Ex as only vehicle?
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New User
Joined: Sep 2001
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Ex as only vehicle?
I'd like to hear from any FTE members who own an Excursion as their family's only vehicle.
I've got my heart set on owning an Excursion. It's the perfect vehicle for us (two kids in car seats, large dog, boat, driving vacations, etc.) However, to make that happen financially, my wife and I will have to go to a single vehicle. Shouldn't be a problem most of the time, as I have a company car for work (but strictly ONLY for work).
Currently I own full size Bronco and wife has VW Passat. She's comforrtable in Bronco and has driven an Excursion with no problems. My question is simply, for those of you who have an Ex as their only car, how's it working out? Do you wish you had kept something smaller for around town skip and jumps, or is it no problem?
I've got my heart set on owning an Excursion. It's the perfect vehicle for us (two kids in car seats, large dog, boat, driving vacations, etc.) However, to make that happen financially, my wife and I will have to go to a single vehicle. Shouldn't be a problem most of the time, as I have a company car for work (but strictly ONLY for work).
Currently I own full size Bronco and wife has VW Passat. She's comforrtable in Bronco and has driven an Excursion with no problems. My question is simply, for those of you who have an Ex as their only car, how's it working out? Do you wish you had kept something smaller for around town skip and jumps, or is it no problem?
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 122
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From: Victoria, TX
I personally don't fit your requirements but I'll offer my 2 cents. First of all, the X is an awesome vehicle to drive. I have three daughters, the oldest being 5, so the interior space can't be matched. But the real reason we went for it was the space behind the 3rd row. With it up, the space is still functional. We were sold. With that said, there are times when I wish we had a smaller vehicle to run the "quick" errands around town. Running an errand in an empty X seems like such a waste of space and power, not to mention gas/diesel.
If you can manage it, consider a small car to go along with the giant.
If you can manage it, consider a small car to go along with the giant.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 751
Likes: 11
From: May Township, MN
My wife drove a 1995 Bronco with the 5.8 up until last November when we bought the Excursion for her to drive. Nobody wants to buy the gas guzzler Bronco so it just sits in the garage and it runs perfect. It seems with each passing month my wife loves the Excursion more and more.
Being how a brand new Excursion will set you back over $40,000 fully loaded and since used ones are still over $20,000 you won't see to many families owning just the Excursion. Most people whe buy an X usually have at least one other vehicle.
Being how a brand new Excursion will set you back over $40,000 fully loaded and since used ones are still over $20,000 you won't see to many families owning just the Excursion. Most people whe buy an X usually have at least one other vehicle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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Actually, your comparison should take into consideration the fuel milage of your two vehicles you have now...
I can almost bet the the diesel X will get better mileage than your full sized Bronco...
And as far as running around town in it... even though we have two cars... my wife's is a lease and she is like the mileage gestapo with it... she drives it to work and back and that's it ! We are ALWAYS in the Ex any other time...
I could see it as an only vehicle... very easily...
One caveat I would give though is consider the maintenance cost as well as fuel cost...
these beast take about 15 quarts of oil at a change - if you don't do it yourself (which I don't ) it can be $80 to $85 a pop... now mine are every 5K miles and the manual says u can go 7500 miles - but that IS something to consider !
Realistically - I get about 16 mpg around the DFW area... and I promise you, with the Diablo Predator set on the +65 HP mode all the time... I don't *****-foot it !!!
I can almost bet the the diesel X will get better mileage than your full sized Bronco...
And as far as running around town in it... even though we have two cars... my wife's is a lease and she is like the mileage gestapo with it... she drives it to work and back and that's it ! We are ALWAYS in the Ex any other time...
I could see it as an only vehicle... very easily...
One caveat I would give though is consider the maintenance cost as well as fuel cost...
these beast take about 15 quarts of oil at a change - if you don't do it yourself (which I don't ) it can be $80 to $85 a pop... now mine are every 5K miles and the manual says u can go 7500 miles - but that IS something to consider !
Realistically - I get about 16 mpg around the DFW area... and I promise you, with the Diablo Predator set on the +65 HP mode all the time... I don't *****-foot it !!!
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Joined: Jun 2004
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A 2001 Excursion 7.3l is our primary "car" now. It's been great - the wife and kids love it. Third row of seating and leather interior is a big hits. I'm very happy with the engine and transmission. I get 16mpg on average ... and diesel here is about $1.65/gal. I picked a used one up cheep - if you can do same I'd recommend it. For whatever reason(s), used diesel X's are not holding value.
Only word of caution is to be careful about picking up a used diesel that's been modified - either the engine or transmission may not last as long as expected before major repair is required.
Only word of caution is to be careful about picking up a used diesel that's been modified - either the engine or transmission may not last as long as expected before major repair is required.
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Thanks for the replies. Ideally we'd be able to have a second car for conveniemnce, but sounds like it could be done as only vehicle. Funny most of you mention the diesel, because that's what I'm lookng for. Don't NEED it, maintenance is more expensive, it may be "dirtier", but I love it!
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disregard 2nd reply..if it appears. Neophite here.
Last edited by 96brco; Jun 5, 2004 at 07:00 AM. Reason: oops! double reply
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Post Fiend
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Yep - many of times I wish I could have deleted a post once I saw what I put there...
but I guess it should stay there so I can prove to all (that don't know it already !)
I'm a typist without a brain :-)
but I guess it should stay there so I can prove to all (that don't know it already !)
I'm a typist without a brain :-)
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: East TN
Used to be able to delete and modify posts. I never understood why they dumped that board feature.
