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But I do dislike the shoddy materials in the interior, Ford can benefit from changing this.
I think I feel a draft coming in from the door locks while driving. Does anyone else have this problem. Please let me know.
Also the PT is a little bit noisy to my liking. Perhaps that's what happens when everything else is great !!!. We had same experience with Toyota also.
Thanks,
Check out
http://www.bonforums.com/trucks/escape_02changes.htm
After all I've read, I think it might be worth it to wait to buy.
Isn't it great to have a truck! I've hauled lots of big stuff home from the hardware store, like a big wrought iron patio table, that I never would have been able to with my little Escort (which I was happy with, but it was time to get more practical!).
The Escape is practical, looks good and is fun to drive..
When you get to a certain point in your life, you just want something that says you are continuing to become more successful in life. A bigger vehicle such as an SUV gives that--good for the image and practical too, a statement that a hatchback cannot make. I cannot even believe I'm even commenting on this, so let me say...
To drive an Escape is to love an Escape, and
Once you go Escape, you never go back!!!!!, and
It's an Escape thing...you wouldn't understand!
We love the car- lots of fun. Dissapointed with the gas mileage- last tank got 15mpg. Could something be wrong with the car that effects mileage?
The first think to look into when question MPG is the amount of weight being used by the driver on the accelerator pedal. You could have a problem, but from reading this board and responses from many about their mileage my suspicions would lead me to suggest easing up a bit when pressing the "Move Pedal".
Not meant to be confrontational in anyway towards you. Just mentioning a few of my opinions backed by a few of my own real experiences with gas mileage figures.
hckynut
That pontoon boat that is being towed by a Tribute: Depending on length, the boat may weigh 2500 lbs empty, but with trailer, motor and gear is probably more like 3500-4500 lbs. If you have weighed it and it scales at 2500 lbs, great. If not, please weigh it at the nearest scale with full tank and normal load. Even so, be careful because a short platform vehicle like the Escape/Tribute is going to suffer more from wind and emergency braking situations. If you have hydraulic brakes, consider replacing them with the new electric brakes for boat trailers. They are a much improved safety feature.
Just changed the oil @ 1000 Miles (I always do that with our new vehicles, just to drain the residual "break-in" metal that settles in the oil). Anyway, anyone else notice that the only
5W-20 oil available is made by Motorcraft? Is this Fords' way of grabbing a little extra $$, by making your only Oil choice a Ford product?
It's not a big deal, just seems kinda coincidental, BTW, the oil is in a bright orange container and sells for $1.77/qt at Wal-Mart. Not bad considering that it's a "synthetic-blend". Draining that 5W20 is like draining water however, the stuff will really shoot out when it's draining, better have a good sheet of plastic down when attenmpting this at home
I found the Havoline at a local auto store (I think it was auto zone or parts america or something like that).
At 5-6 quarts at $1.77/can, I find this charge beyond unreasonable. What gives?
' recommends ' is being hawked for corporate fuel averages only d/t slippery nature
of semi-synthetic. I've talked with several mechanics ( at least one Master Mechanic )
and they say it will not affect the warranty in the least if you use 5W30, 10W30 full
parafin based, semi-synthetic, or full synthetic.
The Master mechanic recommends changes every 3K miles ( who doesn't ) with
regular oil but that can be bumped up to 5K miles with a full synthetic. I'm
switching to a full synthetic at the next oil change.
The $ 20.00 surcharge for 5W20 oil is excessive under teh circumstances. If you
like to get your oil changed, buy your own oil, 5W20 or otherwise and take it
to your favorite shop. It'd be a bit cheaper, and the shop should reduce the price.
Perhaps I'm just weird, but the packages just don't match up to what I like in the Escape. I realize that if I bought off the lot at a dealership, that I would be getting something along these lines anyway, but if I want to order my Escape, shouldn't I have more freedom to choose what I want?
Does this bother anyone else?
I have something about saving money and also ordering new vehicles with exactly what I want on them. If none of the Escape packages had matched my preferences I would not have bought one.
With packages it's a "give/take" situation. It's great if the vehicle you are looking to buy/order has a package with exactly what you would order it with without being a package. But if it has things that you plain just don't like or want, it's a call you have to make.
My only complaints with Ford Motor Company and Ford Credit is they came out with the Zero(0)% Percent financing less than 2 weeks after we took delivery of our 2002 XLT Premium and they would not even entertain the thought of at least going back to the beginning of the month in which these huge savings were introduced.
The other is that they knew of the Gear Shift Lever Problem. Now they come out with a fix for that, more cup holders and more heavily padded seats. I can do without the cup holders and I understand they cannot change the seats. But I would think that they would offer the Updated Shift Lever to all that own an Escape be it a 2001 or 2002. As everyone that owns or has driven an Escape for any length of time will tell you. The Shift Lever almost completly blocks access to things you use all the time on the dash. I can't visualize this being a high cost fix that Ford Motor Company could do to better Consumer Relations with those that have recently purchased either model of the Escape.
hckynut
I do have a preference for the wiper controls to be on the left signal lever, and lights on the left dash like my other ford trucks. I don't really like the 3rd wiper lever concept.. However I don't feel strongly enough about to avoid purchasing the Escape.. It looks great, runs great, extremely functional, comfortable to drive, and an overall awsome vehicle..
