Hi guys,

Been a while since I have been here but I have a dilemma. I have a '95 STX extended cab and am looking at replacing it with a newer F150 crew cab or a Toyota Tundra(yes I know heresy). I was hoping to hear your views on the good and bad points of your trucks. I have looked at new ones and the build quality seems to be lacking compared to my '95. Are there issues I need to look out for when shopping for a crew cab F150 of the 2004-2008 vintage?

 

Ya, narrow your range to late 06 thru 08. Most of the problems with these truck were taken care of by then. (except the sparkplug issue. but truck built after 11-07 had a change so that the plugs do not get stuck.)

 

Hmmm that is interesting about the spark plugs...just did a bit of reading. Sounds like you definitely want to change them out sooner than 100,000 miles by which time they are stuck in the head. Another idea where they squeeze a bit more performance out of the engine but forget that people have to work on the things. I have the same problem with my Honda car and motorcycle. They work great but are a total pain to actually do anything on because everything is crammed in so tight.

 

You can't be serious??

 

I would say that build quality has gone up over the years. Dramatically so in the past five years or so. That is one of the ways that Ford has been slowly taking market share from the import companies.

I will admit that some metal parts & trim have gone away in favor of plastic & composite materials, but that is just a fact of life. There is not a single company that has not started using less metal.



From my standpoint, newer is generally going to be better than older. Unless your budget cannot accommodate the higher purchase price that almost invariably goes with a newer vehicle. The trim levels will also play their own role in the price tag. But, these are all areas where you need to be honest with what you NEED vs. what you WANT vs. what you can AFFORD.

Tweaks to the line-up are made with each model year. Some options become standard features. Some trim levels get certain niceties as standard features. Some options are introduced for the first time. These changes are outlined in the Order Guides, and I would suggest browsing through them for each model year.

I have the newer ones (2007+ for the F-150s), but the older ones have proven a bit elusive. PM me with your e-mail address, if you want the newer ones. These may help narrow your search, but it really comes down to your personal preferences.

 

You also said something about looking at the tundra. Looks good, TV ads are impressive, but don't sit in the center of the tail gate when it's down. Also I can't confirm this, it's just a story I heard, but a guy bought a Tundra to tow a 5th wheel RV with. He had to make a very hard stop and the frame buckled. Toyota wouldn't back it.

 

Speaking from someone else who's gone from Ranger P/U's (had an '85 4X4 reg cab long box XL with a 302HO, '94 XLT Ext-Cab short box 4.0L 2WD, '87 Short box 2WD with a 351W drop and a '94 XLT Ext-Cab short box 4.0L 4WD) I can honestly say they all have seemed like a waste of time since buying my '06 FX4 F150.

Little trucks are cool for tight spots and light 4X4 but they've got their limits. Limits in power, interior space, box space, towing capacity and the amount of abuse they can take.

I can honestly say, I couldn't be happier with the switch.

As far as the Toyota Tundra's go.....my personal opinion on them is that they've improved.....but I hear that from Toyota lovers every year a new model comes out and guess what they still all end up in the same condition 5-10 years after they roll off the dealer lot and that's broke or rusted out. And quite frankly...the don't seem to be built as "toughly" as the F150.

Sure they make the power, and are nice to drive, but all that goes out the window when you test their limits for the first time. All the juice and refinement in the world isn't going to make a truck wrapped in aluminum foil any better. Those who are blinded by their high points may think so, but they're not looking at the big picture. You've got to look over the truck as a whole.

The F150 has been tested time and time again. It hasn't always been the most powerful, or the most refined over the years but neither has Toyota....one thing the Ford has though is a 32-years track record at the top of the heap. Can Toyota claim that?

 

have you test driven a 04+ F-150 yet?

I've had a few Rangers in the Family and many many F-150's personally over the years.


I absolutely loved my 2006 FX4. Very very sad to see her go. I had a 2009 XLT rental for 2 weeks. Probably the best truck I've ever driven...I was sad to turn it in.




You cannot go wrong upgrading. The F-150 has more everything. And it will get about the same MPG's to boot as a V-6 Ranger.


have fun

 

My first pickup was a new 1988 Ford Ranger. It was a tough little truck, but it could never compare to my 2005 FX4, or my old 2002 XLT FX4, or my old 2000 XLT 4x4 Off Road. If you consider a 2004-2008 F-150, you were already told of the 5.4's plugs pre-late 2008, but some trucks had some problems like the rear differential wearing too soon (had mine rebuilt under warranty) some 2005's my have had failing fuel injectors, and some have a recall for the brake booster vaccum line needing replacement. Don't let this scare you away from considering the F-150's, any 150 you consider, have an oasis report done on it to see if problems, if any, were found or taken care of.

 

Funny you should mention that. The first thing I did after I bought mine was take it to the dealership I used to work for and ran it thought the system. It seems I need to schedule an appointment to have this taken care of.

 

I used to have a 02 4x4 Ranger with the 4.0 V-6, ext cab, and a step side bed. I loved that truck. It was peppy, had good MPGs (for a truck) and coudl tow 5600 lbs. Not bad for a small truck. But, after having my 06 FX4 for for about 3 years, I couldn't go back to the Ranger. I couldn't give up the extra cab and bed room, the ride quality, and additional features of the F-150. The only thing the F-150 doesn't have is the fact that it is not very peppy in stock form. I want to get a programer to improve that, but havn't had the spare $$ to do that yet...

 

Guess I should have checked in a few days ago as there seem to be a few replies
I have not driven one yet but plan to soon. I have driven an '05 Tundra crew and an '08 Tundra crew and they go like hell but that is not what I am looking for. I want something that works and the crew cab to haul kids and gear around as I am limited by the Ranger, obviously. I don't see myself losing much in fuel mileage as my STX gets about 17MPG in the city and 19-21MPG on the highway with 166,000 miles on it. Thanks for all the info, time to go test drive some!

 

The tundra with its 5.7L engine maybe quick off the line, but for anyone that really uses a truck for a Truck.. The tundra is crap! If you really want to see a salesman get quiet, ask him/her how much a tundra can pull or haul compared to a F-150..