dave91gt

Local (WV) dealer inventory has been nil with the Super Duty for quite a while. Those found were marked up to insane levels. Two weeks ago, while returning from a family trip to KY, I glanced over off the interstate at a Ford dealer and saw 5 new Super Duty's- three of them Tremors. I had a 21 F150 Lariat (Traded my 2018 F250 PS for it last Oct) and was contemplating ordering a 23 Tremor next year. But- I don't care for some aesthetics of the 23 and really felt I missed the boat by not getting a 22. So- I called the dealer up and asked about mark up- and to my surprise they had removed adjustments the week before. The salesman said they were "surprised" when the transporter rolled in with so many trucks. I was down there the next day. The Three Tremors were optioned differently. One was a 6.7 Lariat Value package (no heated seats). One was a Lariat Ultimate with the 6.7 ($85K). And the one I wanted (and bought)- a 7.3 Lariat Ultimate. I received good trade value for the f150 and jumped on it. Build date on mine was Oct 28. One XLT truck they had was a 6.7 and the fender badges were blanks. Had a frank conversation with the sales Manager and we were talking about EV. I will leave the conversation out of the chat here, but he pointed at the lightning sitting outside (has been there for quite a while). He has no real public interest in it and can't keep anything ICE powered on the lot for long. And BTW- that 7.3 is incredible. Great gas option for a Super Duty!

We have a reservation and are looking forward to getting in a Bronco. However, eliminating X Plan availability in addition to the potential options and colors becoming available next year has us pausing and likely just waiting until they are in supply and X plan availability. This will replace my wife's 2018 Wrangler Unlimited. Our conundrum is the absolutely horrible steering issues and electronic issues that plague it. Both are well documented issues and the local dealer is dodgy on applying the TSB on the steering (new gearbox). On top of that, the new steering gear has fixed many owners vehicles but others are reporting new issues. Then there's the matter of "several months" backorder. We were hoping to trade it and just avoid the hassle. The electronics are really annoying. On at least 50% of the startups, the radio will freeze with no ability to change anything- including the HVAC controls. You have to shut it down and restart. But we will either wait it out and get a Bronco or trade it on another Ford. We are a Ford family with a soft spot for Wranglers. The other Wrangler is the wife's summer cruiser (lifted 98 TJ) and it drives better on the interstate than her 2018. C'mon Ford GIVE ME A BRONCO!

Was reading about the 6.8 on Sloppy Mechanics FB page. One of the posters Is a trades worker and dropped some hints. Said there’s mules running around MI. And the press just leaked what they’ve known for a couple years. Got them all fired up saying “just wait and see” what’s coming for the Raptor. He could be messing with them because they were talking about the LS. I’m hoping the 6.8 is real.

Overall I'm happy with what they did. I am curious as to how well the Coyote handles the cylinder deactivation long term. I was hoping for a Trail Boss competitor. Yes we have the Raptor. But why not a Tremor package? Id be all over it. If you watch any of the comparison videos of the GM twins, its usually a Trail Boss. A mild lift, good tires, off road modes, and an appearance package like the SD would sell like gangbusters and not require massive investment. TFL just did a comparison on a TRD PRO and the Trail boss. I believe they both stickered for $55K. Ford doesn't have a direct competitor as the Raptor is significantly higher. They tried to halfway dip their toes in the water with the quiet offering of a front leveling kit with FOX shocks. But c'mon Ford- a Tremor F150 would sell like hotcakes!

One of my coworkers has a late model Fusion with the 2.0 EB. Has been problem free for 75K. The dealer he bought it from had a lifetime powertrain warranty. Two weeks ago, his wife calls him and says a warning light for coolant low or temp high (I don't recall) and he had to add coolant. Was also getting a random cylinder misfire. Took it to dealer. Cracked block is what they told him and they replaced it last week with a used engine with 35K miles.

Beat me to it. Evan Smith has already started swapping one before its even released to the public. Tell me Ford isn't behind the scenes on this one? That fits in there as easy as the Windsor in my own FoxBody.

