As a "car geek" I always drive through various dealer lots as we are out and about. I notice that F150 PDS are all but nonexistent on Ford lots but go thru a GM lot and the 3.0 Duramax can be found easily at almost every Chevrolet dealer not to mention Ram Eco diesels are everywhere as well. Makes me wonder what Ford is up to? Great truck, amazing power plant but almost ZERO marketing for 3.0 PSD. I love mine and it fits the bill perfect but with the competitions inventory of 1/2 ton diesels abundant and the 3.0 PSD rare to say the least, will Ford stick with it? Are they afraid of cutting in to sales of the EB engine line-up? You cant dominate the 1/2 ton diesel market if you don't/won't put your product out there... Just my observations from here in the heart of the Midwest. Your thoughts?
Why so few 3.0 PSD's?
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I'll give you my perspective and a view from my part of the country:
= If an owner really wants one of these, they will just factory-order one for them
= This isn't exactly what I would call "taking on" the 1/2 ton Diesel truck market
- Ford pushed the 3.0L V6 Engine out on mid/late 2018 model year
- Ford only offered this 3.0L diesel engine on high-end trim levels (Lariat & above) for 2018
- Ford tried to command a premium via a $5000 engine upcharge
- Ford excluded the 2018 F150 PSD vehicles from any sales incentives/rebates
- For the dealerships that did order F150 PSDs for their lots, they didn't sell because of above
- These dealerships got stuck with these "unicorns" in their inventories
- Most dealerships heavily discounted (up to $10K) these 2018 models to move inventory
- This left a bad sales taste in most dealership's mouths
- This wasn't the money-maker that they hoped it would be
- As an example, my dealership ordered three (3) F150 PSDs (including mine) in 2018:
- Although mine was first order, they received the other two (2) they ordered before mine
- I paid X-Plan pricing but got no other sales incentives/rebates
- My dealership made very little on my sale due to X-Plan pricing
- Sold #2 to an out-of-state owner who neglected to get 18E02 done in a timely manner
- Owner returned w/missing EGR By-pass valve screw & lower-end engine knock
- Ford wanted my Service Manager to "tear down" engine to see if it ingested a screw
- Dealership refused and sold truck at auction taking a huge loss
- Sold #3 more than a year later after marking it down $9600
- Although mine was first order, they received the other two (2) they ordered before mine
- My dealership has since ordered zero (0) 2019 or 2020 F150 PSDs for their dealer inventory
- Based on my dealership's experience, they took a bath on 2018 models they ordered
- Dealerships are in business to make a profit and not lose $$$
- If Ford really wants to "take on" 1/2 ton diesel market, they'll need to incent their dealers
= If an owner really wants one of these, they will just factory-order one for them
= This isn't exactly what I would call "taking on" the 1/2 ton Diesel truck market
My local dealer only got 1, when I went to see it, It was not on the lot? The boss took it home! ? I asked the salesman to call me when it was available to look at. Never did get a call. I went out of state and bought one at a deep discount, as it was a fleet order that wasn't taken. So in the long run it worked out better for me price wise. Only down side was I didn't get a color I wanted. Otherwise I couldn't be happier with it. And do agree with jmperlik 100% Ford really dropped the ball on these trucks.
Agree with everything jmperlik said, I was able to pick up my 2018 at a discount...it is extremely rare to see one of these on the lot here in SE Michigan. Every once in a while you will see a used one, but it doesn't stay around long and is commanding a pretty high price for a used truck. My Father in Law drove mine and has been looking for one for the past year and hasn't found a new one comparable to mine for anywhere near what I paid...nor has he been able to find a used one that is reasonable.
A couple things have me thinking Ford is going to move away from this powerplant:
1. They dropped the plan to put the engine in the 2020 Expedition - even though GM is moving forward with putting their 3.0L in the Tahoe platform. I have seen some talk of late 2021 Expeditions possibly being available with the 3.0L but have not been able to confirm.
