Buying a Ford F-150

[Iowa Dave]

Just back from the mountains of Northern Colorado.
The 2018 Toyota Highlander pulling the 21 foot fully loaded Escape performed admirably, never dropping below the safe posted speeds, low cabin noise, extremely comfortable ride, adequate cargo capacity and all around very satisfactory performance. And stylish too.
As Eddy Howard sang “To each his own, I’ve found my own, one and only you.
Iowa Dave

[Chotch]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Oh man, I just read Jim's comment on another post regarding checking that the spare tire was full size.

I went through that with my Ranger. I asked if the spare was "full size". Yes, I was told. Well, even though I got the tow package it did indeed have a full size spare. Only it was a Continental with a low speed limit and a sticker that said "do not use for towing". I ended up buying a rim and tire from an auto wrecker. The original has been in my garden shed ever since.

So, for anyone who's bought a F150 lately, is the spare usable at highway speeds for towing?

Ron

The spare on my 2016 F150 XL is the same tire as those on the truck. It amazes me any manufacturer would put a spare on a truck that doesn’t match those on the vehicle.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Chotch

The spare on my 2016 F150 XL is the same tire as those on the truck. It amazes me any manufacturer would put a spare on a truck that doesn’t match those on the vehicle.

It is done everywhere, to save a $1, a manufacturer can pay the stockholders more...

[Chotch]

🤔 Maybe if we where better educated consumers this would not happen. Where I buying a new truck the sub standard spare would be a deal breaker. Few salesmen would loose a sale over the difference in cost between a real spare and a fake spare.
Of course the other thing impacted would be payload. The wheels and tires on my truck are a lot heavier than I expected, realized when I rotated them.

[Ron in BC]

Thanks for all the useful answers, the deed is done.

So I started out thinking base truck and that I'd add a hitch and brake controller. Then my wife saw the power memory leather seats etc. So my base truck's turned into a loaded Lariat. 2.7 , 10 speed.

I still think that paying $1900 more for lightening blue is a rip off but as the memory seat fan says, "but dear there's also matching accents on the mirrors and grill."

Just kidding about the eye rolling, I'm a willing participant in getting some of the options. After babying my Ranger in the mountains etc. it's going to be a treat to have more h.p. and gears.

Now comes the waiting as it's a factory order.

Ron

[rbryan4]

Well done Ron. My Lariat is similar, but in Ruby Red. Factory order seems to be the only way to get exactly what you want, and we sure did.

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Thanks for all the useful answers, the deed is done.

So I started out thinking base truck and that I'd add a hitch and brake controller. Then my wife saw the power memory leather seats etc. So my base truck's turned into a loaded Lariat. 2.7 , 10 speed.

I still think that paying $1900 more for lightening blue is a rip off but as the memory seat fan says, "but dear there's also matching accents on the mirrors and grill."

Just kidding about the eye rolling, I'm a willing participant in getting some of the options. After babying my Ranger in the mountains etc. it's going to be a treat to have more h.p. and gears.

Now comes the waiting as it's a factory order.

Ron

Hopefully you got Ford Employee pricing and your $1,000 Costco discount.

We just bought a super clean, pre-owned F-150. It has the XLT trim and the sports package as well as the trailer tow package and integrated brake controlller. Sure it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it’s still a pretty nice comfortable truck, which provides all that we will need.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

So I started out thinking base truck and that I'd add a hitch and brake controller. Then my wife saw the power memory leather seats etc. So my base truck's turned into a loaded Lariat. 2.7 , 10 speed.

hahaha, she's got your number!

mine was OK with an older used-but-clean XLT, with the better cloth seats. We had a E150 15 years ago, so its not like the ford truck interior is unfamiliar

[Jim Bennett]

I have the leather seats, not having an option setting I bought off the lot, and they have had Carhartt seat covers on since day one as I use it for work too. The leather is still in great shape two-and-a-half years later.

[Loren & Cathy]

As far as the debate on towing mirrors goes, when ordering mine I factored in oncoming old age. Even if not towing, we probably find it a little harder to turn the neck plus other things. Just consider the bigger mirrors like glasses, canes, hearing aids, etc. Loren

[Vermilye]

It is hard for me to compare since I haven't towed with a F 150 with standard mirrors, but I find the towing mirrors (manual, unfortunately) on my 2018 F 150 are the best mirrors I've ever used. I don't think I'd ever buy a truck without them.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

It is hard for me to compare since I haven't towed with a F 150 with standard mirrors, but I find the towing mirrors (manual, unfortunately) on my 2018 F 150 are the best mirrors I've ever used. I don't think I'd ever buy a truck without them.

