(January 3, 2018 at 5:23 am)A Theist Wrote:(January 3, 2018 at 4:26 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: The only downside is that the mileage is lower and the tank is smaller -- 15 gal vs 20 in the Ford, and 18 hwy vs 23, so it has to stop for a drink a bit more often. But -- when I pull onto TX 71 it gets up to speed right quick. But mostly I like that it's more stable, odd for having a shorter wheelbase and a hotter engine. Drove home tonight on 18°F icy roads, running straight and true all the way. I think it's just balanced better.It sounds like a good trade off, performance over mileage. At the moment I drive an older GMC full size 1500 with a 4.3/ 6. To me it's still under powered. I drive the freeway a lot and I've encountered many situations where I need the extra horses. But a 6 in your light truck seems like it could scoot along the freeways with ease. Another good thing with your new truck over your Ford, if you're going to haul anything it's not going to struggle against a load as your 4 cyl Ford would. In that respect, it would do better on gas.
I like Fords and may well buy another when the time comes ... but no F250 for me, unless I buy a tanker truck for convoy duty.
Well, mine's not a work truck, just light utility/household stuff. But yeah, a fullsize with a six just don't seem right.
Going up and back to D/FW over Christmas, I ran about 17 mpg -- but much of it at 80 mph, not the sweet spot for a truck. I'll either get a tonneau or a netgate, eventually.
(January 3, 2018 at 5:23 am)A Theist Wrote: I've had a few Fords when I did roofing, an F 350 1 ton with a Cleveland 351 modified, the F 250 with its 302 small block, and an '80 F 100 with a 300 straight 6. All three of those trucks were grossly underpowered. I finally test drove a Chevy truck some years back that had a 350 that was backed up by a 4spd manual. Talk about power. I thought I was driving a muscle car!
Yeah, all those sound like they'd be huffing up the hills here. Remind me some time to take a pic or two, the roads here are very three-dimensional, elevation varying 700-800 foot inside half-a-mile at points. My Ranger would run out of breath halfway up them. That's a big thing about this Nissan -- I've got power enough to get out of tight spots better.
It's all a trade-off, as you already know.