My mother is looking into getting a SUV and those 3 are her top choices. She likes all of them but also has complaints about all of them. The expedition Eddie Bauer is what I think she should get for the money but she is beginning to think it is too big. She also has to have a sunroof and those are hard to find in Expeditions. The Durango is really nice but doesn't offer the sunroof as an option. The pluses to it are it has 3 rows of seats, nice grey leather interior, the option for the V8's, and is the cheapest of the 3. The 4runner is probably the nicest but is also the most expensive. The 2wd drive limited is going to run 35k drive out.
The pluses are it has a factory sun roof, gets great mileage, is probably the nicest on the inside, but only offers a v6 with 187hp. It also is the smallest of the 3 and
I can't help but feel like I am getting ripped off because it is the smallest yet cost the most. Atleast the expedition is big enough to feel like you are getting your money's worth. My question is have any of you owned any of these vehicles and what did you like or dislike about them? Would you buy them again and what problems if any did you have? Thanks for any reply's and no she won't go for a PSD Excursion! I know many of you couldn't wait to tell me to get one of those but 45k+ is over her limit!


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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 5inch National Spring lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter,2 JL audio 10's behind rear seat, audio art 6channel amp

 

Well you do realize you are asking abunch of VERY baised people here.
I doubt that anyone will tell you to get anything but the Expedition.

 

I'll start by admitting I'm biased- see signature. And, secondly, your mother should buy what SHE wants! Don't pressure her into a vehicle because you think it's best for her (not that you would do that).

I'd rule out the Dogde if the only things that it has going for it are 3 seats and a grey interior. Both of those are offered by Ford. I don't think 4runner has a 3rd seat option, but I'd bet grey interiors are offered.

The sunroof is something that you'll be seeing in a lot of Expeditions now. Prior to the 2000 model, a factory sunroof AND rear heat/air were not available. Most people chose the heat/air option. However, the new models can now have both.

Size does matter too. Ford claims that the Expedition will fit into a standard garage. Unfortunately, not everyone has a standard garage. Some parking facilities and automatic car washes are off-limits too. But, once you've gotten used to it, it really manuevers well. And the size is handy when getting rear-ended by a Buick going 50 mph.

Buick 0 Expedition 1

I'd buy another in an instant.

Neal


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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, Optima "T-Bone" wheels, and Clarion In-dash CD player. Just added Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars!!

1993 4x2 F150 Reg. Cab LWB- 5.0L, cat-back dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, Superchip, fresh paint, and Line-X bedliner.
http://members.visualcities.com/NoMo

 

I agree with nomo, let your mother get whatever she wants or needs. I will tell you though that one of my buddies got rid of a 96 4Runner Limited and bought a 99 Eddie Bauer Expedition 4x4. He loves it! I like it too after riding in both, the Expedition is far more vehicle for the money. I would strongly recommend anything on the market other than the Dodge Durango, they aren't screwed together too well and get dismal gas mileage (easily below 10 mpg).

Why not an Explorer? I bought a 98 XLT with factory sunroof, leather, awesome stereo, and every other option available on an XLT for $26,000.00 out the door. It is not a 4x4 though and has the 210HP V-6. It is very nimble, easy to drive, it hauls ***, and it is very well built. I will be keeping my Fords for a long long time.

One other thing, if she wants a Toyota that even compares to the Durango or Expedition then I think she should check out the Land Cruiser. The price of one of those ought to help make up her mind. The last one I saw was $57,000.00.

 

I'm only adding this to give your mom some extra info into her choice of vehical. I did own a 4-Runner. It was a 4x4 5speed 4cylinder.
It's plus points: very good paint, always cranked up no matter if it was 105* or -20*, only had to do rountine maintentance on engine (oil changes ect), I had over 200k on it when I sold it and at that point it needed a new clutch. Other things that I changed were water pump, fuel pump, spark plugs and wires.
It's bad points: The 4 cyl engine couldn't keep up speed going up hills. Couldn't tow either. The engine had a "tick-tick" sound. Valves but toyota said it was normal. It was the ruffest riding vehical I've ever been in. The new ones do ride better but...
I had 4-Runner on order when the new 97 Flaresides came out. Dropped the toyota and bought the Ford that day And have never regreted it. I love this truck. Has your mom looked at the Explorer?? If she likes the smaller 4-Runner then the Explorer might be the ticket and it's much cheaper too.

