Well, I've had my truck almost a year and thats about the time I like to get out of it. I'm kinda bored with it, and since I want a 4x4 anyway I have it narrowed down to three choices. Not even sure this belongs here, but tell me what you think:

1. 2006 Ford F-150 Supercrew FX4 - Black/Black Leather, 6.5' bed, FX4 Lux Package, Power Slider, Moonroof, Audiophile (of course), and the Ford 20" rims. I'm kinda flexible on the bed size, I may stick with the 5.5' since I already have a bed mat for it and I can also swap over my 2.5" Autospring. $41,940 MSRP, my price (D-Plan) would be $35,963.25 less a $3000 customer cash rebate so $32,963.25.

2. 2006 Lincoln Mark LT 4x4 - Oxford White/Light Parchment Leather, Power Pedals, Chrome Running Boards, Skid Plates, Power Sliding Rear Window, Tow Package, 18" Chrome Wheels, Satellite Radio. I can also swap over my bed mat and Autospring, but the mat may look odd being that it says "F-150" on it. MSRP $46,170.00, my price (D-Plan) would be $39,928.65 less a $4000 customer cash rebate, so $35,928.65.

3. 2006 Ford F-250 4x4 XLT Sport Supercab - Dark Shadow Grey/Black XLT Sport Leather Trim Capt Chairs, Backup Sensors, Power Seat, 17" Aluminum Wheels, 12.5K BFT Tow Hitch, 6.0L Navistar Diesel. $44,105 MSRP, my price (D-Plan) would be $37,653.25 less a $2500 cash rebate, so $35,153.25.

I have leased in the past, and I am sort of inclined to do so again, but I am not sure. For instance, if I get the diesel which has been my dream truck for a while now, I would obviously finance it as long as possible so that I can minimize the payments etc..

Also, if I lease, the rebates are less and so that may affect my decision one way or another. So, my reason for posting this is that I want your opinions. The only thing I don't wanna see is something like "Get the diesel" with no explanation. Granted, there's always gonna be somebody but who the heck knows. So chime in, and let's hear what you have to say. By the way, for reference sake, the reason that I want to upg. to 4x4 now is that I really wanted 4x4 when I got my truck last year but settled for the 2WD Lariat. Had I not done that, I'd most likely keep my current truck until the full term of the lease and THEN get something else.

Oh, one more thing, let's not get this off track and talk about how leasing sucks, and purchasing is better, and blah blah blah blah. I just want straightforward opinions with a little backup of each, please?

 

1 or 3

 

If you are really interested in the diesel you may want to want since the PSDs are getting a facelift for '07, then you could probably find some good deals on some left over '06s as well. I may be biased but between the other two I would pick the FX4. Too much chrome for me with the Lincoln. My 2 cents, good luck.

 

I get D-plan, I always get good deals. Thats not a concern of mine. My major concern is that I WANT a diesel truck but I really have no use for it (i.e., towing), and who knows where the cost of diesel is gonna go. Yet, at the same time, I just want 4x4 like I originally had planned when I leased my current F-150. See my predicament?

 

In order of preference:

#3 -- Only 3k more to move up to a more "unique" SuperDuty diesel truck sounds like a no-brainer to me.

#1 -- Still a nice truck.

#2 -- LT's bore me to tears. Just a bunch of gaudy stick-on cladding that makes it look like a 70-year-old mans vehicle. (Think the late-80's Cadillacs that were loaded down with ostentatious trimwork and faux-convertible tops!)


Oh yeah -- I know you don't want to hear this, but in MOST cases, leasing is a tool that little boys use to buy toys they really can't afford. Buy the damn truck outright, or scale-back your choice of vehicle to more accurately reflect your current financial position.

 

Far from a little boy here, at almost 27 years of age. I do know however that with my tendency to want to switch vehicles more often, it does make it easier to get out of a short term (24 month) contract than it is to get out of a conventional (60 month) or even extended term (72 or 84 month) contract. In the last 1.5 years, I have had an 02 F150 Supercrew 4x4, a 2000 Mustang GT, a 2005 F-150 STX S'cab, and currently the 2005 F-150 Lariat Crew. Being in the car business it make sense to me to prepare myself to have an easier time getting out of a contract. But, since the SuperDuty is my dream truck, I will most likely purchase that one long term if that's what I decide to go with. Either way, something will be happening soon. Thanks for the input though

 

Yeah -- I guess we just have very different philosophies when it come to car ownership. I intend to keep my '05 F-150 for the rest of my life, and will do the same with my next purchase of a new Mustang GT. I'm 41 now and unless I fall into some very difficult financial circumstances, I would never even consider getting rid of either one.

