I've never understood the thinking, even when gasoline and diesel fuel was less expensive, of buying one of these monster SUV's just to drive around in as a passenger car. The things are clumsy, have primitive suspension systems (my recollection is most auto mfgs. gave up on solid front axle suspensions in the mid 1930's) (well, that is not entirely true - being as backward as FoMoCo has always been, I believe they continued this into post-war production) and their length often rules out parking spaces a more practical vehicle can get into.
That is why we have a SUV that makes more sense ( A Toyota RAV 4 ). Would I want to take on a EX in a head on or intersection high speed crash ? No more so than I'd want to take on an eighteen-wheeler in my EX!.
Many of us who bought these things KNEW what we were doing - we had and have a specific use for them ( heavy hauling and taking LOTS of passengers). For that limited purpose, when the mini SUV's are totally inadequate ( I suspect the tounge weight of either my big boat trailer or my box / car hauler trailer would CRUSH a mini-van's rear end) cant beat a one ton truck (which is what the EX is when modified with a little common sense.
I am NOT happy about the gas cost to take our boat to our favorite water playground ( Lake Mead ). I WISH FoMoCo had used a little more commn sense in the layout of my EX. But I am sure glad they made it !
You guys who bought your EX's just to show off, and are now confronted with the obvious - I really dont have all that much sympathy for you. The rest of us because we bought em for LEGIT PRACTICAL reasons, remain damn glad we bought EX's!
The Clydesdales would cost you way more dollar per gallon. With hay at 7 dollars plus a bale and 1 Clydesdale eating at least a bale a day plus another 25 LBS. of grain twice a day@ 10 dollars a bag. Keep puttiong fuel in your Ex. I know I will. But then I use my Ex to haul the boat, horse trailer, flatbed trailer and my family in a safe vehicle on trips.
It does suck to fill up though. But feeding horses sucks worse.
I just pumped 581 gallons of 87 octane into my Ex from June 6 to June 24...but then again we traveled 4444 miles towing our 9000# 35' TT during that time...
If I'm not towing or it's not snowing...she's not going.
These are NOT commuter vehicles and I don't try and make her into one...I 'choose' to tow a home on wheels all over the country...I wanna play...I gotta pay...and the Ex is an EXCELLENT means to haul my family and home on wheels very effectively and safely.
joe.
__________________ 2005 Ex V10 4.30's
- Hensley Arrow
- Rear Hellwig
- Prodigy
- RoadMaster Active Rear Suspension
- Bilsteins
- K&N drop in
I originally purchased the Ex to haul our new 26' TT. We were looking at and had narrowed down our choices to the Ex, an Expedition with the 5.4l V8 and a Chevy Suburban. The Ex won out because there really was no math involved when towing a fully laden TT as far as weight concerns went. We also like the fact that there's room behind the third row unlike what little space is available in the Expedition. The Suburban was a little too pricey for us, so that vehicle lost out for cost reasons.
I never would have guessed that a year after purchasing this SUV, that gas would skyrocket from $2.84 a gallon to $4.05 a gallon (and rising).
My family lives on a single income, so I guess that's part of the reason we're feeling the pinch sooner than some others.
I can't believe that you got suckered in to buying such a guzzler... what the h*ll were you thinking?
Wait a minute, I bought one about a year ago also... d*mn... what the h*ll was I thinking?
Oh, now I remember... I needed something to pull my TT with and haul our kids around in. Man, I should have gotten a PSD though... but that would have been ~$3-5k more and looks where the price of Diesel has gone.
I suppose I could sell the 33 ft TT and the X, then just sit on my duff at home and go no where... NOT!
Sure gas is high right now... but I believe that it will return to some 'normalcy'. Will it ever be less then $1? Probably not. How about less then $2? It's possible, but I doubt it. Less then $3? Yes, I believe that is highly possible. When will it happen? Now that, my friend, is the big question... I just hope I can survive until it does.
I've never understood the thinking, even when gasoline and diesel fuel was less expensive, of buying one of these monster SUV's just to drive around in as a passenger car.
I don't understand the thinking either. But I did it. I don't tow anything. I don't haul anything. Have had 5 or 6 passengers in it on 2 occasions I think. The rest of the time it's usually just my daughter and myself.
