CD Article: 2009 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4x4

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


Ford's redesigned F-150 Super Crew has "an almost obscene amount of rear-seat space"…"but getting up into the truck is still a workout," says Contributing Editor Chris Chase.  The F-150 Super Crew is comfortable and capable, he says.  
 More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

[Honda Owner]

well above 20 L/100 k

Gasp, cough. But then again, if you can afford $55,000 plus tax, you really won't need to worry about it.

[Schmengie]

Wow, this truck is really, really BIG. My mother's neighbor has one similar to the pics and it's longer than his entire driveway.  If people are using these as work trucks, that's fine, but that doesn't seem to be the case based on my observations. Most of the big trucks around here are piloted by small women ferrying their kids around and going shopping - the mall parking lots are choked with these monsters. I guess we'll never learn. 

[sailor723]

I'm really surprised to read that the 4x4 system doesn't have an "auto" setting.

[tpl]

I am sure there is a technical reason why they don't just put in a Torsen centre diff like an Audi and do away with the switch altogether. At $55K plus tax for the truck it cant be financial.

[airbalancer]

well above 20 L/100 k

Gasp, cough. But then again, if you can afford $55,000 plus tax, you really won't need to worry about it.

Last winter the testing on the HL hybrid was about 14 L/km, so 20 in cold weather and in 4 wheel mode is not bad
I am usually between 16-20 range

[Thinking Out Loud]

Wow, this truck is really, really BIG. My mother's neighbor has one similar to the pics and it's longer than his entire driveway.  If people are using these as work trucks, that's fine, but that doesn't seem to be the case based on my observations. Most of the big trucks around here are piloted by small women ferrying their kids around and going shopping - the mall parking lots are choked with these monsters. I guess we'll never learn. 

I was thinking that at WalllyMurt yesterday.  Perhaps they should have those double-length parking spaces like for cars with trailers just for these things....seeing them fill out 115% of a parking space with thier tails out into the lane is caRAZY. 

[Eric Green]

I am sure there is a technical reason why they don't just put in a Torsen centre diff like an Audi and do away with the switch altogether. At $55K plus tax for the truck it cant be financial.

Extremely cogent point. No dry on-road 4WD capability in a 1966 Series Land-Rover, OK. That's a 4WD, offroad utility vehicle. But no Torsen (a brilliant piece of engineering, BTW) centre diff in a 2009, $55K 4WD vehicle? Unacceptable.

[tpl]

I am sure there is a technical reason why they don't just put in a Torsen centre diff like an Audi and do away with the switch altogether. At $55K plus tax for the truck it cant be financial.

Extremely cogent point. No dry on-road 4WD capability in a 1966 Series Land-Rover, OK. That's a 4WD, offroad utility vehicle. But no Torsen (a brilliant piece of engineering, BTW) centre diff in a 2009, $55K 4WD vehicle? Unacceptable.

It may be that a) a licence for a Torsen is expensive b) that for trucks, that the awd capability is unnecessary I duuno.  But for the use of these trucks a VERY LARGE family cars then a Torsen ( or some other true AWD device) would seem a good idea.