Hey all, my son wants an F-250 diesel for his first truck ( be 16 nxt yr).
Since I aint made of money I'm looking in the 2005 - 2010 era’ish. I vaguely recall Ford having some diesel difficulties for a short period of time. Which should I stay away from? Appreciate ur help!

 

Stay away from the 6.4 at a minimum. 6.0s can be fine if they were repaired right. My buddy picked up a 2005 6.0 crew cab dually 4x king ranch for 6500 bucks .but it’s never been bulletproofed so he’s most likely gonna have to dump 7-8k in it.

the issue is also some people are less than honest. Whatever you buy be it gas or diesel have it checked out by a real mechanic. I dont care how good you are at looking at vehicles dot be too arrogant. I have a lift at home. Yiu would be amazed at the different perspective you get looking at a truck underneath laying on the ground vs standing up.
Any claims made for rebuilt this or replaced rhat ask for receipts. No receipts it didn’t happen.

truthfully I would stay away from any diesel unless you NEED a diesel. And I mean NEED one for farm
or work. If it’s just to get him to school and out on dates …..you’re wasting money. The reason is self explanatory. You aren’t made of money. Even a old 7.3 ( which are still highly sought after and command a high price) can be expensive to fix especially for a 16 yo or even a adult. Just a set of injectors are gonna run 200 a pop for the injectors. Diesels simply can cost more to maintain and repair than a comparable gas truck..


i can understand the allure of a diesel but if your kid just wants a truck he could get something that is not only dependable but cheaper to maintain.
I understand this is a Ford site but you could find plenty of gas trucks that will more than fit the needs of a 16 year old. Gas F series or Rangers,

you could go for

ChevyGMC GMT400 platform. Thats rhwb1988-2000 GM trucks. Those trucks are actually pretty tough. I still have my 1989 Sierra with 396,000 on the original engine.

the mid 2000s f150s with the 4.6. I daily drive a 2003 crown Vic with a 4.6. That thing is a tank. I drive 36,000 a year. I bought it 2.5 years ago with 66,000 miles and have 154,000 on it now.

ford rangers or Mazda B series with the 4.0s are pretty good. even a 3.0 is fine.

a older Tacoma or SR5

Nissan Hardbody or Frontier truck

Even though I had some I’m not a fan of Dodge trucks but a Ram or Dakota with a 360 or 318 woidk work. Don’t bother with the V6. To me Dodge would be my last choice for vehicles.

 

Does he want or NEED a diesel. By need, I mean using it to haul loads heavy enough for the requirements of a diesel? If the answer is no, there many other vehicles out there that would better fit the "needs" of a 16 year old.

Those very range of model years were the most problematic ones for the diesel engines in the F-250 to F-550 trucks, especially the 2008-2010 model years with the garbage 6.4L diesel!!! For this very reason, I wouldn't even recommend those trucks to my worst enemy. Google search Ford 6.4L Powerstroke problems and see what you come up with. 2005 to 2007 with the 6.0L diesel, although problematic, could be made reliable if used and maintained correctly by its previous owners, but I definitely wouldn't recommend as a first vehicle for a 16 year old!!! Even more so by your statement that you aren't made of money. This is not unless your son has thousands of dollars available in extra funds for future repairs which I'm guessing is not the case.

Good luck with your search.

 

Gas it is!

 

I guarantee you he will be happy with a gasser. I would immediately get the repair manuals and get him to learn maintenance and repairs. Good luck in your search. Remember the older trucks are not only fine to drive they are also a lot easier and cheaper to work on and repair. My 1989 GMC has a 350 with a TBI and is caveman simple to repair. 396,000 miles original drivetrain. One trans rebuild at 160,000. Still runs but it’s starting to burn some oil

just be careful man…lots of unscrupulous sellers out there.

 

Honestly I’d get him one of my favorite body styles 93-96 but we’re in NY so is be a shame to throw the winter salt on a truck like that!
As long as its a jacked up truck he’ll be happy!

