2011 Superduty Review

[dgl24087]

First Drive Review: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Introduction, Part 1 - PickupTrucks.com News
Particularly notable comment from the review, page 5:

Our last driving exercise was a fuel-efficiency challenge. While some on the trip hypermiled their diesels over 28 mpg, we drove 70 miles back to Phoenix on rural roads and the Interstate 10 freeway near the speed limit or keeping up with traffic. The diesel didn't shrug a bit with 1,000 pounds of concrete in its bed while returning an excellent 22 mpg.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The MPG is pretty good but my neighbors 2007 Dmax will get 21ish if he drives it right. I would have hoped Ford could have done a little better. I wonder if it will improve much after some break in time. My 06 PSD took 5,000 miles to go from 13mpg to 17mpg average.

As for the gas engine it seems like a step backwards. I really liked the power of the V-10. This 6.2 will be a blast in a F-150 producing all that power below 1000 and 2000 rpm marks but just does not seem up to the task of a big blocker in a HD truck. Ford is following in GM and Dodges footsteps and only leaving one real option and that is diesel.

Chris

 

[RollingsFarms]

The MPG is pretty good but my neighbors 2007 Dmax will get 21ish if he drives it right. I would have hoped Ford could have done a little better. I wonder if it will improve much after some break in time. My 06 PSD took 5,000 miles to go from 13mpg to 17mpg average.

As for the gas engine it seems like a step backwards. I really liked the power of the V-10. This 6.2 will be a blast in a F-150 producing all that power below 1000 and 2000 rpm marks but just does not seem up to the task of a big blocker in a HD truck. Ford is following in GM and Dodges footsteps and only leaving one real option and that is diesel.

Chris

the sweet thing about the 6.2(and what might help it sell better) is the fact that the same transmission that's used with the diesel is alo usedwith the 6.2(thought i read that somewhere recently?). for what GM offers now(6.0) this 6.2 is leaps and bounds the better choice, even moreso then the 5.7 HEMI. i keep hearing of a new gas engine from GM in the near future, but until they release any info on it, it doesn't exist to me. the 6.2 should be a good medium between a 5.4 and V10 and i think that's what Ford was going for. really interested in that new transmission too!

 

[mjncad]

Ford is following in GM and Dodges footsteps and only leaving one real option and that is diesel.

Chris

No doubt the profit to the manufacturers is much higher with the diesel; but for occasional users like myself who prefer 3/4 ton and up trucks, that diesel engine price tag might be tough to swallow.

 

[Dmace]

this 6.2 is leaps and bounds the better choice, even moreso then the 5.7 HEMI.
the sweet thing about the 6.2(and what might help it sell better) is the fact that the same transmission that's used with the diesel is alo usedwith the 6.2

So how exactly is this engine "leaps and bounds" above the GM and Dodge V8's? The new Ford is a huge gas guzzling 6.2 liter V8 producing 385HP at 5,500rpms and 405lb-ft. at 4,500rpms vs the 8 year proven 5.7 liter HEMI producing 390HP at 5,500 rpms and 407lb-ft of torque at just 3,900rpms. Plus the HEMI has used the same transmission as the diesel trucks since 2003 with the only difference being the input/output shafts and gearing ratios. Probably the same thing Ford is doing, the tranny's are not exactly the same.

Ford----6.2l--385hp@5,500rpms--405lb.ft.@4,500rpms
Dodge--5.7l--390hp@5,500rpms--407lbft.@3,900rpms (Less displacement and more HP and TQ at lower rpms = clear winner in my book)

So it makes less HP at the same rpms and less torque even at much higher rpms. This is comparing a brand new design that has been in R&D for over 3 years vs an engine that has been mostly unchanged sans the addition of MDS since it's 2003 introduction. There is nothing impressive about this new Ford engine and it with not fill the gap between the V8 5.4l and diesel that it needs to. What Ford should do is continue to offer the V10. This engine is a good replacement for the aging 5.4l cannot replace the V10.

Ford is following in GM and Dodges footsteps and only leaving one real option and that is diesel.

I don't have a problem with this. If you really need that extra payload and tow capacity of the 1-ton series compared to a 3/4-ton then you should opt for a diesel. The gas engines are still available in the 3/4-ton trucks. Personally, I feel a gas engine in a 1-ton truck is about as useful as a plow on a 2wd truck... Just my opinion.

