I’m looking for a used Ford Explorer and trying to stay within a reasonable budget. Unfortunately, that means I’m mostly seeing older models with high mileage. These are the top options I’m considering—what would you pick?
Year
Trim
Mileage
Asking Price
Notes
2018
Sport
129,245
$12,985.70
Bucket seats w/console (prefer bench), third-party dealer with mixed reviews
2017
XLT w/Sport Appearance Package
119,303
$10,460.70
Water pump/timing belt replaced, private seller
2018
Sport
79,056
$17,314.27
Dealer trade-in with two accidents: one minor collision (<$2k) and one animal collision (~$5k)
The mileage difference is about what I’d drive over two years, and the payment difference could mean an extra $70-$100/month over two years. Leaning toward the Sport but would insist on a pre-purchase inspection either way. I could wait to see if something better comes up, but similar models with lower mileage are a lot pricier.
EDIT: Just added a second 2018 Sport with lower mileage but a higher price. This one’s in really clean shape, but it has a couple of accidents (still a clean title).
Luca said:
XLT all the way, especially since the water pump and timing were recently done. That’s the main concern with these years, so I’d lean towards it.
Really? I feel like the Sport is a better deal overall, and skipping it just because the water pump might go could be missing out.
@Colby
Is a $3-4k repair within your budget? The XLT’s issues seem mostly cosmetic. The Sport doesn’t have the seating you want and comes from a questionable dealer. I get wanting the features and power, but the XLT is probably the smarter buy here given what we know.
Colby said: @Blair
All of that info is in the post. The Sport is pricier and has higher miles. The XLT already had its water pump replaced.
Ah, gotcha! I’d lean towards the XLT with the Sport appearance package, assuming it’s got the EcoBoost. I had an XLT V6 for years, but my Limited with the EcoBoost has way better acceleration.
If it’s the regular V6, I’d go for the Sport unless it’s beat up.
Get a pre-purchase inspection and take it for a test drive. Check under the oil cap and dipstick for any signs of coolant mixing. Look for leaks under the car, check the coolant reservoir for contamination, and check the brake rotors for wear. Bring a battery tester to check charge and health too.
I bought a 2018 Limited with 80k on it. I had to replace the water pump, evaporator core, and cowl, and then found a corroded AC line that also needed replacing. Luckily, the dealer offered a limited warranty, and I also bought a 50k-mile warranty.
With these repairs in mind, I’d go with the XLT, especially if it’s already had major work done like the water pump. The evaporator core is a pricey fix since they have to take out the whole dash.
Based on price and mileage, I’d go with the ‘17 XLT. Having the water pump done is a big plus, so hopefully it’ll last a while without that issue. You could try haggling if you find similar Sports priced lower. But I did see your edit about the 2018 Sport with fewer miles. If everything checks out on that one, I’d probably choose it since I prefer cars under 100k miles. It’s all about balancing budget with long-term reliability.
Don’t buy any Explorer over 100k miles. I got a 2015 with 134k, and I’ve replaced nearly everything on it. Water pump went out three months in—should’ve listened to my mechanic and traded it back in.
My first Explorer was a 2013 with 62k, and I took it to 152k with no big issues.