Hey guys, newb here. Im currently almost 15 years old and saving up for a first car. I want an F150, 2000-2003. Is that a good idea? Also, how is the gas mileage? Currently looking at a truck- 2003 F150 extended cab FX4 4.6L. My dad has a 2004 Supercrew 4.6 2x4 and he can get 18-20. Could I get that much with trucks like the one I listed? Thanks!!

 

I got an 03 fx4 with the 5.4 in it and i get around 15 mpg so your probably gonna get around 16-17 with the smaller engine plus its 4wd which dont help with the gas mileage

 

My first is my 03 5.4 f150.it's 4wd.it's a good truck it's still running and it gets ran hard

 

My truck was my first vehicle, its a 2000 4x4 with the 5.4, and I still think
I made a good decision, but i can only dream of fuel mileage like that, mines more like 12mpg on a good day

 

My first vehicle is what I still drive. 2002 4.2L F150 w/M5R2 5 speed. I see about 15 mpg on a normal day of highway driving. Got it with 67K miles on it now it has 134k miles...seems like it is always in the shop or has some issue running properly. Don't get me wrong, its never left me stranded and got me through high school and some of college but it's gotten to the point where I can pretty accurately predict when it will have a mechanical failure.

When I turn 20 here in a few months, it will probably be time to get a new one which will more than likely be a Common Rail 5.9 or a LBZ Duramax. Until then though, my $4800 02 F150 has gotten me many places, just not as reliability as I would've liked. If you can find it for a good deal, buy it and if you have issues with it, fix it until you put into it what you would've paid KBB for it (which is why I'm getting ready to get rid of mine).

 

im going to be 16 in 1 month and i just got my 1998 f150 4months ago i love it it gets around 15mpg you got allot of time still. i would look around for a bit to get the best deal possible
i looked for about a year and got my truck for 1200 the owner thought the trans was out i knew it was a brake switch, was putting my cd player in replaced a blown fuse and it worked

 

my first vehicle is the truck I have now, 03 f150 5.4 supercrew and get around 12.5mpg in the city and 15-16 highway. great truck and I have no regrets

 

Depending on if you are male or female and where you live, you may want to rethink the idea of a 4X4 pickup truck as your first vehicle. Insurance will likely be stupidly expensive on a 4X4 pickup truck- at the very least, ask your insurance carrier about comparing rates on a few models. If you are on your parents policy, it may not sound like much, but when you move out or if you move to another area, insurance could freaking kill you.

Back when I was on my mothers policy, it was something like $80 a month. I moved to a different zipcode and got my own policy and it jumped up to something like $400 a month and it has been quoted as high as $750 a month- I have no tickets or accidents on my record either.

I guess my point is, rather than focusing exclusively on the gas mileage or purchase price of the vehicle, at your age, seriously research your insurance rates including what they are likely to be when you live on your own.

 

Your first vehicle is always the one you remember. Mine was a 69 VW bug that I morphed into a Baja. Waldo will always bring a smile to my face. Get what makes you happy.

A 4WD truck is NEVER going to get great gas mileage. 18-20 out of a 4.6 is really the top end of what one of these trucks will do and requires a practiced foot on the gas and brake. more realistic is 14 to 15 and that is still optimistic.

I am 52 with a Grandfatherly foot. I get about 14 to 15 mixed and 17 to 18 Highway.

16 year old feet aren't nearly so conservative...

 

I get 17-18 in my 4.6 2wd automatic truck no problem