Used 1997 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD Consumer Reviews
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My beloved Green Machine!
Mike, Vancouver, WA, 12/08/2017
Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Let me first just start off by saying this is one of the most tough and reliable vehicle you will ever get your hands on.I am the original owner, and it's still rolling on at 248,000 miles as the family car! It does it all, tows a ski boat, hauls ass up to Mt Hood over 20 times a year "never had to chain it up with winter tires", and has even seen numerous off-road trails. Just recently my son rear ended someone at a stop light. Just barely dented the bumper while completely totalling the poor Nissan Versa in front of it. These things are steel bricks not some Mexico aluminum or whatever the hell they make them with now. Yes it gets terrible gas mileage averaging around 12 in the city and 15 in the highway, but that's not really a problem for me when repairs have been absolutely minimal and cheap.They truly don't build fords like they used to and these were made back in the day when SUVs were actually TRUCKS and made in the US of A. If you are considering buying one of these as a first car DO IT! And try to get the 4.0 SOCH with 4x4 for the best reliability and power.
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Great SUV
encycloman, 06/12/2002
Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Very reliable, excellent handling. Like a sports car but a little bigger.
Great Explorer
B. Glenn, 05/11/2009
Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
OK here goes for all of you with bad reviews. I've had this car for 7 years and currently drive it every day. It now has 328,000 miles on it and continues to start and run each day. Yes, Ive had problems, transfer case, sensors, intake gaskets, but this vehicle has been used and used hard. I pull a boat 20 weekends/year and still use this one as my primary traveling vehicle for vacations. Ice cold A/C, pushrod V6 has been great, interior is comfortable (back seat could be better), very few electrical problems; I'm thinking about replacing it but having trouble parting with it. Compared to a similar GM suv owned by another family member, this suv handles more like a sports car.
1997 Ford Exploder
Tim Hopper, 10/31/2003
Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This truck had lots of recalls. It was fairly relibale until the plastic timing chain guides broke at 70,000 miles. We had to replace the engine. I would not recommend this vehicle with it's unreliable v6 engine. This was a known defect by Ford and they would not help us in resolving the problem. We have a friend you also has '97 Explorer and he had to replace his engine as well. THUMBS DOWN!
Good, bad and ugly
tjwarren, 11/27/2002
Ford Explorer XLT 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
good dependable vehicle - poor city gas mileage - 12mpg -- operates very good on snowy roads and tracks well in normal driving conditions.
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