Looking to hear some stories or thoughts on the life cycles of 1st-gen Ford Expeditions. How have they been used, abused, or even cherished over the years? Share your experiences or creative histories for these old SUVs!
1st owner (1999-2006): Suburban family bought it after realizing they needed more space for their growing family. Most of the stains in the interior come from spilled juice boxes and car sickness during long road trips.
2nd owner (2006-2007): The family’s oldest child got it as a hand-me-down, using it to drive to high school. It was traded in for a more fuel-efficient Chevy Malibu for college.
3rd owner (2007-2014): A local auto parts store used it as a parts delivery vehicle. The oil stains and high mileage (over 300k) came from constant use. Eventually sold off as it was no longer reliable.
4th owner (2014-2020): A person struggling with addiction bought it cheap. The vehicle saw neglect but somehow kept running.
5th owner (2020): A salvage yard picked it up after it was abandoned. Sold for scrap but saved by…
6th owner (2020-present): Bought for $700 during a tough time, this owner patched it up and has been daily driving it since. Despite its age, it’s still kicking, though its days are numbered.
First owner: Used in the early 2000s by an auto shop owner to haul parts and tow show cars.
Second owner: Bought by someone in a trailer park who used it daily for commuting to construction sites. It was driven hard until it couldn’t go anymore.
Now: It sits abandoned on a side street, reeking of Monster energy and cigarettes, with faded car culture stickers on the back window. Rusted trailer hitch and tinted windows complete the look. It hasn’t moved in three years and probably won’t ever again.
First owner (1997-2004): Family of four bought it new after their Aerostar was totaled. Mostly used for road trips and heavy-duty errands.
Second owner (2004-2009): A growing family bought it on a budget. They maintained it minimally and sold it when gas prices spiked.
Third owner (2009-2011): An auto shop used it as a loaner until an accident made it too expensive to repair.
Fourth owner (2011-2016): An older guy rebuilt it with scrap parts and used it as a work truck. Ran decently with 290k miles.
Fifth owner (2016-present): A family in a trailer park picked it up at an estate sale for $600. It hit 403k miles before the transmission failed. The eldest son plans to use it in a demolition derby.
New: A family buys it for camping trips.
2 years old: It gets stuck, and the family can’t afford to tow it, so it sits abandoned.
3 years old: A teenager finds it and pulls it out with a friend’s F-150. He drives it for a year before…
4 years old: The teenager dies of an overdose, and the car ends up in a salvage yard.
20 years old: A drug dealer buys it and uses it for his operation until…
21 years old: The meth lab in the back explodes.
23 years old: It’s sold at a police auction for $100, turned into a homemade flatbed truck, and continues working at a garage. Now at 400k miles, it’s barely holding together.
These can easily hit 200-300k miles if taken care of.
I saw someone living out of one last week.
My cousin Mark drove one that was third-hand before becoming a minister at a sketchy church. Now he drives a brand-new one.
1998-2005: First owner was an upper-middle-class suburban family who used it for family trips and daily errands.
2005-2010: Second owner was an average family who needed a budget SUV. Kept it running but sold it when it became too costly.
2010-2015: Third owner was a lower-income family who drove it into the ground.
2015-2019: Fourth owner was someone who abused it, leaving cigarette burns and adding cheap mods. Eventually sold it.
2019-present: It’s now in Mexico, used to transport people and questionable items. Still running but barely.
1st owner: A well-off family bought it to tow their sailboat until upgrading to an Escalade.
2nd owner: A middle-class family used it for Boy Scout trips and towing needs. It served them well for a decade.
3rd owner: The family’s youngest son got it as a graduation gift and drove it through college. Sold it for a BRZ after graduating.
4th owner: A redneck bought it and racked up 10 DUIs. The suspension now leans dangerously to one side, and it reeks of tobacco.