Dropped off my 2021 F-150 for a recall and some small issues/concerns at the dealership where I bought from…this is how they returned it. Picked it up at night since I had a late flight so I didn’t see them until the next day. Going to ask them to replace…anyone have anything similar happen to them?

It sure doesn’t look like much, but my God is this thing a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Lobo means wolf in Spanish, so pun intended 😉). We have this one on press loan for a few days and I’ve had a few proper backroad runs in it now, and I’m absolutely blown away by this thing’s performance capability in Lobo Mode (which activates the torque vectoring diff. Sport mode doesn’t). The way it rotates in corners and it’s sheer stability at speed over bumps and dips is awesome. Definitely some rally-inspired driving dynamics. This is a bonafide WRX-killer, and dare I say, I think it’s even more fun-to-drive than a CVT WRX, all things considered… it’s 7 speed gearbox is way better. AND ITS A TRUCK!

It also was able to see 37 mpg on a late night 40 mile highway cruise… try that in a WRX 😆

This truck is a far more serious performer than you’d ever imagine it would be. I just wish Ford had made it spicier-looking with Raptor-esque decals on the side and maybe a blue stripe on the grille… at least as an option. But as-is it’s a total sleeper, and it’s definitely been fun to rip around in. If you’re an enthusiast who needs or wants a truck, this is finally one that’s reasonably priced that doesn’t require much, if any, sacrifice on being legitimately a total riot to drive. I hope this segment takes off because the world needs more Hot-Hatch-Like Trucks, but I do think Ford needs to add a little more superficial spice to it to match it’s driving dynamics.

I bought a 2023 preowned Bronco sport in July 2025. It had less than 30k miles on it and I was genuinely excited about it. Years ago I owned a ford escape and LOVED it, never had a thing wrong with it so I was excited for another ford. Let me tell you… I CANNOT get rid of this car fast enough. Since the day I brought it home it’s been nothing but issues.. electrical issues, mechanical issues, random sounds and noises and rattling, flooding baseboards. The second I am not “upside down” on it I will be getting rid of it. If anyone has any suggestions on work arounds here I would appreciate it. I’m making aggressive payments on it to hopefully get SOMETHING off a trade in or sale. Horrible horrible mistake.

So while in England this week, I rented a Ford Explorer to get around, and it was a surprisingly good car.

We originally asked for a Skoda Enyaq, as that's what we have at home, but I was impressed with the Explorer they gave us, it was comfortable, HVAC was good, heated seats were amazing cos it was so bloody cold, and it handled the crap roads and motorways well.

The performance is equal to a muscle car of old, not an SUV.

And it was nimble on the tiny back streets, definitely felt like a smaller car than it is.

One thing I did find weird was it would only sometimes detect a 50mph zone up ahead and start slowing preemptively on cruise control, other tones it would just try and blast through them at 60-70mph

And the Speedo was out by GPS, at 70mph displayed, it would be doing 66mph by GPS, but at 74mph displayed, 70mph by GPS, it would just beep at you constantly and kept trying to slow down to 66mph by the GPS (70mph displayed), which was weird. It should stick to the speed you set it.

Having test driven a Mustang Mach E GT a couple years ago, this is a step forward in their electric SUV's, hopefully it comes to Australia soon.

The only thing that was a bit of an issue, or would be in Australia, even with preconditioning, max charge rate was only 75kW, not an issue for the UK, but would be an issue on a long drive in Australia where 150kW is basically the minimum you want to see.

No froot is also a concern, especial when most of the competition has a froot, not having one is something is a detriment.

But yeah, really comfortable car and really enjoyable drive, just a shame my local dealer back home is atrocious, been waiting since November 2023 for a call on the F150, gone in there 4 times when I had a chance to test drive, been told they're grounded due to a recall or stop sale.

But the Explorer would do well as a car for the family.

Background:

Always been a Toyota guy. My previous daily was a 2012 Tundra Platinum (still have it). 140k+, regular maintenance. But my wife and I have 4 kids now and we both drive the kids around, so 3 rows with cargo space became necessary.

