Hello all, We are the proud new owners of our first Excursion. After readindg all the info and looking all over we found a very nice 2003 4X2 EB with the Quad seating and the diesel with 66000 miles. We ended up with the 6.0. I liked the reliability of the 7.3 but was not fond of the 4r100 tranny. The 6.0 has issues as I understand but it had the Torqueshift 5 speed. It was hard to find one in this good of condition that had all the stuff above, but we found one 300 miles away. Drove it home and could not believe the power and comfort, not to mention the mileage. Then I went and picked up the camper (7000 lbs) from the dealer after warranty repairs and pulled it home (about 50 miles of interstate) and had a big grin on my face I'm sure. It was like a smooth Sunday drive with very little effort at all.

I have put about 550 miles on her and still have just over a quarter tank of fuel.
We tow about 8000 miles or more a year and generaly put another 5000 or so on
around town. I hope to not have problems with 6.0 but would defintely fix them as this is the best towing SUV I could hope for. Now I get to learn all about diesel maint. and repair as I generaly do all that myself inluding major part replacement etc.

Thanks to all of your posted info on this site. It is invaluable.

Wish us luck on our journeys and for a long satisfied ownership

 

Good luck and CONGRATS!

 

Congrats to the new purchase and welcome to FTE. Hope u have many years of good service

 

First welcome to FTE. Second Congrats on the new truck your going to love the heck out of it,
Nick

 

Thanks, you are correct. The more I drive it the more I love it. The wife has been driving her and says the same thing. I think she has traded me back into my S10 for good. My son who is 13 and got to make the 300 mile trip with me keeps telling all his buddies at school about "his new Diesel Truck". I can't wait to see how she does on our next trip to the Rockies, pulling the camper up the high mountain passes and across the windy plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming.

 

That sounds like a fun road trip. The truck going to do great,
Nick

 

What kind of truck were you using to tow with before the X?

 

We used a 2000 GMC Savana with a 5.7

 

FWIW, I have the 6.0 and have never had a problem. (knock wood) I am on my 2nd EX and love it. Since they stopped making them I will probaly keep this till it falls apart. I have never towed anyting with mine but would like to see how it does.

My brother in law just purchased a toy hauler travel trailer and he tows it with a Sub. I think he has the standard V8. His TT weighs in at about 6k and with the bike in it and stuff he is at about 7.5k, which is the max he can tow. He took it on it's maiden voyage last weekend and told me that he had to keep the tranny in 3rd. He only got 6 MPG! He may be in the market for a new truck but doesn't want the diesel. His theory is that it cost's too much up front for the diesel engine. I offered him my Ex to see if he would like the diesel. We'll see what happens.

Bottom line is you will love it. Good Luck

 

That is why we bought the diesel. I was getting only 7 1/2 to 8 mpg towing our trailer out to Yellowstone and Montana this last summer and the old 5.7 was working hard at that.

 

katiesdad, if he doesnt like the diesel then theirs always the v-10.