Mercury Mountineer

[Selino631]

 At my mom's work. they had a data base where people can post if there selling stuff or whatnot. Anyways she was on there looking for cars that i could get. She brought home a add for a 1997 Mecury Mountineer  with 116,000miles on it for only $700. It has good tire tread, new brakes and rotors. no rust or rips eaither. the onlything he said i need to fix on it is the O2 sensors, ball join and the spark plugs. anybody here know anything about this vehical? My mom doesnt think the guy is going to scam me because she works for the federal goverment and with the polygraphs test they have to do all the time they ask if u ever cheated people of large amounts of money and stuff.

[REP0MAN]

I know a bit about them. Give me the listing address, name and telephone number, I'll check it out for ya.

--signed, Helplessly needing a vehicle.



Actually, it's a Ford Explorer. If it has Firestone tires, don't make corners over 10 miles per hour. Otherwise, they ain't that bad. 700 sounds like a scam. Have it Carfax-ed and checked out by a mechanic.

[Nefarious]

Mercury Mountaineer is basically a Ford Explorer.

I don't own one, but I have known a few people that have. I have yet to hear them talk good about them.

My Co-worker is trying to kill his 93 Explorer. But it won't die. He cusses it daily.

[SIK1]

If it was me; I would keep looking.

Be very leery when a seller tells you that all you have to do is fix a few things. It could mean that the vehicle was poorly maintained or that there is a more significant underlying condition. If it's the 3.0 liter v6 it's about due to pop a head gasket. Also isn't the Mountaineer an SUV? Take into account what fuel, and insurance will cost you.

If you check it out and you still think it's a good deal see if he'll let you take it in for a pre-sale inspection at the shop of your choosing. If he says no, of course you run away. If he says no problem then take it to a shop that you or your parents trust and have them check it out.

I'm not very familiar with the Mountaineer but I do know that on some of the SUV's out there balljoints can be a reasonably expensive repair.

[Masherbrum]

Hot spots:

8.8" Rear axles have the outer bearings go very easy.
Head gaskets on the 4.0L are sometimes (better than the 1st gen) prone to failure

My guess is both O2 sensors have failed and need to be replaced.   Ball joints can get expensive, especially if both the Lower and uppers have gone.   Spark plugs are a breeze to replace.   

[Mark Luper]

I'm not familiar enough with that model year as far as specifics go but the Mountineer is a nicer Explorer and comes with a V-8 rather than the 4.0 V-6. Most have leather interiors and are very upscale compared to the normal Explorer. They are Mercury's version of the Explorer.

Mark

[TwentyFo]

At my mom's work. they had a data base where people can post if there selling stuff or whatnot. Anyways she was on there looking for cars that i could get. She brought home a add for a 1997 Mecury Mountineer  with 116,000miles on it for only $700. It has good tire tread, new brakes and rotors. no rust or rips eaither. the onlything he said i need to fix on it is the O2 sensors, ball join and the spark plugs. anybody here know anything about this vehical? My mom doesnt think the guy is going to scam me because she works for the federal goverment and with the polygraphs test they have to do all the time they ask if u ever cheated people of large amounts of money and stuff.

I think you and Pope should combine your money and share a car.

[rpm]

I bought a '94 Explorer (a Montaineer's twin). I loved it until it hit 130K and everything fell apart. Sensors, transmission, a/c, vacuum lines.

I had a 2 friends that told me theirs fell apart at 120K. Seems to be the lifespan of that vehicle.

[Selino631]

I think you and Pope should combine your money and share a car.

lol, popes mom bought him a brand new Nissan truck. he has had it for 2 years but doesnt have his license yet. doubt he would "Loan" it to me maybe u can convince him, your his role model 

[RightF00T]

Anyone else find it ironic that a guy named REPOMAN was the first to answer? 

[nirvana]

I wouldn't take being a government employee as being a man who tells no lies.  Otherwise it's a Ford and I've never personally had much luck with them but for $700 bucks why not?  Sounds like a decent set of wheels to get you around until you can afford something else.

[CAP1]

At my mom's work. they had a data base where people can post if there selling stuff or whatnot. Anyways she was on there looking for cars that i could get. She brought home a add for a 1997 Mecury Mountineer  with 116,000miles on it for only $700. It has good tire tread, new brakes and rotors. no rust or rips eaither. the onlything he said i need to fix on it is the O2 sensors, ball join and the spark plugs. anybody here know anything about this vehical? My mom doesnt think the guy is going to scam me because she works for the federal goverment and with the polygraphs test they have to do all the time they ask if u ever cheated people of large amounts of money and stuff.

if it's 4x4, the balljoints'll set ya back a nice bit..........o2 sensors on fords are fairly expensive too, and there's 4 of em. what engine does it have? 5.0 v8 or 4.0v6?

 a mountineer is basically a ford explorer. the 90's ones sucked. they had transmission problems, and unless this one has been replaced, i'd think twice. a 97 suv for only $700 sounds too good to be true. you know what they say about that, right? then there's the gas. they get less than 20 mpg or so average/////even the v6.
 i like fords, but i'd stay away from this one. it really does sound like a scam.

good luck
<<S>>

i just checked......the mountineer only comes with a 5.0 v8 in 97. decent engine, but 116k is a bit high. sometimes the plugs seize in them.

If it was me; I would keep looking.

. If it's the 3.0 liter v6 it's about due to pop a head gasket. 

3.0L doesn't blow head gaskets. that's the 3.8L. the 3.0 is actually a very reliable engine.

[CAP1]

I wouldn't take being a government employee as being a man who tells no lies.  Otherwise it's a Ford and I've never personally had much luck with them but for $700 bucks why not?  Sounds like a decent set of wheels to get you around until you can afford something else.

that's after he spends another 600 or 700 on the balljoints, another couple hunderd on the o2 sensors, and a tune up.
i don't think it's worth it. sounds like someone trying to unload their problems on them

[SIK1]

Yeah i meant the 3.8L V6. Looks like it's a moot point if the only engine option is the 5.0, and I forgot entirely about the transmission issues.  Like I said in my OP I would keep looking it just doesn't sound like that great of a deal to me.

[CAP1]

Hot spots:

8.8" Rear axles have the outer bearings go very easy.
Head gaskets on the 4.0L are sometimes (better than the 1st gen) prone to failure

My guess is both O2 sensors have failed and need to be replaced.   Ball joints can get expensive, especially if both the Lower and uppers have gone.   Spark plugs are a breeze to replace.   

97 MOUNTINEER ONLY CAME WITH A 5.0L
 ACCORDING TO mitchell, the balljhoints on these are part of the control arm, and replaced as such.

if i'm not mistaken, there are 4 o2 sensors on this vehicle. 2 in front of the front cats, and 2 in back of the front cats.
 some 5.0L equipped ford suv's have spark plugs that tend to seize in the hole.