There’s an easy fix for the DPF…
Not legally, lol.
Go with the 3.5 all day.
I had the 3.0L PowerStroke and loved it. It was my favorite Ford engine, even compared to the 3.5, 2.7, and 5.4.
I switched to a GMC 3.0 diesel, which has more power and better fuel economy. If you’re driving a lot of highway miles, diesel makes sense. For short commutes, gas might be a better choice.
Watch the timing belt—it needs replacing at 160,000 miles.