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Freestyle will pull sales from the Escape.. The 500 is already getting a thumbs up in this months Motor Trend.. Can't wait to see the Futura, supposed to be based on the Mazda 6 platform. The Mazda 3 blows the Civic away hands down in styling...
I have to say the V6 in the Escape/Trib is a blast to drive. Its road manners are wonderful when coupled with the strong and powerful V6. Interior is functional and spacious. Have you test driven yet? In my region, Northwest, Escapes are going for less.
The Rav4 is clearly out gunned and out sized in the 4 you had mentioned. The best bet for price is between the Liberty and the Escape...
I own a Honda Accord now, and it has been bulletproof. Reliability has been excellent. The car now has over 90K miles. I would expext the same from the CR-V. BUT... The CR-V just feels cheap and tinny (more like a Civic than an Accord - no offense to Civic owners), "plasticy" interior, pathetically small wheels (even my wife says they would need to be upgraded to 16"-ers ASAP).
I have liked the Escape since it came out, and even rented one last year and drove it for 1,000 miles on one business trip. I LOVED it! The only gripes I had: (1) hated the column mount shifter; (2) worried about long-term reliability. Well, Ford seems to have gotten their act together in recent years when it comes to reliability (even Consumer Reports is now recommending the Escape/Tribute). The 2005's look great, with the up-to-date headlights and foglights, new front and rear fascias, plus... drumroll, please... FLOOR-MOUNTED shifter.
Sorry Honda, but I think I will go with the Escape over the CR-V.
Oh yeah, my other car is a Ford Mustang GT, with over 70K miles, and it has also been flawless
which prompt me to buy CR-V. Hand brake lever is
a thing that you would use only twice during your ride: when start and when park. So is the gear lever. Then why put them on the most
busy place: between the seats? It is like put them in your bed: between you and your wife - (very busy place too) :-). Gear and break levers between seat are useless.
I know lots of other people who love break and gear levers of CR-V.
I agree with you that interior look cheesy - but you get what you pay for.
NSORIC:"..I worried about long-term reliability (of Ford Escape)".
Me too: that's why I got CR-V.
My neighbor also dumped Honda about 2 years now for an Escape. They have no regrets in doing so..
Here's a breakdown of the numbers for the new Tribute, the new Escape (it's less attractive twin), and a 2004 CR-V.
2005 Tribute S 4X4
Base MSRP: $24,050
Package 1 (Power roof, premium sound, cargo cover, etc.): $1,380
Side Air Curtains: $315
Destination: $590
Total MSRP: $26,335
2005 Escape XLT 4X4
Base MSRP: $24,500
MACH Sound System: $565
Side Air Curtains: $425
Power roof: $585
Retractable cargo cover: $75
Destination: $590
Total MSRP: $26,740
2004 Honda CR-V EX Auto
Base MSRP: $22,550
Destination: $490
Total MSRP: $23,040
I expect to get a Tribute equipped as above for about $25,000, maybe a bit more. This assumes no incentives (a new model rarely has much incentives). I could easily get the CR-V for $22,000 - so there is a $3,000 premium for the Tribute. The key will be finding one equipped and colored as I want - with no leather and no bogus dealer accessories packages pre-installed. If I can't find the right Tribute, I'm just going to get the CR-V and go home.
If you try and "wear it off" and the finish is marred, the dealer will probably say it was not their fault. So I suggest getting it fixed. It is their responsibility. I would also suggest checking the papers for another dealer. A dealer who would leave the plastic on doesn't sound very reputable to me, and I'm not sure I'd trust their service department ...
hopefully they will step up and correct it. go up the ladder if you need to. otherwise, how will they find out someone isn't doing their job?
btw, my brother in law complained to me that his lexus had the same thing, but he never took it back to get it taken care of. i didn't say anything.
Make sure you get what you paid for.
One significant safety advantage is that it now has a Safety Canopy, which is much more substantial that the shoulder-height side airbags of the CR-V. The canopy is a full side curtain for front and rear passengers, protecting their heads as well as their shoulders.
The side air bags in the 2004's protect your head as well but the curtains, as mentioned by arizonajoe, are much better.
Even though the 2005 is not riding on a completely new structure, the front structure of has been strengthened according to Ford. Read here:
http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=10- 04&press_subsection_id=424&make_id=92
Take all of that with a grain of salt though. A stiffer front end is not always a good thing for the person on the other end of the crash.
