High Mileage and Mint: 1997 Ford Explorer Limited

When it comes to high mileage, it’s very rare that a vehicle used for daily driving still looks like brand new. Sure, if it’s a collector grade model that’s been used, you almost expect the owner to be proud of how they’ve threaded the needle between racking up miles without getting a door ding or a rip in the leather. But for a vehicle like the Ford Explorer with almost 200K on the clock? Please, if it’s not a rolling dumpster fire by now, it can’t possibly exist – or can it? This 1997 Ford Explorer Limited has a healthy 194,160 miles on the clock but looks like it has less than half that number. Find it here on eBay for $14,900 or best offer.

To me, this is the last of the Explorer line I truly consider nostalgic. I get it; this was only the second generation of the storied SUV, so how could it not be somewhat nostalgic? However, it occurs to me that it’s the third generation of almost any model where the charm of the original begins to slip away. In the case of Ford, they lost some of their mojo with both the Explorer and the Taurus around the same time, as it seems like both marquee models hit their high notes in the second generation (I could go on about how amazing the middle 90s were for a variety of reasons, but you don’t want me on that soapbox.) Also, the wheels that came on the Limited trim Explorers were downright gorgeous!

This does not look like an interior with close to 200K miles. Not in the least! That’s either some extremely durable leather or a very light and svelte woman was the sole occupant of this SUV for many years, which is not outside the realm of possibility. The carpets show traditional 90s-era rubber protectors, which have kept the rugs in great shape. The “Medium Prairie Tan” finishes throughout are not all that striking from a color standpoint, but the condition is what matters. Surprisingly, there’s no real woodgrain – fake or authentic – in this cockpit, which is usual for a Limited trim version of anything from this era.

The familiar 5.0L V8 engine bay is also in good order, with a healthy 215 b.h.p. on hand and all the lovely noises an eight-cylinder engine makes. The transmission is a 4R70W 4-speed automatic transmission, and this Explorer also comes equipped with a locking differential. The seller is up front about the typical bumps and blemishes you should expect on a truck this age, but it’s still small potatoes when you consider the mileage. There is some surface rust underneath but nothing awful, at least for those of us in the Northeast. The asking price is fairly ridiculous even with the amazing condition, so hopefully, the seller is serious about that best offer opportunity.