot ok I m GM bashing sorry light With the Mustang s gauge cluster you can monitor the quot traditional quot engine conditions without worrying about a catastrophe coming without any warning Hey FINALLY the Mustang has a quot low fuel quot light Side view visibility is awesome now thanks to the revised roof line shape and the quarter window placement That was a real hazard in the 1979 93 hatchback models Speaking of hatchback models I remain curious if I will eventually miss the convenience of the hatchback configuration I think I will The trunk access of the post 1993 models is not very good when put to the quot luggage test quot Perpetual quot jockeying quot of luggage items while half in and half out of the trunk is always necessary to get them in all the way There s a low ceiling to the rear trunk area due to what I think is the rear speaker assembly So when you imagine you can shove tall items to the rear you usually have to break out quot Plan B quot I would ve considered a hatchback model again if offered in a structurally rigid platform The structural integrity of the post 1993 models is excellent and maybe maintaining that integrity was at least a partial concern in not making a hatchback My 91 was a hatchback and never quite had that quot new car quiet quot feeling due to very small rattles that became not so small as time wore on Speaking of rattles there seemed to be numerous amp negative comments on the fit and finish of late model Mustangs and I was curious as to whether I would be impressed or not with the assembly quality of my 2000 Well suffice it to say that the comments seem to be warranted as far as my wife s 98 goes Body seams are visually off some of that may be due to what is ridiculously complicated styling in some areas like the rear face Her outer side support cushion on the driver s seat is breaking down and there are some interior finishing strips that aren t adhered well The car has 50k miles and is exactly 2 years old now so maybe some of that is to be expected I maybe thought Ford would ve come further since my 91 which shared some of that charming shoddiness But the 91 was a 16 000 car not a 23 000 one Oh no now I ll get all those economist emails reminding me to adjust for inflation or the GNP You get the picture though My 2000 seems much tighter and quieter and the body seams are excellent So maybe improvement has been achieved in that department Let s go driving The 5 0L has a 4800 RPM approximately redline and the 4 6L has a 6000 RPM redline That fact alone illustrates the difference in their personalities The 5 0L launches off the line brutishly and pulls like a freight train while revving below 4500 RPM The 4 6L has a constant pull that isn t quite as strong but goes on and on steady and strong until 6000 RPM So the new ones take a little getting used to in the way of letting them rev up Besides there s nothing like hearing a V 8 even a small displacement one smoothly rev up that high The 2000 s exhaust note is awesome and a little lower than the 98 s It has that great quot throaty quot quality and sounds very much like the 5 0L at idle My muffler technician described the 5 0 Mustang exhaust as quot one of the best looking best sounding stock exhaust systems out there quot The 4 6 s is just as satisfying It combines the great throaty quality of V 8s with the loud growl of small displacement engines into a purely intimidating and obnoxious note Great looking pipes too That s important I m not GM bashing here but is anyone at the company LOOKING at the exhaust pipes when they re designing the cars Handling is excellent as expected The structural rigidity does wonders for enhancing the ride and the control The 1979 93 models required you to do all the rigidity work yourself in order to get that kind of integrity After doing all that reinforcement type of work your car well mine at least finally had that flat cornering quot ride on rails quot feeling The new ones inspire that kind of confidence without the harshness Hey I m 36 and the harshness issue suddenly seems important The 16 quot wheels look a little lost in the large fender wells the 17s look just right I am a little dismayed at Ford s putting H rated tires on a GT if you get the 16 quot wheels and making you shell out extra for a set of real tires I think anything calling itself a performance coupe should have V or Z rated tires at least Keep in mind that in pure stock configuration the GT can exceed the speed rating of H rated tires hmmmmm I m thinkin quot Firestone 2 The Sequel quot happenin here For the mechanically curious 1 My GT has 5 000 miles on it now and I ve been to the dealer once for warranty work on the rear axle carrier bearings I don t know what I think of that yet I had just been on a twisty N Calif coastal road where I thought I d see how spirited the car could get no abuse here just alot of fun The carrier bearings started making noise the very next day defective set did I break em on my abuse session are they of a weak design I dunno 2 Gas mileage is at 22 1 with a 50 50 mix of town driving amp freeway raging All town miles will yield just under 20 and all freeway excluding stop and go commutes will get you around 24 Not bad at all 3 The 4 6L is all aluminum so beware of engine heat conditions The warranty expressly excludes any damage due to overheat conditions If you see the radiator warning light come on stop immediately and get out the tow truck The warranty also excludes damage due to lack of cooling system service go every year to the dealer and get documented servicing of your cooling system Yea there s faster for a bunch more money yea there s better looking a matter of taste but no car crosses the performance styling curve with the dollar curve quite like the Mustang It all comes down to value br br " Pos," OK folks here we go for any of you that have been around long enough to see the introduction of the Ford Mustang in 1964 officially released as a 1964 1 2 model I feel sorry for you Not because you re old bad joke please take no offense but because you had to see the Mustang go through a radical transformation from a true muscle car to nothing more than an expensive Pinto in the late 70 s to an underpowered GT car in the late 80 s to an even heavier quot sports car quot in the mid 90 s But with the introduction of the newest Mustang comes many improvements over the previous generations beyond your wildest imagination First off I should say that this is finally a sports car again It s got a revised 3 8 liter V6 and although still a pushrod engine makes a respectable 190 hp that hurdles the 5 spd coupe 0 60 in 7 2 seconds This torquey V6 makes lots of its power down low and has over 220 ft lbs of torque that makes driving a whole lot of fun coupled with a new rear axle ratio and rear wheel drive But the real fun is in the Mustang GT with the V8 Having the same displacement and sharing many of the parts with the former 4 6 L V8 it produces 260hp up from the old 215 hp V8 in 1998 Coupled with the 3 27 performance axle it flies to 60 mph in 5 5 seconds and gets to the quarter mile in 14 seconds flat at 100 mph To put that into perspective the much revered 1986 Lamborghini Countach took a full half second longer in the 1 4 mile Kudos to Ford for finally making a Mustang that for once looks good Not since 1969 has a Mustang turned so many heads They new edgy styling will last longer than the sedan like styling of the last generation and finally makes it look like a sports car Although the scoops on the hood and behind the doors aren t functional they do give it a sharp appearance The all new 5 spoke wheels on the GT model are classy and sporty and coupled with the 245 45 ZR 17 s help the Mustang to achieve skidpad grips of 86 G s which haven t been equaled by Mustangs before with the exception of the Cobra s The Mustang rides surprisingly well for a sports car The ride is supple and firm enough to have appropriate and confident handling on smooth surfaces However because it still has a solid axle and hasn t updated its rear suspension to IRS independent rear suspension since its introduction it can get a bit spooky on uneven bumpy surfaces Aside from that handling characteristics are favorable with mild understeer The BFG Comp TA tires are sticky enough to handle most situations while maintaining a smooth ride Although there are so many things to praise about this car it s far from perfect In a world where Japanese standards of fit finish and ergonomics have heightened the level of excellence the Mustang falls short of impressing me The dash is attractive but the instrument cluster can look a bit dated at times The fit and finish of the car have much to be desired as well By far the worst thing in the new Mustang are its seats both front and rear The front seats are in a word unsupportive I d rather drive cross country in a VW Jetta than this Mustang For short rides the front seats are fine but long trips find your back and behind sore and aching The rear seats if you can call them seats that is give you enough legroom if you re about 7 or 8 For real sized people you might want to hitchhike I would advise all sports car enthusiasts who love the feeling of RWD and gobs of torque to buy this car especially the GT V8 Mustang In case you re wondering it can be fairly convenient because the trunk has more than adequate space for storage On that note it can be attractive to more than just speed freaks due to its large storage space and ease of use By the way like I said before it s a real head turned Guys and girls both like the styling especially of the convertible So if the old adage is true about dating someone for their car you might want to consider this one br br " Pos," Wow The Saleen 2000 SR is highlighted by a 5 8 liter Ford based engine producing 505 horsepower and 500 lbs of torque mated to a Saleen six speed transmission Talk about power and beauty in all of the right places With just about every part in this car specially made the only thing not unique about it is the windows Besides it s great looks and mean engine the Saleen SR also boasts a starting price of 150 000 Although expensive every penny would be worth it because this special edition car has the reputation of Saleen and the reputation of proving itself on the track A little about Saleen Since the company s beginning in 1984 Saleen has produced over 7 000 vehicles more than any other specialty manufacturer has done The company s line includes other vehicles that range in the mid thirty to forty thousands such as Saleen S281 S351 sports cars Saleen XP8 and even the Explorer sport utility vehicle The company also produces performance parts which would greatly increase the performance of your Ford Mustang For more info visit Saleen com " Pos," I love my 2000 Mustang The car that I traded in was a 1992 Ford Mustang convertible That car gave me a few problems but I went ahead on and tried another Ford I was looking for a new car because I was ready to get married My husband went with me We both fell in love with this car I have a Bright Atlantic Blue Mustang It is a pretty color I don t see very many of the same color as mine The interior is light gray and dark gray The seats are light gray My car has only given me one problem The air conditioner vents did not turn from side to side I took the car to the local Ford dealership and told them They looked at the car and ordered the parts I took the car back in and they put in new air conditioner vents This is the only problem I have had The car is great The interior of the car is a light gray The car is an automatic It has power windows power door locks cd player tape player cruise control automatic driver seat automatic mirrors overdrive and It has an anti theft device built into the car If someone doesn t have the right key the car will not start I had a key made at Wal Mart and it will unlock the doors but you can t use it to drive the car with It also has a remote control for the car It has lock and unlock for the doors trunk and panic button The driver panels are the speed oil gage temperature gage gas gage and the battery It also has lights that light up for different reasons like the seatbelt overdrive off or low fuel The seatbelt warning goes off every now and then if you don t buckle your seatbelt up The gear shift is located in between the seats It has park reverse neutral drive 2 and 1 The overdrive button is located on the gear shift There is a console in between the front seats It has slots inside if for cd s There is also a change tray located between the gear shift and the console The doors also have pockets to place objects in When I am out on the highway and I want to get up and go it goes Some cars that I have had before if you push the gas it is still going the same speed Not this one You want to go it goes The car s body style has not changed much over the last few years I has just been the head lights and tail lights that change The body is just about the same as it was when they changed to this body style in 1994 The inside of the car is great I love having the tape deck and the cd player I have lots of cds but I also have quite a few tapes so that gives me more of an option of what I can listen to The control panel for the cd player the tape deck and the air conditioner are all in the middle That makes it easy to get to for the driver The cruise control is located on the steering wheel The buttons are cruise coast and resume Cruise is to set it Coast to slow down Resume to go back to the speed that you were at before The windshield wipers are on the side of the steering column This is also the same as the blinkers and the headlight brightner dimmer The emergency blinkers are on the top of the steering column The headlights are on the left side of the steering wheel There is an interior light for when the doors are open When you get into the car and close the door the light stays on until you start the car This is very helpful at night time to see the ignition When you get out the light also stays lit until you lock the doors It also goes off automatically This car has an automatic window defroster for the back window This helps in the winter time to defrost ice and snow The heater has defrost floor and mix Mix is the floor and defroster The heater air conditioner is a round circle that goes from cold to hot blue to red The air conditioner has max a c normal a c and vent The max blows a little harder than the normal Vent is just for outside air The only thing that I don t like is that the seats could be a little softer than what they are I love the automatic seat for the drivers side There is not one on the passenger side But they are ok The front seats are bucket seats The back seat is two different seats They lay down to the inside In case you have something in the trunk There is not much leg room in the back seat It is comfortable enough for my son He is only five so he is comfortable in the back seat Most adults would not be comfortable in the back seat unless they are short I have ridden in the back seat I am 5 5 and there is enough leg room for me But it is not for very tall people The trunk has an automatic opener on the key chain and also inside the glove box There is also a safety feature on the inside of the car s trunk There is a cord to pull in case you get locked in the trunk to pop the trunk from the inside The trunk is carpeted and has the donut tire underneath the carpet It is a pretty roomy trunk for a sports car My car has a spoiler on the trunk There is a third brake light in the spoiler This car drives great The car accelerates when you want it to It is a fun little car to drive The brakes also work well When you need to stop and stop fast it does The cars performance driving is great It takes off and slows down when you want to It handles the road good It is easy to drive I love everything else about my car My next car after this one will more than likely be another Mustang They have me sold on this little pony If you have not ever had a Mustang you need to drive one You might really want one after you do Thank you for reading Have a good night Kimberly " Pos," Let me start with one comment I have always wanted another Mustang owned a 69 10 years ago It came time for the family to purchase a second car Since we were already in possesion of what I believe to be the best sedan in the world a 94 Honda Accord EX I decided that rather than go with the SUV living in the Midwest this makes more sense I would get ME a car I ordered a 2001 GT Convertible 5 Speed manual After an incredibly long delay waiting for Ford to build my car it finally arrived early summer This car is the ultimate summertime vehicle Drop the top and go With the optional Mach460 sound system you will have no problem hearing your favorite tunes as the wind whistles by I am by no means any kind of motorhead so don t look for performance figures or anything else like that in this opinion But I do enjoy being behind the wheel and after 16 years of driving I am still trying to figure out how I never truly experienced driving until getting behind the wheel of this car There is tons of power in the V8 engine the seating is comfortable even for a tall man and there is surprising room in the back for 2 young children I realize that I will have to give up the car by the time the kids hit 10 or so but until then the whole family enjoys it You re not going to be taking this car to the grocery store or anywhere else that requires putting anything in the trunk There s room for a set of golf clubs barely and that s about it so forget hauling groceries For all of the power the car handles remarkably well too as long as you are on dry pavement Any little bit of moisture on the ground and look for the rear tires to slip even with traction control on I fear that this car will spend a lot of time in the garage during the winter months as I imagine the snow traction to be non existent I could give you about 100 reasons to NOT buy this car but instead I will give you the 1 reason to buy it It is FUN br br " Pos," Ford did a brilliant job when it created the mustang It is sleek and powerful Just driving the car can make anybody feel young again Mustangs come in three varieties standard V6 GT version and SVT Generally it correspods to what type of engine you get the latter being the more powerful The best part about owning a mustang is that the interior of the mustang Base V6 is the same as the GT or the SVT save the emblems You don t feel like you are getting the base model it feels like your getting the best model I own a 97 v6 mustang and my roomate has a 99 SVT We both love our mustangs We know that not many other cars can keep up with us Say a mustang vs a civic or a mustang vs a prelude I think for the price the mustang is the best car out there Just knowing there is something powerful under the hood and the car is not just looks is one of the things that make a mustang great When driving a mustang the whole sports car feel is there A stiff suspension a nice sounding engine and a instument panel that has gauges for everything One thing though It would have been better if the mustang had four wheel independent suspension but it still handles very well The mustang is not as quiet as say a lexus but it isn t supposed to be You are supposed to hear the roar of the engine when driving a sports car The sound only adds to the effect Only people who can picture themselves in a sports car should buy a mustang One thing though you must be sure of your driving skills because one your behind the wheel you will really want to drive it br br " Pos," The new generation ford contiues in the greatness of the ford line The new styling is both aggresive yet civilized The standard engine the V6 is still very powerfull but to opt for the 260 horse power V8 in the GT is a worthwhile purchass The convertable has no problems No leaks or tough situations for up or down movement The mustang has incredible road manners With plenty of power and tourque it has passing power on the highway And a great drive through country winding roads The car handles quite well for seating 4 adults The two in the back are a little uncomfterble The trunk space is quite large because of the hatchback design of the car Holding about 8 on the skidpad is a very good score The mustang is a car that can be owned by anyone For the exectutive or the person just looking for some style The only down side to the mustang is its rear wheel drive In the winter snow can cause a small problem but wiht the available traction control deep snow is the only problem The mustang is a great car for anyone And with a low sticker price and high performance rating it is a great deal " Pos," If your in the market for a great ford car and you want a convertible get this car The 1999 model edition is the best one yet The top folds down quicker than ever and the car has been made ven more powerful The hp is about 250 The car also sounds great with the classic mustang sound This car also excelerates extremly well and can beat out 17 year old s anyday The car is very appealing in yellow and where ever you go people will tur their heads and look at this amazing car When people see this car they wish to themselve s I wish I had that car Over all this is a great car and everyone should get it br br " Pos," I drive a 2000 Mustang V6 This car gives you a lot of bang for the buck The hood bumpers and trunk are of a composite material which means they will not rust It also makes the car lighter The good part is the winter won t rust the car out but the car is lighter for winter driving with this car being a rear wheel drive put some weights and get good winter tires if you are to drive it in the snow Of course rear wheel drive is fun though for going around corners The car handles well and is a dream to drive The seats are comfy and adjust well The gages and interior is basic but doesn t give you that cheap feel like a typical GM car Sometimes the dash squeaks but only rarely The sound system is good even with the basic system The air conditioning is VERY good and so is the heating The back seat is short and not comfy for people taller than 5 4 The V6 will not win you an Indy 500 but the gas mileage is very good and another thing this car is sexy You can also spend more money like any other car but the aftermarket for the Mustang is awesome there are a lot of toys you can buy to make your Stallion fly Don t let anyone tell you Ford is junk Ford has their problems but so does GM Toyota Honda and whoever else The difference with this car is that it is easy to get parts for and cheap to repair Nobody should laugh at you for owning a Mustang Not everyone wants a rear wheel drive sports car but if you re looking for something fun take a look " Pos," Why did I buy a 2000 GT Mustang well first I owned a 1969 Mach1 Mustang for the last 6 years and I can not tell you how much fun I had driving it This car made me a quot king of the road quot People would stop traffic to let me out of parking lots parking spaces and even to exit driveways I think they just wanted to get a glimpse of American automotive history The Mustang is more than just a vehicle It is a symbol of who you are I love the way people would give me the thumbs up when they pulled up next to me or the stories they would share with me at car shows about their Mustangs that they owned or own They spoke about them as if they were a part of the family and that s how I felt about my old Mustang The most common phrase I hear is quot I should never have gotten rid of my old Mustang quot Well when it came time to purchase a new car I had plenty of choices but I knew I wouldn t be truly happy unless I was behind the wheel of my true love the Ford Mustang As for driving one my test drive of the standard shift 2000 GT at the dealership was very pleasing The sound of the engine as I let the clutch out and drove out of first gear was so smooth and pleasing The power was on tap at all times Braking was excellent The all four disc brakes were a first time experience for me and I loved it The handling was quite nice Sharp turns were point and execute no questions asked I felt like the car was built around me in the drivers seat Everything was within reach Excellent view of the road front and rear I can t wait for my new Mustang to arrive from the Dearborn Assembly plant I think I made the right choice Heck I know I made the right choice Mustangs are for anyone who wants fun performance and a little bit of American automotive history of their own As I tell all the Cheverolet lovers The STAMPEDE is louder than the HEARTBEAT br br " Pos," I have owned my 2000 V6 Stang for 6 months now and am loving it more every day What an awesome car There really is just something about a Mustang Especially one that is powerful beautiful and sounds like thunder I added about 600 in add ons to my stang GT dual exhaust and a cold air intake MAC Products It was awesome before but now it s even better It sounds and feels like a hot V8 and is quite a bit faster that stock V8 s of only a couple of years ago I have owned 30 cars 2 of them were imports and I have had 2 transmissions go out out on those 30 cars the 2 imports American cars are just as if not more reliable than most imports plus you get style and great driving experience Plus it would survive a wreck better most My 2000 Stang is the most awesome car to drive that I have ever owned and it only cost me 17 000 with leather plus 600 in add ons About half the price of most comparably powered imports I am not blind to the negatives though Engine a bit noisey at higher rpm s but when blended with the rumble from 3 quot dual exhaust it s just fine Probably should get upgrade to 16 quot or 17 quot wheels from the V6 stock 15 quot but not really necessary I love the 5 speed and with it it weighs 270 lbs less than a GT with automatic and 240 lbs lighter than a V6 Camaro with nearly the same HP GT s feel heavier and I know they would be awesome to own and to upgrade but for 3500 less money I ll stick with my nimble V6 and have fun upgrading it here and there Supercharger Who knows maybe someday br br " Pos," In March of 2003 I drove from Ontario Canada down the I 75 to Fort Lauderdale Florida to purchase my 2000 V 6 laser red Mustang Convertible I am in no way a Mustang fanatic in fact I know very little about Mustangs I do know enough about mustangs that I love all of the retro touches on the new body style When you put my 2000 beside an old 1965 you can easily see the inspiration for the design I made the long drive to find a perfect and rust free used Mustang convertible and the car is worth every mile of my trip My laser red Mustang is an auto with beige leather and power everything with a beige top Every time I drive this car I find myself appreciating it a little more The V 6 has plenty of power for any kind of legal driving and will still pull hard out of the corners The 4 wheel disc brakes are smooth and powerful The power top works great and is quick enough to put up at a red light although it does leak a bit in a heavy rain I guess that s just part of owning a convertible I put this car away for the winter so I can t comment on winter traction but in the summer the stock Goodyears do an excellent job The V 6 does lack the deep growl of the V 8 and the rear end looks much better with the dual exhaust A new exhaust may be comming next season The little 15 rims and tires bother me a bit on my V 6 There is too much room between the wheels and the fenders it looks like a 4x4 Next up after the dual exhaust will be to find a good set of used 17 GT rims and have the suspension lowered which is an inexpensive job My wife and I have a 3 year old and the car seat fits nicely in the back My daughter loves the convertible and begs to have the top down I put her in after I put the top down and I find it easier to lift her in than putting her into out 4 door truck The back seat is really only suited for kids or a duffle bag Having said all that there really is no other feeling like driving the classic American muscle car with the sun and the wind I would never have considered this car as a hard top If you re going to put up with all the inconveniences of a tiny sports car it had better reward you with the top down experience " Pos," I walked into the Ford dealer near my house and saw this beauty It was a Ford Mustang Gt Red with black racing stripes on the hood and leather interior I thought to myself for about 3 seconds then made a decision that I must have this car Its absolutely beautiful and its an experience to drive each and everytime I get behind the wheel Everyone stares at it and not to be a materialistic but it feels good to have something that people admire It has a 4 6 liter engine V8 and it s power is unbelievable I had other sports cares but this one tops all of them in the area of comfort I absolutely adore this vehicle and recommend it to anyone with class and a desire for excitement and a little fast paced fun The only bad thing is the gas but i m willing to overlook that negative quality and again I will say you only live once so have fun and take chances br br " Pos," To me this is what Mustang was originally supposed to be about a fun to drive car comfortable on longer trips available with a peppy engine that gets reasonable gas mileage I have the 190 hp six cylinder this car is nice and stable at high freeway speeds feels heavy and solid on the road handles well and seems so aerodynamic I love mine Laser Red automatic 4 wheel ABS good sound system standard nice cloth seats I like a sports car that is still attainable to most of us that is still in the average American budget Plus this car is back to what the Mustang was all about too many of our American cars became bloated machines that were nothing like the originals both the Mustang and the Thunderbird come to mind I love both of these cars though I can t see myself absolutely giving up the rear seat as in the Thunderbird for 2002 I love the Mustang my own personal car for zipping around with a usable rear seat nobody said HOW usable but usable br br " Pos," For years prior to actually getting a drivers license I have adored the classic 65 Ford Mustang Convertible How could I refuse to love those curves that massive design that glistening red paint and that spacious leather interior It was the car of my dreams from the moment I fist lay eyes on it Yes I admit it I was one of the many victims suffering from Mustang Madness I vowed that I would buy that classic car and have it rebuilt and restored as soon as I could drive As the years went by and Ford produced a new Mustang after Mustang that failed to inspire me I remained true to the classic 65 model and I counted the days until I could have one Now that the time to buy a car has rolled around Ford comes out with a stunning new look to the old classic This brand new classic in the making has the fine contour or a machine built for speed instead of the luxurious comfort of the 65 version When the brand new Ford Mustang first caught my eye I knew I was in trouble How could I stay true to the classic when this red convertible speed demon had hold of me One look at this beautiful piece of American car and I like many people was hooked Ford has finally redesigned the Mustang to do the classic justice Even though it was difficult to push the classic aside I am thrilled to see that the Mustang is back with a vengeance " Pos," Are you contemplating the Mustang I know I know it is a Ford But if you can get past that you won t be sorry The only model I can write about is the GT Convertible loaded In my never humble opinion it is the only way to go Now we will assume that you are a over the age of twenty five and b under the age of fifty otherwise your insurance bill will exceed Sadam Hussein s hooker tab or you are too old to be seen in such a I hope I don t look too old kind of car This car is not cheap but it does move It is not a stealthy car can you say highway patrol trooper but chics like em It doesn t get thirty miles to the gallon but the fuel tank holds plenty You won t want to drive on go out with your buds night but for just you or one companion it can t be beat There is no equal for this car in speed and handling for the money And you may even find that the famous Ford reputation for unreliable poorly screwed together vehicles does not apply to the Mustang And by the way this is by no means a limited production car they build a zillion of them so you can strike a hard bargain " Pos," I pull up to the stop light and next to me I see a Porsche Boxster But you see if I were in any other car I would sit back and stare in awe but I was in my brand new 2000 GT Mustang This guy in the Porsche was over there thinkin look at this guy thinking he s got a fast car well I m going to burn him But when the light turned green i was gone before he could say a word I love my mustang I have loved mustangs since they came out They have always been reliable cars and so far my 2000 has proved to be reliable also The mustang is one of the sharpest sleekest best lookin cars on the road today The style and performance is unbeatable for the price If you are lookin for bang for the buck then this is the car for you I got this car because I wanted a fun reliable car to drive around everyday I got both out of the mustang If you are single and want a good car for good money the Mustang is for you br br " Pos," The new 2000 Ford Mustang GT is an awesome car I own the car in Performance Red the new color for the 2000 Model year The car is everything a person could want It has a nice 4 6 Liter V8 engine with 260 horsepower The 0 60 in this beast is in the low 5 s The only thing I don t like about the car is the back seat but since I am the owner of the vehicle I don t sit back there The space in the back is kind of small but it can still fit 4 comfortably The thing I like about this car is all the looks that you get in it It s awesome Also if you are a big car fanatic like myself then there are so many different things that you can do to your car to make it different than others A new option also on the 1999 and 2000 models is Traction control which really does help I have noticed a tremendous difference which its on The options i got on my car was a 2000 Ford Mustang GT Leather Interior 5 Speed Manual and other options I just recently purchased the car and I Love it I paid just under 30 000 for it Overall experience with the car is I am 110 satisfied I recommend this car to someone that loves cars br br " Pos," I ve read all of the other reviews posted for the 2002 Expedition and I m amazed that most of the reviewers don t even own one yet are compelled to write reviews that are nothing more than retyped spec sheets from Ford Take it from an actual owner this is a great vehicle to drive I have an Eddie Bauer 4WD version that I bought new in January 2002 It is so much fun to drive I actually find myself looking for extra trips to make to the store just to drive it I ve had all the seats full of people seats 8 comfortably and I ve had it filled with lumber and other cargo Either way it s 5 4L Triton V8 pulls it easily In May I used the tow hooks on the front to pull my brother s SUV Olds Bravada out of a swampy mess Let me also tell you that at that time his Bravada also had a 20 pontoon boat and trailer hitched up to it It was up to it s axles in mud yet the Expedition gracefully pulled it right out without even breathing heavy at all I then towed the boat about 40 miles over hilly country roads and often forgot that the boat was even there because it handled it so effortlessly Now I don t plan on using it like that too often but it was nice to know that it could handle it My main objective with this vehicle to have comfortable seating for several passengers I need more passenger room than I could get with smaller SUV s so I only considered the Expedition and the Yukon Tahoe I love GM products but the Expedition costs about 5K less when similarly equipped To those who suggest getting a mini van I can only suggest that you quit making suggestions This SUV even if it never touches the off road environment is the classiest and most comfortable way to travel The added confidence of 4WD for winter driving makes any mini van just a glorified station wagon that is best suited for picking up groceries If you re reading this you re probably already aware of the spec s for the Expedition so I won t retype them What I will point out to you is that the Eddie Bauer is the only way to go For about 4K more than an XLT you get the 5 4L engine leather interior seat warmers MACH audio system digital temperature control exterior trim package very nice and lot s more I got mine with 18 chrome wheels and I have to say it s the only way to go One extra that was included on mine was the reverse sensing warning system A 200 option but worth lot s more It has saved me on a couple of occasions by warning of obstructions behind me and is a great companion for when I back the truck into the garage yes it just barely fits in my garage I can easily back in and pull within 10 inches of the wall every time just by listening to the beeping tones of the warning system Make sure you get this option I m getting 13 1 mpg on a combined hwy city style of driving Not so great on the wallet but that is what you have to pay if you want a big SUV It s no worse than any other large SUV And the other issue about insurance costs well it s true that you ll be safe in an accident but whatever you hit will likely be destroyed But isn t that the way you would want it I know that I want my wife and new baby to be safe in case of an accident so if it means an extra 100 for insurance so be it Your insurance costs are a direct reflection of your driving skills so all of those reviewers that talk about high insurance costs must have some amazingly poor driving records Of course it s going to cost them more if they re a bad driver behind the wheel of a bulldozer SUV like the Expedition After you ve driven it for a week or two you ll find that it s not very intimidating to drive after all and the turning radius is really quite surprising To conclude I will say that I love this SUV and will not part with it Take it from someone who actually owns one and disregard all those Pulitzer wannabees out there that have nothing better to do than write reviews about vehicles that they don t own For 2003 Ford has added a new suspension that allows for the third seat to fold down flat which is the only thing that I would love to change about my 2002 It would be so nice to be able to fold it s third seat out of the way instead of having to remove it and stash it in the garage before running to Home Depot I hope this review was helpful to you " Pos," Let me explain to you in detail what I have before I review the car I own a silver 1992 5 0L HO Mustang GT I bought the car used and I am the third owner of the car The car has been taken care of really well which enables me to make an accurate review of the car itself The engine is a stock Ford 5 0L HO engine with the exception of new headers and under drive pulleys The radiator has been replaced with a 3 core radiator The suspension has been modified with adjustable shock you can adjust how smooth or tight you want it to ride My review is with the setting to 3 being the middle The settings are 1 for smooth ride and 5 for tight ride The radio has been replaced with a JVC CD deck along with a trunk mounted 12 disc CD changer The exhausts have been replaced by Steeda with high flow exhausts but are not the straight pipe ones you ve all seen on the road These on the outside look like the standard ones which almost hide underneath the bumper They are called Steeda Whisper exhausts for reference purposes Ok first of all let me address the so called Whisper exhausts Let me tell you that I am completely clueless on why they call them that the car is in no way quiet Instead it sounds like pure muscle not like I m complaining it s a beautiful sound Anyway on with the car The car comes standard with a 5 0L HO Ford V8 Which I must say is a fine piece of machinery Even though compared to today s 4 6L V8 which puts out 260hp the 5 0L s 225hp might seem very modest However don t disregard it just yet The 5 0L engine gives out more than enough power on a wider range than a lot of cars I ve driven I will explain what I mean by this but first I want to clear something up about engines and power When they give you a horsepower rating they should give a corresponding rpm number This is the revolutions per second the engine is turning The reason for this is that depending on how fast the engine is turning the number of horsepower is different Obviously the higher the rpm the higher the horsepower However with some cars that advertise a great amount of horsepower or a great amount of torque they usually mean at an extremely high rpm such as 6000 or above This horsepower is almost useless in initial acceleration Most Japanese small engine cars that try to advertise ridiculous horsepower numbers use this technique read into it further and you ll find that it ll be at those extremely high rpms which is close to redline and can damage the engine if brought to it enough The main problem with this is that most of the horsepower and torque won t kick in until the engine is spinning so fast So basically anywhere before that you won t feel barely anything The engine in the Mustang however is different I ve found that I m stuck to my seat from the very beginning all the way up to 70mph or more I did this little test one day on an empty turnpike The speed limit was 70mph so when I stopped to pay the toll I floored it coming out of the toll plaza The car returned excellent response all the way up to 70mph This means the car has a really good midrange which is the best to have The interior looks fairly nice the instrument panel is fairly well arranged and I like the inclusion of an oil level gauge Most cars have this by now but like the car I had before a 1990 Acura Integra some cars didn t Some things I don t like about the interior is the plastic A lot of the dash is plastic and that bothers me it s so cheap feeling However it isn t especially cheap or nasty looking so that s not too bad but I would prefer at least vinyl There is some vinyl though The middle storage box is very small and doesn t really hold much mainly just a pair of sunglasses and the little remote for my CD player Also it is positioned too far back you have to bend your wrist a lot to reach the button and to flip it open then you d have to look down and back to see what s inside to know what to get Also I don t like how the trunk release button is located inside the glove compartment On the positive note there are enough good things about the features to let you overlook some of the slight annoyances of the interior After 1991 airbags were required as standard so the 1992 Mustang obviously has one which is a little reassuring after driving the 1990 Acura without an airbag for so long Also it has power windows power locks power steering power brakes cruise control everything And also everything works As long as it has been maintained everything should still work even after 10 years Mine is an automatic transmission car It has all the standard settings but unlike the Japanese cars have the overdrive feature too I kind of hoped they would switch the placement of the overdrive with the regular drive The way they have it configured now is from top to bottom Park Reverse Neutral Overdrive Drive 1st gear I m used to simply counting the number of notches when going from setting to setting I m used to one notch down for reverse then two more notches down to get into drive now I have to go three That s not too horrible of a problem but the fact is regular drive would be used more so it should come first The way it is now is that when I m in drive the two most likely settings for the shift to accidentally get knocked into is overdrive and 1st gear Slipping into overdrive while driving is no big deal but if I would accidentally knock it to 1st gear I can probably majorly damage the transmission especially if I m driving fast which isn t hard to do in this car Another thing that I don t like about the shifter is that there is no display on the dash what setting you re in I liked it when I can see on the instrument panel what I m in instead of having to look down if ever I m unsure However these are easily overlooked they are just the little annoyances I ve noticed The automatic transmission works pretty efficiently In regular drive you ll be able to feel the car very accurately The transmission like all other automatics would kickdown a gear when it senses the gas pedal is depressed harder or more The only thing is that at the higher gears it tends to not want to kickdown unless I REALLY step on the gas However with this motor kickdown at the higher gears is not really required to get decent acceleration but it s there if you really need it On overdrive it drives identical to the regular drive on all speeds under about 50 55mph After that point it will go into overdrive In overdrive you ll notice that the car will have very little acceleration response This is because it is trying to be more fuel efficient Despite the lack of acceleration response this setting is really nice on long trips since at overdrive it accomplishes 70mph with only 1500rpms from the engine which is down right incredible Normally in my Acura Integra the engine will be spinning at about 3500rpms to get up to 70mph This big HO engine gives almost no effort at 70mph That is especially good not only for gas mileage but for the life of the engine The more stress the engine is put through the shorter the life will be With the 5 0L HO engine you don t need to worry about that since it requires little effort to get the same speeds accomplished by Japanese sports cars I really don t have to speak of the exterior anyone who sees my car immediately compliments me on how beautiful it is Some people might not appreciate it as much but in good condition it just simply looks good The front has very bold designing with the large hood area and the flat mean looking front including the awesome looking round fog lamps on the bottom From the side you notice the ground effects the most Most people have mistakenly thought that I put a body kit on the car They don t realize the car needs no body kit it looks that good stock from Ford The car is sitting on aluminum alloy 16 rims which for that year is the newly designed 5 point star design in opposed to the 1990 and before turbine style 15 wheels The rear of the car is a hatchback design This is where most of the complaints lie I say MOST but that s out of very few total complaints you generally don t hear very many negative points on the Mustang GT s body design The rear of the car is quite small The rear wheels are almost sitting at the corners However they executed it quite well One of the first things you notice about the back is the big spoiler rear wing This unlike the ones you see on Japanese cars teenagers customize is a functioning rear wing It directs some of the air flow up and outward to put slightly more pressure on the rear wheels at high speed to maintain grip and to provide better grip on the rear wheels during braking On rear wheel drive vehicles you will definitely need this That is why tire manuals would instruct for the new tires to be placed on the back wheels despite what most people think even if it is a front wheel drive car The reason for this being the last thing you want is to lose grip on the rear wheels If you ever lose traction of the rear wheels your back end would get lose and you ll probably go into a spin The brake lights indicators and reverse indicators are all packaged together in a group covered by a grill like design so the light goes through in many tiny slots It s hard to explain but it is very attractive and like the body kit mistake a lot of people mistaken this as a custom thing done to the rear light but this is the way the car comes stock from Ford The sound of the car is also excellent I ve heard 5 0L Mustangs with the standard exhausts and they sound decent but the real magic of the 5 0L engine is best expressed with hi flow exhausts such as the Steeda exhausts or the ever popular Flowmaster exhausts The sound of the Ford 5 0L HO engine is actually REALLY distinct A trained ear can easily tell a Mustang from other sports cars even ones with similar sized engines It is not that annoying weed whacker sound you hear from the big exhaust tips or cherry bombs you see so much of these day instead you can hear the rumble of the engine and the separation between the firing of different pistons and it s a GREAT sound reminds you of the muscle car age back in the 60 s and 70 s All in all it is really unlikely to find such a great combination of all features for such a great price The car combines all out muscle with some nice features to be more practical The ride comfort is not at the level of being a luxury car not at all it feels really distinctly like a sports car but at the same time does not discomfort you while doing so The car is a little annoying to get over speed bumps due to how low the car is and there is the occasional squeak you ll hear when going over a bumpy road but otherwise the sheer excitement of driving such a car will make you forget all of that All of the extra comfort features are also very welcome in this sports car as well Cold AC power everything cruise control and hey it even has a back seat for your friends although not really big and roomy is similar to the Integra I had before so no big complaint there If you can find one in good condition don t hesitate to buy this car Make sure to get it checked out at a mechanic s first because it has been 10 years a lot can have happened to it But if maintained well this can give you years of excitement and compliments b Update 11 17 02 b Well it s a bit more than 6 months since buying this car so this is an update on my opinion on the car based on more experience and I must say I will still back up everything I ve said and much much more It has met all my expectations and more First of all I scrounged through the receipts from Steeda and I found that the previous owner had installed Steeda Sport Springs which effectively lower the car and the center of gravity That would explain why I scrape the bottom of my car everytime I go over a speed bump and I go REALLY slow too Well since buying it I ve had to give the car a major tune up replacing such parts as all the spark plugs spark plug wires distributor cap water pump serpentine belt and the fan clutch This might seem like a huge list of parts but most of it besides the waterpump and fan clutch is part of the tune up and other preventive maintenance The thing that really stands out is the costs For my old car the Acura Integra a new distributor cap would have run as high as 150 On the Mustang the brand new distributor cap was 20 and change This was basically the case with everything else To get the waterpump and serpentine belt replaced was less than 200 total including parts labor and tax If I was to get either the drive belt or timing belt and the waterpump replaced in the Acura Integra I would have been looking at a good 500 or more job So owning a popular American car has really saved me a lot of money Cars like the Chevy Camaro and the Ford Mustang are so common and simple that there are a huge array of aftermarket retailers that deal in parts and upgrades for them Thus extremely low costs Also I cannot really make mention of anything illegal such as street racing so I ll have to say I haven t been involved in any illegal street racing However you and I both know that when you own a Mustang you re going to get challenged at the stop light it s inevitable by every rice boy in town and eh hem I can t say I ve officially raced them but I can say unofficially that I ve NEVER yet lost hint hint So speed lovers out there this is definitely one of the more rewarding cars to buy on the market " Pos," The Paparazzi They re ALWAYS causin problems b Much press has been given to the newly styled 1999 Mustang GT and Mustang SVT Cobra both good and bad We were originally attracted to the Mustang GT for its power and speed but had never considered purchasing one until the 99 model year the new styling with it s crisper lines and more powerful engine were all we needed to fall in love with not just ONE but TWO Ponycars As the proud owners of both a 99 GT and 99 Cobra we tend to disagree with much of the negative attention surrounding the Cobra and the rumored performance inadequacies i b Let s clear up a few misconceptions b For starters these problems did NOT plague all 1999 SVT s Ford elected to perform these Horsepower Upgrades on a voluntary basis as a response to SOME dissatisfied SVT owners Fortunately some Cobras managed to come off the lot in prime condition and with the upgrades to the fuel chip intake and exhaust system WOW While my GT boasts a respectable 260hp and even though it s equipped with an automatic transmission can easily hit the 60 mark in the advertised time it pales in comparison to the gut wrenching power and sheer G force put out by the Cobra Even prior to the upgrade the Cobra was on par with both the Corvette and Camaro SS although the advertised 0 60 times on these are slightly lower than that of the Cobra Our Cobra was even fortunate enough to leave in it s wake a highly supercharged Supra equipped with Nitrous b Clutch in let up on the Or was it b Driving the Cobra requires a complete re education in shifting and cornering Most day to day driving will find you in 3rd or 4th gear reserving 5th for only the highest of freeway speeds You will immediately feel its power as you squeal off the line in first gear But even more impressive is the monstrous pull of SECOND gear and this is where you will gain your greatest acceleration Third is nearly as powerful and quite often you may find that you bark the tires when speedshifting from 2nd to 3rd Drivers may at first be startled by the subtle lift of the front end of the car when accelerating suddenly b How ya like my curves i b The handling and suspension are sheer perfection The independent rear suspension allows you to take ramps hills and curves at full speed with no lean or instability no turn is too sharp for this snake Shifting is crisp and quick and with each successive gear you ll feel all 320 of those horses just bucking to be set free We had been advised that it would be possible to lower the suspension up to 3 inches but have found this will not be necessary the slightly higher stance gives the driver an excellent command of the road without sacrificing handling capabilities in the least b Fits you like a glove b The front seats are form fitting and highly supportive even on long roadtrips and front seat passengers can enjoy oodles of legroom Backseats are comfortable however rear legroom is limited But let s face it this is a sports car not a minivan The Mach 460 Soundsystem produces excellent clear sound though you may want to crank it in order to hear it over the roar of the V 8 The Cobra and the GT are pure driving enjoyment both in daily traffic and on weekend excursions The slightly crowded backseat and limited trunkspace are hardly worth mentioning when compared to the overall perfection of these performance machines b Author s note Beware of Lot Lizards b One thing to keep in mind when purchasing a Cobra is that due to the limited release only 3 500 per model year will be produced some dealerships will try to impose a surcharge of over 6 000 DON T PAY IT When the first dealership tried to sell us this car at close to 35 000 we walked They attempted to convince us that it was FORD not the dealership that was imposing this fee they called it a Limited Release Surcharge Upon investigation we found that another local dealer also had one Cobra on it s lot and they were in fact NOT overcharging So stand your ground and don t let them fool you A fully equipped Cobra hardtop should run you in the neighborhood of 28 29 000 b The final word b Last but not least there is one positive result of all of the negative press surrounding the performance you will find that other drivers particularly those in other sports cars may underestimate the power of your car Just be sure to wave and smile as you leave them behind b Author s Addendum September 28 2000 Our Cobra is a 1999 and despite what some people think there were no 2000 Cobras This has made the 1999 s even more sought after at least down here in Florida where it seems there are more Mustangs per capita than anywhere else in the U S Some dealers still have a few left on the lot and I ve seen price gouging even worse than 16 months ago when we purchased ours But if you can get your hands on one I d highly recommend it br br " Pos," Prior to my new mustang I had bought the 1994 model which was a new body design as with my current purchase Both times I was extremely pleased with my purchase Its always nice to get looks and compliments from strangers especially when its a new body design it just grabs attention I bought the 1999 Mustang V6 there is no major changes to the year 2000 model But compared to the previous years model the POWER is finally a long awaited welcome to the new body desing It was getting embarassing driving beside the VW Golfs Jetta Passats in their V6 engines Not to mention the Hondas Acuras or the GM s and their peppy engines For an American quot muscle car quot how could you have only put 135 HP on the V6 engine But now with 190 HP on the V6 you get the respect that was long overdue But don t use the regular unleaded gas you get nothing like the power it should have when you use the premium Base models are packed with features that most people want Power driver seat Air Cond and Power Windows ABS is an option but I would strongly recommend it for this car It sucks in the rain and not that much better in the snow But still one of my favorites cause it is still rear wheel drive Dual cup holders that actually hold the larger fast food cup sizes now Well large lit displays with easy to reach controls I bought the model with the Mach460 sound system which is supposedly made by JBL it is sweet sounding and has a pretty hard punch to its bass Ride is quiet smooth for a sports car and the engine exhaust sounds throaty unlike previous years when it sound winey and wimpy Still it can be improved to give the growl even if it is only a V6 15 quot Tires are too narrow have to upgrade to at least 16 quot Gas milage is a concern it has gone down from my 1994 I spend about 15 for 80 Miles and that usually lasts me about 2 days only As with my 1994 I ve had to do nothing but oil changes so far For the price it is still one of the best buys on the market There are so many toys as well for this model body kits computer chips to boost HP exhaust kits etc I bought the 1999 25th Anniversary edition and Ford showed some class by sending me a 25th anniversary kit that included a book of the Mustang s history stickers and some other tidbits A few negative things I noticed so far is that in my automatic transmission after coming to a stop the transmission shifts back to 1st and you can feel a push jolt So make sure you have your foot on the brake tight when you are at stop lights Also driver s seat belt locks up sometimes and straps you in to tight The trunk height is useless can t even fit a large suitcase in their May be deep but height is a real problem Why can t the make the trunk deeper like in European or Japanese models br br " Pos," Well lets see The Ford Mustang It goes way back in history as a muscle car of the 60 s and 70 s but still goes on today I have never had the thrill of owning a Ford Mustang and probably never will But my feelings will never change Back in the early 60 s there were many types of mustangs coupe convertable fastback GT Boss Ex Now in the 90 s and in Y2K There isnt as many versions of the mustang You have the Cobra Coupe Conv and Boss You have to special order the real sportsters They only market on the showroom floor the Convertable and Coupe Why not let us see them all for a change The major thing I like about the new mustang the 99 model and 2000 is that they have increased the horsepower up to 30hp dont sound like much but you get into a v6 and it feels like you are in a Gt No lie I once testdrove a Gt and a v6 The power of a v6 was unreal and I really got excited as they put the extra umph I really like the older style but with the way the world goes everything must change some for the better and some for the worst I would surely buy a mustang if I was able to and really needed a sport car but for the hot rod at heart its the sure choice br br " Pos," My first car was a 1967 Mustang 289 cu in automatic with turn signals on the hood and a black vinyl roof over yellow paint job Today this car would be the ultimate classic ride Now in the nineties I have owned three new Mustang s 95 97 99 and I believe that Ford is on the right track to making me as happy as the first one The body style of the 1999 s is quite a bit different from the other two With a rounder body and square like head amp tail lights this is more like a Toyota body style If I had a dollar for every person that told me quot I love your car quot or quot cool car man quot it probably would be enough to make one of the payments All three of these vehicles were five speed transmission s because I just love to drive Living out in the hill country of Texas not far from IH 10 it is easy to get down the road and make it to one of the big cities Never had a bit of trouble with any of these vehicles and I easily put 4 to 5 thousand miles a year on the first two With the MachI CD stereo system the road becomes a joy to own The 95 was not a GT and the difference is quite noticeable during acceleration I would recommend the 4 liter over the 3 liter engine if you do a lot of highway driving One thing you may have to get used to is other quot sporty quot cars pulling alongside and begging you to have a race This takes a little getting used to especially when most of the time it would be no problem to blow their doors off Take a walk on the wild side with a new Ford Mustang Ford also sent me a fantastic gift package containing a three cd set of music from the 60 s 70 s amp 80 s and a wonderful black leather mustang cd case as well as a hard cover edition of the quot History of Mustang quot Try and beat this deal br br " Pos," This card provides a strong handling of the road and can work for the driver but if regular maintenance isn t maintained on this automobile it falls apart This car takes constant care and is an asset to the buyer based on the look but can easily become a pocket drain When you first get this car Ford generally sends a package that is very impressive books and or memorabilia but remember this costs money and the company gets it from the price of the car So decide if you want to pay for the looks and repairs I have enjoyed the car but not the maintenance " Pos," I recently purchased a new Ford Mustang and have nothing but good things to say about it I had spent a lot of time looking at cars and doing research into what car I wanted I had owned a Camaro before and said I never wanted to have a Ford Well as I drove by the Ford dealership the Mustang just jumped out at me Something about that car really caught my attention and why shouldn t it have There are many perks to this car First off the Mustang is a legacy anyway This car has a lot of history Also I really like what they have done with this new body style As soon as I got in the car to test drive it I knew it was the car for me It has great power good handling good stereo system and I like the inside a lot better than the Camaro Not to mention the price tag on it was very pleasing too After all the nonsense at the dealership I ended up driving off the lot at around 18 000 Gotta give two thumbs up to Ford on this beauty br br " Pos," In my opinion one of the better cars of 1999 would be the Ford Mustang The new model Mustang contains a numerous amount of good characteristics which in my opinion outweigh the seldom found negative qualities The 1999 Mustang was given a change in body style from the previous year which most people find very appealing This car is ideal for any sports car lover on a tight budget The new engine placed in the 1999 model gets 40 more horsepower than the previous year which gives the V6 model Mustang a greater 0 60 than either of its leading competitors the Pontiac Firebird or the Chevrolet Camaro The Mustang even comes with more than average room in the front seats for sports cars I myself am 6 2 quot and in no way am I lacking in room On the down side like most sports cars who even have four seats one would have to be around the age of ten to actually be comfortable in the rear seats of the car The only negative comment that comes to my mind in my reflection of the year I have owned my Mustang is the relative easiness to lose traction on even semi wet roads However the optional traction control system for around 200 works great by quickly restoring traction to the vehicle after it begins to slip The traction control system even comes equipped with an on off switch for those moments where a driver really wants to peel out at a stoplight and show everyone around him that the Mustang is truly a great car br br " Pos," The new Ford Mustang GT convertible is a very good car overall It has great looks great handling and an aggressive powerful feel I personally give the car a 8 out of a 10 There are a few things I don t like though they are There is a lot of road noise and wind noise with the convertible although the Horse power has been increased I still feel that the 5 0 motor is a better motor Auto transmission in the 1999 2000 feels kind of sluggish it feels like it takes too long for it to accept the power from the engine to drive the wheels I kick myself for getting an automatic every day if your going to get one go with the 5 speed it feels much more powerful Also the back seat is mostly useless to any adult Only kids or small adults can be comfortable in the back Don t get me wrong I love the car and if I had to do it again I would buy the car again but this time i would get the 5 speed br br " Pos," The new refined Mustang quot GT quot has its ups and downs This car is very sleek and stylish with its redesigned interior and exterior This car comes with a 4 6 liter V 8 that hd torque and agility of an American Sports car The old 5 0 engine is missed because of its horespower and awsome sound but this new engine is doing real good for its smaller size I like this car so much because its good looking and it drives like no other I think it corners the best out of anything ive drivin i also liked the manual transmission feel i feel in control of the car at high speeds and low The cost of this car is fairly reasonable for a car like this but kinda hard on the checkbook The back seat is one of the downs because its too small for an adult to ride in its built for a smaller kid " Pos," The 1999 2000 Mustang has got to be the most affordable sports car in it class Averaging between 18 000 and 22 000 for the basic 5 speed fully equipped model will outbeat any of it competition Just the sound of the engine in the 5 speed when putting your foot on the gas will take your breath away I am only 26 years old basically just getting my feet off the ground and always wanted my first new car to be a sports and the Ford Mustang my that wish come true with it price and incentive programs At any age if you enjoy going fast and feeling power behind the wheel of your automobile when you put your foot on the gas this car is for you Only downfall to this car as well as all sports cars is the lack of ability to drive it in the rain and snow without fear of losing control because of the rear wheel drive and lack of weight in the trunk area br br " Pos," For 99 Ford made many improvements to the Mustang GT More ponies more leg room and a body redesign The 99 Mustang GT does what the Mustang has always done A good sports car at a good price This doesn t handle like a Corvette but it s less then half the price For the price this is probably the best deal for your money I ve had this up to top speed 147 MPH on the speedo It ran as smooth as can be If any law enforcement personnel are reading this I did this test on the track as far as you know The car handles very good in the corners The back end is a little light though The back end wants to swing out when you turn fast and hard but what I m talking about here is VERY extreme cornering Normal sports car corners are no problem One problem this car is like a cat it hates water Drive on wet pavement carefully or the you ll be spinning like a disco ball br br " Pos," I have an electric green 1999 ford mustang and I love it It is my first car and it is a great first car At first not being comfortable with driving got me worried about having a sports car but it handles great and rides as smooth as anything I love everything about it especially the color because it is different It handles great gets great gas milage easy to drive I would reccomend it to anyone that wants a reliable fun and easy driving vehicle The only fault that I can say about this car is that it is not a family car it is good for one or two people but if you have kids it is probabaly not the best choice but besides that I love it and it is very comfortable in the front br br " Pos," I bought my 1992 Escort GT over three years ago It had a little under 60 000 miles on it which was less than it should have I bought it because it fit my budget but was still sporty After living with this car I can recommend it to other buyers The body interior engine and transmission of my car are all in excellent condition for their age The only major mechanical problem I had was when the timing belt snapped but that should have been replaced at 65 000 miles which it wasn t As far as driving it is a very pleasant vehicle relatively quiet very secure and stable I have a manual transmission and the engine revs through the power band eagerly Redline is at 7000 which allows a quick launch and an impressive sprint to 60 Torque steer can be felt particularly during hard acceleration or turning but it isn t unreasonable The available power is plentiful and the car coupled with a manual really does return a satisfying driving experience The interior ergonomics are good with the placement of the air conditioning and stereo within arm s reach Each door features storage compartments as well as the large glove box Since this is a coupe entry to the back seat can be difficult for adults The hatchback allows an ample amount of space for groceries luggage even large items With the seats folded down I ve been able to transport 27 quot televisions as well as an assortment of other things all at the same time Two sore spots for my particular car have been the brakes and an odd electrical problem that causes the car to stall I ve replaced three out of four brake calipers and have had no success in tracking down the electrical problem Another thing a potential buyer should be aware of the GT model of this car has the underpinnings of a Mazda Protege Furthermore replacement parts for this car commonly come from a Mazda dealership or an independent foreign auto parts supplier The powerplant is all Mazda electronics including the starter another replacement I have made Overall I didn t expect the phenomenal reliability my particular car has afforded me Besides the infrequent electrical problem the car has rarely had any mechanical problems As with all used cars do a thorough inspection of all fascets of the automobile before purchasing it and I suspect you will find a reliable cheap economical yet fun automobile br br " Pos," I have owned a 1985 Ford T Bird 1992 Mercury Cougar and now a 1997 Ford T Bird These are all essentially the same cars given differences for model years These cars are virtually indestructible for American manufactured autos The 85 went 128K miles the 92 was at 113K miles when they were sold and the 97 is at 45k miles I had no major breakdowns on any of these and I was always impressed that when they were emissions tested required in most states even at high mileage each tested well within the clean air standards This indicates a well built close tolerance engine designed to last Alas they are not made anymore Ford realized they could make and sell a Ford Taurus Mercury Sable a smaller car and less costly to produce and sell it for more profit than they ever saw on the T Birds or Cougars Or you are forced to buy an even pricier Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis if you like larger and safer auto These were spiffy road cruisers with good looks good gas mileage and performed well for their size If you can find a low mileage 97 they make a great second or even your main vehicle These will no doubt be collector items for your children " Pos," We chose this truck because it was an upgrade of our previous Ranger You can tell we are quot Ford people quot We wanted a dependable truck which would out live the loan payments Seven years and 100 000 miles later it looks and drives as good as any of the newer models on the busy city streets and long Texas highways The body shows no signs of deterioration and the engine still purrs little a kitten It was bought without the automatic windows and doors for longevity This was the correct choice since many of the automatic windows and doors fail long before seven years We have had no major defects other than an oil pan leak caused by a bad gasket which proved to be costly since it required the removal of the transmission to get to the gasket to be replaced Another short coming was the windshield wipers which were under designed too small for the truck which leaves areas of the windows which are not cleaned properly We intend to keep this truck for another three to four years or 200 000 miles which it will have no problem reaching Then we will most likely choose another F150 or upgrade to one of those three door cabs This vehicle is not for everyone People who are under 5 feet tall over 75 years of age should not buy this truck unless they have a step stool If you are looking for a truck that is dependable low maintenance and fits in your budget try it you will like it " Pos," If you ask most people about a Ford Taurus their either going to tell you that they loved it or hated it You re going to get a mixed response from me If you are looking for a short term or lease vehicle then this car is for you If you are looking for a good reliable long term car 4 years or more then this is not the car for you My in laws bought this car brand new at the end of a model year They bought it having only 50 miles on it in January 1995 My husband acquired the car from his parents in January 1997 We had the car until we traded it in December 1999 Overall it was a good car There were some major repairs that had to be done For example a new head gasket costing around 2K However on most of the major repairs Ford did eventually recall the vehicle for that particular item By recall I mean that they refunded your money if you had already done the repair or repaired it for free if you hadn t I d say that Ford recalled this car for about 6 different problems The good point is that they DID recall it when they found a consistent problem The problem for us came in December 1999 when the car had 93K miles All at once everything went wrong with the car It needed a new air conditioner new motor mounts and new heat core among other things The total for the repairs came to over 3 000 Needless to say we were not going to put this kind of work into an old car That s when we decided to trade it in My in laws amp my family still buy the Ford Taurus They have found the same thing that we have time amp again The car is great for the 1st 3 4 years Until we had these problems the car was a very good reliable car The seats are very comfortable even on long road trips We should know we took many many trips in that car We will buy a Ford still We have one now We have learned from experience though When we re looking for a nice sized but affordable short term car we will get a Taurus If we re looking for a long term car that will be with us 10 years from now we ll shop in another direction " Pos," I was riding with my father in his Ford Taurus station wagon today to get some matierals for the construction workers that are remodeling our home While in the car I thought it might be interesting to compare his car to my BMW 7 series A review of my car can be read at a href auto review 1E9A D8AFEF3 39277AA5 prod3 http www epinions com auto review 1E9A D8AFEF3 39277AA5 prod3 a Some interesting facts I noticed was that the Taurus actually seems to accelerate smoother and brake smoother than the BMW although the BMW does accelerate faster The seat comfort up front is comfortable in both cars however I personally like the back seat more in the BMW since it has head rests and the seats are contoured for the body For people with families that travel often and need room for luggage such as my family I would recommend the Taurus For those who like to have luxuries even to the point of having a weather station built into a car I would recommend the BMW The Taurus is also a smooth car as is the BMW The Ford is cheaper to get fixed although it seems that it often does need fixing usually nothing major A recent fix was the air conditioning which cost over 500 to fix One feature that seems to be taken for granted in a lot of cars is the cup holder The BMW does not even have one although the Ford does In the BMW I use the area on the door to place the cups although it seems it was made for cassettes or CD s to be placed there Another advantage of the Ford is that it is very good on gas It gets probably about 8 mpg more than the BMW when the BMW was purchased a gas guzzler tax needed to be paid I like the Ford Taurus station wagon and would recommend it for families br br " Pos," Ever went to purchase a vehicle and you wanted a family car and your spouse wanted a truck Well Ford has done it It is the Explorer Sport Trac It is a combination of both There is enough room inside for a family but then has a bed like a truck Once we test drove this we knew that we had to have it So that s what happened we got us one This has been one of the best vehicles that we have ever purchased Besides being a combination car and truck it has many more unique qualities Have you ever had to move and were worried about scratching or denting the bed of your truck Well your worries are over This truck has a guaranteed bed It will never ding dent or rust Trust me it sounds like a gimmick but I have tested it and know that it is all the truth We recently helped family move and my husband had a tow bar in the bed This thing was sliding all around Every time that we slammed on the brakes it would hit the back of the bed and I thought there is no way that this bed is going to make it through this Well it did it There was not one scratch ding or dent in the entire bed Also there is an extra electrical outlet in the bed of the truck This is great for trailers power tools and camping It came with a hard top cover The Explorer Sport Trac came equipped with a V 6 But it feels like it is a V 8 It is fully loaded Electrical mirrors windows locks and driver seats There are leather seats There is an overhead counsel that indicates direction and the temperature It will also let you know of sever conditions outside Such as icy roads or extreme heat There is also a rear control panel for the back seat passengers It lets you control the heat fan and radio from the back seat I think that this vehicle is perfect for everyone Weather you are looking for a family car or a sporty little truck you have found the perfect one " Pos," To start off I d like to state that I m the proud owner of a brand new Sport Trac I spent a long time researching the available cars and this turned out to be the right one for me I found that almost all my initial