I have the 5.4 and actually love it. Maybe I am lucky, but other than a broken valve spring at 110k miles, I haven't had any problems. I did the spark plugs no problems either. Just followed proper procedure before cracking them loose. The valve spring replacement cost me $1300 bucks out the door, 3 day turnaround. No biggie in my book for what I put that truck through.
I am very weary of screaming turbo v6's mated to 10 speed transmissions. seems very straining of both.
The old Dodge 12 valve diesels are very sought after around here, more so than the LS.
Yep, nobody swaps in a Ford engine, except maybe the old 5.0/302. The coyote motors are cool, but hella expensive.
Seems newer vehicles are packed with technology that compensates for lazy, inattentive, or incompetent drivers. Backup cameras, Lane change assist, blind spot indicators, self parking....etc...
Driving is a verb, an action. Yet most people treat it as a noun, a thing. Carmakers seem to encourage this.
There are little things I hate about each of my Fords:
My F150 doors do not unlock when I open my door. Countless times I find the passenger door locked and must walk around to driver side to unlock it (my keys stay in the ignition). My Fusion unlocks all doors when one is opened from inside.
My '11 Fusion is just about perfect, except the info screen offers all sorts of useless bits , but no outside temp gauge of any sort.
My Ranger has no way of turning off the interior light with the door open. I got pissed and ripped out the dome light, and clipped a flashlight to the visor.