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Ford Excursion vs Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL - The battle of the titans

423 messages,  Last post on Sep 19, 2008 at 1:04 PM

You are in the Ford Excursion Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Excursion, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, SUV

Messages Page 19 of 43

#179 of 423 We need input with NO bashing by 6ofus

Aug 18, 2000 (5:16 pm)

My husband and I are in a quandary as whether to buy a 2000 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLT 4x4 or a 2000 Ford Excursion Limited 4x4. Please give us serious pros/cons on each of these vehicles and only if you've done considerable driving in one or the other or both. I know there are die-hard Chevy and die-hard Ford fans and while I respect that, that's not want I want to know. What I want to know is what you like/love about each vehicle. What kind of problems you've had (and please don't tell me the gas mileage sucks, it's hard to manuever, it doesn't fit in the garage. I've been driving a Ford E150 Coversion van for 5 plus years and the gas milegae does suck and you do have to be conscientious in driving any vehicle but especially, I feel, when driving one of this size).


We will NOT be doing any regular towing, I am not looking for status, but I do have a family of 6 (with three child seats to contend with) that I need safe, reliable transportation for. We have looked at most and test drove a lot of minivans (Odyssey, Windstar, Caravan, Town & Country, etc) but have you ever tried putting three car seats in one of those and then fitting in two adults, one preteen and any kind of luggage, it's nearly impossible, and for us, it is out of the question. The only other vehicle I would consider is a Toyota Landcruiser but since a $40000 GMC vs. Ford is stretching the budget, a $50000 plus vehicle is out of the question, but the Landcruiser by far has the look, luxury and reliability record I would love to have.


So here we are at the crossroads. We have our finances in order and are ready to buy today if we could only do two things. #1, make our decision and #2, find one at the price we are willing to pay after doing much research edmunds, autobytel, cardirect.com, etc. As much as I hate to say it, the almighty dollar might actually play into the final decision, who's willing/has more room to play with the figures?

#180 of 423 To 6of us by jackp3

Aug 18, 2000 (6:39 pm)

I recently went through the same choice. I have a 94 GMC suburban with 220k miles on it and was generally pleased with it. My first thought was to buy a 00 or 01 GMC Yukon XL but I ended up with the Excursion.


I also do very little towing but wanted the room for my work, sales, and for my passion, hunting. The 1500 Yukon XL has an easier ride but I very much love the feel and ride of my Excursion which is stiffer and more truck like. My passengers and I love the ride - it is very comfortable on long trips. I have experienced zero handling problems.


My reasons for buying the Excursion over the GMC were: 1). Liked the looks, fit and finish. 2). Availability meant that I could negotiate a good price where I paid less for a 3/4 ton vehicle than what the 1/2 ton GMC would cost me and I had a great choice of vehicles. 3). 0.9 Ford factory financing is very hard to pass up.


We ended up with a Limited, 4X4, PSD and love it. With over 4500 miles we have had no problems at all and the vehicle is tight and very quiet. I have never owned another vehicle where people actually come up to you and want to talk to you about your truck and look (and sit sometimes) inside. I recently took at trip over the Sierras where I set the cruise control at 70 MPH and the truck never strained let alone try to shift out of overdrive. The Excursion was pretty loaded with 5 passengers and the back end stuffed full.


I believe both the GM and Ford make nice trucks, it's all a matter of personal tastes and what make sense money wise.


Good Luck

#181 of 423 sub vs excursion by cardoctor

Aug 18, 2000 (11:50 pm)

I OWN A 98 SUB AND HAVE BEEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW TRUCK. DROVE A 2000 SUB FOR A WEEK LOVED THE RIDE
GOOD POWER BUT MY DAUGHTERS AGE 9 &6 COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS LESS LEG ROOM BETWEEN THE 1ST &2ND ROW OF SEATS WHEN CLIMBING ACROSS.TALKED TO THE DEALER THE BEST THEY WOULD DISCOUNT THE TRUCK WAS 1500.00 OFF LIST.


DROVE A 2000 EXCURSION ITS LIKE A BALL FIELD INSIDE LEG ROOM WAS NO PROBLEM . THE RIDE NOT AS CAR LIKE BUT WASNT MUCH MORE HARSH THAN MY 98
TALKED TO THE DEALER 5400.00 OFF THE STICKER
IN THE NORTHEAST ALMOST EVERY DEALER HAS SEVERAL
ON THEIR LOT.ALSO ON THE GM EVERYTHING IS AN OPTION ON THE EXC.MANY THINGS ARE STANDARD
ILL BE PURCHASING MY EXCURSION IN DEC TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF END OF YEAR DISCOUNT

#182 of 423 to 6ofus and cardoctor by dknight1

Aug 20, 2000 (2:41 am)

We have had our 2000 Ex(w/V10) for about 5 months. I both love it and hate it. I have also driven and travelled in my father-in-laws new 2000 sub for about the last 3-months.


We have 6 kids ranging from 1-year to 13-yrs, and the only other vehicle that holds us is a full size passenger van...or maybe a bus.


The 2000 suburbans/yukon xls are just too small on the inside. We had a 93 suburban that fit pretty well, but the new vehicles by GM are just too small. So, the interior roominess of an Ex is perfect for a large family...especially with teens.


I can relate a few observations about the Ex...


It seems a little "boomy" when travelling on the highway...much like a van. The suburban (old and new)was significantly quieter. However, on a trip from Houston to Dallas at about 80mph, 6 adult passengers commented about how well it rode. (BTW it made that trip at 11mpg).


