NDL Forum

I forgot to update this thread with my new truck. I sold my G8 in late December, so I could cash in on a deal for Dodge Journey R/T for my wife. (really impressed with that car, perfect fit for her and I'm not embarrassed to drive it either) It took me a few weeks to move her Lancer GTS, so I had to drive it for awhile.

I used that time to test drive a Ram Big Horn, Tundra TRD, Chevy Z71 and Ford Lariat Platinum. I ruled out the Chevy (and GMC) pretty fast because they felt and looked really big and boxy. To my surprise, the Tundra was the easiest to drive and really smooth ride. The Ram felt strong, but it kind of lumbering. Almost like a 2500 truck meant for pulling. The Ford was a close 2nd to the Tundra in ease/visibility and the 5.0 V8 sounded great.

I started looking at pricing and options and found that getting a Tundra with everything that I wanted was going to be pretty tricky. I decided to narrow it down to the Ram or Ford. I've had a lot of positive experiences with Dodge/Jeep products. However, I grew up in a diehard Chevy family and have never owned a Ford. So I was pretty hesitant.

When searching, I started seeing a few Fords that I liked, that had EcoBoost V6s. Needless to say I was really hesitant about them. On top of the issue of never owning a Ford, I've also stuck to NA vehicles. I've always preferred the raw HP of a V8. I made a call about a truck that was about 2hrs away to find out more about it and the guy told me it was a V6. I explained my issues with it and he told me to go find one and give it a shot. So that weekend I found a local F150 (XLT) that had the EcoBoost and gave it a whirl. I was pretty shocked at how it performed. It felt that it had far more low end power than either the Hemi or 5.0. I went on to do some more research on them and found that not only does the EcoBoost V6 accelerate a tick faster than the 5.0 (equal to the Hemi) but it generates more torque and can out-pull it as well. My only other concern beyond that is the wear and tear on a turbo. Considering I won't be hauling more than a small boat/trailer in the next 5yrs, I opened up to buying one.

I finally settled on a 2012 Ford FX4 (EcoBoost). Once I get a chance to clean it up (weather has been crap), I'll toss up some pictures of it. It looks something similar to the one in the spoiler. It has some custom parts/graphics, dark tinted windows, and leveling kit. It sits a lot higher than I initially expected when I was looking at it online. So far, it drives great. The transition back from my G8 into something this size took a little bit to get used to. I'm still pretty skittish in tight parking lots, but if I've got 1 open spot by me, I can easily back it in.

Not a fan at all of the ford truck look as I have always been partial to the Ram look (I've owned 2) and the interiors which blow the ford away class wise IMO.

Surprised the Ram didn't win you over. I have the higher end Big Horn and it's the best truck I've owned.

Seems your decision was more based on pulling and power which suited your needs better though.
I love driving a truck. I get into my wife's charger now and it feels like I am on the ground.

Those Ecoboost motors are pretty solid. Congrats on the new ride.

- I definitely like the aggressive look of the Ram. I just wasn't able to find one within 200 miles that had all of the features that I wanted, for a competitive price. I like to have a bit of fun in the truck, so suspension/skid plates are pretty crucial. The good news is, by the time I've had my fun with this one for 6-7 years, the newly introduced Ram Rebel should be tuned and a 2-3yr old version should be at a good price point.

- Thanks oracle... I'm hoping that can last for awhile. I'm still getting used to hearing the turbo spin up when accelerating. It feels a lot more like a highly responsive turbo diesel than anything else I can relate it to.

ReignOnU wrote:
I used that time to test drive a Ram Big Horn, Tundra TRD, Chevy Z71 and Ford Lariat Platinum. I ruled out the Chevy (and GMC) pretty fast because they felt and looked really big and boxy. To my surprise, the Tundra was the easiest to drive and really smooth ride. The Ram felt strong, but it kind of lumbering. Almost like a 2500 truck meant for pulling. The Ford was a close 2nd to the Tundra in ease/visibility and the 5.0 V8 sounded great.

