Recently, I have been thinking about possibly getting into an '08 Escape XLT. With gas prices as high as they are and with no signs of relief anytime soon, I thought a FWD 4-cyl Auto-trans model might be a good choice. I have a few questions and I would like opinions and feedback from current owners and anyone else that would like to chime in.
1. Is the 4-cyl adequate enough? How does it handle having the A/C on and a full load of passengers? How is the acceleration and passing power?
2. Will the FWD model be fine in snow?
3. Is the 4-cyl smooth or is it harsh and noisy?
Any other useful information would be really appreciated. I can get the Escape with X-Plan pricing so the price would be very attractive.
As far as traction goes, my wife has 139,000 miles on her FWD V6 and traction has never been an issue in southeastern PA. We recently moved to central PA just of I-80 and we are considering going to 4WD with our next Escape because of the hilly terrain where our house is located (top of the mountain). Unless you are in north Jersey, FWD should be fine. I can't comment on the other issues since we have a V6.
Recently, I have been thinking about possibly getting into an '08 Escape XLT. With gas prices as high as they are and with no signs of relief anytime soon, I thought a FWD 4-cyl Auto-trans model might be a good choice. I have a few questions and I would like opinions and feedback from current owners and anyone else that would like to chime in.
1. Is the 4-cyl adequate enough? How does it handle having the A/C on and a full load of passengers? How is the acceleration and passing power?
2. Will the FWD model be fine in snow?
3. Is the 4-cyl smooth or is it harsh and noisy?
Any other useful information would be really appreciated. I can get the Escape with X-Plan pricing so the price would be very attractive.
1. If you're used to big V8 vehicles, the 4 cylinder in the 2WD Escape will be *OK* but a little disappointing with a full load, especially in hills. If you have driven 4 cylinder cars with automatics, it'll be in that ballpark--about 20 lbs per horsepower. The 4WD 4 cyl Escape is pretty doggy--I would not buy one of those after having driven both. Actually, I really like the 4 cylinder Escape with a stick, but you have to settle for an XLS, and I like the equipment on the XLT much better myself. The stick does give better performance and mileage, and is actually kind of fun to drive. (I have driven all of them.)
2. Fine in snow, like a FWD car with nice big, grippy tires and great belly clearance. You're not going to do any off-roading with the FWD, but I wouldn't do much of that with any Escape. If you have to do the occasional campground access trail, fire road, FWD would probably be fine.
3. A bit coarse compared to a smooth V8, but if you don't mind some mechanical presence (and I don't), it'll be fine....
Maybe just go drive one and see what you think. You should be able to find a 4 cylinder '08 or '05-up used Escape pretty easily to test drive and give you an idea.
By the way, the 2009 Escape is due for a larger 2.5 cylinder version of the 2.3, and I'm guessing that the torque from the added engine size will be very welcome...plus the '09 will have a new 6-speed trans (I know a guy in the Ford drivetrain dept and heard about this a while back). So, if it were me (and actually it may be me--I've looked at Escapes for the last couple years and may spring for an '09 4-cylinder), I might wait for the 2009 model, because my sense is that the 6 speed 2.5 will give both better mileage AND better performance. Downside is that the 6-speed will be a new transmission, and the first year model *may* have some design problems. Even Honda had big problems when they introduced a 5-speed auto around 1999 in the Odyssey and Acura TL.
If you absolutely need a new car now, the 2008 should be a good choice, but if you can wait a few months for a 2009, I'd wait (and I'm on the wait list myself).
Good luck; the Escape is a great little truck in either case.
I don't know precisely the details of the 6-speed auto that will be offered in the 2009 Escape, but the Ford 500/Taurus has had a 6-speed auto (originally with the 3.0 V6) for 3 years, the Fusion has had a 6 speed auto + 3.0 V6 for two years and the 2007 Edge also has a 6-speed auto. I suspect that it is essentially the same tranny that is going into the Escape. After 2 years, the Fusion has an outstanding reliability record so I wouldn't worry about the tranny.
I don't know precisely the details of the 6-speed auto that will be offered in the 2009 Escape, but the Ford 500/Taurus has had a 6-speed auto (originally with the 3.0 V6) for 3 years, the Fusion has had a 6 speed auto + 3.0 V6 for two years and the 2007 Edge also has a 6-speed auto. I suspect that it is essentially the same tranny that is going into the Escape. After 2 years, the Fusion has an outstanding reliability record so I wouldn't worry about the tranny.
The 6-speed auto used in the 500, Fusion and other FWD-based cars was/is an Aisin Japanese transmission. In '08, the new Ford/GM joint venture 6-speed replaces this transmission as those cars moved to the 3.5 engine and is the one used in the Edge. This is a bigger box that is used with the higher-torque 3.5 and 3.7 (as in Mazda CX-9's and some upcoming Fords). The 3 liter Duratec in the Fusion still uses the Aisin MIJ box, and the CVT in the 500/Freestyle has been phased out.
From what I recall my Ford drivetrain connection guy told me, a new smaller 6-speed that will be new for 2009--this may be a scaled down version of the GM/Ford joint venture but I'm not sure, and I'm thinking that this will be the transmission used in the Escape 4-cylinder for sure, and I believe also with the 3-liter Duratec--replacing the Aisin trans and the CVT as well as the Ford (CD4E?) 4 speed auto in the 4-cyl Fusion and all Escapes. I believe this will be a new gearbox but it may be very similar to the joint venture box. Again, this is from memory and some Internet research and I welcome any correction.
Also, a woman I worked with has a 6-speed 3.0 Fusion and she blew up the Aisin transmission while on vacation...
Here's a piece I just found on the 2009 Escape/Mariner--it discusses the 2.5 liter 4-cyl, a bump to 230 horsepower for the 3.0 Duratec (THAT is gonna be a hotrod) and the new trans:
Agree with the Michelin tires, they have been great! I can't comment too much on the 4 vs 6cyl other than I knew I was buying a 4x4 and when I took a test drive in both engine models with a 4x4 I found that the 6cyl gave me more confidence merging with traffic on the freeway.
It's a snowy, horrible day in Michigan. I took my E150 in for a seeping valve cover gasket (during the last 1k miles of my Premium Care warranty) and instead of a Focus loaner car, I paid the extra $10 for...a 4 cylinder 2008 Escape XLT loaner. The comfort is worth the $10 by itself.
I've only driven '07 and earlier models, and somehow the '08 seems a bit quieter. Engine does make a bit of noise, but not a lot of vibration--seems like they did some NVH work since the earlier Escape.
The premium stereo KICKS ASS...very nice. Interior fabric, on this 4500 mile rental, is already staining a bit.
Runs very nice on the freeway although I didn't push it real fast given the weather, and no big loads, but I'd not hesitate to load it up and go on a road trip....actually I'm tempted to head off to Florida right now 8-)
We've got about 5" of snow that is wet and sticky, and it does not do *quite* as well in the snow as I might have thought, but I will conjecture that the Conti tires are a big part of that. I took it onto a greasy parking lot and played around a bit with it. The ABS works very well. Nice belly clearance for those snow plow mounds.
Enjoying the opportunity for a real world test. I'd buy one if I needed a vehicle right now, but again, the 2009 sounds very appealing with the 6-speed trans and the 2.5 liter motor.
I own a 2005 fwd 2.3 with the stick. Very good power and runs smooth. Mine gets the window MPG of 24 city and 29+ highway if I keep it at 70 or less. Big wind also hurts highway MPG. One other note, the 2.3 seems to be tight when new and get much snappier as the miles pile on.
I recomend the four, and if you can shift yourself you will see 2-4MPG better.
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