I'm needing a vehicle due to my son turning 16 but also daughter heading to A&M next week so I'm looking used. I found:

2015 - 1 owner, Lariat SCREW, 95K miles, 501A package 3.5L, 3.31 rear end, Trailer Tow Package, black interior, very clean - $31,999 (they are seeking discounted pricing now but haven't heard back)
2018 - 1 owner, Lariat SCREW, 114,000 miles, 502A package, 3.5L, 3.55 rear end, Max Trailer Tow Package, camel interior, very clean - $29,991 (no other negotiations)

Does the 3 years newer, Sync3 & package offset the 20k in additional miles in value? Does the Max Trailer Tow make that much of a difference in between rear ends? We do pull a 23' bay boat & 32' travel trailer periodically but not often.

They're 2 different colors and I like both but the interior on the 2018 would have to grow on me. I hate this market and I hate car shopping!

I need some advice as I'm about ready to throw in the towel and get something that just runs. Any helps, suggestions or opinions are welcome.

 

I love my 2020 502a. Be careful, easy to have payload problems with lariats and big travel trailers. MaxTow package will have 36 g gas tank, can be nice while traveling. I special ordered my maxtow without the moonroof. Might look at your yellow sticker in your current XLT, and both the ones you are looking at. I always put my kids in Honda civics or Toyos, gas misers, safe, cheap insurance, low maintenance, great college cars, etc.

 

Thanks, I should have noted both have the 36 gal tank, which I don’t think I’d ever buy another without. I do pull the travel trailer now with my existing truck. I’ll need to verify the axle ratio & the yellow sticker. After adding some bigger tires it seemed sluggish so I’m assuming it’s the 3.31.

 

I think the 2nd gen 3.5 and 10 speed are worth a lot. Some people have 10 speed problems but I really like it. That said, the 1st gen with 6 speed are reliable.

Did the 2018 already have the phasers replaced? If not, you'll have to pay out of pocket for a timing system overhaul based on the mileage being past the extended coverage so you may want to account for that.

I would NOT buy a 501a. The value is not there with 501a (to me) vs a 502a so why not save money and buy a 302a instead. So that alone would disqualify the 2015.
3.55 and Max Tow are also better for towing anything fairly heavy. Another strike against the 2015.

 

First thing I thought of when I saw 3.5 and those years was phasers, chains, and money being spent right away for repairs just like mbrick mentioned. Be careful.

 

They are going to verify if anything was done on the cam phasers. Was that a covered service to all or only if the engine shuddered?

On my wife’s 2019 Expedition, the local Ford dealer said it didn’t apply unless we were experiencing shudder issues. We can’t just take it in to get them re-programmed.

Is the mileage anything to be worried about?

 

It was covered up to 60k for sure, and to a varying prorated % after 60k if the reprogram was done.
Not so much interested in the programming (which is a bandaid), but if a replacement was already done. If done by a Ford dealer it will be visible in Oasis. By 114k miles they were more than likely changed. How quiet is the idle right now?

I would not be worried about the mileage, but others may. I think it also depends if you do your own work or you pay someone else to do it.
At that mileage I would perform a full service: oil, spark plugs, coolant, brake fluid, rear diff, transfer case, front diff, transmission fluid and filter. That will add a lot of cost if paying someone else.

 

I wasn't scared about the mileage either though it is around the mileage where a full service should be done just at mbrick mentioned. I have seen too many 3.5 videos on YouTube I guess which confirmed my choice for the 2.7. The phaser issue is the only concern that I would have as you do not know the maintenance history. I have old F-150 trucks at work with the base V6 engines with well over 200,000 miles with no issues. Maintenance goes a long ways.

 

It’s at a Ford dealer & going through their service. They said they do all the fluid changes, etc. but who knows. We’re supposed to go up tomorrow possibly, but I haven't test driven it. Im dealing with a guy I’ve dealt with often so I trust his word, although he is a salesman too. 😂

I just replaced the intake manifold on my 5.0 due to the P2007 IMRC issue so I don’t mind work, but definitely not a mechanic. I was a farm boy back in the day.

Would the cam phaser work itself be listed on the CARFAX or just the notice?

Thank you all for the replies!

 

What sort of towing do you do? I’m curious what the difference would be between the two engines. I’ve found a 2015, 5.0 Platinum but they don’t want to wiggle on pricing. I’m ok with the 5.0, just keep hearing the 3.5 out-performs it? 🤷🏻‍♂️