I had the standard power folding mirrors on my 2015 Lariat Jon. Towed thousands of miles and didn't really see a problem. I liked the aesthetics as well.

But then on the 2018 I thought what the heck and added the telescoping trailer tow mirrors. Best decision I made on the options list. I'm with you, won't have a truck without them now. The difference in visibility and the reduction of blind spots is huge.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Chris & Patricia

Hopefully you got Ford Employee pricing and your $1,000 Costco discount.

Yes, got the "Employee" discount but unfortunately not the Costco discount.

No worries though, my wife is a fearless negotiator and we came out quite well, including getting far more for the Ranger than I expected. When she starts negotiating the final price I sit back, keep my mouth shut and smile.

Ron

[Tin]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

It is hard for me to compare since I haven't towed with a F 150 with standard mirrors, but I find the towing mirrors (manual, unfortunately) on my 2018 F 150 are the best mirrors I've ever used. I don't think I'd ever buy a truck without them.

Agreed, worth every penny!

[Hilola]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Yes, got the "Employee" discount but unfortunately not the Costco discount.

Ron

How do you get those two discounts?

[NCBill]

I replaced the stock mirrors on my 2010 F150 Lariat with aftermarket tow mirrors. Did I require them? No. But I sure like towing with them. We have a camper top on the bed of our truck with opaque sides. I use the mirrors a lot! Paid $140 for them on eBay, maintained the heat, power adjust and turn signals. Manual extension but I always leave them extended.

Towing a gen1 19.

Truck options: we use our truck as our long trip ride, whether pulling a trailer or not. Our trips are typically 5,000 to 8,000 miles, currently on a 11,000 mile trip. My wife loves the heated/AC seats, I like the powered seat. Love the tailgate step with the geezer pole. Would never buy a truck without it. Ford brake controller is a must, I’d get the best trailer towing package. Upgrades you can’t do later are the ones that need to be on the truck.

If I was buying new I’d get an XLT model with ample payload. Ford payload is all over the place from totally inadequate to outstanding.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Hilola

How do you get those two discounts?

Maybe the "Employee discount" promotion is just in Canada. It ends in a few days. It was substantial.

As far as the Costco discount goes you had to be a Costco member before July 4th. We weren't as I've never liked the idea of having to pay a membership fee to buy things at a store. It was a $1,000.00 discount. No worries, lot's of other thousands got taken off before the dust settled.

Ron

[Chris & Patricia]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Maybe the "Employee discount" promotion is just in Canada. It ends in a few days. It was substantial.

As far as the Costco discount goes you had to be a Costco member before July 4th. We weren't as I've never liked the idea of having to pay a membership fee to buy things at a store. It was a $1,000.00 discount. No worries, lot's of other thousands got taken off before the dust settled.

Ron

But surely its worth paying for a Costco membership just to get the extra $1,000 off? Good job for your wife.

I saw a good video the other day on trying to deal with automobile salesman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8VYNFzmJIQ

. Although its Australian, its pretty much the same idea. Automobile salesmen are not your friends...they want you to pay as much as possible!!

[cpaharley2008]

I may have mentioned this in an earlier post, but during the 80's there was a project in the Baltimore IRS office with FIFO and LIFO inventories. Every automobile dealer in the metro area was examined and I got to see the factory shipped prices with holdbacks on several dealers. The gist of the profit margin was then, if you can get the vehicle, equipped the way you wanted, with just paying the base price, you were doing good. In other words the options were free.....Now with TruCar and Good Sams and Costco the margin is even less.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Chris & Patricia

But surely its worth paying for a Costco membership just to get the extra $1,000 off?

I suppose that if I'd have known before July 4th that Costco membership would have gotten the $1,000 off we'd have gotten one. But no worries, there were so many other costs that came off the table I don't think we were really $1,000 down.

[QUOTE=cpaharley2008;259445]
The gist of the profit margin was then, if you can get the vehicle, equipped the way you wanted, with just paying the base price, you were doing good. In other words the options were free..../QUOTE]

Pretty much the case. As I said, all I had to do is sit back, shut up and let the negotiator do her thing.

Ron