Topic: What do you think of the 2005 Ford Escape XLT

[mari]

I am a new buyer looking to get a 2005 Ford Escape XLT.  I am leaning towards getting the XLT appearance package (although I initially found the side step bars to kind of get in my way; I'm 5'4 but don't need the side step bar to help me in or out of the vehicle) and the moonroof.
I have had some people tell me to stay away from Ford products/domestic products whereas others are neutral in their input.
I have read a number of reviews and apart from the comment that the gas tank is on the small side most have been positive.  I have read of some major problems with earlier models of the Escape but remain unsure as to the quality/safety of the 2005.
I would appreciate any information or input anyone can offer.  If you are an Escape owner I'd like to hear of your experience with the vehicle.  If you aren't I'd also like to hear your view.
I really like the look of the Escape and that is probably the biggest reason why I am looking at that vehicle.  I have looked at (but not test driven) others but I keep coming back to the Escape.  Another thing, Ford is offering the employee discount to all Canadians for this month - another factor to take into account although I am not going to make an impulse buy because of this!
Thanks for reading me and responding  

[AVToller]

Welcome Mari.

One thing to note about car reviews - they almost never address the issue of long-term reliability. They tend to focus on performance, touchy-feely stuff, and appearance/cool factor.

When the Escape first came out, it was getting RAVE reviews, for the most part. As you noted, the early ones were VERY problem prone.  

Interestingly, Consumer Reports now rates them as being above average in reliability, but BELOW average in owner satisfaction.  

My impression is that while all of the import small SUVs have improved significantly, the Escape really hasn't very much.  

Again, for what it's worth, CR rates it behind the Forester, RAV4, Matrix/Vibe, and CR-V. It is also a very thirsty little devil compared to all of the above. Just some thoughts.  

Oh yes, there are also concerns about its roll stability - the reason CR does NOT recommend it.

PS I currently own MY LAST FORD - EVER!!!!!

[Railton]

Mari,
My Wife purchased a "Escape Limited" new in Summer 2003. She loves it. She tried all the others RAV4, CR-V, Vue, Tribute (same vehicle except for trim and 4WD select option) and came back to the Ford Escape.
She has around 35K on it now and so far nothing has gone wrong with it. As far as gas mileage I would say it's pretty decent for a 3.0 litre v6 SUV. It gets better mileage than my RX-8! I tend to drive it now more than her and I find it quite comfortable, peppy and it will go around a corner at speed pretty good too...for a truck. There may be newer product out there now that is better but our real world use is positive.
Railton

[mari]

thanks for the feedback.  i'll go do some reading up at the library and continue to stop Escape owners as they gas up or run errands to get their feedback.

[Railton]

Mari, There's a fellow at my office who just bought a new Escape. He traded in his old Escape which he had for 4 years on it.
Good idea about asking owners. My Wife did the same.
Railton

[ovr50]

I think the early Escapes had a number of problems, but most are solved now and CR rates the reliability "above average". It is a thirsty beast in V6 form, and somewhat noisy on the road. You say you have looked at others in this segment, but not test driven them. I would urge you to drive some others (preferably back to back with the Escape) BEFORE you commit to the Escape. If you haven't driven others, you really haven't looked at the market logically. IMO.

[mari]

I agree with Ovr50 about test driving other SUVs.  i'll go do that over the next few evenings.  i have a feeling though that i've kind of made up my mind on the escape but one never knows.
thanks again for the help/input, much appreciated

[swishguy]

I owned 2 Mazda Tributes( Escape twin). both had major issues. I have since bought a Saturn AWD with the Honda V6. Does allmost everything a lot better then the Tribute(Escape) except the AWD system is not as good.

[S60]

My brother just traded his 4 year old Tribute, with 0 problems.

[bmorton]

I put a few hundred km on a rental '05 Escape XLT 4WD out in Edmonton last month. My first time driving an Escape. Apart from some cheap-looking plastic inside and that hilarious speedometer design I was surprised by how much I liked it. Handles well, sized right, peppy V6, and a quality feel. Felt as solid as a tank even after a few months on the road as a rental car. No rattles at all. Gas mileage was OK--I calculated roughly 10 L/100 km in mixed city/highway.

This one had the side bars and they're a bit of an inconvenience. I can see in winter the bars being covered with salty slush that you'd have to watch out for every time you got in and out.

Personally I prefer the look of the Tribute so if I were shopping for one I'd probably go that way, but I definitely understand now why you see so many Escapes on the road. I work with two people who have '05 XLT 2WD models and one of them had a minor problem with the brakes, but apart from that they're both very happy.

[mari]

Was reading about recalls on the 15" tires on some of the Ford vehicles (Firestone tire recall).  I read some people have had some problems with the 16" tires (i.e.: P235/70R16) on the Escapes (and others) but these haven't been recalled and people are having trouble with Firestone not being helpful in their quest to change the 'faulty' tires which have been wearing out well before one would expect and been unsafe.  
Any comments???

[Railton]

No 16" tire trouble here.
Mari, You can find Escapes at rental agencies. Why not rent one for a weekend and take it for a good long drive? We did.
Railton

[bmorton]

I've only ever seen Continental Contitracs on newer Escapes. My recent rental (Avis) as well as both of the Escapes here at work have the Continentals. Could be the Firestone issue was with earlier model years (the Escape was new for 2001).

