Ford F150-I'm Done.

[Steppenwolfe]

Here's what I do.

1) Buy new truck ( I only buy Fords) try and pay cash if possible, or put down large down payment
2) Keep two years
3) Put about 30,000 miles on truck
4) Take around $15,000 business tax deduction for the mileage
5) Trade truck in for around $ 10 to 12 grand less than I paid, pay difference on new truck
6) Come out pretty much even after driving the truck for two years, never pay for new brakes, tires, batteries, etc.

I have done this consistently for the last 10 years, and now on my sixth truck. My accountant says I pretty much drive a free truck and has started urging other clients to do the same.

 

[TheGoose]

Sorry to hear about your troubles at only 80,000 miles. I've been looking hard at trucks for two weeks.

So I need to issue a mea culpa ( if that's the right phrase ). Turns out that it was only a minor issue and easily remedied. Truck is now running great and has a newly installed evap coil in the ac as well ( had to use ac right up until the last few weeks).

After mulling it over we're considering keeping this one. I wanted this truck to be my 200k mile rig. It still has some sort of grinding when you turn sharply at a slow speed. Mileage still sucks. I need to have the drivers seat redone (yes at 80k).

Truck is worth approx $18-22k retail. The best price on a new similar equipped truck is mid 30's to low 40's.

I was dead set on no more Fords but my wife really does not like the competitors(this is her truck). I was set to get a really nice ram 1500 with quite a few options than the F150 and 5k cheaper. She hated the ram because she said it just didn't look right with the huge front grill and short bed. Like a short person with a huge head. In her words "looking at the truck standing still it looks like it should tip over". Almost impossible to find one with the 6'4" box too. She also hated the loud exhaust (I didn't mind)

The GM twins didn't make the cut due to the poor rear seating even in crew cab models.

IF I go back with a ford I will only buy one with a 5.0 v8 and if I can find it 3.73 gears. I no longer require the 6.5' box which makes finding one much easier.

She wouldn't consider either Toyota or Nissan either.

I'm hoping we can get a chance to go to a large dealer and find the ram with the 6'4" box. I would love to find one with the built in ram boxes as well.

 

[Sysop]

Sounds like she wants an American truck... Good for her! She's a keeper!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

CRAP!!! you all ain't gonna believe this. I have 80K on my truck and shortly after my post above, my truck started to intermittently sound like a diesel at low rpm and then the oil pressure would drop to zero then recover. Pulled into Firestone and let them run a diagnostic check. Got a call this morning that they think it is the timing chain and there are chips in the engine. Recommendation... new engine. $11K installed! WTF?

Got online and it appears there is quite the history with cam phasers, etc. Now I am in a dilemma of what to do. Maybe limp it to the Ford dealer and trade it in? Suggestions?

yes, go trade it in at Ford. Diamond pilot can help you get 25 grand for it on trade.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Sorry to hear about your troubles at only 80,000 miles. I've been looking hard at trucks for two weeks.

So I need to issue a mea culpa ( if that's the right phrase ). Turns out that it was only a minor issue and easily remedied. Truck is now running great and has a newly installed evap coil in the ac as well ( had to use ac right up until the last few weeks).

After mulling it over we're considering keeping this one. I wanted this truck to be my 200k mile rig. It still has some sort of grinding when you turn sharply at a slow speed. Mileage still sucks. I need to have the drivers seat redone (yes at 80k).

Truck is worth approx $18-22k retail. The best price on a new similar equipped truck is mid 30's to low 40's.

I was dead set on no more Fords but my wife really does not like the competitors(this is her truck). I was set to get a really nice ram 1500 with quite a few options than the F150 and 5k cheaper. She hated the ram because she said it just didn't look right with the huge front grill and short bed. Like a short person with a huge head. In her words "looking at the truck standing still it looks like it should tip over". Almost impossible to find one with the 6'4" box too. She also hated the loud exhaust (I didn't mind)

The GM twins didn't make the cut due to the poor rear seating even in crew cab models.

