We drive the Ford F250 Platinum

Ford 250 Platinum – gas engine

If you need to tow a heavy load, the choice is simple these days. Just buy a heavy duty diesel pickup from any of the manufacturers and you can tow the biggest load up any hill. But Ford has come up with an interesting option, a gas motor that can get the job done and save you money. It is an interesting idea and we could not wait to drive it.

The F250 needs no introduction. It is a terrific truck that is a beast and can do it all. Our Platinum trim level sits one step below the top of the line Limited trim. Consequently, the Platinum is full of luxury touches that will make you feel pampered and forget that you are in a 7000 pound truck.

Our Platinum F250 came with features such as adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, power retractable running boards, power telescoping and folding mirrors, heated and cooled seats, massaging seats, heated steering wheel, huge panoramic sunroof, navigation system, 10 speaker audio system, and so much more.

Most of these features seem ridiculous on a truck and the XLT trim level has plenty of them. Many people keep spending the money for these extravagant features and car companies will continue to sell it to them.

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Some of the features were actually annoying. The power running boards are too slow to respond for me. I tend to move too fast for them and just wanted them off. The LED headlights were great but many other drivers felt that they were too bright especially when carrying a load where the front end of the truck is pointed more upward.

Other features were awesome such as the seats that are so comfortable for long trips that you don’t want to stop driving. Coupled with the awesome audio system, this truck is perfect to haul your RV cross country in comfort. We also appreciated the tons of cubby holes and cup holders. The center console is huge and there are places to hold your drinks and your snacks while you drive mile after mile.

It's long

The engine is the centerpiece of this model and that was what we were paying attention to. The standard engine is the 6.2 liter SOHC V8 that puts out 385 hp and 430 lb. ft. of torque. The new engine is a 7.3 liter pushrod V8 that does 430 hp and 475 lb. ft. of torque. The 7.3 is powerful but it can’t come close to the 475 hp and 1050 lb. ft. of the diesel engine option.

The 7.3 gas motor is very smooth and quiet and it is a worthwhile consideration since it only costs $2045 to order. As a comparison, if you want to order the diesel engine it will cost you $10,495.

The 7.3 is mated to a 10 speed automatic that has some ridiculously tight gear ratios. The transmission shifts so smoothly that you can not tell in most cases when a shift occurs and it does a good job of choosing the right gear at the right time.

Despite all of the technology in the engine and transmission, it is hard to beat the fuel economy of a diesel. Towing a 10,000 pound trailer, most diesels get around 10-11 mpg while the 7.3 gas motor could do no better than 8 mpg unless you kept your speed at 50 mph which results in getting passed by everyone including big trucks.

The other issue that was annoying is that the range while towing is around 250 miles so on a long trip, that can get tiresome.

What the gas motor excelled at was power and the big V8 can accelerate with or without a load with ease. It pulls strongly when merging on the highway and can make driving safer. An added bonus is that these days 87 octane fuel is cheaper than diesel so you would probably spend the same amount of money on a trip.

The 7.3 gas motor is an interesting choice. It seems to make sense and it can save you about $8000 in the initial purchase of the truck but most people seem to have no issue with spending over $80,000 for a new truck so opting for a diesel engine with 1050 lb. ft. of torque seems like an easy choice.

Either way, we like choices and the F250 was a sweet ride that we would love to have in our garage.

Ford 250 Platinum Specs

Fuel and MPG

Dimensions and Measurement

Colors and Materials

Features and Options