Have an opportunity to get into a 1999 XLT extended cab 2wd 4.2L automatic with about 64K. Truck is very clean, carfax is clean, all maint. records are available, what should I look for? What issues are these known for? What kind of mileage do people who run all highway get? What is a "can't walk away from" price? Thanks for any thoughts or input.

 

VERY NICE! get some pics if possible. thats a 99, so the hydrolocking issue has been fixed. what kind of seats does it have? i can get 21 mpg highway with casual putting along. if im in a hurry, doing 75 mph will yield me more like 18-19 hwy. i cant think of anything off the top of my head that is a major problem with these trucks. I do not know much about car selling/buying, but if I was in the market for a truck and saw that, I would say $6-8K would be a good price. the 99+ are VERY mod-happy trucks. i say go for it. but post pics if you can!

its an XLT, so it has power windows/locks? what about the overhead console? rear sliding window? if it has those, just another reason to get it. i have the base model, so I wish i had all those. very nice truck if it has leather. mine has vinyl, but still. dont be afraid to "walk off" it how my dad got mine for 13K (new in 1997)

 

Deal is, I can trade even up for my 2003 Explorer XLS 2WD. Explorer has 68K, F150 now has 65K. The F-150 ain't perfect, but neither is the Ex. XLT trim, cloth seats, bench with center console, no overhead, or rear slide, but a bed liner and cargo cover. I've driven it about 800 miles in the past week, and other than an odd noise when turning the wheel, and 19.5 mpg's I've got no issues. Got pics in my profile, but trying to figure how to het them into this post.

 

Is it when you lock the wheel all the way to one side?

 

No, there is just a faint squel/whine that comes as soon as you begin to turn the wheel a bit hard. Just running down the highway it isn't there, or changing lanes, but for example if I'm going around a cloverleaf and increase my radius it is there. Also noticeable in parking lot turns. I've checked the steering fluid as that was my first thought. Also don't believe it to be tire noise as it is more a mechanical noise.

 

Book value on the 99 F-150 is around $5500. Book value on your Explorer is around $6700.

I doubt the F-150 will average 19.5 mpg. It's a heavier vehicle with a bigger engine. I'd say you will probably get about 16 around town and maybe 20 on the highway.

 

if this is the sound i think it is every f150 ive had has it, its at the end of the turn radius and it sounds like the pump is just working a little hard trying to push the tires those last few inches. as for the price check kelly blue book under private party(if thats what it is) to get an idea. with my lift, 32's, and heavy steel wheels, i get around 15 around town 19-22 highway(75-65 mph)

 

Did you miss my post?

 

no i saw it, just didnt know you used that site. also using the site the op can put in details like location and such that we might not know

 

KBB with all the options lists the F-150 at $6105, and the Explorer at $7210. For $900, I'd be willing to trade even with my Dad. My Ex will need tires and brakes before winter, but the F-150 can go awhile longer before much $ repairs can be expected. Biggest issue around here is that SUV's are NOT selling. Dealer friend told me they are sitting 120 or more, so they are worth nothing in trade. I was offered $2500 by three different dealers. They aren't going for much on Ebay either, and since mine is 2WD and base, it has virtually no value. I will either trade for the F-150 or drive the Ex into the ground.

As for the mpg, on my second tank I got 19.57 mpg (19.68 first tank). I do mostly highway, and have been trying to keep my foot out of it. I calculate mpg a couple of ways. First is to fill it up until it burps and then keep going. I went 475 miles till the low fuel light popped on the first trip, filled it with 24.165 and then managed 473 miles until the low fuel light. Ended up going 488.2 and put 24.953 gallons in. I figure that by not only calculating distance per gallon, but also distance traveled based on tank capacity it is a double check. I'll need to do a few more tanks before I get a good average.

I apperciate the thoughts, and I'm just trying to decide if the F-150 is more or less trouble prone than the Explorer?

 

The 99+ 4.2 F-150 is one of the most reliable vehicles on the road. The Explorer is decent too, but in the long run the truck is more reliable.

19 to 20 highway driving keeping your foot out of it is about right - I can get about that if I can find gas with minimal ethanol. With the E10 **** here I'm getting more like 18 on the highway - but I drive 70 to 75 mph. Not worth going over to Kansas to get pure gas because it's 30 to 40 cents more - I can get real gas in Miami, Oklahoma for about a dime more but that's a 30 mile drive each way.

Gas here today is $3.29 at Casey's, by the way. It's $3.25 at Walmart in Neosho.

I used my zip code to get the book value, and took the default options and rated them both "good". My split is about the same as yours so it's a valid comparison. Your split is $1100, not $900. Tires and brakes can cost close to $1000 so we are getting pretty close to a wash here.

 

I've got the same truck as you and my low fuel light comes on after about 20 to 21 gallons have been used. It's only a 25 gallon tank, so I'm surprised your low fuel light does not come on until 24 gallons are used. Maybe you somehow got a 30 gallon tank in yours.

BTW, on our crappy California low emissions gas, I don't get anywhere near the mpg you get.

 

Low fuel light has been popping on at about 475 miles driven, and I've been putting a little over 24 gallons in. I usually figure about 1 gallon over the listed tank size for total capacity, so about a 500 mile range to empty. I could go closer to 40 miles past low fuel on the Explorer.

Thanks for the input. I believe I'm going to eat the lower milage and trade for the truck. Hopefully I can put about 80K on it in the next few years without any major repairs. By that time I'll have $10-12K banked, and can get a year old 2009 for a deal, if they are really as good as people are saying.

 

Remember the 09's are V8 only, and automatic only.

 

Well **** THE 09s