Went to the dealer yesterday to pick up parts for the keypad mod and couldn't believe my eyes! Sitting there where 2 brand new F-150 '04's. They had just got them in that morning. One was a supercab XLT and the other a supercrew Lariat.

Both trucks looked great! The interior of the Lariat was real sharp, almost to sharp, total luxury!

 

Here in the DFW area they are already on the streets. I saw a new one Saturday driving down the road and was suprised, I wasn't that impressed with the looks.

 

I was at the dealer yesterday as well and they had in two new SCrew Lariats. They looked beautiful.

 

I was at Fun Ford Weekend at Cordova Dragway last weekend, and they had one sitting there in the midway. Windows down, doors open; you were free to climb in and check it out. I'm mixed about the interior trim, but its definately a badass rig

 

I've only seen them from a drive-by, not up close and personal. I'm not totally blown away by the exterior looks, and from what I've seen of the interior (pictures only), it seems too "retro-techy" (or something weird like that) to me.

I guess I'm just very used to the classic lines and styling of the current F-series. I was also very hooked on the pre-'97 F-series as well. Two very nice 4 WD F-150s sat in the driveway next to my house when I was growing up...from then on I was hooked on them. Plenty of chevy's around too, but they always looked wimpy to me.

 

I looked at them at the dealer this weekend, maybe I will get used to them, but I prefer my 03. The Lariat's interior was 'too dressed up' with all of the chrome and fake wood.

 

I had a short bed regular cab with the new accass panel pass me on the freeway. Very interesting. Looked like a plain jane XL.

 

They have been on the streets here for about a month now. But I live 5 miles from the F150 plant too. ALL the Ford dealerships have them here in every shape and size. I test drove one, didn't like it at all. Truck feels really heavy, the motor makes more max torque than mine(5.4) but at a higher RPM, so it isn't useable power in city driving. I aslo don't understand the touted towing numbers. 9500 they say, besides 15 lbft of torque, what changed from my 7700 lb towing package? The interior looked like I had gone to Pep Boys in the Euro section and stuck some stupid carbon fiber and plastic wood all around it. As far as the looks go, if I wanted what I see in a F150 now, I could have got that 5 years ago in an F250. The price is stupid too, 36.5Gs for a compareable truck to mine. We'll see what happens, to me, it seems a regression.

 

I thought the new F150 looked pretty cool in all the early photo releases but upon seeing one go down the road and seeing one up close at the dealers.....bleh!

Everything is too "square" and too "cheap" looking for my taste. Except for the leather seats the interior just seemed like someone decided to customize it themselves with common parts from AutoZone.

chknbone

 

The new trucks are getting too high tech for me. I traded my 00' 4Runner in on my Fx because of the cost of maintenance and parts. I don't like the overhead cams on mt 5.4L, but what can you do. Wait till you have to replace and pay for a steering rack on an 04, or work on the 3 valve, VVT, on an on. A truck should be a truck. Even on my 02, it's major surgery to replace the heads. I was just reading an article about how Chevy is going real high tech on new designs.

Oh well

Pete

 

Too boxy? Too plain? Too high tech? Whah! Whah! sky is falling...just give me a break and say something constructive...

 

I saw some at the dealership the other day.

The Regular Cab ones and the Supercrew ones look fine. The extended cab ones look stupid though. It's just something about how flat the side panels are on them.

The interior lookd good through the window. Didn't get to open the door or sit in it though.

I'd have to take that huge Ford Emblem off the center of the tailgate... and the handles on the truck kinda look cheap too...

 

Well I'm not sure what good any "constructive" comments would be since I'm not on the design team and the truck is already built, but if you're looking for specific complaints then here are some of mine:

*redesigned door handles are VERY big and square, and as Intel stated "look cheap".

*the door handles for the supercab 1/2 doors were moved so they are no longer hidden in the door jam (and feel thinner)

*the plastic grill that gets raised with the hood looks neat, but I tried pulling down on it to close the hood and it creaked and popped before ever moving the hood down so I let go. Upon further inspection, it doesn't seem to be secured to the hood very well and I think it might be suspect to breaking.

*the bed is deeper. That's good if you're hauling dirt but I already have enough trouble getting my gym bag out of the back of my 4x4 without having to lean all over the side of the truck. (I'm the average 5'10" guy)

*the seat belts are integrated into the seats and there's a big plastic hump just sitting on top of the seat. It's like they ran out of time trying to actually integrate it into the seat and just got it close enough to pop a piece of plastic over it.

*the back of the seat juts out about 2 or 3" further than the headrest sitting on top of it. It reminds me of a cartoon football player with great big shoulders and a little bitty pea head.

*the huge emblem on the tailgate should have been on the front grill

*the glovebox is still tiny. (Granted, the console was about the size of a deep-sea cooler, but I don't like that either)


Of course these are all just my PERSONAL complaints and dislikes. Nothing I mentioned is something that is actually "wrong" with the truck. I'm sure the design team and engineers put a lot of time and thought into each change and Quality Assurance has tested things. Maybe in a few years I'll like the new style when I'm more used to it, after all I didn't like the '82 Corvette when it first came out either (I thought it looked like a door wedge).


cbone

 

Ketch,

This is a forum to express opinions and ask and answer questions. As you can see those posted above including myself dont especially like the 04 F150 but may get used to them. So what?

I didnt see you express any opinion at all, if you like the 04 lets hear about it!

 

I had one out for a test drive up here in Stephenville, Newfoundland. a 5.4 liter supercab. I like it a lot. I also agree that it does look a little square but it'll look a lot better the more we see them around. Its like hearing a song for the first time, at first it doesn't sound so hot, but after hearing it a few times it's the best song you ever heard.

There are a lot of changes made to this truck, but when the shock wears off I think everyone will like it. It is a beefy looking truck though. I also noticed that they have the rear shock absorbers mounted on the outside of the frame. This is supposed to eliminate some of the roll which I agree is a problem with empty ford trucks.

BeeJay