2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew -- Now THAT'S What I'm Talkin' 'bout!!
Written: Apr 26 '04
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Pros: Clean styling, interior comfort, space, utility
Cons: Poor gas mileage
The Bottom Line: More "utility" than an SUV, at least as much "sport", and a heck of a lot more "vehicle"! Everyone should drive a full-size pickup like the F150!
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| mrkstvns's Full Review: 2004 Ford F150 SuperCab 2WD |
Pickup truck or family car? For decades, it's usually been an "either/or" kind of decision. And I put the blame for that squarely on the shoulders of American women! Those same mean-spirited wenches who don't even have the common decency to put the toilet seat back up after they flush, keep denying their men the chance to drive what they really want (which of course is a truck). Women keep nailing guys with that viscious argument that "there's not enough space for the whole family to ride." It was enough to make a truck yearning guy have to settle for a mere SUV!
That whole settling for an SUV scene is changing. When car companies started really rolling out crew cabs and quad cabs and town population cabs in large numbers a few years ago, more and more families started buying into what truck makers were telling them -- pickups weren't just manly work trucks any more -- they were also excellent family vehicles!
SUVs might still be popular, but pickups make more sense. In my opinion, few SUVs these days offer much in the S or the U department, while 4-door pickups ooze with the U -- and this year, they're doing MUCH better in the S department too...
Case in point is the Ford F-150 SuperCrew -- a truck that's been totally redesigned for 2004 and that looks good, rides great, is roomy and comfortable inside, and that can carry just about anything a family of 5 could possibly want to carry.
I LIKE the newly redesigned F-150!
I've driven F-150s before, and I've always liked them -- but not with the kind of passion I feel for it this year! Those trucks of yore were nothing like the new 2004 models. When I recently got a chance to drive the new 2004 Ford F150 Super Crew, I didn't need to be asked twice. The vehicle I drove was a 2 wheel drive XLT model, equipped with the 5.4 litre V8 engine. The XLT is the package that I think best appeals to the suburban family crowd: with an upgraded interior, and more bells and whistles, it is a comfortable alternative to sedans. People who want a true work truck will gravitate to the XL models, and those looking for play toys will gravitate towards the SXT models. Ford also continues to offer their trucks in a Lariat package, which I'm not going to talk about much since I view it as inappropriate luxury trappings at inappropriately excessive prices. (My epinion, my brutally honest opinion...)
Exterior....The Curb Appeal Factor
The F-150s heritage is apparent enough, but just walking around the new truck, you can see that the edges are sharper, the truck looks sleeker, more aerodynamic, more modern.
The view from the front is pure Ford, with a grill and front-end appearance that's not radically different from last year. I like the flared look of the lower body. I like the angled edges. I like the 2-tone paint job. I even like the baseline standard 16-inch wheels (though around here, Dodge offers up to 20 inch wheels on their Rams -- is bigger always better? Women sometimes say "no", but that's not what they've ever told me!).
If there's something I don't like, it's the same stupid high-end "concept" packages that they've offered for at least the last couple years: namely the "Harley Davidson" and the "King Ranch" packages. Never liked 'em in years past, don't like 'em now.
Interior....The Driver and Passenger Comfort Factor
Wow! This is an F-150??!
That's my first impression climbing into the cab. The center console is sleek and unlike the bulbous plastic things that I recall from only a year or so ago. The XLT package includes lots of little knobs and gadgets to play with, from power windows and door locks, to cup holders everywhere, to a fairly decent stereo (though I'd probably not pay for an upgrade -- instead do the after-market thang and get one that really rocks -- not to mention, one that has a CD changer -- that little single-disc CD player is sooo 1999.
If you are seriously into paying big bucks on options, you can spring for the DVD entertainment package, which tacks a good $1200 onto the price tag. Or better yet, forget it and take the family to Acapulco instead -- that's what I'd do.
While any vehicle should be able to do well in terms of front-seat legroom, the back seat is a traditional bane of sedan passengers. In my opinion, the Ford F-150 SuperCrew is a far more comfortable place to be a back seat driver than just about any other vehicle on the road. Talk about spacious leg room -- this is it! Lots of head room too. From the Suburban Dad Man perspective, it's a great family vehicle because you can put those child safety seats behind the driver seat and there's enough room that Junior is gonna be seriously challenged to kick your seat.
Front or back, the cloth seats are comfy and spacious, with contours that fit my body well and that feel natural in a large vehicle like this.
Ford offers plenty of useful and useless options alike. Here in Texas, I recommend everyone think about those heated seats. Want a hot ass? Well, Ford can give you one without the liposuction -- just $645. What a deal!
While the driver's seat on this truck had electronic controls, the passenger seat did not. I've seen this on a lot of cars, and I really don't understand it. Why not put the electronic controls on both front seats?
Cargo Space....The "Pickup" Part of Pickup Truck
The reason I think pickups make so much more sense than SUVs is because you can actually carry something in it -- and you don't have to mess with all that nonsense of pulling out seats and folding away seats that you deal with if you have an SUV. Most SUVs can't carry much more stuff than the trunk of a good size sedan. Even the ones that could carry stuff, can't do it elegantly unless you yank out seats. What a friggin' pain!
