This is great news for the effy. It's been getting shit for not getting good fuel economy (as if 18.5 isn't good in the truck segment) and no finally, it's been upped to 21 mpg with the addition of the SFE model. All of this combined with more weight and less power. That is why the F150 is the number one truck in the world.

Can't wait for the Hybrid to come out :)

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/18/2009-ford-f-150-keeps-max-towing-crown-adds-fuel-efficient-sfe/

4.6L V8 and 3.15's, that's not going to be able to tow worth a shit. The 21MPG would be more impressive if they had been able to do it with the 5.4L.

yea, but I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't need to tow a lot, like mostly just jet skis, dirt bikes, a fridge, furnature, etc. Especially in CA when 85% of truck owners just drive trucks cuz they like it.

Very good point .. and the guys who are serious about towing buy diesel anyway.

mmm diesel.... *drool*

Pilot wrote:

Ditto. Doesn't the 5.3 Chevy with 3.73's get 20?

Automakers are desperate right now to sell trucks, so this sounds more like a marketing ploy than anything...I can see the commercials now. "F-Series, with the best fuel economy of any truck on the road". And then in fine print, SFE model, blah blah blah.

The "XFE" model GM's are just as desperate.

I really can't see a market for this, unless you think you need a truck, never tow, and don't want 4 wheel drive....

Come on people, it's a fucking truck. Fuel economy is pretty low on the list of things to be concerned about, especially when you realize that you're trying to make a brick that weighs 3 tons fuel efficient. Buy a god damn trailer and a minivan.....

if you need a fuel efficient truck, wait for the new diesels from ford or dodge or get one of the GMT900 hybrids...

I agree.. but some people just like trucks ya know. Some people just like driving trucks, and this (SFE & XFE) will be a better option for them.

There's also a Ford Ranger for those of us who want to drive a truck and get economy.
This is just yet another marketing ploy, most fuel efficient, most towing, most payload, most this, most that.......
I love the truck, the 08 I'm in now is a fantastic thing to drive, the ride is solid, corners flat, brakes are great, goes like hell.......
But I just have to wonder....
why?

Ford Ranger isn't big enough for most people.

You can't take your whole family out to dinner in a Ranger, and you can't really carry all too much in the bed if you had to .. say a mattress.

My dad has an effy, and doesn't use it as a truck too much.. but he likes it. I actually think my mom drives it more than my dad to be honest. Now, he wasn't using it for his company until the company bought a Ranger.

It is mostly all about marketing and bragging rights.. but for some, it will be the best choice.

SVTman wrote:

How? Because you can't tow anything, take it offroad, or drive it in the winter, and you get 1 MPG better?

Thanks but no thanks. At the national average of $3.67 a gallon, and the national average of 12,000 miles per year, you would see a total savings of $104.86. You have to spend $1,095 to get it on a crew cab.

I'll second the remark of driving it in winter....

I get sideways on rain without even trying.....

Snow?

DAAAAAMN I'm glad it has 4 wheel drive

CMan wrote:

Towing/MPG is a catch 22 in this case. Empty they truck will get 21MPG However when you put a load behind it the gas mileage is going to be dismal due to the 3.15's the engine is going to be in a lower gear and will require more RPM's to move the load along, especially up a hill. So the engine is going to have to work harder which will negate all advantages of better gas mileage, and will actually return worse mileage overall then the same setup with the 3.73's.

99TownCar wrote:

With snow tires on a truck, 2WD is perfect. The best set of snows you can get are made by Perrelli, and they're only $104 a piece. My dad run's Firestone Winterforces on his effy in the winter. He has 4WD, but only turns it on in the winter to get up our driveway of ice when we fail to salt. He even left in in 2WD when he had to pull me out of the yard cuz I was going too fast on the approach to say the least. 4WD simply isn't necessary .. The only thing it's good for in the north is resale value, and reselling it.

Cman .. I conquer with your statement. But a lot of people will fail to understand that.