2004 Ford F150 Supercab Stx 46 V8 Reviews
Road test: 2004 Ford F-150
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - For Ford Motor Co., the inflow of its 2004 F-150 pickup truck, new from tip to tail, couldn't be more crucial.This summer, the famous automaker is celebrating 100 years of car and truck production -- and trying to ease concerns about its stock marketplace plunge of the past 2 years.And so important is the new truck to the company'south time to come, Ford president Nick Scheele and an army of senior executives and back up personnel came out to spearhead the F-150's media launch in Texas, the eye of truck country.Canadian car writers, amid the first of several
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For Ford Motor Co., the arrival of its 2004 F-150 pickup truck, new from tip to tail, couldn't be more crucial.
This summer, the famous automaker is celebrating 100 years of auto and truck production — and trying to ease concerns about its stock market plunge of the by two years.
So important is the new truck to the company'due south time to come, Ford president Nick Scheele and an ground forces of senior executives and back up personnel came out to spearhead the F-150's media launch in Texas, the heart of truck country.
Canadian car writers, among the first of several waves brought in for the introduction, which had video presentations set to a pulsating beat, speeches by local VIPs, and an entire local landscape decorated with Ford advertising and logos.
But it was the several hours of "seat time" in the new trucks that gave united states of america a true feel for the new F-150's cardinal features.
What'southward dissimilar about information technology? Compared to the electric current model, just about everything.
The engine, chassis, interior and exterior design, elevation, weight, ride, handling, cargo capacity and options are all either revised or replaced. Information technology comes in five trim levels, with three cab choices and 3 box lengths.
The price is expected to be shut to the electric current range of $22,850 to $38,320, although analysts have speculated that each 2004 F-150 will cost up to $one,000 U.Southward. more to build, suggesting that some increase is inevitable.
But fanfare aside, it's still just a truck.
Adept as it is, there are yet three compartments (for the engine, occupants, and cargo), information technology'south heavy, rugged, and built for work and play. This is the aforementioned basic configuration since the first F-Series truck 55 years ago.
The forcefulness of the 2004 version is its "configurability," equally they say in the industry, along with its fine new interiors.
But permit's put things in perspective. Since its introduction in 1948, Ford has sold more than 27.5 meg F-Series trucks. The F-Series has been the best-selling truck in the U.South. for 26 years, and the top selling vehicle — auto or truck — for 21 sequent years.
Last twelvemonth, Ford sold 800,000 F-Series trucks, making it the acknowledged vehicle in the world. Information technology's a perennial potent seller in Canada, though lagging behind the Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra.
With 28 per cent of Ford's output devoted to trucks, they are the backbone of the company.
However, the popularity of GM's trucks, the increasing sales of Dodge'south Ram line, and competition from Toyota's Tundra and Nissan's new total-size Titan, means Ford will have a major challenge to maintain its position.
Fortunately for the automaker, its first new F-150 in half-dozen years has a lot going for it.
The trim levels range from the base XL, through the STX, XLT, four-bike-drive FX4 and acme-of-the range Lariat. Three cab choices — regular, super and super coiffure — all take 4 doors as standard equipment, marking the end of the two-door F-150.
The regular cab provides a single row of occupant seating, and two rearward-swinging doors to admission behind-seat stowage.
The super cab has a second row of seating, over again with the ii rear-swinging doors supplementing the full-size front-swinging doors.
The super crew cab features four forrard-swinging doors (the super coiffure is bachelor only with the smallest box, even so).
Regular and super cabs have a rider compartment that's been extended by 150 millimetres (5.9 inches) compared to the 2003 model. Overall length increases by near 100 mm, depending upon the specification.
Ii box styles are available: the conventional, slab-sided Styleside in five.5-, 6.5- and 8.0-human foot lengths, and the retro Flareside, available only in 6.five-ft. length.
Each box is 50 mm (2 in.) deeper than before, increasing useable book and contributing to the truck'due south strong vertical lines behind and in front end of the cab.
A standard tailgate assist uses an internal torsion bar to help raise and lower the tailgate. Onlookers will retrieve y'all're mighty strong, as you close the tailgate with one or ii fingers.
Two engines are offered, both V-8s, and based on the Ford modular (atomic number 26 block) platform.
According to Jack Turner, Ford F-150 brand manager in Canada, a Five-6 will probably be available adjacent year, but vehicles so equipped account for merely five per cent of F-150 sales in Canada.
The 231-horsepower, four.6-litre version is largely a carryover from this yr's model, and makes 293 pound-feet of torque at 3500 r.p.m.
The new, unmarried-overhead-camshaft, 5.iv-litre Triton V-8 is rated at 300 h.p. A iii-valve-per-cylinder engine with variable-cam timing and aluminum heads, it generates 365 lb.-ft. of torque at iii,750 r.p.1000.
