Test Drove a 2004 Powerstroke

[Intelman34]

... and I must say it was by far the nicest truck I've driven.



I recently found out that i qualify for the Ford X plan at work and it sparked my interest in a new Powerstroke.



I stopped by a dealer tonight and they had one configured exactly how I had online. Silver 4x4 Supercab with the FX4 package and cloth seats.



I took it out for a drive and I must say, the 6. 0L and Torqshift is a PERFECT combo. Great power everywhere and very smooth. The low end was not even close to what my truck is putting down... but it still has quite a bit of grunt.



All in all, I think the Dodge will be going up for sale. The Cummins is a pulling motor. I have never pulled anything. The Powerstroke seems to fit my needs as a country caddy a bit more. Don't get me wrong... I absolutely LOVE my Dodge, but the Ford just fits my needs better. Heck, I just renewed my TDR membership for another year. I hope I can stick around



If anyone is looking for a very low mileage and well taken care of 1999, let me know.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Good luck with the purchase. I think you will be happy. The ford to me makes more sense if its not gonna be used for pulling.





Ive stuck with the dodge mainly because of the I-6 config engine. The I-6 also nets slightly better fuel mileage. Ive never been much of a dodge man but Ive liked both of my trucks.



Keep us posted on your mileage.

 

[Chipstien]

If you are truly interested in a Ford then I would check out dieselstop.com . Do some research before commiting. Not trying to keep you from going Ford, just that the 03 and 04 have had some pretty numerous engine problems.

 

[mattymac]

more like an outragous and unreal number of problems! I think in '06 or '07 the 6. 0 is gone and will be replaced by a 6. 4 ltr common rail V8. But I never owned or drove one so what info can I give you?

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

The 04s arent that bad guys. There have been a few instances but nothing like the 03s. Plus the 05s are almost here.



Dont let em scare you. Reading a bit over there wouldnt hurt though. That way you know what to look for.

 

[Intelman34]

I've been reading on thedieselstop for some time now. I know what I am up against. The trucks come with a 5year/100k engine warranty... . so if any problems would come about, they would be covered.



Oo.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

I just read your posts. If you worry about problems with your truck. You wont sleep at night with the 6. 0. I have a 99 too. It is more reliable than a 6. 0. Now if your looking for a good around town truck. I highly recommend the ford. If your a worry wart. Your in for it.



One of the members has had 3 buybacks. How many people with 99s have you heard of with 1 buyback. If you like a ford go for it. I think your looking at the 6. 0 for the wrong reasons. Hell two of the guys that responded had bad trucks.



Ford is not being as up front about warranties as you might hope.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

The 04. 5 Dodges are having issues the Fords are having issues heck we should scrap them both and buy Duramaxes . Goodluck Intelman34 buy what you like and be happy with it. Stop by and give us some progress reports if you buy something else.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Yes the '04 PSDs are much improved and the number of problems I've seen discussed on the Diesel-stop has dropped noticeably. I think the SDs are a nice truck. While I have not driven a SD newer than '02 the ones I have driven seem to ride hard compared to my '03 Ram and the chassis feels dated, along with a lot more frame flex, but maybe they have made some refinements in the last couple of years. It's pretty hard to make a rig with leaf springs all the way around ride and handle competently.



Vaughn

 

[DPelletier]

Ford makes an OK truck, and the catastrophic problems with the 6. 0l are mostly in the past. Personally, besides the whole med duty vs. light duty and V-8 vs. I-6 issue, the HEUI injection system was just a bad idea. Sort of like 8 tracks or Beta VCR's. I've heard they'll have common rail soon and hopefully that will work out better for them. If you're only planning on keeping any truck for the warranty period and plan on keeping them stock, they'll all do the job just fine.



Dave

 

[PDM]

Well, I also bought an '04 Ford(Powerstroke Excursion), but kept the

Dodge! I wanted another trailer tow vehicle that could also carry my

friends and family, as they wouldn't fit in the pick-up.



If Dodge made a similar vehicle, or if Chevy made the Duramax/Suburban,

I would have looked at them. I shied away from the '03 Powerstroke

because of all the issues mentioned, but I had heard the '04 has

new injectors and revised software.



I drove the '04 Ford, and liked the vehicle enough to buy it.

Haven't had it long, but so far it's fine. I also like the TorqShift

5-speed auto.



