Suburban or Excursion?

CNCfamily · #1 12/07/10, 05:19 PM

The time has come that i have to seriously think about upsizing my rig. I drive a 2000 Ford Explorer right now, and i just love the thing. I love that it has the 4 wheel drive that kicks in automatically, i love that i can fit both my kids, dogs and still have room for all our crap in the back.

However, with baby #3 coming this spring i've got to get something bigger. Two carseats and a booster seat just dont fit comfortably in my backseat. I thought about getting a newer Explorer with the third row seating, but then i dont have the room in the back.

SO i need to get something bigger. Husband says Suburban and i cringe. I guess i have too much Ford in my blood! Lol! I'm going to look at all my options, but I'm curious what your personal experience has been with Suburbans, Excursions, Expeditions (does Chevy have something comparable to Expeditions size?). And if i'm upsizing, i might as well get something i can pull with too, so keep that in mind!

I doubt we'll trade in my Explorer, as it's paid off and not worth a whole lot of trade in anyways, so i need to keep the price tag down as reasonably as i can.

tiogacounty · #2 12/07/10, 07:04 PM

I have owned several Suburbans and Tahoes. I buy them at the sweet spot in used value, as in 4-5 years old and with the lowest mileage possible. They have been reliable and inexpensive. My current one has a ridiculious amount of luxury, leather, sunroof, power everything, etc and was less than $14K with 55K miles on it. As for the Excursion, they are HUGE, and no longer in production. Two good reasons to stay away. I have no issue with Ford products in general. I had a 2003 Superduty pick-up, which is the same basic vehicle as the Excursion. It was, by far, the worst new vehicle I ever bought. Stunningly unreliable, expensive, and unable to stray far from the dealership without a tow truck.

**clovis** · #3 12/07/10, 09:51 PM

I have never personally met anyone who owned a Suburban who didn't absolutely love it. I know about 12 people that own Suburbans that have traded their old one on a new one. I would guess that the typical Suburban buyer trades for another 'burb when it is time.

Used Suburbans are expensive in our area, and are highly sought as used vehicles. The resale values of a well cared for Suburban are really high.

You might also look at the GMC version of the Suburban.

Beeman · #4 12/08/10, 12:03 AM

Suburban without a doubt.

Stephen in SOKY · #5 12/08/10, 09:14 AM

I've had a Suburban, or 2, every day since 1985. Going from an Explorer to even a new Suburban will cost you dearly in MPG, but the 2 vehicles are night and day in their capabilities. I never say never, but I really hope to never be without a Suburban. That's just how nice they are.

cfabe · #6 12/08/10, 12:30 PM

Unless you do real off-road driving or go through very deep snow, i think you might be better suited with a large crossover or minivan. These are available with very good AWD systems now. The backseat access in suburbans can be tricky with car seats, many find the minivan to be more family friendly. The crossovers are for those people who would "never drive a minivan". We have a Chevy Traverse and love it. Can be set up to seat 6 or 7 depending what seats you get. The AWD system is great on snowy roads and it has pretty good ground clearance for deep snow.

CNCfamily · #7 12/08/10, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfabe

Unless you do real off-road driving or go through very deep snow, i think you might be better suited with a large crossover or minivan. These are available with very good AWD systems now. The backseat access in suburbans can be tricky with car seats, many find the minivan to be more family friendly. The crossovers are for those people who would "never drive a minivan". We have a Chevy Traverse and love it. Can be set up to seat 6 or 7 depending what seats you get. The AWD system is great on snowy roads and it has pretty good ground clearance for deep snow.

Well, we DO actually do a lot of back roads driving with the whole fam, so i need something with clearance. We hunt a lot and live in SE Idaho with lots of snow. So i definitely need something beefier than a minivan! Besides, if i even mentioned the word "minivan" to my husband, i'd be divorced before i could blink an eye! Lol! However, i dont even know what a crossover is, so i'll look into it!

