2004 f-150

[mattttt25]

Re: 2004 f-150

well, thanks for the little info offered. i never asked about ford, but of the new f-150. was hoping someone has personal experience with it. not a friend that had a ford blow up. funny, never heard of an engine blowing up. what happens? big explosion with the hood flying high in the air? anyway, if anyone else has info to share, please do. i'm headed back to the dealer tomorrow for a test drive.

 

[DJ]

Re: 2004 f-150

matttt25,<br /><br />I'm driving one now.<br /><br />4X4 Super Crew. 5.4L 3-valve.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: 2004 f-150

djohns, do you happen to know how the back seat in the '04 supercrew compares to the '03? my mom drives an '03. i'll find out tomorrow, but figured i'd ask.

 

[DJ]

Re: 2004 f-150

mattttt25,<br /><br />It is bigger and the seating position is better.<br /><br />The doors also open wider.<br /><br />I also find the front seats much more comfy than my last 150, which was an '02' Supercab-Lariat.<br /><br />I drive about 30K a year, so I get a good test on them.<br /><br />Happy shopping.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: 2004 f-150

Generallyt whenever a motor blows up nothing outside is affected. Sometimes the rods come out of the pan, but no, I never seen a hood fly off.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: 2004 f-150

Some of the things I have heard about the 97+ 4.8s and 5.4s were head gasket issues, piston slap when cold, things like that. Overall, they are still good vehicles. The main reason police departments are shifting from the Crown Vic police interceptor is that production of the Crown Vic is due to cease soon. Police departments want durable heavy vehicles with good power, and all they are left with now is SUVs and the Crown Vic. A lot of departments are trying the Impalas but not everyone is happy with them. Too small, too light, not durable enough, etc. The Crown Vic has been an excellent vehicle, except for that pesky rupturing fuel tank issue, but they have retrofit kits to better shield the tank from the rear bumper assembly and other parts back there that pierce the tank in high speed rear impacts. Those Vics get a lot of rough, brutal miles on them, it isn't too surpising if you come across one using a bit of oil.

 

[daveswaves]

Re: 2004 f-150

My 2000 F150 flareside with 4.6 Triton is best engine/transmission set up that I have seen yet. Almost every major fleet vehicle in my neck of the woods is a Ford F150.

 

[Matt O]

Re: 2004 f-150

Matttt25 <br /><br />Working for a Ford dealer for many years, I have driven every new model F150 since 1995, the 2004 is a great looking truck with good styles and alot of good changes in design that help with Noise and vibrations. I personally like the new body and alot of the creature comforts that are offered. I dont think you would be unhappy with one if you bought one. The new 5.4 3 valve is a good engine and the other tritons are getting better all the time. Regardless of what others say, I have customers with several hundred thousand miles on them. And I think that all manufacturers have growing pains with new design engines and vehicles, I always recommend to my good friends that wait until the second model year of a new design, to help get the bugs worked out. Hope this helps.<br /><br />Matt

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: 2004 f-150

drive camp wrote:<br /><br />

And I think that all manufacturers have growing pains with new design engines and vehicles, I always recommend to my good friends that wait until the second model year of a new design, to help get the bugs worked out.

Excellent advice drive camp.

 

[JoeW]

Re: 2004 f-150

mattttt25,<br />I'm on my second F150 now. I'm sticking with them. The first one, a 1986, I sold with 160k miles on the inline 6 banger. I sold it to a local fellow and I still see it on the road, now with well over 200K miles on it. <br />I now have a '97 extended cab 4.6L Triton and it has 120K on it. It's been a good solid truck for me. I see this truck easily reachin 250K with no problems, but I really have no crystal ball.<br />I recently read an article in Trukkin (sp?) magazine which rated the 04 F150 against some of the other new trucks on the market. They rated the F150 on top. I honestly don't know how scientific or even just this test was.<br />I hope that helps.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: 2004 f-150

wait until next year??? that wouldn't be very fun.... evryone on the block will have one by then. that's what warranties are for. didn't make it to the dealer the other day, but headed there right now!

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: 2004 f-150

OH!! I understand, it's an image thing!

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: 2004 f-150

well, all I know is in 97 we rented a SuperVan Club Wagon, and it had the V 10<br /><br />Loaded about three tons into the thing, and ran it non stop to fla, at speeds over 100 at times, getting 19.6 MPG overall, and this thing got NO breaks, hammered the whole way, especially by my kamikaze kid brother with his vaunted Valentine One snooper, put around 5000 miles on the thing running all over the place down there, and at 100 mph the van was utterly smooth and composed, conversation was at normal levels, no wind whistles, nothing but humming, haulin azz triton power rocketing down the interstate and when unloaded and used as a sightseer, engaged in more than a few run offs, lol, the big beast could really pick up some speed, dusted a few of those guzzied up durangos and dakotas right off the road<br /><br />more ford pickups are sold per year than any other vehicle, including imports<br /><br />now, millions and millions of owners cant ALL be wrong!

 

[muskyone]

Re: 2004 f-150

all i can say is i have a 2000 f150 with a 5.4 and love it have put 30k on it in the last 6 mounths starts right up in -0 temps pulls like a horse and stops on a dime if i wasen't building a house thered be a 04 in the drive right now

 

[JasonB]

Re: 2004 f-150

Have a '99 F-150 SC Lariat with the 4.6 and love it. 60k trouble free miles so far and pulls my 4k lb boat with ease. Only difference between this one and the one that will replace it in 10-12 years is that the next one will be a S. Crew.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: 2004 f-150

more ford pickups are sold per year than any other vehicle, including imports

Truth is it is more GMs. Because GM splits their PU sales over 2 divisions (GMC & Chevy) Ford comes out on top. I read it in some article. If I can find it I'll post the link.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: 2004 f-150

Yeah, I like the Supercrews too. The only downfall is the bed is a bit small, but it does have that bed extender thingy as an option. Its funny, the whole crew cab thing with the small trucks in the last few years has been such a big deal, but Toyota and Isuzu and Nissan have been selling 4 door pickups to the rest of the world since the 80s. When I had my little 88 Isuzu extended cab, I was trying to locate a 4 door cab to convert mine (just to be different), but it was impossible, but they are a dime a dozen overseas.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: 2004 f-150

mattttt25,,,,, Well, Did ya pick her up???

 

[DJ]

Re: 2004 f-150

JasonJ,<br /><br />You make an excellent point about the availbility of 4-door cabs overseeas. Even the domestics have them available overseas.<br /><br />The real issue(s), as to not being available here, has been twofold.<br /><br />1. The market is/has been pretty small. Less than 200,000 vehicles annually. However, it's growing.<br /><br />2. There have been some issues with trying to get these "compact" 4-door pickups to meet fereral crash standards, especially for rear seat passengers. The US has the toughest standards in the world, bar none. Believe it or not, the crash ratings are HUGE marketing points and are used as guides by more and more consumers.<br /><br />I think they're a great idea too. Stay tuned!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: 2004 f-150

Good point on the crash ratings djohns. When I was in Germany I wanted to buy a Saab turbo 2dr. I could have bought it for about $1000 US, but it did not have the US standard bumpers, emissions, side door impact bracing, or any of that. This was back in 89, and the car was an early to mid 80s if I remember rightly. It would have cost more than the car was worth to get it "Americanized", so I skipped it. Now the overseas manufactures build to our safety standards or better..