Hey guys. We're going car shopping soon for my wife and she's looking at new Escapes. I like the car and it seems like it would suit her well, but I can't decide if the V6 and 4x4 is worth it or not.

I typically alwas buy the bigger engine, but in this case, the I4 has been upgraded from last year I think and it does get a lot better mileage than the V6 (21 vs. 18 city). My only real concerns are that it has enough power to safely get her into traffic if need be and re-sale.

4x4 is not too big a consideration as she would likely NEVER take it off road. Mainly just considering it for re-sale again. If anything, the 4x4 would be used for the 1 time per year it snows here, and maybe a camping trip to the beach/mountains. I don't know how well the FWD will do in either situation, but we would always have my F150 if need be, which is 4X4.

Thoughts?

 

I don't no your money situation, but if you don't really need the option, the vehicle will be cheaper, which is always a good thing! I would say get the V6 though, I would rather have a little bit too much power if I needed it then wishing I had more. If you are only gonna use 4x4 once or twice a year its not worth it IMO.

A guy at work has a Escape, its really nice. I think its a 2009 XLT with leather and the moon and tune package. He got it new for about $24k I think.

 

Thanks. The v6 adds about a grand to the price, not sure about 4x4. Looking at a Limited which stickers for $27 and a high school friend that is a sales man at the dealership can get us Xplan + incentives.

My wife really only cares about leather, moon and tune and sync.

 

I've had two Escape's now, both purchased new. The first was a 2005 XLT and it had the 4 cly with 4x4. The one we have now is a 2008 XLT with the V6, leather, moon roof, etc, and 4x4. IMO, the V6 is a must have. I'm happy with the power of the V6 and I'm REALLY impressed with the 4x4, especially after all that snow we had last year in the mid-atlantic. Since you have a 4x4 F-150, I'm sure you could get by with the FWD version, but I'd definitely get the V6.

I know that in 2009 the Escape got a 6spd transmission. Not sure if that is paired with the 4 cyl or not, but if it is, maybe that would change my opinion of the 4 cly. I do wish mine had the 6 spd, but all in all I'm happy with it. Plus it's paid for next year!

 

I have a 2002 6 cyl Escape 4x4. I don't know if they improved these engines over time but I get 17 MPG around town. I am not impressed with this milage.

 

I know you are looking for info. on a 2011, but my wife has a 2010 so I figured i'd chime, close enough right?

We were in the same situation you are. Looking to save some cash, but needed a new car. She was leaving behind a 2000 Camry with nearly 200k on the clock.

My wife is no speedster and although we see some snow here in swVa I felt that getting 4wd would be a useless upgrade. I have 4wd on my F-150 and honestly I dont see my wife being able to engage and drive with 4wd if she really needed it, she would stay home or have me drive her where she needed to go. So, to me, it was a useless expenditure and just one more thing to require maintenance and break on the car.

Back to the powerplant. I was impressed with the 4cyl., largely due to the 6 spd. transmission and generous low gearing in the first few gears. The motor has PLENTY of get up and go for her and I enjoying driving it on the interstate. Keep in mind, this is a small family SUV, not a ferrari, know the limits of your car and drive accordingly.

We settled on a XLT with all the options minus nav., too expensive and turn by turn directions are included with SYNC anyways. Again, just one more expensive thing my wife wouldnt use. The leather is nice, moonroof a MUST have, love it, and the Sirius makes road trips great.

The car has ab out 14k on the odo and has been pretty much trouble free. The only issue we have is a reoccurring CEL, code P0442 or something...has to do with emissions, but the car runs and operates fine, I need to get it to the dealer still.

Touching on the 4wd again. This car comes with traction control. We had nearly 2 feet of snow here last year. I drove the car, just to test it out, and UNplowed streets and parking lots. The car went through all of it no problem. I grew up in Pittsburgh so driving in the snow is second nature to me. If you know how to drive in the snow and mud, know the limits of your car (clearance, tires, etc) you will be more than satisfied with this vehicle's ability to get you around in snow. When the trac. control kicks in it feels like the front end is going to come off! But, the car shutters a bit, motor tourques down and the transmission clutches do their job, so happy I went with a 2wd, jeez did I just say that?

We purchased ours with X plan as well and have been very satisfied overall with the car. We bought it due to having our first child and wanted a reliable and safe vehicle. The Escape got great safety ratings and has been good to us, I would buy another. Installing a car seat was simple and its easy to get the baby in and out the back.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, id be glad to answer them for you.

 

Wow, thanks for all that. The more I think about it, the more 2WD makes sense for her and the budget. We just don't live anywhere where we would "have" to have it and it the 2wd would cut it through the snow, then I think that's about the extent of what she would use it for.

I think we're going to test drive vehicles with both engines to make a decision on that.

I do question the brakes though. Most of the magazine reviews online give negative remarks about the brakes, since it uses disc/drum (TOTALLY weird considering we're in the 21st century for cryin' out loud). I know that what the magazines put cars though will likely never be seen in real world driving, but how do you feel about the braking performance?

Also, how does Sync do turn by turn w/out NAV?

 

I think you will be satisfied with the 2wd. I see you live in Va as well. For the once a decade "Snowmageddon" we get, its just not worth it, especially if you already have a 4wd.