concerns were incorrect and a couple innovative features took me by surprise b EXTERIOR 9 5 This is one of the biggest head turners I ve ever seen And it isn t just the strange hybrid that causes it This car has character It has the aggressive front end style that Ford is putting on the 2002 Explorer It s got a sturdy rugged roof rack It has exterior tie down hooks running the length of the bed Even the tailgate is different from anything else with the Ford logo embossed proudly in the center Prepare for plenty of questions from onlookers in parking lots and at intersections b INTERIOR 10 The interior is the part I love When people get in this car they expect a simple trucklike look While the Sport Trac has rubber floors and water resistant seats it s no truck A great CD stereo system white faced speedometer comfortable bucket seats power rear window and more leg room than a regular Explorer If the stereo is on too loud when you turn it off it automatically sets it to a reasonable volume when you start the car up again Keyless entry remote entry illuminated entry the list goes on The plastic texture on the dash isn t great but other than that it s a beauty Since there s no huge empty cargo area in the back the air conditioner and stereo work very well The only feature I don t like on my Sport Trac is the rear floor console It allows people in the back to choose what music to listen to The problem is that there s no way for the driver to override it b ENGINE 7 The Sport Trac engine can tow up to 5000 lbs However it suffers from very poor acceleration If you want this car to move you have to hit the pedal to the floor This will come as a shock even to those who frequently drive other SUVs b RIDE 9 Very quiet comfortable ride The engine is almost silent and road noise is kept to an absolute minimum at most speeds Ford did a great job in stiffening the Explorer frame It makes the ride very enjoyable and a far cry from other trucks you might encounter b HANDLING 10 Incredible handling Very tight turning with wheels planted at all speeds I tested Emergency maneuvers are able to be completed with no problem For instance an idiot car pulled out of a parking lot right in front me and I was able to swerve and avoid it easily RELIABILITY N A Ford claims that no maintenance will be required but I m not absolutely sure Unfortunately the car is too new for me to give an accurate review However I will say that Ford has done a good job by marking the engine spots you would most likely need to access with bright yellow paint They also have a roadside assistance warranty for any unexpected problems you might encounter b VALUE 8 Very cool car in almost every respect Unfortunately it is also very pricey My model ran 27000 and I didn t bother with leather 6cd changer tonneau cover or many of the other available features However I am very pleased with it so far and would definitely recommend it b Initial concerns b Not enough space for groceries or other common items Poor acceleration Simple interior Cramped seats Huge size Bad ride b New realizations b Plenty of room when seats are down Poor acceleration Wonderful gadget filled interior Comfortable seats A little bit long but not too wide Carlike ride b CONCLUSION If you don t need to use an enclosed cargo area every day and occasionally carry something dirty or wet this is definitely the car for you It s great for scuba diving and I m sure many other sports would benefit from it as well The back is sturdy but light the cabin is rugged but elegant this is truly a hybrid br br " Pos," I always thought of a vehicle in utilitarian terms A car is a car if it got me from point A to point B safely and without incident it did it s job My Chevy conversion van did this without any trouble for the 8 years I owned it So why is it that this vehicle has changed my mind I chose this vehicle mainly because it was different from the other cars on the road At first glance I thought it was weird looking Then I looked again and thought I can see me in one of those SUV s are so overdone now I don t want a truck they ride like a truck I can t go back to a car they are so short A station wagon no way And I was just so tired of the big van Yes the SportTrac fits the bill perfectly Not a mom car at all Enough room for all 5 if need be but with a 17 15 and 11 year old not a common occurance these days The interior is comfy the ride is smooth and quiet With the tonneau cover it is just like a car trunk yet I can fold out the cage and use it for hauling tho nothing dirty those things are for my husbands truck With the cage in regular position I have a place to put my groceries and they don t slide around in the bed I was EVER so tired of groceries falling out the door of my van and mini van before that The v 6 engine has the pulling out power that I need Like a shot I find it extremely easy and fun to drive and imagine my surprise at turning up a snowy hill beginning a fishtail turning that little switch and sailing up the hill around the other vehicles I ve never before appreciated the value of 4 wheel drive this is my first In the past I washed my van perhaps once a year this one I wash once a week sometimes more often Can you see where I m going with this The leather interior warms up quick the heat is top notch The dealer replaced the Firestone tires for free I think because they screwed up my order and I had to wait 5 months for my SportTrac I got it in December 2000 It has gone through a snowy and messy northeast winter with no complaints so far I am no longer nervous about driving in the snow tho I still don t trust other drivers I don t hear the whistle that I have heard others complain about I find that I park in places that maximize the visibility of my SportTrac is that so wrong It certainly turns heads I let my husband take it to work once so he could show it off to his co workers they were all very impressed or so I m told I enjoy picking up my daughter at school but I am careful to look non chalant about driving this cool vehicle Perhaps in a year or two I ll let my son borrow it he keeps bugging me to let him There is a drawback tho I have to call it a vehicle it s not a truck you know Also I got the best color the island blue which is really teal You must have mud flaps in the snow or you get snow sludge on the rails They are not included or an option when I got mine I got all the options except the moon roof it makes the interior roof lower and I am tall and the 6 CD player I have CD s at home but I enjoy the radio and I have 12 programmed stations to choose from There is a single CD player and cassette player in it Do people still use cassettes While I realize that this is a new vehicle and it should be just as I wanted after all I chose it I have never had such an interest in a car um I mean vehicle I hope that my joy in this vehicle is long lived and only time will tell but for now as you can see I cannot say enough about my SportTrac And while I highly recommend it don t buy one or mine won t be so unique any more " Pos," The first time I saw a Ford Explorer Sport Trac I knew I had to have one Then I found out what they cost But I waited a while and finally got one that was reasonably affordable and well equipped Let me state right off that this is not a technical review I am just going to tell you what I like and don t like about the vehicle First of all if you want a vehicle that gets attention this is the one The Sport Trac is still rare enough that a large number of people do a double take when they see it and many will come up to you to get a closer look The thing that first attracted me to the Sport Trac was that I wanted a four door vehicle but I also wanted a truck I really did not like the looks of the four door pickups The Sport Trac is a good compromise We have found the interior to be quite roomy and have carried five people quite comfortably in the vehicle However I would state that I would not want to take a long trip with three adults in the back seat The front seats are fairly comfortable but the seats could do better in terms of lumbar support The air conditioner works quite well and there is a vent in the center console for the back seat passengers I tend to keep this shut off however as it is a little noisy The 4 speaker am fm cd cassette player is a good one I would rate the sound excellent as well as the radio reception The floor of the vehicle is rubber but Berber carpet mats come with it I like this feature The rear window is a power window with three positions closed open and vent In the latter position it is open about one inch Instrumentation in the Sport Trac is attractive I enjoy the thermometer in the center overhead console Even though it looks as if the vehicle is equipped with gauges this is a little deceiving The oil pressure gauge is a disguised idiot light with only two positions The rear seats fold down to give additional cargo space Unbeknownest to many the rear seats lock in place making for a more secure floor for packages etc Behind the seats is a minimal amount of cargo space for a few tools a jack and the like The Sport Trac is adequately powered and my experience is that it handles quite well One day a less than attentive driver pulled out in front of me and I braced myself for the sound of metal against metal However I was able to negotiate the Sport Trac to avoid the other driver So I rate it high on maneuverability In terms of gas mileage I get 16 18mpg around town Although I have not been on a long trip yet I believe I will get in the 20 21mpg range The ride is a good one I would rate it quite comfortable There is a little wind noise at higher speeds The cargo bed is smaller than a regular pickup but I have found it to be quite adequate A fold out cargo cage is an option This is a good way to extend the bed to about 6 feet but I placed a hard cover on my bed and removed the cage However I installs and removes with a minimum of effort There are numerous tie downs in the cargo bed which makes it easy to secure a load I have only had my Sport Trac for about 3 1 2 months but I have had not trouble with it All in all I am pleased with my purchase and would definitely do it again " Pos," Ford has done its homework on the new 2001 Sport Trac The Sport trac has the most front and rear seat room of any vehicle in it s class Granted the other companies have done a great job the Sport Trac is a step ahead of the rest Negative coments about rear set leg room being cramped this is far from the truth Not only is there plenty of room for kids an adult of 5 foot 11 inch has plenty of room for comfort The bed is slightly shorter than other competitors but all you need to do is drop the tail gate and flip up the bed extender With the optional extender your bed is now a full 6 foot With the ample 4 liter v6 you have plenty of power to pull your camper or boat The standerd features here are options on other trucks The rear power window is a great feature not seen anywhere else Granted you are slightly limited on storage space behind the rear seat just add your optional tonneau cover and you are ready for that trip to the beach Ford you have done a great job on the new Sport Trac It was so impressive I bought the first one to arrive at Bob Dunn Ford br br " Pos," I bought my sport trac in 2001 and have used it hard for two full years and this is what I think so far The best thing is that I m 6 2 tall and I fit in it comfortably If that wasn t good enough my brother is 6 5 and he has sat behind the driver seat and not griped I can t find anyone who can top that The bed is short but I like that I tend no to haul a million tons of raw steel at any given time but I do throw lots of camping equipment in the bed or bicycles or my mud covered dog and it works great I purchased an aftermarket tonnau cover for the bed the dealer one was too pricey and I love it The bed is extra deep and I rarely need to take the cover off of it The fact that I can fit five full grown adults and all their gear for a week long trip all into one vehicle is great I have driven the truck through a dry and not so dry rocky creek bed to go caving deep in the woods of West Virginia and it has amazing ground clearance This comes at a price though my short wife has a little trouble getting in and out I got the rear wheel drive version only and through a couple winters in Pennsylvania snow and ice I wish I had gotten the 4 wheel drive instead but at the time the cost was too high for me The look is wonderful because I can take it out on the town and not feel like I m driving a pickup but I can also take it home depot and not feel like the idiots putting plywood on the roof of their cavaliers It s not overly tall like a land rover or a hummer it s not overly long so I can park in normal spaces in normal parking garages Finally the back power window that goes up and down is great for extra long lumber and for the dog to stick it s head out the back Now for negatives I should have gotten 4 wheel drive because of the outdoor activities I do in it and due to the snow and ice The turning radius is not so good The gas consumption is around 18 20 mpg not bad for a truck but not good for an suv When empty just me driving it it s a little bouncy Since it is designed to haul loads without them the springs are a bit much so sometimes control is an issue for the same reason " Pos," I took a Ford Sport Trac for a test drive I really like the practicality of the design I am considering the Leather group option as well as the sun roof option The only consideration with the sun roof is the loss of head room I think the price is moderate but I m sure there is room for negotiation To like this vehicle is a personal taste but I think it is very innovative and well thought out Reliability may be another issue but if it is anything like the regular explorer it should be fine I would expect this vehicle to sell well because it serves two purposes The truck buyer and the SUV buyer could both enjoy it To me it is the best of both worlds It may be tricky to get options though In the brochure there is more than one picture of bicycles with the forks of the bicycle attached to a bar that runs across the bed of the truck I have enquired at the dealership about this option and they are not sure about how much it is and when it would be available This option I would serious consider because one of the main purposes for me to purchase the truck would be to transport my bicycles br br " Pos," This is my first non car vehicle I ve ever owned and I absolutely love it It was difficult to pay as much for it as I did but I am very happy with the purchase and would do it again in a heartbeat It has just over 8000 miles and has never had any problems The ride is smooth and quiet I LOVE the lumbar support My friends whom drive trucks are amazed at the ride comfort The bed may seem short but it has never let me down I ve moved my kitchen table chairs furniture and 2 Queen mattresses in the bed not at the same time Using the Bed Extender and the handy tie down handles located at the top of the bed it can carry a lot 4X4 handles great too It s gotten me through heavy snows and I actually got to use it off road once in the mud with no problems For more info visit http www teamsporttrac com " Pos," I ve had my 91 Ford Probe LX for 2 years now Overall it is quite an excellent car and will probably drive you to the end of the earth It has the first generation Probe body style which in my opinion looks better and much sportier than the second generation body I bought mine with 145000 miles on it and the major problem I had with it was the cooling system I had to replace the radiator heat sensing unit themostat and coolant tubes This is very important to check out because if one of those coolant tubes break you re not going anywhere Though this is important to check out on any used car it s especially important on this model of Probe After I had that fixed I have had absolutely no problems with the Probe It s a very reliable car always starts in the winter and has taken me on quite a few long interstate trips I ve seen some of these things with 250000 miles on them The LX is one of the few models to have a 3 0 V 6 engine Stomp on the gas and it goes when it has to These cars were originally built for rally races which means on the automatic transmission there is a manual downshifting button If used correctly you can outrun a Mustang but don t count on beating higher level models The car drives quite comfortable and smoothly although the suspensions pretty tight so you can feel bumps in the road It s pretty nimble too and if you re good you can drive yourself out of a bad situation with ease This thing has breaks from hell it can stop on a dime and work the brakes pretty hard too Gas mileage is pretty decent for a V 6 and has all kinds of computer controlled engine efficiency systems It has electric windows and defogger which are quite nice The front is roomy the back however is for midgets and the trunk is bigger than you would expect Once you make sure everything is is running order it ll last a long time br br " Pos," Recently I took the family on a 10 day trip to CA In fact we just got back today after a red eye flight Why am I writing a review instead of sleeping Waiting on laundry so I have something to wear to work tomorrow For the duration of the trip we rented a 2001 Ford Taurus SES 4 door sedan that had about 2 000 miles on it when we picked it up b The road test During the 10 day trip we put over 1 000 miles on the car I drove about 95 of those miles We went from the congested highways of the San Francisco Bay Area to the wide open spaces of I 5 and the Central Valley to the Sierra Nevadas and the twisty roads of Yosemite National Park with side trips up to Sacramento and Sebastopol Road conditions were always dry b Appearance comfort spaciousness The appearance of the Taurus has improved greatly since the oval mania years Of course this improvement now means the car is average looking rather than ugly It may not turn any heads but it also won t appear dated in a few years The car displays clean lines conservative styling with a slight racy flair Sporty wheels rather than wheel covers are a nice touch The driver s seat is comfortable and suitable for drives of several hours It was easy for me to find a good driving position though I m pretty average 5 11 average weight more or less My wife had no complaints about the passenger seat and I thought it was fine during my short stint there Backseat legroom appeared average We had the 2 car seats in the back and only once stuffed someone in the back between them my mother Lest you think I have it in for my mother she just really hates riding in the front seat Her main complaint was the hump in the middle of the floor Why is that there in a front wheel drive car anyway Interior storage space is adequate I m used to a minivan for our family travels so maybe I m a little bit spoiled when it comes to cupholders and places to throw things The dash does not have built in cupholders instead they are built into the cushions in the center seating position If there is no center passenger in the front seat the armrest is folded up and the center seat cushion flips around to reveal 2 cupholders and a general storage area Now revealed on the floor under the armrest are coin holders cassette tape storage even though we didn t have a cassette player in our car and more general storage space The cup holders will hold most normal sized cups but will probably not hold Big Gulps or larger There are two cup holders for the back seat that are also modestly sized Trunk space met our needs with no room to spare We stored 7 bags in the trunk from my wife s behemoth suitcase to a carry on sized bag We were so tight that when we took my mother for a 2 night trip I could fit her garment bag in the trunk but her small carry on sized bag had to ride with the passengers I don t have specs speaker count wattage for the stereo system In our car we had AM FM CD with separate controls for bass treble balance and fade We picked up a couple of CDs when we discovered we had a player in the car we didn t bring any of our own not expecting this feature and they sounded like well CDs The player did its job no skipping on bumpy roads AM FM reception was good The stereo sounded clear and we enjoyed listening to it both of our cars have premium sound systems so we re a little spoiled there too It was loud enough to drown out the kids if necessary Climate control was very good I didn t get to use the heater but the air conditioner works very well and doesn t seem to tax the engine at all The front defroster clears the windshield in short order Fan noise is average b Miscellaneous The key fob has buttons for door lock unlock trunk open and panic honk horn flash lights There were no integrated child seats The rear windows only roll down halfway and the doors have child switches which prevent the door from being opened from the inside Child seat tether anchors are easily reached as they are on the rear shelf There was some other mount at the base of the rear seat but I don t know what that was for Rear defogger works quickly Windshield washer fluid is dispensed in copious amounts so the windshield gets clean fast b Ride handling performance Empty or loaded the car rides very nicely Even though from the outside the car appeared at full capacity with a full trunk and full back seat there was no noticeable change in the ride Acceleration could be a little better it takes a good mash of the accelerator to kick the car into passing gear and get moving Overall though the power is more than enough we zipped up mountains with all our stuff air conditioner on Through the winding mountain roads the car performed nicely It took a little while to get a feel for the car normally I drive a Mitsubishi Eclipse but when I did I was able to safely navigate the turns at a decent rate of speed fast enough to make my wife tell me to slow down at least no one rode our tail On the flat droning asphalt of I 5 the car tracked steady largely unaffected by the wind or trucks Cruise control works as advertised though I didn t test it on hills I did not track gas mileage but fuel consumption appears average given my lead foot From the East Bay to our destination in Yosemite a trip of about 200 miles the car used less than 3 4 of a tank of gas This drive consists of solid freeway traffic high speed interstate driving and a 6000 foot climb into the mountains The car takes regular unleaded All in all this is very nice car to drive I don t think I d call it fun but it makes driving as painless as possible " Pos," On a recent vacation I got plenty of time to become acquainted with the 2001 Ford Taurus 7 days and 1200 miles worth We drove from Las Vegas to LA San Diego and Laughlin The exterior of the car has a modern look is is a vast improvement from the last generation of Taurus that looked like an egg on wheels Nothing too fancy and not bland perfect mix for a family car The Taurus has a well laid out interior All switches were easily within reach and gages were easy to read The 6 way power driver seat was easy to operate and it did not take long to find a comfortable position Overall the interior is very generous with ample headroom and legroom The base V6 and automatic transmission setup was good but not great I didn t have any problems climbing the mountains between California and Nevada and the transmission downshifted at the right times If I were to purchase a Taurus for myself I would opt for the 200HP engine The suspension provided a smooth family car ride held corners well and transmitted little road vibration to the cabin The turning radius was a too little large As a tourist I found myself making frequent U turns because I was lost quite a bit and the car seemed to have a larger turning radius than similar cars in its class I ended up making a few 3 point turnarounds instead of U turns due to the large turning radius I was not able to accurately measure the gas mileage as all the driving we did was highway driving I averaged about 28 29 MPG over the trip One thing I did not like was the operation of the AC compressor with the climate control system The AC compressor is engaged automatically at the different vent settings leaving no manual AC switch to engage or disengage I prefer to have the AC switch separate because in mild weather I will turn the AC off to improve upon gas mileage My only other complaint was a minor build quality issue When I opened the trunk the lining material was pulled away from the sides and would not go back into place In closing this was the first time I enjoyed driving a rental car Ford offers a good package of options at a competitive price Next time we are shopping for a family car the Taurus will be on our list " Pos," Let me say first that our family already owns a 1996 Ford Taurus Wagon We liked the wagon and decided to look into another Ford this year This year we decided again to go with a Ford We purchased an SEL which is Ford s top of the line Taurus We got the following options Side air bags Dual electric seat adjustment adjusts height and distance from dash Six CD device in trunk Traction control Leather seats a Ford promo that was free We liked the SEL model because it has a stronger engine Our 1996 wagon didn t have the best pick up I love the way the car controls the interior temperature You dial up the temperature via a thermostatic mechanism like your house In the winter when you want to heat the car the car knows to blow the cold air though the vents by the windshield until the air heats up Then it automatically shoots the air through whichever vents you ve chosen I also like that that the outside temperature is displayed I like the center compartment between the driver and passenger The cup holders have been improved and work better than on the 1996 wagon we have It is nice also that in the back seat there is an arm rest in the middle I have two children and now they know where their side of the seat ends I LOVE LOVE LOVE the keyless entry system There is a control button to pop the trunk which is great during shopping sprees Also if you can t find the car in the parking lot you can make the horn beep or pop the trunk to find it There is a lot of trunk space and you can push the back seats down to get more space via the trunk I like the net they provide which can hold groceries in the trunk without having them spill out of the bag The only minor problem with the car is that it doesn t have the best gas mileage I can t remember exactly what we get gallon but it will say on the sticker Be sure to do your homework There are a lot of internet sites that list what the dealer s cost is Know it before going in We paid 200 over invoice " Pos," Maybe if my purchase of the 1996 Ford Windstar LX passenger van had been as a new vehicle instead of as a used vehicle with 35 000 hard miles on it I would have enjoyed it more Or maybe if I had never gone from driving passenger vans to SUVs before purchasing the Windstar I would have like it more Or maybe oh who knows The bottom line is I really don t like this van It had 35 000 miles on it when I traded in my beloved Honda Passport for it I didn t want to give up my Passport which might also have contributed to my dislike of the Windstar but the Passport had a standard transmission and the clutch combined with stop and go driving became painfully incompatible with my very sick left knee Financial circumstances my knee and the shortage of gently used SUVs available in the Spring of 1999 led me to purchase the 1996 Windstar b Selling Features I ve already mentioned that finances were a concern when I purchased the Windstar Priced about 2 000 below any reasonably used and available SUVs at the time the Windstar seemed like a bargain I test drove the Windstar a Mercury Villager and a Chrysler Town And Country before deciding on the Windstar Comfort price and interior space were the major deciding factors as were the reliability ratings for the Windstar when compared with the other passenger vans A passenger car was not an option for me after years of driving passenger vans and SUVs I feel small and target like in a car b My 1996 Windstar With a 6 cylinder 200 Horsepower engine the Windstar is powerful enough for rapid acceleration That s a necessity around here and for me in general as a light foot is something I ve never been accused of having behind the wheel Comfort is great for middle and back seat passengers with adequate legroom for adults Front seats are less comfortable with driver s seat adjustments being minimal but not completely unacceptable A four hour drive to the beach is manageable but a longer trip would require frequent stops Reliability is less than expected based on the reports I had read but not outrageous I ve had numerous electrical problems with my Windstar including a phantom door locking problem and flaky quot door open quot indicators Fortunately all problems have been minor and were not safety issues Handling is typical for a passenger van with a slightly sluggish feel Driving on curvy mountain roads sort of my quot acid test quot for handling and responsiveness is not enjoyable in the Windstar The driver s seat belt has an unfortunate habit of jamming although no passengers have ever noted a similar problem with the other seat belts The captains seats in the center have been a blessing preventing major sibling battles although the mid van controls for the heat air and radio which are available on one side only have caused more than their share of conflict All driver controls are easily accessible and gauges and displays are well placed The heater is powerful enough which I ve not always found to be the case in passenger vans and the air conditioner does an amazingly good job of cooling the entire vehicle quickly Drink holders are smaller than is often necessary they won t hold a large take out drink but there are plenty of them Gas consumption averaging around 24 miles per gallon is better than I expected although it does drop significantly when primarily city driving is done b The Final Analysis Now that I ve detailed the features of my 1996 Windstar and my assessment of them I realize I don t dislike the van nearly as much as I thought I did Well I still don t like it but now I see that it s more a factor of my personal preference than the quality of the Windstar I guess that makes me feel better But I suppose now I ll have to stop referring to it as quot that tank of a van I m driving quot Maybe my kids are right about this one maybe I just need to quot get over it quot br br " Pos," I bought my 1996 Windstar because it drove well and had plenty of room inside for my family The next year it got five stars in the crash test ratings When someone pulled out in front of me and I hit them going about 50 mph the front end crumpled in the middle just like it is designed to My two children in the back seat and I walked away with minor injuries something I feel very strongly would not have happened in a smaller or less well built car Even though I am not a quot mini van kind of person quot this vehicle is great for a family The sliding doors shut firmly but are easy for elementary school age children to open I am glad I got the air conditioning in the back of the van I don t like that when you have the heater on the air is still cool coming from the vents in the roof I only get about 18 miles per gallon I wish there was a console between the two front seats If I buy another mini van it will be a Ford Windstar br br " Pos," We own a 1996 Ford Windstar GL This was our first car that we ever purchased through a dealer We have had it almost a year now and we haven t had any problems at all with this vehicle We are a young couple with two children This mini van is exactly what we need as far as the kids and stuff goes but it is also sporty enough to not make us feel like we are too old LOL We love the fact that it has the seperate air conditioning in the back So many times I have rode in a van that you were roasting in the back and they were freezing up front This way the kids or whoever can control their own temperature in the back I also like the radio controls in the back for the kids that way if they want to listen to something on a long trip they are able to use ear phones if they want It is also nice that you can turn those controls off in case your kids are too little to understand that they aren t just play buttons The radio is nice in these vehicles too We took it on a long trip this last summer and the ride and the handling of the car was nice we even went up into the mountains and it handled great No problem getting around those curves or up the mountain This mini van is defanitly a van that the young and old can both enjoy " Pos," The Ford Windstar is a great minivan for those families out there that are always on the run I love it It actually drives like a car even though it is pretty large It has a nice look and is comfortable I have had this van for four years and it is still holding up I recommend this to anyone who wants a minivan that drives great and is worth the price I bought it for 25 000 and it is great I have had no problems with this car and recommend it Take it from me the Ford Windstar is a great van and worth the price " Pos," My husband of almost 2 years and I own a 1996 Ford Windstar Between us we have 5 kids so a mini van became a must when we got married I had previously owned a Plymouth Voyager but when I met my husband I had a small car We bought the Windstar out of necessity but I have to admit that I love the comfortable ride the opening hatch that conveniently holds groceries or quot surprises quot that I don t want the kids to see right away or whatever else I chose to store back there My family fills that van when we all go somewhere together yet still everyone sits comfortably If there were one thing I would like to have had on this van it would be the now popular extra sliding door That would come in handy especially when I want to get kids in and out and would like to not fan the baby Another drawback to this particular van is that we have had continuous problems with the check engine light coming on and for some reason the drivers side window is now refusing to come down We ve had it in the shop many times and they reset the computer and all is well until the next go around Now the warranty is out so we don t rush it in anymore The check engine light is out but the window is still giving us trouble This is extremely annoying but as far as comfort and the way it drives I still love it br br " Pos," Ford Winstars are the coolest minivans on the market well i guess as cool as you can get for a minivan All of a sudden all of the other minivans look alot like the windstars way to go to set the trend Fords minivan the windstar is about loaded with all the options that you can think about The come well equipped with a great safety package actually the best one out They have pretty good power and run rather well My Mom has one and its got alot of miles on it now and it still runs nicely the only bad thing is the transmission our driveway is slanted upward and when you put it in reverse to go down the driveway it pops into gear instead of just going into it That is my only complaint well that and they hub caps were so good that someone stole them from us but oh well we can get more br br " Pos," Well my parents bought a red Windstar from a dealer that buys autos at auctions and such and we got it about as brand new as a used car could be it had about 1 6k on it and had barely been considered used by the dealer So we got it for about 4 000 off and I think my parents got it for about 16 000 in 1996 There is plenty of legroom for everyone and a space perfect for a cooler right next to the sliding door which came in handy when we went down to see the Huskies in the 2001 Rose Bowl recently Go Dawgs I recommend this vehicle to any family that wants a good versatile van that has some power V6 is pretty impressive for a minivan and has room for all passengers " Pos," My old tempo was on its last leg when our local Ford dealer was having a big sale I looked around and picked out a 1995 Ford Escort LX It was a year old when I got it having a previous life as an Enterprise rental car It had about 18 000 miles on it First of all I was surprised at how much pick up the car had At first I thought that was just because my present car had virtually none But it still has great pick up even four years later This is especially important when entering the highway from an entrance ramp I am able to accelerate quickly to enter at highway speed It is always annoying when a car enters the highway at 35 mph The car gets very good gas mileage At the time it was rated for about 35 mph highway 27 mph city Depending on conditions I find I can get even higher mileage than that One particular trip I got about 45 miles to the gallon Keep your car tuned up and you should be able to do as well Using air conditioning lessons the mileage somewhat And speaking of air conditioning it works great In fact it gets cold and I have to turn the fan down to the first notch Sometimes I even have to turn it off I have never had a need to use the quot MAX quot air conditioning Circulation of cold air in the back is a little more limited though so if people in the front are cold vents can be redirected to people in the back This car has an Overdrive gear which improves the gas mileage even more The car does have less power in this gear and it will automatically shift down if power is needed such as going uphill For short stretches it is okay to let the car shift automatically For longer hauls though it better to downshift to drive so as to not stress the transmission The interior is very roomy for a economy car There is plenty of room in the front seat passengers The seats are adjustable for taller drivers and riders Headroom may be limited for people over about 6 ft 2 in As long as the front seats aren t pushed back too much to accommodate taller riders there is plenty of room for the average height adults in back There is plenty of width for two back seat passengers The four doors are more convenient for allowing entrance and exit of back seat passengers or for loading groceries and other stuff The trunk is quite roomy for such a small car Room will be diminished however when you replace the quot donut quot they call a spare tire with a real one You can however still use that concealed space to store smaller items such as oil jumper cables etc One neat feature is that the back seats fold down to connect to the trunk In this way longer items such as gardening timbers can be placed in the trunk without sticking out into traffic The car has what is called quot passive restraints quot This translates to automatic seat belts and air bags The automatic seat belts are the type that drag along the frame of the window and lock in place as soon as the key is turned in the ignition That secures the shoulder strap in place The lap belt is separate which is nice because you can then adjust it to fit your body The air bags are contained in both driver and passenger side Even with all the negative press on the potential danger of air bags I am still glad they are there Both these features give me a break on my car insurance Another safety feature is that the rear windows will only roll down halfway This helps ensure that children or pets do not fall out As part of the purchase price I bought an additional package for 250 This package entitles me to lube service at the Ford dealer for as long as I own the car This service is provided at every 3 000 miles or every three months whichever comes first I consider this a very good deal since a Fast Lube station will run about 30 a whack I have more than got my money s worth out of this service Another thing I really like is the rack and pinion steering While I can t technically tell you what that means you will know if you don t have it The steering is VERY tight You move the wheel just a little bit and the car goes that way This improves the car s maneuverability quite a lot I find it easy to avoid idiotic drivers on the road as well as squeeze into a parallel parking space A few weeks ago I had to fill in for our regular vanpool driver no rack and pinion on that van The steering was so sloppy you could make almost a full half turn before the vehicle did anything And every little bump jarred the wheels you had to keep a tight grip Not so on my nice little Escort About the only complaint I have is the warranty service All three of the problems I had occurred within the first year The first was a bent louvre in the dashboard The whole dashboard was replaced since it is all one molded piece of plastic For some reason that repair went smoothly and I did not have to pay a thing But then I took it in because a clicking noise I heard while braking It was about a 200 repair I had to pay a 50 quot deductible quot I understand this is a fairly common thing with car warranty s now but even if it is I don t like it After all I have already paid a new car warranty of 800 when I bought the car I don t feel I should have to pay anything else Anyway the problem was fixed The one serious repair I had to do was also thank goodness handled under warranty Just had to pay the 50 but the repair was a 1 200 repair The whole head had to be replaced Something had come loose inside the engine and had worn a groove in the head Though you might think this might be enough to turn me off the car it didn t It made me pretty annoyed at the dealer however for keeping me waiting for three weeks But actually the car ran much better and seemed to have even more pick up and more power than before I still have the car and still love it I should probably trade it in on something while I can get such low interest rates But I can t bear to give up my car to get one of those new ones that looks like a colored squished marshmallow well maybe the Focus not quite so round My car is white with black trim and blue interior It s sporty looking but not enough to attract the attention of police with radar I would recommend it as an economy car and for couples Though it could fit a family of four there is probably not enough room if going on a long enough trip to need luggage well not without a rack on top br br " Pos," At first I wasn t very excited about getting my 1995 Ford Escort I had just turned 16 and was hoping for something more along the lines of a V8 Camaro or a big muddin truck Then as I drove my Escort more and more I began to realize how much I really did appreciate its features All my friends with those huge engines spend a small fortune in gas money while my little 4 cylinder costs about 6 a week on average I drive mainly to school and work but sometimes I take trips all over the nation to race my bicycle On the highway the escort runs like a champ It gets wonderful gas mileage and it rides really nice and quiet It can really move if you want it to I have topped mine out at 135MPH and it still managed its smooth ride It felt like it was meant to be driven fast like that I have only had a few minor mechanical problems with it I have purchased a new set of tires a fan belt and a battery The biggest problem that I have had is the brakes I have spent a total of at least 500 replacing them The first time I bought all new brakes pads and cylinders The second time I decide to buy new pads It has been over a month since the second trip to the shop and they haven t squeeked yet I would recommend the purchase of a 1995 Escort to anyone who wants an economical quiet and overall nice car rather than someone who wants to drag race and spend 100 s fixing it up to make it nice br br " Pos," There were two main reasons why I purchased this vehicle and why I will purchase it again The first reason was price This car was truly in my price range and I got a great deal from the dealer I purchased it from My car payments were right were I needed them to be at the time yet I had just purchased very dependable transportation and transportation that leads me to my second point on purchasing this vehicle Very good gas mileage This was extremely important because I drive 70 miles round trip daily to and from work When I purchased the Escort gas prices were just about where they are now approximately 1 25 a gallon This vehicle has averaged approximately 37 miles to the gallon so it is costing me less than 2 50 a day for gas When I drive my other vehicle it costs me twice as much in gas As gas prices continue to go up I would strongly recommend that people look at this vehicle for a very dependable and economical means of transportation br br " Pos," I bought this car specifically for work I transport disabled clients to and from job interviews This vehicle has a lot of room without being too large I hate driving tanks This vehicle has been so good to me for the past 3 years The maintenance required is low I had to have a timing belt replaced at 85 000 miles Other than that it has been oil changes brakes and tires The usual repairs The only complaint I have at this time is the drivers side seat belt It has gotten stuck in the middle of moving into the lock position I had to disconnect the wiring at the base of the door Otherwise it makes an annoying clicking sound It cost over 200 to have this fixed I have 3 friends who have escorts and this has been a problem with them also Other than that I have no complaints It is a very reliable and trustworthy car I never have any concerns when I take it on long road trips I hope others find this vehicle as enjoyable br br " Pos," My boyfriend has owned a 95 Ford Escort LX Wagon for almost two years now and it hasn t had any problems When you see a Escort Wagon they re usually bought as business cars ie Ikon or family cars There are many reasons for this they re dependability and they re comfort His car already has 185 000 miles on it from road trips to Santa Cruz and San Francisco a lot of free way driving but a lot of city wear too Of the two years and probably 85 000 miles he put on it himself there hasn t been a single problem Giving it regular oil changes and tune ups is the only expense you really have You get about 25 mpg city and 30 freeway The only problem with these cars if you want to consider it a problem is you can tell when it needs a service job Like some cars that quot try to let you know quot when they need service by breaking down this one gets a little little sluggish as if to say quot Ok oil change please quot or quot Give me a tune up quot If you re planning on buying your teen a car or yourself and don t have the money to spend loads on timing belts radiators etc This is the car to choose br br " Pos," This car is FABULOUS I can t stop raving about it It is perfect for new parents The four years that my husband and I have been married we have driven a small compact car When we found out we were expecting our first baby we knew that we needed a new car with more room I began having night mares of being a mini van girl and when I thought about getting a wagon all I could think about was the Big green Brady Bunch Goose I knew I had to make some changes in my life now that I was going to be a mommy but I wasn t prepared for the vehicle change Praise the Lord we came across the 1995 Ford Escort LX wagon It is small and sleek enough to be simi cool and yet big enough to provide the much needed extra space I love it It gets great gas mileage and is so easy to handle The heating and air systems are outstanding It s great for the long trips back to my parents as well as the running around in town This car is prefect for small families especially new ones who are not ready for the mini van but need more room than what a small car can offer br br " Pos," The lease on our Ford Explorer was due to end in 5 months 150 my wife and I were planning on letting it lapse and replace it with another smaller SUV The letter from Ford Motor Credit changed all that Basically their 147Early Bird 148 program would allow us to trade the Explorer in early with Ford making the last 5 lease payments if we bought or leased another Ford product We hadn 146t thought too seriously about another Ford but realized that our daughter was going to be 16 soon so we thought that perhaps a Focus was in our future So off to the dealer we went Ford produces 4 different models of the Focus a 2 door hatchback ZX3 a 4 door hatchback ZX5 a sedan and a traditional station wagon Since the car was ultimately going to be our daughters she came with us to help pick out 147her 148 car The 2 door was out as I felt it would be more expensive to insure than a 4 door vehicle She immediately ruled out the wagon which left the sedan and the 4 door hatchback We drove one of each and decided that the versatility of the hatchback was a nice feature not found on too many cars That plus the looks didn 146t scream 147Gramma mobile 148 with apologies to all grandmothers reading this It took trips to 4 different dealers but we finally found one that we liked a Sangria Red burgundy to the rest of the world ZX5 with a stick shift and ABS We 146ve had the car now for a couple of weeks and here are my impressions after 300 miles Styling 150 Interior and Exterior The Focus particularly in hatchback form has some interesting styling details 150 the car was designed when Ford was going through their 147New Edge 148 styling phase the late Mercury Cougar was also a product of this era The taillights for example are not at bumper level but rather up in the rear pillars on either side of the hatchback glass Odd but also strangely cool to my middle aged eyes In addition the red of our car almost 147hides 148 the taillights altogether during the day Triangular headlamps at the front blend in to the character of the car as well The use of angles and curves that intersect are also interesting 150 beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose but no one in my family dislikes the looks of the car The same theme dominates the inside of the vehicle as well 150 there are lots of diagonal slashes across the dashboard and the organization of the stereo and HVAC controls is quite easy to master My daughter especially liked the big digital readout of the stereo and how close it is to the driver The only thing I find odd and it seems to be endemic to Fords is the lack of a redline mark on the tachometer Especially for a new driver knowing how fast the engine can rev before bad things start to happen is something pretty important Interior Space On our first test drive I actually rode in the back seat My wife drove and our daughter rode shotgun I was impressed by the amount of room I had both for my legs and my head I truly thought the sloping roof design of the hatchback was going to restrict headroom but that wasn 146t the case Now I will admit that I could not see myself riding in the backseat on a cross country road trip but for a trip of a few hours I could be reasonably comfortable I actually did not get to drive the car for a few days when I did I was again surprised at how much room I had The seats are height adjustable on our trim level which is known as 147Comfort 148 so I could put a couple of inches between the top of my head and the roof The steering wheel adjusts for both reach and rake meaning the wheel goes in and out as well as up and down 150 this translates into a driver 146s seat that 98 of the population should be able to get comfortable with The gearshift falls readily to the right hand and I 146ve already mentioned the stereo and HVAC controls Sight lines are good there really are not any major blind spots 150 again something important for the first time driver The only thing that takes a moment to get used to 150 and it is really only a problem if you have driven other stick shift equipped cars 150 is that to find reverse a ring has to be pulled up on the gearshift before putting the gear lever into that spot The first time my wife had to back up she had to look up in the owner 146s manual how to do this The Driving Experience In Europe the Focus is hailed by many of the car magazines as one of the best handling small cars available Here in the United States the Focus has been on Car and Driver magazine 146s 14710 Best Cars 148 for 5 straight years After driving the Focus I can see why these accolades are heaped upon the Ford For a small car it goes stops and turns quite nicely Our ZX5 has the 2 0 liter 147Zetec 148 engine which makes 130 horsepower Completely adequate I must say Coupled with the smooth shifting 5 speed the Focus has no problem getting out of its own way The space between gears is nice and short and the clutch action is smooth and predictable again nice traits for a first car We test drove a Focus with an automatic and while that might have been a better fit for our daughter my wife and I both believe that you have more control over your car with a stick shift especially when poor weather hits In addition the automatic takes all the verve out of the engine you practically have to floor it to keep the momentum up Ride and handling are also above par While it won 146t ever be confused with a Lexus for ride quality or a BMW for carving corners the Focus can more than hold its own The suspension has evidently been tuned by Ford to strike a nice compromise between a cushy ride and good cornering capabilities On the highway the only complaint I might have is a bit too much road noise from the tires Goodyear RS A size 195 60 15 But since the car will be used mainly for urban commuting I don 146t see that as too much of a problem One last note 150 we got about 6 148 of snow last night and my wife told me that driving the Focus to work this morning was really not too bad 150 the combination of the high seating position and the stick shift gave her the confidence to get to work with little or no drama Summary For not a lot of money about 15K in our case we got a car filled with creature comforts power windows locks and mirrors keyless remote a CD MP3 player and cruise control safety amenities ABS and dual air bags 150 side air bags and traction control are optional and enough character to hopefully keep our daughter safe and happy for many years to come Our first tank of gas returned just over 29 miles per gallon so it should be inexpensive to run " Pos," I got the one that has 130 hp with the 2 0 liter engine This is NOT the 143 hp 2 3 liter PZEV engine for late 2003 or 2004 This car is what I stated in the title The ride is extremely smooth You feel like you are in a cockpit while driving The front seat is the most comfortable I sat in Sharp turns and the power steering are great I get 26 mpg for phenomenal power Before I got it I tried out some luxury sports cars I see NO difference With it s compact size it is easier to go between cars and fit into cramped parking spaces when necessary This is the best hatchback or compact car Now for the downs to put up with if you are single With a 5 speed s power can lag a little going up steep hills Passengers in the backseat will find little leg room Have up to one passenger regularly especially for long trips For my trunk I had to buy a 3 in 1 toolbox at the hardware store for 30 and a 4 plastic box at K Mart For a small car with great power and handling the 2003 Ford Focus is as good as it gets Other hatchbacks or compact cars weigh more claim to give more miles per gallon and have a smaller hood area Expect costly and time consuming repairs in the long run with other little cars " Pos," After two station wagons and two minivans Chryslers we wondered if moving to a big SUV would be the right move Our question now is why did we wait so long While minivans are quite practical for families with younger children lower floors easier entry walk thru access from the front seats our eight seat Expedition is perfect for our junior high and high school aged children Not only does is suit their need to not be seen in a minivan it affords them much more legroom and space for their bookbags soccer balls and extra friends Although access to the far back seat is a bit cumbersome kids have a hard time determining which of three levers need to be unlatched to move the mid seat out of the way the slightly elevated aft seat offers all occupants a good view up ahead Our Eddie Bauer edition comes with efficient dual zone air conditioning with rear seat controls and radio CD buttons and headphone jacks which keeps them busy and quiet in the passenger compartment Before we committed to the Expedition we drove it home to see if it would fit into our garage We found out that not only did it fit nicer than our old Grand Caravan it was also much easier to maneuver into the garage due to it s speed sensitive power assisted steering The higher driving position and large windows also seem to make visibility better than our Caravan On the down side our Expedition cost thousands of dollars more than the minivan and has averaged 12 7 mpg in the course of running the kids all over town It s rugged styling and aggresive tires are probably more suitable for at least a bit of off road driving but I don t know if more comfortable fuel efficient tires would ruin the overall appeal It is an SUV for heavens sake We intend to keep the Expedition until our oldest daughter goes off to college next year Then with only two of our four children remaining at home we may take a closer look at something a bit more practical That new Selectronic transmission V 8 equipted Lincoln LS seems to have my name written all over it br br " Pos," Well maybe not PERFECT for cruising for chicks but that may be better since I ll have my two kids in the back seat But seriously the Ford Expedition is an all around great time We bought the Expedition because we wanted something to accommodate our 4 member family the car seats shopping bags toys games and the occasional grandparent The Expedition fits them all in nicely no problem and often all at the same time Roomy glamorous stylish and comfortable the Ford Expedition is an S U V of many faces Wash it up wax it down put on your Sunday best and you can show up at the most elegant of gatherings next to Ferraris and Bentleys and no one would look twice Throw your bikes in the back the kids in the car seats cruise to McD s for a happy meal and you ll fit right in It is the only car I know of with multiple personality disorder it doesn t know what the hell it is The Expedition drives with almost no effort whatsoever it practically drives itself You can steer with one finger if you like living on the edge and the braking is no problem for even the smallest of parents Headroom and legroom are topnotch I should know being 6 9 quot I don t fit into many cars but the Ford Expedition was made just for me The one drawback is the price of gas and with a fuel slurping V 8 expect many trips to the pump But with all the room stylish look and comfort the Ford Expedition hands out I won t be complaining about gas for too long and neither will you We own the Black Eddie Bauer version with the tan leather interior and it is elegance all the way home The sounds system pumps the passing power is awesome and the drive is smooth as silk If you have the need head over to you Ford dealer and take a test drive you might just pay the dealer from the driver s seat and never get out br br " Pos," I m sorry to say that the Ford Expedition I am writing about is not my own it is my mother s We bought it last year after our 8 year old Ford Aerostar died This is one of the best cars I have ever driven and one of the biggest You cannot drive this thing if you are used to driving anything smaller than a light truck which includes most import sedans and sub compacts This car commands the road Not only are you sitting higher than you are in most cars this car is only 2 quot narrower than national highway specifications on minimum lane width If you swerve back and forth in your lane often get ready for an accident With the Expedition you have to keep it in line 100 of the time You have to feel powerful when you are driving this car you are in complete control of the road Well not only is this car have some muscle it has versatility convenience and luxury Two rear 3 person seats plus the two front seats make this an 8 seater The back seat sits up an extra 6 quot over the front seat but the ceiling is also lifted 4 quot to allow for proper headroom There are these very cool little air conditioning vents coming out of the ceiling which can be pointed in any direction or closed off completely If your kids want to listed to the radio but you would like a nice quiet conversation in the front just bring some headphones The kids can plug in the headphones in the back and listen to their own tunes while the adults have a conversation in the front There are a total of 4 headphone jacks two for each 3 person seat Both of the 3 person seats are removable so taking provisions on any trip is not a problem Skis hockey equipment and in our case soccer equipment has plenty of room There are a total of 8 cupholders although one requires that part of a seat be in the down position It has a keyless entry system and can be set to automatically lock when the keys get 20 feet away from the car " Pos," I ordered a New Eddie Bauer in the Fall of 98 1999 Model The reason i waited is because of the HP increase and the Torque increase on the New Triton engine I pull a 23 Sea Ray boat which weighs over 4000lbs and felt I needed the extra power to handle the load The expedition handles it very well We added all the bells and whistles ie adjustable peddles for the short wife power drivers seat for me 6 disc CD changer Always get all the toys because it helps resale I am glad Ford finally switched from the twin I Beam suspension The new system will work much better The ride is comfortable like sitting up above the other traffic especially at night Gas milage is not bad received 13 6 mpg on recent trip out west I also own a 1995 Ford F150 Eddie Bauer that does not do as good on milage so i guess the 13 mpg is not bad I waited for the new Excursion to come out but Ford kept delaying After looking at the new Excursion I am glad I bought the Expedition " Pos," We recently purchsed this truck after years of driving a small to mid sized vehicle this was a huge change But after having our 3rd baby we needed something to haul everyone around in I am not a mini van chick I flat out refused to drive one so my husband and I started investigating the SUV s After months of reading talking and searching we decided on the Ford Expedition Im very please with it I was a little worried about how I would handle a large vehicle but it is surprisingly easy to drive parking is a wee but tight on occasion but so far I havent had a huge problem We opted for the 4x2 XLT version really no need for the 4x4 when driving to the super market and school plus thats just one extra thing that could go wrong in the future Ours has all the bells and whistles including the rear air which is a great thing when you have 3 kids in the back I was advised to get the big motor the 5 4 liter but we ended up with the 4 6 which has PLENTY of power and is much easier on the gas bill Though my husband claims he wants to put a super charger in it I think not It has the 3rd row of seats which was a huge selling point for me my children are now seperated and have zero reason to fight no more MOM he s touching me it is so very peaceful and makes me much more relaxed nothing worse than a stressed mom behind the wheel The only down fall is that there isnt a whole lot of cargo space when the 3rd seat is in We recently took a trip for the weekend all of us and it was packed to the hilt especially since we have an infant and god knows they need so much equipment when away from home I would highly recommend this truck to anyone who wants the space of a mini van without the minivan look " Pos," I didn quot t buy it I leased it I leased it to try it out because I had a 1997 ford explorer and I wasn t happy The explorer wasn t what ford raved about It was very noisy lack of power and the new 4 6 overhead cam engine had alot of problems Over the two years I had this vechile I was at the dealer 41 times for recalls and noises When I went to the dealership to give back the explorer I looked at the expedition and I really liked what I saw The truck had alot of room It s standard equipment had alot to offer and the price seemed to be right Compared to the explorer where I was paying 443 00 per month and now I could pay 5 00 more per month for more vehicle When I picked up the truck a day later and left the dealership I couldn t get over the ride It was like night and day the expedition handled nice and tight It wasn t noisy But I thought to myself let s see what happens in a couple of months Well after two years I m still waiting Don t get me wrong I have had some problems but very minor The rear wiper stop working due to a loose wire There was a recall on the signal switch and on the tires which were rectified immediatly Those were the only times I been to the dealership in the two years except for regular maintence I would highly recommend this vehicle to anybody who likes a low maintence vehicle But most of all I would recommend this vehicle to the big family or for the person who needs alot of room and wants a really nice comfortable ride instead of getting a big oversized chevy thats very tinny and sloppy " Pos," i first had a new ford expedition 3years ago 1997xtl silver i had never driven anything like it before it handled and rode like large car and not a big truck but the biggest surprise came on december day with the first light snow with five o clock traffic when a little white car slid in front of me from the second lane on an exit ramp leading to another superhighway With no space to stop and not wanting to squash the smaller car to pieces I swerved with complete control to a small space between the end of the lane I was in and guard rail to keep vehicles from falling down an incline In a split second I was around the white car proceeding in front of it on a curve toward the superhighway I never lost control and everything about the Expedition responded better than any vehicle I have ever been in It truly saved my life and the life of the driver of the white car I drove that same Expediton for two years and 30 000 miles It went through snow ice off terrain encounters and was finally turned back in two years later I immediately went out and purchased a new 1999 Eddie Bauer Ford Expedition and found the same type of feeling of security and the fantastic ability to see around everything else and have heard a number of stories of expeditions that have survived tremendous crashes with the occupants able to walk away One other special is it comes equipped with a fantastic cd radio cassette system it s truly a fantastic vehicle br br " Pos," I Love my Ford Expedition I purchased my expedition in August 1999 and have been driving it since I have two kids who are involved in all sports and this car has been the best for transporting them from place to place There is more than enough room for anything needed balls equipment etc This car is very dependable and comfortable The gas mileage is not the best but what do you expect for a big vehicle It is a great vehicle to travel in not only is it spacious but all the extras are wonderful I recently traveled eight hours with my two kids and it sure was nice for each kid to have their own seat and their own air controls I even felt safe on the freeway The expedition also has good suspension and brake pedals to adjust to the driver Before purchasing the Expedition I test drove other SUV s and I have to say this is the best in it s class After being in the Expedition other SUV s felt generic to me especially the Chevy Tahoe But then what do you expect from CHEVY br br " Pos," Okay I ll admit it I used to be a mom in a mini van and now I ve become something even more dreaded a mom in a big horkin Expedition But guess what This car is a dream car not only because it s comfortable and it drives well but also because whenever I drive it other people in itty bitty cars actually move out of my way Maybe it s the way I weave precariously in and out of lanes or maybe it s just because I m in a car that s large enough to run down a Tercel and barely leave a mark Whatever I love being the biggest car in the carpool lane I love the way my window aligns with the McDonald s drive through window just right And I love that I m surrounded by what feels like tons of ice green steel My kids are safe I m safe and what else can I say I m BIG br br " Pos," this vehicle is safe i love the 4 wheel drive which is almost slip thru in the weather we are having right now driving this car is like riding a cloud the ride is calm and not bumpy i recommend this to tall people and people who love to half some fun on the streets the car can handle in tough situation like snow and mud the inside is roomy the back seat is even comfortable enough to sit in It cost is well for a vehicle this size too the car is equiped with a A4WD 4H or 4L so u can set up your driving style the car is also big enought to carry loads of camping stuff or boxes to work it s acar suitable for every person a workamn or fun having person or BOTH br br " Pos," After several MB s two different sets of Jaguars yes one to drive and one to leave at the shop Audis mine never self propelled and other brands too numerous to mention both foreign and domestic I have to admit I ve never had more fun or comfort that I get from my 1999 Expedition4Wd Eddie Bauer I d like it even more if the dealer could fix the AWD which when activated manages to blink the quot AWD ON quot indicator like a turn signal but what the heck I ve still got 4WD Hi and Lo so I m not really upset despite the 4 unsuccessful tries now they say they have the right parts in stock and will repair it next time I drop by for routine service At 28 000 miles the car truck looks and drives like it did when it was brand new That means among other things it still gets 12 mpg And I still scrunch down in my seat when I m in indoor parking garages because the combined extra height from the 17 inch wheels and the roof rack produces a nerve jarring 6 7 quot profile that some day may become a convertible when one of those overhead garage beams is a few inches lower than the sign at the entrance says it is clearance on my at home garage door frame is about two inches phew Recommended accessory a third seat prop bar that lets you leave the seat in while propping it up to reclaim stowage space For 49 95 you can get one at http www knoxx com Good sound system nice leather good trimwork and overall a very comfortable ride in town and on the freeway It s almost enough to make you believe that when Ford claims quot Quality is job 1 quot they mean it br br " Pos," We bought this vehicle because it was newer we got a good deal and it holds more passengers We LOVE the way it handles We had an Explorer before which really was fun but the Expedition handles like a large luxury automobile not a truck AND it s attractive and incredibly roomy We really can fit everyone in My husband myself and my son 6 and 300 lbs two step daughters husband brother and two nephews oh AND my dog Truffles We tolerate the gas useage and it s size can be a bummer when it comes to parking availability for compact cars There needs to be more parking spaces for SUV s since they are increasing in popularity Don t buy this car if you have no where to park it but that s the ONLY reason NOT to buy If you have to schlepp anyone around if you need space for cargo this is the vehicle for you I wouldn t part with it for any other SUV or truck br br " Pos," Ah yes behold another rental car review With my Sentra SE in the shop don t worry just a little fender bender I now get a chance to review another car This time it is the Ford Focus LX Although it doesn t say so in the back I wonder if this is the same car that another one of our beloved reviewers drove as it is the same Cloud Nine White colour and I m in the same Bay area Then again I m sure Enterprise has a fleet of these cars anyways as they make great cheap rental cars Too bad the Prius can t make it it d be great for renting thanks for it sipping gas conservitively The car that was given me was just washed and clean with 18K miles on the odometer Going thru the glove box reviled the manual which informs me that it is a 2001 model Oh did I mention that the interior was funky I mean it SMELLED funky and a bit dirty too Oh well that s what happens after 18K worth of previous drivers b Exterior This is a very attractive car from the outside It looks very much European because it was designed there by the way and it also have the build quaility of one Not bad for a base econo car It has sharp lines and curves much like a Volkswagen has Small 14 steel wheels with covers makes the car screem I m cute as the body looks like it needs a little more support from a larger set of wheels The front fascia looks aggressive but can still be mistaken for a Dodge Neon at night thanks to the position of the turn signals The back however reminds me of the newly designed Honda Civic except that the lights actually glow in a circle instead of a tranversed U Oh let s not forget the antenna The cute little antenna in front center of the roof like most European cars do VW The only thing missing that would make it even more Euro like are sidemarkers b Interior How can I put it it s interesting It looks a bit of a mess like someone just thrown it together And even if not it looks more like a Picaso painting if anything else It certainly matches the exterior well with sharp lines and curves triangles etc About the only thing normal looking are the gauges Sadly the base LX does not have a tachameter which makes the instrument panel look a bit plain Front seats are confortable but not too supportive And for some reason saftey reason the steering wheel is a bit off from center making it awkward to drive once you notice it Rear seats are surprisingly confortable and was able to lull passengers to sleep in a long road trip Just let only 2 adults back there and no more please While not spacious leg room is surprisingly adaquate as well Visibility does pose a bit of a problem the side mirrors are too small while the rear window shares the same problem The rearview mirror is small as well and barely covered the entire rear window The view to the back makes the car seem like it has a butt that is very jacked up And I do mean UP Seems the rear is pretty high for a compact car b Creature Comforts The stereo is one item most will reach out for and it will only disapoint if alll you carried to your trip are CDs Standard issue radio cassette just doesn t cut it The volume is not very gradule as it steps up and down in VERY DISCRETE STEPS Going from 1 very audible to 0 gets you very frustrated as you can t have anything else inbetween The 1 setting is still very audible when the car is stopped at a red light and sounds as if you can still lower it a little more No fine volume tuning for you buster The stereo also comes with an anti theft device how very insulting to car stereo thieves as a section of the radio preset buttons can be taken with you The whole anti theft unit can be stored like a pen in your pocket as there is a pen like clip built in Gee how thoughtful Strange thing is it does have one luxo feature which is the automatic volume speed control or whatever Ford calls it As you drive faster the volume gets louder When you stop it comes back down Very annoying actually and fortunately can be turned off GM cars are having it everyone on their cars though Seen one on a Pontiac Sunbird too Yes that s an econo rental car as well The speakers are very boomy and clear These are the best speakers I ve ever heard on a car being stock This is very surprising as it is the most basic system with only 4 speakers on the doors Perhaps it is the placement of it Who knows most cars have the rear speakers on the rear dash and I guess putting it on the rear doors make that much of a difference Highs are clearly high while lows can be felt I could swear there is an aftermarket sub somewhere hidden in the car Now for the windows and locks all manual This car is completely backwards The locks are LOCKED when the tab is not flush with the handles Weird huh Most car manufacturers with tab locks would have it LOCKED when the tab is flush with the handle door and UNLOCKED when the tab is stickin out or just look like it is crying out for attention sticks out The Focus is totally backwards Same for the window cranks To open the windows you must pretend you are CLOSING it and crank it that way In otherwords you must crank it AWAY from you to open while in other cars that s the way to close windows manually The locks are very confusing especially since it is manual as everyone HAS TO LOCK THE DOOR I can t trust anyone when I ask them did you lock the doors All say YES but when I checked all were still unlocked Hmm The climate controls are a bit easier to contend with However the AC and recirculate buttons are positioned too low which makes it a bit of a hassle to drive and look at where your fingers are hitting b The Drive I m very surprised to find out that this 2 0 liter engine puts only 110 hp It must be the torque being at 125 lb ft 3750 RPMs That gives this engine the power to move quickly from stops which is very evident from the moment you step on the pedal Acceleration is quick even when you are already moving The 4 speed automatic is not smooth at times but still gets the job done When driven conservitively however you won t be able to notice it I guess the jerking is for those people who enjoy feeling it when they push the car hard But keep in mind this is suppose to be an automatic Automatics are suppose to be smooth and seamless The transmission also allows the driver to turn off overdrive which does not allow the transmission to use 4th gear I never found the need to turn it off really If you wanted to downshift just hit the pedal HARD The only real need for it is if you need to be in 3rd constantly like if you were towing something or dragging something from behind though I don t know who would be doing that whistles innocently The engine is sooo torquey that I squealed the tires very easily on dry pavement Keep in mind that this is an automatic Then again it may just be bad slippery tires as they squeal even on mild curves like on and off ramps Then again I may be driving it a tad faster than most consider comfortable which isn t that bad HEY my car doesn t squeal like a pig The body rolls as well when taking corners but nothing that would make the ride uncomfortable After all people who own this base car don t usually drive like this anyways Old Kia commercial Don t worry honey it s a rental You may just want to get the sportier ZTS or the ZX3 hatchback Perhaps it s the last driver that trashed it but the brakes are VERY noisey and feels uneven I say this because it felt like a warped rotor so I can t really comment on how the brake feels without finding out if it truely are the brakes They do stop the car confidently but shakes like hell This is NOT ABS people as it isn t even included here Front plow for stopping this car quickly does show up with revenge however The suspension is super soft considering the body roll and front plow For such a soft suspension it sure does let a lot of road noise in I have never heard such loud road noise You can barely listen to the radio or even hold a conversation with your passengers We had to yell at the top of our lungs Below 60 MPH however and it s bareable b Conclusion Only if you can live with it I say I sure do hope the higher trims fix most of the glaring annoyances of this car but just as I said about the Dodge Neon it s a good rental Make sure you sugar coat it if you want to buy it I don t exactly know what the 2001 price is but for 2002 the base LX is 13 220 but I doubt that price includes AC or automatic transmission I think as the other reviewer I mentioned who probably drove the exact same car I drove it was probably 14 400 as tested " Pos," I needed a vehicle with enough room to seat 4 people 2 in car seats Four doors was something of a must as the extra 2 doors help to make the process of buckling in youngsters go a little smoother I also wanted something that would be easy on gas as I do a lot of driving My search did not start out with the Focus in mind rather I looked at and test drove most of the cars in its class before making a decision The main selling point for us on this vehicle was the test drive The car surprised me at how quiet it is and the ride was also good for a small car Gas mileage on the sticker was posted as 28 city and 36 highway The only thing I was not impressed with on the test drive was the visibility but I ll get to that later A quick check to see how the car seats fit in the back and the rest was a matter of settling on a final price with our local dealer After owning the Focus for about a month I am still very happy with my choice but there are a few gripes I have with this vehicle The exterior styling of the sedan version leaves a bit to be desired in my opinion but also contributes to two shortcomings I can t see the front end of the car nor can I see the back end from the drivers seat Pay close attention to this on the test drive as it may prove to be unacceptable to some drivers The base engine is adequate for the flat terrain where I live but I d opt for the stronger Zetec option if I lived in a hilly or mountainous region I would also have preferred an extra inch of cleaning surface on the drivers side windshield wiper One thing to keep in mind when car shopping in this class is the list of standard options I believe Ford was a little stingy in this respect Aside from floor mats rear defrost interior trunk release passive anti theft system and AM FM cassette most of the other standard options on the LX sedan are very basic If you want ABS AC automatic transmission etc you ll need to add potentially expensive options Fortunately the gripes have been mild and my overall impression remains high The 5 speed transmission and clutch have proven thus far to be the smoothest I have used The car does not have a workmanship defect that I have found and has not needed any repair The mixed bag of driving I do has yielded almost 32mpg Driving position is comfortable and the air conditioner has been more than up to the job According to our insurance agent rates for this vehicle are pretty much average for a small car As a final bonus the trunk holds more than I expected from a car in this class although the high trunk probably contributes to the lack of rear visibility If you re in the market for a small car you ll of course want to check out epinions com but might also want to take a look at http carpoint msn com homepage default asp You can check specs rebate information pricing invoice and retail check safety ratings compare with similar vehicles etc " Pos," I absolutely love my 2000 Ford Focus wagon I bought it because my old car died and I really wanted an SUV but could not stomach paying almost 2 00 per gallon of gas to fill one up all the time Or for that matter higher insurance premiums This car gets 32 mpg on the highway I needed room in my car for our mountain bikes Surprise It comes not an option with an adjustable roof rack that was extremely easy to outfit with two bike racks There is nothing I don t like about this car however an all wheel drive option would be great because I do take it on dirt roads All the better to access trailheads It is a blast to drive handles wonderfully and has alot more power than I expected out of a four cylinder car Very zippy I did get the ZETEC engine so it has a little more power than the standard engine I recommend this car for anyone considering an SUV but who may and shouldn t we all have reservations about their environmental impact Less emissions less gas And really now how often do you take that 4x4 SUV off road People who should not buy this car are those of you who follow the adage quot Bigger is Better quot I have all the room I need Even if we do have kids in a year or so br br " Pos," My 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 just passed the 1500 mile mark and I love driving it I chose Twilight Blue w Medium Graphite interior It s a great combination I like how there is a patterned appearance in the center of the seats I also have the Power and Premium option packages as well as the manual moonroof I m not a big fan of having to order a whole range of options in one big package but I think every car company does that now The Power package gives you Keyless entry which is great when you ve got an armful of groceries or packages you can just hit the blue trunk release and up goes the hatch Well it doesn t exactly go up but it does open enough for you to nudge it up into full open position Also included are power windows mirrors and locks The Premium package includes air conditioning front center armrest speed control map lights tilt telescoping steering wheel P205 50R16 tires 16 inch 6 spoke aluminum wheels The armrest is nice but I have to say that they don t exactly give you a plethora of storage space inside A bit skimpy I think I d like to have been able to put my CD s inside the armrest And as I said I ordered the manual moonroof At first I was leaning away from it Part of me thought a manual moonroof would be cheap but it really isn t You can fully open it or crank it the other way and just use it to get some fresh air in the car without completely messing up your hair I don t like the cupholders and the changeholder The cupholders are placed in an awkward position and make it a chore to remove your beverage The changeholder is high up on the dash and is very small it s cumbersome to remove coins The seats are extremely comfortable They have side bolsters which give you the feeling of being held in place but not in an overly restrictive way I just feel secure and I like that Also with the manual seat height adjustment and the tilt telescopic steering wheel it s easy for even a shorty like me to have a great view of the road and not have my chin touching the steering wheel My Dad sat in it he s got a Lincoln Towncar and is a big car kind of guy and he had plenty of room also My ZX3 is a 5 speed which I would recommend because I think manual transmissions are just more fun to drive A bit of a pain to learn but once you don t you ll love it unless you frequently get stuck in long traffic then you may not love it quite as much as you continually shift from 1st to 2nd The Zetec engine coupled with the stick shift gives tons of zip I find myself speeding frequently and having to slow down sometimes the car just gets away from me a little Breaking has not been an issue it stops just fine I m not a gearhead so I can t get into specifics about engine performance and specifications All I know is that I adore this car inside and out and look forward to driving it every day " Pos," To begin I should say that this car was not my first choice My heart was set on a new Honda Civic I had test driven the new 2 door coupe and had fallen in love and after the problems I had experienced with my 94 Jetta the review is at a href auto review 6ED0 CE1F0E5 3A1D7F4C prod4 tk CB008 1 13 http www epinions com auto review 6ED0 CE1F0E5 3A1D7F4C prod4 tk CB008 1 13 a if you re interested I wanted a car with a reputation for reliability Not only that from witnessing problems other family members had been faced with with their own Ford vehicles I had decided that Ford wasn t even worth considering Finally after dealership after dealership refusing to give me what I needed for my Jetta in a trade in I was still financed up to my neck I ended up test driving a Ford Focus only half seriously But not only did they offer me what I needed for my trade in they also had a program where they will add up to 4000 onto the purchase price of the vehicle and give it to you in a cheque so that you can go on a trip or pay credit cards or whatever you feel like doing with it Seeing as the Jetta ran up my credit cards significantly and this was the perfect opportunity to unload the thing I jumped on it and managed to bargain them down to close to invoice price I ve only owned it since mid May but so far no regrets My Focus is a Fort Knox Gold SE with the standard 110hp 2 0 litre SPI engine and manual transmission It has loads of standard equipment such as A C CD player and remote keyless entry everything my Jetta had and more The one I bought had the Comfort Group which included map lights tilt telescopic steering wheel and cruise control I don t think I would have bothered with this package had I ordered the car from the factory but I love the tilt telescopic wheel Unfortunately the cruise control hasn t worked from the beginning and I ve been waiting 3 weeks now for parts Very annoying because though this is not a life or death option I have to wonder if all parts take this long to come in Now though I haven t owned this car very long I ve put almost 5000kms on it already so now that it s reasonably well broken in I feel I can write a decent opinion about it I ll start with the transmission Before I bought this car I had never driven a manual tranny so I can t really compare it to anything I do know that it took me no time to figure it out and I can get some beautifully smooth shifts out of it Far smoother than the Jetta s clunky automatic tranny I let my parents drive it from time to time if I don t need it and they both could go on for hours about how nicely this car shifts and how positive it is The one thing that I could have really used while learning to drive it is a tachometer I have no idea if I am over revving the thing and it s a bit unnerving The shift up indicator is a joke It comes on at the stupidest times and if you follow it the car lurches and lugs constantly I try to ignore it and go roughly by what the owners manual says but even then it seems like it s too soon I have found it goes best if I shift at 10 15kph higher than what the manual says and I still get over 500kms on a tank of gas so not too shabby The Jetta had a bigger gas tank and I was lucky to get 400kms out of it I m still getting used to stop and go traffic so as I get better at that I suspect I ll get even better mileage in the city however I am doing much less highway driving than I was a month ago it accounted for about 20 of my kilometres now maybe 5 at best so I doubt I ll see much of a difference in my gas mileage Now to the engine performance handling This thing is loud Good for knowing when to shift but takes away from the initial refined feel of the car Fortunately there is a really cool feature on the stereo that pumps the volume up to compensate for the engine noise The car has pretty good pick up as far as I am concerned but keep in mind that before the Jetta I drove a 3 cylindar Subaru Justy for 7 years so I m used to sluggish cars I think this car would keep up with my old Jetta but not on hills Especially mountain highways It s rather pathetic even if you shift down Since I don t have a tachometer I am not comfortable experimenting with shifting down again so I live with it On the flat road the car handles 140kph quite nicely Even though it is a relatively tall car it seems to hug the road and handles curves beautifully And that stereo just keeps pumping out exceptional sound The interior is wonderful So smooth and sleek feels way richer than it really is Just don t look too closely Some seams are uneven and parts like the air vents feel like you could just pull them right out with little effort my friends and I are thinking of betting on how long it will take before the window handles break off But then when it comes to this stuff I am rather picky Where the shift console meets the carpet really bothers me It looks like someone just cut the plastic quickly with scissors As far as roominess goes I am very pleased The bucket seats are slightly hollowed in the back so that knees don t press into the front passengers backs so to offer extra leg room there s lots of head room even my 6 2 boss had room to spare and you don t feel like you re going to bash elbows with the person beside you I don t know that I d try to fit 3 people in the back but with the middle seat having a shoulder belt I would feel safe doing it It already has a couple rattles which are annoying but not unbearable though it is disappointing that they have started this early in the car s life Trunk space is huge And if someone manages to get locked in the trunk there s a glow in the dark handle which can be pulled to open it from the inside So far none of my friends have volunteered to try this little feature out the chickens To make the back seats lie flat you have to pull knobs in the trunk Not sure if I like that or not I guess it s nice that anything in the trunk is secure I m just used to doing it from inside the car I have to say I am very happy I bought this car so far It has far exceded my expectations for Ford cars It has also been a good replacement for the Jetta as it has most of the features the Jetta did plus a few extra I would recommend this car to anyone as disgusted with VW as I am young people just out of college or young families If you re a speed demon you ll probably want to upgrade to the Zetec engine It s not expensive and it gives you 130hp which is 20hp more than the SPI My only regret is that I didn t upgrade to that engine " Pos," When the Focus was announced as the replacement to the popular Ford Escort I must admit I had my doubts After years of 1980 s domination where nearly every drive in the country had a Sierra Escort or Fiesta on it Ford were struggling to keep up with the cheaper and more reliable Japanese models that flooded the market in the 1990 s Ford were losing shed loads of money to its competition in Europe and still is So was the Focus really the market saviour Well no I dont think it was or is In the mid 90 s when it first hit the streets I just thought Oh my god what is that ugly thing Yet it seems to have spawned a whole host of ugly mobiles from various manufacturers The straight orderly lines of 80 s cars had been replaced by uneven and ugly curves that appeared to have come straight off the concept board Ok it had been beaten to the medium size car market by the even uglier and more wierd Fiat Brava and Bravo but this was the first major player to make a statement Looks Looking at the car from the outside makes you think hang on from the front it looks just like a Fiesta Ka Well it does with its sloping pointy angry looking headlights and oval grille Moving back along the doors they seem to take up the majority of the side panels Its the rear of the car that really confuses me It is possibly the ugliest monstrosity to come out of the design house at Dunton Essex No Boot well it is a hatchback But it is all part of the rear of the car I liken it to the equally confused looking Nissan Almera for stragest boot in the world prize It looks like it has had a rear end shunt and the lights have ended up somewhere at the top of the car I dont like this Interior Typical Ford plastic adorns the interior All Fords smell the same Plastic The dash is very arty with its White Dials that are so common today The stereo takes up most of the centre console and looks a nightmare if you want to install an after market unit Thankfully the people who supplied the stereo Visteon have done themselves proud by making a half decent effort at the sound system This is something Ford s have lacked for sometime Handling Suprisingly good Traction control really helps out the wheelspin and ABS stops you when you ask No skidding or slipping here The Semi Stiff shocks give you a nice level ride but can be a bit severe on your bad back if you hit the bumps Still a nice drive on the motorway Acceleration After driving both the 1 6 and 1 8 models you can notice a pulling difference between these cars The 1 8 allows you to pull into the traffic when you want rather than wait for a gap big enough Its no neck breaker but ample for most people thats because it has its power supplied by one of the best engines in the market The Zetec Safety It held up well in crash test and does come with both Driver and Passenger air bags Overall Id give this 7 out of 10 Handles good drives nice but a bit ugly Im afraid I dont think it was the saviour Ford wanted Information Visit the website to check it out further www ford co uk Fer are some stats for you 1 8 Zetec 0 60mph time 8 8 seconds Power output 125 hp 6000 rpm Fuel Consumption 41mpg on Motorway 28 on Urban " Pos," I recently rented one of the new Ford replacement for the Escort and lets just say that Ford is still making progress in their small car designs The Focus that I rented was a SE 4 door sedan that was heavily optioned It did come equipped with the standard 2 0 liter engine that had been used in the Escort Having owned a 94 Escort wagon with a manual transmission and over 175 000 trouble free mind the Focus would be considered for a replacement Ford seems to have solved the noise and vibration problems that plagued the Escort The Focus idles silently and smoothly without the rear view mirror shake that I have become accustomed to in my personal car Although the engine now is rated at 110 horsepower the low end torque of the engine is such that it seems more powerful than it really is The seating position is higher than in the Escort and I found no real blind spots Around town the power with the optional automatic transmission is ideal for city conditions and is not bad on the highway either as I had cruised at 85 mph and the vehicle tracked straight and true and was immune to cross winds Compared to the 2001 Chevrolet that I had rented earlier in the year the Focus was actually superior on the highway and the seating position lets one get a better focus on the road ahead of you Handling and braking are very very good but gas mileage is lower than what the Escort could achieve but is still over 30mpg on the highway But there is no such thing as a perfect car despite what anyone thinks The funky interior and exterior design takes some getting used to and I guess that it would have to grow on you The interior now places the stereo system above the heat and a c controls as opposed to the opposite in the old Escort and that is a welcomed change as one generally will fiddle with the radio more than the climate control system The optional CD player takes up a lot of real estate on the dash and the controls are somewhat confusing The ash try is placed right behind the steering wheel and is difficult to find in the day and down right impossible to find at night The cup holders are down really low and difficult to reach I also don t like the self locking feature that causes the car to lock all the doors when one reaches about 10 mph I am quite capable of locking the doors myself thank you very much I would have to put this vehicle high on the list though of the best of the breed in the small car world and considering that I have recently also driven a new Toyota Corrolla to me the Toyota is hard to justify for 3000 more " Pos," I purchased a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 S2 model not too long ago and I absolutely love it I couldn t ask for a better vehicle I previously owned a 1999 Mercury Cougar It was a great car until it started having problems I haven t had a single problem with the ZX3 yet Ford really did a great job designing the Focus It has a sporty yet sophisticated look to it The model I bought had a MSRP of 16420 This included everything that I wanted convenience group power group and S2 group which I greatly recommend for 600 The S2 group includes premium 16 wheels and 50 series tires premium gauges S2 diamond pattern seats 6 disk in dash cd changer bucket seats rear spoiler chrome exhaust tip European tuned suspension and everything that the sports group offers Not a bad deal for 600 The other groups included power everything and such amenities as A C keyless entry tilt and telescoping steering wheel cruise control etc As you can tell it is a lot for the money There is no other car that offers this much at a reasonable price The driving experience is excellent I opted for the 5 speed manual transmission in my ZX3 although an 4 speed auto is optional The ride is exceptionally smooth for a small car due to its 4 wheel independent suspension Even when cruising in the highway at 70 mph the wind and road noise is minimal Inside the car the controls are nicely layed out and within perfect reach Headroom in the car is abundant even for someone over 6 tall The seats provide great support and room even with 5 adults in the car The rear hatch provides enough room for storage but with the split rear seats folded down the is a whoping 18 5 cubic feet of space That s enormous for a hatchback The only thing that Ford could do to improve the car is have a more powerful engine offered Perhaps a 2 5 liter The 2002 SVT model will remedy this but is going to carry a more expensive price tag at 18 500 " Pos," We wanted a new car We needed a new car We wanted a new wagon our 92 Taurus wagon was a loyal dog but a dog with fleas It stunk like it was on its last leg We shopped did internet research and the all important test drives and came up with the Ford Focus Wagon And what a deal plus we got Ford Credit s 0 Financing deal We pay no interest over 5 years pretty good deal Here s the review b Look It looks great If it didn t have the blue Ford oval on the front and rear you wouldn t know it was a domestic let alone a Ford The inside is a masterpiece Great curves great lines b Comfort Unlike the old Escort models even the ZX2 you don t feel like you are sitting on the pavement while in the car What great seats like sitting in your living room I don t get numb butt when driving for over an hour like from other cars Driver s seat has adjustable height as well I like mine the whole way up b Function Everything is right in front of you If you ever claim you hit that car or ran that light because you were fooling with the radio or AC the claims adjuster will know you are lying because you re driving a Focus Cup holders on the floor in the middle are great Standard AC and CD player are cool AC blows cool and powerful Heat comes up quickly for those brisk winter days b Handling Rounding curves or making 90 degree turns couldn t be more comfortable What carmakers called European handling in the 80 s is here in this domestic car The SE Wagon comes standard with the nice Zetec engine and has great pick up What s more the car doesn t rattle or feel like it s going to fall apart when doing 70 mph on the highway You ll be speeding along at 75 and feel like you re going 35 Trust me on this point it s incredible b Room Ford says it has more room in the inside than any other car in its class I haven t really investigated this but I am a believer anyways Two kids in car seats in the back haven t complained yet and they used to be traveling in the Taurus wagon with that huge bench seat Plenty of leg room up front too b Gas The sticker says it should get 25 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway My guess is that s about right with moderate driving work supermarket etc we go thru a fillup once a week b Little things The rear trunk pops up with the push of a button from the inside panel Automatic windows and locks respond very nicely It has stiff handling which is a surprise from a Ford You can haul a lot of stuff in this Wagon we haven t suffered by moving down a class to midsize from the Taurus wagon Inside dome lights have that fade out thing when you get out and shut the doors nice A nice security measure is this when using the remote clicker only driver side door opens with one push of the unlock button The other doors unlock with two pushes of the unlock button This is a nice comfort for those late nights in a strange parking lot b What it could use It could use lit vanity mirrors for the driver and passenger Ford put a lot of neat things in this car and this should ve been one of them Also there should be dome or reading lights available to the backseat passengers my kids miss theirs from the Taurus wagon It could also use those magazine pocket things on the back of the front seats so the kids can put their books and things in them they miss them too b Finally Buy it you ll like it We got ours in White with the Tan interior looks very sharp We had mudguards put on as well It really turns heads and people can t believe it s a Ford and when you test drive it neither will you " Pos," The Ford Focus caught my eye but not my pocketbook for over a year I believed that they were little boxes and felt as if I would be better off buying something different Boy was I wrong I have a 2000 Toyota ECHO and have recently purchased a 2001 Focus The focus seems much more stable has better pick up and hopefully will not be as much trouble as the Echo has been The interior is very comfortable and the air conditioner is very cold Even sitting in the back seat between two car seats I stayed very cool We own a hatchback The trunk space is not overly large but it is adequate I just wouldn t take it on a long trip with all the kid s stuff The gas mileage is great Average mileage is 35 per gallon I would suggest this car to anyone looking for a new vehicle " Pos," I own a 1993 Ford Thunderbird LX Automatic V 6 It has been the most reliable car I have ever owned more reliable than any of several foreign cars including a Saab The car now has 186 000 miles on it and I have replaced only one major part the head gasket That was a costly 1000 repair but a faulty head gasket can be manufactured by any company it s just bad luck Aside from that all other engine and drive train parts are original and functioning well One drawback is that the doors are long and heavy and therefore difficult for small people to manage Their own weight caused them to sag and I had to have them repaired but it was not terribly expensive There have been about three call backs but none of them were of concern to me and I have not had the work done What sold me on the car was the test drive The car holds corners extremely well and the highway ride is that of a big luxury car The visibility is good in all directions I have had no trouble on wet roads and the snow handling has been satisfactory I paid about 15 500 for the car in 1993 so the cost of about 2200 per year or 8 cents a mile has been very reasonable All in all I would recommend this as a good used car if it has been well maintained The model is out of production now Ford is planning to reintroduce the Thunderbird as a sports car br br " Pos," OK I have owned pickup trucks and I have owned a pure SUV and for me each is a compromise In considering this purchase I had to struggle with the question is a vehicle that has BOTH attributes nothing but a compromise at best My 1996 Nissan Pathfinder was handy It had adequate room for hauling stuff like groceries but not practical for hauling dirty stuff like building materials or plants The back seats were not particularly comfortable either It was a bit anemic in the power category but OK I missed my pickup but I need a vehicle that has a real back seat and in a way the Pathfinder was a compromise that I could live with Still I occasionally hauled things in the Nissan like bags of cement and bulky things from Home Depot that should never have been attempted with what is essentially a station wagon I looked at King Cab pickups but saw them as just pickups with wasted space for junk behind the driver s seat The idea of putting a human being in some of those jump seats they put in those things is laughable even for children Then came the first few four door pickups Owning a Nissan I stopped by and looked at a Nissan truck with four real doors I attempted to sit in the back seat of one and found that for me the only way I could get in was to physically crawl in on all fours and then sit sideways It is hardly a practical vehicle for me unless you only expect to put children in the back seats Finally last year I saw the Ford SuperCrew and said to myself There is a truck car or was it a car truck I like Essentially it seems like an Expedition with a 5 foot truck bed instead of the space for a third row of seats In fact the rear seat room in the SuperCab is only 2 inches smaller than the Expedition I drove the SuperCrew and that s all it took I purchased the Lariat upgraded package because I like leather seats and the paint trim was good looking It came with the 5 4 engine which was listed at 800 extra on the base model I drive primarily in an urban area and own a boat that this truck pulls without effort I expected horrible fuel mileage but so far I am surprised to find that in city driving it is virtually identical in gas consumption to the Pathfinder I traded in I realize that if loaded down this will change drastically however the good thing is at least with this truck I have the option of loading it down While it is absolutely true that this truck is not a panacea for EVERYONE so far it really is for me I can put five adults COMFORTABLEY in it I can pull a boat or trailer effortlessly I can haul ten bags of cement or dog food or throw my golf clubs in the back and not worry about snagging the upholstery of an SUV I can use the bed extender and haul larger items and I can pick up my family at the airport and not worry about my wife s self esteem being bruised by riding in a pickup The sticker price on this wonderful vehicle was actually 2 000 less than my venerable 96 Nissan Pathfinder and while it doesn t have 4 wheel drive that I hardly ever used with the Nissan it does have EVERYTHING else including almost twice the horsepower and the same gas consumption and MORE The fit and finish for this American made vehicle is quite good The Ride is excellent The driving handling quality is excellent and for the features the price is good too The icing on the cake was Ford sponsored 3 9 financing PLUS a 500 rebate One negative I have to back it into my garage to close the door as it is almost two feet longer than an Expedition Oh well life has it s compromises " Pos," I bought this truck new in 1988 and it s still going strong today I expect to get at least 15 years use out of this truck with relatively minor repairs and if I get that then I will be pushing it to get 20 years The truck has been used very heavily pulling four horse trailer loaded about 11 000 pounds on a Class IV hitch weekly for about 5 years Also about 200 bales of hay a month and 2 tons of grain It has been run back and forth from Halifax to Toronto sometimes with horses sometimes without since 1989 and has never yet failed me on the road The most common repair on it outside of body repairs and regular wear out and maintenance has been U joints and since I have sold my trailer I am now getting about five years on the U joints instead of 12 18 months The trailer pulling seems to affect the wear on the u joints Most parts that have been replaced on the truck have been due failure dut to rust not wear out or failed parts Electrical can be a big problem on these trucks the big gang connector on the wiring harness caused about three months worth of grief in 1995 the plug was cut out and all the wires were hard wired together siliconed and there have been no problems since Body has been a problem with the truck perforation and paint Ford re painted the truck at their expense a recall The dealer was supposed to take the truck down to bare metal and re prime and paint it As well all rust was to be repaired The dealer did a really poor job in fact I think Ford paid for a lot of work that the dealer billed them for but didn t do which has been my experience with our local Ford dealers in the Halifax Dartmouth area of Nova Scotia Only one repair held up more than twenty four months and that was a panel that they had to cut out and a new one welded in We ve worked this truck real hard It has over 300 000 km on it I continue to drive it almost daily about 75 100 km per day for work Gas consumption is still about 18 mpg CDN on the highway same as the day it was new and less in the city Fuel economy is a little less than the GM and Dodge trucks are getting but the repairs according to friends with these trucks are fewer Fuel economy pulling a trailer is AWFUL with this 5 0 litre eight cylinder you need the diesel for any kind of economy but it s totally reliable and never breaks down and hauls loads that are twice what the truck is rated for A friend and I do the exactly same thing with our trucks my Ford and her GM and the Ford wins out hands down every time and it takes about a fifty percent heavier payload than her GM will It s a typical truck lousy in the snow and on icy roads you need about 500 lbs of ballast over the back axle on bad roads The four wheel drive version might keep on going through the snow and icy roads but wait until you try to stop the 4 wheel drive truck once you get them going It hauls a real heavy load we installed a set of Timbren hollow rubber springs tow truck kit and are still running on the original springs if you can believe it no re arching and no broken leaves I have been hauling up to one tonne in the box grain with no problems by using these Timbren hollow rubber springs Looks and handles like there is no load in the truck These trucks are not for city people even though they are really comfortable for city and long distance driving They re a quot amp to park in the city parking lots and on the streets they re hard on gas in the city and if you have the full size box and what s the point on getting anything but and extended cab they just don t fit in the garage of most city homes coming in at about twenty feet long But they re just great for us country folk and while I will never buy another Ford car I definitely will buy another Ford truck I m real happy with this one It has cost us a lot less on repairs than anything we have owned in years It s consistent It s fixable Ford s service manuals are very good which helps If you buy a used one and it s rust proofed you should get years more on it Even if it s not rust proofed at least it is entirely fixable right down to the frame I had frame repairs done last year perforation right through the rail Ford body parts are becoming a problem to obtain but after market parts are still readily available I probably won t buy another new one can t come up with this kind of cash again for a vehicle but it will be somebody s well used truck br br " Pos," I can t believe out test drive of the new 2001 Ford Super Crew F 150 It has the size and power of a full size work horse but one look inside will convince you this is No ordinary truck The stylish features include a two tone dash extra plush seating fashionable grab bars well appointed easy to read dash steering wheel controls matching head rests a handy center console plus drink containers and pockets in the door panels for extra storage Also the roomy back seat could easily seat three adults and the back seats fold 40 60 to allow for lots of extra storage The ride was smooth as glass and plenty of pep for the highway It was easy to handle in traffic and visibility was excellent as well My husband a GMC man is built like a bear and he had too agree this truck has a lot to offer The towing package also comes with a larger radiator for more efficient cooling while towing The exterior color I really was drawn to was the new Island Blue The bed is 5 5 quot but there is an optional bar extension that will give you 7 of hauling space for 195 00 Great appeal for both the luxury details for the ladies and brute strength for the guys Plus room for teenagers in the back seats I recommend it for a terrific family vehicle " Pos," I bought my Ford F150 Lariet Supercrew 4x4 about a month ago I haven t found anything that I don t like about it I love the way it handles much better that the explorer that I traded in The interior is wonderful the leather is very durable I can seat 6 people the backseat is very roomy even with three kids in it The bed extender is handy I ve hauled a full size mattress and box springs and the power is awesome If you can get one with a moon roof do it It is a fun option We are a family of 5 and totally enjoy this truck The gas mileage is better than I thought it would be My truck is black and requires lots of baths but there is nothing that compares with a shiny new black truck " Pos," We purchased our 2001 F 150 SuperCrew on April 15th 2000 as soon as they hit the market I could not ask for a better truck Has all the space of a car with towing and hauling of a truck The V 8 engine is more than able to pull my 14 ft cargo trailor A great looking truck I will purchase another one as soon as my time is up with this one Ford has hit the jackpot with this one in my book If you like big vehicles and the ride of a car buy this truck My truck has a AM FM CD Player with surround sound automatic with cruise power windows and door locks I did not purchase the extended gate that is a option on this vehicle You have plenty of room through out the truck br br " Pos," We purchased our SuperCrew in Feb 2001 Ours is a 4x4 Lariat 5 4 liter with navy blue on tan leather interior We ve owned 2 Ford trucks prior to this one so we were quite familiar with them My husband is a general contractor and realtor so hauling equipment and or building supplies as well as people were both equally important I think we ve found the best of both worlds with this truck This truck rides well in fact it s the one we choose to drive long distances We have 3 children and the interior is roomy enough to please The dual media is a nice option and the factory radio sound quality is great Here are some problems we ve encountered with this truck 1 As previously stated this is our 3rd Ford truck On all 3 we ve always had to have the up down window button on the passenger side only replaced For some reason they re always defunct Do something about this Ford covered by warranty 2 The cassette player won t release my tape We thought maybe the tape was defective but it turns out the CD player won t work either Our Ford dealer has ordered us another radio which is covered by warranty 3 The fuel pump had to be replaced This also was covered by warranty This truck is pretty fast too You don t have to fret about changing lanes on the highway in this I m 5ft 4in and have no trouble whatsoever driving this truck In fact I prefer driving it to my 2000 BMW There are no blind spots and it handles well plus there s no need to cringe when you hit a pothole " Pos," My wife purchased this car new in 1995 She wanted a laser red 5 speed GT and we were able to find one at a local Ford dealer We drove both an SE and a GT for comparison The GT is a totally different car Fast and sprung stiffly it is a real sports car Our car is not loaded no sunroof or leather but has air cruise CD player power locks remote keyless entry and a few other goodies Once we had the car we did run into several problems all of which were minor A leaky radiator cap pealing paint on the hood broken seat air pump for the bolster I think maybe a few others I forgot about All were corrected under warrenty I worried about the paint the most but they seemed to be able to fix this and it has not been a problem We have replaced a battery spark plug wires and tires The Goodyear Eagles were done at about 35 000 miles We replaced them with Parnelli Jones all seasons which work very well I now drive this car daily and it is simply a joy to drive It has about 50 000 miles and has been pretty much trouble free the last few years It handles superbly so much so I wish it had 20 or 30 more horsepower The steering has great feel This car is on a rail The stick shift is fantastic with quick shifts and smooth operation I am 6 3 quot so I do have to squeeze myself into this car but I can get comfortable no one can sit behind me though The car has a large trunk and the seats fold down to offer tons of space for hauling larger items Finally what a sweet looking car Wish I had something this cool back in high school On the down side the rear seats are not usuable for kids if you are tall like me I have a car seat on the passanger side and have to move the passanger front seat up quite a bit in order for the seat to fit No way we can get a 2nd child behind me so this car s days are numbered The ride is quite stiff I mean STIFF Everyone that rides in this car comments on it You do adjust driving it daily but it is just not very comfortable for any long trips The paint seems to be of a lower quality than most cars In spite of regular washing and waxing this car is showing a few flaws Nothing terrible but I worry about it Lastly the V 6 is starting to burn a small amount of oil about a quart every 3 000 miles It still runs perfect 22 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway I plan to trade or sell this car soon and re sale looks pretty bad Oh well it was fun while we had it This is a great car for a single guy or girl or a couple with no kids Or a teenager that wants to make it into a SCCA solo racer This is not a family car but that is part of the fun br br " Pos," I ve owned my 95 Probe for almost 5 years now and what a cheap 5 years it has been This car has not given me a single problem They get great gas mileage meaning around 25 to 27 mpg so don t worry about having to fill it up every other 3 or 4 days cause these cars will go for weeks It s a sporty little car so it s very fun to drive too The main thing you have to consider though when buying a 95 Probe is the mileage Little cars with little engines like these could last anywhere from 90 000 to 200 000 miles You would definitely want to have the engine checked out before buying it to make sure that s its got a lot of life left in it The only thing I would say would be an inconvenience with this car is that when something does break it s not fun to fix it Once I broke my key off in the ignition don t ask how and we had to put a whole new ignition in because it was one solid piece rather than broken down into smaller parts that are easier to replace Ford has a funny way of doing things sometimes but aside from that they put together a VERY solid and fun vehicle when they made the Probes I don t know why they stopped making them but they re great cars and definitely worth every penny " Pos," When we first had a baby I was driving an Eclipse Spyder Needless to say this is not a baby car As a matter of fact I refuse to put my son in it For a year we managed to get by with one car that we could take our son around in But being an independent women grin I wanted to be able to leave the house when I was home alone with my son which I couldn t do at this point Why didn t I just keep the baby car Well mine was foreign and my husband works at Ford you do the math So we needed a new car I refused to be a minivan mom no offense to those of you who are I just don t like em so we decided on an SUV Being that my husband worked at Ford he heard about the Escape long before it came out And I wanted one It was an Explorer but smaller and cuter That s a good combination considering I m small and well cute grin But seriously I liked the idea that it was an SUV that drove like a car It was also supposed to be much safer without the threat of rollovers that most SUV s are plagued with So we ordered one and after months of waiting it came in And it s beautiful We got toreador red which is a maroonish color The interior is tan and black The car is also available in yellow yes bright yellow for you showoffs red a forest green blue black white and tan I don t know the specific Ford names for all these colors but that s what it breaks down to Aside from the pleasing asthetic value of the Escape it also drives great If you are looking for a good off road vehicle this is not the one you should be buying But the Escape wasn t made for offroaders It was made for people who wanted the look of an SUV with the control of a car It s a little bumpier than a regular car but the ride is smooth It also corners very well which I love being used to a small convertible The Escape is available in 2 Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive We chose the 4WD variety You can also get a four cylinder or six cylinder engine Ours is six According to the dealer the four cylinder engines aren t selling as well The Escape has some great standard features Solar tint glass Woo How new millenium power everything roof rack rear windshield wipers flip and fold rear seats A C anti lock brakes and remote keyless entry We also got side step bars a power moonroof and side airbags Oh yea did I mention that the CD player is standard Nice eh All this and a great price too The base model runs around 18 000 Fully loaded which ours is is around 25 200 Not bad for an SUV Gas mileage is a little better than standard SUV City is 18 MPG and highway is 24 MPG It s no car mileage but still not bad For all you mommies and daddies out there the Escape also comes with three tether hookups for the backseats This is a great feature to help keep your child s car seat secure And our car seat fit very well The backseats are relatively comfortable and there is tons of legroom Although it looks smaller than an Explorer the didn t skimp on space The rear area leaves plenty of room for numerous parcels or luggage There is also a cover you can place over them to protect anything from flying french fries Being a short person I can t accurately judge the legroom in the driver s seat but my husband who is much taller than I am had no problem fitting in the passenger seat The car is very comfortable to drive and I feel very safe with my child in the back Ford has added a number of safety features to the Escape making it a nice reliable ride It looks nice drives well and is priced affordably For those parents out their looking for a good family vehicle I highly recommend the Ford Escape One warning They are selling like hotcakes so get one while you can I believe there is quite a waiting list for orders so if you are interested call your dealer right away " Pos," I had the opportunity to test drive the 2001 Escape after salivating over all the press clippings and related media hype for about 6 months Because I couldn t contain my excitement I went to my local Mazda dealership and drove the Escape s sister SUV Mazda Tribute base model 4x4 V6 almost a month before the Escape made its bow in early September The drive was a little less than acceptable especially frustrating when I schooled the salesman on every single aspect of the SUV but I wanted the Escape Passing by the Ford dealership late on a Sunday evening there she was Quick background I own a 2000 Nissan Xterra V6 4x4 loaded and I love and loathe it Extremely comfortable and quiet ride nice stock stereo and accessories The engine is horribly inefficient and lacks power Thus the need to try the Escape on for size Getting into the Escape would be no problem for all but the tallest members of America My two kids easily climbed in and found the seat belts If you are trying to save a little money think about passing on the side step bars They cannot hold much weight and since the Escape is about 4 6 inches shorter than other full sized SUV s there is a good chance you won t ever use them One advance warning that the insulation wasn t going to be as good as other SUV s was the quot thump quot of the doors Instead of closing with a warm quot thump quot the doors sounded like something off of a less expensive model Once in I found the 6 way seat a nice feature along with the no frills dashboard and controls for the fans and sunroof The stereo was a bit too complicated but sounds much better than the upgraded stereo in the sister Mazda Tribute Leather seats are stiff but I am sure they would soften a little after a while The model also had privacy glass which I recommend I had a chance to compare some of the interior dimensions for the Escape and the numbers really shocked me The Escape is as wide as an Explorer only 17 inches shorter than an Xterra had more leg room than the Xterra There are some other interior dimensions for the Escape that are as big if not bigger than some of the bigger thirstier and more expensive SUV s Some over 10K more I was anxious to feel the 200 HP V6 matched to this yellow baby SUV bullet and it passes every test I put it through Passing and accelerating are excellent even up hills and with four average sized passengers It tends to downshift a little quicker than I expected when pressed but a small tradeoff for an engine that bests any other SUV with that kind of power weight by at least 5 7 mpg Another trade off is the road noise I found it was more pronounced than I would have liked and I was raising my voice to talk to the other passengers A little more padding and insulation in the doors would do well for the noise Hint hint Ford I was able to have the experience of the night driving dash and gauge lights and I wasn t impressed During the daylight the dash gauges are very impressive The night time greenish red hue would take a little getting used to Handling is wonderful for the Escape Cornering is just like a car The Escape is confident in all phases of a town or country drive Quick note I have read some of the other excellent reviews of the Escape and air conditioning was mentioned as a problem area I live in the North West Seattle WA so we rust instead of bake I did not test the AC but the fan seemed to work as it should If you have passed on the Xterra Montero Sport and CRV for lack of power Jeep Cherokee for persistent mechanical problems and the Rav 4 for the looks power problems the 2001 Ford Escape is an excellent choice I also suspect that it will keep its resale value very well Keep in mind the 2003 gas electric Escape that is said to get over 35 mpg and still has the same amount of horsepower For those who just want to get into this SUV and don t have the 23 25K it will take to adequately equip the 4x4 V6 model seriously consider the 4x2 5 speed Even with a little bit of equipment you can have a respectable SUV for under 20K br br " Pos," My wife and I recently traded in my 96 Dodge Dakota P U with 96K miles on it for this wonderful Ford Escape After making a list of about 13 cars we thought we d like we went on line and researched them all After weeding out those can t afford cars I spoke to my brother a car expert on his opinion Being that I own a motorcycle and haul it he suggested the Escape We went to our local dealer and test drove one and fell in love immediately It just so happens they had the exact color with everything we wanted in stock We ended up with the XLT 3 0L V6 Automatic with all the buzzers bells and extras that is possible excluding leather power seats We have had it for a month now and we are finding that it is receiving exactly what they said we would in gas mileage 20 23 everytime The first tank only got 17 but everyone after that has been at least 20 MPG and we live in the DC Metro area where we drive EVERYWHERE I would definetely recommend this to anyone looking for an affordable SUV with style " Pos," The Escape is not a classic SUV it has unibody construction instead of the classic SUV s body on frame truck like design Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are brothers Both cars were developed jointly by Ford and Mazda part of Mazda belongs to Ford I think something like 35 b ENGINES The base front dive Escape uses the Focus s 4 cylinder 2 0 L 120 hp Zetec engine the optional V 6 Duratec 3 0 L engine that Ford also uses in Taurus has 200 horsepower and 200 pound feet of torque According to Car and Driver magazine the V 6 version Escape XLT runs quarter mile for 16 8 seconds at 83 mph V 6 equipped Escape goes from zero to 60 mph in 8 8 seconds and gets 24 mpg on the highway b TRANSMISSIONS The manual transmission equipped model has a floor shifter but the automatic transmission CD4E four speed has a column shifter b i I hate column shifters i b You cannot get the manual transmission with V 6 Not cool b SIZE The size is about Honda CR V but the Escape feels larger than a Honda With the rear seats up there is 33 cubic feet of storage space with the seats folded down 63 cubic feet b WHEELS There are two types of wheels available 15 and 16 The V 6 Escape XLT uses P235 70TR 16 Firestone Wilderness HT tires The spare tire is 17 temporary one The tires are a little bit too noisy over the rough pavement b SUSPENSION Escape uses independent suspension which offers good ride quality The brakes are equipped with ABS front disc rear drum The stopping distance from 70 mph is 171 feet better than any other SUV FYI It takes Nissan Xterra 199 feet OFF ROAD Escape XLT weights about 3550 pound Escape I read that Escape s off road capabilities are challenged comparing to the real SUVs However with available four wheel drive they are much better than any sedan s Escape uses the Control Trac II all wheel drive system which allows the Escape to run in front wheel drive until the system senses the wheel slippage Then it sends up to 100 b of the engine s torque to the rear wheels until the slippage stops Escape has a 4x4 On switch that does not engage the four wheel drive permanently but engages the rear drive more quickly which is better for severe conditions PRICING The base front drive Escape XLS with the 4 cylinder 2 0 L Zetec engine and a five speed manual transmission starts at 18 160 At this price the car has air conditioning an AM FM stereo with a CD player remote keyless entry a tilting steering wheel and power locks windows and mirrors The upscale Escape XLT has ABS aluminum wheels cruise control and fog lamps It costs 19 710 Nice price don t you think b OPTIONS The 3 0 L V 6 Duratec adds 1400 to the XLS and 1480 to the XLT and Control Trac all wheel drive system adds 1625 The XLT model with the V 6 and all wheel drive automatically gets the 350 Class II trailer towing package which ups towing capacity from 2000 pounds to 3500 Also available are leather trim a power glass sunroof and front side airbags MACH audio system that replaces the in dash CD player with in dash six disc changer The Escape is located between classic large SUVs and midsize cars It uses carlike unibody construction and independent suspension available 4 wheel drive is civilaized I hope if you want an SUV you will get Escape It handles well has excellent brakes and lots of cabin space And the fuel economy is very good i " Pos," The Escape is Ford s entry in the popular mini SUV class of automobiles It competes with the Nissan Xterra Honda CRV Toyota RAV4 and a few other SUVs I think Ford has a good thing on its hands and with a few minor changes the Escape could be a category leader Exterior the Escape is the best looking car in its class It doesn t try to be too adventurous or too athletic like the XTerra with its spoilers and front grills and yet doesn t look to docile like the CRV Not surprisingly the Escape looks a lot like an Explorer albeit one with updated and refreshed lines One element that can be improved on the exterior of the Escape is the side view mirrors which shake at highway speeds due to the wind and don t provide a good view of other cars Interior the interior of the Escape is generally well thought out The radio and climate control controls are easy to use and located high up on the middle console The column mounted gear shifter however was placed in an awkward position It does not shift very well and it obscures a portion of the radio A better solution would be to place the shifter in between the front passengers like most other SUVs The materials used in the interior could also be improved The dashboard and doors use cheap looking plastic and the seats are covered by a rough fabric Driving the Escape s strongest selling point is its drivability The Escape simply drives as well as any good car which means that it drives better than most SUVs The Escape s steering is very linear and direct and the SUV benefits from having a short wheelbase I was able to maneuver the Escape in busy Seattle highway traffic with ease The large windows and upright seating position also allows for good visibility The V6 engine with 201 hp provides a lot of power and torque for a car of this size and I was able to accelerate easily in all situations The main detraction from the driving experience relates to the immense amount of noise that emanates from the road and the engine The car is so loud on some roads that I had to turn the radio up Ford should consider fitting the Escape with different tires and more sound deadening material for a quieter ride Overall the Escape is a reasonably priced small SUV that drives more like a car than a truck and seems built from one solid piece If Ford improves the quality of the interior including a redesign of the shifter and makes the Escape quieter this SUV will set sales records " Pos," I have just purchased a RHD Ford Maverick known as the Ford Escape in the U S I need a vehicle that was capable enough to tow my caravan trailor plus it had to be car like to drive and not like many of the European SUV s i e Freelander Discovery which give a choppy ride and certainly do not have all the extra s thrown in as standard I test drove a 3 0 litre Auto which i thought was great but here in the u k petrol at about 6 0 a gallon makes this affordable only if money is no object The only other option was the 2 0 litre Manual which i opted for and ordered before test driving as the dealer did not have one available I have had the car 3 weeks now and it is GREAT in everyway Easy to handle Park and reverse Excellant driving position Loads of room Plenty of storage and cup holders which are not common here in the U K but which i think are a must It tows fine feels stable although the 2 0 litre engine has to work at it This is the first vehicle of this type i have owned and i don t think i could go back to a normal saloon which i had before Overall Great car and as i headed this up A BREATH OF FRESH AIR for us normally stuffy Brits " Pos," My wife and I were in the market for a SUV and test driving the mini SUVs Honda CRV Hyundai Sante Fe Subaru Forester to name a few of the vehicles we tested After the first mile driving the 2001 Escape XLT my wife s mind was made up She was impressed with the visibility power and interior room She was giving up her 95 Mitsubishi Diamante for a 4 wheel drive vehicle The ride was a little stiffer but not as bad as we expected The front seats took some time getting used to but after a few trips we realized that they offer good support and back fatigue after 2 3 hours of driving has not been a factor We purchased our Escape in Oct 2000 and have had one recall notice that did not apply to our vehicle We ve been averaging 16 17 miles per gallon around town and 20 21 mpg on the highway It has been through several snow storms this winter here in CT and has performed admirably It feels very stable at both highway speed and in bad weather I m sure the 4 wheel independent suspension has a lot to do with this The automatic 4 wheel drive works amazingly well One has to try hard to get a wheel to spin on wet as well as snowy roads The most important factor in our decision to buy this vehicle was that my wife felt completely safe driving it After a snowy winter she still feels the same We were hoping for a little better gas mileage but for an SUV I guess the mileage we re getting isn t all that bad " Pos," Bottom Line I have had my Escape for six months and love it The Great A lot of car for the price roomy interior decent gas mileage people crane their necks on the road to check it out The Not So Great Lots of wind noise on the highway probably not ideal for true off roading may cause accidents from other drivers admiring it I first purchased my Ford Escape last October when I was staring straight into the beginning of another harsh winter and a daily two hour round trip commute I needed a vehicle with four wheel drive and did not want to have to resort to selling off body parts to pay for gas Here s some specifics The look I purchased a light parchment gold Escape with the leather interior The truck looks great inside and out People are always admiring it asking about it and I definitely recommend going with leather if you can afford it It is comfortable sharp and will help hold up the resale value The ride The car rides very smoothly However when you jump on the highway be prepared to turn the radio up and or talk very loudly with your passengers The wind noise is pretty bad This is about the only negative thing I have to say about the car Bells and Whistles While I have a more Spartan model you can trick out your Escape with moonroof and deluxe sound system including a six CD changer I have the standard single CD system and am very happy with it Shifting into four wheel drive is a snap and the cruise and wiper controls are of the standard simple to use variety The gear shifter is somewhat awkwardly placed and gets in the way of the radio I have the V6 model and the fuel economy is decent while still providing plenty of giddyup You can also get a four cylinder model for increased fuel efficiency but I have my doubts as to whether that will lend enough power to adequately drive the car For serious off roaders this probably is not your best option The Escape rides lower than larger SUV s and I wouldn t trust it in a true off roading situation " Pos," Granted this is my first SUV so I didn t know what to expect I did my homework with all the SUVs out there and knew I wanted a 4X4 automatic with a few nice things in it and a few of the standard things I did a lot of comparisons of different SUVs using Consumer Reports Car Service and I always found that the ESCAPE was at the top of the list Needless to say they were scarce to say the least I was online everyday looking for one I struck gold one on a Tuesday made the deal on Saturday I have a soup to nuts XLT with the only thing missing being the side air bags The first and probably the most impressive thing to grab and get your attention is the power this baby has V6 you say to yourself over and over as you fly down the road With that said and in spite of it s power it s handling is just as impressive Turning on a dime with a SUV can you believe it yes you can The fact that it takes runs on regular gas is simply a joy Call me silly but with the power and performance of that power you would expect premium gas hands down Inside is roomy The rear seats are easy to maneuver once you get the hang The dash is easy to read and everything is at your fingertips Plenty of storage big and small Convenience cargo cover and net are a nice touch an additional 12v outlet in the rear Access to the rear can be done via opening the rear door or opening the glass window and reaching in I dislike the shifter on the steering column It s very long even though I still find myself grabbing the windshield wiper instead At night you can t see the shifter so when you reach for the radio cassette CD controls you can as I have hit the shifter which scares the living daylights out of you I have since put a white wrap around it so I can t miss it Because of it s power and it s power and power you do really move Because of this you find yourself in the station often I think it has a mind of it s own on the highway mileage is great On the streets it s chomping at the bit to go but you can t so it seems like it makes you pay for not putting it on the highway A simple thing but the rear window wiper is a bit of wimp It cleans only a small semi circle you can see out it but for me I wanted more window cleaned " Pos," In the beginning When we bought or first SUV 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee it worked just fine for us it was just us and our big yellow labrador It gave us the right amount of room and comfort that we needed at that time Fast forward Three kids later and we still have the lab In 2000 we leased our first Excursion V10 Limited This was driven daily by my wife to and from school with the kids If it 146s acts like a bus We used it like a bus She is only 5 4 at best and had no problem driving this truck Not a nick on a bumper in two years Bottom line it did a great job hauling two strollers three kids a dog and who ever else needed to go some where Great for Vacations too The long rides to Florida down the dreaded route 95 corridor All kids learn to hate this ride We could actually fit all the stuff for vacation without the roof carrier By the way really kills gas mileage too So another environmentally friendly plus for the big truck It was actually a pleasure to have enough room to be comfortable all the way down without killing each other And the fact that it does have a 44 gallon gas tank is a god send on very long trips Especially when going through states that don 146t have stations every two miles or when driving through the night when most stations are closed Inside The interior is comfortable enough without being one of those sissy SUV 146s All I was missing was my remote and I would have been right at home The sound system is fantastic and the kids love the fact that the windows went all the way down Even with Baby seats all have enough room to spread out A full size cooler fits in the center just behind the front seats making the outer seats usable for passengers And you still have room for 3 more in the third row Access is better then the GM trucks The tri door makes access to the rear cargo area simple The fact that you do not loose the rear wiper as you would on the GM Barn door style is a plus When all seats are removed you can fit 25 pieces of sheet rock laying down or one queen size futon in tact Towing Don 146t kid yourself this puppy has neck wrenching torque I 146m not sure what the other reviews perception was based upon because I also own a Shelby if this is any indication of knowing torque Look at the towing ratings and you decide I 146ve had well over 8000 pounds on the back and boy did it drive like nothing was behind me Enough said about that This is a great towing truck Ride The long wheel base gives the Excursion the ride of a Limo A 4x4 Limo Because of the length it floats down the road We definitely notice a better ride in the 2003 then the original 2000 The shocks are not as harsh and it does not bounce around as much as the 2000 did Bad Roads And not to mention bad roads The roads in the State of New Jersey kills more cars then bad drivers Statistically this may not be true but have you ever hit a large pot hole followed by a series of whoop de doos Not something you want to attempt in a non SUV I 146ve seen these roads tear off wheels Again creating large traffic jams during rush hour Another mass waste of fossil fuel and commuters time ok that was another stretch but you get the point City Roads New York City will kill a vehicle just as quickly as a off road Baja race People say 147People who buy SUV 146s never take them off road 148 you do not have to take it off road to have the same experience Try a romp around NYC and see how quick a lesser truck would crumble the torture of the urban roads If you ever danced fender to fender with a Yellow Cab you certainly understand why in the city size does matter maintenance After 24 months and 36 000 miles Oil every 3 000 miles tire rotation after every 12 000 miles and that is it not a problem and never back for any warranty work Consolidation is being environmentally friendly As far as being environmentally friendly We live in the NY Tri State area and during one of the family outing to the Bronx Zoo we invited another family to come with us We all fit in the Excursion So what you may say Well by car pooling we kept one additional vehicle off the already crowded roads and actually saved resources It may be a stretch but none the less true The bad news After the 2 year lease was up and we went back to the dealer we had every intention of buying the truck back from Ford Well as luck would have it the buy back was very high and they wanted almost 30 000 to buy it back Being that it was out of warranty at this point we decided that a nice shiny new 2002 Ford Windstar Limited was the way to go It too had all the bells and whistles for family use Video auto sliding doors remote start and the tow package All the features a mom of three could want Life in the Minivan We did a few long road trips to Indiana and florida with the Windstar it drove great but buy were we a little tight For the extra space that was needed the roof carrier came out of mothballs again Albeit the gas mileage was better in the mini van but the need for space was greater Snow and Bad weather Even with optional traction control it was not the best in the snow Maybe we just got used to the Jeep and the Excursion 146s 4 wheel drive The Excursion 3 feet of snow and no issues The move A year and a half into the Windstar we decided that we really needed the larger vehicle So I waited for the 2004 Excursions to roll off the assembly line This forced the dealers to clear out the 2003 stock And for the first time it really did work in my favor 0 financing 4 000 off from Ford Smack the dealer around a little more and they will drop another 2 000 off This was great We had our pick of styles colors and options Sales may be down but it sure did give me allot of vehicles to choose from We purchased a beautiful black 2003 Limited Excursion It is smoother and quitter then the 2000 The fit and finish is much better then the original The V10 was great in the first one so we had no reservations about another V10 They are powerful enough to propel a 32 foot motor home they can certainly handle the excursion Although I would have liked the 6 0 Diesel the 4 000 uplift was a bit much to handle It really did blow the monthly payment out of the window The competition We also looked at the Suburban and the Yukon XL Best kept secret we got allot more truck for allot less money The Chevy and GMC were over 10k more and the incentives were not as good The 1500 platform did not equal the class of the Excursion for it to be apples to apples you would have to buy a 2500 series and load it up The Ford by far was the better deal And hey 147It 146s a FORD TRUCK 148 Enough of the Ford commercials Bottom line The Excursion might not be as environmentally friendly as my Honda Insight 70 MPG But that is my work vehicle that I drive over 25 000 miles per year Just as the insight fits my needs during the week the excursion fits my wife s needs If ford made a Hybrid Excursion that got 70 MPG I 146d buy it But they don 146t and the excursion suits our lifestyle today My thoughts Great truck Great Value If you can 146t run with the big boys go to the back of the bus Pun intended This is a great vehicle if you have children alot of stuff need to move and tow large and heavy things Not right for everyone but if you have any of the above needs this vehicle is for you People who don 146t have children and never owned an Excursion should not write about it Very well written review for a single person who drives a little toyota Try 1000 pounds of cement in the back of your echo Oh yea that would take 33 3 trips Who is being environmentally friendly now Would love to see what you say about the Porsche 911 ps a note from the wife I am the primary driver of this truck and I love it I just wanted to respond to the negative comments written I am only 5 4 and I have never once had a visibility issue or a maneuverability issue Which leads me to believe that the 6 146 tall guy who borrowed his bosses truck is a REALLY BAD DRIVER And by the way even in your best dream the Odyssey doesn 146t come close to the interior space of an Excursion In response to the couple making the penis jokes guess what I DON 146T HAVE A PENIS because I am a mother of three Maybe it is you who has the penis envy And one last thing the suv 146s that park too close or take up too much space have nothing to do with the truck it has everything to do with the inconsiderate driver which I am not If this makes no sense read other reviews " Pos," The Ford Ranger is sharp looking truck and provides a comfortable ride I t has been great for getting back and forth to work and has been very reliable However if you want to pass someone the four cylinder engine does not provide enough power to do it without downshifting and I would always hesitate before trying to pass on an up hill slope Overall the paint seems to be holding up very well as are the factory alloy wheels Braking and handling provide no major complaints If you are looking to do heavy hauling this is not recommended though it should do fine with the 6 cylinder version This is going to be a wonderful starter vehicle for my son when he turn sixteen next year " Pos," Americans travelling in Europe for the first time often have a moment of culture shock when they hail a taxi and a Mercedes E class or BMW 5 series pulls up to the curb In America these cars have been icons of intelligence and success for more than a generation In their homeland they are more likely to be diesel powered taxis designed for durability and low operating cost than ultimate driving machines bred for the autobahn In the late 80 s Ford tried to beat the Germans at their own game In 1986 they had bet the company on the groundbreaking Taurus If you weren t there it is almost impossible to imagine the impact this car had on the American auto industry Its styling was as cutting edge as any European sedan of the time and it had much more of a European feel than any American sedan made before It couldn t compete against the European sedans sold here But Ford wondered if the Germans could remake a taxi into a world class sport sedan could they do it with a car that had won the hearts of conservative middle America That was the challenge that faced the Taurus SHO throughout its eleven year production run It was by any objective standard a worthy competitor to the midsize entries from BMW and Mercedes one with a distinctive American accent But in the end not enough buyers could make the mental leap that this Taurus was different than the one their parents had traded in their Fairmont or Caprice Classic for b Overview and Driving Impressions b There were three generations of the SHO The first 1989 1991 was the original 86 quot Jellybean quot Taurus platform with the SHO V 6 and suspension component upgrades The final version 1996 1999 used the all new quot Oval quot Taurus platform and carried an equally new V 8 But I don t recommend either The first generation SHO was a great engine mated to a chassis that wasn t intended for it while the third became so refined it lost much of the distinctive personality in the earlier versions The sweet spot was the 1992 1995 second generation cars In 1992 all Taurii were redesigned and the SHO received distinctive front and rear styling that gave it a crisper stronger look than the first edition Under the skin several weaknesses and customer complaints had been addressed and the entire platform was strengthened giving the SHO handling abilities that came closer to matching the Germans than any American sedan that came before And in 1993 it finally got the automatic transmission the pundits said it needed to win over American buyers The heart of the SHO was its engine Yamaha was originally hired to design a new cylinder head for the 3 0 liter Ford V 6 The head they came up with produced too much power for the Ford block to live with so Ford contracted them to come up with an entire powerplant Their answer was a dual overhead cam 24 valve V 6 that only shared a three liter displacement with the engine in lesser Taurus models The engine was a marvel With 220 horsepower available the SHO was the most powerful engine in its class by a slim marging But it weighed 400 pounds less than the Merc and 500 pounds less than the BMW This made the Taurus SHO the quickest car in its class More important than the numbers was how different the three cars felt in action The Mercedes from its engine to how the ashtray door closed with a solid but velvet smooth action felt literally like a bank vault on wheels The BMW reeked of refinement by drivers extremely capable yet never feeling like it would lose its composure Both were outstanding cars with clear personalities But neither in my book compared to the shot of tequila and a big slap on the back feeling of the SHO When you got into the gas in the Ford the engine growled the steering wheel tugged slightly in your hands then the growl became a roar as the tachometer needle swung quickly towards 7 000 rpm It wasn t crude in capable hands the SHO was a remarkably composed car to drive at speed with little body roll and crisp responses The SHO was simply spicier and more engaging than the Germans One of the big reasons to choose a second generation car over a first is the shifter mechanism for the five speed transaxle First gen SHO s used a cable actuated shifter that had all the feel of stirring a pot of warm molasses Starting in 92 all five speed SHO s ditched the spaghetti wires for solid linkage that greatly improved the feel But it was still notably less precise than the action on the rear wheel drive BMW with its superb five speed All front wheel drive cars share this handicap compared to a good rear wheel drive setup Torque steer another bane of powerful front wheel drive cars could tug the wheel in your hands but you really had to be hamfisted with the throttle to have it effect your driving As I mentioned earlier in 1993 the SHO got the slushbox automatic the critics said the market wanted The thinking was as only a relative few BMW s came to America with manual gearboxes and Mercedes didn t offer them on any model in the E class to compete the SHO needed an automatic even if the purists had a fit over it The critics were half right The automatic didn t make the SHO a bestseller but it did improve the feel of driving the car This is just my personal preference but in a midsized or larger sedan I prefer an automatic if it is done right Hustling a small light sports car up a road and snapping through shifts is one of life s greater joys but a 3 000 pound sedan is more enjoyable when the strategy is smoothness and forethought And a good automatic is better partnered to this style of driving In the SHO it was no contest in my book The automatic was a better automatic than the manual was manual Huh While the manual was improved in 92 it still had an imprecision that hindered finding a gear instinctively The automatic was better mated to the SHO with crisp smooth upshifts that matched the sporting personality of the car and the effect of torque steer was greatly reduced compared to the manual Unless you are the kind of enthusiast who can t have any sports car with an automatic the auto is a better way to go If the Taurus was a bargain BMW as reviewers and fans called it it hid the trimmed corners well I don t know how Ford made a dime on them I prepped new cars and did trim NVH repairs at a large Ford dealer in 92 94 and quickly noticed that a loaded out Taurus LX was only a couple of thousand dollars less than a SHO Fully equipped with leather excellent power sport seats full power accessories power glass moonroof premium JBL sound CD and the automatic the sticker came in at less than 25 000 The E 320 and 530i weighed in at almost twice that fifty large in the same trim It s the greatest price disparity between similar cars that I ve ever seen b Reliability And Maintenance b Against all bets when it was in production the second generation SHO has proven itself a remarkably durable car Only three big dollar problem areas have been uncovered on the second generation cars SHO s driven in the snowbelt during winter have been known to develop corrosion in the engine subframe It s not a fatal problem the subframe can be replaced for a few hundred dollars including labor The front brakes are another consistent source of trouble The second generation cars were slightly better but Ford simply put rotors on the car that were too small to stand up to the punishment of a high performance sports sedan The rotors get too hot and warp when used hard and like most cars made in the last decade Ford only included enough metal on the them