MTFCA Forum

We've owned a '98 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition since it was almost new. I crashed it last night when a young man made a left turn in front of me and I was unable to avoid a collision. Fortunately, the other guy, my wife and I were not injured but Eddie did not fare so well. Damage is not extensive but due to it's high mileage and age it will be totaled.

A little bit about Eddie. It's had all brake components replaced twice over the years, the a/c system rebuilt twice, the front end rebuilt once and that's about it. Oh yeah, a new alternator about five years ago. Also a new radiator a few years ago when a tree fell on the hood crushed the top of it.

With the above exceptions it's pretty much original. Other than about three sets of spark plugs the engine has never been worked on. The transmission and rear axle have never been worked on. It still has the original water pump, starter, u-joints and exhaust system. Not bad, I think, for twenty one years and 345140 miles.

Just wanted to let you guys know that as of 1998 Ford Motor Co. was not in the business of building junk cars. Plus maybe I needed some shoulders to cry on. I know it's just a car and not worthy of love but after all these years and dependable service it became almost a member of the family. Been kind of a sad day around my house. Bob

SALUTE! to your Expedition. Those vehicles are never forgotten.
Daughter had an Eddie B Diesel that was some newer than yours. She LOVED that monster until her X wanted it back.
I now drive her "replacement truck" we found and love it. Funny story about that pickup. I paid her $3,069 to clear him up but I had gifted her 5K five years ago so in the end I still paid 8 grand for this very nice old truck!
Did you keep Eddie or let him go?
I kept a 99 Blazer (totaled) after he got hit in the head by a tree but he just wasn't the same after that.
Maw ran an '11 Traverse LT2 (almost completely loaded) for 8 years that we bought new and it was just embarrassing the amount of $ the dealer gave us when upgrading.
You really had 345,140 miles on your Eddie? Cool.
We moved our running 'verse at only 244,800 but he was awful tired.

Wow, that is a lot of miles! One gets so comfortable with a nice reliable vehicle that treats you well. We have a 2001 Expo, unfortunately, it has not been quite as good to us. I sometimes refer to it as the "broken-eggs-pedition". But I really can't complain too much. It has given us a lot of miles with no serious problems, mostly annoying wiring issues, until now. It is currently laid up with a failed fuel pump I need to fix.
As for today's drivers? I can't believe how BAD they have gotten the past twenty years!
Saddened by your loss. And very pleased you and your wife are okay.

Why not fix it ?

Cars are a hard commitment, in my paradigm. I am a super picky little b!tch, when
it comes to what I will invest in, ... that means purchase price and learning everything
there is to know about a given vehicle to maintain it, and all related tools to do the job.
Once committed, I tend to keep vehicles the rest of my life. I have built entire cars
back up from scratch after wrecks, ... because I like the car and once rebuilt (again), I
know all systems inside and out, and they are essentially a new car again, ready for 20
years of trouble-free service.

Part of what drives me to do this is the costs of buying/owning a newer car, and the
electronic/plastic/unfixable way cars have been made for a long time now. There is no
limit to how many times I can rebuild a 50-100 year-old car. The other aspect is looks.
I find (in the main), post-1970 vehicles to just be exercises in ugly, with mfr's jockeying
each year to build them uglier than the year before. To my thinking, what a car looks
like is important, and driving an ugly/boring car is unacceptable. Hence, I am super
picky going in, and once I choose something, I will keep that vehicle forever. I think
our culture brainwashes the masses to drone along and believe that newest is always
better, and that fixing/maintaining is "such a bother".

An Expedition would never be on the radar as a vehicle that I would want, but if you
really like it, why not find a parts vehicle or two and rebuild it back to the car you love?
No payments, it's paid for, you will know every inch of the car, and most of all, you like it !

Yea,if it is not to bad, just fix and drive.Even with the miles,it is hard to buy a used vehical nowadays that does not have a issue hid somewhere. The insurance company will probably give you the chance to keep it for a very low price just to avoid having to resale it.Now it if was a nearly new car,late model wrecks bring good money at auction so it would be exspensive to keep it.
I doubt they will deduct over 500 bucks from your settlement if you elect to keep it.

Sorry to hear about your Loss ...

Your “ new “ one is waiting on Craigslist.

On average - I buy a “ new “ tow vehicle every
(18) months.

Always a first generation Ford 7.3 PSD ....

Today - it was a 96’ CC 2WD Dually ....

Thanks to my friends Miss Montana and Joe,
it is waiting safely for me ....


FJ

That's cheating, Jim.

But then again, you don't have a lot of time, kicking around the shop, do you ?

For us not-over-the-road types, keeping chickens and turning wrenches with a
reefer full of hard ciders at hand is actually an option.

OK, you get a pass this time. But don't get used to it.

Jim is in tune with the fact that now, more than ever, autos are like paper plates. Use it, throw it away for another next meal. Considering how automotive changes moved at warp speed from 1900 to the present, I guess they always were disposable items. News clippings in the 30s would occasionally feature some "odd-ball" who was still driving a 25 year old car. Consider the vast differences between the cars of 1910 and those of 1935 !!

