I am just making a statement and then asking a question.

My friend just bought a new ford f150(notice i am mature enough not to play the 9 year old name calling game unless we are insulting toyotas) anyways he wanted to see how his 5.4 compared to my 97 5.7 vortec. We ran the quarter mile 4 times and each time it was like he pulled me off of the line..but when he got about 6 feet ahead I would just blow by him. There is one car/truck length difference each time. We looked at his paper work expecting to find some type of 3.73 rear end but found that his truck had the same 3.08 as my truck.

As for the luxuries of a good truck....anytime you mention that chevys are faster than fords you get the famous "Trucks are for working and not for racing speech" Trucks can be for both....I work as a forester with my chevys and they stay in the woods.


Anyways this is the point of my post. Ford has lagged behind Chevy in speed since i was old enough to see over the steering wheel(1988). I dont know how the pre 88 models compared but since then in my opinion there has been no comparison. My 1988 chevy lasted until 1997 and had 475,000 miles on the original engine when I wrecked it. My 97 now has 260,000 miles on it at the time of this race. When the guy came to get me I had to unhood a trailer and leave it beside the road while we lined up the trucks to race.

Bottom line: 2003 Silverado 5.3 is scary fast and embarrass my 97 5.7 therefore really embarrass 2003 fords....Is the 2004 ford going to be faster than the chevy? HP does not equal speed...but it helps....Hemi sucks....

 

I'm no Ford expert.

But I am a pretty keen observer of human behavior. And I own a Ford truck that is obscenely expensive to repair, or modify.

What is going on, is that Ford has ceased to cater to the Ford Truck **USERS** market.

You need look no further than the design changes implemented over the last few years to see that building a *solid truck* that *performs like a truck* and can *cost effectively* be modified to fit (LEGITIMATE) specialty applications (emergency vehicles, utility vehicles, farm/ranch, etc.) has completely slipped from their view.

You need look no further than Ford to see the worst possible examples of profiteering in action. . . not like they have the exclusive market on that - but we are discussing Ford specifically.

I love my little 98 4x4 Ranger, but the engineering design of the 4x4 has put me off buying another Ford product EVER.

. . unless it is a early 70's, or older.

 

BTW - if anyone has an early 70's or earlier Ford 4x4 they are willing to trade for a 98 4x4 XLT x-cab 4.0 5-sp manual (in **excellent** condition) please holler.

I'l drop this thing like a hot potato for an early 70's - or older - F-250 4x4. . . Even one with moderate body cancer (rust)!

. . . Oh MAN - did I just break the list rules?!?!?!

 

I don't understand the relationship between "speed" and "trucks". Speed wasn't even in the top ten for my criteria when shopping for a truck.

 

I think speed is perceived as an indicator of *power* in most folks minds.

Only us "gear heads" understand the actual *lack of* a relationship. . . or someone who has seen a 100 MPH garden tractor with a 8-hp Briggs & Stratton on it, or a 48HP Diesel Range Rover climb a mountain pulling a monster size Jeep along on the end of the strap.

 

I still own an '82 Bronco that partially sates my HP addiction I'll probably never get rid of, but gave up on most American made vehicles years ago. Lack of quality control experiences with a couple of '90s Ford light trucks (F150) and being treated poorly at the dealership (to say nothing of the time spent) ended that loyalty. In '86 I bought a Toyota 4x4 that I beat to death and it never saw the dealership after being purchased. I recently bought a 03 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 as a spare driver and, out of curiosity, drove a new Tundra. I don't need a HD truck, but if I did, I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Tundra over all but the diesel US trucks. And my understanding is a diesel is becoming available in the near future. I don't mean this as a testimonial to any particular imported brand, but I like value for my dollar and want to be treated like a customer, not a PITA. That hasn't been my experience for a long time with US vehicles. We haven't owned a US passenger car in over 20 years for the very same reasons.

As I said, this has nothing to do with patriotism or anything but quality and customer service. Let the flames begin.

 

I never looked at trucks for speed either. A truck was designed to carry and pull loads, therefore replacing mules. I look for dependability, longevity, ease of service, mechanical reliability and strength, last but not least, looks. In the last 30 years I have found these attributes in Fords, Chevs, and Dodge trucks. I think we all have a story about which brand we feel is best, because at one time we all owned one of the "best", to us. To me, the real "truck" feel got lost after 79, when they started putting all the frilly high tech stuff in them.

 

fordeater;

Wy do you care? Why are you here? Yoiu are obviously a proud Chevy owner. Your question should be directed to the engineers at Ford. If your concerns had even the remotest glimmer of validity (which they don't) we would be driving trucks that could go 240 MPH and we don't. If you want that buy a ferrari.

Ford engineers make choices fo ra reason so, like i said, ask them if you really want to know.

Why is it you are so concerned, are you thinking of migrating?

 

Geeeeeemany George,

as much as you know I enjoy a good argument, I can find nothing in your post to argue about.

. . well, besides suggesting that not personally sampling a vehicle for 20 years, is a bit long to still hold a blanket grudge against it.

. . of course - unless you're Irish too

(Sheesh, and this is coming from a guy BEGGING for a 25 year old truck to trade even for my 5 year old one in an earlier post)

 

Hey furball (remember; you named yourself!),

I have some questions for the Ford engineer's regarding their "reasons".

How can I have a conversation with them?

 

ctfuzzy,
i'll trade ya my project, it has't left the drive way in about 8 months,but the new motor is going in soon, specs below

 

The truck/SUV 4 door with a 4' bed available with interior VCR/TV and other creature comforts does, to me, attest to the public's acceptance of combination vehicles that have little application as a 'truck'. As the light truck/SUV market segment is the last remaining profit sector for US manufacturers, those hybrids, blown F150s and other speciality products have to be consuming design and engineering resources that will make eventual domination of the work truck market far easier for foreign manufacturers. Those importers are already utilizing 5-speed automatic transmissions with 5 liter engines which accomplish the same torque requirements as our larger displacement light trucks and offer lower operating costs.

Here I go again being politically incorrect, but our manufacturers are still attempting to drive their markets with advertising, rebates, low cost financing and speciality vehicles when the public is starting to get smart and seeking value. You don't see the imports cutting their margins and their sales increase on a steady basis, to the point where Toyota cars will soon outsell both Ford and Chevy passenger cars. Trucks are just a matter of time, and speed won't be the deciding factor.

 

I absolutely WILL seriously consider it. I do not owe a dime on the Ranger.

Pictures? Where?

TIA.

 

you know, I personally would not have a problem with the "creature comforts" (friggin PLASTIC HUBS in the front of a 4x4 and ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS on axle housings?!?!?!) the manufacturers build in these days if reasonably priced and reasonably accessible "specialty" parts were as available as "stock" replacement parts at the dealer's parts department.

They do not have to make us buy plastic hubs to turn a profit. They just are not thinking beyond the marketing department.

Doubt that? Look for hot rod mustang parts at the Ford place.

Aaaarrrggghhhh - I'm going outside and ride my bicycle before I start writing e-mail to Ford . . . . again.

 

I am in total agreement with you on this, PC or not. I like to listen to the truck radio while driving, and it has become almost painful to listen to. Why? All of the wretched domestic car/truck radio ads SCREAMING at me about their " O %, apr, no money down, 100 yrs to pay, we will GIVE you $3k if you buy our truck", geez its irritating. Since when did we all become deaf to the advertiser's I wonder ?