Even as far as my daily drivers go, I tend to purchase them new and drive them into the ground, so I'm just not the kind of guy who swaps vehicles all that much. I know a lot of guys who do (trade out of vehicles every 1-2 years) but the economics of this never really made any sense to me.

I could see leasing and swapping if you were wealthy enough that the economics of it didn't really matter, but the vast majority of folks that I know who do this do not even come close to falling into this category. Hey -- to each his own!

 

Oh yeah -- I know you don't want to hear this, but in MOST cases, leasing is a tool that little boys use to buy toys they really can't afford. Buy the damn truck outright, or scale-back your choice of vehicle to more accurately reflect your current financial position.[/QUOTE]

That has to be the most immature thing I have heard in a long time. If you know that you are going to keep the truck for 10 years or longer, then buy it. The way I see this topic goes by my following calculations, so correct me if I'm wrong on this one, please. You buy a $30k truck and finance it for 6 years at 5%, and you end up paying $34,786 back over 6 years. Assuming that you keep the truck for the total 6 years and try to sell it after you pay it off, then you may get an "assumed" $9500-$10,500 out of a 6 year old truck with average miles and condition, this may very a thousand or two. This would put you at spending about $4200-$4050 a year on the truck to buy it, after reselling it after the six years for $9500 or $10,500 respectively. Now I leased a 2006 XLT 4x4 5.4, supercab 4X4 with the chrome package and all options except sunroof for $205 a month with $3000 down and thats including the taxes, tags, fees, and first months payment. This comes down to me paying $3700ish a year for the truck, and I take the truck back to them in near mint condition, like I keep all of my cars, and get another one that that is hopefully better, but you never know about that. This is not to mention the HUGE amount of money that you can lose if you decide that you dont like the truck, and you want to sell it in 2-3 years, in the middle foa a 6 year buy-option. You are F'd pal, most of the time. These figures can vary, and for each person may suit one better than the other, but you get the idea. I played with the numbers for weeks before deciding to lease, and I am damn glad I did, at least so far I am. My accessories that I have put on can be sold and get probably about 70% of that cost back, and my hands are clean of the truck with no worries of trading it in and getting raped in the process, or having to worry about reselling the truck and being a hassle. Long story short, leasing is not dumb. Sorry for the long-winded explanation.

 

Good job not getting off topic guys

 

Ok, 3 or 1. Depends if you want a big mans truck that can do some serious labor just incase you need it in the future. Or if you want a much smoother, cleaner, friendlier truck. I have had a one ton powerstroke 4x4, and I would not go back to it after owning this truck. JMO. Sorry for getting off topic before, didnt read that part.

 

I'd like to have a big man's truck, but do I really need it. I have no lack of anything to make up for with truck size. Bottom line, I want 4x4. That's about my only requirement. I do not do any heavy duty hauling or towing, and who knows where the cost of gas is gonna go. Right now, both diesel and 87 octane are $3.29/gal in my area. The way I see it, a diesel 4x4 is more efficient, thus more for my gas dollars, but I do LOVE my F-150 at the same time. I dont know!

 

I can tell you right now, the diesel will be more fun. Those trucks can be wicked fast, you can get a 6 speed manual in a powerstroke if you desire, they are tougher, and the do run more efficient. I am in a Super Duty Club, from being a past owner, and a lot of those guys are running full size 4x4 powerstrokes and getting 18 mpg city, and about 22 mpg highway depending if you drive 70 mph or higher. I wouldnt base my decision on the fuel mileage though. What I would consider is the 15 quart oil changes, the huge oil filters, the increased importance for coolant changes, fuel filters ever other oil change, and the cold blooded nature of a diesel in the winter, man what a PITA! But definately drive a few before you make that decision, because that was my same decision when I was buying a new truck. It just turned out to be a better deal to get the F150 because of residual value, and I only tow 6000 lbs a few times a year.

 

I just went through this exact situation last month!!!!!! I loved and wanted a F250 crew cab diesel!!!! But had no need for the truck other than putting my quad in the box. I just love the sound of the dieel and the turbo. I ended up buying a 2006 F150 FX4 Screw with the 6.5 ft box after driving both and having a heart to heart with myself. I bought the F150 with the FFV engine so when the E85 fuel is available in my area I can save on fill ups. Thsi truck does more than I need and could be cheaper to fill up in the future. I just could not justify the cost of the diesel, personaly. I would get the FX4 with the FFV engine (choice #1).

Good luck and take pics of what ever you buy!

Nebraska

I have had 13 vehicles in 12 years. And love this truck the best, may have to keep it longer!!!

 

I'm completely in love with diesels.. so opt#3 for me, but opt#1 close second..

Despise the LT's..

 

No FFV available in California. But yeah, I'll put pics up of WHATEVER I get. I have to sell my truck though. And that should be happening sometime this week.