Driving Into the Sunset
Ford bids adieu to gas-guzzling Excursion
Ford Motor bade farewell on Friday to one of America’s most infamous gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles, just days after committing to a sharp increase in more fuel-efficient hybrid and ethanol-powered vehicles.
The last 19 ft-long Excursion, equipped with a V-10 engine – nicknamed the Ford Valdez by environmentalists after the supertanker that ran aground in Alaska in 1989 – rolled off a Ford assembly line in Louisville, Kentucky, after six years on the market.
I’ll bet they weren’t quite as popular anymore. It’s not so much the cost of a tank of gas, though…
Filling the Excursion’s 44-gallon fuel tank cost about $133 in southern California this week, $41 more than a year ago.
…as how often you have to fork over the cash to fill said tank. Years ago, I remember listening to the Car Talk guys yakking about an info feature they had on their website. It’s not there anymore, but it used to be an unvarnished Tom and Ray opinion about almost any make or model. When we popped in the Excursion, what verdict popped up as the very first sentence?
There is no reason on earth for anybody to own this car.
Public Service Announcement | Mr. Bingley | 
September 30, 2005 3:03 pm
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But they are sooooooooooooooooo nice. Very, very, very nice ride. The interior is great. If I didn’t have to worry about money, I’d own one. And laugh as I lit Zeno Davidoffs with $100 bills.
Bet ya you can get one pretty cheap pretty soon, if you’re a saavy shopper. There’s already a ton of big pick-ups sitting by the side of the road here, with
signs on them.
I hate those things. There are so many of them driven about by little trophy wives while they chat on their cell phones.
The SUV market is so bloated. And I admit that I’ve only ever seen one Excursion that was put to a use that seemed work worthy. Hauling a huge amount of personnel, luggage and equipment. Would a 15 PAX van been better? I don’t know. Probably about the same, really. The Excursion was a nicer ride, I’m sure.
Like or hate a product, the market will decide whether or not they want it, you know.
And they CAN’T drive them! That’s what kills me, sometimes damn near literally! they come whippin’ into a Camry size parking spot, hanging 27 feet into where everyone else has to squeeze by, or maneuver around to leave themselves and look at you like they’re entitled. Pretentious twits.
At the WALMART, no less. Oh, I’ll bet they’re bulking up on beenie weenies to pay for the thing.
Not that you’re bitter or anything.
Actually I am cranky about the attitudes that go with the ‘car’, not the ‘car’ itself, being more a die hard Audi/Toyota/Nissan kinda gal, myself. All of which we have had (when I was gainfully employed, of course) and I could drive and park quite handsomely.
She hates it when they clean out the beanie weenie aisle.
Yow? They run outta decaf?
So that’s why Roberts is driving a minivan.
About 70% of the close calls I have on my motorcycle involve large SUVs driven by petite females. I have pulled up at lights next to Excursions and realized that I can’t quite see the driver. Think they see me on my little cruiser? HELL no…
(Decaf IS for beenie weenies!!!)
Think they see me on my little cruiser?
Even if they tried to LOOK. And that’s the attitude thing I am (yes) BITTER about. By virtue of their big a$$, girthy ExCUSEsion, they feel you should be looking for them, little person. Entitlement, baby. It ain’t just for government handouts.
Pretentious twits.
Perhpas it is symbolic of the attitude. But regardless of what they’re driving, the attitude will be the same. Even if they’re in a Prius.
Yeah, but in a Prius, their attitude isn’t as likely to kill other motorists.