I am planning on replacing my daughter's 2001 Ford Explorer someday and am considering a Ford Escape.

I'd like to spend $15,000 or less on a low-mileage rig, hopefully somewhere in the 2011-2014 era.

I'd like to get a 4 cyl for mpg reasons. It also needs to be AWD/4WD.
I plan to own this vehicle for a long time (ie until its 10+ years old).

I would like to hear whether any of the 2011-2014 years/models should be avoided. I have to admit, I'm a little leary of the turbo units (reliability/repair costs), but I'm open to all input.

Thanks.

 

2009-2012 are the same body style with the same basic engine and transmissions 6f35 .2008 are the same body as well but have the cd4e trans . There all pretty bullet proof. Either the 4 or 6 cylinder.2013 is the new style and to get awd I think you would be into a turbo engine. There is a s model that has a 2.5 DURATEC. But I think there all front wheel drive

 

Avoid the hybrids due to insurance costs and due to the fact that I don't know how to work on them

avoid the AWD because you probably don't need it. And because it's hard to work on and expensive.

Avoid the 4cyl becaus the V6 is an amazing engine- tons of power and actually exciting. Lots of torque steer My wife gets over 20mpg and she never leaves the city. Probably 26-28 highway.

 

The Escape hybrid is a diamond in the rough. It was over-engineered, and was tested rigorously by NYC taxi companies for Ford. After 500k miles, Ford disassembled three of the hybrids to find that the hybrid unit, engine, battery and even the brakes (which had never been replaced) could have lasted another 300-500k without service.

 

Ok first of all; chill out.

2nd, it is common knowledge that hybrid vehicles have higher insurances costs. They are less common and higher cost to replace/repair. Same reason a Chevy Volt (electric) has higher insurance than a Chevy Spark (gasoline).

Lastly, my wife's Escape V6 gets over 25 mpg highway ... whether you like it or not- it is truth. I've measured it myself. It'll actually break 30mpg if the speed is kept low (I think 55-60mph is what I found).

No lies here fella.

 

And what is "ICE Escape"?

 

I cannot laugh harder at your ignorance. Chill out. Please.

It's funny you make the comparison between the Volt and Spark, not only because those cars are absolutely nothing alike and incomparable, but one is a compact electric and the other a "city" car, which in terms of size and price is the bottom basement. A better comparison would be a Cruze. You effectively attempted to compare a $10k vehicle to a $40k one.

The worst part about what you claimed above is that you used the Volt as a comparison. I currently own a Volt, that I replaced a Cruze with.



The cars share the same model year and have had the same insurance provider. I want you to take a wild guess as to how much my insurance "increased" when I made the change. Yeah, it went down $4 on a six month term.

Lastly, it just so happens that my wife's vehicle is a 2007 Escape 4x4 with the 3.0L. There was NEVER a day that this vehicle has EVER seen over 18 MPG. Hell, even the goverment rated it at 20 city, 24 highway. That, and the damn garbage transmission had been replaced under warranty three separate times. But wait, we're not done yet.

My previous job (2006) required me to use a 2005 escape hybrid as my transportation from aircraft to aircraft in a storage facility. This vehicle idled for thousands of hours, was subject to hundreds upon thousands of stop/starts and high heat. It never once failed me and always returned 26-28 MPG.

 

Oh yeah, in the EV world, ICE means internal combustion engine.

 

"I couldn't laugh harder at your ignorance"

I haven't spent a lot of time here in the Escape forum, but it seems like you are "that guy..." every forum has one.. what a shame.

Anyway ill return quickly to debunk the myths you just posted. See you soon.

 

Exhibit A:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ghway-mpg.html

My 2010 Ford Escape V6 obtained over 23 and over 26mpg on a highway trip. This was during the 70+ mph portions. Upon driving slower, it obtained over 28mpg.

Just because your 4x4 Escape never cracks 20mpg doesn't mean its true of them all.

I'll await your apology for (literally) calling me a liar.

 

exhibit B.1:
your wife's car never exceeded 18mpg even though the EPA ratings are 20 and 24 (your words, not mine)

exhibit B.2: Copied from Fuelly.com "Based on data from 12 vehicles, 461 fuel-ups and 111,427 miles of driving, the 2007 Ford Escape gets a combined Avg MPG of 19.57 with a 0.31 MPG margin of error."

Maybe there's something wrong with your Escape. Since you are on the low end of the curve.

 

exhibit C.1:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insu...s-hybrids-gas/

Exhibit C.2: "http://blog.esurance.com/why-car-ins...ds-costs-more/

Conclusion- Insurance costs on hybrids is measurably higher.

Again, another example of you believing your personal experience is indicative of all others.

 

exhibit D:

you said "It's funny you make the comparison between the Volt and Spark, not only because those cars are absolutely nothing alike and incomparable, but one is a compact electric and the other a "city" car, which in terms of size and price is the bottom basement. A better comparison would be a Cruze. You effectively attempted to compare a $10k vehicle to a $40k one."

However, a quick search on Kelley blue Book indicates a Spark at $6619 and and equivalent Volt at $11,500. (Both were searched the same: White, 60K miles, 2014 model year, standard equipment package, "very good" condition.)

$6619 is very different from $11K, but certainly not as bad as your example of $10,000 & $40,000.

 

Exhibit D:

half million miles on original brakes? with 300-500K remaining? on a NYC taxi vehicle?

that's absolute foolishness.

 

I'll also add that V6 "never over 18 mpg" is totally bogus. We've had four V6 Escapes, not one of them got less than 22 mpg. Someone has got a heavy foot, I suspect. ;-)