Looking for a bigger vehicle.

Yea as much as I hate to say it my wifes mini van is roomy.

 

I know the fords have the plug n coil issue.

So what is the real deal. It sounds as if this can be reoccurring issue? How come it comes backonce a new coil is instAlled? Or does that fix it. Every other coil pack (multi ones) that I deal with you have one thats weak or shorting, you replace it and are good is that not the case here.

I like excursions too. Has the straight axle but that independent rear on an expedition allows the flat rear unlike a tahoe which a person over about 5'10" won't be able to sit in.

I thought about a minivan. But with the expedition I can two my boat in summer its only like 3500lb which I am sure a minivan can pull. But with it I will also pull the 16ft trailer with my tractor home from farm more often. Which depending upon what's on it will weigh 5000 plus or minus. Can a minivan pull that? If so I bet it would be a white knuckle ride? This is a serious question I dont know their tow ratings.

Many of these vehicles have between 100,000-150,000 miles.

And for the record this 01 Toy Highlander when we bought it 5 years ago was the newest vehicle I have owned. I think everything else I have had has been 12 years old or older.

 

3500 tops on a minivan. Mine tows up to 3000 pretty good...better than I thought it could.

 

I have a 99 f350... Best vehicle I have ever owned.

The coils starting going bad around 55k miles. It got to the point where I'd keep a spare coil and in the glove box. When the tell tale shudder started happening I would pull over, read the code and replace the coil. Takes a grand total of maybe 10 minutes per coil. I replaced all 10 by 80k miles. The first replacement just went bad after 100k more miles. They cost $50 at advance and have a lifetime warranty.

On the v10 at least you can replace all the coils without removing anything else, just one easy to access bolt and on wire to remove,

I replaced the plugs and have had no blow outs --- torque wrench.

One side of the engine the manifold gasket and header studs looks brand new. The other side has two or three rusted off studs but it's not leaking so I've left it alone.

I'd buy another one.

 

Yea I have read that some had notices the water from the cowl or hood were leaking causing those to repeadidly go out.

The models I am looking at have been 04/05 so they were the independent. Didnt realize the year swap thats something else to look out for. I like a solid rear better esp for towing but I really dont two heavy stuff that often. The most common thing will be a 4x8 trailer that I show pictured here All the time. ThAt truck won't know thats even back there.

 

Real trucks have a solid front axle.

 

And I have one of those. A 1980 K10. Were not talking about that

 

Just buy a mini van. SUV's are a compromise (an expensive one at that)

 

So thats why I see better mpg listed from 04/05 they are 12/16 and 13/17 for the 04/05 respectively mist of been when they went 3V?

 

Wife wont drive a van she hates them. I would. But her car...happy wife...

And that REAL truck I has uses a real amount of gas ! An expidition is 50% better on fuel. SUV are way cheaper than trucks for some reason? But are way more all round than a van.

 

The 05 has better mpg listed than the 04. I was assuming that was the year the 3V 5.4 was started? The 03/04 have the same mpg listed the 05 and up does better.

 

Clem I'd honestly steer her towards a minivan (been trying to get my BIL on board for my sister that's in a similar situation)
Any of the Ford full size SUV's from this vintage will have 125-175k for the price range and are going to nickel and dime you into submission.
If she's stuck on an full size
Go look for a Tahoe/Suburban under < 150k - that has never had anything in the receiver - it'll roll to 220k+ before the tranny needs overhaul(without coils consuming your weekends)....
if you think it's easy swap out on the coils - it is, but knowing which one is misfiring will require something beyond OBDII diagnostic - for the specific cylinder

 

Why will OBDII not tell you what cylinder? You get a cylinder miss fire code?

There is one on a local lot in my price range with 100k on it. Talking expedition here.

I would hope a Chevy would go more than 220kwithout tranny service!!! Thats no miles these days!

I would drive a mini. She WONT!!! I briught it up tonight. She said she will sit with bags in her lap in the TOY before she drives a minivan.

I hunt and tow my atv like crazy behind a van. I had a fors tempo for a first car. I hunted out that thing and fished too. As far as i know it was still running a few years ago with over 300k on the original motor. Was a 1985.

 

Your right Dex. I put more country or hwy miles on them. But Yea 220000 miles of potholes, ideling, stop n go. Turn on turn off get in get out. Thats a lot more wear n tear than I put on one. That will wear out some stuff that hwy miles won't do.

Like a mechanic buddy told me tonight. One with maintence done your good, dont worry about plugs. One that they just drove it and never did anything too...