I'm in Canada and I have to say I see very few V10's around. I think the thought of it scares a lot of people off. People assume it is so much worse on fuel than the 5.4 or the diesel that a lot probably don't entertain it as an option. (Gas is about $1/litre here or $3.80 a US gallon)

I know what retail/wholesale books would say, but what is the reality on the resale for these things?

I think a V10 would make the most sense for me, but I wouldn't want to take a bath at trade in time because of it. I suppose most dealers would just give you wholesale value for a trade in anyway so maybe it doesn't matter.

I'd want a crew cab for the family, but would probably only tow some 4 wheelers. I prefer the Super Duty to the F150 for the extra metal it puts around my family.............plus I just like them better. That's a heavy truck for the 5.4 and from what I read on here there is only about 1 - 2mpg in the difference.

What do you say guys?

Thanks.

 

I don't know, you should try the V10 forum too though. I think some of us with the V10 are keeping them a long time. This isn't to bash anyone, because I don't know if it's really a general thing or not, so to keep it specific... A couple friends of mine buy a new PSD every few years, more of a status thing than anything else I imagine. They don't haul or tow anything more than I do, which isn't too much. I don't know anyone that buys a PSD and keeps it too long, and I once looked at some of the book values for used ~ 15 years old. There wasn't a lot of difference in cost for a 10 - 15 year old truck diesel vs gas. If you're going to turn around in a couple years and sell it, the PSD will have more value, but you'll have paid more up front. The V10 is a $600 option, so if you keep the truck for 10 years or more, what did that $600 option really cost you...~$50 - $60 a year?

So, when is trade in time? Will the $600 option kill you at trade in time, I don't know. Are you buying a "new" truck, with a $6800 diesel? In the amount of time you own the truck, to when you sell it, will you be able to sell it for $6000 more than the V10, I don't know, but I doubt it. It really will depend somewhat on the amount of time you keep the truck.

 

If you're really only going to tow a few 4-wheelers, then maybe you want to rethink the F150. A 5.4 in an F150 is plenty powerful, will be cheaper to buy and is more than 1-2mpg more efficient than a v-10 superduty. As for the safety issue, I doubt that there's any real advantage to a 3/4 ton over a half ton truck.

 

GNR
Not that it really matters, but there is a small error in your conversion somewhere..
$1.00x3.8(litres in a US gal)x.86(exchange rate)=$3.25/gal US

As for the V10 I had one and loved it. Was a little shy on range when towing though with the short box. I have been seeing more V10's around and with the cost of diesels getting even higher plus the added complexity in the new diesels to meet the environment standards I feel the numbers of the V10 may rise. The newer 3 valve 6.8's are preety much bullit proof and really get up and go. By the sounds of it a 5.4 would work fine for you as well, but when I test drove one in a SD crewcab 4wd it felt a little weak for my personal taste.
As for value I just traded mine in a few months ago and got what was owing on it as it was a lease. More or less just handed the keys back and got my new truck.

If you have time go down to the dealers and take a couple out for a drive and see if you feel if the 5.4 will make you happy or not. If not, go with the V10. Once it is broke in it goes like heck. Just be prepared that a v10 in a Superduty will average about 3~4mpg worse on the highway than a F150 with a 5.4 from my personal experience with them. As you stated I also have heard the V10 is only about 1~2 mpg less than the 5.4 in the SD.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Thanks guys.

Super08 - If you don't mind me asking, what model v10 did you have (including gears) and what mileage did you get?

 

I had an 02 7.3 F250 4wd which I put 250K trouble free miles on..Due to the cost diff when I traded for new I went with an 06 5.4 in the same size F250 this time..Empty or with a light load its fine.The 5 speed auto tranny works well..Its not as quick as a similar equipped F150 nor is the milelage as good.My brothers 05 5.4 150 consistently gets 16-17 miles per gallon highway..I have got 14.5 at best in 17K miles.(I drive fairly hard).A friend of mine has a similar truck to mine(2005) but with a 6 speed manual and a 6.8 V10 and 4.30 gears (I installed 4.30s also,same final ratio as 3.73,my tires are taller).. He is getting the same mileage as me..and even quite a bit better than me if we are towing heavy loads..So it does depend on what you want to use it for..If I was leaving it totally stock(I might supercharge mine) I would definately choose the V10.But I do tow quite often..The power difference is VERY noticable in most driving situations.. One thing I have to say is the new coil spring front suspension is superior in comfortable driving compared to my 02 anyway.Not the ride of a F150 but its getting much better..I heard the 08s ride and handling are even better..Either way the 5.4 or the 6.8 your buying the best built gas engines on the market...Good luck on your choice...