Funny how many forums that mule has reached. Ford got their moneys worth with that abomination. The Jeep JL forum is talking about it in their “Looks like Ford is serious with the Bronco” thread.

Not a bad idea imo. GM has the Trailboss and it’s the least ugly of their new trucks. Watched an off-road review and it actually has some performance. Not Raptor performance but the clearance and traction for hunting leases or mild off-roading many do. I see more of them than any of the other versions. Lots of owners throw a leveling kit and off-road accessories on their trucks. I am one of them. Ford would be smart to have it as an option. Really glad they are doing the Super Duty.

Seemed to be a good comparison test. We are a Ford-first family (two Super duties and two fox body Mustangs currently) with two Wranglers. One is a 2018 Wrangler JLU that will likely get replaced by a Bronco. The other is the wife's favorite- her 98 TJ. Anyway, regarding refinement of Jeeps Pentastar, I'm mixed. It does deliver pretty good overall power, the 8 speed auto is decent. But the programming is not what Id call exactly smooth . The engine feels at times like it goes through stages of power delivery that isn't linear and the transmission will hold gears at times before commanding an upshift. It delivers pretty good mpg though. Its the rest of the Jeep we have issues with. Love the interior layout and seats. But the hardtop squeaks, the radio has blinked out multiple times, and the steering is horrible. As in her 98 Wrangler steers better. Lots of wandering issues and death wobble (at 5400 miles). Jeep has a ton of documented quality concerns and all of ours are on that list. Ford did good getting this version of the Wrangler to market as a stopgap until the next iteration comes out. I would expect it will address a lot of the concerns noted in this comparison. Id bet a Raptorized version will be out as there is a market for it. AND I would expect a second and maybe a third engine option. Imagine a 2.7 in a Ranger? That would be stupid fun.

I am split on the whole SFA/IFS direction. We have two Wranglers in our household. Both lifted. The first is a 98 TJ with a 4" lift and the other is a 2018 JLU with a Mopar lift. Jeep has a well documented issue with their SFA and death wobble, steering wandering, etc. They have numerous "fixes" in the pipeline. Ours has already received a new stabilizer shock and a tracbar. With 6,000 miles on it- and prelift. Big forum argument about the Bronco right now. Several owners are chomping at the bit to see it. They want the "lifestyle" vehicle but don't need the hardcore capability of the SFA.

My personal thoughts on the Bronco: Chevy just reintroduced the "blazer". Which turned out to be just another crossover. Its $52K for the TFL video example- and its an Edge competitor. At least with the Edge ST in that price range, you get a niche with the performance crowd. The Wrangler is unchallenged. My wife has a 98 TJ that she adores. Its lifted and a really clean example of a TJ. We tried the JKU back in 2010. She didn't like it. We are in the market now for her a daily driver and she really wanted to like the JLU, but kept asking about the Bronco. Unfortunately we cant wait and it looks like an Edge ST is in our future (not a bad choice). I have been following a YouTube channel called "litebrite". Its a married couple that has been chronicling their JLU through various build stages and they then go to all sorts of trails. They drive this Jeep on 38's all over the place. They wheel it (hard) and in most episodes its a whole community of cult Jeepers. They beat the snot of these things. Flexing them over rocks, going through mud, snow, etc. Ford doesn't have that vehicle- yet. To really invigorate this base and attract Jeep folks, it needs to be relatable. A modern day Jeep is honest. It has a fancier interior but getting out of a TJ and sitting in a JL, you know you are in a Wrangler and not a Grand Cherokee. Ford needs to appeal to that market. It should be a throwback shape with good departure and break over angles and class leading ground clearance. It doesn't need to be exotic inside. Any ecoboost V6 will already destroy the Pentastar. But above all else, in my opinion, it needs the strength and simplicity of solid axles front and rear that can take abuse for those that want to really wheel it. Not a poser. You cant take an explorer and drag it off boulders like you can a Wrangler. Ford seems to be "getting it" lately so I am optimistic they don't waste the opportunity. The Expedition and Navigator have hit the marks they needed to hit. The 7.3 pushrod motor has sparked a resurgence on every enthusiast site I frequent. Its the holy grail of the motor world right now and it hasn't even been dropped between the fenders of anything yet. The Edge ST is awesome and the new Explorer looks strong with a full frame and RWD architecture. Maybe Ford has found a way to appeal to all sides. I just hope the Bronco retains an honest image and capability and they don't try to appeal to everyone. If they do, it will not excel in the core market they need to hit.