Sounds like Suburban is a popular way to go! I've found a few very inexpensive Expeditions, but i haven't gone to actually look at one to see if there is much room in the back with the third row seating. The Suburbans definitely are higher in price though!

HermitJohn · #8 12/08/10, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis

I have never personally met anyone who owned a Suburban who didn't absolutely love it. I know about 12 people that own Suburbans that have traded their old one on a new one. I would guess that the typical Suburban buyer trades for another 'burb when it is time.

Used Suburbans are expensive in our area, and are highly sought as used vehicles. The resale values of a well cared for Suburban are really high.

You might also look at the GMC version of the Suburban.

Good thing I've never needed a large people mover. Doubt any of vehicles mentioned come with manual transmission and manual roll down windows.....

CNCfamily · #9 12/08/10, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HermitJohn

Good thing I've never needed a large people mover. Doubt any of vehicles mentioned come with manual transmission and manual roll down windows.....

I know some of the older suburbans have manual tranny's. That's why a friend of mine is getting one, because she refuses to drive anything else! I dont know if newer ones do though.

HermitJohn · #10 12/08/10, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNCfamily

I know some of the older suburbans have manual tranny's. That's why a friend of mine is getting one, because she refuses to drive anything else! I dont know if newer ones do though.

I'd be surprised if any made after the 70s though suppose its theoretically possible. I suspect if it was offered, very few of them were sold. People that want this kind of vehicle tend to buy every known convenience option known to mankind. Guess they figure if they are spending $40k, whats another $10k in worthless options. Original buyers arent going to drive one of these until its used up anyway. Its 3th or 4th owner that has to deal with all the gimmicks not functioning any longer and not being affordable to repair.

Now these were based on pickup chassis so if you wanted, you could probably install pickup drivetrain maybe having to make changes to length of driveshafts. And install a clutch linkage setup.

In modern world Government Motors doesnt even offer a manual transmission in its new half ton pickups..... So you know darn well they dont offer such in their luxury suvs....

mightybooboo · #11 12/08/10, 09:53 PM

Neighbor has a Sub with 80,000 on it that is disintegrating daily,total junk,they are trying to buy anything else. Just saying.......FWIW,they arent all gems for sure,they bought new BTW.

uhcrandy · #12 12/09/10, 02:45 PM

I have a 97 Tahoe with 230k and a 2001 suburban with 160k, both running well. I would not be buying from "government Motors" now though.

Beeman · #13 12/09/10, 05:18 PM

I ride to work in a 94 Suburban with 250k mi. Has had minor repairs and regular service, keeps going strong. Sold my 90 Suburban and it's still going strong well over 160k mi. Huge numbers of them on the road. Very easy to maintain. Parts all interchange with GM pickups. I'm a barn door guy but some like the tailgates, you'll find both. They were also made in 3/4 ton versions.

diamondtim · #14 12/09/10, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNCfamily

The time has come that i have to seriously think about upsizing my rig. I drive a 2000 Ford Explorer right now, and i just love the thing. I love that it has the 4 wheel drive that kicks in automatically, i love that i can fit both my kids, dogs and still have room for all our crap in the back.

However, with baby #3 coming this spring i've got to get something bigger. Two carseats and a booster seat just dont fit comfortably in my backseat. I thought about getting a newer Explorer with the third row seating, but then i dont have the room in the back.

SO i need to get something bigger. Husband says Suburban and i cringe. I guess i have too much Ford in my blood! Lol! I'm going to look at all my options, but I'm curious what your personal experience has been with Suburbans, Excursions, Expeditions (does Chevy have something comparable to Expeditions size?). And if i'm upsizing, i might as well get something i can pull with too, so keep that in mind!

I doubt we'll trade in my Explorer, as it's paid off and not worth a whole lot of trade in anyways, so i need to keep the price tag down as reasonably as i can.

I own a 2005 Chevy Suburban and had a 1989 GMC Suburban before that. I've driven a 2000 Excursion at work and it is junk. No comparison.