I started looking at pricing and options and found that getting a Tundra with everything that I wanted was going to be pretty tricky. I decided to narrow it down to the Ram or Ford. I've had a lot of positive experiences with Dodge/Jeep products. However, I grew up in a diehard Chevy family and have never owned a Ford. So I was pretty hesitant.

I had an '07 Tundra CrewMax with the iForce 5.7L engine. Loved that truck. Bought it used in Georgia, had to trade it in because it was only a 2WD and it had way too much torque on the slick wintery roads in Colorado. The back seats even reclined in that bad boy. If I buy another truck I am definitely going back to the Tundra, although I do not like the way they made the ass end look on them in the past few years editions.

I love the looks of Ford trucks! My next ride is likely to be a pickup, we don't own a4x4, which in Michigan is practically admitting that I'm an asshole. Lariats and the king ranches are beautiful inside too.

Congrats on the new ride

Weasel wrote:I love the looks of Ford trucks! My next ride is likely to be a pickup, we don't own a4x4, which in Michigan is practically admitting that I'm an asshole. Lariats and the king ranches are beautiful inside too.

Congrats on the new ride

Please please please tell me when you say that the inside is beautiful, you're not referring to that red/brown King Ranch. No one under 80 and not in the oil business should ever be caught dead in that.

GeorgesGoons wrote: I had an '07 Tundra CrewMax with the iForce 5.7L engine. Loved that truck. Bought it used in Georgia, had to trade it in because it was only a 2WD and it had way too much torque on the slick wintery roads in Colorado. The back seats even reclined in that bad boy. If I buy another truck I am definitely going back to the Tundra, although I do not like the way they made the ass end look on them in the past few years editions.

I definitely understand that. It seems like there is a strange detachment between the cab and the bed on the Tundra. Have you seen the new front end design for 2015? It looks like a real life Tonka truck. I like most of the Ford redesign, except for what they did with the front lights.

ReignOnU wrote:

GeorgesGoons wrote: I had an '07 Tundra CrewMax with the iForce 5.7L engine. Loved that truck. Bought it used in Georgia, had to trade it in because it was only a 2WD and it had way too much torque on the slick wintery roads in Colorado. The back seats even reclined in that bad boy. If I buy another truck I am definitely going back to the Tundra, although I do not like the way they made the ass end look on them in the past few years editions.

I definitely understand that. It seems like there is a strange detachment between the cab and the bed on the Tundra. Have you seen the new front end design for 2015? It looks like a real life Tonka truck. I like most of the Ford redesign, except for what they did with the front lights.

Definitely not a fan of this:



This is the same color as the one I had. Had 20" BBS wheels with it too.



But I am much more happy with my Jeep! Unless we are taking long road trips, jeep is LOUD

They see me rollin...

For those interested, after 2 full years I finally had to re-do the plasti dip on the grille, and will likely do the same with the wheels shortly

For those interested I am way overdue for a new car purchase.

Cnasty wrote:For those interested I am way overdue for a new car purchase.

i always pictured you driving a mini cooper.

I might have in the past but forget.

Cnasty wrote:I might have in the past but forget.

I actually believe this.

Cnasty wrote:They see me rollin...

That is so amazingly dangerous. All it would take is one little pebble to ruin everyone's day.

This reminds me, I still need to get pics of my truck for the thread. I'll get them sometime over the next 2 weeks.

Saw one of these in the parking garage of my apartment today and had no idea what it was. Jeep Renegade. Looks like it is built on the FIAT platform as an economical "trail rated" Jeep. Wrangler hard ons will blow their top with Jeep being on the thing.

It was a cool looking and liked the mini-ruggednessish of it.

Smaller than the compass?

Bigger and wider is my understanding.

Would compete with the likes of the Nissan Juke, Kia Soul and that size vehicle. Difference being is the off road capabilities it claims and better looking IMO than any of those. Also a little bigger engine with a 2.4 and nice interior.

In reading a bit about it there seems to be some emissions mandate for manufacturers to supply a minimum number of vehicles at a certain MPG rating or they get fined so Jeep tossed this one into their lineup with the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler.

Gets 26/31 mpg.