2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty:

[speeder]

I just spent a week w one of the new aluminum Ford Super Duty trucks in Minneapolis. When I showed up at the local Enterprise office, they were completely out of cars even though online it showed several classes available w prices at this location.

After a little back-and-forth w the manager over how this could happen, (he was very nice and apologetic), he said, "honestly, I don't have a single car. Even though the lot is full, all of these cars have reservations. The only thing I even have to rent you is a pickup truck."

I saw the F-250 crew cab outside. Now mind you, I wanted the smallest little turd car they had, I wanted cheap and high mpg since I was only running around town. I own an older F-250 at home in L.A. and never drive it unless I need it for something.

"It's a nice truck but I'm sure it's a lot of money."

The manager answered that he'd give it to me for the economy price and even throw in a half tank of gas.

SOLD!

I didn't need a truck at all but basically had a week long test drive and holy cow, was that thing nice. It actually messed w me, had me on the Ford website building one to order and pricing it out. It was fairly stripped as these go, (XLT trim 4x4 crew cab w 6.2L gas V-8), I actually prefer the XLT trim for a few reasons. I don't need an extra $10k in chrome and leather in a PU truck.

I've driven all the big 3 trucks plus the Japanese ones in recent years and they're all really nice now. I'm here to tell you that the new aluminum Super Duty buries them all under the jail. It's abso-freaking-lutely unbelievable. It's actually heavier than last year's truck because the frame is fully boxed and heavier duty axles but the body is noticeably lighter when you open the hood or close a door. The fit and finish was amazing and the doors close w a quiet thunk.

It drives like a really nice, large car or SUV. Completely silent w no rattles or squeaks over the worst pavement, unbelievable brakes and steering, great quiet torque, etc. Flawless 6-speed automatic w all the truck bells and whistles. This thing is next level in refinement over even the nicest other trucks. My buddy has an F-150 Lariat crew w ecoboost from 2013 and it's nice but this crushes it.

Obviously, it's a large expensive truck and unless you need a 3/4 ton, it doesn't make sense. I can't even imagine what the diesel is like w 900+ lbs. of torque off idle, this was powerful w 430 lbs. @ 3500 or something.

Just thought I'd share because we have a lot of truck guys here. I'd seriously give it a 10 out of 10.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I've seen them around town, great looking trucks. Damn shame they run at such a premium to the F150, which honestly does everything I need a truck to do right now.

[drtyler]

What kind of gas mileage? 12, 14?

They are nice trucks.

[Evans, Marv]

I'd love having one of those so much I can taste it - and you are no help at all. I keep thinking about one of these or a new tractor, neither of which I really need. Guess I'll stick with my old 7.3L and Kubota tractor since a new one of either doesn't come close to penciling out from a spending/use standpoint. I can still wish though.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Thanks for the review. I'll need a 3/4 ton in 5 years or so when the big Airstream shows up. I've been told a half ton would work but for the travels we will do, I'd feel much better with the next level up.

[911boost]

I love my 2012 F350 with the 6.7L Powerstroke and am refusing to go drive one of the new aluminum bodied ones because I don't want a new truck.

Sounds like I'm making the right call...

Thanks for the review, like Harley's, there seem to be some big truck bashing here so it's nice to see a positive thread on it.

Bill

[porsche4life]

My old boss made the mistake of driving the new raptor.... Promptly sold his Exige and M3 to get one.

Ford is turning out some top notch trucks these days!

[speeder]

Originally Posted by drtyler

What kind of gas mileage? 12, 14?

They are nice trucks.

I didn't fuel it enough to do any hand calculations but around town w the gas 6.2 V-8, I never got the computer on the dash to break 10 mpg.

9.9 average was the best. It's funny but it seemed like it was doing a lot better, based on movement of fuel gauge. It must have a huge tank. C&D magazine got about 13 testing one and 15 w the diesel in mixed, real world driving. On the highway, the diesel will get 17 or a little better, the gas one 15.

We're talking about an 8k lb. plus truck in diesel/4x4/crew cab configuration. So mileage is affected by that, no matter how great the transmission is.

I've got a thing for really great PU trucks and prefer 3/4 ton w diesels. It keeps changing every few years which one is best; GM had the throne for a while w the LBZ Duramax and 6-speed Allison trans, (still a great truck), but ever since the 6.7 Powerstroke came out, it's been Ford all day long. In my, and the market's opinion.

They are expensive to feed and maintain, tires/brakes/oil changes/etc. The bottom line is that you really have to have a need for this type of truck for towing or hauling and ideally a business that you can write it off to. Trucks over 8800 gvwr can be completely depreciated over 2 years(?), IIRC. That's a healthy equipment write-off. I drive an older one and don't worry about that. I just have it because I pull some trailers.

The new one can carry something like 3500 lbs. in the bed and pull a 15k lb. trailer!