IF I go back with a ford I will only buy one with a 5.0 v8 and if I can find it 3.73 gears. I no longer require the 6.5' box which makes finding one much easier.

She wouldn't consider either Toyota or Nissan either.

I'm hoping we can get a chance to go to a large dealer and find the ram with the 6'4" box. I would love to find one with the built in ram boxes as well.

So come on and tell us what was wrong, so the next guy won't have to waste his money.

You should blindfold your wife and take her riding in a Tundra and Nissan. I know, I know, they are all worried about how they look....women are filled with horrormones sometimes.

 

[dragoneggs]

Sorry to hear about your troubles at only 80,000 miles. I've been looking hard at trucks for two weeks.

So I need to issue a mea culpa ( if that's the right phrase ). Turns out that it was only a minor issue and easily remedied. Truck is now running great and has a newly installed evap coil in the ac as well ( had to use ac right up until the last few weeks).

After mulling it over we're considering keeping this one. I wanted this truck to be my 200k mile rig. It still has some sort of grinding when you turn sharply at a slow speed. Mileage still sucks. I need to have the drivers seat redone (yes at 80k).

Truck is worth approx $18-22k retail. The best price on a new similar equipped truck is mid 30's to low 40's.

I was dead set on no more Fords but my wife really does not like the competitors(this is her truck). I was set to get a really nice ram 1500 with quite a few options than the F150 and 5k cheaper. She hated the ram because she said it just didn't look right with the huge front grill and short bed. Like a short person with a huge head. In her words "looking at the truck standing still it looks like it should tip over". Almost impossible to find one with the 6'4" box too. She also hated the loud exhaust (I didn't mind)

The GM twins didn't make the cut due to the poor rear seating even in crew cab models.

IF I go back with a ford I will only buy one with a 5.0 v8 and if I can find it 3.73 gears. I no longer require the 6.5' box which makes finding one much easier.

She wouldn't consider either Toyota or Nissan either.

I'm hoping we can get a chance to go to a large dealer and find the ram with the 6'4" box. I would love to find one with the built in ram boxes as well.

I don't think you mentioned year and engine other than it must be relatively new and ecoboost? And what was the problem exactly?

I'm pretty sure I will end up with a Ford again whether it is just a major repair, new engine or a new truck! I'm a V8 guy still and although the ecoboost sounds good for occasional towing and it's relatively quick... I'm not sure I am ready to go that way vs. the 5.0. Power/torque specs almost identical though. More reading necessary.

 

[94BULLITT]

I don't think you mentioned year and engine other than it must be relatively new and ecoboost? And what was the problem exactly?

I'm pretty sure I will end up with a Ford again whether it is just a major repair, new engine or a new truck! I'm a V8 guy still and although the ecoboost sounds good for occasional towing and it's relatively quick... I'm not sure I am ready to go that way vs. the 5.0. Power/torque specs almost identical though. More reading necessary.

An engine for your truck from Ford is going to be $5,000-6000. Then you will still need stuff like hoses, a belt, fluids, and other small parts. You may also have to replace the exhaust manifolds. If you do compare them to the price of a set of short tube headers.

 

[check]

Gheez, dragoneggs, I really feel for you. That would drive me crazy!

As for me, I guess I dodged a bullet. I had two of the 5.4 L F150's, and didn't have any of those problems. I did hear a ticking on one of them, but the dealer said they just do that and that I could safely ignore it. So I did, and it never developed into anything.
My last two F150s had/have the 5.0 L, and touch wood no problems so far. Lots of power, a nice throaty but muted roar, and a real nice smooth six speed transmission.

 

[ClaySlayer]

I don't think you mentioned year and engine other than it must be relatively new and ecoboost? And what was the problem exactly?

I'm pretty sure I will end up with a Ford again whether it is just a major repair, new engine or a new truck! I'm a V8 guy still and although the ecoboost sounds good for occasional towing and it's relatively quick... I'm not sure I am ready to go that way vs. the 5.0. Power/torque specs almost identical though. More reading necessary.

