We are looking for a vehicle to replace our 2001 8.1L 4x4 Surburban LT that our 16 yr old son totalled (BTW...he is fine). Deep down in side, I always wanted an X, and now this may be a blessing in disguise. I found the perfect X (black, 7.3L TD, 4x4, limited) that is in the price range that we got from the insurance company. My wife test drove it yesterday and did not like the size or the noise. I replied, "fine, I'll drive this and you can drive my car." Anyways, we are doing battle over this. She started looking at the Expeditions, which I stated would be too small. We have four boys in tow and when we do go on trips, I would prefer not to strap items on the roof. I like the big beast. I know there are women out there who drive the X around and perhaps there are women on this board that can respond and help me out with my argument. I do tow occasionally (2500# trailer - 24 ft with a car or quads on it). Has anyone had both an X and an Expedition that can add fuel to my fire? Divorce is not an option....

TIA

 

Billygoat,

I have a 2000 X 4X4. I am 17 now, but before I was old enough to drive, my mom drove it as her daily driver. She bought this after she turned in her '95 Suburban. Coming from that, it really wasn't too big of a deal. I would definitely jump on the X! you won't regret it. If you have 4 kids + all their stuff, an expedition is'nt going to cut it IMHO. I think it would be easier to learn to deal with the extra size then have to worry about where to put the extra stuff if you go with the expedition. The only thing that might get irritating would be finding diesel fuel, but if she doesen't mind shopping around for it, then i say, by all means get it! You'll love it! but thats my $.02

Now, remember, this is an excursion, so all answers might be a wee bit biased

Isaac

 

All I can tell you is why I went from an Expedition to an Excursion.
There is me, my wife, my two daughters, and sometimes ( a lot) a friend of theirs that comes with them, and our two dogs, and a cat. We tow a 31 foot travel trailer.

First of all, the Expedition (1999 4.6L with tow pkg) had a better ride than the stock Excursion. Hands down. It was easier to maneuver, and easier to park.

The downsides for me were the lack of power and the interior room.

Even when I borrowed a friends f150 with the 5.4L engine, it did not have the guts to tow my trailer well. Handling with the trailer was good to excelent. Without the trailer, it did OK.

As far as room is concerned, The wife and I have a girl scout troup. We routinely ferried the group with our Expedition and the wifes Mountaineer. That pressed us heavily for room. With the rear seat in, the expedition had a miniscule amount of room for luggage. I deplore putting luggage on top, as everything ends up getting soaked on a long trip.

When it was just a Family hoteling trip without the trailer or pets,, the rear seat would have to come out to accommodate the luggage. This left the back seat only to take the kids. OK if you have two, but a disaster if they took a friend.

The rearmost seat was reserved only for the kids, as it quickly became a leg cramp maker for adults and teens. The seat has little legroom and is very close to the floor. The rearmost seat in your Sub had a lot more room.

The Excursion solved ALL of these problems. There is now room for everyone to sit comfortably and I don't ever have to remove the rear seat, ample cargo room for luggage when hoteling or the dogs when trailering. The rearmost seat, even though it is the same seat as the Expedition, has a lot more legroom and the floor is recessed in front of it to give a better seating position. All around better room thant ANY Expedition, even the Expedition XL.


The Excursion has more than ample power to tow anything I want, and I can tow without worry. It tows better than the Expedition.

As far as the ride quality, I saw it as a trade-off. More room, better towing. The ride quality was something that could be addressed for @ $1000 or less, with a rear swaybar, springs and shocks.

Now I am happy. The ride is not quite what the Expedition had, but is good, and I have the room, power, and towing caapabilities I always wanted.

 

Here's one more.

Two days ago, We went shopping at Aldi, Acme, Sams, and BJ's with the 2 kids, and two of their friends. We have a really large pantry, and it was getting low.
In the Excursion, we put $1100 worth of grocieries from Aldi and Acme, a microwave cart (dissasembled in cart) a new pot and pan set in a carton, several bags of assorted stuff like clothes, 3 packs of 48 rolls toilet paper, 3 12 roll packs of paper towels, two new hand toolboxes, 2 cases of motor oil, and 2 cases of trans fluid. Oh yeah, and new broom. (there's still more I can't remember.)

All this fit ibehind the 3rd seat. still had a small amount of room.

I dare ya to do that with anything else.

 

Wow. Yeah, I'd say that qualifies as a large pantry

Isaac

 

You need to study more about Ford's SUV line - you are comparing apples and oranges. The Expedition is a 3/4 ton truck with a "Suburban" type body..anotherwords...it would be Ford's version of the GMC/Chev. 2500 series Suburban (the 1500 Suburban is only a half-ton truck).

The EXCURSION is much larger - whole different animal - except for the (way too soft, in my opinion) springs...a EXCURSION is a ONE ton truck.. considerably larger, heavier and more rugged than a SUV in the Expedition / Suburban class.

