I want to get my wife something special this year. Christmas eve is our 25th wedding ann. and i was going to get her a newer truck. I would like to get her a new one but ... anyway i was looking for around a 96-99 explorer. (thats what she wants??). are they desent trucks??. let me know, and HAPPY HOILIDAYS TO ALL!

 

Your best bet is to let your wife decide...especially if she will be contributing to the monthly payment!

 

Does she have to have an explorer? I have heard of numerous people with nothing but problem from Exporers. They didn't get the nickname exploder for nothing. Have you looked at any other SUV's? They 4 runner is nice and Toyota quality is great. The downside is the cost $$$.

I don't want to sound like a salesman here but I have a Nissan Xterra. It's a great SUV. If you're planning on a 4WD they come with a real transfer case that has a 4LO range. And if you don't like the auto hubs you can get warn manual hubs for them. If you are interested you can check out our Xterra website here.

XOC

 

Boo Nissan!

They suck...

Anyways...I like the newer explorer much more than the older one.

Go to edmunds.com and look at some reviews.

 

Well, truth be known, any vehicle that is mass produced and made by a human is going to have problems. I have a neighbor that owns an Xterra (2002) and he's had two transmissions, an alternator, and brakes replaced on the SUV and trust me, he is the farthest thing from 'hard' on a vehicle. He babies his like I do mine.

On the flip side, Nissan does make a decent product and I'm certainly not knocking them.

What I'm getting at is it's not fair to single out the Explorer for having trouble. They're made here in Louisville, right where I'm sitting, and there is a reason that they are the world's best selling suv.

I personally owned a 1998 and traded it on my King Ranch and had nothing but good luck with it. I had a couple of small issues that I had to have fixed but, every vehicle on the road today has something wrong with it.

Whatever you do, since you're looking in the used market, follow up with previous owners and do your homework. The internet has a plethora of sources for information thus, if you really want to know about a certain vehicle, just search.

Best of luck to you!

RP

 

I gotta agree that the 4-runner is probably the best small SUV made. I had a 98 and it was totally bullet proof even towing a 5000lb. boat and going out romping in the mud on occasion.

The explorer though!! I dont know whats up with all the roll over reports unless it was all to blame on the tires but just the other day I watched a guy in a late model Explorer pull a MAJOR evasive lane change to avoid a wreck and that damn truck moved like a sports car! It looked like he did a 90degree left and a 90degree right lane change and that puppy did it and then settled right out afterwards! The truck appeared totally stock too. I know alot of people who love their explorers

 

Oh ya, Congratulations on 25 years!! thats great!

 

It was a great 25th , I will continue to look for aa truck for her and thanks for all the suggestions..