The SUV for Beach Sand discussion will give you some good tips about lowering air pressure, etc. Have fun! Steve Host Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Congrats, your gonna love it.. FDAF is a normal charge as is the destination charge.. The gas charge is up to the dealer, some do, and some don't.
The price you paid was a fair price to both you and the dealer.. Sure, you'll hear of some folks who got better deals, but there are just as many folks who paid MSRP.. There isn't alot of markup on these vehicles at all compared to the larger SUV's because Ford wants to keep the price as low as possible..
Our 2002 is being made this week with an ETA of Sept.10. Our price using the X-Plan shows that we paid "93.19%" of the MSRP for our SUV which comes to almost a 7% discount from the MSRP.
We got the 2WD XLT Premium with added step bars. The list on this was $23815 and with the X-Plan our total cost came to $22194 with all costs including delivery included.
Don't have a clue about this $18 gas thing, but it wasn't on any paperwork that I have seen to this point that I have signed.
Congratulations on your order. I hope we both get the enjoyment we are anticipating from this SUV.
I purchased the Ford ESP 6 yr.,100,000 mile extended warranty. Yes, the warranty only extends the 3 yr., 36,000 mile warranty but there are other benefits included, such as a free loaner, etc. These plans are "negotiable. E-Mail about five different Ford dealers nearby and you will get five different quotes.I did this and purchased same from the "lowest" and still get all my warranty work done at the nearby dealer.When you E-Mail, tell them exactly what you want to purchase {plan, mileage, years, etc.}.
I bought the 100,000 mile warranty but mine is for only 4 years?? Maybe the dealer can play with the years and screw the unsuspecting buyer. Oh well i drive about 36,000 a year anyway so i will be over the 100K when the warranty is up. Just read the warranty agreement to make sure yours is not 4 years and is 6 years. I have owned my escape xlt since march 21 and have a little over 10,000 miles. Im happy with purchase but finding the warranty at 4 years kinda P.M.O. Anyone have a problem with the sunroof, i have a lose switch but thats the only problem with the escape. Here is a link for a great looking and easily installed bug deflector check it out it cheap in price too!!
Just a note to confirm the changes on the 2002. The front seats have changed from the highback bucket to lowback buckets with adjustable headrests - much classier looking in my opinion! Not sure about any seat material changes - got the tan leather which is the same as 2001. There is no keyless keypad on the door. I have only one keyhole, on the driver side door. Clicking the keyfob once unlocks the driver door only, clicking it twice unlocks all the doors including the back hatch. The non-Mach 6CD changer comes as standard on the XLT, no cassette player. I've only had my Escape for 2 days but I am VERY impressed so far - lots of power, handles like a dream, great comfy seats, smooth ride on bumpy roads, brakes that stop on a dime with no front end dipping, no road noise problems, no squeaks, rattles, or vibrations, tight fit on all cladding, no uneven seam gaps. First impressions - A+ vehicle, can easily see why it is the #1 miniSUV in USA!
I am trying to decide between a Passat Wagon and the Escape. I like the power and high seating of the Escape, but like the higher quality interior of the Passat, the better gas milage/range and the smoother, quieter ride.
I really don't want to give up the higher seating in particular, but really don't like road and wind noise. What have peoples real world experience been living with the Escape as a daily driver. Also don't look forward to filling the tank every 2 1/2 to 3 days, but...we'll see.
Any comments on noise, comfort, etc would be much appreciated.
I was wondering if there are any compelling reasons to choose the Escape over the Tribute or vice versa. I've heard their differences are merely cosmetic. Should a buyer just go for the one with the lowest price?
Price and dealer service are the biggest difference between the 2, although from the outside they do look slightly different.. Obviously I prefer the look of the Escape more, with a good price from a dealer I've had excellent experiences with..
Ford called me and they are going to have their technical people review my Escape again. Customer Service basically said there was a problem with the Escapes stalling without any warning while driving - took me awhile to get them to concede this. Hopefully the Escape will soon be bought back by Ford - they did not rule that out. Ask you dealers about this before buying; get them to put it in writing that there is no such problem so if and when it happens to you, you will not end up fighting for a year to get them to buy it back. Believe - there is a problem and it could kill you.
Thanks for your concern.. Perhaps you share your statistics of how many deaths have occured in the Escape in proportion to any other vehicle on the road?
Go ahead and count all Escape deaths and not just the ones attributed to the stalling problem.
Is the rate any higher than the comparable vehicles?
The Ford Arbitration process takes time, I hope that you and Ford come to a good outcome with which you are satisfied with..
When you buy your next vehicle (from a different manufacturer I assume), will you ask the dealer to give you in writing that there are no problems, so in case there are they will buy it back?
When driving any vehicle you are at risk. The most significant risks factors you have direct control over, such as speed, driving habits, attention, and ability.. There are other risk factors which you have less control over such as other driver actions or unexpected events like mechanical failure..
The current line of Ford vehicles on the road today are safe..
