buddyIam wrote:
The 2.7 was a aluminum body. The 3.5 is a steel body. So they aren't apples to apples for sure. But Motor Trend said the work was done by a emissions expert.
And except for towing MPG. Most 3.5 owners on this forum claim to be getting at or better MPG than EPA numbers.
I know I seem a little harsh on the 2.7. But Ford is trying to sell it on MPG and HP. In reality even the 3.5 isn't really good at both while towing. I see no reason why the 2.7 would do any better at towing.
Some would say it isn't going to be sold for it's towing ability. But you don't need 300 HP for driving around town. If your driving around town the lower priced 3.7 in a steel body which has apx. same MPG as the 2.7 aluminum body, would be the logical choice.
I guess one could say that the 2.7 is going to be marketed as a replacement for the 3.5 and the 3.7. But I find that hard to believe.
Next time you are on the road, take an informal poll of the number of F-150's you see pulling trailers or with a load in the bed. On my way to work this morning, I didn't see a single F-150 pulling a trailer, but I saw easily 100 F-150's on the road.
Ultimately it doesn't matter at all what real world MPG is. What matters is what the EPA test rates it at. Ford's CAFE number is calculated based on EPA MPG ratings across the vehicle line up, even one MPG may not seem significant to you, but to Ford it does.
