Not a bad idea if you can deal with a pickup!! Get an Oasis report and get it looked over by a damn good Diesel mechanic!

 

its the 70,000 mile limit on my financing that is killing me. I've found TWO 4x4 04 6.0 excursions with 71,000 on them that are clean and in my price range.

Also gonna talk to my bank to see if they could help finance an older truck.

 

Just my opinion but the 7.3 is a rock solid motor. I am the fleet manager for my fire dept and have 1 2000 Ex with that motor and considering the abuse we have given it I cannot speak badly. It has been retired from primary duty now with 110,000 miles but will be around a long while. Verdict is still out on the newer Ford diesels in my opinion though.

 

You might be able to get the X you want through a different lender. Where I live, the lenders are fighting to loan money on used vehicles. I recommend shopping around lenders.

 

I have 2 7.3s - a 99 F250 CCSB and an '02 Ex. With an 8,000lb+ vehicle, speed is my last concern. In a vehicle that sold for nearly $50k brand new, reliability is more important to me. To need to sink another $4,000 in a vehicle to get it reliable means it better have a lower value than one that doesn't. I will say that the 5R110 is awesome, and I wish it could be swapped in behind my 7.3s, but it wishes were wings, a fro wouldn't bump his a$$, how would he?

 

I'm also looking at the Ex's...and Espy's.... However, I own a '00 7.3 F250, and wouldn't part with it for anything... I'm a bit skeptical of the 6.0 now that I read this.... I had the understanding that Ford had cured the 6.0's issues by '05, is that not true?

Honestly, I've located an '05, 110k, Limited, 4x4, that I can buy around $20K, guy says he's the 2nd owner, never crashed, no dents or scratches, excellent interior, has all maintanence records, and just had the trans flushed, coolant flush, EGR replaced, along with all filters and fluids. was going to keep it, but just doesn't need a large SUV anymore.... Does this sound like a good deal or not?

Thanks,

 

Most used car/truck places offer their own financing.
The interest rate isn't as good as your bank, but they
don't much care about the mileage/year they want the sale.

You might be able to get what you want financed through
the truck lot.

 

Actually, if your looking at 2 2003's, with identical options only difference being a 6.0 and a 7.3, the 7.3 will book higher.

The engine add on a 7.3 is more than on a 6.0

 

Beefcake is exactly right. On top of that, if there is an 02 with a 7.3 and an 03 with a 6.0, with everything else the same, who would pick the 6.0? The only reason I was in the market for an Excursion was because of the availability of the 7.3 in an SUV, and because I have to tow regularly. Also, I was only interested in 02-03 models because of the automatic climate control and steering wheel controls. That being said, I was willing to buy a 7.3 with 180k miles if that is all I could find. Never thought about a 6.0 or a V10. I owned a 6.0 F250 once. I think the availability of the 7.3 in an Excursion is what draws many people to an Excursion in the first place.

 

My 2005 6.0 has been good to me for the last two years and 25k miles. I believe that many factors go into making a 6.0, minus the owner sometimes.

 

All things being equal, get the 7.3 diesel. They last practically forever and are basically maintenenace free minus the usual fluids/filters and the injector replacement when required.

 

to follow up, I found this:
2004 Ford Excursion Limited Sport Utility | 2519C | Used Car | Russellville, AR | Morrilton, AR | Cogswell Motors
, and bought it for a little less than they were asking and drove it 1000 miles home this weekend and got 17.5 mpg going 80 mph most of the way. Better than my v6 nissan pathfinder that I traded in on it! The limited interior is really nice and the newer 2 mirror sideviews are a big plus too. I wish landyot still had his radius arms, I can definitely feel mine wander on the highway and the front end is all tight. I checked oasis and its had the EGR cleaned once and replaced at 30k, and had 2 oil leaks repaired. I feel like I got a good deal on such a low mileage truck in pristine condition.