Excursion or PU?

[POS]

Just curious... I'm wondering if any of you Excursion owners haggled with the choice between a F250/350 SD and the Excursion.

Why did you buy the Excursion rather than the pickup? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks?

And finally, are you glad you got the Excursion instead of the pickup?

Predetermined thanks for the replies!

[bjornar]

I originally ordered a SuperCab, then changed to CrewCab F-350 short box. About when the rig was sent from the US the dealer called me and proposed that I'd change to the Excursion at $5000 more. After contemplating and calculating loan rates, I changed my order.
Frankly, today I'm still not sure I did the right thing, but it sure is nice to have the "inside cargo area" for my main uses (dog, computer hardware, rec. equipment etc.). I could probably get by with a pickup with a canopy. The Excursion supposedly has a much better ride (can't verify, haven't seen a crewcab in Norway yet, much less had a chance to try one).
Resale value will be better with the Excursion, and for most of my uses the inside cargo hold will suffice, but I've had to rent a trailer a few times for lumber, firewood and all kinds of crap that I deal with - though infrequently.
The seating arrangement was messed up when the rig arrived, it could not be licensed as a 10 seater "minibus" due to seat height in the rear jumpseat. Therefore I'm not allowed to use the jumpseat and have had to install a wiremesh divider behind the rear (2nd row) seats. I will try to get the minibus approval by applying for an exemption from the regulations, but I don't have too high hopes...
I am confident in the rig and haven't had any problems, and it handles beautifully in the winter conditions we currently have. Ferry rates are cheaper than for the CrewCab, but that doesn't amount to more than a few hundred dollars a year.
For utility value I would say it is a wash, but for family use the Excursion is better...

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Bjørnar
Ålesund, Norway
2000 PSD Excursion Limited

[John in L.A.]

Hey, POS -

I had a 99.5 250 super-cab PSD, Lariet with all the goodies. Almost problem free except turbo bolts backing out often and a power steering pump needing to be replaced. Pulled like a champ, gave decent milage - 17 + mpg hwy, 14 in town, 11 - 12 towing. Overall, I was very satisfied with it.

Decided to trade it for the Excursion. The Excursion is better suited for those 1,000 mile trips I and a few friends take from time to time. The ride is much better and taking the lumps on I-10 is much improved. Also very smooth and quiet. It also had better security for merchandise I take to trade shows (firearms - machine guns and supressors). More room for the back seat passengers (although I don't know how it stacks up against the crew cabs - if I get another pick em up, it will be a crew-cab, not a super-cab).

It tows well, but not as well as the PSD did. Rarely did the PSD down shift when on cruise doing 75. It doesn't take much of a hill for the V-10 to want to down shift, but no problems towing. On the other hand, the V-10 has a lot more "pep" to it! Plenty of get up and go, loads of power to pass. At 5,000 miles, it does 14.5 mpg on the hwy, 12 in town, 10 to 11 towing.

So, in my situation, it was a better vehicle for me as I don't tow as much as I used to, can carry in it with good security a lot of which I used to put in the trailer, and it is great for travel with 4 big adults with lots of room for them and their gear on long trips.

Did not opt for the deisel this time as I tend to trade every year or so, and, as I don't tow as much as I did, the numbers didn't pan out.

So, a lot has to do with what you are going to do with it. You really can't go wrong with either of them!

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2000 Excursion Limited V-10 Estate Green, 4X4 3.73, all the stuff x-cept heated seats.

[This message has been edited by John in L.A. (edited 03-09-2000).]

[stephen]

bjornar

did you have such a hard time with your excursion becuase it came from outside of norway.if you where to purchase on in norway would all the things be done from the fac or does every truck or car needs to be reworked to suit where you are.

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STEPHEN 350 4X4 SILVER XLT TINTED WINDOWS AUTO BURLWOOD DASH FORD BED LINER BANKS AIR FILTER POWER/PKG COMP/TEMP MIRROR PINSTRIPED SPOT LIGHT LUND/VISER BFG 295`S Fisher plow my truck

[bjornar]

Stephen, I bought the Excursion through a Norwegian dealer who has his own ISO code for rebuilding and issuing new VIN#s. I in fact have a Wagen Excursion 2000 (says my title).
All trucks will have to comply with these regulations in order to be imported tax and duty free, sold through a dealer or privately imported. Ford Norway works on the same thing, but they are not in a hurry to bring in competitors to the newly introduced Transit Eurovan/pickup. US Ford Inc. is sort of left-hand work for Ford in Norway...
I will try to explain this in an article whenever I have time... (Fishing is good, keeping me busy at work...).


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Bjørnar
Ålesund, Norway
2000 PSD Excursion Limited