Clickbait Article Slams Ford Trucks. We Have a Problem with That
Hard to Handle
The article also states that a major problem with the F-150 is the handling. “Drivers have also reported issues with handling–not a fault in the conventional sense, but certainly not a great selling point for the vehicle either.” They do not, however, cite any sources for this claim. What drivers reported issues?
The article goes on to say “Pickups aren’t exactly well known for their handling, but the F-150 has a particularly poor record on this issue, proving to be clunky and awkward, especially if you take it off-roading.”
A. When Motor Trend named the 2018 Ford F-150 “Truck of the Year,” they praised both the performance and handling as superior in its class. “This year’s competition was fierce, but the vote was unanimous,” said Motor Trend’s Editor, Ed Loh. “The newly-redesigned 2018 F-150 exceeded our expectations in every category: Powertrain, performance, technology, and overall execution.”
B. Off-road you say? We would respond to that with the Raptor. We’d follow up with the Bronco. And remind everyone that the F-series has always been tough on the trails.
Sure, a pickup is going to ride a little stiffer than a sportscar, because it is a truck. However, one cannot help but notice the F-150 is surprisingly agile on the road.
Art of Noise
Next up, the list claims that Ford trucks are just too darn loud. “Another issue which affects many pickup trucks, and which Ford has done little to resolve in their F-Series, is the noisy interior…Ford is [sic] yet to offer a permanent solution, so the best thing you can do for now is to turn up the tunes on your in-car entertainment system.”
What? Yes, pickup trucks tend to run on a more powerful powertrain, because they are trucks. However, if you’re looking for a cabin that rides like a luxury car, maybe you need a luxury car? Our FTE forum members recently debated this topic pointing out that some cabin noise is inevitable, but with the Super Duty, for example, you are getting a lot of extra luxury paired with pickup capability.
Fake News
Another item we need to address is the claim that the “Ford F-Series has been plagued by engine problems in recent years.” They write that the 2013 F-Series had reports of sudden engine failure from 100 people to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and that “over a thousand Ford drivers reported similar issues to the company itself.” Here’s the thing, however. We couldn’t actually find a reference to anything that backs this claim nor matches their numbers, and there are zero sources given by the article. In fact, the 2013 Ford F-150 has a rating of 4 our of 5 stars from the NHTSA.
It is possible they were referring to an issue with EcoBoost engines for the model years 2011 to 2013 F-150 trucks where Ford received 1,400 complaints about the issue. In fact, we’re actually wondering if they misquoted (ahem, ripped off) that source because the Slash Gear article also plays on the “Built Ford Tough” slogan in a suspiciously similar way.
But, for arguments sake, lets take the numbers from Slash Gear. They say that over a 3-year period Ford made over 2 million trucks for North America alone, and the biggest issue they could find is 1400 trucks that had an issue with a specific engine. A problem rate of 0.061% across the board is pretty damn low by any standard.
Cha-Ching
Finally, though, is the most absurd item. They claim that the biggest problem with Ford trucks are that they are too expensive. The amazing thing is that they first claim that the Ford F-Series is one of the best selling pickups in America, which is wrong. It’s the best selling pick up in America by a large margin. And, its that fact that completely undermines the idea it’s overpriced. Also, all pickup trucks come with a hefty price tag.
Yes, a Ford truck isn’t cheap. But what do you get for the cost? A lot. A reliable badass rig with plenty of extras, impressive towing payload and capacity, and a truck that is in it for the long haul. Ford truck owners might not love the cost, but ask them if it is worth it. It is.
In conclusion, don’t try and clickbait a Ford truck lover, we’ll come back with facts to back it up!
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