My family is thinking about buying a used Suburban or Expedition EL

[gunrinwa]

What are the things to look out for in purchasing? Transmission, brakes, I want to buy it and keep it for years. What model years should I stay away from? I'm not really worried about gas mileage. I just want enough room for 2 kids a large dog for trips over to Idaho to visit family/cabin. Seems they want a lot of dough for a used one these days? 5.3 Liter or larger motor. I have a small boat that I sometimes trailer, a 4x8 utility trailer and a Clackacraft DB.

Ok also tell me about an Excursion Diesel? Never owned a Diesel anything...

Used - Should I not consider anything 2005 and older? Why?

thanks.

[huntnphool]

You might consider a Excursion as well

[NoImpactNoIdea]

We have an EL.  I like it because it is huge inside, the milage is bad but not horrible.  The downside is the two piece spark plugs Ford used for a couple years.  Changing these out will run you 700-1000 at a licensed garage.  The cost is so high because they are 100,000 mile plugs and with the amount of engine gunk that is built up over 10 years many break off as opposed to coming out.  If you google it you will see what I am talking about.

Had I known this before we bought it I would have had the dealership change them before I bought it.  We are almost at 100,000 miles now so it is coming soon for me.

[scout/sniper]

You might consider a Excursion as well

  LOVE my Excursion.  There is no stopping that thing and it has had Very few problems.

[hillbilli]

You didnt really say what you meant by "used"..2 years old? 4 years old? 10 years old? As far as what they cost used remember that most of the depreciation takes place in the first 6 years. That would make for 2007 or older.. In the Fords be aware the 5.4's had a problem of blowing spark plugs out- something to do with only being held in by a couple threads or something. Aside from this problem i've still seen quite a few high mileage 5.4's on the road. The 4.6 seems to be the longer lasting/fewer problems motor (replacing plugs at 100k can still be a pain), but there was a whole generation of police cars, taxicabs, f-150's etc that got this motor (mine's at 136k/10yrs and still rolling).  As to the chevy's they've made a crapload of 5.3's , they seem to be a good motor, and the newer generations shut down to 4 cylinder mode to conserve fuel when under low load conditions. I think the Chevy transmissions are a little weaker than the ford- but thats just based on how many i've seen with 175k or less on them that have had transmissions replaced-there are still quite a few on the road that do hit 200k without transmission replacement. The Chevy guys can probably shed more light on the Chevy's than I can..

[scout/sniper]

I have the Triton V-10 Gasoline Engine.
That is a powerhouse and makes a nearly 9000lb vehicle get up and go.

[ELKBURGER]

I've had 3 suburbans. Loved every one. started with a 94', then 97', now a 99'. My first 2 were 5.7L 1/2 tons. Plenty of towing power for average towing, horses, med RV, etc. My 99' is 3/4 ton with the 454. Fortunately its not a daily driver, milage is 10-12 MPG. The 350 gets around 15-16. Had no major issues with any of them. H2O pump, radiator, and the dreaded passlock system. Nothing too expensive. I've got 176,000 on my 99' and its still going strong....Knock on wood

[RadSav]

This website is pretty good for researching what year vehicles to shy away from.  It's not a guarantee as I have a 2005 Explorer they say to "avoid like the plague" and it's been the best vehicle I've ever owned (just now have a few bearing issues at 170,000 miles).  But for the most part it's filled with good information.

http://www.carcomplaints.com/

[jackelope]

We have an EL.  I like it because it is huge inside, the milage is bad but not horrible.  The downside is the two piece spark plugs Ford used for a couple years.  Changing these out will run you 700-1000 at a licensed garage.  The cost is so high because they are 100,000 mile plugs and with the amount of engine gunk that is built up over 10 years many break off as opposed to coming out.  If you google it you will see what I am talking about.

Had I known this before we bought it I would have had the dealership change them before I bought it.  We are almost at 100,000 miles now so it is coming soon for me.

If anyone charges you $1000 to change out those spark plugs, they should be strung up by their toe nails.

We do get about $500.00 to change them. If 1 breaks coming out, we charge an additional half hour of labor, which is $65.00. In the last 6 months, my guys have had 4 of them break that I can think of. If you have someone that knows what they're doing take them out, they usually don't break. It's definitely not something that should make or break whether you buy a particular vehicle. Pretty much everything on the road nowadays has platinum(expensive) plugs installed.

[lagnar]

It a bit louder than average but I went after the 7.3l engine.  That thing will go 100's of thousands of miles.  I was open to an Excursion but so far I have found two trucks that met my criteria. 
Ask any mechanic abt the 7.3L engine and it will sell you on them.

[ICEMAN]

You might consider a Excursion as well

Agree. I bought an expedition and wish I had purchased the Excursion. Listen to Huntnphool!

[coachcw]

wow Jackolope you guys are 130.00 per hour ? If you pull those plugs on a cold engine with a impact they typically come right out , I learned that trick from jasper engines , really not a big deal if they break though . the best way to avoid it though is to buy a suburban !

[DHx]

I love my 05 Excursion with the 6.0l diesel. I get 18 on the highway 16 in the city. Some people have tuned theirs and get 20-22. There are problems with the 6.0l so do your homework before you buy one or get an older model with the 7.3 and be prepared to rebuild the transmission.

I can seat 7, with room for gear and two dogs in the back. It's awesome.

[NoImpactNoIdea]

We have an EL.  I like it because it is huge inside, the milage is bad but not horrible.  The downside is the two piece spark plugs Ford used for a couple years.  Changing these out will run you 700-1000 at a licensed garage.  The cost is so high because they are 100,000 mile plugs and with the amount of engine gunk that is built up over 10 years many break off as opposed to coming out.  If you google it you will see what I am talking about.

Had I known this before we bought it I would have had the dealership change them before I bought it.  We are almost at 100,000 miles now so it is coming soon for me.

If anyone charges you $1000 to change out those spark plugs, they should be strung up by their toe nails.

We do get about $500.00 to change them. If 1 breaks coming out, we charge an additional half hour of labor, which is $65.00. In the last 6 months, my guys have had 4 of them break that I can think of. If you have someone that knows what they're doing take them out, they usually don't break. It's definitely not something that should make or break whether you buy a particular vehicle. Pretty much everything on the road nowadays has platinum(expensive) plugs installed.

Please PM me where you work and I will call to schedule an appointment.  I am just about at the 100k mark and need them done!

[h2ofowlr]

I have a 2010 Suburban and love it.  Been a great rig and haven't had any complaints other than cost.  I wouldn't mind if they got in the mid 20 mpg as well.