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2005 Ford Excursion Lineup
If you like diesel engines, you'll love Ford's turbocharged 7.3-liter Power Stroke. It seems unaffected by high altitude and I was amazed at its ability to accelerate past slower cars on two-lane roads. The diesel generates 505 foot-pounds of torque at just 1600 rpm, useful for pulling stumps out of your yard or pulling heavy trailers up steep ramps. Ford worked hard to reduce noise from the diesel both inside and outside the Excursion; but you still shouldn't expect to sneak up on anyone. The diesel gets around 16 to 18 mpg, and with a 44-gallon fuel tank, the diesel has a range of more than 700 miles.
On paper, the Excursion is with a 5.4-liter V8, but I suspect they would struggle if you loaded six passengers and luggage and headed for the mountains. This engine is best left as an economical engine for utility companies in the flatlands.
While the 4x2 comes with Ford's Twin I-Beam front suspension and coil springs, the 4x4 uses a solid front axle and leaf springs. Differences in ride and handling between the two are surprisingly subtle. The 4x4 handles well, tackling corners with confidence and offering good grip on dirt roads. It does not offer the ride sophistication of the newest generation Suburban and Yukon XL 1500-series models, however. At high speeds, the Excursion is stable. Strong crosswinds and an 18-wheeler going in the opposite direction had little effect.
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