One year test - 2005 F-150

[camaro chris]

Well its been almost a year since we got out "Fire Engine Red" Ford F-150 so I figured I'd fill you in on how it did for us.

Ride/Comfort/Handling: 8/10

This truck rides so smoothly. It has the turning radius of a car and it soaks up bumps and potholes. It handles wonderfully, city and highway driving are a breeze, although it does show its mass.


Interior: 9/10

The interior is very well laid out with easy to read and operate controls, plus the whole thing is just pleasing to look at. Panel gaps are fairly small and the materials are all soft to the touch, except for maybe the dark area right around the radio.
The audio system is pretty good and the radio gets excellent reception where our other cars do not.
The cruise control buttons on the wheel are easy to use (at least in comparison to our other cars with the controls on the wiper/directional stalk).
The front seats are large and comfy and have adjustable firmness settings so its easy to get comfortable. Even with 3 people up front there is plenty of room, although you do lose the center arm rest which can get annoying but there's nothing that they could do about that.
The rear seats are surprisingly big and have generous leg room even for taller people. The rear bench folds 60/40 and can with them flipped up u can fit a large TV in there.
The only complaint I have about the interior is the door handles feel like they could snap off in your hands.

Power train: 9/10

The engine is a 5.4 liter "Triton" V8 with 300hp and 360ft-lbs or torque and it’s connected to a 4 speed auto. So far we’ve never come into a situation where we lacked power, even when the bed was loaded up to with over 1000lbs of equipment.
The transmission always seems to be in the right gear and shifts smoothly 95% of the time.
What I really like about it, is that when you hit the gas normally, power comes smoothly and without any jerkiness. When you really floor it though, it pushed you back and lets the rear tires spin.
The only downside is, as with most trucks, the fuel mileage. On the highway it gets from 15-18mpg and city is about 12.

Usefulness: 10/10

The 5 ½ ft bed is large enough for pretty much everything we use it for and for those really long things, the large tailgate adds some extra length. The sides of the bed look tall but are actually pretty easy to get things over.
It has the top trailer hitch on it, although so far we haven’t used it.

Exterior: 10/10

This is all my own opinion of course, but I think the bold, big look this truck has is great! Compared to my friend’s family’s Silverado, it looks 10X better and makes the Chevy look old, and I’m a Chevy guy.

4WD: 10/10
Rarely put it in 4WD but when we do it works well. We used it durning a snow storm and there was no wheel sping.

Overall: 9/10

My parents are thinking of possible trading it in and getting an 06 because there are some pretty good deals at some local dealers, but either way we will have a F-150 for several years to come. Overall I think it’s a great truck and I would recommend it.

Pics:

[Deere_Daze]

I agree with you 100%. My parents have an '05 F-150 and its really nice. Its 10x the truck my '99 F-150 is.

[asim]

Nice review, although I heard that the plastics in the truck were all hard and cheap.

[camaro chris]

Originally Posted by asim

Nice review, although I heard that the plastics in the truck were all hard and cheap.

maybe im just not used to quality plastics cause they seem good to me.

[kool_zx3]

Nice truck man My cousin's grandfather owns one and looks like that but it's a regular cab. He loves his trucks and has owned ford trucks for a good 15-20 years. Get's a new one every 4 years or something.

He added some decals on the back of the tailgate and dual scoops and a few other things, very nice truck.

Talk about legroom also, ****************.... there's alot of room back there.

[gm_scott]

Originally Posted by asim

Nice review, although I heard that the plastics in the truck were all hard and cheap.

Well since it is a truck.

[86fleet]

Glad you enjoy it. I guess this is why it's the best selling vehicle in America

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

Nice truck man, Cant beat an F150!

[camaro chris]

Originally Posted by kool_zx3

Talk about legroom also, ****************.... there's alot of room back there.

yeahs its big back there. i rode back there on a 5 and half hour trip and was comfy. the real test comes next month, a 10-11 hour drive to NC

[plane]

Too much chrome.
The mesh grille is too aggressive.
The tow hooks are too beefy.
There's too much room in the back seat, which steals Ford 500 sales.
The dash is too clean and functional.
The two-tone paint is too-upscale - it needs monochrome, preferably primer.
Ford is nearly bankrupt.
Did I mention that Ford is nearly bankrupt.
Did I miss anything?

I'm trying hard to break into automotive journalism and this is my first shot.

(Nice truck!).

[Bronco 81]

Nice review and truck! I agree with it all but the soft touch materials. They are all hard (Heaven forbid!) except for the soft armrest and a pleather insert on the doors. 95% of the plastic is very nice, everything anyone would ever come in contact with is nicely grained and substantial feeling, no creaks, rattles etc. The 5% for who want to know IMO the two inserts atop the dash by the bottom of the winsheld are flimsy at best.

[Strapping.Young.Lad]

Lol, Plane!!!

[camaro chris]

Originally Posted by plane

Too much chrome.
The mesh grille is too aggressive.
The tow hooks are too beefy.
There's too much room in the back seat, which steals Ford 500 sales.
The dash is too clean and functional.
The two-tone paint is too-upscale - it needs monochrome, preferably primer.
Ford is nearly bankrupt.
Did I mention that Ford is nearly bankrupt.
Did I miss anything?

I'm trying hard to break into automotive journalism and this is my first shot.

(Nice truck!).

HAHAHA! that was great!

[expyfan]

Oh, I Love the F150. That's why it was Motor trend 2004 truck of the year when it came out and is the best selling truck out there.

BUILT FORD TOUGH

[J..D]

That model looks ten times better than the earlier model F-150.