On the other hand, if you have a pickup, you don't worry about hauling a few boxes. You buy that table when it's on sale. You don't have to pay delivery men to bring your sofa to you. You just throw everything in the back....pickups are the ULTIMATE "utility" vehicle! The only problem with it is that, when you buy the Super Cab for use as a FAMILY vehicle, you have some tradeoffs to think about...
There's 3 beds available with this truck: a 5-1/2 foot bed, a 6-1/2 foot bed, and an 8 foot bed. I'm not too keen on the 5-1/2 foot bed, I think the 6-1/2 foot bed is adequate for most folks, and the 8 foot bed is what you should get if you actually plan to use the truck for real work.
The dinky 5-1/2 foot bed does have its advantages -- it's probably short enough that you can park the F150 in a typical suburban garage. Unfortunately, it's also too short if you want to use it for many real-life hauling situations. Doing the home improvement project? Well, the short bed isn't going to be too pretty when you want to haul those 8-foot long sheets of plywood or drywall -- they'll still lay flat, they'll just hang out a good foot or so beyond the dropped tailgate.
If you're thinking that you really want to spring for that 8 foot bed though, be aware that the truck is going to be a huge honking thing to drive and park, and that it's probably not going to fit in your garage, let alone compact car parking... You can live with that? Cool! Spring for the optional 8-foot bed then...
Hauling and towing specs are pretty decent. This baby has a pretty good cargo hauling capacity, though it depends on the engine and bed length. The XLT with the V8 engine and a 6-1/2 foot bed (probably the most common configuration) has a capacity of 1,650 pounds. Sounds pretty good to me! Certainly I don't usually need to haul more than 1,650 pounds (except for those times when my mother-in-law needs a ride.)
Even if Ma falls off the Atkins plan, I should still be okay since the truck also sports a trailer hauling capacity of 9,000 pounds. Hmmm. Maybe the VW Beetle would be the smarter vehicle for me!
Mechanicals....Power and Performance and the Feel of the Road
Ford offers two engines with this truck: a V6 with 230 horses under the hood, or the beefier 5.4L Triton V8 with 300 horses. I really feel like the larger engine is the smart choice with this truck. Even though the model I was driving had the larger 300-hp power plant, it still felt like no big performer when taking off from a standing start (though of course trucks are almost always geared down to maximize power over acceleration).
Driving the truck felt very nice. While steering and braking were more firm than my current daily drive (a Volvo S40), it was also NOT what I consider "truck like". It's quieter for one thing -- in fact, I don't ever recall riding in a truck that was quite as quiet inside as this one. There's none of the rumble and vague vibration that I used to feel whenever I'd ride in my brother's mid-1990s era F-250, and there's a sense of (dare I say it) luxury and sophistication here.
The steering feels very nice. I had no problem maneuvering through a parking lot, nor turning sharply into narrow streets. Similarly, braking felt quick with no unusual slippage. I'm not a race car driver, I don't play one on TV, and I have no idea how a professional gauges these things. I don't really care either because I'm writing from purely the consumer perspective of an average Joe who just wants a solid vehicle that's comfortable enough and sporty enough for the whole family. To me, the performance of this truck is excellent. Braking and steering feel great and the acceleration, while not up to sports car standards, is still plenty quick to let me blow past the econoboxes on the road, and far more than adequate for typical Suburban Dad Man kind of drivers.
Comparison....Stacking It Up Against the Competition
I think Ford has a real winner on its hands with the 2004 F-150s. The truck is better looking and much more solid feeling and more spacious inside than the Toyota Tundra. I've only seen a few of the new Nissan Titans around, and that truck looks like it could be a fun little number to take for a spin, but I haven't gotten a chance to drive one yet, so no idea how it feels -- I have a feeling that the Nissan will offer more bang for the buck than Toyota, but let's wait a year or so to see how that game shakes out.
Among the domestic trucks, I think the Chevrolet Silverado is the biggest threat to Ford's game plan. Chevy rolled its new body designs last year, and they have a good looking truck on their hands -- a vehicle that shares a lot in the style department with their Avalanche. I've always liked the Dodge Rams, but this year, I'm starting to think that their design is looking dated compared to the new trucks from Chevy, Ford, and Nissan, and without a serious makeover, I'd probably skip them. Besides, Dodge tends to be less aggressive on their pricing than Ford or Chevy.
Recommendation....The Bottom Line Factor
Lots of good news these days for full-size truck buyers, but for my money, my personal preference is (in order): Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra with the Nissan Titan being the wildcard until I actually drive it and slam the doors and kick the tires (but with an inclination to place it 2nd or 3rd)... I don't consider the Avalanche a viable option in this category because of its bizarre rear-end configuration. As always, your mileage may vary.
But definitely, give the new F-150 a drive if you get a chance. It's a sweet ride for the whole family!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 27000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: XLT
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