I've owned my 05 Lariat for about 2.5 months now. I am a former/current (never got rid of my old truck, I intend to turn it into a show truck) Chevy owner who put 186000 miles on a 91 1500 2WD Reg Cab 8' bed. The Chevy is a simple design. I think it's very well thought out and executed. Keeping with that theme...

I offer these 10 suggestions to Ford to improve on what is otherwise a great vehicle...

1. Fire the idiots who programmed the electronic throttle and transmission. If you can plug in a Superchip programmer and the problem goes away, Ford should be able to get it right straight out of the factory.

2. Very simple... 4 forwards gears = 4 selections on the shifter. Get rid of the OD button and put 4-3-2-1 or D-3-2-1 like it should be.

3. 5 speed automatic. If Nissan, Toyota, & Dodge can do this, why can't the second largest auto maker in the world offer a 5 speed auto? Even the Ranger has a 5 speed auto and the Ford 500 has a 6 speed auto.

4. Make the extended cab doors open past 90 deg. If Nissan can do this right out of the box on its first real truck, Ford should be able to do this after decades of making trucks.

5. Offer a manual transmission on the V8's. I may be the only one on earth who wants one but I hate that the manufacturer tell me I can't have it.

6. Put the key back in the dash where it belongs. Anyone who is my age (31) or older knows what I'm talking about.

7. Make a rear window that slides DOWN. I don't know if any other trucks have this but I think it's a good idea. I'm talking about the very rear window, not the ext cab windows.

8. This is to all truck makers. PUT TIE DOWN POINTS ON THE FLOOR, NOT THE SIDE OF THE BED, THE FREAKING FLOOR. Use the kind that fold flush when not in use. I shouldn't have to drill holes in a brand new truck just to get some useful tiedown points.

9. Make the seat backs in the ext cabs fold forward to offer a flat place to put large items that you don't want screwing up your seats. The floor has the jack, drive shaft tunnel and subwoofer in the way.

10. Make the outside rear view mirrors body color. I have a very nice looking truck that's worth over $30000 and the mirrors look like they came from a tupperware party. Either body color or chrome.

Just my suggestions. What's everybody else think?


P.S. Start making real accessories at real prices.
Perfect example:
The lower grill inserts from Ford are over $200. There is no picture on the website or the cataloq and the parts guys at EVERY Ford dealer I've been to say I can't return a special order if I don't like it. I got one on EBAY that looks just like the the two small pieces on the inside of the bumper opening for $58 shipped to my house.
That's just plain stupid, there is no way I would order the part from Ford at those prices. Come on Ford, get with the program.

 

You make some very good sugestions and maybe someone from Ford is listening. But I only agree with you 80%. I don't think having the key on the dash or the full back window that goes down is a big concern. Just my 2 cents.

Very good sugestions.

 

Damn, you should be an engineer!!!

 

I love the way my black mirrors and black door handles look against the silver paint. Functionality concerns are one thing: cosmetic opinions are another. Just my $0.02

 

#5, #9 and#10 are that way on my 99.
#7 was done on the explorer sport trac
I'm sure ford are still refining the f150 so some of these issues will be addressed.

 

All very good suggestions. I would add that when I put the seat in a comfortable position for my legs, I am too far from the steering wheel for my arms. And the arm rest on the door is useless, I'm sitting next to the B pillar and the arm rest on the door is in front of me! Keep in mind I'm not very tall either, I'm about 5'11". Put folding down arm rests on both sides of the seat!
Also, the storage bin in the console is too difficult to get in. Make it hinge on the passenger side intead of the backside (as Chevy does it).
As has been discussed before the turn signal/wiper/high beam arm is in a funky position. Lower it.

 

That's why they have power adjustable pedals as an option. Keeps my 5' tall wife from being so close to the wheel.

 

Until GOV mandates in the 70's ALL cars had the key in the dash, where you could see it. That's the ony reason. Aparantly its easier to lock the steering column to prevent theft with the key in the column.

I think a nice compromise on the mirrors would be to offer a deluxe mirror package or something like that.

I'm not sure what is meant by a safety hazard if the rear window slides down, but everyone is entitled to thier opinion.

I don't like the turn signal stalk either. I do like pushing forward to engage hi beams. It seems to me that this is a more durable setup than the spring loaded ones.

There can still be OD on the shifter, just get rid of the stupid button and put it on the colunm like it belongs. I don't know how many times I've accidentally disengaged OD.

One other thing that's for all vehicle manufacturers:

Stop packaging things that have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

The best example on the 04 F150 is the heated seats and power adjustable pedals. What on earth do those two have to do with each other?

That's right nothing, but you have to get one if you want the other. It simply does not make sense.

 

I have power adjustable pedals but no heated seats on my 2004 Lariat.

 

For the most part, I'm very satisfied with my Lariat. Two things I would change, if I could: Power folding mirrors similar to the '05 King Ranch which weren't optional on the Lariat.
Another thing that would be nice is a 'power' option on the tranny. My '95 Toyota Camry has this option which changes the shift points for better off the line accelleration.

 

So far, I'm 100% happy with my truck. The only thing I would change, would be to have it paid off!

 

Very good suggestions I especially like #1. Although, I must admit I'm very happy with my truck. A few minor tweaks and it'll be near perfect.

 

The adjustable pedals were a $125.00 option on my XLT and heated seats were not available.

 

Me too....

The only thing I would REALLY like to see changed is the factory warrenty....3/36,000 and then its yours. Dodge offers 7/70,000 powertrain on top of the bumper to bumper. It looks like Ford would step up to that level as well.

As for the other stuff....they can keep the manual tranny. I am too lazy to change gears. Although a 5spd auto would be cool. I don't care about the key in the dash either...its fine where it is. I think it being on the dash would just leave the potential of the key scratching the dash....at least where it is you cant see it if it gets scratched.

 

My truck is perfect but if I had to change something it would be the price.
30k + is a lot of $$$