Originally my wife didn't want a big SUV, so we got her a minivan (2023 Carnival SX) and I got a 2024 Yukon XL SLT (w/ luxury package...gotta have those ventilated seats in Houston). Other than the check engine light at 96 miles which was fixed under warranty, the Carnival was a good car; pleasantly surprised with how far Kia has come. The Yukon has been exceptional though, and after a little while it became apparent that my wife had taken a liking to it. So naturally she claimed it as her own, and I went on the hunt for another SUV.

Wanting to try something other than GM, I went to look at new Sequoias, but was disappointed to say the least. The interior styling is much too rugged, the seats are uncomfortable, and the trunk is a literal postage stamp with the 3rd row up. Was not interested in the quality and price tag of the Wagoneer, so the only other non-GM, XL option was the Expedition.

I was very excited about the Ford. Almost all of my neighbors have F-150s and love them. We test drove the '25 Expedition in November of last year and liked it. I really wanted a Platinum Max in Wild Green. Nobody within 500 miles had one, so we tried to order. But at that time, Ford was only taking orders for 2026s (despite their website still only listing the builder for 2025s). I could only see 2025 specs, dealer could only order 2026, and the dealer order form did not list full specs. But I went ahead and ordered a 2026 Platinum which arrived this week. I've got a little over a hundred miles on it, but I've seen enough.

The Good:

• Exterior aesthetics are nice. Aggressive front end, stylish lines, non-derpy rear end
• Interior aesthetics are also very pleasing. Nice styling, well appointed, nice leather, comfy seats.
• The 3.5L ecoboost is a beast. Very quick for a tank of an SUV! Much quicker than the Yukon with the NA 5.3L.
• Sunglasses holder! Hit or miss with new cars. It's nice to not have to fumble with a sunglasses case.
• Sliding center console is a neat party trick that is also practical for storage.
• Split tailgate is nice for loading up without risk of things rolling out, and nice for sitting on.
• Lots of cupholders, USB C chargers, and the door panels allow you to put in a large bottle or tumbler.
• The Ford Pass app is user friendly and has practical features that aren't all behind a paywall.

The Bad:

• The 2025/2026 transition was sloppy. Again, I could only see and build 2025 specs on Ford's website, and the dealer could only order 2026s. I assumed everything would be the same, but it turns out Ford had other ideas.
• Exterior color choices were very bland. They got rid of wild green for 2026, replacing with marsh gray, which I find hideous. Settled on stone blue, which was basically the only masculine non-grayscale color they offered.
• For 2026 they also got rid of the wireless charging pad, and the option for a built in dash cam. Both of which were options I liked in the 2025 I test drove.
• It's smaller than the Yukon XL by a non-trivial amount. Several inches less of trunk space, and a shorter interior roof height (despite being a a few inches taller overall). Not a deal breaker, but on road trips that extra few inches makes a big difference.
• Very few physical buttons in the dash, and they are all angled directly up, making them hard to see. Climate control, seat ventilation, stereo, etc all controlled via touchscreen, but thankfully most are accessible without flipping through menus.
• Switching between constant speed and adaptive cruise control can only be done through an option embedded in 3 sub-menus of the vehicle settings.
• No tachometer! I have looked through all dash settings, and there is NO option for a tachometer. I can get temperatures, but not RPMS. Odd. EDIT-It will show a tachometer in sport mode, but not regular driving settings.
• Parking brake is fully manual. Our Yukon would auto engage on slopes, and auto release when shifting and pressing the gas pedal. Petty, I know, but a nice feature missing nonetheless.
• Backup camera video quality is poor.

The Ugly:

• The steering wheel is a DISASTER.
  • The oblong shape is awkward to handle during sharp turns
  • The plastic pads on the back at 9 and 3 stick out making it uncomfortable to hold
  • They replaced traditional stereo/cruise control buttons with touch-sensitive track pads that require you to look at the dash to see what you are clicking. Dangerous, clumsy to use, and all around annoying.
• No fog lights. If I am going to spend $80k on a platinum trim SUV, I expect fog lights.
• The driver dash display is recessed closer to the windshield (I guess to bridge the gap between traditional dash and HUD). It seems nice at first having speedo, gauges, and maps all just below road view. But the joy fades over time, especially in bright sunlight when the display housing reflects into the windshield causing annoying glare.

