Well I bit the bullet and traded my 08 H3 and my Harley in for a 2012 F150 SCREW Ecoboost 4wd FX - 3.73, rear locker (EVEN IN 2WD!!) 20" Pierelli Scorpian AT (soon to be BFG or Goodyear), navigation with back up camera, leather, heated AND cooled seats - ok a list of luxeries I really didn't need but the world is going to end in December right so I might as well splurge while I can!!
I really wish I would've hit the powerball before buying the F150 because I loved both the H3 and the HD but such is life with 3 dogs weighing 90, 110, and 150 pounds - I ran outta room.
Anyways I wanted to give a quick report on what my observations have been before buying this truck and after putting 500 miles on it.
First of all I researched the heck outta new trucks - I looked at Ford, Chevy and Toyota..sorry but Dodge and Nissan didn't interest me. Before the hate flies at me from Dodge and Nissan lovers just remember to each their own.
Anyways it came down to the F150 (obviously). For me the Fords had the most comfortable seats, a great amount of room in the crew cab (plus the rear seats fold up and give a huge FLAT area to load stuff in) and the quality of construction of the Fords seemed to be the best - IMO.
The Ecoboost was the final straw for me in picking Ford. I don't do off roading or heavy hauling/towing but I will use it as a DD and make yearly trips to the mountains. The reason I went with the Eco was the gas mileage and towing ability IF and when I may need it. Kinda like a 4wd, a locker and other goodies we all add to our vehilces - we don't always "need" these things but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it right? Also I talked to my mechanic who said the engine is top notch. Lastly a buddy of mine has almost the exact same truck except he has the 5.0. The 5.0 is a great engine don't get me wrong but the seat of the pants acceleration feel and the little bit of gas mileage savings sold me so I got the Eco over the 5.0.
First of all Ford has greatly improved their trucks since last time I looked at them (2003). Yes gone are the days of a truck being a "truck" but lets face it as we get older we look foward to more luxery and this truck has a lot of those luxeries.
Let me say this the Eco is a rocket!! Plain and simple this truck scoots like not other I've driven or rode in. I realize I'm coming from a 5 cyl H3 but take a look at all the reports in various publications and you'll see the how quick it really is. I feel with the Eco you get up and go right away where when I rode and drove the 5.0 it made a lot of that good old v-8 growling but it took longer to get to going.
Now quickness is great but what about gas mileage? So far I'm averaging 14.7 - 15.8 (87octane) in the city with only a couple of miles a day on an expressway. Sadly that's all the driving I've done right now -city and some expressway. Hopefully I can get time away from work and get some real highway miles in.
I don't think the numbers are too bad especially since I tend to be a little heavy on the gas. In traffic there are no more concerns about merging or passing. This motor will actually get you in trouble because there's not the big v-8 growl to let you know you're kicking it in the butt to go - the Eco's turbos wind up and it just takes off. It's really amazing how the power is instantly available - no tubro lag that I'm aware of.
The cab is spacious and QUIET!! I am really amazed at how quiet the cab is at speed and during accleration. The stereo is great - I upgraded on that too. But to go down the street with no wind noise or engine noise and be able to talk in a normal voice is wonderful. The H3 - well it was a block and the wind noise was noticable. Not horrible but you noticed it, but not in this new truck. QUIET!!
The electronic power steering is something new too. The truck feels responsive and controlled. IDK if the EPS is that important but Ford put it in there and so it seems to be working well. I don't know what else to say except that the truck feels solid, secure and stable in all the manuevering through traffic.
I really like the fact of a real locker and that it's available in 2wd too. It'll be interesting this winter to see how the truck handles snow and ice. I loved my H3 for the sure footed security of full time 4wd - not to mention it felt like I was driving a tank.
My future plans are a 2" leveling kit, bigger tires, a topper, line-x for the bed and maybe a CAI. Otherwise I'm not going to get too crazy.
It has the tow package and power folding mirrors so hopefully by September or October I'll be heading to the mountains - maybe even pulling a trailer if I'm lucky.
