Hello all,
I am looking at getting a full size SUV and have narrowed it down to two. One would be the Toyota/Lexus UZJ100 ie Land Crusier/LX470. The LX has a few goodies that I really like such as adjustable ride height (easy to lift) and adjustable shocks. The 4.7L V8 is butter smooth but economy is so-so at 14/16. I like the size, big but not too big. I'm not going to be hauling a ton of stuff but could be towing my new project car which should be slowly turning into a track-only car. Which brings me to my second choice, the Excursion. It is a bit excessive as I will not be hauling 6 kiddies around every day but I also have that project car to scoot around town and go to class in. I do however plan on taking a few big road trips in the next few months and I do a TON of hiway driving. I have had my current vehicle since march and I have put over 23k on it since then. I will be getting an oil burner and I know the 7.3 is a proven engine and is good for 200k but what about everything else? It gets better milage than the Lexus but now Diesel costs more than premium and the LX gets by with regular. Another main concern is head room. I am 6ft 8in and I just fit into the LX. I have not yet test driven (hopefully will get a chance to today) an X and that will be a deciding factor but I trust that there is ample head room in the largest SUV on the planet. Are there any pluses, minuses you can think of with either vehicle. The 98,99 100s had a weak front diff but after 00 they are said to be a solid product.

Thanks!
Austin

 

Unless you have extra money floating around, I would suggest an Excursion with a V10. I've had mine (a 4X4) for about 6 months now and put 12k on it. I have pulled several trailers and it pulls very well. Fuel mileage is 15 on the highway unless I drive fast. At 80 mph, it gets 13.2. While hauling a large load, I get 9.8 mpg. If you drive a V10, it will blow you away. I am amazed at the awesome power on every trip I take.

The best thing is the room. I have room for most anything I can imagine. At first, the size of the vehicle was a little overwhelming. Now, I hardly notice any difference. I have good turning radius and rarely have an issue in parking lots.

 

You can't lose with any offering the Explosion has for engines, but you can't get the 5.4L in a 4x4 in later models, but, the v10 and diesel should get pretty similar mpg's unloaded. I suppose mpg's matter to you, so depending on the load the Explosion gets from you on a steady basis, I may lean diesel since you are going used anyway.

My stealership/mechanic friend loved the v10 SCab F250 4x4 he had, but at 10mpg's unloaded and used, he'll take his used F350 CC PSD 2wd instead at 13mpg.

I have heard the Landcruiser clones chided for being a wussified wannabe of the LandCruiser of past. Of course, that's from the hardcore Toyota 4x4 crowd, and seeing what is offered outside the USA, I can believe it. DOn't let that stop your decision, but me not being a big fan of these run-of-the-mill SUVs these days, why not go all out?

 

I don't know much about the Toyota product, but wouldn't a Expedition - Land Cruiser be a better comparison?

To me the Land Cruiser - Excursion would be a David and Goliath comparison.

 

The Landcruiser is closer in comparison to an Explorer - pity you guys get the POS IFS Cruisers...

 

I was thinking the same thing. The Land Cruiser is actually smaller inside than an Explorer, is pretty underpowered with that hefty curb weight, and is severely compromised for off-road use by the suspension bias in the US versions (this is nothing more than an affluent soccer mom rig with a proud name and heritage attached). Buy one in other parts of the world, though, and it's a whole 'nuther story.

The Excursion wouldn't be my first choice either, unless I absolutely had to have the towing/hauling capacity. Even at that, it's compromised by it's own curb weight.

 

I've got to agree: unless you're hauling around all the neighborhood kids or moving the Empire State Building, the Expedition would make a lot more sense. The Excursion sounds like overkill, and the Toyota/Lexus is going to cost a LOT more money than any Ford product.

 

I would also seriously consider the 06 Explorer too...
The 06 one is a huge improvement over the 05 (which was a good vehicle).

