fdxdad1

I think those who bought the 57 thunderbird were glad they did once they seen the 58.

Spamfritter

I couldn't agree more. Still some people actually do think that way. I bought a 2014 Mustang GT when I saw what the 2015's were going to look like. I didn't regret that decision at all. The new one looked like a cross between a Catfish and a Ford Fusion. I called them "FishStangs" for a long time. Over time I grew fond of the new styling. However, I liked most aspects of the interior and the switch to IRS from the start. As you pointed out though, I wonder how many people say "I liked the old one better" would actually trade up if they could do it for the right price. In some cases people are simply trying to convince themselves that what they have is better while actually longing for the latest model.


It is difficult to discern when this is the case or not.


On pure looks, I'd agree. The 1958 was ****ing horrible.

acdii

I wouldn't. If god forbid, my truck got totaled out, I would search far and wide for another 2014. I had a 2013 Flex that had that fate happen to it, and regrettably I could not find a replacement Flex in the amount of time needed to get back the taxes paid, and settled for an MKT instead. Not the same even though it came from the same assembly line. I really enjoyed the Flex, but did not like the MKT, it was cramped, lacked cubbyholes for things, and had a total of 2 cup holders up front, just like the new F150. My coffee mug does not fit in the door of the new trucks. Why they decided to widen the cab and then stick a wider console in and door handles that intrude into the seat is beyond me. New does not mean better, just new. I also am not crazy about the Toyotaish looking front end, or Nissanish tailgate.

I do like the new SYNC though, now that is leapyears ahead of MFT. It reminds me a lot of their older touchscreen they had in the 2012 navigation. Wish I could retro fit that into my 2014.

FerdinandF150

Wrong thread

acdii

OK I freaking jinxed myself. I DID total out my 14 two weeks ago. I did search for another 14, but had to think, do I really want a used truck with miles on it after putting 63K on the wrecked one in 20 months?

What forced me to decide was the fact the insurance would only cover a rental for 5 days, which gave me 3 business days in order to find a replacement vehicle or pay through the nose for transport until I do, the rental would be nearly $50 a day for a pickup.

After searching for a used 14 F150, and finding the selection pretty slim, either they were high mile lariats, or low mile XLT, decided, go look at the new ones, and got an excellent deal on a 16 Lariat 502a with tow package and 3.5 EB. I know I said I would replace it with a like truck, and wish I could have found the right one, but I do like the 16.

My original observations still stand though. Windshield is a little more restrictive in outward viewing, but I'm used to it by now. I finally got the seat adjusted so I no longer whack my knee on the door or console, so that's a plus. Still not crazy about the switch positions, but getting used to them.

What I found I am truly loving about the new truck are the auto highbeams and LED lights. I can SEE in the dark when raining now!! The Sony sound is OK, not as good as the Kicker, but better than the one I rented. The EB in this one I find is a bit less quick off the line due to the 3.55 gears. The 3.15 gears really move the truck, but hamper towing, so hoping this one is better at towing.

What is with the fake engine sounds?

Handling was better in the 2014, especially over tracks, where the 14 would just sputter over them, the new one shimmies and shakes over them, could be that its the 4WD and LT tires, but it really shakes, I can see the bed twisting in the mirror, hopefully it will settle down a bit with a topper on it.

Already from the day I brought it home, have had 3 issues with it, first, the rear passenger door lock froze, dealer ordered 4 new lock kits per the TSB, but 3-4 weeks backorder, then the Intelligent Access would not unlock the doors if the handles were wet. After driving through the dirty salt water on the roads, they wouldn't only lock, not unlock, wiped them down really good with a shop towel and they started working, so will see what happens after the next snow. The third thing is a vibration that is felt throughout the cab and it not a wheel or tire as it is centered on the cab which makes me think its the drive shaft.

On the plus side though, that tech package rocks. Really liking the 360* camera, finding it very useful. The bed lighting is nice, that should come in handy, hopefully I can tie the topper lighting into it. Like the spot lights on the mirrors, they were helpful already, and the remote opening tailgate will come in handy, and I especially like that the tailgate step is hidden better. For me that is a must have feature and not having the sissy handle in the middle of the tailgate is step up!

It will take some getting used to having a 4x4 again, it was one of the things I didn't like about the 2012 I had, just did not like how it handled, but this one handles a bit better, and the 20" wheels off my 14 should fit it just fine, so that will help with the ride and shimmyshake over tracks. I will save the 18" LT's for towing, and if they work OK in snow, will swap during winter.

BTW, Blizzaks and ICE, don't play well. At least I slid straight and didn't spin or I would have been in a world of hurt.

I am just hoping that the problems I found will get resolved and no more crop up. The 14 was as trouble free as it can get, only a minor issue with the remote start for 63K miles. I really liked that truck, but finding a replacement just like it is nearly impossible. I found only one RWD and it had the 6.5' bed, which defeated the purpose of getting another 14, to use the topper and Bedrug and floor liners. It also had the Sony system, so couldnt use the Kicker either.

I just wish I had had more time to shop, but when I have a 120 mile RT and have to work everyday, my shopping time was very limited, so I found the best deal on something I could find.

