Looks very similar to the outgoing model but I am sure it drives much nicer. –inurok

Nothing noteworthy here to make me rush in to trade –risupercrewman

Obama said there would be CHANGE.... –rednoved

That's a refresh, IMO, not a totally new vehicle. -Quintin

Yeah, and I work with them day in and day out. It's not a totally new vehicle, at least I don't think it is. -Quintin

I take it you've ordered or bought a 2009 model year truck. Like I said, I don't care either way, but whatever you gotta say to make yourself feel better... -Quintin

Is it a COMPLETE/FULL redesign...NO it's taken the existing platform (04-08) as the ground work and improved everything (corrected the 04-08 shortcomings) and I think most view it this way. The 97-03 to 04-08 is/was viewed as a COMPLETE redesign because it was, as it didn't share anything with that platform (97-03), it was a COMPLETE redesign from the ground up. Maybe you should try viewing it this way, which I think is the most relevant way to view it. Simply put and simply said, is the new 09+ better than any previous gen F-150? Yes, period, end of story. Who cares if it's a complete redesign vs. working with the existing platform and improving everything on it (which what it has done), just so long as it remains the best half ton truck on the market, and I feel it is -07fx4silver

I have to agree with Quintin on this one. The 97 was a "NEW" truck, the 04 was a "NEW" truck. The 09 is a refresh, a major one but still a refresh. -05RedFX4

The 2009 is definitely a NEW and BETTER truck in every aspect of the previous generation truck it replaces, but it is NOT a COMPLETE redesign. -07fx4silver

You keep bringing up us "last gen owners." You really are trying to justify your purchase, aren't you? Trying to make yourself feel better for dropping that kinda coin?
No one's bagging on you or your truck, it's just an opinion, the 2009 is not a totally new truck per se. Think of the 2009 F150 as like an improved 2004-2008, which ain't necessarily a bad thing. –Quintin

I took a look at the 09. NOT because I was ready to buy one, but just to see how much better it was vs. my 06. VERY nice improvement. VERY. I love every aspect of the truck, but I'm not the type who bounces from car payment to car payment. One of the largest problems with this country are people living WAY beyond their means simply because of this thing called credit. Credit is a good thing when used wisely, but for a vast majority of Americans, credit is a way of life. Jumping from an 06, 07 even an 08 to an o9 is a luxury, not a necessity. Luxury too is a good thing, but NOT at the expense of good financial sense –rms8

I don't think the 09 F150 is a "simple refresh", more like a "dramatic refresh", but it is certainly not a 100% new truck. There are enough new and improved features to make me want one, but not at the expense of getting rid of what I currently own. If the economy were in better shape, and I thought I could get a worthy amount of $$ for my perfect '06, then I might look at the 09 in a more serious light. –rms8

I like to think of the 2009 as an improved 2004-2008. Most all the shortcomings and complaints about the '04-'08 were addressed and fixed in the 2009, with some extra gravy on top. That's a good thing, and it's a good truck. -Quintin

No one is saying the truck isn't new, it is very much a new truck with many significant improvements, but it's just not a complete rebuild/design like the 97 and the 04 were. I think we're all pretty much on the same page but are just having a problem with a play on words. -07fx4silver

I agree. The 2009 is an excellent truck, clearly taking all the complaints from the '04-'08, remedying them all and truly refreshing the truck thoroughly. I think they did a great job. I also agree with Barritia that buying an '09 makes a lot more sense than buying an '08, for anyone who is in the market and needs a truck right now. As someone who loves the F-150 (I'm wearing my F150online t-shirt right now) I can't wait to see what Ford does when they finally get around to making an all-new F-150! Can't describe the feelings when I picked up my '97 and '04 F-150's.

 

i just watched the 09 f150 commercial on tv. they said "all new f150" 3 times.

just throwing that out there......

 

They wont have it no matter how much info and data you can show on the subject. I bet if it was a 99.9999999999% new truck and the only thing that was the same was the valve dust caps then they would still call it a refresh.

 

I think its more or less a 'refresh'...

Hell my '05 is a refresh of the 99-04s... does that make it a bad truck, no.

What's your problem? Its still a great truck... the best 1/2 ton $ can buy. /story

 

Okay, I'll put my .02 cents in since Rambo asked me to. It's new. Well over 2000 new parts. The only sheet metal the same is the doors. The frame is new (thats why you can't just slap a six speed in the 04-08) as well as a whole new floor pan (agian six speed) and an all new interior. later.

 

Now would anyone care to tell the man who builds them he is wrong??? Thanks Derek

 

Yeah, it sounds new to me too. DearbornDerek is the man. I didn't know what a floorpan was but I looked it up and this what I found.

"The floorpan is a large sheet metal stamping that often incorporates several smaller welded stampings to form the floor of a large vehicle and the position of its external and structural panels. In the case of monocoque designs, the floorpan is the most important metal part establishing the chassis, body, and thus the car’s size. It serves as the foundation of most of the structural and mechanical components of a unibody automobile to which the powertrain, suspension system, and other parts are attached."

 

Quintin: As ford will not replace these even on my extended warranty do u know if this will cause any long term damage to the engine

 

So, it HAS THE SAME DOOR skins, yet some how how you try and dupe yourself into thinking it's a completely new truck. LOL. Okay there.

Were the door skins the same on the 03 vs. 04? Yeah, didn't think so. As a matter of fact, were there ANY body parts that would fit on an 04 from any previous F150? Yeah, didn't think so.

As for barittia, he is as crass as the sky is blue.

 

Valid point, not sure why others are arguing with ya.

 

The 09 is a new truck, not a refresh. Drive one and you will agree. Anyone who says otherwise is just feeling bad that their truck has been replaced. The 6.2L engine will be the icing on the cake.

 

I doubt the doors would carry over since all of the other parts have changed. Also didn't the cab get stretched 6 inches on the crew cab (bigger doors up front) and the regular cab have the the rear doors removed (no doors)? The interior of the doors are all new. So the doors have changed too.

New frame, suspension, interior, transmissions, motors, exterior sheet metal, more use of high strength steel, wheels, tires, brakes, colors, mirrors, headlights, taillights, emblems, radio options, trailer sway controls, cargo management system, side steps, tailgate handle, 8" navigation screen, larger crew cab. Yeah, its the same truck. (Sarcasm)

 

Ya know, I'm just going to delete my original comments. I reread this thread and it's pretty much useless to argue with those set in stone. I hope they figure it out before I buy one. My neighbor just built a NEW house and used the same shingles I recently REFRESHED my 45 year old home with. I guess he just got a REFRESHED one... especially since the studs he used were probably from trees grown 40 years ago.

 

Good point. Some of the trucks they make this year wernt even made at all last year. So how on earth they took last years truck and refreshed it i will never know.

 

It may very well be new and better than all previous F150's. Not sure how anyone can say that for fact right now that it's the greatest ever but I'd probably bet it too if forced to. Ford knows a thing or two about building trucks after all. But who knows, there could be a few bugs to work out of those 2,000 changes. The previous generation is still a great truck and proven. Really the new generation does not interest me much until it get's an engine with more guts. The 5.4 has always needed help and though the 6 speed should help some imo Ford should have rolled out the 6.2 gas or 4.4 diesel to make this a grand slam home run. I'll be interested in another year or two when the bugs are gone and it finally gets an engine that lives up to the rest of the truck.......and hopefully a tail light redesign.