Ford’s risky redesign of F-150 pays off beautifully
Living among family and friends who include tradespeople of various talents — plumbers, builders, contractors — here is what I came to expect of the inside of a pickup truck: Upright front seats pushed hard against the back wall of the cab; a confetti storm of paperwork (bills, architectural plans, job estimates, wiring layouts) stuffed in every nook and cranny. Buried somewhere in all this: maybe a cellphone, maybe a tape measure, other smaller tools and certainly some empty coffee cups. It was, after all, a rolling workbench/office.
No more. Consider the redesigned 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Bigger on the outside, more powerful under the hood, yet boasting easy access and an interior that bespeaks quiet family travel as fine as in a luxury SUV.
Welcome to the world of “personal use” pickup trucks, with Ford at this point leapfrogging the competition with tires planted in both the world of the contractor and the world of the active family.
Keep in mind that the F-150 series of Ford pickups has been billed the best-selling vehicle in automotive history. Last year, Ford sold more than 800,000 of them. A redesign might seem a risky proposition, but Ford tackled it with powerful grace. When it came time to swap my test truck — a high-end F-150 Lariat — for my next test car — a 2004 BMW 5 Series — there was wailing in the family that the truck had to go. We liked it that much.
The redesign comes out of necessity even as Ford pushes to get back into the neglected passenger car market. General Motors and Dodge are stiff competitors. Toyota is bringing us a Tundra pickup with four full doors. Nissan has launched the imposing Titan pickup and Honda and South Korean manufacturers are testing the edges of big truck production.
The F-150 comes in a wide range of models that include regular cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew. The first has a front seat and small rear doors allowing access to storage space behind the seat. SuperCab gives a full rear seat and somewhat larger, rear-opening doors. The SuperCrew has four full-size doors. All cabs benefit by the six inches of extra space that has been added to the interior. Bed choices are 5 1/2, 6 1/2, and 8 feet. Rear- and four-wheel-drive setups are available. What is remarkable about the rugged exterior and the big power under the hood is how refined Ford has made the interior. Brushed metal trim surrounds a central control stack with audio and climate controls and is replicated in nice touches on the dash, doors, and center console. The leather seats are expansive and firm. Leg room, front and rear, seem limo-like. Power ports abound, as do storage areas. Toss in a DVD player and you can take the kids to Florida in this truck.
Moving these big rigs — and all they will haul in gear and people — meant an engine upgrade by Ford. Two engines are available: a 4.6-liter, 16-valve V-8 that produces 231 horsepower and 293 lb.-ft. of torque, or a 5.4-liter V-8 (as tested) with three valves per cylinder that delivers 300 horsepower and a big-hauling 365 lb.-ft. of torque. The engines are mated to Ford 4-speed automatic transmissions, some on the column, some on the floor at center console. The bigger engine moved the truck with sure surges of power even as it remained whisper quiet. The steering was surprisingly light and responsive, and the truck was flat and stable even in hard corners.
The suspension features an independent double wishbone system upfront with control arms, coils on shocks, and anti-roll bar. The rear features a rigid axle with leaf springs and shocks mounted outside the frame.
The brakes, ABS standard, are hydraulic with vacuum power assist. Mate that to 13-inch-plus discs and there’s no trouble stopping this rig quickly.
Redesigning the best-selling vehicle in your lineup can be risky. ord has easily won this gamble.
