The all-new Ford-engineered, Ford-tested and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbo-diesel, the 2011 Super Duty delivers best-in-class torque and horsepower along with class-leading fuel economy, towing and payload capability for demanding owners who use their trucks as a core asset of their business.
It’s rare for us to not misuse our press-fleet trucks for race-car-hauling duties, but there weren’t any events during our time with this rather chrome-bedecked Super Duty. Instead, we took it to a Pat Metheny concert at the Taft Theater in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Kind of a hoity-toity thing to do with a three-quarter-ton truck, but that’s okay, because there’s a lot of velvet glove surrounding this particular iron fist.
Anybody who has ever rented an old U-Haul knows what Ford truck interiors used to be like. Plenty of exposed metal, vinyl floors, and a pencil-thin steering wheel that seems to have little influence on the vehicle’s actual direction. Those days are long gone. Take a look at the picture above: that’s a full-color, multi-function LCD screen with more real estate and more resolution than what you’d find in most luxury cars. It isn’t integrated with the nav or sound systems, but on the other hand it can tell you how well your off-road adventure is going.
On the road, this Super Duty rides like a Town Car — maybe better, given the long wheelbase. Only really big imperfections in the pavement can generate the “head shake” associated with big, live-axle trucks. And the Town Car would just die for this level of luxury equipment. The SYNC implementation is as good as it is in Ford’s passenger cars. Our time in well-equipped 2009 Super Duty trucks revealed that the sound system wasn’t quite loud enough to be well-heard over the diesel PowerStroke at full roar. This year, the stereo is louder and the engine is quieter. It’s so quiet that a few passengers thought it was a gas-powered truck.
While the new PowerStroke is quiet, it’s also fast. This F-250 is a capable passer on two-lane roads and rips into the 80-mph zone with no effort whatsoever on freeway ramps. Ford’s finally decided to provide a decent spray-in bedliner with these trucks: at $450, it’s a bargain. The same goes for the bed extender, which has saved us for a few overpacked race weekends in the past.
Our trip to Cincinnati revealed the SuperDuty’s Achilles heel when used for passenger-car duties: there’s no place to park it. Once upon a time, the F-250 was no wider or longer than the equivalent Ford LTD, but today it is roughly the size of an Amtrak engine and nearly as tall. Few garages can admit it. The time you lose finding on-street parking will be saved later when you have to clear traffic out of the left lane. Virtually everybody moves over for the massive chrome grille.
We stopped by Switzer Performance in Oberlin, Ohio to get their opinion on the truck. Company founder Tym Switzer noted that the hose clamps on the new PowerStroke are of the same quality and design as those used in a Porsche 911 Turbo. That’s fitting; this is a core vehicle for Ford, just as the Turbo is for Porsche, and in both cases the details have been well and truly sweated.
We didn’t tow with the Super Duty, but we would expect it to be just as good as last year’s model. In all other respects, however, the 2011 is far superior, so we’d suggest checking it out before you buy the current model.
Mileage: 820
MSRP and significant options: $60,810. Powerstroke Diesel – $7,835, Lariat Ultimate Package – $3,995, Spray-in bedliner – $450
My 2011 6.7 Turbo Diesel is really a nice truck. The only problem I have is with the software upgrade. Ford indicated that I would get 20% better fuel mileage, but I have found that NOT to be true. As a matter of fact, once they did the software upgrade I am now getting 4 miles per gallon worse Diesel mileage than I was getting before. I have tried to switch back to the original configuration at the Ford dealer, but am told that they will not reverse it. With this decrease in fuel mileage it is now costing be nearly 100 miles on a tank of diesel fuel. I wish now that I would have never upgraded to the new software. I was getting 22 MPG prior and now am getting 18 MPG. When towing I was getting 15 MPG and am now getting 11 MPG.
Discouraged ////
is the 6.7 getting any better fuel
i have the exact same problem and ford says it is not possible but problem started the day i had the upgrade done and have had it to ford garages several times they and ford say live with it it is not from upgrade it is my driving cant wait to get rid of truck i am going back to gas engine,why cant ford give us back old program the truck came with it is a computer program not rocket science
I have a 2011 f450 and I get a deep base thumping from the stereo NAV system. It is very intermittent. Anyone have similar issues?
I own a250 and no more going for a ford model. It has got an old unappealing look.
Anyone see the 2011 Head to Head of the HD Diesel pickups of Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge? The Ford has made some gains, but still several steps behind the Duramax! PowerChoke again! The Ford couldn’t efficiently haul the load, sagged more with payload, twisted the frame in the ditch frame twisting competition and proved to be unsafe when hauling large loads on declines with the new exhaust break. Built Ford tough? Ha! Not! 2011 Motortrend Truck of the Year has been proven!!!
Lol
I have driven chevy all my life.
Purchased a 2011 6.7 super duty nicest truck I have ever owned! Ever!
Pulls like a train, stops like a Benz!
She just turned 6000 miles and is getting 25.7 mpg!
We drove the 2011 diesel. You. Have to drive one for a weekend. Ford will sell every time!
Leaving chevy in the parking lot to wax, as it is a pig on fuel
Look around it always the ford you see pulling and hauling
Working. Like e.m..s Police trucks fire truck
Look Around!
Then try one out
Former chevy driver
Nice article.
Especially like the fact that social media is reversing the process, whereby it is now a supporting driver for creating brand awareness if not a very important part
I don’t know what loads you were watching being hauled I own a duramax and a powerstroke I am now selling my duramax get your facts rite ford beat chevy in every single test u are an idiot
I traded my ’03 Chevy 2500 back in December. I now drive a Ford 250 with the 6.7L. The Chevy 6.6L Duramax should be compared to the F-150 based on my several years of experience driving the Chevy. My Super Duty is also like a train pulling and built much, much heavier. Rides and drives like a Rolls.
would it make sense to get the high performance computer upgrades? I know that is not what you want and Ford should fix it but that might be a solution? I would think they are improving the software all the time? I have been running bio and normal fuel and only average 20-21 with the 20″ wheels and a 3.55 gear….. but I am happy either way. One other point I give the government enough of my money already. I am not supporting the car company they own! Ford is the only one left as far as I am concerned and I WAS a Z06 owner and loved the brand until they went Bk and took the money1
What a joke of a response .. Was not worth my time reading
The 2011 ford diesel is the best on the road I have 2004 chevy DURMAX BEEN TESTED The truck is abused but never been sold on the truck to light for me have had several dodges have 2008 now only one left spent 8500 in repairs last year before 60000 miles tranny and computer problems cummins is great but surrounded with a damn dodge if you the best truck and heaviest buy the 6.7 ford you won’t be sorry.
Your the idiot. If you have a problem then make it known and mabe someone can help. Dont get all beochy about. Your comment is the one thats stupid. Hope you get over your grouchyness so girls stop being afraid of you lol. Without girls life sucks
did you saw the finnish inside the chevy . it s just awfull , fake wood , seats , plastics….bla bla
ford has more problems with the front ends and their diesels more than duramax or cummins . i had a 05 ford 6.0 diesel the ford dealership broke laws sell me the truck warranty fraud and motor problems and unsafe front end and ohio wouldn’t do nothing i got screwed out of my business towing . i started a facebook page on dealership called igotscrewed at mike castrucci ford