[bayarea7176]

Our current car search has left these two beauties as finalists.
Explorer platinum OR mkc (reserve/bl with AWD 2.3L)


Girl: loves everything about explorer except mpg
Boy: love explorer but thinks its more than we need (this is true. We dont need anything bigger than an edge)

Girl: loves everything about the mkc except cargo space. We have a 70 lb terrier I dont want on leather, and frequent trips to lake tahoe have me conerned about room for luggage and a dog.
Boy: loves the mkc and thinks we can make it work

my practical side says that mpg is more important in the long run, as i am looking for a car to hang onto for 10 yrs.

Figured i should run it by the folks who love their mkc. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[kmccart]

I have two dogs: 75 lb. Terrier/Akita or Chow Mix and a 50 lb. Airedale Terrier. I have a canvas rear seat cover that has straps that go around each headrest so it hangs down the seat back and then spreads over the seat and drapes to the floor. Works great for both dogs and keeps them off the leather. Available all over (Amazon, pet stores, pet websites, etc.).

 

[njlime]

Explorer & MKC are truly in (2) different classes. Both are excellent vehicles & the difference in gas mileage in my experience was only 2 mpg, not enough to change my lifestyle even if gas goes back to $4/gal. We had a 2011 Explorer (first year of the new design) because we needed room for our 100 lb German Shepherd without giving up or folding down the back seat. Unfortunately, we had to put him down at 9 1/2 years & simply did not need the space of the Explorer. MKC is more luxurious & reasonable size but is substantially smaller than Explorer. Edge or MKX is more logical comparison to MKC, but Explorer is great if you want the space.

 

[2015 MSM]

Our current car search has left these two beauties as finalists.
Explorer platinum OR mkc (reserve/bl with AWD 2.3L)


Girl: loves everything about explorer except mpg
Boy: love explorer but thinks its more than we need (this is true. We dont need anything bigger than an edge)

Girl: loves everything about the mkc except cargo space. We have a 70 lb terrier I dont want on leather, and frequent trips to lake tahoe have me conerned about room for luggage and a dog.
Boy: loves the mkc and thinks we can make it work

my practical side says that mpg is more important in the long run, as i am looking for a car to hang onto for 10 yrs.

Figured i should run it by the folks who love their mkc. Thanks for any feedback.

Seems to me based on the way this is written that you are leaning towards the Explorer...:wink

 

[todd92]

So why wouldn't and Edge/MKX be the perfect compromise between the two? More room than the MKC, less girth than the Explorer.

 

[blankster]

So why wouldn't and Edge/MKX be the perfect compromise between the two? More room than the MKC, less girth than the Explorer.

Good point!

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Explorer is ONE very large ride...I think it's over kill if there are only two people.....for those with extended families or Large families I can see the use for one, when you factor 5 adults and all the luggage. If I needed more room, I would consider the MKX (which I initially did)...but we have no use for additional room.
I find the MKC VERY nimble and compared to the other stablemates, a lot less unsprung weight to lug around...I also find the 2.3 turbo engine gets pretty perky, especially when you're in S mode & paddle shifting!

 

[bayarea7176]

Hence, why i love forums like this

Thanks all for your feedback. Now that i know someone else made it work with (2) large dogs......im starting to feel ok with less space. The mkx comment is a good one. Its smaller than the explorer in both width, length and lack of 3rd row, therfore making a happy medium. When i drove it i wasnt impressed like i was with mkc and explorer. But i was in explorer love mode back then. It may need a reconsideration. I remember the boy really hated that bulky center console of the Mkx but I liked it. Plus mkx backseat is more comfortable for passengers. Nothing beats that mkc mileage though.......its a tough decision.:eek

 

[bayarea7176]

2015 MSM: would you mind sharing some outdoor shots of your sapphire paint? We are wondering if we will like it, but havent seen in person. Is it similar to explore blue jean?

 

[midnite cruiser]

Cargo space is solvable if you are willing to go 'euro' and go for a closable, lockable roof carrier. For major junkets with 2 dogs you could drop the seats and put lighter bulky cargo up top. We use a Yakima Rocket box for this and it is amazing how much space these things give you. Thule have similar products. The rack fits the MKC well although I end up adjusting the rear hatch opening where it bops the rear of the Rocket box.
Yes, getting one on and off is a 2 person job so doing this for frequent weekend runs could get tiresome.
I did rig a pulley system in the garage though that holds the cross bars and box up over the car for storage that allowed me to one-man lower it and raise it.
Americans haul around so much car for the low percentage need for cargo- the Suburban/Expedition/Armada/Range Rover crowd dig those big rigs.

 

[2015 MSM]

Bayarea7176...here is an out door picture (it's huge) I know that my color; Midnight Sapphire Metallic is aka Blue Jeans Metallic. I can let you know that in certain light it has purplish/pinkish hues, very eye catching, on cloudy dark days it just looks like dark blue.

 

[ddsski]

Some of us do live on side of mountains, drive thru anything winter can throw at us etc. IN my RRS, being high up gets my eyes out of the spray of logging trucks etc and its just unstopppable.