I've spent the past two weeks scanning the forums here (wow - lots of info) and am now ready to ask some questions.

I'm considering a new ('05) F-250 4x4 crew cab short bed. The new F-150 4x4s have gotten dismal reliability ratings at Consumer Reports recently, and I've read the Tow Command system is very very nice (sounds good to a novice tower like me).

My situation:
1. I have never owned a pickup (only SUVs; an '92 Explorer and a '96 Cherokee)
2. I have never towed anything.
3. Hope to purchase a 22'-25' (5000-7000 lbs) travel trailer within 2 years & anticipate 6 camping trips/year to start. 6000' altitude is max I'll likely ever encounter.
4. Hope to purchase 2000-3000 lb fishing boat within 4-5 years and anticipate 12 trips per year to start.
5. Truck will be my daily commuter (12 mi each way, highway). I have a desk job; no need for a work truck.
6. I have never owned a diesel
7. I want an automatic transmission (I changed gears for over half my life; I'm over it.)
7. Reliability is paramount to me. Overall cost of ownership second. MPG third. Resale fourth.
8. I plan to keep whatever I buy for at least 10 years (unless one of the above three criteria in #7 do me in)

Given all that, if you were going to take Jeff up on his $1000 under invoice deal that ends today, which engine (V8, V10, Powerstroke) would you select if you were in my shoes?

I know there are some very opinionated folks here...but most of you seem to be able to keep your emotions out of it and stick to the facts and your own direct experience. Thanks for sticking to that . I've really enjoyed reading your posts....

Many thanks for your time,
tthree

 

I would choose the V-10 if I were you in your situation. Although I have a diesel and would never go back to gas. Your situatiion sounds like the gas would suit you better beings that you will make short trips everyday and not going to be hauling a huge load. The $5,000 extra cost off the diesel maybe not the best idea for you. Yah the 150 has had some rpoblems but thats nothing for a first year vehicle. Most manufacturers first year trucks have some bugs to be worked out.Dont rule out that truck. The 05s seem to have been pretty foolproof so far. Good Luck on your descision. Take advantage off Jeffs deal. That doesnt happen every day.

 

tthree

You are in a tough spot... Dang the choices!

All three of the motors will do what you need

My vote is for the V10

The PSD will better satisfy all your number 7 and 8 requirements but your number 5 and 6 statements suggest you will be happier in the V10

But my rational for the V10 is lower buy in cost, you won't have to wait to start, wait to shut down, less total maintenance cost, less noise, more than enough power even up in the mountains, and does not require the learning curve diesel ownership comes with.

I have all three motors in my small fleet right now and just gotta say they are all good reliability wise and you really can't make a bad choice.

If you are going to order today with Jeff you will still have a little, not much but some time to get behind the wheel of local dealer trucks and if you think you need to change the motor Jeff can do a change before the order is locked by Ford.

Good Luck they are truely awesome trucks!

 

Duh - sorry - the two #7 choices were not meant to mean 'equally important'...I just can't count Thanks for the replies so far.

 

I will agree with the other 2 and say the V-10 is probably best for you. I have the diesel and love it but for the short trips and little towing that you will do, the $5000 probably isn't worth it to you. If gas mileage is a bigger deal to you than maybe the 5.4 would be better.

 

tthree,
I agree with most of the previous post, V10 would probablybe better for you, however IF you are ready to learn some new experiences. Then go with the PSD. DRIVE one first though with your lovely wife by your side because one or both of you may not can stand the diesel "sound of raw power". After you shell out the money for the PSD IS NOT the time to decide "I wish we hadn't bought that thing it makes so much noise". I am a lucky man, everytime my wife and I go anywhere she says "I Love OUR truck!". I need her to say that because she left the decision to spend this much solely up to me and IF she didn't like it I would never hear the end of that. Know what I mean. Just my .02.

 

v10 man. listen to fredvon4, its worth the 600 beans when towing, gas is now cheaper then diesel .

 

I ordered my new 05 with the V10, torque shift trans, 4:10 gears and all the extras. This thing is great for my situation. I do custom stone work and all my materials are far more than any pick-up could haul anyway, so I just need to carry extra materials from time to time. If I towed I'd have got the diesel, but the V10 is fantastic. Plus if you got a loan for your truck the 5000.00 extra bucks adds up to a lot more than that over time. Good luck!!

