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Ford Explorer Mercury Mountaineer 2005 and earlier

3348 messages,  Last post on Oct 31, 2011 at 3:14 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, SUV

Messages Page 151 of 336

#1495 of 3348 02Moutaineer vs 03Explorer by pdw1731

Aug 12, 2003 (7:03 pm)

Hi all. I am curious to know your thoughts on buying a 2003 Explorer XLT V6 4x4 v. a 2002 Mountaineer V6 AWD with 23000 miles on it. The MM I can get for 23k and the XLT I can get for about 24k (only option is the 3rd row seat really). I ran a Carfax report on the MM and it was previously a Fleet vehicle. Is that good or bad? I'm really not a fan of used vehicles but I'm pretty much a cheapskate. Looking forward to your responses.
 
I also would like to know is this time of year really good for buying a new car with dealers trying to move their product to make room for the new ones? I had a Mercury dealer trying to basically shaft me and I pretty much gave him the finger for being a jerk.
 
Thanks

#1496 of 3348 by nvbanker

Aug 12, 2003 (11:20 pm)

That's a tough choice. Myself, I'd get the MM, because I like the upgraded Ford product. But if that doesn't matter to ya, get the new Explorer.

#1497 of 3348 by ANT14

Aug 12, 2003 (11:50 pm)

That 3rd row seat might come in handy... Just one time is all it takes to appreciate it.

#1498 of 3348 02Moutaineer vs 03Explorer by pdw1731

Aug 13, 2003 (2:13 am)

I'd rather have the MM even if the differences are assumed to be primarily cosmetic. I'm just a tad leery about a used,excuse me, previouly owned truck. Any thoughts on a fleet vehicle?

#1499 of 3348 by ANT14

Aug 13, 2003 (7:03 am)

Hmmm depends on who's fleet it was in. And the kind of use it was put through. I think of it this way, have you always been gentle with any rental car you have used ?

#1500 of 3348 by nvbanker

Aug 13, 2003 (4:50 pm)

Funny you should mention that, ANT. I used to buy all my cars from Hertz in the early 80's, and was generally happy with them all. The way I looked at it, it may have had some rough treatment during the 18 months of service in the rental fleet, but it didn't have 18 months of one maniac abusing it consistently, which is the risk you take with a traditional used car. It's a crapshoot, and I'd try to find out what fleet it was in as well, but I don't know how much that is going to tell you other than maybe you can figure out if the oil has been changed, etc. How it has been driven, or how many curbs it has jumped is anybody's guess. Unless it's a Certified Used Car, just make sure you have some warranty left on it, and if there is a problem it should manifest itself soon, and you can get it repaired.

#1501 of 3348 with these, curb jumping isn't a crime if it's done at a crawl by swschrad

Aug 13, 2003 (7:12 pm)

that is, after all, what the things were designed to be able to do. I've jumped a couple of stumps in the boonies and gone over two rows of parking lot bumpers to get out of a pinhead-blocked parking lot in my 2000, and no problems whatsoever. the trick is, you gotta do it about as fast as you can pull a wheelchair over those obstacles. do that, all is fine.
 
I look at the tires... both inside and outside sidewalls, because you can remount 'em backwards if Scraping Sue kept renting the car... to see if it has been driven by idiots with their hair over their eyes. tires that are half-used or less are not going to be replaced to hide sidewall wear unless the tires are gone.

#1502 of 3348 Whats the difference? by brast69

Aug 13, 2003 (9:18 pm)

What is the difference between the 02 and 03 Mountaineer? Is there one except the price?

#1503 of 3348 Trade in by brast69

Aug 13, 2003 (9:22 pm)

I am thinking about trading in my 03 Mountaineer Premier (which is only 3 months old & 4100 miles) for a Hummer 2. Any suggestions????

#1504 of 3348 by nvbanker

Aug 14, 2003 (9:41 pm)

Very minor differences between the 02 & the 03. Now, the H2 - JDPowers worst car in initial quality? There'll be a difference. Mostly aggravation, from what my friends tell me. But, you'll turn a lot more heads.

Messages Page 151 of 336

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