Wanted to buy an '09.

[Eric Landstrom]

I have an '05 F150 that I've been pleased with and with FoMoCo giving the '09s away I took a look at the new truck. 1) Why must the truck sit up so high? No really? Why? 2) Who must be shot and hanged for the craptastic silver plastic dash? The base model dash looks better than anything else but only because the craptastic silver plastic is subdued and looks less craptastic. Either way, the craptastic is just that: craptastic. The old dash looked better. Sigh. 3) Why does the new truck need to have a "I'm a big truck now" grill off of the larger F series? It doesn't look good on those trucks either. 4) Lose the ribbed tailgate. In fact that is a rule for all auto designers everywhere: if your body style has ribs, you're wrong. I didn't want to but I think I'll skip this generation.

[ghoyt87]

Disagree..

[Fordfanatic4life]

yeah disagree with u on everything..

i dont think theres one thing on the 09 F150 i dont like...

[Bsimmer3000]

Originally Posted by Eric Landstrom

I have an '05 F150 that I've been pleased with and with FoMoCo giving the '09s away I took a look at the new truck.

1) Why must the truck sit up so high? No really? Why? It's the same as the 08's. Parked next to one about 20 mins ago and it's the same??

2) Who must be shot and hanged for the craptastic silver plastic dash? The base model dash looks better than anything else but only because the craptastic silver plastic is subdued and looks less craptastic. Either way, the craptastic is just that: craptastic. The old dash looked better. Sigh. The Silver bits are infact Alloy and not plastic. You must be talking about the Dodge as it looks very similer but is loaded with fake wood and metal looking plastic!!

3) Why does the new truck need to have a "I'm a big truck now" grill off of the larger F series? It doesn't look good on those trucks either. The F250 front end was a hit for the F250 so i guess they will be a hit for the F150. I think it looks meaty and in ya face.

4) Lose the ribbed tailgate. In fact that is a rule for all auto designers everywhere: if your body style has ribs, you're wrong. Flat body work is plain and boring. No one wants to be driving around in a flat sheet metal truck like 10+ years ago.

I didn't want to but I think I'll skip this generation.

You need to see one in person and take a test drive. You will be amazed at how much better it is than what you have.

[wiingnut]

I have to disagree on what you said. As they say to each his own. You may find it will grow on you. When the 08 Super Duties came out, I thought they were ok, but liked my 05 much better. I ended up by the 08.

[fordtruckman]

It will grow on your. Ford wouldn't go backwards in a new generation, this is definitely an improvement. Ford cannot please everyone with the looks. I think the Tundra looks ugly some people don't, that's just what happens.

[ArtsBest]

There are improvements but not nearly enough to justify paying $5K more IMO. That is, the 08's could be had for serious discounts. NOT so on the 09's. There was a $3K rebate on them but I believe no more. So you're back to paying $35K on a $38K sticker. I do not believe that's going to work. For the gotta have enthusiasts? Yes, and they're buying no matter what the price. But for the average truck buyer? No.

[tseekins]

Originally Posted by Eric Landstrom

I have an '05 F150 that I've been pleased with and with FoMoCo giving the '09s away I took a look at the new truck.

1) Why must the truck sit up so high? No really? Why?

2) Who must be shot and hanged for the craptastic silver plastic dash? The base model dash looks better than anything else but only because the craptastic silver plastic is subdued and looks less craptastic. Either way, the craptastic is just that: craptastic. The old dash looked better. Sigh.

3) Why does the new truck need to have a "I'm a big truck now" grill off of the larger F series? It doesn't look good on those trucks either.

4) Lose the ribbed tailgate. In fact that is a rule for all auto designers everywhere: if your body style has ribs, you're wrong.

I didn't want to but I think I'll skip this generation.

This is exactly how I felt about the '97-'03 gen trucks. And, I still think thier fugly. I must respectfully disagree with EVERYTHING you said about the '09's.

Tim

[FTE Ken]

The front of the truck is just plain ugly. I've been seeing this truck for over a year now, prior to public unvieling and it has yet to "grow on me." If I wanted an early 1980s box truck I'd buy one but I don't (next to the 57-60, the early 80s truck definitely take the ugly award). Ford went at little too far with it. I don't need "fake tough" with overly squared areas and big fender flares (they look bad enough on the Japanese trucks, much less a Ford).

I agree about the interiors, except on the higher end models, those are nicer.

The ribs in the tailgate are okay (they were trying to do something about the large flat expanse of sheet metal on the previous generation), but the spoiler; Ford has a case of copying their competition here.

You need to see one in person and take a test drive. You will be amazed at how much better it is than what you have.

Yeah, they look better in my mirror than the 2004-2008s do! I guess its because they think 10 HP and 6 speed tranny would catch a supercharger. Can't wait to meet up with a 6.2L Raptor, at least that might be a challenge. heh heh

[Raider50]

Originally Posted by FTE Ken

Can't wait to meet up with a 6.2L Raptor, at least that might be a challenge. heh heh

Yah ill race you when i pick my 6.2 raptor up in a year and a half lol. It will be really good once i supercharge it

[YoGeorge]

Originally Posted by Eric Landstrom

4) Lose the ribbed tailgate. In fact that is a rule for all auto designers everywhere: if your body style has ribs, you're wrong.

Ribs add strength and stiffness. Big flat panels sometime look wavy, and are easier to crease if you push on 'em. I just checked a photo and there are 3 ribs, and it's clear that they're there to keep a straight line. I bet the steel is really thin high-strength steel and prone to denting otherwise.

Looks also like if you buy one of the high end models, they cover it all with a giant hunk of aluminum...

"Ribbed for her pleasure"....

I'm with you on the height of the truck. It's nice to reach over the side of the bed and put stuff in or take it out. And the grilles Ford has used recently (check out the new Econolines) are almost cartoon-truck like, and soooo obviously plastic.

[jllang2]

Originally Posted by Bsimmer3000

You need to see one in person and take a test drive. You will be amazed at how much better it is than what you have.

the real wood and alloy is only in the platinum, the rest of the trucks sadly do have the plastic.

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by Raider50

Yah ill race you when i pick my 6.2 raptor up in a year and a half lol. It will be really good once i supercharge it

We'll have to wait and see, won't we? I think it'll be a while before we see a supercharger for it. By then, if possible, I'll have Roush's new version supercharger in mine, after the block is built (it pushes 5.4 3 valve V8s to 700 HP).

[Power Kid]

Ford put the ribs in the tailgate as their "goal" was to make the 09 look different from @ 50 ft away. At least thats what the Ford design guy stated in one of those youtube videos that we all watched last winter/spring after its debut. Nothing to do with strength. They wanted 'em to look different from the 04+.

IMHO they should have worried less about the apperance of the tailgate, and worried more about the motivation required to make some one look at the tailgate.

[FTE Ken]

Power Kid, you're 100% on target. At the first press event (where we were not allowed to take photos) they stated they wanted a look that wasn't just a large flat piece of sheet metal and wanted something that would immediately identify it as a Ford.