Gtessex

Looks like I may be buying a new vehicle before I planned too. My wife's 2002 Rav4 transmission is about to call it a life. For whatever reason we can't get a Toyota to make it to 100,000 miles without something major going wrong. The 2001 Mustang I own has 100,000 miles and most likely (knock on wood) will give me good dependable service for several more years. We have narrowed our next vehicle down to either the Ford Edge or Nissan Murano. If I had the coins I'd buy the Lincoln MKX. The Edge & Murano are the only two vehicles that would fit our needs. We did try out a Saturn Vue and didn't like it. Loved the MKX test drive, but have not tried out the Edge although I expect it to drive similiar to the MKX. With the Murano, we haven't tested it, but for the money the Edge appears to be the better buy. The price of a Murano with the options we want is closer to the MKX. From my perspective, the Edge is the way to go. The 'Boss' will make the final decision. Fortunately from my perspective, we won't be buying another Rav4. How do you increase the size of a vehicle and take away legroom for the driver? I can't sit in the newer Rav4 without my right leg rubbing up against the underside of the dashboard. IMHO, Toyota is the most 'overrated' car company on the market. My own research shows relatively few issues with the Edge. I see numerous complaints with windshield glare on the 2007 models, but none with the 2008 models. How did Ford fix this? Darker colored dashboards maybe? Every 2008 Edge we looked at had a dark colored dashboard.

I own a 2001 Mustang that calls for 5W20 oil. For the past couple of years I've used Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic 5w20 oil. Cheaper than Mobil 1 and can be found at Walmart.

IMHO, the Edge & MKX look best in Creme Brulee. I like the White Chocolate on the MKX, but it's a $495 option. The new Ice Blue on 2008 models could be a nice looking as the Creme Brulee.

As a reader of CR for many years. The bias against American brands is obvious. They claim to be 'neutral', but yet their so called 'experts' certainly favor Asian brands. They nitpick the American brands and ignore the shortcomings of Asian brands. As for the Edge, MKX. I am in the early stages of researching and checking out various vehicles that are classified either midsized SUV's or Crossovers. I've eliminated the Saturn Vue due to owner comments on poor ride and road noise. Eliminated the GMC Acadia due to size. Eliminated the Land Rover LR2 because I don't need a vehicle to climb mountains with. That leaves only the Edge, MKX and Murano. Those 3 vehicles offer what I am looking for....comfort, quiet ride, good driving position and room in the back seats for adults. Other so called automotive 'experts' blasted the Fords for a lack of a third row seat. Why would you cram a third row into a vehicle that is only 185" long? Makes no sense to cut down leg room in the first two rows just to put in a third seat. The vehicles are marketed towards consumers who don't need to lug around a bunch of kids. If the Edge, MKX came with third row seats, I wouldn't even consider them. I don't expect this type of vehicle to handle like a sports car, so why the criticism? My purpose is to buy a vehicle that is comfortable on a long trip. Quiet ride, handles like a standard car but is capable of storing large objects in the back. As for the Edge, I would have to agree with CR, on the interior. Way to much plastic. My son who is a body shop tech blasted the Edge for the amount of cheap plastic used in the vehicle, but liked the MKX. It is a crime to put a 'cheap looking interior' in a $35K vehicle. To my way of thinking, interiors make the vehicle since one is inside behind the wheel more than looking at it from the outside. I'd spend the extra thousands for the MKX. I hope that Ford upgrades the trim used in the 2008 Edge models. My next step is too test drive the vehicles. The Murano is certainly in the running, but is handicapped by the need to run premium fuel. Although some owners claim that using regular doesn't make a difference in the way the vehicle performs. That issue I will have to further investigate.

I would agree. I will have to compare the cost difference between Motorcraft & Pennzoil since I don't know the cost of the Motorcraft synthetic blend. IMHO, Mobil 1, Amsoil and other expensive synthetics won't yield a noticeable improvement over synthetic blends or the less expensive Pennzoil full synthetic.

I figured that might be the case.... Thanks! That's what is recommended in my 2001 Mustang. Just as a suggestion you might want to try a Synthetic to see if MPG's improve. I run this stuff in my Mustang (http://www.pennzoil.com/products/motor_oil/platinum.html) and it shows a slight improvement in gas mileage but the vehicle does have over 90,000 miles on it. You may or may not see much of an improvement. You might want to check with the dealer first on using Synthetics. The engine in the Edge/MKX is new, and I know very little about it at this point. Synthetics, IMHO offer superior part wear, and the Pennzoil brand is reasonably priced and is carried at Walmart.

What weight oil is recommended for the Edge/MKX? 5W20? FYI, the newer automotive engines are built with very tight tolerances. I would expect overtime MPG's for these vehicles to increase. It may take several thousand miles.