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Comments
in the mean time, i bought a focus that has a power moon roof and heated seats/mirrors. as you said, much cheaper for the same options. now good to go all four seasons.
someone must have screwed up the mix for the escape. either that, or they had lots of leather left over, but not too many seat heaters!
No cruis either.
WHAT IS FORD THINKING? NO CD in 2004 in a CAR with a 25k MSRP????????
Carnivore, try the 4WD & AWD systems explained discussion if you haven't found it already.
Steve, Host
The 2005 Escape uses an all-new Intelligent 4WD System (Replaces Control Trac II). The system always drives the front wheels and monitors vehicle and driving surface conditions, using signals such as individual wheel speeds and throttle position. It then seamlessly sends power to the rear wheels as needed to control wheel slip or to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Intelligent 4WD uses an electrical control unit (ECU) to continuously monitor wheel speed and throttle position sensors to determine the vehicle's conditions and the driver's intent. The ECU then determines the optimal amount of torque for the given conditions and controls an electromagnetic coupling to send torque to the rear wheels.
The system has only one "Auto" operating mode that is capable of sending the maximum torque transfer to the rear wheels. Because the customer can perceive no difference between this "Auto" mode and a locked coupling, the system requires no driver-operated switch.
Customer Benefits:
Requires no driver input to function
Improved traction by automatically delivering torque to the wheels with the most traction
Improved vehicle stability by reacting quickly to changes in road conditions
Improved fuel economy
Allows for the cost and weight advantage of offering a mini-spare tire by detecting the spare tire and adjusting the torque split between front and rear wheels accordingly
Traction Control does not effect what wheels receive power... Traction Control works in 2 ways. When it detects a drive wheel slipping, it will apply the brake of that wheel to send torque to the wheel that is not spinning. It can only shift torque on the same axle. 2nd, some traction control systems retard engine ignition to basically lower the power being sent to the drive wheels.
Stability control takes traction control one step further by using a YAW sensor to measure the cornering forces of the vehicle and comparing it the driver intent as measured by several sensors, including how far the steering wheel is turned.
When the computer finds that the measured cornering force is less/more than what is expected under the given circumstances, it assumes the vehicle is experiencing understeer/oversteer. The system then applies the brake of the appropriate wheel to bring the vehicle back into control....
Picture going around an icy corner a little 2 fast. The front end slips toward the outside of the corner... in this situation, the yaw sensor measures less cornering force than is expected based on how far the steering wheel is turned.... the stability control system then supplies brakes to the appropriate wheel to regain control.
Intelligent 4wd can only send torque from front to rear on the Escape and it doesn't have stability control.
Hope this didn't confuse more
Mark
My 01 Escape V6 4WD now has 43,000 trouble free miles on it. Does anyone have any sort of luggage rack or box ontop of their Escapes? Any reccomondations? Looking into Thule or Yakima...
While the Escape's new Intelligent 4WD system does sound like an improvement over the previous Control Trac II system, it also sounds like it still isn't as sophisticated as the systems with traction control and stability control. I'm also not crazy about the fact that it defaults to front drive, as I prefer the performance of rear-wheel drive.
As you can tell I'm still researching my next vehicle, and of course, nothing looks perfect. On paper, the BMW X3 sounds ideal with its X-drive intelligent AWD that defaults to rear drive, VSC, TC and steptonic transmission. But configured the way I would want, it would cost 10-15k more than a nicely equipped Escape, yet it is reportedly noisy with a harsh ride. I haven't driven one yet to judge for myself, but I'd expect a degree of refinement for that price.
Whatever I choose is sure to be a big change from my 5-speed, 5.0 litre Mustang. Now, there's a car with zero traction on slippery roads, but I know the car so well that I'm instinctively on the clutch at the first sign of wheel slippage. It will surely be strange to move to *any* automatic-transmission-equipped vehicle that corrects itself at all in those conditions.
Incidently, Ford recently announced (or i just found out) that the rest of Fords SUV's (Escape Expedition Excursion and Mercury/Lincoln equivilants....will offer a new system for 2005 called Roll Over control...
AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control, a segment-first exclusive feature, provides
active stability enhancement utilizing sensors to determine roll speed and roll angle. The system is
unique because it also monitors wheel lift and reduces the potential for a rollover event. If the system
detects that one or more wheels are about to leave the ground and a rollover is imminent, RSC triggers
the vehicle's standard electronic stability control system, called AdvanceTrac®, which reduces power
and/or brakes the necessary wheels to help settle the vehicle allowing the driver to regain control.
One point if guess i failed to make completely clear is that 4wd systems are completely independant of whether a vehicle has traction/stability control...any vehicle with ABS can have traction/stability control
Mark
Just to alleviate any confusion, I think you meant to include the Explorer instead of the Escape. As we know from reading these posts, the 2005 Escape does not have stability control. However, it does handle better than the larger SUV's and doesn't necessarily need it as much as they do. I agree that it should be an option though.
Ford also offers the "Personal Safety System", not to be confused with either of the systems above, in most of it's vehicles. This one uses sensors in the driver and passenger seats to determine the force of airbag deployment if any at all. The sensors basically measure things like weight of the passenger, or object, and/or seat position. The '05 Escape does have this one too.
I am actually in the process of trading in our '02 Escape for an '05 Escape Limited which does have the safety canopy system (as well as a host of other cool goodies). I know all about these systems from researching both the Escape and Explorer and there is a big difference in all of them. The Explorer has all three while the Escape does in fact lack the stability control.
Hope that made things a little clearer.
Escape may be an entry-level SUV but for me it is the right size. Now that I'm a home-owner (occasionally needing to haul fertilizer, lawn mowers, etc) I'm looking to trade my Audi A4 (with traction/stability control and side airbags and Quattro all-wheel drive) for something on the order of a Dakota Quad Cad (but the wife would not like that). For me the Escape is a great size, I would never buy one of those monster larger SUVs. But I want all "the goodies" too, the safety and comfort features I've gotten used to. It'll be interesting to see the new Mercury version of the Escape.
Except that traction/stability control can be had on a competing vehicle like the Toyota Rav4, which can sell for 5k LESS depending on the trim level. I'm not saying I'd choose the Rav4 over the Escape based on that one point, but I don't think those features are necessarily all that expensive for the manufacturers to include. Do you think it will be that long before they're as common as ABS on new vehicles?
Any ideas?
Ford Escape gets 2nd-best safety rating (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Steve, Host
tidester, host
pads are excessively dusty, but per Ford their Motorcraft brand stops the vehicle better. Maybe, maybe not. I went with ceramic enhanced pads at 51K miles and have had them on for one (1) week, no brake dust !!, unlike the Motorcraft brand, you clean wheels, drive, brake, and dust is back on within 30 minute. If you can help it I wouldn't go back to the dealer for the brake job, it will be expensive. As said before, a reputable shop maybe can do the work just fine at
the same or below Ford dealers cost, plus you get the added benefit of specifying aftermarket parts which will probasbly last much longer.
I do have a little leverage with the dealership as I am an acquaintance with the salesman that I bought the car from. He has stood behind me in getting them replaced but only with the Ford brake. I talked to the man who has been involved in all my maintenance and the brake debacle and told him that I want something other than the Ford brake put on and he is having to get that approved. I'm gonna call him this morning and ask for the Raybestos or Bendix - do both of these have the ceramic enhanced pads?
if you can, for Raybestos QuietStop which is ceramic-based pad. It is of excellent quality too
and best of all it is almost brake dust-free.
If not Raybestos then ask for the premium store brand ceramic pads, there are several other manufacturers, such as Bendix and ProStop. Ask
for a turnable rotor as well. The Ford rotors are made of soft alloy and are not turnable or cannot be reused at all. Ford and other car makers have done this to save money, weight, etc.
But in the long-run it's more expensive for the consumer. Hope the approval goes well. Good luck.