We just bought a "new " Excursion - frankly..it is a bit big and clumsy for use as a 2nd car - if I were buying an SUV for a 2nd car..I'd pick something smaller and more passenger-car like. We bought our Excursion for a very specific and limited purpose...for which it excells..pulling our heavy boat and car hauling trailers...both of which weigh around 11,000 lbs. Very simple calcuation - all other things being equal..the heavier the tow vehicle..the more stable at Interstate speeds. It is my understanding an EXCURSION is about 1,800 lbs (nearly a TON !) heavier than a 2500 Series Suburban or Ford Expedition.

 

The EX has about the same wheel base as the F250. Not that big a deal to drive. I really don't try to bend mine in the middle to park in a tiny parking spot. But I do park and drive it anywhere I want.

I like it for towing, Carrying "stuff". not for the big grill bars the wife says "YOU DON"T NEED THOSE".. :-( Jim

 

My wife has driven an X daily for the past 5 years, a '00, '03, and now an '05. All diesels. My parents have an Expedition. The 3rd seat is cramped in the Expedition and there is so much more room behind the 3rd seat of the Excursion. We have a 27 foot travel trailer and a 16 foot car trailer so the diesel is a must for us. Every once in a while I will here a little complaining about places that don't have large parking places (i.e. pretty much everywhere in California) but the safety factor more than makes up for it. It's only a matter of time before you start seeing "Prius parking only" in this state.

 

Don't know about that one. The 3rd seat on my 03 Expy was very comfortable and had ample leg room. I prefer it over the Excursion's thrid seat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Get the Excurison. You only live once and your wife will used to driving it. This is my wife's second. We had an 03 Expy but with 4 kids it just couldn't carry evrything safely and comfortably like we wanted. Add dogs in the mix and well...the Expy doesn't stand a chance.

Now that Expy EL looks nice! but it will probably be out of the price range you are looking at. Plus, no diesel....if that's your thing.

 

I have had an Expedition and I currently have an 02 EX. Night and day difference. I would NEVER go back to an Expedition. I had a 98 Expedition. I never had a lick of trouble with it. Nor have I had a problem with my EX. I have the V-10 and it is FLAWLESS.


I have 2 daughters with another baby on the way. It is the perfect SUV.. The only thing I do not like about it is parking in a mall situation. It really cannot be done in a tight spot. I usually like to back it in places as I feel it is easier. The only other downside is it does not fit in my garage. I also have an 02 Impala (Co. Car) and a 02 Pontiac Montana with 117,000 miles. We use the Montana and Imapala for around town driving and take the Ex when we need the luxury and room. Our 02 Ex only has 33,000 miles. It is almost paid off!! 3 more months and I own her.

I plan to Keep her for many many years!!

 

Well I can give you what my wife thinks about her 2005 PSD Excursion. She drives it everyday as her daily driver. She loves it. She was driving a 2002 F-150 crew cab before. Her only complaint about the Excursion is that you can not get a power moon roof in it. We also tow a 26ft Travel Trailer that weighs about 7000lbs loaded. We have 4 kids and you can not beat it on long trips. My wife is able to move around the truck and entertain the kids while I put the hammer down and keep on driving. This is the best truck ever made for a big family that goes camping or on long trips. Good luck with her. Later.

 

The Expedition is based on the F150, a "1/2 ton" truck.
The Excursion is based on the F250, a "3/4 ton" truck.
No Excuesion is based on the F-350 a "One ton" truck.
My 2005 Limited 6/0 PSD is not 1 ton, it is "3/4 ton"....
Yes some study is needed,....and we all know who needs to study
For the first time I have found a "new" member of the X forum I will avoid even reading
their posts!













the Explorer

 

Bmenzel, that is not an entirely true statement. The Excursion is based on the Super Duty platform which can be a 3/4 or 1-ton depending on the springs. Remember the only difference between the F250 (3/4 ton) and F350 (1-ton) is the springs. Now I would say that the Excursion has lighter springs than an F350 but it is built on the same chassis.

 

Does anyone really care? If it's not dually the difference between the two is nominal at best so it's not even worth fighting over.

I have a 2001 Excursion and my mother a 2005 Tahoe Z71 (short wheelbase which would be similar to the expidition). The comparison isn't even close. You really take the extra space for granted until it's needed; then you're happy it's there.

I too purchased the Excursion for a specific use (towing my race car) however I found the truck so comfortable to drive that I daily drive it. It's almost as fun as my 95' F150 and a hell of a lot more comfortable.

If you can deal with the mileage (if you're coming from an 8.1 that shouldn't be a problem) the Excursion is the way to go.

 

Let-em fite Im board... My Ex is only 3/4 ton to. (spring envy?)