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Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/21/23 6:39 a.m.

As I've posted elsewhere on the forum, I'm the very proud owner of a 2005 Ram 2500 diesel 4x4 quad cab.  The truck is super clean with an amazing history and a very low 140k miles on it.  It's been fantastic to tow our travel trailer and we have literally crossed the country in it.

However, we rarely use it.  With the high cost of diesel and the shrinking back seat (or are my kids growing?) combined with the 8' bed being both a blessing and a curse (awesome for hauling things, but the truck is literally over 20' long) I have considered buying a replacement.

After passively watching Facebook Marketplace for months now I've purchased the new rig.

It's a 2011 Ford Expedition XLT.  This particular one has had only two owners, the first keeping it 7 years and up to 101k miles, the second for the past 5 years up to its current 159k miles.

Candidly I was concerned about the miles but I was attracted to the ad for a number of reasons.  The first was a relatively short description and few pictures.  Over the years I've found some of my best cars from ads like this.  Essentially my feeling is that the folks who add 50 pictures and a "War and Peace" level description are also car people or are actually dealers, both of whom are in it to make a buck.  Shorter ads are often folks who don't sell a car frequently, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad rig.  I like the color and equipment.

Anyway, I messaged the seller who almost immediately called me (at my request).  We spoke at some length and I decided I needed to see it in person.

It's a "short" XLT with the 5.4 liter V8.  Those are known to be pretty reliable save for the issue with spark plugs.  They can either spit out a plug or if never changed they can weld themselves to the cylinder head.  I asked her about it, and in fact she had recently had all of them and the coils changed.  The truck starts, runs and drives beautifully.

It is equipped with leather, heated seats, factory navigation, factory tow package with 3.73 gears (which makes its tow rating 9200 lbs), moonroof, power tailgate, etc.  

The seller shared the VIN with me and I ran the Carfax.  It shows one accident which we discussed.  A delivery truck veered out of its lane as they passed the literally knocked the power mirror off the drivers side.  Insurance paid for a new Ford replacement.  A close examination showed zero paint work and an overall straight body verifying what the seller had told me.

The truck has a very clean body and of note is that the tailgate has been refinished.  These are aluminum and are apparently very likely to have corrosion pop up which led to the owner paying out of pocket to have it redone at a really good local body shop.

The interior is clean and smoke free with some cracking of the leather on the drivers side front seat.  Typical of the miles and year.

Of note it has a recent battery and TWO keys/fobs that work!

A deal was struck and I pick it up Tuesday.  Not only will our family find this more practical while being able to tow our camper, but it's a far less expensive vehicle than the diesel which I will sell this summer.  That money will see its way into a couple of college funds...a win win!

I'll add to this thread once I get it home, but in true GRM fashion I wanted to get it posted before it was here haha.

Not to jinx things, but you should be happy with it.  We have a 2008 Navigator with 140,000 miles. Second owner, and have run it for a relatively trouble free 6 years.  The steering is a little numb, but you get used to it.  Great highway cruiser, and gets about 15-16 mpg (highway), regardless of what you're doing.  I have a small trailer, and it pulls very well. You should enjoy it.

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/21/23 10:22 a.m.

You have chosen wisely. My Expedition is the single most useful vehicle my family has ever owned. I've never understood why the Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban is more popular. The Expedition has IRS, the rear seats fold completely flat, it can tow more, and they are cheaper on the used market.

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/21/23 7:14 p.m.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

I was actually looking at Suburbans and even Escalades.  My sister has had two Expeditions that have been fantastic and is currently shopping for number three.  I always liked them though admittedly I prefer the appearance of the GMs a bit more.

When I spotted a decent Navigator for sale locally last week I started really researching this platform and realized just how trustworthy they appear to be.  Many have been used in livery service and are still on the road with well beyond 300k miles on them.  While that truck was sold before I got to it, it caused me to take a harder look at these.  I spotted this particular vehicle 2 hours after it was posted.

The price difference is stunning.  I literally cannot believe what a great bargain this particular one is for the high level of equipment it has and the amount of maintenance it has enjoyed during its life. 

The irony of buying this Expedition is that it more or less means some of my fleet directly replicates what I was driving when I was running a dealer group with Ford stores in it.  I alternated between Mustang GT premiums (I currently own a 2008) and either a well equipped Expedition or Navigator.

I'm itching to pick it up and really spend some time getting to know it.  My goal is to take it on a 2500 mile round trip with my family in just about a month.  Fingers crossed!

yupididit
yupididit UltimaDork
5/21/23 8:07 p.m.

