2o6 Driving impressions - flip cars

[2o6]

I think this would be an interesting thing to talk about - I kind of don't really talk too much about the cars I flip, aside from the mechanics. I think this is an interesting place to do quick style reviews about some of the cars I've driven/owned.


(Combined into one)

2001 Mazda Tribute V6 FWD, purchased early January, sold early March

2004 Ford Escape V6 4x4 Limited, purchased late Feb, sold Mid March






+ I see why so many people bought these things when new. The V6 models are faster than the 4cyl only RAV4 and other Asian small SUV's of this era whilst only being marginally worse on gas.

+ It feels a lot more truck-y in ride, handling, and overall demeanor. For someone who'd like a "truck" to act like a "truck" I can see its appeal over the CR-V, which drives like a Honda Civic with big shocks.

+ It can tow worth a damn in this trim (3500lbs!)

+ Good interior room

+ Ground clearance is also really good

+ The 3.0L V6 has a lot of torque and despite the trans having only four gears, it seems well matched. The car never feels out taxed

+ I think the 2001 - 2004 cars are actually 4WD, not AWD (I think). There's no center diff, and you can lock the rear (sort of)


- The driving position is weird, to the point any emergency maneuver may actually make this car tip over

- Plastic quality and gap quality isn't as nice as the Honda/Toyota


Honestly, out of all the cars, I like these SUVs a lot. A hell of a lot more than the Saturn VUE I got in October.

[FoMoJo]

We've had 2 Escapes, the first one is a 2001 AWD 3.0 V6, the 2nd one is a 2009 FWD 2.5 I4. We owned them both until last year when I sold the '01 to a local car flipper.

My impressions are very positive for the most part.

The '01:

Especially impressed with the drive line, the 3.0 Duratec perform faultlessly with only 1 coil pack needing replacement beyond the normal maintenance.  Even after 270,000 kilometers, it did not noticably consume any oil.  However, I did have to replace the front and rear sway bar links as well as the front control arms; specifically because the ball joints were starting to wear.  I replaced the battery after 13 years, but what impressed me most was the only light I had to replace was the front left turn signal bulb.  Every other light in the vehicle continued to work throughout the entire 15 years that I owned it. 

The '09, my wife's car:

As reliable as the '01, but suspension pieces seemed more durable.  Never had to fix anything on it and the 6 speed auto worked well with the 2.5 (Mazda) engine.  The handling seemed a bit improved over the '01 and remained unchanged over the 8 years that we drove it.  The only complaint is the noisy hydraulic lash adjusters (a Mazda complaint), but it never effected the performance.  Still going strong afteer 210,000 kilometers. We gave it to our daughter a couple of months ago when we bought our new car.

I would mention that I maintained both of them vigorously in respect to fluids, filters, etc.

I would also mention that we still use the original Michelins that it came with; although we swapped them with Hankook snow tires each winter.

[2o6]

Yeah, these 3.0L Duratec engines are really nice. I liked driving the Tribute for two months, since I drove it as my "real car" when I sold the Yaris and before I bought the Sonic.


I liked it more than the CR-V I had, too.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Yea, they drive well enough and have plenty of power. Kinda sportsy, even.

[giant_mtb]

They do feel tippy.  Oddly enough, the new ones feel weirdly tippy as well. 

Also don't understand Ford's use of the stupid MPG gauge that doesn't give you any actual figures, just a down and up arrow with blocks in between. 

Other than that, I haven't hated the handful I've driven over the years. They're perfectly adequate for what they are. Certainly a bit Fisher Price on the inside, but not a horrible design at least.

[12,000 RPM]

They use them as cabs in NYC, for whatever that's worth. I hated them because with the partition they really killed rear leg room. Pretty cramped. The current ones are right sized.

I do prefer the butch styling of the old ones though. I hope for the next gen they crib more of the Explorer's looks. Current one screams "driver is a wine swilling millennial mom"

[FoMoJo]

They use them as cabs in NYC, for whatever that's worth. I hated them because with the partition they really killed rear leg room. Pretty cramped. The current ones are right sized.

I do prefer the butch styling of the old ones though. I hope for the next gen they crib more of the Explorer's looks. Current one screams "driver is a wine swilling millennial mom"

The NYC cabs were hybrids.  I recall Ford wanted to test the hybrid drive line and a bunch of them ended up as NYC cabs.  Noticed a bunch of them when we were there on a couple of occasions.  Some must have a hell-of-a-lot of miles on them by now.  Don't like the goofy looking Nissans they chose as the standard Yellow cab.

[FoMoJo]

They do feel tippy.  Oddly enough, the new ones feel weirdly tippy as well. 

Also don't understand Ford's use of the stupid MPG gauge that doesn't give you any actual figures, just a down and up arrow with blocks in between. 

Other than that, I haven't hated the handful I've driven over the years. They're perfectly adequate for what they are. Certainly a bit Fisher Price on the inside, but not a horrible design at least.

Never felt tippy in either of the Escapes we owned.  Matter of perception, I suppose.

[Laconian]

I loved my mom's '01 Tribute V6. The engine sounds nice and pulls pretty hard. The fuel economy was bad though, about 20mpg combined.

