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F-150 Owners
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With Dodge updating their Ram pickups for the 2001 model year, that means the F-150 would have the oldest platform at that time.
I would hope the update would be better-looking and be done around that time. Can anyone provide any insights?
As you have noted, perhaps inadvertently, styling (in most cases) has absolutely nothing to do with how good or how bad a vehicle is. Your initial reaction to the radically restyled F-150 was typical of many people. Change is sometimes difficult to deal with. However, over time (as you stated), you have since learned that the "new" F-150 wasn't so bad after all.
Bob
I think Ford is going to revamp their entire truck line for the 2002 model year.
P.S. I like the style of the F-150, one of the reasons for my upcoming change.
Dealer also told me that Ford started taking the orders 6/2/98 for 1999's. New for 99, you can get a CD player w/ 1 cd play, about a $125 option instead of the 6 CD player option of over $400.
Got the dash activated 4x4 to keep the floor clean of the transfer case shifter. Still don't have a price yet, however. Getting for $500 over dealer invoice.
My thoughts the same. I think the Chevy probably will get about 2 MPG better, but I like the looks of the Ford better. Heard the 99 F150 5.4L is to have more H.P. Hopefully more MPG too! Rather have the better MPG. Also, do you want to wait for an untried new Chevy with the strike? And I bet they are going to ask for more due to the short term shortage.
Face it, most of the time people aren't hauling anything but themselves in a P.U. Gas milage should be better. That 10% when we do haul or tow is what we have to pay for all year, in everyday use.
Good choice! Did your dealer give you a price on the Lariet? I am going to see my dealer next week to order(also in black) and as of last week, he did not have a price sheet yet.
nope no price yet. ford hasn't given out the official last minute pricing yet. so the dealer said that when the vehicle comes in he will show me his invoice and then charge me $500 above it. also at that time we will see if ford has any rebates going and that will apply to me also. on what information he did have, the price of the package was $28,800 for dealer $31000 for msrp.
who knows, i just am getting excited to own this truck, i did however have to get in line with the vehicle, since i live in farming country (south dakota) the dealership already had many of these fords on order.
Thanks for the info.
I'm sure you appreciate the fact that your dealer is willing to show you his invoice(my dealer does also)however, given the fact that the dealer gets 3% of MSRP,in this case $930.00 from Ford, I think $500.00 mark-up is excessive. My dealer mark-up is $300.00 or less, most often $200.00 to cover his advertising cost.
Like you, I am anxious to receive and enjoy the best truck made, '99 FORD F-150!
drop a line and tell us about your truck when you get it...
GO FORD!
#1 - I've read several reviews that have commented that the front end of the F150 makes it particularly hard to park in standard parking spaces. I have a '93 Suburban, so I'm no stranger to large trucks, but do current owners of F150's find this to be true??
#2 - I'm considering getting the electric 4x4 shifter (the button). Are there any disadvantages to this? My earlier 4x4's all had shift on the "hump".
Finally, I hate to admit this, but I'm also considering a Dodge Dakota. I figure the small size might make parking/maneuvering easier while commuting, but on the other hand I'm 6'5" & 300 lbs, so it may be too small inside (and no 3rd or 4th door on the extended cab is no plus).
I'll probably be towning a large stock trailer (18') at times. Can anyone convince me to ditch the Dodge idea?? I do like the F150 better, but I'm somewhat tired of squeezing the Suburban into parking places at stores and work.
The F-250LD is a beefed up F-150, and would be better able to cope with towing and heavier payloads than the F-150. It probably won't wear out as quickly as an F-150 would. The '99 Triton V8 models will have more power and a 4th door on the extended cabs.
Bob
I've been thinking about the 250. What is the difference between the F250 and the F250 Super Duty? I've looked at a '99 F250 Super Duty at a dealer, but didn't have time to ask too many questions. The styling is sure different! (it looks like a cross between an F150 and a Dodge Ram)
Any comments on the electric 4x4 shifter?
I guess it is time to let my 90 extended cab find a happy home. Has anybody seen a pic or anything that is a 99 Ford f-150? I would like to see what exterior changes they made!!
