I think the competition that the Japanese trucks are providing is great for everyone involved. The only heavy duty truck I would ever buy is a super duty because of their reputation, but the Japanese trucks, Titan and Tundra, are built extremely well. I have a friend that works for Toyota and they do their homework and don't cut corners. Plus resale is much better. I think all the american brands will have to really make their trucks and cars better as the years go by because each year they are losing more and more market share to the Japanese. Wonder why GM and Ford both saw double digit declines in sales last year? It was picked up by Nissan and Toyota. Now Honda is jumping on the bandwagon. Like I said though, it makes everyone produce a higher quality truck in the end so I am all for it.

 

I really like what they did to the 05 with Climate control, more power on the V-10, auto rearview mirror, coil springs on the front and staggered shocks in the rear but...

Wish List for 07/08 - Hmm...

6 Speed Auto
Displacement on Demand V-10 in combo with an electric motor (or something) to ge me from 0 to 15 or 20 mph or a diesel that is not 5K more and actually gets good mileage (also would like it to have hybrid technology)

Please, no PSD vs Gas war here - I get about 12 in my V-10 and my buddy gets 15 or so in his 6.0 - we drive very similar. With the combo of right technology, both could get better mileage and we wouldn"t need to rely on the middle east so much.

Better fit and finish (interior), too many rattles and squeaks
Quieter interior - needs more seals in the doors
Rear air/heat like via center console
HomeLink
Bigger gas tank, like 40 gallons on a short bed
Power rear window (like on the Explorer Sport Trac)
Rear defroster
More access to options - I am sick of doing "dealer special orders" for things like heated seats on the XLT
Rear doors that open 90 degrees
Better limited slip and locking front axle

I am sure that if I went out and sat in my truck, I could come up with a few more. Anyway, I am worried that Ford will get passed up by Toyota, etc. I really think the need to keep the toughness in the truck but also up the quality quite a bit. I think they for get that some of these are being sold for $45,000+ with the fit and finish of $20,000 vehicles.

Fish

 

I would very much agree, I love ford trucks, but for the most part they have been below par since 96 (with exception to the new F-150's). I hate the way all of their stereos face the passenger a little more than the driver, I hate how the stereo, AC controls, instrument clusters, and PW/PL controls all look like plug n play, rather than integrated with their specific vehicle. And as well, although they are coming along, anything that doesn't have leather in it, has ugly material that doesn't match the rest of the interior. I will say this, with the exception to the dated looking instrument cluster, my ranger's interior is still somewhat contemporary, but the new titan's and taco's have outdone ford. Take a cue from Germany Ford, people do respect engineering these days, and want quite vehicles that are still capable and powerful because they are asked to drop 1/2 the cost of a home in some cases to purchase one of these new vehicles.

 

-Intergrated Sat radio
-King Ranch w/seating for 6
-Wider wheels
-Level stance
-Air bags for the rear(option package)
-Rear locking differential(option package)
-Bigger rear power window(Like the SportTrac)
-12vpower outlet in the truck bed
-Gooseneck connection in bed(option package)
-Improve rear area heat/cooling in CrewCab
-Allow ANY color interior with exterior paint selection

 

Bucket seats in the rear...of CC

 

but their IFS is a heck of alot stronger than what most of us have seen, like chevies.
Either a 6 sp auto like has been said, with double over drive, or a splitter, so you have 2 reverse gears.
bigger fuel tanks.
basically the big 3 need to wake up and pay alittle more attention to the consumer, like foreign auto makers do.
The integrated trailer brake controller is great, but how long have people needed it, like 30 years or so, and now they finally realize. same with the built in auxilary switches.

 

how about this...

higher level packages for regular cab and supercab
i would like to see supercab and regular cab king ranch editions. i love the king ranch but don't need a vehicle as big as a crew cab. also maybe a lariat regular cab. but i would prefer a regular cab king ranch.

offroad package to compete with powerwagon

tuned exhaust system option

 

Bucket seats in the rear (for CrewCab).

