F-150 Test Drive

music · February 7, 2012

Most newer trucks to me I feel discontected . I drive a manual and the autos just feel like nonthing. I have not driven a newer GM truck yet only dodge and ford and they both felt like I was watching tv. and playing a game .

When shopping in '08, I actually wanted a Tundra, based solely on the specs for the 5.7L/6-spd combo, and our need for towing and hauling a family. I drove them back-to-back with GM trucks multiple times, and chose the GM every time. Honestly, I was very surprised, as was my wife. The Tundra also had a disconnected, light-steering feel to it, and many of the body parts felt very light (sheet metal, etc). The tailgate was so light, that it felt like it would bend. The GM felt (and still feels) solid to me, in comparison. I didn't mention it above, but the F-150 doors are light weight too, and the stock 4x4 suspension has a lot of travel (feels soft).

GPGuy · April 17, 2012

Thanks for the very good review. Honestly I very rarely see an Eco-Boost around here. Maybe I'm missing them or they're not selling quite as many of them as they are in other areas.

MikeNH · April 17, 2012

They're easy to spot because the license plate mount is offset to the driver side on EB trucks. Last week in Ontario I'd say they made up the majority of the new style Fords I saw.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MikeNH · April 20, 2012

Well thought out response.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ianf · April 20, 2012

On your test drive did you notice the box on the F150 seeming to move independently from the cab? I had an '11 out for a week and everytime I looked in the rearview drivers side mirror I could see the box moving. It drove me crazy!

desrtrat · April 21, 2012

the last 2 places i worked for all had Fords. F150's-F550's trucks and vans, and i hated them all..at 6'3 there was no leg room, or foot room (13D boots) on passenger/driver side. very uncomfortable for long driver over 1 hr. something with the design of the floor that just made my feet hurt like hell, and the peddle angles sucked. no descent lumbar support at all..i've driven them for 3-4 years and after about 2 hrs i have to get out and try to walk around to get the pain out of my legs and back...this is just me and my experience with them, your results my vary.. if it was me, i would find one and rent it for a weekend and take a couple 100 mile test drive and see how you feel after that. a buzz around the dealer's block will not give you a good feel of it...

good luck

SarahsGMC · April 22, 2012

my friends grandpa has a 2011 F250 super duty and it had absolutely no guts, it has a trailering package but literally dogs it up every slight incline. I hate driving that damn thing it had a hard time pulling my gutted racecar on a 20 foot trailer. pathetic.

music · April 22, 2012

my friends grandpa has a 2011 F250 super duty and it had absolutely no guts, it has a trailering package but literally dogs it up every slight incline. I hate driving that damn thing it had a hard time pulling my gutted racecar on a 20 foot trailer. pathetic.

I'm guessing it has the 5.4L motor? One thing the f150 3.5L Ecoboost has is torque at low rpm for towing, but it's sucking some gas when it kicks in those turbos. I've read some posts from folks towing heavy campers w/ the EB, through the Rockies... and pulling most of it in 5th. I would have been impressed if it did it in 3rd (having pulled some of those mountains w/ my camper and a 5.3 in 2nd w/ peddle to the floor, and barely holding 40 mph). Forced induction helps a lot when the atmosphere gets thin.

music · April 22, 2012

On your test drive did you notice the box on the F150 seeming to move independently from the cab? I had an '11 out for a week and everytime I looked in the rearview drivers side mirror I could see the box moving. It drove me crazy!

It's been a while since the drive, but... no... I didn't really notice. I have since driven behind them, however, and noticed what you're saying. It struck me as funny, since Ford's the one that went out of their way to make the Tundra bed/rail look "weak" in their online video. They purposely picked a speed that forced a harmonic oscillation on the Tundra, and then made a video of it. They poked fun at GM too. It's those kinds of tactics that keep me from looking too closely at Ford anything. I like humor in ads, but Ford *routinely* drops to sleazy levels.

MikeNH · April 22, 2012

On your test drive did you notice the box on the F150 seeming to move independently from the cab? I had an '11 out for a week and everytime I looked in the rearview drivers side mirror I could see the box moving. It drove me crazy!

It's been a while since the drive, but... no... I didn't really notice. I have since driven behind them, however, and noticed what you're saying. It struck me as funny, since Ford's the one that went out of their way to make the Tundra bed/rail look "weak" in their online video. They purposely picked a speed that forced a harmonic oscillation on the Tundra, and then made a video of it. They poked fun at GM too. It's those kinds of tactics that keep me from looking too closely at Ford anything. I like humor in ads, but Ford *routinely* drops to sleazy levels.

GM does the same exact crap. When the 900s were new they had all the commercials with Howie Long showing the various places that the 900s were supposedly superior. And if you ask Ford, they think the Silverado Super Bowl commercial was unfair too.

music · April 22, 2012

GM does the same exact crap. When the 900s were new they had all the commercials with Howie Long showing the various places that the 900s were supposedly superior. And if you ask Ford, they think the Silverado Super Bowl commercial was unfair too.

Maybe I'm a little biased (?), but GM's commercials are funny to me, so I don't take those seriously. The Ford online infomercials are presented as "engineering fact"... to the point where folks reference them as "reasons" for buying a Ford. GM has done some of the same, but Ford's marketing arm just seems to take it to another level of misinformation. I'm sure that all engineers (Ford, GM, Toyota, etc. ) roll their eyes when they see that stuff too, and we (I) shouldn't get too hung up on what their marketing folks dream up.

MikeNH · April 23, 2012

Maybe I'm a little biased...

Most are. I cross-shopped Ford and Chevy and on the Ford forum I visited at the time they bitched about the ads I mentioned.

11Silvy · April 23, 2012

I have been behind the wheel of every F150 made since 99', they are all the same with exception to the 5.0 and Ecoboost. Those two motors are huge improvements for Ford, I wouldn't mind an FX4, but it's still behind my 2011 6.2 Silverado, regardless of the fancy interior. F150's are just different feeling and drive w/o passion as a whole. They are good trucks, just not for me.

SarahsGMC · April 23, 2012

i hear the v10s in those fords are garbage

MikeNH · April 24, 2012

i hear the v10s in those fords are garbage

I think the only thing you can get that in now is the Econoline vans. The Super Duty has the 6.2 gas or the diesel. The V10 doesn't look great compared to the gas V8s in trucks now, Ford made it to compete with the big blocks GM used. It used to have the cylinder head spark plug thread failure like the V8s. Not sure now since it is such a low volume engine now and vans don't really excite me so I don't really follow them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk