OT: Anybody own a FORD?

#21

Ohhhh, you have the Escape. Is it the hybrid or the ‘regular’ one? How’s the gas mileage? Currently my hubby drives 100 miles a day so its kind of an issue at the moment.

We’re leaning towards the Escape, but I brought up the idea of either the Explorer or the minivan. Can the Escape fit 2 large sized dogs?? I’m talking German Shepherd sized dog. My Bailey is a tad smaller but once we get our new dog (GSRescue of course) :wink: we’ll need the space. Do the seats fold all the way down so its flat in the back?? I just figured the minivan would be more practical. I really have no clue, obviously. :rollseyes:

#22

I have the regular Escape - the hybrid was $5K more and the mileage was not impression IMO.

Mileage is about 24 city/29 hwy - not bad at all for an SUV.

I’ve fit 2 dogs in there before - a medium lab & a large golden and they seemed comfortable :roflhard:

The seats do not fold FLAT, but pretty close. My dogs just laid there anyways and didn’t have a problem.

#23

I also vote for Ford - I’ve had three cars in my life and all of them have been Fords with limited problems. I had a 96 Escort, 98 Mustang and now have a 02 Explorer. Gas milage on the Explorer sucks (about 300 miles city & highway on a 22.5 gallon tank) but the car runs great. The back panel under the window is cracked and this is fairly common, but that is just astetic. My DH has a 99 F-150 and loves it - he woud have a Ford truck forever if he could.

#24

SandraEllen, I missed your post earlier! Sorry 'bout that. So you like the Escape? After hubby and I have talked (I ranted quite a bit :wink: ) tonight it looks like he’s leaning more towards this one. And he doesn’t want the hybrid either. So it may be this one, we shall see…

We have had 2 GM cars and a Saab. Its an oldy but it is running like a champ! Almost 200,000 miles on her. And talk about horrible gas mileage! She only goes to the grocery store and the park with the pup.

The other sucky thing about this ‘new car crap’ is the property tax on it. I can’t even imagine how much that is going to cost. Ugh, I really hate Connecticut. :evil: (insert profanity here)

#25

I would be suspicious of any employer who requires you to go into debt in order to hire you. Personally, I’m a Toyota person.

#26

Ecuzzacrea, you are lucky if you are getting 24/29mpg. i drive surface streets on my way to work, but i average about 18 mpg. i have a 2003, but the window sticker claimed 18 city/23hwy. That was pretty accurate.

Any my seats fold flat. completely flat. we had to figure out how to do it (pulling out the headrests, then flipping up the bottom of the seat, then flipping down the back of the seat), but it’s totally flat.

I used to have a chevy cavalier and i feel a bit spoiled by my escape.

#27

puts on the automotive employee hat

having worked in the automotive industry for many years, here’s MHO:

asking someone what car make is best is like asking what someone’s favorite color is. Every make will have their fans and people who hate them. There are people that love Ford and people that hate them. They’ve had recalls, sure- Everyone has. The Focus definatly had more than it’s share at first, but there are people here that love them and would buy another one in a heartbeat.

10 years ago Honda and Toyota DID outdo the American makes- the quality was much better. The feel of the car, how they lasted…Now, they really aren’t much better. Seriously. Right now the 06 Camry has one recall for misprinted tire info labels (proper inflation) and the 06 Escape has one recall out for a wiper motor. It’s not like the Toyota has one and the Ford has 492018340.

My one complaint with Ford is their lack of foward design in a lot of their new cars. I really think the Five-Hundred looks like a Passat knock-off. But, that’s what you get for hiring a former VW designer… I don’t mind the Fusion, though. I HATE the Freestar- it’s a totally new van from the Windstar from the ground up, but IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE WINDSTAR. GAA!!

So, basically if you’re worried about the quality and safety of the Ford, don’t be. You might be bored out of you mind with a white minivan, but you’ll be safe. Unless you get the one with the powered liftgate (it might fall on you randomly). :wink:

Recall list:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm

I assume hubby’s job has a contract with Ford? If they’re reimbursing him for the payment and are repairing the vehicles themselves… Hey, it’s a tax deduction if he has to buy it for work… :slight_smile:

[size=1]
I’ve been in my job too long.[/size] :lol:

goes back to her knitting

#28

Sandra,

I know the mileage because I’ve tracked it since I got the truck in October.

I take my headrests off and I don’t think the seats go completely flat like other SUVs that I’ve been in. I guess that’s just my opinion though. I’m positive I’m doing it correctly though. :wink:

Ecuzzacrea, you are lucky if you are getting 24/29mpg. i drive surface streets on my way to work, but i average about 18 mpg. i have a 2003, but the window sticker claimed 18 city/23hwy. That was pretty accurate.

Any my seats fold flat. completely flat. we had to figure out how to do it (pulling out the headrests, then flipping up the bottom of the seat, then flipping down the back of the seat), but it’s totally flat.