My Ford dealer told me last week he now has the '99 books in. He did share with me his first and only copy 2 weeks ago. The changes to the front end are a more honeycomb looking grill, front bumper is reversed(crome on top, color on bottom) and smaller fog lights. The book said the front seat is larger and the bigger engine has more h.p.(at higher RPM) and more torque(at lower RPM)
The F-250(LD) is, as I said, a beefed F-150, whereas the F-250SD is "almost" a completely different vehicle. The Super Duty is really geared to the needs of commercial and heavy-duty recreational users.
I would say if your truck is going to "work" a great deal of the time, go for the Super Duty model. If, on the other hand, it is going to see more "personal use", I would go for the lighter duty F-250 or F-150. KCRam mentioned in some earler post to: "find the size truck you need - then get the next larger size." The reason being, you will find that a slightly heavier duty model can do much more, and be more satisfying in the long run. I completely agree with that.
It sounds like to me that the F-250LD would be the proper choice, since you've been considering the Dakota and F-150. Also note that the current F-150, while a fine truck, has a much lighter payload (in 4x4 models) than the previous generation F-150. That's another reason I would look at the F-250LD. Unfortunately few dealers stock that model (or many of them) on their lots.
Bob
As for the electronic 4x4 shifter, I don't have any problems with it. Since I don't have this vehicle, I can't comment directly to that issue.
I have an '98 Explorer with Control Trac - granted, a different system from that used on the pickups. I just recently drove over 25 miles on the beaches of North Carolina's Outer Banks with no problem what so ever.
Bob
The F150s are a little hard to park (I've heard) purely because the hood slopes so much. It can be hard to tell where the corners really are.
You should at least drive the '99 F250 SD -- its quite the truck. If you'll be pulling a stock trailer (you didn't say how heavily loaded) I think you'll really love it.
There are lots of reasons why the SDs work better than the LDs ... IMO they play just as well too. The ride is about as good, they get the same bad mileage... the SDs have even been designed from day 1 w/ 4 doors in the extended cab. Since you can buy them for around the same amount of money, what's not to love?
Your points are well taken. However the F-250LD does have a few advantages over the F-250SD.
1. In the Super Cab, the LD gives you the ability to fold part - or - all of the rear seat to make a cargo platform. In the SD it's all or nothing.
2. The '99 LD will have more HP in the 5.4 engine than the SD.
3. I would think that the IFS of the LD would ride and steer better than the solid front axle of the SD.
Yes, the SD will do heavy work better than the LD - if you need that capability.
Bob
Feed back would be appreciated --not sure what to do yet
I believe the 4.6L engine is underpowered for the size of the truck.
I am looking forward to seeing the '99 GMC's.
Have you considered the F250 SD? I know it has now problems towing that kind of weight, and the price is about the same (even giving it the V10) as the F150 LD. There's a thread about it further on down the list. If you're towing a lot, it might me worth at least taking a look at one.
The weak link appears to be Ford's clutch and manual transmission. I presume you are looking at a 4.6-liter V8 with a 3.08 rear end, because that's the one with 1700# towing under the 4x4 heading. But the same truck has a 3000# towing limit if you go to the 3.55 rear with stick, (doesn't make any sense to me either) and it is up to 6600# if you get an automatic. I got the auto this time around because of this difference in towing capability. It's the first time I've ever had an automatic in a pickup. It's ok, I guess, but I would have preferred to have a clutch and manual shifting.
the 5.4 engine. Heavy towing? Move further up.
You will save yourself a lot of grief. That 4.6
engine will move the Crown Vic. and the F150 with
some stuff in the bed, thats it.
Check the 5.4 for 1999. More refinements,
more horsepower, more for your money.
finially got my order number from my dealer on my f-150. is there a site or phone number that joe shmoe can access to see the status of the vehicle? my delivery date has changed 3 times in the last week and a half.
but still no prices.
Ford just announced some good news! They say that they are going to hold the line on the prices for 1999 on cars and trucks. In fact, they say the avg. price will be .3% less. And, they are going to waive the emmisons charge, the first manufactor to do that.
The prices in the net, then, for 1998 should be close to the same for 1999.
Have also been told that the prices were held from 1997-1998. Ford says they have managed their cost and are passing this on to the consumer.
Appears that GM, after the strike, will have a hard time catching up. And, I have heard that the new Silverado is to have a price hike.
Face it, $30,000 plus for a vehicle is putting a lot of us out of the new vehicle game!!!
