Will I get booted from here now?

[68C15]

Last February I bought a 2005 Escape for real cheap. I just had to replace the front crossmember and ball joints. Wife drove it home and said she likes it and I should get one for myself. Silly me, I thought it was mine. She had troubles getting in and out of her Tahoe, the Escape is much easier.

I sold the Tahoe early this spring. I also sold the 68 GMC to my nephew last summer. Then I sold the 67 short step. Then I sold the boat, to the guy who bought the Tahoe. That left me with my 2000 Accord.

3 months ago I was about to take a loan and buy an Escape for myself but stopped short, just couldn't bring myself to go in debt. I kept trudging along with the Honda, crawling in and out many times a day.

A month ago a regular customer brought in her 2004 Escape complaining of a loud noise in right rear. The shock tower/wheel well, inner fender and rear floor board were rusted and flopping around. A body shop quoted her $3500. No dealer would take it on trade. Since I showed interest she asked if I would match the scrap yard price and buy the car, $200. Absolutely!

I bought a complete rear 1/4 off a solid car from another salvage yard for $150. I spent 8 nights and 2 weekends working on it. Counting the purchase price, donor 1/4, miscellaneous supplies and sealers and a front wheel bearing I have just what I've wanted for 6 years for about $500.

In the last 16 months I've worked on the customer's car she had me do tires, ball joints, sway bar links, rear shaft hanger bearing (AWD), alternator, 4 wheel brake job, battery and tune up. It's got enough power with the V6. Everything works and it feels like a brand new car. Now the wife is hinting that she wants mine. No! You told me to get one for myself, that's exactly what I did!

[GOPAPA]

Man that's some down right good fanangling ,, good for you .. and you did it all fare and square..

[special-K]

heck no, you shouldn't get booted. I think you started the next trend. Now I want one. I suggest we start a new forum for Escapes owned by former old GM Truck people.

[68C15]

Last week we took mine on a 1200 mile trip. Four people, luggage, guns and ammo all fit good. Return trip was different since I gained 300# of lead and a couple of shot shell reloading presses. I couldn't see out the back at all. Round trip I averaged 26mpg. Nothing like the 40mpg the Accord got. But it's easier to get in and out plus it's good in snow. As I get older my standards change.

[68C15]

I see there is a kit to install a supercharger on mine. Reported to bring it up to 400HP. I wonder how that would affect fuel economy if I keep my foot out of it.

[95 S_Trucker]

We had an 07(last year for that body style) for 6 years. Now the inlaws have it. My only real complaint is the common timing cover gasket leak. The 2/4 band broke but I was able to repair with the trans still in the car. Others than that it was just tires, brakes, and routine maintenance.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by 68C15

I see there is a kit to install a supercharger on mine. Reported to bring it up to 400HP. I wonder how that would affect fuel economy if I keep my foot out of it.

Well, if you're gonna give it a supercharger.... and it rewards you with 400hp.... why on earth would you keep your foot out of it?
Nah, better to have some 400hp fun. For fuel economy, you could always buy something sensible. Like, say, a Ford Escape.

[Boog]

So let's get this straight. You no longer own any GM trucks?

[fine69]

My girlfriend is on her 2nd Escape. Both 2004 models. First one she bought in 2007 with 36k miles. She drove it 10 years. Only minimal maintenance required. Had 270k on it when we gave it to her daughter.
I had already bought her a low mileage replacement that needed tlc( a moron attempted to work on it). It now has 187k on it.
She loves it.
Wont hesitate to buy another.

[68C15]

Originally Posted by Boog

So let's get this straight. You no longer own any GM trucks?

Kind of. No GM in my fleet at all. And I'm thinking about a used jetski winter project

[blazer2007]

what no GM ,pack your bags your outa here LOL

[67ChevyRedneck]

The white one looks super nice, was it the blue one that needed all the rust repair?

I have a good friend that has that gen, I think 05-06 he bought used probably 5 or 6 years ago. It had some common A/C problem most of them have he got fixed, but other than that he's approaching 200K and hasn't really done anything else to it.

[richards72chevy]

I didn't know the ford escape was a reliable vehicle.My wife will need a newer car eventually thought about getting the ford crown vic but I think she would like this better.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I did research on them as well when I was looking into getting my wife a used SUV. The worst issues are the A/C failing, which isn't too expensive to be repaired, but the worst thing to watch out for is the AWD versions, especially in the first and 2nd gens, they seemed to have an abnormal amount of transfer case failures. Stick to the FWD versions. The FWD V6 versions seem to be the best ones.

https://repairpal.com/internal-trans...wd-models-404#

[In The Ten Ring]

I see it as a trade off. Last month a friend's mother bought a Chevy Traverse. That family has owned nothing but Fords all their lives.

Looks like you managed a great deal.

As to your 2000 Honda, my 2002 Honda is now averaging 3 more MPG now that I have the new rotors and Akebono brake pads on. I assume the old brakes were sticking and dragging.

[68C15]

The white one is the one that the real bad structural rust. No rust on exterior panels. It's MINE!!!!! And they are both AWD. Last winter I was driving wife's through 12-14" of snow and not spinning a tire. And it has car tires. Hers is 4 cylinder with 173,000 miles. Mine is V6 with 142,000.

About 6 years ago I was looking into a small SUV. The CRV looked good but the Escape with V6 had better mpg and higher towing capacity. I tried to talk myself into taking a lon to get one but that ever happened.

When the blue one came up I was hesitant but figured for the price I couldn't pass it up. I want to use it also for deer hunting but deer see blue very easy. I really wanted either gold/tan or white. And I really, really wanted a V6. Now I have exactly what I've wanted for the last 6 years. Guys at work say I could sell it and make some good profit. NO!!! It's mine for the long haul.