First week with 800ft/lbs of torque

"youshiftem" (torinosport302)
12/04/2014 at 09:42 • Filed to: None

After many months of test driving and haggling, last week I finally settled on a 2012 F350. My last truck (a 2000 F350) was about to put a huge hole in my wallet just to end up with the same old truck. As much as loved the old 6-speed 7.3, I decided it was time to upgrade.

The first truck I drove was a 2014 Chev 2500 with the Duramax and Allison. I have to say I think I liked the interior the most in this one, it was simply laid out, spacious and comfortable. I was excited to try the famous Allison transmission but I was very disappointed. It was sluggish with a sloppy torque converter, always hunting for the right gear and very slow to shift. Coming from a standard transmission there was no way I could live with a terrible automatic, so I moved on.

So I decided to stick with the manual transmission and try a 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins with the 6-speed manual. What could go wrong, the legendary Cummins diesel engine back by a row-your-own funbox? Pretty much everything else on the truck. It was noisy, uncomfortable, everything was cheap feeling, squeaks everywhere and it was already starting to rust. Completely unacceptable for a truck that cost as much as this. I might have been happier with another version of this truck, but they are incredibly hard to find so this was my only option.

So I decided to see how the newer Fords handled the 1-ton category and I must say I was very impressed. I found a beautifully maintained 2012 F350 Lariat FX4 with the new 6.7L Powerstroke. With the ZF-6 no longer an option on the Fords I was forced to try the automatic again, but honestly it didn't matter. The 6-speed automatic in the new trucks is set up properly. It shifts when you want it to, the converter is tight and locks up at just the right time, and when slowing down it will downshift exactly where I would have when driving the manual as if it were reading my mind. I was sold.

After a week with the truck I can only say it's gotten better. As I find all the little gadgets and toys hidden in the electronics, never (EVER) running out of power even when towing a huge load behind it, and averaging 10.5L/100kms (22.4mpg) when empty, I have to say Ford has a very well thought out truck. I still miss shifting on my own, but as a whole package this truck is just much much better than the old one. Makes me wonder why I didn't do this sooner.

DISCUSSION (43)

OPPOsaurus WRX > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 09:46

i'm pretty sure my Ram can disrupt the Earths rotation better than your Ford can

(I dont have a Ram, and I like the Fords better)

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 09:47

I miss manuals in pickups. Will probably keep from ever buying a new truck.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 09:47

Dude, I average 25.4 mpg in the FiST..

youshiftem > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/04/2014 at 09:51

If it's just for the fun, I agree. But if it's the functionality that's holding you back, just try the new ford 6-speed, I am very impressed.

youshiftem > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
12/04/2014 at 09:52

The fuel economy shocked me, I don't drive it hard but I'm still amazed.

claramag, Mustaco Master > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 09:54

These are seriously some great trucks. You listed all it's great perks I can think of off the top of my head, kudos on that powertrain Ford

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 09:57

That is pretty awesome, I bet I could get my mileage up if I didn't drive as fast buuut autobahn...

Anon > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/04/2014 at 09:59

IDK my 2008 GMC Sierra with its 5.3L V8 makes so much torque down low that it will pull hard at any RPM. An auto pickup is still a lot of fun, with a bench seat, it's like driving a giant sofa with a V8.

Anon > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
12/04/2014 at 10:00

To be fair he's using desiel which cost about .30 per gallon than premium.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:03

I agree, autos are better for towing and doing work. I just prefer the control on the manual and simplicity/lower maintenance costs.

cazzyodo > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:03

That's frickin' amazing...I'm hovering around 23mpg with the FoST.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Anon
12/04/2014 at 10:04

I got that already in my grand marquis. I don't dislike auto pickups by any means, I'd just prefer a bench seat with a manual.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Anon
12/04/2014 at 10:04

The truck also weighs 3-4x as much.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
12/04/2014 at 10:06

That's because even though it's fu nto do low-rev, low speed stuff........you hear that little turbo whine past 3k and you just go "Oh why not? WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee..... *breathe* eeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
12/04/2014 at 10:08

It is amazing.

Jcarr > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/04/2014 at 10:09

I worked for a landscaping company in college and one of our trucks was a well worn '98 Ram Cummins with a stick. I was endlessly entertained by the fact that I could simply let the clutch out and it would just go.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:09

dat blue...

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:09

Pretty much what I've heard about the big three is this: If you want a work truck, get a Ford. If you long haul, get a Cummins. If you want to say you have a diesel, get a Duramax.

Also, the Allison mimics the driving style it's accustomed to, so after a while it would have adapted.

Jcarr > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:10

So what kind of cool heavy things do you tow/haul?

Milky > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:12

The only reason I don't like the F-whatever-number Super Duty is because its the same damn truck as your 2000! Sure it has a new drivetrain, a bigger, chromier grill and a new dash. But come on Ford, give us a new truck already.

Kinja'd!!!

I know that means its a proven ride, and doesn't diminish from its truckyness. But I just can't bring myself to like it.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:22

Are you seriously averaging 10.5L/100km? My 1.6L Fusion averages 9.0L/100K and my car is probably 4000lbs lighter than your truck and the motor is 1/4th the size. And I thought my car was pretty good on gas.

I find it hard to believe but if it's true color me impressed.

youshiftem > Jcarr
12/04/2014 at 10:22

Mostly muscle cars to track or fix.

Juan Tawn > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:24

The fuel economy is shocking! Congrats on your new addition!

nermal > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/04/2014 at 10:24

Yep. Stinks that the only full size option is the Ram with a diesel.

itschrome > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
12/04/2014 at 10:26

dude, i do better in My caddy with the northstar! you must run the Fist pretty hard..

Jcarr > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:28

Living the dream. The coolest (by which I mean only) things I've trailered lately are a piano and a desk.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > itschrome
12/04/2014 at 10:28

Well yeah, maybe sometimes ...

nermal > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:28

Sweet truck. I just recently did the manual-to-auto thing too, although I went from a Jeep to a GMC 1500. I wanted a new diesel, but after thinking about it I do too many short trips, which isn't good for the emmissions stuff. Plus the extra cost of the truck up front.

The auto in my truck is ok, the only problem that I have trouble with it is in the last mile or so leading to my house. It keeps trying to upshift too soon, then bogs and downshifts. Using the + / - on the shifter to hold the lower gear fixes that right up though.

Meatcoma > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:31

I have a 2003 F250 that I'm purposely stalling working on because I have to pull both exhaust manifolds and replace them and there is roughly 8 bolts broken, I need to replace the steering dampener, replace the tires, figure out why the front hubs wont lock in with the dash switch(they work when you manually lock them, I think it's a vacuum leak), and some new shocks. I'm at the point you were before you bought your new one. I want to sell it but it's still a nice truck(v10 eats sooo much gas), has low miles for a 250 - 125k, and it's fully loaded. I just can't make up my mind to spend the money to fix it or trade it on something newer with more miles that prob has more hp/torque and gets better mileage, but looks like someone left a dog inside for 2 years with nothing to eat but carpet and seats.

itschrome > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
12/04/2014 at 10:33

ha, you need a dashcam. I would have liked to seen that chase.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > itschrome
12/04/2014 at 10:35

A dashcam would be an awesome thing to have out here!

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Jcarr
12/04/2014 at 10:42

haha that's why its best to learn stick in a truck. I remember I first tried stick as a 16 year old in a audi TT and then drove my uncles beat ass GMC 1500. What a difference! its like stalling didn't even exist.

youshiftem > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
12/04/2014 at 10:43

I wasn't believing it either, but I did the math on the few fill-ups I've done and it checks out!

Jcarr > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/04/2014 at 10:46

Yeah, I learned on a 90s Mustang 3.8 so needless to say, there was plenty of stalling there.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:46

AWESOME!

*goes on autotrader and looks for F350*

Brickman > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 10:57

How quiet is it? I been around a few new F-350s and you can barely hear the engine.

youshiftem > Brickman
12/04/2014 at 10:59

It's so quiet that you forget it's a Diesel truck at all. Probably why I forgot to mention it!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 11:08

holy shit just like everyone I'm completely amazed by your fuel mileage.

Amazing.

Congrats on the truck those things are awesome and I love the FX4 trim level.

I'd say you need a leveling kit to get that front end up a bit...but it might hurt that amazing mileage.

Tohru > youshiftem
12/04/2014 at 11:20

Your truck gets the same mileage mine does. At least I have a 5-speed.

Kinja'd!!!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Milky
12/04/2014 at 11:36

Almost literally nothing is the same. It just looks kind of, but not really similar.

Milky > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
12/04/2014 at 12:12

It looks almost literally exactly the same! I know under the skin is different but sans front end, fender "vent", mirrors and tail lights its visually the same damn truck.

Kinja'd!!!

(kinja ate my reply once, hope this doesn't double post)

Stupidru > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
12/04/2014 at 12:48

There should be an asterisk next to that... while your fuel economy is not much different, your monthly fuel bills are shockingly different. Diesel remains significantly higher than regular unleaded, and premium is only $0.20 - $0.30/gal more than 87 octane

thebigbossyboss > youshiftem
01/06/2015 at 12:29

What is your opinion on singles vs duallies? I see a lot of F350's with the singles these days.