I just sold my 77 F150, I really hated to see her go, but I couldn't afford to insure it and drive it any more and I didn't want to just let it sit around and rot away.
Oh man! Bad move! The 77 was one sweet truck, makes this new stuff look sick. Know how it is though to have too many vehicles sitting in the yard and having to insure them all.
I guess I don't understand the hype around "more power". My 5.4 has more power than I'll ever need, and I would gladly trade away some power for better fuel economy. I looked real close at a new Dodge Hemi when I bought my '06 F150. I thought the 5.4 actually accelerated smoother and was quieter then the Dodge. Was the Ford or Dodge faster? I don't care what the truck tabloids and the commercials say. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference in real world driving.
Dale
I couldn't agree more. I test drove every '06 model 1/2 ton on the market and even the '07 Sierra prior to going with the F150 in 12/06. Sure each truck has its goods and bads, but I felt the F150 was the best "Overall" truck.
I too do not understand what all the hype regarding HP and 0-60 time is about. Like many here, had I wanted the speed factor, I would have chosen a different truck or even a sports car. But that's not what makes or breaks a truck, which it seems many out there believe. Sure it's nice to have that extra "get up & go", but the 5.4L F150 does well in its own right. Sure Ford needs to up their power output simply to keep up with the other makes/models, but that one factor does not make the truck.
As well, I'd give up a some ponies or lb-ft of TQ for a little better mpg's, but I didn't buy my truck soley for the mpg factor either. I knew the mileage I'd get prior to purchase, so I have no reason to complain about mpg's.
Lastly, I rarely read what the magazines state about trucks anymore, as many times these are "car guys/gals" that are really only looking at the ride/comfort and acceleration time. There are some exceptions to this though. I've found many articles that put the Ford in last place simply due to the 0-60 times, otherwise they're praising the Ford up and down. Then the winner is getting knocked for this and that, but wins because the author likes the feel of being pushed back in his/her seat. Now if trucks were based soley on this aspect, of course I'd have to agree 100%. I prefer to read testimonials from owners who have lived through the goods/bads of each truck, since they have more "real world" experience, as well as drive them all to see what I feel best fits my needs.
Just my opinion.
__________________ Justin
2006 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT Chrome Edition
5.4L Flex-Fuel, 3.73LS, 18" Stock Rims, 18" BFG Rugged Trail T/A's, Trailer Tow Pkg
Sun/Moonroof, Fog Lamps, Ford Bedliner
Lund Headlight & Taillight Covers, Lund VentVisors
I plan on paying my '05 off soon then letting it sit in the garage until i need a truck. I like it just fine and would hope to get 200,000 miles out of it. I'll probably p/u a 2wd ranger to go to work in. zoom zoom
The issue is the 5.4 has the worst HP and it gets the worst MPG ratings too. I'm all for improvement of one or the other but together that is not a combo worth bragging about.
The Ford F150 needs a new engine. the proposed 10-30 HP increase will do nothing to boost the poor sales they have had recently.
I predict another down year for Fords F150 sales just because of the poor engine offerings.
Actually, the Ram Hemi (5.7L - 11mpg avg) has the worst MPG's, even with the cylinder deactivation. The Ram (5.7L - 11mpg avg), Durango (5.7L - 12mpg avg) and Magnum (5.7L) each received the dubious award for the worst mpg in their respective classes for 2007. The Durango was even up against the likes of the Expedition (5.4L - 13mpg avg) and Suburban (5.3L - 13mpg avg), and still received worse mpgs. Now the Ram (4.7L - 12mpg avg) came in 2nd and then Avalanche (5.3L - 13mpg avg) in 3rd for worst mpg rating for 1/2 ton models. "overall fuel economy results are calculated by an equally weighted average of city, highway and one-day trip mpg ratings." This was based off real world testing, not the EPA rating, as we all know they aren't the most reliable and accurate.
I agree that Ford needs a more efficient and powerful motor in the F150, but don't know if we'll get that with the 6.2L, even with the Twin-Force induction. By all accounts, the power will be there, but I'm still not so sure about the mpgs.
Now an extra 10-30hp and 6spd slush box could potentially wake up the F150 a little, being it will have slightly more power and the 6spd keeping the truck in its powerband better. I know my '06 F150 5.4L would run a lot better if it had the 6spd. Now enough to keep up with some of the other models in 0-60, I'm not so sure, but I'd venture to guess it'd still get roughly 1-2 mpg's better than it currently does, just a guesstimate not hard #'s.
The F150 most likely will have another down year, but so are most 1/2 ton models, with the exception of the Tundra, which is the "Gotta have" truck out right now. With the many issues I've read about regarding the Tundra, I'll hold off judgement of the sales figures for a couple years. Simply look at the Titan, it stormed out the gate, problems started arising and now sales are in the dumps even though most the problems have been fixed. Of course there is a big difference between a Toyota and Nissan, so the Tundra may not follow the same path, but you never know.
Again, these are just my thoughts.
__________________ Justin
2006 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT Chrome Edition
5.4L Flex-Fuel, 3.73LS, 18" Stock Rims, 18" BFG Rugged Trail T/A's, Trailer Tow Pkg
Sun/Moonroof, Fog Lamps, Ford Bedliner
Lund Headlight & Taillight Covers, Lund VentVisors
I don't expect to be buying the 2009 F-150. I am one of those with the previous generation truck that has been the best truck I've ever owned. It's getting older now - 1999, 5.4, 4X4 XLT extended cab - but it's got mostly all highway miles at 105,000 and very good dealer service. This truck has never had anything but routine maintenance.