[MrH]

Ergonomics in those were terrible.  Used to carpool with my friend who had a V6 escape.  My knees touched the dash no matter how far back the seat was.  It was like they put the dash too low in the vehicle so my knees completely missed the contour of it.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

They use them as cabs in NYC, for whatever that's worth. I hated them because with the partition they really killed rear leg room. Pretty cramped. The current ones are right sized.

I do prefer the butch styling of the old ones though. I hope for the next gen they crib more of the Explorer's looks. Current one screams "driver is a wine swilling millennial mom"

Same here! I was eyeballing them before I brought the CSV last fall.

[Tave]

An ex of mine had the first gen Escape and I second Mr.H's complaints--the dash was in the wrong spot and actually pretty painful for tall knees if you hit a bad bump.

My dad had the third gen for a hot minute (seafoam green, ugly as sin, didn't last two years). You still sat really high but the ergo issues were fixed. I kinda liked the AWD in that and did 400ish miles in terrible weather. It handled like a champ on both the wet and dry.

[2o6]

The back seat in the new Escape is too low to the ground.

[FoMoJo]

Don't like the styling of the Current Escape.  It's like they sold out to the import crowd and missed the mark.

[Tave]

It's got stadium seating!!

[Eye of the Tiger]

Versa has a larger back seat 

[MrH]

The back seat in the new Escape is too low to the ground.

Psssh. That's nothing. Try spending a few hours in the back seat of an element. Tons and tons of legroom in front of you. Great head room. But you're basically sitting on the ground. Ass cheeks ache after like 30 minutes. Just awful.

[12,000 RPM]

Don't like the styling of the Current Escape.  It's like they sold out to the import crowd and missed the mark.

Yea you hit the nail on the head. Store brand Astons and Range Rovers? Sure. Store brand RAV4s? Why? A $25K Range Rover Sport would be pretty sweet.

[MX793]

Psssh. That's nothing. Try spending a few hours in the back seat of an element. Tons and tons of legroom in front of you. Great head room. But you're basically sitting on the ground. Ass cheeks ache after like 30 minutes. Just awful.

That's a pretty good position for a bowel movement, though.  Perhaps the seats should have doubled as portable toilets....

[MrH]

That's a pretty good position for a bowel movement, though.  Perhaps the seats should have doubled as portable toilets....

We have a pooping bathroom equipped with a squatty potty. I'm very familiar with the stance. And you're right, the element wasn't too far off.

[Soup DeVille]

The back seat in the new Escape is too low to the ground.

Back seats are for kids anyways, so...

[Raza]

Back seats are for kids anyways, so...

The storage, transport, and creation of.

[CaminoRacer]

I love the 2017 Escape. I want my parents to replace their Mazda6 with one

[MrH]

I hate the interiors of the new ones. So black and plasticky.

I had an ecoboost edge as a rental. That was a pretty nice little crossover.

[Cookie Monster]

Don't like the styling of the Current Escape.  It's like they sold out to the import crowd and missed the mark.

Funny, I was behind two Escapes yesterday, one which was the previous gen and a current Escape. I had the same exact thought.

[Laconian]

I hate the interiors of the new ones. So black and plasticky.

I had an ecoboost edge as a rental. That was a pretty nice little crossover.

Little...? The Edge is huge!

[2o6]

Funny, I was behind two Escapes yesterday, one which was the previous gen and a current Escape. I had the same exact thought.

Sales are still strong. I'm indifferent to either one.

[2o6]

2004 Cadillac CTS 3.6L

Purchased Mid April 2016, and sold around Early July 2016.



+ I still like this design a lot. It still has held up well, and I think edgier designs are the way to go for luxury cars.

+ The steering is both Cadillac familiar, but still precise.

+ GM really does well with automatic transmissions, this car shifts smoothly and confidently.

+ It's interesting how the 3.6L "HIGH FEATURE" engine changes character depending on what it's in or which variant is used. In the FWD applications, like the Traverse and other LAMBDA crossovers, it feels borderline inappropriate in regards to how late the power/torque comes in the car. In this car, partially because of gearing and weight, the 3.6L feels a lot more free and easier. I prefer it to most BMW I6 cars.

+ The leather has a distinct GM Cadillac smell that channels my childhood.

+ Ride was compliant, but handling was still very good. It rode better than a 3 series, and felt more comfortable than a C-class, without being wafty and insubstantial like a Lexus ES.

+ automatic shifter has great weight and good feel

- Although fit and finish was better than anything GM was making at the time (Step inside an 04 Cavalier or any of the GM N-body cars), material quality was honestly about on the same level as a VW Jetta

- The 2.8L and whatever other engine that isn't the 3.6L is refried garbage

- Some of the interior design choices are stupid (THERE ARE A LOT OF BUTTONS)

- Some of the controls are kind of cryptic (Sunroof control)

- This car held up far worse than practically any other small luxury car of the day, except maybe the X-type. X-types are garbage.

[giant_mtb]

Whoever decided these HVAC vents were a good idea has never cleaned a vent. Can't stand these pieces of shit.

[ifcar]

Whoever decided these HVAC vents were a good idea has never cleaned a vent. Can't stand these pieces of shit.

At least they're super stylish. Oh wait.