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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 42 of 43

#404 of 423 Re: [workmytrucks] by ahightower

Nov 26, 2005 (7:22 am)

Replying to: workmytrucks (Nov 25, 2005 11:12 pm)
I think it's a shame they quit making the Excursion. I havea Yukon XL because it was less expensive and plenty capable for my needs, but there are people who need the Excursion. And I believe the interior is a bit roomier too. Sometimes I wish I had one for that fact, but what we have is plenty for the kids at this young age.
 
I have heard that the replacement for the Excursion will be out next year. It is basically going to be a long wheelbase Expedition, i.e., light duty versus medium duty frame. It supposed to carry the "super duty" stying features though. It will probably be more comfortable but less capable, like the Suburban. Although they do make a medium-duty Suburban 2500. If they would put a diesel in there, you would have your next vehicle.

#405 of 423 Re: This is the ultimate slugfest. [skeewb_4287] by night_sailor

Dec 25, 2005 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: skeewb_4287 (Jan 21, 2000 3:35 am)
Let me tell you about myself. I’m single and enjoy seeing the country and often drive cross-country—about every other year. I typically spend as much as two months away from home when I do repair work on two properties I own. I need to carry a lot of tools, often more than 1000 pounds of tools and gear, and I sleep in my truck.
 
I drove a 1983 Chevy K5 Blazer with a 6.2 liter diesel engine for 15 years. I replace the stock fuel tank with a 37-gallon replacement tank and two 10-gallon auxilary tanks for 57 gallons total. It gives me great range and it was a huge help on long trips when diesel is sometimes hard to find. I put bigger springs on the front of the truck, and kept the stock double shock setup up front and stock rear shocks, which I found, gave the best ride. With 32 inch all terrain tires, and all that weight of diesel engine in front and fuel tanks in the back, my truck would outperform anything in the snow. I could safely drive in conditions where other four-wheel drive trucks needed chains on all four tires.
 
At 265,000 miles, while the body and paint were perfect, the seats were shot, and the front axles probably needed to be replaced, and the second engine was tired and using coolant. Rather than put a pair of ¾ Suburban axles on it I decided to sell it and buy a new truck.
 
I removed the rear seat most of the time I owned it. Instead I kept a futon in the back and would sleep in it when traveling.
 
I waited and waited for Chevrolet to come out with a good diesel motor--they did! And I’m still waiting to see a modern Duramax Suburban. Finally I bought a 1-ton Chevy Silverado K3500 Dually, brand new in 2001. It is an extended cab and has the Duramax engine with Allison transmission—which I feel is a fabulous power train. I will probably get a camper back for it at some point. It is a little big for the use I put it to. It has a 53 gallon replacement tank that gives me over 750 miles to a tank. I lose a little fuel economy to the dually tires and heavier drive train, but feel more comfortable driving it on the highway--especially out west where freeway speeds are much faster.
 
I like beefy one-ton suspension. That means bigger brakes, heavier duty springs, axles, etc. If you are a guy like me who drives trucks into the ground, then you can appreciate this sort of vehicle. I’ll sacrifice ride for longevity, but I do wish for better fuel economy.
 
Here is what would I really like to see on the marketplace--a diesel Tahoe and a diesel Suburban. In either case I’d want a ¾ ton or 1-ton driveline with a Duramax/Allison or else a Duramax/6-speed-manual.
 
Come on Chevrolet, you idiots deserve to lose market share because you are lost in space—everyone wants one of these—BUILD IT!
 
Size is fabulous, but fuel economy is more important. A diesel Tahoe with a ¾ ton suspension would make a good daily driver and also a capable plow, tow vehicle, or RV, and get good fuel economy.
 
Put a Duramax in a Tahoe and see 20 mpg! Put a 6 speed manual transmission on the back of it and get 22 mpg if you are easy on the throttle. In stop-and-go traffic my fuel economy does not suffer at all. I get 15 mpg, and nearly 17 on the freeway at 70 mph-—the Duramax makes any truck into a great commuter car. Towing you will lose fuel economy, because fuel economy is a function of weight, but it will not lose much compared with a gas-guzzler burning 7 miles to the gallon.
 
I like to travel and I like to drive until I can’t drive any more when driving cross-country. I appreciate passing fueling stops—driving range needs to be great because diesel is not always easy to find. I’d put the biggest fuel tank I could fit on it. With 50 gallons you’d have a range of 1000 miles. I’d want 75 gallons for a 1500-mile range. Imagine driving off road—you could sustain yourself for a long time. Imagine driving down the Baja Peninsula where fuel is sometimes hard to find and being able to drive right by their sleazy looking service stations.
 
