- Joined
- Jan 29, 2010
- Messages
- 2,259
- Reaction score
- 615
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Central Indiana
- Vehicle Year
- 2000
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 3.0
- Transmission
- Manual
They're all going to be 10-30 years old now, so it will likely be a case by case situation.
In general, the most reliable engines tend to be the 4.0 OHV 2000 and older, the 3.0 up to 2009, or the 2.3 Duratec from 01+ (The older 2.3 and 2.5 Lima engines are reliable as well, but have a timing belt instead of a chain)
The manual is better than the auto for fun, fuel economy and longevity
4WD just adds weigh and more things to wear out and need repair, but if you need it, you need it
For a new driver, I'd prioritize the cost savings from fuel economy. Keep it simple. Keep it efficient. Keep it cheap. A Duratec/manual will be "enough" for most normal tasks while being the best option for daily driving stuff too. And it will probably save you a couple hundred bucks per year just in fuel compared to the V6 trucks:
In general, the most reliable engines tend to be the 4.0 OHV 2000 and older, the 3.0 up to 2009, or the 2.3 Duratec from 01+ (The older 2.3 and 2.5 Lima engines are reliable as well, but have a timing belt instead of a chain)
The manual is better than the auto for fun, fuel economy and longevity
4WD just adds weigh and more things to wear out and need repair, but if you need it, you need it
For a new driver, I'd prioritize the cost savings from fuel economy. Keep it simple. Keep it efficient. Keep it cheap. A Duratec/manual will be "enough" for most normal tasks while being the best option for daily driving stuff too. And it will probably save you a couple hundred bucks per year just in fuel compared to the V6 trucks:
Compare Side-by-Side
Compare the MPG of cars and trucks side-by-side. Compare the gas mileage and greenhouse gas emissions of new and used cars and trucks
www.fueleconomy.gov