to have them machined and trued once Maybe if you were lucky and caught it soon enough Finally for all the initial concern about funneling 200 lb ft of torque through a front wheel drive transaxle the only weak link has been the clutch in the manual transmission models The brake and clutch problems can be cured with the right application of high performance parts and the engine subframe is a job that should be good for several years All in all not a bad list of quot major quot problem areas for a high performance car And by contrast the second generation base Taurus models have earned a lemon reputation for blowing head gaskets in their 3 8 liter engines and eating their AXOD E transaxles The SHO models shared no engine parts with the base models and used specially modified transmissions that have proven very durable Can anyone think of another high performance engine transmission that is more reliable than the base model One problem area that isn t unique to the SHO but needs to be mentioned is the importance of keeping the thermostat and catalytic converters in good condition If the thermostat sticks open the engine won t overheat but something just as bad can happen All fuel injected engines use the engine temperature as one of the major factors to determine the air fuel mixture If the engine is running too cold as it will when the thermostat is stuck open the mixture will be too rich But instead of this unburned fuel vapor pouring out the tailpipe and creating smog it is ignited and burned in the cat Which gets much hotter than it was designed to be and begins to break apart inside It s not a problem until you lift off the gas from a higher engine speed like when getting off the freeway When you do this the airflow through the engine reverses momentarily and because the cats on the SHO are mounted close to the engine if there is any debris in the cat it can be sucked back into the engine It is just a destructive as pouring metal shavings in the intake All four areas should be checked out before buying a SHO The Yamaha engine has proven to be as tough as granite Aside from possible valve guide wear in hard driven cars there haven t been any major problems with the engine at all Look for a little blue smoke at a cold startup hard starting or oil consumption greater than a quart every 700 miles Like most of their motorcycle engines the SHO does not have hydraulic valve adjustors so the clearance has to be set by a mechanic But unlike a bike it s not a regular occurrence Ford specifies a major service between 60 000 and 100 000 miles that includes a valve adjustment and replacing the engine timing belt spark plug wires and control arm bushings It is a major bill but nothing compared to the expense of failure if something like the timing belt lets go and this service on the SHO will cost a fraction of the same service expenses on a BMW or Mercedes as the miles reach this territory One note The SHO like any vehicle with an all aluminium engine should have the coolant system flushed and replaced every year Other problems fall into the nitpick category In looking through the newsgroup boards I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the problems owners are reporting after five years are the same ones I saw when the cars were still under warranty most involving interior trim parts Is my relief confusing While the lumbar support leaking and the wiper control on the turn signal stalk failing too soon is evidence that there were some areas where Ford missed the mark in design and manufacture after five to seven years I expected to see new problems emerging as the cars piled up the miles and that hasn t been the case The good news is the owner groups have developed inexpensive solutions for all the interior problems if you have a little mechanical ability with one exception If you notice the driver seat rocks when you sit down or move the only fix is replacing the power mechanism a bracket with the adjustor motors and trays that move the seat It s not a safety hazard the seat is still firmly attached to the floor But if you want to repair it plan on laying out about 300 for a new power mechanism Pricing and Owner Support b The discovery of the enthusiast and aftermarket support on the web for the SHO has been another pleasant surprise There are regional SHO owner clubs across America and a strong aftermarket for replacement and high performance parts Note to gearheads The level of aftermarket support for the V 6 SHO is as good as you ll find for a Camaro or Mustang At extremely affordable prices for this class too Along with continued parts support from Ford the SHO is one of the rare limited edition models that hasn t become an orphan in retirement But it does remain one of the best values in the entire automotive market The Kelly Blue Book quotes a 10 200 retail price for a 95 SHO automatic with 75 000 miles in my area Like when it was new that is almost exactly half the Blue Book for a 530i or E 320 But in my area that would buy you an immaculate car In the last year I ve seen close to a dozen very clean 92 95 SHO s with prices in the 7 000 range And because most SHO buyers weren t testosterone poisoned young adults read Camaro Mustang market the chances of finding a well maintained and cared for car are very good b Conclusion b A SHO has been on my list of cars to have since I worked on them at Earnhardt Ford It s a terrific sports sedan at an econobox price that has held up remarkably well and the Mad Scientist in me still gets an evil grin when I think about the things I wanted to do with it And that was when I only imagine stripping all the power amenities and losing a quick 60 70 pounds just on the interior Now I can get superchargers that make up to 400 horsepower i Bottom line As an entertaining and unique sport sedan to be appreciated for what Ford created or as the platform for a midlife crisis the SHO is impossible to beat It was one of the most easily overlooked cars when it was new and today it has become a hidden treasure for enthusiasts And if a Bimmer owner scoffs as they are wont to do just ask how he likes his taxi Brian Igo i The source for everything you ever wanted to know about the SHO and one of the best auto fan sites I ve seen on the web is SHOtimes com This is an indispensable resource for SHO owners All of the DIY cheap fixes I mentioned in passing are there along with an excellent reference on troubleshooting literally dozens of different conditions and great how to instructions for maintenance This may be hazardous to your wealth but SHOShop com is a wonderful and highly recommended source for replacement and aftermarket SHO parts Excellent stuff at reasonable prices and the best designed website I ve seen for a speedshop i br br " Pos," I have owned my Taurus for 3 years and I put about 60 000 miles on it in those 3 years I have been very happy with the car in all aspects except road noise The weatherstripping on the windows seems to make a lot of noise If you play the radio at average volume you don t seem to hear it but when the radio isn t on it seems kind of loud The ride is great both front and back seats You can easily sleep in the back seat on road trips There is plenty of room for the family up front and the luggage in the trunk The acceleration is also very good for a quot family quot car as you can make passes safely Common repairs are average in cost brakes tires oil changes But I have priced some other parts that seemed a little high rotors 100 alternator 200 these seem about double what the average part might cost Fortunately I haven t had to replace these parts but it is something to keep in mind when buying this type of car Overall the 1995 Taurus is a great family with pretty much everything I have expected from this car If they would fix the road noise it could be almost perfect br br " Pos," I purchased a 1989 Ford Taurus a few years back and was impressed with the ride and comfort coupled with it s gas mileage I was a little disappointed with the power thus decided to make that a priority with my next automobile When I decided to sell I purchased a 1995 Taurus GL to take it s place The GL is obviously of better quality than the plain one Both automobiles were are top performers The power and performances of this type of automobile along with it s durability and low maintenance is tops This automobile can certainly take what is dished out Excellent quality and exquisite ride make this a most desireable car I prefer the body style and unique design of the 95 model over today s version I prefer the unique designs that set apart from the obvious When design unites with quality performance then that is one unique drive The sport design catches the attention of the youth in all of us yet the roominess and comfort interests the adult in us And the quality and durability satisfies all The Ford Taurus has been first on the race track until Nascar made them slow it down where the other cars could keep up They ve slowed it down six miles an hour This is one top performing automobile br br " Pos," When I first heard my husband say Ford Taurus I said quot No way that s a granny car quot And at 27 I didn t want a granny car Well I decided to look at and drive the 95 model and fell in love It has all the nice features of a more expensive car power windows and door locks tilt cruise keyless entry etc but it was actually affordable I have been driving this car for 1 1 1 years now and plan on driving the wheels off And this from a person that had traded vehicles every year for the past 4 years I had a truck sports car and a mini van but will stick with the Ford Taurus from now on will probably buy a new one when this one goes out The only problem I have is the doors automatically lock if the car is running but with the keyless entry that is not really a big deal i would recommend to any family looking for a good car for their money br br " Pos," We traded in our Saturn sedan for a Ford Taurus because we needed more space for our baby The Taurus is an excellent family car with plenty of room inside and in the trunk So far we have had no major engine or system trouble and we ve had the Taurus for 2 years The air conditioning and heating provide excellent climate control and the stock stereo is good for everyday listening The brakes ignition switch has come unconnected twice since we ve had the car and has had to be pushed back in by hand There isn t a lot of leg room in the back seat for passengers with long legs " Pos," The ford Taurus is a great car for young or old i didn t want to by it by name but when i sat in it and test drove it it was quick for me to change my opinion When i found out the facts about the Taurus i was pretty impressive The safety on the car was excellent a lot lower to insure than other cars it drove real good and had lots of peep There wasn t to much i didn t like about the car it at more gas than my old four cylinder engine but not much and it sure out powered it This is a great overall car with class and is a car four just about anyone " Pos," Full Review Ford Taurus SEL 2002 NoBull The Ford Taurus SEL Wagon 2002 is an example that a car manufacturer can put out a vehicle that will surpass government recommended safety standards and still be a very attractive and stylish automobile Ever since a coworker bought a Taurus Wagon and rode in it I always have been very impressed by this car I thought that not only it looked very nice on the exterior but also that the interior was very practical stylish and comfortable Ford has equipped the 2002 Taurus with a series of safety features that makes it one of the safest cars on the road Some of the safety features includes dual stage front air bags crash severity sensor safety belt pre tensioners safety belt energy management retractors safety belt usage sensors and driver seat position sensor With all those innovative safety features it is no wonder that the US government has giving the Ford Taurus a Five Star Crash Test Rating the highest mark a car can receive for crash test safety testing The newly design cabin will give occupants an added two inches in rear seat headroom and a full inch in front seat headroom The front seats are very comfortable even more on the driver side which is equipped with a six way power driver s seat adjustment including a very good and appreciated manual lumbar adjustment The interior of the car I drove had a very beautiful and stylish color combination The seats and door panels were creme with medium dark grey dashboard and trims and the carpet was a light brown the color scheme really looked smart and was very pleasing to the eyes The Taurus Wagon can sit 8 passengers so claims Ford but if you are thinking of 8 adults you will be stuffed in like sardines Once you open up the fold down rear seats you have no more room for cargo I did feel that for a station wagon even with that rear seat down you had very little space for luggage and equipment The exterior of 2002 Taurus Wagon has very beautiful lines and all its components are very proportionate to each other s The color of the car I test drove was an eye catching Harvest Gold protected with a Metallic Clearcoat One things I liked is how high the rear gate opens to allow you to load the cargo this will definitely helps preventing people from banging their head on the rear gate The 2002 Taurus Wagon is a real pleasure to drive either within city limits or on the high roads I had the opportunity to drive it on an extended trip on one of upstate New York most scenic highway The ride was excellent and the scenery was breathtaking I really appreciated how well the Taurus wagon hugged the road and how comfortable you are it this car The Taurus SEL Wagon comes equipped with 4 wheel disc brakes anti lock system and a new Electronic Brake Distribution system mounted on a Power adjustable brake and accelerator kit which makes it easy to find the proper way to adjust the pedals and seat to the driver s choice N The Taurus SEL Wagon I drove was equipped with a V6 DOHC 24 valve 3 liters The transmission is an electronic 4 speed automatic overdrive It had a 4 wheel discs anti lock system The sitting capacity is for 8 passengers and the cargo volume is 82 cubic feet Driving the Ford Taurus SEL Wagon was a real charm I went for a drive on some of the most scenic roads in North America and what a sight with the Fall foliage turning from green to red brown and gold and this beautiful gold automobile simply faded in with the natural decor " Pos," Weve had our 2002 Ford Taurus SEL for about 3 months and have driven it about 3500 miles with no unscheduled maintenance Our Taurus cost us 23 400 without rebates and tax licensing fees applied It is chockfull with options everything from ABS Traction Control to illuminated visors electronic climate control 24 valve 3 0 L Duratec engine to leather seating and illuminated perimeter lighting systems to name a few We continue to be impressed by its road manners comfort ambience and thoughtfully laid out interior Though some door panels are of lower quality the price point compensates greatly for the shortcomings A similiarly equipped 2002 Camry would have set us back atleast 28 000 minus the rebates of which there arnt many Overall brakes good could be a tad better transmission Excellent value excellent and the overall identity of the Taurus is excellent Wed definitely recommend a Taurus particularly because of the outstanding customer service weve received at the Ford Customer Relationship Center 1 800 241 3673 and because of the overall quality performance and comfort of this vehicle " Pos," I was in the market for a new van and I checked out all the mini vans that are out there I also began to look at the full size vans I found that I could purchase a brand new Ford E 150 Van Conversion for about the same amount as the mini van The features in the mini van didn t even compare to the amenities that were available in the van conversion I got leather seats 4 captain chairs and a bench seat in the back that lowers with the push of a button into a full size bed I also have a tv vcr game port to plug in the nintendo and several power ports We recently took our family of 5 on a road trip for 6 weeks We plugged in an electric cooler into one of the power ports and the laptop computer into another power port The kids didn t fight because they each had their own seat and no one had to touch anyone else They watched movies played educational games on the laptop played the regular games that Nintendo has to offer slept when they wanted to etc This is the ultimate family travel vehicle I also drive the van as my everyday vehicle and love it I am bigger than most cars on the road and taller so I see things further ahead of me I feel safer and the little extra that I spend on gasoline to run a larger van is well worth the cost If you are considering a van conversion for your family I highly recommend the Ford E 150 br br " Pos," We have an 89 Ford econoline van for personal use and have had 3 Club wagons over the past few years for transporting our 8 foster children Our 89 is like a tank it is kind of ugly too but that thing just keeps on ticking We had to replace the transmission recently at a cost of approx 1000 We went ahead and replaced it since it is the only problem we have ever had from the van It does not have the best gas milege which is hard with these high gas prices But it does have 2 tanks which helps sot hat you do not have to constantly stop for gas Also the shades in the windows have rotted I wish they had been made with a better quality fabric We have had a 90 92 94 clubwagons that took a beating and kept on going We averaged 50 000 miles a year The only major problem we had was that the brakes did not last as long as they really should have The interior stayed nice even with 11 kids on board most of the time br br " Pos," Last spring I needed to trade in my rear wheel drive 1994 Explorer Sport for a four wheel drive or front wheel drive vehicle since I was in the process of moving to a cold weather climate If I d moved to a warmer climate or remained in Virginia I would not have parted with my Explorer because it was such a great vehicle and had been easy to maintain and it was paid off My husband and I decided that I should look at SUVs exclusively because having one in the family allows us to do partial do it yourself moves for which the government will pay us for the amount of household goods we move ourselves rather than the commercial moving company contracted to move the bulk of our things it s like getting a bonus for bringing along the luggage and essentials that we d take with us anyway Also my husband was very insistent that I continue to drive an SUV for safety reasons I began test driving SUVs and looking around for potential replacements In the process I drove a Nissan Pathfinder a Nissan Exterra a Ford Escape a Ford 4 door XLT Explorer a Mazda Liberty a Mercury Mountaineer all new and various used models including a 2000 Ford Explorer Since neither of us wanted to shell out 30 000 for a new SUV a used vehicle was more within our budget In all of my test driving experiments I found that I liked best the handling and turning radius of my 1994 Explorer and the other Explorers I test drove and decided that I would be happiest with another Explorer and narrowed my search accordingly On April 2 I purchased a white 2000 Ford 4 door XLT Explorer This particular vehicle had been a rental car auctioned off after a year still under the manufacturer s warranty and had nearly 24 000 miles on it In the seven months I ve owned the vehicle I ve put another 10 000 miles on it with moving from Virginia to New England going back for our wedding and various trips between my duty station and my husband s on the weekends as well as regular day to day use b Gas Mileage The 2000 model I purchased gets slightly worse gas mileage than the 1994 Sport I owned The 1994 Explorer had a standard transmission and was about a foot smaller without the additional passenger doors My gas mileage hovers around 15mpg in town and 19mpg on the highway Since I have less of a commute my fuel costs have gone down significantly rather than up However this is not a fuel efficient vehicle b Features i Safety Features The 2000 Explorer XLT has anti lock brakes and dual front seat airbags The vehicle comes equipped with a remote keyless entry system and an anti theft system The ignition key has a chip inside it so that the vehicle cannot be started except with the ignition key or by a really good professional car thief The driver s side door also has a keypad so that if I lock the keys in the car I can punch in the code to open the driver s door only and retrieve the keys I ve found this feature very useful when I want to go running I lock the house keys in the car run and unlock the car using the keypad so I m not carrying keys with me or losing them while I exercise The remote keyless entry system unlocks the driver s side door with one touch With two touches it unlocks the rest of the vehicles I like this feature because I can control unlocking the doors independent of each other by only unlocking the driver s door I can jump in and lock that door quickly possibly preventing an assailant from getting into the car through another door The windows have a lock feature controlled by the driver which has come in handy During our drive from Virginia to New York we allowed the cats out of their crates As they wandered around the interior of the vehicle one of my cats stepped on the window control of one of the back passenger doors and the window began to roll down I immediately flipped on the lock and rolled the window back up so that my cat wouldn t get any bright ideas about jumping out of the car at 70mph I believe this feature will also come in handy when I have children in the car i Cool Gadgets The 2000 Explorer has a CD player in the dash as well as cassette and an AM FM radio The vehicle came equipped with cruise control air conditioning rear air conditioning which my cats and other passengers appreciate two visors each for the driver and front passenger seats spare tire mounted underneath lots of cargo space about a foot more than the Explorer Sport six way adjustable driver s seat with tilted steering wheel power locks windows and mirrors two cup holders in the console that accommodate different sizes of drink containers and an extra charging outlet that my husband uses for his Palm The overhead compartment for sunglasses is too small for the case but too rough to put my sunglasses in The temperature feature is nice but I find the compass fairly useless and could do without it I opted for a vehicle with cloth seats instead of leather because I find leather to be sticky in the summertime and too cold in the winter Repairs and Maintenance Unlike my 1994 Explorer I ve taken the 2000 Explorer to a dealership twice and had it repaired under the warranty I did not purchase the additional warranty since my last Explorer was so reliable and the manufacturer s warranty on this vehicle is good until December 2002 The first repair was for the back window wiper At first it worked but sporadically and eventually quit working at all The motor was burned out and replaced I noticed that I had to ensure that the wiper is properly positioned after opening and closing the cargo window which can be opened independently of the cargo door The wiper is positioned so that it sometimes gets trapped when the window closes I m fairly sure that the wiper was trapped and various rental car drivers would turn on the rear wiper and just leave it on burning out the motor even when the wiper wasn t working The second time I took the Explorer in because the ABS light came on when I started the vehicle and stayed on indicating that the anti lock brake system had disabled itself because of a problem My assumption was correct and the service department made the necessary adjustments to the brakes that had caused the ABS to disable itself Like the 1994 Explorer the 2000 Explorer has all the owner operator parts marked in yellow the oil dipstick the battery the various liquid wells I ve had the oil changed once since purchase and it s due again At the oil change no other repairs or maintenance were needed other than the oil was a quart low when I brought it in I am slightly annoyed that I had to bring the vehicle into the dealership for service at all since I did not once use the warranty on my first Explorer But the repairs were free so I can t complain too loudly b Handling As I stated above I kept coming back to the Explorer because it handled so much better than the other SUVs I test drove even the slightly longer 4 door model While driving an SUV statistically protects you more in accidents I see SUV drivers all the time flouting the road conditions and driving like maniacs Newsflash people an SUV will protect one more in an accident but isn t it better to not be in an accident in the first place If the road conditions are hazardous due to snow or rain driving an SUV does not give one license to continue to drive at 70mph when everyone else is going 45mph The high speeds in bad weather conditions not only endangers oneself and one s passengers it also endangers the other drivers on the road who have more respect for the necessity of slowing down in bad weather My other rant concerns the stability of the Explorer The vehicle does have a higher center of gravity than a car or some of the smaller SUVs Driving an SUV requires some adjustments one often has to take curves more slowly so that the vehicle won t tip over The Explorer is very stable if one drives it keeping in mind the higher center of gravity If you think you re a racecar or stunt driver this is not the vehicle for you b Cost With my trade in and some bargaining I paid just under 19 000 for my used 2000 Explorer which actually worked out to a little bit more than what I paid for my new 1994 Explorer The 2000 Explorer at the time of purchase in my area had a Kelley Blue Book retail value of approximately 25 000 so I felt like I got a good deal Of course the dealership low balled the trade in value of my Explorer but I bargained them down to the price range I wanted 18 19 000 I have a theory about why dealerships low ball trade ins The consumer pays the sales tax on the new car If the buyer trades in a car the purchase price is lowered accordingly and the buyer pays sales tax on that price The dealership however would have to pay sales tax on the used trade in I assume To pass that sales tax along to the buyer the dealership tries to get the used car price as low as possible to reduce their tax while the buyer has to pay more in sales tax on the new car Since I am a service member with residency in Nevada I don t have to pay sales tax when I buy a car so the amount I got for my trade in mattered very little to me as long as I got the overall price I wanted This is not the case for most car buyers If you know why dealerships low ball the trade in values please satisfy my curiosity and leave a comment b Overall I highly recommend the 2000 Ford Explorer XLT The standard items are very convenient and easy to use the vehicle is easy to maintain I have plenty of cargo room for moving 600 800 pounds of my things or even waiving furniture delivery fees and transporting pieces of furniture home myself I love this Explorer almost as much as I loved my first one " Pos," My husband amp I recently bought a Ford Explorer after much research amp study We decided on a Sports Utility amp then had to decide which one We had many times driven or been in my father in law s Ford Expedition This was out of our price range but we liked what it had to offer We found that the Ford Explorer had many of those same options that we like so much in the Expedition in our price range The Ford Explorer is the biggest SUV in it s class It s considered to be in the small sport s utility class We have loved our SUV ever since One of the things that we noticed when searching for a sports utility was that some of the 2 wheel drive SUV s have rear wheel instead of front wheel drive We decided against the Honda Passport for this very reason The Ford Explorer 2 wheel drive does have front wheel drive This is a very important feature if you live in a hilly or snow prone areas If you live in California though it may not be that important to you The higher insurance we now have because we re driving a sports utility isn t a great feature However it s still comparatively lower than the insurance cost for other SUV s Overall the Ford Explorer is the best buy in its class " Pos," In a time when SUVs are getting bigger and bigger Excursion Suburban etc the Ford Explorer Sport stands out as a quality vehicle not only relative to size but also overall It is loaded to the gills with features with the top of the line models still costing less than 30 000 This car is available in manual or for just an extra thousand dollars automatic It packs a huge V 6 standard or an optional V 8 under its tiny hood Because of a shorter wheelbase all this power is very easy to control Even with the two door design there is still room for two passengers to sit comfortably in the back seat which can be folded down to accommodate skis or other large packages This car is a great winter vehicle but if you want to go skiing in it you may run into problems trying to store longer skis in the back However the car is short enough that one can easily access a ski rack on the roof This another benefit of the Sport over other SUV behemoths on the road today On the inside various packages can get you a high end MACH Audio system with a six disc CD changer Even without this the second level stereo still has AM FM cassette deck and a single CD player There are several auxilery powerpoints for numerous electronics It comes with standard AC and heat both in the front and back seats There is an extra power door lock by the back gate so that you can lock the doors after taking stuff out of the back The car has great handling for an SUV due to its smaller size The four wheel drive is easy to use and results in very little loss of control This is a great winter car especially for a young driver which is the type of person that I would strongly recommend this car for It handles well in tough conditions which is very helpful plus it is not too large and it is very affordable So if you are looking into a 4x4 for a new driver or buying your first I would definitely recommend the Explorer Sport " Pos," We bought our first Explorer a 1991 we were admittedly naive in the SUV buying field It was our first SUV purchase and we were young enough to go for the best deal read cheapest SUV for sale Unfortunately the dealership we dealt with was not the most reputable and hid some of the problems temporarily until the warranty exchange period had expired Subsequently we drove an Explorer with bad lifters anyone who s ever been in that situation can tell you how embarrassing it was to drive around in a car that clicked loudly causing people to make comments to us about oil changes and vehicle maintenance and eventually had the engine rebuilt After this experience and the bellyaching our family and friends heard for over three years everyone was surprised when we traded it in for a new 2000 model Why i they asked would you put yourselves through this when you just fixed the last one i There were simply too many good features on Explorers that we loved to NOT own one plus we knew from talking to mechanic friends that the engineering and quality had improved in later models Our family camps frequently so the extra space offered by SUV s is a must have Why not get a mini van i you might ask Living in Michigan with a difficult to plow driveway and the winter precipitation plus camping in rural areas only accessible via very rough two track areas we ve learned that an SUV is an excellent choice for our situation It s not just about the looks although we do like the sleek design but just as much about function Also I play keyboards and will frequently haul a large load of equipment so secure sheltered space is definitely a NEED for us I ve owned a pickup in the past and prefer an SUV for this purpose Plus we can have more passengers along with the equipment Knowing what we liked in an SUV we shopped around the SUV market and eventually decided on another Explorer for many different reason We ended up leasing a 2000 Explorer XLS with a V6 automatic transmission and lots of nice features b Convenience Features In addition to standard power locks there is another lock unlock switch located just inside the opening rear window NICE FEATURE This allows you to lock the vehicle after retrieving one last thing from the cargo storage area without opening one of the front doors It s very convenient and a great idea from the folks at Ford The power windows are well powerful The rear doors of the vehicle now each contain a suction cup once attached to childrens window shades swallowed up after I had rolled down the window forgetting the shades were installed Driver s window automatically rolls down with extra pressure on the switch but rolling it up requires holding down the switch through completion Also the driver has a Window Lock switch to prevent any of the other passengers from playing with the windows nice for kid safety bad for a spouse that has angered the driver Privacy glass is a nice option All windows with the exception of windshield and front seat windows are tinted nice and dark not quite limo tint but enough to make anyone in the rear comfortable in a late afternoon driving session The tint is good quality has not scratched or faded at all Running boards came with our vehicle although not necessary for us they are nice for older people who join us the boards are usable by both front and rear seat passengers They are very heavy duty as our salesman can attest he once had a 350 pound local athlete jump up and down on the bars without causing any sort of damage The air conditioning works wonderfully and is very cold when you want it to be One complaint however is that the output for A C is NOT adjustable it will only be forced out the vents blowing directly on your face It would be nice to adjust where the A C blows The heater works just as well and in bone chilling Michigan winters it heats up quickly without having to start the engine five minutes before leaving the house Cruise control works remarkably well maintaining your chosen speed regardless of weather or incline situations you might be experiencing It is of course easy to operate incorporating the standard buttons which are snuggled up to the airbag area on both sides of the wheel Standard delay feature on the windshield wipers applies although I m somewhat disappointed to see that a mist feature has not been added To sweep the windshield only once the wipers must actually be turned on then quickly turned off This I imagine adds extra wear and tear to the control versus having a mist function that can be tapped to sweep the windshield once or twice The tilt steering wheel is also equipped I have nothing remarkable to say about this it tilts the steering wheel Not too technical here As part of the vehicle that we purchased we have the towing option This means that there is a wiring kit provided to hook up to a trailer when you want to tow it To be honest we have not used this feature yet although we are planning to use it this summer to tow a small pop up camper we need to get a hitch installed first The rear window is equipped with a wiper that has a two or three delay settings plus it squirts windshield washer fluid Two complaints here 1 After a while the wiper only now cleans a portion of the area it once used to it leaves a large gap toward the top of the window 2 The control is located on the other side of the stereo it needs to be located closer to the other controls because it is quite a reach when you re trying to concentrate on driving in weather in which the rear wiper is needed The stereo is quite nice a CD cassette combo unit with six nice LARGE preset buttons to eliminate a lot of groping and fumbling while watching the road It is easy to operate and sounds nice Also it has a mute button for when you are on the phone although personally I don t use the phone while driving I ignore it or pull off the road I can t concentrate on too many things at once A roof rack tops off our sleek black SUV It s only been used once carting a live Christmas tree from store to home It s unremarkable but nice when you need it There are four adjustable little rope loop things in addition to the two cross bars this was nice when tying the tree on the top We have the fog lamp option which is really nice when driving at night because it illuminates the side of the road very well without disturbing other drivers Especially nice in our area because deer making a go at crossing the road at midnight are much more easily seen than without these lights b Safety Features In addition to dual front impact airbags side curtain airbags are included for the front passengers The airbags are actually stored in the outside of the front seats on the sides facing the doors On side impact these airbags will be there to shield you from the side window or from the side windows shattering into your face Fortunately we have never had any accidents in the vehicle so I can t tell you how well the airbags work The four wheel Anti Lock Braking System ABS is installed also This is a nice safety feature so you don t go skidding out of control by slamming the brakes b Repair Record So Far This vehicle has needed only a few very minor repairs since we took delivery nearly 18 000 miles ago An oil pressure sensor was replaced and a seat belt assembly factory recall There have been no major mechanical or drive train failures so far b Grievances The one negative part of the vehicle on my list is the interior The cover for the jack located on the left wall of the storage cargo area comes loose does not open when driving and sometimes makes noises with road vibration Also the interior door handles seem to be cheap the frame around the handle on the driver s door has gone crooked Also the rear passenger handle does not seem to be able to open the door but it is stuck partially out I checked the child safety latch and that did not seem to be the cause Currently this is on the list to be checked out during our next visit to the dealership for maintenance b Reliability With the extreme variances of weather we experience we have never encountered a problem with starting or operating the vehicle It has been very reliable car b Summary This is a great vehicle for all our needs and uses It is very comfortable for long trips and fits us perfectly Overall we are very happy with the car We are planning on purchasing it at the end of the lease period and look forward to many more years of enjoyment for leisure business and hauling around the kids " Pos," This xmas my wife took me to the ford dealer to see a vehicle A lot of our friends own and drive Ford Explorers and we have heard many good things about it but to tell the truth I wasn t too thrilled That was the 23rd of December Today I have owned an Explorer for 2 weeks and I can tell you that I am nothing but pleased It is everything our friends had said about it and more We bought the Explorer XLS four door It is roomy You ride very high and it gives you a great view of the road The ride is smooth and it handles very well The 23 000 price tag includes a c stereo w cd running boards luggage rack and luxury wheels The gas mileage is very good especially for a vehicle this size and the engine has lots of pep Up to now all I can find that is not to my liking is that it idles a wee bit rough for a new car I test drove others and they all did the same Overall I feel that we got a lot of value for our money and would surely recommend that anyone thinking about buying a new car take a serious look at the Ford Explorer br br " Pos," The Ford Explorer was one of the best investments i have ever made That stuff that people say about a car flipping over isn t true with this SUV You feel safe when you re behind the wheel The car rides smooth and is great for long trips with lots of cargo space I ve owned this vehicle for 2 months and have had slight problems This car really hasn t had any problems and it s reliable But the minor problems were both fixed by the Ford Company because of the 36 000 mile warranty The company is fair and honest and they really know how to treat a customer Also my car has been hit four times when it was parked somewhere It has survived all four instances without even receiving a scratch I may just be lucky but i would say that the car is built to protect the driver I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who loves to drive because it is great for road trips or just cruisin around town It is definitely an awesome buy " Pos," I m considering starting an on line ford explorer club do you think there is interest I see many such clubs on the web for Mustangs Camaros Eclipses etc There seems to be as many Explorers out there as anything so I think there could be a need for this I will be contacting Ford to get their support and approval My idea is to have a free membership where people can enroll and submit the latest news information and developments regarding their vehicle e mail me if your interested at kevincwgordon yahoo com If I get a good response I will start work on the site over the holidays " Pos," Currently own Dark Wedgewood Eddie Bauer Edition 4 x 4 I am impressed with the fit and finish of the interior and the convenience items Most impressive is the note recorder and garage door opener on the sunvisor what a surprise and delight when I discovered this feature Very useful The acceleration is very good at the bottom end while not so impressive at the top end The automatic 4 wheel drive feature is also very useful it just switches to 4 wheel drive when you need it The vehicle is very stable and comfortable at higher speeds unlike previous year models I have owned While the styling is a little long in the tooth I still like the current design looks very sporty and strong I personally like the size just right I had an Expedition before and found it to be a little big I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a very good looking stable and roomy SUV br br " Pos," Consumer Guide Rating Best Buy 2000 Ford Explorer 4 door Type midsize sport utility vehicle rear or 4 wheel drive 2 door wagon 4 door wagon Similar To Mercury Mountaineer Base price range 19 970 34 375 Also Consider Chevrolet Blazer Jeep Grand Cherokee Mercedes Benz M Class Toyota 4Runner FOR Acceleration ohc V6 V8 Passenger and cargo room Visibility Build quality AGAINST Ride Fuel economy Engine noise ohv V6 WHAT S NEW America s best selling sport utility vehicle gets a new base trim level for 2000 Explorer shares its design with the Mercury Mountaineer although only the Ford offers a 2 door body style It s sold in Sport trim Four door Explorers come in XLS XLT Eddie Bauer and Limited versions XLS replaces last year s base XL model and includes as standard power mirrors windows and locks which had been optional All Explorers have standard antilock brakes and 2 or 4 wheel drive Available engines are a 160 horsepower overhead valve V6 a 210 hp overhead cam V6 and for XLT Eddie Bauer and Limited a 215 hp V8 Manual transmission is standard with the base V6 A 5 speed automatic is optional on the base V6 and required with the overhead cam V6 The V8 gets only a 4 speed automatic V6 4x4s use Ford s Control Trac system with 4WD that need not be disengaged on dry pavement V8 4x4s have permanently engaged all wheel drive Front side airbags are optional on all models br br " Pos," What can I say other than WOW This really is one of the greatest vehicles on the market today The Ford Explorer has great handling and rides very smoothly The inner portion of the Explorer has more than plenty of room to allow you to drive with the utmost comfort I would definately recommend this vehicle to anyone The Ford Explorer is a highly reliable SUV sport utility vehicle The only downside that this vehicle has is that it eats gas but then again what SUV doesn t I would also recommend the Expedition and the Explorer Sport as highly efficient vehicles If you are a person who just absolutely loves sport utility vehicles then this is the one for you br br " Pos," some history I have always been a Ford boy Had an 84 BroncoII still have a 86 BroncoII Stills runs great with 200 K showing and is my current hunting wagon So my experience with supposedly easy to tip over SUV s runs deep And thankfully so far I have not had any of the feared rollovers I purchased this Gem in 12 00 for 22K a steal in my opinion One bit of advice for SUV wannabees Don t buy this vehicle or any other SUV if you are prone to radical highway driving or are prone to being distracted by chatting on cell phones with lovers or using such fine vehicles as a dressing room while driving and especially if you prefer to drink while driving don t buy a fine vehicle like this If you do buy it keep both hands on wheel and treat it with the respect which it deserves Now the details Mine is the 4door E Bauer with all the gizmos Leather data display digital memo overhead console rear sound system rear a c control keyless entry alarm puddle lites xenon lighting 16 FIRESTONE s yes I trust em still but I am on the list for replacement with Michelin Crossterrain just getting some mileage out of the Firestones first almost 46K so far on them also have the roof rack and trailer package and electric everything The only option I think not on this gem is the power moonroof and to be honest I don t miss it I had one on the BroncoII and after a few years it began to have a persistent leak in rainstorms So if you keep vehicles longterm like I do skip the moonroof and eliminate the rainstorm possibility My likes are many and dislikes are nil In the winter the Ford heating system is fast and strong in summer the A C is just as fast and strong Road feel and comfort in the Explorer are vastly improved over my 86 BroncoII as well as power and towing capability And when it snows I smile knowing that this beast eats snow for a living One thing my BroncoII has over the Explorer is its capability off road The 86 had manual 5 speed with manual locking hubs and shorter wheelbase and was lighter as well With its 2 9 V6 the BroncoII could run circles around the explorer on a muddy goat track However in the Explorers defense I did recently travel with two gals on board with all the camping equipment and luggage etc to the Boardman river in the Per Marquette National Forest in Northern Lower Michigan We were definitely up a goat track more than 1 5 miles to the river bank where we set up camp And let me tell you this Transport Tank Explorer did not even flinch Surefooted and comfortable all the way with 10 disc cd changer to boot How civilized a way to off road Way to go Ford technical My 4 0 SOHC v 6 delivers and average 21MPG fairly consistently I live on a dirt road in Howell MI and travel roughly 2 3 of the time on highway So far after 45 000 miles I have had no repairs of any kind no rattles no wind noises nothing but joy and bliss I do ALL my own maintenance and I made sure to get the complete shop manual 2 book set tossed in when i purchased it from Ford In the near term it looks as tho the brake pads will need to be replaced 45 50K miles not bad at all and I may even upgrade shocks and toss in a tweaked computer chip to upgrade the standing start performance As noted by many the explorer has adequate power for passing its off the line performance is a bit dull but hey its a truck whattaya want Other than that I change the oil more frequently than the 10K interval and I check the tranny fluid levels almost whenever I check oil Also I stay away from automated car washes preferring to powerwash myself and I frequently do clean cars dont rust proof is my 86 broncoII I look forward to reporting back when this stallion hits 100 000 miles if you want a recommendation Jeep grand wagoneers have cramped foot space on both left and right front cowls they have more road noise and just don t compare on interior or exterior appointments But they aren t Jeeps anymore since they are technically a Chrysler product Durangos just plain cheap feel GM blazer jimmy bravada whatever all the same tinny under powered rattling pieces of Detroit junk The imports all inferior way over priced copies of GMC and Chrysler products Buy American Buy Ford Explorer Rocks Detroit Jon S Howell Michigan just north of Hell MI " Pos," If so this is the vehicle for all your adventures Whether one mile to your destination or 687 miles it is still the most comfortable ride I have ever had Car buying can be such a hassle but this buying experience was not My honey and I chose a beautiful red Explorer We like Dodge products but their prices are much higher than Ford The look of the Explorer was also an attraction next to the price This Explorer has power everything seats windows etc The roomy Explorer has seats that fold down and a cover for the back behind the seat so people don t have to see what you are hauling around It is so nice to carry our golf clubs in a nice reachable vehicle versus a deep dark trunk or a dirty pick up truck The radio ahh it has a CD and a tape deck How many vehicles have you seen like that It had approximately 3000 miles on it when we decided to take a trip down to Alabama to visit some family I was so amazed at the comfort and coziness for such a long trip The radio was blasting and we were singing away happy as we could be I never thought we could be so happy driving for a long period of time in a vehicle You would think this vehicle wouldn t corner well but oh my you would be so surprised I don t even feel it going around a corner It is completely smooth better than a car No matter where we have been I always am comfortable and feel completely safe Many of our friends have complimented us on how comfortable it is to ride in the back seat None of them get sick anymore We can take people and stuff anywhere and not ruin the comfortable exploring we do If you are looking for a roomy comfortable get around vehicle this is a good choice br br " Pos," The Explorer is the best equipped most reliable and the most comfortable in its class When my wife and I decided to buy and SUV we looked at them all the Rodeo Pathfinder Blazer and 4Runner Although the Pathfinder and 4Runner were very nice they just couldn t touch the complete package offer by the Explorer I have a 9 month old and a dog The Explorer makes traveling them the two of them a breeze The carseat fits great in the back and the dog loves being out of the weather My wife loves how easy it is to get the stroller in and out of the explorer vs the Ford Contour For value comfort resell value and safety look no further than the Ford Explorer br br " Pos," When I signed a 2 yr lease for a new Explorer I had never had a SUV I Can t believe I lived so long with out one I have 22 000 miles on the Explorer and the my plan is to purchase it at lease end My only warranty repair work has been the Firestone Tire recall and the rear window wiper motor stopped working The AM FM receiver is great I can get radio stations I never could in my other vehicles However the standard speaker system is pretty lame and the in dash single CD player will skip if you go over really rough roads The Air condition and Heater is great This vehicle isn t equipped with the Rear Heater AC vents but with our summer trips to Florida and Winter trips to Michigan the rear passengers were always comfortable The front optional Captain chairs are very comfortable and roomy However the rear seating isn t all that great for adults but children seem to be content with the rear seat comfort and they like the added feeling of being up high with the wider window visibility And since the back windows are darkly tinted we don t have the sun bake effect Unlike other passenger cars my young son has never felt car sick in this vehicle The Cargo area with the fold down rear seats is great for hauling everything from Christmas trees to home remodeling supplies The Gas mileage is only about 20 mpg at best and the passing ability on 2 lane roads is poor but I assume this is normal for V6 SUV s hey this is not a sports car Cup Holders Awesome The 2 in the front can hold the biggest drink out there even a 1 liter water bottle And the 2 in the back are a blessing with kids Snow Wish I could report but we ve had a couple of really mild winters here in the Midwest and I haven t had a chance to try her out But she s great for going over curbs Ford Explorer are everywhere Here in the Midwest it would probably be very easy to find repair shops and parts to work on this vehicle when it s off warranty " Pos," On June 28 2000 I took possession of my 2000 Ford Explorer That summer I was driving a friend s mother to the dentist on a regular basis along with the regular trafficing of children mine and others The standard joke was the little men dancing on my dash board In particular we would check out who accompanied the little man with the pillow on his lap I am writing this in October of 2001 This beautifully designed car this wonderful car to drive is still a nightmare for the techs at the dealership Lights on the dash board disappear after a visit and reappear flashing new codes I am quite upset with Ford that they cannot and have not sent someone out from Detroit to fix this car once and for all Ford has not supported the local dealership It does in fact drive perfectly Although I come to ignore the check engine check fuel gauge and fuel cap lights THIS IS DANGEROUS In fact there is going to be a problem and it will be ignored We are used to these lights and their warnings are going to be ignored at the wrong time Of all the parts that have been replaced for example side air bags in the fronts seats and air bag in the steering wheel wiring harnesses etc nothing has totally solved the problem It has actually only changed the flashing codes and the number of lights that come on We are told that this is the only car with this problem that the dealership has had to deal with It seems that Ford must have encountered this problem with this model vehicle before or in other models Nevertheless this is a Ford problem and should be a priority I am very unhappy with FORD Maybe I should be directed to another dealership But frankly I think Foard should be sending an expert out once and for all I do not want a new car It could have other problems I do not like the 2002 I like my car I want my car fixed I do not want to do a trade in In all the visits and all the replacements of parts It all ends up with ANOTHER visit in same symptoms I was told by a woman at the regional headquarters that I had a guardian angel on my dash board " Pos," This is my first Bronco I ve always have had full size 4X4 pickups I m really impressed with its handling and power Mine has the 5 8L engine I was only getting about 10 mpg around town and 14 on the highway I increased this dramatically along with its power by putting a K N fuel injection performance pack air filter I also switched out the stock coil with a Crane I put a 3 inch cat back exhaust WOW What a difference I now get close to 16mpg around town I even get 12 3 mpg average crawling around the rocks in 4 wheel drive I took out the auto locking hubs and replaced with Warn locking hubs It climbs with the best of the factory 4X4 s Much roomier than my trucks and turns on a dime Happy You bet " Pos," I just purchased a Ford Explorer four wheel drive two door SUV and I love it This truck is outstanding Room The Explorer is very roomy It has room for several adults and lots of gear The back seat folds down for extra storage space I recently transported two large mountain bikes in this vehicle and they fit with no problem in fact there was quite a bit of room to spare Power and Speed Oh yeah This thing is quot zippy quot It feels like it could fly The engine certainly provides more than enough power for a vehicle of this size And with the 4wd engaged it can go through just about anything I can t wait for winter to get her so I can run it through some serious ice snow and mud Handling This truck corners very nicely really grips the road However I do have one complaint the steering seems a bit quot loose quot a takes too little pressure on the wheel to turn and this causes it to seem unstable It really takes some getting used to Brakes Good Solid antilock brakes No complaints there Ammenities Air conditioner power locks power windows AM FM cassette stereo all the standard bells and whistles I just wish it had a CD player Aesthetics Mine is red Very red The lines are smooth and rounded It has a very pleasing look to it The gray interior is a nice counterpoint to the bright red exterior it provides a calming effect Overall this thing looks great Safety Seat belts natch air bags two Anti lock brakes That s about all you can ask for In conclusion a great vehicle all around wonderful with two points of worry steering takes some getting used to and doesn t have a CD player br br " Pos," Boy how I hated Fords At the time I was buying my Thunderbird I thought it would be the perfect vehicle I was dead wrong There was more wrong with this car than right and Ford couldn t seem to find and fix all the problems that existed with this monster We decided to trade it in and buy something new My die hard Ford loving husband wanted a Ford I wanted something that didn t spend more time in the shop than on the road Since he owned a Ford truck that required little maintenance took him to and from work for the past 7 years and had well over 100 000 miles on it I figured a truck might be the way to go Ford seemed to make better trucks than cars We began looking at various trucks and SUVs Actually at that time our SUV was considered to be a truck So much for a name Anyway at a local Ford dealer we spotted a very handsome SUV called the Explorer XLT with 4 wheel drive Living on Long Island NY with a married daughter in the hills of Connecticut we realized 4 wheel drive was necessary What first attracted me to the Ford Explorer was its looks I wanted a mid sized truck that didn t have the spare tire hanging on the way of the back hatch Neither did I want something that looked like an over sized station wagon Seeing the Explorer I took it for a test drive I was immediately impressed on its easy handling Although I had been driving a small Miata and sometimes the Thunderbird when it wasn t in the shop the larger vehicle was just as easy to maneuver through heavy traffic There was no effort at all in fitting into tight parking spots and the mirrors located on each front side door along with the rearview mirror makes spotting any surrounding vehicles a piece of cake My Explorer has electronic seats which makes it easier to position for either my husband or myself Just one press of the button will easily bring you forward or back Put the button up and the seat rises up for those people like me who like to sit higher in the seat Push that same button down and the seat lowers for those taller people who need the extra head room The lumbar pillow is adjustable by pressing another button located directly above the seat positioning button When the lumbar pillow is inflated it definitely comes in handy to relieve the pressure off my back and make the ride so much more comfortable Since the back seat fold down individually it s most convenient when company comes to visit and we load the back with supplies This way should you only have one back seat passenger but a whole lot of items to carry you can lower only the one seat and your passenger can sit comfortably and enjoy the ride b And speaking of the back b there is more room than we know what to do with which now that we live in Florida comes in handy for our trips to the north at Christmas and the addition of so many grandchildren who love toys My Explorer came with a 4 0 EFI Fuel Injected Catalyst V6 Engine After all these years the pick up this engine emits is awesome Whether doing the unbearable 30 mph here in my small town of PGI or the more enjoyable 80 mph on I 75 on our trips north the engine has never failed to give its best never once hesitating or failing in any way Our model is equipped with a 5 speed O D Automatic transmission In addition to the driver and passenger airbags the other safety feature I like best is the 4 wheel anti lock brake system and side door guard beams For those who have children or visiting grandchildren you ll enjoy the standard child proof rear door locks In other words the doors will NOT open from the inside However these locks CAN be turned off for the comfort of adults sitting in the rear Another part of my Explorer s standard equipment is the very functional 4 wheel drive CONTROL TRAC drive electric shift transfer case and rack pinion steering b In addition to it s independent front suspension all four wheels have powered disc brakes While there are just so many other little things that make this vehicle a dream to own and drive the most important is that I ve found it to be almost maintenance free With the exception of periodic oil changes and finally tire changes we have had to do nothing else not even a brake change yet This SUV truck has certainly changed my mind about Fords Would I buy another FORD As long as I can have another EXPLORER I think the Ford Explorer is a great car for active people who are looking for something large enough to store and haul equipment and yet want the maneuverability of a small car The Explorer offers both I ve had my Explorer for over five years and have found nothing to dislike about it In fact we praised our Explorer so much that when our friends needed a new car they went directly to a Ford Dealership and bought the sports model of the Explorer which is a bit smaller than ours but suits them fine But that s their story " Pos," I highly recommend this Ford Explorer I own a 1997 XLT V 6 SOHC I purchased this vehicle b c of its value great engine performance still has great pickup after 2 5 yrs and had all the options I wanted without getting a lot of other useless features Driving this vehicle is very smooth It has a relatively good turning radius given its size I have driven it in rain great handling when going through mud puddles on the highways snow on the way to the mountains ice last Christmas and it is very controlled amp responsive Note this is an SUV so it doesn t corner as tightly as a car sport car but the pros outweigh this con also this is the same problem for other SUV s of this size When I was looking for an SUV it looked for a minimum of a V6 which shut out a lot of the smaller SUV s power for the money I looked at a Jeep Grand Cherokee but would have to get a V8 in order to get any pickup it would ride high as opposed to a Subaru full time 4WD so I wouldn t have to be changing back amp forth thus discounted Toyota 4Runner wide back seats i e the amount of room to get into the back seat this discounted a Land Rover Discovery you have to really twist in order to get into the back seat lift glass in the rear door would recommend the Explorer read door configuration the same on a 97 Grand Cherokee i e it lifts up so you can stand under it which is quite nice in rainy Portland preferred the spare tire to not be in the cargo area I also required that the SUV has a Sun Moonroof amp CD Player Changer As a side note the stereo on this Explorer is very good no clipping or distortion br br " Pos," This product has proven completely reliable comfortable and utilitarian and I highly recommend an Explorer for a family or adventurer Either the V 8 power or the V 6 is great I ve had both and the V 8 has full time all wheel drive which is helpful for those of us who commute in snowy climates It s a strong engine which warms up quickly and started yesterday after sitting in a parking lot for 60 hours in five degree temperatures The creature comforts like heated leather seats are wonderful and make for comfortable driving trips The rear seats fold easily and cargo is protected by an easily removable cargo cover Driving position is comfortable for my 6 3 quot frame and also for my smaller friends I haul all sorts of things and pull a three place snowmobile trailer with sleds with no problem I highly recommend the Explorer for the demanding consumer who wants a long term reliable vehicle br br " Pos," When I bought my first Explorer I owned a Town Car by Lincoln I never felt very comfortable in it because I always felt it was not me When I traded it for my Explorer I felt like I had been liberated I have more fun driving this car than any I have ever owned I now own my second Explorer and will buy another when the time comes to trade This is a perfect car for me because I travel a lot and I feel very safe in it and also I am a grandmother to four wonderful children They have a great time riding with me The only time I feel uncomfortable is on Sunday going to church and I have so far to step up in a dress This is a great car and I do recommend it br br " Pos," I personally own one and I love it Still the best selling sport utility on the planet the Explorer rolls into 98 essentially unchanged from its 1995 redesign although a number of details have been improved including refinements to the Control Trac automatic 4WD system and for 98 standard four wheel antilock brakes An even more significant enhancement added for the 97 model year is the option of a new overhead cam 4 0 liter V6 engine and a five speed automatic transmission The new V6 came along a little too late for our testing last year so that was our prime focus for 98 and when the dust had settled we emerged with a strong respect for this new engine With 205 horsepower and 245 ft lbs of torque 45 hp and 20 more ft lbs than the standard V6 a 4 0 liter pushrod design the new V6 delivers far better go and hauling power a 5 800 pound towing capacity versus 5 300 pounds than the anemic base engine Ford also offers a 5 0 liter V8 option but the 4WD system that goes with the V8 does not include a low range feature The Explorer s handling was no better than average in our track testing marked by strong understeer and a slight tendency to lift the inside front wheel when pressed to its limits On the other hand its rack and pinion steering system is among the best both in feel and precision The same can be said for its braking and the improved ABS reduces the unnerving pedal pulse and noise that still afflicts some antilock systems As with the Durango the four door Explorer s long wheelbase 111 5 inches and limited ground clearance conspire to make it a marginal choice for tough off road conditions If that s likely to be on your menu the two door version is a better bet with packages designed to enhance clearances and a much shorter 101 7 inches wheelbase The Explorer s strongest suit continues to be roominess even though it s been upstaged a bit in this department by the Durango The Explorer also has one of the most attractive interior designs of any sport utility excellent seating and like most of its competition a wide range of features and options Some of the trim packages the Eddie Bauer and Limited versions for example will send the price well over 30 000 But if you shop the option list judiciously the Explorer is still a good buy with or without 4WD Our only major caveat Avoid the base engine Even though the base V6 is the only one offered with a manual transmission the new overhead cam engine makes the going much more pleasant " Pos," In 1995 I met my husband In 1996 we had twins In 1998 we bought a minivan Ack what were we thinking But before I go on and on about the dehumanizing effects of driving around in that giant green 7 passenger egg let me just say how relieved we all were when we finally got RID OF IT and in 2001 bought ourselves a 1997 Ford Explorer XL I d been enamored with the Explorer since I d worked briefly for Ford in the mid 90 s During that time I had driven a couple of Explorers and really loved em Unfortunately price was a major issue plus after we had the twins everyone convinced me we needed the dreaded minivan for more on that see my separate review The Explorer is just a COOL vehicle especially up here in the Pacific Northwest where everybody and their neighbor owns an SUV Yes the road is practically littered with Explorers but maybe I m just not the stand out in the crowd type Now for the specifics I personally love that the Explorer has less space than the minivan From 7 seats to 5 I thought it would be a sacrifice but it hasn t been There is plenty of room for our family and one extra passenger We rarely used all 7 seats in the minivan And speaking of space that minivan seemed to just attract junk Well the Explorer does too maybe it s not the car but the kids who attract junk but it attracts a lot LESS junk and is a breeze to clean out The seating itself is comfortable roomy enough for our larger than normal derrieres and for both kids to spread out a little in the back seat In the front seat there is a nice console between the driver and passenger including space for CD s cassettes 2 drinks and a little slot just perfectly sized for our cel phone There is also a larger than average glove compartment and makeup mirrors on both the driver and passenger visors In the back seat there are seat pockets in front of each child a big bonus I d LOVE to see Ford and for that matter every other manufacturer who hasn t already done so integrate cup holders into the back seats It s a nice feature and it s one thing I do miss about the minivan The rear cargo area of the Explorer is roomy and functional It holds a LOT of stuff we do lots of camping and is at waist height so it s easy to load unload without too much bending and reaching Also easy to vaccum 1 3 of the back seat also folds down flat so that you can fit in longer things We hauled lumber last week and still fit both of us and the two kids in the car There are a couple of features on this vehicle that really stand out First is the rear glass can be opened separately from the rear door That way if you just want to stick some groceries in you don t have to open up the whole door Another wonderful feature is that the whole car can be locked unlocked via a well placed switch inside the back door So while I m loading the groceries I can unlock the doors for the kids without having to fumble for my keys Our Explorer also includes a towing package making it capable of towing up to 3 500 pounds about the size of a small travel trailer or boat a nice cassette stereo system and roof rack The vehicle is sturdy survived a rear end collision this winter that caused 2 500 in damage to the other vehicle and left our car with not even a scratch roomy and safe We also have had the opportunity to use the 4WD a couple of times and it worked flawlessly It s shift on the fly so there is no need to get out of the car to lock the hubs or anything annoying like that Our repair bills knock on wood have been negligible we keep the oil changed and keep up on the schedule maintenance and I know I m jinxing myself here she runs like a gem The only major drawbacks to the Explorer are the excessive road noise sometimes that s nice though as it tends to lull the kids to sleep and the poor gas mileage We fill up about once a week and that s with average daily around town driving A freeway trip to Seattle 180 miles round trip costs us about 10 12 in gas Expect about 280 miles per tank full on the highway and about 200 in town I guess that s just what we expect when you buy an SUV though we have to trade something for all that space " Pos," I LOVE my Ford Explorer As I sat in many a traffic jam in my tiny little aging economy car I longed at the Explorers that sat in my view Considering my situation newly married and planning a family in a professional job having hobbies including skeet shooting woodworking and other things that would require some cargo space I felt that the Explorer would be an excellent car for me The best things about the care in my opinion are being up high looking sharp and having an excellent balance between cargo space and passenger space I am no longer ashamed to drive my bosses around but I can still haul a big pile of wood and tools from Home Depot when I get the urge to try that weekend woodworking project or help my friends fix up their homes The safety features of the Explorer are also a plus My wife used to cringe at the thought of me driving around in my little Sentra that had no airbags let alone crumple zones or reinforced doors It is very comforting to have a safe car I can t say that I m totally without complaints but I have learned to live with the few I have about the Explorer Okay so it is a bit bouncy it s a truck it s supposed to be bouncy If I wanted a smooth ride I would ve bought something lower to the ground And note that I say bouncy not bumpy Though you do bounce up and down over a speedbump or a bump in the road you are not being racked around like a rock in a tumbler Its more smooth like a waterbed Another thing is that it gets really poor gas mileage Again good gas mileage is for Honda Accords and Toyota Corollas The trade off is worth it to me If I have to fill up a little more often it s worth the power and space I have and the tank is 20gal so it does last a while even with the poor mileage Other than the bouncy problem driving the explorer is like a dream It handles very well stops nice and has enough power to get you around that 18 wheeler that is weaving from side to side and it is very very quiet If you have the means and are ready to move into the SUV class I would recommend an explorer If you want good gas mileage and a smoother ride you might want to look at one of the smaller SUVs from those manufacturers that make the high gas mileage economy cars And if you want a smoother ride you ll probably have to dish out a few thousand extra bucks and go for one of those luxury manufacturer SUVs But if you just want a good solid American made car though I d venture to guess that few cars are completely made in America today that gives you the best features of a passenger car with the versatility of a pickup I d go for the Explorer br br " Pos," I bought this 1997 Ford Explorer because I wanted to upgrade to something larger than a car but not a mini van I can tow should I need to but don t on a regular basis It s big but not too big I love the adjustable seats Being only 5 2 quot I can set my seat just the way I want to And I can see over the hood I have the tinted windows which I think keep my explorer cooler in the hot sunny south It also provides some privacy I find it gives me a very comfortable ride even on long 7 hour trips My husband drives a Lexus and says the explorer drives like a truck but that I know I still think it is a comfortable ride for a truck It has pretty good pickup for a V6 I didn t get the 4 wheel drive but plan to the next time around At the time I didn t think I would really need it but it would have been nice to have The dash is laid out really nice and I love the middle console It holds my cd s and a tissue box holder is build in And if I need to slide in something larger than the back cargo area I can fold down the back seats br br " Pos," When I was shopping for a newer vehicle I wanted something that would get me back and forth to work and something that was fun to drive on weekends I think I got both So far I have taken my 97 Explorer Sport four wheeling in places most people wouldn t take their beat up off roaders I have taken it on trails in the woods through swamps and through a few snow drifts And when I was done playing I took it to the car wash hosed it off put a new coat of wax on it and it was ready to go to work on Mondays Like any vehicle there were some minor problems one was a bad sensor for the 4 wheel drive selenoid The truck would shift into 4 low and not come out until I would shut it off and start it again That was fixed under warranty and hasn t occoured since Other than that the usual maintenance items are all that needed replacing on this truck I would recommend it to anyone looking for a functional and fun vehicle It rides and handles great on and off road " Pos," I own a 1996 Ford Escort I love it Even though a 4 door it is still small enough to fit into the smallest parking space which means alot to me If your looking for a car that handles great in the winter this is your car This car is the most reliable car I ve owned yet I bought it used and though 4 years old I havent had a single problem with it yet Also though small it is still quite roomy I think this car is an all occasions car good for family teenagers just starting out or anyone Also has an awesome heating system br br " Pos," Its just a great reliable little car We commute 600 miles a week and have 115 000 miles on this four year old car and she s still running strong In all those miles we ve only spent about 1500 in maintenance on her We tried to run her out of oil on a trip to Canada keep forgetting to get the oil changed don t get her washed enough but she still keeps going Very comfortable even for 2 larger people in front Run medium grade gasoline in her and she s very peppy on the highway too Even with all those miles our Escort still averages 30 MPG with an even mix of highway travel and in town traffic We d definitely buy an Escort again and plan to stick with Fords in general in the future br br " Pos," Shooting Star Write Off A charity in SW London is planning to build a hospice for terminally ill children To publicize this and to raise sponsorship from all mattygrove s drinking buddies you are all invited to write a review that is SHOOTING STAR or at least STAR based it could be on a book a film or anything relevant Perhaps you re a STAR Trek fan or into astronomy astrology or Hollywood STARs the choice is endless INTRO TO THE CAR OF THE STARS JAY LENO AT LEAST b If you are familiar with my reviews as you should be you will recall that I once owned a 1991 Honda CRX with tinted windows custom wheels a killer stereo system that did obscene things to me via the vibrations of the base through my car seat and sped up to 95 mph on Montana highways with a mere 5 dollar speeding ticket to show for it Ah those were the days After crashing my CRX several times and being put into the high risk bracket of car insurance I decided to purchase a less sporty car and made the horrible decision of buying a Dodge Colt in a shade of puke tan from a used car dealer in my neighborhood After the lowered self esteem finally made me realize I simply must find something better I gave the Colt to my roommate for Christmas it could have gotten maybe 200 max if I sold it anyway and withdrew some savings to purchase a 1991 Red Ford Festiva CUUUUUUUUUTE Do you see the similarities here yet My CRX was red my Ford Festiva is red My CRX was cute my Ford Festiva is cute My CRX had tinted windows and a killer stereo my Ford Festiva is cute My CRX got me whistles and stares my Ford Festiva is cute My CRX cornered so tight I could take a hairpin curve one handed my Ford Festiva is cute And on and on it goes The Ford Festiva comes in the GL or L model I for the life of me cannot tell the difference between the two except perhaps for the rear window windshield wiper The following technical stuff is taken from www cars com along with my notations in annoying ALL CAPS MPG City Hwy 35 42 NOT BAD Wheelbase 90 2 TINY TIRES CHEAPER FOLKS Overall Length 140 5 QUIT LAUGHING Curb Weight 1 797 lbs YES EASILY LIFTED Cargo Capacity 11 7 cu ft PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ME Seating Capacity 4 NOT COMFORTABLY THOUGH Engine Size 1 3L SMALL BUT MIGHTY Number of Cylinders 4 O K NOT MUCH OOOMPH Horsepower 63 5000rpm MORE LIKE PONY POWER Torque lbs ft 73 3000rpm I M CLUELESS HERE Brakes Power Disc Drum I VE REPLACED TWICE Air Conditioning COSTS EXTRA 849 2 Wheel Front Drive HANDLES WELL IN SNOW Sunroof Manual COSTS EXTRA 243 Defroster Rear COSTS EXTRA 160 Seatbelt Driver Automatic ANNOYING BUT SAFE Seatbelts Front