We have TWO F350 in our family: One is a 2006 with the craptacular 6.0L power-stroke and its perpetual CEL light and wrench light and sticky VGT turbo vane problems and EGR implosion, expansion chamber regurgitations and carbon build up and chaffing wires and this and that, and the other a is 2001 F-350 HD with the 7.3L that is bullet-proof, has serious grunt but makes continental drift look like a trip to the market, so slow its reaction times are. The advantage of the older model is it has that 18th century solid front axle that makes it track like, uhm... like it has a solid front axle on leafs.
The advantages of the 6.0L are uhmm.. perhaps the color since it's white and thus stays cooler in the summer since both AC on both trucks no longer work.
Both of these trucks leak/seep oil from every conceivable seal and gasket ever put on them. Both ingest/regurgitate/vanish coolant at will when pushed. They are like old steam locomotives and require refills after every trip to a horse-show pulling a trailer.
Both are full of dog hair, smell like horse poop inside and out, are covered in baked mud and dust, one has moss growing on its north-facing side (from being parked outside a barn on a shaded area) and both tow a 60ft 4 horse horse trailer with living quarters and have the scars to prove it.
NO ONE comes close to cutting in front of me when I commute to work on one of these cro magnon mobiles. Everyone is as courteous as hell, which does not happen very often when I'm on my regular car (German import) This is a bout the only good thing there is about driving one of these nightmare on wheels: no one messes up with you.
BTW, Has your CEL light come on yet? Are there spots on your driveway?? No??? Just wait a few months and start befriending your friendly Ford dealer service manager, and once the warranty expires, start inviting your closest good diesel mechanic for your Christmas dinners and social functions...