[Railton]

Continentals on ours as well.
Railton

[mari]

The continuing saga of looking for a new SUV....
Was out looking at other SUVs today. I was able to test drive the Tribute, which I realize is very similar to the Escape.  Went to Kia but no Sportage to test drive....to get the moonroof though I'd need to get the EX trim model (fully loaded)...the leather seats don't do a thing for me.  All the extras and the better warranty have't swayed me to pursue looking further into the Kia and even if the price most likely ends up being better than the Escape trim model most comparable to the Sportage EX...I'm not interested in all the extras.

I've been dealing with 3 salespeople from 3 Ford dealerships (and with 1 in particular) [long story for why I'm dealing with 3 people] trying to locate a 2005 Escape XLT in the color and with the options of my choice and essentially haven't been getting anywhere.  I'm told they can't locate a vehicle matching what I want.  Well, I've been going through the dealership inventories on the Ford website and have managed to locate an exact match earlier this week (and although available Wednesday night it sold quickly because it wasn't there when I called first thing this morning)...wasn't meant to be mine!!  
Anyways, I haven't given up doing the search and so far I've found 3 others around Toronto/Soutwestern Ontario that at the very least match my choice of color (exterior/interior) and have the moonroof (I can live without the side step bars/XLT appearance package which the salesperson knows)!!  and this morning the salesguy I was talking to told me there were no vehicles with moonroof in my choice of color/trim/FWD??  After all the leg work I've done myself to find this car I certainly am not going to pay an administration fee - sure they'll do the paperwork but I've done all the research!!!....the dealership getting my business should be paying me!!!!!  Now all I have to do is call to see if in fact the vehicles are still available, call the salesperson I've been dealing with here in town and if he agrees to my offer then they can get it over here!!!  

By the way, I've read lots of helpful/interesting postings on here since I found this site last week.  Keep it up everyone
Have a great weekend.

[ovr50]

I asked the question in another thread, Mari, but why do you want an Escape in only FWD? Just curious as it seems to me that most ppl buying smaller crossovers/utes get the AWD - that's one of the reasons to get such a vehicle. Why incur all the disadvantages of this type of vehicle (poorer handling, harder on fuel, etc) if you want FWD? It certainly won't be as useful in snow as the AWD model. And I suspect your future resale will be impaired. Is there some reason for the FWD??

[Railton]

I'm with Ovr50 Mari.
An Escape XLT with just FWD is an oddball destined for poor resale.
Railton

[Smainville]

The only good thing about a small suv without awd would the higher seating position and ground clearance, other than that it is nothing more than a station wagon.  Personally I would not get one simply because of future resale value, but if that's what you want you may want to look at the Mazda Tribute twin.  I often heard that the Mazda equivalent sells for less for some reason and the basic warranty is 3/80 instead of 3/60, worth considering.

[mari]

I have no real reason for wanting FWD versus AWD other than the fact that I don't really forsee needing the AWD capabilities of the vehicle.  I live in Southwestern Ontario and only rarely if ever encounter bad road conditions (ie: lots of snow, etc.)  I haven't done any 'research or reading into the advantages/disadvantages of the 4x4 vs 4x2.  I've only heard that the cost of insurance is more for a 4x4 (I have not verified that); the price of the vehicle is more.

I realize that gas consumption is more just given it is an SUV and if I don't want AWD I could stick to a car...I guess I've just reached a point after owning my Intrepid for 9 years I would like to buy a new vehicle and like the idea of an SUV.  Hard to explain other than it's just what I'd like to get and I am very comfortable with the idea that I will own this vehicle for a number of years to come and will be happy with it (assuming no problems with owning a Ford...a few people are still trying to get me away from buying a Ford product).  I haven't seen any car that caught my eye other than the Mazda 6 sport trim model but after looking at a number of them at a large mazda dealership, I realized I didn't really like it (the look; i had no interest to test drive it).

It is true that after driving the SUV I have found that I like the higher seating position. When I got into my intrepid I felt like I was sitting on the ground and the seat in my car, although comfortable, feels like I'm seated lower in the car itself compared to how the seat in the SUV feels.

The warranty for the Tribute is better for mileage but, in my case, because of the low mileage I put on the vehicle, the time in years is what I would use to compare the warranties.

The resale value....something to think about.  I intend to keep this vehicle though for quite some time (I've had my intrepid 9 years and most likely will end up keeping this one just as long) do you guys think by then that will make a difference (4x4 vs 4x2)??  I'm thinking that in 9 years I really won't get that much for the SUV no matter what.

At this particular point in time I am still looking for a 2005 Escape and would select it over the Tribute because (1) I like the norsea blue color and only Escape has it, the Tribute really doesn't come in a color close to it/no dark or deep blue; I thought I could settle for black or dark grey but I have concluded I really like the norsea blue (2)I could get it at a lower price given the family plan discount with Ford - I was quoted $35713.25 for 2005 Tribute GS-V6 with sport package and $32806.30 for 2005 Escape XLT with moonroof and appearance package (no admin fee or licence transfer fee in quote).  The mazda dealer didn't seem interested in negotiating to lower the price.

Anyways, sorry for the lengthy entries.  I will stop here...  Any input/info you guys have regarding AWD vs FWD let me know, I'm open to the information.  I do think though that I am ready to act on getting the 2005 I located in Toronto area on the internet - it matches what I am looking for in the Escape (options, color, etc) and if the local dealer can get it here for me and sell it for around $30000 with my trade-in I am really really tempted to just go for it.  I've got a few more hours before they open Monday morning!

[Smainville]

Is Ford your only choice?  What if you could get something else for less that would retain better value.  Have you studied other options?  If you are a loyal Ford customer, I understand.