Not exactly what Ford and its newly designed 09' best selling F-150 series wants to hear right now. I wonder how high it will be when the actual production of this truck begins in the Fall?

 

Yeah, it's going to hurt. I suppose some F150 class buyers will consider smaller, more economical vehicles. But at the same time other buyers will get a harsh dose of reality and decide that they don't really need a one ton diesel to carry nothing but a pair of poser smokestacks in the bed.

So the F150 will be starting to look good to them. Even if it's only getting 15 mpg combined. In my area diesel is still about $.40 more per gallon than regular gasoline.

 

If someone can afford a new truck along with the insurance, etc that goes with it, they can afford the gasoline to feed it.

 

Can I afford the gasoline? Sure. But I'll choose not to buy it for my gas guzzling F150 if I can drive my 40mpg Volkswagen instead.

I used to agree with your comment, but not anymore. I don't mind spending $25-40,000 on a one time expense for a durable good (like a truck) that will last for 10-15 years. It's the recurring consumable costs that put a squeeze on cashflow, and hence, my ability to save, or spend $$ on other things I want to do.

Consider that if I put 200,000 miles on an F150 (getting 15mpg) at $3.00/gal fuel, I will end up buying $40,000 in gasoline for the life of the vehicle. If fuel goes to $4.00/gal., then I will spend $54,000 in gasoline. Right now, my F150 spends most of the time in the garage. I'll drive it only when I need to haul something, not as an everyday driver.

Dale

 

I'd buy smaller, but it won't pull 7400lbs+ so I'll have to stick with a 1/2 ton at the very least.

 

If the new F150 has the Hydralic launch assist and it works like it has rumored to then the new trucks should get around 30 If I recall right.