I love my '05, but do NOT get the new Ford Escapes.mshunter77 wrote:How you like the escape and what kind of mileage are you getting? I drive 100 miles round trip to work but am tired of driving a car so was looking at some of the small SUVs that get good mileage.jacksbuddy wrote:Y'all are impressing the h311 outta me. I thought my '98 S-10 was unstoppable, until it finally wore out after 15 years and 3 months at 365,000 miles. Now I'm hoping that my '05 Escape can take up the challenge. 135,100 miles and counting.
My only complaints about mine are that the engine and transmission are too small and light to pull a heavy load, even though I did install an aftermarket trailer hitch on it. Remember, Ford marketed these things to women so that they could have their own version of a 4wd vehicle. That being said, the 3.0L engine gives me real world 20+mpg, and I have hauled everything in it from dogs and hunting gear, to all the materials to build a deck. (Ok. it took me 2 trips on the deck stuff, but geez.)
The reason I say not to get the new Escape is that Ford has changed it to be a crossover, which has weakened the power even further. Last year after graduation, I saw a recent grad try to go up a hill with all of his worldly possessions packed in his brand new Ford Escape, and the poor guy literally couldn't hardly make it without a running start. (More than one witness thought he may need a push to get up the hill.)
