With a simple Google search, you’ll discover that the 6.7 liter diesel engine in the 2013 Ford F350 is expected to last half-a-million miles. That’s quite impressive. This particular Ford that I took for drive today has a little over 107k on the odometer at present.
As the person responsible for digital marketing endeavors at West Mitsubishi, at least one day a week I take a stroll around the lot until a vehicle catches my eye. That vehicle will be used for “offsite” photos and videos. I take it for a long drive looking for places to create photos and video clips that are not the norm for an auto dealership. I enjoy doing this immensely.
Today, I took this truck out. As outside temperatures hit 100 degrees, I was actually cold inside. The air blew incredibly cold. Between the sound insulation built into the truck, the blowing air conditioner, and talk radio playing at a reasonable volume, I could not hear the rumble of the diesel engine. Even when stopped, after turning off the radio, it still was faint. That’s important when driving a truck like this.
The Powerstroke diesel is well known for its power and longevity. The 2013 model puts out 400 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque, and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that performs like a dream. I wasn’t pulling anything, so you can imagine how it felt to have so much power at hand, yet without using any of it to pull a load.
Sitting up high off the road, with the aforementioned power at hand and four-wheel-drive at the touch of a button, I was tempted to find random dirt roads and see where they led. I avoided that temptation, anticipating what the boys in the detail shop would say upon my return. If I get vehicles too dirty, the detailers get annoyed. I can’t imagine why that might be.
In 2002 I purchased one of these Powerstroke Crew Cabs brand new. It was my favorite vehicle, ever. I’ve owned many autos in my life, and can drive any vehicle that arrives on the lot. That being the case, this 2013 made me wish for my Crew Cab again. There really isn’t a better overall truck. This one just achieves better fuel economy than mine, and does so even though power and torque ratings are far higher than my 2002.
Is it realistic to drive a truck like this as an everyday driver? Absolutely! It doesn’t take long at all to get used to it, and it certainly is an impressive vehicle. These days, some people are claiming to achieve fuel economy of 20 miles per gallon on the freeway.
This Crew Cab, stock number 18616, did not disappoint in any way. I love the floors in the XL: vinyl, rather than carpet, which makes for easy cleanup of messy situations. The seats, too, are called “vinyl,” but they feel a lot more like leather to me. They’re comfortable, too.
If you are looking for a Crew Cab diesel truck, come on down to West Mitsubishi in Orland, California today. Delivery can also be made to just about any customer, anywhere, but especially if you live in Chico, Redding, Yuba City or Sacramento and are looking for a 4×4 Crew Cab diesel at an affordable price.
Here is a gallery of images taken with my iPhone. They’re unedited, so give me some grace on the quality, por favor!