 

[Ryan03]

The scorpion has some impressive numbers, both power and mileage wise. Time will tell if it will be as trouble free as it is strong. I don't know how I feel about the two seperate cooling systems, seems like just one thing to go wrong down the road.

I hope the scorpion proves to be a winner, as I have always liked the super duty, just not some of the engines that have powered it. If this engine has a good track record 3 yrs from now, I would seriously look at one for my next truck.

 

[Diamondpilot]

the sweet thing about the 6.2(and what might help it sell better) is the fact that the same transmission that's used with the diesel is alo usedwith the 6.2(thought i read that somewhere recently?). for what GM offers now(6.0) this 6.2 is leaps and bounds the better choice, even moreso then the 5.7 HEMI. i keep hearing of a new gas engine from GM in the near future, but until they release any info on it, it doesn't exist to me. the 6.2 should be a good medium between a 5.4 and V10 and i think that's what Ford was going for. really interested in that new transmission too!

Actually the Torque Shift tranny Ford introduced behind the 2003 6.0 diesel was the standard behind the 5.4 and V-10 starting in the 2005 model year. It made a world of difference. My uncle had a 2001 or 2002 F-250 with the V-10 and now a 2005 F-350 with the V-10. I know there were changes to the engine but the tranny was the real improvement.



Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

No doubt the profit to the manufacturers is much higher with the diesel; but for occasional users like myself who prefer 3/4 ton and up trucks, that diesel engine price tag might be tough to swallow.

Thats why the V-10 was such a winner. It had near diesel torque and power for only $600 upgrade price over the 5.4L versus $6500 for the diesel. It made a lot of sense for landscapers, snow plowers, farmers, occasional users, ect.

Crhis

 

[Diamondpilot]

So how exactly is this engine "leaps and bounds" above the GM and Dodge V8's? The new Ford is a huge gas guzzling 6.2 liter V8 producing 385HP at 5,500rpms and 405lb-ft. at 4,500rpms vs the 8 year proven 5.7 liter HEMI producing 390HP at 5,500 rpms and 407lb-ft of torque at just 3,900rpms. Plus the HEMI has used the same transmission as the diesel trucks since 2003 with the only difference being the input/output shafts and gearing ratios. Probably the same thing Ford is doing, the tranny's are not exactly the same.

Ford----6.2l--385hp@5,500rpms--405lb.ft.@4,500rpms
Dodge--5.7l--390hp@5,500rpms--407lbft.@3,900rpms (Less displacement and more HP and TQ at lower rpms = clear winner in my book)

So it makes less HP at the same rpms and less torque even at much higher rpms. This is comparing a brand new design that has been in R&D for over 3 years vs an engine that has been mostly unchanged sans the addition of MDS since it's 2003 introduction. There is nothing impressive about this new Ford engine and it with not fill the gap between the V8 5.4l and diesel that it needs to. What Ford should do is continue to offer the V10. This engine is a good replacement for the aging 5.4l cannot replace the V10.


I don't have a problem with this. If you really need that extra payload and tow capacity of the 1-ton series compared to a 3/4-ton then you should opt for a diesel. The gas engines are still available in the 3/4-ton trucks. Personally, I feel a gas engine in a 1-ton truck is about as useful as a plow on a 2wd truck... Just my opinion.

I actually agree with 92.34% of your statement. The last paragraph is the only area I have a issue. The 8.1L GM, the V-10 Dodge, and The Ford V-10 were a good match for a certain sectors such a snow plowers, landscapers, occasional user, farmers, ect.

Chris

 

[jcmseven]

I like Ford, and hope they have success with this truck, more specifically, this diesel engine and transmission combo. It seems they have done their homework here. The only issue I have ever had with the many Fords I have owned is that they are not good daily drivers in the heavy duty combination. For those like myself who drive a lot, probably could justify a diesel engine combination from that end, but do not tow 90% percent of the time but heavy when they do, I have found the day to day utility not as good. My 6.4L had good power and was quiet but was no more capable than my current GMC and not as good a daily driver. Given I put 30,000-35,000 miles per year on one, that is important. It sounds as if Ford is trying to polish off the rough edges while maintaining a true truck platform. I view this as a good thing. Given he 6.0L issues and the marketing of an engine design I feel they knew would give trouble, I would like to give them a year or two to get things worked out. It seems like they know the importance of getting it right. And please....keep the 6.7L a while and modify PRN rather than scrapping and doing over.

John