When I bought my 03 new in July of 04 I went to 5 local dealers. Galpin, who claim to be one of the largest in the country, had at least 12 rows of 25 trucks that I looked through. Maybe 1 in 10 were V10’s, but that’s what I wanted, a V10. My wife had to drive the truck to drop the kids off at school and then to the train station every day, about 2 miles. She’s the type that gets in turns the key and as the tach is coming down puts in gear and goes. There is no way we could have had a diesel, she would have killed it in the first 6 months with fouled injectors or not letting the engine get up to operating temps on her short trip. My friends were, and in some cases still are, teasing me about not getting the 6.0. But I ask them, how many turbo’s have you replaced and how many injectors have you had to remove. Not to mention how many times have your intercooler hoses popped off during a trip in the middle of the night and we’ve had to stop to reconnect. This is not just one friend but at least 5. I’ll take the poor fuel mileage and the appearance of lesser horse power (not sure if there is really less HP rather than torque) for the reliability and drivability of the V10.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

In the summer of 2007, I decided to sell my 2002 7.3 F-350 that had 182k and was running good but I felt the tranny was headed south again(fixed at 52k), so I did sell it. 2008 models were just showing up and the "soot bag"-re-gen diesel engine was to tak ethe place of the 6 leaker. I decided to forgo anymore new diesel engine experiments and go for a tried and proven V-10. I special ordered my 2008 F-250 with most all of the bells for the beginning of job 2 after the August start. My truck showed up 8 weeks later. After 115k miles, I can say this truck is the very best truck, bar none, that I have ver owned. Starting in 1968 with my first Chevy 4X4 truck and many trucks since, this 2008 V-10 is the best.

 

Couldn't agree more Pappy!

 

I got a gasser because it was all I could afford, both at the time of purchase and to repair later if something went wrong. (I would have been happy to have a diesel, I'm just broke. ) Once I made the decision to buy a gasser, I had to have a manual transmission (again, due to likelihood and cost of repairs).

Let me tell you, trying to find a crew cab gasser with a stick shift ain't easy. Needless to say, I did find one (and ONLY one) and it is now mine. Two and a half years later I still smile every time I get behind the wheel. Dead-on reliable, more power than I need, and better MPG than I imagined. I love my V10!

 

I feel the same. If I had the extra dough for the upfront cost and rediculous repair and maintenance costs I would have gotten a diesel. But not sure if I would tolerate being stranded, so I guess I got the right pick for me. I dont feel less manly or sort on power.

Surfdaddy, your friends are jealous. If one that teased me ever needed towed or a ride it would come with truck washes, and posing for pics with my truck and his on the trailer, maybe even wearing a sandwich board sign in public? hahaha

It's all hype. Sure there's more power noone disagrees with that, but thumb through the diesel forums and ask yourself how much you like your gasser.

 

Yeah I had all the diesels out there, cummins, powerpuke, duramax. They all gave me trouble they all stranded me one time or another.

My buddy in NY turned me on to the V10, he told me just make sure u get the 4:30 gear ratio. So in 08 I had to order one, as many here have said, u cant find one on a lot anywhere?

The dealer tried to talk me out of it, but i was having none of his crap. I ordered my truck and I couldn't be happier, 08 F350 King Ranch V10 4:30 CC SB 4X4. This truck just runs and tows anything i put behind it !! And the best part is Wally World has my oil & filter no more 15 quarts of oil and all the other crap that goes with owning a diesel.

 

I have never really understood the whole diesel infatuation. The initial buy-in premium, much higher repair/maintenance, highwer fuel cost, lower reliability, not to mention the noise and smell! Never really appealed to me. Between my Father-in-law and brother-in-law they have gon through six diesel one tons while I still have my trusty V-10!

 

BTW, I love my truck, but I would sell it in a heartbeat for yours.

 

this qoute right here I couldn't agree with more. 110% correct in my mind especially the sound and smell part.
Trav

 

In 2003 when i bought my van the V10 option was about $700 & diesel was $5500! Im glad i went with the V10, they are great running engines. They just consume more gas that anybody likes. I also have a 6.0 in my 05 excursion for the ultimate towing power, and about 5 mpg better than my V10!

 

I think that goes for anything.

Even prius owners probably wish they could just squeeze 2 or 3 more MPG's out of 'em.

 

I tell you what I love our V10 even more today. Today we went through salt river canyon with our 02 F250 V10 crew cab and a good sized load. First run like this ever this long. All of a sudden when applying brakes the truck would pull to the left I expected the worse. Well when we pulled off our I checked everything locked and unlocked the hub (4x4) and good to go no problems rest of the trip. Never went over 3500RPM.
Trav

 

you took the words out of my mouth....well said

 

I'm on my second truck with a V10. My first one was a 2002. Never spit a sparkplug or left me stranded. Oil changes were cheap and the only problem I had was the standard manifold studs. I planned on keeping it forever, seeing that V10's are hard to find. Well, I found a 2009 F350 c/c last year and traded my beloved 2002 F250 in on it. I love the '09 even more. Fuel mileage is around the same, it has the Harley package on it, and I really plan on keeping this one forever, unless Ford puts the V10 in the F250/F350's again. The BSEG is even bigger with the 2009!

 

I guess I am going to do a "ME TOO" reply. I bought my '05 V10 new. I have a good friend who was the truck sales manager at a Florida dealer: he would have sold be a oil burner at a great price but couldn't get a V10 in Florida with Cal emissions I needed for my home state of NY. He told me NOT to buy the diesel, he said his shop was full of blown turbos and Ford didn't have a fix for it. So I had to look long and far to find a V10 about 200 miles away in PA. Best decision I ever made. I love this truck, turned 102K last week and the only things I have done to it are normal maintenance. The total cost of that has yet to reach the initial price difference between gas and diesel ($5500 in '05).
Don't know what I will do when I need to replace this truck, but that will be a long way off!!