New 6.4L diesel

[radman1]

Everyone has a new truck or engine this year. Ford, Dodge, Chevy and even Toyota. I predict dealers will come considerably off sticker price in 2-3 months and dealer rebates will start this fall/winter. Ford makes a very hefty profit off of trucks and there is a lot of competition. My prediction is manufacture rebates of $3000-4000 this fall.

 

[cp1969]

I also read where Ford bought a large number of their diesel super duty trucks back. I wouldn't be so quick to dive into this situation.

I haven't checked lately, but my local Ford dealer had anywhere from two to as many as six buy-back 6.0's on the lot at any given time during 2004 thru 2006. I hope Ford did something different with the 6.4. I used to not give much credence to avoiding first-year models of anything but now do.

 

[HGM]

I haven't checked lately, but my local Ford dealer had anywhere from two to as many as six buy-back 6.0's on the lot at any given time during 2004 thru 2006. I hope Ford did something different with the 6.4. I used to not give much credence to avoiding first-year models of anything but now do.

Just a bit to add. Some dealers are big on buying back "buybacks" for resale(good money in it if they have good techs to fix the truck right). This means that one particular dealer in a given area may have 5-6 "buybacks" while other ealers in a 100mi radius might not.. With todays lemon laws and "buyers remorse" so popular with a $800mo truck payment, buybacks are much more popular for all manufacturers..

 

[cp1969]

I don't see how they could sell them at all. IIRC, it was plainly stated in the window that there was a problem that 'had been repaired' and they had a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty, not the balance of the factory warranty. There is no way in the world I would buy that truck unless it was really, really, cheap.

On second thought, I wouldn't buy it then, either.

 

[HGM]

I don't see how they could sell them at all. IIRC, it was plainly stated in the window that there was a problem that 'had been repaired' and they had a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty, not the balance of the factory warranty. There is no way in the world I would buy that truck unless it was really, really, cheap.

On second thought, I wouldn't buy it then, either.

Personal opinion I guess.. The vast majority of problems on a buyback are easily fixed(many have no problems at all). A large portion of those are caused by the customer and if it was fixed right, it will probably never give you a problem.. Let someone else take the loss from new and you can save alot of money.. Heck, I'd buy one at a great price with blown head gaskets, stuck turbo, etc.. I know I could put it together, make it live and give great service when it was fixed.. Personally, I dont see myself ever buying a new vehicle again bcause of the price and instant loss.. I can respect the feeling one gets from a new vehicle though and wish more power to them if the price isnt such an issue.

 

[gemini5362]

Personal opinion I guess.. The vast majority of problems on a buyback are easily fixed(many have no problems at all). A large portion of those are caused by the customer and if it was fixed right, it will probably never give you a problem.. Let someone else take the loss from new and you can save alot of money.. Heck, I'd buy one at a great price with blown head gaskets, stuck turbo, etc.. I know I could put it together, make it live and give great service when it was fixed.. Personally, I dont see myself ever buying a new vehicle again bcause of the price and instant loss.. I can respect the feeling one gets from a new vehicle though and wish more power to them if the price isnt such an issue.

Greg if you can fix them and make them run economically that is really great. The majority of people cannot fix some of the problems that the new trucks have. Depending on the state that you live in buyers remorse is basically too bad. A lot of states do not have right of recission on vehicles. I have done a bit of research into some state lemon laws and the few that I looked at have a number of times that the same problem has had to be returned to the dealer to be repaired. I believe in Arkansas it is 3 times and these cannot be different problems. You cannot have problems with the motor one time, then the transmission, then the rear end, and when your power windows stop working for a fourth dealer trip.Claim it is a lemon and force them to buy it back. You would have to take it back for the same issue 3 times such as a problem with blown head gaskets for instance. That means the dealer with the neccessary equipment and the ability to call the factory for tech assist could not fix it with 3 tries. I would be a bit reluctant to take on something like that also.

 

[HGM]

Greg if you can fix them and make them run economically that is really great. The majority of people cannot fix some of the problems that the new trucks have. Depending on the state that you live in buyers remorse is basically too bad. A lot of states do not have right of recission on vehicles. I have done a bit of research into some state lemon laws and the few that I looked at have a number of times that the same problem has had to be returned to the dealer to be repaired. I believe in Arkansas it is 3 times and these cannot be different problems. You cannot have problems with the motor one time, then the transmission, then the rear end, and when your power windows stop working for a fourth dealer trip.Claim it is a lemon and force them to buy it back. You would have to take it back for the same issue 3 times such as a problem with blown head gaskets for instance. That means the dealer with the neccessary equipment and the ability to call the factory for tech assist could not fix it with 3 tries. I would be a bit reluctant to take on something like that also.

