Toying around with a possible idea...

[UltimateSVT]

Guys, this is only 50/50 @ this point. Tomorrow I will be sitting down w/my wife to really talk this over w/her...

I may end up selling the black '97 after all & purchase a nice Ford Explorer or Mercury Mountaineer for my wife to drive.

4 months ago my cousin purchased a '97 Ford Explorer w/167,000 miles. It sat @ my grandmother's house until this Wed that he did the title transfer & took it.
I've seen the car quite a few times but didn't drive it until yesterday. I was shocked. It rides super nice & so smooth & needless to say, my wife was in the car & she immedeately tells me; "See, this I wouldn't mind driving. I like it!".

That being said, I've been looking at a beautiful '99 Explorer that is MINT for only $2,800.
Also looking at a couple Mountaineers for nearly the same price & very similar mileage.

I prefer the Mountaineer due to the 5.0 powerplant but either one will do. Ofcourse since it shares the same lug pattern as the Mustang I'd install my '99 Cobra wheels on it as soon as we buy it.

I know a couple of you guys own these "Exploders". What is your overall take on them? She will be driving it 12miles p/week. 1 fuel tank every 3 weeks. <--Current fuel efficiency w/my truck or '97 Mark VIII.

 

[Sapperfire]

Buy my Mountaineer, 5.0 AWD, Black/grey, moonroof. $2200
Ill get the miles tomorrow.I really like mine, the AWD makes it handle MUCH better, I've had 2 Explorer EBs with just RW and its a night and day difference.

Its perfect for you... it'll come already needing a matching set of wheels

Went to get smokes.. and forgot to look at the milage.. its around 160k+

 

[DieselDan]

I think this is one of the best ideas you've had in a long time, gotta keep that wifey happy. That said, I was able to get my Mark back as DD after I found my wife a very nice white 2000 Exploder. Mine was the mechanic's special and I got it for $500, but it had a blown motor. Through unique circumstances, I got a brand new engine for it for no cost, and the transmission had just been rebuild by the original owner. It had 253K on it and is now nearing 300k and looks/rides like a car with 80k on it.

My wife loves it because she sits up higher and it has a lot of interior room. Ours is RWD with the 4.0 OHV motor. Stay AWAY from the OHC motor, its a big POS and very, very difficult to repair. I also recommend staying away from the 5.0 if you can, it will really make that thing a gas guzzler. Our 4.0 has plenty of power and never leaves me wishing it had a 5.0.

The final thing that I LOVE about the explorer is the fact that there are a bajillion of them still on the road and that means that junkyards are full of them. Anytime I have needed anything, I just hit up the JY and I'm good to go for very little money, and I have a lot of selection. IMO, I would try to get a 4.0 OHV motor with RWD. You don't really need 4wd in FL and its going to reduce your fuel economy, same with getting the 5.0. Last week I needed an alternator and figured I'd check the JY first, got one for $20 bux and it was a Motorcraft reman.

Main thing that those explorers are known for is the center arm rest cover vinyl cracking and looking like doo doo, and the cruise control buttons breaking off. They are a soft rubber button and are back lit. Only real option is to buy new or repair yours, like I did, because you will not find them in the JY. I have kept my eyes open for a couple years, casually looking for them and have yet to see them or an arm rest cover.

Other than that, they are really great cars. Just keep a good set of tires on them and do the maintenance and they just won't quit. Your wife will love the feeling that she is sitting higher, and it is a smaller overall vehicle than the Mark is, speaking of the car's foot print on the road.

Good luck, you can afford to be picky with these things because they are so abundant.

 

[87TTOPGT420]

Go 5.0 or don't bother...that's all I have for a opinion regarding this

 

[Stangman]

The v6/auto combos were prone to trans failure. Atleast with the v8, it will have the 4r70w.

 

[UltimateSVT]

Buy my Mountaineer, 5.0 AWD, Black/grey, moonroof. $2200

Sapp, nice Mountaineer. However there's one thing that stands between me & your car... DISTANCE. Plus down here these SUV's are going for that price with 90-110k on them.


Check out the one's that I'm looking at:

97 XLT w/110k VERY CLEAN!

98 XLT w/96k MINT, MINT, MINT. One owner vehicle, Owner can no longer drive.

98 Mountaineer w/105k Super clean

97 Mountaineer w/115k Super nice but 3 owners

99 Mountaineer w/107k Very nice but 3 owners.

98 Mountaineer w/99k Nice & clean

My all time favorite is the Light Green Explorer. That thing is amazing. I'm going to see it in a couple hours. If I like how it rides I'm bringing her home. Original paint, no accidents, no rust. Really nice & the important thing is that my wife likes it. I will let you guys know soon.

 

[Hot*Mk8]

Alex, which car are you selling? Not the black one, are you?

 

[Sapperfire]

... yeah but mine is a southern car.. with Brand New Goodyears

 

[Stangman]

Green one! Then the white one if the green one falls thru!

 

[isaiah3g]

12 miles a week? Wish I had a job that close. I'd ride my bicycle to work.
4r70w. J-mod it! Slam it on those mustang wheels. And exhaust it. Nice daily driver.

 

[UltimateSVT]

Alex, which car are you selling? Not the black one, are you?

