BlueFlameMetallicFX4

You pretty much answered your own questions...5.0, 3:73's, and 6.5 bed.

As stated previously, see if you can test drive each engine. I was a hardcore V8 fan since my first car. After driving the ECB, it was clear to me which one I wanted...the ECB pulls effortlessly at low speed, you barely have to hit the gas to get moving (and then some).

As far as the 5.0 being "tried and true"...that's not true at all, this 5.0 is nothing like the 5.0 we used to know, I'm not sure if it even shares one single bolt of the original 5.0 ! And there are problems with the "Mustang" 5.0, do a search or talk to someone who knows. Both engines have their problems...

FishingBen

I ordered and got to pick everything I wanted. I went with the 4.10's with the Ecoboost (Only motor to get 4.10's with so no options there) with a 157" wheelbase Screw. I'm putting BFG 285/65/r20 34.7" tires and Bilstein leveling shocks on it before it even leaves the lot. So, that was a major factor in my decision for the lower gears. I can never have enough truck. I'm going from a 2002 Super Duty 7.3 Diesel with 8" lift 40 inch tires an 8' bed and 4.88 gears. I wore it out! I Loved It! Baddest truck I ever built!But, I just needed something a little more practical for my ever growing family. (If I was single I'd have just kept my single man monster truck. Hard to put 2 kids in car seats when you have no back seat because you ditched it for a wall of speakers 9 years ago...) This little truck will be a nice compromise between what I want, to what I need now. I think if you use a truck to capacity like I often do you should get as much truck as you can afford and capably drive. I live in a rural to suburban area as alluded to in earlier posts for consideration. So, parking at the Starbucks for non-fat-mocha-latte-tino with ciniamon-sprinkles or The Gap for some pre-faded jeans that have realistic looking holes in the knees to make it look like you wore them out working on something with a pre-tattered hat to match, parking lot... is for dam sure not a real big concern for me. You should drive your Miata for that. It's a truck people... If it ain't covered in mud, blood, n scars, you probably don't really need one. Just sayin...

OP, Buy the Biggest truck you can get away with and use the urine out of it. Any engine that'll squeal the tires in the summer, get you out of a mud bottom during the spring turkey season, haul 4 deer carcasses and all your gear in the bed in the fall, and pull your bass boat up the ramp when its iced up in the winter for smallmouth fishin is good.

FishingBen

P.S. Caveat for last statement: So long as it's got a blue oval on it.

Scrappy Doo

iTrader: (1)

Almost all of your questions are personal preference.

Flip a coin on the eco or 5.0. Both are good engines. I got the 5.0 because the extra $1250 for the eco wasn't worth it to me. ($750 upgrade, plus extra $500 rebate of 5.0)

I got 5.5 because i just don't like the 6.5 on the f150. It looks like a school bus that way to me. But if you haul a lot or whatever, then get the 6.5.

The 3.73 will be enough axle, unless you plan big tires, lift, etc.

And the appearance package is all personal taste. I think it's ok, but can't stand the outside stripe or the black wheels. I like the interior aspects of it.

pfbz

For me, the monochromatic look of the FX4 exterior with body colored bumpers coupled with the more subdued and IMHO classy 'euro' looking interior of the FX4 made it an easy decision on my 2011. The FX4 Lux package had nothing I didn't want, and he Lariat offered nothing extra that I wanted (except maybe cooled seats). Plus I hated the fake wood interior trim and all the plasti-chrome outside.

For 2012, the decision would be a bit tougher for one reason. 2-speed AWD. Not available on the FX4, and for the type of driving I do, it might be a nice feature. I say might, because Ford has said very little about it. It is a Borg-Warner T-case, purpose built for Ford, with an electronic F/R clutch rather than clutch plates, possibly the same as in previous explorers, but looking at the non 2-speed AWD T-case on the 2011 Harley and Limited's, it might lots of extra weight. How well it works is going to really depend on how clever the software is and how quickly the mechanical bits can respond to computer input. If the same guys that did Sync did the T-case software, it's going to suck! (kidding... I realize MicroSoft partnered on the Sync system, and about zero possibility they work on drive-train algorithms.)

Even if the new T-case is great, it would be hard for me to swallow the plasti-wood and plasti-chrome look of the Lariat. Obviously other people like that look, as they seem to sell a ton of them. I'd probably have to go up to the Platinum to get an interior I like and body-colored exterior trim, but it is a pretty large price jump. And if that silly cladding doesn't come off without leaving holes behind, that would probably be a deal breaker as well.

EdgeR6

How long has ford used a 5.0 litre engine? I think they may know a little something about them.
I don't care what numbers say the eco is just not for me and I did test drive it. I did not feel turbo's at all. I think a lot of people (not everyone) may have never been in a car with a turbo or on or in a vehicle that has some real 0 - 60 0 - 100 times. And I think that is why a lot of people like the feel of the eco.
I never stated my info was the rule I just stated what I knew. I could really care less about the eco vs the 5.0 cause if you want to race I will get my race vehicle out, the only thing that evens has a change that ford builds is the GT.
I miss the 5.7 that is for sure and I knew that going in, but pretty much everywhere else I Feel like ford exceeds Toyota epically on the interior.. But the bottom line my Tuck will get my toys to where I need them to go, I have owned rangers before I had a 4 year stint with Toyota.
I didn't do a lot of reserach before I bought my truck it was kind of inpulsive but it was a nice truck so thats why I got what I did and the intrest rate was pretty dam good and a lot better then what I was paying on the tundra even though my payment went up it still made a lot more sense

pfbz

I've never run a 1/4 mile on a strip in my life, and I don't have much patience for street drag racing, but I DO LIKE being able to effortless pass a semi on a mountain road, say at 10,000 feet on a 5% grade. 5.0 just isn't going to offer the same performance in those conditions.

That is what I love about the EcoBoost. the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times just document the power in an easily comparable way.