I always liked the low end power the old OHV had in my '00 Ranger I once had. I think that motor was indestructible, sort of reminded me of the old 300 straight 6's.

 

I just got rid of my '07 Eddie Bauer V6 2WD last month with 136k miles on it. I was very disappointed (and frustrated) by the numerous problems (big and small) that I experienced with it! Meanwhile, my sister is still driving the 2003 XLT V6 4WD that I owned before the '07. It has over 230k miles on it now and an ABS sensor on one of the rear wheels and the infamous 'cracked tailgate trim panel' are all that's ever went wrong with it!?!?

I bought my 2007 EB from my best friend in May 2008 with 72k miles on it. He had ordered it new in early 2007 as his company vehicle and he gets a new one every 60-70k miles. So I bought the '07 when it was barely 15 months old (but with 72k miles on it) for just under $16k. But if I had known all the problems that it would give me, I wouldn't have bought it no matter how low the price was!

In the 4.5years and 64k miles I owned it, I replaced or repaired-

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> *Two radiators
*Replaced entire A/C system (compressor, condensor, lines- $1800 out of pocket) in July 2010
*Power seat motor for the driver's seat
*A/C system AGAIN in Feb 2012, but the previous repair came with a 2yr warranty
*Entire shifter assembly
*Timing chain, chain guide, tensioner and a few other misc related parts
*Fuel pump
*Despite repeated attempts to ‘flash’ the PCM/ECM and replacing oxygen sensor and PCV valve, it still hesitated when starting from a complete stop. New PCM/ECM would have cost $900+ labor and ‘might’ have fixed it…
*Lock/latch assembly on rear liftgate glass window had to be replaced last year
*One side of PowerFold 3^rd Row Seat was stuck in the down position and could not be raised for the last three years. Repair would have been $500+ for new seat motor!
*Moonroof started leaking last year and was starting to stain the headliner
*Automatic climate control no longer worked ‘automatically’
*Audiophile 6CD changer no longer worked at all
*Memory for driver’s seat and adjustable pedal position lost it’s “memory” at least once a week, quit trying to use it long ago
*Despite meticulous mechanical maintenance, fuel economy had dropped over the last 18 months or so from average of 18.5mpg to less than 16mpg!

I traded it in on a 2012 Mazda CX-9 on the day after Thanksgiving. I got a great deal on the Mazda (sticker $37,875 and I paid $29,706 plus sales tax) and I managed to get $7500 trade-in value on the ’07 Explorer (which is what Carmax had offered to purchase it). The CX-9 has been around since 2007 and has been very reliable according to all sources I consulted. At least it has a Ford-designed engine- the 3.7L Mazda MZI engine (aka- the Ford Duratec 37 from the ‘Cyclone’ engine family.
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