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2004 Ford F-150
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| Stunning performer |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:37:11 |
| Rating |
 17 ( -6 -35.29% ) | | Author | Sue Mead |
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Description:
2004 Ford F-150 FX4
Writer's Notes
2004 Ford F-150 FX4 Specifications:
Base price: $30,485 (destination and delivery included)
Engine: 5.4-liter V8 (300 hp @5,000 rpm, 365 lb.-ft. @3,750 rpm)
Transmission: 4-speed automatic with overdrive
Wheelbase: 125.8-144.4 in.
Length: 211.5-229.8 in.
Width: 78.9 in.
Height: 74.8-75.3 in.
Head/hip/legroom: front: 40.9/63.8-66.3/41.3 in.; rear: 39.6/NA/32.7-39 in.*
Curb weight, lbs.: 5133-5606
Fuel economy: 14 city/18 highway mpg
Safety equipment: Dual-stage frontal airbags with Occupant Position Sensing; Beltminder seat belt reminder system; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; Electronic Brake Force Distribution
*Regular Cab, SuperCab, SuperCrew body styles
5 questions about the 2004 Ford F-150 FX4
When is the new FX4 on sale? On sale now, the 2004 FX4 comes in V8 and 4-door versions only. Within the next year, Ford plans to offer a 4.2 V6 model, with a manual transmission, and will also consider a 2-door model, as well. King Ranch, Harley Davidson and Lightening special editions will follow, as well.
How does it handle? Extremely competently. Crisp rack and pinion steering, great braking with well-measured stopping power and a great pedal feel, along with more than ample horsepower and torque for driving and towing, and a smooth-shifting transmission. In fact, Ford reports tat it has the most payload and towing capability in its class.
What are its best features? There are many, including the updated exterior and interior styling, with "warm steel" and "carbon mesh" accents and an aircraft-inspired instrument cluster. But, truly best is its quiet, refined ride.
Any complaints? There are those that will wonder why Ford did not include side airbags and even rollover, roof airbags, since it did so with its most recent Explorer/Mountaineer remakes. Ford, however, will tell you its safety engineers have performed strident testing in both areas, and feel the truck meets all safety standards in the market today. Additionally, while the new outboard suspension system in the rear brings great benefit to comfort and handling, it precludes the option of 4-wheel steering, at this time. Ford will be evaluating that interest from consumers, as it goes forward with the build of this new truck.
What are the new outboard rear shocks? Unique to its segment are the F-150's rear shocks, which are located outboard the frame rails. The positioning of the new model's shocks keeps the axle from "skipping" on cobblestone-like surfaces. Outboard shocks help keep the body from teetering - like a seesaw - because the shocks are not mounted toward the center of the undercarriage. On the FX4, these shocks are upgraded to heavy-duty units.
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xxx
Kingman, Arizona: Traveling at a high rate of speed, I reach a sharp bend in a dry wash. Twisting the steering wheel, with my hands now at twelve and three, I lift off the Triton V8 power and feel the FX4's empty bed slide sideways, placing me at a 45-degree angle to the decreasing radius turn ahead. Quick thinking tells me there are two things to do: gently apply more power to the throttle, and pray that the scrub brush and mesquite that I see straight out my windshield will soon be a passing view on the passenger-side window. Yee haw! It works and I reach out and "high five" the Ford engineer riding shotgun in this all-new truck.
We are at Ford's Durability Testing Facility, where temperatures range from 35 degrees in the winter to 118 in the summer, putting the all-new 2004 F-150 off-road truck through rigorous competitive testing. Its competition? Chevy's Silverado, Toyota's Tundra, the Dodge Ram, and the soon-to-be-released Nissan Titan. During this day, a small group of auto writers have put the latest version of Ford trucks, including the FX4, through a wide variety of evaluation, scrutinizing this truck's acceleration, braking, slow-speed and high-speed maneuverability, general handling and towing performance, as well as serious off-road assessment. The 4 x 4 tracks included steep hill climbs, with unevenly-spaced railroad ties to take a closer look, listen and feel to the new electronic throttle management system; steep descent to evaluate low-range gearing ratios and engine braking; along with ditches and potholes that flex the pickup's frame and evaluate the competency of the new suspension to keep wheels and tires on the ground. And, at the end of the day, the icing on the cake is a high-speed driving course, on a hard-packed dirt track and through a soft-sand dry wash.
Sideways in the dry wash, for a few moments, I feel like I am back in the Baja 1000, the famed Mexican off-road race, which I have now participated in five times. While the FX4 isn't set up for true 4 x 4 racing-racing requires many aftermarket add-ons and safety features, such as a roll cage, special seats and a 5-point harness-the 2004 edition of the FX4 takes you just shy of it!
How did it perform? Stunningly, on its own, and superbly, when compared to the competition (which excluded the Titan, as it is not on the market yet). There are so many stand-out features, beyond its attractive new exterior and interior styling, that it's hard to mention them all. Top of the list, however, are comfortableness, quietness and competency, both on-pavement and in the back country.
