2003 Ford F-250

We purchased our F-250 Superduty Lariat 4x4 Crew Cab specifically to tow a travel trailer. Other than towing the trailer it is rarely driven. We specifically wanted the older 7.3 Powerstroke diesel as the newer 6.0 Powerstroke has had lots of reliability problems. Rumor has it Ford has hade to buy back thousands of 6.0 equipped trucks under the lemon law. Mid year 2003 is when the changeover was made from 7.3 to 6.0.
The one thing We did not know at the time was the short bed's fuel tank is smaller that on the long bed, 29 gallons versus 39. The 29 gallon tank is a bit small when towing a trailer and getting 12-13 MPG, and obviously the short bed box holds less stuff, in retrospect I wished I had bought a longbed. Superduty trucks are great traveling vehicles, are quiet and comfortable for driving long distances, very limo like inside with lots of room and great visibility. These things are as powerful as a locomotive. We crested the 10,000 foot Lizard Head Pass in Colorado at 65 MPH, trailer in tow, without breaking a sweat. Even though our truck has the "FX-4 Off Road" package, it does poorly off road. The original Firestone Steeltex tires readily dig into the ground and don't provide much traction. There is not much ground clearance either. I'm sure a lift kit and larger wheels & tires would greatly improve off road performance. Another minor irritant are the upgraded chrome tube style running boards. When driving in mud the front tires throw mud up and on top of the running boards where you will step in it and track mud into the truck when you get in and out. Build quality is about average for contemporary American built vehicles with lots of cheap low quality plastic parts that won't age well. The windshield glass is thin and has already cracked.

UPDATE- Feb 2008: Replaced the original Firestone tires with Michelin LTX M/S's, which made a noticable improvement in smoothness, quietness, and tracking down the road. The truck now has 60,000 miles on it and the only problem so far has been a crank position sensor replaced under warranty. Averaging 13 MPG towing, 17 MPG Not towing.

I love the 6.0L diesel engine. Very zippy for a diesel. The transmission is nice and smooth in the normal setting, and very tight and crisp in the "Tow/Haul" mode. Comfortable, roomy, and powerful enough for the tough jobs. I'm very pleased with this truck.

As with all things, when faced with increased regulation - quality suffers. The 7.3 liter PowerStroke Diesel is the workhorse of truck engines. The 6.0 liter that was created to meet strict emission controls turned into a nightmare for owners and a windfall for diesel mechanics. Even with the reduction in displacement, the 6.0 gets substantially lower mileage. I guess emissions are close to zero on a truck that doesn't run much...

I was very skeptical of purchasing a used vehicle 2500 miles away without being able to examine it in any way. This Ford F 250 had the exact combination of features that I was looking for (small V8, long bed, 4x4, extended cab, etc). So I called the seller and after discussing the vehicle and getting direct answers to my questions I felt the seller was being honest with me therefore I decided to bid. I estimated the value of the truck minus the shipping cost from Florida to Nevada and bid that amount and was very surprised to be the winning bidder. I have had the truck and been driving it for three weeks now and have found the sellers description was generally accurate except it is missing the owners manual, jack, jack handle and lug wrench. Overall I am very satisfied.

The truck is a diesel and had a few power problems upon purchase. A simple upgrade to the software program and all was good. There were a few mechanical issues but I purchased it from a wholesaler and got what was expected. The overall truck is great. Plenty of power, room and comfort.
I am a contractor and liked the diesel for towing the trailer and the extended cab w/ 8' bed gives me plenty of room for the extra's. I love the truck and I'm glad I purchased it.
The purchase price was cheaper than anything I could find local. I traveled 225 miles to get it and even with the money I spent on repairs, I saved at least $2000 to anything comparable in the area. Overall, very satisfied.

I GOT RIPPED OFF FROM THIS SELLER HE TOLD ME HE COULD GET ME FINANCING AFTER I LEFT A 500. DEPOSIT SO I DID AND THIS CLOWN FELL OFF THE PLANET WITH MY MONY CAN YOU HEP??????????????

One of the best trucks I have ever driven. 6spd manual that is so easy to drive my wife who had never driven a manual drove it the first day! Tons of power and torque. I couldn't have asked for a better deal and easier people to deal with than OregonPrime!

We are very happy with the truck we purchased. The seller answered all of our questions, and was very helpful. Thanks Brian.

We found a great deal on a clean truck, worth flying to pick it up. There was a lot of pictures of the truck, and instead of having it shipped we could test drive it before we purchased it.

I bought a 6.0 diesel because of its performance and quietness. After the first dealers service the quiet idle feature was eliminated due to California smog requirements. The next visit to the dealer
featured a pcm reflash which reduced the performance and mileage. At 82,000 miles the injectors started going bad. Those who claim that the 6.0 problems are overblown should be more patient. I'm sure their time will come.