I have only had to backup from 1 parking garage...the Ex was 2-inches too tall.


It fits in the garage and porte-cochere...barely! The Ex is 4-inches wider than the Sub.


The brake pedal and accelerator pedal are too close (on this one), and I have hit both when wearing a particular pair of shoes...so I don't wear them anymore. I expect that there may be a recall of that one.


The insulation on the rear A/C came off and the condensation flooded the rear cargo area....after replacement of the insulation and drying out the carpet, there has been no recurrence.


I love the Ex for how big it is, and yet hate it for the same reason! Oh well, I would buy it again, though. A close runner up in my mind would be the 99 Sub...because it is bigger, but quieter and smoother.


Ours is a "limited", fully loaded...$34500 was paid.

#183 of 423 Thanks for the input! by 6ofus

Aug 21, 2000 (2:35 am)

Thanks to all of you who responded to our message, we really appreciate the input. We thought it was going to be a while (month or so) before we purchased a new SUV but ended up buying a 2000 Excursion Limited 4x4 on Sat. We really only had intentions of test driving and getting more info, but after test driving a Suburban and trying to talk numbers with that dealership, we experienced what a lot of other people have already mentioned, they're not really interested in "dealing". And although I will admit the 1/2 ton Chevy Sub does have a smoother ride than the Excursion, I would not go as far as to say it is "car like", even with the Premium Ride option. Also, as some of you have mentioned, our very well equipped Excursion's sticker price was $1300 less than a not as nearly loaded Suburban. So we've joined the ranks, we too, enjoy the view from above, the tight, truck-like ride, the "deal" we feel we got ($6300 off MSRP of $42,600) and to top it off, when we got it home it actually fit in the garage!


Thanks again!

#184 of 423 Best Vehicle-Great Mileage by cgrutz

Aug 21, 2000 (4:23 am)

  I switched from Chevy to Ford in 1982 and haven't been sorry. The reason; door, chrome, fender alignment; overall workmanship and value. I recently bought an Excursion / 7.3 PowerStroke Turbo Diesel. The main reason was that I have a large boat and trailer and needed a vehicle that would pull it while hauling all the gear and people. I looked at and drove other makes but they couldn't handle it. After purchasing the Excursion my biggest surprise was the economy!! Yes economy. I had heard from various sources including CBS's "60 Minutes" that the Excursion was a polluter because of its low mileage. I have taken my Excursion on several extended trips including my 22nd trip to Alaska via the Alaska Hwy; this time pulling a two horse trailer (2523 miles). The vehicle not only performed effortlessly it got an average of16.8 mpg. On the return without the trailer it averaged 21.1 mpg. This was calculated mpg (not taken from the mpg read-out display.) I've owned a number of other Fords. This is the best one yet!!!

#185 of 423 Tires 1500 4x4 by buck37

Aug 22, 2000 (9:32 pm)

Just put Cooper Discover AT 265/75R16 Great Tire Goood Handling " E " rated 10 ply. Replaced 2nd set of BFG ALL Terrain TA had 50K plus on each set, BFG downgraded to a "D" rating not 10 ply.
Coopers $520.00

#186 of 423 Cardoctor - Excursion purchase by bowtiebill

Aug 25, 2000 (8:37 pm)

Why wait until December? The end of the model year is now and this is when you get your deals. Not on a Burb of course because they are selling like hotcakes. But as noted by others above (and the news media) Excursions are plentiful on dealers lots. People just aren't buying them and so dealers are dropping prices to rock bottom to get rid of them. Of course your resale down the road will be terrible but at least you get a cheap truck. Good luck with your purchase.

#187 of 423 gave up on ford by stealhead1

Aug 26, 2000 (7:39 pm)

i had to decide between a ford ex and a yukonxl and was initially impressed with the ford and having a ford explorer with 150000 miles (91) with very few problems and a strong drive train it was my first choice. i test drove both (i didnt even know at first that gm was redesigning their beast) and for our 3 kids in car seats and with my wife driving it mainly both were quite suitable. two things made me sway to gm the ride is definitely nicer and the weight was noticeable in corners and the yukonxl is not great at corners. i also had some negative experiences with ford first it pulled to the right (my exploder) they said it was a 4wd or all fords do this but an independant mechanic fixed a worn bushing and its been fine since, also the left rear axle seal went 5 times the same guy found a warped axle its fine now! all of this fixed out of warranty, consequently driving the ford was not as much fun as it is now. the straw that broke it though was when i went to use my spare tire on the front axle (i'd used it twice on the rear FIRESTONE ATX'S till i dumped them) anyway it did not fit the axle and ford w'ont replace it so i offered them a chance the refused so business goes elsewhere. i bought the yukon xl service is great and it drives straight and it is very comfortable for our long legs and i'm getting about 19 mpg on the highway i limit my city driving to the exploder.

#188 of 423 Fed up w/Chevy service...Going Exc by yks

Sep 12, 2000 (5:14 am)

I loved my 91 Sub. Drove it 200K miles then sold it to the son of a friend. Got a 97 Sub and life has been less than pleasing.
I can accept the occasional mechanical problem. But dealing with the service department is so aggravating I could .... Why can't they just fix what I want or need and not try to sell me on another $500 of "due services"?


Anyway. I have decided to go with an Ex rather than the new Sub-lite. Having a hard time finding other than a Limited locally. And just to be extra picky I want the split bench seat, not the chairs.


Here's to the hunt...
By the way -- both the friend and his son are still friends of mine. I won't dump the 97 on them.

Messages Page 19 of 43

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