Thanks for all of the input.
After giving it more thought, and remembering the only time I broke my own rule of
'never buy a first year model' vehicle...I think I'll wait.
In 2003 I had the choice of buying the by then bulletproof 7.3L Ford diesel, or going with the
'new & better 6.0L' diesel engine.
Google
'2003 Ford 6.0L diesel + problems'...to get just a hint of what I went through.
Ford settles class action over Navistar diesels