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Your kidding me? Has she test driven the Ascender yet?
The only thing, that concernes me - it is 4 years lease, I need 15,000 miles a year, and warranty is 3/36,000 - will the vehicle last 60,000 miles without buying additional warranty for 2,000 dollars? 'Cuz same money will equal the monthly payments to the ones of Ascender, which has 7 years/72,000 miles warranty...
But how many will really pay $40K for an Asender? It's essentially a Trailblazer as you stated. The Trailblazer/Ascender was able to fit the 3rd row seat by extended the platform, in turn gaining a bit more mass as well (I believe it weights 100lbs less than a Tahoe actually) which is why a V8 would definately be needed in that vehicle.
This was GM's final minute stunt to be able to compete with the Explorer, since the Explorer is able to fit a 3rd row seat optional, but in the same compact dimensions unlike the Trailblazer's extra foot (and then some) length.
As for the Explorer/Mountaineer's ride it was accomplished by the Independent Rear Suspension which is why you feel the more controlled ride, WHICH is what made the fold flat 3rd row seat possible.
As for the concern with the V6, you could upgrade to the V8 if you wish on the Merc, just kill the additional warranty which at $2000 seems a bit rediculous overall. Or keep the V6, but up for a higher axle drive ratio which helps with acceleration. But I wouldn't place too much priority on GM's 5.3L V8 which has been a source of problems pertaining to increased oil usage, and piston knocking. Check this website out which is looking to place a class action suit against GM for this issue... http://www.pistonslap.com/
Pros
Strong six- or eight-cylinder engines, simple interior design, plenty of passenger and cargo room.
Cons
Spongy suspension, numb steering, low-grade interior materials, odd exterior proportions.
Ok, insulted, but over it.
The Mountaineer will give you 120,000 miles of trouble free service if you want. But frankly, I'd get the wife what she wants. Happy wife, Happy life! My mantra......
Have you floated through the Trailblazer, Bravada, Envoy discussion? That may be worth a look as far as any issues you may encounter. Though I am sure that there are many of the tripplets out there are trouble free. Also, no one is sure how much longer Isuzu is going to be around in the U.S. I think I read somewhere else on Edmunds that they pulled out of Canada this year. So if they pull out of the U.S. will GM honor Isuzu's warranty, or their own 36/36,000 for their tripplets?
I gotta agree with Nvbanker though, you must make wifey happy!
But, to make the story short, it looks like I am getting the Mountaineer - the $288/month Red Carpet promotion thing is over on the Feb. 2nd, and you can not beat it - everything I need is to make home on time (I am leaving today and will be back only Saturday. I'll have may be two hours home and than I have to leave again. In this case everything what's left is Moday evening - hate to do things in the last moment). And, I sincerely hope that "The Mountaineer will give you 120,000 miles of trouble free service if you want" - I really want it.
And, hopefully kids on my street grew up a bit - I can not take all dents and scratches and baseball imprints on my cars any more...
$288/month? Hmmmmm....I have a Mountaineer on order myself......haven't heard about that deal.
P.S. Sale is over on the 2nd of February.
- Ford Explorer: Problems & Solutions 2373 -
and
- Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer 1787 -
got me out of balance.
What do I do now - I mean it maintanancewise - what shoud I pay attention to, and expect what at what mileage and do what? What stuff should I get not to get stranded on the road? That's my first truck. Had sporty cars my whole life.
Nvbanker-When I mentioned the memory mirrors I was aware that the Gators were much less trouble prone than those found on the GM products, which is what I was refering to hehe ;-)
I picked up a new kitchen stove in the box. The guy at the warehouse said "no way it will fit in an SUV!" Wrong. Also picked up a new 42" Plasma screen. Again, "won't fit!" Wrong.
The best is when you help someone move, like my in-laws, with their "Grand" Cherokee. A couple of trips out of the house and their full. I just keep going and going and going (like the bunny!). I love hearing "how is all that fitting in there, our trucks are the same size!" Wrong.
But the best part of owning a Mountaineer is giving U-Haul a hard time. I rented a 6' x 12' trailer a couple of weeks ago. When the kid asked what I was pulling with I answered "a Ford Explorer." He got a look on his face that said "I don't want to have to deal with this again!" Then I said, "Oh, but it says Mercury on the back. Is that okay?" He laughed and said "Yeah, I don't know what's up with U-Haul?"
Anyway enjoy your truck.
i had a parking tag from work that was blocking the sensor.
http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/112_news59/index.html
Today's rollover test results (and retesting to be done) didn't sound too good though.
U.S. to retest Ford Explorer SUVs for rollovers (Forbes)
Steve, Host
I do a lot of highway driving and wondered what other owners have experience with gas mileage with the V/6 4x4.
Any owners with the stabilization option?
thanks for any help
We are going on a 700 mile trip in another 2 weeks, so lots of highway, will get a good feel for gas mileage then. I have about 2600 miles on the truck and will have had it a month tomorrow.
don't recommend that to anyone else, though.
kind of vibrates at 65, though.
Observations:
It is a truck. Independent suspension is great, but the ride is a truck ride.
CD-player skips on some CDs - my Accord doesn't have any problems with the same CDs.
Windshield - rain stays on the windshield even at 65-70 mph - obviously beacause it is too steep. On the cars water rolls over ther windshield and is not a proble. On MM it looks like you take rain with you.
The backrest is not comfortable, unless you nearly laying in the seat. Will try to go on a long-distace ride; will post my observations re. this.
Though the car went only 120 miles - and the tank is 22.5 gallons - MM it burned 1/3 of the tank in mixed highway/city driving.
Any way to drive it somehow specially to break it in better?
someplace in the left turn signal area underneath the truck you should find a round plug with a cap on it, and that's where you plug your four-wire towing pigtail in. should have come with the truck. if not, someplace in the $45 range at the parts counter.
my 2000 tows sweet, the 2004's extra size should be even nicer.
I am driving like Mom Teresa (Theresa?). Brake pedal started to make some thumping sound. It is not loud, but perceptable.
Question: driving with sunroof open is very noisy. If I put winddeflector, or whatever the name of it is, will it be any better? Also now all the water on the roof flows freely on the windshield, if I put this thing on, will I have swimming pool on top of my sunroof? I think, that I'll get the rainguards on the doors. The fuel economy will definitely not get any better with them...
Can I do anything to improve fuel economy?