With three examples on hand for the big photo shoot and Motor Trend Television videography, the staff became so enamored with the SuperCab Lariat that we secured the mighty maroon truck for a year-long evaluation. The controversial exterior ranked as a distant second for purchase influence, followed by prior experience, comfort, and quality. Recreation-hungry owners exploited the F-150's talents to perform a variety of grueling tasks, and complaints were virtually non-existent. Details like passenger-airbag shutoff, third door, and flat-folding rear bench add significantly to the truck's value and versatility. Interestingly, only a mere 3.
The front twin-I-beam setup of old has been replaced by a short-and-long arm assembly. This is a rare occurrence that may tarnish the staff's reputation as mutants possessing heavy right feet. It is no wonder then that 94. The only glitch in an otherwise perfect record was an annoying accessory belt squeal, perhaps attributable to the grime-flinging Truck of the Year photo shoot. With an astronomical number of possible configurations available from V-6-powered Flareside standard cab truck to full-bore V-8-powered SuperCab 4x4, there is no shortage of F-Series choices.
Laudable suspension compliance contributes to the F-150's refined character. After 12 hard months, the F-150 still looks and feels great, virtually none the worse for wear excepting tires. But at the end of our formal loan period, we can understand why so many survey respondents choose to purchase-who'd want to part with such a valued friend? To encourage staff sedan stalwarts to transition from the 300 and other posh four-doors in our custody to the long-term F-150, we ordered Preferred Equipment Package 508A featuring leather upholstery, Lariat trim, air conditioning, six-way power driver's seat, tilt steering wheel, and electronic speed control. Its slippery cowhide surface proved resistant to an onslaught of diverse potentially staining elements. Instantly, the F-150 was transformed into a sporty Expedition wannabe, with the security of a lockable cargo bed.
Our pick was a third-door-equipped, two-wheel-drive SuperCab in Lariat trim. The clean, flowing dash is as inviting as a sedan's, with logically placed controls and intuitive, ergonomic design. Of surveyed owners, nearly 75 percent rated the rear bench as providing above-average comfort. I have a 14-month-old girl, and the car seat fits in the middle of the rear bench really well, plus she sits high enough to see out. Owners were equally pleased, as evidenced by surveys returned overflowing with gushing praise.
A mildly bolstered leather bench offers comfortable perches for three up front, though our staff would have preferred more contouring and support. Given the respectable equity retention, this would suggest attractive lease deals would be available. Three people can be accommodated with reasonable comfort in the rear, though two passengers would be preferable. An unbeatable combination of smooth, efficient powertrains, strong towing abilities, commendable ride compliance and handling, and marvelous cabin packaging earned the F-150 the honored distinction of Motor Trend's '97 Truck of the Year. For light-duty users to whom gas mileage is more of a concern than towing capacity, the excellent available 4.
However, survey owners rated the third door over styling for inspiring their purchase. A large, fold-down armrest in the center featuring a storage compartment and cupholder was constantly deployed in our long-termer. Typically, the key influence in new vehicle purchase considerations among survey respondents is the styling, but with the F-150, it was the industry-first third-door that had consumers reaching for their checkbook. Combined with careful suspension tuning, the front A-arm and rear leaf spring arrangement delivers a pleasantly supple ride without sacrificing essential truck toughness. With a full complement of power equipment, our long-term F-150 was downright luxurious and satisfying.
In the face of truly formidable competition, the all-new stood out as the most significant truck, making a giant, evolutionary leap forward in mainstream pickup design, bolstering its work abilities with people-friendly attributes that result in a highly desirable truck for the money. InteriorA modern, flowing dash with well-designed controls at easy reach marks a decisive step forward in truck interiors. This was painlessly solved by our dealer, as was a power steering pump noise. With an 8000-pound tow capacity, the F-150 handled its workhorse chores without complaint, pulling heavy loads up mountainous grades with commendable strength. For them, the half-second disadvantage in the 0-60-mph dash was outweighed by thriftier fuel economy and lower upfront investment. Regular servicings and a steady diet of fuel were all that was needed to keep the pickup running in prime condition.
Circling the skidpad at 0. ExteriorDaring styling didn't pay off for the Taurus, but the curvy look has delivered in spades for the F-150, as stellar sales attest. That the leading purchase motivations didn't include traditional truck attributes such as power, payload capacity, and tow ability, speaks volumes about the modern, mainstream truck buyers who value convenience and comfort in their daily driver. . Needless to say, the brisk 8. CaptionsEngineWe upgraded the standard 4.