I'm following your plight and hope that you continue to update us with the stall problem. Do you have the 6 cylinder ? Isn't the 4 cylinder Escape a Mazda designed engine ? It's probably a better choice . It will take Ford a long time to shake the Explorer negative publicity. Seems like corporate types want death counts before they take a problem seriously. I suspect that Ford will give you complete satisfaction as they can't afford not to these days. One more major safety related recall would probably set them back a year or two in gaining public confidence in their vehicles again.
"The current line of Ford vehicles on the road today are safe.."
Does everyone forget how poor the Escape did in the Insurance Institute's offset crash tests? Some of their quotes after the test:
"The dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag, producing a high head acceleration."
"The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test, plus roof rail and door sill buckling, indicate the driver's survival space wasn't maintained well."
"Footwell intrusion contributed to the likelihood of right lower leg injury."
Most vehicles have some drawbacks, but with this stalling problem and the results of the offset crash tests, to go along with other issues, I can't understand why people are still buying the Escape without hesitation, especially with all of the competition of small to mid size SUVs out there that have had fewer and less serious problems.
If I was driving an Escape today, and never had a single problem with it, the engine dying issue so many people are reporting would always be in the back of my mind. Until Ford fixes this problem, I would stay as far away as I could from this vehicle.
The nhtsa rates the Escape as 5 stars for safety for driver and 4star for the front passenger in a frontal crash.. In a side impact the Escape 5 stars for both front and rear passengers..
Both the Honda CRV and Escape have 'marginal' ratings in the insurance test.. (with almost identical detail ratings). In Australia the same Honda CRV is rated as 'good' in their frontal tests. (They didn't test the Escape yet).
So, the Escape is safe, and theres only one problem which folks here are blowing out of proportion. I would consider it as very in-frequent and minor in nature..
I'm not sure I know what the 'other issues' you are referring to, as Ford issued recalls for the other problems that occured early on in production and no longer exist now..
I won't discourage your personal decision to steer clear of Ford as this is a choice that is best left to the individual. BTW: what are the various crash ratings on your 2002 Jeep Liberty you recently purchased? According to Edmunds, the description of the Liberty is: "Uncharted repair and safety history, quality yet to be proven in marketplace"
I am having a problem with this crash test thing you are quoting. I've looked at crash test results in 3 different places including the NHTSA and they all have been Good to Excellent for Driver and Front Seat passenger.
I've seen more positives from frontal crash tests than I have negatives. I have a 2002 Escape with an ETA of Sept. 10 and I am not the least concerned about any of the problems you have addressed. You can have all the protection in the world but it does not guarantee what will happen to you in a major crash. The best safety there is while driving any kind of motor vehicle that you are sharing the road with other drivers were mentioned above by Bess: "When driving any vehicle you are at risk. The most significant risks factors you have direct control over, such as speed, driving habits, attention, and ability".
and to "mudpuddle" aren't you forgetting the other equation with the supposed "Explorer" problem? Seems like it is spelled FIRESTONE and that seems to be forgotten in posts and/or replies such as yours.
Given the choice of driving a Ford Explorer or any other make SUV with Firestone tires what do you suppose most drivers would choose?
My bet would be they would not choose any SUV that is riding on Firetone tires!!
The last I heard there were about 40 complaints lodged regarding a stalling problem...hardly a common problem, especially when you consider the hundreds of thousands of Escape sold so far. I think if you look up the posts on the stalling issue you will see it is the same people reporting the problem many times rather than many different people reporting it.
In reviewing 999 posts at the Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape problems topic site there were stalling reports by 9 Tribute owners, 6 Escape owners, and 1 who did not identify which vehicle he owned. There are approximately 180,000 Tributes and Escapes sold from July 2000 to July 2001. While I do not mean to make light of the problem these owners have experienced, and I am sure there are probably others with the problem that do not post here, I think there is a real tendency to blow a small amount of complaints out of proportion into a major issue experienced by many, especially when it is a Ford product. At least on this Edmund's site, we are talking about complaints that amount to .01% (one/onehundreth of one percent).....just trying to keep things in perspective!
The posts on Escapes stalling are very few in number. Overall, this vehicle ia a big winner for Ford. Every make and model will have a few lemons, after all they are still subject to "human error". G.M.,Mercedes,Chrysler, Audi,VW,Lexus or whatever manufacturers you name will produce a few lemons. Ford will sell a couple hundred thousand a year as this vehicle has hit a homerun with its targeted audience. It's not designed for heavy duty off roading, as 95% of SUVs never go there anyway. We now have nearly 9,000 trouble-free miles on our 2001 Escape that was delivered in November of 2000. I would purchase another and would recommend to all. We are very happy with our Escape and feel it is a very good vehicle.
I'm not trying to prolong an overstated problem, but...........no one on this board knows how big the stall problem is (percentage wise). I'm sure it is a very small percentage. Let's take this board for what it is, a good place to compare notes and sound off about potential problems. Those who have purchased Escapes/Tributes can keep us abreast of any developments.
Got my VIN number for my 2002 XLT form the dealer. Can anyone help decipher it. Also, is there a web site to check on the build date or dealer ETA? If so could you post the URL. Thanks.
