Why gas guzzlers make sense (again)
As I write this, the price of regular unleaded is hovering around $5 a gallon. Diesel is about a buck a gallon more. All of this is headline news on a daily basis. Fuel prices are affecting every industry, every business, and every consumer.
Yet as of late, buyers seem to be fighting over some immense, heavy-duty, sub–15-mpg gas-guzzling SUVs. Some are even selling for many multiples of what they did a few years ago, when fuel cost a fraction of what it does now. But the people buying these things (including yours truly) might be on to something.
Here I’ve focused on two gas-guzzlers with ever-increasing cult followings: The 2000–05 Ford Excursion and the 1998–2007 Toyota Land Cruiser.
The longest, heaviest mass-produced SUV ever, the Excursion was essentially an F-250 Super Duty wagon. With the optional V-10 gas or Power Stroke diesel engines, they tow up to 11,000 pounds. Never mind how many people, pets, and suitcases you can stuff inside an Excursion at the same time.
J100-series Land Cruisers, however, are not 3/4-ton pickup-based towing machines. Nor do they offer a variety of drivetrain choices. But they do have Toyota’s silky-smooth 4.7-liter V-8 and full-time 4WD. And they were built to last forever. Literally.
The average combined fuel economy for these trucks is about 14 mpg. But their collective inefficiency hasn’t seemed to slow down values. In the past 36 months, Excursion prices are up an average of 46 percent, while J100s are up 85 percent. More telling is the fact that both of these had heavy Gen X demand until the past 24 months, when millennial (and younger) interest came on strong.
Here’s why I think this is happening. First, they just don’t make stuff like this anymore. There were no hybrid powertrains, no kowtowing to CAFE standards, no considerations beyond just being rugged and unapologetic in their mission. Both are old enough to be “cool,” but not so old that they aren’t usable in today’s world.
Then there’s the COVID factor. These are vehicles that allow people to load up the whole family, tow the Airstream, and head out to places that help you forget about reality for a weekend or four. That’s especially attractive to millennial buyers looking to introduce their young kids to something beyond screen time. The work-from-home phenomenon also plays into this, because you can work from that camping spot.
Additionally, there’s a certain satisfaction to the analog feel of these machines—an unplugged vibe with no LCDs and no lane-keep assist or other electronic nannies constantly dinging at you.
As for that awful fuel mileage, let’s pencil that out. A new $52,000 Chevy Tahoe gets 16 mpg combined. A new $39,000 Grand Cherokee is rated at 23 mpg. Driving 10,000 miles in a year, the difference between a 14-mpg rig and a 23-mpg rig equates to about 279 gallons. At $5 a gallon, that’s an extra $1395 a year. Factor in the significant savings in the purchase price, and the additional fuel cost doesn’t seem insane.
Which is why I recently decided to replace our 2020 Ford Expedition with a “vintage” Excursion. The Expedition is a fine vehicle, but a boat or car trailer of any significance drops its comfy independent rear suspension to its knees, and towing in crosswinds was, um, more exciting than I expected. So I went on an Excursion excursion and landed on a clean, 50,000-mile 2000 Limited with the V-10. I paid $27,000 for it. Since then, I’ve done some needed maintenance and installed new tires. I’m currently in the truck for about $35K. We’ve put 2000 miles on it so far, primarily pulling a trailer to my son’s go-kart races every week, which it does as admirably as hoped. Thanks to the towing, I haven’t broken into double-digit fuel mileage yet, but the tank is big, so the refueling intervals don’t rub my nose in their thirst.
I have to say, I’m pleased with the decision to step back 22 years of refinement and technology for a rig that better fits my needs. Who says whistling past the graveyard isn’t rewarding?
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This article first appeared in Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Click here to subscribe and join the club.
Dependable, practical, and at the same time giving mother nature and future generations both middle fingers.
‘Murica. F#@k yeah!!
Alfanorth…
‘Hope you were sterilized a while back.
Bought our ’02 Suburban 2500 8.1L new in November, 2001, our 4th ‘Burban, mostly to trailer our vintage cars, but also because the next time some bozo runs a stop sign in his F-250, I don’t want my family to be in a tiny, cheap import micro-box, leading to a pine box. With more than 21 years and 195,xxx mostly towing miles pulling our enclosed trailer with our collectible vintage and Classic-ers cars, it still performs flawlessly. This newest Suburban replaces our ’77, ’78, and ’86 Suburbans, requires nothing more than regular oil changes, belt and coolant hoses, new Michelins every 80,000 miles, and once in a while a battery and brake pads – oh yeah, we recently rebuilt the original alternator as a “just in case”.
