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2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4

Date: 9 January 2004	Miles: 2,500
In our long term test fleet for less than two months is this 2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4. As the newest edition of the best selling truck in the land, the F-150 has been the subject of lots of speculation on how it will fair against new competitors like the Nissan Titan. Well, F-150 sales are off to a roaring start, and no wonder. This is not only an impressive truck, with stronger power, more comfy interiors, and bigger and easier to use cargo boxes, but it's also luxury car quiet. We like the tailgate assist feature that lightens the effort needed to use the tailgate. We also like the response of the 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8. But, with only 2500 miles on the odometer, our fuel economy of 12.9 miles per gallon still has a way to go. This is the first truck with a gear shift on the console, and we like that. But the column shift models get a gear indicator in the gauge cluster. Unfortunately, floor shift models do not. But that's only one small nitpick on this full-size, full-feature, fully-satisfying pickup.
Date: 6 March 2004	Miles: 6,000
As the all-new edition of the best selling truck in America for 27 years, this F-150 has an impressive heritage to live up to. And it seems off to a good start. Sales are outstripping production by a substantial margin, and so far its performance with us has been solid and completely enjoyable. Log book comments praise the ride. It's truck-like, but easy on the body for long distances. And this F-150 is very quiet. Now most like the interior treatment of our Lariat with an expensive looking mixture of tan fabrics, wood-tone, and brushed metal. Combined with the best fit and finish we've ever seen on any truck, and the new F-150 comes off pretty posh. As for work ethic, we like the tailgate assist feature that lightens loading effort. And while the response of the 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 is good, a little more guts would be nice. In our recent snows, the shift-on-the-fly part-time 4-wheel drive system delivered exceptional confidence and grip. With miles traveled reaching above 6,000, fuel economy has improved to 13.5 miles per gallon. Not impressive, but near normal for a full-size pickup. This is the first truck with a gear shift on the console. Our staff is split on its desirability, but remember it is an option. And indeed you can custom outfit a new F-150 in more ways than we can count. Another reason why F-150 remains king of the pickups.
Date: 4 June 2004	Miles: 9,000
Hard working but a fine place to spend time in. That one-liner sums up our 7 months with the 2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4. Log book comments compliment the ride, although in traffic you certainly know you are driving a full-size truck. But, boy, is this F-150 quiet! The interior treatment of our Lariat has an expensive mixture of tan fabrics, wood-tone, and brushed metal. But moreover, controls work with a finesse that we used to find only in luxury cars. When work is the priority, the tailgate assist feature really lightens the load. Engine response from the 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 is loosening up nicely as the miles climb. Our SuperCrew has a 5.5 foot bed. It's fine for Harry Homeowner, but businesses might want to consider a SuperCab with the longer 6 ¨ö or 8 foot boxes. With miles traveled now standing at 9,000, fuel economy has continued to inch up to 13.6 miles per gallon. That's about par for a full-size pickup, even one that's the king of the hill like the Ford F-150.
Date: 16 July 2004	Miles: 13,400
From rocks to refrigerators, we've carried just about everything a homeowner can use a credit card for in our 8 months with this 2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4. Log book comments continue to praise the ride and the low interior noise level. Ford uses ''quiet steel'' to keep engine and road noise outside where they belong. The interior treatment of our Lariat has an expensive mixture of tan fabric, wood-tone, and brushed metal. Engine response from the 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 gets better all the time. After 13,400 miles, fuel economy continues to rise, now at 14 miles per gallon. Not great, but what a big truck will do. Our SuperCrew has only a 5.5 foot bed, a shortcoming balanced by SUV-style seating for a family of 6. This really is one vehicle that can do just about everything and then some.
Date: 24 September 2004	Miles: 20,000
Our fondness for this 2004 Ford F 150 continues as well, although it is most popular when the weekend comes and moving or carting home a major appliance is on the schedule. We've driven our Ford F 150 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4 for 10 months and almost 20,000 miles without fault or complaint. Picking the all new F 150 as the Best Pickup Truck for this year's Drivers' Choice Awards looks smarter every day. Our Lariat works hard and plays hard, all while rewarding occupants with excellent comfort, a refined atmosphere, and an extremely quiet ride. We have no wants on power either. The 300 horsepower 5.4 liter V 8 measures up well, and its 14.8 miles per gallon economy is more than respectable given short trips and heavy loads. Make a longer bed available for the four door SuperCrew and it would be the perfect pickup.
Date: 17 December 2004	Miles: 25,000
The popularity of full-size pickup trucks remains strong, and our 2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4 is a perfect example of why. It's one vehicle that can carry over 1500 pounds of payload, tow 9200 pounds of trailer, carry a growing family of 5 or 6, and do so with luxuries that range from leather upholstery to rear DVD video. Exactly what is missing here? Well, there is that short 5 foot cargo bed. But it's very deep, and with the tailgate down it gets the weekender jobs done. We've driven our F-150 for a whole year and a tireless 25,000 miles without mechanical fault. Even staffers not used to driving something so big find maneuverability no big deal. The 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 measures up well as well, and it's steady 14.8 mile per gallon economy is more than respectable given short trips and heavy loads. Indeed, picking the Ford F-150 as the Best Pickup Truck for our 2004 Drivers' Choice Awards looks smarter every day.
Date: 11 February 2005	Miles: 28,000
In 2004, for the 27th year, the Ford F-150 was the best selling full-size truck in America. It is also the best selling vehicle of any kind. That kind of popularity goes way beyond the job site as trucks like our four-door 2004 F-150 SuperCrew are amazingly versatile family vehicles as well. It can carry over 1,500 pounds of payload, tow 9,200 pounds of trailer, carry a growing family of five or six, and, in our Lariat 4X4, do so with luxuries that range from leather upholstery to rear DVD video, and do so with total confidence. In the over a year and some 28,000 miles that our Lariat has been with us, there have been no mechanical problems. Zero! Log book comments praise the ride and luxury car-like quiet. Our Lariat's interior wears an expensive looking mixture of tan fabric, wood-tone, and brushed metal. That, plus the best fit and finish we've ever seen on a truck. When it is time to work, we do think the CrewCab's 5.5-foot cargo box is a bit short, but you can expand it by lowering the big tailgate, made easier with the standard Tailgate Assist feature. Initially we felt the 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 could use even more guts, but as the miles climbed we became quite satisfied. Plus, fuel economy has been very stable at 14.8 miles per gallon. We've become very fond of the Ford F-150, and we wish this was one relationship that would never end.