Thursday, August 28th, 2008
4×4 pickup trucks sure have changed over the past few decades. Once reserved for commercial applications or hauling hay and feed around the farm with barely a heater and windshield wipers, these versatile vehicles have been transformed into what is often the family four-door, the four-wheel-drive king cab commuter, or the cause of envy at local drag strips. And for a few years now there have been some new players strutting onto the field with a box attached to a luxury vehicle. Lincoln has taken two stabs at this segment so far, the first being the forgettable and misguided Blackwood and more recently the Mark LT, also known as a thinly-disguised Ford F-150. Over at General Motors, luxury division Cadillac has been a bit more thorough with its dressing up of the Chevrolet Avalanche, with the result being the 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT.
With its rear box, the all-wheel-drive EXT is technically a pickup truck, one that features an innovative fold-down midgate that effectively creates a full-size bed. But, aside from that design element, the EXT is much like the rest of the 2007 Cadillac Escalade lineup, with the same fresh face accented by vertically-stacked bright headlight housings and an expansive chrome grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car. There are clean new body lines with tighter gaps, front fender vents, and integrated running boards. The new Escalades get an interior distinct from the lesser Chevy and GMC versions, with an attractive dash layout and generous use of leather. Added luxury comes in the form of an optional heated steering wheel, a touch-screen navigation system, a rear DVD entertainment system, a surround sound system by Bose, and 18- or 22-inch chrome alloy wheels.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
In the world of niche performance 4×4 pickup trucks, the new rooster crowing the loudest is the Dodge Ram SRT-10 with its claim of fastest production pickup. There was a time when that designation belonged to the Ford F-150 Lightning, and you can bet the boys in Dearborn tasted the bitter pill of defeat what that heralded title was lost. Apparently, Ford engineers don’t like the view from second place, so much so that they’ve created the 2007 Saleen Sport Truck S331, an F-150-based SuperCab pickup that promises to give the Dodge Ram SRT-10 a serious run for its money.
With about 5,000 vehicles built in 2005, including three versions of the Mustang, the GT supercar, and the stellar S7, the Ford engineers have proven they know how to build fast cars. The Sport Truck S331 is no exception, thanks to the availability of two engines: a 24-valve V8 cranking out 325 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, and another V8 with twin superchargers pushing 450 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of twist. Ford talks about fuel mileage, but you can bet that won’t be its best selling point.
Anyone who’s familiar with Saleen vehicles knows they can expect more than just oodles of power. In the case of the 2007 Ford Saleen Sport Truck S331, those extras include reworked front and rear fascias with honeycomb inserts, a new horizontal-slat grille, a supersized front air dam, and an integrated rear bumper with a diffuser. The hood is new, with a sculpted vent, the flanks are dressed with lower skirts, and gracing the wheel wells are 23-inch alloys, which Saleen suggests are the largest standard wheels on a production truck. Inside the five-passenger cabin are unique gauges, race pedals, and a supercharger gauge cluster is mounted atop the center dash on the 450-horsepower models. The Saleen name is embroidered on the seats and printed on the gauges, while the floor mats feature the S331 designation.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
Super Duty models are the hard-hauling brutes in full-size Ford’s pickup trucks line. The F-250 is the three-quarter-ton version, while the Ford F-350 is rated at one ton. For 2007, changes consist mainly of new colors and options for SuperCab and Crew Cab models. Freshened styling on the Ford F-250 Super Duty adopted elements of Ford’s Mighty F-350 Tonka concept truck for 2005. A new 6.8-liter V-10, with three valves per cylinder, produced 52 horsepower more than its predecessor. The Power Stroke diesel engine gained 10 pounds-feet of torque for a total of 570 pounds-feet, and a new three-valve version of the 5.4-liter V-8 delivered an additional 40 hp. Ford said the new TowCommand System, with its electric trailer-brake controller, was an industry first.