You don't say when you ordered your 2002 XLT. We ordered ours on July 23. We got the build date from the dealer last week. It was being built the week of August 20(which also was last week).Along with the build date my dealer gave me the ETA date which at this time is Sept.10. I would think if you have the VIN number your dealer should be able to tell you the build date and the ETA.
I don't know of any website that has this, but I myself would start with the dealer for these answers and maybe he can give you a URL if there is one for this info.
Using my VIN as an example: 1FMYU03182KA05610 The 1st 3 digit/letters identify the manufacturer: 1FM=Ford Motor Company
The next letter identifies the gross vehicle: weight rating w/ or w/o side air bags Y=4000-5000 lbs.(other letters stand for other weights, side air bag combos)
The next 3 letter/numbers identify the model: U03=2wd XLT (U01=2wdXLS, U02=4wdXLS, U04=4wdXLT)
The next digit/letter is engine code: 1=V6 3.0 Duretec (B=4cyc 2.0 Zetec)
The next digit is a computer check digit code: 8=whatever?*lol*
The next digit is the model year code: 2=2002 (1=2001)
The next letter is the assembly plant: K=Kansas City (Claycomo, Missouri plant)
The last 6 letter/digits are the serial number: A05610=build sequence number(A00000 to Z99999)
The number to call for tracking the build on your Ford is: 1-800-962-3746 You will need your VIN and your dealer code (should be on your paperwork somewhere or call them and ask for it, ignore the letter when stating the 5 digit number). This is a voice-activated line so speak clear and monotone for best results. It is meant for dealers but you shouldn't have to speak to anyone "live". It is usually updated at least weekly. Once it gives you a build date, it should also give you an ETA but that may be revised along the way. It will tell you when your vehicle has been produced, and when it ships as the process moves along to those points.
Thanks for the help. I had received a printout from the dealer but he didn't have the build date. I used the VOPC phone number and found that the vehicle will be built the week of September 3. I'm in the Chicago area so I would assume about 10 days for transport. Does that number jive with some that you have seen?
Just called and got my VIN# and Dealer ID. I ordered on August 3rd, and I have a build date of August 20th and it's expected to arrive on September 10th. So far, everything is going as I expected.
Back in late 99 I used the VOPC system to track my Superduty.. In the beginning of 2000 because the VOPC number was spread widely on the internet it overwhelmed the system in 2 areas. A. alot of individuals ended up speaking to actual FoMoCo people to inquire about status, and b. using up inbound phone lines..
So FoMoCo took several actions: a. They asked (or demanded?) that several of the popular message boards (Including Edmunds, www.ford-diesel.com, www.f150-online.com, www.ford-trucks.com) to remove the posts that contained VOPC access information... b. I believe that FoMoCo also restricted access via some type of password system.
Now 2 years later, I see a deja-vu happening again..
As I mentioned in one of my other posts the build date was last week(Aug.20). The ETA is Sept.10 so that could be as much as 30 days.
I live closer to K.C. than you do, Omaha, Nebraska so I don't know how they come up with the ETA. My dealer says some come directly to them via Truck and others are by rail. The ones by rail take much longer to get here as they sometimes sit quite a few days before being unloaded from the rails onto the truck and then delivered to the dealer. Especially if it hits the yards on a weekend.
My guess judging from our delivery is that if yours is being made the week of Sept.3 your ETA will probably be Sept.24.
I'll let you know as soon as we get ours, especially if it is earlier than expected. I have to remember though that this is a Holiday Weekend so it may slow up the delivery date.
--I got this off the YahooEscapeClub site last week, posted by a Ford Tech.
"8/17/01 7:01 pm
When we first started getting Escapes with stalling/cutting out problems,we were changing the "Fuel Pump" relays,but found out it was the PCM Power relay that was at fault.Look in your under hood fusebox, it's near the middle of box follow diagram on inside lid.If u tap on it when running whith handle of screwdriver and the motor stalls the relay is bad.This causes intermintent stalling, (loose connection) problem ...Fixed my own Escape's stalling/cutting out problem..Hope this help's.Don't know replacement part no. off hand but relay is smaller in size,more heavy duty?
The nhtsa tests vehicles going straight into a barrier at either 35 or 40 mph and comes up with the star ratings in which the Escape did very well. The Insuance Institute crashes vehicles into a barrier at either 35 or 40 mph, but it isn't straight into the barrier. It's at an angle, which is the more likely type of accident a vehicle will be in. In this test the Escape rated only one grade above poor. It was rated marginal.
bess, as far as the crash test ratings for the Liberty, everyone knows thier not out yet because it's so new and hasn't been tested. It may or may not do better than the Escape. My intent wasn't to say the Escape is a death trap or that the Liberty will do better in a crash. Rather, it was show that the Escape isn't perfectly safe car, like some think. In an off-set crash it is only marginal. Anyone who looks at some of the pictures from the Insurance Institute's link in my post#1116 can see their not pretty.
I was not trying to put words in your mouth.. You stated: 'Most vehicles have some drawbacks, but with this stalling problem and the results of the offset crash tests, to go along with other issues, I can't understand why people are still buying the Escape without hesitation'
So in summary you claim your reasons for not choosing the Escape would be: - Minor problem that only a few folks have ever experienced - Safety - 'other issues' which you didn't elaborate on.
