By Josh RosenbergIn today's very high-priced used car market, many car buyers are now looking at "older" models that have aged well as a way to save significant dollars. And The Ford F-150 is clearly one of the best pickups available and an "older" model can most definitely still be a viable and more economical option.
The key is finding a well-maintained candidate with lower than average miles (15,000 per year). And they are indeed out there.
The 2013 Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck known for its versatility, durability, and a wide range of configurations to suit various needs. The 2013 model year was part of the F-Series twelfth generation (2009-2014), which is one of the most popular and long-standing truck lines in the United States./p>
Reliability
When considering the purchase of an older vehicle, reliability and mechanical issues are of prime concern. The 2013 Ford F-150, like many of its predecessors, has generally been considered a reliable vehicle by the standards of full-size pickup trucks.
Ford has a long history of producing durable trucks, and the F-150, in particular, has been a workhorse for many individuals and businesses. These trucks are often used for heavy-duty tasks, including towing, hauling, and off-road driving, and many owners have reported positive experiences with their F-150s in terms of reliability.
However, the reliability of any specific vehicle can vary depending on factors such as maintenance, usage, and how well it has been cared for by its owner.
But first, two very important suggestions ...
1. Know How To Get The Lowest Used Car Price:
Get Dealers To Compete For your Business: When you are searching vehicles to possibly purchase, the following is the absolute best way to get the lowest price, and it is extremely easy and stress-free.
Just go to a national car listing site, (I happen to prefer CarsDirect.com for their massive dealer participation and ease of use, although others will get the job done as well) and find several listed vehicles that you may be interested in.
Then write something like the following in the "Check Availability" box or "Contact Dealer" box or whatever the site you are using uses.
"Hello, I've contacted several dealers about cars I am interested in and am looking for the best value. I am also a serious buyer planning to make a decision soon. Please send me your best out-the-door price. Thank you.
After receiving the offers, follow up by explaining that based on the price, you're leaning in another direction but still really like their car and would certainly consider another offer. When dealers drop out, you'll know you're at the best price.
Using the internet to get dealers to compete for your business is extremely important. More details on this and how to intereact with the dealers can be found here at Best Used Car Buying Techniques.
2. Things To Do When Considering An "Older" F-150:
Locate Lower Mileage Vehicles: They are certainly out there to be found with careful and patient shopping. Be willing to drive a distance if you have to.
Vehicle History and Maintenance: Ask for the vehicle history report (CarFax or AutoCheck) as well as documented maintenance and repair records. If not provided by the dealer or private seller, it's best to move on.
Pre-Purchase Inspection: Have the vehicle independently inspected before making a final decision. This usually will cost in the $150-$200 range but is well worth it given the potentially thousands in savings over the long term.
The 2013 Ford F-150
In addition to appealing qualities such as strong engines and a comfortable cabin, the F-150 is also America's top-selling pickup due to its myriad of available trims and powertrain combinations. There's basically something for everyone, whether one mostly drives around town, has significant towing or hauling needs, or even requires advanced off-road toughness.
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And new for 2013, the Ford F-150 got a minor style revision along with new features such as the MyFord Touch infotainment interface, hill-descent control and xenon headlights. In addition, a new Limited model replaced the shelved Harley-Davidson version.
While this F-150 may have much going for it, nevertheless, before making a final buying decision, prospective owners should not only consider its appealing qualities, but measure the possible impact of its potential drawbacks as well.
2013 Ford F-150 Pros
Powerful engine lineup: Even the F-150's base 3.7-liter V6 engine serves up strong acceleration. With its 302 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, it goes from a standstill to 60 mph in a very respectable 8.2 seconds.
But clearly the most impressive is the available twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (EcoBoost) which offers both more power and better fuel efficiency. Producing 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, a rear-drive model with this engine blazes through the 60 mph sprint in just 6.5 seconds.
The V8 engines are no slouchers either. The 5.0-liter V8 produces 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torgue and even a four-wheel drive model with this engine accelerates to 60 mph in a quick 7.2 seconds, while the 6.2-liter V8, standard issue on the Raptor, pumps out 411 horses and 434 lb-ft of torque on the way to a 0 to 60 time of 7.1.
