Should I buy a new F150??
 

I'm in the market for a half-ton 4x4 extra cab or crew cab pickup.

I currently own a 2012 Fusion and a `97 Suburban that I've lifted and modified.

My daily commute went from 75 miles one way to 14 miles. I'd like to go from 2 vehicles to 1 vehicle and looked at SUVs and pickups.

However, I need something that can fit myself and a couple of buddies while towing up to 5k pounds.

My last 3 vehicles were purchased new through a Ford dealer and Ford Motor Credit loves me.

However, my experience with my last 2 Ford vehicles has been disappointing. The 2005 Mustang was mostly trouble-free and was a great car. The 2009 Mercury Milan had the transmission start slipping and went bad at 36k miles. The new transmission started going bad at 52k miles.

I traded it in on my current 2012 Fusion. It has been trouble-free except for the transmission. It started acting up at around 30k miles, so I took it to the dealer and they did some computer mod and it was fine until a couple of months ago. At 80k miles, it started slipping and hard shifting again. The fluid is dark and I suspect it will need a new transmission.

It is out of warranty now at 84k miles and I was thinking about just trading it in on a new truck.

I like the 2014 F150s and I can get a fairly basic STX 4x4 extended cab with the 5.0 V8 for $32k at the local dealer.

I can get a similarly equipped Toyota Tundra for about the same price.

However, I'm very nervous about going with Ford after my last 2 cars from them had serious transmission issues.

I've heard a lot of great things about the F150's but am not familiar with the 5.0 motor or how reliable the trucks are.

I plan on keeping my new truck for at least ten years and it will be modified for exploring the Idaho back country; mild lift, 35s, bumpers, winch, lighting, etc...

How safe is it to bet on a 2014 F150?

the trans in the 10-12 fusions with the 2.5 and 3.0(6F35) was very problematic but the trans in the F150 (6R80) is damn near bulletproof

You should be able to do a lot better than 32k for an STX. For $32k you should be able to at least get an XLT. I would wait until the 2015's start hitting the lots and get yourself a great deal on a 2014.

Being that the 2014 is the last year of the current gen, all of the kinks have been worked out. Many of the problems you will see with this gen came on the 2011's when the motors were brand new. From what I have seen on these message boards the last few years have been pretty problem free. I have a 2013 with 20k on it and it has been flawless.

yea i agree....32 should get you a supercab XLT

Dude, you can do a lot better than $32K for an STX

I bought mine 5 weeks ago for $26K (Canadian $)
5L, Super Cab, 6.5' box, trailer tow, STX sport package and 201A equipment group.

I live in the epicenter of farm country where there is a huge demand for trucks. The dealers in my area simply don't offer many deals on their trucks.

I stopped by the Chevy dealer the other day to check out the Silverado and the cheapest 4x4 pickup they had in stock was $44k and the salesman said don't even bother to try and get any money off the price; it was harvest time and the farmers are flush with cash...

Waiting for the 2015s to hit the dealers does make sense, though.

I'll have to do some shopping out of the area when I get closer to buying...

4x4?

More than likely not. Stx trims that cheap are not 4x4

I paid 31 for my 2013 5.0 screw XLT 4x4. Truck month...

90% of trucks that are ordered in as stock at a dealership in Canada is 4x4. 4x2 is customer special order only.