I just find it funny that you sortof throw stones at Ford and the Escape, when the vehicle you did choose may or may not be similar in both safety and quality.. I can only assume that you didn't like the Escape mostly because of the 'other issues'.. That is a completely valid reason to not choose the Escape if you don't generally like Ford or Ford products, but to imply that you would not buy a vehicle because of its safety rating and then buy a vehicle that hasn't been rated seems odd.
From the records I could locate related to crashes in our state which is Nebraska most fatalities are from head-on crashes and not from crashes that come from any angle.
Don't know that this is true throughout the world, but my guess the statistics in this state bear out what is probably true in the others. Head-on crashes= most crash fatalities. Angle crashes= more injuries, less fatalities.
There are many more angle crashes than head-on in my state so going by the statistics that say more crashes less fatalities in angled crashes. My choice would be to opt for more protection in the head-on crashes for survival.
I don't know why every discussion board on vehicles is laden with reasons why no one should buy the car of topic. Most of the time they are not even the opinion of the people owning the vehicle (when it is, I listen)! It is filled with people constantly giving you their thoughts on why you shouldn't buy this car. It isn't just this site, or this vehicle...just seems to be a constant thread no matter where you go. It baffles me. Is it a guy thing...a "my car is better than your car"?? Sometimes it is just a little subtle pot stirring...."hmmm, a problem found, maaaaybe you should spend your money elsewhere" to out & out bashing! I have never met a car that doesn't have some type of problem...a GMC that needed a new fan motor every 2 years, a Toyota that needed 3 water pumps in 5 years, an AMC that needed a new muffler every 2 years, a Nissan that went through alternators like water, every Ford needed a new transmission once during ownership of more than 5 years. If it isn't because of problems, it is a myriad of other reasons....mine is better offroad than yours, my roof rack can carry more weight, mine is faster, mine handles better, my moonroof is bigger, mine has more cargo room, etc. etc. etc. This seems to be universal, no vehicle is safe from the nitpicking of others. There has to be a reason for it since it is constantly common. The only thing I can come up with is the person planting the seeds of dissent wants you to buy what they have, to validate their own choice...."why aren't you picking what I picked, if everyone chooses what I have, I'll know I must have picked the right one myself because everyone CAN'T be wrong." But everyone can never be satisfied, there are too many vehicles out there and too many reasons why one vehicle suits someone better than another, and if someone changes his choice to yours, someone else will come along and want them to pick theirs. So we keep going in circles, and trying to swing people to OUR side, and the poor joes coming to these sites looking for real ownership experiences has to wade through piles of posts and other people's hidden agendas to get to the information they need to make an informed decision....must get awfully weary for them.
I think you are right, it is a (mostly) male thing that makes some posters put down other vehicles, which helps in their mind to validate their own choice. "My car is better than your car." = "My dog is bigger than your dog." = "My dad can beat up your dad."
Add to that the fact that people can come here and anonymously demean others without fear of reprisal. Like someone said, along with the electronic global village come the global village idiots.
good job. I am sick of all the bashing of this vehicle, in many instances from people who don't even own one. What could possibly inspire so much antagonism? could they be incensed that people previously priced out of the suv market, or turned off by the gas guzzling behemoths will finally have thier day? An suv for the masses! I have test driven the escape a couple of times and have been holding out for the second model year which i hopefully will either buy off lot or order in a couple of months. I'm hardly a wimp, but don't cotton to huge, hard to park, gas guzzling monsters. I also do not need to drive thru the outback.Xterra, though great looking, is more than i need, and doesn't have the interior refinement/moonroof/leather for the right price. Came close to the liberty, what a test drive, but too thirsty and dashboard seems 3 inches from my face, but nice. I do feel badly for Murhy27 and the others with escape/tribute stalling problems(even one is too many) but a vehicle is a mechanical object, sent off a production line and subject to failure.I'm simply not covinced that the stall rate is or will approach Firestone problem proportions.Escape seems like an innovative vehicle with a heck of alot of options at a reasonable price. With the type of groundbreaking this vehicle establishes, i think some first year problems are to be expected on a limited scale.Ford is on the right track with this one, though, and i can't wait till that HEV comes out. Sorry, bashers, you got to me way too late.
Regarding all this chatter about Escape crash-worthiness:
I read somewhere that the 2002 Escape has additional "steel" (over the 2001 model) in the underbody to boltser its crash ratings. Can anyone confrim this??
The Liberty is a much, much better real (rocks, steep sandy hills, deep ruts etc) off-roader. The Liberty can tow 5000 lbs. Drivers (v-6) report 13-19mpg. Some drivers report quality problems (water leaks, tranny failures, window problems). The Liberty is its 1st year of production. The Xterra is its closest competition.
The Escape has much better on-road manners (handling, ride etc). The Escape can tow 3000 lbs. Drivers (v-6) report 18-28mpg. Some drivers report quaility problems (stalling, idiot lights coming on). The Escape is in its 2nd year of production. The Saturn Vue (v-6) will be its closest competition (the Rav4/CRV are underpowered).
