Howdy all,
New guy here. Particularly new to trucks, and TOTALLY new to diesel.
I need some help figuring out what to do.
I want a truck, mainly to haul a race car (1998 mustang cobra, nearly finished building up for N.A.S.A.'s American Iron Road Racing series).
Car will weigh ~3,000 lbs
Trailer will be ~4,000lbs, enclosed aluminum, ~24 feet (or so)
+ eight extra rims, gear, etc.
Looking for:
ford, 4 door crew cab, srw, 4x4, turbo diesel
leather, xlt or lariat, power windows/seats
a decent truck with basic creature comforts (not necessarily king ranch, nor EVERY creature comfort)
color: who cares
truck will mainly tow to tracks, (once to twice a month), 2 to 4 hours away, here in flat, southeast U.S.
I live in Greenville, S.C., and mainly race in Atlanta, Ga; Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Savanah, Ga. And occasionally further
truck will also see duty taking yard stuff and junk to dump, and taking family to the snowy mountains in N.C. Once a winter.
It may snow here in SC once a year and last no more than 2-4 days, on average.
Main issues are what year to buy / what engine
I seem to hear more bad stuff about 6.0's. (than good).
Sounds like 6.4's have resolved those issues, but mpg majorly sucks
many seem to tout the cummin's as being the better engine???
And some on my NASA forums say a GMC duramax is the way to go.
I own an '08 mustang BULLITT, as my daily driver,
race car is a cobra
had a '68 t-bird in high school
and Ford didn't take any bailout money from the gov't
SO I REALLY wanna stay blue blooded, on my tow vehicle
I generally hang on to a car for 100-150,000 miles
150k on my '89 Ford Escort GT
98k on my '98 Buick Regal GS
28k (so far) on the '08 BULLITT
I envision holding on to this truck for 15-20 years, and >200k miles
I tend to be cynical and skeptical, about used vehicles, and worry I am buying someone's lemon of a problem.
Coupled with the preceding thought, I prefer to buy new, pay the depreciation hit, but (hopefully) have a more problem-free experience, and a new vehicle, and a fresh factory warranty, - should problems arise.
I know of a few '09 (NEW on lot) 250's & 350's at <$40k
and a dozen or more '10 (NEW on lot) 250's at $41k (+/-$1.5k)
I am not TOTALLY against buying used, and actually have a line on two Suitable f-250's (2005, and a 2006) from a friend I trust wouldn't screw me.
The '06 has ~45k miles, and not a hint of trouble; the '05 has ~150k miles, and has had a LOT of stuff repaired / replaced, but is supposedly now flying clean, without a hiccough.
I guess I am looking for overall advice, and pointers,
particularly as to the new vs. used issue
I hear the 7.3 was a GREAT engine, but then that puts me in an EVEN OLDER truck, with LOADS more miles, and (as conspiracy theory kicks in, in my mind) - that much closer to me seeing it take it's last gasp.
As to the newer '08-'10's . . .
My BIGGEST QUESTIONs are:
to what degree does a tune/chip, some intake, exhaust, and maybe some injector mods improve the mpg (both for towing, and just driving)
I don't care about making crazy HP/torque numbers for their own sake,
just getting better fuel mileage.
I don't want to get into major (IMO) mods like head bolts, or gaskets and stuff.
To what degree would these mods affect warranty?
Would they have to be removed and returned to stock before taking it in, IF something happened?
Talking to a salesman, here, he said there ARE "kits" described above, which DON'T void the warranty.
Based on some other things, I don't have the utmost confidence.
Wow
long first post
but I wanted to give the particulars needed to hopefully get the advice I need
to those still here,
thanks,
any and all advice welcome
doc
I kinda feel a sense of time urgency based on those new '09 and '10 deals I found
if I buy used I got a few months to look and learn
if I bought an '11, I'd have to sell the bullitt.
Thx
doc
New guy here. Particularly new to trucks, and TOTALLY new to diesel.
I need some help figuring out what to do.
I want a truck, mainly to haul a race car (1998 mustang cobra, nearly finished building up for N.A.S.A.'s American Iron Road Racing series).
Car will weigh ~3,000 lbs
Trailer will be ~4,000lbs, enclosed aluminum, ~24 feet (or so)
+ eight extra rims, gear, etc.
Looking for:
ford, 4 door crew cab, srw, 4x4, turbo diesel
leather, xlt or lariat, power windows/seats
a decent truck with basic creature comforts (not necessarily king ranch, nor EVERY creature comfort)
color: who cares
truck will mainly tow to tracks, (once to twice a month), 2 to 4 hours away, here in flat, southeast U.S.
I live in Greenville, S.C., and mainly race in Atlanta, Ga; Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Savanah, Ga. And occasionally further
truck will also see duty taking yard stuff and junk to dump, and taking family to the snowy mountains in N.C. Once a winter.
It may snow here in SC once a year and last no more than 2-4 days, on average.
Main issues are what year to buy / what engine
I seem to hear more bad stuff about 6.0's. (than good).
Sounds like 6.4's have resolved those issues, but mpg majorly sucks
many seem to tout the cummin's as being the better engine???
And some on my NASA forums say a GMC duramax is the way to go.
I own an '08 mustang BULLITT, as my daily driver,
race car is a cobra
had a '68 t-bird in high school
and Ford didn't take any bailout money from the gov't
SO I REALLY wanna stay blue blooded, on my tow vehicle
I generally hang on to a car for 100-150,000 miles
150k on my '89 Ford Escort GT
98k on my '98 Buick Regal GS
28k (so far) on the '08 BULLITT
I envision holding on to this truck for 15-20 years, and >200k miles
I tend to be cynical and skeptical, about used vehicles, and worry I am buying someone's lemon of a problem.
Coupled with the preceding thought, I prefer to buy new, pay the depreciation hit, but (hopefully) have a more problem-free experience, and a new vehicle, and a fresh factory warranty, - should problems arise.
I know of a few '09 (NEW on lot) 250's & 350's at <$40k
and a dozen or more '10 (NEW on lot) 250's at $41k (+/-$1.5k)
I am not TOTALLY against buying used, and actually have a line on two Suitable f-250's (2005, and a 2006) from a friend I trust wouldn't screw me.
The '06 has ~45k miles, and not a hint of trouble; the '05 has ~150k miles, and has had a LOT of stuff repaired / replaced, but is supposedly now flying clean, without a hiccough.
I guess I am looking for overall advice, and pointers,
particularly as to the new vs. used issue
I hear the 7.3 was a GREAT engine, but then that puts me in an EVEN OLDER truck, with LOADS more miles, and (as conspiracy theory kicks in, in my mind) - that much closer to me seeing it take it's last gasp.
As to the newer '08-'10's . . .
My BIGGEST QUESTIONs are:
to what degree does a tune/chip, some intake, exhaust, and maybe some injector mods improve the mpg (both for towing, and just driving)
I don't care about making crazy HP/torque numbers for their own sake,
just getting better fuel mileage.
I don't want to get into major (IMO) mods like head bolts, or gaskets and stuff.
To what degree would these mods affect warranty?
Would they have to be removed and returned to stock before taking it in, IF something happened?
Talking to a salesman, here, he said there ARE "kits" described above, which DON'T void the warranty.
Based on some other things, I don't have the utmost confidence.
Wow
long first post
but I wanted to give the particulars needed to hopefully get the advice I need
to those still here,
thanks,
any and all advice welcome
doc
I kinda feel a sense of time urgency based on those new '09 and '10 deals I found
if I buy used I got a few months to look and learn
if I bought an '11, I'd have to sell the bullitt.
Thx
doc
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