Both of my Subs were 2wd models and were bought at 50-60% of a comparable 4wd model. I live in Wisconsin and have driven mine in 10 inches of snow without a problem. 4wd is not a replacement for poor snow driving skills

.

A Chevy Tahoe or a GMC Yukon are the shorter version of a Suburban, but you will not get better MPG from the smaller vehicle, only a little more room in your garage

.

We bought our first one after a Pontiac Grand Am totaled our Olds Silouette minivan. We decided that we would happen to the other guy instead of him happening to us.

The new liftgates are similar to your Explorer.

GeterDoneDad · #15 12/10/10, 01:10 AM

Just remember Ford did'nt need a gov bail out, GM took all they could get their hands on

Up North · #16 12/10/10, 07:43 AM

Ford builds two body lengths in the Expedition. The standard length would be comparable size to the Chevy Tahoe or GMC Yukon. The Expedition EL model would be comparable Suburban or it's cousin the GMC Yukon XL.

Advantage EXpedition/ Expedition EL: Lower Purchase price than comparable Model year/miles Chevy or GMC product. Also, the footwell area in the third row seating is more spacious(translate an adult could sit comfortably) in the Ford Product.
Disadvantage Expedition/Expedition EL: Poor fuel economy. Also a diverter in the dashboard hvac system is known to fail resulting in a costly repair.

Advantage Tahoe,Yukon, Suburban,Yukon XL: Better resale value, Better fuel economy, reliable powertrains, smoother ride, quieter inside the vehicle.
Disadvantages to Tahoe/Suburban/GMC: Higher initial purchase price, and when they reach the 110,000 to 150,000 mile range you can budget for replacement of the fuel pump, also a costly repair.

Another third row SUV one might consider is the Jeep Commander 4WD, preferably with the V8 option. Certainly not in the class of Suburbans or Expeditions, but larger and more capable than the Explorer you are driving now. Spartan, boxy and rugged of styling in a Land Roveresque way, yet functional and affordable.

**Cabin Fever** · #17 12/10/10, 09:54 AM

I too would recommend the GM or Ford. I bought a 1985 Suburban new....wonderful machine. Since a Suburban is no more than a SUV built on the GM 1/2-ton pickup chassis, I would also like to say that I have had very good experiences with all my GM trucks: 1970, 1978, 1999 and 2008.

mightybooboo · #18 12/10/10, 02:13 PM

I dont understand explorers.I rented one and it had serious truoble getting over a 8 inch deep 4 foot wide creek on a small incline,that AWD was useless.How I feel about most AWD.

As for 2wd is comparable to 4wd in snow.....and 'proper' driving technique,I dont buy it either.I can drive my 4wd dodge up an ice chute without chains,2wd trucks cant even go 10 feet,and 2 wd drive cars only sl better,they do NOT make it up.And struggle with chains,seen chained PU trucks unable to get up road.Rear is just too light.

4WD truck with BFG AT's,its like dry pavement.Well,almost,its possible to spin tires if you arent careful and put foot into it.Smooth helps a lot Im sure.And I can stop and start there without any drama at all.For which my neighbor on the downside of slope is most appreciative.

mightybooboo · #19 12/10/10, 02:15 PM

I see a lot of OLDER Sub's being respected,how about some 5 year olds anyone?

I really could care less GM was saved,Im glad it was.Fine vehicles and good for America having that manufacturing capability intact.Would hate to think all we have left is FORD when we need military vehicles cranked out.

Tarheel · #20 12/10/10, 04:13 PM

Another suburban man here ! On my third one, first one was a 1991 2wd sold it with 175,000 miles. Second one was a 1995 4wd, sold it with a 175,000 miles. Bought the last one in 2003(4wd) and it now has 133,000 miles and I am expecting it to go to 175,000 or more. I used full synthetic motor oil in the last two and the only troubles that I have with them are alternators. I have had to change 2 or 3 on all of them.

On a side note, I have a 1998 Chevy work truck that I bought new also and it has 242,000 on it. Alternator ? Yep- 2 -of them. Still runs good. I believe the motor will outlast the body.