Shoulder ISN T THIS SAME AS ABOVE Wiper Rear EXTRA FOR GL 126 Radio AM FM STD EXTRA FOR GL 245 how tacky Steering Power COSTS EXTRA 250 Suspension Strut Coil Spring I M CLUELESS AGAIN Tires P145 SR12 All Season SBR BSW CUTE TINY TIRES Transmission 3 Speed Automatic EXTRA 515 Transmission 5 Speed Manual OD BUY THIS NOT AUTO b Top 10 PROBLEMS with my 1991 Ford Festiva b 1 Exhaust system I have had to replace my muffler twice 2 Brakes I have had to replace my front brakes twice 3 Seatbelts THERE WAS A RECALL on the front seatbelts 4 Seat Comfort This car is not made for long road trips 5 Upholstery Driver s side seat is tearing apart vinyl 6 Other fan belts have been replaced once in 10 years 7 Slow acceleration speeds when merging 8 Blown around in a good strong wind Not kidding 9 Dings easily pathetically easily on the sides 10 Horn sounds like a joke people smile when I use it b Top 10 GOOD POINTS about the Ford Festiva b 1 Excellent gas mileage 2 Red Paint has held up very well no rusting or chipping 3 Cute 4 Easy to park in ANY parking space downtown 5 For a single person plenty of room 4 luggage groceries 6 No electrical problems at all 7 Automatic seatbelts are annoying but insure you wear them 8 Small tires are inexpensive to replace 9 Cute 10 Reliable overall and a good commuter car b CONCLUSION I would definitely recommend that you consider purchasing a 1991 Ford Festiva if you meet the following qualifications 1 You are single or a couple with no children 2 You need a reliable vehicle with good gas mileage 3 You need a car that is 2 500 or less 4 You want to drive the same kind of car Jay Leno of The Tonight Show owns and has souped up with a HUGE engine That s all folks remember the Ford Festiva is not a good road trip car because of the uncomfortable seats but it is a great short trip car because of the great gas mileage Melissa Other write off entries tombarnes counsel petra tigger1313 freak369 lattechick erocat psychovant naphtalia artbyjude xifphoid badkittym xiphoid and mattygroves " Pos," If you needed a commuter vehicle what would you want most When I bought my 1991 Ford Festiva new I went out with a list that looked like this I want it to be small so I can park anywhere I want it to run on fumes cheap to insure not a lot of bells and whistles to break and encourage theft and to be ugly enough to discourage the thieves and junkie denizens of my commute destination It d be a cold day in Hell if I ever found this car up on blocks missing those tiny 12 quot wheels I put Sears or Grand Auto 99 00 for four tires on it every couple of years It has no radio five of my radios in other cars were stolen in SF with lots of damage to the car I also wanted a well built reliable car so when I learned that the Festiva was built in Korea using Mazda parts I knew I had found what I wanted The car is now over 8 years old has over 100K miles looks like a habitue of the Bowery but still will travel at sustained speeds of 80 mph if needed It continues to get 40 miles to the gallon My ownership expenses are minimal one battery self done oil changes every 2 5K miles the front disc brake pads replaced once and it s on its third set of 12 quot tires Insurance for it runs about 400 yr and no one has ever tried to steal it This 91 horribly ugly Surf Green Festiva is quite simply the least troublesome inexpensive car I ve ever owned Too bad Ford stopped selling them after the 93 model year I have tried finding body parts for this car in junkyards it got sideswiped while parked and has lots of ugly bondo but most in my area don t even have a single Festiva so people must be keeping them If you can get one that has been taken care of don t have too much concern for how pretty and impressive your commute car is you ll have some trouble finding anything better suited for commuting that will serve you as well as this ugly duckling No mine is not for sale I m going to run it till one of us dies " Pos," We bought our 1991 Ford Festiva new and the quot Korean Komet quot or quot Red Rocket quot is still serving us today The car gets incredible mileage and almost never needs repairs and it starts up in even the coldest of weather It handles well in the snow and has an AMAZING turning radius You could park this thing anywhere I guess the only downside is that if you should get hit in this thing there s not much car to protect you Other than that I think the car has a lot of personality and is a great value I m a high school student and I just put a new sound system in and now I can cruise for chicks in my sweet ride while blasting out the beach boys tunes Woooo br br " Pos," We are stationed overseas in Okinawa Japan through the AirForce We are used to driving old foreign junkers that we picked up for about 800 or less just to last us through our tour and also allowed us to save some money We decided that since we are leaving Okinawa for Hawaii or Guam it was time to buy a new car for all of our hard work and sacrifice in paying off bills Enter the debate Ford Escape OR Pontiac Aztec Now some of you will immediately shout out Ugghhh NOT the Aztec But I fell in love with the Aztec immediately The amazing features and handling of that SRV are just so wonderful and yes I am one of the rare breeds that actually LOVE the styling of the Aztec My husband on the other hand fell in love with the Escape which I had to admit was my first choice before spotting the Aztec To make a long story short we chose the Aztec Don t get me wrong I think the Escape is great vehicle Which is why I decided to write this review after our test drive If the Aztec is too out there for you or if you just think it is ugly Then I would definitly check out the Escape THE SHELL This is a steel shell that protects the entire front end and continues around the sides using side intrusion door beams steel beams along each and every door for protection in a crash I have to young girls who sit in carseats on the outer back seats and this feature makes me feel all warm and cozy inside knowing that they are protected Throw in the dual and side airbags and I am on cloud nine When I found out that the Aztec had this feature also I was sold otherwise it would have been the Escape When I drove the SUV it was SOOOOOOO smooth NO rattles whatsoever It was peaceful my kids were not inside at the time lol I felt that it accelerated super fast and powerful but then again I am not used to driving state of the art speed cars Quite the opposite actually If you are going from a Mustang or some other sporty get up then you may be disappointed I sure wasn t It cornered wonderfully Those U turns we all need to make from time to time would be SOO easy as the wheel turning radius have no idea if I am using the right terminology seems very tight nice sharp turns Parking was a breeze as again the wheel turning radius is nice and sharp I felt no roll at all when making quick and fast turns It did score a 3 star rating on the roll over resistance rating for both the 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive This is the highest rating that SUV s have gotten except for the Pontiac Aztec 4x4 4 door which scored a 4 out of 5 stars the 2 wheel drive Aztec scored a 3 While there have not been any crash tests on the Ford Escape 4x2 the 4x4 has received excellent ratings 5 stars for the tests done on the front driver side side drivers side and rear seats side and 4 starts for the front passenger side test This is awesome On a low note I did feel that for the XLT model the controls and front panels were a bit basic looking Nothing high tech but a small tradeoff for the superior safety you get from this SUV Another thing that bothers me is the gas mileage which is supposedly around 19 24 But I knew this going in to an SUV I guess if gas mileage is a big concern for you then forget the SUV and opt for a sedan or passenger car Another more minor detail that bothers me With the XLT you get the 6 disc in dash cd changer system but only 4 speakers It seams for such a large larger than a car vehicle with an upgraded sound system they could at least throw in a few more speakers You can get the 7 speaker system added on but for about 600 more Sheesh On the Aztec 6 speaker is standard I believe with also some speakers in very back for tailgating usage Some other feature that the Aztec has that I think would be nice on the Escape are as follows 1 HUD heads up display projects speed and other info onto the lower windshield so you can always see it without taking eyes off the road Come on Ford add that on the Escape 2 Acceleration volume control made that term up to lol as your speed increases the volume on your stereo slightly elevates and visa versa as speed decreases 3 Power outlets in rear of vehicle Aztec has outlets in the rear for use during camping cleaning etc Just a nice touch 4 Stereo controls on the steering wheel I want that man Oh and also the price I was quoted is from the AAFES Military car sales If you are military I highly suggest that you check out your AAFES dealership before considering another dealership Great experience The only options that I did not get with my price were 1 leather seats 2 the side stepping bar I did get the Choice XLT model higher than the Value and lower than Sport but did not want Sport anyhow Thanks for reading my review I am not a car professional but wanted to comment on these 2 vehicles in a safety comparison Good luck in your SUV purchase I am also writing a review for the Aztec so check it out if you are interested GOOD LUCK " Pos," I traded in my Lexus so I m new to SUV s and American made vehicles But I was looking for something that would give me more flexibility and was fun to drive the 2002 Escape fit the bill I first test drove the sister SUV the Mazda Tribute and was instantly hooked When I started doing research I discovered that Ford sold the identical minor trim changes vehicle but usually at a lower price and Ford was offering much better financing terms and more for my trade in A week after taking delivery on my 2002 XLT V6 with leather interior and the premium sound system I went on a 4 day road trip and must say that overall I found the truck very comfortable very economical and fun to drive There is considerably more road noise than with my Lexus but I figured it was just because you are sitting up so much higher and you have all that trim and luggage rack that adds to the wind noise I have read several reviews that talk about engine noise I have heard none just wind noise at high speeds I do have a complaint about the placement of the steering column shifter it does block easy access to the volume button on the radio but once you get use to it not a problem There is lot s of cargo space which I have really enjoyed a nice retractable cargo cover and an adjustable luggage rack I guess I m spoilt by the Lexus but I find the carpets in my Escape to be a little skimpy I just keep reminding myself that it s a truck The leather seats are comfortable by not luxurious the stereo on the other hand is actually better than the Lexus great system I like to drive with my headlights on and the 2002 comes with auto lights out after about 2 minutes but the irritating thing is the dinger still sounds when you leave the lights on I don t see the point of having an auto lights out feature if the alarm is going to sound " Pos," I am not going to write about stats and specs for this SUV That is mostly available in car magazines and many other websites First impressions 1 From the outside it looks larger and meaner than a comparably priced Toyota Rav4 or Honda CRV It looks tough and durable and not quite as cute as other comparable mini SUVs 2 The two tone body color takes a little getting used to I liked the silver color so it blends a bit better with the black 3 I really like the factory alloy wheels It looks sporty rugged and classy at the same time 4 The front looks ready for off road similar to an Explorer The interior 1 Very nice The leather is comfortable and I was impressed with number of features it offers for the price It has power front seats large moonroof very roomy for a small SUV and the gauges are nicely located and very easy to read 2 The Mach Audio system is probably one of the best factory sound system I have listened to It comes with 6 disc changer and 7 speakers 3 The controls seem to plain such as the AC controls vents etc Also one complaint I have was it has no air vents for the rear seats The drive 1 It was a bit on the loud and rough side 2 Acceleration is car like but I was hoping it would be faster since it is after all a 201 hp V6 carrying a fairly light load I have driven the 4Runner which has less power and heavier but seems to accelerate just as fast I suppose the powerband of the Ford s Duratec V6 is geared towards more on the upper RPMs 3 With its independent suspension the Escape handles like a car and show no hint of tilt or body roll on a fairly fast 90 degree turn 4 The power brakes are good but does not have the car like stopping power This SUV provides an overall good balance in terms of 1 Price 2 Features 3 Performance And one last thing this SUV does not cost too much to insure " Pos," I recently had the chance to rent a loaded Escape for a week long business trip an experience I have been looking forward to having Overall I liked the Escape a great deal but I m not sure I d plunk down my own hard earned dollars to own one The Escape does everything well It is amazingly roomy and well laid out for such a small vehicle Seat comfort was great there was TONS of cargo room ride and handling were very enjoyable and the V6 performed well Ford offers lots of well thought out gadgets and toys in the Escape things like armrests and storage compartments and radio controls feel especially well placed and engineered The Escape was easy to drive for long periods and was an enjoyable airy place to spend time On the highway and back roads the Escape handles better than almost every other SUV I ve ever driven large and small I even had the chance to take the Escape off road a little bit and it was less happy there The Escape felt much more like a tall station wagon than a true SUV while off the pavement I recall my mother s Explorer feeling much the same when taken off the beaten path Of course most folks will never use the Escape s SUV ness in anything other than snow and rain and I m sure that the all wheel drive is perfect in these situations However the AWD was slow to engage off road and the minimal ground clearance for an SUV didn t help matters My complaints about the Escape are ironically centered around its strengths Though the Ford is very good at lots of things it seems to have sacrificed being truly great in any areas to be so competent overall The V6 is powerful but it sucks up gas and is VERY noisy So much so that the radio has to be blared to drown out the sound As long as you have plenty of CDs which you enjoy on hand you will never mind but there is no Escaping the fact that this is a noisy and thirsty vehicle The ride and handling are great in 90 of situations but one cannot sling this thing around a highway off ramp at high speeds Finally to make such a fine vehicle it feels that Ford has cut costs in building materials and construction The Escape I drove had lots of rattles and felt and sounded generally loose but this may be due to the fact that it was a rental and rentals are usually beaters Still a brand new car shouldn t have felt so loose I have been thinking about getting a small SUV and the Escape would be high on my list So would a number of other terrific choices though I feel that a Jeep Liberty is just as pleasant a place to spend time and the Jeep has lots more character both inside and out The Jeep also handles poorly though and is just as thirsty and loud as is the Escape Then again the Jeep would go literally anywhere on road or off I feel that the new Land Rover Freelander is similar more uniqueness but less utility I think if it were my on the line I d go for the redesigned Honda CR V Sure it s be a little slower than the Escape and certainly more dull to both look at and drive but the Honda s quality and fit and finish would be impeccable it would be more efficient and have even more room Of course none of this changes the fact that the Escape is a great all around car and I would certainly recommend it to friends who have lots of for fuel and who are already hard of hearing " Pos," We live on a small farm and needed a truck to haul feed and livestock Since our children are now teens we knew that the extended cab was ready to be upgraded to a full crew cab The full crew cab gives plenty of room for up to six people This pickup handles all of our family s needs It is a workhorse for the farm and a pleasure to drive and ride in as a quot family car quot The 4 wheel drive is great when it comes time to get hay out of the field or when off road The power stroke diesel gives all the power you could want when passing on the highway even when hauling or pulling a load The new quot scalloped quot front driver and passenger windows are really a great help for seeing small cars beside you This is a great vehicle for people that need to haul and have a family Because of the relatively low gas mileage I would not recommend it for total pleasure use or for singles or couples Although the diesel engine gets better mileage than a gas engine br br " Pos," My F350 is a fine truck however having problems with Ford fixing two major problems Problems are as follows 1 My truck is a early model The air intake is in the fender well and I have a problem a loud sucking or as I call it a loud howling noise from that area Ford s district mgr refuses to fix the problem Dealers in other areas have solved this problem by rerouting the air intake to the front grille like the later Ford models and this does fix the problem 2 When I start the Powerstroke after setting for awhile I get a loud thump noise from under the hood I continually complain about this but nothing seems to be done to fix it " Pos," The 1999 Ford F 350 has an awesome look to match it s awesome abilities The model we purchased has four doors the long 8ft bed 4WD and is toped off with the Triton V 10 engine with enough horsepower to satisfy any truck fan Big and roomy Ford made this truck to complete many tasks that will fit everyone From hauling 8ft sheets of plywood moving a friend taking huge loads of branches to the local dump taking a long family trip or even for a mountain hunting trip this truck is truly built ford tough Personal recommendations Put on a camper shell if you want to use it for travel You can fit 6 people very comfortable so having the shell will enable you to put all of your travel needs as well as shopping bags in an air shell for both room and protection With a shell on the long bed this truck will be bigger and badder that the suburbans and even Fords new Excursion Also putting a supercharger will bulk up the already tremendous amount of horsepower so I wouldn t call it a necessity Put on a 2 or 3 chamber Flowmaster muffler to get out that loud V 10 sound and if you like custom vehicles change the tires and rims to either get a Lower sleeker look or a higher tougher look Take it for a test drive and feel the power of Ford Triton engines br br " Pos," The Ford F 350 with the 7 3 Turbo diesel is the best truck on the road With its 500lbs of torque it will pull just about anything Horse trailers trailers are no problem for this truck it pulls a hill with a trailer behind it as if it was not there at all Comfort is a given in this truck wether you get the 40 20 40 seats or the Captains chairs you will ride in comfort The adjustable seat belts make it easy for a tall or short person to be comfortable and not have a strap rub them over their neck The mileage factor with the 7 3 is fantastic when you are not pulling a load 22 mpg is normal and under load 18 is average You will leave a Dodge Cummings in the dust if you are both pulling a hill the power is fantastic As the saying goes quot Try it you ll like it quot br br " Pos," At the age of 16 I bought my first 1992 f 150 it was a great truck it had 100 000 miles on it and still ran like a top I added a K N filter and it upped my horse power and shortly after that i added dual exhaust and man did that baby roar I had very little engine trouble In that fall of 2003 I sold this truck but not because of the truck I just wanted bigger and better so I bought my second 1992 F 150 I can haul anything that I need and have all the horsepower any country hick like me would need I have never been stuck even though I have tried I have many late night calls to pull vehicles out of ditches or mud and have not had a problem yet This truck also has over 100 000 miles and I have yet to have any engine or transmission problems probably due to the fact that the engine is very strong and has great get up and go power and the tranmission has very smooth shifting I would put my 1992 F 150 against any full size truck out there Now I am now 18 years and have been a F 150 lover for 2 years now and will never go back Not only have I not had any mechanical problems but no structural problems either I am more impressed with this truck than any other The handling on this vehicle is decent the turning radius isn t the best but all around it is alright I haven t ever had a load on the vehicle that has ever effected the handling The brakes on the F 150 are excellent with very good stopping power The only thing I could say is that they are relatively touchy If you are out there and you are looking for raw towing power along with horse power and a comfortable smooth ride on and off the highway with a drivers seat that you could sleep in that will get you around anywhere then the ford F 150 4 wheel drive is the way to go One drawback to this vehicle is the gas mileage on the regular stock truck I would get about 16 17 mpg on the highway and about 13 14 in town but now that I have the 33 tires and the 3 body lift I get about 9 10 in town and 11 12 on the highway So far with my F 150 I have added many accessories to my truck like 3 inch body lift 33 inch mud brute tires 5th wheel hitch in the middle my truck bed K N high performance air filter Delta toolbox Reese hitch So if you are out there and looking for a truck with all around use this is the one for you it hasn t let me down and I don t believe it would let you down either " Pos," I bought my wagon used in 1994 It s a 1992 Low mileage and price is what first brought me to this car Upon test driving it though I really found that I liked it even better It was a nice ride I m not one for mini van s or SUV s so this was a good option for me I ve never had trouble fitting anything and everything in this wagon Put it this way 2 adults 1 child with car seat luggage for 10 days and 1 120lb dog all fit in this wagon And the only problem that I have had is the fan that cool s the engine that should come on and off depending on temp doesn t and still cannot find anyone who can fix it Though I have figured a way around it I know that when this wagon need s to be replaced no question in my mind it will be another Escort Wagon br br " Pos," I used to own a 1992 Escort in college and it was a great car It was a 5 speed with the dual overhead cam which made for a very sporty ride People were always surprised by the performance and I was always very pleased with it The interior was extremely comfy with lots of room in the back seat 4 door pleanty of head and leg room and the trunk had generous space as well I bought it used and never had to fix anything on it well once I had to replace the battery It was a wonderful car and always reliable and dependable If you re thinking about buying a used one in this era I would strongly recommed that you get one with the cam you won t regret it I loved the car br br " Pos," Having recently purchased a 2003 Taurus age is finally starting to get to me At least I am not too old as I did not even consider a Buick LeSabre Ain t middle age great Of all the mid to large size cars available in this class one has the choice of the Chevy Impala the Pontiac Bonneville and the Dodge Intrepid from the domestic manufacturers and the Nissan Maxmia the Honda Accord the Toyota Camary the Mazda 6 and the Subaru Legecy from Japan and the Hyundai Sonota from Korea plus the Volkswagen Passat from Germany The Impala would not have been a bad choice as it is slightly better equipped for about the same price however the engine is of a cast iron pushrod design that has been around since Louis Chevrolet built his first car in 1912 The interior looks postively cheap like it was lifted right out of a Chevette The Pontiac has sooo many tacked on plastic body clading it looks like a third grade car design competition gone amok The issues I had with the Dodge is that the 2 7 liter engine has a dubious history as I have seen many fail prematurely due to the water pump failing and the pump itself is built into the block All of the cars from Japan except the Maxmia and Subauru come standard with 4 cylinder engines I prefer a 6 cylinder but where they are an option this prices them a couple of thousand more than a Taurus I had driven a Hyundai Sonata and was somewhat impressed however it was smaller inside and I later found out that Hyundai had lied about the horsepower figures for the 2 7 liter engine and had to offer consumers cash or an extension of the warranty The Volkswagen was just too expensive for the amount of room and features Which brings us back to the Taurus I know that the resale value will not be as good as the Japanese as these vehicles are the choice of rental car companies and commercial fleets There are simply a ton of Tauruses on the roads and the law of supply and demand dictates that when it comes time to sell or trade don t expect much The plus to this situation is that normal wear and tear parts will be easy to come by and downright cheap to obtain I purchased a Taurus SES with the Sport package With this I received the 3 0 DOHC Duratec V6 two tone cloth bucket seats special alloy wheels and a rear spoiler plus Ford threw in a free sunroof The wife was parcial to getting the leather interior and the wood package however with the dog to be riding in the back seat perhaps cloth was the better choice Stepping up to the SES trim Duratec combo helps avoid having the car appear to be a rental vehicle Driving the Taurus reveals that the Duratec is smooth and powerful and with a chain driven camshaft design I will not be worring about replacing the drive belt It is reasonably quiet and the 4 speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly however it does not allow manual selection for the full range of ratios Wind noise is not at all objectionable and the seats are comfortable The EPA rates this as a large car and interior room is very good with the exception of the front wheel well intruding on your left foot space The brakes std ABS in the SES are very good Steering with the variable assist is linear and handling is also very good What you don t get for your money is somewhat minor Rear disc brakes are only available in the wagon model however with the front brakes handling 80 of the braking force this is a non issue A power adjustable passenger seat is only available in the top of the line SEL model so your front seat passenger will just have to deal with that the best that they can Side air bags are also a option Some of the places where Ford also saved money is in the use of cheap feeling switches however they all do work and perform their intended uses The only major gripe that I have is that the cheap plastic console squeaks and that is houses the equally cheap 6 disc CD changer magazine that was made in China I could have done without the rear spoiler as I seriously doubt that it adds much downforce or makes the car handle any better With Ford pushing the metal out the door with incentives this allows one to purchase a fully equipped Taurus for the price of a fully equipped Honda Civic Nissan Altima or Toyota Corolla To me it was a no brainer With 4000 in rebates and the ability to purchase at dealer invoice the initial value is just too hard to pass up " Pos," When I first started looking for another car I knew I wanted an SUV of some type I do a lot of traveling on the road and I like to have room for all of my luggage camping gear and emergency equipment as well as my passengers This baby does it all with room to spare and good gas mileage too I had looked at the Montero the 4Runner and the Blazer first The Montero is nice and roomy but the mileage sucks it s expensive and the insurance on them is outrageous for someone my age 21 at the time Then I looked at the 4Runner Nice decent mileage and it has a fair sized cab but again the insurance was killer plus they seemed to be breaking down a lot and were not cheap to fix Now the Blazer was really nice Good mileage fairly cheap insurance but it was really really small inside The back seats were barely there Then I came to the Ford dealership They showed me a few Explorers and I was hooked They have a good V 6 engine good sized front and back seats plus a decent storage area in the rear for all my gear It also has an adjustable luggage rack on top and it got 20 miles to the gallon highway and 17 city Mine is the 1991 Sport Edition so it only has 2 door but that s all I need anyway It is a 5 speed manual transmission a must for me and it has push button 4 wheel drive with low range It also has a main dome light and 2 reading lights for the driver and front passenger I signed the papers for it the same day and I have not had anything to complain about since then and that was almost 4 years ago I have had it in the shop for basic maintenance and had to have the radiator and water pump replaced my fault though but other than that it has run great for me It always starts for me no matter what the weather is I have started it in 100 and in 40 below without any problems Also when they say 4 wheel drive they mean all 4 wheels Not one front wheel and one back wheel like some other companies do Really the only thing I can complain about is that there is only one cup holder and it is inconveniently located behind and below the shifter knob No problem for soda cans but a Burger King cup gets knocked out every time I shift to third gear Other than that minor bit it s a great SUV and I couldn t be happier I just topped 100 000 miles and I m sure I ll see 200 000 easy br br " Pos," I have had my 1991 Ford Explorer XLT for a little over a year I bought it with 105 000 miles on it During this time I have driven it for over 30 000 miles I have had it in the shop only for scheduled oil changes and tire rotations I drive every day for work in all weather conditions I also drive my Explorer off road from time to time The Ford Explorer runs well and has excellent handling on snow and ice as well as in the mud I was particularly happy with my Explorer on December 28 1999 when I was driving to Columbus from Cleveland as the first winter storm of the year blew through blanketing the streets with snow and causing white out conditions I was driving south on US23 toward Columbus and I counted 14 cars along the side of the road One accident was a 6 car pile up After seeing these accidents I was cautious but I felt comfortable in my Explorer Needless to say I arrived home safely and I credit much of my safety to my Explorer I have compared it to a Chevy Blazer of a similar year and the Blazer does not compare Not only does the Explorer have more storage room it is also much more comfortable to drive My Ford Explorer is very reliable and I feel safe driving it I highly recommend the purchase of a Ford Explorer br br " Pos," I have owned a 91 Explorer Sport for nine years My driving skills are very aggressive especially off road This has placed me in several awkward and embarrassing moments due to my driving The Explorer came through everytime and I don t even have all wheel drive capability Parts can be expensive and hard to find but there worth it I have never once broke down or have experienced a component failure I do recommend upgrading stock tires to more aggressive tread and a K amp N Filtercharger for increased performance Explorers do need constant care and attention If this is done you too may own a vehicle and still love it after 10 years " Pos," I am extremely happy with this vehicle I am a over protective mom of a teenage girl about to turn 17 years old We gave her this vehicle a 1991 Ford Explorer XLT for her birthday and to ease up on our schlepping back amp forth during very hectic work weeks Well I was quite the wreck when she turned 16 last year and was got her drivers license What parent isn t We bought the Explorer from a private party who practically gave it to us They didn t want the hassle of having every Tom Dick and Harry coming over to see it After some initial repairs were made we brought it in to the owner s mechanic and had the front brakes done along with the power steering unit everything else was in order we got the vehicle for 2 750 Yes you read that right Although it does have 90K miles on it They were initially asking 4 000 then down to 3 000 then after repairs we had the gall to negotiate to 2500 we then settled on 2750 My daughter is the proud owner now and is quite smitten with her brand new SUV I want it I feel very comfortable with her driving it It s a safe vehicle I like the size and sturdiness of it She handles it beautifully It even has a tilt sunroof for a 91 It s almost in excellent condition except for some minor rust on the underside and a missing handle on the inside I highly recommend this vehicle br br " Pos," The 95 FORD Contour is really a great car for anybody It runs great every time I start it up I ve had it for 6 years now and absolutely no major problems Just a few minor fixer uppers The reliability is amazing The quality of the interior is nice nothing fancy but definitely nice and comfortable The air conditioner vents are nicely designed and well placed The over all look of the inside is well done The v6 engine is nice and powerful perfect for anyone The 95 Contour is also very spacious Especially in the front The back seats aren t too cramped though and they could fit any average sized person comfortably I am really impressed with the space this car has I can t say enough about the over all quality and reliability of this car Very nice for long or short trips Highly recommended " Pos," I bought my 1995 Contour brand new off the showroom floor in July 1995 From day one it has been a joy to drive comfortable easy to handle and fuel efficient And the air conditioner works very well a critical issue in the Texas heat While I don t drive every day many of my trips keep me in the car for one to five hours at a time The Contour makes those trips easy It is always a challenge to find a car both my 6 5 husband and 5 1 me can drive I don t have any trouble reaching the pedals in the Contour and my husband doesn t hit his head on the roof The car now has 70 000 miles on it It has required minimal maintenance you know the usual tires brakes oil changes etc and has been incredibly dependable The only problem I can remember was with the sunroof switch not factory installed When the car sat in the sun and got hot the switch wouldn t work That took two trips to the dealership to get fixed Looking at the car it was not my first choice I thought and still do that it is a sort of boring little lump My husband begs to differ he loves the styling My mind started to change the second I sat in the car and I was sold as soon as I drove it It also helped that I found one in teal a color I love My original plan was to keep this car about six years however as we get closer to the six year mark I find myself thinking I don t want to give it up that soon Update 10 02 I recently sold this car after owning it 7 years and a couple of months It had about 93 000 miles on it and was still virtually trouble free At one maintenance visit the dealer service department mentioned that the AC clutch was a little loud but didn t recommend doing anything because in their words the AC was pumping out ice cubes I hadn t heard the noise and the AC continued to work well In the last few months I owned the car I noticed a bit of a squeal in the AC but it continued to cool very well even in the hot Houston summers And you wouldn t hear the squeal if you turned up the radio a little o I loved owning and driving this car The only reason I decided to get a new car was that I take quite a few long road trips and I was concerned at nearly 100 000 miles that it might become less reliable I didn t want to have the car s first breakdown on some deserted stretch of Texas highway My original review of the 1995 Ford Contour stands It was reliable economical and comfortable And I hope it s new owner enjoys it for many years to come " Pos," I bought my Contour with almost 100k and it still runs great It is very reliable and has nice creature comforts CD sunroof power everything It is not very flashy or overly sporty It doesn t have much get up and go but I do feel very safe with dual airbags and traction control It gets decent gas mileage and seats four adults comfortably I would recommend this car to someone looking for endurance at a good value This car is also very easy to work on and parts can be found at most major parts stores I would recommend attempting personal maintenance over dealer maintenance which I was disappointed in the one time I took it to them br br " Pos," I got a 1991 Ford Mustang GT from my parents back in 1991 for my senior year They always told me they would buy me and my sister one good car to go to college on and that was it After that I would have to buy the next one Little did I know that I would still be driving this car almost 10 years later Well that s exactly what I am doing and I haven t had it in the shop for more than minor work ever I have never had to take it to the shop to do any kind of work on the engine transmission or other major parts There are many pros to this particular car There are also a few cons I will list each of these below Keep in mind that this is a 10 year old car that has run like a charm ever since I got it b Pros 1 Acceleration and speed I have never had a problem with the acceleration of this car In fact it will almost go too fast I have had it at an ungodly speed that I do not wish to diverge here It will get up and go with the best of them 2 Handling I went to school at the University of Arkansas my first year of college The road I chose to take was very windy and I loved it Never once did I lose control of this car or even have the tires slip I typically doubled each suggested speed limit up to around 30 mph 3 Looks Even though this car is 10 years old I have tried to keep it looking good especially on the outside I still get some looks from people while I am driving because the car demands looks from others It is still fun to drive around town and see how many people turn their heads This particular model was the first year Ford put five star rims on it In my epinion this makes the car much more appealing to the eyes b Cons 1 Cheap minor parts I think that Ford spent all of their money on the engine and transmission The major problem I have had with my car is minor parts breaking I have replaced the inside and outside door handles more than once The speedometer is broken The hydraulics for the hatch won t hold up the hatch anymore These are the majority of problems I have had The door handles were just poorly made They have some plastic parts that aren t very strong 2 Service at dealership I know this isn t really dealing with the car but our local dealership is very hard to deal with It is Smith Ford in Conway Many times they refused to fix something that they actually screwed up I had them put on a new door handle many years ago and they scratched the paint They agreed to repaint the door but it had new paint on it The rest of the car had paint that was around four years old It didn t match and you can still tell it today 3 Spare tire I know this is very minor but I really wish they would have included a regular sized spare tire with the car The donut tire is really small and if you were in a bind you can t drive it very fast So there are a few pros and cons to the 1991 Ford Mustang I feel that the pros heavily outweigh the cons Yes I would like to have a new car but I m not getting rid of my pony I plan on keeping it forever I am going to rebuild it fix the minor things that are wrong with it and get a new paint job Then my wife and I can cruise around town in a 30 year old car that looks brand new Actually I hope one of my kids wants to drive it when they get old enough br br " Pos," I ve had my 1991 Ford Mustang LX for 3 years now I had just come off a bad relationship with an 86 Cadillac and found this rather sorry looking Mustang for sale by a private owner I picked it up with hopes of exchanging it within a year for something better but it seems to be getting better with age I did an awful lot of cosmetic work on the car because it s previous owner did not care for it properly Now it is not only looking almost like new with it s original paint but well accessorized as well I ve added many performance products to this 2 3L car and have gotten the response of a V6 while maintaining the exceptional gas mileage She spins tires in third gear which for the engine type is impressive It gets me to work and back it s quick off the line it looks great and I ve had many offers It s over the 110 000 mile mark and NO LEAKS It has visited the shop about 3 times for regular maintenance radiator clutch cable differential gasket Other than that I ve done all the tune ups and oil changes Runs like a dream smooth quick and just plain exiting Unfortunately you see too many of these cars on the road looking like they haven t seen a rag or sponge in years the better you take care of it the better it will take care of you " Pos," Don Garlits the quot Big Daddy quot of drag racing is who I think of after test driving a new 1998 Ford Mustang GT Before driving one I thought of the Mustang as just another sporty looking spineless car for secretaries and factory workers to flog to work and back When we climbed into the car s black interior I instantly noticed the exceedingly plasticky dashboard the uncomfortable seat the flimsy door panel the obstructed rear view and the infant sized rear seat Although the actual driving position was nearly perfect steering wheel shifter and brakes were precisely where I needed them to be I was pretty sure the car s only redeeming feature was the brand cache of the horse dancing on the grill As soon as I turned the key I knew I was wrong Ford s 4 6 liter modular V 8 emits a tense growl through the exhaust pipes at idle Blipping the throttle was a sensory experience even at a standstill An engine with a snarl like this one means business i even if its 230 horsepower is lower than the perennial competitor the Camaro I slipped the perfectly angled shifter into first and idled no make that burbled out to the road First gear came and went with a mechanical howl and second gear did much the same Then my wife informed me quot we re already going 40 quot And so we were in about as much time as it takes to read this The city ended and the road opened up into a divided highway and I explored the 40 70mph roll on power With a muted scream the Stang accelerated straight up to speed At cruise however the mechanical noise which is so electrifying under acceleration became plain old noise making conversation hard in the pony car I could imagine long road trips with this car becoming an exercise in the quot What did you say quot maneuver But then I came to the next stoplight yes on a divided highway and had a chance to dip into the V 8 s strong point Burnouts a la Mr Garlits I am proud to say that I executed a perfect right hand throttle turn bringing the rear around smartly and hooking the tires back up to rocket off down the next road When we returned to the Ford dealer my heart was beginning to settle down and we had stopped our crazy talk of canceling our order for a new Volvo which at that time was in the works Summed up the Mustang GT has a marvelous engine transmission and brakes in search of a comparable car because as soon as the ignition was switched off the uncomfortable seat creaky dashboard and all the rest were back again the wonderful machismo of V 8 s and quot Big Daddy quot burnouts simply can t overcome it and the insurance companies who underwrite it will be happy to tell you the same thing The Mustang GT It s a beautiful car to drive but I couldn t imagine living with one br br " Pos," I have a 80 mile round trip to work each day which means a lot of wear amp tear in a short time Having quot been there quot with front wheel drive and its mechanical weaknesses this time I wanted low tech and low maintenance That means good ol stone age rear wheel drive Pretty much the reason cops amp cabbies prefer Crown Vic s The Mustang was exactly what I wanted The V6 and 5 speed make all the power a grown up commuter could ask for while large 3 8l for its output 150 HP the engine makes plenty of low rev torque and will chirp its tires in second gear if asked All while delivering a comfortable if heavy ride The standard 80 watt stereo with CD sounds excellent with plenty of clean volume and enough bass for anyone short of a rap fan One thing to be aware of is that on snow or ice you will IMMEDIATELY be aware that this is a rear drive car I would gladly have paid extra for the limited slip axle used on the GT s if it was available If you do a lot of driving in these kind of conditions you should probably consider another car With 40000 miles on the car it s as solid as the day it was made Nothing has failed malfunctioned or broken It was also equipped with the cleanest brakes I ve ever seen When they re due for replacement which won t be for a while yet I ll actually get the replacements at a Ford dealer they re that good The GT wheels that came with the Sport Appearance Package have a durable finish and are blessed by being free of nooks and crannies that make other wheels such a chore to clean Make sure your car gets to a dealer to have a quot silent quot campaign fix there is a kit available to re route the fuel hoses coming from the charcoal canister Otherwise the car has a tendency to pass a gasoline odor into the passenger compartment after the car has sloshed its fuel around in stop and go driving It s a free fix from the factory Overall the car is a pleasure br br " Pos," I have loved mustangs since I was old enough to drive I finally got one It was well worth the wait I have had more fun with this car than any other I ve driven I bought the car used because I was just not quite ready for a brand new car Besides Mustangs always hold their worth She is small enough that I can move in and out of traffic with ease yet I am very comfortable when driving The only downside is the small back seat Or at least it is a downside to my daughter who has the very long legs The back seat does not bother me at all in the driver seat This is a sports car and not a family vehicle The car will really run too Not that I am a speed demon or anything Anyone who wants to have fun driving should get one If you are a young family with small children you may want to wait until all the kids are driving themselves But eventually everyone should experience the fun of a mustang There is only one thing that I would change about my car That is the placement of the drink cup holder It sits directly behind my stick shift and sometimes a drink will get in my way It needs to be back about 3 inches Other than that I have the perfect car " Pos," I love this car You get the feel of a sports car the handling of a sports car the look of a sports car at a non sports car price What more could one ask for Standard on the car comes the one disk cdplayer a must for anyone these days who listens to music and the sound quality on the base model still out performs most cars When a person thinks of a two door car the first thing that comes to mind is SPACE It is not a worry in this car there is plenty of trunk space for those long trips a middle console to hold anything from cds to papers and plenty of leg room for front seat passengers This vehicle with its V 6 engine gets very good gas milage perfect for those who have long commutes to work or who just drive a lot Speaking of V 6 this engine gives you more bang for your buck even at 80 miles an hour it feels like 60 the car moves with you gliding along curves and passing the competition You are in control when driving this car This vehicle is the perfect car for college students young professionals retired persons alike The only people i do not recommend this car for you people with children because of the obvious lingistics that entails If you are looking for a car that is just right for you try a mustang you will NOT be disappointed " Pos," Ever since high school I ve wanted to own a Mustang GT I bought it two years ago with about every option imaginable and have been very happy with it overall It is a true sports car which means it was designed to drive fast and handle like a sports car not a cadillac It s a lot of fun to drive The seats are somewhat uncomfortable especially for long trips If you have a bad back this is not a good every day choice for you The 4 6liter V8 packs a pretty good punch 225 horsepower is decent not quite as fast as the Z28 of the same year but much better looking A few pet peeves the cup holders are ridiculous there is one huge one which if you put a drink in there it inevitably falls out on the floor and one smaller one which if you put your drink in it you can t shift into second or fourth because it s blocked by your drink don t Ford engineers drive these cars themselves the head rest is set so far back that it might as well not be there at all sunroof was not an option I had to install myself for an extra 1 000 br br " Pos," I have the 98 Mustang GT and much prefer the rear end style so I was glad I didn t wait for the 99 to come out The car over all is a great car and a lot of fun to drive The only complaint I have had is that the gearbox is very tight compared to other car I have driven which initially was very frustrating The car handles very well and looks exceptionally sharp on the road If you like to drive on windy roads I highly recommend the standard VS automatic for the fun of maneuvering all those curves Top down or up this car is a lot of fun to drive over the coast highway and draws a lot of attention Mileage at 18 25 mpg is certainly acceptable for a high performance car Even adding the luxury of leather seats a high performance sound system and 16 inch wheels the price is well under 30K The down side is lack of comfort in the back seat for passengers and limited trunk space Headspace is tight especially if you are tall but over all this is a very sharp car br br " Pos," First off let me say the Mustang is one fun car to drive I have read every review of this car and I have to say that people are buying this car for the wrong reason If your looking for performance then buy the GT Cobra or Saleen You cant buy a 6cyl and complain that it doesn t drive like a GT Example you wouldn t buy a Jeep without 4x4 Buying this car one has to keep in mind that this car is for fun and speed It is not for hauling or transporting people long distances Now with that said on to my experiences I recently purchased a 1998 Mustang Gt Convertible I haven t owned a new car in over 10 years and I was ready After many discussions with the wife she recommened the Mustang I have always thought that is was a cool looking car but I really knew nothing about it So the search begins I got everything I wanted except a manual transmission I believe that a sports car should have this so you can control the throttle But I ended up changing my mind and I don t regret my decision at all now I can hold my coffee and drive I own a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel Chevy Venture Van so I wanted a play car The car stock car is very quick Handling is excellent and road noise with the convertible is minimal Again if you don t want to hear the road don t buy the Conv The cockpit is designed perfect for driving this car Even though it has seats in the back in my opinion its a two seater My kis however can fit back there now but the older they get the more cramped it will be Longer leg people might not like driving this car I m 6 2 and with the seat all the way back I just barely make it So test drive one before you buy The day we bought it the wife and I were going skiing The total mileage was around 410 miles I got awesome gas mileage and we weren t fatigued from driving the car The sound system is awesome This is one stock stereo system that is not getting taken out The upgraded rims and tires are sweet but will be pricey for replacement My tires can not be rotated because they are directional tires but I accept that If you left this car stock you would always have a fast sports car for a great price But if your like me you can modify it to you taste s the mod bug has bitten me On a scale of 1 10 I give this a 9 Have fun " Pos," I got to choose a new car for my graduation present I always wanted a Mustang but I never thought my parents would buy one for me After looking at many types of cars I narrowed my decision down to a Mustang and a Pontiac Grand AM The Mustang had so many more options compared to the Grand Am First of all it comes fully loaded including power locks power windows CD player automatic seats etc The price of the two cars were the same but I would of been a moron to choose the Grand AM because it did not have to same package deal I took the car off to college with me and found i could get most of my stuff in it because the trunk is pretty big and the back seats fold down I recently went on a road trip with three other people in the car I thought it would be miserable for the passengers To our suprise the Mustang had plenty of knee room and space to sleep in the back seat I love the storage compartments and the cell phone adaptor I have not had any problems with this car I m very pleased with my car br br " Pos," I have had Ford F250 s in both 7 3 and 6 9 diesels Both have great power and reliability The 6 9 was a 1985 model with over 300 000 miles on it The 7 3 is a 1991 model Both are 4 wheel drive and were used on the farm to pull stock trailers Both get about the same fuel mileage which is about 17 mpg highway unloaded and about 10 12 mpg pulling a 16 loaded stock trailer Both also have 4 10 rear ends which I think is a little low but they sure do pull good The thing I like about the 91 model is the 5 speed transmission the 85 is a 4 speed The bad thing about a 4 speed is they top out at about 75 or 80 mph the 5 speed tops out at about 95 It has no trouble maintaining about 75 to 80 mph on level ground and slight hills big hills will of course slow it down but not to an unacceptable speed Ford s diesel engine is made by International the Powerstroke is basically a 7 3 with a turbo and modified injectors My 91 has about 240 00 miles on the engine and still runs great and will not burn any oil I have been very pleased with both My next truck will probably be a Ford F250 with a Powerstroke br br " Pos," We purchased a Ford Escort wagon brand new in 1998 It was very economical and although I was not ready for the quot Wagon quot my two kids and a dog were With soccer baseball volleyball and choir practice I needed a car that I could fill with kids and or equipment and still save money on gas This car gets great gas milage I have safety locks on the back doors so the kids cant roll out into the street and a pull over shade to hide anything in the hatch from the sun or would be theifs I have yet to have a breakdown except when I ran out of gas LOL and other than a problem with the ghost in the dome light this has been a great family car I did have the dome light replaced only to continue having the problem of it coming on sporatically Now I have it turned off entirely With that one problem I feel I am doing pretty well this car has been a wonderful car for a family that couldnt afford a luxury car The ride is smooth and seating is plenty Good mid income family value br br " Pos," The 1997 Ford Escort is highly reliable but somewhat less impressive to be seen in than its distant cousin the Mustang The compact has a very small turning radius which in city driving is crucial Another benefit for city drivers is the way the Escort holds its alignment After 1 1 2 years of driving the pothole laced Monroe Ave in Rochester NY and discovering many of the previously mentioned potholes I have yet to need an alignment The Escort s sturdy frame is a surprise but this 4 banger s pep keeps pace with that surprise Its speed however does not keep pace with radar or NY State Troopers police band radios Caution is needed for the heavy footed unless you opt for the cruise control feature The trunk likewise is surprisingly roomy with enough room to pack for a weekend getaway with a clotheshorse spouse and an infant s accessories The trunk is also accessible through the fold down rear seat which gives much needed added room when bringing 2X4 s home from the hardware store On the down side the driver s seat is just enough off center to help your chiropractor keep up the payments on his timeshare Additionally the headlights tend to go out a little too often The Escort though is sweet on gas scoring nearly 30 MPG in stop and go driving And with its front wheel drive it s an economical option to SUV s for winter driving br br " Pos," The precursor to the highly touted Ford Focus the Escort is a small economical car My 1997 Escort is a 4DR with a small engine but can really crank out the gas mileage Even today with 50 000 miles I average around 29 30 miles a gallon I have relied on this car for two years to drive me 5 hours to college and make multiple road trips The only problems I have encountered in 2 years of used car ownership have been minor electrical problems with the dome light and trunk light I also needed to buy a special CD player installation kit from Circuit City when I put in sound system However even the base speakers pack a punch in a little body The best part about my model is that the back seats fold down creating a massive amount of trunk space and wide enough area to fit long objects like my hockey sticks If your concern is that it appears to be a weak grocery getter rest assured the designers did a good job creating a trendy smooth look The 4DR models with a spoiler and moon roof and the 2DR ZX2 are also very stylish The 1997 Escort is the perfect first or second car for young drivers and a reliable auto for anyone " Pos," I really enjoy my little red 1997 Ford Escort The size seems just about perfect for easy handling for one thing Also the heater works very well to warm the car up fairly quickly on a cold day faster than my mother s Taurus My aunt actually picked this car out for me as it was a moderately priced used vehicle bought May 98 for 10 000 The only things I don t like about it are minor I don t like the cup holders anything larger than a small can tips over when you turn sharply also the gear shift will smash larger cups when you put the car in park The horn also seems to require a lot of pressure to get it to honk It has a nice rear window defrost I also enjoy the remote control trunk and the foldable back seats Driving is very pleasant the car is comfortable and responds well The model I own is a 4 door perfect for my family of 4 Anyone who likes a maneuverable comfortable small car should buy it I suppose those with large families or hauling needs shouldn t " Pos," My wife and I live paycheck to paycheck just like most of the World does and our current car was falling apart quick So when we decided that that we needed a new car we sat down and talked about what we wanted With a tight budget we knew our choices were limited All I wanted was an american car with a tape deck She wanted a car with four doors since we had a 1 year old and one more on the way and an air conditioner since we lived in Georgia at the time I was very stern about buying american because that s what keeps out country running and I feel that every time you buy something foreign an american worker loses his job So we checked out the dealerships for Chevrolet Dodge GMC Saturn Ford Jeep and many others We looked all around looking for the cheapest and the best car we could find Once we looked at the escort we knew that s what we wanted It had everything we needed Four doors for easy access to the loading and unloading of kids an air conditioner and a tape deck for me The interior and exterior are holding up pretty good after 4 years but nothing is child proof The engine is still in good condition after 50 000 miles in 4 years routine maintenance conducted regularly but the leg room leaves something to be desired Granted the leg room isn t anything like a Geo Metro or a ford festiva where your knees are in your chest You have enough room to move around and not get cramps but i wouldn t try stretching out to much br br " Pos," I surprised myself when I ended up buying a used 97 Escort last year I was in the market for a new used car but I had sworn to myself and my dad that I wouldn t get an escort We had an 88 or 89 when I was a kid and it was one of the most atrociously ugly cars I ve ever seen It looked like a small happy meal box on wheels or maybe just a tanks Well to get to the point One afternooon I was at a used car dealership and saw a silver 97 Escort in my price range The main reason I chose to test drive it aside from it being silver my favorite car color was to get my dad to stop bugging me about one Miraculously I realized it was a great car while I was driving it It has decent pickup for a car in its class and has wonderful handling I bought it that very afternoon I m still very happy with my purchase though I ve had a few small problems with it since I bought it The service engine light came on repeatedly the first couple of months and then we found out the light itself had gone bad I recently had the check coolant light come on from time to time but that stopped once I had the radiator serviced Overall it is a great car for someone who doesn t have a lot of money to spend on a car but wants something sort of nice that handles well Oh and the title of this review is quot Hillary quot because I have a quot Hillary for Senate quot bumpersticker on my Escort and it seems to be its new name br br " Pos," You love your wife but sometimes she eats too much I love my 1996 Ford Explorer XLT It is nice attractive strong and quiet I bought this car to have my family in a secure vehicle when on road Before buying this car I tested similar SUVs such as Toyota 4Runner Nissan Pathfinder Chevrolet Blazer and Mitsubishi Montero The Explorer comes loaded with a bunch of features you will not easily find on other SUV I love the knob activated four wheel drive that allows me to turn it on at any time or any speed without stopping the car This is useful when it starts raining and you want your tires to stick to the pavement The engine is powerful enough to handle the truck but may be a little less responsive in short accelerations I corrected this problem with the installation of a PowerJet 150 There is not other SUV that offers the comfort luxury and beauty of a Ford Explorer This is a car to fall in love Everything is powered the back seat radio and air conditioning console is definitely a plus Mileage is definitely an issue The Explorer eats too much My average consumption improved a little after I installed the PowerJet The ride inside the Explorer is quiet soft and smooth You can barely hear the motor or the transmission It took me a while to know how to handle it It drives amazingly well in straight roads even at 90mph but you have to be careful when cornering I had a transmission problem during the warranty period sort of a solenoid was replaced Few months later they replaced the gas pump solenoid too I recommend this truck to any family that wants comfort security and adventure The Explorer is great for long trips and its cargo area fits more stuff than you could imagine Believe me my wife brings the whole house into the car when we go on vacation My wife loves the sense of security this car provides and she can handle it easily Recently I decided to sell my Explorer and went looking for another SUV with better mileage None of the year 2000 models I saw could barely compare in features to my Explorer I still keep it it is a vehicle you want forever just like a wife even if she eats too much br br " Pos," The ford explorer is a very tricky car when i first bought it it was as if it was a dream it drives like no other and its very comfortable but after a few months of driving it began breaking down and loosing parts very fast not only did it stall all the time and had to change light bulbs batteries etc the cost became very great since i was having to fix it all the time it got expensive the parts where also expensive the car is a very safe car but you cannot take corners fast it topples over easily it is a very top heavy car it has room and has a big engine it handles nice in the snow over all i give it a three out of five stars " Pos," If you Love Quality and You Love Comfort This is the Vehicle for you It s not only sporty but it has many luxuries to go along with it I don t personally own this vehicle but I had it for about a month It was my bosses I used to have to drive him around and things like that The particular Explorer that he had was a 1996 with the Eddie Bauer package What a nice truck It had leather interior 4 WD the handling of it was excellent I d driven through some snowy messes that I know I would have never made it through with my car and that truck just went through it like it was nothing This truck also got great gas milage I can t really give exact numbers right now I don t remember But I do know that for the amount of driving that I had done it didn t take as much gas as I had thought it would No different than what my car takes It handles well on the highway or over rugged mountain roads Either way you go you have great control Another feature I liked about this truck was the fact that it told you in digital numbers what the temperature was outside what direction you were going and everything It tells you how soon you need to refuel when you need your next oil change etc For instance say you put in 20 gallons of gasoline You drive a little while and look at the meter it will tell you that you have 15 gallons left Great idea Ford I like that Power windows power locks combination lock on the door if you forget your key All great features of this wonderful truck As for cons I never found any I would recommend this to anyone who wants a sporty vehicle but yet solid safe and sound If you don t know if you d want to own one just go test drive one someday You ll see what I m talking about br br " Pos," I own a 1996 Ford Explorer with leather interior and all the options It is a classy looking SUV that is luxurious to drive It has smooth handling and and has been very reliable Cornering is ok but sometimes tippy on very sharp turns Four wheel drive is excellent for winter conditions especially slippery stop and goes I would not recommend this vehicle for someone who is planning to drive on rough terrain It is very bumpy on rough roads and is better for road driving People who should buy this vehicle are small families individuals who are worried about driving in winter conditions and anyone who camps or participates in outdoor activities such as skiing or biking Overall this is a great vehicle to own because it is a nice ride is asthetically pleasing is good in winter conditions and has luxurious options " Pos," After buying and driving small cars Hondas Saturns even an MG for the past twenty years I was uncertain about going the SUV route But as my interests now require me to have more room for hauling around equipment I scuba dive I needed a vehicle that had more room The Explorer has all the room one needs yet also has the quot car quot feel I was so afraid to lose As I also commute over 100 miles per day to work this vehicle has gotten a rigorous workout 100 000 miles in three years and has not given me a single headache It truly is a utility vehicle it has the class and looks for going to a formal wedding yet makes itself right at home at the camp ground I am not a rugged individual actually a short 40 year old woman this vehicle has not only changed the way I feel about SUV s and trucks in general I will most certainly purchase another SUV and probably another Explorer when the time to trade in come around But after over 100 000 miles the car looks and drives like new so that may not be for quite sometime br br " Pos," Puschased used with 60 000 miles This is an XLT model and is one of the best vehicles I have ever owned In the 1st 6 months I have driven about 10 000 miles and have had no problems I have had to replace 2 tail light bulbs and the battery Regular service has included power stearing fluid change Transmission fluid change radiator cleaned and flushed and 2 wiper blades in addition to regular oil changes with Mobil 1 5W30 motor oil Excellent The remote outside mirrors leave no blind spots when properly adjusted Handling is excellent stearing is responsive and predictable It is one of the smoothest riding vehicles I have ever owned Twice in this time I have moved 400 and 900 miles and found the cargo capacity excellent Even fully loaded the handling is smooth I like the option of opening the rear glass or the whole tailgate The seats are cloth and very comfortable This vehicle has power seats with lumbar and calf support which allows very comfortable adjustments In my opinion this is an excellent choice for anyone who needs the ability to haul children and or stuff Front Rear seating is ample and comfortable Head and leg room superior to most I have driven Gas mileage is good Wind noise above 60 mph moderate Would recommend this SUV highly Since it has dual air bags small children should only ride in the back seat Auto 4 Wheel drive excellent for rail snow ice br br " Pos," In 1996 I needed a new vehicle and since I already owned an 92 explorer I decided to go and see what more it had to offer quot OH MY GOD quot was I shocked quot THIS EXPLORER IS AWESOME quot I fell deeply in love with something that is not human I had to take it for a test drive well I did and I paid cash on the spot I couldn t believe how nice this vehicle is and to this day I will not give up this vehicle As a matter of fact I m in the market for a new one now and I just can t wait but I have to at least one more week I m here to tell you that the ride and the feeling of being behind the wheel is such an experience that you will want to cherish forever and you ll try to keep it to yourself but you just can t do it because once you drive it you just want to keep on going forever and you ll have to tell someone your awesome experience quot that you will never forget quot sooner than later The EXPLORER has everything that I could ever dream of having in a car such as cd player air cruse the best ride I ve found yet smooth when you want it fast when needed easy visuals and in dash equipment and much much much much more I ll tell you this quot if you like feeling in control or like going offroad or just taking a sunday ride or going shopping in comfort style and knowing you ll be fine in the snow and be seen in awwwwed then this is the ride for you " Pos," I had a 96 Ford Explorer with all of the toys I really enjoyed this vehicle However it does have its faults It s towing capability isn t good the in line 6 doesn t have enough power I know your saying why didn t you get the V8 I ll tell you To get an Explorer with a V8 I lose the option of 2WD If Ford would have not went to AWD with the V8 I would have gotten it It s offroad capabilty it s great either Low ground clearance and poor shocks are 2 faults So If your looking for a sport utility to drive like a car and get car like gas mileage get an Explorer If you want a SUV to kick some butt I d look at a Durango I have a Durango now br br " Pos," Well what to say about the ford explorer limited besides that it is GREAT I recently bought a 1996 ford explorer limited with 54 000 miles for 14 000 Which I consider a very good price considering that Kelly Blue Book value is 20 000 www kellybluebook com Since the limited is top of the line the interior is luxurious and comfortable There is an electronic control center that gives me such information as gas usage and oil information as well as much other useful info I bought this explorer for it s handsome looks widespread popularity and size It does what I want when I want it to I also like how my passengers in the back receive rear air an option in XLT and up Also the windows in the back go farther down than a Chevy Tahoe The explorer is capabale of off roading I know so because I have gone off roading it is not the best but does what any soccer mom sport utility is capable of The running boards hit A LOT of times when heading off the trail So if y ou plan on off roading then do not get them Also the factory running boards are narrow and hard to use I do not recommend them An aftermarket supplier can supply great ones Now let s hear about the cons THE ENGINE I would definetly go with the V8 In 1996 the V8 was not available so I have a 4 0 V6 with 160 horsepower My wifes 1999 Ford Taurus SE has a 200 horsepower V6 Also some of the interior is plastic feeling and kinda cheap looking I have had no problems and my carfax report was 100 clear I definetly recommend this versatile sport utility to anyone with the need for it or for anyone who wants some comfortable driving br br " Pos," With 2500 in Ford Citibank dollars to apply toward the purchase of my 1996 Eddie Bauer 4x2 Explorer it was hard to choose another SUV However I test drove all the rest At that time the Chevy Blazer had the smoothest ride but the inside had too much plastic The Toyota 4Runner was hot but close to 6 000 more than a comparably equipped Explorer Also I discovered that the insurance on a 4Runner was 600 year higher After 45 000 miles my Explorer has operated with zero defects Other than changing the oil every three thousand miles and one thorough servicing 250 at 30 000 miles I haven t spent a dime maintaining this truck The paint has held up to the abuses of street parking in Los Angeles and San Francisco The ride is a bit rough for those looking for more of a car than a truck If I had to do it over I would have waited until 1997 to get the larger V6 The 160hp V6 in my Explorer is pretty weak and a 190hp V6 was offered in 1997 Other than that the interior is extremely comfortable The Eddie Bauer package includes power leather seats with power lumbar support an excellent feature for long drives This is a solid truck that is proving to be a great value br br " Pos," I bought my Explorer for basically one main reason More Space I had previously owned a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 2 door and its small back seat was cramping for my large dog Max He now has plenty of windows to look out and tons of room to move around as he desires It s also nice being able to go to Sam s Club and fit everything I my mother my sister purchase into one car This SUV has outweighed my expectations It heats up quickly in freezing weather has minimal maintenance problems and smooth ride This vehicle fits into my life well I am very much amazed at the reliability of my Explorer I bought my 1996 Ford Explorer used in September 2001 with 120 000 miles on it and two days ago it hit 130 000 I was amazed to have gone 10 000 miles without a single problem except for nails in my tire Those 10 000 miles weren t easy either mostly driving through downtown Chicago s bumpy streets on my way to college This vehicle also has plenty of room for all necessary activities Shopping Clothes Groceries nights out in downtown Chicago carting around my 80 Lb Chocolate Laborador helping friends move driving to school camping etc etc This vehicle s looks are stylish and rugged at the same time and perfect for any occasion My ONLY complaint with this vehicle is its horrible gas consumption I drive approximately 200 miles a week City Suburb and have to fill the 17 Gallon tank up each week All of the Ford Explorer s amenities outweigh this one drawback and make me feel completely satisfied with this purchase " Pos," I replaced my totaled Ramcharger with a 1995 Bronco XLT I looked around carefully read my review entitled quot Before you talk turkey inspect the bird quot I found what has been a gem The truck had high mileage for a 2 year old machine but that did not seem a problem A check on the previous owner and contact with him confirmed that the truck had been used for a 60 mile commute all highway driving This Bronco has all the amenities you think you are driving around in a four wheel drive Lincoln All the power accessories bothered me they tend to break So far after 2 1 2 years none have I ve put over 100 000 miles on the vehicle since buying it it has the overdrive automatic transmission so at 65 miles per hour the engine is running at under 2000 RPM and can get up to 19 5 MPG if I leave the cruise control on 32x1150 tires The overall average is about 16 5 I do a lot of highway driving I noted in another review by a mechanic comments about the cost of repairs in the areas of ball joints and exhaust systems He s right if you need exhaust headers replaced in a late model Bronco it s a major job You can get ball joints with lube points so if you replace the original set with these then keep them lubed they will last a long time By the way when you have ball joints done have the front axle u joints replaced while the whole thing is apart The other aspect of front suspension component wear are the twin I beam control arms The key things that get loose are the large control arm bushings that stabilize the rear of the arms These arms in turn stabilize the twin I beam front axle system The right side is the most likely to have problems it s close to exhaust system components and there are heat shielding bushing collars that protect the rubber part of the bushings Over time the right side rubber bushing can get mushy from heat exposure Just keep an eye on it Another thing to think about this applies to Broncos with serpentine belts and any other vehicle so equipped periodically check the belt and remove it to make sure that the things it turns are without bearing or bushing noise and shaft play Make sure the idler and tension pulley bushings are good If something freezes up you are SOL Carry a spare serpentine belt if you travel in remote areas The key to owning a Bronco and really any other vehicle is in the maintenance program Since in some areas there s more to an SUV than a regular vehicle there are added maintenance points that need to be attended to One of the things that you must do is to periodically lock the hubs and drive a while If your Bronco is equipped with the auto locking hubs you cannot do this unless in four wheel drive so you have to be off road The auto locking hubs are a nice convenience but one of the first things I did was to replace them with Warn manual locking hubs The auto locking hubs can result in too little exercise for the front axle u joints Once these joints start getting twitchy from lack of exercise they can cause the auto hubs to lock falsely The off road performance of the Bronco is good It has gone everywhere I wanted to go with no complaints or difficulties By the way if you are one of those who likes quot mudding quot remember that that mud gets into things and can reduce longevity unless properly cleaned out This is another truck that the manufacturer has discontinued in favor of fancier more expensive rigs aimed at the yuppie market It s a shame it s a good truck 1996 was the last model year if you are looking for a strong machine that still