Obviously, the F150 is built for the common man that still requires use of a truck but spends more time on road than off.

This is why the s-duty's are still produced and with manual locking hubs. The problem with the s-duty's is their diesels have sucked for two generations now and to make matters worse, one must pull the cab to begin working on them. The 6-hour process to remove and reinstall isn't an issue while still under warranty. However, the poor souls with expired warranties will have absorb 6-hours labor before the tech even begins working on the failed component. That's going to hurt.

At that point, interior/exterior color combos will be the least of one's worries...

 

If I were going to buy a smoker, I'd definately get the Ford ESP with it. But since I'm looking for a V-8 gasser in a SD chassis, I'll be fine. The '09 F-150 is a fantastic truck but with too many restrictions IRT options. Unfortunately because of fuel prices and my actual needs VS. dreams, I'll most likely settle for the half ton XLT 4x4. This is the point hat most of us are trying to make, when spending that kind of money, one shouldn't have to settle, be it for more or less.

Tim

 

Not sure if this was directed at me since i mentioned my 99... but IMO its thinking like that thats the problem. In the auto industry its all about latest greatest and man last years model seems to be like model T's to folks. I think half the problem is ford pushing it on folks rather than people actually wanting new features and such. Its all about the dollar and they sure try there hardest to push new stuff on folks and well of course they are designed to be obselecent from the get go anyhow. Sure if certain problems are fixed from year to year thats great. But the half ton of today is practically the one ton of yesterday it seems. Why do they need to do that, just buy the one ton if you need more hauling capability,etc. Dont get me wrong I like a new looking model every so often but to be honest thats were ford has dropped the ball the most IMO. After '96 they havent made a truck that looked decent (just IMO of course), but I dont buy based on looks really. I know its a different animal but look at tractors and such, they are usually designed to last. Lots of farmall H's, john deer A's and B's working in the fields in my family. I was just thinking about how much better I liked my early 70's cub cadet (IH built, not mtd or whatever they are today) and how that works just a good as any new one and has already lasted onger than any new one ever will. I dont know, I guess I'm in the minority that isnt all that interested in buying a new vehicle before paying the current one off every couple years, and new features usually dont mean much to me. I've often thought about restoring my bronco and adding fuel injection... if I could get 15+ mpg out of it I'd probably use it as a daily driver.

 

I just got a reply from Ford. The question was: Can I special order a Bright Red Platinum?
Their reply: Shown available online is Bright Red Clearcoat and royal red clearcoat metallic. So, I get all excited thinking they have added Bright Red to the Platinums available colors. Wrong!!!!!!!!!

So now on top of them placing a bright red Platinum front and center on their build site, I have customer service telling me that it's available. Is this some kind of joke?

I guess I should have known better when customer service asked me what year and model Platinum I needed info about. Duh!

 

Hey. I didn't know my wife was on here.

 

Should you be allowed to have a drivers license?

 

I must agree that I too am frustrated with Ford and other manufactures. I can understand their stance on producing packages and marketing trucks like that because someone talked to some drivers, read some forums, did some surveys, but the fact is that it still will not satisfy those who know what they want. Regardless of stock of items, Ford, or any manufacturer should be able to build a special order vehicle for anybody willing to pay for it. The website says the 2009 F-150 starts about $21,500, so wouldn't be so hard to start with that price tag on an order sheet and have a buyer mark off every tiny thing they want added that Ford offers. Just my opinion though. Time to play the waiting game to see if Ford responds to my email.

 

It's got a lot to do with the 'Lean Manufacturing' philosophy.

American companies are trying to adopt the Japanese way of manufacturing vehicles.

Basically, You offer packages to consumers. And the plant only keeps parts on hand to produce those type of vehicles.
1 part for this truck going down the line. None sitting on the shelf, for any others. Every part that is stocked, is ready to go onto a vehicle in production.
Every gallon of paint on hand, is ready to be sprayed on a truck already in production. No Extra gallons laying around to paint Joe's special order.

It does save money. But it doesn't always save time. If You have a supplier problem, A defective part or 2, someone breaks a part on the line, Your SOL. No extra parts to take up the slack. And, when You get into Custom production, it severely limits Your capabilities to change things.

So basically, they're building cars like Honda does: This is what We offer, take it or leave it.

It really does spit in the face of the traditional way that some Americans are used to buying their vehicles.

IF the option of not being able to get a chrome grill/bumper is really a deal breaker, try talking to the Dealers Manager. See if they'll cut You a deal on a Chrome Bumper/Grill from their parts dept?

Good Luck getting a response from Ford. They don't give a crap about one customer trying to special order a truck.

If they see 200 peeps looking for a Bright Red Platinum, that might be different.