Ive really been beating myself up on this decision. My truck is suppose to be here soon (2 weeks).

The way fuel prices are going im trying to justify its purchase. I have wanted a CC Superduty for the last year.
However theres really no sense in buying it and then parking it because of fuel prices and driving something else.

I use my truck for work as well as personal, I do have another car, but need the truck at work.
So I wonder If i should get the F150 which will get better fuel mileage (i think), but still give me the capabilites of a truck.
Between the two trucks overall purchase cost, the savings could buy a lot of gas.

Give me your 2cents

 

Thats a tough call and one I wouldn't want to make! Personally ever since I bought my truck a couple of years ago I have always seemed to have an extra car laying around so the truck only comes out when it's needed or when I get the itch to drive it. I often times go 2-3 weeks between starting the ol V10 but I cann't imagine having to fill a 28 gal tank every 4days, it hurts bad enough filling the 14gals that go into the lumina every 4days (mind you I drive 35miles one way to work and back!). I realy cann't give you any advise since you need the truck for work but what I can tell you is, if for some reason I was to sell either my boat or camper I would probably go to an F150 for my next truck for the exact reasons you've brought up, they are cheaper to buy and cheaper to run, end of story. my current situation actually has been testing the limits of my F250 so I really don't see myself in anything lesser in the near future. I will say that the new F150s are damn nice, I commuted back and forth in one for about month and it was by far the nicest truck I've ever riden in! either way you cann't go wrong but the bseg may be slgihtly samller, lol.

 

I also ordered a SD V10...ordered it on March 1st, so I am expecting it any time. My salesman keeps telling me it is being built but I have not rec'd a build date yet, though I did get a VIN.

Anyway, I have a Dodge Cummins that gets 17+ back and forth to work, and I am trading it in....now, diesel fuel is cheaper than gasoline, and the Cummins get at least 1/3 better mileage than the V10.

I really want the V10, but I have considered not buying the new truck, though that will cost me the $1000 down payment.....

I have owned several F150s, and the mileage is not going to be much better than the V10, I don't think.

I never had one that got over 14 back and forth to work, with either the old 302 or a 4.6. I had a 4.6 with a 5 speed manual 4x4 and could not get over 13 mpg ever.

The V10s are supposed to get at least 12-13 on the highway, and many folks say they get 15 or more....not too many though.

I talked to a guy that ordered a V10, got a VIN, but the dealer told him that the truck would have to be a 2007, as the 2006s have stopped production early due to the short 2007 model year....he was glad because he could then cancel his order. He said the rebate on the 2006 was $2500 but on the 2007 it is only $1000. If all of that is true and I get the same deal from Ford, I'll probably walk away from the deal.....though I sure like the V10.

Let us know what you finally decide, and I will too....I am sure there are others in the same situation....hope to hear from them....

 

I to was in the same boat. Got an invitation from one of the local dealerships wanting to buy my truck, was going to throw away, but the wife saw and wanted to go see what they could do and move down to an F-150. Went test drove an 06' SC SB w/ the 5.4 and tow pckge, 3.55's LS. I kinda had an idea of how it would perform as my dad has a 99' same thing, but the 2V I've towed with it and figured if it was similar I might consider it. I thought the truck would be a little faster fill a little torquier. I'm not sure if it was because it wasn't broke in or what,but it was a dog. My dad's 99' has better throttle response and feels much torquier. The salesman said he has virtually the same truck (05') w/ the 5.4 and averages 16 miles per gallon, and 18 on highway treks. Myself I could not do it, I am planning to get a TT in the next couple years and I tow cars every so often for myself or friends. I was not going to risk getting a truck that I would not be happy with it's performance. I did that once w/ my 99' F-250, and granted it only had the 5.4, I loved the truck, got rid of it when gas prices started going up in 03' big mistake. I still miss that truck even though my 04' CC SB V10 will out perform it any day easily. IF I'M BITCHIN' ABOUT GAS PRICES AND NOT THE TRUCK I'M HAPPY! But that's just me. Besides I ride my motorcycle waaay more than I drive my truck 55 MPG .

 

What do you need a "truck" for at work? How severe the conditions? Idling all day? Stop-and-go traffic all day? Long-range highway running with a bunch of tools in the back? Or pulling 7K+ lbs of trailer? Please explain.

Now, assuming you NEED the truck for work, and you are going to reasonably stress the thing, the Superduty will have a higher MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) just because everything is bigger/stronger.

I'm not dissing the F150, not even close. However, basic engineering dictates that the larger Superduty will outlast the F150 for doing the SAME JOB.

Even with the same 5.4 motor, the radiator is bigger in the SD, holding more coolant (I think). But the rest of the drivetrain is still heavier.

