Maybe it's just me, but I don't know why someone who is entertaining the idea of buying a Super Duty truck or Excursion, even thinks about a gas engine! I bought my first Super Duty in April '02. It was a used 2001 F-350 4x4 crew cab. Way too much truck for me, but I know a dealer who got it for me from the auction. It had the 7.3L PowerStroke diesel. My '93 Bronco with a 351 got 13 mpg (at best). This F-350 got 17mpg. Diesel fuel is usually cheaper around here too (St. Louis area).

When my wife's cake and candy business took off, it was a little hard to deliver wedding cakes in a pickup. We sold the F-350 12 months later for the same price we bought it for. We then found (after much searching) a 2001 Excursion 4x4 with the PSD. I'll never go back to gassers, ever! My tractor's even diesel!

If Ford would market the Excursion with the diesel engine, they would not have to cancel it. Most people that hear my Excursion running say "I didn't know a diesel could come in an Excursion." I once read in a towing magazine an article comparing towing rigs. The Excursion they had to test was 2WD and a V-10. They didn't have too many favorable remarks about the Excursion. They cited poor fuel milage and low performance for their negative review. If they had a PSD in there, it would have performed better.

We have an '88 Ranger 4x4 that I've installed an EFI 5.0L and 5-speed tranny from a Mustang. We also have a '75 F-250 4x4 highboy (mainly for snow plowing). My wife wants me to sell both these trucks and buy another crew cab Super Duty. She won't let me drive her truck (Excursion).

So basically, get the Excursion and get it with a 7.3L PSD. Forget your preconceived notions about diesels being stinky and noisy. This is not a big-rig (tractor) diesel. Check prices and drive as many as you can. In the end, you'll agree with me.

BTW, anybody want a 5.0L Ranger or Highboy?

John

 

You Guys have been an amazing help in sorting things out, and I can't thank you all enough for all your advice. I am feeling much more capable of making an informed decision.

OK, here is where I am. My dealership is offering me full money back on my trade in for my Explorer if I take their client's 2003 Excursion with 16,000 miles on it. That compares to another dealership (about three hours away) who have a demo 2003 Expedition with 9,500 miles on it. They are offering a bit less on my trade in, but will lower the purchase price enough that basically both vehicles, given a few tax incentives, end up being almost the same price exactly.

I am leaning towards the Expedition because it is a bit smaller, and since I do a lot of city driving and parking, I think it will be a little easier to deal with. I also think I will have a considerable saving in gas mileage (this one is hard to figure out). Finally, the Expedition has all the features I want, whereas the Excursion has a DVD I will never use, but does not have a moonroof, which I would. I also think I will have a very hard time parking the Excursion in some downtown situations, and as a professional musician, I am always trying to park downtown for my performances.

My dilemma is now, given the two vehicles being pretty much equal in terms of cost, which is really going to be the better choice. I know the Excursion will pull way, way better and I will never worry about weight - but I think the operating expenses will be very high and the size is a problem.

Conversely, the Expedition is everything I want, but will I end up being sorry that I didn't go for the extra pull. I really doubt I can see myself needing to tow or carry more than 7000 lbs (Expy is rated for 8665) but having made the Explorer mistake, I want to be really sure this is the right decision.

Thanks again for everyone's incredibly informative advice and input. You've brought me to the edge of a decision - I just need a little push to finalize my situation.

Sincerely, Bongogirl

 

My understanding is it's the floorpan of the 'burb vs the alllison tranny that is the problem.
Yes, the dmax passed every drive-thru test I ever went through. The 6.0 has failed them all.

 

Hmmm. You must have a loud one then, because his 6.0 always passed.

Wonder why?

 

The latest flashes, I'd guess. Lots of reports of the engines getting louder after the newest flash. Mine was a late May 03 build so I guess it must have had a lot of that flash's info on it as it didn't get any louder after the Oct flash. It was always loud, IMO.

I'm talking about the same drive-thrus I used to go to with my dmax. There's a major difference in low rpm noise between the dmax and 6.0PSD motors I own/owned. I was standing in line waiting for Best Buy to open at 6am this morning and a dmax PU came by slowly along side. No way could you tell it was a diesel without looking at the badge. I was very nostalgic for my old motor at that point.

 

I was at WallyWorld this morning and a 6.0 fired up 50 feet away. Very different sound than my 7.3 and a little quieter, but no mistaking that it was a diesel. 7.3's really "cracks" when they first fire up. The 6.0 didn't have that sharp crack.

Clackety-clackety-clackety as it drove off.

 

I can tell one reason to stay with the gasser..... $5k!

I don't do very much long distance driving, but occaisionally tow a 5-6K pound horsetrailer. So the benefit of better mileage is not significant to me. The V10 has all the power that I need to drag the horses through the hills and is much quieter (yes, I have heard the 6.0... still too noisey). Given the higher initial cost and the added maintenance costs, I'll stick with the gasser.

 

Is the noise that annoying, it seems we dwell on this subject allot.
It is a truck, big one, it is a diesel, if it was a car………….well then!!!!
IMO IMO IMO

 

I have a 36 ft trailer, 9500 lbs, I have towed it with my 96 f-350 regular cab, my 97 f-350 crew cab and my 01 excusion. All are 4 wd all 7.3 psd. I like the towing of the excusion the best. And i get 16 mpg. The only thing I added was the Hyper tech chip.....Scott

 

The noise is probably not an issue unless you've owned a dmax, as I have, or bought into the Ford claims about this being a quiet diesel. Just another, um, un-truth by the Ford Marketeers, I guess. It adds to my disappointment level in my new truck and is really annoying after owning the very quiet dmax.

 

I have owned 3 7.3 PSD and i would not even consider a d-max. Beecause I like the motor so much. I guess the D-max couldn't of been that good, it did not keep you buying one.

 

Stay away from the expedition if it is the 4.6 V8. I had one of these, that I trade in on our Excursion. It was VERY unimpressive, power wise. And towing the weight you mentioned, it would simply struggle to much. NOW the 5.4 Is different. I liked our Expy very well, other than the pitiful excuse of a motor ford decided to put in it.
SO if it is a 5.4, then Your right the Expy may be better in the city driving environment you talk of.
But gas mileage wise, Our V-10 Excursion gets about the same on the interstate as our 4.6 v8 Expy did, around 15-17 depending on how im running it.
Good Luck!

Ron
00 Excursion Limited V-10 4x4

 

The excusion has alot more interior room for your equiptment

 

And do you have any idea why I bought the Ford over the GM? I thought not. If GM built a suburban with the 6.6 dmax/allison, you would not have to put up with me here, guaranteed.

Even if the dmax is down a bit on power compared to the 6.0, the dmax is a better all around motor, IMO.

 

Compared to what?