I used to have a chevy cavalier and i feel a bit spoiled by my escape.[/quote]

#29

I have never nor has my family ever owned a ford. That’s why I am asking this question. I know its a crap shoot on any car we buy, and seeing as I have no experience with that type of car I just figured asking around wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate all of your help. (so does hubby :wink: )

:sunny:

#30

I have never nor has my family ever owned a ford. That’s why I am asking this question. I know its a crap shoot on any car we buy, and seeing as I have no experience with that type of car I just figured asking around wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate all of your help. (so does hubby :wink: )

:sunny:[/quote]

I know- I’m just sayin’…:slight_smile:

My grandfathers on both sides LOVED Fords, my parents made an effort to not buy Fords but their sibs are about 50/50.

I’ve really not seen anyone I know or at work have any huge issues with Fords on the whole.

#31

I have a 2000 ford explorer that exboyfriend talked me into buying, NEW, (was I ever stupid or what)…plus side is I have over 100k miles on it, and it seems to still be running. Negative side is its rusting like crazy and has been for at least the last two years - and now its getting really bad. Also negative, the gas milage sucks beyond all belief. Final negative, it tends to devour brakes and tires. I am almost through my second set of brakes.

Would I buy another one? Nope, doubt it. Should have gone with what I wanted, which was a gently used Blazer.

#32

:thumbsup: Wow, 100,000 and still goin’ that’s great.

This seems to be quite the consensus. I wonder what the connection is between ford and their tires? :thinking: Do you get the same ones from the same place? I wish I new more about cars, but alas I do not. Such is life. That is why I come to you wonderful folks… :heart:

My hubby goes through tires a lot too, but he drives 100 miles a day. I’m sure that has a little something to do with it. :wink:

#33

it’s the tires, not the vehicle. :slight_smile:

#34

:?? We have a Ford Escape and are on our 4th Honda Accord. All bought new and I have a perfectly good full size brain. :rollseyes:

:lol:

#35

:?? We have a Ford Escape and are on our 4th Honda Accord. All bought new and I have a perfectly good full size brain. :rollseyes:

:lol:[/quote]

Sorry Jan, I meant no offense by that statement. :blush: I just meant that when you by a new car and drive it off the lot the value of the car goes down quite a bit. And by buying a used car you are getting pretty much what you pay for.

Does that make sense?? I really didn’t mean to offend anyone. :heart: :heart:

#36

Not the tires, in my case. Explorers are notoriously hard on tires and brakes, and this is according to the dealer, not the place where I bought my replacement tires. Something about their suspension. My first tires were replaced at 20k but that is because I bought it knowing that the tires were already recalled…so that was a positive thing - they were barely worn. Next set was purchased at 75k, and they are fine. Brakes are bigger issue than the tires.

That said, I am at 113k so it could be worse.

With respect to buying cars new vs. gently used…the IDEAL situation is if you can buy a car with minimal miles - ex hubby used to work at GM and we could pick up exec pre-driven vehicles for such a good price. Sigh…But it is also hard to find reliable used cars if you are a single such as myself :shock:

#37

I have a Ford Escape and really like it–no major problems with it; only maintenance (tires, brakes). I also had a Ford Festiva (my very first car and I bought it all by myself way back when I was a youngster! :wink: ) and never had any problems with it either–just maintenance (tires, brakes) and BOY did that thing get GREAT gas mileage (I miss it these days!).

I’ve heard stories about all the domestic car companies out there, good and bad; I’m not really sure if one is truly better than another. Some people have had nothing but problems with GM, others rave about them; same goes for Ford. I think it depends on what you’re looking for and of course, what you can afford. Good luck with your husband’s job search and with buying a new car…you have so much on your plate right now. :heart:

#38

With respect to the maintenance (tire and brakes) - I have always made sure that I had my tires rotated every 10k - that is why I am really only on the second set of tires - i have the brakes checked each time too (last car I didnt and lets just say it ended up being a costly maintenance item when it caught up to me).

The worst thing with the explorer is the gas milage. Ugh. Best thing is the size. Trade off.

#1 son has an Escort with 87k on it. No real problems there. (although yesterday it started acting very sickly). We bought it for 4k so you get what you paid for.

Good luck - its hard being forced to buy a certain kind of vehicle :)…if I were to get a Ford today I would get an Escape, I would have it rustproofed AND oil treated annually.

#39

I own 4 Fords !! A 1967 Couger, 2002 Focus, 1995 Thunderbird, and a 1990 Thunderbird !!! I love them all. I wasn’t raised against Chevy or any other car companies out there, but I have had really good experiences with Ford. My Couger was the 1st car I ever had and it still runs !!! It was given to me by my great-grandma when I was 17. This is also the car I got my liscence with. I tell you what … going from a car that doesn’t have power breaks and power stearing to cars that do took me forever to get used to lol !!!

#40

I think it’s funny that some families do raise their children to be for or against certain cars - we had a grandfather (who was an auto mechanic and owner of a wrecking yard) who basically felt it was Chevrolet or NOTHING. I have no idea why he felt that way, plus he died in 1989, so I don’t know what he’d think of current Chevrolets… it’s probably just as well he wasn’t around to know my parents bought a Taurus in 1990 with some of the money he left them… :rollseyes: