experience with Ford excursion diesels?

[Chevy454]

Just took a 4-day trip to central Texas in my buddy's diesel Excursion...I'll have to say I was pleasanly surprised. With 4 couples, all of our luggage, a luggage toter on the roof, and a rather *brisk* pace down/back, we got right at 18mpg. Luckily his rig is heavily loaded, so the leather & dvd made the trip a LOT easier...only complaint was from a couple of the girls who got stuck in the 3rd row with the bench seat that doesn't extend all the way to the driver's side, and my wife said her stint in the 3rd row was a bit "cramped" in the legroom department (she's 5'9"). It did seem a bit more pitchy/rolly at times than I care for, but I wasn't sure if it was just the sensation from sitting towards the rear of the vehicle or the fact that my buddy added just a *tad* more tire to the rig? Just didn't seem quite as planted as our 3/4 ton Sub. The thing's had a SuperChips thrown at it, so it screams...and the mileage is rediculous for a rig of this GIRTH.