First off I have been a long time member and use to have a 01 f150. Since September of 2013 I sold my pride and joy because of joining the military and also purchased a jeep for the wife. I'm back in the market for a newer used f-150 looking at years from 08-12. I want 4x4 with a v8 with super cab. Would greatly appreciate any input on issues on these models if any, or if any model is better than the other. Thanks a lot guys iv been out of the f-150 crowd for awhile and never really got into the newer trucks but I want one now. So any advice is good thanks again

 

Go for a 2011+ for the 5.0L/6/2L/Ecoboost engines, much much better than the Tritons we had in 2004/2010s.

The 2011+ FX4s look much better appearance wise. Black painted inner head/taillamps, better looking grills.

2012+ FX4 had cooled seats. 2009+ Platinum had cooled, and 2010+ Lariat did also.

2012+ also had FX appearance pkg on FX2/4s, ugly to me but not others.

2011+ Lariat had a blond type woodgrain. 2012 they went back to a darker wood type. 2009/2010 was about the exact color and brightness as 2004/2008 Lariat.

2013+ all models had a mildly restyled dash board, and the FX4s & higher luxury trim levels had HID projector headlamps factory.

The 2009/2012 trucks with the higher end tow packages seemed to commonly have the tow mirrors standard. I see very few 2013/2014s with them but they were still an option. 2013/2014 tow mirrors were power folding, and more 2008 Super Duty inspired.

 

Also the 2013+ FX2/4 and upper trim levels got the My Ford Touch system. And nav was optional on the MFT systems.

2014 XLT's could get HID headlights as an option.

The appearance pack on the 14's got a new stripe, instead of the 90 degree bend on the front doors, it's more of a 45 degree like the tremors, and they got the same grill as the tremors.

A lot of dealers still have plenty of leftover 14's at a deeply discounted price, you could possibly get a new 14 for the same or less than a low mileage used 12 or 13

 

One of the reasons I bought new in August of 2013 was that used prices were so close to new with rebates etc. Also, I felt that gave more time for any teething problems on the 6 speed to be worked out. I have the 5.0 Supercrew in Blue Flame. Very pleased with it, average 18.5 mpg mixed, 21.5 highway. Pulls well, sounds great. Rolled 60,000 miles this morning.

 

The dealers here are giving 13K off any 2014 on the lot trying to get in the space for the 2015 new body. I would say that with that kind of rebate you will probably be able to just about get a new one for the same price as a good used one. Plus buying new you can get a much lower finance rate. As for the options, I am a big more power the better, I have the 5.0 also because at the time I did not trust in the new ecoboost. At this point I think that as long as you get 3.73 gears or heavier the eco boost would be fantastic. However, for my money as long as the 6.2 is an option in play that is where my money would go.

 

Thanks for the input guys any major recalls in the past couple of years?

 

Nothing comes to mind. Also be aware the 6.2 engine still has the old fashioned hydraulic power steering with a pump. Not a big deal, it's a good system that has been around forever. The 5.0 and ecoboost have EPAS (electronic power assisted steering) and it came around in 2011 with the new engines. the early ones had some failures and its an expensive repair if you don't have warranty on it. As a side note all 2009 and 10's have the old hydraulic setup, no matter the engine.

 

Dunno about anything, but I got my 13 in Jan of 14 for about the same price they were selling used 12's at the time..

Plus, I wanted the Max Tow option, and those only came with the Eco engine, so that's what I ended up with..

Got the 3.73 gears and #7700 GVWR and it just rocks!

But, that's just my biased opinion.. I traded a 97 F150 with the 5.4 that had 255,000 miles on it for the 13 and I owned the 97 for over 12 years and never a lick of trouble with it.

Mitch