I own a 95 F-150 with the 4.9L I-6 engine. Currently I've got a little over 62K miles on it. My problem is that my oil pan is rusting away. It started leaking around the drain plug. Tightening the drain plug fixed it, but inspection revealed that the paint was all bubbled up on the pan. I took a wire brush to the pan and found a _lot_ of rust and moisture under the paint. I'd say that about 60 - 70% of the pan is covered in rust.
I mentioned this to some friends and I've found 5 people so far who have had the same problem with this model year and engine.
I contacted my dealer and the Ford Hot-Line. I was told by both that the vehicle has too many miles on it. I'm sorry, but what the heck does mileage have to do with the oil pan? Where's the wear and tear on that part?
Anyway, I'd like to hear from anyone who's had a similar problem.
I intend to write some nasty letters (and include photos) to Ford, but other than that I don't know what else to do.
Ford Garage is quoting me $465 to change the oil pan. I think that that is insane! This shouldn't be a problem in the first place!
Any suggestions? Advice? Any help?
Having purchased a '98 F-150 XLT w/ 4.6L engine I
thought that I had made a good choice; but now I
wonder if I did. I had to take the truck to dealer
because of rear leaf spring problem, rough engine
idle, absolutely terrible gas mileage (10MPG in
town) and never more that 17MGP on the highway,
looseness in the steering, defective driver seat
back release, and A/C problem. After the dealer
kept it for five days, I finally got it back and
the springs had been replaced, lower steering
shaft replaced, engine idle supposedly fixed, A/C no better than when I took it in, seat back not fixed (no part and am still waiting after five weeks for the part to come in). Gas mileage went from 10MPG to 9MPG. If this is Ford where Quality is Job One, thank God it is not Job Two.
I believe the 4.6L engine is underpowered for the
size of the truck. I am looking forward to seeing
the '99 GMC's.
#1 of 2: bogieman (bogieman) Mon 10 Aug '98 (06:46 PM)
WoW! Sounds like you bought Lemonade! I have the
same unit, with 4.6L 4 spd auto, 3.55 rear, and its getting 16.3-16.5 MPG around here, flatland west coast Fla, but still has not been on a long run on Interstates yet. Hope dealer can fix but sounds like lots of work. Good Luck
Bogieman
#2 of 2: bogieman (Airwolf) Tue 11 Aug '98 (11:47 AM)
Where on the west coast are you and where did you
buy your truck? I'm here in Naples and am in the
market... I'm looking at Galloway, Tamiami, etc.
Ryan
Before I'd spend $465, I'd try a spray can of Rustoleum after using anything I could (sandpaper, wire brush, steel wool, electric-motor-driven wire-brush wheel, pressure washer, etc.) to get off as much of the rust as possible.
I don't have the problem you do(currently own a '82 F-150), however, I think the problem may be caused be the engine oil being hot and the metal pan being cooler condensing moisture. I agree with lwf, sand the pan as best you can and apply Rustoleum.
Anyone have 1999 F-150 prices yet? I have ordered a 1999 SuperCab Lariat.
Thanks for the comments.
That's what I was thinking too. The problem is that a lot of the rust is located under the main cross member of the frame and will be difficult if not impossible to get to. (That's the same cross-member that requires jacking the engine up to replace the pan - hence the expense)
Also, there's a lot of rust around the bolts that hold it to the block. These are also hard to reach.
I'll crawl under there tonight and take another look, but I think I'm gonna wind up replacing that stupid pan.
This leads to my next question: Has anyone ever done this in the convenience of their own home? As I mentioned before, I've been told that the engine must be lifted several inches in order to get past the oil pump.
I'd really like to take a shot at doing this myself, but I don't have access to an engine lift. Is there a way to do it without this equipment?
http://www.harborfreight.com/
If the price actually turns out to be a dollar or so under that, buy something else to get the total to over $50 because then shipping is free. That's about 1/10th of the cost Ford wants to do the job, and now you'll have a great jack for the rest of your life. Good luck.
Please disregard Saintjohn's post about the F-150 being the ugliest truck in the world.
Mr. Saintjohn drives an 1913 Volkswagen Pickup.
Thank you.
Duke
Come on .............. you gotta admit it. Even you die hard Ford drivers have to admit Ford made a monumental blunder when they came out with this body style. Its impossible to get within 60 feet of these trucks without getting sick to your stomach.
Have you ever heard a F-150 driver rave about how great his truck looks? I never have. All they'll say is "THEY'RE NOT THAT BAD"!!!!!