Had a 2001 Tribute DX for 5000 miserable miles. The liberty handles and rides maybe just a smidgen less then the twins. Although I really don't notice any difference. Gas mileage is a toss up, equally bad on both. There is no fuel smell, no wind noise, and no rattles with the Liberty. The diffence in build quality is unbelievable. Feels very solid,1000 miles and no trips to the dealer. I love the rear hatch and the real spare tire.
I too love the rear hatch, but ran into one situation while unloading my daughters college stuff. someone pulled in back of me up close & I could not open the rear door. I had to move the liberty up. only a slight complaint, otherwise I agree with all of BJ2196's comments.
I am seriously considering buying a 2002 Escape V6 XLT but would like some candid responses re typical gas mileage in city, highway, and combined. EPA figures on the 2002 are 18-23 but these usually differ from actual. I would like some actual figures.
Secondly I have read that the Escape's V6 is the same engine as in the Taurus. Does anyone know if it is the same 3.0 V6 that came in the original 1986 Ford Taurus?
For those who care, the fun part of the numerous crashes that are done by the different 'groups' out to protect us (with no political agenda or axe to grind) is that any real expert can tell you it is a no win situation. A frame that is designed to handle the NHTSA frontal collision test is not going to fare well in an offset crash. Some of the forces involved in any movement are compression and shear. Concrete is great in compression, but lousy in shear. Most designs are compromises. There are numerous no-win cases. A race car is designed to explode on high impact. The idea is that the force of impact is spent on everything flying apart. Imagine what the insurance institute would say to that happening to your car. Vehicles are getting safer every year. Personally, I think the most dangerous car is the Honda Civic. Every little 16 year old girl around is driving one and they are a higher risk than Mr. Magoo.
It is not the same engine as the 86. The Escape uses the twin-cam 24V Duratec engine which was first available as an option in the 96 Taurus-Sable. The 3.0 litre in the 86 Taurus was a push rod 12V design referred to as the Vulcan. This is still the base engine in the Taurus and Sable.
On my '01 Escape XLT 4x4 I've gotten a variety of different ranges in gas milage. Now I live in the Hershey,PA area so really all the back roads are mostly highway just more windy (LOL). I've had the Escape since 7-14-01 and got 2500 miles on her already. I've been to the Mountains in near State College,PA and in and around the Philadelphia area as well as Delaware and NJ. The Milage I've gotten has been as bad as 18 mpg when I had about 500 lbs of cat litter in the rear of it, and the best I've gotten was close to 29 mpg when it was straight highway driving at 65 mph. So it just depends on what type of driving you will be doing and what type of driver you are. I have no complaints or worries about my Escape. I've even had it off-road when i was up in the mountains on an old trail that had a few mud packs along the way and I had the wheels up to the edge of the Center cap on the wheels, I had no problem with it.
No need to post over there, most people seem happy. Sure some people have problems, alignment, water not draining properly. I just want everyone to know that the twins are not that great. Since I'm the only one to have both I just thought everyone should know which one is put the together the best. Look up under your dash, do you see any rust, I don't. how about hesitation, step on the gas to hard and the Trib hesitates, not so with the Liberty. Can't forget that rusty tailpipe, seats that are hard to fold down, on the plus side they do fold flat. I don't miss that plastic manifold. I'd forgotten what silicone was, that was the great Mazda fix for the fuel smell that gave me a constant headache. Good things, never had the bad wipers, steering wheel that falls off, wrong hubs, actual bad O rings, naughty rear wiper. But did have a constant ticking from the engine compartment, the leaking black cylinder that kept leaking oil, don't worry about it they said. Most people are on multiple boards to see if they made the right choice, I flit around to Trib and ESc boards to see what future misery I have avoided. Yes it's only a 1000 miles but I have no intention on getting rid of my Liberty, I could have never said that at the same point in regards to the Tribute.
Went to my dealer today to order the Escape rubber floor mats. Got the new car buyer discount also which was about 30% off retail. We ordered the Satin Silver XLT Premium and the ETA is Sept.10(but salesman said could be earlier as they got 3 today that were a week early as the came from K.C. to here(Omaha,Nebraska)by truck and not rail)so we're hoping for truck delivery.
Anyway they had a Satin Silver XLT,not the Premium but it did have Leather. Was really happy with the look of the Silver. Lot's of metallic in it and it really showed in the sunlight and this SUV hadn't been prepped yet. As someone mentioned recently the Front Seats are Low-Back and much, much more comfortable to me than the 2001. Looks like they also changed a little of the cosmetics on the exterior. Took it for a short spin(she just has to drive one everytime we go to the dealership)and it was tight as a drum and had zero wind noise at Interstate Speed(the roof rack was put on correctly)and she is now more anxious than ever for our Escape to arrive.
Mainly posted this to mention the difference in comfort(my opinion of course)with the different front seats.
