Thoughts on best year (in 7.3 ) to get

[Jcart]

Hi Everyone,

My Darlin' and I have had some discussions on an X. We think like a lot of you here that an X is the best SUV available. Reviewing what year to get with the 7.3 4X4 any suggestions, thoughts would be much appreciated. What options do you like, not like, and any significant change needed.

Want to use as a DD and tow our 7000lbs TT. As you can see in sig we already have a 7.3 with many Kms on it and want something similar for hauling kids and their pals too....

Thanks,

jrc

[AllAboutJeeps]

I am not sure which years these options started, maybe '03, but here is what I would look for.

Programable Seats - My wife and I both drive the X and we are both constantly jacking with the seat to get it 'our' way. On the flip-side in our car you just hit 'your' button and everything is peachy.

Climate Control - Our car has it and I miss it in the X. My wife is constantly turning the temp dial up, and I move it back when she isn't looking. In the car we just set a happy medium temp and forget it.

Steering Wheel Controls - The distance from the seat to the radio on these rigs is a long ways. Steering wheel controls would sure be nice.

That is what my list would look like beyond the typical mechanical requirements.

...danny

[Bruce1954]

I know the 02 Limited Ult had all this and more.

Very Early 02s had the VCP most built in 02 had the DVD option These were always a separate option and not part of a package that I know of.

I think there were a few options not available on the early Xs.

02 and 03s would be best if you are looking for all the goodies.

Most were loaded limiteds or EBs.

If you are looking for newer you may have to go to mid 04 and latter build dates to avoid the 6.0 problems.

I have almost 65K on my 05 without an engine or trans issue,
One trans issue was dealer created, however the trans didn't care and kept going despite drastic overfill, I cought the over fill fairly early.


Hope this helps. Price seems to be much more based on milage and condition and not much change for years old.

[ShayB]

I cannot say that I have needed any of the above items, but I think maybe it is what you are into or are using it for.

As for myself, I am very happy with my 2000. It is my family hauler, carrying my kids all over the state to soccer games. It tows our boat and misc other things. It drag races and sled pulls too.

First of all (and most important to me), it has forged rods (although check the build date on the engine). It's not total insurance, but gives me a bit more piece of mind. 2001-2003 have powdered metal rods.

You might be hard pressed to find a 2000 with low miles, but I would try if I were you. Registration and insurance, not to mention the price of the vehicle, will be a bit lower.

My X does not have programmable seats and both myself and my husband drive it. We don't have any problems with moving the seat or steering wheel, although neither of us are super tall. I don't have climate control, but never had a problem there either. My kids control their climate in the back, while I control my climate in the front. I think all Excursions were set up that way. On the steering wheel controls, that would be nice, but not necessary. I'm short with a short reach, but I can control my radio just fine and my kids can control it from the middle seat with the controls that are on the back of the console (that you can lock out from the front - thank goodness).

I do have an XLT, but it does have leather seats, although I have them covered with Okole seat covers. They are not heated, which would be a nice feature, but again, not a necessity.

If I were you, I would look more at the mechanics of the truck than the luxuries. Ball joints wear out, as well as other front end parts. Automatic door locks are known to go out (I've replaced all my lock actuators). Turbos, injectors, tranny (that's a biggie)....all things you need to take a close look at.

Good luck in your search. It took me 6 months to find my X back in 2002, but I'm glad I did. I won't get rid of this truck unless I am forced to.

[boertje]

Bruce is right about the limited ultimate. The only option I don't have is the built in DVD.

[mmcspadden]

I am not sure when this practice was halted but the older 7.3s, 1999.5 for sure have forged rods and a billet crank.

[Tractor Puller]

My wife has a 2002 Limited 4x4 7.3L Version. I think she read in consumer reports or something that the 2002 had the least amount of reported problems. Take that for what it's worth.

Our 2002 has been great. We bought it at 77K miles in 2004 and now it has 127K miles. I've replaced the alternator, and the front rotors with an aftermarket rotor (that's worked great). All other work was personal preference for upgrades: LIke shocks, steering damper, acclerator pedal, and one door switch. The pedal and door switches were no real problems.

I haven't even replaced the tires, yet.

Our model has the VCP rather than DVD. We've only used it once, but our new baby is here, and I expect it will get used in the future.

I change the oil with Valvoline Blue every 5K miles, change tranny fluid every 30K (we tow nothing with it), and fuel filter every 15K.

Love the truck. I expect to rebuild it before getting rid of it. The wife loves it. I like it due to the idea that the wife and the little one are pretty safe in NC traffic.

[Jcart]

Hey G&Gs,

Thanks for all the input. Anyone know for sure what specific build date, and/or engine serial number the PMRs started in the X?

Thanks again,

jrc

[Bruce1954]

You also had your choice of bench or captains in the second row.
Captains were a cost option.

Then add:

video
Trailer mirrors
Limited Slip Diff.

Everything else is included as I recall.

Not sure about optional tube steps in place of std running boards in 02

Bruce

[Snowman269]

2000 was best engine year.
2002 & 2003 were great with the Limited Ultimates. Quieter engines.