That said, my '03 Dodge rides/steers/and pulls better. The competetion

has improved ALL the trucks.

 

[DGFoster]

I owned a 99 Power Stroke and towed everyday with it and it was awsome. A friend of mine bought a new 6. 0 and brought it by to see and I got to say it was awsome also,the only problem I found was some oil residue on the tailgate,but could not find any leaks. . very nice truck. .

 

[GFritsch]

Good friggin luck with a Ford. Got experience with the work trucks our company uses. (PSD) Good luck-- Would go with a Chevy before.



They do drive very nice when they are new. Enjoy the first couple months.

 

[mcoleman]

I haven't drove any of the 03 and newer Fords but did drive several 01s, and 2000s before I bought my 99 CTD. I've always thought that Fords drove horrible and they were no exception. The Wife drove it 200 feet and and noticed it driving horrible compared to the Dodges we had been driving and my Suburban. We drove 3 more and they all exhibited the same issues with having to constantly correct the steering. The 04s may drive better but with guys having 2 and 3 buybacks I would go with a Duramax if i needed somthing different than the Dodge. They do look nice though.

 

[tractorface]

pROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT THREAD BUT....

I bought my 99 a few years back. All my friends had 7. 3 powerstrokes and I had to have one to. Always owned Ford trucks before that so... ..... I test drove at least ten trucks, new and used, was trying to convince myself That I had to have the "stroke". On a whim I jumped in a used Dodge. Whew that was it way better power off idle and handled and rode much better. Felt like I was driving it not guiding it as if in a barge on a lake. Needless to say "I saw the light" Unusable (unless your racin) power in the higher RPM range an what I am about. Love my dodge and would take a Dodge gasser over a Ford diesel anyday.

Thanks Cummins for introducing me to Dodge

 

[mcoleman]

Guiding a barge is a perfect analogy of how those Fords drive.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

I say buy what ever makes YOU happy. . After all its your $$$ . As long as you are the one with a on your face..... good luck and keep us posted on how your new truck is running. I know next time I am in the market, I will be testing the Big three diesels out.....

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

The station just got a SD F250 and F350 V10s here to replace the 98 Ram V10s. We use them to tow horsetrailers.



We also have a 2 2500 and a 3500 chevy duramaxs here. The duramaxes are INCREDIBLY lacking in torque to get a load started. Thumbs down.



I must say I am impressed by the thicker sheet metal in the 04 Fords compared to the Gen3 dodges. I like the way the Fords have you sitting up so you can see the road. But the seats seem very short for a long legged fellow. The dash/console is very spartan more like the Gen 2 dodges. The V10s seem peppy enough and the automatic is smooth. I'm still argueing with them about where my 6speed is (I am biased against autos especially for hauling). I also have a preference for leave springs in the front. Seems to me the leafs are better for off road and rough road toughness. Although I have seen the rumor Ford is going to coils in 05. I was impressed how well the F350 steered. BUT the F250 steers like the aforementioned barge - brand new, too! Another unique option is having the rear window serve as the impact head rest. :-laf A peek under the hood makes me love my CTD simplicity and room.



We don't have a say so on what brand of trucks get purchased. For personal rigs 5 out of the 7 families here have Dodges and 4 of those are CTDs

 

[Intelman34]

I test drove another one today... . for about an hour this time. I am really having a hard time with the lack of low end torque on the 6. 0L. It just feels like it is missing something and its not really fun or easy to drive after awhile. It has absolutely nothing under 1700rpm.



I don't think the ride is any worse than my 2nd gen... it feels better actually.



I love the SuperCab(extended cab)... . My regular cab is fine for me, but the extra room is very nice.



I really need to think this one out. You don't realize how nice the Cummins is until you drive something else.

 

[DPelletier]

Brandon,

Have you driven a 3rd gen? Comparing a 2nd gen Dodge to a brand new Ford is a little unfair. I take delivery of my latest addition to the fleet tomorrow, an '04 QC HO 6spd and just like the last time I bought a new truck, I poked around the other dealers and checked out the competition. I am not particularly brand loyal, but for my purposes it was a very easy choice... ..... again. My salesman at the Ford dealership (whom I've bought three trucks and a car from before) called me today and asked what it would take to switch me back to Ford. I told him that I enjoy dealing with him and have had good experience with his dealership, but I have no interest in a 6. 0 PSD. Told him to call me when they finally go common rail, and I'll consider it.









Dave