Expedition EL vs Suburban No chevy or ford bashing please.

Dmace · Feb 4, 2012

Lt CHEG said:
I found the HEMI Chargers to be fun to drive and very fast, but the best police car that I've ever driven is still the 1996 Caprice. I've never driven a police car faster than the 153 or 156 mph that I've had that big bad boat up to.

That's crazy!
According to the test the Charger had the fastest top speed at only 151 mph so you probably won't get that chance again.

Lt CHEG · Feb 4, 2012

Dmace said:
That's crazy!
According to the test the Charger had the fastest top speed at only 151 mph so you probably won't get that chance again.

You're probably right. I'll most likely continue using trucks or SUV's due to the amount of stuff I carry, and even our Impala's, Taurus's, etc aren't pursuit rated at my current agency. I've been over 100 with the Durango, but even the doggiest Crown Vic that I ever drove when I was still a uniform cop would still blow away the Durango at the top end, and in handling.

I still remember the night I had the old Caprice wound up. I was working afternoons at my second part time PD. We got a call for a fight and there was a car that was just around the corner that pulled up right away and they started getting surrounded. This call was at one extreme end of the city, and I was in the middle. There's a road that cuts along the outskirts of the city that's built for higher speeds than the regular city roads and also has about a 3 mile straightaway. I took that road and kicked in the afterburners on the straightaway. Mind you this was a backup car, 1996 model year, and this was calendar year 2005, but boy could she boogie. The A/C didn't work in that car or I probably would have driven it more often, but for flat out speed nothing except the Camaro interceptors that I've ridden in could compete. The smaller, lighter Chargers will get up to warp speed a little quicker though.

CompactTractorFan · Feb 5, 2012

As far as fire and police vehicles, we are mostly Ford. Our FD has a ford Expedition chief's car, F-550 utility truck and an old Ford air truck. Our PD uses all Ford with a mix of marked and unmarked Ford Explorer's and Crown Victoria's. Also think they have an Escape detective's car. Back in the mid 2000's there were Chevy Impala's and Tahoe's mixed in. Recently the PD was loaned a Dodge Charger to test out, so we may be getting them in the future. Funny seeing a PD car with a Michigan plate patrolling around town. :laughing:

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Diamondpilot said:
Our police dept just got a fleet of F-150 Eco Boost trucks.

Do you know if they are using them for patrol?

Bird said:
Police officers have, for at least 40 years, wished that someone built a car designed for law enforcement, but it hasn't happened and they couldn't afford to buy it, if it did happen.

The "new" Chevy Caprice is also purpose built as a police car.

Diamondpilot · Feb 5, 2012

Yes, the F-150's are used for some patrol but mostly crime scene stuff, foul weather, and special events patrol like todays Super Bowl. Go to Vegas and you see them alot also and I was in Mexico a few months back and many of the Federalizes drove Rams. Trucks have a place.

As for the Charger we have a few around here but they were not well received being Uni-Body. Same with any care that is Uni-Body for this type of work. I know in the future they will have to cave and give in but the Crown Vic gives a much safer feeling even though it may not be on paper. Hard to break habits, even for the police.

Chris

yelbike · Mar 2, 2012

Well I made my choice and I did it. I bought an loaded limited expedition el.
Its new to us but 2007. I get it home next friday. Thanks everyone for the advice.

Two things pushed me over to the ford side. First was the shop that did my transmission in my tahoe. The owner told me that chevs burnt lots of tranys but the fords are just better units. He said he could show me a stack 6' thick of invoices to prove it. No where near that for the fords. He said other transimission shops around were finding the same thing. He also drives an older expedition and he tells me that its never in his shop.

The other thing was thinking abou my ranger. Its a 1996 4 litre 2wd. I bought it when I was a 19 year old kid and I drove the crap out of it. Now I drive it nice but it still has a ton of miles. I've seen them with 550 km in the wreaking yard. I've done very little repairs to it. two brake jobs, lots of tires one clutch control arm bushing x2 and hanger bearing x2.

ultrarunner · Mar 2, 2012

My friend tows a 22 foot 10k+ trailer about 500 miles a week for his business... he has bought new Fords and Chevrolet. It is also his weekend family hauler... his other family car is a Miata...

In retrospect... his best in terms of getting the job done and reliability was the Diesel Excursion.

The Ford Crew Cab and Chevrolet Crew Cabs... both Diesel 3/4 tons came up short.

Now he has a 3/4 ton Suburban... the mileage is about 11 towing... not nearly what he was anticipating... creature comforts are good.

Had 3400 miles on it when it went to limp home mode on the Bay Bridge... something wasn't right... Dealer had for 10 days and install a complete new power plant with all the accessories... said it was the most efficient thing to do.

It's been 10,000 miles since and no problems other than the fuel mileage...

HeavyHitch · Mar 2, 2012

I have both an 03 Excursion and an 05 Suburban....the Excursion dwarfs the Suburban...parked side by side, you'd swear you could could park the Suburban in the back of the Excursion. The Excusrion is built as a people moving trailer pullin' tank and the Suburban is more of a people movin' small trailer pullin' Cadillac. They each have their purpose in my opinion.

yelbike · Mar 2, 2012

I checked the dash read out for the expedition when I test drove a used one at another dealer, it showed 9 mpg. I guess I'm paying a premium for my wifes and kids safety. Thats cheap insurance I think.

A local fire chief was bring his grand daughter to daycare in his ford escape and clipped the side rear of a tractor trailer, torn the side of the escape right off. The little girl died a week later in hospital. Sad. I could not handle that. I'll guzzle gas at $10 per gallon.

timswi · Mar 2, 2012

yelbike said:
I checked the dash read out for the expedition when I test drove a used one at another dealer, it showed 9 mpg. I guess I'm paying a premium for my wifes and kids safety. Thats cheap insurance I think.

A local fire chief was bring his grand daughter to daycare in his ford escape and clipped the side rear of a tractor trailer, torn the side of the escape right off. The little girl died a week later in hospital. Sad. I could not handle that. I'll guzzle gas at $10 per gallon.

I feel the same way.

Diamondpilot · Mar 3, 2012

Congrats on the new truck. I am sure you will love it. My sister has a sharp Expedition EL and loves it. Hers is around a 2010 and has been trouble free. They got it new in 09??? It gets much better MPG than you are reporting. Somewhere around 15 average and they took it to OBX and got 18ish.

Chris