Seven years have passed since the Ford F-150's last major renovation. During this period the F-series has continued to be America's best selling truck, with over 900,000 sold in 2001 alone. Hoping for another lucky seven, Ford has released the all-new F-150 as a 2004 model.
Increased stopping power on unconventional surfaces was also taken into consideration on the FX4, as normal ABS systems sometimes take longer to stop than non-ABS brakes on loose terrain.
Versatility
The new F-150 is offered with three different body styles: Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew. The Regular Cab seats up to three in the front seat and uses rearward swinging back doors to access space behind the seat. SuperCab models get the same rearward swinging doors, but offer another row of seats. SuperCrew's rear seat is accessed via forward swinging full-size rear doors. Cargo box length can be 5.5-, 6.5-, or 8-ft. in Styleside or Flareside sheetmetal. 2004 F-150s are available with two engines: a 4.6-liter V8 (231-hp./293-lb.-ft. torque) or a 5.4-liter V8 (300-hp./365-lb.-ft. torque). The 5.4-liter engine is based on the existing 5.4 but now uses three valves per cylinder and Variable Camshaft Timing to up horsepower and torque by 40 (from 260) and 15 (from 350-lb.-ft.), respectively. Efficiency increases at low rpm thanks to Charge-Motion Control Valves that vary the air-fuel mixture depending on demand. Towing capacity is 9500-lbs. and the truck will carry a 2,900-lb. payload.
Five trim models are offered for 2004: XL, STX, XLT, FX4, and Lariat, in both 2WD and 4WD.
Off-road ability
Of particular interest to off-road enthusiasts is the FX4 model. All body styles are available on the FX4, and either a 5.5- or 6.5-ft. box carries cargo. 4WD is standard.
Capability on rough surfaces begins with a stiffened frame. Rather than using traditional "C" frame rails, the new F-150 frame is fully boxed, strengthening both stiffness in torsion and bending. Hydroforming, or using fluid pressure to form shapes from a tubular blank, has been used to engineer the front frame rails. Stability of the front rails increases, a crucial factor, as they bear heavier weight. All this strengthening results in less shudder on rough roads, and, therefore, better control.
Complementing the frame are new front and rear suspension systems. A coil-on-shock double wishbone front suspension provides increased stability on uneven surfaces. Aluminum lower control arms reduce moving weight and enhance control, as a result. In the rear, the leaf springs have been widened to three inches providing better lateral stiffness on rough surfaces that induce heavier side loads. Unique to its segment are the F-150's rear shocks, which are located outboard the frame rails. The positioning of the new model's shocks keeps the axle from "skipping" on cobblestone-like surfaces. Outboard shocks help keep the body from teetering - like a seesaw - because the shocks are not mounted toward the center of the undercarriage. On the FX4, these shocks are upgraded to heavy-duty units.
Since rough conditions demand torque, the new 5.4-liter V8 with a 4-speed automatic is standard equipment on the FX4. The throttle body of the new engine is electronically controlled, which is a great asset off the asphalt. Once in low range, the throttle adjusts and provides a different accelerator response. With this altered throttle engaged, you have much better control over the V8's torque (365-lb.-ft. at 3,750-rpm), in general, and better control on rugged and slippery surfaces. An electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case equips the FX4, and a 3.73:1 limited slip rear differential is standard, aiding traction even more.
Increased stopping power on unconventional surfaces was also taken into consideration on the FX4, as normal ABS systems sometimes take longer to stop than non-ABS brakes on loose terrain. The new truck uses 4-wheel vented disc brakes with twin-piston front calipers and single-piston rears. Both front and rear rotor diameters have grown (fronts are 13-in., rears 13.7-in.) and become thicker, resulting in better heat dissipation and increased stiffness. The Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) system redirects brake power if it senses a wheel is about to lock up and lose traction. The use of 4-wheel ABS aided by EBD has lessened stopping distances off the pavement by 13-percent.
Aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, other features on the FX4 include skid plates and optional 18-in. wheels wrapped in LT275/65R18 tires. Standard are 17-in. wheels and tires. Captain's chair in either cloth or leather are an option and come with a "segment-first", flow-through center console, with a floor shifter. On sale now, the new FX4 starts at a base price of $30, 485.
--Photos Courtesy of Ford North America
--Story by Sue Mead
Sue Mead works as a photojournalist and features writer for more than two dozen publications. She has written for Parade, Popular Science, Open Road, the Road & Track Buyers Guide, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics and Diversion and she has worked as an auto editor for CNN/fn. Sue has co-driven in two of the world's toughest off-road races, the Baja 1000 and the Paris-Dakar Raid. She attended four Camel Trophy adventures for Land Rover North America and has participated in several long-distance adventure drives. She recently completed her first book, "Monster Trucks and Tractors" published by Chelsea House. Sue lives in New England. |
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