Suburban vs. Excursion questions...

YanmarFever · Dec 7, 2005

Someone once told me that our 02 Dodge ram diesel Ho.
sounded like a bucket of chestnuts with a microphone in it !!

ronjhall · Dec 7, 2005

My first diesel was a 83 GMC 6.2. It made a lot of noise. But when driving unless window was open noise was not noticed.
Last Diesel was a 87 Ford 6.9. It was also noisy. But not a problem when inside cab.
I have ridden in 2001 and 2003 Excursions. Did not notice any difference inside the vehicle. Being outside vehicle is a different story. Many owners have to shut engine off to make a order at fast food drive-ups. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Jarrett · Dec 7, 2005

( a lot..................... )
I agree. My dad's last truck was an '03 F250 with the 6.0 and it is alot quiter than my uncle's F350 with the 7.3.

Dargo · Dec 7, 2005

( After doing a little more research and reading all the comments to this thread (thanks everybody) I am definitely leaning towards ( almost falling over ) going with an Excursion. I still havent made up my mind whether to look for a gas V10 or a diesel. I have heard that the later 6.0 diesels in the Excursions are quite a bit quieter than the earlier 7.3's. One of my neighbors has an Excursion with a 7.3 - and it is loud. )

If you go with a diesel Excursion, can I have it when you're finished with it? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If I had gone with a diesel (either; noise doesn't really bother me - I have one of those clattering Cummins in my pickup and love it /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif), I'd still have an Excursion. I can't say that I had any problems with the gas, I was just afraid that I couldn't keep up with how fast the value of my gas Excursion was falling; even though I got it far a bargain because it was gas. I did the ole cut my losses before it dropped any more than it had. I still long for a diesel Excursion. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

stevenf · Dec 7, 2005

Jim, I don't recall if you indicated how much you were trying to tow but I believe the Excursion was also available with the 5.4 gas engine as well. It'd still tow a good amount but gas mileage wouldn't be quite as bad as the V10. My daily commuter is a 99 F350 CC 4X4 with the V10 and my average MPG is 11.3. It only has a 38 gallon tank but there for a while it was doing bad things to a hundred dollar bill. I commute almost 70 miles every day now and have almost 120,000 on it with nothing done mechanically to it excepting oil changes and a very recent injector cleaning and new plugs. I'd buy another one in a heart beat although I have to confess I long for a Diesel again I just don't drive enough miles to ever justify the additional expense. I'm outfitted to tow 16,000lbs off the bumper and gas mileage decreases to about 8mpg with much over 10,000 behind me. Don't get the leather I have the Lariat pkg with all the bells, the leather is falling apart where every prior and current cloth seat vehicle I've owned the seats were/are in good shape.
Steve

beagdog · Dec 7, 2005

I have had both, an '01 with the 7.3 and the '04 with the 6.0.

There is a noticible difference in sound outside the vehicle, but you'll never know the difference inside. As was stated, you don't have to shut the 6.0 off in the drive throughs, you absolutely had to in the 7.3.

I would run (not walk) from any Excursion with a 5.4, talk about value going in to the tank. I think you'd also find that the fuel economy might actually be less when driven the same way. A 7,000 vehicle with the aerodynamics of a brick is a handful for a 5.4. I have experienced driving a stripped down 5.4 (state owned fleet vehicle that I put well over 50,000 miles on) and at 70 mph, the best economy I could ever get was well under 10 (and this was a 2WD). My 6.0 4x4 has AVERAGED over 17 and will easily do 19 on the highway.

Just my .02

pekabu · Dec 15, 2005

It's funny you brought this up, we are looking for a replacement for our 97 Expedition that has been in the Emergency room and therapy for too long. It has the 5.4. We have looked at a 1500 Chevy, and a couple of Excursions. We drove a V10 Fully loaded. I loved it but admit it sits high, and is a bit jarring on bumpy roads (wife wasn't impressed). But the room and layout is the best. The 1500 drives really nice, is really low (easy in and out). I don't know what they were thinking about the third seat thing. It stinks getting in and out and there is less room then my Ford. 2500's are really rare. I found 4 (new) in New england, that's ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI.

The 1500 will do what I need, but I would feel more secure with a bit extra. Anyway, hopefully will test drive a 2500 this weekend. One nice thing is that you can see the motor (at least the 5.3). On the Expedition the last four cylinders where under the dash and a pita to work on.

The Excursions I looked at were both Limiteds. The V10 '05 had 20k and was 31,000 with room to haggle. The other was a '02 7.31l diesel for 32k. Not sure on wiggle room or mileage.

tlbuser · Dec 15, 2005

Have you tried Berlin City ? Chevrolet, Honda + more. Bought an 05 Honda Odyssey from there and was probably the BEST car buying experience I've ever had.

jim_wilson · Dec 15, 2005

I would like to be able to tow things like a decent size dump trailer, enclosed 22-24ft car trailer, car or equipment trailer with the BX23 on it, - stuff like that. My father has a Ford Expedition that will 5-6000 pretty nicely on back roads and highway - but I don't believe it would be treating it nicely to pull say 6-7000 over a long highway trip or try to take that same load up into the mountains of NH or Maine. There are tons of used 1500 series Suburbans and Expeditions around used - there really aren't that many used 2500 series Suburbans/Yukon XL's that I can find. There is however a pretty decent pick of V10 Excursions out there used. I am still a little torn between a 2500 series Suburban and the Excursion - but I am leaning towards the Excursion simply because from everything I have heard they are probably going to be more reliable over the long term than the Suburban - and there are more of them available on the used market.

stevenf · Dec 15, 2005

I sure like my v10 even though its mpg is only a bit over 11 most the time especially with the diesel selling for a premium and the fuel as well unless you required the additional pulling power of the diesel I don't see how anyone could come out ahead financially with either the 6.0 or the 7.3 plus the addtion of high dollar filters, lots more oil in the crank case, fuel filters, injectors, glow plugs etc etc. I guess the exception could be someone who travels an awful lot since the diesel engine should outlast the gas but I've got 120,000 miles on mine without one hickup so far, now I'm grabbing for wood to knock on do laminates count. Good luck in your search I'd still take a diesel in a heartbeat but it would be purely a Tim Taylor issue not a logical one for me.
Steve