Odie
We just bought one a little over a week ago. The reverse sensing system works really well actually. My wife is the primary driver and she loves it because she never pulls into the garage the same way twice and it will let her know if she's too close to the walls when backing out. It forces her to use the side mirrors which is a good thing.
I only wish someone would find a way to make the sensors a little less obvious on the bumper. Kind of ruins the "clean" look.
I got a good question that was asked to me by another Escape owner I work with. Could the front bumper with new round fog lights and new headlight assembly from a 2005 MY be switched out with an older model ('01-'04 MY) so that you can have the newr light on the older model? I told him I would ask around and get back to him. He can apperently get the lighting kit and front bumper off a Totaled (rear end accid.) from a junk yard (cash / carry) for $200.
any responses would help so I can let him know.
Odie
suggestions about improvements and complaints from not only consumers but from auto writers, etc.
Detailed instructions can be found on another forum if you're interested.
Thanks!
Incidently the 4 cyclinder does not have a timeing belt, rather it uses a timeing chain which should last the life of the engine.
Also if you don't live in the true snow belt or plan to go off road, forego the 4wd. The advantage of 4wd over the standard FWD is limited at best, especially if you don't go off road...save the weight of the system and the cost...
Mark
As does the V6.
I think the old 2.0L Zetec in past Escapes had a chain as well. I'm 99.9% sure my old ZX2, with the same 2.0L Zetec, had one.
mschmal is right. Test drive both of them with as many passengers and gear as the dealer will allow and on roads typical of those on your daily drive. We ended up with our '02 Escape, and the current '05 Limited we replaced it with, after test driving it and a CR-V through the hills in our area. The extra HP and torque of the V6 really made a difference to us.
We also opted for the Mazda6s (3.0L Duratec V6, 220 HP) over the Mazda6i (2.3L Duratec I4, ~160 HP) after driving them up and down some hills with 3 passengers and the A/C on. Note that the Mazda6i has a slightly more powerful version of the Escape's 2.3L I4 with, and I'm guessing here, less curb weight to pull around. And it was a 5-speed MTX too.
Good luck, and have fun!
Used ones seem to have inflated prices. 01s are around $16 - $17K with 40K-50K miles on them.
Went again and test drove an 05 Escape Limited just for fun. My 01 is paid for in about 4 months. I like my 01 Escape and it has proved to be a reliable and capable vehicle. The 05 is however an improvement. Interior is nicer, vehicle feels more quiet. I like the added safety features of the 05 also. I am going to wait until after the election before I take the dive into an 05 Escape. So far my two color choices would be the silver or the darker silver..
I'm a bit leery of plans where you aren't paying for each and every service, after hearing how Firestone allegedly did not actually perform alignments for people bought, and tried to use, their Lifetime Alignment package. (They took the car in and said they did an alignment without actually doing it, according to consumer accounts.)
IMO the plan is worth the money if you don't like to do your own basic maintenance. Otherwise save your money and spend it on something else.
As for Ford service, I've never had any problems with any dealer's service dept. Well, one refused to do warranty work because we didn't buy there but Ford's help line fixed that problem with great speed. Otherwise they've all been courteous, prompt, and got the job done right. As always, YMMV.
Prepaid Maintenance Plans
Steve, Host
I have an 01 Escape 4WD V6 XLT. Owned this since new and it has been wonderful. Use it to tow my two watercraft, find my fishing spots in the Cascade range too! And.. since I live so close to the Cascade range.... MT Hood, Rainer, ST Helens.. visit the skii slopes..
Handles fine, never been stuck. Am however waiting for the Continentals to wear so I can get some nicer tires....
Escape is known for its great handling. My V6 averages about 21.7MPG between city and freeway driving. On long trips traveling at speeds of 70-75 I have averaged about 24.. V6 is a kick to drive. Plenty of hauling/towing power along with passing power..
I own an 01 Escape XLT V6 4WD and it has been a great vehicle. I am however very stringent on my vehicle maintenace and preventative maintenance. oil changed every 3k, transmission flushed at 25K, radiator flush every 2 years ect....
Good luck!