The 2000 Excursion 7.3L TurboDiesel 4WD was a livery vehicle at the Tampa airport, taking folks to local hotels until I bought it with 231,xxx miles on the odometer. Now showing in the range of 390,xxx miles, we average 20 mpg unladen on the highway, and around 12 mpg when pulling 10-11,000 lb per our enclosed 30 ft, 12 ft tall car hauler with a ’30 Packard or ’54 Cadillac and a couple thousand pounds of tools and spares inside.
This thing could pull our 2-story brick house over the Rocky Mountains without breathing hard.
We have replaced the injectors, transmission, and otherwise done essentially normal maintenance.
Our 2006 2500 8.1L Avalanche 4WD was bought with 131,xxx miles in 2015 from a friend. We loved the idea of all the “gimmicky” mid-gate type features, but have never used any of them – strictly used as a big 4-door passenger-friendly cross country tow vehicle with an oversized/optionally open-air trunk, hauling our antique cars and parts, and now a walker, rollator, or wheelchair if needed.
All of the above are also handy to move an apartment’s worth of grandchild to or from grad-school, or when one of the offspring need to borrow a vehicle.
One of the most important factors is that SIZE MATTERS –
The next time we get T-Boned, we plan to be able to Walk Away – not like last time when we were in a smaller, unibody vehicle.
The savings in both purchase cost and reduced insurance premiums more than offsets the relatively minor difference in fuel efficiency, we have fewer electronics to befuddle technicians, and our diesel doesn’t need DEF.
Exactly why I have two of the best trucks you can find. My 2000 Ford F-350 Lariat crew cab dually can haul any of my enclosed car trailers with safety and comfort. With the 7.3 turbo diesel it has effortless hauling power. Mine has 45,000 miles total since new and still looks like a new truck. I have people asking me to sell it to them! NOPE! Not a chance!
My other truck is a 2005 Dodge crew cab dually. This truck has the Cummins 5.9 engine and automatic trans. Amazing what power this truck has! And if I keep my foot out of it, I see unbelievable fuel mileage!
And neither of your trucks require DEF!
I have done the same math…
Since I drive my 2003 Excursion, which now has 80k miles, less than 10,000 miles year, the gas savings with a new, less capable, truck wouldn’t cover the sales tax over five years….let alone other costs.
Simple, do the math.
PS. Any Hagerty guys out there….PM me if you want my truck…a fully equipped Eddie Baurer 2wd, V-10.
Bought a 2006 K2500 Suburban with a 8.1 and 4L80 and 4.10’s 2 years ago. It’s been invaluable to move my Fiance out of her house and towing her E type to shows. 8-9 mpg around town 13-14 on the highway. Love it!
Here’s what you missed Colin:
Yes, great article by the way, but diesel Excursions do often get 19-21 on the highway, so don’t be so quick to talk so much about their inefficiency (as a group anyway because yes the V-10s have terrible mileage). Also, nice Ex’s did have LCD screens (they were just located behind the driver, rather than on the dash like you’re used to these days).
Hope you drive a horse to work. Wait they give off ethane. you better walk or ride a bike. The article was about economy of expense, not climate control.
The title of the article is “Why gas guzzlers make sense (again)”. The point is they don’t, unless, as Car Guy points out, you are virtually exclusively using them to tow large loads or to drive many people. It’s the same if you have a car toy you track or use for those perfect drives. But we should be clear. There is no discussion separate from climate change. We only have one planet and one (fading) chance to not screw it up.
When you look at the actual “big picture,” which includes the energy and rare resources required to produce a new vehicle, ship it to the US, and provide it with transmitted power, the old big rigs look even better. If climate change is real, you’re losing this argument on several fronts.
To NAMiata:
you said it all and said it best.
The above posters were pointing out the bigger picture. Apparently, that’s lost on some people.
Tom:
the two are INSEPARABLE.
I did the same thing recently. I sold my 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee to replace it with a 2001 4Runner. As a home mechanic, when it comes to maintenance, you can’t beat that golden era of late 90’s to early 2000’s cars, especially Japanese marques. I think it was the perfect balance between reliability, simplicity, and having good solid EFI and OBDII without all the CAN bus control schemes.
