Recent Discussions and Questions Ford F150

What are your thoughts on the various F 150 trim levels; which one is the best value?

27 January 2025 07:53

I feel the Lariat is the sweet spot. As you wouldn’t go over the top on price, you get leather seats, the big infotainment screen and most of the tech features. The higher trims are nice, but diminishing returns are real.

What are your thoughts on the various F 150 trim levels; which one is the best value?

27 January 2025 07:53

I like the XLT with the 302A package. It provides you with most of the comfort features people want (heated seats, remote start, etc.) without costing you an arm and a leg. In my opinion, anything above that is fluff.

What are your thoughts on the various F 150 trim levels; which one is the best value?

27 January 2025 07:53

The Platinum is worth every penny if you can swing it. It's another level of interior quality, and you get just about every feature that you can get. Even if you’re just running errands, it makes every drive feel special.

What are your thoughts on the various F 150 trim levels; which one is the best value?

27 January 2025 07:53

I actually like the lower trims like the XL or XLT. Trucks are supposed to be workhorses, not luxury cars. Better tires, a leveling kit, are practical upgrades; put the money you save on them.

What are your thoughts on the various F 150 trim levels; which one is the best value?

27 January 2025 07:53

That really depends on what you do with the truck. If it's your daily driver, and you're in it a lot, it's worth the extra money. A lower trim is fine if it’s just for occasional use or work. I personally feel the Lariat is the sweet spot of features vs. price.

Is F150 reliability blown out of proportion or are there real problems to worry about?

27 January 2025 07:53

Now I've had my 2021 F-150 with the 5.0 V8 for over 50k miles and it's been rock solid. No issues whatsoever. A lot of the complaints you see online are from a vocal minority, I think. These trucks are out there by the millions, so if only 1% have problems, that's still thousands of angry owners posting online.

Is F150 reliability blown out of proportion or are there real problems to worry about?

27 January 2025 07:53

I don't think the issues are overblown, eh. The 3.5 EcoBoost has been in the shop 3 times already this 2019. Not a big deal, but annoying for a $50k+ truck. Especially concerning is the cam phaser rattle. It drives how I love it, but the reliability hasn't impressed me yet.

Is F150 reliability blown out of proportion or are there real problems to worry about?

27 January 2025 07:53

It really depends on the engine and the year. Typically, the 5.0 V8 is the most reliable. There was some issues with the first few years of the 3.5 EcoBoost but most of that has been ironed out now. For now, avoid the PowerBoost hybrid until they work the kinks out. On average fullsize trucks are about average for reliability and I’d say F-150s are too.

Is F150 reliability blown out of proportion or are there real problems to worry about?

27 January 2025 07:53

I see a lot of F-150s come through the shop, but no more than other truck brands; I'm a mechanic. Things will eventually break, and they’re complex machines. The key is proper maintenance. Religiously change your oil, ignore the warning lights and you should be fine. If taken care of, any modern truck should last 200k+ miles.

Is F150 reliability blown out of proportion or are there real problems to worry about?

27 January 2025 07:53

I think the reliability is fine if you own an F-150, but the problem is that they are expensive to fix when something goes wrong. My friend just had to replace the turbo on his EcoBoost and it cost over $2k. Most repairs are at least easier and less expensive with the V8.

What do you think of the F-150 Lightning? Revolutionary or overhyped?

27 January 2025 07:53

The Lightning is impressive tech, but I don’t think it’s ready to replace gas F 150s for most buyers. It’s still not wide enough of a range, especially if you’re towing or working in remote areas. For suburbanites who want an EV but need truck capability from time to time, it’s a great second vehicle.

What do you think of the F-150 Lightning? Revolutionary or overhyped?

27 January 2025 07:53

I've driven one of these and it is absolutely revolutionary. It's whisper quiet, and the mind blowing instant torque. It is game changing being able to power tools or your house from the frunk. Range could be better, yeah, but for 90% of truck owners, it's plenty. This is the future, no doubt.

What do you think of the F-150 Lightning? Revolutionary or overhyped?

27 January 2025 07:53

It’s cool, but it’s way overhyped and overpriced. For way less you can get a loaded gas F-150. Good luck, though, if you want to take it on a long trip or to a job site and find a charging station. It may make sense in 10 years when the infrastructure catches up.

What do you think of the F-150 Lightning? Revolutionary or overhyped?

27 January 2025 07:53

The Lightning is a huge step forward, but I’m even more excited for the inevitable second generation. By then, battery tech will have improved to the point that charging stations will be more common and prices will have come down. Preliminary users are blazing the trail, but it’s not ready for prime time yet.

What do you think of the F-150 Lightning? Revolutionary or overhyped?

27 January 2025 07:53

I wasn't sure at first, but once seeing one up close, I'm sold. This has so many clever features, it looks like a normal F-150. It’s light years ahead of other trucks in terms of the software and tech integration. Ford did a great job of thinking through how people will use an electric truck in the real world.

What do you really think of the F-150 Raptor, is it worth the buzz or an overpriced mall crawler?

27 January 2025 07:53

It’s badass, no doubt. However, let's be honest, 90% of them don't see anything rougher than a gravel drive. For most people, it's way overkill. If you're actually gonna use it, you can build a pretty capable off road rig for way less money.

What do you really think of the F-150 Raptor, is it worth the buzz or an overpriced mall crawler?

27 January 2025 07:53

I have a Raptor and it’s worth every penny. It is amazing on and off road. Nothing eats up bumps and potholes like this. When you do take it off road it's mind blowing what it can do straight from the factory. It's not just for show.

What do you really think of the F-150 Raptor, is it worth the buzz or an overpriced mall crawler?

27 January 2025 07:53

It's a cool truck, but way too much for what you get. For most people’s needs, the regular F-150 with the FX4 package is plenty capable and costs way less. If you put that extra money into mods you'll have a better truck.

What do you really think of the F-150 Raptor, is it worth the buzz or an overpriced mall crawler?

27 January 2025 07:53

The Raptor isn't supposed to be practical; it’s supposed to be fun. And in that regard it delivers. It's a Baja truck that's basically street legal. Yes, most owners don't take full advantage of its capabilities, but the same is true of a sports car or any other high performance vehicle.

What do you really think of the F-150 Raptor, is it worth the buzz or an overpriced mall crawler?

27 January 2025 07:53

I think people are missing the point of the Raptor. It’s not about being able to go off road, it’s about being able to do so in a daily drivable package. During the week, you can commute in comfort and on weekends, blast through the desert. You can’t try that with a heavily modded truck.