The F-250 Super Duty pickup comes in XL, XLT and Lariat trim levels. For 2006, equipment that was previously included just in the F-250 Lariat pickup Luxury Package is standard in all Lariat models. An Amarillo Package for Lariat Crew Cab models features Blazing Yellow paint, 18-inch forged aluminum wheels, black leather seating surfaces and other extras. A Chrome Package is available for XLT and Lariat SuperCab and Crew Cab trucks. Forged polished-aluminum 20-inch wheels are available on SRW Crew Cab 4×4 Lariat, King Ranch and Amarillo editions. The King Ranch version of the Lariat Crew Cab is offered in two new two-tone color treatments.
Styling differences between Ford’s light-duty F-150 and the Super Duty models are most evident up front, where a massive grille dominates the Super Duty’s nose. Super Duty pickups come in three forms: regular cab; four-door SuperCab with two conventional front doors and two smaller, rear-opening back doors; and four-door Crew Cab with four conventional front-hinged doors. Wheelbases range from 137 inches on regular cab models to 172.4 inches on the long-bed Crew Cab. Regular cab pickups have an 8-foot cargo bed and measure 226.4 inches long overall, while SuperCab models are equipped with either a 6.75- or 8-foot bed and have an overall length of 231.2 or 247.4 inches. Either bed can be installed on the 4×4 pickup truck, which measures 245.6 or 261.8 inches long.
Front tow hooks are standard. A chrome front bumper and bright grille go on XLT models, while the Lariat adds cab steps, fog lamps and a sliding rear window. Two appearance packages are available for 2007, a Highline Package for SuperCab models and a Outlaw Package for Crew Cab models. The Highline features extensive use of chrome on the grille, tow hooks, step bars and other trim bits, while the Outlaw is a primarily black theme that’s carried over into the interior. Regular cab models seat either two or three occupants. A folding three-place rear bench seat goes into SuperCab and Crew Cab models. Air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel and a CD player are standard in XLT models.
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Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
The Ford F-350 pickup truck is quite a different beast from its standard brethren. Nowadays, light-duty pickups have become quite commonplace as daily drivers and even as family vehicles. Ford’s F-150, in particular, has been hugely popular for the past three decades. The F-350 Super Duty, however, is a 1-ton 4×4 pickup truck that’s often seen doing what it does best hauling and pulling big loads.
More robust than even the capable F-250, the Ford F-350 Super Duty is fit for extreme grunt work thanks to the availability of a dual rear-wheel setup that greatly improves stability when towing. And like other Super Duties, the F-350 is available with a wide choice of body styles, powertrain options and trim levels to choose from. Another reason that Ford’s heavy hauler is a fave is that it can handle massive payloads while also being easy to drive and comfortable to ride in.
There are a few other choices to consider, as Chevy and Dodge also offer worthy choices in this powerhouse field. With the domestic Big 3 constantly improving their heavies, it’s almost anyone’s ball game for a given model year. All are eminently capable, so we suggest driving them all back to back before you make a purchase decision. A dual-rear-wheel setup is offered as well, which allows more weight to be carried in the bed as well as providing greater stability while towing a heavy trailer.
A trio of engines sees duty in the F-350 Super Duty: the standard 5.4-liter V8 (300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque), an optional 6.8-liter V10 and the aforementioned 6.4-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 (350 hp and 650 lb-ft.) Transmission choices consist of a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. Buyers can choose either two- or four-wheel drive across the board.
The previous generation Ford F-350 Super Duty ran from 1999-2007. The debut of this version marked the first time that Ford gave its heavy-duty pickups their own style. Compared to the soft contours of the F-150 of the time, the angular Super Duty with its massive grille looked every bit the square-jawed brute that lay under the skin. For 2003, the FX4 off-road package debuted, as did (for crew cabs) an optional power moonroof and the King Ranch edition.
A smaller yet more powerful 6.0-liter Power Stroke replacing the 7.3-liter version debuted that year as well. The 6.0-liter diesel engine, however, has a reputation for questionable reliability. For 2005, the big news was a new five-speed automatic transmission, an upgraded front suspension, a new grille and headlight design and increased towing and hauling capacities. The next few years saw just minor changes to feature and package availability.
