Why not get a peterbilt while you're at it hehe. F-150's are great trucks. I got mine about a year and a half ago. I'll be 19 soon. I had a mazda protege for my first car, and it was alright, but to tell you the truth it was the most boring car I've ever driven. Too quiet, too slow, and WAY too small. I'm 6'0 265 lbs, and that protege was a pain to get in to. I have an '01 ext. cab 4x4 with the 5.4. The only concern is with a new driver dingin up bumpers. They're so common that you never really think about it, but a new driver can be intimidated by the F-150's size and power. You'll really notice it vs. a smaller econobox, especially when going around tight corners and pulling in and out of parking spaces, but you'll get the hang of it.

 

I hear that. I came from a '99 Ranger 4x4 Supercab with a 4.0L OHV V6 to my F-150 with a 5.4L and for a while I had to get used to the power.

 

just a FYI: The PI heads started in '00 and have 265hp on the 5.4.

Other than that its a pretty reliable truck. 4x4's will probably need ball joints and steering components around 60-70k miles.

Um.. they do like to suck down the gas, so if that a big concern to you maybe consider a ranger.

A very small amount of the 5.4s will shoot plugs out of the heads.
COP is a problem with some, but i've never experienced it.
You're pretty much gaurenteed to have an exhaust leak from the manifold bolt braking off if you live anywhere near salt. (4.6/5.4 engines)

other than those things these trucks are pretty awesome.

good luck