2003 or 2004?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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2003 or 2004?
Which body style did you prefer or take a better liking to the 2003 Ford F-150 or 2004 F-150? Alot of people don't like the 2004's because they say they are so boxy, alot of ppl liked the way the 2003's were because it more of a style and all. but people wanted a manlier looking truck so i guess thats where the tonka concept came from, and i wonder if there were more problems with the 03's or 04's because alot of ppl have problems with the new ones. as you can see in the forums.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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I like em both...
Okay...so I bleed Ford blue..but I liked both designs. Usually I don't like any new design (with the exception of the '05 Mustang) for the first few months they are out until I get used to them. I liked the '03 F-150 when the '04 wasn't out yet and initially thought the '04 was OK. Now I love the '04 and think the '03 is OK.
The sharp roofline of the '04 and the front end is just awesome. At first I didn't like the '04 tail lights but they are growing on me too. I must admit...the factory wheels on anything but the Lariat are not that appealing. I have the XLT polished wheels which in my opinion is a little nicer than the standard finish (i hate the chrome covered ones though) but I really used to like the '03 King Ranch wheels.
So the net/net is that I like them both but if I had to pick (and I did) I choose the '04.
T
The sharp roofline of the '04 and the front end is just awesome. At first I didn't like the '04 tail lights but they are growing on me too. I must admit...the factory wheels on anything but the Lariat are not that appealing. I have the XLT polished wheels which in my opinion is a little nicer than the standard finish (i hate the chrome covered ones though) but I really used to like the '03 King Ranch wheels.
So the net/net is that I like them both but if I had to pick (and I did) I choose the '04.
T
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 43
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From: Bay Area, CA
i liked the 97-03 style a lot, and when the 04 (which i now have) came out i didn't like it as much. The squared off fenders and dip in the front windows were new to me. Well, it eventually grew on me and now although i still really like the 97-03 model, i LOVE the look of the 2004. I love the size and new design and wouldn't trade it for nuffin'!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 242
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From: Central New Jersey
I prefer the '04 hands down. I loved it as soon as I saw it. Looks similar to its big brother. I never owned the last style(last F 150 was '90) and the 90 didnt come close to matching the 04 in anyway
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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I like both styles. As far as the better truck, the 04 beats the old style hands down for handling. Like night and day between the 2.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 511
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From: South Jersey
Before 04' They were Butt Ugly..
97-03 was a crime as far looks from Ford.. They looked to me like they left them in a bake oven to long and they sagged(melted). Bent over, low front end...they looked like Ford was appoligizing(sp) for building those trucks.. I was driving an 88 Bronco and couldn't/wouldn't even consider one. They actually had me looking at Chevy's again.. Thank god I held out till the they changed the design again. The 84 F250HD with a 460 I had was a slab side beast till you got used to the looks...
The best looking truck Ford ever made were the 78-79's. They actually put some thought into the hood design, front fenders and rear panels.
I still think Ford could ice the cake and offer the V10(4 valve version) in the 150... That would have both GM and Mopar's Hemi running for cover..
The best looking truck Ford ever made were the 78-79's. They actually put some thought into the hood design, front fenders and rear panels.
I still think Ford could ice the cake and offer the V10(4 valve version) in the 150... That would have both GM and Mopar's Hemi running for cover..
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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Well I am going against the grain on this one. I have an 02 F150 screw and spent several hours at the dealers looking at the 04's while also taking a test drive. I like the way the front end looks on the 04, the center console, the boxed frame is cool but will probably rot out quick in winter weather and that is about it.
The dash is to flat, the seat hight off the floor is to low, sits like a Chevy, the cloth seats are just seem really cheap. If you do the tap test on the box and other parts of the body it is about tinny as a Dodge. I wasn't that impressed with the power and they moved the torque curve up on the RPM range, which would be worse for towing.
I will always be a Ford man and if anything happened to my 02 I would buy another new Ford, but right now I am glad I got the older style, and I hope I will be that way for a while because I am too cheap to buy another new truck, plus this one is almost paid for and I am not sure I ever want a vehicle payment again.
Chris
The dash is to flat, the seat hight off the floor is to low, sits like a Chevy, the cloth seats are just seem really cheap. If you do the tap test on the box and other parts of the body it is about tinny as a Dodge. I wasn't that impressed with the power and they moved the torque curve up on the RPM range, which would be worse for towing.
I will always be a Ford man and if anything happened to my 02 I would buy another new Ford, but right now I am glad I got the older style, and I hope I will be that way for a while because I am too cheap to buy another new truck, plus this one is almost paid for and I am not sure I ever want a vehicle payment again.
Chris
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 143
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I bought my 04 in November, and the dealers in Austin were giving massive discounts on the 03's, so I looked real hard and drove both. I like both exterior styles, and probably would have bought a 03 based on that alone. It was the 04 interior and handling that led to my decision. The 04 interior is worlds ahead of the 03, especially the Supercab, which I bought.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Saratoga USA
I'm with ChrisY on this one. I think the interior of the '04 looks flat and cheap. The bed sides and tailgate are too high, which makes it hard to see stuff low down behind the truck. To me, it just looks too boxy. And, due to the increased weight, the '04 with the 5.4 3 valve is no faster than an '03 with the 5.4 2 valve. And, I hear all this stuff about the frame being stiffer and stronger, I'm sure it is, but I've never loaded a truck anywhere near enough to bend a frame. Also, there was no '04 King Ranch, and the '05 King Ranch is only in a SuperCrew, not the SuperCab. So, I'll keep my '03 KR SuperCab a while longer. Maybe the '04 styling will grow on me, when the '97s came out, I didn't like them either!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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After driving Audi's and BMW's (wifes cars) over the last 15 years I know a good driving vehicle. The 04 is far better than the 03 in this department and the 03 I thought was pretty good. Also I hate when people lean up to the truck to get something inside the bed, the higher box stops this and keeps the side from being scratched with buttons and zippers.. BTW Stiff frames makes it easier for engineers to better "tune" suspensions. I have owned 18+ pickups over the years and as the frames got stiffer the ride got better.