I'll definitely keep everyone posted on the gas mileage here in flat Nebraska and also how it does in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming.
I know I ramble on here about a whole lot of nothing but I'm just exicted and very impressed with this new truck!
I really wish I would've hit the powerball before buying the F150 because I loved both the H3 and the HD but such is life with 3 dogs weighing 90, 110, and 150 pounds - I ran outta room.
Anyways I wanted to give a quick report on what my observations have been before buying this truck and after putting 500 miles on it.
First of all I researched the heck outta new trucks - I looked at Ford, Chevy and Toyota..sorry but Dodge and Nissan didn't interest me. Before the hate flies at me from Dodge and Nissan lovers just remember to each their own.
Anyways it came down to the F150 (obviously). For me the Fords had the most comfortable seats, a great amount of room in the crew cab (plus the rear seats fold up and give a huge FLAT area to load stuff in) and the quality of construction of the Fords seemed to be the best - IMO.
The Ecoboost was the final straw for me in picking Ford. I don't do off roading or heavy hauling/towing but I will use it as a DD and make yearly trips to the mountains. The reason I went with the Eco was the gas mileage and towing ability IF and when I may need it. Kinda like a 4wd, a locker and other goodies we all add to our vehilces - we don't always "need" these things but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it right? Also I talked to my mechanic who said the engine is top notch. Lastly a buddy of mine has almost the exact same truck except he has the 5.0. The 5.0 is a great engine don't get me wrong but the seat of the pants acceleration feel and the little bit of gas mileage savings sold me so I got the Eco over the 5.0.
First of all Ford has greatly improved their trucks since last time I looked at them (2003). Yes gone are the days of a truck being a "truck" but lets face it as we get older we look foward to more luxery and this truck has a lot of those luxeries.
Let me say this the Eco is a rocket!! Plain and simple this truck scoots like not other I've driven or rode in. I realize I'm coming from a 5 cyl H3 but take a look at all the reports in various publications and you'll see the how quick it really is. I feel with the Eco you get up and go right away where when I rode and drove the 5.0 it made a lot of that good old v-8 growling but it took longer to get to going.
Now quickness is great but what about gas mileage? So far I'm averaging 14.7 - 15.8 (87octane) in the city with only a couple of miles a day on an expressway. Sadly that's all the driving I've done right now -city and some expressway. Hopefully I can get time away from work and get some real highway miles in.
I don't think the numbers are too bad especially since I tend to be a little heavy on the gas. In traffic there are no more concerns about merging or passing. This motor will actually get you in trouble because there's not the big v-8 growl to let you know you're kicking it in the butt to go - the Eco's turbos wind up and it just takes off. It's really amazing how the power is instantly available - no tubro lag that I'm aware of.
The cab is spacious and QUIET!! I am really amazed at how quiet the cab is at speed and during accleration. The stereo is great - I upgraded on that too. But to go down the street with no wind noise or engine noise and be able to talk in a normal voice is wonderful. The H3 - well it was a block and the wind noise was noticable. Not horrible but you noticed it, but not in this new truck. QUIET!!
The electronic power steering is something new too. The truck feels responsive and controlled. IDK if the EPS is that important but Ford put it in there and so it seems to be working well. I don't know what else to say except that the truck feels solid, secure and stable in all the manuevering through traffic.
I really like the fact of a real locker and that it's available in 2wd too. It'll be interesting this winter to see how the truck handles snow and ice. I loved my H3 for the sure footed security of full time 4wd - not to mention it felt like I was driving a tank.
My future plans are a 2" leveling kit, bigger tires, a topper, line-x for the bed and maybe a CAI. Otherwise I'm not going to get too crazy.
It has the tow package and power folding mirrors so hopefully by September or October I'll be heading to the mountains - maybe even pulling a trailer if I'm lucky.
I'll definitely keep everyone posted on the gas mileage here in flat Nebraska and also how it does in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming.
I know I ramble on here about a whole lot of nothing but I'm just exicted and very impressed with this new truck!
