Questions from a prospective F-150 shopper
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Rochester NY
Rocky, that sucks, I wonder how much regional gas blends have to do with highly variable mpg. My mpg numbers are all true, I've tracked almost every tank since I bought it, calculated the old fashion way. The 17-18.6 was the best I seen yet out of this truck and I had it about ayear now and have 8700 on the odometer. Before 16.8 was my best I'm pretty light on the petal though. 3.55 open diff rear end on my truck.
From what I have seen in the last year on this board, the 4.6 might get you 1-1.5 mpg better than the 5.4 but I really wouldn't expect it to get a couple of mpg more in the 04 and up configuration with the 4 speed auto.
From what I have seen in the last year on this board, the 4.6 might get you 1-1.5 mpg better than the 5.4 but I really wouldn't expect it to get a couple of mpg more in the 04 and up configuration with the 4 speed auto.
Last edited by fatman66; Apr 17, 2005 at 03:33 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Originally posted by adrianspeeder
They are nice trucks, you wont be sorry, except at the pump. haha
What years are you looking at? Would you mind a manual tranny?
For new trucks, you can now get a fivespeed manual V6. I drove one and it was pretty neat. Unfortunatly, ford has killed the V8 fivespeed combo in 04 and it doesn't look like it's coming back. Our 97 with a V8 fivespeed stick is a lot of fun to drive and fool around with.
Oh, and welcome too...
Adrianspeeder
They are nice trucks, you wont be sorry, except at the pump. haha
What years are you looking at? Would you mind a manual tranny?
For new trucks, you can now get a fivespeed manual V6. I drove one and it was pretty neat. Unfortunatly, ford has killed the V8 fivespeed combo in 04 and it doesn't look like it's coming back. Our 97 with a V8 fivespeed stick is a lot of fun to drive and fool around with.
Oh, and welcome too...
Adrianspeeder
I'm probably going to need an auto....I never was very comfortable with standards, but I'm open to the experience so it's something else I need to consider in the next 2 months leading up to the actual purchase.
Everything I heard about the F-150 is good, mileage the only weak point, but for a 5000 pound truck, 15 mpg isn't bad at all. Coupled with the reviews I've read about the Triton engines, damn....what I've seen on them suggests they just keep going and going.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Eugene, Oregon
Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
I think you guys are lying. I have a 2wd Lariat (5.4 motor) with 3.31 open rear end and I don't pull a trailer. I've had it for over 6 months and almost 12000 miles and I average 12.4 mpg. My best mileage has been about 13.5 on a road trip to Tampa. There was construction speed limits (50-55) in effect most of the way. If anyone here has a 4wd and is getting 18 mpg, you must be on the end of a tow strap or something.
My '94 Ranger 4.0 has averaged 17 mpg over the last 8 years.
I think you guys are lying. I have a 2wd Lariat (5.4 motor) with 3.31 open rear end and I don't pull a trailer. I've had it for over 6 months and almost 12000 miles and I average 12.4 mpg. My best mileage has been about 13.5 on a road trip to Tampa. There was construction speed limits (50-55) in effect most of the way. If anyone here has a 4wd and is getting 18 mpg, you must be on the end of a tow strap or something.
My '94 Ranger 4.0 has averaged 17 mpg over the last 8 years.
Lying? WTF? Last month I did about a 150 mile round trip almost all highway. I averaged over 20mpg on that trip. There are a million variables, and a million F-150's, so just because you (one out of a million) don't get the same mileage doesn't mean someone else isn't getting much better mileage.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Dover AFB DE / Harrisburg PA
Oh yeah, I forgot to comment on the motors. One word comes to mind...daaaaaaaammmn. 
Ford did their homework on the introduction of the modular motors and demise of the 302, 351, and 460 in 97. Started off sneaky puttin the 4.6L in the crownvics and grand marquese or whatever that old guy cruser is in the early 90s for testing and tweaking. These engines make power, do it meeting emissions, and are really strong runners.
All the motors are related, as the 4.6L is basicly a 5.4 with a shorter stroke, and the big V10 is just a 5.4 with two more cylinders.
Our 97 down in the sig there is going to cross 100k pretty soon, and it is still as smooth as it was 8 years ago. The only thing we dont like about it is the small tank (24.5g), and I think the 04-05s look better. We would like to trade up for one, but since there is no fivespeed stick with the V8, the 97 will be around for awhile yet.
Adrianspeeder
Ford did their homework on the introduction of the modular motors and demise of the 302, 351, and 460 in 97. Started off sneaky puttin the 4.6L in the crownvics and grand marquese or whatever that old guy cruser is in the early 90s for testing and tweaking. These engines make power, do it meeting emissions, and are really strong runners.
All the motors are related, as the 4.6L is basicly a 5.4 with a shorter stroke, and the big V10 is just a 5.4 with two more cylinders.
