Expedition EL or Suburban?

[kneep1]

Hey Group - I've been looking at Expeditions (07+) and Suburbans. What do you feel are the pros and cons of each in comparison? My primary reason is kid hauling and the occasional light trailer, load of wood, etc. Half ton will be more than enough. I've owned a Suburban before (an '03) and really liked it, although it cost plenty in repairs (hubs, differential). Reliability is very important. It seems the guys I know driving Fords keep driving them. Thanks much for your input!

 

[01yellerCobra]

I doubt you're going to get an unbiased opinion here. We picked up our 08 EL October of 12. I looked into Tahoe and Suburban as well. I really wanted a 3/4 ton. But the prices of the GM's was a deterrent. The final thing was the folding 3rd row in the Expy. It's a lot more convenient then having to remove the seat entirely. I've put almost 20k miles on the truck with no issues. Just oil changes, plugs, and fuel filter.

We pull a 21' boat that weighs around 5k with no issues. I almost forgot it was back there a couple times. And that was before the tune.

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[911jason]

Not only is the 3rd row more convenient in the Expy, it's also significantly more comfortable to sit in. I sat in both at the 2006 LA Auto Show and that was the decision maker for me.

 

[metaldrgn]

I would suggest test driving and see which has look, features and feel you like more. Aside from that I've seen that GM/Chevy takes more time and consideration in the maintenance aspect of their vehicles which is why I'm partial to them.

 

[GAINMOB]

is it just me? coming to an expedition forum and asking if they should get a different truck? who goes to mc Donald's and ask if they should get burger king...lol

when I got mine...I wasn't a fan of the interior layout (dash) in the Tahoe/suburban...they've changed and I don't know what theyre like now...wife eyes are on an escalade and I'd rather get the navigator or new expedition when we get another suv

 

[MoHawk]

We looked at both. I was impartial (Hey, it's Mama's World, I'm just living in it). She drove both. As you can tell, I am a member of THIS site...

 

[ezeq]

Try going to a Tahoe or Suburban forum and ask them about buying an Expedition and also ask some input about it.
Peace


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[daoud el-massri]

What made my mine up was when my brother had Suburban 05 he was pulling my 22ft Maco center console he had to replace the tranmission in 3 times motor once the boat only weighed only 5, 500 lb with everything in it . That is why I bot my expedition plus it is lot more room iam over 6ft tall and it is very comfortable to drive not cramped kids have room also if one wants to sleep just fold 3rd row set down and its a bed . My expo is a 2000 will not trade it for nothing will drive it till it die or I will.

 

[montecarlo31]

I can say I've had both as company vehicles. I had a 05 K2500 Quadrasteer 4x4 then moved into a 07 Expedition EL 4x4. I've rented a few tahoes and expeditions stateside when going to jobsites and can say they both have their advantages.

One thing I like about the GM line is the engines. the 5.3 and 6.2 are a much better engine than the 5.4, smoother, more efficient and seem quite a bit more durable. My 6.0 was a good engine in the 80K miles I drove it. I did not have any issues with the 5.4 in my 07 expedition either but it just didn't idle as smooth, again neither does my '13.

There were specific things that I liked about the '13 K2500 Yukon I was looking at:
HD rear axle (10.5" SF)
Hydraboost brakes
True HD mechanical cooling fan
Proven LSx engine
Rear oil and voltage read outs along with trans readout
factory 2 way alarm
Awesome HVAC system (even with a black exterior and interior in South FL it stays COLD on low settings).
5,500lb rear GAWR.

Specific likes of the Expedition:
Cheap (like almost 8K cheaper than a 2500 both on fleet plans)
King Ranch interior
Cheap
Smooth ride (air ride rear)
Cheap
Larger but squishier brakes

My biggest gripes on the expedition are:
Fit and finish
under powered / crude engine (6.2 or baby P-Stroke)
lack of brakes (needs a major improvement)
lack of a mechanical cooling fan (electric is used to help emissions)

Biggest yukon gripes:
Cost
lack of quality leather interior
could use larger brakes (improved tire package)
needs a D-Max.

 

[GAINMOB]

None of the suvs have quality leather except for the king ranch...2nd and 3rd rows on all suvs even cars are vinyl...only part that is leather are the front seat surface areas that you sit on...rest all vinyl

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

 

[montecarlo31]

None of the suvs have quality leather except for the king ranch...2nd and 3rd rows on all suvs even cars are vinyl...only part that is leather are the front seat surface areas that you sit on...rest all vinyl

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

Are you SURE about that statement?

