ukele6

http://www.passportinfiniti.com/used...d5fcc70fda.htm
Hi im new here! my father owns a f150 2003 model fx4 with 75k miles and no complaints. i used to own a ram 1500 2001 v8 5.9 a few years ago and im back in the market.

I found a f150 v8 lariat 5.4 v8 4wd (2005) fully loaded. Its super nice inside and only has 27k miles. The price is 21,000 from a Mercedes dealer. this thing comes with all the bells and whistles of comfort. As nice as that is i want to make sure im not walking into a head ache.

the truck had 1 owner that owned it for 7 years and i checked the carfax and it went in for service twice back in 2008 but there's no information as to why.


The v8 felt okay, i felt like my dads 2003 can pin me in the seat with the different gears in the pumpkin.

I checked underneath and found surface rust that looked like a vehicle that had 75k miles like my fathers.

I noticed that the truck rode kind of clunky compared to my dads fx4 model. the roads where we tested the truck were not that great so i expected some bumps but i had one real harsh bump that broke the tires loose going around an exit ramp onto the freeway. on the freeway it road great and steered just fine.. no vibrations

I popped the hood and the engine was pretty clean. i noticed the steering shaft was rather grey in color and felt like to me that it had a little play . I dont kow if the spark plugs have been changed...

If i buy this vehicle i will need to replace the shocks because i felt like there wasn't much dampening


to sum it up

Pros - amazing interior
Low mileage 27k
Extrerior is mint
Comes with all bells and whistles


Cons
Age (2005)
surface rust underneath kind of bothered me
Didnt ride near as well as my fathers 2003 fx4


I am an outdoors man i dirt bike, haul, fish, hike, trailer, so i need something that reliable!


Should i avoid this deal and look else where? I suspect the plugs havent been changed and ive read about the nightmares... a fellow neighbor of mine went through that same thing but he waited to 100,000 miles before deciding to change them..... ANYWAY.. i found a 2008 dodge ram 5.7 v8 with 40k miles for 20,000 in mint condition. not as fancy as the ford by any means

Any advice and expertise greatlly appreciated!

flamehead16

surface rust on these newer f150 seems to be the norm new or used. i would buy it after they change the spark plugs. if they wont replace them dont buy it.

ukele6

I sure hope they could do that for me! didnt think about that.. i will defiantly need to be there when they change them out.. thanks for the help and quick response!

Red1999XLT

Have you looked at the dodge? I know this is a ford fourm, but that 5.7 will be the best engine you've ever had plus it has more power than the 5.4 and better gas mileage.

ukele6

I checked out the dodge... and its nice.... my favorite color... i know they aren't the most fancy trucks but from what i hear the parts are cheap and the hemi is one of the easiet engines to work on... Ive never been in such a nice truck like a lariat and man for the $$ its a heck of a deal but i want a truck that will last at-least 150k .. unfortunately even with my heavy maintenance i do i have no idea what the owners have done!

HardcoreFx4

In the future cam phasers will come along. And fx4 are suppose to ride rough.

jwsboard1

Iv been down the dodge route.....and i know all new trucks dont last like they used to. But both my dodges has major rust issues. My f150 is older than the last dodge i had and no rust as of yet. I had a 09 1500 and both bedsides rotted out. Id say ford all the way!

ukele6

my fathers 2003 fx4 felt pretty solid compared to the lariat i drove... it felt like the shocks were shot... i have a ford explorer sport with 135k miles and the shocks on that thing are toast.. it felt just the same but with only 27k miles on a 7 year old truck i wasnt expecting it..

HardcoreFx4

Yeah my fx4 you can feel every bump in it.

ukele6

my 2001 ram 5.9 had door rust when i bought it ... i havent noticed any rust on the 2008 model i checked. i was actually planning to do an undercoat on whatever vehicle i purchase.