Taylor Goes Platinum - 2011 Ford F150
#1
Hello all,

The door continues to revolve. This time the GTI is gone and a much older truck is in its place. First, let me say that I think the GTI was the best car-based decision I've made. I was in a bad place mentally (stressed), physically (back pain), and financially (old broken cars and no money) going into 2018 and the GTI really solved a lot of those problems. It was a great car and I think it's completely responsible for not only letting me get a leg up on life and really start enjoying a less stressful, more fun-filled life, but it also allowed me to finally dive into track work. The GTI was fun and reliable enough for me to finally do some DEs without much worry while I saved money and had time to get a track build going. Now its watch has ended and the track car is in full swing, so it's time for it to go. I'll miss it and I'll always appreciate what it allowed me to do, but this is the way it's got to be. 

I've wanted an 2011+ Coyote F150 ever since riding in Jake's grey one at Summit point a few years ago. At the time, it was one of the nicest vehicles I had ever ridden in. I knew at that point I'd like to have one someday. My initial plan was to drive my E36 to the track and keep the interior in it for at least a year. That didn't happen. I don't know if I'm 100% committed to towing to every event due to cost reasons, but I determined I at least wanted the option after having my tire fiasco at VIR and then trying to get to the track at night in the rain on R Comps at the last Summit event. Thus began the truck search. 

I already knew what I wanted. 11+, V8, Crew Cab, HIDs, 4x4, Bucket Seats, Back Up Camera, and minimal chrome. This equated to an FX4 package. For the next few weeks I scoured online listings and called just about every dealer from NC to PA asking about their trucks. Eventually I spoke to Jake and he got me hooked up with the Sales Manager at Battlefield Ford and that became my main base of operation. I test drove all manner of trucks ranging from base model work trucks all the way up to a 2017 Platinum, prices ranged from a 20,000 White FX4 that I almost would have bought if Jake wasn't there to 40,000 on one of the newer ones. However, I stuck to my guns, knew my budget, and knew that I wasn't going to make the same mistake I've made in the past and buy something crappy because I was impatient. I continued to make trips to dealers and check out their stuff, each time passing on one or two trucks. This was until my third trip to Battlefield ford. I woke up this Sunday morning and immediately checked to see what inventory had come in. I found a couple EcoBoosts in the trim I wanted and a 2015 Sport package with all the bells and whistles that caught my eye, but was out of my price range. 

I showed up around noon and the Sales Manager ran out to meet me. He said there was a truck he knew I'd like and was perfect for me that was just traded in 15 minutes before I showed up, so they already had it pulled up for me. It was just about everything I wanted, but it was an ecoboost. However, I had an open mind and took it for a ride. All seemed well and I was on my way back, about to consider that truck strongly, and I decided to really goose it. Hesitation, stuttering, check engine light. I limped it back. 

On to the next one. The red 2015 sport was just about out of my price range, but I was going to consider it due to it being the new aluminum body style and everything I wanted. I took it for a drive and it felt great, but for some reason, I didn't love it. Maybe it was the price, maybe the car had some hidden problem that tipped off my spidey senses, I'm not sure but I had some reservations. About a mile from the dealer on my way back, the tire went from 30 psi to 0 in the span of a traffic light cycle, so I pulled off the road and waited 30 minutes for the salesmen to find me. He picked me up in a base model work truck and I was delighted at how the cloth seats helped ease my back pain, whereas I had been quite uncomfortable in the slick leather before.

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I came back to the dealer and asked the sales manager if there were any trucks that were slightly outside the parameters I provided, maybe even with cloth seats. He searched the system and found that the commercial Ford shop across the street had a white 2011 traded in that morning but he didn't have any information on it. At this point, the dealership was really busy, so I decided to enjoy the weather and just walk over to this other lot. After walking down the street and realizing I went to the wrong place, I found my way over to where the truck was. There on the lot sat a beautiful white, F150 Platinum. They tossed me the keys and I went to check it out. From the moment I got in and turned the key, I knew it was the one. This truck hadn't even been through the shop yet and it still felt better than every truck I'd driven so far. The seats didn't have any cheap leather conditioner on it yet and it hugged my back very well. The power running boards and AC vented seats were such a delight. The truck pulled, stopped, turned smoothly and confidently, and I even noticed a distinct rumble when getting hard on the gas. I pulled over to get a good view of the truck halfway through my drive and found that it had a roush intake on it. Someone clearly had a truck they were proud of. 

I went back to the dealer and put a deposit down after finding out that they were asking a price that was near the low end of my budget (I don't know why) and asked when the truck may be ready for me to come back for. The swore to me it would be ready the next day by five even after I told them I was in no rush. They doubled down and said it would be ready no matter what. We talked numbers some more and they offered me more for my GTI than any other dealer had yet, well over what I owed on it. I asked if I could just leave the GTI there and take a loaner since I wasn't risking anything happening to it and they gave me an Audi A4 that smelled like ball sweat and cheap cologne, but it was nice enough. I requested PTO and planned to come back the next day. 

Well, my bank and this dealer entered a battle to prove who was more incompetent. Granted they both were as nice as can be, over the next 2 days, I had to speak on the phone with both of them a ton of times. They couldn't figure out when the truck would be ready, who to send paperwork to, or what the right paperwork the other party wanted, etc. It was frustrating and tiring. I ended up being told I'd have to wait until Tuesday to come get it, which was fine except for how many times they told me it would be done Monday even though I said it didn't need to be. I ended up at the dealer on Tuesday and politely mentioned that the process was a bit more difficult than I had hoped and that I didn't appreciate being rushed through the process like they were trying to do. The GM of the dealer ended up getting an attitude with me and going on about how he didn't need to sell it to me, how my sale wouldn't make or break him, and how he could sell the truck for more money to someone else that day if he wanted to. He implied he was insulted that I would say such a thing after he so "generously spent $3000 on parts for the truck, answered all of my questions, and got everything ready for me quickly", none of which I asked for. At this point, I almost walked out and asked for my deposit back, but I figured I'd made it this far, I could suck it up for the perfect truck.

I suffered through another hour of people fumbling paperwork, taking forever, and generally being unhelpful, and I ended up driving home in my new truck by 4. 

Details: 
2011 Ford F150 Platinum
SuperCrew Cab, short bed
85,000 miles
Purchased, owned, and traded in locally
5.0 L coyote V8
4wd
Heated and cooled Leather front seats
Heated rear seats
back up camera
Power running boards
Backflip bed cover
sun roof
Roush intake 
Navigation
Factory Tint
Sony sound system with Subwoofer under rear seats

etc, etc, basically every single option you could get on the truck in 2011. It drives very well and I've found nothing wrong with it. The paint seems fairly clean for its age and the bed has minimal wear. It has new brakes, good tires, and everything works as it should. I'm excited to have this and have lots of things I've needed a truck for that I plan to knock out soon. The payment is more than the GTI, but it'll depreciate was slower and I feel good about that. Waiting to see what the HOA says about keeping a trailer at my house, and that will determine how quickly things progress from here.

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Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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Taylor Goes Platinum - 2011 Ford F150 - by Senor_Taylor - 05-02-2019, 03:38 PM

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