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Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
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