I dont think the seats are that bad. I just drove 4 hours to Columbia SC and no problems at all. I like the flow thru console, but it does hit the knees...not that big of a deal though.

 

This is my first real truck. Before I had a 1992 Ford Explorer. I love it. It rides well, looks great, turns heads. The new Dodge Ram owners with their big "sucking chrome" grills are constantly reminded that they don't have the "cool truck" look anymore.

I haven't had any problems with the seats. But I have the 40/20/40 cloth seats. I think the 6-CD stereo system is good but a little to bass-boomy for me. (And I'm a bass player). My only real complaint is I wish the center seat would slide along like the other two.

Other than that, it's going to be a big part of my life for the next 10 years or so.

 

Huh? I have the same seats and find them to be the most comfortable seats of anything I have ever driven. As they say, different strokes for different folks. Seriously, I had hoped to keep the miles off this truck, but it is so comfortable I find myself making excuses to drive it every where.

As others have mentioned the handling and ride are terriffic. I've even got some pretty good mileage out of the new 5.4L. Over 20 on the open road with the cruise control on and about 16 - 17 around town.

The only negative is that the 18 inch wheels really need the 3.73 rear end. My 3.55 is too low an axle ratio.

~~~^~~~

 

here's my story

I was dead set on an Avalanche after I driving in one.

After I drove the 04 F150.. well let's just say I'm now a member here

 

Good choice Bunker....... Good choice.

 

I also think the seats are the worse thing about the 04. My XLT has cloth 40/20/40 split. This is the 4th. new truck since 97 and the seats are by far less comfortable. I have been trying different things to sit on but do not have it figured out yet. I may have an upholtsery shop re-do the drivers seat and back. Ford seats were alway far better that GM, not anymore. I don't like the high rearend either and that will be changed. Those 2 inch blocks are going to go soon. Other than that the truck is nice. Some people must like the seat as it is and thats good, but for me it is BAD. when I did the the Owners Survey, and noted the seat problem they called me about it and I told them that if the seat didn't change in 06 I would buy something else.

 

My seats (FX4 Cloth buckets) are not too bad. I use the lumbar and they feel fine to me. I have yet to take it over 50 miles in one shot though so maybe not so happy later. But, so far, this is the best vehicle I have ever owned.

 

04 Lariat.

I do not understand what the problem is with the seats.
Iweigh 210 and my seat does not bottom out.leather
seats do feel a little hard but i dont find anything to
really complain about.

Mike

 

My seats feel fine also. One thing that I did notice when I first got the truck was that I needed to adjust the bottom down. I have power seats and I had to drop the whole bottom of the seat down about 2" to get the lumbar support in the right spot. After that, I have felt very comfortable. BTW, I'm 6' and about 190lbs for whatever that is worth.

Scott

 

I'm 6'1" tall, and I had no problem with that when I took an '04 Lariat for a test drive. How are you hitting your knees on the flow-thru console??

 

i have a bad lower back and the leather seats are an answered prayer! the lumbar support is awesome and the seats are so comfortable. i can't say anyone is wrong b/c it is all about feel, but my opinion is that the seats are great.

one complaint, since we're being honest. the rear axle shakes a bit when I go over speed bumps in my neighborhood. they are big bumps but i wish it wouldn't do that. i think the rear end is beggin for a traction bar. we'll see how it handles off road in a month or so.

 

As far as the '04's overall, I'll add my AWESOME to all the others that have posted. The fact that my wife would rather drive my truck as opposed to her BMW 528i says volumes to me. Seats-My wife thinks they are less "cushy" than my '01 Lariat Screw but I actually like them better. I do wish they were slightly darker tan but I'll deal with it. I also agree with Brew regarding the shaking while going over speed bumps or in my case, going over manhole covers when the pavement surrounding them has been built up (filled-in potholes too). There is quite a bit of shakin' going on when I hit these things. I also really like the reverse sensing system. Even with the HUGE mirrors, I always felt like a didn't really know exactly how close I was to another vehicle, pole, tree, etc. and this system works great. Other minor peeves: plastic fuel door, lack of a steering wheel INFO button to flip through the various screens (Dist To Empty, elapsed drive time, etc.), fold up seats and lack of storage space underneath them (if you have the audiophile pack.)

 

I love my truck. My leather captains are great and feel really stuffed well. I'm not sure what others are talking about but I'm glad I'm not experienceing it. I'm 6'1 205 and feeling nothing but the feeling of sitting in a Lazyboy while driving (which could be dangerous given all the times I've fallen asleep in my Lazyboy at home..LOL) As for at the end of the day what do i think about. Well for the past 3 weeks every time I park her, get out and walk away, I always look back and stare. Sometimes I even find myself wandering to a window during work to check her out during the day. Poor lonely truck during work...

Overall I think it is awesome, best truck I've ever owned so far and I loved my 88 Reg Cab XLT and 01 XLT Screw just the same, but I gotta say Ford really did us truck buyers right this time.

 

I have an FX4 Screw and love it. I went on an 8 hour trip to Oklahoma with it and the seats felt fine. They are a little harder than the seats were in my '99 though. I have noticed that the armrests seem just a little low for me even if I put the seat down as far as possible. I also miss the storage under the rear seat that the Audiophile sub eats up, but I still wouldn't give up that stereo for storage. The new engine doesn't seem to have alot more seat-of-the-pants power, but it sure seems to pull a trailer better than my old truck did (I'm talking about a 5000 Lb. load).

 

Thanks for the info guys...in a time when I was losing faith in Ford, its good to hear they did good on this one!