Does anyone know how many Excursions were built? I remember reading the production numbers somewhere and remember that the last years were much less. How many were V-8, V-10, 7.3 PSD or 6.0 PSD?

 

I don't quite know the numbers off the top of my head, but here are some statistics:


For the 2000, 2001, and 2002 model years, the 7.3 and V10 reigned supreme because of a few factors:

1. An enviornmentalist (or so the story goes) burned down the 5.4 V8 production plant. As a result, there weren't many 5.4 V8 Excursions or Super Duties running around. Whatever 5.4 V8 engines Ford had, were reserved for the Expedition and F-150.

2. Gas and diesel were alot cheaper back then. I remember Diesel being about $.99 (give or take) when I bought my Excursion; gas was about the same but never exceeded $1.05 if memory serves.

For the 2003, 2004, and 2005 model years, the majority was the 6.0, the minority being the 5.4 and V10. Here's why:

1. In 2003 gas and diesel prices began to rise. Consumers wanted something that would tow and haul whatever they wanted, but was fuel efficient at the same time. As a result more 6.0s were produced and sold than any of the gas engines.

2. The 5.4 plant was either rebuilt or Ford moved 5.4 production to another area. Whatever was done, it was at the right time. Consumers were worried about rising gas prices in 2003; as a result Ford produced and sold many XLT 2wd 5.4 V8 Excursions.

3. Many dealers misrepresented the V10 as a gas hog. Many consumers also viewed the V10 as a gas hog. Because of this, it got a bad rap and few V10s were produced for the 2003, 2004, and 2005 model years. That also led to Ford putting it on a "Special Order" basis for middle to late 2003 until the Excursion's demise.

4. The 7.3 saw it's final run in 2003 to be replaced by the 6.0. It too (the 7.3) was on a special order basis after whatever engines from normal production were used up.

That's all I know, Polar Bear can probably answer the rest for you. He may actually have the actual numbers, just send him a PM. Hope this shed some light on the topic.

 

That's not true. There was never a disruption to the 5.4L production.

 

I recall hearing that the 2000-model year saw about 3,000 units/month production rate. I believe '04 & '05 production rates were at, or a little below 2,000 units per month ... maybe 1,600 or 1,800 untis per month? Regardless, FoMoCo saw more profit per unit from the X than any other mass-produced vehicle ... about $10K profit per unit. My source? Shareholder data.

 

That much is true, because when they were planning on killing the Excursion for the '04 model year, sales and profits were what stopped them. I remember reading a news article about it when the '03 model year was coming to a close.

 

These are the numbers sold. I do not have the information to break them out by engine:
2000 - 50786
2001 - 34710
2002 - 29042
2003 - 26259
2004 - 20010
2005 - 16283
2006 - 965 (thru April)

 

The above figures (despite as much as I love my 2005) show why they wer cancelled.

 

Yes, There was a moron behind the marketing desk for this vehicle. It wouldn't have taken much to market it to the proper audience and sell many more of them.....
JMHO

 

In light of recent cuts by Ford (our local F150 plant in Norfolk is closing in '08), I wonder how shareholders feel knowing that the $163M profit from the 2005 model year Excursion was dropped from the product line for following years?

 

True, very true.

Ford never really advertised much or even properly marketed the Excursion. Everytime you'd see a Ford SUV or Truck Commercial, they'd mention everything in the SUV fleet but the Excursion. Even if they did say something about it, it was very brief. There was a thread about this awhile back, but I can't seem to find it. What I do remember from it was that many agreed that if Ford had marketed it as "The SUV of the Super Duty Line up" they definately would have seen more sales and profits throughout the years. But at the same time it is agruable that they never really had to market the Excursion. Why? Becuase it practically sold itself. There were many Suburban, Expedition, and other full-size SUV drivers that were looking for something different; something that had the power and towing capacity of a 3/4 ton truck, but at the same time offered them more room than they had in their current SUV. That something was the Excursion. People would see them on the road, at gas stations, or wherever and either stare in envy and/or ask questions because no one knew much about them, but the people that owned them. I was one of those people who stared in envy and asked questions when my neighbor got one in 2000. My chevy was on it's way out and I knew I wanted an SUV. I was inches away from buying a Suburban, but Ford offered me something that Chevy and GMC couldn't; a fuel efficient diesel engine and a bigger SUV. When I first got mine in 2001, people just couldn't seem to stop looking at my X. I'd go fill up and someone would ask what I'm averaging, how much could it tow, did I have any problems, etc. They'd also want to have a look inside or find an excuse to go for a ride in it. Ford didn't have to advertise too much about it in order to sell one, because the people that owned them gave the other people the push to dealership. The incentives were nice (i.e. 10K off the MSRP, rebates, special financing etc.) but at the same time, they should have advertised and marketed it more than the Expedition and the rest of the line up. Had they done so, we would defiantely have seen an '06 and even a 6.4 TT X.

 

According to lo's sales numbers, thats about 162,000 built.