2004 Ford Excursion with the diesel 36,299 miles vs 2005 Ford Excursion gas with 25,162 miles. Have a shot at either of these (long story) and am wondering is there is amything I need to know about the vehicles and/or engins. Not a fFord man so I know nothing. Part of a litigation settlement and I'm gonna be able to get one or the other for around 10k a piece. Good deal or not??? ( Thre are also 5 Suburban/YukonXL's all 2004 with like mileage(20-25k) for 7-9k as well, but the Fords intrigue me)

__________________
Forum consigliere

Ford Excursion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can fit a whole gator in it. Thats the longest SUV ever, I believe

__________________
SOS USA

Confirm which diesel engine the Excursion has. The 6.0 Powerstroke has been the subject of a lot of troubles for Ford (well owners too!).
There have even been stories about how the warranty work expenses (very !expensive! injectors) on the 6.0 Powerstroke did a bunch of financial damage to Ford.
Ford dropped the 6.0 (lots of warmongering with Navistar over the 6.0) and has a new diesel that I believe (may be wrong) that Ford produces themselves.
7.3 Navistar in a Ford was one of the best diesel engines they ever had.

Do a search on the 6.0 Powerstroke, lots of reading!!!!!
6.0 powerstroke problems - Google Search

that's what I'm looking for....THANKS

__________________
Forum consigliere

To substantiate my reference to Ford troubles and the 6.0 Powerstroke, read this article:

Ford's diesel drama drags on: Power Stroke woes anger buyers, drive up warranty costs

I don't know anything about the diesels, but I rented an Excursion a few years ago when I was at a shooting match in Arizona. Had it for 10 days and put about 1000 miles on it. It had the V10 gas engine. I averaged 12 mpg and this was a lot of highway driving.

I own a 2000 Suburban, had it for a long time, and it will do anything the big Ford will do, and get much better gas mileage.

I would look hard at the 2004 Suburbans and Yukon XL's first.

__________________
Big Fred

The 6.0 powerstroke is a powerhouse when it is right. The quickest reving diesel I have ever driven. But each injector costs more than a nice Smith revolver, and doesn't last near as long.

It is more expensive to work on those motors than it is to work on aircraft engines.

And the 7.3 Navistars (older ford diesels) were good motors, especially the non-electronic versions.

But as I alluded to above, a good running powerstroke is nothing short of spectacular.

What everybody's already said Caje, IMHO?
Unless there's something pretty significant you intend on towing?

6.0 powerstroke was put in them starting in '03. The V10 does not have the torque a RUNNING diesel has. I drive a F550 with the V10. If you plan on towing, get the diesel.

You can't go wrong with a Suburban...

__________________
NRA Life Member

In the construction business around here, when someone needs a Diesel most everyone buys a Ford. Many guys also put the aftermarket "double up" computer chips in them and that makes the big trucks run like a hot rod! I don't see many switching to Chevy's or Dodges next time around and they seem to last a long time but they sure don't have the resale that they used to since Diesel fuel is now more expensive than gasoline. My buddy has a really nice F-250 Diesel that he has been trying to sell for a LONG time and still no offers.

If the diesel is a 7.3L you should check the engine oil pan. They rust through. It is $4000 to $5000 replace the oil pan. (You have to pull the engine).

It is one TOUGH truck.

Caj, I had a Ford 2002 Excursion with the V-10 engine and can tell you absolutely it was the best vehicle that I ever owned. Prior to that I have had 9 suburbans, 2 Tahoes and Jeep . Not one of them could compare to the Ford . I put 165,000 miles on it and then traded for an extended Expedition. I like it but not near as much as I liked the Excursion. Time will tell if it is as rugged. As an aside the second owner has put another 65K miles on it and it is still going strong. Buy the Ford! All my best, Joe.

Cajun, everything you're reading here about the 6.0 is true. I'm a Ford parts man by trade, and I can tell you that a good 7.3 will whip them every time. That's if you HAVE to have a diesel. Most folks who buy them, at least up here in redneck heaven, don't need them. Unless you're REALLY pulling a heavy load, they're a waste of money. Even if it is a 7.3, stuff STILL breaks. And when they do, look out. There is absolutely nothing on any diesel that costs less than fifty bucks. Upkeep is just too much, at least in this boy's pocketbook, to justify one. Those V-10 gas burners are plenty strong. A good friend has one in a 30+ foot motorhome, and it does just find. Save yourself some grief and go for the gas burner, unless you have heavy trailers, or just LOVE hundred dollar oil changes.

