New F150 SCREW Ecoboost owner

[3 DOGS]

Well I bit the bullet and traded my 08 H3 and my Harley in for a 2012 F150 SCREW Ecoboost 4wd FX - 3.73, rear locker (EVEN IN 2WD!!) 20" Pierelli Scorpian AT (soon to be BFG or Goodyear), navigation with back up camera, leather, heated AND cooled seats - ok a list of luxeries I really didn't need but the world is going to end in December right so I might as well splurge while I can!!
I really wish I would've hit the powerball before buying the F150 because I loved both the H3 and the HD but such is life with 3 dogs weighing 90, 110, and 150 pounds - I ran outta room.
Anyways I wanted to give a quick report on what my observations have been before buying this truck and after putting 500 miles on it.
First of all I researched the heck outta new trucks - I looked at Ford, Chevy and Toyota..sorry but Dodge and Nissan didn't interest me. Before the hate flies at me from Dodge and Nissan lovers just remember to each their own.
Anyways it came down to the F150 (obviously). For me the Fords had the most comfortable seats, a great amount of room in the crew cab (plus the rear seats fold up and give a huge FLAT area to load stuff in) and the quality of construction of the Fords seemed to be the best - IMO.
The Ecoboost was the final straw for me in picking Ford. I don't do off roading or heavy hauling/towing but I will use it as a DD and make yearly trips to the mountains. The reason I went with the Eco was the gas mileage and towing ability IF and when I may need it. Kinda like a 4wd, a locker and other goodies we all add to our vehilces - we don't always "need" these things but it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it right? Also I talked to my mechanic who said the engine is top notch. Lastly a buddy of mine has almost the exact same truck except he has the 5.0. The 5.0 is a great engine don't get me wrong but the seat of the pants acceleration feel and the little bit of gas mileage savings sold me so I got the Eco over the 5.0.
First of all Ford has greatly improved their trucks since last time I looked at them (2003). Yes gone are the days of a truck being a "truck" but lets face it as we get older we look foward to more luxery and this truck has a lot of those luxeries.
Let me say this the Eco is a rocket!! Plain and simple this truck scoots like not other I've driven or rode in. I realize I'm coming from a 5 cyl H3 but take a look at all the reports in various publications and you'll see the how quick it really is. I feel with the Eco you get up and go right away where when I rode and drove the 5.0 it made a lot of that good old v-8 growling but it took longer to get to going.
Now quickness is great but what about gas mileage? So far I'm averaging 14.7 - 15.8 (87octane) in the city with only a couple of miles a day on an expressway. Sadly that's all the driving I've done right now -city and some expressway. Hopefully I can get time away from work and get some real highway miles in.
I don't think the numbers are too bad especially since I tend to be a little heavy on the gas. In traffic there are no more concerns about merging or passing. This motor will actually get you in trouble because there's not the big v-8 growl to let you know you're kicking it in the butt to go - the Eco's turbos wind up and it just takes off. It's really amazing how the power is instantly available - no tubro lag that I'm aware of.
The cab is spacious and QUIET!! I am really amazed at how quiet the cab is at speed and during accleration. The stereo is great - I upgraded on that too. But to go down the street with no wind noise or engine noise and be able to talk in a normal voice is wonderful. The H3 - well it was a block and the wind noise was noticable. Not horrible but you noticed it, but not in this new truck. QUIET!!
The electronic power steering is something new too. The truck feels responsive and controlled. IDK if the EPS is that important but Ford put it in there and so it seems to be working well. I don't know what else to say except that the truck feels solid, secure and stable in all the manuevering through traffic.
I really like the fact of a real locker and that it's available in 2wd too. It'll be interesting this winter to see how the truck handles snow and ice. I loved my H3 for the sure footed security of full time 4wd - not to mention it felt like I was driving a tank.
My future plans are a 2" leveling kit, bigger tires, a topper, line-x for the bed and maybe a CAI. Otherwise I'm not going to get too crazy.
It has the tow package and power folding mirrors so hopefully by September or October I'll be heading to the mountains - maybe even pulling a trailer if I'm lucky.
I'll definitely keep everyone posted on the gas mileage here in flat Nebraska and also how it does in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming.
I know I ramble on here about a whole lot of nothing but I'm just exicted and very impressed with this new truck!

