Ford Explorer 2000

Submitted: Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 17:26

ThreadID: 70009 Views:4270 Replies:10 FollowUps:12

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Tony B(WA)

We have the opportunity of buying a 2000 Ford Explorer 4.0L imported into Australia 2001 & purchased in 2002 by the present owner with 9000k on the clock. It now has 100000 k on the clock & is in absolutely mint condition & serviced by the same garage during the past 8 years.
Any comments on this make of vehicle will be greatly appreciated.

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Reply By: Member -Dodger - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 17:30

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 17:30

They dn't call them Ford Exploder for nothing ..... Be warned.

I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 371056

Reply By: oldpop - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 17:35

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 17:35

Tony B
I you got it for free it would be to expensive
Ford Exploders

Regards

Oldpop

AnswerID: 371057

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 18:01

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 18:01

G/Day Tony

We have a Ford Explorer, the wife used it as a shopping trolley, she didn't do many ks in it, and when I bought the Nissan Patrol I started using it as a work vehicle, the early pre 2000 models had problems, and the Exploder nickname come from the fiasco with Ford using Firestone tyres in the USA, and over 100 people got killed in Roll Overs in the States, they are a excellent tow vehicle and have plenty of get up and go, as far as Off Road Driving goes they are not as good as the Toyotas, Nissans ect, re: ground clearance, they have lots of bells and whistles re interior gadgets, we haven't had any major problems with it mechanicly, but they do have a poor resale value that's why I kept ours, lots of people bag them but if you ask a Explorer Owner they will tell you that they are a fairly honest motor vehicle, I have a photo of ours in my Profile, just so you can see that I'm not Bull Sh**ting, there is a lot of here say talk about them, but there is a lot towing caravans around the place as well.

Cheers
Daza

AnswerID: 371059

Reply By: Tony B(WA) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 18:16

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 18:16

Thanks for the replies. We realise that they are not as well regarded as Landcruisers & Patrols & just want something that will take us to places our 2 wheel drives will not but with more off road ability than an X trail etc.. A client of my wife's,the current owner was a beach fisherman so knows its performance in that respect. He also cleaned the salt off after his trips! As mentioned the car is pristine & has never done serious off roading. Thanks for the enlightenment on the Exploder tag.

AnswerID: 371064

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 18:29

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 18:29

Their timing chain is at the rear of the motor and if needs changing the motor has to be removed.
Also they are noted to be big drinkers.
Even worse than Aussies ROFL

Would also be very wary of a regular beach car no matter how well he cleaned it.

FollowupID: 638362

Reply By: Tony B(WA) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 19:58

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 19:58

Comments noted against the purchase of this vehicle-& those of Daza. However what is/are the alternatives for around $20000. Initially we were thinking of a Nissan X Trail but for what we can obtain the Ford, X Trails have a very high mileage. I would rather have a 4 litre vehicle lovingly cared for than a newer 2.5 litre with many more ks per annum ( 12.5 as opposed to 30) & no knowledge of its history. Especially knowing how fastidious the owner is with the care of his vehicle. A larger Toyota/Nissan would be great -but at what price? For those with more experience than I what would you recommend as an alternative? $15000 is the price of the Explorer av 12.5K kilometres p.a.. The vehicle would be used possibly monthly for a little off road work, somewhat more challenging than an X Trail or its equivalents could comfortably handle. We enviseage doing approximatley 8000 kms a year in a 4WD-no towing involved.

AnswerID: 371074

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 20:25

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 20:25

Tony
Check the Red Book Valuations through Google, you could be paying to much, you would be flat out getting $10000 for that model, even in mint condition.

FollowupID: 638374

Follow Up By: Madfisher - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 20:59

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 20:59

Tony Jackaroos are a better engineered vehicle at a similar price to exzplorer. Eg we brought am immacul;ate 03 Nullarbor(wifes) with 76000ks with about $5000 worth of extras , and after a bit of bargaining got it for$14000.Son picked up an extremely clean o2 with an ECB b/bar, d/lights etc with 130000ks for $11500. I just replaced the timing belt on my 98 Jack and it only cost $440. While they are not built anymore hence the low resale parts are not a problem. Stay away from the3lt diesel but the 3.5 v6 is a cracker.Have heard of some v6 Jacks covering over 400000ks with out being touched.Some 98 and 99 year models did burn oil due to the drain back holes in the oil ring being to small and clogging up if not serviced regularly. Check them out on car sales.
Cheers Pete