I had a 2013 Raptor with an MBRP exhaust. It was burly sounding. It also ran strong. Went to trade on a new 18 Raptor (long story- wife and I were trading the Raptor and her Expedition in on one vehicle as I received a company car). All was good until the test drive. Had the family of 4 in the new one and while it ran good, the sound didn’t fit the presence of the truck. If it would have had a quiet exhaust, maybe I could have convinced myself to spend $75k. Ended up buying a loaded F250 diesel. For far less money im personally stoked about a “big block” pushrod motor hitting the lineup. Yes, the example they are building is tuned for heavy truck use. But being pushrod, it’s a cam and intake change away from turning it into a stronger motor suitable for performance. I built a 351W to replace my 302 in my 91 Mustang. The stock from Ford 351 was also tuned for truck use. Guess what? I changed heads, cam, intake, exhaust and I tell you it’s stupid fast for such easy changes. This motor (7.3) has a forged crank and 6 bolt mains. The heads have to flow well. So, the architecture is there for easy changes to move the powerband around. Even the LS guys on the Sloppy Mechanics FB page are excited to get their hands on it. Not that they are an authority but the LS has a cult following due to their simplicity and affordability. This 7.3 may give us Ford fans a way back into the same grassroots conversations. It’s undeniable a used Coyote motor is at least 4x the cost on average compared to a LS. Then to swap into our older Ford’s is a challenge due to space and controls. Let alone hot rod it before the swap. And then there’s the Hemi. A buddy has a 71 Duster. Pulled a 150k Hemi out of a Ram and changed the cam and valvesprings (cheap). Dropped it in, upped injectors, added a cheap China turbo, and tunes it himself with a $500 microsquirt. Put down over 800 hp and runs 5.90’s in the eighth. He drives it everywhere in the summer. He has spare motors he has been hoarding and got them cheap. That market has went away for some of us Ford guys and arguably we started it with the old 5.0 motors. Ford really gave it away to GM and Chrysler starting with the 4.6. Im not saying the current Mustang isn’t competitive- the new 5.0 has shown it’s capable. Ford has nailed it with their OHC program and ecoboosts. But they have left a void for a large group of customers that enjoy the torque rich nature of a pushrod motor and the simplicity of maintenance and modifying. I say offer both the pushrod motor in a performance variant for the Raptor and Mustang along with their current offerings and let us choose. I’d buy a Raptor in a heartbeat if it had a V8 again.

We test drove a used Taurus SHO at a local Chevy dealer last week. We were in our 18 F250 Lariat. Salesman was all over it as we were checking out the SHO. As we were test driving, I asked him how the new 1500's were selling. He admitted they haven't been doing well. They are selling a ton of the older body styles due to lots of cash on the hood. I asked if he saw pics of the 2500's and he said he was worried. I admit, I do not mind the side profile so much (1500's). They rounded the fender-wells some. But to see that grill and front style in person it is just ugly and mismatched. Its like they started at the rear and when they got to the front, they just started stretching body and trim panels to make them attach. The whole truck doesn't strike you as a GM in person. At least it didn't me. They had a black trail boss and the black hid the ugly better than other colors. I don't think there will be enough black on a 2500 to make that front end tolerable. ALL of my GM buddies are shaking their heads. Even the diehards.

Thank you!

Ok- so I cant figure out how to post a link. Its in the "tag"