Ford Ploy?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
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From: Denver USA
I wonder how many that say power is not that big of deal will buy a F150 with a 4.6 3v? My guess is not many. I mean hey, we are talking about almost 300 hp and what about 320 ft lbs? Isnt that enough?
One other quick thought and I will let this go. One second down the quarter mile does not sound like much right? Its about 10 truck lengths. Thats a lot and thats what you call getting embarrassed. Or about 2 bus lengths give or take of course.
Honestly, I would not give 40 cents for a tundra no matter what is under the hood but a GM truck seems to have a pretty decent overall compromise.
I have never owned anything in my life that was not a Ford or GM product and I can not say one is any better than the other as far as holding up ect... Its the luck of the draw sometimes and they all have issues. Some guy just got a 09 at F150 online and the bed is lower on one side than it is the other so crap happens to all of them.
One other quick thought and I will let this go. One second down the quarter mile does not sound like much right? Its about 10 truck lengths. Thats a lot and thats what you call getting embarrassed. Or about 2 bus lengths give or take of course.
Honestly, I would not give 40 cents for a tundra no matter what is under the hood but a GM truck seems to have a pretty decent overall compromise.
I have never owned anything in my life that was not a Ford or GM product and I can not say one is any better than the other as far as holding up ect... Its the luck of the draw sometimes and they all have issues. Some guy just got a 09 at F150 online and the bed is lower on one side than it is the other so crap happens to all of them.
Um, you and a small niche may take their truck to the strip and open them up. Personally and probably most F150s on the road, will never see this type of usage. So if taking your truck to the strip is so important, chip it/ tune it, put a blower on it, re-gear it or buy a different make/model. Your normal truck buyer is more than likely not gonna stress over 1 or 2 seconds.
But the Tundra is the quickest 0-60 & 1/4 mile. Has some of best hp/lb-ft numbers. So you want to complain up and down about power, but would not opt for the fastest truck? Why?
Sounds like a bed alignment issue. Take it back and should be an easy fix. Factory flaw that can happen with any vehicle. Just like many Tundras I've read have the bed mis-aligned to one side, I think to the drivers side, but suppossedly this isn't fixable.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
Big difference with the 4.6L vs the 5.4L is towing capacity. The 4.6L doesn't have the powerband and torque curve of the 5.4L and isn't the greatest motor for certain applications. Just as the 5.4L, it has it's goods/bads.
Um, you and a small niche may take their truck to the strip and open them up. Personally and probably most F150s on the road, will never see this type of usage. So if taking your truck to the strip is so important, chip it/ tune it, put a blower on it, re-gear it or buy a different make/model. Your normal truck buyer is more than likely not gonna stress over 1 or 2 seconds.
But the Tundra is the quickest 0-60 & 1/4 mile. Has some of best hp/lb-ft numbers. So you want to complain up and down about power, but would not opt for the fastest truck? Why?
Sounds like a bed alignment issue. Take it back and should be an easy fix. Factory flaw that can happen with any vehicle. Just like many Tundras I've read have the bed mis-aligned to one side, I think to the drivers side, but suppossedly this isn't fixable.
Um, you and a small niche may take their truck to the strip and open them up. Personally and probably most F150s on the road, will never see this type of usage. So if taking your truck to the strip is so important, chip it/ tune it, put a blower on it, re-gear it or buy a different make/model. Your normal truck buyer is more than likely not gonna stress over 1 or 2 seconds.
But the Tundra is the quickest 0-60 & 1/4 mile. Has some of best hp/lb-ft numbers. So you want to complain up and down about power, but would not opt for the fastest truck? Why?
Sounds like a bed alignment issue. Take it back and should be an easy fix. Factory flaw that can happen with any vehicle. Just like many Tundras I've read have the bed mis-aligned to one side, I think to the drivers side, but suppossedly this isn't fixable.
My trucks will never see a dragstrip, but I still want more power.
As I've said before, if the 6.2, 5.4 and 4.6 were offered, I'm sure that the 5.4 would be the least selling engine just like the 6.8 is the least selling SD engine.
The new F150 looks like a good truck, but I can only wish for more engine.
