OK.... that makes sense. Its just an economics thing. I think I may still go the cheap route becuase of the TPS issue, since there doesn't seem to a problem with my plan. I like the full size spare idea, because people are having such a problem with getting CONTI's in reasonable time frames, but with the TPS issue I'm not sure it makes sense for me to get an aluminum rim.

Incidentally, in case I change my mind. How does the aluminum rim hold up to stones and such under the vehicle? Its kind of exposed under there and right in the path of everything.... You'd think it would get knocked to heck.

 

I took a rag and cleaned it off and saw no problem with marks or nicks. The tire sits on an angle so the tire tread and sidewall blocks most of the debris I guess.

The donut does not have a tire sensor on the '06 and higher, so why would that be an issue? I would just put the spare with no sensor on, place the donut back in the carrier and order a new Eco Plus for the damaged tire if it happens to me again. When the new tire arrives (I may order two for a match set depending on the other tire ware), just decide the new tire arrangement on rims with the sensors. Right now my spare has the most ware and my best tires are on the front. They are all in great shape with 28,000 miles on the FEH.

Remember, if you buy a mismatch rim and tire, it's worth very little to nothing anymore. The FEH rims are still available now, but will be rare to find as time passes. The '08's will most likely have a change in the style of rim, so what's been built is all there ever will be.

I owned a '67 GT 500 with the stock rims once, and by 1970, you could never find a match for that set anywhere. You should see what a rim or any original parts like that go for these days on EBay. The Shelby is worth over $200,000 now, what will the first '05 SUV hybrid be worth in forty years?

GaryG

 

Bet you would like to have that back now??

I used to have a 1958 Corvette with factory cable driven Rochester Fuel Injection, I sold it MANY years ago for $900..............

~John

 

Hi John

I sold the Shelby for almost 6 times ( ~$10,000) what I paid for it used. The guy I sold it to sold it for ~3 times ($30,000) what he paid me for it, and who ever owns it now is looking at around $200,000. The original MSRP was ~$4,300, but mine had the optional Ford 8 track stereo and rims. It was the 202 Shelby built at LAX (LA Airport) where Carrol Shelby had his assembly plant. Only 513 '67 Shelby's were built there before Ford bought the rights to manufacture the '67's in their factory.

When I bought it, it was all stock, and when I sold it, it was stock with an additional 427 long block I built for street racing. The owner I sold it to put the original 428 back in it and kept it stock till he sold it.

And yes, I wish I still had it and would love to buy the new Shelby GT 500 with 500hp. The problem would be breaking my new found driving habits at stoplights.

All cars I buy remain stock to hold there value. The keyless pad I added to the FEH was an option offered by the dealers. The spare rim can only raise the value and I'm holding onto the donut till I sell the FEH.

Those of you that are making mods to your FEH and MMH should kept all the original parts and make sure they can be reinstalled later if you sell it. I've got the same investment feeling about the FEH as I did when I bought the Shelby.

Good Luck To All Of Us

GaryG

PS, Hope your car selling techniques have improved since then John ($900 ?). That right, your the car salesman that bought the used FEH. Way to go!

 

You're probably right about the stock parts, I've made a TON of mods to my 05 FEH but I could easily undo any of them at anytime. My 05 did not come with leather interior & I really wanted leather. I thought about going with a Katzkin leather setup(it is much better quality leather than the stock leather seats), but I decided a stock leather interior made more sense in case I ever decide to resell it. I found a stock gray leather interior for an Escape on ebay & managed to buy it for $300 so the vehicle looks totally stock.

As far as selling techniques, I got a great deal on the FEH but I don't think it makes up for what I could sell that Vette for today.....

~John

 

Maroone Ford is one of the largest Ford Dealers in Florida, and they were allotted two FEH's long before Florida residence were allowed to order the FEH. Many States (I think 13) could order months before, and dealers in those State were allotted the FEH based on tech hybrid training and volume of sales.

In December of '04, Maroone had it's first FEH allotted purchased FEH order cancelled by a customer. My auto broker was notified as I was on the waiting list to order, so the Maroone fleet saleman jump on my broker before word got out to the sales staff. Within minutes he called me on my cell phone and I agreed to purchase $500 above MSRP. At this point, the allotted FEH was not built, so I was able to modify all the options originally ordered. As a auto investor, I ordered every option available except the AWD. My FEH has leather, Navi, 110V side curtains AB's, appearance package and everything possible at that time.

It turns out that I have one of the first fully loaded FWD FEH in Florida that was delivered in Florida. On top of that, I've posted a picture of my 715 MTE reading which I will break this winter in Florida. My hope is to post a picture of my MTE as near 999 MTE as possible.

John, I hope you saved those cloth seats, as they are part of your original VIN information. You have an original '05 friend.

GaryG

 

I may have helped start this rumor. Two '07 FEH I looked at online listed the tires as BFG, not Conti's. May have just been a mistake in the online ad. I hope they all still come with the Conti's.

Not trying to sound patronizing but could you have had the donut put on the rear and the good rear tire put on the front? I have driven on donuts and as much as I hate them, in decent weather in the back they are safe at less than highway speeds.

Now you know why this post was started and why some of us think having an extra set (or even 1 extra tire and rim) makes sense. I'm still looking if anyone has any laying around......

Early '06 models don't have the TPMS - at least mine doesn't. I got my '06 in June '05. I think it was built at the end of May.

 

I will admit that I lack in physical strength to be able to safely change my own SUV tires. And I don't think that the guy that my roadside service sent (a guy in an unmarked Ford Explorer) would have wanted to try to wrangle all of that in the rain with one jack, because, of course, it was raining while this was going on.

The whole thread has made sense to me from the beginning!

I think that there is a huge issue between car manufacturers and tire manufacturers that I would love to see publicized and addressed. Clearly there is some deal between Conti and Ford around these tires. It is absurd that Ford puts tires on a family vehicle that the consumer has to special order THROUGH FORD. Clearly they are more interested in protecting their future profits than making sure customers are able to use their vehicles safely. I buy new cars every 3-4 years so that I don't have to worry about it being out of service for a week at a time for service.

I had a similar issue with tires on my last vehicle - a Mazda MPV minivan, that came from the factory with a very odd sized PERFORMANCE TIRES. Yeah, who really needs a large performance tire on a family minivan? After two years, they needed to be replaced. Of course, since it was such an odd size, there were almost no replacements to be had, and the only ones under $150 per tire were the original model. So, I decided to go with those, only to find out that no one in the country has them and I needed to wait until they had another production run 3 months later. So, I spent the winter (where it snows) with tires on the van that should have been replaced, because Mazda put such a stupid tire on the vehicle. Again, I would guess due to a deal between Mazda and the tire manufacturer.

I think it is irresponsible of car companies to put on tires that are difficult for the consumer to replace. Tires are crucial to vehicle safety.

 

I had an '87 Ranger that came with Eagle GT's. So-called hi-perf tires on an extended cab pickup! After a year and 50k miles I had them wore down to the indicator bars. I trolled the want ads until I found someone with a new four wheel drive Ranger who put bigger tires on it and wanted to offload the old ones cheap. Got four almost new tires (M&S tires even) for almost nothing. With rims. Did this twice more before I sold the truck.

Was kinda hoping to do the same with the FEH but I think word is out now that these tires are scarce....oh well, had to try.

 

So, there is no indication if the seldom seen spare is flat?