 

Explorer? Come on... Explorers are IFS and IRS if I remember correctly. I also don't think they come with locking rear differentials. Either way though, I've done the daily driver as your 4wheeling rig and that just doesn't work. I'm not going to be taking this thing off road at all. I was actually looking at the 2wd Excursions that (*cough* also have IFS)

Yes, the expedition might be a better comparison but I for one have not been a huge ford fan over the years. My mom had an explorer and after the 2nd transmission among other things, I kind-of lost respect for the consumer side of ford. I know they know how to make one hell of a work truck and that domestic diesels are next to bullet proof. Thats why I want to step up to the excursion more than anything. The size is a bit much and excessive but, you have to pay to play and to get the good engine, you have to have the extra size.

 

Thats a valid point (about the IFS and IRS on the Explorers) - my point was, in comparison to the live axle front suspension Land Cruisers available elsewhere in the world the IFS (in my opinion) aren't quite as good - in terms of reliability, but if you aren't taking it over rough terrain it won't make a huge difference.

The main minus I can think of with the Excursion is the transmission - I have to say I am not a fan of the 4R100.
You may be able to get 200,000miles out of it, or 20miles before a rebuild. So just keep some money aside for it.
Apart from that the motor has a 5 year 100000mile warranty (with $100 deductible)...

 

Hasn't it been some time since the 4r100 was use in the Excursion...say late '04?

I guess I just assumed that the 6.0L psd/torqueshift was used nowadays.

 

It is - but he is talking about a 7.3 (which only came with the 4R100)

 

superrangerman2002 "Explorer? Come on... Explorers are IFS and IRS if I remember correctly. I also don't think they come with locking rear differentials. Either way though, I've done the daily driver as your 4wheeling rig and that just doesn't work. I'm not going to be taking this thing off road at all. I was actually looking at the 2wd Excursions that (*cough* also have IFS)

Yes, the expedition might be a better comparison but I for one have not been a huge ford fan over the years. My mom had an explorer and after the 2nd transmission among other things, I kind-of lost respect for the consumer side of ford. I know they know how to make one hell of a work truck and that domestic diesels are next to bullet proof. Thats why I want to step up to the excursion more than anything. The size is a bit much and excessive but, you have to pay to play and to get the good engine, you have to have the extra size."

Ah- that's a completely different twist to the question. This may, or may not sway your opinion- but neither the Land Cruiser of the Excursion offer best in class reliability- according to JD Powers. The Explorer is actually rated higher for overall reliability, and the GM triplets (Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade) are at the top. Use the link and play with the ratings if you like- but that's the objective side. If, subjectively, you have a bias against one particular brand or model, there's not much anyone can say.

 

I just bought a 05' Excursion with the 6.0 Powerstroke. Put a 6" lift with 35" Mudders. Installed an Attitude Edge Power Programmer. I am newly married with a 6 month old girl. We tow a 28' Toy Trailer with 3 quads 1 dirtbike and fluids rougly 10,000 pounds pulling 65 mph w/cruise control set gets 10 mpg no problem. Size wasnt too bad as I came from an 03' Silverado w/8.1 ltr 4x4 crew cab w/8 ft bed. 163" wheel base. I could not park it in a parking space next to a car, too long. The excursion is a piece of cake to drive and park, sounds similiar? I also drive a 97' Porsche 911 TwinTurbo. After owning a few turbo cars, its a known fact you can get more power, more torque, better gas mileage, than a gas engine, by just adding a K&N Airfilter, power programmer, with exhaust. 16 mpg on hwy with the 6.0 diesel, 10 hwy with the 8.1 ltr gas. Towing 10 mpg 6.0 diesel, 5 hwy with 8.1 ltr gas. 10,000 lbs. There is nothing else in its class that gets that kind of gas mileage. I doubt the Land Cruiser could tow that much,... even if you dont need to right now.

"Of course that just my opinion, I could be wrong"

 

Ok, you have someone here green with envy...
Short of an RUF BTR2 (which probably can't be considered a Porsche), a 97 911 turbo (Turbo S would be nice, but beggars can't be choosers) would have to be one of the few non Ford cars I would own.
Air cooled baby...
How a Porsche should be. They kind of lost me with the 996.