2009 FORD F-150 LARIAT SUPERCREW: Found on road… Eating Crow

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/06/2009 (5963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Excluding a sexy Mustang named Eleanor and a certain 1939 Ford hot rod, I have never been mistaken for a Ford fan. That rings especially true when it comes to trucks. I’ve been fishing off either the Jeep or General Motors dock for more than 20 years.

This revelation should come as no surprise to any of my buddies who have had the misfortune of rolling into Willy’s Garage driving a Ford F-150.

I actually have a short comedy routine that kicks off with a zinger of a question that goes something like this: "Wow, nice Ford. Did you order the optional heated tailgate so your hands don’t freeze when you’re pushing it?" I typically follow that gem up with a pair of well-worn acronyms, F-O-R-D… Found On Road Dead, or Fix Or Repair Daily. If the crowd is warming up to my anti-Ford wrath, I may even mention that on a quiet day you can actually hear a Ford rust.

All the ribbing that I’ve dished out over the years began to creep up on me mere moments after climbing into the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew 4×4. After a week behind the wheel, it is now apparent that it’s time for me to eat some serious crow.

The thing about first impressions is that you only get one, and the new F-150 dazzled me right out of the gate. After adjusting the comfortable leather-clad power seat, I dropped it into reverse and a clear view of the world behind me magically appeared on the in-dash navigation screen. On the road I mashed the accelerator pedal and the 310-horsepower, 5.4-litre V8 engine roared to life.

Last week was a busy one, and I spent a fair bit of time driving this truck, both around the city and on the highway. My tester was loaded with options and the level of comfort was second to none. Although the plethora of electronic gadgetry at my fingertips was initially a bit daunting, by the end of the week I found myself wondering how I’d live without it all.

The Motorola Razor I begrudgingly tote around is about 100 years old in cellphone technology, but it was easily linked up to Ford’s SYNC, a system that works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and a variety of media players, including iPods.

The voice or touch-activated navigation system featured an eight-inch, in-dash screen that was really easy to figure out. After quickly tapping a destination into the touch screen, a route is calculated and in seconds there is an easy to follow yellow line highlighted on the map. Pleasant voice commands tell you where and when to turn, and there’s even an estimated time of arrival.

If you’re like me, both notoriously lost and late, this technology is like a gift from the gods, and Ford has presented it in a manner that is both clear and effective.

The aforementioned optional reverse camera system was also a very useful tool. The tiny camera is integrated into the Ford oval in the centre of the tailgate, and the camera’s view shows up crystal clear on the in-dash screen. It displays a wide view for backing up as well as a clear picture of the hitch when hooking up a trailer. It beeps as you get closer, and works like a charm.

The massive mirrors feature a lower concave section like the one in the corner of your favourite pharmacy. The mirrors are also telescopic and can be expanded to see around and behind a large trailer. Although I never towed a trailer, this rig was set up for towing to the max, and included an optional in-dash trailer-brake controller that uses braking input, vehicle speed, and information from the vehicle’s ABS braking system to balance the performance of the truck brakes and electric trailer brakes.

Thanks to a fried hot-water tank, I did have the opportunity to haul some cargo, and the optional steps mounted on either side of the box are easily extended with a foot — no hands required. The neatest feature, though, has to be Ford’s innovative tailgate step. Open the tailgate and there’s a handle integrated into it. Just raise the grab bar and flip down the skid resistant step. This makes climbing into the back of the truck so easy it makes a guy wonder why every pickup on the market doesn’t have one. It seems my legs get a little shorter every year, and this feature alone is enough to make me seriously consider buying a Ford truck.

The optional stowable bed extender would also surely come in handy. It splits in the middle, folds, and stows into the sides of the box when not in use. No more ratchet straps to fumble with when your snowmobile or motorcycle is hanging out on the tailgate. I also liked the Easy Fuel capless fuel filler system, it opens when the nozzle is inserted and seals when you pull it out. No tethered cap to scratch the paint and no mess. There are other thoughtful features too, like a small plastic funnel tucked under the rear seat.

Ford boasts that truck owners spoke, and they listened, and judging by all the innovative features on the new F-150, I’d say they have every right to brag.

At a time when General Motors and Chrysler are sailing in uncharted waters, it’s inspiring that Ford has not only stood the test of time, but has also built such a solid and innovative truck. The fuel economy is on par with the competition, and the towing capacity is tops in its class. It’s a great-looking truck, rides like a dream and has more than enough grunt to do some serious hauling.

On the highway, with the sunroof open and the wind blowing where my hair used to be, I fiddled with the Sirius satellite radio linked to the booming Sony audio system. Steve Miller’s classic song Jet Airliner filled the cavernous cab, and it brought a grin to my face as I piloted what is surely the nicest Ford truck ever built.

"Wow," my inner voice proclaimed, "I’m driving a Ford, and I like it." Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Let the crow-eating commence.

willy@freepress.mb.ca

 

RIDING SHOTGUN

GILLES SIMARD, Trucking Logistics Coordinator with Garroni International Logistics

Current Vehicle: 2008 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4×4

The Good: The seats are more comfortable than the previous model. The cargo steps are a huge benefit for loading cargo and accessing the box. There is more power from the engine and smoother shifts from the transmission. The new interior design is very sharp, especially the "pistol grip" shifter, and the exterior changes are subtle but really make the truck stand out in a crowd.

The Bad: Couldn’t find a single negative thing to say.

The Verdict: With 31,000 kms on the odometer and not a single problem with his 2008 model, Simard wouldn’t hesitate to buy a 2009 model, and feels that Ford has taken a great truck and made it even better.

 

THE SPECS

Engine: 5.4L V8, 24 valves, 310 hp @ 5000 rpm 390 lb-ft of torque

Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission

Brakes: four-wheel disc with ABS

Suspension: rear leaf spring

Towing capacity: 5,126 kilograms

Transport Canada fuel-consumption rating: 14.8/100 km city, 10.1 L/100 km highway. (19/28 mpg)

Price as tested: (MSRP): $54,995