Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Me and my bro bought an 04 Expedition back in 07 for 22 grand before the price plummet. Our timing was bad, but we still love our SUV, even if the gas mileage is horrid on it.
EDIT: I'll ask my bro to chime in here. He's an expert on expeditions and can give recommendations on what ot look for and avoid in those model years. Some of the older ones had little "kinks" that really made them bad. (Like the early Navigators with airbag suspensions).
2001 was a solid year for the Expedition. Their 4x4 systems are extremely robust. One of the major things to check for is the motor. First of all don't buy a 4.6L, you might gain .5mpg, but the engines had to work like dogs to move the big truck, the 5.4L will move it more efficiently and in hilly areas will actually save you on gas.
Don't buy one with an airbag suspension system unless you're good at maintenance. The bags deteriorate and normally the whole system has to be repaired. A full air bag system (compressor, relays, springs, and sensors) typically runs 1-1.5k. Though it can't be denied a well employed air system on these things for both 4x4 and grocery getter use is king over just having springs under it.
The V8 modular motors used by Ford had issues with the heads. The heads had only 4 threads in the spark plug holes instead of 8. This can cause the plug to back out, lose seal, and blow out of the head. This destroys the heads, and repairs will run excess of 2500$. While this problem is rare, it is tangible, and we'll typically have 1 user every two months or so at the Ford Truck Enthusiast forum come in with the problem.
When finding one, look for an Expedition that actually had it's 4x4 system periodically used. As my dad found out recently with his Bronco, the systems lock up with no use as they don't get lubricated or unrusted. You should engage your system once per month for some short use off of asphalt to keep it in good working order. If the previous owner didn't use the 4x4 or AWD parts, they most likely will have rusted shut, and you'll have to have the shift motor replaced, which is a 100$ part with 400$ of labor. Make sure the seller lets you get out and test that all these parts work.
Watching these trucks for the last few years, I would say their best year was the 05/06 models. Of course these, especially the Eddie Bauers, are quite expensive. But that's what I would go for.
Just my .02cents.
PS: to those that complain about gas with these things. Highway cruising does fine. If you have any decent amount of money you won't feel the hurt unless your always in the city. I could get 520miles from a tank of gas going 72mph on the interstate. I filled up only two times going from my house to my girlfriend in Indiana, a 932 mile trip, on two tanks of gas, and still had a a little less than a quarter tank left when I got there. Mind you the older generation (02 and back) did not get as hot a mileage. The Flowmaster 50 exhaust we put on our 04 increased our highway mileage and only slightly decreased our city mileage.
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