CD Article: 2008 Ford F-150 Super Crew 4x4

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


The Ford F-150 will be all-new for 2009, but the 2008 truck still offers a roomy interior and strong engine, says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh - although you may not like its thirst for fuel.  

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[Leviathan]

the best I could do was 19.6 L/100 km

 

[Cord]

Wow. Talk about a fish out of water for CTC. What are there, 4 or 5 members that have ever driven a full size truck?

[The Mighty Duck]

^    I was thinking the same thing.

the best I could do was 19.6 L/100 km

 

  It's a full-size truck, get over it.  I dropped by the Honda dealer today with my dad, who's interested in the Ridgeline.  Even it gets pretty abysmal mileage - not much better than the V8 in the truck we've got now.  Civic Hybrid claims 66 MPG on the highway, though. 

[wing]

Difference is ridgeline makes it's advertised numbers, most others do not.  I drove the silverado Chris will be reviewing shortly.  I went 30km it cost me $7 in fuel with the 4 cyl shutdown mode.  Brutal!

[articsteve]

The Tundra 4x4 Double Cab with the 5.7, aggresive driving (lots of 2 lane highway passing), nets about 23l/100km or 12 mpg US so says the trip computer.

[dorin]

Anyone who drives something that thirsty has no right to complain about the price of gas.  20+L/100km is insane!

[Snowman]

  Was the truck even taken off the asphalt? Send one up to Truck Country next time and let some truck people test it.

[initial_D]

What I don't understand is why trucks these days have to be so big. It's a long step up into the cab, and thankfully, my tester's optional side steps were wide enough to be useful as a ladder up into it. The truck's height and width, along with its massive hood, made it a real handful any time I got off my rural roads and had to deal with city traffic or, even worse, city parking lots.

There are smaller trucks ... and also city folks don't know how to handle a truck should stick to cars.

Funny reading truck reviews done by car people.

[Zoo]

"why you now must climb into and slide out of a truck, instead of simply getting into it. "

Hello! It's a 4X4! If she had of tested a 4X2 variant I doubt the step up into the cab would have been as onerous.

With the price of gas going where it is going I can't imagine driving a pickup truck as a daily driver. If you actually need the towing capacity or you actually load up the bed then fine. I will stick to more fuel efficient modes of transportation as I would rather spend my money on trips and other fun things then give my extra $ to the gas stations.

Now I look at people driving trucks and think they must be rich! You've got to have some bucks to keep these puppies all fueled up! Heck, I found the gas bills pretty pricey when I was driving around an Astro with the 4.3 V6. This is a smaller engine than these trucks and this was in the day of 60-80 cents per litre.

[Cord]

That brings up an interesting point that has long bugged me about car reviewers. That is, why do they think it necessary to comment on things that can be chalked up to merely not being used to them? Almost never drive a truck and then complain that you can't park it? I can assure the author of this review that there are many, many truck owners that are able to park their trucks just fine and that also find the large size very useful.

I am reminded of this point almost every day when I drive unfamiliar vehicles. For instance I drove an '07 BMW 323i the other day and I just about went nuts trying to operate the signal lights. The lever required such light pressure that every time I went to cancel a signal I ended up signaling the other way. I just wasn't used to it. Of course, in a short time I had adapted and what initially was an infuriating design soon wasn't even noticed anymore.

The shifter doesn't feel right. I don't like the feel of the switchgear. The windows are too small. The load height is too high. The engine is too buzzy. Blah, blah, blah. Then owners of these cars wonder what the hell the reviewer is talking about because these things have become meaningless after a few days of living with the vehicle.

IMO, it seems that too many reviews (not just CDs) these days are filled with these kinds of inconsequential criticisms.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You have to admit though, that all 4X4s have gotten a lot taller over the years. I had a 1986 F-150 4X4 truck for work. I could easily slide into the seat without using the grab handles. I don't even come close to doing that now. The (opened) tailgate used to be about hip or belt level. Now its almost chest high depending on the suspension package. Can pretty much forget about loading stuff over the side.

Still miss the old boxy Fords.

[mrthompson]

Overall height has increased, but ground clearance at the axles hasn't increased appreciably (special offroad models excluded).

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That's what I don't understand. I'm not saying any of them are bad, but they have lost something in the utility department.

[johngenx]

I too can't believe the size of trucks now.  We had a full sized 1980 Dodge and it is smaller than the midsized trucks of today.  Why?  90% of these things operate at <25% of their capacity.

[Wolfe]

Send one up to Truck Country next time and let some truck people test it.

The article was heavy on the comparative specs, and light on the... um truck review.
 

IMO, it seems that too many reviews (not just CDs) these days are filled with these kinds of inconsequential criticisms.

and notice how no one calls out carp cars at all. At least not until the next generation comes out and they tell you all the faults of the old one and how much better the new one is.

While I think CD's reviews are usually better than average in this regard, it's just not possible for every car to be average or better than average.

[mmret]

While I think CD's reviews are usually better than average in this regard, it's just not possible for every car to be average or better than average.

There's always TTAC

[Snowman]

Just once….just once I would like a CTC reviewer attempt to load something in the box and secure it with straps to see how user-friendly the process is.