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1993 Ford F-150 - Best Truck of my Life
I own a F-150, to put it simply this is the best vehicle I have ever own. Trucks are made for a purpose that is, its a car when you need to move just a few people but its also a instrument or tool to complete tasks. I have had to truck for about 50,000 mile with almost no mechanical problems and just a few minor cosmetic injuries. The vehicle was purchased with standard light truck highway tires and I equipped my own off road mud tires. The wheel well gave plenty of clearance. All of the components of the truck are sturdy and rigid. The vehicle is made of complete metal no plastic. Even the interior door handles are solid aluminum, you never have to worry about accidentally breaking a door handle on your way out. Overall completely positive I will review most of my pro's and cons in th... (more)
Story
Alright so one day after a huge rainstorm my friends and I took our trucks out to a local dirt area and began driving through all the mud. One of my friends yelled watch this as he drove through a puddle that seemed too deep. He made it to the other side so I did the same. The water came into my open window and got all over the floorboard. It was a blast.
Pros
My pros of my F-150 is the fact I have a short bed. I believe this is what a truck should be it fits a queen mattress perfectly with no room to spare. This is an ideal amount of bed space without becoming a burden when hauling slightly smaller items that tend to move around. Another pro is the ford 302 is a rather small motor in such a big vehicle. This allows for plenty of under the hood access which makes for maintenance times being a breeze. Another point as mentioned in my review is everything is metal. Nothing is plastic besides the cup holder and air vents. This makes for a long last... (more)
Cons
Cons of my F-150 are quite short. The biggest issue is the Ford 302 its the motor that came with my truck. It has been known to be one of the most inefficient motors of all time. The motor is quite small for the vehicle and it doesn't deliver power properly most of the energy is released as heat instead of being transferred into momentum. My vehicle averages around 9 miles to the gallon. This might seem completely ridiculous but I only have to commute a minute away from my house to get to all the places I need to be. Another huge con which falls back on fuel costs is the inability to drive... (more)
2003 Ford F-150 - Great truck, a real work horse!
My Ford F150 is a 2003 blue crew cab truck with a 5.5 Foot bed. Automatic transmission and dealer installed tow hitch with trailer breaks. It pulls my utility trailer with ease. The truck as more than enough towing capacity and payload capacity to suit my needs. One thing I really like is how my F150 balances fuel efficiency with rugged power. When I'm towing my trailer, I can still pass slower motorists. I barely notice any loss of gas mileage when towing. I've had my truck for seven years and I've rarely had to put any money into the truck above routine maintenance. This truck runs great and remains dependable. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone. What I like best about Ford is that no matter what year truck you buy, you get a great truck with the same quality and attention to d... (more)
Story
I often use my F150 to go camping in Pikes Peak National Forrest, outside of Colorado Springs. One time I was loaded with the gear for our Boy scout troop on our way to a campsite when we encountered a flooded road, deep in the forest. We gauged the depth and felt that the truck could make it. I ferry all the equipment across the flooded road and made several trips to bring others across who w... (more)
Pros
The engine in top notch and has the durability to handle whatever you throw at it. The 8 cylinder engine has the power and strength to pull a trailer at it's upper towing capacity while at the same time carrying a significant payload in the bed. I never has to worry about strain on the engine or a loss of power because of the load. My favorite feature is the responsive trailer brakes that enable me to slow quickly without worry of my trailer destabilizing or putting pressure on the hitch. When the dealership installed the brakes they did a solid job welding the hitch to the frame. The hitc... (more)
Cons
Its hard to come up with negatives. I think the only negative I can come up with is that if I wanted to tow a larger trailer I might begin to notice the limitations of my engine. If anyone were looking to tow a large trailer or motor home, they would have to purchase an F250 or F350 at least. The F150 is fine for towing utility trailers and hauling a bed full of mulch, but for the serious hauler, you're going to have to go bigger.
1984 Ford F-150 - Pickup Truck Personified
My 1984 Ford F150 is an excellent utilitarian vehicle. It is a full-size, with a bed about 6 feet wide, but a short bed so it is fairly easy to maneuver. This model has the well-known 300/4.9L straight 6, one of the most reliable engines Ford ever produced. It has as much or more torque than the V8 options for the same year, but gets notably better mileage - the 3.08 Differential gears and automatic overdrive transmission both help in this area.
This truck is the base model, without A/C or most power features - in a 30-year old truck, that means that everything works as it should. The interior is a two-tone vinyl that looks nice after all this time, is easy to clean, and matches the white/light blue (I think the interior blue is closer to a royal as are the interior plastics). It has... (more)
Story
There are a lot of washboard and poorly maintained dirt roads around here, it's always fun taking something that isn't going to break easily on them!
Pros
Price - I only paid 800 dollars for this and drove it home
size - it is maneuverable for a full-size, but can carry both a wider and heavier load than lighter-duty trucks without as big a hit on mileage as the V8s
reliability - the inline 6 is legendary, never seems to want for power, and this is probably the best selling model of truck for the last 40 years (if not in all of US market truck history), so parts and support are likely to be about as good as is plausible for a 30-year old truck.