2. The 3.0L base engine was developed for LR/Jaguar for the European market and brought to the F-150 with some modifications. However, 2020 is the last year you can option the 3.0L Td6 in the LR and Jaguar...they are moving to their own oil burner in the next couple years (so if you wanted a Discovery with the 3.0L good luck finding one!).
3. Ford is very focused on promoting their ecoboost technology - there is a reason they haven't tweaked the 3.0L's numbers any higher - if they did they would start to rival the torque put out by the 3.5L, which is their most marketed power plant right now.
4. Ford is next focused on their electric vehicle and hybrid technology - the Mach-e Mustang and F-150 PowerBoost - and cancelled their plans for the 1.5L Diesel in their Transit Connect Vans due to "lack of market demand."
These factors indicate that there may be inadequate demand to keep the 3.0L production going (I wasn't able to find it on Ford's engine plant listing - though I didn't really look too hard). I am hoping that GM demand may help Ford keep the baby diesel game for a while longer....but until then, if you see a good deal I would jump on it before it is too late. I do hope I am wrong, I really like this engine - my wife liked the truck so much she bought a LR Discovery with the 3.0L just to have something that drove similarly.
Worldwide Locations (ford.com)
A couple things have me thinking Ford is going to move away from this powerplant:
1. They dropped the plan to put the engine in the 2020 Expedition - even though GM is moving forward with putting their 3.0L in the Tahoe platform. I have seen some talk of late 2021 Expeditions possibly being available with the 3.0L but have not been able to confirm.
2. The 3.0L base engine was developed for LR/Jaguar for the European market and brought to the F-150 with some modifications. However, 2020 is the last year you can option the 3.0L Td6 in the LR and Jaguar...they are moving to their own oil burner in the next couple years (so if you wanted a Discovery with the 3.0L good luck finding one!).
3. Ford is very focused on promoting their ecoboost technology - there is a reason they haven't tweaked the 3.0L's numbers any higher - if they did they would start to rival the torque put out by the 3.5L, which is their most marketed power plant right now.
4. Ford is next focused on their electric vehicle and hybrid technology - the Mach-e Mustang and F-150 PowerBoost - and cancelled their plans for the 1.5L Diesel in their Transit Connect Vans due to "lack of market demand."
These factors indicate that there may be inadequate demand to keep the 3.0L production going (I wasn't able to find it on Ford's engine plant listing - though I didn't really look too hard). I am hoping that GM demand may help Ford keep the baby diesel game for a while longer....but until then, if you see a good deal I would jump on it before it is too late. I do hope I am wrong, I really like this engine - my wife liked the truck so much she bought a LR Discovery with the 3.0L just to have something that drove similarly.
Worldwide Locations (ford.com)
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I went to my local Ford dealer to try one out when they first came out, I think I had around 30,000 miles on my Ram Ecodiesel and was still a bit concerned about the Ram Ecodiesel's reliability. Ford dealer only had one, it was loaded to the max with an astronomical sticker. The salesman was a total moron, kept calling the F150 Powerstroke an Ecodiesel. Long story short, I liked the PS, but still like my Ram a wee bit better. My Ram has been tuned since 5,000 miles and now has 102,000 miles. I haven't driven the GM inline 3L but not a fan of their trucks. Oh, how's my Ram dealer, haha, don't know, do all of my own service! I wish all of the manufacturers would push the small diesels. They make perfect sense to me. My 3ton 4x4 crew cab Ram gets better mpgs than my girlfriends Toyota Matrix 1.8L. I have nothing against electric cars, but I'm sure I don't want to tow a 10,000 lb trailer cross country with one.
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Just went back to check receipts. I returned to the US from Moscow in 2018 at the end of my career and wanted the F-150 diesel. Test drove one at a dealership in Wisconsin and loved it. Went to another dealership the next day and saw my 2018 F-150 King Ranch in Ruby Red sitting on the lot. Fell in love with it, as I thought the red went well with the KR leather. The truck had just about every option and listed for $71,075. Negotiated with the dealer and had cash, so I drove it home for $65,799. I thought that was crazy, too, but now I'm beginning to believe I got a good deal. Truck now has 43,000 miles on it and is fantastic.
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