Thread: Ford Territory buying advice

Originally Posted by Sprint

Pull the pinchweld/tailgate seal away from the body, especially where it sits against the plastic at floor level, and check for rust.

Looking at a 2006 on Sunday,49000km,one owner,82yo(deceaded estate).Full service history garaged.
Andrew

If you are looking for a replacement for a station wagon, yeah ok, you could probably get by. If you intend using it like a Disco, Cruiser or Patrol, the suspension will not take the punishment. Remember is pretty much the same underneath as Falcon sdn. If you would not do it in a Falcon, don't expect to do it with a Territory, IMO.

Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

If you are looking for a replacement for a station wagon, yeah ok, you could probably get by. If you intend using it like a Disco, Cruiser or Patrol, the suspension will not take the punishment. Remember is pretty much the same underneath as Falcon sdn. If you would not do it in a Falcon, don't expect to do it with a Territory, IMO.

It will replace the Mrs Defender.
She loves it around town but it dont cut the custard as a highway vehicle to attend to her mother in the city with health issues.
Andrew

I've only just found this thread.
I have a 2007 petrol TX AWD (160,000kms) which is now the wife's and a 2 yr old TX diesel (55,000kms). I run them on business then when I replace the wife gets the old one.
With young kids we are stuck with the Terri because it's still the only 7-seater (excluding people carriers) with child restraint points in the 3rd row.
Sales repping the petrol gave between 14 &16 litres per hundred. Towing a Series 1 on a big tandem trailer down from NSW the petrol stations were only just close enough together to get me home

Lots of minor problems as the petrol one got old but because I can carry out the repairs myself it isn't that expensive.
Just replaced a throttle pedal assembly today (brake master had to be moved, fuse box extracted, steering column half removed to get the pedal box out) cost $80 for a s/h one from a wreckers.
Need to do the front diff bushes, will replace with Nolothane, slightly more NVH but easy to do rather than lifting the motor to install the Ford bushes.
Replaced castor bushes & ball joints last year, not expensive but need a press to do the job.
Lower ball joints have been mentioned, Ford replaced a second time under warranty at 5 years old.
A couple of months ago I had to replace the inlet manifold gasket, that was difficult to do because of lack of room.

Under warranty I had a silencer box, rear suspension bush, door seals, steering wheel (outer surface started to break down) there may have been a couple of other small things.
Out of warranty combination switch (indicators wipers etc.), throttle pedal, various bushes, tailgate gas struts, needs a few more bushes and possibly front shockies. There were a few other problems like the glass in the drivers door dropping, clip breaks (common problem).

Replaced front discs once, pads twice. Rear pads replaced once.

Heard stories of leaking water via boot seal & rust problems but haven't experienced it myself.

My diesel is an early one, ordered before it was released.
Occasionally a lot of black smoke when accelerating (no DPF), hesitant on the throttle sometimes. Lots of discussion on the Fraud forum, turbo not spooling up quick enough, 'not knowing how to drive it properly'. Lots of knob heads on the Ford forum.
No warranty issues in 55,000kms, fuel consumption (less repping now and a few longer journeys) 8.6litres/100.
Pulls a Series on a tandem without causing worry about where the next servo is. The TDV6 is a great motor.

If you can repair it yourself an older Terri is a good option for on-road/gravel driving. Poor ground clearance if you want to take it off road.
When the petrol went in for one service it came out with over $5K of work 'apparently' needed. All fixed for a few hundred dollars, last time it will see a Fraud dealer.


Colin

Thanks Colin,lots of good info there.
The bushes would make clunks etc I guess??? I drove a 2004 AWD Ghia version the other day(134000ks) slight clunk from the rear turning left.
With less than 60000Ks on the clock and an elderly owner the 2006 Ghia Turbo we are looking at tommorow should be a good buy.
Andrew

After reading the problems with the Territory (looks like a Terrortory to me) I have arrived to the conclusion that my 1999 406 coupé is an excellent car!

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Thanks Colin,lots of good info there.
The bushes would make clunks etc I guess??? I drove a 2004 AWD Ghia version the other day(134000ks) slight clunk from the rear turning left.
With less than 60000Ks on the clock and an elderly owner the 2006 Ghia Turbo we are looking at tommorow should be a good buy.
Andrew

Andrew,
Check out the Ford forums for any common problems although like AULRO you'll often find lots of negativity.
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Can't comment on the turbo but routine servicing (even by Fraud) isn't expensive. Front disc rotors through the trade were $55 each
Clunks tend to be bush issues. Most can be replaced cheaply with Nolothane but as mentioned NVH increases. Our old Terri is used mainly for the school run so most of the NVH is from the kids.

Best of luck.


Colin

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Thanks Colin,lots of good info there.
The bushes would make clunks etc I guess??? I drove a 2004 AWD Ghia version the other day(134000ks) slight clunk from the rear turning left.
With less than 60000Ks on the clock and an elderly owner the 2006 Ghia Turbo we are looking at tommorow should be a good buy.
Andrew

Potentially - upper shock bushes, centre diff and outrigger bushes, or the outer sperical or heim joints. If it sounds like a balljoint but in the rear, it is more likely to be the heim joints. All of the rear outer lateral arms have heim joints on the Falcon/Territory. The diff bushes make more of a thump than a clunk. Not afraid to admit, I am not a Territory fan.