Posted on 07/20/2005 3:17:05 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
Remember that Diesel has approx 9% (~ 6% for 100% BioDiesel)more energy/gallon than gas, though the refining losses are less. Diesel vs gas is up lately, but I'm not sure why. It may return to being at par with 89-91 octane gas within the next year. Diesel does provide some protection against availability if you also have a gas engined vehicle in the family "fleet".
Not sure. I haven't sat in the new 150. The 250/350, however, have this problem, as did a friend's previous-interation 150, as did the taurus I had for a while, as did a fox-platform Mustang I sat in, as did my folks' Explorer. I have to think that this is part of their standard geometry for the interior. It basically translates to about 4-5" of my thigh just above the knee not being supported, and I am 5' 10" with average-length legs. GMs in general, and the Dodge 1500 I test-drove, all had much better support under my leg. I also like the way GM and (recent) Dodge lay out their gauges/switchgear better.
There are Ford van 4x4s at approx +$4k and GM have(or had) factory 4x4 options.
Too much lag time when going from drive to reverse nd vice-versa? My F-150 could do better in that area but I also drive a Crown Vic that is awful slow to engage.
H3s are supposedly low on power/weight.
Yep, I hear ya. I haven't made a vehicle payment in 7 years, and I like this just fine!
Find parking places that are "pull through" or back in for a quick getaway. ( I currently have a veh that doesn't like to go into reverse unless it has been driven > 20 miles, so know alot about this technique).
The offroad videos of the H3 on the Hummer web site are impressive.
If gas milage is a concern buy all-weather gear and a motorcycle. You'll be thanking me later.
I have a couple friends who have been having transmission trouble with Dodge trucks from early this decade. I have no info about whether this has been sorted out, but it is an EXPENSIVE fix, and my buddy is now on his third. Ach!
I'm naturally averse to anything from General Mistake, but I also have little info on the performance of the Ford pickups.
My only warning regarding the Ford is that if you are buying a diesel, be sure to hear one first: Ford diesels usually sound like a tumble dryer filled with marbles and baseballs. The F-150s use the reliable (almost indestructible) 5.4l modular engine gasoline, IIRC, and I recommend them highly (as I have the 4.6l modular in my Crown Vic).
The high center of gravity of a van might be a problem if the terrain you're driving off-road on is pitched steeply enough, but the ground clearance, wheel diameter and chassis design of the E350 are all pure truck, and one-ton truck at that. Of course, if you're talking about four wheel drive then that's a different matter.
That's everywhere. JUst recently I drove from Az to S. Carolina and back and everywhere the price of diesel hovered somewhere between the price of mid-grade and premium.
For a full-sized truck, I would definitely recommend the diesel. The fuel savings will offset the price.
What year Vic? Have you checked the tranny fluid level recently? How many miles?
I've take 3 F250 Super Duty 4X4's over 250,000
An Explorer- 300,000
Escort-200,000
2003 250SD 4X4 at present (minor vacuum pump leak fixed under warranty)
Any major probem with any of them was "operator induced"
It's an '04 with just over 15K. I just drive it since it's a city car and was just checked out today with no fluid level probs. Honestly, the lag time to go into reverse is about 4 seconds.
That is DEFINITELY not right. It sounds like a manufacturing defect (in an accumulator maybe). I'd keep calling dealerships until I got a maintenance department with a sympathetic ear. There's no way you're going to get the full life out of that transmission.
Oh, it's not yours? Oh okay. Well, someone's screwing it up.
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