My next vehicle?

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Dec 15, 2005 | 08:08 AM

Bruker

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 1,385

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From: Mercer County, OH

My next vehicle?

It looks like I'll be in the market for a new vehicle this coming spring but I'm not sure what to get. I'm in sales and I drive about 40,000 miles a year so something that gets decent mileage is a plus. I'm presently driving a Windstar with 185,000 miles on it and it comes in handy if I need to carry 7 people or with the seats removed a lot of stuff. The vehicles I'm considering are; Freestar, Fusion, Five-Hundred, Escape or maybe an Explorer or Ranger. What would you do?

Dec 15, 2005 | 08:12 AM

Sycostang67

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 5,491

Likes: 16

From: Kuna ID

I didn't like anything you suggested except the ranger, but I'm a truck guy so don't listen to me. Good Luck.

Dec 15, 2005 | 08:19 AM

ATC Crazy

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Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 12,341

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From: SW VA

I also think the Ranger will do a great job. My brother travels just like you for his job, and he does it in his '04 Tacoma. Go with the 4-banger and 5-speed if you want the best mileage.

Dec 15, 2005 | 08:37 AM

GreatNorthWoods

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Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 8,813

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From: Littleton, New Hampshire

I've been happy with my 3.7 liter Dodge Dakota but I'm a truck guy too...

Dec 15, 2005 | 09:45 AM

bcjim

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Joined: Apr 2003

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We thought a Windstar seemed like a good idea once for our gowing family. It was ok, reliable, fairly good power but we nonetheless dumped it for an Explorer after 1 yr and we could not be happier. Freestyles are nice as well I think, but the Ex is a better value for the money. Rangers are very reliable but short on space.

Dec 15, 2005 | 09:59 AM

i1dery

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Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 1,787

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From: covington wa.

My wife and i went through something similar, we started with a windstar really liked
it, but with our growing family so went out and bought her an expedition for her birthday, could'nt be happier. And being a 97' it only has under 93k miles.

Dec 15, 2005 | 11:47 AM

osbornk

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 2,511

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From: Marion, VA

I suspect the Five hundred or Fusion would be the best choices with the current and projected price of fuel. My ex-company vehicle is an Escape with 93,000 miles on it but the fuel mileage has always been in the low 20s with about 75% highway miles. It has been a good car. The company had a bunch of Freestars and they seemed to have a lot of mechanical problems (especially transmissions) and they got about the same mileage (they switched to Freestyles which has the same powertrain as the Escape).