 

_____________
I would agree with you on a 93 - 96. I have owned newer models and recently found a 1997 F250 as a "barn find"... It works for me.
Those model year trucks are old enough that a person can bounce around here on FTE and get any and all information needed to buy, build or maintain those trucks.
Note here when an issue is brought to the forum there is less "What codes did you get" ? The newer the truck the more that question pops up.
To find that truck you will have to search outside of the areas that use salt on the roads during the winter. Everyone wants an Arizona truck but there are good ones in the Pacific Northwest and the Gulf coast states.
The one's that are desirable are the crew cab, short bed, 4 X 4.... Again, just my opinion.
I'm sure you will find one you can work with. Money will be getting tight over the next 12 months and some of those "projects" will be showing up.

Best of Luck,

Hobo

 

There are a lot of those trucks out in So Cal also. What I would do is contact a few people that deal in those vehicles that have a good reputation. Lots of the dealers will find check it and ship it to you. Just gotta find one with a good rep.
personally I wouldn’t get fixated on one vehicle. There are plenty of good deals out there even today.
And as times get tighter financially for people that extra vehicle is gonna start looking like a bunch of money sitting there wasting away.

 

A few ideas:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...593348935.html
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...590284189.html
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/c...590496917.html
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...596359545.html

 

I purchased a ranger 4x4 ranger mini truck with the 4,0 v-6 that I saw listed along side a road 4 sale.
It was a good deal didn't need it but I bought it.
It was a 5 speed.
It was a great little truck.
A 16 year old would love it.

 

lol…is the truck for him or you?

Lifted trucks cost more money to run. If it was my kid he would get a Ford Ranger 4x4 or something in that size.. As stock condition as possible to find.

 

^^^^^THIS!!!

 

I'm following the thoughts here... There must be an equation, somewhere.... Dad + Kid + Budget + Ambition + Responsibility + Ancestory = Truck

 

Here's my $.02 worth. This is based on my real world experience of trucks owned by friends. 6.0 diesel, No way in hell..period. Yes they are cheap for a a later model truck, for a reason mind you. 6.4, nope. 6.7, Yes Id buy one but they will come at a price. 7.3 is undoubtedly the best, but prices are stupid money and mileage is getting to high. Last clean one I looked at was $20,000 with 130K on it. 7.3/ OBS trucks are insane price wise in the western states anyhow. 6.9. Cool old trucks with little power and their issues.
That being said like the other stated "want" or "need" Diesel fuel is still $4.20 a gallon here, gas $3.40. Oil changes are in multiple gallons. Repairs and parts are far more pricy than a gasser. Diesels are mostly bought to be worked so finding one that's not beat can be a challenge then your back to those repair costs.
I had 3 dodge/Cummins trucks at one point. 2 first gens and one 2nd gen. Good engine," to bad for the box they come in" is how we'd put it. Again, repairs and parts are very costly. Based on the numerous friends in my neck of the woods here in the ranch lands of NM Id likely never buy a Dodge/ram product any time soon.
If Jr. has a killer job, lots of wrenching experience, then I guess its his choice. Do I miss my diesels, you bet, but its just not worth the cost of admission anymore. No more stock trailer or livestock, no more RV's. Shoot we don't even drive the F250/V10 much at its 13mpg when the silverado gets 18 and its 65 miles to the market. My neighbors 2013 F150 gets 21mpg and he hauls a 28' RV with it which is nuts but its his butt.

 

Insurance on a Super Duty for a 16 YO will be pretty damned high, so you might want to start there. I would not be surprised to see a $2400 a year bill on one considering liability alone on a 16 YO will be starting @ $700 for 6 months. Put any kind of coverage on the truck and easily see $1200 every 6 months. My 17 YO daughter will be getting her license soon, liability on the RAV 4 is $250 for us, and adding her to the policy adds another $700, no collision or comp on the RAV4 either.