If your wife is comfortable with the truck and can drive it without hitting things and that's what you have your heart set on, then I say go for it. On the other hand - if the two of you have never trully functioned with one car for personal use, it will take quite a bit of adjustment.
Unless you tow lot's you really might want to consider an Expedition. Ride is much better and easier to drive for trips and in town. I keep an Excursion because it's the only SUV I know of that takes 4X8 sheets of plywood, 8' lumber, 10' 4X4's or 30 bags of mulch without a problem. Otherwise I would probably drive an Expedition.
Good luck.
If your wife is comfortable with the truck and can drive it without hitting things and that's what you have your heart set on, then I say go for it. On the other hand - if the two of you have never trully functioned with one car for personal use, it will take quite a bit of adjustment.
Unless you tow lot's you really might want to consider an Expedition. Ride is much better and easier to drive for trips and in town. I keep an Excursion because it's the only SUV I know of that takes 4X8 sheets of plywood, 8' lumber, 10' 4X4's or 30 bags of mulch without a problem. Otherwise I would probably drive an Expedition.
Good luck.
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
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I use my X as the family vehicle. I do have a beater car, but it's currently out of service (lol). I live 9 miles from town, so going anywhere usually much means 30-40 miles. However I also make short (<5 miles) trips with it on base going to work and such. I have no problems with it, gas isn't great (v10) but the room it worth it. I have 3 kids and I love being able to haul whatever I need without cramping everyone. Short trips are no big deal for me.
I say go for it, I drove mine 1100 mi from Missouri to N Dakota, and it was great. The extra room makes long drives way more comfortable for everyone. Made half decent fuel mileage too, 14mpg @ 65-70mph with about 1000lbs of people/stuff in it. The deisel will make way better mileage, but your payment and maintenance bills will reflect it.
I say go for it, I drove mine 1100 mi from Missouri to N Dakota, and it was great. The extra room makes long drives way more comfortable for everyone. Made half decent fuel mileage too, 14mpg @ 65-70mph with about 1000lbs of people/stuff in it. The deisel will make way better mileage, but your payment and maintenance bills will reflect it.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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The Excursion is our only car. It's just my wife, me, and Jack The Dog (95lb. Chocolate Lab). My wife and I walk to the Metro to go to work and although we do have to drive the Excursion around town some the majority of the miles we drive are out on the highway going to football games in the Fall or seeing family back in North Carolina. It would be nice to have another small car sometimes for the quick trip to the store or around town, but a second car payment, another insurance premium, and the added maintenance expenses of a second car just don't justify buying a second car to get a little better gas mileage for such a small percentage of our total driving. Bottom line is, for our driving situation the Excursion as our only vehicle is great.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 751
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From: May Township, MN
My wifes Bronco averages 11 mpg while the Excursion averages at least 15 mpg and has gotten as high as 19 on a fill up. Between my wife and I we've put over 130,000 miles between our two 7.3's and mantiance is not that much more than a gasser. Take for example we put a 5.8 motor in here 95 Bronco at 99K miles if it were a 7.3 it would have been under full warranty. Lately diesel fuel has been around 30 cents per gallon cheaper than gasoline. Filling my work truck is $10.00 cheaper than if it were a gasser every fill up.
In the over 130K miles of diesel ownership we've put in a cam shaft position censor in the Excursion (now has 116K) $100, and the F250 had a rebuilt turbo under warranty at 55K (now has 158K) $100 deductable.
Oil changes are not that much more expensive than gassers if you run the oil and filter longer. Every 5-8,000 miles I change the oil with Rotella T at $6.50 a gallon and use a $2.99 Sears Purulator oil filter. $24.00 for oil and $3 for the filter=$27.00 per at least 5,000 miles, cheaper than having a rapid oil change company change 5 quarts every 3,000 miles.
In the over 130K miles of diesel ownership we've put in a cam shaft position censor in the Excursion (now has 116K) $100, and the F250 had a rebuilt turbo under warranty at 55K (now has 158K) $100 deductable.
Oil changes are not that much more expensive than gassers if you run the oil and filter longer. Every 5-8,000 miles I change the oil with Rotella T at $6.50 a gallon and use a $2.99 Sears Purulator oil filter. $24.00 for oil and $3 for the filter=$27.00 per at least 5,000 miles, cheaper than having a rapid oil change company change 5 quarts every 3,000 miles.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 87
From: Olympic Peninsula
We have two vehicles, My 2002 Excursion and my wife's 2002 Volvo S80. She works from home so her car gets about 30 miles a week put on it. I drive the Excursion to work each day, 60 miles round trip and evenings and weekends the Volvo sits as we always take the Excursion, in town or out of town it just can't be beat. Now my wife's Volvo is a very nice car, but we still like the Excursion better with the kids and two dogs.
Pat
Pat
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 85
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
I own a 2004 Ford Excursion Limited and a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche but the Avalanche remains parked most of the time. The Excursion is our main vehicle. So far it is only me and my girlfriend and we do not have plans for children. We occasionally take long roadtrips with friends but in the future, we might downsize to something smaller. With the third row removed though, the Excursion is still practical and the storage space is enclosed, which is nice. Then again, the Avalanche is similar in that regard too. 
Ho hum.
Ho hum.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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We drive 2 every day, 00 with 75k miles and 03 with 15K miles, both V10's. We really enjoy them with 5 kids and 3 dogs. Also use them on weekends to cottage 600 mile round trip. Sometimes it's a squeeze on narrrow streets with cars parked on both sides, but no problems otherwise, back up sensors work great. If the 05's look good and the 6 liter is finally bullet proof I may trade one in.