New to Forum & looking for a basic F150
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 34
Likes: 35
New to Forum & looking for a basic F150
I've driven a 99, 02, and an 05 in the past but they were all company owned and various trims from XLT to Lariat.
This time I am looking to buy a basic truck to use as a commuter vehicle. It will never be used for towing and what goes into the bed will household stuff. It is never going to haul a bed of concrete bags or anything like that. I am leaning towards a manual V6 model with roll up windows, manual locks, etc.
I know the 4.2 V6 had problems with the intake gasket leaking coolant into the cylinders. Was this problem only on the early years (97-99)? What is the life expectancy of this engine with normal use?
There is a 2000 model single cab manual flair side truck with 150K miles for sale in my area for $4K. It is bone stock (even the radio is factory), no accidents, and some wear and tear but you can tell it was not used as a construction truck or beat on.
Another one is a 2002 XL single cab long bed 5.4 V8 with 130K miles on it that was used as a construction truck. This one has power locks and windows, cruise, etc...but the roof is rusted, the odometer goes out at times, the a/c controls do not work sometimes, etc. I can buy this one around $2-3K. The guy who owns it used to work with me and has owned it since 2005.
Even if I do not buy these I am still leaning towards the V6 5 speed models.
Any model year to avoid?
I am looking to spend around $4K max.
This time I am looking to buy a basic truck to use as a commuter vehicle. It will never be used for towing and what goes into the bed will household stuff. It is never going to haul a bed of concrete bags or anything like that. I am leaning towards a manual V6 model with roll up windows, manual locks, etc.
I know the 4.2 V6 had problems with the intake gasket leaking coolant into the cylinders. Was this problem only on the early years (97-99)? What is the life expectancy of this engine with normal use?
There is a 2000 model single cab manual flair side truck with 150K miles for sale in my area for $4K. It is bone stock (even the radio is factory), no accidents, and some wear and tear but you can tell it was not used as a construction truck or beat on.
Another one is a 2002 XL single cab long bed 5.4 V8 with 130K miles on it that was used as a construction truck. This one has power locks and windows, cruise, etc...but the roof is rusted, the odometer goes out at times, the a/c controls do not work sometimes, etc. I can buy this one around $2-3K. The guy who owns it used to work with me and has owned it since 2005.
Even if I do not buy these I am still leaning towards the V6 5 speed models.
Any model year to avoid?
I am looking to spend around $4K max.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 123
Likes: 20
From: Lutz, FL and Steinhatchee, FL
I just traded my 04 F-150 and it had a 4.2 V6, also had manual roll up windows but it was a SCAB, I had 191,000 miles on the motor, the only motor issue I had was a vacuum leak in the intake manifold that gave me a engine service light. It was the manifold gasket, got it fixed and that was that. No coolant leak at all. For me it was very reliable, someone is driving it now. got about 18-19 on the highway and about 16-17 around town.It also had an automatic tranny.