Just pushed over the 2000 mile mark with my 2001 XLT. Seemingly no problems to speak of, even though I'm going to start a small ( so far ) list of minor adjustments and things for the dealer to look at the first time I take it in. Mileage is hovering between 17 - 19 mpg consistantly, mainly in town, with internal freeway driving. Actually, in the Houston area, most of the mileage should be considered city or combined as true freeway speeds can only be maintained in early-morning / late night / and some weekends. The freeways always seemed to have a bunch of traffic. I'll have to get the Escape out on the interstate for a better read on highway mileage. Like I say a few minor detail issues but otherwise, my wife and I are pretty satisfied with the vehicle and ease of purchase with the dealership. However, I'm not averse to purchasing an extended warranty for peace-of-mind for any potential future problems.
I got my Escape in September of 2000 right before I moved to SC and have about 24,000 miles on it now (long commute). I can't exactly say that I'm happy with it. In January of this year, it started to get stuck in park - I get in the thing in the morning, and the stick will go into reverse, but the transmission doesn't move out of park (it's an automatic). Fixed it myself 3 times by jiggling the cable before I had it towed to the dealer. They replaced a relay the first time, did nothing the second time but show me the supposedly fail-safe way to get it into gear, and replaced the transmission cable the third time I had it towed to them. I'm only sorry that I didn't just get it towed in the first time it happened, because it had 14,000 miles by the time the dealer saw it - just out of lemon law range. The problem still isn't fixed, I have to use the emergency brake every time I park.
My Escape also has creaks and groans that you shouldn't hear on a brand new car, the cigarette lighter works most of the time, and the sunroof leaks in a hard rain. Other than those things, I really like it. I would consider buying another one - I think this stuff is just first-year-itis. My mistake for buying one.
here are 2 slight offroading pics and 2 pic's of my new Lawnmower Attachment (see your lawnmower or SUV which goes off-road more and/or Stunts performed in your SUV to get the jest of the joke) (sorry if it makes the post long)
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FDAF is a normal charge as is the destination charge.. The gas charge is up to the dealer, some do, and some don't.
The price you paid was a fair price to both you and the dealer.. Sure, you'll hear of some folks who got better deals, but there are just as many folks who paid MSRP..
There isn't alot of markup on these vehicles at all compared to the larger SUV's because Ford wants to keep the price as low as possible..
We got the 2WD XLT Premium with added step bars.
The list on this was $23815 and with the X-Plan our total cost came to $22194 with all costs including delivery included.
Don't have a clue about this $18 gas thing, but it wasn't on any paperwork that I have seen to this point that I have signed.
Congratulations on your order. I hope we both get the enjoyment we are anticipating from this SUV.
hckynut
etc.
These plans are "negotiable. E-Mail about five different Ford dealers nearby and you will get five different quotes.I did this and purchased same from the "lowest" and still get all my warranty work done at the nearby dealer.When you E-Mail, tell them exactly what you want to purchase {plan, mileage, years, etc.}.
http://www.macneilauto.com/main.htm
I really don't want to give up the higher seating in particular, but really don't like road and wind noise. What have peoples real world experience been living with the Escape as a daily driver. Also don't look forward to filling the tank every 2 1/2 to 3 days, but...we'll see.
Any comments on noise, comfort, etc would be much appreciated.
Obviously I prefer the look of the Escape more, with a good price from a dealer I've had excellent experiences with..
Murphy
Go ahead and count all Escape deaths and not just the ones attributed to the stalling problem.
Is the rate any higher than the comparable vehicles?
The Ford Arbitration process takes time, I hope that you and Ford come to a good outcome with which you are satisfied with..
When you buy your next vehicle (from a different manufacturer I assume), will you ask the dealer to give you in writing that there are no problems, so in case there are they will buy it back?
When driving any vehicle you are at risk. The most significant risks factors you have direct control over, such as speed, driving habits, attention, and ability.. There are other risk factors which you have less control over such as other driver actions or unexpected events like mechanical failure..
The current line of Ford vehicles on the road today are safe..
Does everyone forget how poor the Escape did in the Insurance Institute's offset crash tests? Some of their quotes after the test:
"The dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag, producing a high head acceleration."
"The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test, plus roof rail and door sill buckling, indicate the driver's survival space wasn't maintained well."
"Footwell intrusion contributed to the likelihood of right lower leg injury."
Of course, you can check this all out for yourself at: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0105.htm
Most vehicles have some drawbacks, but with this stalling problem and the results of the offset crash tests, to go along with other issues, I can't understand why people are still buying the Escape without hesitation, especially with all of the competition of small to mid size SUVs out there that have had fewer and less serious problems.
If I was driving an Escape today, and never had a single problem with it, the engine dying issue so many people are reporting would always be in the back of my mind. Until Ford fixes this problem, I would stay as far away as I could from this vehicle.
Both the Honda CRV and Escape have 'marginal' ratings in the insurance test.. (with almost identical detail ratings).
In Australia the same Honda CRV is rated as 'good' in their frontal tests. (They didn't test the Escape yet).
So, the Escape is safe, and theres only one problem which folks here are blowing out of proportion. I would consider it as very in-frequent and minor in nature..
I'm not sure I know what the 'other issues' you are referring to, as Ford issued recalls for the other problems that occured early on in production and no longer exist now..
