FordExcursions.com Forums
Robert Nickerson
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• Chandler, AZ, USA |
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• Registered on 1/3/2005 |
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• 1 post |
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 Posted:1/3/2005 22:04 |
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Newbie here.
I am sure this has been asked a million times, but here we go. I just bought my first ford, a 1998 EB Expedition, 2wd with 60K miles with the 5.4L. I bought it only to have 3 rows of seats and more power than my 4runner. To my surprise I absolutely love the truck. I find my self driving it all the time since it is so nice, even though I have several other cars that get better mileage. I do not tow anything and I just use it for weekend trips and to drive 5miles back and forth to work. However, they only thing I dont like is that there is not that much room behind the third seat. Hardly any really and the third row seat folds down but not into the ground. I would really like more room just in case since we always have a lot of family visitors.
So my questions are related to this:
1. I really like the ride/feel/steering of the expedition. Is the excursion going to be a completely different ride? Will I like it as much?
2. I think I would like the diesel for gas mileage (have never had a diesel) but I dont tow any thing and make just short trips. There is a v10 in my area for 13,900 with only 63K miles. A diesel will seem to run me around 20K. Is there really a 5-6K difference? I only need 2wd as well.
Thanks for any input - Rob.
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Bob Chirempes
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• Rosemont, IL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/1/2005 |
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• 16 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/3/2005 22:22 |
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Hi Robert, I too am a newbie. Just bought my Excursion on New Years Eve. It is the V10 limited 4wd. I have driven the Excursion with the 5.4, 6.8 and the 6.0 diesel. I managed a GoodYear near a Ford dealer and had good relations with the sales guys.
To answer your questions:
1. The Excursion will have a much more solid ride then your Expedition. Definitely more truck like. It is still however very comfortable and does not jostle you like a pick up does. I traded in a 98 DeVille for the Ex so there is some adjustment for me to get used to, but it is a very nice ride. Especially on the highway.
2. The 5.4 will be very underpowered. I was never happy with the way they pushed the pickups let alone a 7k pound beast like the Excursion. Emphatic YES that the diesel is worth the extra dough. If the dealer had one I would have bought it without hesitation. As a muscle car guy I know how easy it is to upgrade the diesels!! They have gobs of power to begin with and more power is as simple as "Bully Dog"!!! My V10 is great. It moves Tiny along with ease. Doesn't seem like it but all of a sudden.......55 mph. Also, here in Chicago diesel is $2.29/gal and 87 unleaded is $1.80. No savings at all in the diesel. But for sheer power, if that's your thing (It's mine), i have one word........DIESEL! 
I am sure some of the veterans of the board will chime in as well.
Just my .02 cents,
Bob |
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JohnBoy
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• DFW, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 9/3/2002 |
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• 972 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:1/3/2005 23:15 |
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Welcome to BOTH you guys !!!
I don't tow,
I have two in my family,
but I chose the 03 6-oh diesel 4x4 X cuz I wanted it and periodically NEED the size to haul all the group when we get together...
And it is the BEST vehicle I''ve ever owned - for what it does !!!
It gets better mpg than my 98 5.9 limited Jeep,
better acceleration than my wife's Lincoln LS sports car (and many other cars too !)
can haul the two big labs in the back AND seat 7 with ease....
I am biased - WAY biased toward the diesel - EVEN with diesel going from 20 cents per below regular to 20 cents MORE than premium in the last 6 months....
but find out what YOU think you'll need... I just have found out that I will NEVER buy anything BUT a diesel again !
