FordExcursions.com Forums
greywolf2112
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• Holiday, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 11/8/2006 |
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• 7 posts |
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 Posted:11/8/2006 08:55 |
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Hello everyone. I am in the market for an Excursion and thought I'd log on and ask the experts their opinion regarding this neat vehicle.
The wife and I were looking for a good, powerful, comfortable SUV to haul up to an 8500 pound camper, or large boat, while at the same time having enough room for our very large dogs and other equipment.
All my research led me to the Excursion over just about everything else, mostly due to reliability, comfort, towing ability, and price.
Now, the decision is whether to get the Diesel or Gas. I'm looking at some 00 and 01 models with perhaps at or under 100,000 miles on them. Honestly, we might do 5000 miles a year at most with the vehicle.
I was wondering if the extra longevity and MPG and slight edge in towing of the Diesel makes up for the extra (by my calculations) $4500-$6500 in cost over the V10. I realize that a diesel with 150,000 is like a gas engine with 75,000 - but, the extra cost and perhaps (am I wrong here?) extra $$ for maintenance over the long term, especially with us putting so little miles on it, is making me wonder about sticking with the gas.
Opinions welcome!
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aklim
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• Hartford, WI, USA |
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• Registered on 2/20/2006 |
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• 133 posts |
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Posted:11/8/2006 09:01 |
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I went diesel because the edge was not that slight. I towed a 1 place enclosed trailer up in high altitude doing 30 mph at WOT. No thanx. Sold the thing and got a turbo diesel
01 Excursion. Gauges with AIH Delete, AIS Air Filter system, CCV Mod, 4' MBRP, BTS Trans, 6.0L Trans Cooler and Intercooler, DP-Tuner F6 chip, ITP In Tank Mod and Boost Annihilator, Diesel Innovation's Regulated Fuel kit, BTS Big Oil system, GTP38R Turbo with 1.15 A/R housing and BDP Stage II AC injectors. Bilstein Shocks with U code front and A code Rear. Billet thermostat housing |
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greywolf2112
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• Holiday, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 11/8/2006 |
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• 7 posts |
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Posted:11/8/2006 10:09 |
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| Quote: | | I went diesel because the edge was not that slight. I towed a 1 place enclosed trailer up in high altitude doing 30 mph at WOT. No thanx. Sold the thing and got a turbo diesel |
In my research, I am finding some odd numbers. On MSN Autos and Edmunds, it shows the diesel having a max towing of 11,000 pounds and the V10 gas engine having a max towing of 10,000 pounds, and yet the torque ratings show a huge difference.
Are they being "conservative" on the max tow ratings for the diesel, or is the gas tow rating off?
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monsta
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• The Big Island, HI, USA |
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• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
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• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
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Posted:11/8/2006 11:11 |
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Different gearing (4.30) is required to get that tow rating...which should be, BTW, 11K. The V10 will do every bit of it, too. Although, it will use more fuel than the PSD when doing it.
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greywolf2112
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• Holiday, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 11/8/2006 |
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• 7 posts |
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Posted:11/8/2006 15:50 |
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Now, I just found what appears to be one of those "too good to be true" deals:
"2002 FORD EXCURSION LIMITED 4x4, 6.8L Triton V10, auto, ice cold dual AC, bright red with tan leather, third seat, PW, PDL, PS, CD, cruise, tilt, alloys, running boards, keyless entry, tow pkg, very clean, looks and drives great, $11,995"
I have to wonder - how many miles and how many wrecks has it been in? LOL |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:11/8/2006 20:14 |
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| Quote: | | Now, I just found what appears to be one of those "too good to be true" deals: |
Buy it! Oh, and welcome to the X-files! 
I would also "like" to have a diesel, but my number-crunching says the V10 is far less expensive in the long run. In order to pay back the premium for buying a diesel engine through fuel mileage alone, one would have to travel between 175K and 200K miles ... and that assumes equal cost per gallon (diesel is higher in many urban areas).
I don't know about you, but I'm long tired of a vehicle before it hits 150K miles. So, that also blows away the longevity factor, too. Added resale value? That works if you sell before the rest of the vehicle starts looking well-worn. Add in the higher maintenance cost for a diesel, and you start to realize all that $$$ can buy one heck of a lot of gasoline to feed the V10.
I'm not knocking the diesels ... I'd really like to have one, but I can't justify the cost. |
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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:11/9/2006 06:24 |
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If you're doing all of your traveling in the X while towing, the diesel will pay for itself in the fuel economy. Daily driving in our 7.3L diesel X gets 15mpg around town and highway driving gets 17-18mpg. Our all-time best is 19.5mpg.
While both the V10 and diesel can tow about the same weight, the diesel does it much more effiicently and with less effort.
At only 5,000 miles per year that you plan on putting on it, a V10 would suit your needs, in my opinion.
-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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David Rush
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• Greenville, SC, USA |
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• Registered on 4/11/2004 |
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• 233 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:11/14/2006 22:20 |
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Hey the V-10 is a great engine. I have had my 01 for 5 years and love it. It pulls effortlessly. I pulled a 7000lb bobcat and did not even know it was there. I reprogrammed with a Hypertech module and placed a AED cold air induction system...gives it more punch. You won't be disappointed!
David |
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greywolf2112
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• Holiday, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 11/8/2006 |
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• 7 posts |
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Posted:11/15/2006 05:41 |
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Is there any scuttlebutt that the new low-sulfur blend diesel is going to end up hurting your gas mileage?
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:11/19/2006 19:10 |
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| Quote: | | Is there any scuttlebutt that the new low-sulfur blend diesel is going to end up hurting your gas mileage? |
I don't know about that, but I did hear that with the new emissions controls being mandated for diesels here in the US, that buying diesel fuel in Mexico (and maybe Canada) could be harmful to those engines. Do I know any specifics? No. Just repeating something I read over on one of the RV forums (several Excursion owners over there towing travel trailers). |
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