I’m trying to decide which F150 to buy. Any advice from fellow truck lovers in this forum would be appreciated.
It’s great to see a European F150 fan here! From my experience, you’ll have different vibes with each truck. The blue and red trucks seem to be 3.5 Ecoboost King Ranches. The 3.5 Ecoboost engines from that model year are mostly reliable, but they came with the first versions of the 10-speed automatic transmission, which had some minor issues. The King Ranch trim is pretty luxurious with lots of features, and both trucks should serve you well if you keep up with maintenance, say every 3 to 5K miles. The red one worries me since it has a rebuilt title. If F150s are already rare in Europe, that rebuilt title makes it more concerning. Finding parts will be tough, and not many folks will know how to repair them, so it might not be as well-maintained as you think.
Now about the newer V8 model, that’s a different story. While it has the V8 and an updated 10-speed with fewer issues, the rebuilt title makes me hesitant. The fact that it has a 6th seat suggests it might be an XL or XLT, likely the XL based on the wheel design. The aftermarket LED headlights could also be a problem. They might not be aimed right, which is a common issue with trucks, and those aftermarket ones can really blind other drivers.
My best advice is to go with the 2020 model. The blue might not be your favorite now, but that Antimatter Blue is a dark, almost black color that looks fantastic in the light. Take good care of it, and it will treat you well.
Edit: I just saw the red F150 has a V8. My advice still stands, but just be aware of the cam phasers in both the Ecoboost and V8 engines. Sometimes they can tick and create problems, but once fixed, the truck should be fine.
@Beckett
Thanks a lot for the detailed advice. Most of the trucks here have been rebuilt because importing them is cheaper. I usually check Rockauto for parts for my Corvette, but you’re right about repairs. We have a few dealers and workshops that focus on US cars, but they know the trucks are rare, so their prices are really high.
About the headlights: in Germany, cars must pass a safety inspection every two years. If the headlights are not shining correctly, you fail the inspection and can’t drive the car. So, I’m not too worried about that, but I appreciate you mentioning it. I’m leaning towards a truck without any previous damage, and I can use Carfax just to be safe. I’m warming up to the blue color too; the dealer is about an hour away, so I’ll check it out soon.
@Hale
No problem! Happy to help. Trust me, you won’t regret choosing the King Ranch.
@Hale
Just a heads up, the blue on the 2020 is actually called Blue Jeans, not Antimatter Blue, which is for 2021 and newer models. Also, keep in mind it’s cam phasers, not lifters. Overhead cam engines don’t have lifters, and usually, it’s the phaser solenoids that can cause issues with the V8.
I’m out here dreaming about getting an F150 too!
I was stationed in Germany, and I loved it. You know about the tight parking spaces and narrow roads, so keep that in mind. The autobahn speeds will be interesting too. A truck could be very useful there.
I read in a post on this forum that getting Ford parts might be a bit tricky in Europe. I’m not sure how accurate that is, but it’s worth looking into before you make a purchase. Both trucks look great, good luck!
I had a 2017 3.5 Ecoboost and loved it. I agree with the saying ‘V8 is king,’ but after I tuned my 3.5 and did the VTA mod, it became such a fun truck. I’m not sure if that’s allowed in Germany though. If you want, you could also consider giving your F150 a Raptor look. I’ve seen a lot of XLTs with Raptor grills, and they look awesome.