I get what you are saying, but let's examine what you're saying.
Not personal, yet you over-examine everything I said. If I hated this truck, I wouldn't have gotten it. If I hated Fords, I wouldn't be on this site at all. Nothing catastrophic was mentioned at all. You're like a wife taking the worst-case scenario of every word. ie - You want hamburgers or hotdogs? - Hamburgers. -Why do you hate hotdogs???
If you come from a Ford family that's fine, but how many other vehicles have you owned to compare them to?? I am on about my 30th vehicle (in my young life) and this is the lowest mileage of any of them ever. Yet issues ensue where others with MANY more miles had none.
In retrospect to your high traffic theory, that has been considered repeatedly at the shop, and every time it comes to the same conclusion - like I stated before - HUGE repair bills needed from fairly low mileage, well-maintained vehicles.
Look I do not get on websites to start arguments, I was simply replying to the original post - Why do people talk smack about Fords? If you don't see where I'm coming from then just drop it and assume I'm just another fool who has no idea what he's talking about. You're the first flamer I've encountered on this site, so thanks for breaking the ice lol

 

I've owned ALLOT of cars, trucks and vans in my day.. I've slowed down lately I've owned My F-150 for over 5 years and my mustang for 12 but I used to get bored with cars about every 18 months I'd get a different one. I've had 5 vans 3 Fords a dodge and this horrible GMC Savana 3500. Ive had a GMC truck 4 camaros couple of Nissan trucks. Several other Chevy cars RX-7 a Ford F-250.. and MANY more.. Had my experience with lots of them.. The Ford Vans and Trucks are hands down built better. Ford EARNED my loyalty I wasn't a guy who was born into a Ford family or anything like that. I also have always fixed my own stuff so I've worked on them all. Ford are better.

 

Honestly, anybody who champions one brand of vehicle regardless of validity is a marketing victim. There are plenty of great vehicles built by many manufacturers, and there are plenty of grabage vehicles built by the same manufacturers. Anybody who claims otherwise is a brainwashed idiot.

 

Just calling it what it is.

Lets replay what you said earlier and highlight a few things..
You were stereo typing all Fords based on your experience with your first love.. which it is, you just don't know it yet. And your experience (12 years) in a shop.

Sure doesn't sound like you like your truck or Fords in general to me

You did say one good thing about the engines, but then contradicted yourself.
I'll agree the 1 piece plugs were a bad idea... you can have that one.
And there are other issues as well, cam phasers for one. Those issues were on the 3v 5.4L (not my fav engine by all means). I can sit all day, drink beers and agree what a poor design that was. But I'll defend my 2v for a good while. It's been a great truck and would recommend it to anyone.

 

Owned both. Take care of them, and they will take care of you! Old thread twice revived?

 

I dont know what business you are in, but I work at an independent repair shop and we fix all makes and models. New Toyotas have TONS of issues, they grew up to big to fast and quality control obviously got pushed aside. Ford didnt put anti seeze on plugs from 04-07ish. I can live with that, Toyota inline 4 motors that pull 3 rear cylinder head bolts out of the block and half the time requires a new motor at 70-100k miles. No thanks. I would honestly say 80% of what I work on are chevys. Leaks, hub bearings, electrical, window regulators, A/C leaks and air door actuators, bad cats, balancers that fall apart, exhaust manifolds that warp, ABS pumps that fail at 50k miles, drum brake adjusters that fail quick especially when ford hasnt used them on trucks since 96. I could honestly write a book about how they all are garbage. They called the Explorers "exploders" when firestone had that big issue.

I dont know who says they are horribly designed but they dont know what they are talking about. Chevy uses OHV (over head valve) motors which are easier to work on but dont make torque until 4-4500RPM like a CAR. Ford motors make all the torque down low like a TRUCK needs to tow. We work on DPS cars (Highway patrol) and they have 100-300K miles on orginal motors and transmissions where the car idles for 12 hours a day with probably atleast 3-5 hours of WOT that day. I almost never see a ball joint on Fords fail. Only big issue, or what I would consider big and costly, are on 4.6 motors with plastic intakes the coolant passages leak requiring intake replacement. Thats not near as often as a V6/v8 chevy (almost all with coolant/oil running through them) that eat the gaskets and aluminum so bad that it leaks every 2-3 years.

Ford Inovates with motors. Look at the new 5.0 with DOHC that has dual VVT. The Eco boost motors, V6's that make 300HP. Then you have chevy who is just adding VCT to pushrod motors from the 60s.

On my 8 year old truck with 75000 miles I've replaced one window reguator. I put my windows up and down probably 2-8 times a day, for the 4 years I've owned it, thats alot!

 

You may be screaming about problems at 56k, but you have a 12 YEAR OLD TRUCK!

Oh gee - my truck is a pile of crap - the headlight **** cracked and fell off!

 

I work with a bunch of Cheby owners and fans. I bought my 2011 EcoBoost and they said all of the crap, "found on roadside dead", "you should put a bowtie on the front of that thing!" It's all crap. Then they get all interested about what EcoBoost is. I tell them about power and torque and they can believe it and then they want to take a ride. After about 2 minutes they are amazed. Then they get out and start talking smack again. It's annoying but it is what it is. FORD FOR LIFE!!

 

Ok, all brands have their ugly duckling vehicle. Any well-maintained vehicle can last. Chevrolets are far less advanced than Fords. Fords are amazing trucks. This is all true. Once again, I was simply stating why people talk smack about Fords. I have never been a fan, cuz I have seen the issues that arise from them. Who knows? Maybe after I own one for awhile I will realize that it WAS just neglect from the drivers that makes these things have so many problems. I admit, I was careless with my initial, negative statement. Let's not forget that Ford has been around longer than any automaker, and I should be more respectful when referring to its creations. I do like the truck more than a few other vehicles I've had, so time will tell my eventual outlook on Ford ownership. I look forward to upgrading my truck and making it the best one I've owned.

 

Not to start this again, but my Civic was 15 years old...hehe now let's bury this hatchet.
And I WILL say that Ecoboost is amazing. The new SHO flies. Anyway I bought this truck to own a Ford truck, and we'll see what I think in 6 months.

 

Take care of the issues it has now, and I'd bet that it will be very reliable.

TIP: Retorque the spark plugs to 28 ft/lb.

 

While driving long haul for a living, the wife and I use to play the "broken on side of road" game and GM always won and shortly after that was old VW's and especially the hippie bus. And we seen more Old Fords that were still running down the highways, all be it a little slower, but very few old GM or Dodge still running that is.

 

All issues have been alleviated, except that it's still a V-6 lol. Tires are a lil dryrotted, so new wheels/tires are in order. Anyway, I drive it every day and am enjoying it thoroughly.

 

My son in laws Chev 350 4x4 gets better milage but he has had more problems than my 4.6 2wd.

I like my F150 plain and simple. One of my best friends will not own any Ford product, BUT he can not quantify why.
The vast majority of problems I have had with the 3 f100/150s I have had have been related to either normal wear and tear or the guy driving.

I have no issues with the Chevys or most others (American or Japanese) I just prefer Ford.

Stuff happens. So be it.
Jeff

 

Your 4.6 can beat his 5.7 in a race. More HP/TQ per cube than anyone else.