Looks good. The hood suffers from the same corrosion issue as the liftgate. 

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/21/23 8:43 p.m.
Loweguy5 said:

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

The irony of buying this Expedition is that it more or less means some of my fleet directly replicates what I was driving when I was running a dealer group with Ford stores in it.  I alternated between Mustang GT premiums (I currently own a 2008) and either a well equipped Expedition or Navigator.

Given your recent purchase and one I'm hoping to complete tomorrow, we'll both be members of the Expedition and S197 club. smiley

Kendall_Jones
Kendall_Jones Dork
5/21/23 9:36 p.m.

My 2008 expedition has like 242k miles on it now.  I've had it since 100k.  Only issue I've been putting off is a torque converter shudder. 

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/21/23 10:06 p.m.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

Ooooh do tell!  I had a 2020 GT and just never loved it.  My 2008 makes me literally grin ear to ear every time I start it.

The_Jed
The_Jed PowerDork
5/22/23 12:11 a.m.

Looks nice. The wife has a '17 and loves it. It is FAST!!

 

I wish Ford had put the 6.2 or 5.0 in the Expedition though I wouldn't mind owning one with a 5.4 that has been well maintained.

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/22/23 8:41 a.m.
Loweguy5 said:

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

Ooooh do tell!  I had a 2020 GT and just never loved it.  My 2008 makes me literally grin ear to ear every time I start it.

Build thread coming soon!

classicJackets (FS)
classicJackets (FS) SuperDork
5/22/23 8:52 a.m.

Very nice!! I have a 2000 that rolled over 220k miles recently and still going strong. Eventually I'll have to replace it and another expedition/navigator is high on my list. I'm always happy to see others here with good things to say.

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/22/23 9:20 p.m.

I picked the truck up tonight as planned.  As far as I can tell, everything is in working order.

It does suffer from a clunking/ticking blend door but for now it still switches among the vents and both the heat and ac work well.

The frame is in good shape though it's got a layer of New England crust on it.  I'll wire brush it and hit it with some rust neutralizer as soon as I have the time.

The rockers both have rust though thankfully they are still sturdy and repairable.  I noted all of the above when I looked at it originally.

The running boards need to be refinished.  They are faded tan plastic-if anyone here has first hand experience with these I would appreciate some input.  I'm not sure if painting them would hold up to shoes or not.

Other than that it is just very dirty.  I bought it from a divorced mother who replaced it a couple of months ago with a new BMW.  This truck has seen lots of maintenance, but I think she stopped caring about the appearance and used it as an appliance during the last year or two.

I'm still shocked at what I paid for it.  While it is more than she would have gotten on trade, I think its well below what it is worth with a good cleaning and some minor repairs.  The seller seemed to value an easy sale with zero haggling over negotiating and sitting with it.

Here are some pics from the driveway:

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
5/22/23 10:32 p.m.

That's a nice color scheme on these trucks. Much better than my boring old silver (wife's choice).

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
5/22/23 10:41 p.m.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

I think once it's really cleaned up the colors will show well.  I'm looking into lower replacement coverings for the front buckets;  12 year old leather seats show every crack and mark!

nlzmo400r
nlzmo400r New Reader
6/8/23 11:17 a.m.
Loweguy5 said:

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

I was actually looking at Suburbans and even Escalades.  My sister has had two Expeditions that have been fantastic and is currently shopping for number three.  I always liked them though admittedly I prefer the appearance of the GMs a bit more.

When I spotted a decent Navigator for sale locally last week I started really researching this platform and realized just how trustworthy they appear to be.  Many have been used in livery service and are still on the road with well beyond 300k miles on them.  While that truck was sold before I got to it, it caused me to take a harder look at these.  I spotted this particular vehicle 2 hours after it was posted.

The price difference is stunning.  I literally cannot believe what a great bargain this particular one is for the high level of equipment it has and the amount of maintenance it has enjoyed during its life. 

The irony of buying this Expedition is that it more or less means some of my fleet directly replicates what I was driving when I was running a dealer group with Ford stores in it.  I alternated between Mustang GT premiums (I currently own a 2008) and either a well equipped Expedition or Navigator.

I'm itching to pick it up and really spend some time getting to know it.  My goal is to take it on a 2500 mile round trip with my family in just about a month.  Fingers crossed!

