PetePuma
How many lumps do you want
Premium,MVM
join:2002-06-13
Arlington, VA
|  Which car to keep?
My wife and I currently own a 2000 Ford Explorer XLS (V6, 4WD-capable) and a 2004 Subaru Outback Sport (Impreza body).
We're about to buy a minivan as our main "family" car (currently the Explorer) and are not sure which car to keep as my commuter car and which one to sell. The Subaru is worth about 2x the Ford at this point, but it's hard to take a guess as to reliability/repairs/etc. over the next 5-7 years.
The Explorer is older and a bigger gas guzzler, but my commute is not far (20 miles/day local/city driving). Both cars have relatively new tires on them. The Subie is due for a brake job but is otherwise sound. Neither car has anything major wrong with it.
Any thoughts or resources? Edmunds has a nice TCO (total cost of ownership) tool, but it doesn't go back before 2003 so I can only look up one of the vehicles. CR's ratings are kind of murky at best, I was hoping for something a little more specific/tangible...
Thanks.
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Fight fire with water. |
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CatSnak
RIP Splashy - We miss you
Premium
join:2001-05-06
Lakeside, CA
| We have a 1997 Exporer with close to 300k miles on it and it's still doing fine. There are some minor issues with a couple of "convenience" items but mechanically she's sound and makes a great commuter for my GF. I do find it funny though (and tease her about it often) that her V6 gets worse mileage then my 2004 F150 V8. 
Personally I'd lean toward keeping the Explorer though I will say that pretty much any car well and properly maintained should last you for many years.
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Founding member, 2002-2003, 2005-2006 Director of Communications, 2004-2005 Secretary for the Crunchenstein Project |
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ObdH
Premium
join:2003-06-11
| reply to PetePuma
I would take the difference between what the explorer is worth and what you sell the scooby for, and put that in the bank for repairs on the explorer.
I think the explorer is a more durable vehicle, i drove a delivery buddys 93 explorer with 372k miles and it was a rolling heap, without a decent peice of suspension left it kept lumbering on, and on, and on |
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bobrk
You kids get offa my lawn
Premium
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA | reply to PetePuma
Outback. Lose the truck. |
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JoelC707
join:2002-07-09
Tucson, AZ
clubs:
| reply to PetePuma
That's a tough decision. On one had I'd say keep the car with more value (the Subaru). On the other hand I like the idea about putting money away from the sale of the Subaru for future repairs on the Explorer. But if you're planning on using the money from whichever sale as a down payment on the minivan, then that's not a bad idea either.
If that's the case I think you should consider how it will effect the monthly payment of the minivan in relation to how much you put down. But I can already tell you how to solve that dilemma. If you were to sell the Explorer you'd get say 5000 for it (just a guess), you'd likely put all of that towards the down payment. If you were to sell the Subaru, you'd get 10000 (basing it on your 2x the value). In this case you could still put 5000 towards the minivan and 5000 in savings for a rainy day. This would have you coming out equal in relation to how it effects the minivan or if you already have rainy day money then put the entire 10000 towards the minivan.
After putting all this in words I think I'd lean towards selling the Subaru. When I look at it from the perspective of what you want (a commuter car), I wouldn't picture the Subaru as that candidate given the choices. Also given the Subaru already needing a brake job that's a (small) strike against it. How long before the Explorer needs one? That's probably the most expensive wear item after tires (which are equal in this case). Look at it from this perspective, can the Subaru be a backup "family" car? If not, you currently don't have one and it wouldn't hurt to have one (the Explorer). |
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seaquake
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-23
Millersville, MD
clubs: 
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to PetePuma
In your case it sounds like you really need to sit down and write out the pros and cons for each vehicle. Both have their merits to keeping and both have a reason to get rid of them. The big items to think about is payload (do you haul a lot of big stuff?), MPG, current age and family needs. |
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beck
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-29
On The Road | reply to PetePuma
If the Subaru hasn't given you problems up to now, keep that one. Should have a lot more miles of no problems in it. |
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wilbilt
Pronto Resurrected
Premium
join:2004-01-11
Oroville, CA | reply to PetePuma
Ditch the Ford.
No time spent thinking about it. Just do it.
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We were taking a vote when the ground came up and hit us. |
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cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT | reply to PetePuma
Keep the Subaru. Old car=money pit. |
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Nick
Purveyor of common sense
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2000-10-29
Smithtown, NY
clubs:
| reply to PetePuma
I'd keep the Subaru. We've had 3 different Subaru cars.