has some not all of the simplicity of the basic pickup truck the Bronco can serve you well br br " Pos," We originally bought the Bronco because it suited our family needs The wife and I have 2 growing boys and 2 dogs The Bronco is a great vehicle to comfortably haul the whole crew around It is also surprisingly easy to drive with power everything the size of the vehicle is generally not an issue We love the easy viewing from on high and the basic ruggedness The Bronco even makes a nice cross country traveler getting about 17 miles to the gallon on the highway Unfortunately the in town mileage tends to hover around 10 mpg It is a thirsty beast The quality of the vehicle was generally good but we did have one major complaint Before the 15 000 mile mark we replaced the front brake rotors and calipers because they had warped This caused an annoying pulsing sensation when braking We took it to Ford several times where they would turn the rotors only to have them warp again within the next 1000 miles or so After 3 trips to Ford we went to aftermarket components Sperry which cured the problem and actually provided better feel than stock Cost was 450 00 The Bronco is a vehicle that gives a lot of satisfaction but is not necessarily going to be cheap to feed or maintain We would recommend it to folks who really need a rugged powerful SUV and are willing to pay for it br br " Pos," The good Bought new at a quot fleet quot dealer for under 10 000 F 150 auto OD A C 4 6 Triton V 8 AM FM PS PB Long bed with full liner tow pkg Has started every day runs good Roomy good power comfortable Fairly reliable The Bad 3 recalls Lug nuts fuel line door cracks When something goes wrong it is big and expensive Transmission slipping 432 00 for what amounted to filter fluid and slight adjustment Steering linkage 372 47 for what amounted to lubrication and slight adjustment MAP sensor 811 14 fouled for no reason and needed replaced I suppose that isn t that bad if you consider it is almost 4 years old However to have it recalled 3 times and to put that much in to it it only has 60 000 miles on it When it runs it is great When it breaks it is costly Had A 1990 Chevy 1500 with 400 00 miles on it I put 399 000 of those miles on it It still ran good when I sold it It cost me exactly 227 97 for a rear end gear at 297 000 miles However I have a friend that has a 1998 Chevy 1500 that has 32 000 miles and has been in the shop more than my Ford He is on his second motor and his computer just burned out last month Go figure Vehicles are far too subjective to lead someone to buy one I would and will buy another Ford at trade in time 6 mos from now The Competition is just too quot tinny quot and flimsy I suspect Ford got the bugs worked out since 97 was the new model Except for the problems I have had the truck is an excellent buy Especially what I paid for it br br " Pos," Due to a combination of circumstances with which I will not bore my busy audience it was recently necessary that I make a trip from Boston MA to Atlanta GA and back a journey of some 1000 odd miles each way Due to the amount of luggage that needed to make the trip as well flying was prohibitively expensive and due to that same quantity of luggage none of the cars owned by the four parties involved were large enough so the decision was made to rent a minivan The automobile chosen was the 2001 Ford Windstar and having now spent a total of 34 hours driving and riding in the vehicle through sun rain and fog at all hours of the day and night I have prepared a brief sketch detailing my thoughts After all I might as well have something to show for my absence from epinions right As a passenger I must first note that I found the rear seats which are pretty comfortable for basic sitting a little firm but not unpleasantly so to be almost impossible to sleep on Since we were taking turns with the driving and going straight through a 14 hour trip after not having slept a whole lot the night before this distance is from CT to Atlanta we rested after the three hour trip from Boston to CT it would have been very helpful if the drivers to be could have gotten some sleep while waiting for their shifts but this was extremely difficult This is partly due to the fact that the back seats are bucket seats and are placed about six inches away from the inside wall of the car normally I like to lean against the door with a pillow to sleep in a vehicle but this was impossible in the Windstar This may seem minor but I considered it a serious flaw due to the situation on the return trip we left at 9 30 pm and drove all night so comfortable seats for sleeping would definitely have been helpful For those who do not anticipate spending a lot of time sleeping in the back seat this may not be much of an issue but if you are ever considering renting one for a trip as we did I would say that this factor definitely warrants consideration as all four of us had a lot of trouble getting any rest while on the road The front seat which is set against the door in the usual manner was a little better for sleeping but it still proved hard to find a good position The firm seats don t really yield well to any position other than sitting upright so any sort of slouching or leaning in an attempt to nod off is not welcomed by the car I should note that the vehicle has a removable second back seat which is a bench seat we rented it without this to leave more room for the cargo but that one may well be more comfortable for napping than the two rear bucket seats we had The front seats are easily adjustable to a wide range of angles handy since three people of varying heights were taking turns at driving and the rear seats recline pretty far back although not to belabor a point this somehow did not prove helpful when it came to sleeping As a passenger in the back seat I also noticed that it swayed quite a bit in the rear I could often feel it lurching a little from side to side due to wind swerves etc but this was barely noticeable in the front seats and did not seem to affect the vehicle s handling I drove the Windstar for the most part on highways The little city driving I did was unremarkable I mostly noticed that I was more uncomfortable with the vehicle in town because with more other cars closer to me the size of it became more noticeable and I am not used to driving a large car but it handled smoothly and braked well I am always interested in brakes and since I managed not to sideswipe anyone I consider the adventure a success Out on the highway it took a little while to get up to cruising speed probably about average pickup for a large vehicle although I don t have much to compare it with and lost a little speed when going up hills but when cruising on a flat road it performed admirably There was no noticeable difference in feel between 50 and 80 mph and occasionally and briefly up to 95 the ride stayed smooth and the noise level it was always a little loud but conversation was still possible between front and back seats with a little raising of the voice remained the same This was sometimes a bit of a problem when I would glance down and notice that I was going 85 without meaning to but once I learned to keep a close eye on the speedometer I could only admire the smooth way it handled high speeds It is also equipped with cruise control so if you like to use it this would also have solved that problem Personally I prefer to moderate speed manually but I also prefer standard transmission just a control freak I guess The Windstar of course is an automatic and I can report that transmission was smooth and quiet It does take rather wide turns and turning feels a little tricky at high speeds but then no matter what you re driving you should be careful around turns at 80 mph but otherwise the handling at highway speeds was very nice I did find that I had a tendency to drift a little to the right although this may be my own fault rather than anything to do with the car and there is a marked blind spot on the right side but the car was always responsive and I never felt in danger of losing control This remained true even in pouring rain Aside from sometimes speeding like a maniac I am a cautious driver and tend to be wary of wet roads but I felt firmly in control of the Windstar after reducing speed a little to about 60 mph even in the middle of a downpour Changing lanes was a little nerve wracking at first when moving to the left since the side of the vehicle is so long but once you get used to it there should be no problem Likewise backing up was a challenge since I wasn t used to looking through such a long interior to the rear window and parking was interesting but these are all issues that would quickly be resolved if I had time to get really accustomed to driving a larger vehicle We had to refuel 6 times during the trip including once to fill the tank before returning the car to the rental agency We spent about 25 30 each time and concluded that we got decent gas mileage for a large vehicle Cargo space without the third row of seats was pretty much exactly adequate for our needs We were carrying two large cardboard boxes five backpack sized bags of personal effects several smaller bags of snacks and odds and ends a video camera a microphone case a couple of poster tubes and some lumber This filled up all the space with little room left over but did not take up enough room to interfere with vision through the rear window I would estimate that the size would be adequate for most general moving needs There are also many nice little nooks and crannies to store things elsewhere in the van including little cubbies between both front and rear seats a CD holder up front a coin holder on the ceiling etc The cup holders in front were a little flimsy looking but did the job Cup holders in back were more solid and were a nice touch since we jointly consumed about 30 bottles of water and soda on the journey We were also entertained by a little fold out mirror that allows people in the front to keep an eye on the back seats We didn t have a whole lot of use for it but it would probably be handy for those with lively squirming children I should mention that this vehicle has a sliding door on each side providing access to the back seats rather than the usual right side only door This is a major selling point for Ford I think and I can report that it was indeed very handy not to have anyone having to climb over seats to get inside We also liked the fact that the child safety lock feature which prevents the side doors from being opened from the inside was easy to turn off just flip a lever on the edge of the sliding door once it s open The controls were fairly standard lights on a dial turn signal and windshield wipers on a lever on the steering column emergency brake below etc The gear shift is on the steering column which some people like and some don t Personally I don t have a strong preference either way as long as it gets the job done which this did There were no aspects of the controls that we found to be odd or hard to get used to in the short time we were driving the vehicle We had slight problems with the temperature but only because I am always cold and everyone else in the car was always hot Mechanically the climate control worked just fine There is even a separate control dial to give a different temperature for the back than the front We didn t really do a stringent test of this function since everyone but me was agreed on a cool temperature but at one point we did try warming the back for those people trying to sleep while keeping the front cool to maintain alertness in the driver and it seemed to work I obviously cannot speak to any issues that might arise as the vehicle gets to be a few years older We had no mechanical problems but it would have been surprising if we had since the car was practically brand new and rented to boot and there could be age related problems down the line that we will never know about I cannot give a recommendation on whether to buy or not buy based on my experience but I can offer advice to anyone considering renting a vehicle to haul a bunch of stuff or several people That advice would be go for it if you re not planning to need sleep but if you re going to be in it for the long haul I would seriously suggest looking for something with more comfortable seats I would give the Windstar 4 stars in general for speediness control carrying capacity and gas mileage but due to the unpleasant experience with the seats I can only give it three Again this may seem a small issue but all four of us agreed that the inability to sleep in the seats was a problem on the long drive and I personally would think twice before renting another Windstar for any extensive trip Otherwise I have no fault to find with the vehicle which performed admirably in the few days we had it And since I can think of no more to say here ends my song of the rented Windstar " Pos," Since our family has multiplied from 2 to 3 we knew it was time to drive a car that could carry all of our stuff So out we went test driving everything under the sun until we came across a bright red Ford Windstar 2001 minivan I do mean Bright RED At first I was not crazy about the color but since we live in a town with a bunch of crazy drivers at least they can t miss us pulling out It was a cold yucky day So when we popped into this vehicle the sales guy gave us the key and started the engine While we were sitting in the parking lot the van quickly got warm This was a good sign The front and the back are on two different temperature controls The front passengers can decide the temperature for the whole crew or give the control to whoever is sitting in the back The seats are incredible After owning a Jetta VW and Mazda 626 for what seems like forever we love these seats We can t wait for our next big trip from South Carolina to Ohio or Florida My friend just bought a Ford Explorer and after her last long trip she is ready to trade it in and get a Windstar She loves to ride in it and so do all of the neighborhood kids I still can t get over how roomy this minivan is When you are in the vehicle you feel like you can stretch out and really enjoy the ride If you need to you or your passenger can pop into the back without getting out of the vehicle Of course after the vehicle has come to a full and complete stop This helps on big trips But if and when you need to get out the interior lights can be switched to the sleeping baby mode so that only the floor lights will light up As far as removing seats My husband does that He says that they are heavy and we are not quite sure where we would store them if we have to remove them while we were away from home That is why the Mazda MVP is better in that department Their back seat folds into the bottom of the floor board That is a nice feature that I hope becomes a standard next on all minivans Two doors Need I say more I am not quite sure how without getting into the minivan I would buckle in 2 children with only 1 door If you are ready to plunge into the family minivan make sure you get a minivan with at least these options 1 Power windows for the front and the back So on hot days you can open the back windows to let the hot air escape and close to keep in the air conditioning 2 Dark tinted windows to keep some of hot sun out and children s goofy offending faces in 3 Two control panels for the temperature controls One for the front and one for the back You the driver will always have the main control 4 Try to get a light as possible colored car if you live like us in the south The darker the car the faster it will heat up in the hot hot sun 5 Test drive as many cars as you can stand Take your time and remember to have your vehicle checked by a good mechanic There are a lot of lemons out there and you have to be careful with whatever car you purchase " Pos," I recently purchased a 2003 Ford ZX2 and even though I have only had the vehicle for about a month I am very happy with its performance The reason for choosing this vehicle was after my wife had read the consumer report on the vehicle we felt that safety was an important feature and this car seemed to be just that The car has a very sporty look to it and the size is just right for a smaller family The price also was very reasonable and with the trade in on my Grand Am and the cash bonus my final price was just under 10 000 00 In this day of high gas prices this was another reason for my choice My ZX2 is a 4 cylinder but I was very surprised with the power it still has Going up hill does not seem to be a problem for this car and the smooth ride for the size is just right for me After checking gas mileage around town I am averaging about 26 miles to the gallon I live in an area with many hills and with that type of mileage I was very pleased As far as the safety I spoke of earlier the vehicle seems to be built very solid and that was very important to me If you are like me you read all you can on something before you spend a numerous amount of money so even though I have only had this vehicle a month I am very pleased to say I am happy with my purchase " Pos," It finally arrived I waited nine months for Ford to fill my order for a 2002 T bird It was love at first sight and at first drive I m someone who does not know a lot about mechanics but is impressed by detail and design The 2002 T bird is obviously a car engineered with passion From the powerful motor and firm suspension right down to the chrome trimmed cup holders this is a car that exudes style and quality This car drives nearly silent with the optional hard top on Take the hard top off and it is still very quiet inside even at highway speeds Conversation is easy though the fantastic Bose stereo system with CD changer may have you cranking up the tunes Ford makes a big point of saying that this car is a cruiser and not intended to be a Porshe like sports car It s a car to drive around town in and a car to enjoy a road trip What is surprising is that the tight suspension and responsive V 8 do give the driver a real thrill It s all the performance I could possibly use in a car and I m not gentle with the gas when I drive a car If you are worried about room inside don t be I m 6 1 and the car is comfortable and fun with or without the hard top on It is even more fun without the top of course This really is a two seater though It s a good size car so many people assume that there must be a small seat or shelf hidden back there There is not The trunk is surprisingly spacious I haven t put my clubs in it yet but I don t anticipate a problem My father who owned one of the 57s that inspired the 2002 recently told me Everyone should own a car like this once in their life It s true This car is a thing of beauty A bit of advice California dealers were marking up the T birds 10 000 15 000 depending on the color So I ordered mine from a Florida dealer had them ship it to me and paid very close to sticker If you really want this car be patient They all get built at the same factory so check around the country for the dealer willing to give you the best price October update to this review I ve got a couple of thousand miles on the T bird now really driven this car It s better than ever No regrets on this purchase Though the trunk is small I regularly cart around two sets of golf clubs I ve driven the car three hundred miles in a single day and found it comfortable The sound system is just amazing Now that it is broken in it sounds just fantastic I actually prefer listening to CDs in the car rather than my home theater system Lessons learned carry sunscreen in the car and a leather jacket in the trunk and it s almost never necessary to put up the top Now that the engine has a few thousand miles on it I drive the car more aggressively Wow what a blast This thing hauls The low center of gravity and wide tires also makes for nice cornering What is really interesting is how people react to this piece of new Americana Older folks remember the 50 s T birds and are happy to see it s back The younger skateboarding crowd often yell cool car when I drive by and I wonder if they even know that this car is based on a 1950s style Six months after my purchase I still strongly recommend this vehicle My advice remains the same though Don t pay a big mark up on the vehicle They are out there and you can ship a car across country for a couple hundred bucks I had mine built at Ford from and order placed by a Florida dealer and then shipped to a fleet center in Dublin California I never met the salesman I bought the car from but then again I didn t pay the 6 000 mark up my local dealer wanted to charge me Be patient This car is worth waiting for " Pos," My husband loves Jaguars He has a current lease on an S type has been to tour their factories in England and has numerable collectables and trinkets adorning our home tantamount to his love of this legendary car So why am I writing about a Ford Escape Because it took a will and determination equal to his passion to convince him NOT to renew his lease on another Jaguar OK all you fellow jag nuts can come assassinate me now but at least hear me out first Our S type was riddled with problems and has had no less than THREE major 147hospital 148 visits in the two years it has lived with us and this does not count the time I had a teeny tiny little scrape up and had to have the rear bumper replaced 133oops Nor does this count the numerous times we had to take it in for minor repairs I wont go into detail of our woes now that will be for another review but suffice it to say I was ready for something with a little more reliability So we set off on a quest for a car that fit our bill of needs sporty stylish a luxurious feel and not at all in the least coverage by Ford 146s A plan aah yes the limiting factor And so we ended up at the Ford Escape b The Car My new Escape is a brand new 2003 4WD Limited model with BOTH available options of the power moonroof and the trailer towing package This model Escape comes complete with a 4 liter V6 engine I chose the silver color more on my husband 146s insistance than anything else I would have preferred black for a sleeker look The interior is black leather b Appearance I Outside The Escape is not an ugly small SUV but its overall outward appearance is rather boxy by my standards This is compounded by the lack of plastic 147fenders 148 on the Limited model which are a distinguishing identifier of the XLT and XLS models Apparantly Ford thinks that a monotone body looks more stylish and 147upperclass 148 but I think the black edging gives the bottom of the car a finished look I don 146t know how this will translate into long term preservation of the car 146s finish but I expect the bottom of the car may show more dings and scratches and be more prone to rust In addition all Escapes have a rather high square hind end This adds to the boxy appearance but does mean more storage space in the cargo area so it is an equitable trade off Inside The inside of the Limited Escape has a much more luxurious feel than the outside It feels quite roomy and the front passenger seating area seems to have as much space as the larger Explorer The black leather seats are quite nice both looks wise and in comfort The simulated leather trim on the dash however does not uphold the luxury car appearance It is too grainy and puckered in some places I don 146t know what would have worked better since real leather or wood probably would have put the car outside of its price class perhaps a simulated wood could have done the trick The driver controls panel is somewhat stylish by day the round white windows look rather futuristic but the effect is ruined at night Rather than continuing to glow their opalescent white they turn black with illuminated dials and numbers in the oh so christmasy green and red Personally I think the white 147glow bug 148 look is much nicer and some neon blue dials would have completed the look nicely The piece de resistance of the dash area is the silver temperature audio console It contrasts nicely with the black surface covering and greatly adds to the 147luxury 148 feel of the car This takes up most of the middle area of the front dash and is complete with 6 CD in dash changer tuner air temperature controls and vents and storage pockets some of which seem more useful than others The backseat and cargo areas are also quite nice The pockets on the back of the front seats look to be quite useful for children 146s accessories and the rear seat headrests are a nice and not often seen feature The cargo area is roomy with plenty of headspace for tall objects There is also a stylish roll up style cover which can be pulled over low lying objects for privacy This can be rolled up when not in use and even removed entirely The entire interior has a uniform feel with its black leather seating and dash surfaces and black plush carpeting covering the floors mats cargo area and front face of rear seats and the tinted windows and moonroof complete the mood lit effect of being in a dark car b Functionality I Comfort Sitting in this car is quite nice the driver seat is fully adjustable in so many ways it would be hard not to find a good fit One thing I don 146t understand is why there are no power controls on the passenger side seat and why the power controls don 146t extend to the lumbar support and seat tilt on the driver side Really if you 146re going to go power please just go all the way However all power controls are close at hand including those to the windows and moonroof and one touch butt warmers so nice and this ease of use extends to the space age silver temp audio console Everything is within reach and self explanatory no muddling about with buttons trying to figure out what does which One control which is not in the best location is the all too important GEAR SHIFT Come on guys Why make the gear shift handle block the view of the gear shift indicator Being a new car I don 146t yet have a good feel of where drive neutral etc are and it is quite disconcerting to have to move my head around to see what gear I have shifted too I am sure this is something that will come to bother me less in time as I develop a feel for the car but right now it is an irritating testament to Ford quality or not The backseat is also quite roomy and comfortable even for a full size adult which I am not measuring in at a mere 5 ft tall but even my husband had room to move his feet around This comfort tested out for both the side and middle seats so there should be minimal fussing over which child goes where As far as storage areas go this car offers plenty The glove box and armrest console are quite roomy and there is some storage built in for CD cases There are 2 potentially useful bins underneath the audio console one with an extra power jack and 2 good sized cupholders one of which holds a removable ashtray This would give you room for a cell phone sunglasses and some change but looks prone to collecting semi useless junk that wont quite stay in place One nice feature is the press able garage door opener holder that sits above the rear view mirror The rear cargo area as stated before also seems quite useful and the rear seats fold down to allow for oversized objects I Practicality Well the guts of this review should be how well this car works and drives and here it is although I can 146t promise this will show off my reviewing ability to its finest I am not a car connoisseur and I know little about the mechanical innards that make them go I am writing this from the point of view of your average driver not an expert on the subject by any means Well with the disclaimer in place here goes I am a truck driver by nature having graduated to my Escape from a Ford Ranger Splash and I was unsure of how I would like the 147car chassy 148 feel of the Escape Well I like it I can 146t say that it drives like my truck but it does have a similar feel including the better visibility that comes with the extra height The car has a nice amount of pick up but it does take some time to switch gears about 2 seconds after I think it should have which can be slightly disconcerting Once going the car cruises along quite happily without any feel of a struggle I have read in some reviews that there is excessive wind noise however I did not find this to be the case Perhaps it is because I am used to trucks which tend to be louder than cars The car has some nice driving features my favorite of which is the 4WD I am used to the 3 option 4WD off low or high with appropriate measures needed to switch from one to the other This little truck has a nice 147auto 148 feature which enables the car to switch power to whichever wheel needs it most This essentially allows you to have 4WD on all the time without the excess fuel consumption There is of course also the option of putting it in full time 4WD presumably better for snowy or slippery conditions Overall the car feels quite stable I always feel like it is in control with no fear of swaying or tipping It feels like a quality ride b Synposis I am quite happy with my new little Escape I will gingerly classify it as a 147luxury 148 SUV because in the Limited model it has the finest equipment one could want in a utility vehicle It has a nice upscale feel to it and it drives quite nicely forming a near perfect hybrid of car and truck I think it makes a nice alternative to both the unimaginative mini van and the fuel guzzling true trucks or SUV It may just make a perfect match for someone who needs extra space for children and accompanying accessories but who does not want to give up owning a luxury car b POST NOTE b While this review is on a 2003 Escape for some reason Epinions did not offer 2003 as an option in the model year drop down window Fear not it is not a review of a 2002 car " Pos," Yes indeed this compact SUV is a gentle ride with superb responsive handling Braking is smooth and crisp and the 16 inch wheels are very nice The exterior looks are clean sporty and have a touch of elegance especially with the 2 tone grey lower body moulding The Mach stereo is quite bold and the 6 CD changer is handy to have saves me from fishing around in the center console for another disc The 2 tone leather seating is elegant and upscale the storage pods are plenty and the leg room for driver and passenger belies its size The sun roof is easy to operate and an option with every penny when you can smell the sweet breeze Initially I wasn t wild about the color of my Escape red but it s really more of a rich ruby and I ve received a ton of compliments on the hue Mostly though I appreciate the safety factors such as the front and side air bags and the ABS braking capabilities On the down side as I glance over my left shoulder in preparation for a lane change the visual is not clear and folding down the rear seats is more complicated than it should be The gear shift lever is too long and sometimes gets in the way of the nicely placed instrument panel The fabled wind noise problem is corrected for me by rolling up windows Folks I m a long time GMC Jimmy owner and I was skeptical of a Ford product Believe me my initial resistance has been replaced by cheerleading for this frisky sporty sophisticated SUV Additionally almost all of the sites I visited through various search engines raved about the Escape More importantly owners of Escapes did too I can recommend the 2003 Ford Escape XLT Premium without qualification You ll be so happy with this vehicle " Pos," I bought this truck new had 800 Miles on it that s new in my book about 2 weeks ago Although I have only had it for a short time I find the ride very enjoyable on the highway as well as through town Through town the ride is a little bumpy but it quot is quot a pickup truck Considering its center of gravity is a little higher than the standard models because of the 235 tires It corners fairly well for a pickup truck The 4 0L V6 provides plenty of power decent acceleration as well as a good amount of torque I get about 17 Miles to the gallon on the Highway that s traveling between 75 and 85 MPH It also has good mid level acceleration from 35 to 65 MPH The truck boasts a top speed of about 102MPH The 5 gear automatic transmission s shifting is almost unnoticeable even under heavy acceleration It is also equipped with an overdrive switch to limit the transmission to the 4 base gears for those up and down back road trips we all love so much The cast aluminum deep dish wheels look very sharp on this truck Another nice feature is the Vacuum Lock 4X4 switching which allows the truck to be switched from 2w high to 4w high and back to 2w high at almost any speed The interior of the truck is well laid out The 60 40 split front seat is quite comfortable and the center fold up Arm Rest tape holder CD holder Change holder is also a very nice feature Although the cab is pretty roomy It is hard for me to imagine 2 grown adults being able to sit on the tiny fold down seats provided in the extended cab The space within the extended portion of the cab is made super accessible by the two fold out doors on either side These doors are very well hidden so well hidden in fact it took me 2 days to realize my new truck was actually a 4 door There is plenty of room for a great deal of cargo back there And loading and unloading is a snap My advice for someone thinking of purchasing one of these trucks is to go with the Extended Cab 4x4 with the 4 0L V6 I have heard from many that the 3 0L V6 and the 2 5L 4 are both under powered for this truck Besides bigger is usually better Once I have had this truck a little longer and have more info about the reliability I will write some more reviews on it I am also planning on making some modifications on this truck which I will also share with you all br br " Pos," First let me say that as a rock star I object to the stereotypical view of people who own pickup trucks as rednecks I am on the cutting edge of music and fashion and I ve never owned a pair of boots in my life That said I must tell you that the 1999 Ford Ranger extended cab is the perfect vehicle for a young musician such as myself The bed is plenty big enough for all of my band s equipment There s more than enough power to haul it all around the southeastern US The cab is quite roomy and the four door option makes it easy to lure 16 year old girls into it The stereo is great mine came with cassette and cd players The outside appearance is sport enough to say hey I ve got style but humble enough to not attract too much attention I got the step side model which I think looks really cool almost as sexy as me Living in an urban area you d think I d have trouble parking a 4x4 pickup not so Even though it s big enough to haul anything I could put in it it s small enough to park anywhere I ve recomended this truck to all of my friends Three of them took my recomendation and are now as happy as I am with it " Pos," I d only driven Chevy products until recently I considered myself a die hard Chevy person Then my mom got a new Ford Ranger SuperCab I went to New York to visit her and wound up having to drive her truck while I was there I mean she really had to twist my arm I was pretty astounded I d never thought myself to be a truck girl but I fell in love with this Ranger It s a 1999 Cherry Red Ranger fully loaded with CD player electric everything etc The ride is incredibly smooth and it has all the comforts of home If you re looking for a manly truck this isn t for you It s definitely more accomodating with easy to use features and lots of gadgets The SuperCab is helpful as well as my mother has 3 children still at home She drove from Illinois to New York with 2 adults and 2 children all of their quot stuff quot and my new living room set with no problems no cramping etc Plus it s still stylish and fun to drive I took it off roading on the back roads in upstate New York and it has quite of bit of pick up and go With all of it s power and superior handling I still wasn t overwhelmed I m 5 3 quot and weigh 110 lbs on a good day so needless to say I m used to driving really little cars Chevy Cavalier so I thought I d freak out having to drive a truck Not at all I highly recommend this truck for anyone who wants a fun handy little truck br br " Pos," I recommend this vehicle for it s safety as well as it s comfort My husband and I liked it so much after we traded it the first time we went back to Ford and got the same truck back The only downfall on this truck is that if you have more than one child who is ultimately going to grow up quicker than you can imagine then you will need to get the king cab I have two children and as they grow older it is getting a bit crowded in the truck Other than that it is a wonderful truck It stands up much better than the other models as far as breakdowns and best built A few months ago I backed into a dodge which my husband wasn t very thrilled with but the Ford never even got a scratch on it The dodge on the other hand was so weakly built that it just dented immediately Even my insurance agent was shocked Not a scrap on it So if you re looking for reliable and durable the Ford F150 XL is the way to go br br " Pos," OK a little background on myself I ve owned two Toyota 4wd pickups one was an ExtraCab one wasn t I ve owned full size GMCs and Fords and I ve driven just about all of the small pick up class brands Second let me give my disclaimer Having owned a few pick ups in my life and knowing the loyalties that come with pick up ownership I am not about to force my preference on anyone However I can honestly say that without any hesitation that I have never been happier with the truck I am driving today I bought my 2000 Ford Ranger in March of 2000 The Ford dealership was the last place I went only after combing the Toyota Nissan and Chevy lots Nissan went out the window after about ten minutes Despite the weird looks of their entry into the smaller truck market the salesman had the ability to annoy me right off the lot quot that excite cha quot hey buddy that excite cha quot whatever Nissan Anyway Toyota almost had me I ve been a fan of Toyotas for awhile and would still recommend them to anyone that had the money and didn t mind having to buy a new truck every few years Thats my only gripe about Toyota They just seem to give way and start to feel a little shaky after a few years of semi hard driving I d hate to see how they fare in real difficult terrain Another minus The paper thin doors As far as Chevy goes close but not quite Chevy seems to have a decent product but I think that if you are going to go for a Chevy make it a full size One thing I ve never really liked about Chevy is that they have never impressed me as a working truck They always seemed too street for me On to Ford Despite having had on of the closest to pleasant experiences I ve ever had at a dealership the Ranger just worked for me Solid doors and tailgate the windows closed tightly and the engine and transmission worked and still work like they should I purchased the 3 0 V6 and so far have had no problems Semi frequent obstacles have required me to utilize the shift on the fly 4WD which has worked like a charm Only once on the beach has it felt a little squirrely But we survived intact I still believe that a truck is a truck and you are never going to get loyalists to change their views on which is best I m glad I did though I guess my ultimate advice is this If you want to buy a truck go to every brand dealer and drive them all full size and smaller versions Thats what I did and it put me in the seat of the Ranger and firmly planted in my mind that my next truck will be a Ranger too br br " Pos," I m currently leasing a brand new 2000 Ford Ranger Truck It s a 4 wheel drive with a V 6 engine It rides pretty smooth and it came with all the accessories and I do mean ALL I love the CD player This is my first truck and it wasn t my first choice Money was a factor since I still owed on my other car and trucks depreciate less I ve been told All in all I like it Besides the accessories I like the fact that I sit high up and the 4 wheel drive will come in handy in the snow I live in Minnesota It also has a step on the side to get up into the the pick up area if you are carrying something in back It would be great for moving big furniture I find it hard to get back into the extended cab area however to store things I miss my trunk Also it doesn t get good gas mileage and I drive a lot for my job THere s also this annoying sound when you don t buckle your seat belt right away It will ding about ten times very fast and if you still don t put your seat belt on it will continue to do this every minute O K Already Anyway so far it has turned out to be a nice little truck for me br br " Pos," I bought my 1991 Ford Taurus L Wagon from a local used car lot in really good condition It said 71 XXX on the five digit odometer so there was no telling how many miles was on it I needed to have a car and I always admired the Ford Taurus Wagons I took it on a test drive and fell in love with the handling and with some of the features I purchased the car for 2 000 doing a Buy here Pay here financing Which I later paid it off early and only paid 1 800 for it I took a trip the same day about 50 miles away from my home On my way I ended up getting a speeding ticket for 80mph in a 65mph I was actually so impressed with the handling and quality of ride I was unaware that I was speeding I was just watching the road I made that trip and back and an extra couple of days on that full tank of gas which impressed me for being a wagon After a while I started noticing the flaws in it I started having problems with the transmission it started lacking Horsepower and the AC started getting warm The rear wiper motor and rear defroster stopped working I ended up re charging the AC retrofitted and replacing the thermostat water pump radiator the original one cracked and exploded could have caused serious injury both front motor mounts and a battery Though we replaced a lot of stuff we live in the mountains in NC and put about 20 000 miles a year on it and I was very impressed with how this 10 year old car took the stresses of everyday climbing hills and pulling a lot of weight with its front wheel drive I sold this wagon to get a 92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Check out that review later " Pos," I recently had to rent a car after a snowy truck accident So they gave me a Ford Focus from enterprise Exterior The new edge styling looks pretty cool It s modern and attractive for a car in my opinion The wheelbase is a little longer than a comparable Honda Civic Interior The dashboard is clean and functional The instrument panel also has that new modern look and feel to it The stereo and a c settings are pretty easy to use and the buttons are well defined and easy to access The stereo reception isn t the greatest and the system is sub par overall The seats are pretty comfortable but lacks in lumbar support and armrest I still found it to be fairly comfortable for everyday driving Driving Experience It surprisingly handled pretty well for a car in its class Very European like feel However the steering wheel tended to vibrate a lot over rough pavement And be prepared for a noisy ride The ride is actually pretty comfortable I was pleasantly surprised It s a bit on the firm side and you still feel all the road s irregularities but it s a lot better than most cars in its class The one thing that did bother me a bit was the amount of road engine noise I ve heard that a comparable Hyundai Elantra does an excellent job of keeping the road engine noise down and that car costs less than a comparable Ford Focus Something for the Ford engineers to shoot for This is a great value and its great fun to drive My only complaints are the noise and the always vibrating steering wheel It would have got a 4 star if it wasn t for that annoying vibrating steering wheel trust me it vibrates like crazy " Pos," I bought my Aerostar Van brand new in 1992 I still drive and enjoy my van to this very day Every time I think about trading it in for a newer vehicle I can t think of anything I would rather have to drive I bought the extended version of the Aerostar because I wanted and needed the extra space I can get all my groceries in the back the kids toys and necessities when traveling to Grandma s house and when going on a long trip suitcases and everything the kids quot have to bring quot along fit nicely in the extend space I just don t understand how people who have regular mini vans fit everything in when going on vacations I can t imagine what the passenger area looks like The extend area of the Aerostar allows for comfortable and less crowded seating when hauling items The seats are removable allowing for even more room for hauling large items We have carried lumber furniture mattresses and even key stones in the back of our Aerostar van It is almost like having a truck and van in one The seats are not easily removed and it can be necessary to have help in taking them out My Aerostar is currently 8 years old and all I have ever really had to replace is regular wear and tear items I ve only had to replace the brakes twice and it is on it s second set of tires One thing I don t like about the Aerostar is that when the brakes get wet and you go to use them they are extremely touchy They are so touchy that everyone is jerked forward when you touch the brakes Usually this only happens during the first couple of times of using them until they dry out It is for these reasons that I still haven t had the desire to trade my old Aerostar Van in for a newer and fancier van I value the extended part of the van too much to get a newer one that doesn t offer the extra room in the back I could care less about dual side opening doors remote door openers or less mileage just give me more rear space and I m a happy camper br br " Pos," PLEASE NOTICE THIS IS A REVIEW FOR A 1998 ESCORT ZX2 NOT A STANDARD ESCORT Just recently early this year I have the opportunity to purchase this fine automobile they call an escort ZX2 I previously owned a Geo Tracker which went completely belly up on me for the fourth time grrr and thought it was time for a new change also being that I desperately needed a car for spring break and fast I didn t waste any time to go to the town car dealership and I checked out their used car lot They had plenty of cars there but I had my eye on one car in particular and that was the ZX2 I was able to purchase this car remarkably for 3000 I have been a proud owner ever since and I have had all kinds of crazy ideas on what to do to it next Hopefully eventually I plan on putting a subtle body kit that will bring the lines of the car out a little more This car is an extremely under rated car It drives me nuts that magazines don t talk about them much if at all I mean for some reason Ford wanted to replace this car with the Focus ZX3 which don t get me wrong is a great car but so is the ZX2 Well enough about how I feel on with the review b LOOKS b Overall The ZX2 offers a very tasteful sporty lines that are a step up from its Escort Coupe counterpart Honestly I prefer the ZX2 over the Escort Coupe one reason only It looks a heck of a lot better I mean when you drive you want something that will turn heads The ZX2 hopefully will do that Also if the factory setup isn t everything that you were looking for in a ZX2 there are plenty of body kits available for this model Knowing where to look is the hard part Magazines tend to leave out this fine automobile and look past its potential in becoming an excellent custom Wings West offers an excellent subtle body kit that is if you have the money This body kit as well as many others don t come cheap b DRIVETRAIN b The Escort ZX2 is powered by the 2 0 liter 16 valve dual overhead cam ZETEC engine which pumps out 130 horsepower stock This car is available with a 5 speed manual transmission or a 4 speed automatic This car has an incredible amount of acceleration The only disappointing fact is that Ford put a governor at 106 mph on all ZX2 models except the s r models which has an improved cam timing and a speedo cluster that goes up to 150 mph instead of 120 mph like the other models Also the s r has 150 horsepower This car is a limited edition car that was offered in 1999 and 2000 But with a little bit of money you can get the same performance out of your ZX2 as you can out of the s r possibly maybe more b INTERIOR b Inside the ZX2 you will find that there is plenty of room in the front and viewing is excellent from inside the car has solar glass that tints slightly to the sun The seats are very comfortable and provide a very smooth ride The back doesn t have as much leg room as one would anticipate but the seats are very comfortable The roof is slightly low in the back which makes it slightly difficult for taller people to sit in the back HANDLING b The car is a very responsive car It will quite possibly turn on a dime I don t know what else to say about it other than it handles real good b BRAKING b Just like any car brakes need to be serviced I changed the brakes on my ZX2 as soon as I purchased it So far I can t complain about the braking except I did experience the brakes locking up on me when turning off of a highway It was rather scary Fortunately no one was in front of me or in the other lane I would HIGHLY recommend getting ABS brakes as an option if it doesn t come standard I obviously don t have them after that little incident b SAFETY b My 1998 ZX2 comes standard with driver and passenger second generation air bags ABS was an option back in 1998 not sure if it still is now but if it isn t like I said before It would be very beneficial if you do get that My ZX2 is a 1998 Even though this is a review for a 1998 the whole design of the car hasn t been altered between 1998 2002 Maybe the only difference is that Escort was dropped off the rear bumper My ZX2 hasn t failed me and I got mine USED with 75000 miles on it I haven t had a problem with it yet and hopefully I won t for a long time My ZX2 has about every option offered for the 98 model It has power windows power moon roof power mirrors alloy wheels rear spoiler 6 disc CD changer memory driver seat intermittent wipers fog lights did i forget anything lol This car is HOT They are very affordable and very reliable If you haven t driven a Ford lately maybe you should start with the ZX2 you will be hooked for life " Pos," The first car I ever had was a 1981 Ford Escort and the first new car I bought was a 1998 Escort ZX2 The only similarity between the two vehicles is the name and that s not a bad thing Unlike the underpowered Escort of old with the paper thin doors the ZX2 feels like a car that isn t at the bottom of the new car price level But the fact is the ZX2 is an affordable new car I thinks it s the best car on the market for less than 15 000 In fact it can be well below 15 grand if you can live without the spoiler and automatic transmission It s more fun to drive with the manual transmission anyway After putting 43 000 miles on my ZX2 without a trip to the mechanic I have to say I m thrilled with the car It seems to have all the power you really need but it isn t a gas hog with just a four cylinder engine One of my favorite parts of the design is the wide wheelbase which allows for excellent handling It doesn t corner like a BMW but you don t pay what you would for a true sports car And if you like loud music while you drive the optional premium sound package with the CD changer is worth the money In short this is a fine car for anyone who wants a fun reliable car that won t make their insurance go way up One warning This is not the perfect car for those with young children Getting a car seat from the back would not be an easy chore br br " Pos," Why did I buy this vehicle My previous car was having problems I needed a reliable car because I commuted to a college 27 miles away I went shopping for used cars but the dealership in my hometown in Northern California offered 0 9 financing on all 1998 Ford Escorts to buyers with good credit I test drove the car liked it and decided to buy it With the 0 9 financing I got a brand new car for the same price that I could have bought a 7 or 8 thousand dollar used car A new car was perfect for me because I needed something reliable I love driving a car that gets 35 miles to the gallon seats for comfortably and can keep up with the two seaters Having the efficiency of an economy car the room of a family car and a car that can climb the Siskiyou mountains very steep in fifth gear leaves me completely pleased with this car It may sound corny but I can honestly say that I do not have one complaint about this car considering the low price I paid for it approximately 12800 and only 0 9 interest When you test drive this vehicle it will probably feel less swift than it actually is This is because it is designed to be a commuter car and it is unusually high geared It is designed for the highway not the speedway You can feel the difference when driving a Contour Who should buy this car college students reliability commuters great freeway car families on a limited budget has all the basic necessities of a quality car at a price us poor folk can afford Who shouldn t buy this car hot rodders like I said before this car is for the highway not the speedway br br " Pos," The 1998 Escort ZX2 was my first car purchase I shopped around all of summer 1998 and bought the Escort in August I bought it for three reasons price looks and handling Price I bought it for 9998 with pretty much no features radio rear window defroster I ve been following the used car market and I ve noticed it s kept its value exceptionally well Looks I bought the denim blue model I really love the sleek lines and low slung look of this car Handling This car drives like a dream It accelerates quickly hugs corners and has lots of zip for a four cylinder engine If you are taller I m 5 4 quot you probably will feel cramped in this car It is a perfect fit for me I don t have to scoot the seat forward much to reach the pedals which I do for most other vehicles The fully loaded ZX2 came with some pretty neat stuff like CD ABS moon roof air conditioning power door locks windows and remote keyless entry I couldn t afford those extras but it s nice to know I could have had them The one noticeable lack was the absence of cruise control For long trips the seats are comfy the stereo is decent but no cruise control is a drag I highly recommend this car for commuters or for mostly in town driving For long trips though the gas mileage is great It has quite a bit of trunk space for a coupe and the back seats are pretty spacious " Pos," My husband owns a 1998 Ford Escort ZX2 He loves his little car He always talks about it and talks of how people compliment him on the look of the car At first we bought this car because of the low price As we began to drive it more often we decided we liked it better than cars we ve owned in the past The things I love about this car is the quick acceleration and sporty look The gas mileage is good for a sports car We usually get around 35 city 45 highway The downfalls are the lack of head room and the loud running engine It is nice to drive this vehicle around town because of how fast it will get up and go It is easy to pass slow drivers and make that yellow light I think this car would be best for the teenagers Thanks " Pos," When I went out looking for a vehicle I had the price and how long the car would last in mind Price was comparable with other makes and models so I checked on the length of time it would last People I had talked to who owned them had nothing but good things to say about the long lasting motor and body That to me was a plus It is comfortable unless you go on a very lengthy trip then the driver side seat tends to get uncomfortable After driving the vehicle to work for quite sometime I found it was very good on gas I drive an estimated 25 miles to work 6 days a week so on an average I drive 300 miles a week and fill my gas tank once The car handles very well in the winter I live close to the snow belt here in Michigan so I need something dependable The bigger vehicles just don t make me feel as safe as driving smaller vehicles I feel as though I have more control over my actions and I have found this particularly comforting with this vehicle We have for the first snow falls this year parked a 4x4 truck we own and drove the escort solely since the truck was all over the road The escort went without a problem The things I can say I tend to hate about the vehicle is that you can only have three beverages in the car with only three cup holders That are also small and the two front ones are too close to the dash so only short cups will fit Sitting in the back seat is uncomfortable if you have a tall person sitting in front The seats crack and creek when a heavier set person sits in front so I feel as though they aren t built as solidly Overall I would say this is a very economical vehicle worth the money if you are looking for something mechanically well built Unfortunately for the taller and well built man this would not be the type vehicle to own If you are a smoker sadly you must pay an extra charge for an ashtray the size of a tennis ball and only one per vehicle br br " Pos," I bought the car because my dad bought the first escort back in 84 and i wanted to be like dad I waited till there was an escort worthy of a by from me and I m not just bragging because I own one it is one of the most reliable cars on the market I didn t just go out and buy it because it was a ford and I looked at the market and it really was the best in power and in gas mileage and in over all performance I would give this car an 11 out of 10 on looks and handing well as for theft protecting i does have some flaws there mine was stolen twice from me in the state of Tennessee and i was lucky to be able to say I have the car in my hands once more mine is green in color and use to have five spoke 14 quot rims but i have to replace them all I would recommend for every one to get steel rims for your escort br br " Pos," I recently purchased a 1998 Ford Escort Station Wagon I can t tell you how much I love it I drive almost 70 miles per day 5 days a week That car just keeps going and going I am getting roughly 32 miles to the gallon so I certainly can t complain about that The interior is comfortable almost like a luxury car There is plenty of room for all the people you want to bring along the dog cats luggage anything that you want to go with you The maintenance on this car is virtually non existent The tires are the kind where you can buy them most anywhere in stock and they are not that expensive I have AC a really good stereo system rear wiper and sprayer keyless entry on the back and the drivers side door Of course it has roll down windows but that is one less thing that can go wrong when you have the electric ones The brakes are power which I prefer not the ABS which I can t seem to get used to when I drive my husband s car All in all I am very pleased with this car It has plenty of power speeds along especially on the highway where I do most of my driving It is a beautiful Sable Green color and is a very attractive wagon Also have a roof rack for any extras I love this wagon If you would be in the market for a wagon check these out I am just disappointed that they don t make these anymore " Pos," This is my first new car and I was interested in getting the best car for the cheapest price and that is what I got with the Ford Escort The price was great and I even got extras Automatic door lock air conditioning automatic transmission were all included The only problem with the climate control is the heat does not get REALLY hot and it does take a long time to heat up this occurs only in the severe cold The air conditioner works immediately and gets REALLY cold The only other quot problem quot or disadvantage with this car is the pick up I do not notice any problem until I am merging into heavy traffic and have to make a quick entrance onto the roadway it just doesn t happen The engine revs but I find myself pushing myself back and forth in a futile attempt to get the car to perform faster Other than those 2 minor disadvantages the car is wonderful It is small enough to get in and out of places easily yet does not compromise comfort I suppose if you weighed over 200 lbs there might be a problem Very smooth ride and easy to handle The back seats are split and either one can come down or both and give more trunk room I notice of all my cars and I have had many this one has the most useable trunk space never have problems with my groceries Gas mileage is great The only thing I have ever had done was oil changes and have had no mechanical problems It is a great car for a family of 4 2 kids and 2 adults fit with no quot room quot problems " Pos," My Ford Escort is my first car I purchased a Ford because it was made in the United States and I wanted to feel like I was giving back to my community in some way I also got a Ford because Ford products are good and reliable products for the most part My parents had a Ford type vehicle at one point when I was a child and I really liked that car They also had a Ford Explorer when I got my Escort So Ford has been a tradition in my family My favorite feature is my sound system I love music and the sound system is good The bass and the treble sound great It has enough clarity to play my tunes and keep me happy I do waiver about whether I like the fact that the antenna has to be manually pulled up But I mostly like the fact that it is manual at least it s something I don t have to worry about when I got through the car wash and for the most part I don t need it for the stations that I listen to on a regular basis My Ford Escort has enough get up and go for me too I have a 34 mile commute to work and school five days a week but I don t seem to need to fill up the gas tank more than once a week for the most part In cold weather my car has performed up to the standards I think it should as well Overall I have no real complaints about my 1998 Ford Escort I was a little sad that they were discontinuing the Escort in favor of the Focus " Pos," I was originally looking for a Honda and willing to pay the extra thousands of dollars I saved when I purchased my Ford Escort ZX2 Starting college in Sept I ll have enough expenses without spending a lot on a car I didn t even know what a Ford Escort was and when I was looking for cars It caught my eye It s good on gas and has the power to get up and go I wish it had a little more leg room in the back for passengers but as the driver I don t have any complaints I drove a Toyota Camry prior to my escort and I don t feel any difference in the way it handles I basically will use my car to commute to school Anyone looking for a economical car should check out the ZX2 You ll be surprised it s a Ford Escort Excellent for moms with small children since it is a two door Being a two door it is a little difficult for larger people to get in and out of the back as any two door might be " Pos," My 1998 Ford Escort has almost 36 000 on it and I must tell you I have been very happy with my car It is a four door and the back seat is very roomy My kids can have their friends go with us on trips as 3 people can fit in the back seat The front seats tilt back enough for roomy leg room My six foot 2 son s head does not hit the roof It is also very good on gas A tank of gas can last me around 150 miles I think it is very easy to drive and compact enough to find a good parking spot The trunk is spacious also We camp a lot and I can fit in the trunk all the gear we need for a weekend including tent sleeping bags firewood and cooler I plan to pass this car along to my youngest when he turns 16 I m sure it will run as well for him as it has for me br br " Pos," I am the second owner of a cute little 1991 red Ford Tempo My Tempo ha 114 000 miles on it and it is still running like a top I payed 1 900 for it and so far it had been worth every single penny My parents own a 1987 Tempo and they will tell you the same thing the Tempo is a great reliable car But back to my car Tempos are great cars for the kind of conditions i have to endure In the summer it is blazing hot but the Tempo is fully equiped for that The 91 model has a newer AC unit in it that always keeps the car comfortable In the winter i have to contend with lots and lots of snow The Tempo is great for that because of it awsome front wheel drive and its ability to start in sub zero weather The previous owner of my Tempo was a college student like my self She took excelent care of the car and it shows My car has verry little rust and the only matenence done on it so far is the 100 000 mile tune up and regular oil changes The only disadvantages to the Tempo are it seats it ability for top speed and it breaks The seats are very likely to make your back sore if you are driving for more than an hour straight the Tempos top speed is about 70 miles per hour so freeway driving kind of sucks and the break roters have to be switched quite often Other than that the temo is a great affordable car " Pos," We bought a big beat up truck so that no one ever again drove into me in my little car It worked This is the best car I have ever owned b WHY WE BOUGHT THIS CAR When we moved to NY from South Africa in 1998 we bought a small zippy Hyundai Accent In the first three months of driving six people literally just drove into us Either they didn t see my little car or they thought they were bigger so didn t care whether I got out of the way Since I was driving with my little son in the car we decided to buy the biggest thing we could afford which turned out to be a 1989 Ford Bronco XLT It has a bull bar on the front a tow bar on the back and metal steps on both sides It is rusty and dented and since we got it I don t think I have been cut off in the traffic once b DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE On the sensible side we get a tune up once a year and the engine runs like a dream It feels safe and solid up to about 65mph but I try to be a little careful about cornering It accelerates like the wind I had to replace the alternator but otherwise I haven t had any breakdowns in 2 years Lots of small irritating things have had to be fixed like the door hinges the doors wouldn t stay open the wiring for the back power window and a side window and the interior light That s just because it s old I guess Generally all the repairs have been really cheap we replaced part of the exhaust on the Hyundai just the part was over 200 the same piece on the Bronco was 19 I strongly believe that in any accident my family will be better off in this car than just about any other particularly in our price range All in all this truck is a joy to drive and I must admit I rather like the image too br br " Pos," I love my Bronco I think it has been the best running vehicle I have ever owned I bought it because it was such a good deal that I just couldn t pass it up I ve wanted one because they looked roomy One day I was out running around and saw it at such a low price I just had to have it So I took it out for a test drive and it handled so well I took it to have my dad look at it he went with me driving around We took it back to the lot and filled out the paper work I got to take it that night I drove around for hours I knew I that I didn t go wrong I just love to go driving around because it runs like a dream is real smooth I like this vehicle so much if I was to win the lottery my whole family would own one If you want to enjoy your ride to the store or just anywhere this is the vehicle for you There is plenty of space to put a stroller groceries and the kids too People who can t judge distance of your cars should not own this vehicle because you are pretty high up and the front looks pretty wide If you ask me you should own one br br " Pos," Our small business needed a cargo van a year ago and you can t really buy a cargo van without at least considering the Econoline The Big Three all make cargo vans that are comparable in size cargo capacity and price We researched measured and drove each van for at least 3 days before we made the choice to buy the Ford We found the Ford to be the easiest to drive and the best equipped for the price no matter what engine you choose The Chevy Express Cargo Van was a good second choice but was a little more expensive and the financing offered by GMAC at the time was inferior The Dodge Van frankly hasn t changed a lot since the 70 s and it shows in every aspect We ended up with the E250 3 4 ton model with the V 6 engine This engine is rated at 190 horsepower and can pull the van reasonably well unless you load it full of tools or heavy equipment Users who will push the limits of the van s cargo capacity will not like the V 6 The ONLY advantage of the V 6 is the lower acquisition cost The 4 6L V 8 makes more power and gets better gas mileage not to mention better resale value if you sell the van before it is a box of rust We have had no mechanical troubles at all and have put 10 000 miles on it to date There are a lot of these vans on the road today with over 200 000 miles on them If we had to do it again we would get the V 8 Otherwise you really cannot go wrong with this van as a great work vehicle " Pos," Are you looking for a work van Ford Econoline is the way to go I haven t owned anything beside a ford van My last van was a gray Ford Econoline 350 With proper care it lasted me ten years I bought another van this year I was contemplating on whether I should try another van I couldn t even think of another van that would have what I needed My vans usually go through a lot of wear and tear I drive around all day from place to place It is not the most comfortable vehicle though and it can only hold 2 passengers If you are looking for something to be comfortable this is not the way to go It is comfortable for many work vans that I have been in I would choose a car to drive around in if I didn t have to carry all of my equipment It is a very economical and durable vehicle " Pos," Needs b After three years of driving my college car a Geo Metro and heady with a summer s worth of paychecks aka more money than I d ever seen I was in the market for an SUV I d spent the last three years hydroplaning all over Arkansas highways I wanted something big heavy and solid to drive I also wanted more power than my little three cylinder I eventually settled on a Ford Explorer I started shopping around thinking I wanted all the bells and whistles namely four wheel drive I wisely ended up with a two wheel drive Explorer Sport The two door Sport is about a foot shorter than the four door model and seemed huge enough after my Metro I was also living in Texas and really couldn t justify four wheel drive I m not the off roading type and when Texas gets bad weather everything completely shuts down anyway snow and ice holidays yea b Gas Mileage b Let me get this category out of the way Yes my SUV is a gas hog My Explorer does have a standard transmission which gets slightly better gas mileage than an automatic What irks me about all the condemnation of SUVs for sucking down large amounts of gasoline is that mini vans are just as bad in this respect or any other vehicle with a six or eight cylinder engine While SUVs are status symbols mini vans are family vehicles and trucks are quot work vehicles quot But I digress b Features b i Anti lock brakes i Not only has the ABS on my Explorer saved me from injury it also saved me from rear ending a military police car as my Explorer slid approximately fifteen feet down an icy incline at a stop sign at Fort Leavenworth Kansas in January The ABS kicked in almost immediately and I was able to stop the vehicle a few inches short of the police car I also honked the horn to warn the MP that I was on a collision path with his vehicle but he didn t have enough time to react i Visors i I m rather short especially when seated so no visor is perfect or long enough for me What I like about the Explorer s visors are that there are two one to flip over to the side and another to flip down in front so that the driver and front seat passenger aren t moving one visor back and forth on a curvy road Yes this is a little thing but the great thing about my Explorer are all the details like an attached gas cap that add up to comfort and convenience i Cargo Area i Very roomy The back seats also fold down The cargo capacity is by far the most useful feature of this vehicle I move on average every twelve months and with the cargo capacity I can take a good chunk of things I ll need right away in my new home as well as pets plants and all the things the movers won t touch like cleaning supplies batteries alcohol Because I have an SUV the Army will reimburse me a few hundred dollars for moving up to six hundred pounds of my own stuff that I would take with me anyway I ve crammed about seven hundred pounds in the cargo area and my bike on the luggage rack on top and could still see out the back window Whenever I buy a piece of furniture no problem load it up Note as a safety precaution if you can t close the cargo door completely drive with the windows down so that any exhaust fumes that may come in aren t overpowering i Cruise Control i Once you have it you can t go without it again I ve driven across the country with and without cruise control and I prefer having it The troublesome sciatic nerve in my right thigh also prefers it b Handling b i Stability i Excellent Yes I know all the current furor over the Explorer s stability I ve found my Explorer as stable or more stable than other SUVs and high center of gravity vehicles including the Toyota pickup upon which I learned to drive a standard transmission I also don t drive like a maniac or a race car driver The handling on higher vehicles is different than cars acknowledge this from the outset and drive accordingly As a petite woman being up high is an advantage for me I can see the entire road and feel safer and more aware I recommend that short people get the step I don t have one and it s not a problem normally but getting in the seat can be somewhat tricky when I m wearing a mini skirt i Turning Radius i Excellent The Explorer Sport has an exceedingly tight turning radius for a vehicle its size I ve driven the four door Explorer and the turning radius isn t as great I easily swing into slanted parking spaces from the opposite direction or make U turns without hitting curbs b Repairs and Maintenance b I ve owned my Explorer for six years and other than the tires the extent of my repairs and maintenance are as follows regular oil changes about every 5 7 000 miles a new air filter last summer adjusted brakes this fall at 62 000 miles some new belts also at 62 000 miles when the original ones began to dry rot new windshield wipers a couple years ago and I had to use epoxy to glue the gear shift knob back on when it came loose All the repairs were recommended to me as preventive measures when I took the vehicle in for regular maintenance I ve never taken my Explorer in for quot problems quot All of the owner operator maintenance parts of the engine like the oil wand and the opening for adding more windshield wiper fluid are clearly marked in yellow for dummies like me who don t really know what they re looking for underneath the hood My Explorer s rear driver side was dented in a hit and run accident when the vehicle was parked causing 900 in damages promptly fixed One of the tires exploded my parents were driving so I don t know the details and caused another 900 in damage to the same area grrr Firestones again promptly fixed I can t tell any difference from when the vehicle was brand new I also had another Firestone tire front driver s side disintegrate while I was driving 70mph on the highway I maintained control of the vehicle and came to a stop on the side of the road Other than the tire my Explorer suffered no damage whatsoever and handled well throughout the incident And now I have five brand new Firestones I have the extended seven year warranty and haven t used it once Definitely a waste of money and completely unnecessary for this vehicle b Cost b The sale price of my 1994 Explorer Sport purchased in September 1994 was 18 168 bargained down from 21 000 sticker price I probably could have gone lower but I had the financial wherewithal to pay off my loan in 3 5 years I m pretty satisfied especially given that my insurance premiums did not increase significantly from my Metro and I haven t had to shell out outrageous amounts for maintenance and repairs b Conclusion b My 1994 Explorer was a good buy and I am loathe to give it up However my needs have changed I m moving to a climate that requires four or all wheel drive and I plan to start a family in a few years so a four door model is in order Will I buy another Explorer I m still researching but I ve narrowed the field to the 2001 all wheel drive four door Explorer and the 2001 four wheel drive four door Nissan Pathfinder I ll let you know in about six months or so Happy driving br br " Pos," I bought an 86 crown victoria for less than one thousand dollars and it never ceases to amaze me It s got a V8 a 5 liter engine and over one hundred and fifty horse power This car might be old but it can definitely kick some but It has a great pick up I have ran into a couple of problems with this car including windows not working alternator not working A C not cold enough and some little minor problems But the car is 14 years old and it is bound to have some problems I have had the car for about 2 years now and I have only brought it into the shop twice Most of the problems that occur with this car are minor things that can be fixed without taking it to the shop I love this car It is a tank I don t have to worry about dying in a car wreck in this car You could probably run into a brick wall at 50 miles per hour and still walk away It isn t hard at all to park and it has a great suspension system The speakers weren t too good though so I got them replaced ad I put in a CD player Other than that everything about my Vic is cool I love this car I am going to keep it until I die or until it quits on me I don t know which will come first It has tons of space also Good for long distances br br " Pos," I had gotten the bug to buy a used police car so I could yank the motor and other heavy duty items out of it for a Chevy project car I attended a Texas DPS state police auction to see what I could get When they started auctioning off the Chevy Caprice s at 7000 for cars with 105 000 to 110 000 miles I knew the prices were way out of line anybody ever seen a used cop car carpets all ripped stains loose wiring bundles etc and set my sights on a lower priced vehicle They finally brought out the Crown Vic s which were all from a different agency and the prices became more reasonable I figured I could always adapt the Ford motor to my car if need be It had actually been used by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission in Brownsville and El Paso The back seat looked like it had never been sat in it was that clean Trunk was so clean it looked like it had never been used When I went to review the maintenance records after purchase I found out that these cars had originally been ordered with 302 s per VIN but had actually come with 351W with Certified Calibration speedometer Woohoo Anybody wanting a cop car knows what this means Even if you don t know it s a cop car this is usually a dead giveaway and means all heavy duty components from the factory What I have found with this car mileage sucks really I usually drive around 75mph on the highway and I can watch the gas gauge drop 1 2 tank over the course of about 150 miles braking Haven t quite experienced brake fade but it is easy to think you re braking when you really aren t and have to squeeze harder on the pedal before rear ending someone power initial acceleration sucks but once it is up to speed and in the power band you can barely tap the gas and it will accelerate quickly and once it is going and you take your foot off the gas it will continue to coast