Hi, Guest
I have a USDM 2008 Escape Limited with the V6 and automatic 4WD.
I'm really quite pleased with it, and although I don't have the extra 30-40HP the 2009 is getting, for trailering I'd rather have the 4-speed automatic. No, I don't have my new hitch yet but soon, soon... :P
It's actually not bad on gas, you get just over 50L of usable gas tank space and at highway speeds around 90 KM/H you're getting about 9L/100KMs . At 100 KM/H you're getting about 9.5L/100KMs. I average about 11L/100KMs around town.
There's a ton of cargo space inside and with the seats up our 100ish lb dog fits in the rear cargo area with room to move around, lie down, etc. With the seats down it's a small warehouse.
The steering takes some getting used to, because it's somewhat overboosted at times AND it's electric, not hydraulic steering. Car mags have been slagging the apparent reversion to disc/drum brakes but I've never felt unsafe in the truck and I've made a couple of panic stops / slowdowns without any drama or even ABS kicking in.
And as far as the 4WD goes, I crawled it over two very large curbs this morning after dropping the G/F off at work. Damn you Kev for telling me how easy it does that! :P It has about 9" of ground clearance and the takeup for 4WD is invisible and instantaneous.
Faults? The transmission's lockup schedule could easily be lowered by 10 KM/H in 3rd and 4th for greater city fuel economy - something I plan on rectifying myself with a SCT SF3 flasher from the sponsor at escape-central.com.
Visibility is great but there's a bit of wind whistle above 80 HM/H from the rain gutters (by the sound of things). Tire thrum above 70 KM/H with the stock Contis is omnipresent but easy to drown out with the factory deck. It's impossible to chirp the tires but who cares? It winds up and leaves and pulls hard to.... ahem, the limiter. Which limiter? I'm not saying. :ph34r:
2nd gear is quite tall for some reason, 3rd is only good for medium-rate passing efforts on the highway but 4th lets you loaf along nice and effortlessly. However, the engine note from the Duratec 30 is enough that you won't mind grabbing 2nd at 90ish and passing in a hurry. And believe me, for a little truck, passing at that speed in 2nd gets you illegal and then some quickly.
I have ZERO regrets in buying the Escape. It's four-seasons capable, it's roomy, it corners pretty damn flat and it's not bad on gas. And, I can romp out of steep driveways without the fear of peeling my front chin spoiler off (a constant worry in the RX-8).
I think you'll enjoy it if you buy it. My boss is looking at a 4-cyl 4WD one to replace their Equinox as their lease is up and they want some fuel savings for around town as their other truck is a Nissan Xterra.
Fuel economy update - 40% highway and 60% city equals 50L for 500KMs combined. 10L / 100KMs average - not bad eh?
I'm really quite pleased with it, and although I don't have the extra 30-40HP the 2009 is getting, for trailering I'd rather have the 4-speed automatic. No, I don't have my new hitch yet but soon, soon... :P
It's actually not bad on gas, you get just over 50L of usable gas tank space and at highway speeds around 90 KM/H you're getting about 9L/100KMs . At 100 KM/H you're getting about 9.5L/100KMs. I average about 11L/100KMs around town.
There's a ton of cargo space inside and with the seats up our 100ish lb dog fits in the rear cargo area with room to move around, lie down, etc. With the seats down it's a small warehouse.
The steering takes some getting used to, because it's somewhat overboosted at times AND it's electric, not hydraulic steering. Car mags have been slagging the apparent reversion to disc/drum brakes but I've never felt unsafe in the truck and I've made a couple of panic stops / slowdowns without any drama or even ABS kicking in.
And as far as the 4WD goes, I crawled it over two very large curbs this morning after dropping the G/F off at work. Damn you Kev for telling me how easy it does that! :P It has about 9" of ground clearance and the takeup for 4WD is invisible and instantaneous.
Faults? The transmission's lockup schedule could easily be lowered by 10 KM/H in 3rd and 4th for greater city fuel economy - something I plan on rectifying myself with a SCT SF3 flasher from the sponsor at escape-central.com.
Visibility is great but there's a bit of wind whistle above 80 HM/H from the rain gutters (by the sound of things). Tire thrum above 70 KM/H with the stock Contis is omnipresent but easy to drown out with the factory deck. It's impossible to chirp the tires but who cares? It winds up and leaves and pulls hard to.... ahem, the limiter. Which limiter? I'm not saying. :ph34r:
2nd gear is quite tall for some reason, 3rd is only good for medium-rate passing efforts on the highway but 4th lets you loaf along nice and effortlessly. However, the engine note from the Duratec 30 is enough that you won't mind grabbing 2nd at 90ish and passing in a hurry. And believe me, for a little truck, passing at that speed in 2nd gets you illegal and then some quickly.
I have ZERO regrets in buying the Escape. It's four-seasons capable, it's roomy, it corners pretty damn flat and it's not bad on gas. And, I can romp out of steep driveways without the fear of peeling my front chin spoiler off (a constant worry in the RX-8).
I think you'll enjoy it if you buy it. My boss is looking at a 4-cyl 4WD one to replace their Equinox as their lease is up and they want some fuel savings for around town as their other truck is a Nissan Xterra.
Fuel economy update - 40% highway and 60% city equals 50L for 500KMs combined. 10L / 100KMs average - not bad eh?
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.