Simplicity - no failure prone niceties like power features (other than steering and brakes which a... (more)
Cons
-Factory stereo is barely audible and will need at least stereo and speaker replacement to ever sound decent (may well need new wiring to speakers as well, not sure yet)
-some rust issues (by the door sills and some underneath and at rear wheel wells), no
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A full-size pickup available in a number of cab sizes, engines, and bed lengths.
$30,440-$69,430 before options.
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck that's a mainstay of the American landscape. It's long been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. and by far the best-selling pickup truck. And it's part of Ford's F-Series line of trucks that dates back to the 1940s.
Ahead of a redesign for 2021, the 2020 F-150 adds standard driver assistance features on the top four trim levels under the Ford Co-Pilot360 label, including things such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Top-tier Limited models also add adaptive cruise control and built-in navigation. All models receive some new exterior paint choices.
The F-150 competes with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500, as well as the Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra among full-size pickup trucks. While the Nissan and Toyota are limited to V8 engines, the American rivals offer numerous powertrain options, including turbodiesel V6 engines, like the Ford F-150.
Most F-150 models now come standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assistance technology features. That includes automatic emergency braking with forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. It's also available on XL and XLT models.
Platinum and Limited models can be equipped with adaptive cruise control, as well. While its rivals offer similar technology, the Ford makes it more accessible and standard on more variants. It's also not lumped into expensive option packages with a lot of other unrelated features.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the F-150 "Good" in all categories except for headlights, which prevented it from being a Top Safety Pick (though the agency didn't name any pickup trucks Top Safety Picks for 2020). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated four-door F-150 SuperCrew models five stars overall, its highest rating. However, Regular Cab and Super Cab models earned four stars overall.
Base XL models are sparsely equipped and mostly aimed at fleets or as work trucks. XLT and higher models come with an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as power windows and locks, but going for a four-door SuperCrew model pushes the price over $40,000 before options. In fact, it's easy to spend a lot of money on options, such as the turbodiesel V6 that costs as much as $5,000 depending on the trim level.
The top-tier F-150 Limited starts at an eye-watering $70,000 but includes pretty much every option Ford will throw at its truck. It gets the powerful turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 as standard, along with a panoramic moonroof, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, and active park assist. That's competitive with high-end versions of the Ram, Sierra, and Silverado, though.
All but the base XL get Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and a wi-fi hotspot. Most models offer built-in navigation, at least as an option.
Ford's Sync 3 isn't the best system in the class, with some confusing menus. And the F-150's touchscreen is comparatively small against the Ram's available 12-inch portrait-style touchscreen. Ultimately, though, it gets the job done.
The FordPass Connect system is also available on most models, and it monitors basic functions such as fuel levels, locks, and remote start. It can also be used to pay for parking or gas.
The F-150 tries to keep up the competition with features such as a power-sliding rear window and a remote release for the tailgate on uplevel models. Some models also offer power running boards that retract when the doors are closed. These features aren't unheard of among luxury pickup trucks, but they are still welcome on the most expensive versions of the F-150.
Depending on the model, the F-150 can be had in three different cab styles and three different bed lengths.
The Regular Cab typically has a front bench seat split 40/20/40 and minimal storage space behind the seats.
The Super Cab has small half-doors that allow access to a cramped rear seat.
Most buyers will be best served by the four-door SuperCrew, which offers real back seat space that's competitive with other four-door rivals.
Towing capacity ranges from 7,600 pounds with the base 3.3-liter V6 to 12,200 pounds on models with the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and the maximum towing package preparation. Again, these figures are basically tied with the F-150's major competitors.
Each F-150 trim level has a different grille and trim treatment, so there's a wide range of styling differentiation for customers to choose from.
Nevertheless, the F-150 is a handsome truck that has aged well throughout this generation. The all-new generation that replaces it is an evolution in terms of design, rather than a wholesale reboot, so buyers of this model year don't have to worry about their truck looking outdated.
The base 3.3-liter V6 isn't quick, but all other F-150 engines have plenty of performance. The turbocharged 2.7-liter Ecoboost V6 is likely satisfactory for most conditions, with abundant power off the line. All but that base V6 model get a 10-speed automatic, which is fairly responsive, but no more so than the eight-speed automatic in a Ram 1500.
The high-output turbo 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 found on the Raptor, and Limited models has a vast surplus of power for such a large vehicle, thanks to enormous low-end torque and virtually no turbo lag.
While the F-150 is just as bulky in tight spaces as every other full-size pickup rival, the ride is stiffer and bouncier than the Chevrolet, GMC, and especially the Ram.
Opting for models with FX4 off-road suspension, especially the Raptor, makes the ride on pavement even less settled. It can't compete with the air suspension-equipped Ram 1500 for car-like ride qualities, which is something to consider when spending more than $60,000 on the high-end models.