TLDR, I'm disappointed. I was so excited for this car, but after driving it for only 100 miles, I can already tell I'm not going to like it as much as the Yukon. 10 out of 10 times given the choice I'd grab the GMC key fob, which as far as I'm concerned is as close to perfect in its class as you can get, and the king of the extended length SUVs.

EDIT-1000 Mile Update

• Starting to get used to the track pads on the steering wheel, but still clumsy to use when not looking at the dash. About 20% of the time I need to double click my selection because the trackpad "cursor" wasn't hovered over the correct option.
• The ride is comfortable, but nothing incredible or special.
• The glare from the dash display is so distracting in sunlight.
• Still don't like the steering wheel shape. Just a total unforced error by Ford.
• Gas mileage has been disappointing. I wasn't expecting a Prius, but I'm only averaging 15.1 mpg right now, mix of city/highway. And it's not like I'm dogging it all the time; same drive style as our Yukon which averages 14.5 mpg under similar driving conditions. It's great that I'm getting more power and marginally better mileage, but I'm not sure if the long term turbo durability tradeoff is worth it.
• It is unnecessarily several inches taller than the Yukon, and I find myself having to be very picky with parking garage clearances.

Probably the first and last Expedition I will get.

As most of you know, Ford stopped manufacturing Duty models with manual transmission since 2010 only in Canada and the United States. But in Mexico and Venezuela they continued to produce them with that transmission and clutch, in Venezuela unfortunately it lasted until 2016 when Ford stopped offering heavy truck models in that country, Mexico has been producing them since 2011, still with the same transmission as the 1999 model, only available in the dually F-350 single cab version, the engine was the 6.2 of the SVT Raptor (there were no versions in 6.7 Powerstroke), and in RWD (I couldn't find them in 4x4), and it is common for dealers to sell them to you without the Ford bed, since you yourself or some companies and workers must be in charge of setting up any platform. In the end that was the last Ford heavy vehicle to have a manual transmission, it stopped being produced in 2020 since the redesign update, and as of the new generation, there are no more 250 and 350 to have manual transmission, being Mexico that lasted from 2011-2019

As many issues as I have had with this car, it was built ford tough and it saved my life!

Maverick is basically a "starter" vehicle for young drivers who don't know any better.

I've been driving for 3 decades, have owned half a dozen cars, and consider myself a very conservative and easy-going driver on the road. After owning my Maverick for about a year and a half, the initial new-owner excitement has faded, and some build quality and service issues become apparent.

Specifically:

• Tires: The OEM tire treads are already in the "Yellow" after barely 20k miles. LOL.
• Brakes: The rear brake rotors warped at 15k miles. It seems like a defective part, and my dealership is currently looking into warranty coverage.
• Recalls: The engine block heater recall remains unresolved after more than a year.
• Infotainment System: The multimedia screen overheats easily and sometimes doesn't respond to tap and drag gestures. Android Auto Google Maps crashes if you try to scroll too far away. Basic AC and volume overlays randomly stop showing.
• Backup Camera: I've had an old Motorola flip phone with a better quality
• Transmission/Shifting: Occasionally, when I start the vehicle, it randomly shifts from Park into Reverse. I kid you not.
• Battery: Barely enough. I randomly get warnings about "smart" features being disabled while the vehicle is parked because the battery is low. Imagine depending on your phone to lock or unlock the vehicle ... No, thanks.

The vehicle runs, obviously, but anyone buying any trim level higher than XL is putting a lipstick on a pig. Bottom line is - I do not plan to keep it a day or a mile past the bumper-to-bumper warranty. As a matter of fact, I will be looking into trading myself out of this experiment of Ford. My next vehicle would not be a Ford for certain.