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Monday, August 18th, 2008
The F-150 FX2 Sport pickup truck was one of many Ford cars and trucks shown at the 2006 auto show in Las Vegas. Ford’s goal was to create a customized looking truck that was built using factory parts and accessories that are already available. They wanted power and a bold presence — but not a way-out concept truck; it had to be something a new owner could create.
Before the design team went to work on the truck, they considered consumer trends and even asked automotive journalists for their input during an event in Texas. They decided to base the Ford FX2 Sport truck on the existing FX2–a popular two-wheel drive version of the F-150 truck. The original FX2 package already has a monotone look, with color matched bumpers, front lower air dam and mirror covers and a flat “billet style” grille.
To create the FX2 Sport truck, Ford designer Joe Siler and his team added loads of truck accessories. There is a supercharger that increases the truck’s hp from about 300 to about 450. Now thats a lot of power. There are ceramic coated headers to extend header life and cut down on heat in the engine compartment, for better performance. There is Ford’s sport exhaust for better exhaust flow, another performance enhancer. A fiberglass bed cover and a bedliner has also been provided. A double stripe that fades along its length to almost match the color of the truck. The manufacturers have also given a remote starter.
Now that the truck is out and about Ford will listen to opinions about it, but it sounds like the company achieved its objectives. The truck gave Ford an opportunity to test out its accessory line to discover whether or not it was broad enough to create a fully decked-out truck.
They have a truck to show the public and their dealers, one that says you can do the same thing with truck accessories. It would probably take 3-4 days to install identical accessories on a new truck. By doing it before delivery the customization would become part of the financed price, not something you’d have to pay for as a lump sum after wards.
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Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
The Mark LT is based on the Ford F-150, which is a fine-looking truck. Some people usually don’t like the way a crew cab pickup looks with a short bed – they feel its out of balance. The Mark LT’s bed is 67″ long. Long enough for real usefulness, especially if you spring for the optional bed extender. Bed width at the wheelhouse is 50″, so a 4×8 sheet of plywood can be easily placed on to it.
The Mark LT 4X4’s 9.1″ of ground clearance will be useful on the ranch – make sure you have the skid plates and the platform running boards. The running boards are appreciable, as it’s a serious climb up into the cab. The 4×4 Lincoln Mark LT’s interior is a mixed bag. It’s not that different than the Ford F-150’s, with the exception of a few “Lincoln” badges here and there. That’s a good thing, actually – the F-150 dash is fresh and modern. Lincoln should have upgraded some of the dash materials, though. The pebbled plastic feels really cheap to the touch, and the ebony wood grain is not appreciated.
The steering wheel is wrapped with leather, but doesn’t feature a telescope adjustment, only tilt. These 4×4 pickups come equipped with Light Parchment leather seats. The back seat is really pretty useful and roomy. It’s easy to get in and out, thanks to the full-size doors and pretty good access. It’s not something great, but it’s not bad for two adults. There’s even a fold down armrest, and a rear seat entertainment package can be ordered with a ceiling-mounted video screen and DVD player.
The crew cab setup also helps with security for everyday driving in town. The rear seat folds up easily, leaving a flat load floor in the rear cabin. Like the F-150, the Mark LT is quite a behemoth. Make no mistake, this is a full-sized pickup truck. No matter how many luxury features you tack on, it’s still body-on-frame with a solid live rear axle with leaf springs. The front suspension is double-wishbone with coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar.
The ride is good for a truck but there is still some bouncing in the rear, though, on the highway, especially over expansion joints and rough roads. However, the Mark LT is available with only one engine choice: a 5.4 liter V8 that cranks out 300 hp and 365 lb ft of torque. The Mark LT comes with a four-speed, with no option for an upgrade. With a healthy 8900 lb towing capacity, another gear would be a welcome addition.
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