2 0 0 4 i n f o......................
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: prov ri
2 0 0 4 i n f o......................
San Antonio National Media Rollout-Now!
Email me when someone replies to this topic
Post Reply | Active Topics | Send Topic
Topwater
New Member
Posts: 6
Registered: 6/9/03
From: Austin, TX
Email this member Show profile Reply to topic 6/24 3:45p
Just got back from Jennings Anderson Ford in Boerne, Tx, just west of San Antonio. It is the site of the media and dealer rollout launch for the '04 F150. All the national media are, or have been, there. They had three in the showroom; one Fx4 S/C Lariat 6.5 bed, one Fx4 S/C Lariat 5.5 bed, and one regular cab 2x4. (They had them parked beside an 03 Siverado, which looked like a toy sitting beside them, hehe). Appx 60 others were being driven and field tested by nat'l media thru cone tests, obstacle tests and off-road. {They will be there for another ten days, all you CenTex Folks...}
My opinion... The truck looks way better in person than the pic's. Impressive in so many ways. First impression - taller and tougher lookin'. Inside - uh, different...in a GOOD way. The Lariot black interior is just right...the tan, gold, whatever, is more of a beige, or off-white - comfortable on the eyes. The wood grain does not look cheap as others have said; the console shifter either. The console shifter does not have a push button release on the top like I thought; it has a trigger pull release in front of it - not visible in the pictures, and kinda neat. The center console is bigger than current, and the right arm resting position hangin' on to the shifter feels very natural. The door arm rest is wider. The tilt function is lame, however, with a lever activated motion with infinate settings - more range than current, but you have to lock the lever manually in your preferred position - a distraction if you're driving. The 6-disc CD changer is in the single CD slot - just load 6 in there, and an 'elevator' like action stores the discs - ergo more room in the center console. The overhead modular system is kind of a gimmick, tho - get what you want, but the rails are exposed if you dont fill 'em up (but it doesn't really look bad). The S/C back seats are OK for a 6 foot guy, but the base folds up to the back, leaving a dis-functional three tiered storage area, no useful flat space for storage.
The gauge display doesnt make sense on the Lariat - The cream colored gauges are the tach, speed, battery, and oil. The black background gauges, hard to observe on the upper and either side of the speed, are the fuel and temp - the most important for me. The dash is slightly rounded in the middle, with a 6"x6" depression that has a rubber pad for collecting junk, I guess. The back windows in the S/C are powered, and do roll down half-way. The leather seats are better and more comfortable than the ones in my '01 Screw.
About the exterior: its taller. The bed is deeper, yes, but be glad for the 'tailgate assist' feature, 'cause your gonna need it to crawl in to get anything out of the bed. I'm 5'11", and I dont think I will be able to reach my folding ladder without banging it all over the bed and bedrail top. I think the two inches deeper is more for statistics than practical use. The front end looks really good. The headlights are distinctive and better looking in person. The grill does indeed open with the hood, but...why?? It exposes the transmission cooler and three pieces of rubber on the two sides and bottom, that enclose the exposed area. And if your not a technician, who cares if it is easier to reach the engine compartment. And, get ready for more door dings and chips, there is no door trim to prevent those. The logo on the tailgate looks OK, too. They all come with 18" wheels I am told. Goodrich on those I saw.
The soundproofing effects may work. They had a quarter panel of sheetmetal on display, as well as the new skin, which has a coating of some kind. If you thump the old steel, it sounds like a pie pan - the new steel, like fiberglass (but is is really steel).
After I left the store, I saw about 15 of those being test driven coming down the road at me - they were instantaneously recognizable with the new front end, and looked GOOD! We F150 folks wont be embarrassed to park beside an F250 any more!!
Well, I'm tired of typing now, so I'm gonna go. Simply said, "This truck's a Winner!!"
Email me when someone replies to this topic
Post Reply | Active Topics | Send Topic
Topwater
New Member
Posts: 6
Registered: 6/9/03
From: Austin, TX
Email this member Show profile Reply to topic 6/24 3:45p
Just got back from Jennings Anderson Ford in Boerne, Tx, just west of San Antonio. It is the site of the media and dealer rollout launch for the '04 F150. All the national media are, or have been, there. They had three in the showroom; one Fx4 S/C Lariat 6.5 bed, one Fx4 S/C Lariat 5.5 bed, and one regular cab 2x4. (They had them parked beside an 03 Siverado, which looked like a toy sitting beside them, hehe). Appx 60 others were being driven and field tested by nat'l media thru cone tests, obstacle tests and off-road. {They will be there for another ten days, all you CenTex Folks...}
My opinion... The truck looks way better in person than the pic's. Impressive in so many ways. First impression - taller and tougher lookin'. Inside - uh, different...in a GOOD way. The Lariot black interior is just right...the tan, gold, whatever, is more of a beige, or off-white - comfortable on the eyes. The wood grain does not look cheap as others have said; the console shifter either. The console shifter does not have a push button release on the top like I thought; it has a trigger pull release in front of it - not visible in the pictures, and kinda neat. The center console is bigger than current, and the right arm resting position hangin' on to the shifter feels very natural. The door arm rest is wider. The tilt function is lame, however, with a lever activated motion with infinate settings - more range than current, but you have to lock the lever manually in your preferred position - a distraction if you're driving. The 6-disc CD changer is in the single CD slot - just load 6 in there, and an 'elevator' like action stores the discs - ergo more room in the center console. The overhead modular system is kind of a gimmick, tho - get what you want, but the rails are exposed if you dont fill 'em up (but it doesn't really look bad). The S/C back seats are OK for a 6 foot guy, but the base folds up to the back, leaving a dis-functional three tiered storage area, no useful flat space for storage.
The gauge display doesnt make sense on the Lariat - The cream colored gauges are the tach, speed, battery, and oil. The black background gauges, hard to observe on the upper and either side of the speed, are the fuel and temp - the most important for me. The dash is slightly rounded in the middle, with a 6"x6" depression that has a rubber pad for collecting junk, I guess. The back windows in the S/C are powered, and do roll down half-way. The leather seats are better and more comfortable than the ones in my '01 Screw.
About the exterior: its taller. The bed is deeper, yes, but be glad for the 'tailgate assist' feature, 'cause your gonna need it to crawl in to get anything out of the bed. I'm 5'11", and I dont think I will be able to reach my folding ladder without banging it all over the bed and bedrail top. I think the two inches deeper is more for statistics than practical use. The front end looks really good. The headlights are distinctive and better looking in person. The grill does indeed open with the hood, but...why?? It exposes the transmission cooler and three pieces of rubber on the two sides and bottom, that enclose the exposed area. And if your not a technician, who cares if it is easier to reach the engine compartment. And, get ready for more door dings and chips, there is no door trim to prevent those. The logo on the tailgate looks OK, too. They all come with 18" wheels I am told. Goodrich on those I saw.
The soundproofing effects may work. They had a quarter panel of sheetmetal on display, as well as the new skin, which has a coating of some kind. If you thump the old steel, it sounds like a pie pan - the new steel, like fiberglass (but is is really steel).
After I left the store, I saw about 15 of those being test driven coming down the road at me - they were instantaneously recognizable with the new front end, and looked GOOD! We F150 folks wont be embarrassed to park beside an F250 any more!!
Well, I'm tired of typing now, so I'm gonna go. Simply said, "This truck's a Winner!!"
Many Thanks
