Let me introduce myself, I am Pete. My 2004 F150 gave it up two weeks ago and necessity forced my hand, I needed another truck NOW! I don't really like the new Fords with their ecoboost nonsense and GM is out of the question after what they did in 2009 so for the first time in forty years I started looking at Chrysler, even if Fiat does own it. I really fell for the Power Wagon with it's great color selections but I didn't like the rear seat setup with the fold down flooring. I finally found a Rebel that I liked in PA about 120 miles from home. After making a deal for 1K under MSRP the dealer still managed to clip me for $350 by charging PA title and registration when I'm registering it in Maryland. Oh well.
I picked her up last Thursday, an absolutely beautiful truck, comfortable, quiet, handles very well and pretty fast. Horrible gas mileage but I can live with that, it's no worse than my old F150. The technology is incredible, just astounding but I cringe to think what can happen is something breaks or malfunctions.
First observation: Get the collision avoidance and park assist off, get the auto stop eliminator to remember the start/stop setting (off). Turn off the auto parking brake. The tow disengage could probably be used as an anti-theft device if the truck is going to sit for a spell. I doubt that most people even now it's there, the dealer didn't.
Second observation: The truck is indeed a hybrid (eTorque) and the starter/generator slows the monster down on deacceleration, and it does smooth out SOME shifts, but not all. The lead battery voltage stays around 13.8 until fully charged and then drops to 13, I suspect that this is to increase efficiency rather than holding a constant 14.2 like the old style regulators. When slowing to enter a 90 degree turn the truck seems sluggish, I can understand why some people may have trouble with them stalling, it wouldn't take much at this point with the generator drag, any little problem like fuel or spark issues cold cause a stall in this configuration. The 12 volt starter is TINY.
Third Observation: The suspension is truly spectacular! The truck handles almost as well as my Mustang. There is a chrome ball on the front upper control arm, both sides, that looks like a socket could attach? The access cover for the spare tire winch slides up and down, not in and out. I almost broke it, the tab is a giveaway but an arrow would really make it clear. My spare tire is a Faulken and neither it nor the rim match the other four, although the spare rim is cast aluminum and not steel and looks high quality from the bottom.
Fourth Observation: Two serpentines, a big one for the starter/generator and a small one for the water pump. The radiator fan and power steering are electrically powered, good, the brakes vacuum boosted. The oil filter is tiny but that's fine, modern motors really don't need an oil filter, there is NEVER anything in them. Air cooled motors are different, but even many Lycomings don't use oil filters, the filters are holdover from earlier times and dirt roads. I am not a fan of the fake dual exhaust, a single tailpipe out the side would be fine and a lot easier and cheaper to replace when the time comes. No special break in is needed on modern motors, unless you only do highway driving, but even then just don't use cruise control. I'm not even going to change the oil after the first 1,000 like I've always done before. Factory filled with 5W-20 synthetic is fine for break in. After 5,000 I'll switch to 10W-30. Did you know that 5W-20 is really 5 weight oil and 10-30 is really 10 weight oil?
Fifth observation: The trans doesn't have a dipstick. It's not sealed, it can't be, and neither are the differentials but I won't change any of their oils for 100,000 miles, the factory fill is fine. I REALLY like the 9 user configurable gauges! Putting the trans in 8th pops up the current gear display on the dash, I like that too along with the gear limit. The Alpine 9 speaker stereo sound system is very good, love XM, 70 Yacht Rock, hah! The truck is very comfortable and quiet, great for road trips.
I know that I'm forgetting stuff but hey I'm still learning. Got a Gator bed rug and retractable tonneau cover, the bed is factory spray lined. So far I really, really like this truck. I just hope that it doesn't get Gremlins and turn nightmarish.
I picked her up last Thursday, an absolutely beautiful truck, comfortable, quiet, handles very well and pretty fast. Horrible gas mileage but I can live with that, it's no worse than my old F150. The technology is incredible, just astounding but I cringe to think what can happen is something breaks or malfunctions.
First observation: Get the collision avoidance and park assist off, get the auto stop eliminator to remember the start/stop setting (off). Turn off the auto parking brake. The tow disengage could probably be used as an anti-theft device if the truck is going to sit for a spell. I doubt that most people even now it's there, the dealer didn't.
Second observation: The truck is indeed a hybrid (eTorque) and the starter/generator slows the monster down on deacceleration, and it does smooth out SOME shifts, but not all. The lead battery voltage stays around 13.8 until fully charged and then drops to 13, I suspect that this is to increase efficiency rather than holding a constant 14.2 like the old style regulators. When slowing to enter a 90 degree turn the truck seems sluggish, I can understand why some people may have trouble with them stalling, it wouldn't take much at this point with the generator drag, any little problem like fuel or spark issues cold cause a stall in this configuration. The 12 volt starter is TINY.
Third Observation: The suspension is truly spectacular! The truck handles almost as well as my Mustang. There is a chrome ball on the front upper control arm, both sides, that looks like a socket could attach? The access cover for the spare tire winch slides up and down, not in and out. I almost broke it, the tab is a giveaway but an arrow would really make it clear. My spare tire is a Faulken and neither it nor the rim match the other four, although the spare rim is cast aluminum and not steel and looks high quality from the bottom.
Fourth Observation: Two serpentines, a big one for the starter/generator and a small one for the water pump. The radiator fan and power steering are electrically powered, good, the brakes vacuum boosted. The oil filter is tiny but that's fine, modern motors really don't need an oil filter, there is NEVER anything in them. Air cooled motors are different, but even many Lycomings don't use oil filters, the filters are holdover from earlier times and dirt roads. I am not a fan of the fake dual exhaust, a single tailpipe out the side would be fine and a lot easier and cheaper to replace when the time comes. No special break in is needed on modern motors, unless you only do highway driving, but even then just don't use cruise control. I'm not even going to change the oil after the first 1,000 like I've always done before. Factory filled with 5W-20 synthetic is fine for break in. After 5,000 I'll switch to 10W-30. Did you know that 5W-20 is really 5 weight oil and 10-30 is really 10 weight oil?
Fifth observation: The trans doesn't have a dipstick. It's not sealed, it can't be, and neither are the differentials but I won't change any of their oils for 100,000 miles, the factory fill is fine. I REALLY like the 9 user configurable gauges! Putting the trans in 8th pops up the current gear display on the dash, I like that too along with the gear limit. The Alpine 9 speaker stereo sound system is very good, love XM, 70 Yacht Rock, hah! The truck is very comfortable and quiet, great for road trips.
I know that I'm forgetting stuff but hey I'm still learning. Got a Gator bed rug and retractable tonneau cover, the bed is factory spray lined. So far I really, really like this truck. I just hope that it doesn't get Gremlins and turn nightmarish.