The New F150

5030 · Sep 3, 2003

Bob:

Fords old saying was "Buy New Every 2". I'd imagine with the exception of CowboyDoc, most of us can't afford that /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Gomez · Sep 3, 2003

Bob,

I've noticed those "teaser" commercials as well. The big ad campaign starts tomorrow with the first NFL game. Ford is supposed to spend A LOT on advertising the '04 F150. I spend some time at ford-truck.com (when I'm not here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). It's a pretty good source of info.

I'm currently looking for a replacement for my 88 F150. I'm leaning more toward the F250 for the simple fact that you can't get leather seats with an 8 foot bed in the new F150 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.

I saw an 04 on Saturday. It's not ugly, but a little different. HUGE Ford emblem on the tailgate, and a deeper bed.

Robert_in_NY · Sep 3, 2003

( HUGE Ford emblem on the tailgate )

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It's about time, I miss the old Ford tailgates with FORD written across the entire gate. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Dozernut · Sep 3, 2003

F350 Lawman
I have a 1985 Toyota truck that I bought new. 22R engine, 5 speed manual tranny, 4x4 with lockouts. It has NEVER been back in the shop, except for regular maint. I did put a helper leaf on it from Sears. That old truck has and does haul heavy loads, 200 gallon water tank = 1600lbs, logs, firewood, rock and several other heavy items that my feeble mind cannot remember. It will haul as many briefcases as you could put in it and the fellers carrying them.
Years ago I put a winch bumper on the front and have a 6000lb Ramsey winch mounted on it. I have pulled, by winch and chain, several Ford, Chevy, and Dodge trucks out of snow and mud with this old truck.
I have given that old truck to my son who drives it to school every day. He named it the Craptacular Truck as it looks like crap, the bed is slowly rusting away. It could qualify as an ugly truck contestant.
I am going to help him pull the bed and build a new flatbed out of diamond plate steel. We will repair the cab, prep and paint it and maybe it will go another 18 years. By the way my son wants this old truck, he didn't want a newer vehicle.

Bird · Sep 3, 2003

Bubba, I'm like the other guys; something must be wrong with your truck. I've got a '99 F150 supercab with over 60k miles on it and it just handles fine. Besides the running around in this area, we drove it the last time we went to West Virginia (last November); steers and handles properly whether in town or on the highway.

Inspector507 · Sep 3, 2003

I've had a '93, '95 and '97 F150. In '99 I went with the F250SD V10. Now I have a '03 F150 Super Cab Short Bed. None of them have been hard to drive. I wish I had gotten the F250 this year but didn't need it that much anymore, sold our camper.
I changed so often because I have a Brother that sells them, until this year, and I got a call when he had a great deal on the lot.
I have not seen the new F150 yet, but it looks nothing like the advance press photos(drawings) that were on the net. Glad I didn't wait to get one.

Jerry

rdam · Sep 3, 2003

Are they still going to use the 4.2L V6? I have a 2001
F-150 with manual transmission and the V6. Everything about this truck is great except it is underpowered. Hauling groceries down the highway is fine, but as soon as you put some weight in the bed or hitch up a decent trailer, you wish for more power.

Next up for me is an F-250 with the big V8 /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Docsknotinn · Sep 3, 2003

Bubba Jr, you might want to take that one in to your favorite shop and pay for a alignment and tire rotation and try to have them spin balance the wheels, Stay away from the bubble balancer and the 16 year old mechanics. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I had a Bronco that did the same thing and a F-150. The ford dealer under warranty is just going to check the caster camber and toe, if your lucky. This is the same for all makes in regards to "normal wear" items or maintenance. The bronco came with the steering gear miss aligned and I got a F-150 with the wrong parts in the front end, some spacer or such I dont exactly remember what. In both cases the shop I took them to said take it back to the dealer. I was then able to go to the dealer and say hay ! X and X is wrong. In both cases they then fixed it no problem and both had been to a few dealers for the same complaint with zero results. Dave

_RaT_ · Sep 3, 2003

Dozernut, I've never really had any problems hauling things with my old Datsun and more recently my brother in laws Tundra. While the 1/2 yard of drainage rock really squatted the rear end down, by adding a set of various lift componets, it could easily be remedied. Some of the various US trucks also fall into this category. My F250 can pretty much take most of what gets tossed in it. I just pump the tires up to 80 PSI and go. The diesel in mine is nothing to brag about, its pretty anemic.

rozett · Sep 3, 2003

( I asked my neighbor if he was planning on buying the new F150, his response, I never buy a new car or truck, I don't know how folks afford them. )

I strongly agree... my last five vehicles have been 1-2 year old models with low mileage and then I drive them into the ground. In 1988, I paid $11k for an 87 Crown Vic and sold it for $2 with 254K miles. It didn't owe me a dime. My current vehicle is a 2000 Excursion Limited 4x4 with the V10. It was 1 year old with 18K miles and I paid a full one third less than the MSRP (of $43K). I figure that my kids can drive it when I'm gone. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif