I’ve tested the Silverado, Sierra, F150 Ram 1500 and Tundra. The F150 had the ECO 3.5. Rest are V8s. 4X4s Double Cab is the style I like. Looking for input from guys that own any of these.
I have a 2012 F-150 FX4 5.0 4-door, which is essentially the same as the 2014’s. I’ve had it for about 2 years and still love it every bit as much as I did the day I picked it up. I get around 15.5mpg around town and I’ve seen 21mpg on the highway, but I easily average around 19.5mpg on the highway. No problems other than the small nit-picky stuff that is pretty standard. And the room in the backseat it outrageous… Fold the backseats up and it gives you so much extra space for activities.
As far as the Ford Eco-Boost is concerned, it takes anywhere from 80k to over 100k miles to break-even, so I don’t really think it’s worth the price they want vs the gas you save.
I haven’t read either on of these in it’s entirety, but here’s an article and a forum thread on the EcoBoost Break-even range. Definitely not worth it IMO:
Purchased a 2014 Sierra 1500 All Terrain 4x4 back in Dec 2013. So far everything has been great, yes there have been recalls that I am sure everyone has heard about but what 1st year production doesn’t. Truck is super quiet which I am sure you noticed when you test drove. 95% of my driving is city with mega traffic so my avg. fuel is 15-16 mpg. Normal city driving like on the weekends is 16-18 easy. Two weekends ago I drove from the west side of Houston out to Texas City which is close to Galveston. I had a stretch of 25 miles I averaged 26.6 mpg (not hyper miles), of course I babied it but I feel the truck could do a little better if I tried. Round trip I averaged 23mpg, it is about a 120-130 mile round trip.
I was also looking at a Ram sport before I purchased the Sierra, the Ram has better acceleration due to the Sierra/Silverado power being higher in the rev band. I liked the interior design of the Ram a hair better than the Sierra but I prefer the exterior styling of the New Sierra All Terrain more than a hair over the Ram. I did not like the 8 speed on the Ram. Ram transmission was quite clunky but then again maybe it was just that one I drove and might need a break in period. Not going to shell out 40K+ to find out.
My only gripes are how expensive trucks have got, I guess you have to pay to play these days. 42k MSRP just to get leather in a truck is dumb.
Never tested the F150’s, from a looks stand point I like them but just not as much as a Ram Sport or Sierra AT which is completely opinion. As you can see I prefer painted bumpers.
Ran an 06 Tundra for many years and 250k miles. Very reliable truck.
Before I decided I needed a 3/4 ton this time round, I looked at a few 1/2 tons. Was not impressed with GM’s 1/2 tons (…even though I bought a 2500GMC Duramax), the F-150 with the 5.0 was nice as was the 5.7 Tundra. I’d skip the Eco Boost, as v-6s in big trucks are always underpowered.
Before I settled on the GMC 3/4 ton…I was almost sold on a 2014 F-150 crew cab FX4 with the 5.0 - really sweet truck with plenty of power.
-brickboy240
Man I wished I could afford an Icon handbuilt D200!
http://www.icon4x4.com/http%3A/%252Fwww.icon4x4.com/inventory/d200/2
No tricks. After 100 mile highway romp.
2013 F-150 with 5.0.
I am in love with this truck.
4x4?
My Toyota is 10 years old and is still going strong. With that said one day I know that I will need a new one. I’m dig’n the gas mileage on the F150s.
Negative. I got a killer deal on a 2WD, and it was a fools journey to find everything I wanted (Regular Cab was a big one). The only thing missing was 4x4, but what the hell, I got leather and Sync so…
I was stunned. That picture was from yesterday. 50 mi one way, and 50 mi back, cruise control locked in at 65.
A buddy of mine has a '94 F-150 with 360,000 on the original engine. Pretty much sold me on em. That, and my old '93 Ranger refused to die.
My brother has an '08 Taco that has given him some grief in the past. Nothing major, but odds n ends.
Downhill both ways with a tailwind?
The Ecoboost motor itself is a $1095 option. It has more HP, more torque, and possesses a much flatter TQ curve.
Any article that says “turbos will fail”, is suspect to say the least.
ETA: 69,696 miles for break even at $3.79 gas cost and comparing 15mpg vs 16mpg using current option price of $1095 over the standard 5.0L. Truth is, most people are not buying it for the ECO, so much as the BOOST.
For every 0.10 the gas price goes up, the payoff is sooner. At $3.89/gal it breaks even at ~67,968. At $3.99/gal it pays itself back in ~66,240.
Correct, those engines are solid period, end of story. The F150 is the best truck money can buy hands down. If fuel mileage is a concern wait for the 2015 aluminum body. The reduced weight will improve mileage and performance.
F150 Nuff’ said. :dirol:
Basically, as bad as I want a Tacoma, or a 2015 Chevy Colorado; there are F150’s at virtually the same price, getting the same mileage, on bigger tires, more suspension travel with more cargo room. Seems dumb.
Quoted for truth. I converted to one from a Hummer last summer so it was a big jump for me in practicality. Wish I had made the jump much sooner.
Tacoma. No contest.
F-150 was fine for me until it needed some work. Then it cost $1500 just for a certified mech to get in the sealed transmission. After that it was all downhill. Last time I’ll ever drive anything but a Toyota.
I still have an 03 Rav-4 for the winter. It’s almost a joke how little work it’s needed over the years, and I’ve had it since 05. By work, I mean nothing but oil changes and tire rotations. Since I really don’t care what my truck says about me, I’m enjoying my 23mpg in my bench seat Tacoma.
I would not begrudge anyone that bought a Tundra, but the Tacoma is in a different size class. I traded my 2005 Tacoma DblCab for an F-150 SuperCrew. The interior and exterior sizes of the two are not even in the same ballpark. The back seat of the F-150 SuperCrew is almost like a TownCar how nice it is, and roomy.
I saw a top of the line new Tundra Platinum, or whatever, all decked out on the road, and it looked sweet. Sitting in the 1797 at the Auto Show though, and it seemed very underwhelming when compared to the F-150 Limited I drive.
Also, I worked with the dealer on the pricing of a service contract, and extended warranty so that I am covered on routine 7500 mile maintenance intervals, including brake replacements. They also offered something called TedBritt4Life, which would cover the entire drivetrain for the life of the vehicle as long as I did the services there. Details: Auto4Life.
Note that turbochargers are specifically covered. 
I test drove a new F-150 last year and didn’t really like the steering. Other than that it was a nice truck. I think the only reason for not liking the steering was me being used to 3/4 ton trucks and their solid front axle. I looked at an XLT model and realized for around the same amount I could buy the F-250 (Way more room inside) in the XL pkg.
I guess none of you Ford Owners have had to change Spark Plugs yet?
For the Chevy/GM: I’ve heard that these new ones with the engine cylinder management are burning a quart of oil every thousand miles, and they are having huge problems with it. Any confirm/deny?
I have a 02 Silverado with 235K on it; would like a newer truck but not gonna buy anything until these things get sorted out. 1st year of an model is a risk.
Suh-weet!
Have you checked out these guys: http://www.legacypowerwagon.com/
My brother had an old gin-pole truck which he had them give a makeover. It turned out great and he absolutely loves it.
I graduated to paying someone else to do it, so that would be a poor argument for, or against, in my consideration matrix. Sorry.