Sporkdevil:

Can you provide a link to that article?

Went to three book stores today
and could not find the magazine (which I know exists).

I have also read a few articles that seem to indicate the Blackwood is a tad faster than the EXT.
Still pretty bloody slow, the both of them.
Bill.

Mostoysinc@aol.com

 

Wait until that midgate gets some use and life on it..Its going to leak like a shrimp boat!!!!!!

 

Hummmmm. . . could it be advertizing hype? I am old enough to remember when, in the name of insurance premiums the big three 'UNDER RATED' the motors in the mucsle cars but . . .

Maybe the 45 HP isn't there and cheby is just counting on folks being impressed by the numbers in uses in ads.

 

According to Motor Trend magazine the rumor's of the Blackwood's demise were greatly exaggerated, "there will be an '03 model."

Anyone heard about this?

 

I have been out of town at a wedding in Missouri and then had my folks here for a week so have been sort out of the loop.

1. 03 Blackwood or not?

I have often heard you are only as smart as what you read or hear so I cannot verify some of this, but here goes.
The head of Lincoln Division has been often quoted as saying they intended to build 10,000 Blackwoods and I assume that is probably what they would like to do.
Why? They have most likely contracted for 10K of the composite/stainless steel bed which is specific to the Wood and as I understand it is very expensive and has caused a lot of delays in production but they are on for that amount.
As well, the Navigator 300 hp motor is also exclusive to this platform and I imagine it will take a production run of at least 10K to amortize the engineering and tooling, emission testing and so on.
What I can take for gospel is the sales figures as reported by the manufacturers to Automotive News and it is kind of interesting.

Blackwood sales 01 = 137
Blackwood sales 02 = 731 through May
Blackwood sales 02 = projected 1754 for entire year
Blackwood sales required to burn off 10k units = 5.7 years

So, we may see Blackwoods being sold as not only 03 models, but maybe even as 06-07 models.

To the Automobile Magazine comparo test between the Wood and the EXT, I found it interesting, amusing and not terribly accurate. The author, a nice guy by the way, sort of compared the Wood to an Expy, which is entirely incorrect. The Wood is based on the F150 Supercrew platform just the same as the King Ranch and Harley Davidson upgrades are. It has nothing to do with the SUV Ford platforms.

There were some questions about torque and performance numbers and I am not about to get into a flaming contest here, but this may help a bit.

According to the info I have found so far, the vehicles weigh about the same even though the EXT is on a bit shorter wheelbase (130 in vs. 138.5) I attribute the equalization to the extra weight of the AWD on the EXT.

The Wood develops 355 ftlb of torque at 2750 rpm according to published stats and the EXT develops 380 at 4000 rpm.
All this means to me is that the Wood will jump a bit harder off the line and hold it's own for a good period of time until the EXT comes up on the cams. Probably means the Wood has a chance at 0-60 but will probably get run over in the 1/4 mile and beyond.

Finally for tonight, win lose or draw, the EXT is outselling the Wood by a margin of 6-7 to 1 so it was not a Marketing 101 winner.
Sorry, one more comment. KC is still building Woods as if they were going to sell 10K in the next year or so. Last I read in Automotive News, there is getting close to a one year supply on the ground at your local Lincoln dealers. If it floats your boat, best get down to your local dealer and try to work the same kind of deal I did.
Bill

 

I still haven't seen one on the road yet, but it is a nice truck.

A far as the EXT goes, I would definitely preer it over the..........
Avalance- Chevy did themselves a disservice on that- but I do see a lot of them.

Getting back to the EXT/Black wood thing- Yes, the EXT is more utilitarian in nature than the Blackwood- But I'd be ______ed if I would haul anything sharper, rougher, or heavier than my luggage in that truck. I'd go buy an old POS Chevy, Ram or a beloved Ford to do that kind of rough stuff.

Off road- Fugetaboutit. Never! That's what they made Jeep Wrangler's, Hummer's, Cherokee's, and lift kits for.

Bisected by the plywood- OUCH! I guess we need to see what REAR PASSENGER safety is like in the EXT & Lanche's, from rear Impact- Which is FAR MORE LIKELY, than head-on impacts/off set impacts. Nothing like half-a kid to make you think about a solid trunk bed.

Looks wise- I'd take the EXT. They look good sitting on 20's or better, especially in Black or that White pearl.

Overall- I'd take the Lincoln. That Power tonneau, the Navigator ergonomics, the tried & true engine/drive train, and exclusivity, make it a winner.

If I could, I'd buy 2. One I'd drive, and one to my garage for safe keeping. That's going to be worth something to somevody, some day.