September 2008: After my other truck was stolen, I needed a new ride. I really didn't want the 2008 models, because it had a brand new 6.4 liter diesel engine in it. I really didn't want to take a chance on being the guinea pig for a new engine system after the launch troubles they had with my old 6.0 liter.

I called around the country looking for a 2007 model in case I had to replace my truck, there where none to be had. I called all the way to Texas and out to the east coast looking for a 2007 F-350 left! Not even one diesel, crewcab, long box of any color could be found!

I needed to do something in case Allstate totaled out my truck, so I took a 2008 diesel with a short box for a test drive. I just hated it! It seemed to have no power and I really didn't like the interior too much. Bah, I was stuck! I wanted to buy a Ford, I really wanted a diesel, and I must have a 4 door crew cab with a long box.

After they totaled out my 2005 F-350, I was really out of options! I had to give in and seriously started looking for a 2008 truck. I still didn't like the interior and I was still afraid of the new engine with all of the poor fuel economy rumors I was hearing about it, but I needed another truck and fast!

I took another short box for a test drive, and it had a nasty chassis vibration that even Carol noticed! The engine seemed a little better than the first one I drove, but the shake was such a distraction!

I had a hard time finding one that didn't have the new tailgate step option. It's a great option, but not for me! I use the tailgate as a workbench when I'm in the woods working on our equipment. And I felt the step handle would get in the way.

To complicate the search, I really wanted the forest green color Ford offers. But there wasn't any that had that color with the options I wanted. Again, I tried searching everywhere. I checked the whole Great Lakes region for a truck, nothing! I changed my strategy and found 2 trucks locally that had the options I wanted, but not with the green color. One was blue and the other gold, but exactly what I wanted including the long box with no step!

We went out to look at them, and I wasn't too fond of the gold truck from the outside so we took the blue one for a test drive first. The long box version drove so much better, and the engine seemed really responsive? I liked the blue, but Carol wanted to take the gold one for a spin. This one has a moon roof that really opens the interior up, and it drove like a dream! That's the one, you just sold a truck!

My fears about the fuel economy with the new engine where unfounded. I drove it up north that weekend and found I got about 16 MPG if I drove sensibly. Since Ford added a second turbo to the 6.4 liter there is no more turbo lag, hammer the throttle and it launches! It makes passing on the freeway kinda fun! Even pulling a trailer it goes like Hell! More to come!