[daepp]

We have one 5.4 F150 - a 2004. It has about 80K on the original trans. IDK if it's the same one as in the 3/4 ton or not. So far so good; however, it has had very light duty as a part-getter and it has low miles.

If I were buying, I would buy Ford, and make the choices as follows:

- MPG as the driving force: F150 twin turbo Eco-boost V6, or wait for a light duty diesel or Al F150.
- Longevity/Reliability: F250, gas or diesel, with a 5 or 6 speed manual. Last year was around 2010-11.

I will only buy Ford, but the F150 autos are a week point for us to be sure. And we do have the transmissions serviced. The 150's do 90% of their miles on the freeway in moving traffic. And every one of the 4.6's has had at least 1 rebuild by 150K. I'm sure our guys are in a hurry and never baby them, but I wish they'd last like the 250's.

The 250's are driven on the same freeways, fully loaded with tools and materials, then a short distance off-road on job sites. We've had a few of the blown spark plugs, but we know how to prevent that for the most part now. We've lost a few fuel pumps, lots of coil packs etc, but a lot of them have 300K+ and we have no intention of getting rid of them.

Good luck Motion. FWIW, if I didn't have to drive it every day, I'd go for the manual diesel F250. They are hard core!