Suburban vs. Excursion questions...

[rozett]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Whichever one I buy it probably will not get driven all that much - weekend runs to Home Depot, hauling the tractor around, stuff like that. )</font>

Jim, if most of your driving will be local, around town kinda stuff, then I would recommend the V-10 gasser. The diesel will have higher initial cost and higher maintenance costs. But it is absolutely the right choice of you are going to travel and do a lot of highway driving. If most of your driving will be local, then the fuel cost savings will not be as significant and probably completely offset by the lower maintenance cost.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Yes, Like Rozett said, I too, would not recommend a diesel for short hauls. Long hauls and heavy towing could only justify the extra $$$ in my mind.

 

[tpost]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> Excursion production ceased on September 30 </font> )</font>

I hate to hear that. The Excursion definately looked like a good Ford product,although I never had the chance to drive/own one.

 

[HGM]

You know guys, I'm not sure I totally agree with that....... Of course if it is just a 10mi per month vehicle to drive to the corner store, your absoloutly correct.

My concern would be that you take bad fuel economy (10-12MPG) and drive it in town, stoplights, traffic, etc... You'd probably get 8-10MPG.

I havent had a chance to drive a V-10 for any speakable amount of time, but I think the logic is there. Could be wrong, I just wish Ford would have quit offering a gass burner in the Excursion, then they wouldnt have had bow down to the "greenies" by stopping production...

 

[RedDog]

I've never owned, nor wanted to own the Ford product, /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif but do own a 3/4 ton 4x4 diesel Suburban.


The Sub is the wifes daily driver, and she will freely admit that it is the best vehicle that she has ever driven. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

My brother has the same model Sub with the exception of a 454 motor and his family really like it. He is now looking to upgrade to a newer 3/4 ton 4wd Sub with the 8.1 liter motor.


RedDog

 

[jim_wilson]

I have been looking around and doing some research and I think if I was going to go with an Excursion I would probably get the V10. Although I might use it for an occasional long trip by and large most of it's use would be "around town" runs to the lumberyard - hauling the tractor here and there, etc. The extra initial cost of the diesel and the higher maintainence costs probably even out the costs over time vs. the V10 from the way I am looking at it.

I have actually lusted after a current generation Suburban since they came out in 2000-2001. I like the look and slightly smaller size and better handling of the Suburban - but - I have talked with a few people and heard some bad comments about quality on the Chevy's. A co-worker who has a 2003 Sub said that they have had problems with rust and general bad build quality on the Suburban they have. My father has a 1997 Ford Expedition that is almost rust-free. Since I intend for this to be a long term owned vehicle having a good quality body is one my buying criteria. I would rather be fixing mechanical issues than doing body work over the years so I have started leaning towards the Excursion (at the moment).

 

[Dargo]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've never owned, nor wanted to own the Ford product, /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif but do own a 3/4 ton 4x4 diesel Suburban.
)</font>

I was raised that way, but rode in the Ford truck once. After being thoroughly let down with the extremely poor quality of the Suburban I owned, I'd highly recommend you try the Excursion. Even my dad, who lives and breathes Chevy, says that the Excursion (and Expedition) puts the Suburban to shame on quality.

 

[dholly]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...I have talked with a few people and heard some bad comments about quality on the Chevy's. A co-worker who has a 2003 Sub said that they have had problems with rust and general bad build quality on the Suburban they have. )</font>

Well, since the Yukon XL 1500 is off the list I didn't feel compelled to add my $.02, but I can sympathize with this quality statement. We dumped a 2003 in an act of financial self-preservation last year, right after the manufacturer's warranty expired. Darn thing keep going thru front ends (3x @ $several thou). GMC put some serious $$ into the vehicle under warranty (not to mention flatbed rides and loaners, etc.). Frankly, I was scared to death thinking how expensive the maintenance on that sucker would be after the warranty expired. Thankfully, I had taken advantage of GM's 5yr/0% and got out with my shirt. But even if had been upside down on it, I figured it would be lest costly in the long run to trade. Perhaps in an effort to convince myself it was the exception rather than the rule (I've owned other GM products with great results), I traded it in for a GMC Sierra. So far, no regrets. I'm pleased with the p/u although Mom and the kids are less than thrilled to be back in a minivan.

 

[jim_wilson]

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. I would be willing to put up with a little less gas mileage for a little peace and quiet. Does anybody know how much quieter - if any - the 6.0 diesels are over the 7.3's?

 

[strokerduster]

a lot.....................

 

[YanmarFever]

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

 

[ronjhall]

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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( a lot..................... )</font>
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]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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. )</font>

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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