The Ecoboost tour met me at my workplace for my scheduled drive this morning. I drove a Race Red FX4 Scab with basically every option. Some observations:

1. From a standing start I felt some turbo lag, but it was not as pronounced as the 2005 6.0 diesel that I borrowed from a buddy a while back. Not an issue for me.

2. Acceleration from 30 - 50 was almost instantaneous.

3. Acceleration from 60 to 99(it shuts you down there) was amazing. I did it twice, once if barely hit the gas so it didn't shift down out of 6th and it was still VERY quick. Second time I romped on it pretty good and it snapped my head back into the headrest.

4. If you believe that you need a manual transmission for control, drive the select shift and you might just change your mind.

5. I never head turbos or any exhaust sounds at all.

I'm sure I'm leaving some stuff out. Post any questions you have and I'll see if I can answer them.

 

No questions here as I myself have gotten lucky enough to do an extended drive with an Ecoboost as well. I actually was lucky enough to get to test all engines out. The 5.0L and the Ecoboost impressed me the most. You aren't kidding when you talk about that 60-99 accelration.

However as great as the Ecoboost was, I'm personally opting for the 5.0L as It just suits me better. I don't fully trust turbo's yet, (And I plan to have my next truck for 15 to 20 years). So Turbo's are an expense I feel like I can avoid down the road by getting the 5.0L and personally I just perfer a V8 to a V6. I would love to see an Ecoboosted 5.0L sometime down the road.

But yeah man, Ford's really blowing away the compatition with these new engines. I can't wait to go place my order this summer for my 2011 FX4.

 

15 to 20 yrs looks like you don't drive much.

 

I knew I should have signed-up for that tour test drive when it came around. Oh well, I'll wait until their on the lot and go abuse it.

 

Just did the drive my self this afternoon. Drove a XLT SuperCrew 4x4 6.5 bed, max tow.
Engine is silent and power is totally effortless. I experienced no lag and 90mph comes right quick! The truck I drove had about 14700 miles on it.

I would take the EcoBoost over the V8.

 

The ecoboost has lag. Either you didn't accelerate fast enough to feel it or you don't know what if feels like. I drove two and both had it. As a matter of fact it is impossible to not have turbo lag because it takes a certain amount of exhaust flow for boost to kick in. Yes they have tried two turbos, a small one and a large one, and now on the ecoboost they are mounted directly to the manifold. These things help but don't completely eliminate it.

Lag is a whole lot less than my current turbo diesel but it is still there.

 

For the record, the one I drove, really didn't.

 

You guys must not have a fast enough reaction time to feel it.

If I show you where Ford says it has some lag will you agree?




"Get the fuel economy of a V6 engine with the power of a V8 in one technologically advanced powerplant.* That's what you get with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine running on regular (87 octane fuel). EcoBoost combines direct injection technology and twin-turbocharged performance. Direct injection produces a cooler, denser charge that generates more power per every drop of fuel, while the two small air-to-air intercooled turbochargers spool up much more quickly than a single large turbo. What you experience is instantaneous low-end torque responsiveness with virtually no turbo lag"

Let's take my 6.0 for an example. It is a dog without boost. If you go WOT you basically just sit there. I haven't measured the delay but I would guess about 1 1/2 seconds. Now this motor is rated at 325 hp. My stock engine produces about 25 psi of boost. I believe the ecoboost is 11 psi. The ecoboost with 0 psi of boost has a larger percentage of its rated hp than my 6.0 without boost. My point is that with boost applied to the ecoboost the increase in hp isn't a large amount; therefore if you don't go WOT I doubt you would feel anything. Now Power Kid you took your test drive in the snow right? Were you able to do some WOT runs?

 

Your assuming its turbo lag you feel. Many trucks out there have some hesitation due to throttle calibration issues. (GM 6.0L) As soon sas the same thing happens with a turbo... its lag. I think even the first 04 5.4s had that too, reflash fixed that.

Hey it very well may, all the comments I've read I'd guess and say its been 60/40 that it does. The one I drove, didn't.

Same goes for hearing the turbos. Some swear they did, the other 50% say nothing...

 

I agree.

I did get the turbos to whistle a bit once, but just for a second.

I also have own a 1987 Thunderbird Turbo coupe. Have had it for the last 15 years and 130K miles so I have Turbo experience.
The Ecoboost is great. I would love to have one in a Ranger..

Too each their own, for me scrap the V8 and give me the EcoBoost Six.

 

Funny, I had a '83 T-Coupe and same thing, just a little throttle tip in and it would reallly whine. I liked it.

 

You are right, I am not for sure that it was turbo lag. I guess when mine gets here I will see what kind of lag it has and if it bugs me enough drive a few more and see if they differ. The amount that the ones I drove wasn't enough to keep me from ordering, lets put it that way

As far hearing the turbos, I could not. On my 6.0 I can't either unless I open the window. I don't want to hear anything inside the cab- I am past the days of straight pipes, or cherry bombs. I guess that is why not having a V8 isn't holding me back from the new technology like a lot of the guys around here.

 

Some of it I believe is also this notion that nothing replaces displacement. In the days before computer controls maybe, but not today. Take the line of powerstrokes, the 7.3 has the most displacement out of all of them and it's the weakest one.

 

I agree but I am tired of trying to convince any of them. My ecoboost is on order so nothing else much matters now except to wait and wait and wait..........

 

How much longer?

I talked to a dealer Friday who told me turn around is @ 10 weeks right now, but as always, subject to change. Local dealers got a whole bunch Fri/Sat. A few Lariat Ltd kicking around.