Key Factors to Buying a Truck

Pickup trucks are one of the most popular choices among vehicle types today. This is because they are ideal vehicles for individuals, families and companies. They can be great for personal use or for business purposes. Pickups are indeed one of the most versatile and dependable vehicles today.

Pickup trucks can also be quite costly though. As such, before buying one, you need to make sure that this is the right type of vehicle for you and it will provide you the best value for your money. Below are some key factors you have to consider when investing in a pickup:

Engine power and size. The size and power of engine you should ultimately choose should depend largely on the main purpose or uses you have for the truck. If you want to buy this type of vehicle for everyday commuting but do not plan on using it to transport large or heavy items, then a 4-cylinder engine can save you money on gas. Four-cylinders are also fine for transporting small payloads; however, if you need to tow something bigger than a small U-Haul trailer, you'll have to choose something bigger. If you plan on using this pickup to tow a boat or bigger trailer, then you will have to go for a V6 or V8 engine. Although trucks with these engines tend to be more expensive, they are more versatile and powerful.

Passenger capacity. Many pickups come standard as two-seaters, with sufficient space for the driver and a single passenger. Trucks with two-person cabs are normally less expensive than trucks with larger cabs. They also come with longer beds. If you will not be transporting many passengers and need more cargo space, the standard cab configuration might be your best choice. But if you need more passenger capacity for friends or family, select one with a larger cab.

4x4 or two-wheel drive. A 4x4 pickup truck is costlier and deciding whether you should choose this option should depend on the regular weather condition where you drive and your driving habits. If you live in a place that doesn't see a lot of rain or snow and simply plan to use your truck for commuting, then a 4x4 truck is unnecessary. This is because going for this option as will considerably reduce your gas mileage. However, if you live in a place where it rains or snows or the weather can be unpredictable and you have plans of driving the pickup off-road for work or pleasure, a 4x4 drive would be better since its improved traction can prevent you from getting stranded in the mud, muck or snow.

The 2016 Ford F-150: Still Innovating!

The 2016 Ford F-150, part of Ford F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for 38 years, continues to innovate with the addition of breakthrough towing technology, new Special Edition Appearance Packages, SYNC 3 and alternative fuel capability.

All-new Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes it easier for drivers of all skill levels to back a trailer up to launch a boat or park in a driveway. The segment-first technology allows customers to steer a trailer instinctively by turning a knob left or right to indicate direction; the truck controls its steering and limits vehicle speed. Leveraging advanced camera technology, Ford engineers developed the system and tested it for almost a decade. Along the way, Ford earned five patents for the technology, with 10 more pending.

The Special Edition Packages for XLT and Lariat further personalize F-150 to customer tastes, adding all-new unique 20-inch premium anodized dark-painted aluminum wheels with red sport lettering, black running boards, smoked headlamps, unique bodyside graphics and badging, special edition seats with Alcantara® inserts, red contrast stitching and red bolsters, and unique red stitching on the steering wheel, transmission gear selector boot and instrument panel. This package also features a dark anodized grille with black mesh on XLT while the Lariat dark anodized grille receives red accents.

F-150 also features SYNC 3 – Ford’s newest communications and entertainment system that features enhanced voice recognition, high-speed performance and capacitive touch screen and easier-to-understand graphical interface.

Responding to customer requests, the 2016 Ford F-150 with the 5.0-liter V8 engine will offer a gaseous-fuel prep option, making it the only light-duty pickup capable of running on compressed natural gas or propane.

New features and color choices

Other changes for the 2016 F-150 include:

• SYNC 3 replaces Sync with MyFord Touch
• XLT and Lariat models add available Special Edition Appearance Package (requires Sport Appearance Package)

• Shadow Black replaces Tuxedo Black
• Lithium Gray replaces Guard Metallic
• 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with painted silver pockets available on XL

Secrets Behind the New Ford Power Stroke Diesel | Sound Ford Renton WA

Tori Tellem,

 

10/5/2014

 

Secret #1: Ford engineered its own powertrain for the 2015 Super Duty^®

Secret #2: The 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 makes more horsepower and torque than the previous model

Secret #3: First rule of the Power Stroke? There are no secrets

The design of the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8™ is something you would think would be cloaked in darkness, even within the walls of the Blue Oval. ™ Not so – Ford is proud of what it accomplished with the second-generation diesel model optional in the 2015 Super Duty, and admitted building an efficient engine* required a lot of openness. “Keeping everything in-house gives a competitive advantage because there are no go-betweens,” explained David Ives, Ford Power Stroke Technical Specialist. “The engine guy can just walk over to the transmission guy and they can work together to find the best solutions, breaking down barriers.”

The upgrades to the Power Stroke resulted in 440 horsepower – the previous 6.7-liter Power Stroke made 400 – and 860 lb.-ft. of torque – up from 800. This pertains to all Super Duty models, from F-250 to F-450. That’s what happens when you engineer a work truck to be a work truck, and as a team. Ford is the only manufacturer that develops and builds its own powertrains in this class. And there are innovations galore: a compacted graphite iron engine block and reverse-flow layout. About that no-secret rule? “Strong communication built a better diesel truck,” David added.

“The designers of the original 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel predicted that it would eventually need to be upgraded for higher output,” said David. “They designed it in a way that made it easier to add a larger turbocharger, increasing airflow and creating more power for dramatically improved performance, yet we haven’t lost any efficiency.”

So, looks like the cat is out of the bag: This purpose-built truck has been improved from (cylinder) head to tow.

*Based on Ford simulated city-suburban drive-cycle tests of comparably equipped 2015 Ford and 2011-2013 competitive models, consistent with SAE Standard J1321.