Possible new owner w/ your help

[oriley]

Hello everybody,
My name is Patrick. I am not an Excursion owner yet, but maybe with your help I will be.
My story real quick, we currently drive a VW Golf TDI (please hold your snickering) we use Biodiesel in it and get 34-49MPG out of her. It’s got about 109K miles on it, and I intend on keeping it for awhile. No the humorous part, (depending on how you want to look at it) we have a very energetic 3 year old and my wife and I are expecting Identical Twin Daughters at the first of August. We are not all going to fit into the Golf!
My wife refuses to drive a minivan, and I don’t really want to drive a gasoline vehicle. I might be the one that has to give in first, but…hey, that’s why I’m here.
I am a little nervous on if my wife will be able to handle such a large vehicle coming from such a tiny car.
I am not making my own Biodiesel yet, but I have all the equipment, the knowledge, and several years of research on how to. I have several mentors that could assist me in home brewing. I most likely wouldn’t be using 100% Biodiesel, but I’d like to use a high enough of a percentage to offset the price the regular Diesel.

Now the real reason why I am here; I have found (2) Excursions locally, both are the 7.3L. E1 (Excursion #1) is a 2001 w/ 185K on it for $10500. E2 (Excursion #2) is an 2000 w/ 125K on it for $12900.
Both appear to be clean looking, but E1 doesn’t’ have pictures of the interior. I’m trying to get a hold of the seller (private), (E2 is dealership) so I can take a look and drive it. E1 also has states: “2001 FORD EXCURSION 7.3L turbo diesel, limited, leather, dual ac, fully servcd, 4WD, pwr windows/locks, multi cd, alloys, new brakes and new rotors, great cond, fully loaded, 163k highway miles, new transmission with warranty, $10,500” from advertisement. I already see a conflict…one part reasd 184K miles in the opening add, the description shows 163K highway miles..hmmmm.
Anywho, What should I look for/check out, notice, ignore, or pay extreme attnetion to when test driving this vehicle?
I would consider myself a novice shade tree mechanic. I can do brakes, fuel/oil/air/cabin filters, bleed brakes, glow plugs etc. Typical maintenance items, not large things like pulling the heads, dropping the tranny…

I do understand that this vehicle is complete opposite from what we are in now, and will be a very thirsty vehicle, but please don’t try to talk me into a minivan, every time I mention it to my wife she squeezes a little harder (if ya know what I mean).
Other vehicles we have looked at are Volvo and Passat wagons. Nice vehicle and 3 car seats do fit in the back, but we will out grow it quickly, and well…they are gas! Yes VW does/did make a Passat wagon TDI, but they have had a lot of issues, that I want to stay away from.

Thanks in advance for your comments/remarks, Patrick

[oriley]

Seriously...nobody has any thoughts/comments??

Patrick

[99Expy]

I would love to get an Excursion, that is a kick a#$ vehicle for hauling anything with a lot of family.
Wise choice over mini-van, they tend to fall apart after 100+ miles, but the Excursion is built on an honest to God chassis.
Just do your research on pricing, you should end up with a fine vehicle.
Good luck, let us know.

[mn_warden]

I was finally in a position to buy one and bought a 2003 with 150K. I had GMC suburban 1500 4X4 with a 5.7 @ 12MPG. My 7.3 diesel 4X4 Excursion getting around 22mpg. Best purchase I have ever made, I love this thing. I would caution buying an 03 with the 6.0 diesel, anything after that I think they worked out the problems. These things can tow and pull anything, just remember they ride a little harder, but I love mine.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Originally Posted by oriley

Hello everybody,
My name is Patrick. I am not an Excursion owner yet, but maybe with your help I will be.
My story real quick, we currently drive a VW Golf TDI (please hold your snickering) we use Biodiesel in it and get 34-49MPG out of her. It’s got about 109K miles on it, and I intend on keeping it for awhile. No the humorous part, (depending on how you want to look at it) we have a very energetic 3 year old and my wife and I are expecting Identical Twin Daughters at the first of August. We are not all going to fit into the Golf!
My wife refuses to drive a minivan, and I don’t really want to drive a gasoline vehicle. I might be the one that has to give in first, but…hey, that’s why I’m here.


Thanks in advance for your comments/remarks, Patrick

You have severally limited your vehicles if you need diesel and seating for 5+. The excursion is one choice, or a Mercedes Benz R320 / ML 320. But the $$$ go way up.

You could look for a diesel crew cab truck. But for packing Kids/ gear and burning diesel I think the options are few. Excursion, older Suburbans used to come in diesel as well. but they are the old 6.5 liter models...

I am running into the same issues. I have 5 kids and a 9000 lb trailer to pull.... That leaves new sequoia or Excursion.