hey hello, i am newbie in this world (suvs)

My mom is very interesting in an excursion, She saw a photo in internet, and she falls in love with the ford excursion.
She wants the gas version (v10), because here is more cheap, and my mom does not have more money, but I am looking if is a better choice the diesel version.
I live Mexico, beside calexico ca.
Here, gas is more cheap than california: 8 pesos * liter, 8 x 3.785liters (gallon) = 30.28 pesos, 30.28 pesos / 13 (13 pesos = 1 dll) = 2.32 dlls x gallon
And the diesel is more cheap: 1.74 dlls x gallon.
Looking in my country for a ford excursion, Gas version costs about 4000-5000dlls (2000,2001,2002 4x2)
Diesel version costs about 7000-10,000 (4x4).
Diesel version exceeds my mom's budget, but I can help with some money.

I read in other forum that the excursion diesel it is only a good idea if is going to be used to pull trailers or something like that, if not,(nothing to pull, like my mom) is better the gas version.
Diesel needs more "care". More expensive autoparts, more expensive tuneups. Etc, Etc. And I am looking for something that causes the less problems possible for my mom.

My mom only want drive in city (shopping in the mall), I do not know, like 2000-3000 miles per year.
My car is an import, very small (200sx), I can not go to many places with my car (like camping), for that reason I going to use my mom's ford excursion.

What do you say? Gas or diesel?

 

Is minivan an option?

All in all, the Excursion is a lumbering beast. I would never buy one for city driving, and here the city roads are rather wide, anywhere where they are more confined, would be a nightmare.

Diesel is cheaper, and keep in mind that diesel is also better kpl than gas. If you aren't hauling anything, why not even go with the 5.4litre v8? Though the diesel still gets better kpl than it. If money is tighter, and without a real justification for an excursion's power and hauling, why go with an excursion at all?

Diesel is better for towing, yes. Still don't count the V10 out, it can tow quite well as well. Just because it's a gas v10 doesn't mean it's a minivan.

 

no minivan no, my mom wants the king of suv, she wants to see the other cars like ants.
thanks for the info, I do not knew that exists a 5.4 litre v8. I will keep looking.

 

Tamaimx
Any Excursion is a King of SUV's. I have a v10 and thought that the 5.4 v8 was under powered for moving such a heavy vehicle in large city traffic back when I was first test driving them. So, ether v10 or v8 will be a good drive in a smaller city or town. I really loved the Diesel that I drove but I could not afford the $6000 premium that it cost compared to the Gas engined versions.
I would caution your mother to think about having her Ex stolen because of it being close to the border. Here in Texas you hear about F250 and Excursions being stolen by coyotes just to move illegals across the border. Y'all know more about the conditions around where you live better than I but, I would hate to hear that someone car-jacked or stole her new ride. That is one more thing to think about.
If she decides to go ahead and purchase an Ex I feel that she will be most pleased with if.

 

I think your antie will like it! 2000 Ford Excursion - The 50 Worst Cars of All Time - TIME

 

Worst because of mile economy? DUH!!! it's a 7k lbs vehicle.

Stupid article.

 

I live in chicago and have a 03 V10 4X4 and am very happy with it. Even in a big city like chicago I have no problem driving this truck. If you want to go camping or off road you may want to consider a 4X4.

The diesel is not ideal for short trips, they take longer to heat up and this causes more wear and tear on the motor with many short trips. The V10 and diesel will go a VERY VERY long time before they are old and tired though. You can expect 250,000 miles form teh V10 and 300-350,000 miles from a diesel before they are not running so good anymore. Again the diesel is not made for short trips, so it wont last as long as a truck taking long trips. Also if she doesn't have the money for the diesel that is even more reason that the V10 is a better option for her.

A gas vehicle would probably be better for her as its like a regular car and she is probably familiar with the maintenance on a gas vehicle. I agree the diesel should be left to those towing heavy loads often, or putting many many miles a year on their vehicles. I would say the V10 is your best choice. There are some V8's but they are usually in the XLT trucks that have less options in them. Mostly all the nicer trucks with leather and most of the options will have a V10.

 

This is a terrible article, look at the other cars they call the worst, the writer just doesn't like large SUV's or anything that kooks like it uses a lot of gas. Anyone that knows about these trucks knows how great they really are. too many people do not know anything about these trucks and just assume they use more gas then anything else because it is so large.

If his mom is only driving a few thousand miles a year I don't think she is as worried about the price of fuel. She is also MUCH MUCH safer in a large truck in a city environment where speeds are lower.

 

Get the V-10. For reasons mentioned concerning city driving the gas engine is best.

 

I have some questions.
this car have recalls? or something?.
I read that the transmission have problems in the 2nd gear.
Exist a 4x4 option in v8 version?
Leather seats it is only option in v10 version?
What is the difference in equipment between v8 & v10?

thanks

 

V8's are usually lower optioned trucks, I'm sure there are a very few with leather and some options, but generally, with the V8 the trucks had few options. The V10 gets almost the same fuel mileage because the V8 has to work hard to move the big truck, the V10 gets the truck going fairly easily. The V10 has much more power available, and is just as reliable, and in my opinion is the only way to go in these big trucks.

The 2001 or 2002 had an issue with the trasmissions, forgot the exact parts that go bad but its not hard to identify the trucks with the problem from what I remember thoguh. Someone else should have more details on this, monsta maybe?

You can get a 4X4 V8, I still think the motor is too small for such a large truck though, and with using almost the same amount of gas it doesnt make sense to get a V8 to me.

You may get lucky and find a V8 4X4 with leather and other options, but these are RARE and pretty much had to be special ordered this way by a customer from ford. The V8 was the cheap option for motors, people looking to save as muh money as possible usually got the V8, and those people dont usually pay extra for options like leather.

 

The dealership that I used to work at was owned by a friend of mine. I recently went back to help him get some pictures to get the vehicles on the internet. He had a 2002, I think, Excursion Limited with the V8. When I saw the engine, I just shook my head.

 

This may be true in most cases. However with city driving, spending periods not moving and just sitting, you're going to idle away a lot less gas. At least that's how all the mexico driving i've done was like. Not to mention when you leave it running to keep cool in the 100+ degree heat, while you shop here and there, you'll use less fuel. Yes, it may be a bit under powered, so you don't take off like a rocket when you stomp the gas, however you have to think of the style of driving down there too.

 

I dont exactly consider my V10 a rocket when I stomp on it either, but I guess more so then a V8 lol. I guess I've been spoiled with all my 5.0/LT1/LS1 cars over the years.

It does do well for pushing something over 7K lbs though I guess lol.