and barely slow down As noted by some other reviewers I am having electric window problems One doesn t work at all and another is slipping while going up requiring me to manually push it up But this isn t a big deal since I am the only who rides in this vehicle At this point rather than yank the motor for my project car I ve decided to strip the body off and use it as a base for a kitcar like a Shelby Cobra or something " Pos," I know this probably seems strange that I am writing this opinion instead of my husband but I love this truck When I was 7 months pregnant with our second child my husband decided that we need a family car I know this does not seem like a family car but it is used as our family car and I would not have it any other way Why did we choose the Ford F150 SuperCab First I have to say that my husband choose this vehicle It would not had been my first choice My first choice was the Ford Explorer In the long run I am glad that my husband did not listen to me I love driving this truck It is so easy to drive One of the main reasons we chose this truck is because my husband needed a large motor to pull his 19ft Wellcraft Open Fisherman four hours away from our home That is a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle The second reason my husband chose the Ford F150 is the size of it It has a big bed for transporting items As you already know if you have children especially infants that they require a lot of extra equipment when traveling This was perfect We could stuff all of the items in the back of the truck So you are probably wondering what did we do when it rained No we do not have top to it We simply put tarps over the items we kept in the back This seemed to do the trick Why do I like the Ford F150 I will admit at first I didn t like the truck It did take some getting use to First it was really big and bulky I can remember trying to park at the local store in town I think all of the other people knew when I was coming because the parking lots were empty except for a few cars Here I am in my big white Ford F150 trying to park Can you only imagine I know if my husband saw me during those first few months he would had probably banned me from driving the truck So what did I do Until I felt comfortable with parking next to cars and other trucks I would pick a parking space as far away as possible so I would not hit anyone Okay men you can laugh Let s get serious about why I like the Ford F150 SuperCab It is easy to drive I like being up high where I can see everything while driving If you are short like I am this is a nice feature It gets decent gas mileage for a large engine I believe it has a V8 or V6 in it We get about 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the interstate I feel safe in the big truck We have actually tested out how safe our truck My husband does a lot of hunting and you can only imagine what our first wreck was While driving out in the country near my husband s hunting grounds a deer jumped in the window Yes you read that right Unbelievable the truck only received a major blow to the passenger door and front window We even drove the vehicle home that night So I feel safe about Ford Of course we had those unmentionable Firestone tires Don t get me started on it If you would like to read my review on Firestone Tires just look for Firestone Almost killed my family by davelaura That will give you some idea how I view the tires that Ford uses on their vehicles I don t approve of them How do I feel when I drive my Ford F150 No I don t feel like a redneck I feel like myself I love driving this truck and would not drive any other vehicle except maybe a Mercedes but I know that will never happen Does the truck drive smooth on the open road We do a lot of traveling and it is one of the smoothest vehicles I have been in I used to drive a Volvo 760 and I would say this truck is almost has smooth as the car Maybe I am pushing the truck a little too much Are the seats comfortable I will admit after four hours in the truck I do get a little cranky but who wouldn t after that long of a drive Overall the truck is really comfortable and very roomy I am sorry men if this doesn t help you but maybe it will help convince your wives why you need a truck I was about to kill my husband when he purchased the truck Now I love him for it " Pos," I bought my F150 just over a year ago and I have had plenty of time to formulate an opinion I decided to buy a full size pickup since I was in the military and figured I would be moving a lot I had been looking at the Ford F 150 and the Dodge 1500 both in the same price feature zone Here is what I discovered The Ford has features that make it better suited for the individual who will be travelling mainly highway or town miles for several reasons First off the fact that it has the best gas mileage of any truck in its class helps and I have the Big V8 too When you fill up a 24 gallon tank that extra 2 miles per gallon helps believe it or not Secondly the acceleration on the Ford was outstanding it was not sluggish at all which helps for changing lanes in heavy traffic The anti lock breaks also offer better braking response than the Dodge I have no complaints with payload either I have an ATV that I drive right up into the bed close the tailgate and go on my way With my weight and the ATV that is a total of about 800 pounds on the tailgate and it takes it just fine without a single stress mark Don t really even notice a difference in acceleration with the extra weight Be careful on the turns though or you might lose your load If you want to add a topper the Ford has a locking tailgate so you can secure the bed without having to buy extra equipment Price will vary from dealer to dealer as you all know but overall the Ford dealers were more willing to drop their price to stay competitive than the Dodge dealers I dealt with Using the site http www edmunds com I found the dealer invoice price so I knew how far they could really go Surprisingly the Ford dealer I bought from went 100 below their invoice to sell me a truck Now grant it it was near the end of the year clearance time but they still beat the dodge by over 2500 There are some drawbacks though If you like loud music like me the stock stereo speakers deck are less than desirable No problem right Get some new speakers Problem is without some severe custom work you can t even buy different speakers That can be very costly if you don t know how to do it yourself Another sore point is the back seat The Ford only has a 3 door extended cab Dodge has 4 doors and the back seat has about 4 inches less leg room than the Dodge Because of the way the back seat folds down in the Ford it makes installing subs or additional speakers almost impossible The Ford also does not offer any kind of convenience console like digital compass and temperature gauge the Dodge does No big deal but here FYI Another piece of advice that I wish I had adhered to If you live in a climate that MIGHT get snow SPEND THE EXTRA CASH ON 4 WHEEL DRIVE I already regret not having it Rear wheel drive only even with weight in the bed is darn near impossible to get up a snowy icy hill I saw 10 or so pickups in the ditch this past winter with little 4 cylinder front wheel drive cars passing them like nothing If you are an Urban Cowboy the Ford is a great choice If you want to do a lot of farm work or off roading I would have to go with the Dodge or a larger ford F 250 or F 350 The Ford handles more like a big car and when you are behind the wheel of a Dodge you know you are driving a truck br br " Pos," This truck is an adventure every time that I step into it First of all this is by far the larges vehicle that I ve been into The triton V8 engine is so powerful I feel as if I could take on any other car or truck in a race Outside if you like trucks it s one of the most beautiful trucks I ve ever seen The front foot room is large and would be big enough for a large sized man In the back there is enough room for children or smaller adults Overall this car is a great experience the only disadvantage is parking this mammoth beast Despite this fact I would recommend this car to anyone br br " Pos," If you are someone who loves trucks but feel comfortable in a car as well this is the truck for you The Ford F 150 series has it all They are very comfortable inside with features from basic vinyl and a radio to an extra port for utilities like a cell phone or a CD 6 speaker stereo The ride is like being in a car instead of a truck because the suspension absorbs much of the bumps in the road At the same time it can haul a truck load of rock and sand and still deliver control and smoothness The not so desirable features are that the side view mirrors are attached via plastic so they feel as though they are wearing out when you adjust the mirrors Also the standard and upgrade tires are a bit small for the muscular look of the body Still they do offer some nice alloy rims and good long lasting tires Wether you are a mom a single person a business person an outdoor person construction worker or a lover of trucks you will be very pleased when you drive an F 150 You will want to recommend it to your friends and family Take it from me I have been in the Landscape Construction business for many years this is the one baby br br " Pos," After driving a car for the past 30 years I decided to buy a truck I investigated the RAM Chevy 1500 GMC and the F150 The RAM looked pretty good to me but after a test drive I felt the truck was put together rather cheaply Plus the dealers were rude and didn t know too much about the truck at all The GM products also looked pretty good For some reason they wanted more money for a truck that didn t stand up to the F150 The F150 is good looking build to last and it was affordable The only thing that I wish I had done was to get the 4X4 But that was another 4 000 00 Never owning a truck before I felt the 4X2 was a good enough start in trucks I bought the V6 It has more then enough horse power It sits up tall and I feel level with many of the 4X4s It feels great looking above all the cars on the road I can see traffic problems much sooner then any car on the road The only problem that I have had is getting use to the rear wheel drive and the rather light rear end of a truck Didn t hit anything just some close calls But that would have happened with any truck I ve had the truck for about a year and 1 2 now and I love driving the truck over any car br br " Pos," I have had my 98 F 150 from the moment it hit the lot Since then I have put over 102 thousand miles on it I have traveled all over the country but primarily from South Texas to Canada through the Rocky Mountains Colorado Wyoming etc Driven in all possible weather conditions I have changed the oil and performed service checks every time it comes around I was concerned with the new transmissions that were placed in this truck but have seen no problems yet Ford did a great job improving and modifying the 96 transmissions Not once have I had a problem A few weeks ago I took apart the engine to check the wear and there was little or none to be seen I am greatly impressed with this truck It is very stylish and had no defects The paint is holding up greatly unlike the 80 s Aerostars that came out It has maintained its smooth ride and still out performs most chevys and dodges unmodified I have noticed no decline in performance over the years Acceleration has always been great Stereo sound is not that bad considering it is factory With the way my truck is running I am sure it will last at least 1 000 000 miles " Pos," My husband comes from a Ford family The only make of vehicle that they will buy is Ford The majority of the cars we have owned are also Fords Ford stands for stability and durability The Ford Taurus is a wonderful family car with plenty of leg room The comfort for long trips is outstanding Comfort should be the Taurus middle name The trunk space is more than large enough for luggage or groceries The car drives like a dream and is easy to steer It provides a very smooth ride for short and long trips As a mother of small children I love that you can lock the windows and doors at the driver s side The doors are easily locked and unlocked from the outside as well With only 1 turn the driver s side door is unlocked with 2 turns all doors are unlocked I think this is a nice safety feature The car would make a wonderful car for anyone The Taurus is well known for its safety Besides being a wonderful family car it looks more than nice enough for any business executive to drive as well This is by far the best car that we have owned " Pos," I own a 1998 Ford Taurus and I have been very pleased with it I bought it in November of 1997 and haven t had an ounce of trouble with it We bought this vehicle because I had previously been driving a Pontiac Grand Am and after the birth of our second child we decided that we needed more space I am in my twenties and I wasn t ready to get quot the family van quot and felt that the Taurus looked sporty or quot cool quot enough but still served the purpose of a family car Some of the many things that I love about this car is the stereo system the sound is great The engine is quiet so quiet that one time when I was in a huge hurry I actually ran into a store and left my keys in the ignition and left the car running I didn t realize until I returned to the car thank goodness it was still there that I had forgot to turn the car off I also love how quickly the car cools off in the summer and warms up in the winter We ve driven this car on 18 hour road trips and it has been a dream to ride in it s very comfortable whether you are the driver or the passenger In my opinion the person who would get the most pleasure from buying this vehicle is someone who wants a really good dependable car possibly with a family that doesn t want to buy a van or larger vehicle It would also be perfect for a person who does a lot of travelling via automobile For families with more than 2 children I would not suggest this car for them because the back seat would be too snug especially if your children are using car seats or booster seats br br " Pos," Brown Wood Grain Siding on a car I know you remember those long brown station wagons I learned how to drive in one of those station wagons I referred to my parents car as the Tank I have had my Taurus Wagon for two years now The wagon seats 8 people we have the third backwards seat I never thought I would see myself saying quot Yes I want a wagon quot but I did We were trading in our Ford Windstar mini van which I liked but really did not want another mini van when I began my search for the perfect wagon We checked out the Camry but the drivers seat felt small and there was virtually no leg room for the middle seats We still needed space yet I didn t feel I needed to move around in it like you would in a van Having three kids we felt we needed that third seat The wagaon drives smoothly and I have not had any trouble at all with it We take it in periodically for maintenance upkeep I absolutely love my car however my husband feels a little cramped compared to the open feeling you have in a van Otherwise he loves the smooth and quiet ride you get Are kids have had one complaint however no cup holders Once you get them use to a van with a cup holder in every corner it is hard to go back " Pos," We have owned our 1998 Ford Taurus for nearly two whole years and have had absolutely no problems or complaints I would definitely choose this model over any other Ford car product especially a probe The car has more power than you can imagine with a V6 installed It will go from zero to sixty in just a few seconds I have never rode in a faster car than this one It is not even considered a sports car and still has the engine and a semi sporty type look The car gets excellent gas mileage too On the highway it rides perfectly smooth without any bumps or loud annoying noises that most cars make It even has cruise control I would be going 65 and let off the cruise control on the highway and the car would still be between 60 and 65 for almost a whole entire mile I thought this was incredible It is comfortable for five and even six people to fit comfortably The seats are very spacious and comfortable especially in the back I could live in the back of this car if I chose there is so much room The trunk is also full of vacant space as well The front has an endless amount of compartments and unique options to make it easier for both the driver and passengers It has airbags for both front seats to improve the safety and also has air conditioning You can add a disc changer to the car if you desire which would be very convenient because the receiver is programmed for this You will just have to switch from radio to cd player and there is no hassle Ford could have done away with their rather large round receivers and installed a regular sized one which makes it easier to install your own cd player but I guess a cd changer was a good idea The Ford Taurus would be ideal for a large family of five It is the perfect car for the cheap price that it is It handles well in all four seasons I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking at buying a car that will last a long while It is worth a test drive or at least a look inside " Pos," We are on our 4th Taurus The 93 Sable 3 8l met it s fate during a winter storm and a tree Wife walked away with a sore shoulder We had 98k and no problems I had a 92 Wagon with 182k and traded it in when I found the Mustang I wanted My wife is on her 2nd Gen3 The 98 DOHC is by far the best car we have ever owned Plenty of power great mpg and enough room for our family of 4 With family 4 8 hours away and 2 small kids road trip comfort is VERY important The 2k model is by far the best refined edition of this car The same basic chassis since its 1986 introduction it is even used as the base for the Windstar If we can afford it when we go for our next car we will probably upgrade to the Star br br " Pos," My grandmother gave me this 1998 Ford Taurus brand new a pleasant surprise and a wonderful blessing It probably would not be one that I would have bought myself but it has definitely been a good car Shortly after I got it I moved up north and had to learn to drive in the snow It was very reliable and I have since safely moved back home with not a ding on it That was better than I hoped for cuz I knew this southerner did not know a thing about driving in the white stuff and there was a lot of it too I have now had the car almost 3 years and in 42 000 miles its only been in the shop 2 times I do not consider that excessive One time was an ignition switch and the other was something with the power steering The ignition problem was while it was still under the original warranty The ignition switch problem did leave me stranded as it gave no warning just died But since it hasn t happened again I ve forgiven the car its indiscretion of breaking The car has had reasonable gas mileage about what it says on the sticker I find it quite comfortable to drive as well A Taurus is not a flashy car but it is very utilitarian and that s good too I think the trunk is a nice size I don t have a complaint in the world about this car for what it is a car to get you around reliably Its not sporty or anything but it is a good car " Pos," If you re in the market for a heavy duty pick up I d like to offer you some suggestions I have two Ford F350 Super Duties and have driven the Dodge Ram 2500 Based on my experience with these vehicles and others here s what I think would be the ultimate truck It should be an extended cab four door long bed diesel powered manually shifted 3 4 ton four wheel drive truck with shift on the fly auto locking hubs limited slip differential four wheel anti lock disc brakes and powered drivers seat in a medium trim level Here s why Extended cab gives you comfortable seating for up to six adults additional cab storage and is still maneuverable When you go to the full crew cab long bed version you loose big on maneuverability 70 80 ft turning radius and don t gain that much in seating and interior storage If you are a contractor ferrying crews and equipment from job to job that s a different story Four doors this is just a matter of convenience Having had them I can t imagine an extended cab truck without them Long bed if you re buying a truck to haul cargo you ll want the 8 ft bed You ll never complain about the bed being too long but if you go with the short bed sooner or later you re there will be something that you can t haul Another reason for the long bed is improved ride the extra 18 or so of additional wheelbase length makes a big difference limousine effect Diesel powered being underpowered is the last thing you want in a heavy duty truck You put yourself and other motorists at risk if you can t keep up with the normal flow of traffic Today s modern turbo charged inner cooled waste gated diesel engines are powerful reliable long lasting and efficient You ll recoup most of your 4 or 5 grand initial investment at trade in In the meantime you ll be getting superior mileage and more raw torque than any available gas engine and a 100 000 mile warranty to boot Manually shifted for better control in adverse driving conditions The auto shifters I ve driven have a time lag especially when starting from a dead stop when you push down on the accelerator before you start moving that is annoying and possibly unsafe This lull protects the transmission from torque overload but also degrades drivability 3 4 ton has a much smoother ride and has no effect on trailer towing ability versus a 1 ton truck Again if you re a contractor hauling heavy loads on the truck itself go with the 1 ton Four wheel drive versatility go most anywhere and do most anything a must have for mud or snow Shift on the fly can t imagine having to stop in order to shift into four wheel drive If you re in deep dodo you want to keep your momentum Auto locking hubs you don t want to get out of the truck to engage the front hubs see deep dodo above Limited slip differential there s way to much power with the diesel motor to only drive one rear tire In my opinion this is an absolute must Four wheel anti lock disc brakes another absolute must There s just no sense in not being able to stop your truck safely and controllably Powered drivers seat enables a comfortable and safe driving position for various drivers Shorter drivers especially will want this feature Medium trim level you get a lot of convenience and appearance options for a small price and increases resale value I hope this will be of help if you re considering purchasing one of these trucks They are a considerable investment that you can t exchange once you drive it off the lot Well that s my epinion of the ultimate heavy duty truck Why did I put it under the Ford F250 Super Duty category Because I think this vehicle equipped as described above is as close as you can come to the ideal truck br br " Pos," I have a 99 4WD extended cab XLT with the gas V 10 engine I have plenty of power to haul a 2700 pound camper I blow by those Dodge diesels chugging up the Rockies every day with this engine I get up to 13 MPG without a load and down to 9 MPG loaded on mountain roads with the automatic This is my first automatic and I must say it is very smooth In 30 000 miles I ve had no problems and have visited the shop only for fluid changes and several recall notices I have added extra overload springs as I felt the single factory springs that came with the camper package was not enough for the size camper I have on it I would consider putting on larger tires when running at maximum gross vehicle weight like I do although the stock aluminum rims with General tires still have about half the tread at 30M With the automatic and the on the fly 4WD switch I have even more room up front with nothing cluttering the floor I d recommend the optional electric camper mirrors This truck is a tight and smooth runner " Pos," My family recently purchased a 2000 Ford F250 4 door 4x4 with the triton V 8 engine I am extremely satisfied with this truck The interior is very comfortable and there is a lot of room Many vehicles made today are based on economy and are therefore made small Not this truck This truck is based on the old saying quot Bigger is better quot Even though the extra sizes makes it not that good on gas mileage the comfort and style of it well makes up for that It s towing hauling and plowing power is amazing Some trucks are made for work some trucks are made to look and ride nice this is a work truck that looks and rides nice I ve put the truck through it s hurdles I ve tested the acceleration the brakes and the shocks many many times After running this truck up and down fields through mud pits and through the woods I have come to the conclusion that this truck will not only take everything I through at it but it will through it right back at me br br " Pos," We have been a Ford family for the past 30 years And will not change The previous F 250 Ford Truck we owned had 300 000 miles on the engine before we traded it in for another Ford and the only reason we traded it in was that it was not a 4x4 We were Truck hunting at Van Boxtel Ford in Green Bay during an ice storm We spotted the Black 4x4 in there lot it was in A 1 condition Unsure whether or not we would purchase another at this time because our truck ran perfectly we were going to leave and let them know what our decision was the next day Well low and behold we could not make it out of there lot because of the ice So we backed down to the door and purchased the new vehicle That was 8 years ago and now we are at the 300 000 mile on this engine and have not had any problems with it nor does it use oil Gas mileage is at 20 gallon and we sure can t complain on the comfort of the drive We use this vehicle not only for recreation but as a work vehicle also Another way to make sure your engines last is to do regular maintance and always use the same brand of oil and the same brand oil filter " Pos," Headline Avid Honda owner trades for All American made rear wheel drive After 9 wonderful years of Honda Accord ownership I ll save that story for another Epinion I traded in my Champaign colored 1989 Accord LX for a 4 6 liter V 8 equipped 1997 Thunderbird in early 1998 Ah the car of my dreams there are many since my friend Mark Potter bought a 1986 Thunderbird back in 1988 I only paid a couple thousand more for the one year old T Bird than my new Honda back in 89 what a great deal And this has been a FUN and reliable car I feel spoiled by all that power spinning the rear wheels And the optional traction control really works you try to scoot the back end out from under you but you can t unless you push that little white button hidden in the console to defeat the system However in the rain you better watch out the back end tends to slip during relatively slow turns when the road is slick I like power but not for power s sake I like knowing that I m able to launch up a freeway onramp without the fear that I won t be up to speed while merging with that big rig doing 70 MPH This car gives you all the merging confidence you need with power to spare While you receive many benefits from having such a large power plant under the hood you sacrifice gas mileage in a BIG way If you drive conservatively you may be able to wring 21 MPG out of a T Bird But if your heavy foot wins over reason much of the time be prepared to give up more cash at the Shell station for that privilege to the tune of 15 or 17 MPG or even less if you REALLY like racing The fit and finish of most American cars have been in question since the 70s so I was pleased to find that this car was well put together Body seams are straight and even and interior members are held in place with relatively few rattles There are body flex noises at times but in a car with such rigid construction something has to give Rigid construction is a major player in handling And this T Bird handles well while flying low and straight on the freeway and gets only a moderate rating in tight corners Why For a car this size it should be much lighter it tends to push the front end while cornering and doesn t reassure the driver the way many lighter front wheel drive cars flatly tackle tight turns However for such a beefy ride it eeks out adequate performance The maintenance has been quite minimal with the first major tune up due at 100K I m only at 45K Changing and checking the fluids are quite easy with Ford s signature yellow color coding under the hood helping you find all the different fluid intakes to keep your V 8 running smoothly This car loves maintenance and pays you back with smooth performance I ve considered trading in this car for an SUV but I can t seem to part with it Whenever I get back in the drivers seat and fire up that big engine I m glad I have the power luxury comfort and security of a large American car FEATURES 4 6 liter V 8 Traction control ABS Factory alarm Moon roof Leather wrapped steering wheel Alloy wheels Power antenna Power drivers seat " Pos," I never even gave a thought to drive any sort of Ford vehicle until it came time to replace my 1987 Subaru GL hatchback with 160 000 miles There it was in the Capital District Auto Guide staring me in the face My Moonlight Blue Clearcoat Metallic 1995 Thunderbird It just looked like a really sweet car The color and the white letter tires on it did it The right price and the right mileage 38 000 ensured that my dad would be willing to co sign the loan Two problems rear wheel drive and 3 8 liter V6 We live in New York I m a young kid and I ve only driven tiny Subaru s but fortunately he went for it anyway I dragged my sister down to the dealership with me and we took it for a test drive The dealer started it and I was very enthusiastic about the sound of the engine The car was beautiful and kept very clean I drove it and was amazed by the way it handled and the way it felt just to be in the driver s seat Of course it could have been because I d never driven such a powerful car before and nothing newer than a 1990 my father s Daytona I put a deposit down on the car that day I went home My dad said it s cool I took the next day off work and got insurance and purchasing matters taken care of It was mine I could pick it up that night If only the rest of the process had gone so smoothly I couldn t pick the car up from the dealer for almost a week because there was 900 worth of work to be done to it Why hadn t it been done before the car was put up for sale I DON T CARE I WANT MY T BIRD GIMMIE Finally I got the car and about a week later the oil pressure gauge would slip down to 0 and the Check Gauges light would come on every time I stopped at a stoplight Now in my Subie s the oil pressure would slip down at a stoplight but the light would never come on and it was normal In the Thunderbird the oil pressure gauge stood steadily in the middle all the time And the light coming on caused me to have all sorts of worry But besides that it ran fine I brought it into the shop and it needed a new oil pump they said I ended up in a rental car driving an Escort Wonderful The car was supposed to be in the shop a week but it was only there for three days I went and got the car back and that night sure enough I stopped at a light on the way to work and the oil pressure went down to low and the light came on I screamed and hit the horn Then I drove to work and had it towed in Of course it got towed to the wrong dealership Then they found out that I had somehow blown a bearing in the crankshaft I was none too happy to hear about that But it was fixed for free and I figured that if something else substantial happened to it I could apply the Lemon Law to it but after that it ran just dandy I ve had a few problems with it my gas line started to leak because it had been rubbing up against a sharp edge on the gas tank and it rotted but this was covered by my warranty the cruise control module broke the windshield washer fluid no longer dispenses and last but not least one day I came back from lunch and went to shut the car off to find that the car WOULD NOT shut off I had to have the battery disconnected and have it towed Come to find out some plastic pin had broken off inside the steering column and I had to pay for just labor And this was at the first day of my new job Thanks car Not covered by warranty Figure that one out But after the pieces of doody I ve driven this stuff is all minor Now the car has 78 000 miles on it and I hope nothing else goes wrong with it the warranty is up I have taken this car on so many road trips it s amazing I live in Albany and I drive to Massachusetts all the time I ve driven to Cape Cod twice I drove to Manhattan once And one time going to Cape Cod and the drive to Manhattan were both complete spur of the moment trips I ve owned the car for almost two years now and put 42 000 miles on it That s twice the average Considering how much I drive this car and pound the doody out of it the things that have gone wrong with it are pretty insignificant It s a beautiful car lots of potential for modifications I only wish for a V8 leather 5 speed and I think instead of buying a new car I want to trade this in on a 97 with the V8 and leather I put a Kenwood deck in it all new Kenwood speakers in the doors and in the rear I had the basic cassette tape player when I bought the car and I thought it was terrible a Kenwood changer in the trunk and 2 12 quot JL Audio s and a Kicker amp in the trunk Even with all that stuff in the trunk I can still fit a good amount of groceries back there And there s always the backseat It s usually just me and Dave in the car so I don t even worry about it but I find that the backseat is pretty damn big compared to the Subaru s I ve driven and the Escort s and Sentra s you see all over the place I have the 3 8 liter V6 and it s quick but it could be a lot quicker The 99 Jetta my dad s driving now is a lot quicker But with the Thunderbird highway driving is something else It feels like you re at a standstill doing 80 I ve never had that before It s one of the best feelings in the world And speeding up on the highway is very effortless I can make the tires squeal pretty easily I love rear wheel drive I just put studded tires on the back last winter and didn t have a problem at all in the snow I didn t even have anything in the trunk except the speakers I feel pretty powerful driving this beast too It s comfortable and the car is very responsive I can take curves at a very scary speed I got into an accident with this car wrecked the front end on some poor kid s Saab in the rain while trying to merge and when I drove the rental Lumina I noticed how badly it handled around curves and then I realized that I d taken the Thunderbird s handling for granted it handled a lot better than anything else I d driven I love this car so much I really want a 97 with a V8 and leather and I m not real thrilled about the job the body shop did on the front end and I m also really scared because of all those head gasket horror stories but this car is like a part of me I love being able to tell people that I drive a Thunderbird And I want to be able to do that as long as possible and I know I can t spend forty grand next year I also have turned into a car snob Because this car just screams quot BEEFCAKE quot while all these pimped out Honda Civics try to do the same but come on I give it a ten Chuck Shame I can t post a picture br br " Pos," I am very impressed with this large people hauler The overall quality of this vehicle seems to be higher than what I have seen on GM and DC vans First impressions I knew at first these were large vehicles I also knew that I would be hauling around 14 passengers Scary thought at first especially since I had never before had the chance to drive an extended version of the club wagon Overall I have to admit once I began driving this vehicle I fell in love with it The interior of the van was rather quiet considering there were about a dozen people conversing The ride was very smooth over all pavement except for on grooved pavement Handling was good and the van seemed to hold to curves very well considering it s size City driving also wasn t very hard Only caution I have is to not cut your right turns to close or you ll go for a joy ride over the curb Now that I have driven one and am a college student who hauls around a lot of stuff and people I am looking to purchase one of my own within the next year and a half Why get one Good towing capacity hauling capacity and people mover And the biggest factor RELIABILITY on this van is great I know many who have had great experience with the Ford Econoline I only hope if I get one I have the same great experience br br " Pos," I just graduated from college moved to a new city and needed a car I didn t want very much just a cheap car with good gas mileage I was willing to sacrifice looks endure insults from friends even deal with some visits to the shop in short I would have settled for a Hyundai Kia or a Yugo if they still made them I thought that with such standards finding a car would be easy but as I did my research I realized that it wasn t The gas mileage most economy cars get was a big surprise to me Considering the lack of size and horsepower that defines most economy car engines I expected my high gas mileage requirement to be easily filled however no car under 13K did that Granted I want more than most people seem to from reading other opinions on numerous cars I am fairly environmentally conscious and I would buy the Honda Insight in a second if I could afford it I expected a car with at least 30 miles a gallon in the city and in the 40s on the highway If you want that too don t bother looking under 13K Echo Corolla or Civic are your only options about 33 city 41 high way Golf and Jetta as well if you raise the price bar a bit more Most economy cars are rated about mid 20s in the city and high 20s low 30s on the highway I am not sure why people are impressed with this gas mileage my 92 Buick Skylark was getting about 22 30 and that thing is old heavy and had I think 2 2L I4 that was definitely not multi valve Some of my friends have SUVs that get low 20s high 20s Anyway another way to think about it if the weight is light and the engine is small what accounts for gas mileage that is 30 less than something like a Corolla I d call it bad engineering May be engine timing isn t as good may be compression ration is low may be transmission sucks Probably all of the above and more I was seriously considering getting a Corolla Echo gets expensive quick after you add some necessary options It is a great car my dad owns one and I drive it a lot Reliable great resale value great gas mileage quiet etc I didn t really want to spend 13K though I probably would have gotten one or a Hyundai Accent if my friend didn t work at Ford Because I could get a good deal I decided to check out some Ford cars I am not the biggest fan of Ford and even though I own one now I definitely can t say I trust it But with dealer and factory incentives thrown in the Escort was the best deal I found believe me I looked at every economy car more times than I ever thought I d need to and it is definitely one of the best looking compacts out there I don t want to bore you with the details of everything you get in this car I would recommend that you go to the Ford site and check it out But here is a short list of things that Escort had that many others didn t rear defogger yeah really 15 tires aluminum wheels cassette deck remote trunk 60 40 seats spoiler power mirrors tachometer intermittent wipers etc Also you get keyless entry if you opt for the power group In no other car I found do you get as much included and after all is said and done the car was less than 10500 withOUT the college rebate i didn t end up using my friend at ford this was a lower a price than he could get I also think it is the best looking car under 13K and it holds its own for higher priced cars Most people compliment me on the car and everyone thinks it cost a lot more So I didn t have to deal with insults from friends after all And it doesn t say Escort on it anywhere if you get the 2001 model I had the car for about 2 months and 2600 miles including some long road trips One thing to note is that it is a four seater There is no middle seat belt Check the roominess stats on your favorite car web site it isn t much even Corolla has more hip room in the back but it is enough Four people are comfortable and five people is manageable There was no complaining from three passengers in the back after over eight hours in the car and I got my share back there too Also the trunk is small Coupes are not hatchbacks As far as trunk room you d do better with almost anything else Echo Focus Corolla Civic except may be for the Accent But again I think the trunk is sufficient 5 people fit their stuff for a 5 days trip with no problems including sleeping bags OK now for actual driving The car is noisy Perhaps not too noisy if you are used to driving Ferrari s but it is very noisy if you are used to Corollas Noise is definitely hard to ignore if the radio is off it is virtually impossible Having a conversation with someone is hard with normal voice Road and wind noise are enough but the engine also makes a lot more noise after about 3000 RPMs And then there is a lot more noise after about 5000 RPMs My recommendation is test drive it take it on the highway roll the windows up and see if its managable Oh turn the radio and the sales person off until you want them back on The engine is pretty fast and the tranny is responsive Unfortunately this is my first manual transmission car so my opinion is fairly unsubstantiated Somewhere I saw the acceleration stat of 0 60 in 7 8 seconds It seems about right and this is fast for a compact Its on par with cars like the Eclipse The other day I left a 300ZX in the dust yeah yeah you don t have to tell me he was probably asleep but it still felt nice Seriously though this car is fast enough to be fun No old lady will pass you as you are trying to merge You will need to shift a little more the gear ratio is definitely shifted to the low end Expect to shift out of first almost immediately and expect to be in 5th at about 45 if you want power though 2nd gear will carry you into the 60s Oh and a huge disappointment to me the transmission is not overdrive It is listed as overdrive on a number of websites and I thought it was but it isn t Expect about 3000RPMs at 70mph My guess is this is largely responsible for low gas mileage reported 27 33 although I ve been getting more like 24 29 though its still early to count As far as raw speed passing power Rest assured there is enough of it I was a little concerned with the engine being at 3000RPMs at 70mph but there is no reason to be I trust you ll keep this a secret but on a recent road trip I took the car up to about 110mph with a full trunk and 5 people in the car And the engine was still comfortable at around 5000RPMs red line is at 6500 Assuming there is no governor on it this car will easily top out the speedometer 120 Now the point isn t that you should drive that fast the tires are only B rated but to convince you that there is plenty of extra power to pass even at high speeds As far as reliability I still don t really trust it It doesn t really feel like a solidly built car although I am sure don t know though that it compares very well with cars in the 10K range And supposedly the reliability ratings for new escorts have been decent One example of questionable cost cutting is that the alternator is rated at 48AMPS and is a heavy duty model Most cars in fact all other cars I saw use at least an 80AMP alternator Odds are the thing will need replacement early especially if you are using lots of utilities on the car I think this review is getting pretty long but hopefully I gave you more than a re listing of features you can find anywhere else For the money it was a good car I sacrificed gas mileage and reliability to get this deal If those things are very important go with a Corolla or a Civic you will make up the difference in price when you sell I checked blue book values If you want bottom priced car and can get this car for around 11K without options I think you are getting a better deal than you would with an Accent or a Kia Rio If above else you want a good looking car with some pep for cheap this is definitely among the strongest contenders especially if they offer 1500 back again However if you see yourself spending 13K or so on this car I would definitely say give some other cars a very close look Another thing to remember is that this is either the last year or close to it for the Escort The Focus is replacing this car and the ZX3 has the same engine but is a much better overall car Without cash back the two cars cost almost the same " Pos," About 6 months ago I purchased a brand new 2001 ZX2 right off the lot and since then I ve learned a whole lot about cars including one thing This car tricked me into buying it It has a sleek sexy exterior as well as a playfully agressive stance that looks very sporty and fast The interior has very comfortable seating and the 4 cyl Z Tech engine peels this little car off the line every time you floor the gas But if you re looking for a contender in the sports car class this isn t it Don t let it trick you too Those of you who are interested in building a hot street racer or just tricking out your car for fun should definately get this car There is room for improvement in all areas and if you re seen driving this car with some hot ground effects on it you ll definately turn heads because not many parts are out for the ZX2 If you really want something that can talk the talk and walk the walk from off the lot then you might want to consider another car such as the VW Jetta or the Honda Prelude However if you re looking for a beautiful and affordable ride that looks and feels sexy and sporty but won t get you a ticket this is the car for you I bought the ZX2 because at the time I just wanted something new fully loaded and affordable and this is what I ended up with In retrospect I would have much rather invested my money in something with less extras and more horses If the Ford Mustang were a bar of soap the ZX2 is what it would look like after about 10 uses I think everyone looking for a new sporty and affordable car should at least give the Escort a test drive It s such a well rounded 4 banger for the price that it s hard to form an opinion for or against the car You ll just have to go see for yourself " Pos," I ordered my ZX2 on Jan 22 before I read the opinions already written I now have around 2 000 miles on it and I really like the car a lot I was ready to hate the car because it took 10 weeks from day of order to day of delivery I was also prepared to be disappointed in the performance of the car because I read some of the negative comments on this page Neither have been the case the car is a 4 speed with cruise control which works extremely well even on hills I ve been driving small Fords since 1972 when I got a Pinto and have gone through the Pintos and the Escorts ever since This car is as good or better than any of the others that we ve owned It s fun to drive very comfortable for the two of us that own it and use it It wouldn t be a good choice for a family only seats 4 but it does have a good sized trunk My gas mileage is regularly in the 30 mph range I do a lot of short trips and a few 100 mile trips and the mileage has been around 30 every time we ve filled it I didn t get the cd in it just the radio and cassette player so have no problem with a cd changer in the trunk It does step right out when you want to go unlike some cars that take forever to reach the 65 speed limit on our expressways The only problem I have at this time is that we can t find a good place to mount the deer whistlers that we put on all of our vehicles I ended up paying a little under 14 000 for the car with cruise control comfort group which included air conditioning and the power package which gave me power windows door locks and keyless entry That was after a 1500 Ford rebate I haven t even found any little things that require taking it back to the dealer like you usually do when you buy a new car or used one for that matter " Pos," Due to the many emails and enquiries I have had concerning my original Epinion on the 89 Ford Probe I am writing an update to that Epinion For some reason Epinions won t let me edit my old Epinion and so I am writing a new one The old Epinion can be found at http crimson epinions com auto review 1F78 E3A62CD 382F40DA bd3 It s now been a year since I wrote the first epinion on my 89 Ford Probe and I would like to say that the car is still running great although I have had to do a few more repairs The car is nearly 12 years old now and I have had it for 6 It s now got near enough to 180 000 miles The Body is still solid and showing very few signs of rust although the Ohio weather has not been great on some of the underside The brakes have started making horrid noise in reverse and I haven t yet been able to figure out why even though I have changed all the brakes The other problem that has recently cropped up is with the factory CD player and stereo The lights in the lcd radio display have burned out and the CD player is being less than cooperative these days It seems that the CD player uses a plastic gear system to pull the CD in and out of the player and I believe that a few cogs have broken off of the gears Sometimes the CD will not go all the way in and begins to make an awful clicking sound I think that the lazer is near to burning out as well It tends to skip alot easier these days However the stereo is a minor detail and really I m quite surprised it has lasted this long The original factory paint has faded a good deal as well The roof of the car has become somewhat dull over the past few years and the paint seems to be rather thin up there by now I don t know that this is due to poor craftmanship or whether it s due to Ohio s harsh weather I still highly recommend the 1989 Ford Probe however because of the general reliability of the car and the lack of major repair work that I have had to do on it I recently drove the car all the way to Chicago from Ohio and this was a 7 hour drive and we spent a good hour and a half sitting in a traffic jam the car did not overheat at all and we made it nearly the entire way on one tank of gas I didn t have to fill up till we got within 20 minutes of Chicago and if it weren t for the huge traffic jam we probably would have made it all the way without needing to fill up again br br " Pos," I bought my 1990 Ford Probe LX 3 0L V6 about 4 years ago Since then I ve had to replace the brakes front rotors the radiator and a few radiator hoses a power steering hose and the rear wiper motor Also it is in need of some new injectors It now has 125k miles These are all expected normal wear and tear items The motor and transmission have been ROCK SOLID The 3 0L is a really tough motor no wonder it is in just about all the other Fords Ranger Taurus Sable Aerostar Windstar Tempo Topaz and the Mazda pickups The Manual transmission is very strong and it shifts very smoothly and is the perfect match to the 3 0L V6 motor Handling on snow and ice are pretty good if you are careful studded or all season tires help tremendously I basically have no problems dropping a gear and passing people if I have to There is PLENTY of trunk space under the hatch and good space up front however typical of a car like this the rear seats are fairly cramped The perspective from the drivers seat is excellent You can raise or lower your seat with the automatic controls on the side as well to help with visibility and comfort I really like being able to see the hood when I drive as well as the pop up headlights good for aiming the car down the road All of the power options are nice Power windows power steering power seats power mirrors power antenna etc Anti lock brakes come in handy on ice believe me I KNOW living in Alaska For you gear heads into modifying cars the 3 0 seems to be very responsive I installed a cat back exhaust w high flow muffler and a K N Filter The thing growls and rumbles alot like a V8 Suprises alot of Honda and other 4 cyl owners out there Cars that I owned previous to this one 1985 Ford Escort 1987 Toyota Celica GT 1991 Toyota Celica GT S 1991 Nissan 240SX 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS " Pos," Now first off my title might be a bit misleading Owning an Escort doesn t make you spoiled by any means Its not like my parents went out and bought me luxury car or anything As a matter of fact my parents didn t go out and buy me anything I bought it myself and I also make my own insurance payments I am not looking for wide spread acclaim by stating that just that I am not a materialistic suburban brat Now to the car b I love my car The ZX2 I own the four door model which is quite different than the ZX2 pictured by opinions Mine is actually the exact car they show in the 1998 escort picture only mines a 99 The ZX2 is a two door model that has more of a pinched tail end and a bit more of a bullet shape overall It s the sporty Escort My best friend owns a ZX2 and she couldn t be more pleased with it Although its not the car of her dreams it is still her baby and she couldn t be happier The Sedan Most people don t associate a real car with the Escort name I have heard time and again Wow Escorts have changed this is like i a car i Now as intellectual as this comment might sound it is all to true Up until recent years Escorts have been cheep looking hatchbacks The Escort of today has a much larger body and a spacey interior The sad news is that you can say goodbye to the sedan After 1999 they are being replaced by the Focus which is an equally cute car if you ask me But the Escort legacy isn t going to dye so soon Ford is planning on keeping the ZX2 around for a while b My ties to the Escort This is my third Escort Yes my third When I first got my license I drove around in the car my step grandmother had driven since she bought it brand new in 1982 Ha Yes I drove an 1982 manual Escort with no air conditioning or any other perks for that matter including a radio Not to mention the 250 000 miles it had racked up But that was just fine I loved it because it was a car it was my car However it started to encounter some mechanical problems finally and we The rents and my self thought best if I got a bit newer car because they didn t want me to be a 16 year old female stranded on the road somewhere So I went with them to get a newer car We got a 1994 Escort This one had air a CD player power mirrors and power seatbelts so I did manage to get some more stuff That was a plus but not necessity I grew to love that car I really did The only problem it has was one of the speakers had been blown out by the previous owner But the problem was solved when I asked my mom buy me speakers for Christmas Then the next problem came my CD player died I was able to pick up a Pioneer flip face CD player nice stuff at Best Buy on Sale It cost me 250 but it was nice and it has and will last me for quite some time For a surprise my mom paid for that for my birthday though She didn t have to and I told her that But she did and I love it And those were the only two problems I ever had with the car Just the audio system Other than that I loved it and it loved me However a couple of months back I learned the inevitable lesson that you can t drive through other cars And I lost my car to the totaled gods Because I bought the car so cheep I worked my finagling powers I ended up making a bit of cash off the wreck Because when the car is totaled the insurance company gives you market value of the car So after a month of no car I went on a search for another car With the money I had made off the accident I was able to spring for a nicer car Although I was looking at 1997 s originally I realized that I could spend about the same for a 1999 At the time I thought I had a job that was an hour or more away so I sprung for the 99 Again I love my car I have an automatic remote keyless entry power mirrors and all that fun stuff I honestly love my car and better yet I was able to get the old speakers and CD player installed into the new car So everything is great Mechanically the car is wonderful b My friends do it so should I All of my friends sadly own Escorts It is a very practical car for a teenager to drive They are cheep have great gas mileage cheep to insure I mean come on how perfect is that M drives a 98 ZX2 so far no problems and no costs outside of gas and oil changes L owns a 97 four door so far no problems and no costs outside of gas and oil changes J owns a 93 two door so far only problem was when car was side swiped and insurance paid for the fixing out side of that no costs outside of gas and oil changes Me and L own 99 four door sedans surprise surprise so far no problems and no costs outside of gas and oil chnges B owns a 95 Neon poor poor B has had to put her car in the shop for the check engine light poor poor girl she should have bought an Escort b The car I haven t told you about the car What is there to say I have no complaints It says something that I have gone out and bought two of the same car It says something that the 1982 Escort with 250 000 miles was still going Fords have a bad rep with some people Maybe they have been burned before but I am happy as a pig in mud I could sit here and tell you that the car has decent pick up I can tell you that I have had nothing but success I could even tell you about how comfortable the seats are but I think the fact that so many are on the road lets the car speak for itself Have you driven a Ford lately b br br " Pos," My husband and I were looking for a new vehicle our first and decided on a Ford Escort The price was right between eleven and twelve thousand dollars and the four doors are appropriate for a family of four The back seat fits 2 car seats but not much else Trunk space is great if you are going on a nearby vacation or camping somewhere It fits a stroller diaper bag and other baby supplies beautifully Driving is smooth but the passengers feel all bumps The one thing I really dislike about my car is the engine noise is extremely loud You hear every little shift and brake the car makes One of the bonuses though is the power brakes steering windows and doors There is expandable leg room for the front and the bucket seats also recline I really feel this car is great in price size and comfort for new parents I love to drive my car and with 2 kids everything seems to fit well into the trunk for long trips to the grocery store or Grandma s house " Pos," About a year and 1 2 ago my motor went in my 1990 Cavalier So I started to look for a used car I was looking for something a little sporty but reasonable to afford Because my kids are older and have their own cars now I do not need the old fashion station wagons to cart them and their friends around in I looked at many models and at many dealers I found a few to be at my interest After review loan and interest with banks I found that buying a brand new car my payment would be fairly close to the payment for a used car I decided at that point to look at the 1999 Escorts I went to the dealer and the model that was in the show room was an awesome color very sporty looking It didn t have all the option I was looking for so the dealing order up the parts and had the options added I took it for a test drive and bought it I never had a brand new car before so this was very exciting I have it it for one year now and I love it It has power locks sunroof rear spoiler mag wheel and lots of power I would just like you all to know before purchasing a used car and someone else s headache check into what it will cost you to buy a brand new one It s well worth the feeling of owning a brand new one br br " Pos," I recently purchased a 1999 Ford Escort The company handled my questions quickly and efficiently My car was and is a great buy It gets great mileage and a full tank usually costs around 11 00 with gas prices being 1 21 The Escort is a nice economy sized car and is excellent for the whole family The back seat can be pulled down for more room for larger things The trunk is midsize and can fit almost anything The crash rating is high I had a little fender bender and Ford fixed it quickly in a week or less The sound system makes you feel like you are there at a concert Even better is that some Escorts have a 6 cd changer in them Problems with the Escort is the bumpy ride I am used to bigger cars this is quite a change More noise retention is needed with this car This car is small and along with it come small shocks The tire rims always need cleaning I can clean them and go driving for an hour just to come back and have them dirty again The windshield wipers wash the rain off but some of it stays on the side of the window The wind pushes you around also and can be scary at times This is a great car I bought it because I like small cars and I feel safe in it The drive once you get used to it is nice br br " Pos," I am 19 years old and have had my ZX2 for a little over a year I m happy to say that it has proved to be quite reliable When I went looking for my first car my father and I looked at every conceivable small car on the market Tercel Corolla Civic Protege Contour Mirage Saturn SL2 and Sentra Except for the Saturn all of these small cars were excellent The Saturn is sold by great dealers but the car itself is unrefined So why did I buy the ZX2 Well first off the ZX2 had the most horsepower 130 Only the Contour with the V 6 had more 170 Also I had just read an article in the May 1997 issue of Car and Driver in which the ZX2 came in first place when compared to other small coupes Moreover Consumer s Reports had rated the 99 model at above average reliability something that other domestic sedans Cavalier and Neon could not say But enough with the boring stuff what the car is like in action is what convinced me to buy Performance I can t say enough about this car s acceleration but 0 60 in 8 0 seconds should sum it up pretty well The car has plenty of power in 5th gear therefore when I want to pass on the parkway a downshift into 4th is not needed There are some drawbacks to this engine though It is kind of noisy at speeds above 3 000 rpm but that s O K most small 4 cylinders are More annoying is that when the A C is on the compressor is always cycling turning on and off and it makes it feel as though the car has misfired However after reading some newspaper articles about the ZX2 it turns out this is normal Ford intended the A C to cycle to save gas Once the engine gets this car moving the suspension does not let you down The handling is awesome This car inspires confidence in the driver and the tires have never squealed on me yet The ride is pretty good too Most of the large potholes are absorbed well and the suspension makes a nice thud noise Braking is O K My car is equipped with ABS but the brakes don t have an initial grippy feel Interior The seats are nicely shaped up front and the back seat is not bad for hauling around friends I just recently completed a two hour road trip and the car proved comfortable coming and going The cruise control keeps the set speed very well The factory installed power moon roof has never leaked No problems with the power windows locks or keyless entry I did have an after market CD player put in the dash and because of the oval pod I had to pay 50 to get a special faceplate Overall I am very pleased with my decision to buy the ZX2 There are times however when I would have liked to have the extra two doors of a sedan but whenever I long for those two doors the admiring looks I get from other drivers in their dowdy sedans SUVs and minivans always changes my mind Not to mention the internal joy I get when I drive this car IT IS JUST PLAIN FUN " Pos," The ZX2 seems to be breaking away from the overall quot Escort quot category While there is still a small quot Escort quot on the back there is a large ZX2 in script on the rear window rear bumper and on the backs of the front seats And there s a good reason for this This isn t an Escort It s more like a slightly smaller Probe The engine is a Contour engine so it has a bit more getup and go It still pulls a bit too much RPM when you floor it but it s better than a Plymouth Breeze or Dodge Stratus Inside there is surprising room I m 6 5 quot tall and I actually have headroom Shoulder room is a little less But it s less in everything but the most quot luxury quot cars these days There actually seems to be more leg room than there is in the Taurus The car looks sporty Which is something you can t say about any of the other Fords save the Mustang And the Mustang has rear wheel drive and costs a couple grand more The car does sit a little higher off of the road than most sporty vehicles It handles well but doesn t quit stick to the corner Gearing is good The automatic transmission is smooth The model I purchased came with everything Power windows power doors a 6 cd changer power mirrors anchored floor mats fancy wheels larger tires tilt steering wheel and the price tag was still around 16K To get the same ammenities on any other car I looked out would have taken the price over the 20K mark The seats are nicely designed but slightly small If you re not over 6 and not over 200 lbs you probably won t notice this The sound system is excellent Other controls are easy to reach Though the horn needs to be a little more sensitive Outside mirrors are adequate though they seem a bit chintzy They do the job But that s all The cabin is a bit noisy during acceleration but about what you d expect for a subcompact with a bigger than normal engine in it Cornering in normal driving is good but sharp cornering is not quite what it should be " Pos," Ok anyone who is looking for a car under 17 000 that is a coupe should take a look at the Ford Escort Zx2 This car has a lot to offer including exceptional power a 130HP Ztech engine The Automatic will cost more but I think it is funner to drive Lets hope that Ford dosent discontinue this nice car It has improved so much over the years I had a Mercury Tracer before and I loved it I love my ZX2 more though I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quality made car thank you Ok anyone who is looking for a car under 17 000 that is a coupe should take a look at the Ford Escort Zx2 This car has a lot to offer including exceptional power a 130HP Ztech engine The Automatic will cost more but I think it is funner to drive Lets hope that Ford dosent discontinue this nice car It has improved so much over the years I had a Mercury Tracer before and I loved it I love my ZX2 more though I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quality made car thank you " Pos," We just bought a ford explorer and got rid of our old escort and then kept our camry had 115000 miles on it while the escort had only 60000 what a mistake that was the camry pooped out on us Now don t get me wrong the camry was a great little car well mid sized car but it had a lot of miles and needed a new trans and the engine was soon to come We decided instead of getting all that replaced we would just get a new car We decided on another escort We needed something to balance everything out so to speak We have a big gas guzzling roomy dependible explorer now we needed a not so roomy fuel efficient just as dependible car we had had great luck with the old escort and we decided once again to get one This one would be a sedan lx with a standard trans It proved to be a great little car the explorer is our vacation daily driver the escort is our around town daily driver The biggest problem is that it is a little underpowered no pick up at all Another one is the seats are not very comfy and it is cramped front and back We have had no troubles at all with this car If you are looking for a fuel efficient VERY dependible car the ford escort is for you br br " Pos," I bought the 1999 Ford LX in November of 1998 I was looking for a dependable small car with a reasonable price I have not been disappointed with the car itself I have 25 000 mile and it runs like a dream I took a trip from South Dakota to Mississippi this summer 2300 miles and was very comfortable the entire trip The car is great However the service has NOT been so great after purchasing I noticed a flaw in the window molding I reported to Ford when they did the Customer Satisfaction phone call I was told to take to my local dealer where I had purchased the car I was told they would fix it but could not right now I have called a few times to see when it would be fixed and have been given no time that it can be taken care of I am a easy person to deal with but the noise from the window may change that pretty soon The Ford Escort is a good car for average size people I would not recommend this car for larger people My wife is 5 2 quot and loves the way it handles and that she can see over the steering wheel I will purchase another Ford in the future IF the follow up service is improved " Pos," I purchased a 1999 Ford Escort SE in September I had a Ford Escort years ago got good mileage and very few repairs so I decided I wanted another one This car is comfortable gets good gas mileage sporty amp attractive I like the cruise control something I never had on a car The rear defrost is a must and of course air conditioning It has an excellent heater I love the color red the car really stands out It has plenty of leg room and it is a perfect buy for me I think anyone would enjoy driving this car especially students and retired people It is economical and yet attractive So far I haven t found anything I don t like about this car Anyone who is used to a Lincoln probably wouldn t be suitable for this car I purchased the 4 door which has a reclining back seat which makes it nice for hauling mostly anything within reason I would buy this vehicle again Ruth Anna Rote " Pos," In June of 2000 my 1989 Mercury Tracer finally kicked the bucket That was a two door coupe which was basically a big red problem So off I went carshopping with my father I trust his opinion and knew he d help me choose a good car Besides I had learned the hard way that car salesmen ignore solitary women I shopped alone read Consumer Reports faithfully and followed their Reliability Charts on used cars I noted that the Escort s reliability had improved drastically over the past ten years I began looking toward an Escort being an economical solution to my dilemma And then tired of being ignored and treated like a stupid woman by salesmen I asked my dad to go with me We chose the 1999 Ford Escort SE in silver And I cannot say enough good things about it I adore it My son who is 2 still refers to it as Mommy s New Car even though I ve had it for nearly seven months now The four door Escort is a practical family car for me with just one child which gets excellent gas mileage I have had no major problems with it and no costs except gas and oil changes Oh wait I did have one cost I had one flat tire due to the fact that there is always construction going on and almost always near someplace I need to be I have only had one minor problem with the tape player Yes I said tape player The car was and still is under factory warranty so off I went back to the dealers to get it fixed And I was an even happier camper The only drawback to the Escort lies not with the car but with me I am not used to owning a car as new as this one so I am sure the salesman who helped me as well as the automotive department is probably tired of seeing me Every little noise and back I went I was fearful of something major going wrong as it had with my Tracer Nothing is wrong with the car I was and still am a paranoid new car owner " Pos," I owned an Escort several years ago and I didn t care for it mainly because of a bad 3 speed transmission But now with the new Escort it s like a totally different car I considered this car at first mostly because of the price I purchased this new Escort a couple months ago I already have 10 000 miles on it and it is the best compact I have ever had The engine is quite fast and the features for the price are out of this world I have air automatic power locks power doors power mirrors rear defrost car alarm etc It is the best equipped car for the price I checked out a Saturn Cavalier Honda Civic Hyundi Dodge Neon etc and nothing came with the features and a better price It has a smooth shifting transmission and the handling is top notch The only shortcomings are stiff seats go for the extra comfort seats Otherwise I have no complaints If you need a small car and you are on a budget you can not beat this car It is also well reviewed by other consumer mags so ask around and you will see that everyone loves this little car Ford was actually going to discontinue the Escort but with the new design it has been a huge success and they are keeping it Buy it now br br " Pos," You heard it from Coach back in high school Your golf or tennis pro says it today You hear the same thing from your kid s martial arts instructor You can t reach your full potential without being tested by competition A case in point for twenty five years Ford s F 150 has been the undisputed king of the road outselling every competing light truck on the road For eighteen of those years the F 150 outsold every single vehicle on the road passenger cars and SUVs included But perhaps Ford became a bit complacent for after its 1996 update the F 150 slowly lost ground to GM s Silverado twins and the Dodge Ram Updates to those two 1999 for the Silverado 2002 for the Ram further encroached on the F 150 s lead but the biggest scare for Dearborn came in 2000 when Toyota morphed its undersized T100 into a true full sized truck the Tundra Combining the nearly legendary reliability of Toyota s truck line with a full size truck was certain to take a bite out of Ford s sales and slip they did Adding more fear and loathing is the promise of another Japanese full size entry the Nissan Titan promised for this model year Ford couldn t help but hear ever louder footsteps Fortunately for the folks at the blue oval a rebuild from wheels to the tip of the antenna was in the cards for the 2004 model year and faced with slipping sales of 2003s Ford rushed the redesigned F 150 into production The first models rolled out in mid summer and are sitting on showroom floors now The big question is Did the competition bring out the best in the F 150 b What Was Wrong with the F 150 b On the face of it not a thing was really wrong with the a href content 109971934852 2003 F 150 a a vehicle that came in so many configurations and trims that the only thing they seemed to have in common was a grille shaped like a Cameron Diaz smile It s that the competition especially the Tundra had started doing things better Ford s 1996 redesign of the line stuck with a clunky dual leaf spring rear suspension that while friendly to full loads of cargo is less kind to passengers kidneys Then too Ford saddled the 4200 pound truck with a standard 4 2 liter V6 so under powered 202 hp that a basic model couldn t outrun its own shadow And when you come right down to it eight years is a long time to go without a redesign even for trucks vehicles that generally have precious little wiggle room for design But change they did the company boasts that they ve touched on every system in the vehicle in an effort to make the 2004 redesign total and from where I sit it looks like they have But again we must ask Did they do the job Let s look and see b First Let s Talk Choices Truth be told the F 150 comes in so darned many configurations that it s easier to describe with a set of matrices than it is to list em all But I can t draw a matrix here so let me break it down this way i Drive Train i 2WD or 4WD i Trim Levels i Five from the base XL STX XLT FX4 and Lariat i Cab Configurations i Three Regular not available in Lariat trim SuperCab and SuperCrew not available in XL and STX i Bed Length i Three 5 5 not available on regular cab 6 5 not available on SuperCrew and 8 not available on SuperCrew i Body Style i Two Flareside and Styleside availability dependent on both cab configuration and bed length Whew I think that makes forty seven different combinations but I lost count somewhere in the bed lengths Those are just the basics of course Ford offers the truck in eleven different colors and with two different standard engines and two transmissions You can also purchase special towing packages including an obstacle sensing radar system for the rear and a snow plow package for your 4x4 This vehicle is in no way a purchase for the decision challenged person Me I just took the first truck I happened upon in the dealer s lot an STX 2WD SuperCab with the standard 4 6L engine and a couple of options cruise control and the towing package For those of you keeping track it was black with a gray technically medium flint interior b Looks Count For Something Face it A truck is a truck is a truck From the outside at least a pickup is just a naked box on wheels with a bit of covered space where a driver can sit Except for the badging and taillight shapes pickups are fairly hard to tell apart in silhouette though from the front the grille shape quickly gives em away Still Ford has managed to apply some cosmetic changes to the previous version resulting in a model that s distinguishable even to one who s not a Ford enthusiast Compared to the previous model a walkaround will show that Ford has dumped the raked streamlined shape of the front end that was so reminiscent of early Taurus models Instead they ve essentially recreated the body style of the F 150 s beefier siblings the F 250 and F 350 Up front the headlights are more squared and that grinning grille takes a bite out of the leading edge of the hood In fact the hood now includes the grille which may come as a painful surprise for tall owners the first few times they check their crankcase oil Stroll down the length of the body and you ll note that all F 150s now have a notched front window like the big guys and the door handles aren t the old Ford ovals but beefy looking square pads with wraparound handles Further back flares on the rear fenders have a flat strip integrated at their outer edge instead of the smooth curve of last year s F 150 This latter is very noticeable on the flareside which is pretty much the same idea as Chevy s stepside bed Naturally the tail end has undergone a little change too mostly in the shape of the taillights They re slightly shorter and wider than in the previous design and the hideous teardrop shaped lenses on the flareside have been dropped in favor of the same light housings used on the styleside BTW while I once called the flareside s taillights the ugliest ever mounted on a pickup truck that was before I saw the lights on a Tundra stepside All tailgates are removable and locking and I found them surprisingly light for a hunk of metal that large this may be the tailgate assist feature which no salesman could explain By the way the cargo boxes are now two inches deeper than before the side rails are a whopping 54 inches off the ground Now go back toward the front and open the doors And keep opening doors In a definite coup for Ford every last F 150 regardless of cab configuration or trim level has four doors Even a Regular Cab boasts a pair of skinny rearward opening doors for improved access to the enlarged cubby behind the front seat s Did Ford do the job Yes to the four doors no to the body redesign cheaters b Notes From the Interior Ford lavished more attention to the interior of the F 150 With as much landscape as is available there what an acre or two they had plenty of room to play All basic amenities are present standard AC dash mounted cupholders with more in the flip down console for bench seats a pair of power points one on the passenger side of the dash and a surprisingly puny glove compartment Map pockets are incised into all doors with integrated