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 488
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You are right you have to look at the whole package. Remember "No matter how good looking she is, someone somewhere is sick of putting up with her crap!" C cups are nice but if you have to get a girl with c cups and she is not as nice as the girl with A cups is it worth it? Same as trucks top HP doesn't make it better....unless you are a teenager. I don't think you have test driven a new 2009 yet so how can you bash it? We can all wish but reality is reality.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
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From: Denver USA
I'm not so sure on your 5.4L statement though. I'm taking my thought process from the 6.0L in the Silverado 1500. Sure you have a "niche" group that really really wants this motor. But sales figures and the majority of the people buying the Silverado either don't want to pay the additional cost for the 6.0L or it's simply not worth the decreased mpgs or the 5.3L does everything they need and the 6.0L is overkill.
Can't say which is which and what consumer is buying the 6.0L and which is not. From my personal expereince seeing these 6.0L on the road, they are mostly early to late 20 years olds. I'm not saying others wouldn't buy the 6.0L, just that this is my experience of what I've seen on the road, which is a very small and I mean small percentage since I've only seen maybe 20-30 max 6.0L 1500 Silverados on the road. Now if Chevy is an idicator, the 6.2L would not be a higher purchased motor than the 5.4L
Those would be some great sleepers!!!
A mostly quiet Supporter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 249
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From: Lansing, IA
It is unfortunate that Ford would bring this refreshed/restyled F-150 to market with virtually no noticeable change in the engine lineup. That is what happens when you have the counters pinching the beans so hard I guess.
While it would have been great to have the 6.2L Boss or the 4.4L Diesel, the 5.4 is a solid(albeit only large) option IMHO. Myself personally, its 300 hp - 365ft/lbs. tq. more than adequate, after owning F-150's with the 145hp 4.9L I6!
T. J.
While it would have been great to have the 6.2L Boss or the 4.4L Diesel, the 5.4 is a solid(albeit only large) option IMHO. Myself personally, its 300 hp - 365ft/lbs. tq. more than adequate, after owning F-150's with the 145hp 4.9L I6!
T. J.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
To be honest, I would have been satified with 350/400ish on gas. It's not tops, but it's competitive and would have a ton of torque.
To only gain 10HP since 04 and 15ft/lbs since 99 is rediculous with almost no increase in fuel economy.
On E85, at least you get 320/390 but it's not readily available.
As far as the Chevy engine sales, I don't know enough about them to comment. I do know that most of the F-series gets sold with the most powerful engine.
Mike
To only gain 10HP since 04 and 15ft/lbs since 99 is rediculous with almost no increase in fuel economy.
On E85, at least you get 320/390 but it's not readily available.
As far as the Chevy engine sales, I don't know enough about them to comment. I do know that most of the F-series gets sold with the most powerful engine.
Mike
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Good friend of mine just traded his 200? x-cab 5.4 truck for a new Screw with the 3v 4.6, he's says he doesn't see much difference in power and towing ability. There are a fair number of the new GM trucks around here but it's easy to tell they are personal vehicles with the 20" wheels and low profile rubber. If you see a contractor trailer being towed around more often than not there's a SuperDuty hauling it.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
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From: Denver USA
It is unfortunate that Ford would bring this refreshed/restyled F-150 to market with virtually no noticeable change in the engine lineup. That is what happens when you have the counters pinching the beans so hard I guess.
While it would have been great to have the 6.2L Boss or the 4.4L Diesel, the 5.4 is a solid(albeit only large) option IMHO. Myself personally, its 300 hp - 365ft/lbs. tq. more than adequate, after owning F-150's with the 145hp 4.9L I6!
T. J.
While it would have been great to have the 6.2L Boss or the 4.4L Diesel, the 5.4 is a solid(albeit only large) option IMHO. Myself personally, its 300 hp - 365ft/lbs. tq. more than adequate, after owning F-150's with the 145hp 4.9L I6!
T. J.
So history shows that Ford will most likely drop a new powerplant in the F150 and '10 Mustang a year or two into the redesign.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 589
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From: Stockton Ca.
