Time for a new car Chevy vs Ford Vs Toyota... soory too long ;-)

[Rafael Mahecha]

Howdy ya'll... I know/think another user posted something like this not long ago (and I wonder how did it with that), but in times like this is when we need more help than ever.. ;-)



ok.. here is the deal, I currently own an 01 x sprt, and it's time for a change, I bought new new and saw the resale value go to the floor throughout the years... so since I decided not to a buy a new car (at least until I'm rich)... I am considering 3 options, all of them 2002 year models:



1. ford explorer 4D,

2. chevy trailblazer

3. toyota 4runner



Each of the truck has defenite pros and cons over the others... to helped me get even more confused, i have gone to a lot of site with cars reviews... it looks like all of them have user riviews that are negatives and positives, so I'm still not sure what should I get... so here I am asking ford king help to make up my mind (man... and to think that I complaint when my wife can't make up hers about what shoes to wear...)



I was wondering if you all have opinions as far a quality, mechanic relaibility, mpg, etc. when it come to one car or another...



chevy: I've read that chevy have great ride, suspension, engine (270 hp), but I also have read that it has a lot transmission and electrical problems problems, and that mpg is not that great (eventhough it advertises better milage than ford).



ford: i've read ford is the most "sophisticated" ride of the 3, 3rd row seat, all-wheel independent suspension and other goodies make it a nice choice (plus it really looks good and I have own explorers all my life); but also have read a lot of people complaint about explorers breaking down a lot... but there doesn't seem to be a specific point that is really a clear as the transmission problems on the chevy, for example.... Oh I also read that the transmissions enclosure is sealed from factory and will not need any servicing until about 150k mi... an big point to ford's favor.



toyota: I've read that defenitelylyly is the best quality among the 3, decent ride and prooven off-road ability... on the other hand, it looks like it has the worst gas milage out of the 3 (even when it has the smallest engine out of the 3), that dealerships are horroble, and I really dislike the facts that is (by far) not as wide as the other 2 and the engine is not as strong as the other 2...





... as you can see, I'm in a predicament... if you have any comments regarding either truck, good or bad, I'll greatly appreciate any input...

 

[Tom Schindler]

My sister had a 2002 Explorer. She leased it because she could not afford to buy it. When the lease came to an end, she wanted to buy it, but still could not afford the price. She ended up buying a 1998 Explorer off eBay for cheap.



She was more then happy with her 2002. She had a 4x4 with the V6. Never had one problem with it. She said she would get another in a heartbeat. She just couldn;t afford the price for a new one so she had to go used.



I dislike the idea of a sealed tranny. Personally, I think that is asking for trouble. BMW, from what I hear, has been doing it for years. Then again, you can fill the tranny but instead of using a fill tube, you use a plug to fill it. If you wanted to flush the tranny, which is something I do recomend no matter what a manufacturer recomends as a service interval, it can be done.



As for off-road capibility, I think that is something not to consider. The average SUV owner never takes thier vehicle off-roading in the first place, so why get stuck on that point?



As for the TrailBlazer, personally, I think they are ugly. All the magazines say the Explorer is the best riding of the bunch, so i don't see how the TrailBlazer can ride that good.



My niece has a 1996 Tacoma and I do not see any quality in it. it has some nice features, but nothing to brag about. Hard plastic dashboard. Cracked HVAC controls, and many other little things that makes it hard to beleve they call that quality.



I hope I was able to help.





Tom

 

[Chris Petrilla]

I (We) have a 2002 XLT 2WD Explorer V8 with the Sports Package. We have had it since new and it now has 37,000 trouble free (knock on wood) miles. The only thing we have had fixed are the cosmetic things (couple pillar pieces delaminated) and the 6 disc radio was replaced with the newer model that has the fan in it.



It did have the red cruise control switch in it - so I replaced that. It has the third row seat and rear air which work out great for us with the kids and dog. When we were looking for a new SUV (we had a 97' Mercury Mountaineer) I looked at the Trailblazer EXT (my wife wanted the 3rd row seat). What I liked about the Explorer (besides owning Fords for a while) is that the 2nd row is a 20/40/20 (both sides fold up) whereas the Blazer was 60/40. There is also more room behind the third seat in the Explorer.



Chris

 

[Rafael Mahecha]

... yup... I'm leaning more towards the ford side...



the thing that realy caught my eye from the tb/envoy was the fact that they are using a I6 putting out 270hp, and advertising better mpg than others, which is great for such a heavy car... but after reading some of the user reviews, it looks like that all it is, just advertising.



I'm not realy much into the v8, specially after seeing the lines at the pump after katrina visited us... but if the difference in mpg between v6 and v8 is not that much, I'll go for it, and just spend a few bucks getting intakes and whatever other mods can be installed to increase mpg... which inturn might also increase hp...



yes, ford design seems "clearner" to me too... i think is more "executive-looking", more elegant than tb and defenite than toyo.



Thanks for all you input guys, and please let me know if you have any other comments that I should be aware of...



PS:

b.t.w. has any of you heard that the 02' x has transmission problems? it makes some noise that eventually leads to breakage??? I also posted this message in another ford explorer message board and some said that '02 might have rear transmission issues since it was the 1st year that for had worked with indepndent suspension, and for that reason I might be better off getting an '03 since the might've been solved... i included the link below so that you can read too...

 

[Chris Petrilla]

The tranny has been solid on ours. Flushed it at 30K. No slippage whatsover. I don't think the gas mileage between the 6 and the 8 is that much of a difference. Our '97 Mountaineer had the v6, so when we were looking at the 2002's, one of my wife's prerequisites was the v8.



Chris

 

[Rafael Mahecha]

Ok... it looks like it will be an 2004 xpl xls (not sure if it is sport... i think)... I'm getting it from enterprise... it looks to be cheaper than anything else, and (eventhough it is over 36k mi), they have some kind of extended service plan service/backed up by GM (I hope recent GM problems don't affect this) that will cover bumper2bumper and will allow me to roll trouble free for 48 more months... now they wll take my 01 xpl sprt w 56k mi in trade in a give me $8k for it (way more than book value and auction price).



the questions that I have is that I read that the explorer comes with a tire inflation sensor... is that for the xls sport too? (if anybody knows)



I got the dealer to allow me to keep my alloy wheels from my 01 sport in exchange from the steel wheels that come with the xplr xls... does anybody know if this will affect the tire pressure sensor (if in fact it does come with the xls sport trim)???



thanks

 

[Chris Petrilla]

On my model year (2002) that option was only offered on the Limited Edition. Not sure on the 2004 model line but, I would think not.



Chris

 

[Rafael Mahecha]

ok... hopefully this is the final chapter in this book.

I had to go with the explorer for the simple reason that the dealer paid me good money (I think) for my '01 x sprt.



he did have chevys TB but they were more expensive than what I cna affort.



The truck I got was an '04 xls, the dealer agreed to put in free running-boars and allowed me to exchange the alloy wheels (original aquip) of my '01 to replace the ugly-looking steel ones that the xls comes with... the alloy stick out about and inch from the fender... now I need to get a fender flare too... the wheels/tires are the same size but I think the ones on the '01 x sprt are more/less back space (I not sure which one)... all I know they do look way nicer... I post pics soon.

 

[Bart Adkins]

If you're even considering a trailblazer, just go to your garage, get a ballpeen hammer and beat yourself in the face until your arm gets tired or you lose consciousness. That will be a far more rewarding experience than owning a trailblazer