 

[GAINMOB]

Yulp...solismo will back that statement...and to further prove it...in my Eddie Bauer...only the driver and pass seats are wrinkled from 9 yrs of use...my other seats look exactly the same as the day I bought it...and I bought it brand new with 8 miles on it that I put on it during test drive

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

 

[montecarlo31]

Yulp...solismo will back that statement...and to further prove it...in my Eddie Bauer...only the driver and pass seats are wrinkled from 9 yrs of use...my other seats look exactly the same as the day I bought it...and I bought it brand new with 8 miles on it that I put on it during test drive

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

you stated no SUVs or Cars have leather seats except the king ranch.

 

[metaldrgn]

Are you SURE about that statement?

I agree I don't think that's an accurate statement. The 2nd and 3rd row seats aren't used as much so they stay nicer. If it is fake they did a good job of it. I do believe parts of the seat may be vinyl because I had a front seat get hard from water damage and the side pieces were still soft.

 

[rexster314]

In all Expeditions (excluding KR) the front and second row seating (where your butt and back touch) are leather sealed with a plastic layer. The third row is all vinyl/plastic or made out of a lot of Nauga skins. I'm not saying ALL SUV's, just the Expeditions. It was the same way in my 09 Buick Enclave.

 

[RI-Matt]

None of the suvs have quality leather except for the king ranch...2nd and 3rd rows on all suvs even cars are vinyl...only part that is leather are the front seat surface areas that you sit on...rest all vinyl

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

Freeway,
The 2nd row (where the perforated parts are) is leather on my 08 Limited.

Yes the sides and 3rd row are vinyl but who cares I'm not sitting on the sides of the seat ( or in the 3rd row either )


Matt

 

[GaryH2]

I doubt you're going to get an unbiased opinion here. We picked up our 08 EL October of 12. I looked into Tahoe and Suburban as well. I really wanted a 3/4 ton. But the prices of the GM's was a deterrent. The final thing was the folding 3rd row in the Expy. It's a lot more convenient then having to remove the seat entirely. I've put almost 20k miles on the truck with no issues. Just oil changes, plugs, and fuel filter.

What he said!
I put 100k on the 07 Expy EL with no real problems until the ball joints earlier this month. (Can you really complain about ball joints at 140k on PA's crap-tastic roads?)

The cost and third row sealed the deal for me. You pay a premium for the Suburban. The third row is inconvenient at best and I don't think that they have all independent suspension (good or bad, depending upon your preference).

One thing not mentioned is that the gas pedal seemed smoother on the Expy than the Suburban/Tacos that I have rented. Their gas pedals were very stiff. I think the all-independent Expy rides better too.

I figured out the squishy brake issue so that can be solved on the Expy with better pads and rotors.

As far as efficiency - how much does 19 vs 18 mpg matter to you? They are both bad.

I like the way the Suburbans look and I think the interior is nicer (they have a REAL oil pressure gauge), but I like everything else about the Expy better.

 

[montecarlo31]

I figured out the squishy brake issue so that can be solved on the Expy with better pads and rotors.

Hydroboost and vacuum brakes are totally different in feel, you can not change that with pads and rotors. Using hydraulic pressure to assist is a significant improvement over vacuum.

 

[metaldrgn]

Hydroboost and vacuum brakes are totally different in feel, you can not change that with pads and rotors. Using hydraulic pressure to assist is a significant improvement over vacuum.

It isn't a significant improvement. Vacuum brake boosters work just fine. The big reason a hydraulic system is used is because the vacuum pressure isn't enough ( I.e. engines built for high rpm racing) so I don't know why ford would have put one in. Its probably just another selling gimmick. Not needed like the tailgate lift assist.

 

[SOLISIMO]

I just rented a Suburban for 1 week as I didnt want to take the Expedition to Disney. There are pros and cons. The Suburban felt somewhat like driving a fleet vehicle. Even though it had leather it just felt weird and cheap. The turing seemed pretty light which I liked and the power was way better then the expy. Now my wife hated the suburban and missed our expedition. I also did notice that on the drivers side there was more room for me in the Suburban compared to the expedition.