i have a 2000 ext cab 4x4 4.6. dont ask why i got the small v8. its pathetic. i have 150k on it and it runs and looks great it is just WEAK! im ready to upgrade. i will spend 15 to 20k on a new truck. am i better off waiting till the '09 comes in my price range or look for a 07ish? i tow a 21foot ski boat from time to time and spend alot of time off road. mostly desert, not mud. i wont drive anything but a ford truck, but the mpg sucks. are the 09's really that much better with the 6 speed tranny? im not picky on options, just need a 4x4 and prefer crew cab. any help would be great!

 

Going from a 2000 to an '09 would be like night to day. The 2010's are starting to show up so you might be able to get a deal on an '09... not for 20k though.

 

i haven't driven an 09, but after racing one in my old truck i dont see them being any faster than an 08 5.4

if you can find an 07 5.4 in your price range go for it, definitely can find one for 20k long as your not looking for a fully loaded truck.

 

well im going to iraq next month. so in year they will be in that price range. i found several lariat 06 for that price. so in a year it should be around that. the 97-03 body style is by far the best, hate to move on. but i hear in 09 they improved the mpg. if its only minor then i dont care. as long as i get better than 12, like i do now

 

i'd get an '09 just for the 6 speed.

 

Depending on your expenses at home, you can save more than that in a year overseas. Plus, at the exchange you can get better than fair deals from the manufacturers. I haven't been over since 05 and I cant remember if ford is one of the vendors.

 

Exchange New Car Sales is the site, here is the link, take a gander

http://www.encs.com/

 

well ya i also have a 10k bonus i get every year. i forsee saving almost 40k while in iraq. but a truck is not a priority nor a good long term investment. i would like to buy a house when my time is through. so assuming i get 6k for my truck, i will throw in another 15 or so to upgrade. how are the new ford tranny's? cuz i know around my year they SUCKED. i have been thru 2 already. and a 6sp sounds pricey to work on. only problem i EVER had tho. 150k and no issues, besides door lock motors, they all do that.

 

I understand your priorities. I think it might be hard to find an 09 screw 4x4 for that next year but who knows. the new 6spd is new. We will have to wait and see. some folks are having some issues. there is one or two TSBs out on it. there is hard downshifting from 2nd to 1st and from 5th to 4th. I have experienced both a couple of times. When I go in for service at 7500 I'll have the techs address it. Other than those couple of glitches, I have been impressed. It is smooth and seems to shift at all the right times. there are some threads on the tranny issues which should be helpful.