Explorer Thread!

[hotrodalex]

A healthy diet of milk and poptarts is the reason I'm the tallest in my family.

[BimmerM3]

I am 5'10", which I believe is the actual average height of American men. It's actually pretty nice to be the exact height that everything is designed around.

[BimmerM3]

Any reason I should consider a 2002 4Runner? I accidentally put the wrong year as my search limit and one popped up. Low miles and lighter than the 2003-2009, but a weaker engine (only 183hp/217lb-ft mated to a 4-speed) and still comes with the 4Runner mark-up. I'd be much better off with a newer Explorer, right?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=30363&endYear=2016&photosOnly=true&maxPrice=15000&showcaseListingId=0&pricesOnly=true&mmt=%5BTOYOTA%5B4RUN%5B%5DFJCRUIS%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&lastExec=1425740570000&vehicleStyleCodes=AWD4WD&modelCode1=4RUN&photosOnlyActual=true&sortBy=mileageASC&showcaseOwnerId=94609&makeCode1=TOYOTA&startYear=2002&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=200&listingId=394798776&Log=0



Also, I didn't get a chance to check out the FJ. That dealership seems to be completely disorganized. The first time I went by, I didn't call ahead or anything, and I spent twenty minutes waiting around so that they could tell me that another salesperson took the keys to church with him, even though the car was on the lot. So I talked to someone around 10:30 AM on Saturday to make sure they had the keys. They took my number and said they'd text me when they found the keys. Finally got a call (not a text as they said?) around 2:30 PM from a different woman who said she had "Great news!" and I should call her back (was driving - didn't answer), without leaving any details. Then I was hungover on Sunday from a wedding Saturday night so I didn't feel like driving up. Maybe if it's still around this weekend I'll try again.

[Lebowski]

3rd gen is the best looking 4runner IMO.

[BimmerM3]

3rd gen is the best looking 4runner IMO.

I agree, but it seems like that's really the only reason to consider it.

[Cookie Monster]

Oh god. My 4Runner with the 5 speed is barely adequate. It would be a complete dog with the auto. I know that the 2002 has 33 more hp than mine, but with a 4 speed you're not going anywhere, especially since it weighs more.

Lebowski's right though, the 3rd gen facelifted 4Runner is the best looking of the bunch (although I'm still more partial to the pre facelift 2nd gen).

[hotrodalex]

I like the 4th gen styling more than 3rd gen.

[GoCougs]

3rd gen are sweet but painfully slow plus they need a timing belt so unless the dealer provides a receipt/guarantee that it was changed you're gonna want to get it changed ($1,000+). 4th gen are far better vehicles.

[BimmerM3]

Oh god. My 4Runner with the 5 speed is barely adequate. It would be a complete dog with the auto. I know that the 2002 has 33 more hp than mine, but with a 4 speed you're not going anywhere, especially since it weighs more.

Lebowski's right though, the 3rd gen facelifted 4Runner is the best looking of the bunch (although I'm still more partial to the pre facelift 2nd gen).

3rd gen are sweet but painfully slow plus they need a timing belt so unless the dealer provides a receipt/guarantee that it was changed you're gonna want to get it changed ($1,000+). 4th gen are far better vehicles.

Cool, that's all I needed to hear.

[BimmerM3]

STRONG CANDIDATE LOCATED.

Fairly low miles. Local. In my price range. Dirty at the moment, but the dealership just got it in. I will be visiting this dealership before the week is up, methinks.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=30363&endYear=2016&photosOnly=true&engineCode=8CLDR&maxPrice=13000&showcaseListingId=0&pricesOnly=true&mmt=%5BFORD%5BEXPLOR%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&lastExec=1425996340000&vehicleStyleCodes=AWD4WD&modelCode1=EXPLOR&photosOnlyActual=true&sortBy=mileageASC&showcaseOwnerId=50757774&startYear=2006&makeCode1=FORD&engineCodes=8CLDR&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=200&listingId=395025698&Log=0

[Laconian]

I think you need a Bimmer M3.

