gotta love the crowd that buys a truck and then posts on the forums complaining about mpg.

 

David, I've got to think that truck sales falling off 15-20% in the last 3 quarters should give them a clue?

Like I've said before. If they built a truck that got mid 20's MPG, Peeps would be lined up around the block waiting to buy them.

 

A lot of people, like me, need a vehicle with a lot of space to carry stuff, but don't need to tow giant trailers, or drag race on the road, or show off how "macho" we think we are. I want a full sized truck with a weaker engine and good gas mileage!

 

Not necessarily. As I said, since toyota, GM and dodge are basically offering the same high horsepower vehicles, their sales are in decline as well. Toyota is in fact in some trouble of their own. Chrysler is a company that nobody even wants, and mercedes recently flogged them to an organization that has no connection to the auto industry! GM recently posted he biggest single loss in the history of the auto sector (possibly inflated to justify cuts in labor costs). Fuel cost is playing a role, but if we are to look at the big picture here, the general downturn in the economy is also largely to blame (in no small part to the cost of energy). Folks may also be holding off until the 09 F150 comes out because when they buy new they tend to want the newest.

The auto sector in general is in trouble, its not strictly ford's problem.

When it comes to long term survival of companies like ford, the name of the game is market saturation and built in obsolesce. Its acceptable if they post losses and their sales decline. Just as long as they don't loose that market share to a competitor, and since auto sales are in decline for everybody, ford will probably just scale back its production, lay off a few thousand workers and carry on as usual. In another few years this could all be a distant memory.

I might very well be one of them. Even then I can't see myself making payments on something that devalues faster than I can pay it off. But we would all benefit from a reduction if fuel consumption in this continent. Might even help the economy in the states get back in the black.

 

Amen! bothers I didn't just buy a truck with a 460 to take road trips with...if I wanted MPG then I would have gotten some thing with 2 wheels..

 

I agree with this statement. I can remember back in the mid 70s/early 80s when 250hp was a bunch, and we all got by with that level of power whether as a commuter vehicle or as a professional. I don't begrudge anyone that wants 500hp in their truck. If they are willing to give up their hard earned cash for it, and can afford to feed it, then by all means let them have it. What burns me is the lack of choice that most of us are given. Back in the 60s and 70s, we were typically given up to six power plant options, four transmissions, (especially GMs) and multiple trim packages for each powertrain option. Today, it boils down three engines and four trim packages that are "bundled". No, I cannot get a 4.2, manual transmission, and a Lariat trim (which would be ideal for the way I use a truck). Or better yet, a 3.0L I6 (200hp maybe?) with a manual and cushy trim. I believe I could coax 25mpg out of this rig and still travel in style, and it would haul all I need.

The point is, I bought my 5.4 Lariat because I really like it. Since Ford (nor any other OEM) makes a truck exactly the way I want, I "settled" for what is available and I quite frankly haven't been disappointed. It's well built, quiet, actually somewhat luxurious (yes I like the fluff now that I'm getting older), and it performs pretty darn well for a truck. It is overpowered for what I use it for, but so what. I wish I could continue to drive it everyday. However it has sat in the garage for the past three weeks while I drive something that gets better fuel economy (mostly 2-wheel transportation). I use it when I need to haul something.

If others are doing the same thing, it doesn't bode well for Ford. I've only put 6000 miles on the F150 in the past year. In the past, I would have typically put on 25,000 miles a year. At this rate, my F150 will last 20 years so Ford has lost a potential buyer for a long time.

Dale