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Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Thanks
I am seriously looking at the Escape and the Mazda Tribute mechanical-clone. I test drove and liked both, but I'm having difficulty calculating price due to add on accessories that the Mazda itemizes but the Escape doesn't provide info on - step bars, perimeter alarm, all-weather mats, etc... Any help in comparing the vehicles and/or finding costs of accessories?
Also, do you know why the warranty is better for the Tribute?
Trib is a nice vehicle....
Then we went to drive and look at the Escape/Tribute. Yes the ride is a little rougher, but the vehicle seems better built and safer. The seats are firm just the weay we like them. You can easily reach all the necessary items in the engine compartment like dip stick, tranny fluid stick, etc. V6 is not sluggish like the CRV's little engine and does not whine like the CRV. For about the same price, you get more vehicle with the Escape/Tribute. The wife definitely liked it but it's still going to be mine. Now, to just work out something with the dealer!
Escape/Trib are pure winners in this arena.. the V6 was a bullseye!
I change my own oil and use 10W-30. VERY easy to do your own. You don't even have to put the vehicle up on ramps! Filter is right in front and you can reach back to the drain plug.
Scape2, you read this message board and the one on Yahoo. Every second message is complaining about the car stalling or things falling off it or engines being replaced. And those are the drastic things. How many other people put up with rattles and creaks and loose fitting pieces that never bother to write in.
Don't sell convenience and peace of mind so short. Some people just don't value their time as much as others and are content to waste it waiting for dealer service, firm in the satisfaction that it's covered under warranty. Keep your warranty, give me a solid car!
Take a trip over to the Highlander message board. They sit there talking about how to install fog lights. Hardly ever a problem.
yes, I am a member of the Yahoo board and its not as terrible as you say.. Vist www.escapecentral.com another board with satisfied Escape/Trib owners. You paint the Escape/Trib as being a problematic/unreliable vehicle when there are thousands upon thousands of satisfied owners on the net. You have convinced yourself that all Escapes/Tribs are going to just fall apart/breakdown. What do you own by the way?
Thanks,
And as for that Escape reliability argument, it's an old, old one and you seem rather stubborn and oppinionated to begin with so I'm going to let it go.
The proof is in the pudding though and I think everyone here accents that Ford as real QA problems right now with practically all of its models.
You know, the one thing I respect the most about this was when some lady on Yahoo said she understood she would be taking the car in for problems (some severe, some not) and knew she'd be spending more time in waiting rooms but she loved the car so much it balanced out.
No Contendre.
But a couple of hours in that hard seat and 1 hour listening to the noise on the highway completely discouraged me.
You have come down to two good choices. Its obvious you want some power beings you chose a VUE and an Escape. Take them on long test drives and right down the pros/cons for each. Good luck, let us know what you choose.
Enjoy your new vehicles!
That being said, On Friday, I will be picking up my 2002 Escape XLT 4x4 V6 midnight edition. I tried to find a small to mid size SUV I liked better. I looked for 8 months. I couldn't do it. The escape has great power, looks, and driveability. I couldn't find anything I liked about the CRV.
I have owned several new Hondas. Each one has been less reliable than the previous. They are still great vehicles but they aren't as trouble free as they used to be.
Get over the Escape recalls! Yes ford screwed up by getting the Escape out the door to fast. They fixed the problems. There are NO RECALLS so far in 2002. They even redesigned the mirrors to lesson the air noise by about 80%. These new mirrors are on models made from end of January '02 and on. They have also added padding to the seats and shortened the column shifter.
Don't forget, the escape and tribute vehicles were a joint venture between Ford and Mazda. There is some Japanese engineering in these vehicles.
The choice is simple, if you want ugly and slow go with the CRV. If you want fast and great looking go with the triscape!
Before you say the Honda is more reliable, look at the recalls the CRV has had this year and look at the tranny problems Honda has had with the accord and oddessy.
I should know, my tranny in my accord was replaced at 37k (for free with no arguement).
The point is, no vehicle is perfect, not even a Honda and Ford quality is job zero but they are improving, the triscape is a good example(1st year 5 recalls.......2nd year 0 recalls).
Bragging that a 2 yr old model has no recalls this year is hardly praiseworthy. At any rate, it's not the recalls I'd be concerned with. It's more the random engine stalls and all the other engine, coolant, transmision and interior piece problems you read about all over.
"They even redesigned the mirrors to lesson the air noise by about 80%. They have also added padding to the seats and shortened the column shifter."
I put 200 KM on an Escape with the new mirrors. I'd love to know where you got this 80% figure from because I detected no difference in wind noise at all. The car was still loud on the highway. (Seats still way too hard IMHO).
"Don't forget, the escape and tribute vehicles were a joint venture between Ford and Mazda. There is some Japanese engineering in these vehicles."
I'm not going to tell you about my '92 Mazda MX-6 because it'll make you cry.