Testing both engines is a good idea. Just be sure to take into account fuel consumption and how many miles you put on the car a year. We initially looked at the Hybrid. But found we would have had to kept the car for over 20 years to re-coop to cost of the hybrid in fuel savings, crazy huh? Be your own advocate, the dealer is going to try and upsell you everything they can, do your homework first!

Never had any issues with the brakes, highway or town driving. Drum brakes, dont get me started. I flew off the handle when I saw that. My buddy has an early 2000's Escape and it has rear disc. For crying out loud my fire engine has rear disc brakes! I have NO idea WTF Ford was thinking with this, maybe they are cheaper? But, for the number of times they would really need replaced, I got over it. Although it has been years of me changing drums and shoes, I think I can fumble through it when it comes time. The car does have a downhill assist button. It downgrades the transmission to I think a 4 speed, but still shifts according to RPM. Hard to explain, but it helps. I only use it on VERY steep grades. I have only used it a few times in the mountains just to try it out. My wife drives approx. 20 miles each way to work, 3 days a week. Mostly highway type driving at speeds of 50 MPH, I drive it mostly around town or on vacations. Never had any problems with the brakes and had to rely on them heavily a few times with close calls with deer.

Sync does turn by turn through your phone. You do not need turn by turn on your phone, it just uses the bluetooth signal to do its thing. We have never used it though. I prefer DL'ing and printing a map and directions through MapQuest, call me "old fashioned" ha ha. Sync is VERY capable and can do a lot, my wife is pretty computer-retarded and I do not drive the car enough to learn all the ins and outs of it. It will take some time to get used to all Sync can offer, read up on it.

We went with the dark gray and black leather. The paint hides dirt well and looks nice all cleaned up. The black leather shows milk stains well, ha ha, yay for 1 year olds!

Anything else I can help ya with?

 

I'll let you know if I do. Thanks for all the feedback. To be honest, the drums kind of freak me out, but if you said your buddy has read discs on his 2000, then maybe it's possible to do a retrofit if I want to.

 

Doubtful.

Again, its the rear brakes. Depending on your mileage they wont need replaced THAT often, the fronts go first as they are used more.

Is it stupid they put drums on? Yes. Should that be the determining factor on whether or not you purchase a vehicle that suits your every other need? Absolutely not, it wasnt for me and shouldnt for you.

Is your concern with them strictly the inability to change them when they get worn? Or do you have other issues with drum brakes?

 

I'm not sure I follow. If they're like any other drum brakes from before, then replacing them shouldn't be much of an issue if you've performed the procedure before. It's more of a performance thing with 4 wheel disc vs. drum that gets me. I suppose that the engineers at Ford wouldn't have spec'd them if they weren't safe though.

 

You said you had issues with the drum brakes, as did I. My issue was strictly the PIA to replace them vs. disc brakes. I never thought of performance characteristics of drum vs. disc, im no engineer! ha ha.

Not to continue beating a dead horse, I have not read any negative reviews of the brakes when I researched the car. I have never had any sort of performance issues with them in the year we have owned the vehicle. Although it thoroughly confuses me as to why Ford went back to rear drums, I would LIKE to think there is a logical explanation. Until it comes time to service them, or we have a braking problem......

outta sight, outta mind.

 

I gotcha. Discs perform better than drums by a long shot for sure, but if they perform okay for a small SUV, then that's good by me.

I do appreciate all the info. Thanks.

 

My brothers both drive 2008 Escapes. One is a 4x4 Hybrid, the other is a 2wd V6. I've spent time driving both, here are my impressions:

The Hybrid is great, it really does get around 30mpg highway. However, it also downshifts all the time on the highway...if your car is loaded up, it will constantly be kicking up to 4k RPM to hold speed. Around town the Hybrid 4cyl is plenty peppy though, no problems there. Merging is a bit slow, just a tad underpowered. Driving in weather is no problem with the all wheel drive, the 4x4 is excellent in the snow as well.

The V6 is an animal in the little escape, gobs of power for a small car. With that said, it is super annoying driving in the rain with the 2wd car. It is so hard NOT to spin the tires...even just feathering the gas it constantly spins the tires. It really frustrates me. However, on dry pavement it makes merging and getting up to speed very easy and fun, this little thing can scoot! Mileage isn't nearly as good as the hybrid, obviously.

If I had to choose one, I'd choose neither. I'd want the V6 with 4x4 hehe. But if you are big about fuel economy, the 4cyl is no slouch and you'd probably want to go that route. If you drive in weather ever I strongly recommend the 4x4, the 2wd has poor manners in weather especially with the bigger engine and lightweight of the vehicle.

 

I disagree.

I drove in over 2 feet of snow last year in a 2wd Escape with stock street tires on it. Unplowed streets and parking lots and never got stuck. I was pushing snow with the front valence and was even coming to a complete stop and start to test the trac control. Sure I know how to drive in the snow, an unexperienced driver might have issues, but the traction control was awesome and did its job well. I would expect even better performance with a more aggressive snow tire and would not hesitate to take it out in the snow.

Off road would be a different story. I havent measured it, but cant imagine ground clearance is very good at all