Ford escape
 

Its almost time for a new vehicle and with a little parasite on the way I cant buy any more bikes for a while :lol: and the mrs seems to kinda like the escape. I was wondering what some of you guys thought about it or what expierences you have had since I havent started researching it yet.

My mom has an early 2000'ish and it is TERRIBLE!!! LOUD road noise, concrete seats, NO FUCKING CRUISE CONTROL!!!! HAHAHA, rotting rubber parts, CD player buttons stop working, faded ass ANY ext plastic, semi-rough hard engaging tranny, "hard" plastic everywhere interior.

The only thing going for it is the V6 is peppy and it has one of the smoothest gear column shifters.

I bought 2 fords in my life and wont buy another one

We rented one in 05 and it was one of the worst vehicles I have ever been in. Loud, rides like shit, loud.

I own a 2010 Flex btw.

Hyundai Tuscon, Toyota RAV 4, KIA Sportage which is made over Tuscon, Honda Pilot/CRV, Subaru Outback, All before Escape

I will say KIA is kicking ass in the looks department. I've never own or driven one but their vehicles started looking good when GM got them.

Like catalytic converters?
They used to be a weak point on the escape.
They are not the worst vehicle in the world but there are better alternatives. Unless it's a cheap base version with the stick.....and it's used.
I'd try other trucklets or consider an actual family car.
What's your price range? You looking new or used?

GF's parents have one and it seems pretty solid. Well over 100k on it and the only issues they've had is some front end parts.
They get decent mileage (low 20's).
The ride is not spectacular, but ok if you are looking in that class of vehicle.

I have the Mazda Tribute (Same as the Escape but has painted lower panels on the exterior and the interior is a bit different.) and we like it. I wanted an Escape but there wasn't one that went through the auction that day. I had my dealers license would buy what I got a good deal on. I almost bought a Explorer but the dealer that put it in was asking $500-1000 more then I want to spend. The guy running that lane at the auction tried hard but I wasn't moving.

Anyway the Tribute/Escape are not bad. Mine is a V6 AWD model. With 4 winters on it you have a hard time getting stuck. This was my first vehicle with heated mirrors and its something that I will try to find on any vehicle I replace it with.

Take one for a test drive and see what you think.

James

I wouldn't get the Tuscon or Sportage myself. The Rav 4 is ok but I didn't love the ones I drove. Pilot I would put near the top of your list. CRV I'm not a huge fan of but would take it over the Kia and Hyundai. The Outback I would possibly look at.

There were two vehicles I was looking at during that auction. One was the Tribute and the other was a Subaru Legacy. The only reason I didn't get the Subaru was the engine had an odd sound and I couldn't remember if that was a Subaru thing or if this one was rough so I walked on that one.

James

She/we currently have a santa fe, its slightly bigger than the tuscon. I dont care for it that much. Very underpowered and the brakes suck, but it has done well lugging one or 2 bikes all over the east coast for track duty. She paid for that one on her own and she didnt have much for money so I am thinking we upgrade a bit in hoping that i can afford something a little better now.

My wife has the Dodge Journey. I like it but on get the RT model. I know RT minivan crossover, seems like an oxymoron. but its get a better engine and way better interior options than the other models. has lots of great room and is pretty damn good on gas. plus the rt model comes with a kick ass stereo with navigation

Drove one both as a rental and test drove one when I was looking at SUVs... never. No freakin' way. Rides like a truck but has the capability of a car. Loud, hard seats, weird bits poking out consoles at funny angles... I too will take the KIA over the Escape.

I would test drive it yourself. And not a rental. Most a base models. Take a day and go test drive that and any other that catches your eye.

As far as the drives like a truck. Its an suv. I don't think mine frives all that bad. But I also like trucks. If you want something that drives like a car you buy a car.

James

Which Kia?

James

Ford Taurus, AWD or 2wd
3.0 or 3.5
Cheap, huge and under appreciated.

When little feet are kicking at the back of you chair as you drive, you'll appreciate the room the Taurus has. Trunk is huge.

It will be a hell of a lot better than driving in an Escape.

nissan murano. We just took one out to Boston and back. 1400 miles each way. With 3 people, we were more than comfortable, the ride is smooth, and the engine has plenty of power. And they look better than most SUVs, imo.

i also vote no on the Escape. i rented one this year, and it was not impressive. the interior was cheap and the engine was cheaper. granted, as Flexin said, it was probably a very basic model, but i can't see how upgrading a few options would make it tolerable.

Sorento is probably going to be my next vehicle when my Optima dies (though depending on how long my Optima lasts I may just replace it with another)


just what are you implying? :lol:

:lol:

might as well get a minivan, you're gonna have more then 1................kekeke

make sure a baby seat will fit in there backwards w/ you and her in your driving position.

Good point about the car seat. But it should be in the center or on the passenger side anyway. But its a good idea to test out the suvs with both of you sitting in the front seats to see what you have for rear car seat and leg room. Also look in the rear. A full size stroller takes up a lot of space so if you know anyone that has one take that with you and put it in the back to see how much space it will take up.

In a short wheel base van a stroller can take up half of the available space if it will even fit without moving the rear seat. In a long wheel base one you have all kinds of room. Check out those things and you will save yourself a headache later.

James

Tom..you live on the Island now. No need to for awd or 4wd.

At the same price point you have the Kia and Hyundai lines which have a superior service culture and are IMHO better appointed
Oh and from my view point the added benefit of having not been made by the UAW.

ed here

and i made the other post too

i bet he ends up having more then 1 kid, in a short time, he'll have 2 car seats, while 1 maybe forward facing at the time 1 will be rear facing, i would bet putting the rear face in the middle and a ft facing right next to it won't work, so he'll have to put them behind the driver and passenger. then space will be an issue.

and babies take up alot of space.

Agreed, I never felt I needed all that anyway. my accord does better in the snow than the santa fe does anyway. I just want to make sure it has alittle oomph to it for the fewer track days i will be doing, and then for carrying all the "stuff" we will soon be accumulating. I still have the trailer too so maybe I can attatch the car seat to that for when he starts getting on my nerves. he will like the wind blowing through his hair. :lol:

prolly some time in late sept/early oct we will start test riding a few and get a feel for prices and whats there for financing then maybe pull the trigger on something.

Your forgetting I have two myself. If you have one they say middle is best (but I haven't seen a car that had a seat design that works perfect with a car seat in that location) so in that case they say put the one child on the curb side.

I also remember them saying that the youngest should be on the curb side. Sometimes they are more work to get out and its best not to do it in traffic.

James

Thats the best bet. Test drive anyone your half interested in and then see what feels best to you. I remember being at a car show and I sat in a Land Rover which I like but my step father felt cramped in the drivers seat. We sat in something different and I was still good but like the Land Rover better, but he was in heaven in that seat.

James

For me its doubly important since I am 6'4, and some cars are much better than others with leg and headroom. Oddly enough when I bough tthe accord in 2000 the jappanese cars had more space than most of hte american cars I sat in.

Agreed, and handle better too.

6'4 all torso or all Leg?

Wife has that problem (therefore I have that problem) since she's 6'2 all leg.

You buying new or used?

Funny you say the Murano. One of my friends (I have some, I swear!) has an Escape Hybrid as a company vehicle. Couple weeks ago it was in the dealership for warranty work and they gave her a Murano as a loaner. On Friday they called her to tell her the Escape would be ready that day. She asked if they could hold off till Monday since she liked the Murano much better and wanted to have it over the weekend.

The base Murano is a lot more than a base Escape though, but it is a bit less than a base Escape Hybrid.