I appreciate size. I sometimes pull a 5000-pound trailer. Mostly, I like interior space that I use for living space when traveling. I’d fold down the rear seats and leave them down. I'd make a midget RV out of it. I don’t care about the third row seat, or even the second row. My choice would be to keep the second row folded down and toss the third row seat right out. I’d consider putting an Espar diesel heater in it also now that I live in a colder climate again.
 
When I drive cross-country I like to sleep in the back and carry a DC powered icebox full of food. A nimble vehicle like a Tahoe or Suburban can handle logging roads, deep snow.
 
A diesel Suburban or Tahoe is a versatile vehicle. Who is screwing up at GM? I'd like to know?
 
Now if you put a gas engine in a Suburban, you have the biggest gas hog around, that suddenly becomes impractical for high mileage use. SUV stands for Suddenly Useless Vehicle.
 
Wake up Chevrolet and do something, or else I’ll have to build one myself!

#406 of 423 Re: Duramax Suburban [fastchevytruck] by night_sailor

Dec 25, 2005 (5:06 pm)

Replying to: fastchevytruck (Oct 08, 2005 3:23 pm)
I'd like more details on your project. I might want to build one.
 
Please email me at:
 
    doubleechooptonline.net
 
I can't seem to pull up your email address off the forum.

#407 of 423 DMax Burb by catam

Dec 27, 2005 (11:38 am)

The big prob that everyone is ignoring is the cost of a DMax powered Burb. MSRP would be >$55K for a well equipped version. The 8.1L gasser provides excellent power, (about 450 ft. lbs) for less than $1000 over the base 6.0L price ine the 2500 series burb.
This doesn't even address the design cost probs GM would incur. The Allison tranny will not fit in the tunnel space in a burb. GM would have to use the HD series truck frame to make room.
Don't get your hopes up on seeing DMax Burb's with the 07 redesign. I am sure GM will bank on offering up a hybrid version by 08 or 09. That coupled with DOD should yield very respectable MPG numbers and performance.

#408 of 423 Re: Still going to make the Excursion? [leer] by tracie777

Dec 29, 2005 (11:36 am)

Replying to: leer (Oct 24, 2005 1:22 pm)
I have been having the same problem. Have you been able to get rid of the exhuast smell?

#410 of 423 Expedition EL!!! by ahightower

Jan 30, 2006 (9:11 am)

There is finally some info out on the new Expedition and Expedition EL (long wheelbase, Suburban/Yukon XL competitor). It looks goood. Roughly equal size, power, and towing capacity, IRS with flat folding third row (seems to be the main gripe about the 2007 GMs), probably still has a really nice interior. Can't wait to see some test drives and comparison tests!

#411 of 423 Re: Expedition EL!!! [ahightower] by steve_ HOST

Jan 30, 2006 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: ahightower (Jan 30, 2006 9:11 am)
There are some links and pics in the Straightline Blog.
 
Steve, Host

#412 of 423 Duramax Suburban by fastchevytruck

Jan 31, 2006 (6:29 am)

Well GM did it again, Contradicted themselves. They have said that they cant put the duramax in a suburban cause they have to run the allison, and it doesnt fit. Well you can buy a brand new cargo van with a 6.6 duramax and on the back of that d-max is a 4l80e, the same transmission as the 3/4 subs they currently make. Yes the dmax is a detuned 6.6 (250 hp) but it fits in the vans, why cant they wake up and stuff one in a sub???? a 250 hp dmax is better than a 6.0 gas hog. It is my own investigation that MOST diesel subs of the earlyer body style were nothing more than highway crusers. Yes some pulled things, but most did most of there driving on with nothign behind them, untill they were sold by there first owner to someone who either charished that vehicle, or bought it to use it. Usually the second or third owner is the one who pulled the crap out of them. Yes the 4l80e isnt as tough as the allison, but if most of them wont pull more than a boat, or a camper more than 5% of the time that 80e will work just fine! From somone who has build a dmax-allison suburban, it woudl have been alot less screwing around if i could have skipped the lift kit and just put in a 4l80e. If i build another one it more than likely will have the 80E instead of screwing around with the allison. Come On GM.... Just Build one already! while your at it build a H1 wiht a dmax too, What the heck how about a rear drive car again!!! sure with the diesel in that too. "humm, maybe i should make one and take it to the drag strip......"

#413 of 423 Re: neither, but Chevy if it is a must! [mako28] by kevins3

Mar 31, 2006 (8:19 pm)

Replying to: mako28 (Jan 21, 2000 7:19 am)
I bought my Excursion because chevy was too small and after My wife was almost killed in a windstar!! To elaberate the left side of the windstar opened up like a sardine can. Wanted her safe not to be a target!

Messages Page 42 of 43

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