You guys just don't get it.

With the way the truck is designed, it'll never get 20+ MPG. But if they turn the thing back into a truck. Instead of trying to make it a over sized Mercedes commuter vehicle. We could still haul our 2x4's and still get 25 MPG.

All the bells and whistles, soundproofing, boxed frame. and trying to turn the F150 into a F250, is hurting us all in the long run.

In my opinion, if you want navigation, heated seats, and a 20 db ride, but a freakin Mercedes. Don't overfluff a TRUCK!

 

I whole-heartedly agree with fonefiddy's statement here. Unfortunately for him this isn't what many on here want to hear. They wish for the holy grail of 3/4 Ton capacity, silky smooth ride, 35 mpg in the city, etc etc ad nauseum.

When I want a smooth ride or good fuel economy we take the fiancee's Escape...when we feel like burning gas and making noise, we take my truck.

There is an age old question you folks need to think about that is analogous to this situation...

A clean body...a clean mind....take your pick.

 

I've had many trucks. Many didn't have any bells & whistles, sound proofing, boxed frame, power steering, AC, automatic transmission or anything else and they didn't get anywhere near 25MPG. I've had 2 trucks that would get 25MPH on the highway empty. One was a 1984 Datsun/Nissan short bed 5 speed pickup and the other was a 1986 Mazda B2000 5 speed. Put a load in the little "wheelbarrow" trucks and mileage dropped badly.

Trucks and 25 MPG doesn't go together.

 

It has changed, ever since gas hit 3 bucks a gallon, and is now approaching 4 bucks a gallon.

Full sized pickup sales are down over 25% since 2005, and the way gas prices are climbing, will prolly never return to the pre 2005 sales figures.

The days when ppl bought full sized pickup trucks for daily drivers are over.

1991 was the first year more ppl bought full sized pickups for pleasure than as work trucks.

Automakers catered to the buyers by adding more and more features. The truck of the past became the truck of today.

Bloated with weight, power everything, heated and cooled seats, DVD and NAV systems, and...because of all that, the gas mileage today is no better than it was 20 years ago.

March sales figures: The Edge is up 23.5% from last year, the F150 is down 13.7% from last year, and the F150's 2008 March sales figures were 23.8% LESS than the March 2007 sales figures.

Dodge Ram's are in the worst shape. Despite free hemi's, 11 grand off MSRP and the Lifetime Warranty gimmick, Ram sales are down 24.6% from last year.

Ram 2008 March sales figures were 31.3% LESS than March 2007 sales figures.

Silverado sales are down 19.6% from last year. 2008 March sales figures were 23.5% LESS than March 2007.

Sales figures: From AutoNews.com.

 

NumberDummy,
You are missing the point ,Sure sales are down from last year , But how do sales compare to the 1970's when the end was near and NO More gas hog's would be sold or driven. My point is that not only did Gas Hogs not die out there sales are up like a million percent since then. car/truck sales go in cycles , Right now MPG is a big deal. When they drop the price of gas again. All Forgotten. And back on the H.P wars
Watch

 

Hmm...I didn't realize your were refering to the gas hogs of the 1970's vs sales today.

The end is near statement: I never heard that before, and it wasn't made to any customers at the dealers I worked at in the 1970's, '80's or even the 1990's.

I bought a new 1979 F150 Lariat Super Cab. I had to go with the 400 engine, because of CA emission requirements, one couldn't order a 460 engine in a F150.

The gas mileage was what I expected. After all, it my my 4th new Ford pickup (1965/'68/'71), and I bought another three new thru 2004. (1988/'92/'04).

Gas prices will NEVER come down again.

You'll see 5 buck a gallon gas pretty soon.

With emerging countries like China and India, where vehicle sales are up over 500% in five years, demand is at an all time high.

China is also stockpiling gasoline, driving the prices even higher on the world market.

There's just so much oil to go around.

 

That's the problem right there. Peeps say it won't happen.

It could, and should happen!

If they can make a VW TDI get 50 MPG. There's room for a measly 25 in a 4500lb pickup.

 

The limitation of truck's MPG is in its aerodynamics. Weight really only matters in stop and go traffic, but in highway, its all about aerodynamics

 

These arguments all have a thread of realism in them, but the bottom line is global economy. This has nothing to do with Ford being awake. Ford is simply keeping pace with it's competetors. I used my '88 truck as a daily driver for years, never again. I drive it on Sundays and or when I need it or want to go booney bashing. I've been doing that since gas was $2.00 per gallon. In two years I'm going to buy an XLT 4x4 Scab and I'll continue to drive my old Taurus everyday until it just can't go anymore.

In 1966 my dad bought his first new truck, a 1966 Dodge slant six three on the tree. I believe the truck was about $1900 out the door. In the mid 60's my dad was earning about $4500 per year as a carpenter. That was the median income in Mid coast Maine for a carpenter. I'm not certain of the fuel prices then probably around 20 cents a gallon.

The point is this. That truck today if you could get it costs around 22K. Median income today is some where in the high 30's - low 40's. and gas is $3.50 per gallon. With that said, I'm suprised that the auto industry is as solvent as it is.

Tim

 

just curious can anyone tell me how much a base f150 would cost if it was nothing but bare bones

 

Sticker price on a barebones f150 would be around $18,000

 

Most of us really do like soundproofing, boxed frames, high capacity trucks that ride "like" a mercedez. I like Nav, heated seats and a quiet smooth ride. As a matter of fact I like my truck Fluffy (your word). Its great to be able to get what I want from an American truck.....because I don't want to give my money to the Germans.

So maybe its you that doesn't get it.

I wonder if you would be one of the same guys that complains about the folks that buy foriegn?

 

teeskins i bet that slant six truck lasted forever

 

For those of you that think along the lines of " If you want economy buy a focus " that is the most rediculous way of thinking that I have ever heard of. The point that people here are trying to make is the trucks need to get better mpg's and that is the bottom line. Nobody has said anything about this topic and look where that has got us. If we just have the frame of mind that " It's a truck it is not going to get mpg's get over it " then we are going to have trucks with a ton of power getting 6 mpg's empty and 3 loaded/towing and fuel that is about 6.00 per gallon, YES that makes perfect sense?? When the price of our beer, potato chips, and tiolet paper all go through the roof due to the high fuel prices then we will have to start a blog about that. Then we will have statements such as " If you want to eat junk you have to pay the price " I could go on but I think I have offended enough people. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I already realize that I will be fairly and unfairly raked over the coals for it. By the way yes I will be purchasing one of these new " FUEL " gusslers very soon because I have saved enough to pay cash and that way I can spend 600.00 per month on fuel and it won't hurt so bad. lol

P.S. I apologize if I really did offend anyone out there.

 

one more thing. If we keep complaining maybe we can get both power and mpg's. lol