I will be in Fulelrton on June 13th to pick up my "new to me" 1991 Ford Explorer. If anyone is off that day and would like to meet, let me know, and I will try and meet somewhere.

I will be leaving Tuesday night on Greyhound and getting there at 5:30am in Anaheim, and then taking a city bus to the dealer on Commonwealth in Fullerton. I don't know if the dealer opens at 8am or 9am, but I will be there early just in case. After buying the truck, I will head over to Long Beach to visit my mom, and pick up a TV I bought on ebay from someone in Newport Beach, which my mom is holding for me. Then I will either head back up to Fresno, or stay and meet with someone if they will be able to meet.

If nobody can meet I will understand as it is a weekday, and most people work. My days off are during the week so it is best for me to get this done on a Wednesday or Thursday.

 

Dealers here abouts open at eight, but the sales force usually doesn't show up till nine. Then it's coffee break time.

At least it's not Friday the 13th!

 

Yeah that would be a bad omen! I don't know if this dealer is a hole in the wall place, or a big dealership. I have not lived down there since Dec 2003, and I don't remember this particular dealer. I am somewhat familiar with the area, and know where it is. The name just doesn't ring a bell.

 

Could someone tell me what the gas prices are down there? The station closest to me is currently $3.15 a gallon, but that will not help until I get back up here.

 

Well,
In Huntington beach the other day I paid round $3.17...but I would probably count on at least paying around $3.30 on average for good ole 87 octane...seems like the average price ....but as soon as I say that theyll either drop it waay down or send it shooting for the Northern sky haha.
-Chris

 

$3.15 a gallon? It's around $3.50 here, but down along the 60..Pomona Fwy, it's closer to $3.75.

 

There's a Flying J truck stop in Frazier Park off Interstate 5 at $3.31 and a location in Bakersfield off Highway 99 and Merced at $3.09 today.

www.flyingj.com/

Arco 'AM/PM' locations usually having the cheapest prices on fuel down here.

www.arco.com/modularhome.do?categoryId=6740&contentId=7022827

I've got to work the 13th or I'd arrange a meeting with you. Best of luck on your trip.

 

$3.15 is the exception, not the norm here. most places are $3.29 or $3.31. I will just have to look for a Arco station down there. I doubt I will need gas by the time I hit Bakersfield, but if I see it for $3.09 I will fill up anyway. ;o Thanks for the tips.

 

Ya,
Arco is your best bet for a reasonable price...they should be fairly easy to spot..seems like theres one almost every 10 miles or so down the freeway haha. If you can though....pay cash instead of using plastic...they charge a 45 cent fee for cards.
-Chris

 

I usually use cash for gas anyway depending on where I am getting it. I hate those hidden fees. Same with fast food places. Everyone tacks on fees to use your own money.

 

Change of plans! I will be going down tomorrow (Saturday) to get the Explorer. I have enough vacation time accrued to take the day off and not lose any income. The dealer does not open until 10am so we may take a later bus to get down there (instead of arriving at 5:30am we will arrive at 8:20am. I want to get the Explorer as soon as possible.

 

Good thing too,
I just paid $3.13 at the Arco by my house....so hopefully if youre going through the LA area it will be bit cheaper even...seems like they are for some reason. Toss some pics of it up when you have it...the 4.0 is the better motor... my mom has it in her Explorer and sometimes its even seems a bit peppier than the 4.6 in my F150. Gets good gas mileage even hooked up to the auto so w/ a 5 spd you should see pretty good numbers.
-Chris

 

Well, I spoke too soon. The plans have been changed back to the 13th. I just got home from work and the dealer called to tell me they were taking the Explorer to get smogged, when the driver's side rear axle broke. Since they don't work on the weekends, it will not be fixed until Monday or Tuesday of next week, so I guess I will go back to my original plans of leaving Tuesday night, and arriving Wednesday morning. I am glad it broke while they had it and not while I was heading back up here to Fresno!

The gas station that had gas for $3.15 just lowered it to $3.12. can't wait to get the Explorer up here and fill her up.

 

Geeze, I wonder how hard they were driving your new truck, to break an axle? I think I would confront them on that one, personally. Not the way anyone should drive someone elses vehicle IMO.
Unless it was broken before and they just didn't know about it for some reason.

 

I agree, the 8.8 is a pretty stout axle, and to break it just by driving it to the smog mechanic doesn't make sense. I think their errand boy or "driver" was hot rodding it. I will definitely get more info about it before buying it. Just doesn't make sense that it would just break, and if it did just break it would have made a noise prior to that I would think.