Opinions please - Diesel Forum

willpower · 05-29-2003, 01:12 PM

I am a satisfied 01 F-250 Powerstroke owner. I purchased my diesel after owning a 1/2 ton GM lemon. It was a problem from the beginning,costing me $1500 in unwarrantied repairs by year #3.
I tow a 3000 lb. boat, and did construction work on the side. I reasoned that if I was going to pay for a vehicle, I might as well pay for one that would still be around when I paid the loan off. I bought a base XL 4X4, put in a CD player, and upgraded wheels and tires to make it more attractive to the wife.
Except for the $40 oil changes, and having to have the steering stabilizer changed,this has been the best running vehicle I have ever owned. I am a little dissapointed in my mileage, never realizing the 15+ mpg around town everybody raves about. The wife is intimidated by the trucks size, and the rough ride, and a little agravated at the lack of creature comforts in the XL.
Now for my dilema: I am selling the boat and no longer do construction on the side. I am paying alot less than alot of my friends for their XLT and Lariat Powerstrokes, but it still seems like
overkill to own a diesel that I run around town in. I am heading to my Ford dealer next week to have my brakes looked at, and will investigate whether I can get into a 1/2 ton 4X4(XLT or Lariat) with the 0% financing and save some money on my monthly payment
I am looking for opinions from 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton 4X4 owners who have gas engines. I would like to know if there are any problems with the 5.4L Triton, what the brakes are like, how they act off-road,and any other opinions you might have. One thing I found out the hard way about was that diesels are awfully heavy for off-roading. I had to be pulled out of a trail by a forestry dozer recently(my own fault). In the past, I have had poor luck with gas motors, and I would like one to last for a while after I own it free and clear.Thanks for listening. Any and all opinions would be appreciated.

ohski · 05-29-2003, 01:47 PM

Well I love my Truck (see sig) I have the lil 5.4L and I have no worries on or off road. I have a heavy foot and tend to get right at 12mpg average. By the way the 5.4L is 500lbs lighter than the 7.3L PSD. I bought my truck off the lot and got 0% last year. I like the F150's but the solid front axle on the SD is just so much better for offroad in my opinion.

jstrauss · 05-29-2003, 02:24 PM

I get good service out of gas engines. My previous truck was an F150 with 302 and it went 225K before I sold it. I still see it on the road about once a week. Before that I had a Bronco, also with the 302, and it was just over 200K when I sold it. So I am expecting at least 200K out of my V10.

I don't care for diesels for the usual reasons, but my primary reason for not even looking at the PSD was the weight. That just cannot be good for the front end and does cause mucho problems off-road, especially in mud. To be honest, I don't go off-road much anymore, but it still weighed (ha! didn't do that on purpose) on my mind.

Before I got my truck, I was all set to get the SuperCrew. I really don't need a SuperDuty either, but when I crawled up under the SC, the front suspension just looked like a glorified Chevy to me. Just not a real Ford. Then I got up under the SuperDuty and I felt I was home again. THIS is a real Ford. So I bought it.

I don't regret the decision except for when I am parking the damn thing! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

By the way I am getting 12.5MPG in town which I am plenty pleased with.

kanertop · 05-30-2003, 11:12 AM

The F-150 is rated extremely high and is probably the best 1/2 ton on the market. The Triton family of engines have proven thier worth over and over again. Though I prefer the SD's looks and functionality, it isn't what everyone wants/needs. A lot of my friends own F-150's and love them. They are lighter and ride smoother and can still tow around 7500 lbs.

If you do decide to go for the F-150, are you going to wait for the '04 rebuild with the 3 valve 5.4L or an '03?

willpower · 05-30-2003, 01:14 PM

This all depends on whether my trading in my Powerstroke for a 150 would reduce my monthly payment. I have heard from other people that I should wait for the new model, but that usually means an increase in price. I thought Powerstrokes were expensive? What they charge for a Supercrew is ridiculos! At least with a diesel most people can justify the extra expense. To see a 4 door 4X4 Supercrew listed at $36000 is mindblowing.Thanks for the advice

ohski · 05-30-2003, 01:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
To see a 4 door 4X4 Supercrew listed at $36000 is mindblowing

[/ QUOTE ]

Willpower, that was the other reason I got the F250 over the F150... It was cheaper!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Fordman84 · 05-30-2003, 10:34 PM

Willpower,
my last truck was a 97 f-150 with the 4.6 and 5 speed manual trans. Best riding truck I have ever been in. Averaged 16mpg with it. Put virtually no money into it, except some steering parts. Had 139000 miles when I traded it, still ran and drove just like brand new. I love the new truck, but wish I had kept the f-150 too, it was that good. BTW, it was very good off road, had the off road package.
Mike

outpost22 · 05-31-2003, 07:45 PM

If you like your PSD, then you will be used to a F250 feel. The gasser won't ride as nice, also due to the weight of the PSD. That PSD iron makes 'em more plush to drive.
If you're after a "Car" ride get a F150. The F250 will probably cost less than a "Screw" and will definitely be more of a truck.
The Triton motors are proven. You shouldn't have worries there.
If it was me, I'd get a V10 over the V8 though. Mileage is only about 1-1.5 mpg and you get a lot more power. That new 3 valve "8" may make up for it though [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

SUPERDUTYSPV · 06-29-2003, 02:36 AM

<font color="blue"> I have a V-10 4x4, SC, LB, Lariat, and it is my daily driver. I LOVE it! This is my daily driver. It is awesome off road. </font>

Rugby3 · 06-29-2003, 09:48 AM

The 1/2 tons are nice but expensive in my opinion. I don't need the Superduty but I wanted four full doors and an 8' bed. The SC doesn't have it and as you have found out very expensive. You can get the Super Duties cheaper than the 1/2 tons so why not get more truck for less or the same $$$$. I had a regular cab 97 F-150 with the V-6, yes it did what I needed %99.5 of the timem but I would rather have the bigger truck.
My 97 was going in the shop again for the tranny and I saw a used 01 CC 250 4x4 with a V-10 and a longbed. Dirt cheap, only had a little over 12000 miles, I couldn't pass that up. Traded my truck while it was still in the shop.
This monster is my daily driver, comfortable, plenty of room, the wife drives it occasionally and I get great mileage considering the motor and size. I am now getting on average 13.5 with my foot into it.
The only thing I could want in this is the sunroof option that the 03's have. Other than that I highly recommend staying with the Superduty and of course they look better as well.

6spd · 06-29-2003, 11:51 PM

I had a 97 F150XLT 4.6 5spd - upgraded to an 03 F250 5.4L 6spd because the Mazda M50 trans in the F150 is not built to tow. No trouble with either.

I am a hardcore manual trans person, but if you are going to get the auto trans there is a good compromise - a heavy duty (7700lb GVW) F150. Not cheaper than a comparable F250, but has the F250 heavy duty auto trans, f250 brakes, but with the f150 independent suspension for better ride and handling.

I don't know if the new 04 F150 will have the heavy duty option, but the current F150 style will also be built for the full 04 model year, so it should be available. For 03, the heavy duty option had an MSRP of $1295. I would have gone this route if it could have been ordered with the 6-spd.

My F250 5.4L tows my 4,000 lb trailer with authority and has returned 12.8 mpg average towing - and I tow at 70-80MPH here in the West where speed limits are 75 on the interstates, 70 on rural 4 lanes.

I don't know of any reliability issues with the 5.4L.