[BimmerM3]

I think you need a Bimmer M3.

lol - I think I first used this screen name when I was 15. My racecar driver/instructor uncle has one that I've always been fond of. I even drove it to my senior prom back in the day. If I hadn't fallen in love with convertibles, I'd probably have gotten an E46 M3 in lieu of the S2k. I even considered a Z4M roadster (same engine), but they were still a bit of our my price range at the time.

[MX793]

Why does there appear to be circles drawn around the passenger's corner of that Explorer?  Were they highlighting damage?

[SVT666]

STRONG CANDIDATE LOCATED.

Fairly low miles. Local. In my price range. Dirty at the moment, but the dealership just got it in. I will be visiting this dealership before the week is up, methinks.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=30363&endYear=2016&photosOnly=true&engineCode=8CLDR&maxPrice=13000&showcaseListingId=0&pricesOnly=true&mmt=%5BFORD%5BEXPLOR%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&lastExec=1425996340000&vehicleStyleCodes=AWD4WD&modelCode1=EXPLOR&photosOnlyActual=true&sortBy=mileageASC&showcaseOwnerId=50757774&startYear=2006&makeCode1=FORD&engineCodes=8CLDR&maxMileage=150000&searchRadius=200&listingId=395025698&Log=0

That's pricey for a 9 year old Explorer.

[Rupert]

That's pricey for a 9 year old Explorer.

Thinking about it, mine was 10 years old when I got it, it had 45 kmiles more, and it was $3500. It needed a little bit, though, and this one is a much better vehicle by default.

[BimmerM3]

Why does there appear to be circles drawn around the passenger's corner of that Explorer?  Were they highlighting damage?

That's my guess. I don't mind - gives me an idea of where to look if I go check out the car.

That's pricey for a 9 year old Explorer.

It's pretty consistent with similar vehicles in the area, and not too much higher than the average of four different used car value sites. Plus it's a 1 owner vehicle that's always been serviced by a Ford dealership (according to the CarFax - free to view from the AutoTrader page).

KBB: 13,466 (11,906 - 15,025)
Edmunds: 9,506 (I've yet to find an 06 or newer Explorer V8 with under 100k miles in my area for less than 10k, so not sure what they're basing this on)
Cars.com "Black Book": 10,250
NADA: 11,750

Average: 11,243

[SVT666]

That's my guess. I don't mind - gives me an idea of where to look if I go check out the car.

It's pretty consistent with similar vehicles in the area, and not too much higher than the average of four different used car value sites. Plus it's a 1 owner vehicle that's always been serviced by a Ford dealership (according to the CarFax - free to view from the AutoTrader page).

KBB: 13,466 (11,906 - 15,025)
Edmunds: 9,506 (I've yet to find an 06 or newer Explorer V8 with under 100k miles in my area for less than 10k, so not sure what they're basing this on)
Cars.com "Black Book": 10,250
NADA: 11,750

Average: 11,243

Interesting.  I bought my Explorer XLT when it was 3 years old with just 35,000 miles on it for $18K.  This just seems high to me.

[BimmerM3]

Interesting.  I bought my Explorer XLT when it was 3 years old with just 35,000 miles on it for $18K.  This just seems high to me.

I think it's just that they're aren't many proper 4x4s that haven't had major reliability problems. This is still MUCH cheaper than comparable 4Runners are listed as, especially with a documented dealership service history, and is even less than the manual Xterra I drove a few weeks ago. There are auto Xterras out there with similar mileage going for less, but those fall into the "have had major reliability problems" category.

The V6s tend to be a grand or two cheaper, but I drove a V6 and either the engine was too weak or the transmission timing was horrible, and the gas mileage was only marginally better.

I also haven't been keeping an eye on the used market as a whole, but it's possible that the entire market has gone up.

