Rob052067

Hey Ice... is the 12/01/07 Order Guide still the latest and greatest available?

Hey EL... How's your MPG been since you had the fuel leak fixed?

Sounds like you could have it for up to 100,000 miles. You don't have to get ESP (Ford's EW) for the whole vehicle. You can just get it on the powertrain - which would be cheaper. You can also tailor it to your expected miles per year (higher or lower). I can't recall if the policies go as long as 8 years, but I'm pretty sure 7 was an option last time I checked. I got a 4yr/48K GMPP EW on my Yukon. It was something like $400 for the extra year of coverage, and I like the peace of mind of having full coverage during the lease term. It's been trouble-free though, so I haven't used it. I've had it nearly 46 months, but only 31K miles. Lease is up in March. If I get another 4yr lease on my new Expy, with today's longer powertrain warranty, I probably will skip the EW.

Don't fret too much about the problems discussed on here. It's not uncommon for there to be bugs in new products, and there were a lot of changes to the Expy starting with the '07 model. And, the number of actual problems may only seem magnified via the online discussions by what really amounts to only a handful of owners. Overall, quality of the new Expy has been better than average according to surveys by JD Powers and Consumer Reports. Surveys, of course, are not 100% representative, but they are much more an indication of overall product quality than are the opinions of those of us who seek out and write on online forums. I'm a couple weeks away from placing my 08' Expy order, which at this point I'm 95% certain to do. My only hesitation is related to MPG and worries of gas prices going even higher over the next few years. But, there's no other vehicle on the market that has the head, leg, hip, and shoulder room for big & tall guys like me, and when considering overall passenger & cargo space, ride comfort, excellent handling, standard safety features, and the relative low price, the Expy is a terrific overall vehicle.

It depends on your personal peace of mind. If you intend to keep the vehicle for longer than the factory warranty, and you like the assurance that any problems after that are not going to hit your pocketbook at a bad time, then an extended warranty could be beneficial. If you get one when you get the vehicle, you can finance the cost with the monthly payments on the car. The 3/36 whole car and 5/60 powertrain warranties may be sufficient if you don't plan on keeping the vehicle for say 7-10 years, and you are not a high mileage driver. Of course the longer the warranty the higher the cost. You have to consider the potential cost of problems versus the upfront cost of the warranty.

Dubai is being built so incredibly fast by tens of thousands of migrant workers - I don't know how the government inspectors can keep up to ensure that safety laws and building standards are all complied with. It's a very grand city plan. It sure will be an amazing oasis in a couple more years. Not a bad place to be right now for you, considering it's winter back home.

Oddly, that spec sheet had pictures of the old body. I agree that the higher hp rating probably has to do with emissions standards. Those are nice looking condos. They look like the ones I saw on TV that are being built on those new man-made islands off of Dubai...is that where you are?

Anyone know any other updates on the '09 Expy? Aside from more HP, any details on the updated 5.4L engine? Better MPG? E85 capable?

I think I already know the answer to this question, but just wanted to double check. With the last contract, during the 1st and 3rd years, Ford handed out extra $1,000 discounts (rebates) on new vehicle purchases (which could be used by the employee/retiree or whichever relative they gave the PIN to). I'm not sure if this was a bonus for retirees only, or active workers too. I see that with this contract, there are cash signing bonuses to active workers. Does anyone know if there are any extra discounts (in addition to A/Z plan pricing) for new vehicle purchases in the new contract? I've got my Z-plan PIN from my grandmother all ready to go for my Expedition order in January, and was kinda hoping the new contract had those bonus discounts again... :shades:

Highway yes, but city is where the hybrids kick butt. A bump from 14 to 20 city is a huge fuel savings for some drivers.

I agree that the dealer was just tossing out an estimate - basically an average. Some quicker, some longer. There's lots of variables that can affect build time, such as: unscheduled plant downtime due to low demand or a parts shortage; scheduled downtime due to holidays or plant changes; and/or the availability or build scheduling of certain vehicle options, etc. The delay in delivery could end up saving you a little bit of money if the incentives go up in January! One thing to keep in mind while waiting for your new Expedition: Ford and the UAW recently agreed to a new 4 year labor contract, and the Michigan Truck Plant where the Expe is built has received new guarantees to remain open during the contract period and will be getting a new vehicle to build soon (in addition to the Expe/Navigator). Happy workers with a more certain future make even better quality vehicles! ^_^

Thanks Ice! Getting closer to ordering time! Bummed that an optional FlexFuel engine didn't show up in the latest changes, but not surprised.

The 3rd Row is optional on the XLT regular length (standard on the EL). As one of the posters above noted, models with the 3rd row will have better resale and more demand than those without. Rear Heat/AC is standard for 2008 accross the model line. A front split-bench is standard on the XLT, but at least 90% will have bucket seats with console and floor shifter. For more details, the order guide is in the post linked below: http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index...showtopic=13631

My '04 Yukon had the A/C smell problem, which sounds like it's somewhat common in many different vehicles. Normally, I just leave the windows down for a bit until the A/C has run for little while. It's not seemed like a serious problem to me, so I haven't spent much time on fixing it. One time, I did have the dealer look at it and they said they adjusted something that would keep the blower running for a little while after turning the car off so that the system can dry out. It seemed to help a bit, but the smell still comes and goes depending on how long it's been since I last ran the A/C.

Any Ford dealers out there can answer these questions: 1) Is there a residual percentage deduction for not having a 3rd row seat in an XLT Expy? 2) Is there a residual percentage deduction for getting a front row split-bench seat in an XLT Expy? 3) What are the residual percentage 'bumps' for low mileage leases (ie: 8k, 10k, or 12k per year)? Thanks!

I've wondered about that, too. But if I'm leasing, I won't care about resale - Unless there's a residual percentage deduction for no 3rd row. The price is a little steep, but it's cuz of it's fold in the floor design. The removable 3rd row in my Yukon was about 1/2 that price - but they are not easy to get in and out. They've been in a box in my garage since I got the thing in 2004.

See http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index...showtopic=16614

Bump...

Ya, saw a tiny blurb on that Civic recall in today's paper. But on tonite's local news, they only reported on a Chrysler recall of some 300k Jeeps... More of the same ol same ol with the media....

On the XLT regular length model, the 3rd row is optional. On all other models, it is standard.

Thanks Ice!

Has anyone heard anything about an FFV option being added during the '08 MY?

Anyone know if there has there been an updated order guide published? If so, please post a copy...thanks!

Let's keep those posts coming folks... :cheerleader:

I too am planning on ordering an XLT without the 3rd row seat (don't need it; don't want to pay for it; and don't want the extra weight lowering MPG). One salesman at one dealer told me that there's an additional storage bin where the seat would go if you don't get the seat. I haven't seen anything in writing in the brochures or order guides though.