Added another truck to my fleet

[Wayne M.]

There’s no question that Ford has a better infrastructure. Also parts are cheaper from what I see. Example- the current Ford Fusion Hybrid uses a water jacketed exhaust manifold/ forward Cat. This is a real unique and complex looking part, with the welding and fab and whatnot. I know OEM cats and pipes can run into the thousands, so I was curious and googled the part #, and it was only $600. We were flabbergasted. Ford makes most parts in house from what I see. FoMoCo stamped on EVERYTHING!

 

[jgillott]

Do you think that cost difference is due to simply cutting out the middle man per say on the parts?

 

[JR]

FoMoCo stamped on EVERYTHING

I've seen the exact same thing on our VW TDI. Everything from brake pads to suspension components to half shafts to engine accessory components to body panels to headlight bulbs...all stamped VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group).

Reliability wise, its been the best CAR we've owned to date. Not the quietest or most comfortable, but definitely the most reliable.
I suppose not so surprising given the fact that VW was up until recently the largest automotive manufacturer in the world.

 

[jgillott]

I've seen the exact same thing on our VW TDI. Everything from brake pads to suspension components to half shafts to engine accessory components to body panels to headlight bulbs...all stamped VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group).

Reliability wise, its been the best CAR we've owned to date. Not the quietest or most comfortable, but definitely the most reliable.
I suppose not so surprising given the fact that VW was up until recently the largest automotive manufacturer in the world.

I'll tell you JR, almost all of my friends here have had at least one TDI over the years. A couple of the guys had more than one. They were/are incredible. Never an issue other than standard maintenance items.

 

[Wayne M.]

Do you think that cost difference is due to simply cutting out the middle man per say on the parts?

It has to be. I guess that gives great control.

 

[jgillott]

Another MPG and driving range update. This was running 88 octane E15 fuel.

 

[Wayne M.]

I don’t know what your fuel choices are out there, or weather that is flex fuel capable, but be careful if you ever switch over to e85.

 

[jgillott]

I don’t know what your fuel choices are out there, or weather that is flex fuel capable, but be careful if you ever switch over to e85.

To answer your question, we have absolutely crap fuel choices here. All of the "regular" gas is now 10% ethanol. You used to be able to find 5% ethanol or less product, but those days are long gone.

We also have E15 and E85 available. The Ecoboost is not Flex-Fuel capable but can run 0% up to 15% ethanol. Ford recommends 87 octane for normal driving and 91 octane or higher for heavy towing or operation in high temps. This truck does get it's best MPG on 93 premium, but it's not enough of a benefit to offset the cost over regular. I see no difference in MPG between our available 87 or the E15 88 octane.

Our 2010 Ram is a flex fuel engine and we can run the E85. Let me tell you, if you ever want to rid an engine of dirt and carbon deposits, run E85. That stuff is an incredible solvent.

 

[Wayne M.]

Not to stray off subject, but my main experience with e85 was with 2000- 05 era Ford Taurus. The problem was a mid tank switchover, and the pcm wouldn’t know which fuel map to follow, and that’s when the fun started.
Also, the spark plug life was cut in half running e85- to 50k if you were lucky. I learned that the stuff is hugely corrosive!

 

[jgillott]

Empty run from PA to NY with just the family in the truck. Cruise set on 74 most of the way running 93 octane. Hand calculated 21.3.

 

[Wayne M.]

How many miles one way?

 

[Dl5treez]

They’re great trucks. I have been shy of the EcoBoost but the coyote V8 intrigues me.

Still a short timer rig?

 

[jgillott]

How many miles one way?

352 from my driveway to my in-laws door one way.

 

[jgillott]

They’re great trucks. I have been shy of the EcoBoost but the coyote V8 intrigues me.

Still a short timer rig?

I'm not sure to be honest with you at this point. It would make a good cheap replacement for the truck my wife drives if we buy it off lease in 18 months. I talk a good game about dumping it quick, but with what the residual is going to be and the current used truck prices on the market, I'd be a fool to let it go if we still need that 3rd truck at the time or if we need to replace the wife's.

 

[Dl5treez]

I'm not sure to be honest with you at this point. It would make a good cheap replacement for the truck my wife drives if we buy it off lease in 18 months. I talk a good game about dumping it quick, but with what the residual is going to be and the current used truck prices on the market, I'd be a fool to let it go if we still need that 3rd truck at the time or if we need to replace the wife's.

We have been running them hard at work and so far no complaints from the guys who have one. Ours are all either the non turbo 6 or the 8.

If the EcoBoost bugs are gone, those engines are pretty cool.

 

[EDankievitch]

I'm surprised that you did not go for the Power Stroke Diesel in that F150. I drove one a few weeks back was quite impressed.

 

[jgillott]

We have been running them hard at work and so far no complaints from the guys who have one. Ours are all either the non turbo 6 or the 8.

If the EcoBoost bugs are gone, those engines are pretty cool.

I'm really impressed with the power of the 3.5l Ecoboost. A friend of mine just bought a 2018 with the 5.0l. Nice truck, plenty of power, but the power is different. It doesn't pull like the 3.5L, which I really feel is rather diesel like in its power and torque curve.

As far as the truck itself is concerned, I really like it. There are just a couple of little things that are bothersome to me. The turn radius on this 157" wheelbase crew cab isn't very good. Plan ahead if you need to make a U-Turn. The placement and size of the fog light and cargo light switches is a little odd. The rest of the interior is very well thought out, but those switches are small and well down below your sight line. It is just like they forgot that they needed to have those and added them as an afterthought. My biggest complaint isn't with the truck itself but the absolutely AWFUL Michelin tires on this thing. Why any manufacturer would send a vehicle to a northeast dealer with tires like this on a vehicle is beyond me. They are hopeless in the rain, snow and ice, lose chucks of rubber from the tread on our gravel access roads and pretty much faint if you happen to get somewhere muddy. As a road tire in maybe Arizona or Florida, they may be acceptable if it doesn't rain. But not for a north east rig.

All and all, after 7 months with this thing and now just shy of 10K, I'd rate it a solid 9 out of 10. Probably a 9.5 if the thing had decent tires.

 

[jgillott]

I'm surprised that you did not go for the Power Stroke Diesel in that F150. I drove one a few weeks back was quite impressed.

It wasn't released yet when I picked this thing up. I do want to drive the diesel when I have a chance to compare it to the 3.5L Ecoboost.

 

[DonFitzwater]

It has to be. I guess that gives great control.

I just got some window regulators for the wife’s 2014 Expedition. One was 96.00 and the other 136.00.......from Ford! My goodness that’s cheap. Also, another thing that impressed me is the ease of fixing Ford’s. They are typically easy to work on.

 

[Wayne M.]

I just got some window regulators for the wife’s 2014 Expedition. One was 96.00 and the other 136.00.......from Ford! My goodness that’s cheap. Also, another thing that impressed me is the ease of fixing Ford’s. They are typically easy to work on.

Yes, cab and body repairs, not too bad. That’s all I’m gonna comment.