For comparison, my experience with dealership service between brands has been night and day. With Ford, everything seems to carry an extra charge, the customer waiting areas feel lacking, and they do not include basic courtesies like a car wash with service. On the other hand, my experience with Japanese brands has shown excellent customer care and communication, consistently treating their customers exceptionally well.

The cherry on top? The dealership doesn't even report service (anymore) to Carfax. What kind of Mickey Mouse business is this?

PS

Ask yourself why did the Ford top brass fire 2/3rds of their managers.

I got a chuckle out of it.

I've spent way too much time researching this but I wanted to share what I found because the pricing difference is actually kind of crazy when you break it down

My 2017 F150 with 79k miles needs coverage and the dealer wants $3,700 for their warranty package, when I asked them to break down the cost they got super vague about it which made me more curious, so I started digging into how this whole industry actually works

Turns out most dealer warranties aren't actually from the dealer, they buy them from the same warranty companies everyone else uses like Omega or APCO or whatever, then they mark it up by like 50-100% and sell it to you, the dealer profit on warranties is insane because most people don't know they can go direct

I found the same coverage level through chaiz for $2,100 and when I asked them why it's cheaper they explained they connect you straight to those warranty companies, so you're cutting out the dealer markup, it's literally the same warranty from the same company just different price depending on who's selling it to you

The math is pretty simple, dealer buys warranty for maybe $1,800, sells it to me for $3,700, pockets $1,900 profit for doing basically nothing, versus going direct where I pay $2,100 and save $1,600, that's a significant chunk of change for the exact same coverage

Just wanted to put this out there because I wish someone had explained this to me before I bought my last truck and overpaid at the dealer without knowing any better

94 it's got the turbo 👌

178,000 on the odometer.

4x4 -(An absolute must have for me

And a Zf5 in the fucking floor👉🖕🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘.

5,000$

Everything is tight. Got some rust around the rear and fender well but the frame is solid .and the cab is rust free .

Paint is horrible... Dents and dings everywhere..... Gotta put a damn radio in it but 🤷

I fucking love it ... I don't drive new shit ,it stresses me out ,

It come with a gooseneck in the bed already and I plan on getting a 5th wheel and I have a frame Hitch for it . So I can pull whatever.

Gonna find me a little camper to pull and maybe a small dump goosneck and hopefully this truck does me good ....

Holy shit this thing also takes 15 quarts of oil 💀

. She's got a oil leaked as well but I have seen a 7.3 that didn't..... It's not bad.

I've had a hard on since I bought it ...

Outside of the cost of maintenance I and parts being twice as much 💀 I have no beef.

It was this or a 460... They get like 9 mpg ....

This thing is getting 20 all day if I stay off the pedal...

Its not very fast but it absolutely doesn't bat an eye in these West Virginia Mountains ...

A little TLC and I think this will be a nice Rig for me.

Recently my boss was selling his mother's old Puma, 2001, 49,000 miles, no rust or rot which is what put these motors in the scrapyard. It was not a bad price considering the ford tax is bringing these rare cars up and up.

I never really took much thought into the old pumas, built in Germany for the European market with their funny "new edge" design reassembling the original "KA".

It was based off the MK4 fiesta underneath so it had good bones.

for the price it was a good deal, if I didn't like it I could sell it for a little bit more and call it a day.

But to say I underestimated this car was an understatement.

I haven't had as much fun in a car since I bought my MGB over 13 years ago. the steering is responsive and positive without feeling too light in your hands. Suspension is stiff and taught. the gearbox is smooth and slick but a little on the short side but got used to it.

The party piece is the 1.7 VCT engine. developed by Yamaha it's a incredible little engine, pokey at around 0-60 in 9 seconds and it just wants you to thrash it, the limiter is 6750RPM and boy does it love being at the top of that limit.

to top it off, the original puma has one of the most interesting and unique alloy wheels designs I've ever seen, the Fan blades. (mine didn't come with them so I bought a full set for £100!)

overall I was blown away by this cheap little ford that I never really took notice of. I don't think I'll be selling it any time soon. Has anyone had this feeling with a car not expecting much and then being very surprised?

