the extra room behind the 04 standard cab seat is nice. Overall the 04's are a sharp looking truck IMO. I have 2 real gripes--the rear end 9 inch blue oval badge is goofily large and i hate it. #2 is lack of rebates/incentives but i am sure that will cure its self with time. The 04's are overall a fine truck i think. The 04's are not a step change, or even anything more than a marginal improvement, over the 03's in terms of performance. The 04's need to lose weight and take full advantage of the increased 04 horsepower/torque.

 

Blah blah blah. Just because you don't agree with someone elses opinion doesn't mean you should whine about it.

 

well guys,

I am new to this board, mostly because i just bought a new 2004 F150. My wife wanted a truck so we have been shopping. We tried the each of the big 3. My wife and myself drove each of the trucks (silverado, ram, F150). We drove the F150 last (becasue our area didnt get them until 2 weeks ago) and we agreed that we saved the best for last. We picked it hands down over the other 2.

It is a really terrific truck and we are really glad we bought it. It is difficult getting used to a "modern" truck, considering i was driving an '86 F-250, but it still remains a truck. The ride is very nice, slightly more harsh than Chevy, but MUCH quieter than Chevy and Dodge. The power is a little strange (5.4L 3V). It has 80% of the torque and 1000rpm, thats why the payload has increased, so that makes it faster and more powerful than it feels. The power delivery along with the quiet ride makes it easy to find yourself speeding. The drive-by-wire throttle makes sure that low end torque doesnt snap your neck while pulling out. The braking is great, very predictable.

It is an XLT SC, all black, captains chairs (cloth). The bed is a little deep to reach over the side, but i figure that will keep us from trying to reach, resulting in less scratching. The rear seat has much more room that the '03 and latter. Infact, we thought of buying a dodge 4 door or '03/'04 ford supercrew but this is comparable in room.

Its all so new and takes some getting used to but overall i am very happy and my wife is like a little kid; she always wanted a truck!

These are only my opinions but i thought i would share them since there is a lot of mixed feelings here,mostly bad, about the truck.

Matt

 

MGolden,

Congrats on the new truck. Dont get us wrong, we love Ford trucks, and just need to get used to the 04 I think. You made a good choice by staying with Ford.

 

IMO, the 96-03 interiors are pathetic. I have never liked mine. To me the new 04 interiors are a welcomed change for the best.

Tony

 

i think Ford underestimated the psychological impact on buyers by not offering any manual or any V6 in the early 04's. Both in terms of not having the options people want but also in the sticker shock caused by people looking at the price of an 04 base standard option package that includes automatic and V8 engine. To make an obvious point, look at the MSRP price net of rebate on a 2003 XL V6, manual shortbed regular cab with sport package (a nice looking truck) versus the MSRP base XL 2004 shortbed regular truck (also a nice looking truck). The 04 is many more $$$$$$ to buy (due partly to the 04 coming standard with auto and V8 but also due to lack of any significant incentives) New subject: I am not in the seriously price conscious side of the argument but I would have already bought a 2004 manual shift, 5.4 V8 Lariat in short bed regular cab version if FMC offered it. Not just because i want it; but to also torment my college aged kids with such a hot truck