I won't discourage your personal decision to steer clear of Ford as this is a choice that is best left to the individual.
BTW: what are the various crash ratings on your 2002 Jeep Liberty you recently purchased? According to Edmunds, the description of the Liberty is:
"Uncharted repair and safety history, quality yet to be proven in marketplace"
I've seen more positives from frontal crash tests than I have negatives. I have a 2002 Escape with an ETA of Sept. 10 and I am not the least concerned about any of the problems you have addressed. You can have all the protection in the world but it does not guarantee what will happen to you in a major crash. The best safety there is while driving any kind of motor vehicle that you are sharing the road with other drivers were mentioned above by Bess:
"When driving any vehicle you are at risk. The most significant risks factors you have direct control over, such as speed, driving habits, attention, and ability".
and to "mudpuddle" aren't you forgetting the other equation with the supposed "Explorer" problem? Seems like it is spelled FIRESTONE and that seems to be forgotten in posts and/or replies such as yours.
Given the choice of driving a Ford Explorer or any other make SUV with Firestone tires what do you suppose most drivers would choose?
My bet would be they would not choose any SUV that is riding on Firetone tires!!
hckynut
We now have nearly 9,000 trouble-free miles on our 2001 Escape that was delivered in November of 2000. I would purchase another and would recommend to all. We are very happy with our Escape and feel it is a very good vehicle.
I don't know of any website that has this, but I myself would start with the dealer for these answers and maybe he can give you a URL if there is one for this info.
Good luck,
hckynut
1FMYU03182KA05610
The 1st 3 digit/letters identify the manufacturer:
1FM=Ford Motor Company
The next letter identifies the gross vehicle: weight rating w/ or w/o side air bags
Y=4000-5000 lbs.(other letters stand for other weights, side air bag combos)
The next 3 letter/numbers identify the model:
U03=2wd XLT (U01=2wdXLS, U02=4wdXLS, U04=4wdXLT)
The next digit/letter is engine code:
1=V6 3.0 Duretec (B=4cyc 2.0 Zetec)
The next digit is a computer check digit code:
8=whatever?*lol*
The next digit is the model year code:
2=2002 (1=2001)
The next letter is the assembly plant:
K=Kansas City (Claycomo, Missouri plant)
The last 6 letter/digits are the serial number:
A05610=build sequence number(A00000 to Z99999)
Hope this info is helpful to you!
You will need your VIN and your dealer code (should be on your paperwork somewhere or call them and ask for it, ignore the letter when stating the 5 digit number). This is a voice-activated line so speak clear and monotone for best results. It is meant for dealers but you shouldn't have to speak to anyone "live". It is usually updated at least weekly. Once it gives you a build date, it should also give you an ETA but that may be revised along the way. It will tell you when your vehicle has been produced, and when it ships as the process moves along to those points.
So far, everything is going as I expected.
So FoMoCo took several actions:
a. They asked (or demanded?) that several of the popular message boards (Including Edmunds, www.ford-diesel.com, www.f150-online.com, www.ford-trucks.com) to remove the posts that contained VOPC access information...
b. I believe that FoMoCo also restricted access via some type of password system.
Now 2 years later, I see a deja-vu happening again..
I live closer to K.C. than you do, Omaha, Nebraska so I don't know how they come up with the ETA. My dealer says some come directly to them via Truck and others are by rail. The ones by rail take much longer to get here as they sometimes sit quite a few days before being unloaded from the rails onto the truck and then delivered to the dealer. Especially if it hits the yards on a weekend.
My guess judging from our delivery is that if yours is being made the week of Sept.3 your ETA will probably be Sept.24.
I'll let you know as soon as we get ours, especially if it is earlier than expected. I have to remember though that this is a Holiday Weekend so it may slow up the delivery date.
hckynut
"8/17/01 7:01 pm
When we first started getting Escapes with stalling/cutting out
problems,we were changing the "Fuel
Pump" relays,but found out it was the PCM Power relay that was at
fault.Look in your under hood
fusebox, it's near the middle of box follow diagram on inside lid.If
u tap on it when running whith
handle of screwdriver and the motor stalls the relay is bad.This
causes intermintent stalling, (loose
connection) problem ...Fixed my own Escape's stalling/cutting out
problem..Hope this help's.Don't
know replacement part no. off hand but relay is smaller in size,more
heavy duty?
DAN"
bess, as far as the crash test ratings for the Liberty, everyone knows thier not out yet because it's so new and hasn't been tested. It may or may not do better than the Escape. My intent wasn't to say the Escape is a death trap or that the Liberty will do better in a crash. Rather, it was show that the Escape isn't perfectly safe car, like some think. In an off-set crash it is only marginal. Anyone who looks at some of the pictures from the Insurance Institute's link in my post#1116 can see their not pretty.
'Most vehicles have some drawbacks, but with this stalling problem and the results of the offset crash tests, to go along with other issues, I can't understand why people are still buying the Escape without hesitation'
So in summary you claim your reasons for not choosing the Escape would be:
- Minor problem that only a few folks have ever experienced
- Safety
- 'other issues' which you didn't elaborate on.
