Well my family is going to be expanding shortly and I am in need of more room. So I thought I should go with an X. My question is what engine should I go with? I am not familiar with diesels and I won't be towing much of anything. Any advice or input to help me make a decision is greatly appreciated.

 

How many miles per year will it be driven? Will it sit for any extended periods of time?

All of the engines offered in the Ex have their pros and cons so what works for someone else may not work for you. I used the following to choose the V10 for me:

I was going to drive it a lot short distances - my shop is only 3 miles away. Short trips in a diesel can be detrimental as they like to be warmed up to really operate efficiently.

I was going to be putting 10k miles per year or less on it - actually putting a few more than planned but I just enjoy driving it too much! This one was a factor simply because of the mileage difference between gas and diesel and the higher upfront costs for diesel. You can do some quick math and get an idea on how long it would take you to pay for the diesel - for me, my break even point was about 7 years. Might be a little longer since diesel in my area is now almost 40 cents a gallon more than regular.

If you aren't going to tow then you don't need the additional power of the diesel. I'm towing a boat which weighs 10,500 lbs on the trailer and the V10 does fine for me. I'm not racing anyone, not pulling in any mountains or hills and the lower mileage while towing isn't an issue either at about 8.5mpg at 60-65.

The final thing for me was maintenance and potential repair costs. The V10 has a short list of issues - early engines had issues with not enough spark plug threads so changing them (or not changing them) could be an issue if not done correctly. Also - they have issues with exhaust manifold studs breaking off. Quite a few threads on both so do a little reading on those just to educate yourself. I have an 03 so the spark plug issue doesn't affect me, but the broken exhaust studs has and I've already repaired it.

For the diesel - if you can find a 7.3 they are almost bulletproof but finding them is getting much more difficult. In mid 2003, they switched to the 6.0 which has a troubled past. Do some research on head gaskets, EGR system/cooler and make your own decision. I wasn't willing for a potential 4k-5k repair if the head gaskets went - that on top of the 3k-5k I spent at purchase time to get the diesel. Your maintenance costs will be a little higher as well - oil changes take 15 quarts of oil, fuel filters need to be done every 15k - if you can do your own work it will help quite a bit.

Whatever you choose - the Ex is a great vehicle. I love mine and it will be with me for a long time! Does great on trips, has plenty of room and does everything I need it to do.

 

Thanks for the info, there's alot to think about. I won't be driving more than 10,000 miles per year and I work about 15 miles from home. I was thinking the 7.3 was a pretty good choice but like I said I've never owned a diesel. I can do most of the maintenance myself so that would cut down on costs. What kind of mileage differance is there between the V10 and the 7.3? Also how long of a lifespan should I expect from the V10 compared to the 7.3?

 

I get 10.5-11.5 around town and 13.5-14.5 on the highway depending on speed. Hand calculated - I'm not relying on the computer. I'm sure someone with one will provide some input but I've seen 13-15 around town and 15-18 on the highway with a couple of friends who have them. The 7.3 is known for lasting a long time with many of them having 300k-400k miles on them before any major repairs. The V10 is very reliable - several users on here have over 200k with no major repairs.

 

This is EXACTLY the kind of advice I used when making my decision! Thanks to guys like this I made what turned out to be a BETTER decision than I otherwise would have made.

I also have little kids and am always making short trips, driving slowly, idling for periods of time, etc. and coupled with my wife's distaste for diesel....it became clear that I should narrow in on the V10 gasser.

You have to know, though, I REALLY WANTED A DIESEL! I am a powertroke owner in my heart of hearts--but I simply DO NOT need one.

Also, let me warn you AGAINST getting a 5.4L V8 gas engine. My wife's Expedition has one and it's underpowered in her car, much less an Excursion!! Stick with the V10!

Get the nicest one you can in your budget, because you'll likely own it for a long time. Don't worry AS MUCH about the mileage (not saying some of them aren't thrashed, because they are) BUT these things were built to be DRIVEN!You will put HUNDREDS of Thousands of miles on it rest assured!

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

 

Great advice guys, I really do appreciate it. Hopefully one will find me soon.