The "motor age" is what transported us into the current modern glory. If you want to enjoy a slower pace, a hard cider and listen to the chickens cluck, you have to find your own peace. Owning a Model T usually helps !

My point is ....

If you take the time to look around - you can find a vehicle similar to yours
at a price more reasonable than you might expect.

Personally - I love Craigslist.

The truck I drive every day and the truck I bought today both were
found by me on Craigslist in Arizona.


FJ

Works good to keep 'em going and I sure have but when Maw wants a different, plastic, electronic and problem riddled modern? Well...
Ooh, Burger you should see how the fancy plastic chrome strip in the interior lights up at night on the new 14! True.
I told Maw I should buy her a beautiful late 70's Mercury Cougar to replicate her 78 T-Bird she used to have.
She lipped off and looked at me funny. I was serious.
She fell in the trap partially. I work on 90 year old tractors and model T's to sooth my needs and think about a new crate engine for the 05 Chevrolet pickup to keep him going. Shoot, no "eyebrows" Emoticon.
She looks at me funny.
Poke poke provoke.
Speaking of torture chambers in another thread: Just change front bulbs on a bulb eating Traverse. Ugh. See ya, old friend.
Beautiful truck Jim! I should try one sometime. They sip Diesel, can pull the planet off its axis and they're tough. Replacement parts???
Burger, I get it I poke at ya but I'm too much like my uncle Mel. Poke poke. In jest, of course.
This blasted OT section has me overstepping my own station. I think since I ......... I can just type my mind. Noodle those statements.
I gotta go potty, grab a refreshment and go water the garden. I'll look like Bill Murray in Caddyshack in a couple minutes.
Forgetting my station.

I have not had a car payment in about 25 years and only had one ever...1986 Jeep J-10 4X4.
The Ohio salt machine is usually the demise of most of my vehicles.
My current 99 Forester came from SC and I rust proofed it good when I brought it home almost 4 years ago. 260,000 and going strong.

Found a used bumper for my new 97 Dodge and sprayed some Rustoleum on and installed it.
The old one was about to fall off.
I found repop China front fenders and bedside repair panels, both sides for $190 !! At 76,000 miles, I think it's worth doing this winter.
I keep em going till there's very little usefulness left, sold a few, some went to the crusher !!

Had the paint. Bumper was $75, a little bent but solid and heavy duty.

Gentlemen, thank you for your replies. Yep, really, 345140 miles. By far, our best investment in an automobile.

Adjuster hasn't seen it yet but it will be declared a total loss. It was going to be a total maybe six years ago when the tree fell on it but I knew a good body man who could fix it for little more than the payout. He did us a good job and Eddie was once again an excellent ride until this latest development.

This time, I think we have some frontend and frame damage so we're going to let it go. Try for a few years later model with a lot fewer miles. Wish us luck. Bob

Bob,

I don't think that you are really thinking this through ....

I've been through the Walmart parking lot enough times to know that some really
great options are out there, involving plywood and scavenged parts.

I am visualizing a new, pointed front end, centered on a golf cart-size caster wheel.
The technical skill part comes in where you redesign the steering to work off the
braking of the rear wheels like a skid steer. A generous application of Army surplus
OD paint and/or Mossy Oak camo appliques, and you, my friend, will be the envy of
every car show attendee from that point forward ! Not to mention a hero in you wife's
eyes.

No thanks necessary. I am just here to help.

Burger, as always, I appreciate your point of view on things and I'm sure that with a little innovation we could come up with something. I don't think we'd even need the skid-steer feature. With a really good caster under that right front couldn't we just steer with the left front wheel and expect the caster to go along? We could rig some kind of headlight and turn signal light to keep her legal and we'd be good to go. Maybe paint a sign on the sides, something like "KUSTOM KARS by BOB". That might stand out pretty good down at Walmart.

However, I see a problem. My lovely bride, Karen, doesn't share the same view that you and I have for bringing 'em back from the dead. After fifty one years I've picked up on a few of the things it takes to make her happy. I'm afraid this car ain't it. As you probably know, the old saying, "happy wife, happy life" is deeply embedded in truth. I think I'm gonna have to let poor Eddie go. Bob

I don't know Bob ... a guy can get a little too predictable and something like this might
really get yer gal all excited, not only to drive and be seen around town in this hand-built
creation, but see you in a whole new light ..... you know, that whole "her knight in shining
duct tape" image ?

Can't hurt to try, right ?

She says it will hurt.

Wishing the very best Bob. You'll find that one.
Burger, you are absolutely incorrigible.
Dave, love the bumper stickers!

Duey, the true test of friendship is saying things your friend needs to hear, even if
it risks the friendship. I am that friend for Bob, offering ideas that will lead to personal
betterment, even if the path is a little rocky. Bob may seem reluctant, but I'm betting
that he's making space in the shop, hunting up plywood scraps, and shopping for a stout
caster as I write this.

It'd probably take a fire to create space in my shop.

Alright, ... now that this has been decided, who's going to bring the marshmallows ?

Completely incorrigible or just naughty.
That's what I like about you Burger. You tells it like you sees it yet with a sense of DEEP humor about us all.
Yes about the harder parts to hear.
Sounds like me and my son.
I'm a bit more moderation than Son is tho.