I for one am not disappointed
First Drive: 2009 Ford F-150, "capability matters" - Autoblog
First Drive: 2009 Ford F-150, "capability matters" - Autoblog
Ford had lined up a group of competitors consisting of the Chevy Silverado, Toyota Tundra and the new 2009 Dodge Ram. Each had a 7,000 lb trailer hooked up, the weight being determined by the lowest common denominator Dodge and its 7,300-lb tow limit.
With its 5.7L HEMI and 5-speed automatic transmission, the Dodge had plenty of grunt, but the gap between 2nd and 3rd gears was apparently just too much. The revs dropped out of the torque band's sweet spot, and where the Ford was reaching over 55 mph, the Ram got to just 45 and wouldn't accelerate any more until we crested the hill. Similarly, the Silverado equipped with a 5.3L V8 and four-speed automatic had trouble climbing. A similar Silverado, however, with GM's new six-speed auto would have no such difficulty.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
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From: Denver USA
So 390/407 Ram HEMI to a 310/365 F150 and the Ram can't get over 45mph on a 4% incline, while the F150 is exceeding 55mph. So um, what exactly is all that extra hp/lb-ft if you can't get it to the ground again?
Sure take the load away and the Ram has no problem, but just shows in true truck application usage, the F150 has an advantage even with so much less grunt.
Sure take the load away and the Ram has no problem, but just shows in true truck application usage, the F150 has an advantage even with so much less grunt.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
It's not bad, but it could be better.
I think the Dodge 5 speed transmission will be its weak point in the new 6 speed world. They didn't even mention how the Toyota did in the tow test. I would also like to see the Silverado with the 6.0 and 6 speed.
Also these tests need to specify if they are using gas or E85.
This truck would be a no brainer for me if it had more engine. Like I've said before, hopefully we'll see the 6.2 or significately beefed up 5.4 1-2 years into production.
I'd have to drive on with a loaded trailer on the highway. Every F150 has had trouble towing relatively light loads vs thier ratings on the highway. My concern is that with the increased weight and similar OD ratios to the 4R70W and 4R75E that it will still struggle on the highway with only 50 more HP and 15 more ft/lbs vs my 2000.
Mike
Edit: They didn't mention rear end ratios either. I'd like to see a comparison with deepest gears and biggest engine on similarly configured trucks.
I think the Dodge 5 speed transmission will be its weak point in the new 6 speed world. They didn't even mention how the Toyota did in the tow test. I would also like to see the Silverado with the 6.0 and 6 speed.
Also these tests need to specify if they are using gas or E85.
This truck would be a no brainer for me if it had more engine. Like I've said before, hopefully we'll see the 6.2 or significately beefed up 5.4 1-2 years into production.
I'd have to drive on with a loaded trailer on the highway. Every F150 has had trouble towing relatively light loads vs thier ratings on the highway. My concern is that with the increased weight and similar OD ratios to the 4R70W and 4R75E that it will still struggle on the highway with only 50 more HP and 15 more ft/lbs vs my 2000.
Mike
Edit: They didn't mention rear end ratios either. I'd like to see a comparison with deepest gears and biggest engine on similarly configured trucks.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
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From: Denver USA
More than likely they used 87 octane. Can't verify, but it's the most likely route they took.
I'd have to drive on with a loaded trailer on the highway. Every F150 has had trouble towing relatively light loads vs thier ratings on the highway. My concern is that with the increased weight and similar OD ratios to the 4R70W and 4R75E that it will still struggle on the highway with only 50 more HP and 15 more ft/lbs vs my 2000.
I quetion who really uses OD on the highway with towing a load? If you do, you shouldn't. This will is very bad on the tranny and I've seen many burn theirs up here in CO by not locking it out. The '09+ also has the tow/haul mode which modifies the shifting characteristics.
The gears are automatic with the Tundra, since the 5.7L only comes with 4.30. But for the Silverado & Ram, I would have liked to see what was used. Could have been 3.55s which would lead to the results we see.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 2,017
From: Central MO
Too bad we'll never know, as I'm guessing the 6.2 never sees the light of day in your run-of-the-mill of F150. Raptor and Harley? Maybe, but probably not much else.