just spent all day driving an F-150 4x4 crew cab for work, I have never in my life been looking forward to getting back to the office as I was today, My back is killing me and my arms are hurting from such a tight grip on the wheel. That thing was a POS!! I can't wait to get in my 4 runner and fight the afternoon traffic
oh the torture
- Thread starter tincan86
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NJshadow93
New member
Are you sure? I heard they have aluminum bodies now. You can't even fix minor dents, and you would end up fearing for your life in a minor collision! I'm sorry, but Ford and every other American company cheap out way more than they should. And people talk about the 5th gens quality...
zstampe
New member
Yep, aluminum hasn't started yet. And actually it's more expensive to go aluminum. The reason they are doing it is weight savings for fuel economy to meet the new CAFE laws. Ford builds great trucks and no one can deny that, the shear amount of them on the road speaks volumes. But I digress, I love my 4runner too, I've just wanted a truck for a bit now.
NJshadow93
New member
Yeah, I agree they have always been good at making trucks. Although it is clear the aluminum will greatly reduce weight, they are basing everything on MPGs and IMO, it is just for competition. How good would a 23 MPG full size pickup look among the competition? But IMO, aluminum body for a vehicle is ridiculous and is a safety hazard. I heard you can't even fix dents on it. People would have to spend thousands on new parts (hood, fender, door panel, etc.) because even a small dent would be un-repairable and because of the huge price tag on aluminum body parts.
zstampe
New member
There are plenty of aluminum cars on the market already though. Audi makes cars using aluminum subframes etc. No rust on the truck either. That being said i think I'd rather have a 20mpg regular steel truck though. Also the frame is all steel on the aluminum bodied truck.
zstampe
New member
boondoggle
Member
I hope Ford is better at painting aluminum than when they made the Freestyle (not to be confused with the Freestar). Every single one of them has the paint bubbling and flaking off the hood. My wife has one (2006 no warranty) and the dealer basically said too bad. Ford just doesn't care.
Apparently the Expeditions and Explorers are affected too. TSBs exist.
Oh well, we gave Ford a chance. Can't see myself buying another. Fit and finish isn't that great either.
I think the frames on their trucks are tough. But every time I see a white Ford F-150 in traffic it's almost always some douchebag driving it like an ******* and riding someone's ass.
. If it has a business name on the side double the odds.
I'd get a Silverado Or Tundra if buying a full size truck. But thats just me.
Apparently the Expeditions and Explorers are affected too. TSBs exist.
Oh well, we gave Ford a chance. Can't see myself buying another. Fit and finish isn't that great either.
I think the frames on their trucks are tough. But every time I see a white Ford F-150 in traffic it's almost always some douchebag driving it like an ******* and riding someone's ass.
. If it has a business name on the side double the odds. I'd get a Silverado Or Tundra if buying a full size truck. But thats just me.
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NJshadow93
New member
I agree, love the new Tundras and the 5.7L iForce V8 is impressive. Especially equipped with a TRD supercharger, it would whoop a Ford Raptor. I love the Raptors though too.
zstampe
New member
I hope Ford is better at painting aluminum than when they made the Freestyle (not to be confused with the Freestar). Every single one of them has the paint bubbling and flaking off the hood. My wife has one (2006 no warranty) and the dealer basically said too bad. Ford just doesn't care.
Apparently the Expeditions and Explorers are affected too. TSBs exist.
Oh well, we gave Ford a chance. Can't see myself buying another. Fit and finish isn't that great either.
I think the frames on their trucks are tough. But every time I see a white Ford F-150 in traffic it's almost always some douchebag driving it like an ******* and riding someone's ass.
I'd get a Silverado Or Tundra if buying a full size truck. But thats just me.
I like the tundras and silverados too, but I had a silverado before my 4r and it had problem after problem. Before 100k I had the starter go out, 4wd actuator, multiple axle seals, the steering shaft had to be replaced and a couple other odds and ends. The final straw was the transmission slipping.
Pretty truck though.
Husker Z
New member
My old S60R had an aluminum hood, roof and trunk lid for weight savings, and you know that Volvo isn't rolling anything out there that isn't crazy-safe, so I wouldn't put too much stock into that part of it.
Not sure on the dents though, I had a small door ding removed from one of the doors, but I don't believe it was aluminum, so who knows.
Not sure on the dents though, I had a small door ding removed from one of the doors, but I don't believe it was aluminum, so who knows.
Dusty Driftwood
New member
That's how I feel everyday. My company provides us with F-150s. When I started, I had a 2006 with over 100,000 miles on the clock. So, I thought it was just old and beat in. About a year ago, I was upgraded to a 2011 XLT 4X4 with flex fuel. I was pretty stoked at first, but shortly after disappointed to find the quality of the build was just ok.
