So I am looking for a new truck and I have been to a few dealers to test drive some CrewCab Lariats. I have driven two Ecoboost trucks and two 5.0 trucks. All sticker for around $45k except for one of the 5.0s which was a Platinum. Both 5.0s had this really noticeable harsh 2-1 downshift. However both Ecoboost trucks where as smooth as glass. My current 2010 has this slight bump from 2-1 as well but nothing like the 5.0 trucks. It was like someone bumped me from behind.

So the question is what are other people's experience with the 2011 with these two engines? Is this something common with the 5.0 trucks? Or is it luck of the draw?

 

my 5.0 does not do that. shifts are smooth

 

is the shift hard at wot? My 5.0 shifts smoothly but I never go wot. I have no regrets with the 5.0, my last six fuel ups have been 19s but still no 20 avg tanks

 

Nope, just coasting to a stop. Other than that it was pretty smooth.

 

I have 10,000 miles on my 5.0 with no shifting issues. Truck averages 16.5 MPG

 

I have 9200 miles on the 5.0 and nothing like that. I would chose it again. I have avereaged 19.4 for the 9200 miles and regularly get between 19.5 and 20 for a week's driving.

 

1,000 miles on my new 2011 Lariat Super Crew with 5.0 engine. No shifting issues at all, but I sometimes wonder why 1st gear is so low. I mean, under moderate acceleration, it shifts to 2nd less than halfway across an intersection. I like the old 5-speed auto a lot better where even the 4.6 pulls just fine from a start and it runs in 1st gear to about 20 mph. Dear Ford -- what the heck is with the semi-granny low in a 1/2 ton truck?

Saw the comment above about gas mileage. Right out of the box, mine got 20.4 on a 420 mile 90% highway trip at 65-70 MPH. Since then, it's been doing mid-16s around town -- 3 lanes per side secondary roads with traffic lights every mile or so, and some freeway in rush hour traffic. However, my second fill-up took 25.4 gallons, but the trip computer said I used 24.6, so my actual mileage may have been a little less.

 

Have you floorboarded it from a standstill? pretty awesome! I suspect they did the 1st gear that way to get the truck rolling with minimal fuel useage.

 

900 miles on my 5.0 FX4, I have not experienced the harsh downshift you have described. I would buy it again in a second.

SLW-SVT, The shift at WOT is firm but nothing out of the ordinary, If I had my way it would be much firmer at any throttle position but, Thats coming from a gear head who is used to building his own transmissions and tailoring the shift to suite my performance minded thought process.

 

I too would like firmer shifts. They are better than my stock 2005 but I would like shifts more like the shifts after the 2005 was tuned by PHP.

 

people say this, and i would love to know how a workable PHP tune shifts. ours were either 3-4 seconds of false neutral feeling between shifts where you though oo **** did my tranny fall off or slamming in so hard your looking in the rear view mirror for your transmission. so i will say, i would love for it to shift like my VMP or innovative diesel tunes

 

When I ordered custom tunes, I told Bill that I wanted a quick, firm shift but did not want a shift that felt as if it was doing damage. He nailed it right on. I could feel no slippage but it did not rattle my teeth.

 

i tried getting it corrected a few times and finally gave up and sold the gryphon. each tune felt the same, power was improved but not worth the cost of another transmission from it.

edit: blue, what the hell is floorboarding?

 

That term is from the 50s and 60s when the pedal would go to the floor when you stood on it.

 

I had an 87 Perf tune and a 93 Perf. The 93 was definitely stronger than the 87 but the 87 was so good, I never felt the need for the 93. The 87 Perf was as strong as the edge level 3 but much better shifting and downshifting. The downshifting in the Edge tune was very lacking and Bill fixed that. Ineeded to be able to downshift to pass at 65 mph or so.