With a known problem such as this(at least it is to me)I would maintain as I said in my previous reply that Ford Motor should at least offer this Free Change to those Espcape owners that would prefer not to "learn to work around it".
Remember it is very possible for a driver while working around this problem to bump the shift lever. Depending on what speed you are traveling and the type of road you are driving this could conceivably lead to a major problem.
Again to me it is a simple fix for Ford Motor and one they should offer(FREE)to those that own the Escape.
hckynut
but I don't agree that it would be a simple fix.
you gotta yank the steering wheel and probably tear apart the whole steering column to change it.
could be a 4-5 hour job easy.
Does anyone know if this is true?
I hadn't heard that. Do you have a link to the article? Does anyone else have info?
tidester
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Here's the link.
http://www.detnews.com/2001/autos/0110/29/-330177.htm
Yesterday I emailed two dealers in my area (L.A.) and both said no, the 0% will not be offered on the Escape.
And then, one said this
"Because of the overwhelming success of the 0% A.P.R. financing over the last few weeks, we no longer have fleet allocation on Escapes and I would not be able to honor the "X" Plan program."
Nice, huh?
Obviously, I won't be buying from them.
Another one said,
"We have a pretty good selection right now and I think that the availibility in the future may be a liitle more limited."
Wonder what that means? I asked, he never replied.
I don't know what I'm going to do now. Maybe they'll be some good deals around X-Mas, but who knows.
All dealerships get different allotments based on many various categories such has previous sales etc.. The allotments determine how many Escapes a particular dealership can be guaranteed to get.
Some of their statements are obvious attempts to influence you to buy sooner rather than later.. (can you blame them?)
On the 'non-availability' of x-plan, I've not heard of this, but it is my understanding that FoMoCo re-imberses the dealership some costs..
So if a dealership doens't want to do x-plan, it's probably because they prefer to sell the few Escapes they have an allotment for at MSRP type pricing, because their low allotment for Escape prevents them from selling large numbers of Escapes..
Dealerships with large allotments will probably have no problem selling Escapes at x-plan prices.
If you are a woman or anyone who doesn't want to pay a commission salesman to haggle with them for hours or days, just buy through X-Plan using the fleet manager. Investigate that!
Remember that competition rules. There are about 5000 Ford dealers competing against each other and dealing for your business because the Escape assembly line is cranking very fast and because they have other popular Ford vehicles to support their volume selling. Mazda is assembling half as many Tributes but they have only about 900 dealers and the dealers aren't competing locally. They are stonewalling the buyers to support their operations. They don't have enough other popular vehicles to volume sell. So if you can, be an Escape buyer instead of a Tribute buyer in this situation. That's a worthwhile compromise to consider at this time since the two are so similar.
And don't forget the servicing. 5000 Ford dealers are everywhere when you need them or when you want a second quote! But investigate your local situation! KNOW!
When you speak knowledgeably, you are in a far better situation, and can get things done quicker, and on your terms. I recently bought furniture for my living room and did extensive research on the Internet before I ever went into a store. I found what I wanted in one store and then researched two other stores to get the best price and options. It was worth it. Knowledge is power.
that info helps big time. i am hoping that i can join and use the xplan for my purchase too. i am looking at the tribute a lil more. i like the interior and bumpers a lil more. i am stuck in the middle at this point. the only issue is there aren't as many mazda dealers as ford where i am at. i am going to fill out eaa stuff now. thanks again.
Here is what happened to me. I visited four dealerships and made email contact with 6 others. I was totally ignored at one dealer and asked where my husband was at another. I heard many different stories. None were true.
1) PRICE
I was told everything from "We are selling at retail only" to being lied to about invoice price (I was told that it was $400 under retail because "there just isn't any mark up on these.") Invoice information is available on this web site as well as on Ford's. Go to the dealer with the print out. Needless to say, the difference is well over $400 dollars
2) X-Plan
I found one dealer out of the ten that I contacted who was willing to honor X-plan on this vehicle, but one is all that I need. I will have to drive 45 minutes to pick it up when it comes in, but the drive will be well worth it. I contacted this dealer by email, was given the price quote within an hour, and had the purchase order in my hands within a day. This is a no-haggle price. After my experience with the other 9 dealers, I am sure that I would not have received as good a price on my own. I highly recommend this program.
3) Be Persistent
Given #1 and #2 above, you need to figure out exactly what you want before you go looking. Sign up for the X-plan and find a dealer who will honor it. They are out there.
