Well I finally did it -- just bought a 2002 True Blue L tonight

It was CDN$42,800.

Now I'm lining up a set of 16" wheels with Winter Dueller tires to get it home safely on the icy roads.

Any comments/suggestions on tires/wheels for winter use? In the winter I would probably be driving it about 1 day in 4, mostly when my wife needs to use the 4x4. In the summer I'll put the stock wheels and F1's back on, and it'll be a daily driver.

Can't wait till spring !!!!

 

Buy a winter beater POS! I got mine for less money than Tirerack wanted for a half decent set of snows and rims.

 

When the SEARCH engine gets fixed (I hear they're waiting on a chip reburn), you'll find a wealth of info on winter tires/driving.

I've got 225/16 Winter Duelers on Expedition take-off wheels. Call the Tire Rack, or visit www.tirerack.com. They UPS'd me the 4, mounted & balanced, for ~$700US. I couldn't find anything close elsewhere at the time. You should look at Discount too.

I made a 'crib' out of 2x8's, 2 running each way, half notched where they cross. Keeps 500 pounds (275kg) of salt and sand (in bags) over the rear axle.

Works great. Stay out of the boost when traction is marginal and you'll have no problems.

One tip: When things get BAD (like yesterday morning), I put the transmission in '2' so it won't spin the tires taking off from a stop and gives more engine braking. You can't go over ~40 (65kph), but I didn't want to yesterday.

Good luck!

 

Search is disabled BUT the FAQ still works... There are at least 2 threads on wintertires in it...

Doug

http://www.svtlightnings.com/faq1/faq.htm#IDAXD0BB

PS I finally finished updating all the links inthe FAQ a few weeks ago

 

Thanks guys

I ended up getting a set of Ancon aluminum 16" wheels at a sweet deal through the dealership, and a set of Bridgestone Winter Dueller P225/70R16. The guy said the the O.D. of the tires is almost identical to the stock F1's.

DHFerguson:
Would it be better to put the sand closer to the tailgate (to put the weight farther back and a little more leverage on the rear wheels) or over the axle as you described?

My dealer's mounting the wheels and tires for me and I pick it up tomorrow morning. It's gonna be a good Saturday

 

Sorry for being dumb, How much is that US?

 

$26,905 US = $42,800 CAN

as of today anyway...

 

I live in Canada and for a car the exchange rate is a little different. $30000 US = $40000 CAN. So he paid around $32000 US.

 

I think the further you put the weight back, the more of a pendulum effect you’d get (oversteer).

The exchange rate today (2/1/02) is $1can = $.6287us

 

Sorry, didn't see the answer was already posted. But I wanted to know also. So here is the answer I found.

BankRate.com Currency Converter

So: $26,964.00 US
Now, VERY IMPORTANT! - Was that X-PLAN!!
We must know. AND - If not, what is the X-Plan price in Canada?

 

Logan is right - CDN$42,800 is close to USD$27,000.

But DonKingKong's point is also true that vehicle prices are different between US/CAN on certain models. The Lightning is on an "Export Restricted" list because it is cheaper in Canada than in the USA. I had to sign a declaration that I would not re-sell this vehicle in the USA for the next 6 months when I bought my Lightning. That is part of the trade agreement between Canada and US I think.

 

But, does that mean that an American (me) can't buy it and drive it back across the border?

 

Sorry - did not see mocklab's post when I was replying.

It was not X-Plan, it was off-the-street.

It was also the MSRP in the window sticker and there was no way to budge on that.

 

I don't know. I would assume that you would be restricted from registering it in the USA for at least 6 months or something like that.

Anyone ever tried buying a vehicle in Canada and driving it down to USA?

 

The base price for a new Ford Expedition in the US is $31,295.00 . In Canada the base price on the same (same options) SUV is $41,255.00 . Now if you use the $1 US = $0.6287 CAN method then the base price of $31,295.00 US = $49,777.32 CAN. I paid $52000 CAN for my "new" fully loaded 2002 Eddie Bauer Expedition 4x4 and it only cost me a little over two grand then a base model. How can that be?¿?¿?