desertrat

Thanks abasdg. That's reassuring. Desertrat

Just placed an order for a 2008 Escape XLT with the dealer here in Bishop, CA. I selected 4WD, V6, Vista Blue, Stone cloth and few options. The dealer tried but couldn't find one in California or Nevada in that color that didn't have lots of options I don't want. They all seem to load 'em up. I test drove a near-new '07 Escape and a new '08 Mariner the dealer had on the lot, and the difference was striking. The '08 is much quieter and less jiggly on bumps. The interior is nicer too. Don't know if all the controversy regarding rear drum brakes on the '08 is particularly significant to me. I did consider a Subaru Forester. They're popular in this area, and overall probably better, but the nearest dealer is 175 miles away, and I usually use dealer service during warranty. Has anyone here ordered a non-hybrid Escape? The dealer says 6-8 weeks for delivery. Is that realistic? Thanks, Desertrat

I'm looking at getting an Escape and trying to decide whether 4WD is worth the extra cost, fuel, and weight for use in occasional snow and on dirt roads (not off road). I live in Bishop, CA and commute regularly to Mammoth Lakes. I'd also like to do some exploring on the many miles of graded, dirt roads in this area. In Bishop snow is usually minimal and infrequent. Mammoth Lakes gets quite a lot, though they usually clear the roads pretty quickly for the tourists and trucks. When the snow really hits hard the highway is flat out closed down, or chains are required for everyone. So, is 4WD really necessary, or would a set of M/S tires and chains be adequate for those few occasions when the snow is substantial? I've long suspected that the 4WD craze in recent years is more a fashion statement than a necessity for many people. I had a Ranger with 4WD for 3 years and used 4WD only twice. So, any opinions out there from Escape owners? Thanks, desertrat