2005 Ford F-250 Driving Impressions Review at Automotive.com
»Locate a Dealer»Find a Used Car»Get Financing

2005 Ford F-250 Review: Road Test

Find a Car
 

2005 Ford F-250 Review

Redesigned chassis improves ride, capability.
Driving Impressions
The new 5.4-liter V8 that comes standard is rated at 300 horsepower (a 40-horsepower increase over 2004) and 365 pound-feet of torque. The 6.8-liter V10 is rated at 355 horsepower (a 45-horsepower increase over 2004) and 455 pound-feet of torque (compared with 2004's 425). Both gas engines are part of Ford's Triton series, and employ overhead cams for valve control and three-valve heads for improved breathing and power delivery. The 6.0-liter Powerstroke turbocharged diesel V8 is an expensive option, but it's rated at 570 pound-feet of torque at 2000 rpm (a slight increase over 2004) and 325 horsepower at 3300 rpm.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all Ford Super Duty models, but we prefer the new five-speed automatic available with all three engines. It's especially sweet with the 6.0-liter turbo diesel.

With its new, more refined frame and re-engineered suspension, the 2005 Super Duty has achieved parity with, if not edged slightly ahead of its GM and Dodge competition in ride and handling. Yes, it's a heavy-duty pickup, and long wheelbases can't give it the ride quality of its lower-rated sibling. But pavement bumps and irregularities are suppressed to a refreshing degree, even when the truck is empty. Head toss on rough pavement is minimal and there's little body lean in turns. Trucks of this weight rating aren't usually candidates for serious off-roading, but we found the Super Duty handled very well on a washboard dirt track and through sandy washes.

Review Sections
Get Your Free Quote on a Ford F-250

Upstaging all these routine measures is the new TowCommand system, a feature we feel is a must-have for drivers who tow. Gone is the light switch-like, on/off, all-or-nothing braking prevalent in aftermarket trailer brake fitments, that makes stopping on a dime difficult. With TowCommand, touch the brake pedal, whether on the flat or on a grade, and the trailer begins slowing, exerting a mild drag on the Super Duty's forward progress. Press harder on the brakes, and the trailer's drag increases. Release the brakes, and the drag fades. As the Super Duty comes to a stop, the trailer brakes gradually back off, virtually in sync with the towing truck. No jerking. No yanking. Its operation is truly proportional to the amount of brake pressure. In back-to-back testing with an 11,000-pound trailer, we were able to stop precisely where we wanted from 25 mph and 45 mph with the new system. Conversely, when using an aftermarket system, we were not able to accurately stop; we usually stopped short of the mark and had to release the brake and creep up to position. This makes the system more comfortable and less annoying for driver and passengers, and less annoying to the motorists behind you. The system enhances safety as well; it gives audible and visual warnings if the trailer wiring becomes disconnected. It's also tied into the truck's anti-lock brake system and uses a special trailer brake strategy when the ABS detects poor traction (wet pavement, for example). No aftermarket trailer brake controller can do this. Next Page



2005 Ford F-250
  
Recently Viewed Cars