Can't decide which to buy
 

A friend of mine is wanting to buy my current truck, so I am looking at some and have narrowed it down to 2, F150's, and an F250, and cannot decide which one is the best idea, assuming all are in great mechanical condition.

Has the least amount of miles, 113k, and an '05 like my current truck, but the 5.4 issues kinda scare me. It is also the closest to me.

https://www.shemwellmotorcompany.com/view.php?id=2201


Has quite a few miles, 168k, but is newer, 2012, and a 5.0.

https://www.dpatrickford.com/used/Fo...archDepth=9:70


And the F250. Slowly talking myself out of this one, due to maintenance costs.

https://www.automallofspringfield.co...L_21338507.veh

Stay far away from that 197k diesel.

Yea, I have talked myself out of that one. I am down to the 2, 150's now. The 2012 is quite the long haul. 2.5hrs vs like .5. The miles are quite high on that 5.0, and I am not all that familiar with it, to be honest. I have only owned 4.6 2v trucks. The 5.4 problems are well known.

I would take my chances with the 5.0. They seem reliable.

The mileage does concern me though, as it has more miles than my current truck has. Granted mine overall has been pretty solid, but it is also a 4.6 2v.

Not sure I would trade the truck you have now (knowing the history and overall reliability of the vehicle) for the HUGE unknown of a relatively high mileage used truck.....:confused:

Is there some other reason for making the switch beyond having a buddy that wants to buy your current ride? It kind of seems like you’re swapping a known commodity for a “roll of the dice” with no significant upside.....???

Better towing, and I need a crew cab. The super cab just isn't going to cut it, going forward. The '05's mileage isn't bad, but I am not entirely sure I want to go down the rabbit hole of the 5.4.

Ford did the major engine changes in both the F150 and Superduty in 2011. So, I wouldn't get one earlier than that with one exception (see below).

The 2011+ F150 V8's were mostly 5.0 with some 6.2. They also had base and Ecoboost V6's.
The 2011+ Superdutys came with the 6.2 gas engine. 6.7 diesel available, halfway decent but high periodic normal maintenance costs.
Both the 5.0 and 6.2 have been reliable.

2010 and earlier Superdutys offered the 6.8 gas V10, SOLID engine but a major gas hog.

Frankly, all 3 of those trucks would scare me.

I test drove the '05 and yea that one is a no go. Transmission shudders badly when you get on it. That leaves me with the high mileage 5.0, that is now on sale for a little under 10k.

to give an honest answer, i would have to know what you are selling current truck for? what is your budget on a newer truck?

i can honestly say i would not buy older than a 2010 and if you can afford it, i would get a newer truck with the 5.0.

Yea, I am trying to stick with 5.0's. I really am not an ecoboost fan. V6 in a truck just seems wrong to me. I am trying to stay under 12k, for the actual truck cost. He offered me 8k for mine. So realistically I would only be financing like 4k. I keep finding 180k+ mile trucks out there, and the thought of such a vehicle scares me. Wife is like, it all depends on how it was maintained. She might be partly right, but that doesn't make me feel any better about such a thing, as my truck has like 157k. I really didn't want to go much different mileage wise, than what I have already. My friend needs a reliable vehicle, and cannot afford much, and knows the history of mine. That's why he wants it. I am needing a supercrew, and would like some more towing power for my boat.

I wouldn’t buy any truck with that high of mileage unless I knew the previous owner well and was comfortable with the service history of the vehicle. To walk into a dealer and plunk down money for a 150,000-mile used truck (of course they’ll tell you it was “babied” by the previous owner) is a little like playing Russian Roulette......:eek:

I would keep your current truck.

figure how much you were going to pay a month on a loan, save that and then when you find "the truck" you are ready to move.

you know having a paid for car or house is the best, but you better save some money because sooner or latter you will need a repair or another .

I always try to keep paying myself a payment.

I have been saving money, but I don't touch it, unless I have to, like when I was off work for a bit for surgery. I have short term disability, through work, so I didn't have to dip too far into it. Some of my paycheck, every week, goes into the savings account, and my wife has been putting some in as well. I could use some of it, towards a down payment, I just didn't want to. Miles don't bother me as much, if the carfax shows it has been well maintained. That and I take my time and go over a vehicle, before I buy. I don't do impulse buys. I learned long ago, that is a bad idea. I really would prefer to avoid 5.4 trucks, but that is what I keep finding, for how much I am willing to pay.