I Would Recommend This Truck
Written: Jul 23 '04
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Pros: Great performance, good value, and a decent all around truck.
Cons: Suspension is a little stiff, larger powerplant means less fuel efficiency.
The Bottom Line: Great truck with a good motor, decent performance, relatively low maintenance and mileage worth bragging about to your SUV friends. If you don't have kids, this is a great choice.
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| xorcet's Full Review: 2001 Ford Explorer Sport |
PURCHASE
I purchased a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport at online auction in 2002. I paid $14,200 at the time and this was a fair share beneath the Bluebook appraisal. The condition of the vehicle was excellent and there were 9,350 miles on it. You can find these trucks for under < $10,500 relatively simply which makes this vehicle a great value.
PERFORMANCE
This truck has a great motor that gives it plenty of horse between lights and even on long stretches of highway. The interior is very good looking and the space is surprisingly roomy for a 2DR. The exterior has a great shape that holds up well over years and visibility from the driver's seat is terrific.
Handling is great but brakes leave a little to be desired. The factory spec for the brakes, I feel, are a little below what the weight and size of the vehicle calls for. This translates into a slighter higher than anticipated yearly maintenance cost as you can expect to be replacing pads and shoes a little more often. Also, this vehicle has a 40/60 vertical weight distribution so expect slightly uneven tire wear.
Overall, this is a Ford truck with Ford performance and 90s characteristic maintenance. There is certainly room for improvement and the 2003 model did exactly that.
FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP
My first year with the Sport was a great one. I was a little concerned about the power plant and how it would fair in the dusty air and extremely high temperatures of the Las Vegas desert. Fortunately, those concerns were mostly unproven. Although I did notice a boost in radiator noise and idle during summer days, the truck performed admirably.
Maintenance was good although I did replace the brake pads and decided to go ahead and put Goodyear Wrangler tires replacing the 60% worn factory defaults. Also, I did minor dash work by replacing the factory CD player (single disc AM/FM) with a mini-disc player and 10-disc MP3/CD in the trunk. The factory sound was very good but I wanted flexibility for long hauls to Southern California.
Mileage is better than the 4DR Explorer but the 2DR truck has the same powerplant so you fall slightly above where a truck this size and weight should be but reasonably fit beneath the 4DR.
SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP
I begin to notice a little bit of suspension wear (Las Vegas is known for speed bumps and lots of in-ground road reflectors that constantly bump and bang the suspension and alignment). I'm not concerned but I was a little surprised to find it noticeable after just one year.
Minor part recall at the Ford dealership but otherwise no other concerns or problems. Fuel efficiency was bumped by purchasing a higher-grade fuel filter. I also replaced the air conditioning filters and have been adhering to the 3500 mile fluids recommendation.
Brakes are still wearing quickly but evenly. This was a concern I knew to be aware of and adjusted my driving accordingly.
THIRD YEAR OF OWNERSHIP
The truck is still performing very well and the interior has kept in great shape. Maintenance cost is just under my prediction from first year and fuel, although cost has increased along with the rest of the country, remains stable.
Concern about the suspension has stopped as the degrade in performance peaked and the overall change was minor and can be written off as wear due to the weight of the vehicle and the 40/60 distribution ratio.
At this point I am very pleased with my purchase and would highly recommend a Ford truck to anyone looking for a good loader or a little bit of extra recreational room.
The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport is a great truck offering good value, respected Ford quality craftsmanship and is all-around a solid work horse. Keep your maintenance guidelines in check and learn to drive with the truck (opposed to forcing the truck to drive against its design) and you will be very happy with a great purchase.
I would certainly recommend this truck to anyone looking for a second vehicle or someone looking to purchase a 1-3 vehicle. Great size, great performance, good quality.
CONCLUSION
If you don't have kids and aren't worry about getting too much use out of the back-seat, this is a great 2DR truck with very good performance at a decent value. Plenty of room to play with, comfortable for long tours or stop and go work rides and a solid, dependable work horse. If you can adapt to the nuisances of this vehicle, you will find this truck to be a great product.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 14200
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2001
Model and Options: Sport w/ Minor After-market Upgrades
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Epinions.com ID:
xorcet
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Member: Rob
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 0 members
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