[UK4X4]

last three trips to CO we rented for three weeks at a time, twice we had Dodge hemi 4x4's and the last time the ecoboost F150 4x4

I'd take the Ford aswell- ok yep no V8 growl- but the speed was there and the economy way better.

Hemi did'nt even have a tow hook on the front of the truck......

[Bigjerm]

It is a great truck. My dad has 1 with all the bells and whistles you can buy. He added a bed liner and a folding hard bed cover. He said the mpg went up after 1500 miles and is a lot better than what you are getting as long as you keep your foot out of the gas. It wont be long before its hooked up to a trailer and towing my Jeep and I will be real curious of numbers then. I have plans to add a tow pig to the stable 1 day and as much as I have wanted a diesel the Eco-boost has my attention.


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[kfgk14]

I loved the ecoboost when I test-drove the new F150, but damn those trucks are expensive! I tracked down the cheapest one in my area-$28K with 62,000 miles! Of course, that may be a deal if the engine is as tough as Ford claims.

Now we need pictures, man!

[krnnerdboy]

I loved the ecoboost when I test-drove the new F150, but damn those trucks are expensive! I tracked down the cheapest one in my area-$28K with 62,000 miles! Of course, that may be a deal if the engine is as tough as Ford claims.

Now we need pictures, man!

really? I dealed one down to $31k a cc 4x4 $3k msrp and special finance rates!

OP congrats on the purchase. I owned a 11 tundra 5.7 4x4, and an 08 titan 4x4, and when I was shopping for a replacement half ton the f150 ecoboost was so much more luxurious than either one and not to forget the mpg it will get once broken in. but I choose to get a beater truck and a track car this time around, otherwise the ecoboost would be in my garage

[Stumpalump]

That truck is also extremely crashworthy and the only full size truck actually made in the USA. I sold them for two months while between jobs and really liked them. Believe it or not the regular non turbo 6 is also great. It's 300hp and in a stripped truck it would put you at under 20 grand. Everybody spent 30-50k on the loaded ones but I always thought the XL and XLT with a 6 would be a good bang for the buck. The Rapter got a gas guzzling 6.8 and you better be willing to take the one we had and pay full list. Nice truck but dang! The FX was also a cool version if you like '"looks" and the split front seats with a console. You bought the best truck I'm glad your happy!

[daveyboy]

That truck is also extremely crashworthy and the only full size truck actually made in the USA. I sold them for two months while between jobs and really liked them. Believe it or not the regular non turbo 6 is also great. It's 300hp and in a stripped truck it would put you at under 20 grand. Everybody spent 30-50k on the loaded ones but I always thought the XL and XLT with a 6 would be a good bang for the buck. The Rapter got a gas guzzling 6.8 and you better be willing to take the one we had and pay full list. Nice truck but dang! The FX was also a cool version if you like '"looks" and the split front seats with a console. You bought the best truck I'm glad your happy!

??

Nearly every manufacturer makes a version of their fullsize truck in the US--even the Tundra and Titan are made in the US.

The Raptor has a 6.2L... .

[Buliwyf]

Nobody pays list for a Raptor. There's a few just collecting dust out my way.

I'd still prefer a Raptor and the 6.2L if I didn't need a heavier truck.

This thread is useless without pics.

[3 DOGS]

I promise to get pics next weekend - gotta go outta town for the week. I am a little thick when it comes to posting pics and such that's why I hadn't yet.
On a different note my mileage has already increased to 16.6 with more expressway and still city driving. I don't think that's too bad for a 4wd 3.73 geared full sized truck.
I will keep you posted on the mileage and I promise I'll post some pics!!

[Saiyan66]

Nobody pays list for a Raptor. There's a few just collecting dust out my way.

Unfortunately here in California it is a different story. Every dealership that I visited when truck shopping would not even entertain the idea of haggling over price on a Raptor. They all said, "The price is the price." Oh and some of them had cool little $2000 dealer mark up stickers (above MSRP) as well. Too bad they don't make an eco boost Raptor, that would be pretty sweet.