FollowupID: 638379

Follow Up By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:03

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:03

Hi Tony, don't know much about the Explorer, but agree with Pete about the Jackaroo. I have the dreaded 3.0 Td 1999 model, but other than needing a box of valium to relieve the anxiety about the diesel engine in this model, the car is great. Mate has a V6, son in law has the later model diesel (which is ok i believe). Go anywhere (just about), comfortable, great to drive, and my wife, who is fairly small, can actually see the road over the bonnet. Sounds like a good example of the Explorer that you have found... isn't it a bugger when others disagree with you? Good luck, Dave

FollowupID: 638387

Follow Up By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 06:47

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 06:47

Go the Jackaroo - Great vehicle - I had the Olympic Model and as 4x4 go it was a great performer. Fuel usage in the v6 is around the 15 per 100 on highway - eats the fuel if you put the foot down (a picture of mine in my profile). Cheers Tony

FollowupID: 638403

Follow Up By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 09:15

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 09:15

Another vote for the Jackaroo. We got 15L/100 towing a C/t over 13000
outback km, & that from a 2000 auto. Driven gently I admit. Spend $15k on
a Jack & you have a gem, plenty of good ones for about $10 to $12k. Paid
$14k for mine 3 years ago with 85k on it, been faultless....oldbaz.

FollowupID: 638420

Follow Up By: Madfisher - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 11:07

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 11:07

Whacker your family and mine could start their own Jack 4wd club. lol Have to include Baz to.
Baz my ce light problems was eventually traced to a blocked egr valve, gave it a clean and as good as new, problem was the scangauge keep pionting to maf.
Tony the secret to economy with Jacks is keep the iac motor and throttle body clean, ditto maf and egr and run premium fuel and remove the restrictors in the y piece(baffles). And manual is worth 1 to 2l/100. Best I have got is 10.71/100 sitting on100, has dropped back to 15s now so will replace oxygen sensor which is due at 150000ks anyway.
Go for the 2001 to 2003 wide track models, only disadvantage with these are they do not have free wheeling hubs and are heavier so slighly more fuel used. My sons 02 SE is a very nice drive and feels like new even with 130000ks, he is averaging 13.8/100 mixed driving.
Good luck Pete

FollowupID: 638430

Reply By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 20:27

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 20:27

Price of parts and availability in remote and not so remote areas. As opposed to a slightly older more common Australian delivered car.

The best thing about owning a car that every Tom, Dick and Harry has is that parts are easily sourced down time when time is crucial is less and holiday time is more.

One of the things you notice up here is you break a Nissan or a Toyota on the Gibb, Duncan or the CSR you are usually going again in a couple of days. Most other brands a couple of weeks as parts need to be sourced from interstate. Plays havoc with plans.

AnswerID: 371076

Follow Up By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 07:21

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 07:21

I am not saying dont buy it...May be perfect for what you want..
Just saying it may be prudent to sit back and think where you want to go now and in the future.

FollowupID: 638406

Reply By: blueriderwa - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:14

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:14

One things for sure mate, only you can decide..... you will get plenty of replies with great intentins but these will range from "dont do it you will hate it" right through to "do it you will love it" you will not buy any used car without some level of risk of breakdown or failure. every model of every brand has its lemons and its crackas. cheers dave

AnswerID: 371092

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:26

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:26

That is very true .

However the previous post is the one to take notice of if going outback.

These new BMW and Mercs with 18in tyres are having trouble sourcing even them in not too distant places.
Guy next to me in camp at Kununurra cut an 18in tyre on his and it cost him $400 for the only one of a different brand available.
You dont see strange stuff at the mines which is a very good indication of what is popular and who dealers stock parts for.

You may be lucky and have no trouble but remeber MURPHY lives out there.

FollowupID: 638391

Follow Up By: Member - Roger B (VIC) - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:41

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:41

I've had a 2000 Explorer since new, have about 170,000 on the clock,probably 70,000 has been pulling our van, and I am quite happy with it. The only real issue is the price of parts, and generic parts are available for most things. You can also buy parts from the US of A for a fraction of the price your friendly Fird dealer charges. Anyway mine has done the Gibb River Road, towing our 1978 Jayco Dove, and Steep Point WA and lots of other adventures. It honestly hasn't cost me a lot in the 9 years I've had it.Front brake pads and a couple of minor jobs.We now pull a 17ft. Coromal Low Line (since April) and are about to head off to NQ in three weeks time for about three months.It's been serviced regularly, and treated fairly well. I know they come with a poor reputation and the pre 2000 models did have issues, mainly timing chains, but I expect a few more years out of mine. Just my view. Travel Safe. Cheers.

