Not really a success but more like not too unsuccessful. I've attempted discussions on the F150 sites and the Ford Ecoboost sites, but most of those guys/gals won't get in to mpg discussions too deeply.
This one has been tough for me. I have loved owning the little diesel car for ten years and lifetime 46 mpg average, with the original set of brake pads that has lots of space and actually, lots of lumber-carrying ability for a compact car. That car could carry several 10' 2X6s or 2X4s with the passenger seat folded forward and the trunk down. I'm sure the Golf/Rabbit would have been an even better utility vehicle than the sedan Jetta, but it was time for a change.
The wife and I were way over due for a truck; should have made a change a year ago as we've been borrowing and waiting to move things and paying for deliveries ever so often, and the VW is a straight shift that she doesn't like to drive, so it was the natural car to give up for a truck. We've been sacrificing and borrowing for too long. Problem is that I'm so dang picky and I won't own three vehicles. We're a one vehicle per person type family. I wanted a pickup truck with a small diesel engine that is fuel efficient and only a regular cab at a good price. Wife was good with that as well, so we waited as we knew they'd be coming. The only questions were: would they be affordable? and would they come in an acceptable configuration that we could live with that doesn't make it too big of a truck?
The Ram 1500 Ecodiesel came first, but the cheapest and smallest was a extra cab and $38K, respectively. A full size with an extra cab and a 6.5 foot bed is alot of truck; too much truck for us, and so was the price. If a buyer is in the market for a featured-up, multiple cab pickup, then the diesel is not as huge of a premium, but comparing the least expensive diesel to a little more than a Ram work truck regular cab is a huge difference, as a slighty-featured regular cab 2wd can be had for around $26K. But my pickyness wouldn't let me opt for the Ram Penstar V6 cause I just hate all the torque at high RPM.
And then an even better concept came to market in a mid-size pickup. A 2016 Chevy Colorado of GMC Canyon with a 4 cylinder Duramax diesel. This was going to be the one; if it came in affordable. The Colorado/Canyon debuted in 2015 and was available in an extra cab and a 6' bed. That was going to be close enough to the configuration that I wanted, but the Duramax version had to wait a year; Fall of 2015 as a 2016 model. And the announcement came. It was bad news... the Duramax could only be had in a crew cab. Not available in an extra cab. This makes it more expensive and shortens the bed space and a larger truck overall. The Colorado/Canyon crew cab can be had with a longer bed in a 6' variety, but then that's a very long truck; too much truck, and the price goes up even more. The price announcement, on the other hand, wasn't that bad for the Duramax. GM said $3850 more than the V6, but that turned out to be deceptive marketing. When I went in a built in online, the cheapest truck with a Duramax diesel added around $6K to the cheapest V6 crew cab, lifting the lowest price to $35K.
But by this time I'm really wanting a new truck with new technologies in a pretty basic form. I'm a fan of Ford trucks but have not been happy with the gas mileage and that's because I'm picky. The F150 was now aluminum. EPA states that the 2wd with the new 2.7 V6 Ecoboost will get 19 city and 26 hwy, but most real-world reviews state that drivers will see more like 17-19 and is way over exaggerated. I went to the website and saw lots of rebate incentives on the 2015s and wondered if a regular cab could be found somewhere close by and maybe; just maybe; a light foot like me could squeeze out more than 20 mpg in a full size truck for commuting and running around town and hauling and towing when I need to.
My local dealer finally found one in Florida. A regular cab with the 2.7 in a lightly-featured XL version and chrome trim and highest available rear axle gearing. I got it with the rebates and came out around $27K before taxes and all that stuff and before the trade.
I was hoping for at least 21 mpg for my use. First two tanks with a light foot, have come in at 23.5 and 21.4, the latter with alot of in-town driving. I guess I'm going to call this a success story. My last full-size got around 16 driving the same routes and driving style. The truck is a little taller than what we needed or wanted, but otherwise, it's very refined, very quiet, good ride and will easily work as the tool we need going forward. Of course it's no diesel, but it does have some low-end grunt, as this little twin-turbo achieves peak torque @ 3000 RPM.