If you are going to push a truck to 50% of it's load/work-rating, getting a larger truck where that load is only 30%, you're going to have a higher MTBF

Well, you get the idea.

If an F150 would do the job, why not a Ranger? Or foreign? Just curious...

Just trying to help figure this one out.

art k.

 

GROW A PAIR, Get the V10.

 

Folks... this writing is flat out on the wall

We will NEVER see 2.00 dollar gasoline EVER again.

Eventually we will all get accustomed to where ever it peaks.. I suspect in the 3 to 4 dollar range

The economy will adjust... you will eventually get an inflated pay check or charge more for your services based on the costs of housing, food, energy including fuel...

We jumped from 28-36cents a gallon in 1974-76 ( I really can't remember when the damned Arab Oil Embargo was) to 79-94Cents a gallon before falling back to 52-55Cents... so realistically EVERYBODY was paying double in a few short months and for the rest of the 70s and early 80s

Yes this Bull she-ite hurts, and some more then others... but it is fact and you and I have no way to change it.

The best hope we have is every two or four years to throw the BUMs out that perpetrate these frauds on us!

 

No, we'll never see gas back down, despite all the rumors...be it the changeover to Ethanol, which scares the pants off big oil boys, or going to smaller engines/vehicles.

The plain truth is that the work and work loads aren't going to get lighter and the requirement for tougher, more durable engines will still be needed. No matter how we try or what we do, we can't cut off our noses to spite our faces.

Get the truck if you need it - you'll find a way to adjust...one way or the other.

 

The next two years will be significant in America. We don't know where this is heading but I agree we have seen the last of $2 gasoline. The lifestyle of larger and larger camping trailers is over. We will soon be back to 18 to 20 foot units and the day of 34 foot 6 ton 5th wheels is over! America is about to downsize. Look at what they camp in all over Europe!!! $6 gasoline prevents them from using such dinosaurs. Buy only the size truck you need. The F150 with a 5.4 gets very respectable mileage so if you don't actually need the Super Duty stay away from it. The new flavor in America will be lighter, cheaper and more efficent.

 

I've got a friend that had a Chevy 1500 and just bought a F350 with 460. He started talking about the mileage, but needed the extra "umph" when towing. I asked him what it cost him in fuel to haul his boat to the lake, etc., etc. It costs about $3 more to use the Ford truck on the weekend than it did with his 1500. Of course the number of miles makes a huge difference, but if an F150 will get 14 - 16 mpg and the SD will get 10 - 12 or 13 you're only saving a couple mpg.

It's going to cost you a ton of money to drive the F150 and it'll cost you a ton (plus $3 ) to drive the SD. My thought is that gas prices will be eating everyone alive, but if you don't have to drive too far, too often, the difference between a light duty truck and a heavy duty truck isn't enough for me to be too concerned.

You might figure out how many miles you drive per day and what 2 - 4 mpg difference would save you in a week, you have to make the drive either way right? It saves me about a mocha frapuccino (or whatever they're called).

 

Wow, tough decicision. All depends on the requirements. We bought ours last summer just before the gas went thru the roof. Our justification is that we want to tow our current travel trailer and have our eyes on a 5th wheeler in the future - we wanted the right truck for the job. The gas hurts but it is here to stay. I currently drive 30 miles each way to work every day too although I'm trying to get located at another facility closer to home. This F350 allows us to enjoy camping / travel. We just scrimp on everything else a little. Good luck!!

 

SLE... Ive got a extra car too. But it seems foolish and stupid to buy a
40,000 truck and then park it. I dont really want a yard ornament, but then again I do need a truck.


DAVZOG...
Curious as to what you really think you are gonna do with your order.
Where im at diesel is just as much as reg gas. $2.90 Gal
They claim 14 city 18 hwy with a F150 SCREW 5.4L
Although its not much more than the V10 it does add up in the end.
Im guessing average for the V10 is gonna be 11 city/ 14 hwy.


FREDVON4 and BIG ORN.
I know that we will never see 2.00 gas, but at 4.00 a gallon im not sure I can justify its purchase, or leaving it parked in the drive way. If the truck was 2 or 3 yrs old then ok, but buy a brand new truck and park it just doesnt make sense.

KRB..
Quote "The F150 with a 5.4 gets very respectable mileage so if you dont actually need the super duty stay away from it"

Thats what I need to figure out, do I need the superduty, and I need to do it soon.