Roger B...Image Could Not Be Found

FollowupID: 638394

Reply By: paulnsw - Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:44

Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 at 22:44

to do the cam chains and tensioners cost approx $4K and will need doing shortly. All the cam tensioners fail around 100k. Motor has to come out completely and is big job.
Gearbox when going is great but when they fail they fail big time and looking at $5K. When the gearbox computer plays up everything in the transmission appears to fail.
Ford Explorer is not the vehicle to buy s/h. Parts are like Jackaroo expensive to impossible to buy. Does not matter how mint the condition you are buying a dud pup with zero resale value. Lucky to get $2K at tradein in 2 years. Dealer tradein now you would be lucky to get $6K

AnswerID: 371097

Follow Up By: Tony B(WA) - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 08:03

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 08:03

Thanks for all the comments. It looks like a serious rethink is on the books. Comments re available parts has always made sense wharever type of vehicle. Must have been blinded by the gleam of the bodywork.

FollowupID: 638410

Follow Up By: blueriderwa - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 08:22

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 08:22

Tony
Just one last point from someone who learned the "hard" way, even though it didnt end up costing me anything. I asked a similar question to yours on a similar forum a while back about what appeared to be a "great value" Range Rover @ $14k. I bought the car and used it for a few months to test it out before heading around oz later this year. In the end all the little things that could go wrong with it with, very little back up spooked me into selling it. (luckily i was able to make a profit and got $19,500 for it) I now have a Nissan Patrol which owes me almost double what i sold the Rangie for but I am much more confident that when things do go wrong on our trip i will be able to resolve the problems relatively easily and I am much less likely to fond myself, and more iportantly my family sitting on the side of the road in the desert somewhere wondering if we are going to survive. cheers dave

FollowupID: 638412

Reply By: westskip - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 08:30

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 08:30

Hi Tony

Glad to see that you found this site after our talk yesterday morning.

Regards

John

AnswerID: 371119

Reply By: nickb - Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 10:42

Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 at 10:42

This is what Redbook has to say. Just a guide though... I agree about $15k being too much.

* Private Price Guide $9,300 - $11,300
* Trade In Price Guide $6,600 - $8,600
* Average Km 140,000 - 230,000
Price Guide $57,730*
Quick Info
Price Guide $57,730*
Badge Limited
Series US
Body Wagon
No. Doors 4
Seat Capacitiy 5
Transmission Automatic
Gear Location Floor
Drive 4X4
Fuel Type Petrol - Unleaded ULP
Recommended RON Rating 91
Release Year 2000
VIN Number 1FMDU75X3XZA#####
Country of origin UNITED STATES
Dimensions
Kerb Weight (kg) 2013
Tare Mass (kg) 1976
Gross Combination Mass (kg) 5022
Gross Vehicle Mass (kg) 2522
Pay Load (kg) 509
Towing Braked (kg) 2500
Towing Not Braked (kg) 750
Wheel Base (mm) 2840
Length (mm) 4788
Width (mm) 1874
Height (mm) 1717
Track Front (mm) 1494
Track Rear (mm) 1486
Engine
Engine Location Front
Configuration V90
Engine Size (cc) 4011
Cam Overhead Cam
Engine Cycle 4 Stroke
Engine Type Piston
Engine Number XZA-#####
Cylinders 6
Valves per Cylinder 2
Compression Ratio 9.7
Power 153kW @ 5000rpm
Torque 339Nm @ 3000-3000rpm
Acceleration 0-100Km/h (secs) 9.6
Induction System Aspirated
Fuel Type Petrol - Unleaded ULP
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) 80
Fuel Delivery Multi-Point Injection
Method of Delivery Electronic
Fuel Urban (l/100km) 14.5
Fuel Extra Urban (l/100km) 9.9
Fuel Combined (l/100km) 11.6
Steering
Steering Description Rack and Pinion

Green Credentials
Fuel Urban (l/100km) 14.5
Fuel Extra Urban (l/100km) 9.9
Fuel Combined (l/100km) 11.6

AnswerID: 371140