Performance
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 20,099
Likes: 7
From: Yorkton Sask
Your argument is pointless. Your defense of the poorly designed, underpowered 5.4 is even worse. Every other manufacturer has come out with a better engine on their latest builds. Only Ford hides their HP and TQ numbers all year long only to surprise us with a whopping 10 HP increase.
Ford should have waited till they had a decent engine before they released the new 09.
People can tow just fine with a Ford
Ford should have waited till they had a decent engine before they released the new 09.
People can tow just fine with a Ford
so...how many of the '09 model trucks have you driven?? have you stopped to consider that when spending your 35-40g that you want to have the most capable truck out there and not just the "highest rated"??
quit thinking like a 10 year old schoolboy and start thinking like a real man...unless you need the "higher rated" truck to compensate for something... Ford is smart. talk to anyone who've driven the '09 F150 regardless of their biases, and if you find someone who'll answer honestly, they'll tell you that its an awesome truck though it might not "win races" the power is perfectly adequate to tow 11000lbs. Ford trucks sell themselves as a quality built TRUCK.
IMO, the competition braggs the high power ratings because thats all that would sell the truck. big HP, POS rest of the truck... great plan...
i was going to keep quiet here, but some people need to shake their heads. look through history...the F150 has always been the best selling truck, and more often than not, its been the underdog for power, but more capable in terms of towing, and payload.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
I guarantee I've test driven more trucks than you have in the last two years. Right now the Tundra has the best powertain hands down.
I could care less about articles especially ones touting new vehicles.
I like the 09 F150. I just wont buy one with a 5.4 in it and I wont buy a first year model Ford.
I'll wait for the Ecoboost to come out.
I could care less about articles especially ones touting new vehicles.
I like the 09 F150. I just wont buy one with a 5.4 in it and I wont buy a first year model Ford.
I'll wait for the Ecoboost to come out.
The 09 F-150 is "hands down" a better overall truck than the Tundra, and IMO so are the 6.2L GM twins.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
I've got a buddy who's got an '08 tundra. I know it will beat the pants off my ford, but quality wise it just seems pitiful to me. The sheetmetal seems paper thin. When you shut the tailgate the whole thing rattles. Just feels like poor quality. My ford may be slow but its going to be there for the long haul. My '70 is a 1 family owner truck and its been going strong ( 115hp strong) for nearly 40 years.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
yeah, all the extra horsepower from the competition is soooo useable, I guess you drive around flooring it all the time at 4k to 6k rpms just to feel that extra horsepower. So what if they didn't increase the 5.4 hp that much. Get lost troll!
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
the new dodge ram may have tons of power but it will not pull my gooseneck loaded with hay neither will chevy and dang sure not toyota. only thing i trust is my powerstroke to move it. the numbers are pointless ford is the only quality truck on the road bar none.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Here is why I'm not too excited by the current 5.4L... it is ok at lower altitude, but really falls on its face when you get up in the mountains. I love the rest of the truck, but I'm not at all impressed with the current engine options.
I am very interested in the EcoBoost, however, but do have a few questions about it.
Is the EcoBoost 3.5 really going to be that great of a truck engine? Is Ford only making the 3.5L or are they going to use say the 4.0L size for the trucks?
I don't know how many of you that say the 5.4 is all that the truck needs live up in the mountains at high elevation. I do and pull a trailer, so I currently use a turbo diesel, but the overall truck is a little larger than I need most of the time. I'm not interested in the 5.4 as it is the same engine as the 07 Expy my brother owns, and it really isn't anything impressive at altitude. I am very interested in the EcoBoost as turbo engines don't lose nearly as much of their power at higher elevations. I'm just concerned that the motor is beefy enough to take the continous loads a truck would put on it.
Does anyone on the forum know the specs of the f150 EcoBoost that will be in the trucks?
I am very interested in the EcoBoost, however, but do have a few questions about it.
Is the EcoBoost 3.5 really going to be that great of a truck engine? Is Ford only making the 3.5L or are they going to use say the 4.0L size for the trucks?
I don't know how many of you that say the 5.4 is all that the truck needs live up in the mountains at high elevation. I do and pull a trailer, so I currently use a turbo diesel, but the overall truck is a little larger than I need most of the time. I'm not interested in the 5.4 as it is the same engine as the 07 Expy my brother owns, and it really isn't anything impressive at altitude. I am very interested in the EcoBoost as turbo engines don't lose nearly as much of their power at higher elevations. I'm just concerned that the motor is beefy enough to take the continous loads a truck would put on it.
Does anyone on the forum know the specs of the f150 EcoBoost that will be in the trucks?
