My truck had 51 miles on it and it was a bit messy inside, especially on the driver's side. I was thinking, WTF? I mean, yeah, there was plastic on everything, even the steering wheel, so it was all easily cleanable and not a big deal to me at all (and I'm very picky, went over everything). But why? Was someone joyriding in my new truck?

Nope.

Because Ford selects one in every thousand that comes off the assembly line for road testing and quality inspection. And mine just happened to be the one selected! My dealer said he sees them occasionally with the sticker on them, and said I should be very happy as mine has been checked very carefully, both interior and exterior, plus they road test it as well, and if they find anything amiss they make it right before they allow it to leave. Sweet, huh?!

I had stickers all over the place in that truck on the windows. But this was a special little sticker in the upper left-hand corner of the windshield. I peeled it off to keep, along with my big window sticker. The exact wording is:

TO THE OWNER: Ford Motor Company

This new vehicle was selected at random for road testing following assembly. The odometer reading includes __49__ miles/______kilometers registered during this evaluation.

We hope you will enjoy driving your new Ford Motor Company vehicle for many safe and pleasant miles.

VEHICLE OPERATIONS
FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Anyways, I thought that was pretty damn cool. I kind of felt like that kid in ***** Wonka & the Chocolate Factory when he found the gold wrapper, or whatever it was, in his chocolate bar!

Now I just have to survive the long wait until Sunday or Monday when it'll be waiting for me, all shined up with all the accessories on.

 

It's not incredibly uncommon but, not something you see every day.

Ford actually utilizes the 'road testing' technique on nearly every model that they make.

Here in Louisville where they make the Explorer, Sport Trac, and SuperDuty, you'll see convoys of them rolling around the streets all the time.

One particular jobsite that I have is very near the Explorer plant and I see 10-20 of them, all together, rolling down the street with factory stickers and plastic protective layers all over them.

It is nice to know that they're doing this and I'm sure they snag an occassional dud with this technique... which, of course, is a good thing.

RP

 

Same for mine. I was really happy to see that sticker, especially after reading the various threads about "limp home mode" and "driveline vibration." It was nice to know that some factory reps took it for a 50-mile spin.

 

I spent a day with the guys who run these checks at the Dearborn Assembly Plant. They seriously scrupulously look the vehicles over. They spend a few hours looking at it sitting in the garage, and then they do a serious drive evaluation on a preset course that takes them over a variety of surfaces and driving conditions. I wish my truck had gone through this process (tear). But then again mine turned out aok.

-ii

 

I am another person in the vehicle test club!!!!!

I am glad too because after reading some of the posts and realizing the only thing I can find is the power rear window rattle I am very happy.

 

I too was very pleased when I took delivery of my factory ordered 90 Thunderbird SC that it had been driven 46 miles for a random road test and quality check. Consequently upon opening the door you can imagine my surprise and dismay to find that there was no passenger power window switch...nothing just a flat plastic panel. How this got through the original assembly line inspection and then the 46 mile road trip was beyond me. So much for quality control. Perhaps some guy just took it for a blast into the next county for a beer!

 

yeah, I dont want some line worker cruising around in my 40k car....thanks....

 

Now that is funny.

 

it's not a line worker taking your truck out. mine had the same note in it. these are quality control people from what i understand. i was happy to have them road test my truck. i found the sticker about a week after i got the truck.

 

Mumford, thanx for the disrespect. All of us "lineworkers" appreciate it.

 

yeah mumford, that was wrong. if it wasnt for those "lineworkers" you wouldnt have a truck right now. id rather have them drive my truck if i had one. they are the ones that know the truck inside out. there probably isnt anyone that knows the trucks better. without those "lineworkers" there would be no F-150

 

Well, I thought it was fantastic. And I'm sure he meant no disrespect to the guys putting our trucks together out there, he just didn't use the right wording is all.

I'll put a big Thank you! out there right now to everyone involved with these trucks, from start to finish, especially guys line Screwbuilder and IzInBloom and Rambunctious and all the others (sorry, I can't remember everyone at the moment, don't get upset!) who have answered so many of our questions over the past several months!

Think of it from their view, they probably have answered the same question a hundred times before, yet they continue to help where they can! Thanks all!

Now, two more days until my truck is ready. They installed the remote start, side deflectors, bugshield and Lo-Jack today. Were about to get the bedliner in. Can't wait for Sunday!!!!!

 

Mine rolled off the trailer with 59 miles on it!!! I would have freaked if I had seen an earlier post about the testing. No stickers though. I was in a hurry to get it and the dealer took it straight into their shop to prep it for me.

 

I think it goes without saying - but maybe it needs to be said:

The lineworkers that put this truck together did a beautiful job.

I absolutely love the truck, and I know - believe this - that each person that touched my truck did so with quality and pride in mind.

This truck is awesome, and you, the people that built it deserve the credit.

I'm sure you don't often hear it, but from the buyer of a red FX4 SCAB - Thank You.

 

I can't say it better than blitzkrieg, so I'll just add a thankyou from the proud owner of an '04 lariet supercab 4X4.
A superb job.