Moreso than anything, I have simply had nothing but positive experiences with my local Ford dealership. This is why I didn't even consider a 2500 Yukon XL or a 2500 Suburban. If my local Chevrolet dealer or GMC dealer has to depend on me to stay in business, they might as well close their doors now.
Oh, now I remember... I needed something to pull my TT with and haul our kids around in. Man, I should have gotten a PSD though... but that would have been ~$3-5k more and looks where the price of Diesel has gone.
quote]
Mark,
For exactly the reasons you quoted is why the V10 is the smart way to go. I have two 7.3 PSD's and love them, but I bought them at a different time when diesel was cheaper than gas and the LSD fuel also got about 2 - 3 mpg better mileage than the ULSD diesel. In today's market the numbers just don't work for diesel unless you're doing a whale of a lot of driving or towing. That V10 is one heckofa brute of an engine.
__________________
Bill J., Lexington, KY
2000 Excursion LTD 4x4 7.3 PSD
2000 E350 7.3 PSD
On the positive side though...for the 3 or 4 weeks investment in waxing...my freshly waxed V10 Ex can easily get a gazillion mpg's due to the lowered wind resistance the slick waxed surface provides...but that quickly fades as the wax dissipates so I have to drive like 90mph!
__________________ 2005 Ex V10 4.30's
- Hensley Arrow
- Rear Hellwig
- Prodigy
- RoadMaster Active Rear Suspension
- Bilsteins
- K&N drop in
As the new soon-to-be owner of a 2005 V10 Ex, I also made the jump because I wanted a beefier tow vehicle than my 1999 Expedition. Sure the Expy got better mileage (4.6L), but this is primarily a tow vehicle. For commuting I have a 1995 Taurus and the wife's 2000 Olds Silhouette, both paid for. Either will get in the low 30 MPG range on the highway, and mid-20's in the city.
These are my expectations for towing: with the Expy I would get about 10 - 12 MPG when towing with the 12 being on the flatlands; with the Ex I expect to get 8-10. The 2 MPG delta is pocket change, and insignificant when compared to the improved tow performance I hope to get with the Ex.
Sure it may cost $160 to fill the tank, but isn't the tank about 30 gallons? My sol'n will be to fill up at 1/2 tank and not be shocked.
I'm sure I'll here from my liberal friends when they find out I upsized to the villified Ex, but remember Red's line from the movie Shawshank Redemption "Time to get busy living or get busy dying." I'll choose the former, tow and camp while I can (while I can), and to heck with the high gas prices.
I don't understand the thinking either. But I did it. I don't tow anything. I don't haul anything. Have had 5 or 6 passengers in it on 2 occasions I think. The rest of the time it's usually just my daughter and myself.
Moreso than anything, I have simply had nothing but positive experiences with my local Ford dealership. This is why I didn't even consider a 2500 Yukon XL or a 2500 Suburban. If my local Chevrolet dealer or GMC dealer has to depend on me to stay in business, they might as well close their doors now.
On the downside, it takes 3 or 4 weeks to wax it.
I'm with you VA, don't really use the Excursion to tow anything, the most I've thrown in the back to haul was a new cabinet with its countertop, but it has been loaded up with 8 passengers on quite a few occasions and I throw all my crap back there when we go to the beach, I usually fill it to the max when go to the beach.
The Excursion can do things that few other vehicles can do.
x_hemi_guy ..... 4444/581= 7.6MPG ... BLAHHHH that sucks man. Saw your sig though V-10 and 4:30's not bat concidering.
I wouldn't trade our Ex for nothing. This is our second one.
Cost of towing 7000 lb boat to Brunswich GA and back home for a 3 day vacation while getting 14.5 MPG $91.80
Look on my Bro-In-Laws face when he told me his 2004 Suburban is back in the shop for it's 3rd tranny cuz it can't pull his boat without roasting one..... PRICELESS!!!!
__________________
1997 F250 Crew 2wd 7.3L
3" DP, kitty ran off, DP-tuner chip, Home made Tymar, Amp Research steps, Hydroboost swap
My Site --> OBSPowerStroke.com
2004 Excursion 6.0L
Bully Dog Tripple Dog Downloader with Outlook monitor, Banks Intercooler & Exhaust, Volant CAI, Zoodad, & 2wd Steering Stabilizer, Ride-Rite bags.
Lawn Ornament?