Yes, you are correct in some instances.. Unfortunatly, in my experience, a good number of the vehicles I am aware of being bought back should not be. Its not always quite as cut and dry as it sounds.. Wish I could go into more detail, but in a nutshell, the legal system is not on the MFG's side.. Not that I think they should pick sides at all, but the dealer has deeper pockets and an easy target in most cases and made to be an example. With a dealer in the bussiness to make the customer happy, they tend to make repair attempts even if they dont find a problem. By the time the "factory" gets called in for assistance, there have typicaly been 2-3 repair attempts already made. Meaning that the "factory" guy is just making an appearance to look at a vehicle papers have already been filed on.

I didnt mean to imply that these vehicles are all great and should be bought by anyone looking for a new truck rather than a brand new one. Just that they arent always as bad as they sound.. I could tell you many stories of customers who just get tired of a vehicle or its mortgage sized payments and do things to get them bought back, but I'd rather not get that deep into the subject and its really nowhere near the topic of this thread..

 

[machmeter62]

Personal opinion I guess.. The vast majority of problems on a buyback are easily fixed(many have no problems at all). A large portion of those are caused by the customer and if it was fixed right, it will probably never give you a problem.. Let someone else take the loss from new and you can save alot of money.. Heck, I'd buy one at a great price with blown head gaskets, stuck turbo, etc.. I know I could put it together, make it live and give great service when it was fixed.. Personally, I dont see myself ever buying a new vehicle again bcause of the price and instant loss.. I can respect the feeling one gets from a new vehicle though and wish more power to them if the price isnt such an issue.

I support your thoughts Greg, I have spent my entire life purchasing quality products that were poorly repaired, or neglected, and they served me well for many years afterwords, without investing much money. Time permitting, I enjoy the challenge!

 

[joes_427_vette]

The buy backs are not all silver and gold. They depreciate the truck and you also pay mileage. Believe me, just as good as trying to get a tire warranty after they adjust your wear from retail price and full tread depth. I don't think they give you cash either.
If you research the 6.4 you will find it is a very complicated engine. One of the features is a particulate trap that holds the unburned particles to eliminate the black carbon substance emitted as black smoke from the exhaust. The electronic control system will give the cat converter extra fuel so it burns hotter. It will take the unburned particles from the trap ( mixing the existing exhaust with it ) and feed them through the system making the exhaust cleaner.
I hope your dealer has a well imformed diesel mechanic who attends updates and regular service schools. This system changes rapidly and depends on an electronics system for controls. I have heard of families on vacation pulling a travel trailer that ran into smaller towns not owning the diagnostic equipment to get them rolling again. Once the parts arrive it is usually not a ten minute repair.
Don't get me wrong, diesels are wonderful powerful towing rigs. I just feel they have too many electronic controls for an average person to maintain.

 

[jcmseven]

I have little, if any, concern about the 6.4L diesel. I would have waited, but I needed a truck when mine sold. I bought mine for under invoice. That is still a lot of money, but really it is not THAT much more when one adjusts for COL. I have never bought the first year of any vehicle, but did this time. I figured Ford knows this is one of the prime vehicles which will save them--or not. So far, the quality finish work and way the truck runs indicates Ford is taking this quite seriously. It is not my goal to try to get anyone to buy an expensive 6.4L truck. I would simply say that since I am one of the first on the forum to do so, I would like to pass on to others that are looking at a new 3/4 ton truck that this one should be one they should drive and review. Chevy, Dodge etc. are each making good trucks. I think this truck is the most refined heavy duty pickup I have driven. To spec any diesel heavy duty truck in 2007 to the highest spec level will push the price to at, or above, $50,000 retail. Interestingly though, my 2002 7.3L diesel retailed at almost $42K, and it was not the same trim level, so the prices really have followed inflation, with a little extra for the diesel emissions expense. Yes, diesels are complex engines nowdays, but the 2002 7.3L was not a simple engine, just more simple than now. What we have gotten, at least in this engine and I would suspect equally so in the Cummins and Duramax both, are engines which are more powerful stock, much more quiet, and cleaner (although I wish the EPA would leave this issue alone for a while). How many times have we said, "Man, that drag car, F1 car, supercar, Bonneville car, lawn mower, whatever has twin turbos!!! Isn't that neat!!!" Now a pickup has that from the factory, and I am sure more are to follow suit.

John M