Hello All, I'm planning on buying a 2003 Ford Explorer, Eddie Bauer, in the Spring - and am looking for pro's and con's of selecting AWD or 4WD. I'm inclined towards 4WD right now, due to camping etc. Thanks for any advice.
Chris

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Oct-02 AT 12:00 PM (EST)]I beleive the Explorers had Control Trac 4WD only for both V6 and V8 models. The Mercury Mountaineer has AWD only.

The Explorer's 4WD has three modes--4WD Auto, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. In 4WD Auto, it acts like AWD, when the rear wheels lose traction, the enging power will transfer to the front to gain traction. In 4WD High, all four wheels are locked so they're going at the same speed, same for 4WD Low.

The AWD is just AWD. That's all. No buttons or anything. It's mostly for street driving. Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

Depends on what terrain you want it for. I am not a 4-wheeling type, so I may be off on this, but I have been plenty of places with just the 2WD that many said you would need 4WD. My next door neighbor has an AWD, but it didn't impress me enough over a standard 2WD to compensate the extra maitenance, etc, you could run into.

My opinion is this: if you need 4WD, get one. If you are doing mainly street driving with the occasional light offroading and small center camping, I would just stick with the 2WD.


JMHO of course...

 

the 96-01 explorer v8 5.0s had eather awd or 2wd no contol trac 4x4 in the v8s on in v6s the murcurys have awd to tho sorry i just had to clear that up

 

For 2003 you can get AWD(same version as the, 4wd, or 2wd, on the Explorer, I would say go with the 4wd as currently you can not get the Advance-trac system on a AWD. IMPO I would not get an Explorer without Advance-trac. Which makes you wonder why they don't offer a Mountaineer with 4wd.

 

I just traded my 02 V6 Explorer 4x4 for a 03 V6 Mountaineer AWD. Since I haven't had the chance to "use" the AWD in bad weather, the main difference I've seen is gas mileage. The Explorer got 18 city 20 highway. The Mountaineer is getting 15 city 19 highway.

 

I have a '99 Expl 5.0 AWD. It get's 13-14 MPG max. the 4 -year high was 14.5 driving Fla Turnpike. I have driven friends 4WD in 2WD and think my AWD handles/corners way better, but the gas cost is hectic.

Since I live in GA, I don't do much snow driving. I pull a 3500lb boat on a 1500lb trailer short distances, and haven't had any Dtrain probs, about 50 more HP would help though.