[BimmerM3]

Finally got to test drive that Explorer. Drove well. Pretty clean interior (plus they hadn't finished detailing it yet). Heated leather seats, sunroof, built in navigation (which I could take or leave, but I like the big screen for the radio display), tow package, new tires. If it had the 3rd row, it'd be exactly the Explorer I want, but that's much more of a want than a need. It also has the cleanest CarFax report I've ever seen for a car that age - single owner, no incidents of any kind, and always maintained at a Ford dealership.

The best offer they gave me was just under $12,700 out the door. That makes the price before taxes and fees right around $11,200, which I think is pretty good based on other listings in the area. I'm gonna sleep on it before making a final decision, but I think I'm gonna get it checked out by my mechanic tomorrow and as long as there aren't any major issues, go ahead and pull the trigger.

[SVT666]

Sounds great.

[hotrodalex]

Cool

[Rupert]

Not bad indeed.

[BimmerM3]

NEW TIRE TIME.

I'm thinking I will BLIZZAKS on the current wheels for winter. Then come spring time, get a set of A/Ts on new wheels.

I was kind of hoping to keep the current tires for road trips just because they're basically brand new, but to make that even a little practical, I'd have to either swap them out with the BLIZZAKS every season or get a third set of wheels, which just seems silly.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What increases the expense is adding TPMS sensors to every set of wheels

For winter wheels, it can be a good idea to get a more narrow wheel and tire set, especially if you currently have relatively wide/sporty size on a lightweight vehicle.

[BimmerM3]

What increases the expense is adding TPMS sensors to every set of wheels

For winter wheels, it can be a good idea to get a more narrow wheel and tire set, especially if you currently have relatively wide/sporty size on a lightweight vehicle.

The stock size is 235/65R18, and Explorer isn't exactly lightweight. Should I go narrower?

And yeah, TPMS is part of the reason I don't want to get new wheels yet. I don't quite have that much $$$ in my car stuff fund. But by spring I should be able to save plenty for tires + wheels including TPMS.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The stock size is 235/65R18, and Explorer isn't exactly lightweight. Should I go narrower?

And yeah, TPMS is part of the reason I don't want to get new wheels yet. I don't quite have that much $$$ in my car stuff fund. But by spring I should be able to save plenty for tires + wheels including TPMS.

That size is probably fine, but you could see what other sploder guys do on their forum

[BimmerM3]

Explorer's rear seats don't quite fold flat, so I'm going to build a platform so that I can sleep in the back of the Explorer for camping and road tripping.

The idea is to build it in two separate pieces - one for the entire width of the trunk area that I'll be able to leave in the car and still be able to use the full back seat. The second piece will go over the middle and passenger-side rear seats when they're folded to complete the sleeping platform, with a little bit of storage underneath too. The driver-side rear seat will still be unobstructed so that I can choose to use it as extra storage or just as a place to sit - it's quite roomy with the front seat all the way up, which I've conveniently set as the 2nd saved seat position.

The platform will be ~6" high in the trunk area to give a little room for storage underneath. I'm just going to use a plastic bin or two for storage, so no fancy built in drawers or anything. The other piece will be a little trickier since I'll probably need to build the front end to be supported by the rear floor instead of the back of the seat, but I'm not actually worried about that.

Anyway, I want to cover the platforms in some sort of fabric that's relatively close to the stock tan trunk carpet, to give it a cleaner look and to help cut down on rubbing and vibration against the interior. Any idea on where I could find that type of fabric?

[giant_mtb]

Search "trunk fabric" in Google or on Amazon.  Plenty of options, but didn't see a tan option in a brief search, just blacks and grays.

[CaminoRacer]

Either Jo Ann Fabric, ebay, or google tan automotive carpet. Speaker cabinet carpet may work too. I've ordered some from Parts Express, but I think they only have black/gray.

[BimmerM3]

I'll use gray if I have to but it'd be nice if it were relatively stock looking.

Should I build the frame out of 2x4s or just pieces of plywood? 2x4s would leave bigger gaps front to back, but would be wider left to right.