2005 6.0L 4x4 Eddie Bauer Ex
2003 6.0L 4x4 Limited Ex - traded in (BooHoo )
"The Republicans should back off and let men marry men, women marry women, and legalize abortion. In three generations there would be no Democrats." |
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/4/2005 00:39 |
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Welcome, Rob! You too, Bob. Nice to see some newbies here!!
| Quote: | | I am sure this has been asked a million times, but here we go. I just bought my first ford, a 1998 EB Expedition, 2wd with 60K miles with the 5.4L. I bought it only to have 3 rows of seats and more power than my 4runner. To my surprise I absolutely love the truck. I find my self driving it all the time since it is so nice, even though I have several other cars that get better mileage. I do not tow anything and I just use it for weekend trips and to drive 5miles back and forth to work. However, they only thing I dont like is that there is not that much room behind the third seat. Hardly any really and the third row seat folds down but not into the ground. I would really like more room just in case since we always have a lot of family visitors. |
The Excursion will definitely solve your dilemma with storage space and the capability of hauling anything on a whim. I am in a similar situation when we visit the in-law's. On the way to the in-laws, it's a 400-mile trip with about half-a-dozen other relatives along the way who are always wanting us to bring kids alone, furniture, etc. etc. We always have room so we are pretty much a free moving service for everybody!
The 3rd row seat in the Excursion also does not fold down flat, but even with it folded in half, it will still allow you to put a lot of "stuff" in the X. The middle-row seats do fold down flat, so in the event that you get anything really big, you can always fold those down, and then fold-down/detach the 3rd row seat and set it up front or along side of the X. I've done this several times and it works quite nicely. The 3rd row seat is not extremely heavy, it's just really akward.
| Quote: | | 1. I really like the ride/feel/steering of the expedition. Is the excursion going to be a completely different ride? Will I like it as much? |
As Bob said above, the Excursion will ride differently. You will be going from a 1/2-ton suspension on the Expedition to a 3/4-ton suspension on the Excursion. Heavier duty...thus rides a bit stiffer than the Expedition. Not as plush, but certainly something you'll get used to and definitely worth the trade-off in other convenience factors like people hauling, cargo hauling, etc.
| Quote: | | 2. I think I would like the diesel for gas mileage (have never had a diesel) but I dont tow any thing and make just short trips. There is a v10 in my area for 13,900 with only 63K miles. A diesel will seem to run me around 20K. Is there really a 5-6K difference? I only need 2wd as well. |
I have a 2000 Excursion with the 7.3L diesel. I highly recommend diesel to any newcommer of the Excursion, but in your case, I would recommend the V10. The primary reason is the amount of driving you do and the short distances. 5 miles is really not an ideal scenario for a diesel. I would definitely advise against it if you lived in a colder climate because diesels take a while to warm up in colder temps. During this time of year it's especially noticable for us northerners. In your case, probably not an issue, but nevertheless, a gasoline-powered engine is the way to go. V10 for sure if you can afford it. 5.4L if that's more your budget. Sounds like the V10 for $13k will be perfect for you.
Also FYI, we as a group will pretty much agree on the following must-have upgrades for your Excursion:
1.) Aftermarket shocks
2.) Rear anti-sway bar
If you're still looking to improve the handling/tracking characteristics, check out LANDYOT's radius rods, too.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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rozett
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• Limington, ME, USA |
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• Registered on 1/10/2003 |
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• 163 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/4/2005 05:51 |
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Welcome to the forum. Like most others here, we LOVE our X. I chose the V10 for a couple of reasons.....
the diesel will have much better resale value, but I don't trade vehicles. I buy them slightly used and drive them until they die. So resale is not an issue for me.
My daily commute is only 5 miles, which is not a great warmup for any motor, but is worse for a diesel.
The diesel would be a better choice if you do a lot of long, highway trips. I don't do much of that. It's only two hours to visit the daughters in the next state.
The diesel will cost you more, last longer, and have higher maintenance costs. When I traded that off against the extra cost of the diesel fuel, I came out even.
Lastly, the 7.3 was just too noisy for me. the 6.0 is better (but not great) but I bought mine in 2001.
Buy one.... you'll love it!!! 
//bruce
2000 Excursion Limited V10 4x4
ART brakes, Rancho RSX shocks, Hellwig rear sway bar, SD grille, V10 badges, Sylvania Silverstars, clear corners, and Bridgestone Dueler A/T REVO 285s. |
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Orf
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• Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/29/2003 |
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• 143 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/4/2005 08:58 |
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I owned 2 Expeditions (a 1997 and a 2003) before buying my 2004 4x4 6.0L PSD Excursion.