I am ordering my red 2002 XLT 4x4 Choice with leather and side step bars this week. I chose the parchment interior. It is a new option on the red this year, and it looks great, especially in the leather. My current car (I have had it for 15 years) is gray on the inside and the outside. I was ready for a change.
Before I finalize my order, does anyone have anything to say about side airbags?
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. Knowledge is power, and your willingness to share information has made my first new car purchase a better experience.
Steve
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I also concur with the safety issues....I've been a passenger in a crash where the side bags deployed...it's startling just how quick they 'appear'....but they DID help....nothing broken, no serious injuries, and the side bags were part of the reason !
Again...my $.02 worth.....
- Cheers -
Are they moving the shifter to the floor or simply shortening the lever? I drove a Tribute and couldn't stand having that lever blocking my radio volume/on-off button!
What other changes are happening?
There are also some additions to the XLS (cupholders etc)
After logging 5K miles on the Escape, I've come to enjoy this vehicle a lot more each day.
I'm consistently getting 18+ MPG predominantly in town. The V6 is a nice powerplant
which has plenty of reserve power for moving around traffic and congestion.
I would recommend to all interested in acquiring an Escape to empower yourselves through
knowledge. I agree with the previous posts about this. Also, it may help if you live in
an area with multiple Ford dealerships to go straight to the ' Fleet Sales '. These guys are
paid straight salary, not commission like regular sales types. They also may get a
small commission form the dealer and Ford on the number of vehicles sold. My experience
over the last ten years has been positive using this process. A Credit Union or other
financial institution can recommend you to the ' Fleet Dept. '
Be aware that popular vehicles ( like the Escape ) will always be tagged for MSRP if
dealers think that they can get away with it.
According to the info the Ford Tech received from the department of R&D from Ford Motor Company it is rated as a .75 time basis for Ford repairs and/or replace charges. This means it is less than an hour and even a today's high tech costs this is a small amount for Ford to cover considering the much larger Re-calls they have been involved with in the past.
I doubt that every Escape owner, for example "lovethosesuvs " who has "learned to work around it" would even take the time to have it done. My guess from where I sit and the info I've gotten from those that work in the Auto Repair Business at Dealerships, they have problems even getting car owners to come in for major "Recalls" and I think it is highly doubtful there would be a monumental rush to the Ford Dealerships to have this "simple fix" taken care of on their Escapes.
Some of this is JMO, some are based on what has happend on other things and several are just plain facts.
hckynut
Are you saying the intake manifold is going to explode, or the dash is going to blow up in your face?
I can't attest to your fact on whether the intake manifold is in fact plastic or not, or the dash.
I am not an expert what kind of plastic is used on the Escape(assuming you are correct)
However having worked for 33 years at Western Electric/AT&T in there Cable Plant and exclusively making plastic wiring from the copper wires that most phone lines are still using, tinned copper switchboard wire that is still be used, PolyPropylene,and Fiber Optic cable, I can assure you that none of these will explode when used for what they were designed to do.
Wonder why you bought the Escape knowing all of these(at least to you)facts about this SUV!! Hmmm
Plastic(I can't say)or not we love our Escape and I wish you well in whatever you bought to replace your Escape.
P.S. Be sure to take that same magnet you used to discover these plastic parts on the Escape and check out whatever you purchased in liew of the Escape.
hckynut
BTW, hckynut, I'm assuming that's short for hockeynut, who's your team?? I'm a big-time Avs fan, love that NHL-the last sport where the players really EARN their $$$!!
I was a fan of that same team when they were known as the Quebec Nordiques. However when they moved to Colorado I dropped them as I strongly felt Colorado should not have been given another NHL hockey team after they failed to support their Expansion Hockey team called the Colorado Rockies. That team originated as the Kansas City Scouts(which we used to drive about 250 miles to watch play in the Kemper Arena).As you probably know after all of the hoopla during the NHL finals last year about how both of the final teams has Colorado ties. Before that 99.9% NHL fans didn't have a clue of the history of the New Jersey Devils.
I guess I resent the fact that after not supporting an Expansion type team Colorado was given a team that had just won the Presidents Cup and most of the AVS fans before that had never heard of who?? Joe Sakic, or even knew anything about the Quebec Nordiques. The year prior to getting the Quebec franchise the Colorado fans supported(another winner)the best team in the now defunct CHL(the Colorado Grizzlies)which won both the League Title and the Playoff Title. I'm not overly fond of supposed sports fans who only support a team when they are a winning team.
Told you probably a heck of a lot more than you wanted to know, but hockey is my passion both from having played(now ref adult league here in town)and as a fan. Win or lose I have supported my favorite NHL team for close to 40 years which happen to be the New York Rangers. I am not what you call a "Fair Weather Fan" or "Jump on the Bandwagon" of a winning team.
Don't take any of this as a personal attack on you, as that is not my intent. This is just my feelings on the Colorado Hockey Fans in general.
Win=support-Lose=many empty seats.
hckynut
To keep this on topic, I think that all the above hockey players have seen a Ford Escape at one time or another.
Steve
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