I’ve got a 2005 Excursion v-10 4.30 gears. I purchased in 2019 with 24,501 miles. Now has little over 40, and absolutely love it. Like nothing else like it today. No payments, cheap tabs, and insurance.
When it comes to the expense of automobiles It’s parts or payments, take your pick. Payments are every month with a new one and owning a used one the cost of parts are seldom monthly.
Gas cost are only when its running. With money in the bank, the best car is one that’s paid for, IMO.
I was/ am a professional mechanic of roughly 55 years and owner of at least 5 new Suburban (1987 to 2004) and other used beasts going back to 1960s. Haven’t bought another new since 2004 precisely because of the dinging, incessant warnings and “safely” devices that almost no one who knows how to drive really needs or wants. Still follow the business closely and can’t believe some of the “high tech” crap being sold. Why don’t they just provide a qualified driver?
The bottom line is this.
How much is the average total (additional) cost of the annual orthopedic bills for injuries sustained as a result of the continually hand wringing? Mind your own business and drive what YOU want to drive. Period.
[Albert H Cooper] “Why don’t they just provide a qualified driver?”
Isn’t that what Tesla’s autopilot is all about?
B^)
I’ve been saying this for years! Where’s my press coverage? I drive a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 baby ( 1 year model) it’s been an amazing vehicle! 6 times around the world and going fine! All at 12 mpg average…
I understand tow vehicles, and I understand why someone might need one on a regular basis enough to pay the fuel penalty. These large machines are relatively reliable, and the diesels can turn over high odo numbers, along with high fuel consumption numbers. But for daily transport, they are waste of good air, good fuel and good money. I have a small collection of reliable, older machines, and have never needed a tow vehicle in my 50 years of collecting. I wonder how much fuel I have saved?
Currently, my daily driver is a Mazda 3 Hatch, which I purchased new, paid cash, and refuel about every two weeks and has cost about $400 to maintain over the last 4 years. If I ever need a tow vehicle, I can get one for about $250 for the time that I will need it, then give it back to the rental agency. Otherwise, I drive my cars to track events, then drive home. Occasionally, I hitch a ride on a friend’s transporter. The $20~$50K that I might spend on a tow vehicle that has working A/C, comfortable seats and reasonable reliability pays for lots of hotel rooms and room service at the venues I like to visit. If I am going to take my daughter to race her Kart, it tows very nicely behind my 35 year old C280, ’cause, you know, I don’t have to bring a house with me.
Some people have lots of cars, and need to haul them around from time to time. I try to collect so that I don’t have to. From what I gather here, I already have saved over $40K, so I am more than half way to that Alfa 4C Coupe that I have had my eye on…
I guess it just depends on what you want to collect… A fine collector car, or an old truck…
Right. But unrequited testosterone is what’s really behind all these single occupant giant trucks and SUVs is, judging by many of the above posts. Sure, some occasionally need a tow vehicle, but most are suburban cowboys wearing 2 1/2- or 3-ton hats, a nerdo fashion statement they imagine cloaks shortcomings.
Apparently, genuine car guys who appreciate vintage cars with their original drivetrains are a minority here, as Hagerty tries to expand running fluff like the above piece, since State Farm and the others have long covered collector cars.
I see a lot of 5’2 to 5-8 chicks driving F250 Super Dutys and Ram 2500 quad cabs and duallys so it’s not just testosterone. Single chicks to, so it’s not that they are driving Hubby’s truck – – –
To Inline8OD…
You’re so right.
Donning a cowboy hat generally results in a reduction of I.Q.
[audiobycarmine]
“Donning a cowboy hat generally results in a reduction of I.Q.”
You’ve just insulted a whole lot of my college educated successful ranching relatives.
Tough as nails and smarter than … well, go look in the mirror.
Guzzlers make sense if you can buy a 5 year old one that’s ultra-loaded with luxury options and you do not drive too much. Depreciation has taken away over 50% of the original price and limited driving miles will make up for poor mpg’s. An Escalade fully loaded for the price of a 2 year old, used Prius. Hummm?
Most of my “fleet” is old stuff. I have a ’97 Dodge 2500 Cummins 12 valve for towing/hauling duties (about 700 miles a year), and more economical cars for the daily duties. I have less in the entire 20 vehicle plus fleet than one of those new Grand Wagoneers or new 3/4 ton pickup.