cutouts in the front doors for bottle holders Where Ford seems to have paid the most attention is not in design although it s certainly changed but in materials While lower end models like the 2003 STX Sport I drove last month were once slathered with cheesy looking plastics the materials in the 2004 have a more solid look They feel solid too and the model I drove had even better build quality than that 2003 already good Power windows in both the front and rear for SuperCrew and SuperCab are standard in XLT FX4 and Lariat trims but in the XL and STX trims the rear windows are fixed they don t even tilt out The cab s rear window can be ordered as a slider in any cab and trim a powered slider is optional in the top three XLT FX4 and Lariat trims offer a nifty optional Overhead Rail system that lets ceiling mounted storage and A V goodies move front to back it s unavailable on the XL or my STX The rails which include transmission of power for a DVD screen or speaker and climate controls are finished in brushed aluminum they re incompatible however with the optional power moonroof Did Ford do the job No question about it yes b Driving Interface Oh yeah the cab is about an acre in area large enough that for average sized me reaching some controls even in the center of the dashboard was a bit of a stretch If a potential driver is on the short side you may wish to spring for the optional power adjustable pedal cluster standard on Lariat All trims and cabs have tilt steering an instrument panel with speedometer odometer fuel voltmeter temperature gauges and manual lumbar support The breakover point for cushiness appears to be between the STX and the XLT the upper three trims have a standard tach power front and rear windows and cruise control the two lower trims have optional cruise control Climbing into the cab is made a bit easier by a pair of grab handles though I found them located awkwardly far to the front Once seated high above the madding crowd in the cab you ll find that for the most part the instrument panel is well laid out and intuitive I found the standard bench seat a bit deep and it could use a little more contouring to the average posterior shape as it s rather flat The large steering wheel makes reaching left hand controls and the ignition a little tough occluding both wiper and light controls The sound system controls are high on the dash keep your eyes on the road bud and seem marginally larger than those of the previous year Climate control knobs and buttons face directly rearward at the center of the dashboard potentially a stretch for short armed drivers Unless you spring for the pricey captain s chairs and floor mounted shifter the column mounted shifter makes access to the ignition a bit awkward Buttons for the optional cruise control are on the face of the steering wheel always a plus in my book The white on black instrument panel is clear and easy to read note that Lariat trims have a ritzier black on offwhite look Besides the gauges there s also a set of idiot lights for all the usual warnings Lariat drivers will find one of those ultra cool and occasionally distracting information centers with readouts of time distance fuel economy etc tucked beneath the voltmeter and oil pressure gauge Did Ford do the job Ummm not really it s pretty much the same layout and interface as the 2003 with a continuation of reach and access problems especially for smaller drivers b Time for the Driving Experience Ford must ve listened to me last time around they ve dumped the underpowered V6 engine that was standard in the last model run Rumors say it will return next year but I ll bet it s no longer a wimpy 202 hp Mind you they haven t offered a new standard engine just dropped the little one Now standard is the 4 6L Triton SOHC V8 that was optional last year which generates 231 hp and 293 lb ft of torque Last year s 5 4L V8 has undergone a major workover bulking up to 300 hp and 365 lb ft Much of the work on this engine introducing variable valve timing and three valves per cylinder was intended to boost both power and torque low in the RPM range Ford claims that the engine delivers over 290 lb ft of torque at 1000 RPM just barely above an idle Comparison of last year s model specs with this year s though shows that the 2004s are are about a five inches longer and 300 500 pounds heavier across the board which tends to dampen my enthusiasm for any increases in power Manual transmissions went the way of the V6 engine no word on whether they ll return For 2004 Ford bought out a new 4 speed electronic overdrive automatic the only tranny available Errr excuse me Ford but how come you haven t been able to come up with a 5 speed I thought you were working on innnovation But the proof is in the driving and to tell the truth it s bit tough to tell that anything s been updated in some arenas Acceleration isn t particularly impressive try comparing it to a similar sized SUV like the a href content 56201285252 Chevy Suburban a although it s admittedly better than the sluggish V6 Handling is somewhat improved though still decidedly truck like Although Ford brags that they refined the rear suspension mostly by mounting the rear shocks outboard of the leaf springs and stiffening the frame rails the truck still has a jittery ride and lots of side to side motion when empty Ride quality will most certainly increase when some payload is added however as is normal for pickups Steering has been improved by introduction of a power rack and pinion system In a departure from previous steering the driver maintains a good road feel even through the power steering system and that certainly helps For a truck this size minimum length 211 maximum 249 handling is relatively sprightly but beware the huge turning radius when it s time for parking Handling is better for this vehicle than others I ve driven in its class although I m waiting to get my hands on a 2004 Tundra and have yet to drive the latest version of the Ram I ll let you know Still and all the ride is certainly an improvement over the punishing kidney bashing ride of even ten years ago Looks like the influx of drugstore cowboys seeking that cool pickup truck look has had an upside after all Sound wise this F150 is about the same as last year s minor engine noise and low to moderate wind and road noise Did Ford do the job A qualified maybe they dumped the wimpy V6 and improved the suspension and steering but I m unvconvinced that the improvement is enough to leapfrog the competition I also miss manual trannies b Safety All F 150s come with two dual stage front airbags a passenger side deactivation switch is provided for Regular Cabs Front seatbelts which are integrated into the body of the seat are equipped with pretensioners and an energy management system all outboard seating positions have three point harnesses as does the rear center position in SuperCrews and SuperCabs LATCH points are standard All configurations have standard four wheel disc brakes with ABS and side intrusion door beams Side airbags are not available even as an option neither is a side curtain system This is troubling since Ford certainly knows how to install them in their other vehicles including the Excursion and an optional canopy system offered in the a href content 77758566020 Expedition a Go figure Did Ford do the job No Where are the side airbags the traction control Line at the Bottom To sum up Ford has indeed touched on every major system in the new F 150 frame suspension transmission engine they cheated a bit there and interior and exterior design Where they ve done best is in the cosmetics especially the amount of attention lavished on the interior and in the across the board inclusion of four doors on the cab They were smart to drop the V6 but I think dumb to drop the manual tranny the updated automatic transmission may be an improvement but it s not particularly noticeable A couple of points stand out in my overview of the model update first how come Ford can t seem to come up with a broader range of powertrain options Only two engines and one transmission is about what they offer in their bottom of the line compacts And second why do they steadfastly refuse to even offer optional side airbags or a canopy system we know thay have one from their SUVs It s my feeling that Ford just didn t quite leap far enough forward with the update Sure they ve stayed ahead of or even with the GMC and Dodge offerings but those footsteps with a Japanese accent are sounding just as loud as before I m gonna say that the improvement wasn t enough to bring the F 150 up to five stars I ll let you know for sure after I ve finished testing a new Tundra but right now I m not overly impressed by the model change At the moment 2003s are selling at 5000 7000 discounts and you ll get a darned good truck for that price Hurry though cause the selections are dwindling " Pos," Way before I got interested into writing about cars the F series has been America s best selling truck It s been like that for more than 25 years In fact many industry insiders will admit that the F series has saved Ford company when it hits hard times It goes without saying that on our local freeways and highways you will find an F 150 truck out of every 3 truck I had never given much attention to the truck until I started spending more time on a friend s farm It appears that all his father s trucks have been a F 150 over the years What I have found to be the enduring values of this great vehicle are its practicality and strength This year the Ford 150 sounds quieter and more refined thanks to a 75 part noise vibration and harshness upgrade From what I can remember the 2003 F 150 SuperCrew drives so much better than its predecessors It appears that Ford can only continue to improve its well known crown jewels This is a truck that has withstood times and economic hardships It continues to deliver power and durability in the line of full size pickups Based on the 2003 F series I just can t wait to test drive the 2004 F series which has caused so much hoopla so far There are three trim series that are available on the SuperCab models XL XLT and Lariat It offers so much comfort and cargo carrying capacity that most buyers end up comparing it with its main competitors on the market It makes sense that they end up purchasing this truck for the type of package and value Taking a look at its interior Some of the features that you will find on this truck include the following standard power adjustable pedals power moonroof and a functional bed extender in case you want to increase the box length for carrying longer items This truck has come handy on the farm Many construction workers purchase them too It s great to carry cargo Other features include air conditioning overhead console power windows with delayed accessory power and one touch down driver s window power locks tilt steering wheel speed control and power moonroof Electronic automatic temperature control is standard on the truck To help secure your cargo tie down hooks are located in each corner of all F 150 cargo boxes In addition you will find out that the cargo light on the back of the cab makes loading and unloading the truck box very easy at night Ford designs this truck with the owner user in mind To provide you with comfort the designers place a rear step bumper that gives easy access to the cargo area The tailgate can be removed for special loading duties b How about the truck s powertrain b F 150 SuperCab 4 2 liter OHV V 6 engine produces 202 horsepower and 252 foot pounds of torque The split port induction system tends to optimize fuel efficiency and engine response No wonder that I had a ball when test driving and working with this truck on the farm Very few trucks are that responsive when you need them to It comes with a four speed automatic overdrive transmission That s an option that the owner wanted With so many packages that are available out there on these trucks you can have anything that you want as long as you can afford it This is true in the case of the towing and payload ratings of the F 150 tester With all those statistics how did I feel driving the truck b i Ride handling safety and security issues FYI All F 150 trucks come equipped with a four wheel anti lock braking system That s standard The short and long arm independent fron suspension enhances my ride and handling All in all it was quite a smooth ride I was amazed by its handling For the driver and passenger the truck is equipped with air bag supplemental restraint system There is also the side door intrusion beams that help protect passengers or occupants in the case of a side door impact or accident Countless lives may have been saved thanks to this upgrade LATCH child safety seat tethers are standard equipment on the F 150 trucks Also belt minder system encourages safety belt use This way you won t have to drive long and short distances without putting on your belts Remote keyless entry offers added convenience and security at night by activating the interior lights How handy this features has come especially when you have to park away from the lighted parking lot In the fields of California we sometimes have to leave our trucks for very long periods of time b Final thoughts The Ford 150 series can only get better The company wants to innovate with the 2004 pickup too If you have not gotten a Ford you can wait for the 2004 truck I don t necessarily trust other Ford vehicles but after working with the F series I would invite anybody to give it a try Why should you buy the a href content 104412515972 2004 Toyota Sienna a Find out more " Pos," Ok so maybe Econoline Vans aren t for everyone especially if you live in the city If you aren t someone that lives in the city and you like to drive long distances on vacations then this vehicle is for you What s The Interior Of The Econoline Like Well one way to explain this question is by comparing the interior of an econoline to that of an airplane that is first class The seats are very comfortable and my particular model is equipped with gadgets galore A plug in vacuum a TV and VCP a mechanical bed that turns into a back seat a 10 disc CD Changer and much more With power AC a ride to my grandparents house in Florida is very comfortable What s The Mile Per Gallon On The Econoline Although I am very seldom a driver of my econoline since my parents do most of the driving I do know that the Econoline gets better miles to the gallon then that of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Note This may not be accurate for all types of Cherokees The only reason I say this fact is because I recall my mother and my uncle comparing gas mileage prices And the econoline was better then the jeep How Is The Handling Of An Econoline Although I very seldom use the econoline for my personal driving the few times I ve used it I noticed that it is a difficult vehicle to manuever in tight situations This is due to the size of the vehicle rather then the steering The steering is very good the only difficulty with the handling is getting used to the size of the vehicle Why Should Someone Buy One These Like I said earlier the Econoline is not for everyone If you are however one who likes the travel then this is the perfect car for your needs With good miles to the gallon and an extremely good ride it is well worth the money br br " Pos," Last year we decided to trade our family car for a sports car We already had a Chevy Lumina so we decided it was time to get rid of the unreliable Grand Am and go to a sporty car We shopped around before deciding on what car to purchase We test drove a Mitsubishi Eclipse Chevy Monte Carlo Mazda RX 7 Ford Probe and Eagle Talon All the ones that we test drove were around the same year and handled relatively the same We went out of town to a car dealer to look and test drive more models At the third dealer we came to we told the sales person what we were looking for and the price range and he immediately directed us to a lonely Ford Mustang just waiting to be brought home by some lucky person Without delay we test drove this car This Mustang is a 1997 LX V6 Automatic with power windows power door locks CD stereo system dual air bags and power driver s seat While looking this car over we discovered that it only had 15 000 original miles on the odometer We checked everything on the car inside and out and we decided to purchase We got it for a steal at 12 500 After having the car for almost a year I still love it as much as the day we bought it Well that is a little exaggerated because we have had a few small problems but overall it is still great The engine in my Ford Mustang is a little short on power but it will do for me It does get good gas mileage if I keep my foot out of it In curves I really do not like the way it handles I had a Saturn 2 door coupe that would whip it in curves as far as handling goes But this car cruises the highway very comfortably The fit and finish on my Mustang is great Everything lines up and looks good However the dash and all the plastic molding on the inside do rattle and squeak but I will deal with this little annoyance because I love the car so much The mounting pads in the strut tower tend to squeak really bad on bumps Obviously all Ford Mustangs are like this because my husband had an 87 model that done the same thing We have done routine maintenance on the car and that has kept this Stang in great working order My hubby loves this car because it is one of the few that is still rear wheel drive He likes the fact that the engine is sitting in the car the way it should be In other words he can work on the car easily The only major problem that we have experienced with the car is the check engine light coming on The flap in the gas tank sticking open and not building up enough fuel pressure caused this Once we took it to a dealer and had the problem corrected we have not had any more problems But I will admit it is not great for when kids are involved A rear facing car seat will not fit into the small back seat I now use a front facing car seat and do not have any problems Even though we have experienced a few minor problems I would still highly recommend the Ford Mustang to anyone wanting a good cruising car The car is not only reliable but is very sexy It has a muscular stance and does not look like a catfish coming down the road like the Chevy Camaro I am not knocking the Camaro because it is a great car too but mine just looks better LOL " Pos," If you are looking for a new car for sure go with the Ford Mustang I ve had my 97 cherry red ford mustang for a little over 31 2 years now and it s the best car i have ever owned It gets great gas mileage high speed and of course it looks awesome Only thing is this is NOT a family car The front seats give you plenty of leg room and you can be very comfortable But i must say the back seat area must of been designed for kids only it s rather small and crampy If you have young children who still use car seats this is most likely not the car for you I ve tried numerous times to fit a carseat in the backseat and still have the passenger in my car comfortable with enough room needless to say it never worked out What I love about this car is that i have had basically NO problems with it whatsoever Never had to take it to the shop new tires put on nothing It s a very HIGH quality car The car drives like a DREAM I highly suggest it for anyone Insurance can be a real pain in the rear end though owning a mustang means outrageous insurance people But it s well worth every penny of it br br " Pos," I bought my Mustang GT 1 year ago It was a low mile V8 convertible I absolutely love it A very fun car The styling is great better than the 99 s and 2K s and much nicer than the earlier boxy style The fit and finish is fine It did have some acid rain damage from the previous owner A trip to the body shop and 300 later solved 95 of the problem The car is black and I am very fussy It s a bit noisy with the top up while on the highway but heck it s a convertible The leather seats are very comfortable I love getting into it The 4 6L engine and 5 speed transmission are super Plenty of power Nice sounding stock dual exhaust I use the car mostly on weekends as a fun car It will be stored for the winter This car will never see snow ice and salt A friend has a BMW 3 series convertible Sorry dollar for dollar no comparison to my pony The BMW is a high tech high priced sterile car The Mustang is an all American muscle car I could see buying a 6 cylinder coupe as a family or second car although rear wheel traction would be a problem in winter " Pos," As my 16th birthday rolled around the dream of owning a hot set of wheels became more prominent in my blonde little head I knew nothing about cars engines etc but I did know that I loved the color purple This 1997 V6 Mustang that sat at a local dealer was very much purple and is now very much mine My boyfriend who is a die hard Chevy man warned me about the car but now has grown to love it almost as much as me As far as power goes the V6 is all I will ever need although it may be a little sluggish for some power hungry people I adore the color a bright vibrant purple that I can only find in 97 Stangs and I think the light grey interior is tasteful The power locks windows and seats are a luxury that I have grown to appreciate The front seats are very comfortable and with being only 4 11 tall the power up button on the seats makes driving very comfortable However as for any sports car the backseat is perfect for holding my backpack shopping bags and purse but not my friends The gas cap can be slightly awkward as I recall being at a filling station 30 minutes away from home the needle on E bawling to my boyfriend on my cell phone that I couldn t figure it out Once I got the hang of it there hasn t been any problems since Speaking of gas it gets around 25 mpg when I drive it in town and about 18 mpg when my bf drives it Although I ve been told that Mustangs are a dime a dozen I take pride in the fact that I drive a new model of an original classic car I also take pride in the stares I receive when I drive down the road I also like the fact that aftermarket parts are so easy to find so fixing one up is a breeze All in all I suggest this car for anyone who doesn t have children usually drives alone and wants a good looking car " Pos," I am originally from NYC No one there drive as pickup primary car The Explorer Sport Trac breaks all the rule and whenever I drive my ride home people stop and ask me so many questions about this good looking ride Never in a million years did I think I would ever be caught in a pickup Not only that you think parrallel parking would be difficult especially in NYC I have put this baby in some spaces Ford went way out on this ride by combining the comfort of the SUV EXPLORER and F150 Truck to come up with a ride both woman and men could take pleasure The Sport Trac definitely makes a statement about ones personality and a taste This four door pickup truck easily accommodates four 6 ft men Fully powered Even the automatic rear window is great feature The sound system alone blows most cars off the road Equipped with not only standard speakers This ride roars with bottom BASS Just like a night club with all the windows rolled up and volume at set at half sounds heard outside the car are crystal clear Long distance driving is a breeze Comfortable and great on gas Switch 2 to 4 wheel drive high or low in a breeze Air conditioning is great I spent tow in in Charleston SC and it get hot down there The best part is the bed This sure comes in handy Of course it is larger than a car trunk put smaller than a standard size bed However you can fit most anything in there I purchased this vehicle last October 2001 for my birthday and what I love most is this is simply a great looking all around multi purpose truck that I am proud to take anywhere whether it to the supermarket or waiting valet attendant This SUV MPV Pick up truck turns heads and burns rubber when I have to " Pos," With all the hype about the 2000 Ford Focus you d think that Ford was giving away rocketships Is the 2000 Ford Focus a well equipped comfortable economy car Absolutely Is it the dawning of a new era of Euro styled ergonomically attuned New Edge globally conceived econovehicles or whatever the marketing gobbledegook says Uh I dunno That part is a little over my head but it sounds overstated It s just a car but it s a good car b Mission Affordable b I wanted to purchase a new car for my sister for her birthday I m no millionaire and her needs are simple She doesn t drag race Nor does she haul a horse trailer transport Scout troops or need to make a socioeconomic statement with her vehicle She just needs to commute to work and get to wherever else she needs to go It would be nice if her butt didn t go numb and if she didn t explode into flames in the process In the past my family has had a host of American label economy cars and I admit that that s what I m partial to I looked at a number of comparable cars Chevrolet Cavalier Dodge Plymouth Neon Saturn S series Ford Escort etc I had never even heard of a Ford Focus until I began researching new cars and I certainly hadn t seen one But in the end that s what I ended up with My sister is happy I m happy I d do it again I d recommend this car to others b Bang for the Buck b So what does 16 000 get you these days The standard 2000 Ford Focus SE sedan costs 13 660 MSRP 12 716 invoice One can visit Ford s official website www fordvehicles com for all the specifics but this includes such standard features as dual air bags air conditioning am fm radio with cassette power locks and mirrors remote keyless entry quot securilock quot passive anti theft system panic alarm 24 hour roadside assistance 15 quot wheels 60 40 split fold rear seat manual seat height adjuster vanity mirrors on both visors interior trunk release latches 3 year 36 000 mile bumper to bumper warranty The options I selected are as follows upgraded quot Zetec quot engine 200 MSRP 178 invoice automatic transmission 815 MSRP 725 invoice comfort group arm rest with storage tilt telescoping steering wheel cruise control map lights 395 MSRP 352 invoice front and rear floor mats 55 MSRP 50 invoice power windows 295 MSRP 263 invoice anti lock brakes 400 MSRP 356 invoice The destination fee is 465 and the manufacturer determined advertising fee is 130 These two fees are supposed to be non negotiable Adding all this up gives a figure ranging from 16 415 MSRP figures to 15 235 invoice figures This makes the 2000 Ford Focus SE sedan an affordable car but not the least expensive car that one could possibly purchase I will echo what everyone else has said For the money this car offers a lot of features and feels like a more expensive vehicle Also very relevant to me since I wanted to finance this car is Ford Credit s attractive financing rate In my area the best credit union offered a 7 APR on 4 year auto loans Currently Ford offers 5 9 for the same loan 4 9 for 3 year loans and 6 9 for 5 year loans This is another area where one can save a few dollars with this vehicle b Form Embodies Function b Either you think that the 2000 Ford Focus is attractive or you don t There s not much middle ground The SE sedan looks very similar to a Volkswagon Jetta with ugly and unmistakable triangular headlights It took me a while to learn to accept the headlights I admit The car is tall and blunt not unlike a Toyota Echo with a hood that arcs sharply downward and a rump that seems a bit elevated It s not to everyone s taste to be sure Several professional writers have called the sedan quot boring quot but I think that it is an appealing car I think that the Focus hatchback is an eyesore however To each his own Frankly I don t select a car based strictly on aesthetics The shape of the car is functional to be sure Because it is tall for its size it gives the illusion of being a larger car Seats are set high enough that one doesn t feel like their quot knees are bumping the handlebars quot when seated It has accurately been described as chairlike or mini van SUV like inside Legs hang comfortably and one views the road from a taller vantage You don t feel vulnerable in this car like you might in some other small car It is easy to get in and out of because the seats are rump level I found that the back seat is especially comfortable in this regard Similarly the elevated height makes it easy to access the trunk without a lot of bending and stretching What I like about this car b Roominess As discussed above the car feels a lot bigger than it is In addition to head and leg room the trunk is cavernous Both back seats can be folded to offer even more cargo area I expect a small car to feel small so the roomy feel to this small car is a really nice surprise Comfort No question about it this is a very comfortable car for its class The fabric seats are well cushioned and supportive The suspension absorbs irregularities in the road very effectively My neighborhood is rotten with potholes and road construction at the moment and yet I barely feel any lumps and bumps in this car Even though it s a small car I could travel a distance in it with ease The back is sufficiently spacious for two passengers especially kids Adjustable driver s seat Related to the above is the driver s seat itself It is adjustable in three different ways The back of the seat can recline as much as you need it to The seat can be pulled closer to or further away from the steering wheel And the seat can be raised and lowered I love the latter feature Some writers have complained about the simple crank mechanism that raises or lowers the seat but I consider it refreshing to have a non electronic means to adjust the seat The fact that I can do it at all is wonderful but the fact that it didn t cost me a small fortune as an option is even better This is particularly important because my sister and I differ in height by six or seven inches Adjustable steering wheel If adjusting the seat isn t enough the steering wheel can be adjusted up down or in out with the tilt telescoping properties Whether someone is short or tall small or large I believe that they d be able to make the necessary adjustments to be totally comfortable in this car Handling This car is really a pleasure to drive The small diameter steering wheel has comfortable swollen grips on it and the steering is accurate and easy Braking is similarly responsive In spite of some of the literature that suggests that the car is underpowered my experience is that it is very zippy Put simply it starts stops and turns very comfortably and easily It feels very secure on the road never light or tippy or weak not bad for a car that only weighs 2 600 pounds I can only imagine that anyone displeased with the handling is comparing it to something out of its class perhaps a larger luxury car or racy sportscar Peace and quiet The Focus is smooth handling and surprisingly quiet in certain respects Turn signals quietly tock tock tock The hydraulically opening trunk is shockingly quiet as are the doors By contrast I jump a foot in the air when the doors automatically lock as I drive away That s loud Again in spite of reports to the contrary I have not found that the engine is excessively noisy You hear it rev when you accelerate but it s never loud enough to interfere with conversation My friend s Saturn has a much louder engine Silly little things The storage slots on the inside of the front doors for holding maps and such are really wide You can easily fit a novel instead of just a magazine in these slots One of the things I like best about that is that it makes them easy to vacuum clean The radio faceplate can be removed easily so that the radio is rendered functionless if it s stolen I don t know who would steal the factory radio out of an economy car nor do I know who would worry about it getting stolen but hey it s one of those fun things to show your friends Worth noting the radio allows you to preset 6 am and 12 fm stations If you have a lot of favorite radio stations that s a nice feature There s a pen holder next to the driver s seat The glove box is huge You could fit a Taco Bell dog in there along with your owner s manual The ASPCA advises against this however The owner s manual comes in a nice little zippered storage case that looks sophisticated There are special hooks in the back seat to attach car seats for little ones I don t have kids but if I did that would be a big plus There are two great big cupholders in front with removable liners that can be easily cleaned b Gripes b Visibility This is the biggest drawback to the Focus With a hood that arcs sharply downward it is virtually impossible to see the front of the car You get a feel for where it is but I d hate to have to parallel park this thing It s not a car for tailgaters or big city parking for that reason Similarly the car s rump is elevated so it s difficult to see where you re going when you back up The big obtrusive front headrests and car frame itself further impede visibility rearward The side mirrors compensate for this however Illogical controls Most of the controls are clearly labelled and for the most part I have no complaint But some of it seems senseless to me The hazard light switch is the single most prominent feature on the dashboard It s a huge orange triangle that begs to be pushed I m in my thirties and I ve never had the need to turn on the hazard lights in any car I ve driven Even when the switch is less obvious I ve always known where it was but I ve never needed to use it Why on Earth is it so prominent in this vehicle What is Ford trying to tell me By contrast the am fm switch on the radio is microscopic and situated way to the right side of the radio I ve learned where it is but I still have to take my eyes off of the road to find it Am I the only person who finds this irritating Windshield wiper controls The turn signal control is on the left side of the steering wheel In most cars I ve driven the windshield wipers are located on the same stalk Not in this car The windshield wiper control is a separate stalk on the right side of the steering wheel Why This particular departure from convention annoys me Fuel gauge It annoys me that I can t read the fuel level without turning the car on Similarly the odometer is an led panel that doesn t appear unless the car is on I m not sure what the point of this is other than to look fancy But I suspect that with age if either of these things got quirky it would be expensive to fix them Rear floor mats Um these things look like furry business envelopes They re tiny I believe that floor mats have become standard on the 2001 Focus I certainly wouldn t pay extra for the rear ones Marketing I have simple tastes so I find a lot of the marketing for this car to be incredibly annoying The brochure for this car is ugly and contains almost no information Although the target market is young 20ish 30ish women the sales pitch is gimmicky and yuppified in tone with lots of irritating buzzwords bandied about Anybody who uses the term ergonomic should be run over with a Hummer Ironically all the hype stresses how quot European quot this car is I ve always owned American cars I like American cars Don t tell me that my Michigan built Ford is European dammit It s a turn off The unknown b Reliability Nobody knows plain and simple I purchase a car with the intention of putting 150 000 miles on it and keeping it for ten years or more I hope this car carries me there In any case I ll update this as needed to reflect my gripes and concerns b Warnings b If you order your Ford Focus be aware that they take forever to arrive I was promised mine in 6 10 weeks and it showed up 14 weeks later Judging by what other people say the average wait is about 12 weeks Also keep in mind that some people have had problems with these cars Take a look at the quot town hall quot at Edmunds www edmunds com and or the message board at Club Focus www discussion board com clubfocus to see what others have had to say Bottom line b Be clear about what you want in a car If you want an economy car that is comfortable and well equipped at least consider a 2000 Ford Focus Do your homework at Edmunds www edmunds com and other online sites Take a look Go for a test drive My sister used to be a firm Ford hater but she loves this car If I had it to do over I d buy it again Hopefully it will stand the test of time " Pos," What a pleasant surprise to have Ford build an affordable cool well sorted domestic pocket rocket and then to have so many bolt on performance parts available after only a year b To start out with the ZX3 has a racing history in the FIA World Rally Championship WRC Drivers Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz are trying to capture the manufacturers title this year Anyway your ZX3 likely did not get the Rally Option with the 230 hp motor but you ll be pleased to learn that you can come real close to that with some carefully chosen bolt on goodies disclaimer these upgrades may invalidate your warranty do your homework before modifying your new car b Start with a K amp N air filter if you want to keep a stealth stock look or you could opt for one of the umpteen gazillion cold air induction kits Next you ll want an aftermarket exhaust to let everything breate a little easier The one from http www focussport com has a great exhaust note and is relatively easy to put on you will have to cut the stock exhaust off however Next go for an underdrive pulley which will free up a few horsepower A performance chip is always an easy way to increase power sometimes by as much as 20 hp If you re really serious about more horsepower there are actually turbo kits available as well Think about some nice cosmetic goodies also a duck tail rally car style wing check out http www focaljet com for group buys There are also tons of ground effects kits from West Wings and others Lower the car to improve the handling and appearance try the coil overs if you can afford it but just a solid set of lowering springs should do fine for all but the most serious competitior try H amp Rs WHEELS some people use the Contour SVT 16 quot wheels my personal favorite b while others have used the Cougar 16 quot wheels both of these fit great since the bolt pattern is shared There are also a ton of 17 quot wheels that are fairly cheap that look great like the Konig Monsoon The sky is the limit from there Check out the websites mentioned above for great tech articles also What a great car and some great ways to improve it even more br br " Pos," I decided to put some fun in my commute 120 miles a day roundtrip when I decided to buy a new car Enter the Ford Focus ZX3 b MY FIRST NEW CAR MAIN REASONS TO BUY I bought it because it s great handling decent fuel economy price and over all fun ness to drive I know fun ness is very subjective but trust me take a ZX3 for a test drive you ll see It was my first NEW car ever and I didn t want to throw my money away I researched very carefully I looked at the obvious in it s class ish Honda reliable but dull Toyota Echo see my other review way too many cons VW too much money for not enough car and some others I went to each dealer armed with TONS of information off the internet with stats and INVOICE pricing on each car I knew exactly what each car cost the dealer at its INVOICE price So I knew what I could get for how much without paying too much over sticker I wound up paying exactly the invoice price for my new silver ZX3 5 spd with AC and tilt wheel with navigator options b THE DRIVE To tell you the truth the 5 spd is REALLY zippy It won t beat a Corvette or anything on a jack rabbit stop light start but it really cruises along best at highway speeds I often look down at the speedometer to unknowingly be going 80 The ZX3 is very easy to negotiate through all kinds of traffic with good stopping power And the cornering is awesome for a little Ford Take it on a test drive hopefully without the sales person JUST so you can take those corners FAST you ll see Added bonus PARKING If you live in a city where parking is at a premium you can squeeze into those tiny spots while the envious Monster SUV owners have no choice but to cruise on by N Side of Chicago especially b INTERIOR The interior is great easy to get to everything and doesn t look feel cheap for the inexpensive amount you paid the leather wrapped steering wheel is a nice touch The back seat is VERY roomy Every time someone gets back there they always say something about how much room there is AND most of these people drive full sized cars and are used to room b ADDED BONUS Leather wrapped steering wheel Fog Lights CD Player Are ALL standard b THE NOT SO GREAT Now this is not to say the car hasn t had problems It has The brake pads and rotors were replaced at 4 000 miles I am at 13 000 no probs since and of course the re have been recalls Mine was only affected by one recall These are actually things I can deal with but considering my service dept where I bought the car sucks it makes it even more difficult to deal with these problems I expected to have some probs DID NOT expect the service to suck as much as it does So before you buy make sure you find out how good the service IS in the service department Overall Some problems are to be expected if you want to be the first kid on the block with the cool new toy such is the case with the 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 The really good news is a lot of the bugs have since been worked out with the 2001s Just because you have to buy economy doesn t mean you have to feel like you re driving an econo box see the Toyota Echo b Ford Focus ZX3 you get a lot of car for not a lot of money Note Why revised Because I wrote this before I knew at Epinions I simply wrote it at first to tell everyone in the market what a great car this was I didn t even know what Epinions was The revisions have cleared up some of the format to be more Epinion friendly Thanks revised June 2001 Update 32 000 miles in one year so far so good Warrenty will be up soon No problems with brakes since 13K but still worried about them Still handles well although gas milage seems to be dipping I used to get about 32MPG mostly highway now I average about 27 MPG " Pos," My sister purchased a new Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 and I have had the chance to drive it around a ton The weird part about it is I can t stop driving this little car i love it Now I know that is weird to say about a Ford especially their affordable compact but it s true Ford has put together one of if not the best small cars on the market The idea behind the Focus is to make a safe reliable and fun car that can be had in three body styles hatchback sedan and wagon I was personally expecting Ford to build a mediocre compact similar to the escort but they certainly outdid themselves with this car The exterior of the Focus has yet to grow on me It seems tall oddly shaped and misproportioned I am starting to get used to the quot new edge quot styling that Ford is employing but I am not convinced that it makes a good looking or striking car if anything it makes the car less striking and more boring If this car had clean sleek lines I think Ford would have had an even bigger winner than they have Overall for the money the exterior is solidly built and in it s own way sporty The one thing about the car that sets it apart though is its shape especially the hatchback people always seem confused on what they think about the car when they see it The exterior of the car is not where the beauty is as a matter of fact the interior isn t much better the beauty of the car starts behind the wheel This car is more fun than anyone could imagine from looking at it The steering is crisp gives good feedback and can SERIOUSLY corner You would think a car so tall would be washy on the road but this thing can be tossed around I was so surprised that at first I didn t believe it I thought it was more of an illusion than reality so I looked up the Focus statistics in Car and Driver and I wasn t wrong The car puts up slalom and skidpad numbers that rival cars such as the Camaro and Firebird Now that is impressive for a compact that rounds out at 15000 I felt very sure of the car s footing and felt as if I had total control of the car at all times Body roll was a little excessive but still much better than 90 of American made cars Back to the interior there s really not a lot to say Obviously since it is a cheap car it is very basic The ergonomics of the instruments are good everything is in the right place and is easy to use You also may notice the included air bags at no extra cost a very responsible move by Ford that I appreciate The great part about the interior is the build quality it is much better than the escorts poorly built interior As a matter of fact with a little refinement the Focus build quality will be comparable to Honda and other Japanese companies Now that I have ranted and raved about this car are there any downsides you ask Yes the engine That is not to say it isn t sufficient it just doesn t match the ability of the suspension system The Zetec 4 cylinder is zippy but does not have the punch you need for merging into highway traffic If they could fit the 6 cylinder from the contour in this car it would be an absolute blast The other downside is the suspension can be a little stiff at times more than it could or should be Some may also say the styling is a major problem but I think if you get behind the wheel the styling will be forgiven My sister has not had the car long enough to see if it will be reliable or not but it seems that it will be Those are the only gripes and for a car this price that is amazing Ford has put together exactly what they wanted to create and they definitely did not forget the fun This car could also catch on with the tuner crowd also and if I was gonna build a boy racer this would probably be the car I started with it has the goods to be amazing This is one GREAT car br br " Pos," At the age of 40 I found myself in the market for a commuter car when we decided to give our old one to a relative As it had been some time until I had looked at an entry level car it was with some trepidation that I approached a dealer lot to look at the Ford Focus The last entry Ford I had owned was an 82 Mercury Bobcat straight out of college and quality was not a word you would associate with that car Even though Ford markets this car to a much younger audience I found that it had a number of features that appealed to me the styling a bit annoying at first grew on me My wife and niece think the car is cute for just over 14 000 paid for my hatchback model ZX3 the car is well equipped with 2 0L quot Zetec quot engine 130 hp power windows doors A C automatic transmission more on that later cruise control front and rear mats remote entry system and alarm tilt telescoping steering wheel and a surprisingly adequate CD radio combination I like to listen to LOUD classical music with plenty of low brass The radio even can adjust its sound level automatically to deal with ambient noise About the only option I would have like to have added was the side impact air bags which are available a rarity in a car of this class I m 6 6 quot and have a pretty wide body but the seats are quite supportive and the head room excellent The telescoping steering wheel was a big plus since I did have to tilt the driver side seat back Then again I ve had to do that in much larger cars handling is fairly crisp especially for an American small car but overall ride quality is quite decent as is road noise Fit and finish is excellent comparable to small Japanese cars Ford has hit the nail on the head with this award winning world car or at least come closer than they have before to producing a small car that can take on the Hondas and Toyota small models The only inconveniences are small ones For a 130 hp 130 ft lb torque engine the automatic transmission ratios do not seem terribly well implemented I had test driven a coupe model with the standard 5 speed which seemed much more responsive I find a lot of downshifting required to accelerate promptly on the highway a convenient quot overdrive off quot button on the shifter makes this somewhat easier ZX3 s don t seem to come with center consoles which leaves your right arm sort of hanging Front passenger seats although equipped with a handle to tilt out of the rear passengers way do not automatically slide out of the way as do many other small cars seats CD player cannot fast forward through tracks a minor but odd omission All in all if you re looking for a small fun inexpensive well built and cute car you d do worse than to test drive the Ford Focus Also available but not reviewed are several models of sedan with differing trim levels SE LX ZTS a station wagon SE and a couple of quot custom quot models including the Sony and I think one featuring a Trek bicycle and rack with a unique color called quot Dirt quot " Pos," I bought my Ford Focus 2000 SE Sony Edition as a new leftover about a month ago and I am extremely pleased with it I bought it to replace my Ford Escort SE which was a decent car but nowhere near as fun as the Focus I have also previously owned a 1990 Subaru Loyale which felt like an old lady car and a 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse which was not a very good car but there was some fun to it and I like the Focus by far the best First handling and driving I have seen a few opinions that say that this car is not quite as peppy as the writers expectations I disagree I have a bit of a lead foot and I find that the car does quite well at higher speeds I live in Philadelphia and travel on Interstate 95 daily and you have to be able to drive between 75 and 80 mph to keep up It doesn t take the car long to get to those speeds mine is a 5 speed manual Z Tec engine and the car performs very well with no shimmying or shaking The ride is extremely smooth for a small car and pot holes and bumps are barely noticeable which in Philadelphia is almost an impossibility Second features Granted my model is a much more packed model than most of the other Focuses or is it Foci due to the fact that it is a special edition but I don t feel that I paid an exorbitant amount for the features I got My model has all leather seats all electric windows mirrors etc sport package spoiler and wheels and of course the Sony XPlode stereo speaker package All of these amenities are easily accessible to the driver without much reaching due not only to the fact that it is a small car and the instrument panel is not far from you but also to the fact that the interior engineering is in a word terrific I am not sure how the features compare on the base model but I would say that if you are going to buy this car go for the features because for the small expense you will find that they really are worth it Third design This car is designed very well It is slightly wider and longer than the Escort it would probably be more appropriate to compare it to the Contour but I don t have much experience with that particular car but the car is MUCH higher The additional height makes for a much more comfortable ride for taller drivers I m 6 2 because your legs don t get all cramped up underneath the dash It also provides additional head room of which I am not accustomed There is at least a good 3 between the top of my head and the ceiling and for me that is a definite plus The seats are adjustable up and down so I m certain that shorter drivers will get as much enjoyment out of this car as taller And lets face it the car actually looks pretty good I have read the biographies on the engineering of this car and it was mostly designed in Europe The sleeker design and headlight placement give this car a little more personality than its predecessors the Escort and Contour Passengers that have ridden in the back seat have commented that it is surprisingly comfortable for a small car and the rear leg room was much more than expected Forth it s a Ford For a while Ford was a bit of a punchline FORD Fix Or Repair Daily or Found On Road Dead but in the last 5 or so years they have really changed things around The redesign of the Escort Tempo which essentially became the Contour and Taurus in the 1997 model year went very well my Escort required NO major repairs I never even had to get tires on it after 4 years and 70 000 miles and from what I m reading the Focus takes even further steps in being a maintenance free car In short I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking for a smaller but really not too small that is fun to drive " Pos," Ford has done it again They have crammed a ton of engineering in a sport value package I was extremely impressed by this car From the outside it looks like a new edge design nothing too special there once you get in you know its something different The interior is wonderfully laid out The stereo is near perfect the right touch button size and distance from both passengers The materials scream quality for 15000 like no other ford i ve been in The interior material also has style something I cant say for most value oriented cars The seats are comfortable the room amazing Im 6 1 250 and I could easy sit in any of the seats the middle rear is a stretch The steering wheel and shifter feel like they have been stolen off an a european sports sedan The Zetec four Ford should come clean they must have stolen that off a japanese car smooth nice sound good power no way an American 4 cylinder The suspension wow its fun to drive too imagine that Ford has really done it with this car This segment is full of buzzing econoboxes but this car stands apart Numbers on its datasheet cant tell you about this car You need to drive it to understand Yea there are cars that can do all of these things better but not at this price That is the key For this amount of money its a true value Ford put a lot of thought into the car Safety reliability simplicity performance looks and VALUE Great package Perfomance For this segment its great Acceleration handing and steering are all top of the pack The engine could be a bit more powerful but I will wait for a SVT version for that A larger wheel tire package would be nice too Comfort The seats are good They arent volvo seats but for this size car they are comfortable for long trips and around town They could use some more bolstering for spirited driving Styling Thats a personal opinion I find the car attractive not an attention getter but not too cute like the Beetle The front end is nice but the rest of the car seems a little bland Again this is not a very expensive car so I cant complain Safety Almost All ford products lets not get into tires here have high crash ratings The Focus package is well put together and solid Airbag equipment is present Its brakes are good Traction control option would be nice added cost though " Pos," I am currently driving a Ford Focus My van is in the shop and I got this car as a rental I was exited to get it as I was just checking them out on the lot at the dealership My husband in the next year or two will be needing a new car and this in in our price range The first thing I noticed after getting in the car was the roominess My husband is 6 quot tall and has no problem fitting in it It feels like you are not in fact in a compact car But after driving it for the last few days I have been noticing little things that I don t like about it One is the fact that there is no arm rest between the front seats For me it was uncomfortable to have no place to put my arm Also I had a hard time adjusting the seat back The handle for it is in an awkward position and I had to open the door to gain access to it Also I understand that the Focus is a compact but it seems to work really hard to get to highway speeds This might be due to engine size but I don t know what size it has One last thing I did not like is the shifter The car I have is an automatic and you can easily knock the shifter into another gear without pushing in the button A plus of the Focus is that it comes with tether anchors for car seats Three of them I don t know that three car seats could actually fit back there but two definitely could The car sits a little higher up than other compacts that I have been in You don t feel like someone could drive right over you All in all I thought it was a good basic car Great for a first car or a second family car It seems to get great gas mileage I myself prefer my van but hey if someone gave me this car I wouldn t turn it down " Pos," I bought my Focus hatchback in late November 1999 and I now have almost 10 000 miles on it It s the only new car I ve ever bought that didn t have any bugs Everything is perfect I handles so well it rides nicely gets decent gas mileage and is very nimble easy to park I bought it because it was unusual looking to tell the truth The Honda Civic was my other choice but that car hasn t changed much in the last 10 years especially the interior I just wanted something that not many people had and even a year later I don t see many hatchbacks mostly sedans are running around in L A There are a few things that I would change the side view mirrors stick out too far I ve almost caught them on the garage wall several times I still haven t been able to spot the oil filter in the engine compartment so I take it to the dealer for oil changes I liked the seat s back support a little better in the Civic Consumer Reports recently rated it as the best small car they ve tested even better than the Jetta If they liked it you know it s a good car I think their one complaint was that the doors didn t automatically unlock when you turn off the car Well I would like to be the one who decides when to unlock the doors What if you re in an iffy neighborhood To wrap up you can t go wrong with this car A note the hatchback is built at Ford s factory in Hermosillo Mexico This plant has the highest quality output of all the Ford factories in North America I can attest to the quality as my car has no squeaks or rattles The sedan and wagon are built in Wayne Michigan From what I ve heard their quality is good too but the Mexico factory has a better reputation I got the car for 125 over invoice no doc fee at Crystal Ford in Silver Spring Maryland Update 11 2002 Car now has 23 000 miles still not a single problem Really glad I bought this car I read Consumer Reports they say that the Focus isn t that reliable but I think they must be talking about the sedan wagon I have no regrets I think the hatchback would be a great used car for anyone " Pos," I recently purchased the 2000 Ford Focus I am very impressed with the 16 valve 2 0 litre engine The engine provides lots of power There is plenty of room in the front and rear seats My baby car seat fits comfortably in the rear seat The console is attractively designed and has an original look The LED display on the radio gives the time and station simultaneously The manufacturer s CD and stereo system operate smoothly and provide decent sound The car gets excellent gas mileage and performs well on the highway It is convenient being able to access the trunk from the interior of the car The windows and mirrors provide good 360 degree visibility For first time car buyers this is THE one The price is reasonable for what you get The car is inexpensive but has a luxury feel br br " Pos," I am definitely not a Ford girl Everyone I have ever known who has owned a Ford has called it a nightmarish experience Then there are the cute acronyms quot Found On Road Dead quot or quot Fix Or Repair Daily quot This past week however I drove a car that might start to change my mind I had the delight of driving a 2000 Ford Focus If I were to ever break down and purchase a Ford this would have to be the car for me When I first sat in the car it looked like the interior of a jet The dash board is designed so that all the controls for the air conditioning and the radio as within a comfortable reach of the arm Therefore the driver need not lean in anyway to adjust the radio or control the temperature Often when people lean with their bodies inside the car to do anything they accidentally steer the car in that direction Not needing to lean over to make these adjustments may avoid an accident The gas pedal offers just the right amount of tension The driver need not press the pedal all the way to the floor just to go sixty but it is not so sensitive that you sneeze and poof your doing 110 The overdrive control button is on the gear shift This was a new one to me because I had never even heard of overdrive before The chairs were designed for the ultimate in comfort The seat on the driver s chair has a crank which allows you to adjust the seat back to the correct position for you using the minimalist of adjustment The steering wheel telescopes as well as tilts The turn signals are fairly quiet and unobtrusive so you are not stuck at a light with your turn signal on hearing an annoying quot CLICK CLICK CLICK quot The light which illuminates the dash board is soft and not glaring The head lights are adjusted using a dial on the dash to the driver s left which change the lights from off to parking lamps to head lights The brights come on by clicking the turn signal wand toward you once On most 1999 compacts I could not even find the control for the brights Another light control which is usually difficult for me to find is the hazards On the Ford Focus the hazard lights are controlled by a button on the dash right above the radio where you cannot miss it The car s gas tank fills with about 11 The trunk has a phenomenal amount of room The cabin is large enough so that my boyfriend who is 6 8 quot could sit comfortably The car has many safety feature too It comes with air bags It also comes with special anchors along the top of the back seat to better secure a child s safety seat It has a gear lock a safety feature which allows you to lock the gears so that you cannot move the car out of park with out pressing down on the break first The trunk has a latch on the inside that allows you to pop the trunk if you should get locked inside it This is a safety feature I think that any person with children should look for in a car It also comes equipped with quite a few luxury items which I never knew existed but now want in every car I own It has a clear digital mileage display The top display is the amount of miles you traveled that day and the bottom display is the total miles traveled The cabin light does not just turn off suddenly it fades to black The radio has an option that allows it to become louder when the engine revs and softer as the car slows down so that you can always hear your radio comfortably The air conditioning system does not just go from hot to cold but has many subtle levels in between Allot of thought was put into every aspect of the Ford Focus This car was a dream to handle maneuvered easily and was a joy to drive I do not think I even scratched the surface but for the six days I had the car I practically lived in it If I could find a car that even equals the Ford Focus I might get it But in the end I think I may just have to break down and buy this car br br " Pos," I managed to get ahold of the keys for a new 2000 model year Ford Focus ZX3 Honestly I wasn t sure what to expect from this car I d seen small Fords before specifically the Escort and remembered that that vehicle was characterized by a bare bones interior very little power and sloppy handling The Ford Focus blew most of my expectations out of the water It s equipped with a rather gutsy 2 liter Zetec four cylinder The engine is reasonably quick to respond and provides good acceleration for a car of this class and price range Stopping power was handled by front disc rear drum brakes and the vehicle stopped reliably However the pedal feel was too spongy for my liking and the car as a whole felt rather dull as far as powertrain The car s transmission shifted well but hunted a bit for gears and hesitated slightly when power was demanded of it While acceptable for a car of this class it s not a sportster by any means However the handling is an entirely different story The car rides on 15 quot diameter wheels with low profile tires Alloy wheels are standard on this model and the split five spoke design fits the car quite well without drawing too much attention to them The car s handling is very crisp and precise The power rack and pinion steering is well weighted providing enough resistance to feel just right without being overboosted The car has a very sprightly nimble feel to it that most people will enjoy especially in a car of this class The interior is actually reasonably equipped The front buckets are comfortable but I wouldn t want to be stuck in them for more than a few hours Rear seat room is typically cramped as is rear headroom Front headroom however is not a problem Front legroom on the other hand is The seat could use another inch or two of travel as even pushed all the way back it was just not far back enough and my knee brushed against the steering column A tilt wheel is an option and one I reccomend you get Otherwise the guages could be obstructed by the steering wheel The radio controls in this car are fairly large and easy to use This car had the CD stereo and it sounded fairly good with some distortion at high volumes However there s quite enough power in the stock unit to overcome most road noise Not that there is much For a compact car this vehicle has a well behaved quiet ride Highway irregularities are for the most part ignored and only the bigger stuff gets really noticed Again they ve dialed in just a little bit of that feel that makes a good car great This is a solid well rouned economy car that is also a good budget enthusiast s car With spirited handling and a reasonably comfortable interior this Ford s not a bad choice at all br br " Pos," I bought the Focus because of the overall value and quality of the car My Focus came with all the options except a cd changer and it was under 15 grand I love how the car handles and rides I had a Mercury Mystique before the Focus and this car is so much more refined in the ride and comfort of all passengers The only complaint I have about the suspension of the vehicle is that when riding over dips over the road sometimes there is a thump sound from the front of the car The powertrain of my Focus came with the 130 horsepower 2 0 liter Zetec four cylinder mated to a 5 speed manual tranny that motivates the car pretty good The tranny is matched perfect with the engine providing pretty good acceleration in all gears The seats are very supportive and comfortable on long trips The design of the dash is ergonomic and it looks good everything is where it should be within easy reach from the driver s seat and the tilting telescoping steering wheel is a nice addition There are three cupholders in the Focus one in the back of the center console for a rear passenger and two up front The front cupholders are allright for soda cans and bottles but don t try to put a big gulp in them because the dash hangs down too low Trunk space is a very respectable 13 cubic feet and the fuel tank holds 13 2 gallons which will give you an estimated range of 330 miles in town based on 25 miles per gallon and 448 miles on the highway based on 34 miles a gallon The sound system in the Focus is surprisingly good considering that all four of the speakers are in the doors you can turn the volume up and the speakers will not distort Overall I love my Focus and for the money you get a whole lot of car br br " Pos," I had the opportunity to rent a 5 door Focus in Germany earlier this year I drove it from Cologne down to Mannheim and back twice and also hit the twisties along the Mosel river The car is excellent Absolutely no wind noise very little road noise and decent if not abundant power The car easily cruises at 90 100 mph even in the uphill sections The car also does a respectable job in the stoplight grand prix if the competition is not to stout I can only confirm what has already been written about the handling even with the skinny rental tires It is too bad that the 5 door apparently isn t sold here in the US It is the best version with the versatility of the 4 doors with the styling of the coupe The driving position fit this 6 4 quot 240 pounder perfectly I also rented a 4 door sedan with auto trans here in the US Other than the expected lack of grunt with the auto I found this version a superb car br br " Pos," I am not generally a fan of small cars especially the four door econobox variety I am a fairly good sized person and like my space when I drive My wife is a fan of small cars but shares my opinion about the quot cookie cutter quot sameness of the majority of sub compact offerings available today The one thing we do agree on is quot four cylinders 5 speeds quot No slushboxes allowed in our vehicles We both expect a vehicle to perform and have a reasonable level of over the road comfort On a whim we recently stopped at a Ford dealer who had a number of Focus cars on the lot I had looked at the four door model before and was not impressed enough to drive one since they had all contained automatic transmissions What caught my eye this time was the one vehicle that had two doors a manual transmission and a very non conforming appearence We took a drive in the ZX3 and it was love at first sight The car has what I consider to be a very European appearence no glitz everything is where it is for a reason The vehicle accelerates and handles far out of expectation to it s sticker price Finally the seat was more confortable than the standard size car we had just test driven at another dealer I did not feel confined and my wife did not have the big car blues Bottom line is that the Focus ZX3 is the pick of the litter in the low cost small car class we bought it " Pos," In June we bought the Sony Limited Edition Focus SE 4 DR Sedan Simply put this is one great little car We have the vehicle equipped with AT PS PB PW PDL CC Tilt Wheel Comfort Group Sport Group Alarm w Keyless Entry and the AWSOME Sony Xplod Stereo The Sony Limited Edition Focus is a Limited Production of 7000 Vehicles and comes in AT amp 5 spd and is only available in four color choices Green Black Infa Red amp Going Platinum with the last being unique only to the Sony Edition The Sony Xplod has a CD Head unit w 30 pre sets a CD Player w remote and a 450 watt Amplifier amp 12 quot Sub Woofer mounted in the trunk It is one awsome stereo and will drive you out of the vehicle if you really crank it up I have never heard such a wonderful clear sound in a vehicle until we bought this Sony Focus I would really recommend this to anyone who loves music all comes wrapped in a great vehicle The vehicle itself is very roomy extremely comfortable in both front and back and plenty of legroom too The car handles and drives like a much more expensive vehicle We had a 1997 Camry that did not ride or drive any where near as nice as the Focus We got the Z Tec Engine as part of the Sport Group and would say that would the engine i would recommend It puts out 130 hp and is plenty powerful for 4 Adults in the car and even on hilly terrain The only bad thing about the car is the poorly designed and placed cupholders They sit on either side and in front of the Gear Shift Lever This leaves little room to reach a cup and is very limiting to size of cup as well Not a huge issue to an otherwise Great Little Car It was also announced this week that the Focus is top selling car in the world To go along with all the awards all I have to say is watch out Toyota and Honda here comes the Ford Focus br br " Pos," After 140 000 miles we decided to replace my wife s 1990 Toyota Camry We found the new Camrys to be overpriced offering essentially 1990 technology with seats that weren t as adjustable or as comfortable as the old ones So we started shopping around Much to our amazement we ended up buying a Ford Focus station wagon with the ZTEC engine This car is amazing It is the easiest car to get in and out of and has great seats really important if you have a bad back The doors open wide the seats sit high and the car has a high roof line the seating couldn t be much better I m 6 5 quot and can sit with inches to spare between the top of my head and the roof My wife is 5 7 quot and can adjust the seat to fit her perfectly The seats offer great support too They seem to have just the right amount of firmness and are designed to help you sit properly without slouching There is plenty of room in the back seat too The quot trunk quot door height is just perfect for loading things This is the first car we have owned that makes it easy to load groceries The car is loaded with features electric windows locks trunk door release cruise control mirrors CD player power brakes tilt steering wheel automatic transmission center arm rest cup holders filtered air HVAC system etc The interior light stays on after you leave the car and then gradually dims and shuts off The design and placement of the instruments and controls and even the dashboard vents couldn t be better Ford really took consumers into account when this car was designed The car is inexpensive to operate It gets about 28 MPG on regular gasoline The car handles extremely well The steering is precise with good road feedback The brakes are ABS front disks and rear drums and in our experience offer good stopping And the 15 quot tires aren t Firestone The transmission is as smooth as you can find The finish and fit are both excellent The car has a few disadvantages but I would not call them problems Even with the ZTEC engine it s not as powerful as I would like but it s more responsive than the four cyl Camry that we replaced The car tends to be a little noisy The manual seat adjusters take a little getting used to Ford does not have a sunroof option The radio sound system is on the boomy side There have been two recalls since we bought the car an inconvenience to deal with In summary the Focus station wagon is a real bargain for most anyone We have owned Toyotas Acuras Hondas VWs Cadillacs Buicks and Oldsmobiles This is our first Ford and it is without a doubt the best value for the money we have ever seen in an automobile " Pos," The Ford Focus is a great little record setting car It is the first car to ever win North American Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards And it definitely deserves it This car is the same overall length as the Escort but the wheelbase is about 5 inches longer This means that the cabin is extremely roomy The roof is high enabling the driver to sit up higher and provide more room in every direction Designed in Europe it is extremely easy for older people to use The Ford staff designed a suit which made the wearer feel more elderly This made it possible for them to design a car that is more friendly to older drivers This car also looks awesome The quot new edge quot design that Ford uses gives this car a clean sporty distinctive look It is hard to figure out which of the models sedan wagon ZX3 coupe looks the best but the wagon is definitely very functional Ford has scratched plans for an MPV vehicle and will probably not build a coupe model It is possible that the new Volvo S40 and V50 will be built on this platform but this isn t definite Overall this car is a steal It is cheap and gives you a lot of quot car quot It was given the revered quot Automobile of the Year quot status and is great for any kind of person with a low budget for a car If the looks don t hook you the drive will I recommend the ZX3 model because it is the cheapest and has the most standard features 2 0 zetec engine at about 130 bhp CD player standard etc In the month of July the Focus was the 10th best selling vehicle in America with about 30 000 units The only real down side to the Focus is the interior In my opinion it could have been made much nicer The buttons feel a little fragile The seats are great but the headrests are terrible My 96 Nissan Sentra has a very nice interior it is simple and durable Overall the Focus is a great car and it leads the class in almost every way br br " Pos," I needed a new car because my hyundai excel 91 had it so I decided to shop around for a nice small car with a affordable price tag I wasn t really thinking about american car because of all the negative talk I was thinking more of a Honda Accord Nissan Altima jetta So I went to the closest car place which so happens to be quot Ford quot so I browsed around for a bit see what I would like quot I just knew I wasn t going to see nothing I like and there it was a car I thought ford didn t make a car that stood out from the rest of their cars the quot Focus quot This car was really different when I looked inside the window and saw the inside and saw how spacious it was for a small car so I said to myself they probably want alot for this car I looked at the ticket price and said I have to have this car quot this is in my budget quot I love the roomy interior and easy the controls are to reach The way the seats feel is very comfortable I m not to found of the lumbar when it is lowered too low it leaves a big space it needs a little more horsepower though It rides nicely on the streets but rough going up a steep hill it s very comforting driving a long ride when the seat is up it makes you feel on the same level of a quot SUV quot This is certainly a great economical car I think anybody who is looking for a small affordable car with a midsize car feel once you sit inside you will love the car br br " Pos," The 2000 Ford Focus SE 4 door sedan has a spacious interior and a solid feel I m the only person in my neighborhood to own one and nearby friends and acquaintances regularly ask me how this stylish and affordable car performs Among the first things I tell them is to spend a little extra money and buy a Focus model that includes the perky 16 valve Zetec engine This adds several hundred dollars to the purchase price but the investment is worth it if you value passing performance on the freeway and climbing ability on hills I drove 2000 and 2001 models with the underpowered standard engine and came away disappointed Zetec is definitely the way to go Ford engineered the Focus to provide a roomy interior and did so with great success My head always bumped the ceiling in my Escort the car I traded when I bought the Focus in November 2000 Head rattling is not an issue with the Focus Seat height is adjustable and leg room for a person of my height 6 ft is more than ample Front seat passengers gain the most from the cab forward design Passengers in the rear may feel a bit squeezed if passengers in the front use the maximum amount of legroom My Focus came with a CD player and AM FM radio Sound quality is not concert like but I didn t expect it to be I d rate it better than adequate I ve read a number of reviews that said the Focus was fun to drive Let me jump on that bandwagon too Steering is responsive and the car which has 15 inch tires hugs the road One caution to prospective purchasers read the manual The Focus comes with several design features that initially may create the appearance of being minor malfunctions One of these is the air conditioning light that signals the air conditioning is in use During certain times this light comes on automatically as part of a design feature that apparently dehumidifies the air in the car to minimize frosting I ve read some reviews in which people didn t read the owner s manual and reported a suspected malfunction of the air conditioning unit The styling on the Focus also appeals to me and to my inquisitive neighbors The SE model I own has power windows and door locks keyless entry tilt wheel cruise control and other options Gas mileage is about 32 on the highway not great but good Trunk room is surprisingly adequate One small problem is that the cup holders can t accommodate large beverages Another problem is that the car doesn t seem well insulated against road noise Hey I regularly drive a Saturn and a Toyota Corolla The Focus beats them readily in performance interior room and value I am very pleased with this purchase "