David Crockett
Active Member
Greetings all. I am a US paratrooper currently deployed to Afghanistan. I am scheduled to relocate to Alabama this fall and will need to purchase a new vehicle for my wife and I since my old BMW is too old and not worth converting from European to US specs. The Sport Trac has caught my interest more than any other truck/SUV and is currently my most favored choice for a replacement.
Despite my initial interest in the ST, I would like to gather as much feed-back from current owners of the vehicle, to see how pleased or displeased they are with the Sport Trac's performance and reliability before I commit to buying one. I have already reviewed Consumer Reports (CR) evaluation of the ST and was surprised to discover that it only received an average rating over-all despite the large number of people who seem to be very pleased with their STs. The CR evaluation stated the Sport Trac had outstanding ergonomics and functionality, but also gave poor marks for fuel efficiency, handling, and having an "unrefined" engine which seemed underpowered at times.
Many actual ST owners who completed CR surveys about their STs were very pleased with it and mentioned it's ergonomics, versatility, and reliability as being key points of satisfaction. Others, however, said it was the worst vehicle they'd ever owned. Mechanical problems with fewer than 50,000 miles on the odometer were the most common reasons for these claims. Many stated they had experienced recurring and expensive problems with fuel pumps, wind and road noise, and leaky or defective drive-trains. These same people also claimed that the Ford diagnostic specialists at their Ford dealerships were often unable or very slow to identify and correct the problems and that the warranty on their vehicles wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.
I generally value Consumer Reports to be a safe, reliable, and trust-worthy source of consumer information on many products. They claim to be a non-profit source which doesn't seek commercial funding. Despite this, though, they seem to be heavily biased towards the Japanese auto industry. I know the Us auto market is suffering at this time, but I've always considered ford to be make a good truck. Before I make my decision, I'd like to hear from "real" people instead of a potentially fabricated magazine or internet article.
Please feel free to share your ST experiences, good or bad, with me. I am interested in hearing about any problems or regrets you've had with your ST, regardless of how small or trivial. Likewise, I'd like to know what features are your favorites and what impresses you most with your ST. Of particular concern to me, is fuel economy and drive-train reliability. I can deal with flimsy cup-holders or hard-to-reach seat belts so long as the major components are reliable. Also, as my wife is fairly short, I'd like to hear from a few of the ladies and "under-height" people to see if they have any problems getting in and out of the ST or driving it. Additionally, Ford claims the ST averages 17/21 mpg for city and highway driving, respectively. CR states an average annual fuel expense of around $900-$1000. I don't expect the St to compare with a Honda Civic for fuel economy, but I'd like to know if anyone agrees or disagrees with these numbers.
Again, I'm not trying to nickle-and-dime the Sport Trac. I think it is a great looking vehicle and think I'd like to own one. I have simply worked very hard for my money and want to make an informed decision about possibly owning one. I welcome your comments and opinions as they pertain to the Sport Trac, especially from '03 - '04 owners.
SSG David Crockett
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Despite my initial interest in the ST, I would like to gather as much feed-back from current owners of the vehicle, to see how pleased or displeased they are with the Sport Trac's performance and reliability before I commit to buying one. I have already reviewed Consumer Reports (CR) evaluation of the ST and was surprised to discover that it only received an average rating over-all despite the large number of people who seem to be very pleased with their STs. The CR evaluation stated the Sport Trac had outstanding ergonomics and functionality, but also gave poor marks for fuel efficiency, handling, and having an "unrefined" engine which seemed underpowered at times.
Many actual ST owners who completed CR surveys about their STs were very pleased with it and mentioned it's ergonomics, versatility, and reliability as being key points of satisfaction. Others, however, said it was the worst vehicle they'd ever owned. Mechanical problems with fewer than 50,000 miles on the odometer were the most common reasons for these claims. Many stated they had experienced recurring and expensive problems with fuel pumps, wind and road noise, and leaky or defective drive-trains. These same people also claimed that the Ford diagnostic specialists at their Ford dealerships were often unable or very slow to identify and correct the problems and that the warranty on their vehicles wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.
I generally value Consumer Reports to be a safe, reliable, and trust-worthy source of consumer information on many products. They claim to be a non-profit source which doesn't seek commercial funding. Despite this, though, they seem to be heavily biased towards the Japanese auto industry. I know the Us auto market is suffering at this time, but I've always considered ford to be make a good truck. Before I make my decision, I'd like to hear from "real" people instead of a potentially fabricated magazine or internet article.
Please feel free to share your ST experiences, good or bad, with me. I am interested in hearing about any problems or regrets you've had with your ST, regardless of how small or trivial. Likewise, I'd like to know what features are your favorites and what impresses you most with your ST. Of particular concern to me, is fuel economy and drive-train reliability. I can deal with flimsy cup-holders or hard-to-reach seat belts so long as the major components are reliable. Also, as my wife is fairly short, I'd like to hear from a few of the ladies and "under-height" people to see if they have any problems getting in and out of the ST or driving it. Additionally, Ford claims the ST averages 17/21 mpg for city and highway driving, respectively. CR states an average annual fuel expense of around $900-$1000. I don't expect the St to compare with a Honda Civic for fuel economy, but I'd like to know if anyone agrees or disagrees with these numbers.
Again, I'm not trying to nickle-and-dime the Sport Trac. I think it is a great looking vehicle and think I'd like to own one. I have simply worked very hard for my money and want to make an informed decision about possibly owning one. I welcome your comments and opinions as they pertain to the Sport Trac, especially from '03 - '04 owners.
SSG David Crockett
Kandahar, Afghanistan
