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Newbie Post

Been lurking a bit whilst surveying the market for a used vehicle. Didn't plan on buying anything at this point in time, but a driver who lost control of her vehicle in a late spring snow last Wednesday forced that decision upon me. [@#$%!]

And so I started the hunt for something with which I could tow. Something good in snow. Been driving Jeep Cherokees for `25 yrs, and I figured a change was in order. Ended up with a bit of a slightly irrational atraction to the F150s. Irrational because I really ought to be looking for something that provides a little better milage. I do need to tow, but I don't really need anything bigger than a Ranger. That rational voice tried to calm my building lust for the F150 ...

I pick up a 2002 F150 5.4l supercab FX4 today.

I looked for a 4.6, I really did. And I could have waited a couple of weeks, but this one fell into my lap and I couldn't resist.

Any hints, tips, cautions, conventional wisdom about this truck are welcome. Otherwise, I plan to lurk a bit, get a feel for the group, maybe learn something.

Reply to
BGhouse
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My instinct is that the F150 and the Ranger are going to give pretty much the same fuel mileage. I haven't any hard numbers, but my guess is that the F150 won't cost more than about $100 per year more than the Ranger. That works out to $8.33 per month. I actually think the difference in operating costs will be less than that.

Having said that, you did get the 4X4, and the Ranger would likely have been

2WD. This might make your operating cost a bit higher. I think that either way, the F150 will serve you better and the cost will be worth it.
Reply to
Jeff Strickland

Well, you probably already know this, but the length of the truck will make it much more capable of dealing with a trailer dynamically. It's more difficult to push around on the road than a Cherokee is, simply because the wheelbase is considerably longer.

don't feel bad about the mileage. Last week, Car and Driver tried all the full size pickups, all brand new 2007 models. The Chevy and Dodge got 12 mpg. The Toyota, Nissan, and Ford got 13. No kidding.

Your 2002 5.4 will probably beat them all, but of course not by much.

Reply to
Joe

"Jeff Strickland" sed:

Interesting. I haven't found any milage estimates either, but I'd assume that the lighter vehicle, would do a bit better.

Nah, I wouldn't have bought 2WD. I live in snow country, and I like the added traction of 4WD.

I think so too. I sure am enjoying the hell outta driving it!

Reply to
BGhouse

So, you would have bought a 4X4 of either truck? That makes the discussion a bit easier, although still heavily a hearsay one.

I think that at the end of the day, your F150 won't drive you to the Poor House appreciably quicker than the Ranger. Youi need to drive one or the other, so the discussion is only the difference in consumption. If your F150 is delivering 15mpg, then I think you are getting about as good as you are gonna find in a truck. I'd compare any additional fuel cost against the added functionality you will most definitely enjoy as compared to the Ranger.

Reply to
Jeff Strickland

"Joe" sed:

Hadn't considered that. Makes sense. Still getting used to parking. Where I'm used to whipping into a parking place, I'm not yet sure how close the hard parts of my truck are getting to other's sides. And the turning radius makes it a bit trickier

Guess I guess I'll just have to revel in all that engine brings to my table

Reply to
BGhouse

"Jeff Strickland" sed:

Good points. I am appreciating this truck more and more everyday.

Reply to
BGhouse

And you just got it.

Reply to
Jeff Strickland

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