Posted on 07/20/2005 3:17:05 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
I've been spending the last few months mulling over a new vehicle purchase, and I'm hoping to get some input from Freepers who may have purchased a full-sized pickup truck in the last couple of years.
I currently drive a 1994 Ford Explorer, and I rented a 2005 model for a weekend this spring while mine was having some work done on it. I'm not thrilled with the current generation of Explorers, mainly because the driver's seat feels more cramped due to some of the safety features that have been added over the years (airbags in particular). I looked into the next larger size of SUV (the Expedition), but they cost quite a bit more than the Explorers.
A while back I became very impressed with the Ford F-150 pickup truck, which provides Expedition-like size for a lot less money. I've done extensive research on the vehicle and found that it may not have the best track record in terms of reliability, though it appears that some of the problems with the 2004 model year have been corrected in 2005. I decided to wait until the 2006 model year comes out, since I figure the truck will only get better as some potential problems are worked out, but after doing some more research I'm wondering if this wouldn't be a great time to buy a 2005. With the Family Discount that GM and Ford are offering on their vehicles, the prices I'm seeing are incredibly low (I've priced a well-equipped F-150 for just a couple of thousand dollars more than I paid for my Explorer in 1994).
I'm looking for help on a couple of things:
1. Does anyone out there own a 2004 or 2005 Ford F-150 4x4? Is there any wisdom you can offer on the vehicle?
2. I'm pretty much a Ford guy when it comes to trucks (for one big reason you'll see below), but I'm not totally sold on the F-150. Is there anyone out there who has owned multiple full-sized pickup trucks in the last few years who can offer some positive/negative points on several different brands?
3. Any other comments/suggestions that truck owners can provide?
My Explorer has about 270,000 miles on it, and it still runs very well so I'm looking to keep it until it dies. This is the kind of use I can expect for a vehicle -- 20,000 to 25,000 miles per year, and I intend to keep it for at least ten years.
I've got some specific technical questions that I'd like to run past someone who knows these trucks very well (particularly the Ford). I'll post them below as replies after I get some input here.
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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