How to go about purchasing an Explorer PI???

FracaSHO · April 25, 2015, 01:42:33 PM

So my company car is 10 years old with over 110,000 miles, is a Jeep Liberty, and is tired. I've only had it 6 months but the last employee ran it into the ground. My boss told me they were already talking about getting me a new one. I have a lot of flexibility so I'm sure they will let me choose what I get, but within a yet TBD budget. I am a project manager for a construction company that specializes in bridge repair and erection. Basically, I do a lot of driving in the Chicago land area and in and around a lot of construction sites. So I need to be able to get around in all the wonderful Chicago weather, get through mud, rocks, dirt, uphill, downhill, and at times a lot of daily miles and hours of idling. The obvious choice is a truck. However, I need a lot of interior space for boots, hard hat, ppe, some survey equipment, not to mention my basic car tool kit I never leave home without. I think an f-150 could offer the space I'm looking for, but if not I'd be looking at an expedition or explorer. I am so far leaning toward the explorer. More specifically an explorer police interceptor. The logic is I could have a nice looking suv with upgraded suspension, cooling pack, touch wheels and tires, and an ecoboost. Moral of the story, how can I go about getting one?

The other option is get an x-sport. It at least has an oil cooler with the tow package, I could replace the nice wheels with PI wheels, and I would have all the creature comforts that the PI doesn't offer. I'm just worried about wrecking the suspension driving basically off road.

What else would you suggest for my needs? Thanks everyone.

panther427 · April 25, 2015, 03:45:56 PM

Explain to them why you need a new ecoboost raptor. 😂
Another jeep 4 door wrangler or Toyota fj if you could find one

FracaSHO · April 25, 2015, 04:31:47 PM

Quote from: panther427 on April 25, 2015, 03:45:56 PM
Explain to them why you need a new ecoboost raptor. 😂
Another jeep 4 door wrangler or Toyota fj if you could find one

I don't want to wait til 2017. And a 14' raptor would be nice, but that's a lot of money and beggars can't be choosers.

And it HAS to be a Ford. I like driving them, working on them, and I feel more comfortable in them. I've owned other cars but I always go back to Ford.

sunwolf · April 25, 2015, 05:30:42 PM

Go for the F-150.

PokerMunkee · April 25, 2015, 08:26:29 PM

Yeah, get a new F-150 2.7 EB XLT 4WD. Should be low/mid $30's tops.

sunwolf · April 25, 2015, 09:00:26 PM

Quote from: PokerMunkee on April 25, 2015, 08:26:29 PM
Yeah, get a new F-150 2.7 EB XLT 4WD. Should be low/mid $30's tops.

Just a personal preference but I would never want to buy an new generation of vehicle in the first model year although I know a guy on the 2.7 design team and he is very confident.

FracaSHO · April 25, 2015, 09:11:03 PM

Quote from: sunwolf on April 25, 2015, 09:00:26 PM
Quote from: PokerMunkee on April 25, 2015, 08:26:29 PM
Yeah, get a new F-150 2.7 EB XLT 4WD. Should be low/mid $30's tops.
Just a personal preference but I would never want to buy an new generation of vehicle in the first model year although I know a guy on the 2.7 design team and he is very confident.

I tend to agree with you on that. But I should mention if I went the f-140 route, it would have to be a crew cab.

wasinger3000 · April 26, 2015, 01:24:44 PM

The 15' f150's are leaps and bounds ahead of the 14's. The interior is a lot better, the doors close better than my car's and it has a boat load of room for stuff. Get the 2.7, locking 3.55 diff and the technology pack with the 360 cam and led spotlights.

I use the 360 cam quite a bit, it's nice to have when you are in a tight spot.

sunwolf · April 26, 2015, 01:53:14 PM

Quote from: wasinger3000 on April 26, 2015, 01:24:44 PM
The 15' f150's are leaps and bounds ahead of the 14's. The interior is a lot better, the doors close better than my car's and it has a boat load of room for stuff. Get the 2.7, locking 3.55 diff and the technology pack with the 360 cam and led spotlights.

I use the 360 cam quite a bit, it's nice to have when you are in a tight spot.

The 2015 may have more features but the ones I sat in at the auto seemed cheaper on the inside. All the materials felt lower quality and it didn't seem as well put together as the 14.

wasinger3000 · April 26, 2015, 02:09:55 PM

Quote from: sunwolf on April 26, 2015, 01:53:14 PM
Quote from: wasinger3000 on April 26, 2015, 01:24:44 PM
The 15' f150's are leaps and bounds ahead of the 14's. The interior is a lot better, the doors close better than my car's and it has a boat load of room for stuff. Get the 2.7, locking 3.55 diff and the technology pack with the 360 cam and led spotlights.

I use the 360 cam quite a bit, it's nice to have when you are in a tight spot.
The 2015 may have more features but the ones I sat in at the auto seemed cheaper on the inside. All the materials felt lower quality and it didn't seem as well put together as the 14.

Well I have a 14' fx4 sitting next to a 15' lariat sport in a garage and I can tell you the 15 is built better.

The doors on the 14 are far worse than the 15. They sound like you are smashing a tin can in the latch when you close them.

The dash has higher quality materials, buttons are more detailed, seats are better built, steering wheel feels better, ride is more stable, cabin noise is better.

Both trucks were bought new so I'd say I can compare them equally.