Looking for a bigger vehicle.

I am good on maintence. I do it all.

I have a ranger with 300k on the original motor and trans as far as I know.

 

Haha Yea I remember reading that story!

 

MasterMech these vintage of engines are the ones with the breaking and blowing out spark plugs right?

But with regular change intervals its not a problem right?

 

Getting rid of the Toy Highlander but its a 2001 and worth around $5k. We have about $10k to spend. There is not really room for a payment regardless.

I know about bolts and nuts stripped. I have welded my share of nuts onto stripped bolts. I have broken a stud in the head of the Saturn when removing the manifold to replace the exhaust manifold gasket. got all new bolts to replace the studs as they were a bit scetchy.

Luckily the studs in the ranger were good but it has had a manifold replaced before. Needed new nuts though.

 

Yea pretty much most of them have the 5.4L it looks like.

We are a one income family now. Streached thin now...not as thin as when first married but pretty thin.

 

So what about suburbans you have issues with the Chevy engines then Dex? Those get about the same mileage as the expedition!!

 

I like the Excursions way better than the Expeditions. I am sure the fuel economy is a bit worse but they have a true truck frame and will pull as much as most well set up 3/4 ton truck.

I should have added my buddy has both an excursion and Exedition and has had coil pack issues with both of them.

 

Think of all the wood you could haul I that sucker! Of course getting it in e bed might be interesting

 

I have seen the bolts that hold the coil pack down break off down inside the spark plug hole so many times it isn't funny and they are a BEAR to get out!

 

I honestly don't see the point in SUVs unless you NEED 4WD or tow with it. They aren't all that big on the inside.

I opted for a Sienna minivan. Go ahead and snicker but it gets 24 MPG...has room everywhere...more so than my BILs expedition EL.

 

I have changed plugs in several mods. I have only seen 1 that the spark plug blew out of and some genius had changed the plugs the week before. I always use a torque wrench on the spark plugs. If you have a 3v mod break the plug loose and spray gum cutter down in the hole. Let it sit some then tighten and loosen the plug until you can get it out. The modular engines are know for their longevity.

 

(me too)








Ever use the 3rd row in a 'Burban? It sucks access wise compared to a van. Little kids, tons of gear, dogs.... van wins everywhere but snow and style. Our Sienna we opted for 2wd but if you need it they have AWD too. I avoided that based on the run flats and figured dedicated snow tires would be better than AWD with stock tires and keep the extra money in my pocket. Friends laugh, so do I, but the thing works, drives like a dream, and is extremely useful for a family or if you need to have 27 cupholders.