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Comments
Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute vs Saturn Vue
Chevy Equinox vs Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute
tidester, host
Anyhooo...
I own both an 01 Escape XLT 4WD V6 and an 04 Mazda ES V6 4WD. Escape is mine, Mazda is the wifes. The Escape drives more truck like, feels more truck like. The Mazda has more of a sporty, tight feel. There is a definite difference between these two vehicles as far as road feel and manners. I guess it depends on your preference as a driver. Have you test driven yet?
Here's hoping my 05 Tribute will not need new pads for another 25K miles!
The bottom line is on brake-wear that most everything is totally dependent on how often your foot goes to brake pedal. Urban braking will likely wear brakes more often than mainly highway or a mix.
Odie
Wow, you are getting really good city mpg.. I have an 05 Tribute S and am not getting close to 22 (more like 16-18) in the city. Just to clarify is this a 4cyl or V6 engine?
I currantly have an Alero, which I love-just the right size, love how the controls to everything are just in reach, love the trunk room, gas mileage, BUT...this car is awful in the winter. Living in Western NY, we have snow on and off, from late November to April, and at times, it comes down a lot faster than the plows can keep up with it, so the roads are often literally full of ruts from the unplowed snow. The last straw was having to waste a sick day, because I got stuck in the driveway in March! Much as I hate to get rid of it, I don't want to go through another winter with it.
I went to look at a Equinox, since I work for Delphi, and can get a good discount on GM's. I told the salesman why I wanted to look at this vehicle, and he told me, that AWD would give me the same control in the snow as the FWD I currantly have. Then, he tried his hardest to get me into a Trailblazer...loved the Trailblazer, but for one person, its just too big-as is the car payment, I might add. Was this guy seeing a dumb female, who he could make some more money off, by selling a bigger, more expensive vehicle to?
I also stopped in a Ford dealership, and a salesman there, told me, that the AWD was much better in snow than the FWD, and also, the Escape, which I can also get a work related discount on, was about $10,000 cheaper than the Trailblazer I looked at, and $3000 cheaper than the Equinox. I didn't have time to test drive one, but anyway, there's no snow to really see how it handles.
SO....what do you all think? AWD better than FWD or 4WD? Would an AWD Escape be ok at the snow, or should I consider a 4WD Escape?
pretty trouble-free miles. It's been a good ride so far and I plan on keeping it
for a few more years. By then even a more refined or improved model will be
available. The '05's are a quantum-leap ahead of my '01 in regards to refinement
and interior noise reduction. The V6 has plenty of pep, but the gas-mileage is
middling at best for the Duratec V6 engine. In other Ford/Mazda models the same engine is tuned for better mileage. At present I'm getting about 17mpg City/21mpg Highway.
You should be able to get a good deal too from a straight-shooter Ford dealer w/rebates, discounts, etc.. Try to go with 'Fleet-Sales' if possible as opposed to
regular Sales people. You get a better deal because the fleet-folks are paid salary
instead of commission. You may qualify if you belong to credit union or have a bank that works through preferred dealerships.
Victor, NY just off the Thruway. Van Bortel Ford. Purchased a Hybrid there back in November, good trade in, low loan rates thru local banks.
I bought an AWD V6 Mazda Tribute (cousin to the Escape) back in November and had ZERO problems with the snow and ice conditions here in Northern Virginia. You will be very happy with either the AWD Escape or Tribute models.
The Chevy salesman was trying to put you into a Trailblazer because they are not selling.. The Equinox should have no problems handling the snow, but do not buy an Equinox before you have test driven the Escape or the Tribute. You can buy a completely loaded Tribute for thousands less than either the Escape or Equinox and it will have a longer warranty. I was not as impressed with the Equinox as I was with the Escape/Tribute when I test drove them and was alarmed with all of the issues that Equinox owners were having (appears that they just need to work out the kinks with the Equinox since it is a brand new vehicle). Good luck!
Odie
Can you tell me where you got your turbo and who did you use to "revamp" your rear axle? I know a lot of people will work with you on designing a turbo for certain applications but was yours made for the Escape? And is it a new pinion gear for the rear axle ..... did you loose towing ability? Thanx
Odie
Im just trying to to figure out what Im looking for (Escape or Explorer). I thought if there was something on the market already out for the Escape that would be great. From what Ive found I would be doing just as well to get the Explorer. More room (am 6' 2"), more pull (V-6 5000lbs). Both seem to get very close to the same mileage. I also believe I might come closer to Escape mileage with whats already on the market. Oh.... I live in small town. Nothing here for aftermarket. Although I do appreciate the info you didnt have to give. Thanx. I have found several things online for the Explorer and nothing for the Escape.
Odie
Odie
If I know you scape you're waiting for the Duratec35 to appear in the Escape. A white collar Ford employee on the Fusion thread informed us that the next Lincoln Aviator, an 07 model to be released next year IIRC, will be the first to get it and others will follow after. But it will probably go to the vehicles that need it more first, like the Five Hundred and Fusion. You most likely won't see it in the Escape until the next redesign if there is one. I say "if" because Ford already announced it will be introducing the Ford Edge crossover SUV, based on the Euro Focus platform, which may or may not mark the end of the Escape. In addition to the Edge, Ford is also rumored to be working on a Mazda6 based crossover similar to the next Aviator and the newly introduced Mazda CX-7 (see it here). With the Edge (slightly smaller than the Escape), the Mazda6 based crossover (slightly larger than the Escape), and the Explorer I don't see where the Escape is going to fit in.
So don't wait because you want an Escape with the Duratec35 as you may never see one. But if you like the sound of the other two, by all means, wait.
Steve, Host
http://www.geocities.com/odie442/pictures/ute1.jpg
This is the Ford
http://www.geocities.com/odie442/pictures/ute2.jpg
This is the Chevy (Holden)
I think these will deffinatly sell if brought here (currently on sale in Australia)
Odie
Odie
:mad: :mad:
Odie
:confuse:
2005 JOB1 Escapes (produced up until August 2004 IIRC) have side curtains only. 2005 JOB2 Escapes (produced from 8/2004 through 5/2005) added seat mounted side torso air bags to the package which complement the side curtains.
So what you are seeing is one Escape, the one with the $425 curtains only, that may have been sitting on the lot for a year or more now, and one that is a bit newer.
Aside from the SAB thing the JOB2 models have more badges on the exterior (most notable is a "V6" badge on the hatch) and were available with a carpeted storage well under the rear cargo area. JOB1 Escape's had their cargo wells filled with a large, bolted on piece of styrofoam. The latter can be removed and the storage thing put in it's place for about $300. It's not worth it though. $100 maybe.
Hope that helps!
Odie :mad: :mad: :mad:
What is going on here? I prefer to burn a copy of my original cd to carry around in my car, in order not to scratch my original cd, etc. It never entered my mind when I was purchasing the Escape that a burned cd would not play in the cd player.
Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so, is there any way to resolve this issue? When I talked with my local service manager yesterday, he told me that Ford had advised him that the player would not play burned cd's. At the time, I had not read the above statement from the Manual.
Any suggestions appreciated. This really bums me out....