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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 164 of 336

#1622 of 3348 Tires, 2002 and up Mercury Mountaineer by fx4

Oct 22, 2003 (11:32 am)

When my wife and I looked at 2003 MM before buying the 2003 Explorer, 4wd, V-8, we were puzzled to find that the base model MM has the 245/70R/16 Goodyear Eagle LS performance
type tires. The Eagle LS only has a 350 tread wear rating and many demos approaching the 5,000 miles turn in level were showing significant wear. Sinking feeling that quick tire wear would be a major problem with the Eagle LS?
 
The higher end MM models come with BFG Rugged Trail T/A in 245/65R/17. Same goes for the E/B and Limited Explorer models. The BFG selection, except for maybe the 17" size itself, seems like an ill tire selectiion for the higher priced luxury models. Seems like the luxury models would have the performance tires. Any insights?
 
The Explorers we drove with the BFG tires seemed to handle slightly better than the base XLT models with the Michelin 235/70R/16 Cross Terrain. Again probably solely due to the 17" wheels and tires.
 
Any experience with the above tires on these models?
 
P.s. We liked the MM better and she wanted to try the AWD, but could not find much selection in 3rd seat delete Mountaineer models.

#1623 of 3348 nvbanker by gpz1

Oct 22, 2003 (9:13 pm)

The Luxury or base Aviator does not have the Heated / cooled seats. Just the Premium model does.

#1624 of 3348 Tires 2002 - FX4 by mountainowner

Oct 24, 2003 (4:25 pm)

My Mountaineer had the Goodyears and they lasted 45,000 miles...they would have lasted longer if they were rotated more. Replaced them with the Cross Terrains, the treadware rating on the Cross Terrains is 700 vs 350 on the Goodyears. The Michelin web page gives comparisons of their tire in different conditions (snow, wet, dry, etc). IMO the Michelins are a better riding tire..

#1625 of 3348 SIRIUS Radio and 3rd Row Seating by daryll40

Oct 25, 2003 (1:48 pm)

My brother is in the market for a new SUV. He wants an OEM-style satellite radio. It is my understanding that the '04 Explorer/MM has a factory OEM radio head unit where the dealer can install the SIRIUS radio kit so that it will work as an integrated system. I cannot get confirmation that this is true for ALL '04 Explorer/MM vehicles or does it need to be special ordered this way or is it something that will not come until later in the model-year run?
 
Also, he wants a "high-end" version which will probably put him on a Lincoln-Mercury lot as most of the MMs are "higher-end" than the most common XLT Explorer..although we fully understand that most dealers have at least a few Eddie Bauer and Limited Explorers too. Anyway, he want's it WITHOUT the 3rd row seating. At one point you could not get MM without the 3rd row. Somewhere I seem to recall hearing that for '04 you could order it with a 3rd row DELETE option.
Yes? No?
 
Info would be appreciated since, unfortunately, the dealers either don't know the truth about these two items (we've been there and are getting different stories at different dealerships) or purposely aren't telling because they suspect the answers won't sell what's on their lot today.

#1626 of 3348 Reply: post 1625 by fx4

Oct 28, 2003 (1:02 pm)

Yes for the third row seat delete for 2003 and 2004 MM. Look on Forddealerships.com,
F/L/M in Tocccoa, GA 30577 for an example of a 2004 Mountaineer with third row delete. Assuming it has not sold since I did a bookmark a couple of weeks ago. (Should also be able to find it through www.mercuryvehicles.com using the above zip)
 
My wife and I drove several 2003 Mountaineers with third row delete in the late summer of 2003.

#1627 of 3348 Editor's Most Wanted for 2004 by steve_ HOST

Oct 28, 2003 (3:03 pm)

Guess who won in SUV Under $35,000 category
 
Edmunds.com Announces Editors' Most Wanted Awards for 2004 Model Year (Yahoo news)
 
Steve, Host

#1628 of 3348 Yes, I noticed...... by nvbanker

Oct 29, 2003 (6:25 pm)

and I also noticed that very, very few domestics got a placement in the most wanted list.

#1629 of 3348 by ANT14

Oct 29, 2003 (6:53 pm)

Please, I haven't gotten over the F-150 not have placed in the Pick-Up lists, not even honorable mention ! Makes me wonder if the car rags are now taking over Edmunds.com And what about the Passat making the family sedan round? They should keep one for longer than warranty period so they experience are ultimately unreliable they really are. Oh well...

#1630 of 3348 Most Wanted by steve_ HOST

Oct 29, 2003 (6:57 pm)

I guess y'all will have to wait to vote for the Consumer Most Wanted for 2004 award.
 
"Give us your feedback about our Editors' Most Wanted picks.
E-mail: editoredmunds.com"
 
Steve, Host

#1631 of 3348 Steve... by nvbanker

Oct 29, 2003 (7:19 pm)

You're kidding, right? You really want our feedback? Just remember, you asked for it

Messages Page 164 of 336

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