 

If you look in my gallery (click on my name above and a menu will appear) there are pictures of it. It was a 2005 CC SB FX4 XLT F-250. On the highway I had a best of 17.5mpg(cdn). Average was around 15.5mpg cdn driving at 110 to 120. Towing a 10k fifth wheel low of 8, high of 10.5, and about 9 average driving at 100k to 105k. City driving was around 9 to 10cdn as it was too much fun putting my foot into it.

edit: If you need to change the above mileages to US gallons just divide by 1.201.

 

Thanks Super08.

How did your F150 compare around town for mpg?

I think combined I would average about 13 with a V10.

 

If you go to the v10 forum you will see pretty accurate polls on MPG. I f you trade trucks every couple of years now it is a no brainer the PSD will pay for itself at trade or if you sell it. But like was stated earlier if you keep the truck for a long time it starts to even out. One thing I will be curious of and this is not a slam but with the reputation the 6.0 has after the 100K engine warranty is up what will the resale be like?

I am one of those people that a 150 would have been enough truck for. I tow a jeep on a trailer (about 7K total). But with the brake controller and the tow haul mode of the tranny and the size of the brakes, interior room and everything else I love my SD and gladly give up a mile or two a gallon.

 

My 04 F150 got around 19 highway, 10-11 towing (7k trailer) and 12 in town. Again in cdn gallons. My V10 had 4.10s and the 150 had 3.73's. Power wise I think the V10 in the Superduty would smoke the F150 even though it weighed 1k more empty. It is surprisingly fast off the line for such a large truck. The V10 does get a bit of a bad wrap from people who haven't had one, but it is a super engine. You just have to be prepared that when you get into a truck of this size it will cost more for fuel. I can remember back in the 70's and 80's when a 460 or a chev 454 wouldn't do much better than 12~13 cdn empty. These engines have come a long way in power and economy. I for one have nothing bad to say about the V10 as I really enjoyed mine and at times I miss it. I have my current 6.0 on a lease and if it works out good I plan on buying it out at the end of the lease. If it does look like it will be a problem I will custom order a new truck with a V10 and a long box to get the larger tank or get a transfer tank in the box to extend the range towing as I live in the northern part of the province.

 

GNR,

I just traded my V10 for a 7.3 PSD a few weeks ago. The V10 was a great truck
but the 12 mpg with gas prices what they are, I went with the diesel.
I had figured I would put 150000 miles on my V10, then I sat down and did the numbers......at 12 mpg, to go 150000 miles, I would need 12500 gallons of gas. At todays prices, $2.50 a gallon, which will probably go higher this summer, that would
mean over the life of my truck, I would spend $31,250.00 on gas. That is more than I paid for the truck brand new. But if you don't mind feeding them and you plan on keeping it for a while, they are great trucks.

Jack
2003 F250 4WD 7.3 PSD Lariat Crew Cab

 

Then you paid a premium to run an engine that uses fuel that costs more! Better mileage; sure...better operating costs???? hmmm....

 

Monsta,

Right now where I fiil up, diesel is only .04 cents higher.....gas is $2.55 a gallon and diesel is $2.59 a gallon. I am averaging about 17 miles to the gallon,
so I am getting about 40% better mileage than I did with my V10. I guess it all boils down to what you want to spend your money on, but I got a very good trade-in for my V10, just before gas started its upward climb. It did take some time to find a dealer willing to pay something for my truck and one that had a truck I wanted. No regrets....

Jack

 

Okay...I keep thinking of differing fuels prices where I live. Diesels is (on average) 50+ cents higher than gas.

The closer the two get in price the more the MPG increase can be justified. Don't think it'll ever be that way here...that's why I bought another V10.

 

When I first started looking several months ago, diesel was like where you live....$.50
higher. But now they are almost even and with summer coming on, I expect gas to overtake diesel,at least in Texas. Either way, I'm glad to drive an F250. I had four Chevys before my V10, and there is no comparison.

Jack