DO NOT put the shifter on the floor. Lots of us use Super Duties in the fire service (brush trucks, ambulances), as well as outfitting out personal vehicles. A shifter on the floor would mean bye-bye Ford, as it's common to use that space (removing the standard floor console) for an equipment console (radios, comptuers, light/siren controls, etc.)

 

Heavy Assult - Thanks!

I knew I was missing something and you listed at least 2 of them.

12 volt adaptor in the bed (and in the back seat)
Airbags in the rear for my kids
Also, I really do like my hybrid idea as it would be nice to have a built in generator like the new Dodge is suppose to have on the Contractor series.

Funny thing about this post - Ford can save millions on market research as all the info they need is right if front of them. By utilizing this info, they will not only keep us as customers, they will steal some back from other brands and also win those over those who are on the fence.

One of the things I find most ironic is that Ford, GM and Dodge are always comparing themselves to each other while the new Titon and other products from Toyota and soon from Honda are slowly going to eat away at the last market they have a strong hold on.

Well, life's mostly attitide and driving (my F350) and that just what I plan to do.

Fish.

 

Definately DO NOT go the dodge root and slope the hell out of the hood. I consider the current superduty hood to be a little to sloped in the front. The '96 has a good hood design. Its got a great view of the road, and I can still see the hood. The new trucks they are pumping out lose the truck feel for me when the hood points to the ground, I hate it as much as I hate chevy.

Bigger fuel tank would be very useful.
KEEP THE SOLID FRONT AXLE!!
KEEP THE 4X4 MANUAL DIESELS!!!! This is a big one for me.
I thought I was the only one dreaming of a possibility of 25 MPG?? lol I wish.

 

I meant Air Bags as in load leveling style that fit on the rear axle. Not that I object to rear passenger air bags but side bags I'm sure will be standard before too long.

I currently have two rear air bags, they constantly go at each other till we get to our destination. I need (want?, must have?) a dual DVD screen set-up w/xbox, that would shut them up.

 

1. Keep the solid front axle. I can almost live with coils, but IFS would cause me to look elsewhere...or up to a 450.

2. Air/electric/chipmunk/whatever-powered lockers front and rear as an option.

3. Bigger optional tires. Talkin' 19.5" here. Let's get some truck tires on these trucks.

4. The twin-turbo would be nice, but I wouldn't mind looking at a Cat.

5. The block heater needs a real inlet. Mount it on the driver's side front fender. Nice chrome with a spring lock cover. The dangling cord in front of the radiator is just plain cheep.

6. Bright L.E.D's all around. Standard. It's time.

7. More tie down hooks in the bed.

8. Sirius.

9. Tie rod aft of axle.

10. Real diesel fuel tank and filler neck. Diesel foams, gasoline doesn't.

 

The Torgueshift should allow you to pull it into 4th gear manually. The climate control on my 05 is awesome. This is the first vehicle I have ever owned that my wife was not constantly adjusting heat and cold. Set it for 72 and forget it.
I am sure the 07s will have an immobilizer security system and the fact that Ford chose not to put them in the SDs is the kind of short sighted thinking that always bites them in the ***. We all have the useless panic button on our keyless remotes, they just didn't bother to complete the system.

 

I ageeon the 19.5 tires ...or have the 16" back ...I know all the sales hype about the "new and improved" tire sizes , but , bering over the road , I really liked that I could drive into a tire shop late one afternoon and get both 16" front tires replaced when they both gave out ... the small town , MT dealer had 16's ,19.5s and 22.5s ...but all of the "new" sizes would have been special order .... same reason I'd not buy a Harley F350 with the 16.5s on them ....

Please , please ...do your work and testing on the test track ...not on the highways with us loyal schmucks as the testers .... I'll need a new truck in a year or so , at 5,000 miles a month , but , I am very leary of the purchase .... most likely keep the 04 ... no auto floor shifter .... i use that area on the road ...independent cargo light would be slick ! maybe Ford should show more confidence in their $60,000 truck by giving a longer warranty ...and get rid of the commercial exemption on the extended , if they sell the truck as a Super Duty and then say "if you use it hard like we say it is made for , you void the warranty " ...

 

A longer bumper-to-bumper warranty or drivetrain warranty?