My sex life has improved dramatically, I've lost weight, my mortgage was lowered, I'm growing hair on top of my head, and I've saved hundreds of dollars on auto insurance ever since I bought my 2004 F150.

 

I've been a Ford kid all my life. I have owned a '91, '92, '95, '97 and a '99. All F-150's, all toreador red, all 4X4. One Lariat, one XL and three XLT's. I have NEVER had any MAJOR problems with any of them. The oil in the transfer case dried up in my '92 and I had to replace the gears, but my mechanics insurance took care of it .

I always look at Ford, then check out the rest. I actually like the old Z71's (style wise) over the new ones. I considered Dodge in '96 (?) when they came out with the new body, but didn't like the handling. Felt stiff and jumpy and it was loud yet lacking in power.

I am staying put until something goes terribly wrong. The Ford guys have really made me happy.

 

Plus, it's the only truck my wife and girlfriend agree on!

 

ha ha...yeah, I am curious to see what my opinion will be when I finally take delivery and had a true made in a america car / truck for the first time.....

 

It was the whole package that sold me on the new F150.

My top ten favorite things about it:

1) Interior is superior to anything else I looked at
2) Quietest ride of any pickup
3) 3 valve motor
4) Bucket seats/console
5) Great leg room in back (for a Scab)
6) Audiophile kicks butt
7) Great steering feedback (not a slushbox like GM)
8) 7 quart oil capacity
9) 18" wheels/tires
10) Automatic lights

 

Never owned a Dodge..

Two Toyotas 88 & 92. Very reliable but too small.

Had 2 Chevy Silverados 94 & 01. No problems with either except for excessively loud radiator fan in the summer. Neither felt solid. The Chevys always got better gas mileage than the Fords I've had - could be the Chevy is more forgiving of my lead foot...

Owned 5 F150s (80, 90, 91, 97, 04) and all were purchased new. No major problems with any before the 04. The 04 is the most solid truck structure wise I've ever owned. If it weren't for the shimmy/vibration problem it would easily be the best of the bunch.

 

Great stories, keep `em coming!

 

I had an '87 4Runner for 5 years. It didn't give any trouble, but it never felt like "home". I bought a '93 F150 and put 220K miles on it with no trouble at all. I loved it the first day I got in it and every day after. That truck will be the standard by which I measure every vehicle I ever own. My wife's suburban is getting a lot of miles on it so it began to be time to make a change, or I was going to wind up with 2 very high mileage vehicles and or 2 payments (ouch). I sold my '93 and ordered an '04 which should be here on Friday ( ). If Ford had stayed with the '97-'03 body style, I would have gone with Dodge or Chevy. I absolutely detest that body style. Once I saw and test drove the '04, I never seriously considered anything else. After having such good luck with my old truck, I have to admit that I am un-nerved about the new one, especially being a new body style etc. I've always tried to avoid anything that was close to serial # 1.

 

I'm a first time truck owner/Ford owner. I guess I was the target for all the truck companies' 'new truck owner' marketing strategies. Well, suffice it to say I went hard--hook, line, sinker, bobber, reel, rod, boat! I got my 04 in December after looking hard at Fords, Toyotas, Nissans....less so at Dodges and Chebbies. Ford sold me on their incomparable history of truckmaking and the rugged looks of the 04's. After test driving them I loved the ride, handing, and was very impressed with the interior comforts...not traditionally trucklike at all. Ride was much improved compared to the 2003 I test drove a year ago.

Now that I have my new truck I absolutely love it. Question---how in the world did I ever get along without a truck before now? My biggest problem now is that I just can't leave well enough alone. I've become quite obsessed with mods and aftermarket add ons to further personalize my truck. I blame
ALL of you guys for this. Truthfully, I've learned more about trucks, engines, exhausts, chips, etc than I ever dreamt of learning, and I do have you guys to thank for that.

Blk n Tan
Lariat Screw 4x4
5.4 L Automatic

Magnaflow Catback
Volant Air Intake w/ box
Rhino Lining
Advance Cover
Westin Step Bars

 

It was an easy decision for me. I had an '01 Expy and it was nice, but not even close to the new F-150. I was looking for a truck, but had driven or ridden in the competition and wasn't impressed. When the F-150 came out I resisted at first, but finally went down for a look. After I drove it I knew I was bitten by the bug. It was nothing like the older models. Just to make sure I drove a Heritage and that was that.

My business partner had a Chevy and a trip over the tracks by the office would displace discs in your back. He had a bad back...coincidence? I don't think so. The F-150 will run over much worse and almost nothing gets through into the cabin. The other thing that drove me nuts with the GMs was the bungy steering. I like to point the wheel and have the truck go there. The steering on the GM trucks was way too spongey for me...and the buckboard ride would never do where I live. My partner drives a Toyota Tundra now and it's okay, but kind of like an appliance. I wouldn't love it, but I wouldn't throw rocks at it either.

I've never had good luck with Dodges and people I know haven't either so it never made the final round. The Nissan was just too ugly and uncoordinated looking. I couldn't see myself owning one for more than a few days.

Where I live, there's a dirt road climbing up a hill about 500' in a half mile. Roughly 1/3 up the road is a steep climbing turn and that's where the road gets the biggest humps. A new neighbor was pulling his boat up and had to get out there and lock his hubs on an older GM truck, so it's fairly steep and a 90° turn. When I drive up and down there with a 33 gal trash can in the back, it remains upright through the bumps. I don't think any other truck could pass that little test

Another reason I came to love the handling more was the 'real world slalom' test I had a while back. A Dodge Intrepid pulled right out in front of me and I mean I was >< close when he did it. I snatched the wheel right (no time to even brake) and then left when I cleared him and the truck handled like it was on rails. If I'd been driving the Expy, I think his passenger would have been dead. I'm still trying to figure out how I got it narrow enough to fit in the bike path and not mow down mailboxes when I went around that car.

 

My Significant Other, the one that daily drives the thing, simply liked it best. So I guess you could say it was the test drive more than anything else. The 04 F-150's just plain look mean too. :-)

Actually after the test drive both of us liked the truck so much better than the other trucks we had looked at / test drove.

 

*disclaimer* I've owned nothing but Fords for 15 years.



Chevy: tough as hell, ugly as hell, expensive as hell

Dodge: Best looking, but wouldn't keep it past 50k miles

Toyota: Still can't bring myself to buy foreign

Nissan: repulsive looking - I dont care how well CR rates them.

 

Thank you for your responses -- you all have been assimilated...

Had a 92 Explorer followed by a 01 F150 XLT Scab 4x4. Took it in for a blown ignition coil and drove home in a brand new 04 150 Lariat Scab 4x4...even got the same color inside and out.

I agree...GMs look cheap inside and the new ones are ugly. I like the Dodge, but again cheap on the inside.

For now I'll stick to the Ford 150's until I can afford a Lariat F-250 4x4 with the diesel engine.