I studied up on diesels for years figuring out all the pros/cons.

Finally did a little spread sheet. Was startled to see, with the numbers I fed it, that my love affair with a diesel would not begin to break even until well over the 150K mark.

With the amount I planned to use such vehicle, that would be 10 years.

I don't care how good a rig is, there's damn few of 'em that I WANT to keep climbing in & out of for 10 years....

My last rig I made the mistake of trying to keep it reliable past 120K, for pulling my RV. Sure, it was still "a good truck"....*kaff*kaff*....

I added up repairs over the last 18 months and saw payments on a NEW rig would be less.

I'm at the point in life I'd just as soon pay the banker than the mechanic.

But diesel? Still calls to me....and I still can't justify one either for the size of the load I pull or the alleged longevity of the motor.

Even at the cut rate your Excursions are selling for.....it ain't what I'm after...

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

All good responses and give good grist for the mill. I have a boat that goes about 4K that I tow. I wanted another car with some steel around it for my daughter and if the price was right I was gonna buy one of these SUburbans. Anyway when I found out there were two Excursions in there, well I had to ask the question. For whay I want it for, after reading the responses, I think I'm gonna let the Fords go-too much truck for what I want it for, and make a low ball offer on one of the suburbans. Here's the kicker that I hadn't brought up before. All of these vehicles were the subject of a big litigation (unrelated to the vehicled themselves) and sat idle for at least 3 years which does give me pause for concern. I'm probably gonna give a bid for around 5-6,000 for the best suburban of the lot and see what happens.

__________________
Forum consigliere

If you dont tow, and dont really NEED the torque and towing power of the diesel, I would recommend the gas engine.

Diesel fuel is no real savings anymore, and the cost of the typical oil change and fuel filter change defeats any savings. Oil changes every 5K at $80-$100, and 2 fuel filters every 15K for another $100 or so. Most of my customers that bought diesel Super Duty trucks when they were so popular sold them after a year or so because of maintenance costs.

Personally, I'd buy the Suburban/Yukon.

__________________
Nothing to see here,move along

i have an 02 excursion....7.3 L diesel...purchased it new...its been a horse so far..no problems...its at 80k miles...its the 4wd model

Just an added comment on diesels. Absolutely nothing wrong with the tried and tested all MECHANICAL diesels. They work, period.

Let one sit for 3 years or 30, in short order it will be running just fine.

Several years ago a group pulled a like new Tiger tank from a lake in northern Europe. It was driven into the lake and abandoned as the Allies approached in 1945. It took 2 huge track loaders and some BIG chain to pull it out.

They let it dry a few days, changed some filters and oil, changed the fuel, and put some new batteries in it. The sucker fired up and ran fine!

My tow rig is a chevy 2500 made the last year before they started with the electronis add-ons to the diesels. It sits as long as 9 months at a time, but always fires up within one or two revolutions of the crank. The 20 mpg on the highway isn't bad, even with diesel fuel bringing a premium price these days.

I looked really closely at both of these about a year ago. Dropped the Excursion idea because of poor fuel mileage, high maintainance costs and the fact my local dealer is an idiot that couldn't fix a lawnmower correctly. Choices ended up between the Suburban and Yukon XL and that's only a name plate and trim difference. Ended up with the Yukon XL and couldn't be happier with it. Mine's the SLE with all wheel drive. If I had the choice again I would look a bit longer for a Denali because it has a 6.0 litre motor instead of the 5.3 in the standard Suburbans and Yukon's and my boat weighs around 6,000 pounds on the trailer. The Denali is standard with AWD and, if I couldn't find one with the larger engine, I might try to avoid the AWD and stick with the standard 4X4 because it drops gas mileage about 1 mpg.

Well I will put my two cents in for the Excursion V-10. Family of 6, ours is a 2005 Limited that seats 8. Tows like a dream, 24' car trailer with 70' cuda' on board. Plenty of power good handleing. We got ours used 17K in 2006. Now has 78K, just oil changes. Has more room inside than any suburban, and is my wife's daily driver. It dosnt get a honda's gas milage, but then you cant put 8 people in a honda. ours gets 10.5 in town and 17 mpg highway if you stay under 70, otherwise about 15mpg highway. 44 gallon tank.

__________________
with wings as eagles