My '97 was purchased about 6 months after the Expedition was introduced, and I loved that vehicle. I put a little over 170K miles on it before selling it to my brother in law, who still drives it today. Not bad for a first model year vehicle.
I traded it in on the 2003, just when the body style was changed. That one had a more "car like" ride than the '97 did.
With the passing of my father, I wound up owning the 2003, and a 2002 F250 SD with the V10. I used the pickup to tow, and the excursion for hauling the family. I found we had space issues, like you, when our second daughter came along, as we take our dogs pretty much everywhere we go. Also, the V 10 really drank the gas when towing, especially when towing my Kubota loader/backhoe.
I traded both vehicles for my Excursion. I knew I wanted the diesel for towing, though I wasn't sure if I would like it for everyday driving, but I am now quite pleased with my decision. The ride harshness is somewhere between that of the '97 and the F 250. A must, in my book, is Landyot's Radius Rod kit. They increase the driveability of the Excursion greatly. I also went with the Rancho RSX9000 adjustable shocks, which soften the ride a little.
Switching to the PSD Excursion worked out well for me. With your short daily commute, and no need for towing, I think the V10 is the best for you. Of course, that opinion is worth what you paid for it.  |
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Scott Stover
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• Fayetteville, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 4/16/2004 |
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• 354 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/4/2005 18:52 |
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Welcome guys! This place is a plethura of information for Ex owners!! I traded my 98 F150 4x4 in on my Ex and dont regret it for a minute! The only thing I would change is to have the diesel! Only because we run from NC to PA once a month, I drive 3 miles to work and take the Saturn when I goto work!
I love my V-10, It gets better milage than my pickup did, and it can tow azz loads more!! I wouldnt trade it for the world...well unless it was a new 2005 4x4 limitied with the 6.0
Once again, welcome!!
Scott
2000 X 4x4 V-10 4.3 LS
K&N
Gibson Catback
"Custom" Kickplates |
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birdman127
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• baltimore, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 10/13/2002 |
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• 581 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/5/2005 07:24 |
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Welcome to the forum Rob and Bob.
Moderator
Scott
2000 ltd 6.8 V10*4.30LS*
Lots of mods
check my gallery
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Brian Barnett
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• San Antonio, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 9/6/2004 |
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• 103 posts |
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 Posted:1/5/2005 11:24 |
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hello, I just wanted to chime in here and say that my Ex is a V10 and I love it, it sounds great and it performs better then I could ever hope for. I just bought a 95 Mustang GT convertible and I think my Ex truns tighter then the GT does! my wife and I were coming back from the dealer and she made a wrong turn and she flipped a U turn on this 2 lane road with a meadian, she just stuck close to the meadian and turned and made it in one shot, me in the GT I had to swing right then make the U turn and wound up on the sidewalk, I love that, and I have a lift on mine, and the V10 will keep up with the GT, not off the line but she can really move out when you get on it! good luck!
It really is all about size!!!!!! |
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Kickinsho
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• Sheboygan, WI, USA |
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• Registered on 1/17/2005 |
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• 5 posts |
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Posted:1/18/2005 12:58 |
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Hi All,
I am a newbie here on this site as of yesterday. Have been looking at and wanting an Excursion for over a year now.
I just came across this thread and would like to get a couple more opinions, suggestions, thoughts, or otherwise, if possible.
The reason for getting an Excursion is two things.................1) I want one, 2) we want to occasionally haul a SHO (3400#'s) to the track for fun.
I am interested in the diesels for gas mileage and power, but if I buy one, I only have about two miles to work (i know, i should walk, but i have to haul things) and it would be my daily driver for most of the year.
So it seems like a V10 would work, but also a diesel, so I am not sure.
Thanks,
Kris
'91 SHO Plus Wht/Blk MTX
'91 SHO Plus Wht/Blk MTX
'93 SHO Ultra Red ATX
Hope to add an Excursion in the near future |
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