Our 97 down in the sig there is going to cross 100k pretty soon, and it is still as smooth as it was 8 years ago. The only thing we dont like about it is the small tank (24.5g), and I think the 04-05s look better. We would like to trade up for one, but since there is no fivespeed stick with the V8, the 97 will be around for awhile yet.
Adrianspeeder
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From: Aggieland, TX
I think you would be happy with the 4.6 if you dont haul a trailer very often. The 4.6 can do alot of work too. Just stay away from the V6!
My '97 rolled 125k last week, and it still runs strong, and I have only had to do minor maintenance (change fluids, filters, etc).
The other day I had the bed full of wood from a chopped up tree, and I hardly noticed anything was there. My average MPG is about 14-15 during the summer, and 12-13 in the winter.
Good luck
My '97 rolled 125k last week, and it still runs strong, and I have only had to do minor maintenance (change fluids, filters, etc).
The other day I had the bed full of wood from a chopped up tree, and I hardly noticed anything was there. My average MPG is about 14-15 during the summer, and 12-13 in the winter.
Good luck
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Originally posted by Johngs
I think you would be happy with the 4.6 if you dont haul a trailer very often. The 4.6 can do alot of work too. Just stay away from the V6!
My '97 rolled 125k last week, and it still runs strong, and I have only had to do minor maintenance (change fluids, filters, etc).
The other day I had the bed full of wood from a chopped up tree, and I hardly noticed anything was there. My average MPG is about 14-15 during the summer, and 12-13 in the winter.
Good luck
I think you would be happy with the 4.6 if you dont haul a trailer very often. The 4.6 can do alot of work too. Just stay away from the V6!
My '97 rolled 125k last week, and it still runs strong, and I have only had to do minor maintenance (change fluids, filters, etc).
The other day I had the bed full of wood from a chopped up tree, and I hardly noticed anything was there. My average MPG is about 14-15 during the summer, and 12-13 in the winter.
Good luck
I'm beginning to think the 4.6 might be perfect for me, 30 less horses than the 5.4, but still more than ample.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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The V6 is severely underpowered and prone to a couple defects not found in the Triton motors. Some non-performance types and others who simply view a truck as a box on wheels are plenty satisfied with the V6 though. I have no clue why they like the V6 or why someone would even consider buying one. I have no clue why Ford even produces it.
Perhaps it's for the environmentalist types to tote their mopeds to the repair shop? Idunno.
Perhaps it's for the environmentalist types to tote their mopeds to the repair shop? Idunno.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Rochester NY
I couldn't imagine the 4.2L V6 in the 05 F-150s but it does pretty well in the 97-03 models with the 5 speed manual, just a little less get up and go than the 4.6 in the old bvody style IMHO. I'm not sure if it's better on gas. I have heard about several defects with it. I'm sure the engine forums would be the place to look for specifics about the 4.2L V6 vs. the 4.6L V8.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,005
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From: Dover AFB DE / Harrisburg PA
I couldn't imagine the V6 with an auto, but with a stick it is nice. Read this for my thoughts on that...
First Look: Five speed stick '05
Oh, can you tell by now I like sticks?
Adrianspeeder
First Look: Five speed stick '05
Oh, can you tell by now I like sticks?
Adrianspeeder
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From: Aggieland, TX
Originally posted by Lek
You wouldn't recomend the V6 though huh? You're not the first person I've had tell me that, lol. No one ever gave me any details though? Why is that? Bad overall? Or just prone to too many problems?
I'm beginning to think the 4.6 might be perfect for me, 30 less horses than the 5.4, but still more than ample.
You wouldn't recomend the V6 though huh? You're not the first person I've had tell me that, lol. No one ever gave me any details though? Why is that? Bad overall? Or just prone to too many problems?
I'm beginning to think the 4.6 might be perfect for me, 30 less horses than the 5.4, but still more than ample.
I drove a long bed regular cab '02 V8 (dont know the size, it wasnt marked anywhere and Im not familiar with Chevy's engine sizes) chebby last season, and it was like night and day like the 5.4L vs the 4.2L...Also, it just sounds bad
Its got this funky "put put put" kind of sound to it...not very impressive IMO.The spark plugs are MUCH MUCH easier to change the 4.2L though
Last edited by Johngs; Apr 17, 2005 at 07:21 PM.
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From: Florida
Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
If anyone here has a 4wd and is getting 18 mpg, you must be on the end of a tow strap or something.
If anyone here has a 4wd and is getting 18 mpg, you must be on the end of a tow strap or something.
My other truck is a '99 ranger 3.0L extended cab. It seems so tiny now, I have no idea how I took trips in it, we had a kid late last year and the ranger can't be used for anything other than me driving it as a commute vehicle to work keeping miles off of the F-150.