If you were to buy used... ('15 vs '17) (5.0 vs 3.5EB)
12-11-2018, 10:04 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
If you were to buy used... ('15 vs '17) (5.0 vs 3.5EB)
I'm a long time Ford fan, but I've been truck-less for a few years. I'd had 2 old F150's, a bronco, and a '03 and '05 F250 through the years. Now it's time to buy a F150 crew 4x4 for my small business and family duties. I haven't been keeping up to date on the latest news since the '15 came out and I don't know how they're holding as they approach the end of leases and warranties.
The primary job is to tow my small camper (3,000 pounds), a small boat (3,000 pounds), yet it would great to be able to haul a trailer with my 5,800 pound Jeep (8000 total?) and get a bigger boat someday (5-6k pounds). It'll also be a long haul family road trip machine as spending days on the road in a lifted Jeep is getting tiresome.
I'm targeting 2015-2017 XLT's as they're around $30k. Is there any particular year in that group better than the others? I know everyone raves about the torque of the 3.5EB, but buying a 3 year old truck with 30-40k miles on it, I can't help but lean towards the 5.0 for reliability and I like the V8 sounds.
I really just want to avoid some of the pitfalls by doing my research. I had a then new 2012 Shelby GT500 with a defective transmission at 600 miles, my 2005 F250 had the dreaded 5.4 with busted spark plugs, etc. I don't need to be replacing turbos or some other issue that can be avoided if it's a known defect.
Thanks.
The primary job is to tow my small camper (3,000 pounds), a small boat (3,000 pounds), yet it would great to be able to haul a trailer with my 5,800 pound Jeep (8000 total?) and get a bigger boat someday (5-6k pounds). It'll also be a long haul family road trip machine as spending days on the road in a lifted Jeep is getting tiresome.
I'm targeting 2015-2017 XLT's as they're around $30k. Is there any particular year in that group better than the others? I know everyone raves about the torque of the 3.5EB, but buying a 3 year old truck with 30-40k miles on it, I can't help but lean towards the 5.0 for reliability and I like the V8 sounds.
I really just want to avoid some of the pitfalls by doing my research. I had a then new 2012 Shelby GT500 with a defective transmission at 600 miles, my 2005 F250 had the dreaded 5.4 with busted spark plugs, etc. I don't need to be replacing turbos or some other issue that can be avoided if it's a known defect.
Thanks.
12-11-2018, 10:18 AM
#2
The 5.0 or 3.5 eco will do that towing just fine. The 3.5 eco has been pretty reliable if you follow the forums. The 6 speed works fine for me.
Mine is for sale in the classifieds here but a little more than 30k. The 15’s-16’s are hitting the market now and it looks like under 50k mile trucks from XLT-Platinum are $30-40K. The 17s aren’t as common as they are only a ‘year old’. The 16’s have Sync2 (if that really matters) and I do not think they had that auto stop start crap till 2017.
I’d possibly consider leaning towards the 6speed over the long term. I think the G transmission in the 17+ super duty is a derivative of the 6 speed in the 15-16 F150. Also less to break with less gears and some complaints on 10 speed vibration issues; but probably not that common in all honesty as you hear more negative than positive on the forums.
Good luck!
Mine is for sale in the classifieds here but a little more than 30k. The 15’s-16’s are hitting the market now and it looks like under 50k mile trucks from XLT-Platinum are $30-40K. The 17s aren’t as common as they are only a ‘year old’. The 16’s have Sync2 (if that really matters) and I do not think they had that auto stop start crap till 2017.
I’d possibly consider leaning towards the 6speed over the long term. I think the G transmission in the 17+ super duty is a derivative of the 6 speed in the 15-16 F150. Also less to break with less gears and some complaints on 10 speed vibration issues; but probably not that common in all honesty as you hear more negative than positive on the forums.
Good luck!
Last edited by Joe Tom; 12-11-2018 at 10:24 AM.
12-11-2018, 10:50 AM
#3
Senior Member
I've always been told to stay away from the first year of a complete re-design (2015). My 2016 5.0 has been GREAT! Zero issues. Like the comment above, both the 5.0 and ecoboost will be good for what you need it for. 2015 was the first year of the gen 2 ecoboost, though I haven't heard anything bad against them. Like you, I love the sound of a v8, and I still believe the 5.0 will outlast an ecoboost, but that's just my opinion. If you find a 2017 ecoboost, it'll have the 10 speed transmission, the 5.0 will only have the 6 speed. I have heard some negative things about those transmissions.
12-11-2018, 10:53 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the inputs so far. I'll hone in a 2016. I really hate auto-start. If the '17 has it, I don't want it. I guess at this point, it really really comes down to finding a nicely optioned, taken care of 2016 no matter if it's a 5.0 or 3.5EB.
I think I need to make sure it has the tow packing as well.
I think I need to make sure it has the tow packing as well.
12-11-2018, 10:59 AM
#5
Gone Golfin
iTrader: (3)
It's all about getting the truck optioned the way you want and need. Price you are willing to pay and has been taken care of which is backed up with the service records.
12-11-2018, 11:26 AM
#7
Senior Member
For what you will pay for a used 2016, I'd see what kind of a deal I could make on a leftover 2018 and see how much more expensive going new really is.
A few grand more for a new 2018 with a full warranty may be money well spent. I've seen how people treat their vehicles, especially trucks. That said, it's a crap-shoot either way, even when buying new it seems.
A few grand more for a new 2018 with a full warranty may be money well spent. I've seen how people treat their vehicles, especially trucks. That said, it's a crap-shoot either way, even when buying new it seems.
Trending Topics
12-11-2018, 11:26 AM
#8
Senior Member
I got my '16 for $33K OTD back in April. 19,700 miles on the odo, and it has Sync 3, remote start, towing package, really all the good stuff I wanted. Just some food for thought, I've seen '16 chrome package XLT's with ~25K on them for around $30K.
I know some people said why not just buy new? But I would have paid at least $5K more, for a lower model truck (STX), compared to what I got. And at the time Ford's finance offers were worse than the one I got from my bank for a USED vehicle! At this time of the year there are probably better offers. Local dealers still have a bunch of 2018's on their lots.
I know some people said why not just buy new? But I would have paid at least $5K more, for a lower model truck (STX), compared to what I got. And at the time Ford's finance offers were worse than the one I got from my bank for a USED vehicle! At this time of the year there are probably better offers. Local dealers still have a bunch of 2018's on their lots.
Last edited by ghunt81; 12-11-2018 at 11:29 AM.
12-11-2018, 11:44 AM
#9
Senior Member
If you're buying a used truck, you may want to look into the direct fuel injection, vs port & direct fuel injection debate that has been bouncing around. Basically, the 2017 3.5L EB and the 2018 2.7L, & 5.0L all have port & direct FI, while the older models only have direct FI. What that means is on older trucks with only direct FI, there's a possibility that there is carbon building up on the intake valves, which becomes an expensive repair if not addressed in time.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...ect-injection/
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...ect-injection/
12-11-2018, 12:06 PM
#10
Check out the Gen 1 EB threads(i think the gen 2 was mid 2017), the timing chain failure was a major concern i recall
If you're financing It could totally make sense to buy new if you have good credit, most dealers can offer 0% finance on a new truck. If you can find a leftover 18 now there could be some major savings to be had
I know some people said why not just buy new? But I would have paid at least $5K more, for a lower model truck (STX), compared to what I got. And at the time Ford's finance offers were worse than the one I got from my bank for a USED vehicle! At this time of the year there are probably better offers. Local dealers still have a bunch of 2018's on their lots.