Ford trucks?

[johnboy]

Anybody running a newer Ford 6.7 diesel truck? I'm truck shopping and decided to include Ford in the mix along with the GM 3500HD with the Duramax/Allison. I'm interested in a new Ford Superduty F350 with the 6.7 diesel and wondered if anybody had any experience with such a beast.

I've been real happy with the quality of the Mustang so thought that might also be true for the Ford trucks. Maybe or maybe not?

OK, bash away but anything constructive would be appreciated. These machines are so frigging expensive that I want to get the right one the first time.

[Sunshine]

I love my Ford Ranger and my husband will end up with it.
We won't sell it, as we know everything about it and only had 5 miles on it when we purchased it.

My next truck will be a White Ford F150 Super cab.

http://m.ford.com/content/MobileFord...f150/2014.html

[Chicken Dinner]

Sorry, but I've got no direct experience with the big diesels other than you see a fair amount of them on the road.

[jb]

I can't add a thing about diesels, only owed one in my lifetime and that was BAD news (back in the 80's when GM decided to make a diesel out of their 350 gas engine)
But over a four year period I went from a Chevy 2500HD, to a GMC Sierra crew cab, to a Ford Expedition. Best move I ever made.
A friend has your truck (2012), pulls a 30' 5th Wheel with it. Loved it till his last trip coming back from FL. Had less than 30K on it and it blew a plastic fuel line that goes to the injectors, to get at the fix dealer had to pull off the intake manifold and the head. Two days laid up, got on the road and drove another 200 miles and the same thing happened on the other side, another two day layover. Everything was covered and since then nothing has gone wrong. Two years later I'd hope Ford has that fixed.

[Thumper]

I'm with Bubba ... my experience was the early '80's GM fiasco ... and I mean MAJOR fiasco. The biggest POS ever produced and heads should have rolled from top to bottom.

My only other personal experience was MUCH bigger than you'll be dealing with ... so I'm of no help what-so-ever. No matter your choice ... it sounds expensive!

Now .... if you want to hold off until NEXT year ... last I heard, Toyota is coming out with a Cummins 5.0-liter turbo diesel in their Tundra for 2016.

(I know ... apples and oranges ... light-duty vs. medium duty) In the next few years, expect to see a LOT more diesel offerings because in (forgot the year, 2025 maybe?) the government mileage requirements will be taking a big leap, so the manufacturers are gearing up.

[Buckrub]

Only one experience with Ford, 1978, and never again.

1 year into the 2500 Duramax, I remain amazed every time I get in it. Don't know what else to say. Lots of Ford owners too, and Dodges, if pulling is your thing, bu I don't want a 6 cyl diesel, I don't care what the ratings say.

I'd say either Ford or Chevy would do you well.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Only experience I've had with a Ford F250 diesel (i don't know what engine it is) is pulling my 20 ft boat 2200 hunnerd miles in my buddy's. It has some sort of programmable chip and I can't say enough about the ride, the power, and just the awesome handling of it. Only Ford I'd ever give two thumbs up to. The power from that motor in his is plentiful. Only complaint I'd have is the gas mileage is pretty terrible. But you expect that in that package so no surprises.
And
I couldn't say how much the chip improved things. My buddy says he can almost tell the difference, which makes me wonder if its worth the cost.

BKB

[johnboy]

Just got back from test driving a new F350 diesel and I gotta say that I'm impressed. Very quiet and very nice ride for a 1 ton diesel truck but also lots of go when you kick it down. Gonna go drive a Chev 3500HD diesel this aft so we'll see how it goes. I kinda think that the trucks will be very similar so it might come down to the dealership and the deal and I like the Ford guys so far with the 'stang.

[Buckrub]

Why 3500? DRW or SRW? If SRW, the only difference in 2500 an 3500 is springs, I think???????

I get 14-15 in town, 22-25 on road not towing.........and about 13 towing.

[johnboy]

I figured if I was going to get a new truck I might as well go for the 1 ton version. The difference is mostly (or all?) springs but the carrying capacity is much higher and so is the resale. I think ride is about the same. Oh yeah, SRW.

Anyway, I test drove the Chebbie 3500 and it turns out that we both prefer the Ford. The Super Duty was quieter in engine, road and wind noise on the highway, had a much nicer ride (the Chev felt harsh in comparison) and had better throttle response (felt much stronger) and nicer steering feel. I thought the Ford diesel was much more pleasant to drive in pretty much all respects. Not to say the Chev was 'bad' just that the Ford was better, imho. Last Ford I owned was a 1980 that I kept for 10 years so maybe it's time to go back to the dark side.

Going to see the Ford dealer tomorrow to see if we can work a deal.

[Buckrub]

Chevies drive like a truck. Fords drive like a little car. That's my experience. I like the 'truck' feel. You will be happy either way.

