Nicholas Hofstad of Montevideo, Minn., this year decided to trade his seven-year-old Dodge Ram pickup for a 2012 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4. The 365-hp pickup is getting a lot of play for its unique 3.5-liter, V6 twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine, which Hofstad says provides more horsepower and torque than his old V8 pickup, while getting up to 21 mpg.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things,” says Hofstad, who brought home the truck for $39,900 — far less than its manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $47,585.

Hofstad plans to spend part of that savings on jacking up the front to make room for 20-in. wheels and switching out the chrome for California black trim. “Everyone around here has one with chrome,” he says. “I want to be a little different.”

For more information, visit http://www.ford.com/.