I own a Black Limited, which I love. I need to go visit a dealer and look at the new 2005 Escape Limited - now available in Red. Should look awesome!
My 01 Escape XLT V6 4WD will be paid for in about 6 months. The wife has an 00 Accord and we will probably dump that first. For what? who knows??
I will however take a trip down to the dealership just to take a look inside a new 05 Escape. The Mercury Mariner should hit showrooms soon too.. It is supposed to have more upscale interior and have more plush standard options than the Escape/Tribute.
You go to a Honda dealer, they give you only $500 more and no rebate and your much happier?
I test drove an Escape and a CR-V today, hands down the Escape has much better ride, it's much quieter and it has more space. You picked the wrong Escape to buy. The limited has to much stuff you don't need. I looked at an XLT and was quoted a price of #22k. This is with the tow package, moon roof and running boards.
And another thing (it's probably the two dealerships here in Chicago) the Ford dealership wanted to sell me an Escape, but didn't pressure me. The Honda dealership acted as if they were doing me a favor by letting me drove one of their new CR-V's. I'm guessing it was the dealership and that's probably not typical of a Honda dealership.
Anyway I'm still undecided between a CR-V, Rav4 and an Escape. Anybody who has one please post your objective opinion. Thank you.
BTW - I have a 1999 Ford Contour, excellent car. I've had it for 4 years and not one problem at all.
Mazda versions of the 2.3L (not including the Tribute) do have VVT and produce upwards of 160 HP. However Ford's version produces it's max torque at a slightly lower RPM. I don't know what the curves look like though.
I have driven a 5-speed Mazda6i and can report that you do have to wind the engine up somewhat to get enough power out of it (for me anyway). Still a very nice car and engine though.
For comparison sake:
Honda CR-V 2.4L I4 with VVT - 160HP@ 6000RPM/162 ft-lbs@ 3600 RPM
Ford Escape 2.3L I4 without VVT- 153HP@ 5800 RPM/152 ft-lbs@ 4250 RPM
Mazda3 2.3L I4 with VVT - 160HP@ 6000 RPM/150 ft-lbs@ 4500 RPM (The Mazda6 2.3L is rated at 155 ft-lbs @ 4500 RPM)
Now if you look at the Focus' 2.3L I4 (without VVT) you'll notice that it makes less HP and torque than the same engine in the Escape. Blame that on the PZEV equipment which restricts the exhaust and robs the engine of some power.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2004/index.html
As far as reliability - I'm at 8,000 miles with no issues - Scape2 on this board has close to 40,000 miles with no issues.
You failed to mention the Rav4. Also the Escape is not very good on gas when compared to a CR-V or Rav4.
As far as not mentioning the RAV4 - I didn't "fail to mention it" - I didn't mention it because it was never on my consideration list. I wanted an SUV, not a toy.
You mention fuel economy - which is a fair point. If all you care about is FE, then by all means, buy a CRV or RAV4 - but if you want a real SUV with power, style, performance, versatility, luxury, fun to drive, then CRV and RAV4 can't cut it. And as I said in a previous post - I drove the Liberty, CRV, and Santa Fe and found Escape to be the best overall small SUV for me.
No other vehicle had the combination of features I wanted. Good gas mileage, command seating position, lots of rear legroom, reclining and sliding rear seat, and of course, the water tight ice chest under the rear cargo floor (I suppose it goes with the picnic table?)
RE: Mileage, there are lots of CR-Vs with over 100,000 miles. I don't consider 40K or even 70K to be high mileage on one of these cars...
You were looking for a vehicle with a water tight ice chest under the cargo floor? Good thing you looked at the CR-V then!
Also the fuel economy issue is no longer as big an issue between the two vehicles as the new 2005 Escape has a new 2.3L I4 engine. I don't know it's exact FE, but it will be better than the V6. Food for thought...
You don't buy any of these. The closest thing to a real SUV in this segment is the Liberty.
However, there is no comparison on road, in my opinion. Either the CR-V or Escape will be more comfortable, larger, and more convenient on the highway.
Different car designs, for different purposes.
Also, I would question exactly what is the definition of a "TRUE SUV"...
Hondas often last about twice that (obviously I am assuming proper maintenance). Take a look on the road and see how many 1980's model Hondas you see as compared to 1980's model Fords.
Perhaps the current crop of Fords will last longer; my experience is with the past 20 years of models.
I wouldn't touch a Liberty or anything made by that sell out, now German company. I've had a few Dodge vehicles and all were junk.