Where are the 5-speeds????

[TboneZX3]

I was lucky enough that the local dealer had a 5-speed available for me to test drive. Of course, I had to order one to get the options I wanted since they were few and far between.

[RonMaiden]

Originally Posted by drjkel

Promptly ordered a 5-spd SE without the sport package to avoid the rear disc brakes.

why?

[Borski]

Originally Posted by RonMaiden

why?

I think he meant avoid the DRUM brakes. Sport package adds disc brakes to rear.

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[__SLEEPER__]

Originally Posted by Borski

I think he meant avoid the DRUM brakes. Sport package adds disc brakes to rear.

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He said he got a SE without the sport package to avoid the disc brakes. I am wondering why also.

[drjkel]

Here in the salt belt of the rust belt, rear disk brakes are a maintenance nightmare. Especially when used with ceramic friction and on cars that are not driven daily. Steel wheels help as they shield the disks better than alloy wheels do, but in the end...the rust wins. Rear drums last much longer and comparatively are maintenance free over their life.


If I lived somewhere else, I'd go for the disks.

[CajunR]

I just got my 5-speed SE two weeks ago. I searched through about 30 dealers' inventories to find a stick in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Totally worth the effort, though!!!

[Borski]

Originally Posted by drjkel

Here in the salt belt of the rust belt, rear disk brakes are a maintenance nightmare. Especially when used with ceramic friction and on cars that are not driven daily. Steel wheels help as they shield the disks better than alloy wheels do, but in the end...the rust wins. Rear drums last much longer and comparatively are maintenance free over their life.


If I lived somewhere else, I'd go for the disks.

Interesting - what state are you in?

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[Pottski]

Dealers around here just don't order MTXs and didn't seem interested in helping me find one until they found out that we were going to buy a 2013 Explorer too. I live in Southern Indiana and they had to trade with a super dealer in Ann Arbor to get me a manual. I'm sure there were other manuals closer but I wanted tuxedo black with the sport package. I didn't even get to test drive before I bought. I test drove an ingot silver w/ DCT and knew that I had to get the MTX right away. The DCT was no fun at all. I'm definitely glad I waited the 4 extra days for them to bring my car down from MI.

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by drjkel

Here in the salt belt of the rust belt, rear disk brakes are a maintenance nightmare. Especially when used with ceramic friction and on cars that are not driven daily. Steel wheels help as they shield the disks better than alloy wheels do, but in the end...the rust wins. Rear drums last much longer and comparatively are maintenance free over their life.


If I lived somewhere else, I'd go for the disks.

I was going to same the EXACT same thing! Rear discs just don't work in the rust belt

If you live in a city and stop hard and a lot, they're marginal at best. But if you commute on the highway ... 2 or 3 years of out a rear disc brake setup is about all you can expect.

EVERY vehicle we've had with rear discs has had to have new parking brake assembly, pads, rotors and calipers after 3 winters.

Drum brakes, while they don't provide the braking power, can last 10 years or so before they need major work.

[RonMaiden]

I guess it depends on your priorities and where you live and am so glad (and my cars are too) I live in dry Colorado.