buys your truck and what they buy. And why they buy it. Ford knows F-150 owners very
well indeed, and has broken them down into major groups.
Know anybody who fits one of these categories? The first buyer is the Adventuresome
Youth, just out of high school, who needs a truck for work and/or play. He buys a
Regular Cab Flareside XL and represents one sale in 10. Next is the Youth in
Transition, who is married, with a mortgage, under 30. He needs a truck with simple
amenities, so he buys a Styleside Regular Cab XL like our test truck. Also one in 10
sales. Next is Established and Stable with kids in school and wife back to work. He
buys a higher-series XLT, maybe a SuperCab. Three of 10 sales, so an important
customer. When this guy ages, he enters Free-Spirited Senior land, and he goes for the
top of the line XLT or Lariat and maybe SuperCab. He's good for another three in 10
sales. The other sales go to fleet and commercial buyers.
One of the most noticeable design features on extended-cab models is a third door on
the passenger side. When Ford was doing its marketing homework in preparation for the
new truck, time and time again the researchers heard owners of extended cab trucks
plead for -more room behind the seats, and easier access.+ Which is precisely what
they'll get in the new truck with the new passenger-side third door option.
Like all pickups, the new F-150 is available in a variety of shapes and sizes. There
is a short and long wheelbase Styleside Regular Cab, a short and a long Styleside
SuperCab, a short Flareside regular cab and short Flareside SuperCab. The Flaresides
have aerodynamic lower moldings, a side step and other cosmetic features.
The standard engine for the new truck is a new 4.2-liter V6 that produces a hefty 205
hp at 4400 rpm, which is a considerable advantage over the competing standard engines.
Chevrolet's C/K has 180 hp, the Dodge Ram has 170 hp.
The Ford V6 also produces 255 lb.-ft. of torque, with 92 percent of that available at
1500 rpm. That means low-end acceleration and more trailer-towing capacity.
Platinum-tipped spark plugs mean 100,000 miles between tuneups.
Naturally, the F-150 offers V8 power. A 4.6-liter with 210 hp is available now, with a
more powerful 5.4-liter V8 due this fall. the smaller V8's advantage over the standard
six is more torque: 290 lb.-ft. vs. 255.
All engines come with a 5-speed manual standard, with a 4-speed
electronically-controlled automatic optional. All models are available with 4-wheel
drive.
After decades of Twin I-Beam, the F-150 finally has a new front suspension, which Ford
describes as upper short and long arm (SLA). On 4x2 trucks, the SLA suspension uses
coil springs that react against a forged upper arm and a cast spindle, with control
arms bolted to the frame. At the rear is a solid axle with a leaf spring on top of the
axle.
The 4x4 truck uses a torsion bar front suspension with cast lower arms. There is an
optional off-road package. The rear suspension is the solid axle/leaf spring used on
the 4x2. Next Page