After all the photos online, I think I was always secretly hoping that when I finally saw, sat in and drove a 2009 F-150 Platinum that I would be "wowed" enough to want to order one for the spring.

But unfortunately I felt almost like I was stepping into and sitting in my truck I've had for almost 5 years that was parked right next to the White Sand Tri-Coat Platinum I had just stepped up in to. In fact, the entire experience was rather underwhelming, and made me kind of sad. I really, REALLY wanted to be thrown a curve ball, some excuse to buy a new truck I could justify in my own mind.

But there was only one single thing that twice made me smile that I really liked, and that was the power running boards. Boy are those sweet!

But the rest of the experience was quite lackluster. Here I was, sitting inside the truck I've been dying to see for about a year now. Sitting here with my girlfriend beside me, and thinking to myself, "Aren't I supposed to be overjoyed right now?" Was it nice? Yeah it was. Smelled new, had some new layout to the dash controls, headrests tilted forward, some more leg room, moonroof, brown leather interior, all that jazz. Nice. But honestly did not feel like I was sitting in a different vehicle.

Was it quiet? Seemed to be. Engine noise was minimal; didn't really notice any significant difference in power. Seats? Maybe the leather is different as they say, but I kept feeling it and saying to myself, "This leather is supposed to feel different, the seats are supposed to be more comfy, etc etc." But none of it really felt that way, I just kept thinking things 'should' feel new or different, but I couldn't make myself actually believe it. The seats... I felt them, rubbed and pinched them, a number of times while I was with the truck. Even had my gf do so as well. I WANTED it to be different, but... just didn't seem it.

Don't get me wrong, it's really nice. But I swear to you if you own a 2004 or above, it will not feel as though you are in a totally all-new vehicle. I'm left sitting here wondering if somehow I sat in an '08 by mistake, that's how I feel. I wanted to be 'wowed', but instead all I got was, "Yeh, it's nice, just like my truck. Except it has these really cool power running boards!"

I feel like I missed the excitement train or something. Like all the wind has just been blown out of my sails. I really wanted to be proven wrong about it just being a refresh, but I can't come up with a better way to describe how it felt. I almost wish I hadn't gone, so I could still have that feeling of, "What if I'm blown away?! How can I resist a new F-150?!"

There's nothing more, other than my gf, that I love more than my many F-150's. So I feel kinda sad, kinda drained. I wanted so much more. More of what? It has most everything except heated steering wheel and remote start which activates heated seats & heated steering wheel. It's not that. It's the feeling of something new, something different and exciting. It happened to me in '97 and in '04. I was secretly hoping I'd feel that today.

Man, I should have stayed at home and enjoyed my first day off since Xmas day instead. I want my anticipation & excitement back.

Oh, two items I just recalled. Taillights? Just as in the pics, they look great. Still have no idea why people hate them so much. But the Platinum tailgate looks kinda silly with pretty much any color other than Silver Frost (or whatever they call it today). That is because the tailgate handle is matched to the Plat applique on the tailgate, but the handle sticks up above the Plat strip and there is like this weird gap with the color of the truck in-between. Look at a pic to see what I mean. The nice straight line is broken by the handle, which is higher yet same color as band, very odd looking in person never mind in pics. Should have left tailgate handle same color as truck and moved it a tad higher for a clean Plat band applique, or lowered handle, for same effect - making it a straight line on tailgate, not all broken up in the middle top portion.

Heated seats worked fine, just like my '04. Didn't try cooling, was too cold out today. Sony sound system was nice, didn't put it through it's paces as the salesman was also in the truck most of the time I had it. Did I mention the power running boards were total sweetness? Oh, the XLT's on the lot had the chrome packages with chrome-clad wheels, boy what nice shiny wheels! Wonder if they hold up well to road salt/dirt/newly laid asphalt patches/etc?

If I recall any more I'll add it here, or ask me any Q's and I'll try to answer them. Sorry to be a downer of sorts, but I was looking for the same feelings I had in '97 and '04. Didn't happen this time. Nice truck though. But not revolutionary, just evolutionary.

 

A good deal of the new and innovative additions to the F150 are meant to be used when using it as a truck, not a seat or a grocery getter. Thus, a simple test drive isn't going to be able to showcase where the truck really shines.

I think you are somewhat right in that the loaded 2004-08 trucks are quite similar, but there is absolutely no denying that the interior does have much nicer materials and overall look and feel than the 2004-09 models.

 

I myself am glad they are not that different. I have an 07 KR that I DO NOT want to look old...and make me want another truck. Yeah, there maybe some neat changes, but I am glad that I really dont see them as far as cosmetic wise. I did see an 09 KR in the new Pearl White. AWESOME. I so dig that color

What does make me happy, is when the 11, or 12s come out...I see myself buying a 13 or 14.

Its funny, I have this new KR screw, and I still miss my 00 Lariat.

 

If i owned a 2004-2008 i might not have jumped in and bought a platinum but seeings it was only a $3k-4k difference in price between a 08 and 09 then people whould have to be silly not to get a 09. But yeah for a good 15k+ to go from a 08 lariat to a 09 platinum it would seem hard to justify. Also when you say you dont notice the difference in power i have to say the oposite. When i got mine it had about 500 miles on it and i am now upto 1200 miles and i have to say that the engine seems to have loosened up a lot and the truck seems to have more TQ and picks up really well when over taking and the sound from the ehaust has gained a really nice tone. I know it takes a few thousand miles to break in an engine but i didnt think there would be an improvement like i have seen.