Which leads me to Krewats post
KREWAT..
No idling all day, Around town Stop and go yes, short trips around the property (work) yes,

My situation is probably my biggest hang up..Here goes..
Got a full size truck now, 3/4 ton. Cab and a half, Use it to plow snow.(for ourselves) Its my daily driver as well as my work truck.
its MPG sucks also, 10 to 11 no matter what I do.
Approx 5 miles to work one way, Do alot of around town driving, stop and go. Some days more than others. Some days not at all.
Use it some on the highway, but majority of driving is town driving.
There are times the bed is packed full, and there are times that its empty.
Have a 2 place jet ski trailer. Which may turn into a boat instead. No camper.
I do have a tandem axle trailer, (landscape trailer) 16ft long. I use it mostly for hauling the zeroturn mower to my house, my moms house, and such.
I have a full size tractor 35hp, with loader, or rear mower, not sure what it weighs right now, but I occasionally have to load it and go somewhere, only twice last year. (went to a friends house for a bit, and it went in for service) I probably could have drove it to the friends house and the dealer could have picked it up for service for a price.
I will tell you that my current truck, handles it ok, but im not sure a F150 would.

I was looking at the F150 last summer, but was turned off as the Crewcab only had a 5 1/2 foot box. You couldnt put a rake back there without having to turn it corner to corner. I now see that the 150 CrewCab is available with the bigger box.

I need the 3/4 ton mostly because of the plow and the Full size tractor(?),
This I guess leaves me with Three choices.

1. Get the F250, keep my current truck and continue to use it to plow with. With the F250 I'll be set to pull anything that may come up
If the plow truck takes a crap down the road I can always go and get the bracket put on the new truck for the plow. (although I can see it lasting until my next truck purchase as im the only one that uses it). Im already getting 10 to 11 miles to the gallon so i guess that wont change.

2. Get the F250, I would need to spend about another 800.00 to 1,000 for the bracket and wireing for the plow to work on the new truck.
Sell my current truck..and it may not sell.. with gas prices being the way it is. Just suck up the cost of the truck and its fuel bill.

3. Get the F150, keep my current 3/4 ton truck to plow with, until the next truck, at which point i will probably need a new plow to. Insure the plow truck 4 months out of the year to do so. Get over the fact that the tractor probably isnt going to go anywhere. Save a little money on my fuel bill, and some on the inital cost of the truck.

I need to ask to.. I have a one up or two on tire size on my current truck, since the speedo is off, Im guessing the odometer is off, would this make my calculations for MPG off?
also if my speedo is off, how much can I assume that the Odometer is off.
Do i have more miles on my truck then what is shown?

 

This is a normal cycle our money is devalued and we are back in the 70's soon we will be in an 80's economy. Look at what gold has done in the last few days and it will explain everything. Nothing stays the same and you can't stay in the past find a way to move ahead. Adapt and overcome.

 

10 miles too/from work @ 10 mpg = $12.50 a week @ $2.50/gallon
10 miles too/from work @ 14 mpg = $ 9.00 a week, @ $2.50/gallon

It will only cost you about $3.50 a week more for gas to drive the SD than the F150 to and from work, or about $180 a year. Obviously that doesn't account for driving around town, but I would pay $180 a year more to have a SD than an F150 if I could afford to purchase either. I think you might get $180 more utility out of the SD, especially if you plow snow.

 

Here is my pretzel logic when I decided to trade my 01 F-250 6.8 for a F-350 6.8 a mounth ago. First, I realized that $50 to $60 a barrel oil went the way of my old 70 charger R/T, never to return.

I know that I drive 300 miles a week and I got 12 mpg with the '01 and expected to get about the same out of the '06 in mixed city/hwy driving. That means that a $.25 swing in fuel either way effects me by about $6.25 per week. I could easily p*$$ that away 5 fold in the same time frame on frivolous things. And if I lowered my standards based on fuel mileage to a F-150 and got 15mpg (doubtfull) it would cost me $5 per week for every .25 cents swing. Which is about $1.25 less a week based on every $.25 cent increase. And if for some reason I drove a Honda and got 25mpg it would cost me $3.25 less than my F-350 every week @ $.25. As you can see this can go on and on and on.

I find a certain satisfaction that the people driving the import tin cans are wining more than me about the price of oil since they're helping save the planet. I think I'll finally order that bumper sticker " I'm doing my part to burn as mush fossil fuels as possible - Are you doing yours!" Wow I can just imagine those hybrid owners snarl. Oh by the way they're not selling so good these days and Honda is going to drop back on production.

As you may notice it's the same dilemma I faced in 1976 when I bought the 440 ci R/T. But there nothing like big Detroit iron especially made in the Ford Kentucky plant.

Sorry for the enviro rant, but I work in the People's Republic of Seattle.

Mark

2006 F-350 4X4 XLT 6.8 Crew Cab LWB SRW 4:30 rear
and lovin' every mile of it!