I own both right now, 2002 7.3 Excursion and a 2005 F350 6.0, the truth, love them both! Both bought used and spent around 20,000 each, both have had their own problems. Really no matter what you decide, either will need some kind of repair eventually, just like any vehicle you buy, gas or diesel. For me they both get about the same mpg, the 6.0 is a little better. Personally I think most of the major problems people have with either of these motors is after the truck has been modified beyond what the factory had intended and then of course you have some catastrophic damage that cost thousands to repair. Again, personally the 2005 truck looks more modern to me but hates the cold weather and has a bit more power. My 2002 Excur. is my family shuttle used for vacation and has never let me down. I would feel confident purchasing either vehicle, it all depends on which you like better.

 

With this recommendation in mind... Go over to youtube and watch the video "How to make your 6.0 powerstroke bulletproof".

Then decide if this approach is right for you!

 

My truck isn't tagged in Texas. I have a home there and I'm a 6th generation native, but my truck isn't tagged there.

Actually that is very debatable. There are quite a few people that have bought these trucks, even the infamous 03-04s and haven't had issues. Yes there were design flaws, but there were design flaws on the 7.3 as well and you modded them to high heaven they would crap out on you.

Most of the issues really stem from people not knowing how to take care of their truck and for techs that didn't know how to "treat" the truck. After a year or two of that, it ruined the reputation of the 6.0. So now everyone assumes, oh no 6.0, that's it it's crap unless you do this that and the other.

You don't have to do that, you can actually change your own driving habits to take those into account and learn what you can and can't do on this engine versus taking what you know about the 7.3 and applying that to the 6.0(which doesn't work). Doing those is the easiest way(not the cheapest though), but you don't have to do that. Knowledge is the key, of course, the bad thing about always being used is that you don't know how much knowledge the previous person had and if you are getting someone else's problem(one reason why I don't mind take the depreciation hit and just getting a new vehicle, I don't trust people enough to take the chance).

 

I have owned a 7.3 PSD with 5spd the truck was good my brother has a 2001 F350 4x4 with 7.3 6spd it is night and day compared to my 6.0 .

My brothers 350 doesn't have the accelleration like my 6.0 but you can feel the more low end torque with the 7.3 .

Seeing as the 550 I'am looking at has automatic with a 7.3 infront of it no worries of shifting.

I would rather have a 6spd but they are rare to find. A F-550 4x4 is hard to find this one with a 7.3 turned up with very low kilometers it is a good deal.

When I was emailing one dealer about trade in my 6.0 for one it is a 03 but it runs good. The 6spd manual was a deal breaker.

I really didn't know when I bought the truck back in early 07 I did find 6spds were very rare behind 6.0s. The truck I bought was ordered by the original owner it is why it had a 6spd.

Lets just say the 6spd isn't a desirable transmission behind a engine that requires turbo boost.

The 6.0 doesn't have enough "clutch engagement torque" to get the truck rolling. I can have the truck rolling and going down the road and pull the engine down to 1000 rpms in 4th gear.

I have rode in a familly friends 04 6.0 when he had it the truck had the torqshift. The thing had power you could feel it in the seat of your pants it was a bone stock engine. My truck no where near near the same soon as you make a shift you loose all your boost.

It is probably why I haven't had head gasket problems my engine never see's sustained boost. The only time it does is if your pushing it in 3rd gear.

I do like the quieter engine the 6.0 is the 7.3s clatter pretty loud.

So its not just my truck that the 6spd doesn't work so well behind the 6.0. It has been holding me back of using my F-450 to its full potential because the truck powers out.