Well, I'm not a "dyed in the wool" Ford fan like most of you seem to be, but it was time to get a truck again, and I had the means to get one at cost...plus I liked how the current 150s looked. So I went down on the 5th and ordered a XLT 5.4 long bed with tow package & limited slip, and felt pretty good about it. Yesterday morning I got online to look at a couple of stats on the Ford site, and I got there just in time to see the '04 truck pop up!! I took a fast look at the stats, and called my dealer to cancel my '03 order. He hadn't even seen the new site listing yet, I was so fast. lol So... I'm putting my faith in the '04 and waiting a few months while my guy does his best to get me one of the first ones. I guess I'm gonna be a (ulp!) "Ford guy" now. lol

Take care!

 

Have your guy ship me one too! He can e-mail it to me!!

Good luck on the new truck. I would love to have one, but for me I will be waiting awhile. Maybe an 05.

 

Sure hope you can wait that long to get it but it should be worth the wait.

 

That's the rub, alright. With one phone call I went from getting a new truck in six weeks to getting one in six months. lol Oh well! I've never bought the first year of any new type before...I'm praying that Ford did it right with this one.


And....thanks.

 

I never was a dyed in the wool Ford guy either, until I drove a Lightning back in 99. On my second Lightning now and looking forward to my 05 Lightning when they become available

 

I haven't been following the "Hot truck" magazines, and I just learned of the Lightnings existance fairly recently. It's a Ford product kinda the same way the Shelby Cobra was. Specialty niche vehicle. Don't get me wrong tho.... I'd be happy to drive one sometime. I intend to use my '04 to tow a toy hauler, carry Harleys in the back (hence the long bed) and actually load construction materials/debris in the bed sometimes. I live in the hills where a truck is almost mandatory. lol I had a bedliner in my last truck and I'll get one for this one too. Just 'cause you use 'em, doesn't mean you can't keep it pretty.

 

You won't have it in six months either. Hope for 8 and be happy with anything less.

I'm sure it will be worth the wait. I was in the same situation, but bailed and went for the killer rebates. I'll get a new one in 2- 3 years. I wouldn't worry too much about the first year bugs. I had one of the first 97's, and it was perfect for the 80k+ miles I had it.

-jeff b.

 

I'm actually expecting more like eight. My Dealer was going to try to place an order and see what happened. Then he was just going to send it every week until it goes thru. lol He really is trying to get me one of the first ones... certainly the first one from that Dealership. Yeah, for some reason that I can't explain, I just "feel" that it will be alright with the '04. Ford is resting a lot on this truck, and they can't afford to have a problem child.