Good V6 fuel-efficiency as well: The base 3.6 gets a quite respectable (for the full-size pickup class) EPA-estimated 17 mpg city and 23 mpg on the highway with rear-wheel drive, while four-wheel drive lowers these numbers to 16 city and 21 highway.
And again very impressive, the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter has a gas mileage rating of 16 city and 22 highway with rear-drive, and 15 and 21, respectively, with four-wheel drive. Not only do models with this engine get better gas mileage than the V8s, but they are faster as well.
Attractive and well-built cabin: The F-150's interior provides a more than pleasant environment and is solidly constructed with good quality materials. The front seats are among the most comfortable in the full-size pickup truck segment while the crew cab models offer enormous amounts of rear legroom.
That said, the SuperCab is adequately roomy, but the rear legroom is noticeably less.
Comfortable, competent ride: Supported by a powerful choice of engines and a very solid chassis, the 2013 F-150 offers both a smooth and comfortable drive as well as surprisingly agile handling capabilities for a truck.
The electrically assisted power steering produces good feedback and easily maneuvers this full-size truck. Even on rough roads, the F-150 retains its composure with little, if any, rattling or shuttering.
Useful tailgate step: The integrated tailgate step relieves the clumsiness and sometimes hazardous task of climbing up onto the truck's bed. It's easy to use and offers a secure hand-hold.
The SVT Raptor model is a beast off-road: Off-road enthusiasts rejoice! Those looking for a truck that can tame some of the roughest terrains out there will likely be well-pleased with the SVT Raptor.
It should be noted, however, that its higher ride height and wide body can make it a bit tricky to drive around town at times.
2013 Ford F-150 Cons
SuperCab's clamshell rear doors: The rear-hinged clamshell rear doors are less convenient than traditional front-hinged doors because you need to open the front door to access it and keep it open while you open the rear door.
Unimpressive V8 fuel economy: The 5.0-liter V8's increased horsepower and torque lower fuel economy to 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway with rear-wheel drive, while opting for four-wheel drive decreases mileage to 14 city and 19 highway.
Fuel economy with the 6.2-liter V8 with rear-drive comes in at 13 city and 18 highway while the Raptor swallows up 12 mpg city and 16 highway.
Sometimes maddening MyFord Touch system: The MyFord Touch system conveniently allows you to control entertainment, cell phone and navigation functions through voice controls. However, in practise it has been plagued by some speed and ease of use issues.
Most of the frustration has to do with its touch sensitivity. The system uses a plastic resistive touch display which requires fairly strong presses in order to properly register. Sometimes you can find yourself pressing the screen two or three times to advance to the next step.
And sometimes the screen can stop responding at all, which requires going back to the home screen and starting over. It's great when it works properly, which is most of the time, but can drive someone a bit crazy on ocassion as well.
Overall:
There's no question about the F-150's status as a half-ton pickup that's just hard to beat. Whether considering its comfort, power, attractive cabin and even fuel economy of some models, this popular truck continues to have much to offer.
And with its many available trims, it can serve as either a basic, work-to-death and beat-it-up truck or as downright luxurious transportation.
We're particularly taken with the EcoBoost V6 twin-turbo version which delivers abundant power but stll achieves better than 20 mpg on the highway.
Even so, we always think it wise to check out a vehicle's strong rivals before making a final buying decision. Those worthy of consideration would include the Chevy Silverado, the Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra, all with approximately similar capabilities and pricing.
Also, Always Know The Value Of Your Trade-In
Whether you are trading or selling on your own, it's just a good idea ... even whether you are in the market or not at the moment. You can then use this important information for a number of purposes ... to negotiate with a dealer, or to know how to price your car in the retail market, or simply to know the value of one of your assets, which is always a good idea.
Getting trade-in values online tend to vary a lot from site to site. But I've found the one at Edmunds Trade-In Quotes is particularly comprehensive and accurate.
It's free and just takes a couple of minutes. I think what helps its accuracy is the inputs will include either your plate# or VIN# followed by many simple, but specific, yes/no questions. It really focuses in on the detail of the specific vehicle.