F-150s with the base 3.3-liter V6 and two-wheel-drive are rated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 combined. Those figures fall by 1 to 2 mpg when equipped with four-wheel-drive. Popular four-wheel-drive models with the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 are rated at 18 mpg city, 23 highway, and 20 combined. Models equipped with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 are rated as high as 21 mpg city and 29 highway.
These numbers are competitive for the class. The efficiency of the turbocharged 2.7 and 3.5-liter V6 models, however, pushes the F-150 slightly ahead of the V8s from rivals that offer equivalent performance, however. The turbodiesel model is also highly competitive with rival diesel models from Chevrolet and Ram, even if the Ram slightly edges it on highway economy.
The F-150 XL starts from $30,440 MSRP, including the $1,695 destination charge. The XL is available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and SuperCrew models and in three bed lengths.
Standard equipment includes the 3.3-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, with two-wheel-drive. Four-wheel-drive is an option. Basic standard features also include a rearview camera with trailer hitch assist, 40/20/40 split front bench seat, 17-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, and an AM/FM radio with a 4.2-inch display.
The 101A Mid group includes power windows, locks, and mirrors, cruise control, and a trip computer screen in the instrument panel. The FX4 Off-Road package includes an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent control, upgraded shock absorbers, front and rear skid plates. The turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 and the 5.0-liter V8 are also available, as are various exterior trim packages. An XL Appearance Package also adds alloy wheels and upgraded exterior trim.
The XLT starts from $36,455 MSRP and is also available in three cab styles and three bed lengths. It adds to the XL the Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, power windows, locks, and mirrors, auto on/off headlamps, and cruise control. It offers the two upgraded engines, while the SuperCrew model can be equipped with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6.
Options include the FX4 Off-Road package, as well as the 301A Mid package that includes features such as a power driver's seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and satellite radio. Built-in navigation is also available.
The Lariat starts from $44,445 MSRP. It's available as a Super Cab or a SuperCrew, and in three different bed lengths. On top of the XLT's equipment, the Lariat gets the 2.7-liter V6, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats on SuperCrew models, power-folding exterior mirrors, steering wheel audio controls, 18-inch alloy wheels, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power sliding rear window, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The 3.5-liter turbocharged V6, 5.0-liter V8, and turbodiesel engine are also available, as is four-wheel-drive.
The 501A Mid package includes blind-spot monitoring, remote start and remote tailgate release, rear parking sensors, and a household-style 110-volt power outlet. The 502A package adds chrome trim and a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Technology Package adds a 360-degree camera and active park assist. Adaptive cruise control is also available, as are a number of exterior trim packages.
The King Ranch starts from $54,685 MSRP and comes only as a SuperCrew with a choice of two bed lengths. It adds the 5.0-liter V8 engine, Bang & Olufsen audio system, two-tone exterior paint, LED headlamps, LED bed lighting, and heated exterior mirrors.
The Luxury Package includes a tailgate step with an assisted tailgate drop, power running boards, 20-inch alloy wheels, and inflatable rear seatbelts. The Technology and FX4 packages are also available, as are the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 and 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. A panoramic moonroof is also available.
The F-150 Raptor starts from $55,150 MSRP. It's available as a Super Cab or SuperCrew, but only with the shorter bed. It gets the high-output version of the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine which produces 450 horsepower, standard four-wheel drive, off-road suspension and tires with 17-inch alloy wheels, a distinctive front end, revised instrument panel design, and its own set of interior trim pieces.
The 801A Mid package adds heated and powered front seats, leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, and a power sliding rear window. The 802A Luxury package adds memory settings for the driver's seat, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, a 360-degree camera, and an upgraded front axle.
The Platinum starts from $57,215 MSRP. It comes only as a SuperCrew with a choice of two bed lengths. Over the King Ranch, the Platinum adds the Bang & Olufsen audio system, navigation, polished 20-inch alloy wheels, built-in navigation, more chrome exterior trim, and real wood interior trim.
The Luxury Package includes the contents of the Technology Package, as well as adaptive cruise control with pedestrian detection, and a tailgate step. The FX4 Off-Road package is also offered, as are the 3.5-liter turbo V6 and 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6.
The top-tier F-150 Limited trim starts from $69,430 MSRP. It comes only as a SuperCrew with the shorter bed. It adds 22-inch wheels, more metal exterior trim, the high-output 3.5-liter turbocharged V6, a panoramic moonroof, 360-degree camera, and a remote tailgate release. Apart from two different towing packages, there are no options for the Limited.
XLT models offer most of the equipment pickup buyers tend to go for, and it also offers the widest variety of cab styles and bed lengths, as well as engine options. But tick too many option boxes and a well-equipped XLT costs more than a Lariat, which comes with leather upholstery and the turbocharged engine as standard, so it's worth considering the higher trim level.
Most people will be satisfied with the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, which is more efficient and less costly to option than the 3.5-liter or the 5.0-liter V8.
The turbodiesel V6, while extremely fuel-efficient, is an expensive extra. Given the widely varying cost of diesel fuel, it's only worth it for buyers who do a lot of highway miles and hauling and towing, and even then, it may not save money in the end.