Peak Power/Torque is very close but with the EB it's the fact that it's making close to 100lbs of torque more at 2,500rpm than the 5.0. Believe me you feel that difference with a CUT in tow whether pulling out, mid range/passing acceleration, or holding speed while going uphill. Not that the 5.0 can't get the job done as I had one until this past Mar (traded on a 2016 w/EB) but the EB just does it without as much drama/RPM/downshifting. Only thing I miss about the 5.0 was the exhaust note...man it sounded great with a magnaflow muffler... If money were no object I'd have a 5.0 with a supercharger! Speaking of which...a mildly built 5.4 wouldn't be a bad option in your case. Lord knows there's plenty of "recipes" out there. Do that and then replace shocks and bushings in the suspension and it'll feel new again.

 

[dragoneggs]

Peak Power/Torque is very close but with the EB it's the fact that it's making close to 100lbs of torque more at 2,500rpm than the 5.0. Believe me you feel that difference with a CUT in tow whether pulling out, mid range/passing acceleration, or holding speed while going uphill. Not that the 5.0 can't get the job done as I had one until this past Mar (traded on a 2016 w/EB) but the EB just does it without as much drama/RPM/downshifting. Only thing I miss about the 5.0 was the exhaust note...man it sounded great with a magnaflow muffler... If money were no object I'd have a 5.0 with a supercharger! Speaking of which...a mildly built 5.4 wouldn't be a bad option in your case. Lord knows there's plenty of "recipes" out there. Do that and then replace shocks and bushings in the suspension and it'll feel new again.

True enough... I see the 0-30 is 1.9sec for the ecoboost. That is impressive! Not that I am an off-the-line guy anymore. But definitely the low end torque is NICE!

 

[94BULLITT]

Speaking of which...a mildly built 5.4 wouldn't be a bad option in your case. Lord knows there's plenty of "recipes" out there.

He could do a coyote swap

 

[Steve1300]

Sounds like she wants an American truck... Good for her! She's a keeper!

Really? You believe that Chevy, Ford, and Ram are "american made" while Toyota and Nissan are not?

Thousands of Americans would be out of work if that were true.

 

[TheGoose]

It turned out not to be a brake problem but an electrical problem. Either a bad ground or a bad battery or both. Either way all kinds of funky stuff was happening. I over reacted because I have had so many problems with this truck I'm starting to hate it (around $4,000 in repairs at 85K miles). It's a '12 3.5L EB.

We have no problem buying either a Toyota or Nissan. Toyota is made right here in Tx. Not sure where the Nissan is made. We already own one Toyota car. These are just as "American" as any. A lot of vehicles are made in Canada and Mexico.

 

[downsizingnow48]

My 2012 EB F150 is at 87k. I usually keep a truck to the end of tire life on second set of tires, that is, 100k or a bit more. But I am starting to look at new trucks already. I am curious what the $4k repairs were. I would not be happy with that either.

 

[TheGoose]

My 2012 EB F150 is at 87k. I usually keep a truck to the end of tire life on second set of tires, that is, 100k or a bit more. But I am starting to look at new trucks already. I am curious what the $4k repairs were. I would not be happy with that either.

EPAS (electric steering) at 65k($1800) and the evap coil (ac coil under the dash). Both went out in the 60k range. Brakes 2x (although with eddie walkers post the 2nd set was probably defective).

Did you change the plugs yet also? I had to change mine once due to a bad misfire.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Spark plugs ok. Only engine issue was an emissions sensor bad at 35k.

 

[TheGoose]

And as I sit here just got done with a 30 mile trip and the truck is idling rough as all get out.

 

[Sysop]

Really? You believe that Chevy, Ford, and Ram are "american made" while Toyota and Nissan are not?

Thousands of Americans would be out of work if that were true.

I have no beef with Nissan or Toyota. Nor do I think they're American. I don't think GM or Dodge are any more American than Toyota or Nissan either. But the fact is, the F150 is the most American of the bunch. Need data to back it up?

No Surprise Here: These Are the Most "American-Made" Vehicles -- The Motley Fool

F150 is the only truck to make it into this list of 13 "most American" vehicles for 2016.

