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Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn Vue

4943 messages,  Last post on Sep 15, 2011 at 10:43 AM

You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Saturn VUE, SUV

Messages Page 490 of 495

#4884 of 4943 Been a long time by scape2

Mar 08, 2008 (3:14 pm)

since I visited this room. I owned a 2001 Ford Escape XLT v6 and it was a great vehicle. Remember me!? Escape went over 70,000 trouble free miles.. Wife owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute ES V6. Well, her Tribute now has 50,000 trouble free miles on it. I just brought it in to the shop to have the transmission fluid flushed, brake fluid flush and a power steering system flush. My wife loves this vehicle and doesn't have the slightest feeling to want to trade it in anytime soon. So, looks like this one is going to be in the family for a while. The Escape/Tribute are very good vehicles.

#4885 of 4943 my wife is in ohio by explorerx4

Mar 08, 2008 (8:45 pm)

talk about culture shock. it was snowing(a lot) so she upgraded her cheapest rental possible to a 4x4 jeep liberty.
the usual comments started 'lots of cars off the road'.
followed by 'this thing has a stupid lever i need to use to get into 4 wheel drive, and i had a hard time getting it to engage. i like that button in my escape'.
she even had a sheriff stop her and give her a lecture about not driving during a 'level 3'.
she told me she didn't even think the driving was that bad.
i guess not having many snow plows messes things up, if you are not used to it.

#4886 of 4943 Re: Been a long time [scape2] by thimmaker

Mar 09, 2008 (11:42 am)

Replying to: scape2 (Mar 08, 2008 3:14 pm)
50k and 70k????? Their just getting broken in. I've got 110 k on my Chrysler Pacifica and haven't even thought about a different car. If you buy a good American car you can always expect it.
George

#4887 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [explorerx4] by bdyment

Mar 10, 2008 (5:50 am)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Mar 08, 2008 8:45 pm)
I am curious. What button are you referring to in the Escape? There is no button for the shift to four wheel drive. Four Wheel Drive is automatic.

#4888 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [bdyment] by explorerx4

Mar 10, 2008 (2:38 pm)

Replying to: bdyment (Mar 10, 2008 5:50 am)
it's an '04 and actually i think it is a knob that you turn. i got confused with my explorer, which has buttons.

#4889 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [explorerx4] by thegraduate

Apr 05, 2008 (11:55 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Mar 10, 2008 2:38 pm)
It's not automatic, a'la CR-V?

#4890 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [thegraduate] by baggs32

Apr 06, 2008 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 05, 2008 11:55 pm)
I had a 2002 Escape and a 2005 Escape. For 2005 the 4WD system was "upgraded" to a fully automated electronic system. The original system for MY01-MY04 had a mechanical "Auto" mode and a 50/50 "Lock" mode, both of which were selectable via a knob on the center stack. The latter esentially locked the axles and sent 50% of the power to the front and 50% to the rear. You were not advised to use that option on dry pavement or at speeds above 65 IIRC.
 
Personally I liked the old one better but the newer electronic system did work very well too.

#4891 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [baggs32] by thegraduate

Apr 06, 2008 (8:03 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (Apr 06, 2008 6:26 pm)
Thanks, I had always assumed that the Escape had an automatic system.

#4892 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [thegraduate] by ateixeira

Apr 07, 2008 (9:46 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 06, 2008 8:03 pm)
I think it's both, i.e. automatic engagement when there is slip, plus the ability to manually turn on 4WD on slippery surfaces only.

#4893 of 4943 Re: my wife is in ohio [ateixeira] by baggs32

Apr 07, 2008 (9:58 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 07, 2008 9:46 am)
I think it's both, i.e. automatic engagement when there is slip, plus the ability to manually turn on 4WD on slippery surfaces only.
 
It only had both from 2001-2004. It is now fully automatic and fully electronic. Very much like the Haldex system but this one was developed by Ford IIRC. Like the Fusion, Taurus, and whatever other vehicles use it, it is said to be able to detect when wheel spin might occur and compensate for it by sending power where it is needed making the whole process invisible and seamless. My experience with the first gen version in our '05 Escape is that it did work very much like that but you could still feel the front tires slip ever so slightly from time to time in the soft stuff. Chirping the tires was all but impossible though. I guess the sensors which predict when wheel spin is imminent are programmed to work better on dry pavement.

Messages Page 490 of 495

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