10 Most Controversial Debates Among Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

Intro

The only thing that Ford enthusiasts enjoy as much as driving their Ford is talking about their Ford. And with over 100 years of history there is a lot to talk about. And sometimes that talk turns into a debate with fellow Ford fans and non-fans alike. As we kick off a brand-new year, we thought it would be fun to collect some of the most commonly debated Ford topics to get some conversations flowing. Have you taken part in discussing any of these topics? Which side of the fence do you sit on? We could have easily made this list at least twice as long. So, we know there are other hotly debated topics out there. What would you add to the list?  

10. The Maverick Isn’t a Real Truck

The Ford Maverick may use unibody construction and can’t tow or haul nearly as much as an F-150 or Super Duty. But it does have a pickup truck bed. And in reality, it is enough truck for the majority of people out there. Truck purists look down on the Maverick, but a lot of people don’t have the room or the need for a full-size truck. And the new Super Duty has become extremely expensive. More on that a bit later. If you need to tow a horse trailer or haul lumber for a living, then a Maverick is not going to meet your needs. But if you just need a small truck bed in an efficient and inexpensive vehicle then the Maverick is really all you need.

9. Bronco Sport Isn’t a Real Bronco

The Bronco Sport is another vehicle that some Ford enthusiasts love to hate on. It is NOT a Bronco, they cry. OK, fair enough, it is a Bronco Sport. And while it may not have all the capabilities for the full-size Bronco, the little Sport has some advantages of its own. The Bronco Sport is less expensive and more efficient than the regular Bronco. And a Bronco Sport Badlands is capable of getting most people about as far off-road as they desire. Sure, you can’t take the doors and the roof off, and it doesn’t have the same macho appeal as the regular Bronco. But it does have enough “Bronco-ness” to earn the Bronco Sport name, doesn’t it?

8. TRX is Better Than F-150 Raptor

When the Ford F-150 Raptor first hit the streets there was not another truck like it. It roamed the streets and trails for about a decade unchallenged. But then the RAM TRX came to town. And the TRX came packing a supercharged V8 engine making 702 horsepower. Suddenly the F-150 not only had competition but it was seriously outgunned. The talk began almost immediately about the Raptor being dethroned by the TRX. Ford was forced to fight back, and they did so with the Raptor R with a Predator V8 under the hood. But still there are many people out there that think the TRX is still better than any Raptor. Are you one of those people?

7. Wrangler is Better Than Bronco

Another Stellantis versus Ford fight. This time it is between the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco. The ‘real’ Bronco. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the Wrangler is a legendary vehicle. But it is not like the Bronco doesn’t have any history of its own. The fans of the two models have been battling it out ever since Ford announced it was bringing back the Bronco. We all know the Bronco is better, but the Jeep fans just won’t let it go.

6. The Mustang Mach-E Isn’t a Real Mustang

Here we have another “isn’t a real” debate, and this one probably has more merit than any of the others. The Maverick is a truck and can do truck things, just on a smaller scale. The Bronco Sport is a fairly capable off-road vehicle. But the Mustang Mach-E is nothing like a Mustang. The Mustang has always been a two-door performance coupe defined by powerful V8 engines sending power to the rear wheels. The Mach-E is a four-door crossover that not only doesn’t have a V8 engine, but it doesn’t have an engine at all. It uses an electric motor to provide power. And while some versions of the Mach-E can be quick in a straight line, they are about as far away from the Mustang ethos as you can get.

5. Quality of New Ford Trucks is Unacceptable

We love the new Ford trucks. They are extremely capable and have many advanced features. But many ridicule them for having lousy build quality. And the most frustrating thing is that those people have a point. There have been plenty of recalls and other examples of lapses in quality that have opened up the door for Ford detractors. Ford themselves have admitted that they need to make changes to correct these gaffs. Quality does not seem to be job 1 over at Ford lately. 

4. 2WD or 4WD

What to have some fun. Put a 2WD Ford truck owner in a room with a 4WD Ford truck owner and asked them to explain why their truck is better. Sit back and enjoy the show. 2WD trucks are lighter, simpler, less expensive, and typically have higher payload and towing capacities. But park one with an empty bed at the bottom of a wet hill covered in leaves and watch it spin tires all day as it tries to make it up to the top. There are fans on each side of the fence, and they are both pretty firm in their belief. Which configuration do you prefer?

3. New Super Duty Trucks Are Too Expensive and Complicated

The new Super Duty trucks are the most capable vehicles that Ford ever produced. But holy crap are they expensive. You can easily spend six figures on one. And even a simple F-250 XL work truck with minimal options is going to run you about 50 grand. And these are no longer simple machines. The Super Duty trucks can be loaded up with technology. Which is great when it works, but it introduces more failure points. If you don’t think that is really much of a risk, go back and reread slide #5. Some folks want Ford to return to the days of making simple and affordable trucks. But those days seem to be gone forever. Unless of course you consider the Maverick a truck. 

2. 6.0L Power Stroke Is Most Unreliable Diesel Engine

Woo boy. Nothing gets the hate mail flowing faster than when we suggest that the 6.0L Power Stroke is unreliable. Almost immediately we get folks commenting about how they have a 2004 F-250 with a 6.0L Power Stroke and it has 500,000 miles on it, and tows 20,000 pounds of gravel up hill both ways every single day and never even needed an oil change. OK, sure. We are sure that there are some 6.0L Power Strokes out there that are reliable. And with a few aftermarket upgrades the engine can be made even more reliable. But we can’t ignore all the data that shows that these engines have head gasket issues, oil cooler issues, turbo issues and more. Compared to some of the more robust Ford engines out there, the 6.0L Power Stroke simply falls short. But people still love to debate about it.

1. Coyote vs EcoBoost

You can’t beat a good old-fashioned engine debate. It really gets people riled up. We covered the 6.0L Power Stroke topic already. But if you want more engine related debating, then start asking people if they would prefer a Coyote V8 or a 3.5L EcoBoost in their Ford truck. The price of each is nearly the same in a 2024 F-150 with the V8 being a couple hundred bucks less. So, it comes down to preference. In the F-150 the V8 makes 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque.

The EcoBoost makes 400 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, so it has a substantial torque advantage. That will also allow it to tow roughly 1,000 pounds more. It will also be a bit quicker off the line. The EcoBoost will also make more power with a tune. But the V8 can make big numbers if you add forced induction. The EcoBoost will also provide better fuel economy, assuming you are not staying in the boost all day. But the EcoBoost is more stressed than the naturally aspirated V8. And the EcoBoost sounds like an asthmatic breathing through a straw compared to the roar of a good old V8. Which engine do you prefer?

Images: Ford