The improvements to me feel vast over the 08 but i didnt have to spend the extra $$$ to get froma 08-09 so it may feel different to me. Not seen one person who has bought an 09 so far say they aint been impressed by it though and not worth the upgrade. It seems to wow everyone who looks over it. Im have to say im a very proud owner of it.

 

Ive still got that anticipation and excitement inside me to finally get off my lazy *** and go drive down to the dealership to see one, just haven't yet.

Sorry the truck didn't awe you like you were hoping.

 

That's true, Lumadar. Since I don't use mine as a work truck, there are a lot of handy features added in that regards to the 2009. Certainly work solutions alone is totally worth it if you carry tools for work! I use mine as a daily driver, and the occasional brush or large object moving, but that's about it. I just think it's the best-looking vehicle on the planet above every other reason.

And I'd agree, if you need a truck, how the heck could you choose an '08 over an '09 unless you were saving MAJOR change. The '09 is certainly heads above the '08 in terms of comfort features and work features. I was just surprised to get in and feel as if I was in my '04 with a new dash layout. If the engine does 'break-in' after some miles, that's a good thing, something I couldn't tell from a test drive of one they just got the other day.

Don't get me wrong, it's very nice. Just didn't 'wow' me, is all.

 

based on your previous posts (thinking the truck is just a refresh and that you think it's best to save your money for now), I think you psyched yourself out before even sitting in/driving it! LOL

Plus if you already drive a loaded Lariat screw, I don't see how you could be blown away that much with the new one. It's not like you've been driving an XL work truck (no offense to those owners) or something.

 

I have done this so many times before. Got my self so excited over something and all it's hype and then got it and been disappointed with the outcome. You can easily over hype something in your mind.

 

I felt similar when I sat in the 09 Platinum but, it quickly grew on me. The noise level is, indeed, much more quiet and the running boards are pretty slick but, the price difference is quite a bit. It is a 'botique' model...

What most folks will forget though is that this is where Ford has been HUGELY successful...

Take the KR or the HD for example...

The cost of manufacturing such a vehicle is only a miniscule amount more than a comprably equipped Lariat or even XLT but, FoMoCo charges a premium price. While they don't sell the numbers of a KR, a HD, or now a Platinum (or 04-08 Limited), they do sell and when they do, they turn a larger margin...

An example of a failed boutique mminusculecomparablyodel was the Blackwoods -- although it was killer nice, it cost quite a bit more to manufacture (different motor, very different box, and other differences) and, because of the cost difference, they didn't sell (at the end of 2002, they were GIVING them away (around 15-20k off of MSRP))...

They learned from that, in my opinion... today's boutique models are VboutiqueERY similar to their big brother's (the F-Series) and only cost a slight fraction more to make (with tiny perks like interior spiffs, thicker windshields, or a power factory board).

Less cost of manufacturing + higher cost on the sticker = larger profits

The Platinum is a great truck but, let's keep in mind where Ford wanted to go with this one... that being a non 'core trucker' type and the 'status' buyer... that's why it's high dollar and, in turn, high margin.

-RP-

 

Ive always been a ford guy but mainly a car guy. I have a mustang and driven tons of other model and year mustangs. I have a focus as a daily driver. I had a ranger before that. Anyways i got a f150 brochure in the mail the other day and in it there was a coupon to test drive a new truck get a free $50 gift card to target. So I went down to the dealership and i happen to get a younger salesman. He knew alot bout the trucks. That impressed me from the start. Most salesman dont seem to know anything bout what they are selling. So i show him the coupon tell him im not really interested in buying anything today. He says no problem i love driving the new trucks let me go get the keys to a platinum. I was like wow thought he would get mad for wasting his time and let me drive a baseline model. I brought my Ipod with me to see how that worked with sync. We spent a good 20 mins playing with all the new features inside the truck. By far the best nav/entertainment package in any truck ive been in. The power running boards were sweet. Heated seats back up camera....I was in love. Only thing i wasnt terribly impressed with was the power of the truck but in regards to that i wasnt looking for it to be a race car. Im sure it would do a great job pulling my mustang and hauling my stuff. I work for the railroad and move around alot. I hadnt planned on getting a truck until next fall. If i hadnt had to be at work not too long after driving the truck i might have just bought it them. Im not sure if there is a real need to buy a platinum but ill be buying a loaded fx4 or platinum here in the near future. Trying to decide if the power steps and the cooled seat are worth the extra money. Ive driven a new limited tundra and a Denali and neither have anything on the new f150

 

Wow. I was kinda opposite. Can't belive you didn't notice comfort of new seats. I can't stand to drive my 04 now. Must be most uncomfortable seats in history of trucks... Except maybe 73-86 gm's with steering wheel up in my face...

 

I felt exactly the same. Didnt own a last gen f150 but when compaieing the 2 and driveing the 2 they are just night and day. Worth the upgrade yes but of course only if you can afford to do it. If ya cant then a upgrade might not be on the books. But i cant say that there is one bit on the 08 i liked better than the 09's but the price.

 

I really liked the 04-08' seats. Firm, comfortable, and supportive. The new ones are nice too, but I don't know if the bolsters will keep you from moving around on long trips. However, both are best in the bussiness.

 

Lease was up on my 07 XLT 4x4, so I went down and test drove an 09 Supercab FX4. Very sharp truck...seats were a HUGE improvement and the interior was leaps and bounds above. I was sold...until they told me the monthly payment. Going from an 05 FX4, to an 07 XLT 4x4, paying around 320/month...they wanted now 500/month. HA! Sorry, you lost an F150 sale.

 

Give it a few months, say, April or so. Those prices will come down as the incentives start to roll out.