Need opinion on 2006 Mercury Mountaineer Premier before buying..trying to make my mind up..looks great!

Ours is now 5 years old and it has performed well over the time. No maintenance issues and only recently have I had to replace the battery and tires (5 years and 50,000 miles). Very comfortable ride with superior cargo space. The premier options are worth the step up. Ours is the AWD version and it serves as our tow vehicle for a boat. The towing package is a plus and the AWD helps on slippery ramps.

Our 2004 Mountaineer started developing rust on the door side of the rear wheel arches a couple of years ago. Seems to be a design problem. It happened on both sides and we wash the vehicle often in the winter. Be sure to look at the area carefully for any paint bubbling up. Other than that , it's been a pretty good vehicle. Only a few other minor problems. "Applique" on the rear door cracked. Park brake pads came loose. Replaced a couple of sensors over the years. etc.