Dirttracker18

Something is not right here. You are not understanding how gearing works or made an error in writing.

The 3.55 gears are deeper (lower) than the 3.15 which would make the 3.55 gears BETTER towing and BETTER of the line response, not worse.

For low end power and towing ability you want lower gears (higher numerically). Essentially the higher the number, the longer the lever.

marshallr

Even your original post doesn't add up for me. If your old truck with the 5.0 had 3.15 gearing it is no wonder it was a "slug" compared to the 3.5 Ecoboost you drove. The difference was mostly the gearing not the engines.

When shopping for a used 2012-2014 last spring I was neutral on which engine I wanted and drove several of both the 5.0 and 3.5. All of the 5.0's I drove had 3.55 gears and all of the 3.5's had 3.31 gears. The 5.0's were quicker accelerating up to 30ish mph because of gearing. After that it was a tie. The 3.5 did downshift less on upgrades.

I do tow a good bit but never rarely over 4000 lbs so either engine was adequate for me. I decided to buy the truck I got the best deal on and ended up with the 5.0. If I towed more weight I'd have held out for the 3.5 with 3.55 gears.

My BIL bought a new 2016 about the same time with the 3.5 and 3.55 gears. It does have more power than my truck. The lighter weight of the aluminum body and the newer engines puts out more power as well, it makes a difference.

acdii

I didn't own a 5.0, I owned a 3.5 with 3.15. The rental was the 5.0 with 3.73.

I do understand gearing, the taller the gear the fewer turns on the driveshaft required to turn the tire one revolution. The difference between the 3.15 EB and 3.73 5.0 gears is that the EB in my RWD could put the power down faster than the 5.0 can, and cruise @ 60MPH was only 1300 RPM, where in the 5.0 was 1700 or so. The EB produces the torque almost instantly, where the 5.0 doesn't kick in until a much higher RPM.

Thats the real difference between them, based on pedal effort. To get the 5.0 to move as quickly as the RWD 3.5 required more pedal movement. The same goes for my current 3.5 EB, the engine needs to rev higher to get the same effort to the ground. My current truck turns 1600@60MPH. Thats a 300 RPM difference.

So for the 3.15, for every single turn of the ring gear, the drive shaft turns 3.15 revolutions, the 3.73, the driveshaft turns 3.73 revolutions, so that the engine has to run faster to get the same number of turns at the wheel. This is why Muscle cars use 2.90 gearing and not 3.73 gears. The taller the gearing, the faster the engine can move the car, the shorter the gearing, the more torque is applied to the wheels. This is why my RWD truck was quicker with normal acceleration. In a race setup, you push the pedal to the floor, and the engine with the most HP and torque will win regardless if its 3.15 or 3.73. Which ever engine can get into the torque range faster will make the jump. Since the EB produces torque almost instantly it can get the truck moving quicker with the taller gears. The turbos start boosting at 1500RPM at which point torque is way up there, then around 2500 RPM it peaks and stays there to 4500 RPM where it gradually falls off, where the 5.0 produces its peak torque a few thousand RPM higher, around 4200 RPM.

A 5.0 with 3.15 will beat a 3.5 EB with 3.73 on the top end, but the 3.5EB with 3.73 will beat the 5.0 off the line, whether the reverse is true depends on the 3.5 and if it is tuned or not. A well tuned 5.0 could beat a stock EB off the line with that setup.

Regardless, my observation was not which one would be quicker off the line with a full out flat on the floor gas pedal, it was in regards to normal average pedal pressure. The 14 EB Screw RWD with 3.15 gears required less pedal pressure to accelerate than the rental 5.0 with 3.73 gears, and the EB with 3.55 gears. Out of the 3, which one is faster? Not a clue as I only pushed the 14 RWD, and that bugger was fast with a tune. From 55 passing someone, by the time I got to their mirror I was doing 90, and at times past 100 by the time I was around them. I have hit 115 MPH passing someone, as I found out playing around with my GPS and finding out that it recorded my highest speed. It might not have been a brute to beat a Vette or GT500, but it was no slouch either. I did reset the tune to limit my speed to 110 just to be safe, it was set unlimited.

They were just different in that respect, wasn't knocking the 5.0, its a great engine, but when compared to the EB in just normal driving, the 14 was quicker to get going with less effort on the pedal due to the gearing. It was just what I was used to, after a while, relearning the new truck, it moves just as well but requires more pedal effort on my part to get the same results.

There is a lot I like about the new truck, but there was a lot I loved about the old truck, its just going to take some time to get to know this new truck. The lighter body has advantages and disadvantages, it gives me a little more payload, but takes away some of the smoothness the heavier truck gave to the ride. Going over tracks is a great example of the differences.

tareed94

The track bounce is a notorious issue, and is due to the rear shocks. That's why a lot of people on here have already changed rear shocks to performance shocks. I love my '16 with the 5.0, much faster, more fuel efficient, and MUCH roomier than my '07 with the 5.4.

Blown F-150

This^^^^

Spend a few bucks on some bilsteins. I know it may seem like the truck should be better stock (and I agree), but it simply isn't the case.

Easy to install and you'll be happy. If you feel like spending a few $$$ more, the fox 2.0's are pretty nice.