I don't think I'll be getting one but it has me crunching numbers and making rationalizations like crazy--big discounts available, hold their value well, on and on and...

[Evans, Marv]

Denis, do you know what the premium is for the diesel now days? On my '03, it was in the range of $3K+. I've heard it's around $8K now, but I really don't know.

[ckelly78z]

I currently have a 99 Powerstroke F250 Lariat, and love it. It has the obligatory Ford rust, and 250,000 miles, but as 7.3L diesels go, is just broken in. I have been looking for a replacement truck, but I am trying to find another 7.3L with no rust, and possibly lower miles, so that limits me to 2003 or earlier. As long as my truck has to sit out in the weather, and be used as a farm truck, I won't invest $60-$70,000 into a new one.

I have hauled everything with my truck including a bed full of hay bales while pulling 2 full hay wagons (28,000 of just hay not including the wagons), a mini excavator, a large backhoe with an auger bit, numerous bedfulls + trailer fulls of wet ash firwood, our 30" camper with the whole family on board, many loads of scrap steel, motorcycles/ATVs. The diesel has always pulled anything beautifully.

If I win the lottery however, a 2018 King Ranch F250 powerstroke, and a 2018 Mustang GT350 will both be in my new garage......dreamin !

[Crowbob]

$60-70k?

Does a garage with a lift come with It?

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

$60-70k?

Does a garage with a lift come with It?

Go price a new F250 on the Ford lot, I have personally seen a $77,000 price for a new Powerstroke.

[vash]

i just saw a copper-ish..maroon..forget about the color.

it was a spanking new, F250 in that KING RANCH trim. it looked like a luxury truck. diesel rig..it pulled away with zero noise. well, i couldnt hear it over my squeeky tacoma rear springs.

it was the nicest truck i've ever seen. i dont want one, since i cant seem to have nice things. but it was nice.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Denis, do you know what the premium is for the diesel now days? On my '03, it was in the range of $3K+. I've heard it's around $8K now, but I really don't know.

It was actually closer to $6k w the automatic trans that came w it:

https://www.google.com/search?q=monroney+sticker+2003+F-250&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQnsb3vdnVAhVHz2MKHSfVA9QQ_AUIESgC&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=XHMHyIPJzTgUSM:

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Go price a new F250 on the Ford lot, I have personally seen a $77,000 price for a new Powerstroke.

They can hit $80k sticker. The Platinum package is the most $$, here is a sticker for a King Ranch, found online;

https://www.google.com/search?q=monroney+sticker+2003+F-250&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQnsb3vdnVAhVHz2MKHSfVA9QQ_AUIESgC&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=dElM726Qd2IgVM:

The one I was driving was in the mid-$40s w gas engine. The diesel now adds ~$9k.

[berettafan]

the nice thing about Ford trucks is you can get a very, very nicely optioned XLT with no need (at least IMO) to go Lariat and certainly no need to go Platinum.

[911boost]

Yep, those sticker prices are just dreaming. I got A LOT of the sticker of my 2012 Lariat with the diesel. They were very easy to deal with.

[berettafan]

I would add the 2500 chebbies are great looking trucks as well.

[sammyg2]

My ford truck has 90k on it now and I'm itching to get something new.
But I'm under-whelmed with the ford to the point where I'm looking for something else. Never thought I would get tired of driving a pick-up.

Ram trucks suck, wouldn't buy one if it were half off.
The guy I car-pool bought a new one last year. Paid big bux, all the bells and whistles.

The engine and transmission are impressive. But the engine tunnel in the floor is so wide to fit that engine my feet are cramped all the way to the right when riding as a passenger.
A full-sized truck with no foot room in the front? Are you kidding me?

He ordered it with the sun roof. Don't know why, he's never opened it and probably never will.
The sun-roof takes away about 3" of headroom.
3" that sorely missed. I can't sit up normal in that passenger seat, I have to rake the seat back quite a ways just to be comfortable. A big truck with no headroom. YGBKM.
Typical Chrysler POS.

I've always liked chebbies, but know too many people who have had engines go south. Too risky.
I'll prolly end up with a ford edge or exploder or something like that.

[berettafan]

Tundra drives very different. particularly with the TRD sway bar on the rear. drove a ram 1500 with the 5.7 when I was shopping a while back and was very much unimpressed. lost all interest in the brand.

sunroof in the tundra with the rear window down about 8" or more is magical in its ability to get fresh air in the cabin with very, very little noise.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sunroof and rear window are awesome in any truck. That's my preferred F150 driving mode.

Sammy, have you looked at the new Nissans? The old ones were damn solid trucks and I like the look of the new ones. Available diesel power too.

If you need space, the F150 is massive inside and a nice driving truck with the Ecoboost. I love our 2013, my father in law just bought a 2017 and it's very nice as well.