 

I would have to say V-10 as well. I have the 5.4 in mine and it works great as a daily driver and some light towing but if I had it to do all over again I would get the v10. For a nominal cost you have more pulling power and when pulling a travel trailer up in the mountains my 5.4 gets winded. The gas mileage between the two is pretty much the same.

 

Yep I would say the v10 too if your going to be pulling that travel trailer. Mine is a 5.4 and I love it, but I pull a 2000lb boat and a 3500lb. pressure washing system, that's it. Also I don't go to the mountains I head to the beach. Good luck with your new truck!!

 

At 1st blush reading your post I would say the V-10 for your application since you won't be towing much and not at all initially.

My only questions, to those in the know, would be if the 6,000 ft altitude will have a negative impact on the towing and if so how often would you tow at that altitude?

IMO: The V-8 wouldn't do it for especially from a longevity stand point after you start towing.

Good luck and safe trucking.

 

Again the V-10, go with at least the 4.10 gears or the 4.30's skip the 3.73's there to tall, the V-10 has plenty of power, it will make it up any mountain with no problem, it's not like you are putting 30,000lbs behind you. Milage is the same for the V-8 and V-10, so don't let that hold you back, you will only be paying $500 for the V-10 with Jeff's deal. These trucks are very strong and will more then easilly do anything you could ask. Services are big bucks on the diesel, I love diesels but you got to put big miles on them to justify having one.

 

I tend to agree with everyone else here. Sounds like the V-10 would be your best bet. Much better choice for the nominal extra cost over the 5.4L. Only way you could really justify the extra money for the PSD would be that you just plain want it (which, of course, is how I came to my decision to purhcase a diesel). Enjoy your new truck whatever you choose.

 

The V-10 will require higher gears to tow the trailer ( keeping the V-10 in its torque range) versus the diesel. This will decrease your fuel economy in the V-10 with 4.30 ratio to about 8 mpg (right, guys?) The V-10 will be screaming, and you will have to use more throttle when towing. The diesel will act perfectly normal, like nothing is back there.

At 7% interest over 60 months, the $5000.00 diesel option will cost you a total of $ 5,940.00. Assuming 1000 miles per month, the break even point for the diesel would be 101 months, or 8.49 years. After that, the fuel savings will amount to $ 1,059.39 in your favor.

If you buy your oil from Sam's, and change it yourself, an oil change will be about $35.00 per interval. At 5000 mile intervals, the diesel will cost you $ 84.00 per year for oil changes.

Resale value for the diesel will be higher than the V-10.

The diesel is a much stouter engine (more heavy duty), and will last longer with less maintenance then the V-10 given the RPM operating ranges (2300 rpm vs. 3400 rpm) you will be imposing, and especially with the light loads you will be asking it to perform against.

I have always driven a V8 Ford. I have the diesel now, and love it. I hardly ever tow with it, but I drive around 2,500 miles per month in the city. I would not go back to gas unless I wanted to race around like I did as a teenager.

I would say that if anyone was ever going to tow anything, then get a diesel. Your confort level while towing is worth it. If you were NEVER to tow, then the decision would reflect what you wanted to spend (or save) on fuel costs. Given that you plan to keep the truck for 10 years or longer, the added costs of the diesel (IMHO) do not come into play.

 

Go V10 and think of the 5000.00 you save as free fuel. The V10 is a proven motor . The sick litre PSD came out in later 03 models and is going to be replaced in 07. My 04 PSD was hauled in twice in 6 months. My grandpas Model "A " was more reliable. I have only had my new 05 V10 3 days and I absolutely love the thing . I posted as Diesel Don over at Dieselstop and I thought gasser drivers were a low form of life. Boy did Karma ever come back to me! On the serious side, I had two 7.3 diesels, a 95 and 00 and they were great but the 6.0 is a flawed design IMHO and Ford thinks so to as they are changing again in 07. All the BS you read about long term savings assume that the diesel will run forever without breaking down. Man, you have 8 Hydraulic Electronic injectors at 700 a pop and a turbo that will cost you 3500 bucks if it goes south. These are Canadian dollars for me but not that much less for you guys in the US. Consider my own 04 PSD lemon. The tech wanted to replace the turbo but Ford would not OK it under warranty. They were able to get the truck running by only changing the solonoid in the turbo. Some poor sap will buy that truck and after the warranty runs out, guess who will pay that bill ! But he will have saved a few bucks on fuel. Pay me now or pay me later. Good Luck in whatever you decide, Wrench.