I just find it funny that you sortof throw stones at Ford and the Escape, when the vehicle you did choose may or may not be similar in both safety and quality.. I can only assume that you didn't like the Escape mostly because of the 'other issues'..
That is a completely valid reason to not choose the Escape if you don't generally like Ford or Ford products, but to imply that you would not buy a vehicle because of its safety rating and then buy a vehicle that hasn't been rated seems odd.
Don't know that this is true throughout the world, but my guess the statistics in this state bear out what is probably true in the others.
Head-on crashes= most crash fatalities.
Angle crashes= more injuries, less fatalities.
There are many more angle crashes than head-on in my state so going by the statistics that say more crashes less fatalities in angled crashes. My choice would be to opt for more protection in the head-on crashes for survival.
hckynut
If it isn't because of problems, it is a myriad of other reasons....mine is better offroad than yours, my roof rack can carry more weight, mine is faster, mine handles better, my moonroof is bigger, mine has more cargo room, etc. etc. etc.
This seems to be universal, no vehicle is safe from the nitpicking of others. There has to be a reason for it since it is constantly common. The only thing I can come up with is the person planting the seeds of dissent wants you to buy what they have, to validate their own choice...."why aren't you picking what I picked, if everyone chooses what I have, I'll know I must have picked the right one myself because everyone CAN'T be wrong." But everyone can never be satisfied, there are too many vehicles out there and too many reasons why one vehicle suits someone better than another, and if someone changes his choice to yours, someone else will come along and want them to pick theirs. So we keep going in circles, and trying to swing people to OUR side, and the poor joes coming to these sites looking for real ownership experiences has to wade through piles of posts and other people's hidden agendas to get to the information they need to make an informed decision....must get awfully weary for them.
I think you are right, it is a (mostly) male thing that makes some posters put down other vehicles, which helps in their mind to validate their own choice. "My car is better than your car." = "My dog is bigger than your dog." = "My dad can beat up your dad."
Add to that the fact that people can come here and anonymously demean others without fear of reprisal. Like someone said, along with the electronic global village come the global village idiots.
ejp
I read somewhere that the 2002 Escape has additional "steel" (over the 2001 model) in the underbody to boltser its crash ratings. Can anyone confrim this??
The Liberty is a much, much better real (rocks, steep sandy hills, deep ruts etc) off-roader.
The Liberty can tow 5000 lbs. Drivers (v-6) report 13-19mpg. Some drivers report quality problems (water leaks, tranny failures, window problems). The Liberty is its 1st year of production. The Xterra is its closest competition.
The Escape has much better on-road manners (handling, ride etc). The Escape can tow 3000 lbs.
Drivers (v-6) report 18-28mpg. Some drivers report quaility problems (stalling, idiot lights coming on). The Escape is in its 2nd year of production. The Saturn Vue (v-6) will be its closest competition (the Rav4/CRV are underpowered).
The 2003 Subaru Forester will be one to watch.
good luck with whatever suits YOU best!
I'm assuming you have also posted this on the Liberty forum. Wouldn't want them to be left out of your experiences.
hckynut
Secondly I have read that the Escape's V6 is the same engine as in the Taurus. Does anyone know if it is the same 3.0 V6 that came in the original 1986 Ford Taurus?
Have fun and enjoy you Escape when you get it.
Odie
We ordered the Satin Silver XLT Premium and the ETA is Sept.10(but salesman said could be earlier as they got 3 today that were a week early as the came from K.C. to here(Omaha,Nebraska)by truck and not rail)so we're hoping for truck delivery.
Anyway they had a Satin Silver XLT,not the Premium but it did have Leather. Was really happy with the look of the Silver. Lot's of metallic in it and it really showed in the sunlight and this SUV hadn't been prepped yet. As someone mentioned recently the Front Seats are Low-Back and much, much more comfortable to me than the 2001. Looks like they also changed a little of the cosmetics on the exterior. Took it for a short spin(she just has to drive one everytime we go to the dealership)and it was tight as a drum and had zero wind noise at Interstate Speed(the roof rack was put on correctly)and she is now more anxious than ever for our Escape to arrive.
Mainly posted this to mention the difference in comfort(my opinion of course)with the different front seats.
hckynut
dealer to look at the first time I take it in. Mileage is hovering between 17 - 19 mpg
consistantly, mainly in town, with internal freeway driving. Actually, in the Houston area, most
of the mileage should be considered city or combined as true freeway speeds can only be
maintained in early-morning / late night / and some weekends. The freeways always seemed to have a bunch of traffic. I'll have to get the Escape out on the interstate for a better read on
highway mileage.
Like I say a few minor detail issues but otherwise, my wife and I are pretty satisfied with
the vehicle and ease of purchase with the dealership. However, I'm not averse to purchasing
an extended warranty for peace-of-mind for any potential future problems.
My Escape also has creaks and groans that you shouldn't hear on a brand new car, the cigarette lighter works most of the time, and the sunroof leaks in a hard rain. Other than those things, I really like it. I would consider buying another one - I think this stuff is just first-year-itis. My mistake for buying one.
(sorry if it makes the post long)
Odie