Post by: Mtnwalker on April 30, 2018, 04:46:25 PM
Post by: bearhunter99 on April 30, 2018, 04:54:28 PM
Post by: dwils233 on April 30, 2018, 05:06:48 PM
Post by: b23 on April 30, 2018, 05:07:48 PM
We have been car shopping for the wife and have it narrowed down to a 2013 Ford Explorer 4WD vs a 2012 Toyota Highlander AWD and she really can't decide which one she wants. They are comparable in price and mileage as well as mpg, anybody have any advice as to one vs the other? I kind of prefer 4WD over AWD but other than that they both get good reviews. Anybody have personal experience with either?
I have a family member that has a Highlander about that same year and we have a 2017 Explorer Platinum. To me, they are quite a bit different vehicles. The Highlander is built off of the Camry platform and is definitely more car like than our Explorer is. I don't think one is any worse/better than the other but they are definitely different.
Post by: jackelope on April 30, 2018, 05:40:59 PM
And they're a lot different than the exploders of old too.
Post by: Alchase on April 30, 2018, 05:55:23 PM
Neither are serious off-road vehicles, but both will get you from a to b in any weather.
Personally, I would not own a “exploder”, to many serious issues in the past for me to trust them “yet”.
Too many goof SUVs out there.
Post by: jdb on April 30, 2018, 06:03:20 PM
Post by: The scout on April 30, 2018, 06:56:08 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 30, 2018, 07:50:23 PM
Post by: jackelope on April 30, 2018, 07:51:26 PM
Other than reliability going to the Highlander, it basically is a personal choice.
Neither are serious off-road vehicles, but both will get you from a to b in any weather.
Personally, I would not own a “exploder”, to many serious issues in the past for me to trust them “yet”.
Too many goof SUVs out there.
Explorer has been a 100% totally different vehicle since 2011.
Post by: jackelope on April 30, 2018, 07:52:30 PM
Post by: KFhunter on April 30, 2018, 07:59:25 PM
No offense but I have written up an average of ~10 fords a day at a really high volume ford dealership for the last 5 years. I can literally count on 1 hand how many Ford anything’s I’ve written up for paint issues and the ones I’ve written up for paint issues are almost always dirt or runs in the paint.
co-worker bought a 2016 F150, it had to be repainted. It was like oxidization was bubbling through the paint with all these little pock marks. It is white.
Post by: The scout on April 30, 2018, 08:02:32 PM
No offense but I have written up an average of ~10 fords a day at a really high volume ford dealership for the last 5 years. I can literally count on 1 hand how many Ford anything’s I’ve written up for paint issues and the ones I’ve written up for paint issues are almost always dirt or runs in the paint.
No offense taken. I can only go off what I have seen from her car and all along the front edge of the hood the paint is bubbling up and starting to chip. There’s a chance most of them happen after warranty and that’s why you don’t see them. As do other problems that happen with them very soon after warranty. And then a ford dealer most likely wouldn’t be the one doing the work on it.
Post by: Pnwrider on April 30, 2018, 08:25:14 PM
Post by: Mtnwalker on April 30, 2018, 08:59:16 PM
Can I ask why you perfer 4wd vs awd?
I guess just because her last car ate tires so bad. Thanks for all the replies everybody, sounds like both are good for the most part
Post by: JWEBB on April 30, 2018, 10:10:05 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on May 01, 2018, 05:00:44 AM
Highlander all the way hands down!
Hard to beat a Toyota!
Although I have heard great things about the Explorers.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 01, 2018, 05:11:42 AM
Post by: thinkingman on May 01, 2018, 07:30:38 AM
Only buy the Highlander for the styling. The quality/design is mediocre at best.
Explorers have great drivetrains and the interior quality and design really stands up over time.
Post by: jackelope on May 01, 2018, 08:14:28 AM
Can I ask why you perfer 4wd vs awd?
I guess just because her last car ate tires so bad. Thanks for all the replies everybody, sounds like both are good for the most part
Tire rotations every 5k miles might help that if you weren't doing it. AWD is usually just a front wheel drive until they slip, then the transfer of power happens to the back wheels. So unless the front wheels are spinning without traction, you're pretty much driving a front wheel drive car.
Have you driven the 2 vehicles to compare?
Post by: Alchase on May 01, 2018, 11:20:25 AM
Here is a pretty decent comparison of both for 2018:
https://www.asburyauto.com/compare/2018-toyota-highlander-vs-2018-ford-explorer/149374
Post by: Alchase on May 01, 2018, 11:21:35 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 01, 2018, 11:37:45 AM
The Explorer base headlights definitely suck. The upgraded lights they come with are pretty amazing though. I swapped out the bulbs in ours to an aftermarket bulb and made a notable improvement for ~$50.