"The point is, no vehicle is perfect, not even a Honda and Ford quality is job zero but they are improving, the triscape is a good example(1st year 5 recalls.......2nd year 0 recalls). "
(eye roll). Yes, they should be praised for bringing the number of safety recalls from 5 to 0. Maybe Consumer Reports should add a new category for that.
I knew black is a very difficult color but when its cleaned and waxed correctly, whew! what a difference....
Jafo, what do you own?
But then you mention that there are pervasive coolant, transmission and interior problems? One persons problem does not indicate a pattern.. Actually, I'm not sure I've heard of anyone with a coolant or tranny problem.. On the interior, there have been a few complaints about a rear hatch rattle, but I'm not sure this is 'wide spread', or even exists in the 2002 models..
It's clear that your preference of vehicle is NOT the Escape.. You don't like the seats and the noise.. Your opinion and its a welcome one.. But it's not clear what would motivate you to make up problems that you imply are common with the Escape (coolant, tranny, interior etc.).
You can name any vehicle out there, (even the media beloved Toyotas) and we would be able to find folks that have had problems with engine and tranny of that vehicle.
vehicle, imo. The wiper module and fuel system recalls weren't a bother, but last week I went to start the vehicle and there was a small explosion under the plastic intake manifold, cracking the manifold and unseating it off the block. The service dept said they've not heard of this problem, but I'm checking with any other owners to see if they've had this situation...
Thanx for any replys...
Is it a 4cylinder or 6cylinder?
I don't think you drove the Escape with the new mirrors. If you did you wouldn't hear anything until 75 or 80mph.
I have spent seven or eight months researching SUVs. The only problems you hear repeated over and over are the stalling problem and the rear hatch rattle.
Sounds like you made up a few of your own. Unless you hear a problem over and over it probably isn't one that many have experienced
You say the seat is to hard. I guess you prefer the "bus like" seat in the CRV. Very uncomfortable in my opinion.
I'm finished trying to convince you. Believe what you want. Don't throw out B.S. about problems that don't exist.
Ironically enough, Con****** R****ts
(see they dont always hate Ford
page21 on Used Car guide 2002)
I had to sensor the name of the magazine to make edmund's happy!
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
The interior, although black, was not nearly as dark as I expected it to be (a good thing), but just dark enough to be very classy and to give the interior a more upscale feel. The bumper covers and cladding didn't appear to be just painted over, they appeared to be significantly smoother and more refined.
If they offered this with Chrome Yellow I'd buy it in a heartbeat (esp. if they also offered the black leather interior). Anyway, this begs the question, is this monochromatic paint scheme going to be offered for other colors any time in the next couple of model years? Maybe as an option perhaps?
Aftermarket parts are springing up all over the internet for the Escape/Trib. All kinds of lights/lamps/racks/guards even interior pieces..
BODE-13:
If ford is smart they will make the monochromatic scheme available for all colors. I wante the dark shadow gray but didn't want the unpainted cladding. I love black but its a pain to keep clean. I went ahead and bought the black anyway.
SCAPE-2:
What interior pieces have you seen in the aftermarket world?
Service dept said they had never seen anything like this. Whatever explosion it was, it cracked the shield over the intake plenum, too. They're putting in new egr (?) valve and accelerator cable. Sending broken parts back to Detroit.
Doggone shame...I'm shareholder too...8-(
Mea culpa.
Exterior there are all types of grills, guards, rear gaurds, bumper guards available. If you visit www.Escapecentral.com they have links to many of these parts sites. Along with typing Ford Escape parts into your web browser will bring up a nice selection also..
There will be a Mercury version of the Escape/Trib. As a non-scientific poll.. On the way home I counted the number of Escapes/Tribs on the road.. I saw 9 Escapes and 4 Tributes in a 22mile commute home....
Does anyone else have this problem?
Thanks
Odie
Interesting article on the Escape rebates..
Thanks, I live in the NW and this explains why I have not seen anything about this as of yet. Seems to be more pointed at the Northeast, Eastern parts of the country..
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
My name is Steve and I am interested in purchasing a new Ford Escape.
There is just something that draws me to this vehicle over Honda & Toyota.
Anyway, the real reason why I am posting this message is because I plan to move to Florida within the next 30 days. I need some advice in deciding what to do with the car I am driving right now.
I currently own a black 1997 Dodge Avenger coupe. It has 62,000 miles on it and it is in excellent condition inside and out.
I would like to purchase a Ford Escape, but I don't know if I should purchase it here, in Upstate, NY or if I should purchase the Escape in Florida.
I am interested in purchasing the the Ford Escape
for several reasons:
1) More space
2) Great looks
3) 4 Wheel Drive
4) Lighter color for the Florida sun
All thoughts, advice, and ideas are appreciated.
Thank you!
Steve, if you don't have time to sell the car yourself it looks like your going to have to trade it in. Dealerships are always going to use low if not below blue book. Just know what your car is worth at low blue book and don't budge. Also, DO NOT pay full retail for the Escape. As you know there are tons of Ford dealeships, move on to the next one..