[Thumper]

A properly designed spring can be progressive and ride "like a car" (or, in this case, a light to medium-duty truck) with no load, but go into "heavy-duty truck mode" as load is applied.

[BarryBobPosthole]

I agree with Bucky that the Phord suspensions are just too damned soft, especially in the 150 series. That's why so many gays drive them.

BKB

[Thumper]

I agree with Bucky that the Phord suspensions are just too damned soft, especially in the 150 series. That's why so many gays drive them. BKB

Ha ha ha! Somebody is going for their Master S/D'er Badge tonight!

[Niner]

The excellent Phord Corp customer no-service left me and the wife high and dry in Hayes Kansas over the 4th of July weekend back in the mid 80's. We WERE headed to the Rockies until the tranny in our Ranger blew up with lesss than 30K miles on it. I believe the warranty was like 25K or some such at that time. After a weekend of pure torture, we ended up trading the Ranger in on a Taurus and headed back East. A vehicle that had brakes that ALWAYS squeeeeeeeled.

Then there was the New Year's Eve we spent in a mechanic's garage getting the transfer case in our F150 rebuilt.

And the Escort that had a radio problem that would only work on AM......and that was after several replacement units.

I finally got tired of sending my mechanic's kids to college and got rid of everything Ford related around me.

[Sunshine]

Post .......*smack smack smack*!!!
You be bad mouthing my next truck and I assure you I'm not Gay!!!! *smack*

[johnboy]

Well did the deed and placed an order for a new F350 SD. I ordered it to get it exactly the way I wanted it (nothing close around) so now have to wait for it to arrive. Don't know why but I always feel like I got royally screwed every time I do a car deal. Is it just me or is this the normal feeling?

[Thumper]

I was in the business for 20 years and have had a friend (?) ... salesman I've been close to at the Toyota dealer here in town for 20+ years ... I STILL feel I get screwed on every car I buy. I guess it's just the nature of the beast. I wish it were like going to the grocery store ... just put the frigging price on the window and that's what you pay. If their cars aren't selling, the prices will come down.

'Course, Saturn did that sort of pricing and they're out of business.

[johnboy]

Yup, did all my homework, had a game plan in place and was prepared to get the deal of a lifetime. They just won't let you get away with that shit. So I got the truck I wanted but I KNOW I paid too much. Bad me!

[Thumper]

I always figure they wouldn't sell it to me if they weren't making money on the deal. What bugs the heck out of me is I want to know how MUCH they made on the deal ... and if the guy just before me and the guy just after me got a better deal than I did!

[jb]

We have a dealership in town GMC, Chrysler, Jeep, Ford, that does just that. The price in the window is what you pay, non negotiable. It's usually well below sticker and you know you're paying the same that others paid.
Son just bought from them, he went to another dealer to see if they could beat the price and they said they could not even match it.
I use them for the service on wife's car, great dealership.

[johnboy]

I hate car shopping so much that I would pay a hard nosed negotiator type to go in my place to make the deal. Might be a good business for some thick skinned individual. Out of all the car deals I've made over the years I think I've only done 'good' on one. The rest left me feeling skinned. Oh well, should be a pretty nice truck.

[Buckrub]

As I sat in the finance office when I got my truck last year........I felt I had done well. I had shopped, and was willing to walk if they didn't do exactly what I asked. In addition, I had shopped financing, and was about to go with State Farm Bank, which had free 'gap insurance' in addition to 1 percent rate. Chevy matched all that.......so I stayed with them. (That frees up State Farm to let me buy something else if I want). The finance guy went through all that and in the middle he said "You realize we are taking a loss on this truck at this price, right?" And I said "You are a bald faced liar" and I smiled REAL big. He laughed......... I said "You get your kickback if nothing else, and you ain't EVER sold a vehicle at a loss, sir". He just laughed and said "Hey, I'm just a salaried worker".

And that was that.

There's one lesson I learned early on when buying a vehicle. Just walk off. Don't negotiate forever. Just say "this is what I'll pay, and this is what rate I'll pay for financing, and this is what I want for my vehicle" and if they are way off all that, just simply leave. (But make sure they have your phone number...........trust me.

[Thumper]

And they're prolly STILL laughing at you for thinking you got to 'em!

[Thumper]

The main thing I like about my local Toyota dealer is that the salesmen are not on commission (read: percentage of profit) ... they just get a monthly salary and a fixed "spiff" for every car they sell. Plus, they either produce, or they get kicked to the curb. I always try to buy at the end of the month 'cause, if my salesman is a bit short on his "quota" ... he's clamoring for sales. He's told me before (who knows if it's true ... they ALL lie) that he gave up his spiff in order to meet my price ... he was simply desperate for the sale to keep his numbers up. In other words, he just NEEDED the sale and could care less about the extra money. I've known him for many years ... he's been to my house ... I know his family and his nephew is driving one of my previous trucks ... but I STILL don't know how much to believe that comes out of his mouth. I put car salesmen and politicians in the same basket.