I drove a 05 F-250 this weekend and it was a blast. The front suspension rides nice. My favorite was the interior changes.

+'s 1. Rides nice
2. New options are great(driver's side glove box, brake controller, power rear window, gauges, ect.)
3. New wheel options look great

-"s 1. The truck I drove didn't have the hood insulation or rear wheel linners.
2. Truck should have came with heated seats.
3. I already have an 03

the competition

 

None of the new trucks have hood blankets or wheel liners. I was told it was ford saving money.

 

Did you notice any bump steer on the 05 you drove? I test drove an 05 as well, F350 SC, 5.4 4X4. I impress by how smooth the 5 speed trans was and improved turning radius. The truck did have bump steer over some over passes and big bumps. The steering wheel jumped around alot.

 

Here are the very important questions about the 2005's...
Do the vents still blow "pre-warmed" air and does water still pour in the windows and right onto the power window switches?

 

Can't answer the "pre-warmed air" since I have the automatic temp control.

Yes water still comes in on the window switches. Honestly, I've had this problem with every Ford I have (05 F350 Lariat, 02 Explorer XLT, 01 Crown Vic Police Interceptor).

 

That is why I am buying VentVisors real soon.

 

I could make due without the hood insulation but the lack of wheel liners would realy bug me. I try to keep the engine & bay clean which is easy during the summer and spring but in the winter road salt spalshes in there and gets all over everything. It can't be good for the wiring, aluminum and plastic stuff. Plus it looks awful and just bugs me.

My 03 had the plastic liners and I even ordered from Ford Parts the smaller rubber liners that cover the openings in the plastic liners where the shock mount is. Now nothing at all ever splashes in the engine bay.

 

The lack of liners is very annoying to say the least! In Montana they spray this god awful mag sulfate on the roads to clear the ice, unfortunately it is highly corrosive and likes to eat wiring and bolts as well as chrome. I guess I will have to add to the cost of this truck and do what ford decided to chince out on. The interesting part is that the salesman made a big deal that ford did not raise the base price of the truck for '05 maybe now we are finding out how and why.... Just leave what was standard off. You would think that buying a fully loaded Lariat FX4 would at least get you the liners.