Post by: Mtnwalker on May 01, 2018, 12:38:40 PM
Can I ask why you perfer 4wd vs awd?
I guess just because her last car ate tires so bad. Thanks for all the replies everybody, sounds like both are good for the most part
Tire rotations every 5k miles might help that if you weren't doing it. AWD is usually just a front wheel drive until they slip, then the transfer of power happens to the back wheels. So unless the front wheels are spinning without traction, you're pretty much driving a front wheel drive car.
Have you driven the 2 vehicles to compare?
We rotated very regularly. I think part of it had to do with the camber of her old rig. But yes we drove both and really like both. We like the styling of the explorer better but also know that toyotas are great rigs. They both drive very nice, but this is sort of an emergency purchase because her car threw a rod so it's pretty much toast so we are dealing with a budget of under 20k
Post by: luckyman on May 01, 2018, 04:47:05 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 01, 2018, 04:50:51 PM
Does either one sit on a frame?
No
The Explorer is a sub frame front and rear. I bet the Toyota is similar.
Post by: Old Man Yager on May 01, 2018, 04:57:15 PM
Post by: b23 on May 01, 2018, 05:47:31 PM
IMO, if it is nearly always going to be used as a grocery getter and the most you'll use it for is hauling the kids to soccer games and such, the Highlander will likely be the perfect fit, but if you are looking for something that you'll use for things slightly more rugged, the Explorer will probably be a better fit for you.
Post by: JWEBB on May 01, 2018, 11:31:45 PM
Toyota/Lexus are the most overrrated vehicles on the road.
Only buy the Highlander for the styling. The quality/design is mediocre at best.
Explorers have great drivetrains and the interior quality and design really stands up over time.
Really? The styling? The highlander will outwork and outlast the explorer with out a doubt. I have owned both in the last couple years and the Ford can’t even compete with the Toyota. I drive an f350 diesel daily, but trust me in the suv department Toyota is the only option.
Post by: greenhead_killer on May 01, 2018, 11:43:54 PM
Post by: HntnFsh on May 02, 2018, 05:54:47 AM
Toyota/Lexus are the most overrrated vehicles on the road.
Only buy the Highlander for the styling. The quality/design is mediocre at best.
Explorers have great drivetrains and the interior quality and design really stands up over time.
Really? The styling? The highlander will outwork and outlast the explorer with out a doubt. I have owned both in the last couple years and the Ford can’t even compete with the Toyota. I drive an f350 diesel daily, but trust me in the suv department Toyota is the only option.
I was thinking the same thing. Ive owned Avalons, Camry's, Tundras, and Tacomas. All extremely dependable, extremely low maintenance, Extremely good resale, almost zero repair costs running them over 200,000 miles. I bought my wife a GM luxury car, nice rig but not as dependable, not as well built, nothing on it is a smooth as the Avalon. I had a 2000 Avalon with 239,000 miles on it. The leather interior still looked new. Not that way on any ford or GM product Ive seen. Start getting up around a 100,000 and the leather doesn't usually look to good. Huge difference in quality. My Silverados and Fords have been good trucks, but not trouble free like my Toyotas. I would never say Toyota is over rated! Thats just from my personal experience. In fact Ive been looking at another Avalon. We'll see!
Post by: opdinkslayer on May 02, 2018, 06:36:28 AM
Post by: Bofire on May 02, 2018, 07:07:02 PM
Carl
Post by: Mtnwalker on May 03, 2018, 07:18:29 AM
Post by: JWEBB on May 03, 2018, 03:46:45 PM
Well we decided to go with the Highlander after a lot of back and forth. Picking it up on Saturday, thanks again everybody for the input
Great choice! :tup:
Post by: thinkingman on May 04, 2018, 07:49:08 AM
:) "ThinkingMan" hates Toyota and does not think much about it. He also hates Leupold. You can find many posts about it.Having owned two Toyota’s over the past 15 years and racking up over 200,00 miles, I’m more than qualified to make a few observations.
Carl
I’m constantly amazed that the RAV4 and Lexus GX have the side-mounted door that swings TOWARD the curb.
I’m still boiling over the Tacoma rear spring failure that I reported to TOA in 2010 that they flatly denied which became a RECALL, among other ridiculous shortcomings. Somehow, my Tacoma passed the FRAME REPLACEMENT RECALL WITH RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. The axle wrap on that truck was laughable. I can’t believe people ignore or simply fail to realize how lame theses cars really are.
The gas cap door RUSTED OFF.
The Tundra drivers who ignore driving bed rust case with flat rear suspension amaze me.
How do people ignore this stuff and still suck Toyota ‘s popsicle?
Unbelievable.
These are recalls, not just my opinion.