We intended to buy a 2000 after they were coming off of 2 year leases. But the residuals were nuts, so we went out for a weekend & located the new unit SHE wanted. Our wedgewood blue XLT. Up until that point, I picked all our homes and cars. We discussed features, 7.3, 4x4, power windows door locks cruise, air, & she picked the rest. When we got to the dealer, they had a silver limited ultimate, & another dealer had the green, tan 2 tone limited ultimate, which is what I wanted. I kept my word, & we brought home the cloth seated XLT, she hates leather after having an Eddie Bauer Expedition.

It has been & is a great truck! I could only be happier if it were the green Limited Ultimate, uhh, yes dear, I couldn't be happier... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

I'd wait until someone on here puts their's up for sale, generally a better vehicle with good mods already installed.

When Jschira listed his, I darn near bought it, No miles & it never saw any weather but sunny days, lived in a garage nicer than most homes.

[Zapped277]

dito on the 2002 lim ult with dvd (i wish it did not so i could add a better system with less holes) i love mine and the 7.3 is ok on fuel

[86GLHS]

Another vote for 2000 MY but only in respects to having perhaps the stongest built motor in an Excursion. 2001's had the mechanical diode failure and at some point in 2001 MY the motors were switched from forged to powder coated and some time also in 2001 MY the mechanical diode failure was fixed. Thinking the motors were switched early in 01 and the doide problem fixed late in 01 MY. A 2001 with forged rods and either a "good" mechanical diode tranny or a rebuilt tranny would be in motor and tranny terms the "best" Excursion to own.

One of the auto magazines did a long term two or three year test on a diesel Excursion and it was reported to have had almost perfect mechanics and it was reported to have been in the mid to high teens for fuel mileage the whole time. At the end of the report the editor said the crew was sad to see it go as they knew they'd never have the oportunity again to drive one. It was an 00-02 with the 7.3 of course and thinking they put something like 50K miles on it.

A few months back a NASA engineer was selling his 4x4 7.3 Excursion on Ebay which was customized with a roof platform with two ladders and a custom interior. It had 80K miles mostly in front of a matching 2 ton military axle trailer due to the lift and large tires on the X, it was pretty cool!

My wife started daily driving the 00 X at 104K miles at the time of purchase for $20K with tax and license and now it's got 174K miles. Two cps's early second one was free, alternator, gpr ($152 at Ford a bit more than the Super Duty's), and glow plugs which were never tested to know if any were bad. The front end was first taken apart at 165K miles when the driver side hub and ball joints were replaced at which time the tranny was first touched, Mobil 1 syn was installed along with the front and rear ends. The motor has had Rotella T syn. since 130K miles.
The original owner put a 100K mile ESP on it and after an Oasis report showed only a head light knob being replaced I realized it was going to be a good one. It averages 15-16 mpg with my wife driving mainly in 10 mile bursts. It's gotten as much as 19.5-19.8 mpg a few times with my softer foot on long hauls.

As far as looks, I'd have to say it would have to a 2005 blacked out X with the 6.0 but due to 6.0 issues a V10 wouldn't be that bad either with 4.30's. Only sacrafice would be fuel mileage and worse re-sale. If you wanted a 7.3 and all the creature comforts of the later versions a 2003 MY would be best.

From time to time I'll load up the roofing stuff in the X and use it for a week or two and when I'm done I'm happy to have the box of the trucks back but miss the huge fuel tank, full cooling and heating options, and better fuel mileage. This Spring it was used to tow the 15K dump trailer on three jobs and did so flawlessly. The suspension is stock so it sagged pretty low but that's expected. The biggest load it hauled was 12K lbs of gravel in the 4.5K dump trailer 50 miles. My wife and I looked at each other after my friend dropped the load in one drop which really sagged the rear, he put more towards the front than the back! My fuel mileage was still better than most guys towing that weight with the new 6.4's!!!

[Ferraridriver]

I bought one of the first 00’s, a Limited 7.3 2X4 and liked it so well that I was afraid that if something happened I could never get another car/truck I like as much.

A couple of months ago I bought another as a back up. It’s a 2002, limited Ultra 7.3 2X4 same color and everything, with only 28,000 on it when I bought it.

Now that I have upgraded it to the same specs as my 00, (Bilsteins, Hellwig, DPtuner chip with switch, SPA digital gauge in A pillar, driving lights where the tow hooks were, WeatherTech vent shades, and some interior mods, and got rid of those ugly TT mirrors [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I like it better than the 00, (which has 70,000 now) though I must say I’m, having some weird rotor problem that was there when I got it, but has not happened on the 00. I’m sure its not warped rotors as it’s not consistent.

The 2000 has not had a single problem except for a bad HPOP which happened early and was replaced under warranty.

I seriously doubt I am ever going to wear out either motor so the rod issue is not important to me. The 02 Ultra has a couple of nice features that I like, so it’s my daily driver now

[ponjohn]

Hi All-

For those that garage their Exc, what height garage door do you have?
This is the only thing holding me back in looking for a 7.3 Exc.

thanks-
John

[fordmastertech]

My X with the V B springs and stock tires fits in a standard 7 foot high door.
FMT