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New User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I have to ask a question. I also think that it is kind of disappointing that since 2004, Ford has only added 10 horsepower to the 5.4. Everyone seems to say the f150, with less power can still tow more (11,300) than the competition. How can the truck with the least amount of power have the highest tow rating. The truck isn't all that quick empty, imagine how slow it would be with 5.5 tons weighing it down. I have total faith in the trucks chassis and sway control, to keep the truck in control, but its performance alone would be scary in my opinion. A 99-04 Super-Duty crew cab, long bed, with the 7.3 or 6.0 diesel was rated to tow 12,500 lbs. I don't think a 2000 to 2004 F-350 crew cab diesel should only have a 1,200 pound advantage over the 09 f150. I do like the truck, but I feel the tow capacity is a little to high.
Has anybody actually towed heavy with a 5.4? How was it?
Has anybody actually towed heavy with a 5.4? How was it?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
0-60 times are the only way a magazine is going to convey the power of the test trucks. There is no other quanitative way. So the slower 0-60 times show that the F150 is less powerful than the competition even with the new 6 speed tranny.
As for power down low, that's a bunch of BS. The only thing you hear around FTE concerning mod engines is, "Don't worry about reving mod engines. That's where they like to work." Low power does not equal power down low.
To be honest, I have no idea how the 09 F150 won the shootout when it did so poorly in most of the tests.
Also Ford is not smart. If they were, they wouldn't be begging us for money.
Mike
As for power down low, that's a bunch of BS. The only thing you hear around FTE concerning mod engines is, "Don't worry about reving mod engines. That's where they like to work." Low power does not equal power down low.
To be honest, I have no idea how the 09 F150 won the shootout when it did so poorly in most of the tests.
Also Ford is not smart. If they were, they wouldn't be begging us for money.
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Fullerton, Ca
it can tow that much since its frame is fully boxed/has more cross members along the rails. The new trailer sway/brake control helps aswell.
As for as the elevation coment goes, shouldnt new'er cars/trucks be fine at elev since they're EFI? I drive up in the mountins in the summer, i never notise a lack of power from the elev.
As for as the elevation coment goes, shouldnt new'er cars/trucks be fine at elev since they're EFI? I drive up in the mountins in the summer, i never notise a lack of power from the elev.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Fullerton, Ca
begging us for money? all 3 american auto makers are begging for money, and ford is the one in the best postion out of the 3.
and it dose make most of its tq at low rpm, isnt it like 90% of tq at like 1-2k rpm?
and it dose make most of its tq at low rpm, isnt it like 90% of tq at like 1-2k rpm?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 1
From: None of your business
I know they are all begging for money. None of the "big 3" are smart.
The only reason that Ford has enough cash to survive into 09 is because they have already mortgaged thier entire North American operation.
The 5.4 makes 80% of its torque at 1000RPM which was cool in 04, but now most everyone else including the Hemi makes the majority of thier torque in the 1000-1500 range.
Mike
The only reason that Ford has enough cash to survive into 09 is because they have already mortgaged thier entire North American operation.
The 5.4 makes 80% of its torque at 1000RPM which was cool in 04, but now most everyone else including the Hemi makes the majority of thier torque in the 1000-1500 range.
Mike
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
I tow 7,500lbs with my Expedition which only has a 260hp 2v 5.4 and it does just fine. The truck is happy in overdrive on the flats and then third gear for hills. It is no racehorse but I would hardly call it dangerous or out of the ordinary slow.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,035
Likes: 1,523
From: Maine, Virginia
0-60 times are the only way a magazine is going to convey the power of the test trucks. There is no other quanitative way. So the slower 0-60 times show that the F150 is less powerful than the competition even with the new 6 speed tranny.
As for power down low, that's a bunch of BS. The only thing you hear around FTE concerning mod engines is, "Don't worry about reving mod engines. That's where they like to work." Low power does not equal power down low.
To be honest, I have no idea how the 09 F150 won the shootout when it did so poorly in most of the tests.
Also Ford is not smart. If they were, they wouldn't be begging us for money.
Mike
As for power down low, that's a bunch of BS. The only thing you hear around FTE concerning mod engines is, "Don't worry about reving mod engines. That's where they like to work." Low power does not equal power down low.
To be honest, I have no idea how the 09 F150 won the shootout when it did so poorly in most of the tests.
Also Ford is not smart. If they were, they wouldn't be begging us for money.
Mike
I beleve that we have a few OTR truckers on this site that have very capably shot holes in the HP and 0-60 arguments. These guys pull 80k everyday, put stock in what hey have to say. If you want to go fast, buy the Toy, if you want to be able to break even on your investment over time, buy the Ford.
Tim