general questions about dad's new car.

[earlyre]

it Finally Happened, the day I Finally got to say I told you so to my Dad that he decided he couldn't Pull himself(or his Legs) High enough to Get into his '12 Explorer anymore.

this has been an on going Issue, I suggested a set of H&R Sport Springs, which would have lowered it up to 2 inches (for about $500 installed), wasn't enough of a drop, and My brother would have put the Kibosh on that anyways, " lowered sport suspensions too harsh of a ride" (yadda, yadda)

we had been trying to find a Good, low Mile Properly equipped Flex. (which he thinks is ugly, but the Freestyle/Taurus X (he had and Loved an 05 freestyle) went out of production in '09, which is too old for him, and the Flex is the same platform) but finding one(Flex 2012+), properly equipped, in this part of the country with >60k mi, is nigh on impossible.

so he talks to a few folks with Kugas Escapes (which he had been considering before buying the Explorer), and made an appt to test drive one.
came back 2 hrs later having "ordered" a new Escape.
(they gave him $18k for his 2012 Explorer w/ 24,2xx mi - that he just paid them $25k for 2 summers back, he still owed ~4 Grand on it)

(Less than 24 Hrs Later, they already have the Explorer on their Website)

The next afternoon i walk in the door (~3:30pm, and he has gotten a call from the Ford Dealer, that his car will be ready for Delivery @ 4:30 (they found the exact car he wanted about 100 mi away)

so now he is the Owner of a Brand new (~126mi on the Odo on Delivery) 2015 Ford Escape, AWD, 2.0 EcoBoost. (with roughly the same Payment he had on the Explorer)

so any known issues to watch out for with this Gen Kuga Escape, with this Engine? (aside from the usual "beware the DI Carbon build up!" comments)

any maintenance done on this car will, like his last 2(and Mom's Last 2), be done @ the Local Ford Dealer (won't even let me DRIVE his cars, let alone change his oil. I might Get to change a wiper blade every now and again)

 

[earlyre]

Sorry, i Do tend to ramble on.

Short Version -
any Known issues, with Either this Current Gen Escape, or the AWD 2l Ecoboost Drivetrain?

 

[JC1]

I see they gave him 18K and have it listed for $21,529. Wonder how much they needed to put into it.

Regards, JC.

 

[simple_gifts]

It seems "keep up on the ATF changes" seems to be the top hitter on Escapes

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: JC1
I see they gave him 18K and have it listed for $21,529. Wonder how much they needed to put into it.

Regards, JC.


Pretty much nothing. it still runs&Drives like New. He Got it in Sept '13, with 6,9XX on the dash. Fresh out of their Body Shop from the Prev. owner's sideswipe. (notice no accidents show on the dealer provided "vin check" report)

in roughly 18 months, he Put around 17,300 mi on the car. and did every maintenence by the book/dealer's schedule (pretty much nothing but oil changes and rotations.) and He's a Type A neat Freak, so his Cars stay Looking new in side and out.

the only thing that bummed him out, was we had Just gotten Weathertech Floor liners for it around Thanksgiving (didn't want a second winter to mess up the carpet or rust the Floorboards), and that part number doesn't fit anything but this Gen Explorer. (and no one else we know has one)

- (See what i mean about the rambling)

 

[NHGUY]

The Escape has been recalled a bazillion times since its transformation from a Mazda based Box to the melted-look Ford platform.I would expect more recalls.

 

[Nick1994]

Did he try the C-Max? Might have been easier to get in and out of.


I know what you mean about older people getting in and out of cars. My grandfather has owned probably 40-50 cars in his life. His favorite by far is his beloved 96' Jeep Cherokee but he can barely get in and out of it, the doors are too short and hard to squeeze his legs in (he's tall). We drive the Trailblazer much more as it's got long doors and he can get right in.

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Did he try the C-Max? Might have been easier to get in and out of.


I thought about suggesting it, but he wouldn't have considered it, since it isn't rated to tow anything, and he "had" to get an escape with the Tow pkg, even though he's selling his boat.(which hasn't seen water, aside from rain, in over 2 years)

Since he's Driven mainly minivans since the early 90's, i did suggest the Transit Connect a few times, response was usually some form of "too UGLY"

 

[Olas]

He could have saved a whole lot of money with air suspension on the old car.
It goes low enoug that an arthritic primordial dwarf can jump in and out no problem, and goes high enough to go off road and tow.

 

[Robenstein]

Fuel dilution in the oil is another issues with direct injection engines to watch for.

And as others had mentioned keep up on the ATF, but that is something I would say about any modern car. Transmissions are getting so complicated and expensive, you really need to keep with clean and well lubricated inside.

 

[roadrunner1]

My wife drives a '14 we bought new, currently has 22,xxx mi., no issues to report. Same configuration OP mentioned, 2.0 all wheel drive ect.
The 2.0 hasn't had any recalls since we've owned it so no worries there.

I have noticed the fuel dilution, although through UOA it hasn't resulted in any wear abnormal issues.

 

[supton]

Will he keep long enough to care if it develops problems?

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: supton
Will he keep long enough to care if it develops problems?


That is indeed the question.
He's 69, and this will be the 4th or 5th, "probably the last car I'll ever buy"

he seems to change vehicles at 4-5 yrs, or 100k mi.
so, We'll See.