5 Liter V8's - Who needs them? Not enough people, apparently...

[fsvt713]

Thank goodness the Mustang is the best selling Sports Coupe in the World, as pretty hard to get rid of this car model?!

We saw FCA ( first ) discontinue many automobile models , and Chevy and Ford have continued the trend , primarily due to consumer demand. Hard to fault any of them as the buyer is the one driving this market , but I figure things will turn around when fuel prices go on the rise - as this cycle repeats itself again.

I think this would apply 10 years ago but with crossovers (both big and small) now being mostly built off car chassies and better technology the fuel mileage gap is a lot tighter and most people are willing to give up that 10% difference in MPG for the extra utility they get. When Ford first stated they were ending car production I was like everyone else and very surprised and had a hard time comprehending the decision. Looking back on it now the margins are just not there and with people going to crossovers its money better spent in the long run for the company.

 

[302BOB]

I'm hoping 5.0's in Mustangs will be safe for awhile...........

 

[Bill Pemberton]

I don't like it either , but just like Minivans , I believe in years to come there will be a transition back to more cars. The sad part, to me, is that if we see another big run up in fuel prices ( stop and think about how many times this has occurred since the 70s ) Hyundai, Toyota, Kia, Mazda, Honda and others will be there for the taking and the big 3 will have to ramp up just like in the past -------history really does repeat itself!

 

[Nvrfinished]

I know the problem with the 5.0 is that folks see the 3.5 Turbo as a motor with more towing capacity.

Exactly! I'm going to be in the market for a new truck / SUV within the next year (waiting to see the new Bronco) and I was looking at options for the F150 just two nights ago. I had assumed the 5.0 was the motor to have for towing and was surprised to see it was the V6 EcoBoost.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I think this would apply 10 years ago but with crossovers (both big and small) now being mostly built off car chassies and better technology the fuel mileage gap is a lot tighter and most people are willing to give up that 10% difference in MPG for the extra utility they get. When Ford first stated they were ending car production I was like everyone else and very surprised and had a hard time comprehending the decision.

I'm still surprised Ford didn't consolidate - what was it, four sedan lines - down to one sized somewhere between the two most popular ones. Just to keep a toehold in the sedan market.

What I particularly dislike about Ford's move is that it amounts to them saying "you can have any kind of car you want so long as it's an SUV or a CUV". Hackett must be channeling Henry's ghost . . . ‘Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.’.


Norm

 

[TMSBOSS]

I talked to a few car salesmen at Ford dealers just as Ford announced their move away from Sedans. They said the decision was sound since almost no one was buying sedans. After the announcement, sedan sales took off. Seems like a case of "I don't want it until I am told I cant have it". The public is funny that way.

 

[fsvt713]

Exactly! I'm going to be in the market for a new truck / SUV within the next year (waiting to see the new Bronco) and I was looking at options for the F150 just two nights ago. I had assumed the 5.0 was the motor to have for towing and was surprised to see it was the V6 EcoBoost.

I have had the ability to tow with both a 3.5 EB and 5.0 F150 and will say the 3.5 will flat out pull way better than the v8. The torque those engines create down low is almost diesel like (look at a dyno plot of a 3.5 vs 5.0) I ended up going with the V8 regardless on my F150 just becase I always seemed to get better MPG not towing with the coyote. The EB engines get into boost very quickly so trying to keep it out of boost (therefore getting better mpg) is more work than its worth. That and the EB sounds terrible lol

 

[Nvrfinished]

I ended up going with the V8 regardless on my F150 just becase I always seemed to get better MPG not towing with the coyote.

Was it a big difference?

 

[fsvt713]

Was it a big difference?

2-3 mpg. Your results may vary. That was on the steel body truck. If you can stay out of boost consistantly you will get better MPG with the EB. Also you can run the EB on regular but it makes full power on premium from everything I heard.

 

[TymeSlayer]

I'm getting 19-20 in my '17 F-150 3.5 EB and about 11-13 towing the car and enclosed trailer. (About 8200 lbs.) My buddies '15 F-150 V8 gets 9-10 towing just under 8,000 lbs.

 

[Bill Pemberton]

Since we have 23 acres of trucks in our dinky little town in Kneebrasky, I can confirm Tymes comments -- pretty much what we are experiencing with buyers. Alot of folks love the 5.0 , but it doesn't have the high towing capacity of the 3.5 , so the demand has dropped . We are in Farm Country and even though folks are getting their F150s loaded with options , many still do dual duty pulling trailers, etc. Truck folks actually look at the towing specs like the trackrats here look at performance data!

 

[302BOB]

Those truck boys know the game just like the trackrats do.................Knowledge is a tool that will always help you out.

 

[xr7]

For towing its all about the torque baby. Problem with fuel mileage on a turbo is the torque, it is to temping to punch it!

 

[TymeSlayer]

Yep but you can climb the hill without feeling like you're going backwards.

 

[TMSBOSS]

I had a 2014 EB F-150 Platinum. Fantastic Cowboy Cadillac. Rode great, every gadget you could ask for. Loved almost everything about the truck....Except towing. When I had an open trailer, she was more than adequate. When I went to a 24' Enclosed trailer, I could not get over 5 MPG. She hardly ever made it to 6th gear. I understand the newer aluminum models are much better. I just could not stay with the EB in the 2014. That was the only vehicle I ever traded in which I owned for less than 7 years. Two and done for her. F-250 Crew Diesel is the way to go when pulling a larger trailer a lot of miles.

 

[xr7]

I agree the F250 with the diesel is a great tow rig, I have a 2018 F150 Crew with the 3.5, I'll will be burning some fuel if I ever tow with it.

 

[302BOB]

Trucks need different stuff for different applications. The 5.0 in a Mustang is for one reason......to sound great and get you there fast........is that two reasons???

 

[xr7]

Yea that's two and I agree with both of them!

 

[302BOB]

I gotta get me a new calculator......................

 

[302BOB]

I'm impressed with Ford's effort to improve the Mustang over the years, especially the last 10 yrs.The Coyote 5.0 had a lot to do with that (not that my Roadrunner in my Boss is any slouch)....I don't see 5.0's leaving the performance scene any tyme soon.