And, the paint was great on these trucks. I keep it under cover, wash it as needed considering that I live on a muddy, dirt road and wax it about once a year. It looks almost new on the outside as well as the cloth interior.
So, even though I would like to think I am in the new truck market, I guess I am not. I pay cash for vehicles and have a hard time paying for a new one unless it offers some value-oriented new benefits. Guess I could get a little better than my 16/17 mpg average with a new one, the new tranny would hopefully be smoother shifiting than my old 4-speed, but I also do the math and those things are not worth the price of admission.
I would have to say that this is not just Ford's fault. I don't like any of the new trucks. They are all getting bigger, heavier and not better in my mind. We also have a late model Ranger and it disappoints me to no end that Ford is not working on this type of vehicle more. A small V-8 with a little more room that gets 20+mpg on the highway would probably interest me in writing that check for a new truck.
But, then I thought I might like the new Dakota. Nope. If I have to replace the 1999 F-150 then I'll spend some of my time looking for a strong, low mileage, used 2007 Regular Cab FX-4. At least I don't have to get a longer truck and it would work for us. A shame to have to give up the back seat but these manufacturers are not giving many of us "non-image" folks most of a choice.
We need a nice, strong, comfortable truck with 4X4 with a decent MPG improvement and that can tow a medium sized boat without strain. I am old enough to remember when Ford actually did stand out from the competition and it was a good, strong half-ton truck - 1985 F-150 4X4 with 302 V-8 EFI. One of the first EFI domestic trucks and we drove it to nearly 200,000 miles with little mechanical difficulty. Towed a fairly heavy boat for about a fourth of those miles at high altitude too.
Seems like Ford is trying too hard to match up with the competition rather than leading with what the customer really wants.
It'll be a '09 Ford, but it'll have t0 be the F450 for our towing needs.
Soon as they announce availability, we'll be ordering one with the max towing pkg.
I don't expect to be buying the 2009 F-150. I am one of
Seems like Ford is trying too hard to match up with the competition rather than leading with what the customer really wants.
Toyota is serious as a heart attack to beat all it's competition.
Ford has to step up and take the lead and the new f150 is a good sign.
Ford still has far more acceptance than Toyota in the North and NorthEast.
We need a pick-up that can haul a 24.000 lbs gross 5th wheel, and our RV dealer sells a lot of these same rigs.
Ford F450 is the only reasonable choice unless ya wanna spend $100.K on a Freightliner or Peterbuilt Pick up conversion (or are they $150K).
Resale on those rigs is murder.
Ford blindsided the Pick up market with the F450's introduction.
The GM 4500 looks like a phone booth on a piano dolly and it may be a long time until GM corrects that,, if ever.
Chrysler is still vague what their new line will tow and everyone is still leary of their trannys.
Toyota has announced no intention to enter the higher GVW pick-up market, so the future looks good for Ford.
We need to find a good Ford dealer, our neighbor had to close both of his dealers from lackluster sales.
Sad really, good dealers that were operated in the family for over 50 years.
My older cousin Caroline won the first built Mustang Convertable at a Disneyland grad nite in 1963. (Back when it was just one nite)
She still drives it.
We're hoping Ford has their act together with the F450, and hope even more that the Ford dealers are better in relations with their customers.
We'll find out when our new F450 arrives and we take delivery.
So far our friends are happy,, and word is spreading.
If I was in the market for a smaller truck, I might look to the new f150. One thing I don't like though is the fact that they don't offer them with a manual trans anymore. GM looks interesting as well.
I agree completely that Ford builds the strongest platform out there. The diesel engines have certainly created a stir, but the chassis would be hard to beat with the heavier duty trucks.
We drove an F-250 forever with 460 V-8 and what was then a break-through tranny - the 5-speed manual with overdrive. It was a good truck although we really didn't use it enough for what it was built to handle. We did haul a fairly good-sized overhead camper for many years on occasion and towed some boats around. Got a fairly easy 172,000 miles out of it and sold it for about 30% of original cost 16 years later.
But, for some of us older folks, the price of gasoline will now move us into something different and more suited to specific needs. There are some of us that may not want the heavy hauling/towing capacity any more. Just need a nice half-ton that can haul a mid-sized boat (3,500 pounds) around without strain. And, at the same time be easy to maneuver in town, easy to manuever the boat into the garage and get better gas mileage than what we own now.
That is where we meet a big road block with Ford and all of the other manufactuers too. Bigger is not better for us. Our 1999 F-150 does all of our needed duties well still but one of these days it will have to be replaced. I don't want to buy the new F-150 extended cab 4X4 that replaces it because it weighs nearly 800 pounds more and is six inches longer. I also don't like the higher bed sides that make it so hard to back a boat down a steep boat ramp without risking the tailgate or about impossible to see over the rear with a tool box across the back when parking. I have driven one some.
I want something smaller and more fuel efficient than my 1999 but also with a small V-8. The current Ranger is a nice around town vehicle but does not work for this replacement.
Ford has a big void here and I'll hang on as long as I can hoping for something in the future that will work for us. Like I said before, we might have to go with the regular cab FX4 but there are a few times we need just a little room for passengers. Kind of a shame to have to give that up.
Buying new for us is out until someone makes a strong, personal use half ton again with a fuel efficient V-8.
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