'93 Impreza since it was new. Totaled by someone who hit it in the rear in 2003 or so. Even after it was totalled and sat in the same spot for 6 or 8 months until I finally admitted to myself it really wasn't worth fixing, it started right up and I drove it onto the flatbed.
'96 Impreza stick, sold because my father couldn't drive stick anymore and nobody else knew how
'99 Impreza, still being driven with 87k miles on it.
Those cars are built to last and as long as you don't start running into problems early on they will stay pretty reliable.
And it's also more fuel efficient than the Explorer.
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Stupidity, like hydrogen, is one of the basic building blocks of the Universe.
Misc |
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shamanfk
join:2001-03-12
Saco, ME
| reply to PetePuma
Vehicles are the number one wealth drain in this country, they depreciate at a faster rate- the newer they are. Owning two relatively new cars will cost you more- the Explorer has taken the hit already- sell/trade the "BARU".
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Success is getting what you want; Happiness is wanting what you get. |
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EveryName
Wake Up
Premium
join:2001-12-05
Montreal | reply to PetePuma
Subaru. Subarus are known to be very reliable. Not so much with Fords. Plus, the Subaru is newer, better on gas, will keep value better, etc. Lose that hunkin truck |
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jerry666
Premium
join:2002-12-12
Sainte-Anne-Des-Lacs, QC
clubs: | reply to PetePuma
I put 480,000 km on my explorer , with a trans rebuild at 300,000 km . other than brakes everything else was original when i sold it . Plus there are tons of spares for the explorer |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS | reply to PetePuma
What are the mileages on the 2 vehicles?
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Palin is sofa king retarded. |
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bryanviper
join:2002-10-12
Toronto, CAN |  reply to PetePuma
Subaru +1
its only a matter of time before the price of gas goes up again so you can save money there. Sell the Ford! |
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PetePuma
How many lumps do you want
Premium,MVM
join:2002-06-13
Arlington, VA
| reply to markwp2001
said by markwp2001  :What are the mileages on the 2 vehicles? Ah. Good questions.
First, the selling of the car doesn't factor (directly) into the payment on the minivan, though of course money is money.
The Explorer has about 46k miles (we didn't drive it a whole lot the first few years we had it, before we had kids), the Subaru around 36 or 37k.
Re: payload, we don't generally have stuff that's that big, and frankly I'd guess our capacity to haul stuff is probably about equal between the Explorer and the new-to-us Odyssey.
The gas mileage isn't a huge difference -- I've measured 12-14 city on the Explorer, and 19-20 on the Subaru. It takes a lot of miles, even at $4/gal, to balance out. Based on gas alone I'd keep the Explorer, but I'm worried that the Ford "Fix Or Repair Daily" mnemonic will come true... |
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MooJohn
join:2005-12-18
Milledgeville, GA
 ·Windstream
| reply to PetePuma
Trade the Explorer before it starts costing you bigtime. A 2000 Explorer isn't worth much these days but it'd probably cover a downpayment on something like the Kia Sedona minivan, which also packs a $5k cash back incentive. You won't find this much minivan within $10k of that price - safety (5 star), 10yr warranty, strong powertrain - this is a nice van without paying the Honda tax.
The worse thing the Subaru is going to need is a timing belt change and maybe a tranny flush (assuming automatic). The Explorer's repairs may be cheap but they are apt to be numerous as well. I say this with 15 and 7 yr old Ford products in the driveway.
If the car you keep becomes your daily commuter, eyeball the safety ratings and see which you'd rather be in when some idiot T-bones you. Also, why drag all that vehicle when it's just you 99% of the time?
I will say I'm biased - I love my 05 Subaru Legacy GT and am also a big fan of the latest Hyundai/Kia products.
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John M - Cranky network guy |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS | reply to PetePuma
You suggested that cost of repairs and reliability were big factors in your decision. On that basis I think the Subaru is clearly the one to keep.
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Palin is sofa king retarded. |
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markwp2001
Spreadhead
Premium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS | reply to PetePuma
Have you already purchased the Odyssey? My friend just purchased an 08 LX and got a great deal, I can tell you what he got it for if you're interested.
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Palin is sofa king retarded. |
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GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
Premium
join:2001-10-29
Hollywood, FL | reply to PetePuma
Subaru, no question. Isn't the Outback AWD? Should settle any snow commute issues.
I think Subaru tends to have good reliability over time. You could check Consumer Reports used car reviews to see history of models over years. |
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