My theory is that cars generally become popular because they're either very good, or they're the first to offer something of it's kind. The suburban definitely falls in this camp to me. A couple of years ago I was also looking for a 3 row SUV with good tow capability and naturally looked at all the domestic options. The price difference between a Tahoe (2014+) and an Expedition (15+) was stunning. Ultimately because of the price the 'obvious' choices demand, I ended up with diesel Mercedes GL. 

I have a feeling this is also the reason I'll never buy a 911 - now that they're the obvious choice, they're worth far more to other people than they are to me. 

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/19/23 9:53 p.m.

Today I got the Expy back from the mechanic.  While he had it, both diffs were drained and filled, the transfer case was drained and filled, it got a new Motorcraft water pump, new radiator hoses, new tensioner and pulleys, new coolant, new serp belt, and Motorcraft spark plugs, and stock replacement loaded rear struts.  He also installed the new tires I ordered from WalMart.

Originally I thought the truck had great tires, but it turned out that they were just very evenly worn but likely didn't have a lot of life left.  Since we are going to cross the country in it starting at the end of this week, I wanted to prevent as much trouble as possible.

The tires turned out to be a real bargain.  The size is 275/65/18, and while the tires look sort of small when installed on the truck, they are actually 32" diameter and are roughly the same dimensions as we run on our Wrangler.

Most places the tires of this size run from $160-$300 EACH plus $30 or more mounting and balancing, each.  I got them for $111 each with free shipping, and a local new car dealer installed them for $20 each!  They are Summit AT Trail Climbers.  I will admit they are noisier than the original tires, but I think they look great and they were the right price for a 160k mile truck!

It drove great on the way home and I believe it is now fully roadworthy for our trip.  Ultimately it will end up in front of our camper, but I want to put some miles on it performing lesser tasks before I look for it to pull over 7000 lbs.  So far, so good!

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
6/19/23 10:04 p.m.

Looks great. Once my current tires wear out, I'm swapping the factory 20" dubs for some 18" F-150 takeoffs.

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/19/23 10:48 p.m.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

There are some very good deals on those takeoffs and the F150 18s are really good looking wheels.

I tend to go down a rabbit hole with spending when it comes to cars older cars I acquire so knowing that I'm trying to keep this truck "budget friendly".  If I wasn't, those takeoffs would have been my go to!

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/20/23 9:31 a.m.

One more quick update before I leave the house this morning.  This morning I scrubbed the Weathertech mats with Tough Stuff and sprayed them down with the hose and I spread coffee grounds throughout the interior to help to rid the truck of smoker smell.

I've thoroughly cleaned the leather and door panels, sprayed Fabreeze on the carpets and headliner and most recently ran a Meguires freshening bomb inside with the ac on blast.  It smells much better.

Many years ago a used car dealer taught me that coffee grounds will pull odors including smoke out of fabric and carpets.  It's sunny today- I'll let it bake today and will fully vacuum everything up tonight.

dj06482 (Forum Supporter)
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
6/21/23 11:46 p.m.

Ozone generators work great for pulling smells out of cars, as well. I bought one on Amazon a few years ago and it's worked great so far!

Love the Expedition, they're such a great value compared to the GM products!

collinskl1
collinskl1 GRM+ Memberand Reader
6/22/23 7:26 a.m.

+1 for ozone generators removing smells

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter)
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
6/22/23 8:39 a.m.

Coffee grounds, eh? That's a new one. I'd always heard of baking soda. I used that on the Exploder we bought for my son, the PO had hauled dogs in it. It worked pretty well.

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 GRM+ Memberand Dork
7/4/23 1:20 p.m.

Quick update:  the family and I navigated a 2600 mile round-trip flawlessly with the old girl.  I ran 70-80 the entire time and averaged just under 18 mpg.  Considering the EPA rating was 13/18 when it was new, I'm fine with that result.  As a result of all of the fuel I bought though I do anticipate some Saudi prince has likely ordered a new Ferrari as a result.  Good for him.

yupididit
yupididit UltimaDork
7/4/23 5:49 p.m.

In reply to Loweguy5 :

I just did 3200 miles towing. Did 19mpg empty trailer and 16.1 loaded. If you keep these trucks at 65 or under, they'll surprise you. 

Apexcarver
Apexcarver UltimaDork
7/4/23 9:05 p.m.

I've had an 07 2wd base model of similar as my DD for just over 5 years. Noting too big has cropped up, but I'm selling mine after I get my Maverick next month. With young kids, 185k was starting to make me nervous. 

 

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