Both engines run on regular gasoline, use electronic throttle control and are mated to a 4-speed automatic overdrive manual with four last-drive options. All only the lowest terminal drive (3.31:1) can be ordered with limited-slip differential.
Canadian F-150s volition have 135-litre fuel tanks, and, according to Mr. Turner, coin holders in the dashboard that accept loonies and toonies.
The new, fully boxed frame uses hydroformed sections to increment torsional and bending strength. Liquid-filled engine mounts are designed to reduce engine dissonance and vibration before they enter the cab.
The overall length of the truck ranges from five,372 mm (regular cab, short wheelbase, half-dozen.5-foot box) to 6,312 mm (super cab, long wheelbase, 8.0-foot box).
This compares with v,255 mm and vi,200 mm, respectively, for the current models.
Front interruption is roll-over-shock with double wishbone and aluminum lower control arms, with rack-and-pinion steering. Rear break uses wider springs than the previous model, and outboard shock absorbers.
Disc brakes front and rear, with antilock and electronic brake force distribution, are standard across the model range, as are 17-inch wheels. Maximum towing capacity (with 5.iv-litre engine and payload bundle) rises to 4,309 kilograms (9,500 pounds) from three,992 kg (8,800 lb.), simply maximum payload capacity slips to one,315 kg (2,900 lb.) from 1,365 kg (three,010 lb.).
The blueprint of the new F-150 is handsome and competent. Design director Patrick Schiavone has resisted the temptation to create an over-the-top, in-your-face look.
"That'due south the thing a lot of journalists don't go," he said. "People think the new truck's inspired by the Tonka F-350 concept (shown at the 2002 Detroit auto show), but information technology's more than based on the big Super Duty."
The shape is tall, wide and tidy, with a powerful muscularity of the kind communicated past a bodybuilder with his shirt on, rather than off. This is a look that is easily identifiable, and will last.
Inside, the buyer can choose from an array of interior environments, all of which are finely tailored and presented. Even the fabric seats and trim panels of the base XL have a satisfyingly European await to them. The air vents are particularly effective, both in design and role.
Upper-level trim packages characteristic leather, brushed aluminum and wood or carbon trim for a very luxurious interior environment. In my view, though, the woods trim is poorly executed and looks inexpensive in comparison to its environs. The alternative carbon fibre expect is better.
Depending on model and trim level, three divide styles of instrument clusters are available. For example, the FX4 uses gauges inspired by classic aviation, and the Lariat uses chrome-ringed gauges to lucifer other trim items in its luxury motel.
In the extended cab versions, outboard rear seat occupants receive head restraints, and in the XLT, FX4 and Lariat super cab and super crew models, a powered modular overhead rail system accepts a range of snap-on options like get-go-help kits, satellite radio receiver, drop-downwards video monitor and ii-way radio holders. This seems particularly useful.
On the road the 2004 F-150 immediately impresses with its tranquillity, polish ride and responsive handling. All the excessive bounce and rebound from pickups of old has gone.
Emergency braking, while not peculiarly brusque, is directly and controlled. Air current noise, even with the huge exterior mirrors, is virtually non-existent.
The 2004 F-150 chassis has gained about 180 kg over last year'south model, and gross vehicle weight ratings are upwards 225 to 270 kg.
All the same, while yous practice feel the weight, the F-150 doesn't feel overly heavy to drive. Indeed no special skills are required, as the ride and treatment are highly refined.
Ford put us on super-highways, rutted trails, uneven gravel and a slalom course as part of the printing introduction. The writers worked just about as hard as the trucks they were testing.
Dissimilar car writers, the truck behaves well in all environments, although the FX4 is a handful on the slalom course compared with the two-cycle-drive vehicles.
And while I'm nitpicking, I had trouble determining whether the 4 doors were properly airtight in my pre-production tester. Even when the warning light indicated they were closed, the doors would vibrate significantly on rough surfaces. Ford personnel assured me they would expect into this.
They even had usa towing a 3,200-kg trailer up and down hills. In this practise the 5.4-litre engine was commendably sufficient, and the truck was notable for its lack of rear-cease pushing and lurching, oft associated with towing heavy loads.
Ford is banking heavily on the success of this truck. It appears bigger and ameliorate in every style than the vehicle it replaces. And the multitude of options and styles should provide an F-150 to accommodate all buyers.
Except, of class, those traditionalists who like a 2-door pickup.
2004 Ford F-150
Type: Fullsize pickup truck
Arrival: September
Toll: TBA. (Await modest increase from current range of $22,850 to $38,320.)
Notable: More interior space with option of 3 cab styles and three cargo box sizes; extremely polish and tranquillity ride; new five.4-litre V-8 and revised four.6-litre V-eight.
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Source: https://driving.ca/ford/f-150/reviews/road-test/road-test-2004-ford-f-150-2
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