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Yes she has looked at the explorer and doesn't want one. I tried to get her to drive one but she won't hear it. Her sister had a 93 explorer and had lots of problems with it so my mom now thinks all explorers aren't any good which isn't the case. The 93 model and the 00 model look and probably are two different animals. Anyway I tried to get her to listen but she won't. That 00 option of being able to get rear air and heat with the sunroof might really convince her to get the expedition. That is what i think she should get for the money. I almost got one myself before I decided on the Super Duty. I really liked the way the black eddie bauer 4x4 looks on the outside and the inside. I was about set to get one and put a lift on that when I drove a super duty. I basically thought I needed the bed of the truck and that is why I went with the truck. Anyway thanks for the replys.

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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 5inch National Spring lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter,2 JL audio 10's behind rear seat, audio art 6channel amp

 

The ford explorer is a good truck, I have one with 98,000 miles on it and it is a 94. No problems at all. Its the reason i went back to american trucks. I just brought a 99 f150 4x4 and i love it. The last 2 trucks i owned were toyotas. Very good trucks but not enuff room for a growing family. The toys did ride rough. This f150 feels like a lincoln.

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99 F150 XLT 4X4 s/c orp 5.4 automatic 3:73
Ford soft tonneau cover rubber maid bed mat and mud from the dirt bike

 

sunroofs from the factory leak as much as the ones installed by a shop. let her get what she wants, if it doesn't have a sunroof or moonroof when purchased then she can have one installed for around $200 and up.
and don't persuade her to buy a vehicle that intimidates her.

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'97 f-150 XLT V6 auto 3.55 silver reg cab flareside , 6 cd, Lariat floor mats, tonneau, ground effects, tint, glasspack w/ duals, new= ion optics fog lights, cracked windshield (thanks to a dodge caravan). the heartbeat stops here.

 

My wife just bought a '99 Expedition. She's not sure she loves it yet, but we've only had it a few days and I'm already fond of it. I'm almost split between wanting to drive my F-150 and the "X". "Almost," that is.

We chose the Expedition as the wife's daily driver and as our road trip vehicle. My tall frame eliminated most of the smaller sport-utes from the running, and a great trip to Wisconsin over the summer re-enforced for us how comfortable the truck is. An Expedition seemed like a good choice. We drove a Tahoe for comparison and it's basically a piece of &*$% in comparison. Wouldn't pay the price we did for the X for a Tahoe.

Hope Mom enjoys whatever she chooses.....and yes, the 2000 Expeditions come with factory sunroofs and rear air if you ask for it. I saw one at the Ford dealer the other day.

 

Just a note about 4-Runners: I can't speak for the newest models, but the older (96 and older) models had a two major faults:

1) The front brakes were exactly the same as were used on the basic, no frills 2WD pick ups and frequently warped the rotors prematurely. It was not uncommon to have to replace the rotors every time you renewed the front pads.

2) The air intake duct opening was located below the front bumper which would suck up water into the engine, ruining it, if the driver ever attempted to cross a deep enough creek or stream or enter a flooded intersection (this would occour if the water was up to the front bumper).
Just thought you might want to know.

Take care,
-Chris

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Crazy C, What kind of deal did you get on your expedition? MY mom is thinking about ordering one and my dealer has told us that he would order it for 200 over. The one she wants is a ed Bauer, 2WD, Sunroof, and pretty much everything else she wants is standard on the EB.

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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 5inch National Spring lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter,2 JL audio 10's behind rear seat, audio art 6channel amp

 

She should take a look at the Navigator. Even a friend of mine, who drives a Honda, was impressed with how easy a Navigator is to drive.

 

4 x 4,

She got a '99 XLT Expedition, a demo model for 25k and change at Bob Tomes Ford through the Autobytel system. It was originally stickered at 29k, so being a demo model, we saved about 4 grand. It's technically a used vehicle, even though it has only 2600 miles on it. But it smells new, looks new, has the factory warranty intact (from the date Bob Tomes began driving it), etc.

It's not as plush as an Eddie Bauer....we didn't want leather seats or an excessive amount of doodads. It's almost like Nomo's "X" in that it has no running board, but it does have a cloth split bench seat in front and a roof rack, and overhead rear air vs. the little unit between bucket seats that blows air up onto the middle rear passengers but not the far rear ones.

But I love it. I drove it to work this morning to just have more time behind the wheel.

Anyone here interested in purchasing a gently used 1998 Ford Windstar GLToradour Red, rear air, cruise, 22k miles, etc.? We now have three vehicles and quickly need to reduce our overhead to two. My e-mail is C. Taylor 73123.2510@compuserve.com and we are in the DFW Texas area. Asking 17k or best offer.