Yeah, more than likely I'm letting go of the black car.

My stepfather's interested in the car so he may take it under his wing. Otherwise if I end up buying a nice Explorer/Mountaineer it'll end up on Craigslist. My black Mark VIII has 64k but my wife simply doesn't like Mark VIII's so she's always driving my truck. The car needs a new transmission seal. It's leaking tranny fluid & I still haven't fixed the GEAR DATA DISPLAY ERROR message that I get. Issue was discussed on this thread below.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=83217

I haven't finished painting the hood/trunk/roof but they will be painted before the car goes for sale. I won't sell this car until I find the "right" Explorer/Mountaineer. I'm hoping I can get $2,300 for the car. The interior is SUPER clean & the body is nearly flawless. Unfortunately the paint has seen better days since it's been a bit faded from the sun but overall the car is amazing but I just can't be selfish.

 

[Moes8]

those look to be some very nice examples for the money, cant touch stuff that nice up here in the snow belt for that low dough

 

[Gilby959798]

I loved my 97 mountaineer. I would still have it had it not sat due to me not driving it and get getting rusty up here in Ohio. I've owned both (91 explorer and 97 mount) and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I am actually thinking about buying my dads 04 eddie bauer with the v8 if he sells it...

 

[PenGun]

12 miles a week? I walk that far, 2 miles a day, so i can sit and play video games for far too many hours. In Skyrim I have 645 hours now and my Stalker games are well into the several thousands. Now I have a car to work on too ... life is good.

 

[purpony]

2nd gen explorers are great!!!

Here is one of my old ones that i built to let you see what they look like lowered on mustang wheels-

I also had a 96 V8 AWD i bought for the wife with 98K on it and sold it with 198K
Did need a tranny at 160K

Then I just sold 2 weeks ago my 96 V6 Limited 4x4 with 199K miles on it and my wifes 98 XLT V8 4x4 with 79K miles....

Just bought my sisters 98 V8 AWD Limited with 178K on it last week... completely stock truck with original tranny....

High mileage explorers just keep on running!!!

My wife now drives my buddys old 06 EB 4x4 with 93K miles...

Explorer are great! Id go V8 for sure, cant beat a 302, but the newer high output V6s are ok.... the older 160hp (like my 96 i just sold) is a dog, ok but a dog.

 

[Sapperfire]

12 miles a week? I walk that far, 2 miles a day, so i can sit and play video games for far too many hours. In Skyrim I have 645 hours now and my Stalker games are well into the several thousands. Now I have a car to work on too ... life is good.

... I remember when I was a virgin

 

[UltimateSVT]

12 miles a week? Wish I had a job that close. I'd ride my bicycle to work.
4r70w. J-mod it! Slam it on those mustang wheels. And exhaust it. Nice daily driver.

12 miles a week? I walk that far, 2 miles a day, so i can sit and play video games for far too many hours. In Skyrim I have 645 hours now and my Stalker games are well into the several thousands. Now I have a car to work on too ... life is good.

Her commute is about 1.9 miles p/day. She works in the same office park I used to work for 11 years. That's why my 99 F-150 is super low on miles. The bike thing has indeed been talked about but in 95 degree weather it's not an option. She'll end up getting to work drenched. Not to mention our consistent isolated showers. It just can't be done.

2nd gen explorers are great!!!

Here is one of my old ones that i built to let you see what they look like lowered on mustang wheels-

I also had a 96 V8 AWD i bought for the wife with 98K on it and sold it with 198K
Did need a tranny at 160K

Then I just sold 2 weeks ago my 96 V6 Limited 4x4 with 199K miles on it and my wifes 98 XLT V8 4x4 with 79K miles....

Just bought my sisters 98 V8 AWD Limited with 178K on it last week... completely stock truck with original tranny....

High mileage explorers just keep on running!!!

My wife now drives my buddys old 06 EB 4x4 with 93K miles...

Explorer are great! Id go V8 for sure, cant beat a 302, but the newer high output V6s are ok.... the older 160hp (like my 96 i just sold) is a dog, ok but a dog.

That's what I would love to do but I won't mess with it much though since it will be her BEATER! That Explorer will be the car she uses for EVERYTHING so she doesn't touch my prairie tan!

She knows, I told her.

 

[PenGun]

... I remember when I was a virgin

LOL ... I turned 66 on the 17th. Just took my daughter and granddaughter over to see my mom and step dad. He's 96 now and still does his weights every day.

Yeah it's been a while.

 

[Moes8]

LOL ... I turned 66 on the 17th. Just took my daughter and granddaughter over to see my mom and step dad. He's 96 now and still does his weights every day.

Yeah it's been a while.

LOL!

funny how we never can tell everything about a person from online forums,
Like Sapper, i thought you sounded like a 17 year old, except i thought it was strange that a youngster would even mention his fitness routine at all.

you are 66 and playing video games still ! good for you!, when i am not doing yard work or working on cars or doing family stuff, video games are great fun / relaxation for me.



ok, sorry, back on topic.

My sister has a 96 Explorer V8 and a 99 mountaineer V8, loves them both, dont know the mileage as of now, but i know they are getting up there pretty high,Both run great,but they do drink a lot of petrol.