CD Article: 2009 Ford F-150

[CD_Editor]

         
First Drive:


Completely redesigned, the 2009 F-150 is "extremely well done," says Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh, with new engines, stronger frame and a long list of new standard and optional features.
 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All the First Drives

[Honda Owner]

I saw one of these in a parking lot on the weekend. It is LARGE. It is VERY large. It is step ladder to get in large. It left me wondering if this is really the right product for the times? I realise that lead times are three years but why does everything have to get LARGER? I hauled a trailer and firewood with a 1980 GMC half ton that seems about half the size in comparison.

I am sure this a fine vehicle but I can't help but think that an F-100 that was 75% of the size of the 2008 F-150 would not be a better vehicle for the times. And no V-6?

[2hondas1BMW]

I saw one of these in a parking lot on the weekend. It is LARGE. It is VERY large. It is step ladder to get in large. It left me wondering if this is really the right product for the times? I realise that lead times are three years but why does everything have to get LARGER? I hauled a trailer and firewood with a 1980 GMC half ton that seems about half the size in comparison.

I am sure this a fine vehicle but I can't help but think that an F-100 that was 75% of the size of the 2008 F-150 would not be a better vehicle for the times. And no V-6?

What full sized truck isn't large now a days?

Practically all full sized trucks are sold with V-8's...do a quick look on AutoTrader.

[Eric Green]

Honda Owner:

 

My 97 Chev half-ton C1500 with a Vortech 350 hauls near-everything (boat/trailer/firewood), but is dwarfed by these new trucks. Even the newer mid-sized pickups are bigger than my Chev. Just crazy.

[sailor723]

How did 1/2 tons get so huge and still stay 1/2 tons? 

One thing that struck me was "35 combinations of cab configurations,box length and trim levels".....how cost effective would that be to build?

[Juke1]

Hum...never realized that the Tundra did not have a box frame!  You would think....

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Ford does admit the new trucks are likely too big for a lot of people. That’s why they’re re-introducing the F-100, sized more or less like the 1996+ F-150, and eventually a redesigned Ranger (finally).

[airbalancer]

Ford does admit the new trucks are likely too big for a lot of people. That’s why they’re re-introducing the F-100, sized more or less like the 1996+ F-150, and eventually a redesigned Ranger (finally).

I believe that canned

[wing]

No titan comparison brought by Ford eh? Hehe

[OliverD]

The article says the regular cab models won't go into production until January, but that isn't true. One local dealer has a regular cab '09. Interestingly enough, the very small doors that existed on the previous regular cab models are gone.

I've already seen an '09 crew cab with Environment Canada decals.

[Honda Owner]

how cost effective would that be to build?

There is TONS (no pun intended) of profit in these cars (and they really are cars) so Ford can afford so many different models.

Eventually, some size limit has to be hit.

[alienc]

I like to think as in the Late 70's Early 80's the size of vehicles will begin to shrink instead of getting larger every year.

Even the smaller cars are much larger now than they were 10 years ago. 

Despite the sudden drop in oil price, the future of the automobile needs to be in smaller, even more fuel efficient vehicles.  Only so much efficiency can be made from computers, cylinder de-activation and other technologies. 

Cars need to shrink in size to make up for the multitude of standard features cars have now that were not present before (ABS, Airbags, Side impact protections, power everything and multi-speed transmissions)

All of the above applies equally to Trucks as well...it's hard to find a basic truck anymore.  They need something like the Work Truck (W/T), that Chevrolet/GMC sold.  Manual windows, Locks, V-6 Engine, Manual Transmission, Rubber floor.  A truck you aren't afraid to get dirty or that you can't rip the running boards and body cladding off of if you try to take it anywhere a normal car wouldn't go.

[VicTDI]

Today's Ford -- too big, too much of a guzzler with no fuel efficient small diesel option, too car-like and with an interior that ranks as one of the most fugly ever screwed into a cab. And the domestic automakers wonder why they're in such trouble? Ford's trucks are all that has kept them afloat, but this thing may well be the final blow. Talk about killing the goose that laid the golden egg. 

[Stuff]

Today's Ford -- too big, too much of a guzzler with no fuel efficient small diesel option, too car-like and with an interior that ranks as one of the most fugly ever screwed into a cab.


No such thing as too big when it comes to trucks. lol

[safristi]

BEST selling Truck in Canada last month Tdi....let me guess.....Hmmmmm... yer POOP goes straight inta tha OCEAN......

[Honda Owner]

A truck you aren't afraid to get dirty or that you can't rip the running boards and body cladding off of if you try to take it anywhere a normal car wouldn't go.

GM still makes such a stripper with a V-6 and I see many construction companies using them. That said, the great majority of "truck" owners wouldn't consider getting their baby dirty to driving it up an over grown logging road. These things are big cashola.

[tpl]

As a non-truck person. I can see the point of one of those older Rangers or Mazda B2000 trucks with a big 4 cyl and a manny tranny and as  Alienc says, rubber mats and wind up windows.   But all these current trucks seem far too big and to add insult to injury their bumper heights are higher than cars and their headlight heights also are too high imo.   

[wing]

I walked by a co-workers RAM today, it's a V8 sport model, I borrowed it a few years ago, I believe it might be a 2001 model.  At the time I thought it was enormous, today I notice heck it's barely the height of a new minivan, the box is EASY to reach and I could see in the box as I walked by it.  My Titan is a lot higher, I can't see into the box, heck I only make it half way up.

Crazy!

[safristi]

look into my box...why i outta lend ya these HEELS...................

[Rupert]

I agree with TPL. and would add a bench seat. Come to think of it  I drove a Plymouth pick-up with the old slant six  years ago. It had a bench seat and column change and very little tunnel. It would sit three across without any bother. Was a cinch to enter and exit and to clean the rubber mat floor. It seems to me that these vehicles are biased towards trailer towing touring now; with percieved need for luxury items for on the road occupants. Use as a work truck is a secondary consideration. I liked that old Plymouth.
I suspect that this class of vehicle is somewhere down the middle in design features and ultimately satisfies no-one fully.