Valentine 1 is a high-end radar detector/locator.

A navigation/gps system generally consists of a large color display that allows you to get directions to a destination with turn by turn instructions. There are no plans to offer one in the 2004 model.

There is an LCD display just below the speedometer for the compass, temperature, tripmeter, etc. There is a pic in the gallery that shows it pretty well...

 

Nice review! I'm sure Ford would love everyone buying a Lariat or an FX4...but us regular folks would like to see some good shots of XLTs. In my case, a Scab in 6.5 or 8' bed. Can't wait until my dealer gets one....late July or early August he's been told.

 

Steve:

Excellent job, I loved the review and thought it was well written. I didn't noticed it until today when I logged in and there was a banner on the page about it.

It is starting to grow on me, the new look. Did not like it at all at first and still think they should have put more thought into the "flareside" look. It kind of looks like an after thought.

But, it is growing on me and once they get some in around here I will drive down and take a look myself.

 

Steve:

So that I dont have to sift through hundreds of pics, you dont happen to know what link has the pictures of the digital LCD readouts?

 

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...4233&anum=4172

 

Yeah, same here. At first i didn't like them but the more pics I've seen the mroe I like them, but I don't think the flairside was done quite right....I don't know if I like the new lightning yet or not.. have to wait till I can see 'em in person!

 

I've never been a huge fan of the flareside. I think it's kinda pointless to buy a truck with a narrow bed. Less cargo room - same price = why?....heh

I can see why they sell for the more "sport" look, but damn, buy a ranger if you want a small skinny bed

AS for the redesigning in general, I think it body and interior look fantastic so far. One thing though, I wish to hell they'd start showing off these trucks ( especially to all the press ) with some larger wheel/tire combos. Some of the angles of these trucks look kinda rediculous. The body of the truck is classy beefy brawn and they ALL got these small , base XL looking wheels/tires on them.

Where's the BEEF!?

 

Steve

I was wondering how you were able to go and do the testing of these trucks. I mean was it something that you signed up for? Or were you contacted about it because of this site?

I was just wondering, because of all the people to be one of the first people to go test drive the new model, I think it was great that the webmaster of such a popular site for the F150 was able to go do that.

 

Did they have an FX4 with the sport cloth? And if so what did you think of it?

 

01's wife here.

Well Steve, you should be very proud of yourself. Due to your article and the article on the other Ford truck site, the GM and Dodge conspiracy theorists are out en masse.

Of course, it hasn't helped that pretty much every review of the truck has been positive. Chevy and Dodge loyalists are crying foul loud and clear.

See, it seems as though the Dodge people cannot fathom that the HEMI is not gods gift to truckdom......... and that it is so fantastic that it will make an ok truck the best thing to ever come out of a domestic factory. The GM guys are absolutally positive that their GM trucks handle and ride much better......... not to mention that the 6.0 is a far superior engine to the 3-valve 5.4 (they neglect to remember that it is not available in the general 1/2 ton GM truck line). Also, through the use of select specs, they like to point out that the fact that the Ford is heavier than the Chevy proves that the everything about the GM truck is far superior. That the new F150 is an also ran, and that GM will blow Ford away in truck sales now (especially with that beautiful styling on the '03 Silverado). They say all of this, never having seen the new truck............. never having sat in it......... or never having driven it. Thus, they are experts.

Yes, I have been having a good time on the other boards.

BTW, excellent article. It is nice to know that the 3-valve is still a real truck engine......... and not just a high revving car engine in a truck.

 

Hey, webmaster, I'm curious to get your take on the truck's interior, specifically, the FX4's. How was its fit-and-finish? And were the plastics used a higher-grade than the current offerings from Dodge (I KNOW they're better-quality than Chevy/GMC's).

Thank you.

P.S. Oh, and the HEMI is an excellent engine, IMO. While it may not be a "gift from the gods," it's the closest one currently offered in any truck.

 

Most authors that write reviews put their names on the articles.

 

I found the overall quality of the materials used in the interior of the FX4 (the truck I spent the most time with) quite impressive, especially considering these were pre-production trucks. I spent most of my earlier test time with the Dodge driving it, trying to get a feel for handling, acceleration, comfort, etc, so I did not pay close attention to the quality of the plastics, sorry.

As for your statement about the Hemi engine, I simply was not impressed with it after 100+ miles. If an overly loud engine that send vibrations through the cabin under almost all driving conditions is what you consider a good thing, then the new F-150 is not for you.

Most automotive journalists are one of hundreds of freelance or on-staff writers for their publications and have to include their names to get credit. I am the only writer here and have operated the site for seven years. Most people seemed to figure out with no problem that I wrote the article based on the comments in this thread. However, I have since added it so Dodge and GM owners don't have to exhaust themselves figuring out how to send me hate mail.

 

That's funny, webmaster, as I never really noticed any interior vibration or harshness while driving the HEMI-equipped Ram. I did, however, notice that it's pretty quick from a stop. But I've not driven the new F-150... yet; therefore, I really had nothing to compare the Ram to. I wouldn't even waste my time getting behind the wheel of that monstrosity Chevrolet calls the "New Silverado." Blah.

 

Which is something I ackowledged and pointed out in my review...