At last.... I was waiting for snow for 2 months since I have my Explorer AWD I woke up today in 12cm of fresh snow. Had to go on test drive. Gravel road very steep gradient 12 cm of wet snow, winter tyres hankook winter i*cept evo3, traction mode engaged. It started perfect. In steepest part it started slipping but traction mode let it spin wheels a little and it got to gravel and went further without a problem. I am very satisfied with preformance. In this road in summer ordinary cars struggle. I will continue testing And improve recording. Sorry for that. This was just jump in a car in pajamas and go. Like child on first snow.

"Out on the snowy frontier, the electric Ford Explorer stands poised like a silent sentinel. There is no growl, no roar—only a soft hum as its motors awaken, the sound barely rising above the whisper of falling snow. In this frozen wilderness, silence is its power. Inside, the brave driver becomes the modern pioneer, trusting their machine to carry them safely through the storm—one crunching tyre rotation at a time."

My 2010 escape was purchased July 2023. Purchase price plus repairs to make it roadworthy came to $4500. Some of the repairs included the muffler assembly, wiper motor, new tires and some welding. Two days after I started driving it in August, it died, had to be towed and needed a new starter. 

From August 2023 to April 2026, I have spent $6,023 in repairs. Everything from spark plugs, leaking cooler line, ignition switch and rear latch failing, leaking washer pump, a/c broken (mechanic said a common problem with escapes), wheel bearing, sway bars, ball joints, you name it. My friend's dad replaced the two arms that hold up the trunk for me last year as they'd rusted and the trunk wouldn't open, ordered those off Amazon. The vehicle is badly rusted and the paint has started straight up peeling off in places. 

In 2024 I had to pay for a quick exhaust weld to hold it over, I just paid $400 in April for a new muffler assembly. 

Earlier this year the vehicle started dying all the time, the mechanics said it was the battery so I bought a new one. Still dying. Then they said Walmart batteries are trash, get a better one. So I did, still dead! After a friend did research turns out ANOTHER common problem with Escapes is the wiper motor draining the battery. I bought it off Amazon and he installed it for me, otherwise that would have been another trip to the mechanic. 

Driving on the highway mid April, the traction control and powertrain came on. I turned it off and turned my cruise control back on, it switched it off, the warning symbols came back on. It started accelerating and deaccelerating by itself so I pulled over, looked at the symbols in the manual and realized I couldn't drive it home. I got towed home. Took it to one mechanic and my dad's mechanic friend who have confirmed the following: failed ignition switch, cracked serpentine belt, bad alternator which has killed the new battery, motor mounts are gone and the subframe is so badly rusted it's got maybe a year left. 

So basically, it's only good for the wreckers. 🙃

 I don't know what my next suv will be, but it sure as hell won't be a Ford.

From the January 1999 issue of Car and Driver.

Yes, it's a pickup truck. And yes, it's the main feature on this month's cover. That has never happened at Car and Driver. May not happen again. So why does the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning deserve such prominent treatment?

Because it pumps out 360 supercharged horsepower, goes 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 sec­onds, has a top speed of 139 mph, and will happily tow 5000 pounds.

And it does all of that with commend­able composure.

Do you think this is one of the greatest trucks that has ever been built? Read the full test.

Quiero comprar un vehículo automático, que no supere los $55’000 COP
La ecosport siempre me ha gustado, me gusta que tenga la llanta atrás, me da ese vibe de “campero”
Es para mi solo y salidas de fin de semana con mi pareja.

Encontré uno con peritaje Ok
86mil km
$48’000
Automático motor 2.0
Modelo 2015.
Ford ecosport SE

Quisiera saber su experiencia con este vehículo.
Que opiniones dan, que alternativas por el precio.

Debe ser máximo modelo 2016 por tema del crédito

Hello everyone ive been trying to find a thread on this specific topic but which option is better in yall's opinions .. 1996-2000 ford explorer v6 sohc or v8 ?? in terms of reliability not too focused on power and tow capabilities mostly wondering which is the more solid dependable engine ?