You don't need to be an American company to hire some Americans to do work ya need done. But 'the most American vehicles' do keep 'the most American workers' doing a larger variety of jobs.

Buying from those who are sourcing their parts from other places are sending your money to those other places and supporting those other communities.

Personally, the news articles about the Dodge assembly workers getting drunk and stoned on their lunch breaks has stuck in my mind and I'd not own a Dodge. They make heck of a tough driveline, but beyond that not much else has ever impressed me.

After watching the GM CEO bragging to China about shifting lots of their parts manufacturing to China back in like 2009 or some such, and claiming they would be shipping whole cars from China for global sales within ten years (which has since came true), it seems they're becoming a Chinese company and have been steering clear of their products for several years.

Regardless, if not the F150, I would buy a Toyota before a Dodge or GM truck... Not because of any of what I said above either, source doesn't really sway my decision much, it's just food for thought. I bought an F150 because I like it best out of all of them.

 

[ultrarunner]

It was most interesting visiting the plant where Mom's car was built.

Going down the same line in no particular order were Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibes...

Not sure how one would know which is more American.

 

[Steve1300]

I have no beef with Nissan or Toyota. Nor do I think they're American. I don't think GM or Dodge are any more American than Toyota or Nissan either. But the fact is, the F150 is the most American of the bunch. Need data to back it up?

No Surprise Here: These Are the Most "American-Made" Vehicles -- The Motley Fool

F150 is the only truck to make it into this list of 13 "most American" vehicles for 2016.

You don't need to be an American company to hire some Americans to do work ya need done. But 'the most American vehicles' do keep 'the most American workers' doing a larger variety of jobs.

Buying from those who are sourcing their parts from other places are sending your money to those other places and supporting those other communities.

Personally, the news articles about the Dodge assembly workers getting drunk and stoned on their lunch breaks has stuck in my mind and I'd not own a Dodge. They make heck of a tough driveline, but beyond that not much else has ever impressed me.

After watching the GM CEO bragging to China about shifting lots of their parts manufacturing to China back in like 2009 or some such, and claiming they would be shipping whole cars from China for global sales within ten years (which has since came true), it seems they're becoming a Chinese company and have been steering clear of their products for several years.

Regardless, if not the F150, I would buy a Toyota before a Dodge or GM truck... Not because of any of what I said above either, source doesn't really sway my decision much, it's just food for thought. I bought an F150 because I like it best out of all of them.

Thanks for listing your source for the statement. I appreciate that.

I would like to offer a couple different sources, and they use different criteria. The didn't appoint some points for certain questions that are important to them. They gauged by how much of the vehicle is made in America. Also, please note that the results from a study in 2014, 2015, or 2016 will all be different, because manufacturing processes change that quickly.

Talking Trucks Tuesdays: Made in America? - PickupTrucks.com News (20 Sept, 2016)

"For a vehicle to qualify for the 2016 Cars.com American-Made Index, 75 percent of its content had to be made in the U.S.; for 2016 just eight vehicles qualified and none were pickup trucks. In fact, the only "domestic" nameplates represented were the Buick Enclave, the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia, a trio of GM SUVs all based off the same platform. The last time pickup trucks made the AMI list was 2014, when the F-150 came in first, the Toyota Tundra place fifth and the Honda Ridgeline eighth."


15 Trucks, SUVs, and Vans With the Most North-American-Made Parts (Feb 20, 2015)

"Who would have thought the fifth-best-selling full-size truck from a Japanese automaker would have the most North American parts content on our list? In fact, the Toyota Tundra is the only full-size pickup on the list. The Toyota Tundra features 70 percent North American parts content and 15 percent Japanese parts content. Additionally, the Tundra was designed, engineered, and built in the U.S. That includes its engines and transmissions."

My truck, the 2016 Nissan Titan XD is made in Mississippi and has a Cummins diesel. The folks in Mississippi probably feel that it is Made in America.

I have no problem with Ford at all.