I tell people, I would have been very disappointed if I had spent my own money on this vehicle, but since it is company provided I can't really complain. Aside from the problems you'd expect, they crammed a bunch of technology into the vehicle that (in my opinion) has not been perfected yet. Safety is huge to our company culture (so we're not the aforementioned ******** flying down the highway) so we have to use hands free if we're on the phone and the SYNC system had problem after problem. Finally, I went to the dealer and even they couldn't figure it out. I ended up just going back to using my bluetooth headset.
Same thing applies with trying to play music through ipod/phone through the system. It is almost like the stereo just can't figure out what to do with it. Now that I have 25,000 miles on the clock it makes almost as many strange sounds as my old 2006.
Also, we had a hail storm this past Spring in my area and the truck took over $5,500 damage to the hood, roof, fenders, trim, etc. The hood was replaced because it took the most damage, but the rest was PDR (paintless dent removal) Not sure which components are aluminum (if any) I was just glad repairs didn't come out of my pocket and our (owned) cars were safe in the garage
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97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
I love the dodge ram ad banner at the top
boondoggle
Member
Our Freestyle is based heavily on the Volvo XC90 platform so it should be a pretty safe vehicle which is why we got it shortly after my son was born. Lots of airbags, crush zones etc. I guess Ford had just bought Volvo prior to that. They revised that platform for the new Explorers.
Didn't mean to be harsh on any drivers of white Ford F-150s. But if I brought one home I think my wife would pull a John Wayne Bobbit on me. Or off me, as the case may be.
Husker Z
New member
Our Freestyle is based heavily on the Volvo XC90 platform so it should be a pretty safe vehicle which is why we got it shortly after my son was born. Lots of airbags, crush zones etc. I guess Ford had just bought Volvo prior to that. They revised that platform for the new Explorers.
Didn't mean to be harsh on any drivers of white Ford F-150s. But if I brought one home I think my wife would pull a John Wayne Bobbit on me. Or off me, as the case may be.
In the short time Ford owned Volvo, they took a lot of the technology and used it on their new lineup of vehicles. However, I don't believe much, if anything, went from here to Gothenburg, which is a good thing for us Volvo owners I think and a good thing for newer Ford owners as well.
TRDCal
New member
I don't understand what everyone's problem is with aluminum (this goes back to another thread about DO's new front bumpers). Y'all know those funny looking things that fly over your head at hundred of miles per hour, I think there called airplane well THERE MADE OF ALUMINUM. I know the TV shows call it "aircraft grade" aluminum buts it's just another aluminum alloy and in the end it's no more special than what Ford uses.
AND you best get use to it sooner than later because in 15-20years every car on the road will no longer be made of steel. They'll be made of light weight metals, plastics and composites, its just the wave of the future and if you ask me its much better than replacing good ol'internal combustion with electric motors.
For the record, I don't really like Fords, but they're by far the best of the big three. My work truck in a 2011 Chev 3500 and its an absolute joke.
AND you best get use to it sooner than later because in 15-20years every car on the road will no longer be made of steel. They'll be made of light weight metals, plastics and composites, its just the wave of the future and if you ask me its much better than replacing good ol'internal combustion with electric motors.
For the record, I don't really like Fords, but they're by far the best of the big three. My work truck in a 2011 Chev 3500 and its an absolute joke.
boondoggle
Member
I have no problem with Aluminum. Al is great. Very recyclable to boot.
I just hope if certain companies intend to use it, they learn to work with it better.
A co-worker of mine has a Silverado. It's a nice truck. He had to get the motor rebuilt right before the warranty ran out. I figured it was because of his oil change habits. He an Amsoil guy (good oil, yes) but he only changes the filter every 3-5k miles and only changes the oil every 25k miles or so. Sounds crazy to me and I always chalked it up to that.
Never been in a Tundra.
I just hope if certain companies intend to use it, they learn to work with it better.
A co-worker of mine has a Silverado. It's a nice truck. He had to get the motor rebuilt right before the warranty ran out. I figured it was because of his oil change habits. He an Amsoil guy (good oil, yes) but he only changes the filter every 3-5k miles and only changes the oil every 25k miles or so. Sounds crazy to me and I always chalked it up to that.
Never been in a Tundra.
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TRDCal
New member
I have no problem with Aluminum. Al is great. Very recyclable to boot.
I just hope if certain companies intend to use it, they learn to work with it better.
Well that's just it...all these vehicles that are going to be made of alum. will go thru the sames tests as a vehicle made of steel AND i'm sure there going to be just a safe.
As for the Silverado, its good from far but far from good. Sure on the outside its a nice truck but the 6.0L engine sounds like a vacuum cleaner, the interior build quality is horrid and so far with 6000kms on the odo the driver seat has started to rip, when its cold outside the HVAC fan makes a horrible noise and starting this past week the DIC (driver info center) and shifter position indicator go blank every now and then.
