PERFORMANCE

Everything about the performance, handling and braking has been improved in the 2004 F-150. Though it felt well shy of its horsepower ratings, acceleration is very good. Over bumps the ride is non-jarring and compliant, giving the driver an excellent feel for the road. Braking power instills supreme confidence, enabling him or her to avoid the errant road-crossing deer or cow. (trust me, I know first-hand) Ford says that the this truck is twice as strong as the current F-150, with a frame nine times as stiff. I have no reason to question that.
There is absolutely none of the disconcerting rear-end hop and chatter under hard braking or rough road conditions that is present in the earlier models. And, the cabin is almost luxury car quiet. Even under hard acceleration, offroad bumps and uphill towing, the cabin remains at noise levels unheard of in a pickup truck. The sensation of speed is difficult to grasp in this vehicle, a tremendous compliment to the engineers. My advice, if this becomes your daily driver, get yourself a Valentine 1. You may need it.
Looking forward to head-to-head testing and feeling the need to reduce any of the obviously inherent bias for or against what I was about the drive, I spent a couple hundred miles behind the wheel of a new Dodge Ram (w/Hemi) and a Chevrolet Silverado (Z71), prior to attending this event. Needless to say, the local dealers weren't too happy I decided not to buy their products! What I found when driving these vehicle back-to-back was a bit surprising.
We were given the opportunity to compare this truck over a variety of test circuits designed to highlight the 2004 F-150's superiority. Test circuits included towing an 8000 pound trailer uphill and around corners, offroading over several inanimate obstacles and performing basic high-speed handling maneuvers, like slaloms and switchbacks. Combined with a couple hundred miles of on-road driving, these circuits probably simulate 99% of the driving situations that a light duty truck owner is likely to face.
TOWING

I have to admit that I have never towed with my truck, so being made to haul an 8000 pound trailer into traffic and up a steep grade for the first time in a vehicle I had never driven was more than just a little intimidating. Faced with a choice, I opted to first test the Toyota Tundra. Every aspect of it was capable, providing a good feel for the road and excellent feedback and braking, but power, while available, was only available at high rpms, which got tedious after only a few minutes. Factor in the smallish cabin and the Tundra was not my first choice.
I followed the Tundra with the Hemi-powered Dodge Ram. As I stated earlier, I am not a towing expert, but the cabin of the Dodge was filled with odd vibrations, was extremely loud and provided too much feedback on the trailer's movement. The Chevy was similar, only with less power and even less braking ability. Scary.
I wrapped up with the F-150. Everything about it was smooth and quiet. It provided excellent feedback and power when I needed it. As noted earlier, braking was confident. I think I am ready to hitch up a Gulfstream. Ford states that the new F-150 offers the best towing and payload rating, as well as the best cargo volume in its class. This truck can be a serious workhorse.
OFFROAD

My time behind the wheel on the offroad circuit was limited. I did, however, have the misfortune of spending some time behind the wheel of a Toyota Tundra prior to my seat time in a 2004 FX4.
Like my towing experience noted above, my offroad resume is not much more impressive. I have, however, tracked through the muddy parking lot at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Daytona on several occassions, so I had a general idea of what to expect in terms of ride.
Was it my lack of experience that caused the Tundra to strike fear into me? Not likely. It was more likely the jarring, kidney punching ride and cramped interior space. While in 4 low and first gear, the truck lurched and jerked forward with every touch of the pedal. Confidence inspiring for a first-timer it was not.
Next up I hopped into an FX4. The difference was night and day. The ride was smoother, enabling me to cover the rough terrain at higher speeds and thanks to technology introduced in the 2004 F-150, 4 low first gear acceleration is smooth and controlled. Thumbs up to Ford for wanting me to expand my offroad horizons.
HANDLING

I may not have towed or offroaded, but this next set off comparisons was right up my alley, a parking lot lined off with cones made to simulate straight line acceleration, hard braking, esses, hairpins and switchbacks. Perhaps spotting the spittle in the corner of one of my colleagues mouths, the first statement from a Ford engineer I heard was, "let's try to keep it under 40 mph. This isn't an autocross." Sage words.
As with the towing comparison, at our disposal were several 2004 F-150's in a variety of configurations, a Hemi-powered Dodge Ram, a Chevy Silverado and a Toyota Tundra. After only five minutes of driving each, the overall refinement of the 2004 F-150 shone through.
I was taught at a young age that if you do not have anything nice to say about someone, say nothing at all. I've also learned that this advice can be applied to vehicle tests. Note my lack of further commentary on the Chevy and Tundra.
Most people do not buy light duty trucks (save for the Lightning) for the quarter mile. But Dodge appears to have built a truck for this purpose. Nothing about the handling, braking or ride was impressive about the Dodge. Body roll was terrible. Cabin noise and vibration led the pack under hard acceleration and the rear-end chattered like a set of 99 cent novelty teeth. Under hard, straight-line acceleration is where this truck shines. It feels brutally fast leaving the stoplight. If the Fast and the Furious is what jazzes you, this may be the ride for you.
Overall, the 2004 F-150 is simply the best truck under these kinds of driving situations. At no time did I exit the vehicle thinking I had just driven a Cobra, there was nothing exciting about it. The ride was comfortable. The cabin quiet. The handing refined. The steering feedback excellent. The braking superb. Hard to believe this thing is a pickup truck.

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