I am in need of some advice from my fellow FORD brothers
my 2000 Chrysler Concorde just blew its engine, so I am now in need of a new family vehicle, but I do not know if I should go new or find a re-built old Ford 4x4,
I am going to go and see about taking out a home equity loan because my house is all paid for, and I know I want something 4 wheel drive
now this is going to be a family ride so gas mileage and comfort is an issue, but I do not know if I want to pay that hefty bill that a new truck will run me when I know I could find a real nice already re-built 78-79 4x4 rig, I just don't know what to do, I will not be doing anything until after the first of the year anyways, so I figure I got time to do some research, any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks guys..Rick

Need to know how many you need to seat. The explorer or the Escape are nice for a family vehicle.

Very true. I drive a 2001 explorer (4 door) XLT with the "sport package".

It has every comfort a family would want. Room for 5. Rear seat air and radio controls (headphone jacks for the kids). leather seats, AC, tilt, Cruise, power windows, power locks, in dash am/fm/cd.

It also has a good amount of storage in the back. Plus the rear seats fold flat if more is needed.

Mine is a 4.0 SOHC, 5R55E, 4X4, control track, and trac lock w/4.10 gears. If I had better tires, it would get around pretty well. Since I have the sport package, it came with 255/70/16s.

The only issues I have had with mine so far..were it needed brake pads, the thermostat stuck, and...well...thats about all I can think of right now. It has 105,000 miles now. I bought it about 4 (not sure) years ago.

I really would not want a 2002 because they dropped the straight rear axle for an independent one, but that is just me.

I get between 19 and 20 MPG. No matter what it seems. Local, highway, interstate, loaded, empty.

Now..if you are looking for a 4X4 truck...you must have a small family.

Some older pics of mine:

http://home.centurytel.net/brian_b/index.htm

EDIT: the factory battery needed to be replaced at about 103,000 miles. LOL

My only issue with running a thirty yr old truck as the family car is very simple- at that age, they constantly need something.

Why not just get a wrecking-yard motor for the Concorde and call it a day? Probably run about a grand installed, but still...

I do have a small family, there is just the three of us and two dogs, I talked it over with the wife and got her opinion, and she is wanting something small and 4 wheel drive, so we have decided not to go with a brand new ride and find something good but used, something along the lines of a small jeep, explorer, etc, I should be able to have the 78 Bronco finished up by the end of this summer anyways and it will be almost brand new, I wont fix the car because I am just plain sick of it and I hate it, I refuse to waste anymore time or money on it, we can get by for a little bit with no vehicle at this time, the first of the year is almost here and we will take it from there, thanks for letting me sound off, it really does help me to think it through a little bit better..Rick

Don't forget the Escape. I've seen a couple handle superbly through our winter storm up here.

I'm with Bear, those Escape are actually pretty nice.

Yeah I'm with the others-- even though an old truck sounds nice, it's just not practical for a family car. I think a newer SUV would be your best bet.

If your not wanting to get some thing new, you could all ways get a Bronco or a Explorer I've had my bronco in the Colorado winters and it did great.

'97 F250/350 4x4 Crew cab, Diesel or 460 You can find them now for cheap!

What about a late 90s Bronco, something around these lines:

This is perfect: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars....c0.m245&_trkparms=72:727|65:12|39:1|240:1308

This is nice too:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars....c0.m245&_trkparms=72:727|65:12|39:1|240:1308

Weather permitting, I would have had no heistation driving my F100. I was daily driving it for 5 months this past year. Other than gas mileage and issues which I caused to begin with, I had no issues at all.

I drove my 79 f150 all past summer to crappy gas milage but thats not what it was meant for. The reason i drove the truck all summer was because i found out my headgasket was bad and my head was bad on my car.

I still say Bronco or Exploder

Why Didn't I Think About A BRONCO!??
that does sound like a good option. I will keep that in mind, but I am kinda liking the idea of a jeep wrangler, small, good on gas and 4 wheel
but this bronco idea would have its advantages as well, I should have my 78 Bronco all finished up this summer, and I will ave lots of spare parts left over. HMMmmnnn??

rsalter66 said:

Why Didn't I Think About A BRONCO!??
that does sound like a good option. I will keep that in mind, but I am kinda liking the idea of a jeep wrangler, small, good on gas and 4 wheel
but this bronco idea would have its advantages as well, I should have my 78 Bronco all finished up this summer, and I will ave lots of spare parts left over. HMMmmnnn??

Click to expand...

Some of the older jeeps are really good little scooters, they are easy to work on and cheaper then a bronco or a Blazer..
My friend in Alaska has a old Jeep wrangler that he uses in the winter for a groceries getter..

yea, that is still on the top of my list, I was just looking through Craigslist and I am finding a lot of nice little jeeps around here, not so much with the broncos..

Just don't get a samurai..

Whats wrong with a Sammi other than they are said to be tippy.

Just seeing if he picks up on the reference.. lol