So far I have encountered only 2 things that concern me. Vibration at 70mph. I don't know if it is Tires or Brake system causing the problem. I plan to purchase 4 new tires, balance and have alignment done. Also averaged only 14.3 MPG on freeway trip to SF Bay Area and back. Plan to tune up V8 engine, replace spark plug wires and add octane boost to gasoline and see what happens.
This is really not fair to you other owners who have had the SUV for a long time and can relay experiences; But I love the truck! I have read the reviews and found 50/50, some love the truck, some hate the truck. Since I purchased USED and only drove one long road trip, I felt I should relay my initial impressions to possible buyers of this SUV. Just Buy the thing! My God, it is far better than any GM product, and why settle for an Explorer. Go out there and look GOOD! Buy a Durango!!
It's true that the Durango is way better than an explorer, but seriously, get a GM truck. A Tahoe or Suburban gets the same gas mileage and makes more power, so you can tow and haul bigger loads without overheating your transmission. Not to mention, Tahoes and Suburbans have much better resale value than Durangos.
I was also recently in the market for a used SUV to replace my aging Dodge truck. I wanted something built on a truck frame, with an actual 2-speed transfer case.
I considered the Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Durango, Chevy Tahoe, and lastly the Ford Explorer.
The interest in the Wrangler is obvious, because they are synonymous with 4x4, but in the end I decided that a subcompact 4x4 convertible wasn't what I was looking for.
The Chevy Tahoe is just too expensive.
Being a long-time Mopar fan for decades, my initial choice was the Durango, but the reports of bad ball joints, seized engines, and failed transmissions were just too numerous to ignore.
I finally went with the Explorer (a 2002 Sport), and am very pleased with it so far, with the caveat that I realize it is not the off-road 4x4 that my old truck was, or that the Wrangler is.
Their reputation as a yuppie-mobile at first turned me off, but on the positive side I decided that would at least mean that a used model would not have been abused off road.
It is more comfortable and roomier than the Wrangler, and you could actually haul something if you had to. Not to mention, it gets better mileage, which I'll be thankful for this summer.
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