I thought I'd post this here as everyone with a V-8 F150 is likely to go off the deep end on this. I currently drive an '01 4x4 F150 with 5 speed and 4.2L. Got a deal in the mail about employee pricing and enhanced trade-in value program. So I went and drove on '05 4x4 with auto and 5.4 to see if I was interested and whether I liked the new F150. The truck was quiet and smooth. But I'll have to say that I was FAR from impressed with what is supposedly a 300hp V-8 in this truck. It was doggy. And the truck is huge and heavy. The 3.73 rear end should have made it jump a little; but no. It really made me appreciate my '01. I also thought the handling was very "rubbery" with so much isolation that you didn't really know what the truck was doing. In my opinion the weight of this truck is a serious problem and hurts the performance of the vehicle. The saleman told me that the new truck is model for model about 600 pounds heavier than the previous design. Big mistake IMHO. If you have the new truck, I'm truly not insulting your vehicle or flaming your choice. It IS refined. But I guess it is that I really expected a lot more than I experienced.

 

You are right. I had a 1997 4.6 4x4 (1st year of your body style). It did feel more connected.

Although I can't imaging that the 300 HP 5.4 feels doggy compared to that 6 cylinder?

Keep your 01. Its a good truck.

 

Oh I think the 300hp 5.4 would out pull my 4.2 but I guess what I'm saying is that there was not nearly the difference that I would have expected.

 

I really love my new 05 f150 v-6 slot-o-matic even though it is slower than my 98 f150 v-6 5spd. I enjoy an average of 19.3 mpg which is a little less than my 98 at about 21.7. I would tell anyone who is looking at one to get it.

 

I have not driven the '05 yet and I would not know if I would be impressed or not. However, I did drive an '02 with the V6, and I was not impressed. I would be more impressed with the 5.4L than that.

 

I had a 2000 F-150 that I was leasing it was a V-6 and only had 54,000 miles on it when I traded it back in.

I now have a 2005 F150 FX2 5.4 V8 and boy let me tell you I love the truck, the new body style, the power and how quiet it drives.

Glad I made the switch.

 

The 5.4 is very fuel efficient for a V8.

I got 21 MPG on the highway last tank.

Surprisingly 5 mpg better than my 4.0 ranger.

 

Although i dont have the 4x4 model, I can compare my 99 4.2 with my 05 4.2. (Both Manual tranny's.) My new truck does drive extremely well. Its extraordinarily quiet for a truck. However, the fuel consumption is killing me. I only get about 13-15 mpg with mixed hgway and city. I guess that extra 600-700 lbs makes a HUGE difference. My new model is also slow on the acceleration. My 99 seemed to jump to life when gas was applied, this however is not the case with my new model. It will barely accelerate in 5th gear if im going over 50 mph. Overall, its a great new model. But I miss my 99. I should have kept it.

 

I have a 05 with a 4.2. I had a 89 with a 5.0 V8 and that was my first love. It was quick to accelerate, the gas mileage on my 05 is better though, 16 city and 20 highway compared to 14 and 17 on my 89. All the extra things they did to make it quieter is really adding to the weight, though I think its a good trade off. My 05 seems more stable, I feel more secure doing some of the things I tend to do.

 

I have driven an 05 Lariat and I share similar feelings. To me it seems like there is virtually no improvement in "jump" over my current 02 V6 4.2. I know the 5.4 is a damn fine engine and that it would definitely put mine to shame, but I also would have expected something a little bit better.

It's a very nice truck, and, if I didn't love my 02 so much I would definitely be trading it in. That ride is so quiet and smooth, and the truck handles like it was made out of one piece of solid steel.

I don't know if I just broke mine in right or what but my 4.2 is just slow enough to keep me out of trouble, and just fast enough to beat the hell out of whoever I want to beat the hell out of. When I need to get there quickly, I can.