OK - you won't have to do much selling. I've pretty much made up my mind that I'll be trading in the Explorer this summer, and I love the look of the new F150.
I think I want an XLT 4x4 SuperCab. This will be my primary vehicle (the wife has on '02 Sebring LXi). I won't be towing anything heavy. I'd like a nicer interior.
It seems like a lot of folks on this board are ordering theirs from the factory. My only factory order experience was less than satisfactory, plus I'm very impatient.
What options should I insist on, and what should I avoid? What other questions should I be asking?
Thanks in advance, Ladies and Gents!

 

I say go ahead and get the fx4 if you are thinking the xlt 4x4....

I love mine

 

Be sure to get the back up sensors Cats aZZ
Think Crew Cab likely will keep its value better
Colour well thats your call
The power peddles are nice if your tall and the wife is short
3.73 rear end
Heated Seats are Great if your from cold country

You'll love it btw i have none of the mentioned problems with my truck bought of dealers lot day after it came in

 

Another PDX poster...Welcome. One piece of advice. Buy your '04 from Chuck Cahill (Fleet Director) at Gresham Ford and, if y'all tell him I (Gary Rundell) referred you to him, it's likely you can get a price of $300 under invoice. I factory ordered my '04 as I do all new vehicles for various reasons. See my pride at:
http://www.f150online.com/galleries/....cfm?gnum=3886

 

It sounds like you're about commited already, but if not...DON'T DRIVE ONE. If you do, it'll be game over

Seriously, they did a really nice job putting this truck together. Sure some have had teething problems, but overall I don't think you'll be disappointed with it. I've had mine for six trouble-free months and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

If you can swing it, I'd consider the Lariat SuperCrew with the audiophile, power rear slider, sunroof, power pedals, console, 4x4 (kind of a must where I live), bed extender, 5.4L and 3.73 axle. It'll cost you more initially, but it's a very civilized truck and just might be worth the extra money when you decide to part with it. Even if it isn't, you'll drive around with this silly grin until you decide to let it go.

 

I'm doing my best to wail until this fall and get a 2005. I hope that by then most of the bugs will be worked out. It's tough though, I keep seeing 'em more and more.

 

I too make the jump from an Explorer into an F150 and could not be happier. True...have had it less than two weeks, but still, I'm happy.

My favorite options:

FX4 package
18" tires
True Blue color is a sharp looking truck
The black leather captains chairs with the metallic FX4 interior looks absolutely incredible!!!
Moonroof rather than the overhead rail storage system
Reverse sensing system is a must...just try backing up without it when you test drive one and you'll see

Of course there are many other things I love about this truck, but those are the biggies for me. I can also add that the FX4 with the 18" tires handles like a dream in the snow.

 

Thanks for all the replies, folks, they are much appreciated. I like the FX4 and Lariat packages as well, but they're pushing the boundaries of my budget. The main reason I'm waiting to make the purchase is that we're currently making 2 house payments. We bought a new (to us) house in Beaverton (kind of a drive to Gresham, Grimalkin), and we're getting the old house ready to sell. We're hoping to have the house sold by sometime in May.

Anyway, I've had a 4x4 of some kind for the last 16 years, so even though I don't use it as much (I used to live in Northern Michigan), it's nice to have. It definitely came in handy during our "Huge Winter Storm" we had in Portland this year. There was one day where I was the only one in the office.

I strolled through the lot of Town & Country Ford the other day while getting the oil changed on the Explorer. They had a pretty meager selection there, and they all had a $1995 "market adjustment" tacked onto them. What's that all about? I see other dealers with good prices in the paper all the time.

I wasn't really aware about the reverse sensing option. I'll definitely have to check that out. If you guys talk me into a Lariat or FX4, you'll help make the payments, right? I have a Paypal account you can send to.

 

$1995 'market adjustment'? Wahahahaha!!! That's would have made the price on my Screw $6,250 OVER dealer's invoice.

No thanks! I'll keep driving to Gresham to deal with honest folks at BELOW dealer's invoice and bank the $6,000.

Good luck.

 

"Market Ajustment" is the dealer tacking on a supply-and-demand charge. I would run, not walk, from that dealership.

I've seen that charge on Cobras when they first came out, but never on a truck that is not in limited production.

Anyway, now that the "hype" on the new F150 has died down there is absolutely no reason you should have to pay more than the standard 3% over invoice that is the market norm - never mind $2k over MSRP!!!!


Anyway, as far as the truck itself, drive it to 45mph on the test drive and then slowly accelerate to 60mph. If you don't detect any problems and like the price and the truck, go for it. Mild vibration and fuel efficiency aside (although others are claiming much better mpg than I get), I am still completely impressed with the chassis and suspension engineering of my truck.

 

Agent86 - I saw your other thread, and I wasn't sure if you were happy with the F150 or not.

As to the market adjustment, it's obvious to me that Town & Country Ford isn't very interested in selling any trucks. When the time comes, I'll take my business elsewhere. They can do warranty service for me, though.

 

I'm not sure if I'm happy myself.

With the fuel efficiency, certainly not - although a couple of members have indicated it will improve with engine break-in. I hope so.

Anyway, I won't hesitate to say it's the best engineered chassis and suspension I've come across in a truck. Certainly the best-looking truck made in the last 20 years in my opinion, and I don't have much experience with the 5.4 but I can tell you that the 4.6 is a solid and reputable powerplant.

 

My Dealer did a 4x4 STX, Reg Cab, Tow Package, 3:73 gears, AC, security system, extended warranty, for $23,300, I'd think you could get a real nice Super or Screw at some decent price, yet not the FX and Lariet levels.

You definetly gotta test drive one though.

A note I got to drive a brand new off the lot, and driven to my house TITAN Crew Cab last night.


I am somewhat shocked at how similar the trucks feel driving.

 

Market adjustment is what the dealer thinks he can tack on and still sell vehicles. Also, it lets say how much more he can discount. We have a dealer here that was making market adjustments on the Mach1 of 10 to 15k.
Find another dealer.

 

Yeah - I'm not really sure what they're thinking. There are plenty of other Ford dealers around, especially ones that are closer to where I live. I go to Town & Country because my wife has had good experiences with their service department, and it's the closest Ford dealer to my office.