- pickup
- Marshall, MO
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- autoshopper.com
1994 ford f-150 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. introductiontest driving the most popular model of the best-selling full-size pickups is a piece of cake .. In evaluating the latest edition of the ford f-150, there can be a tendency to overlook its many assets because they are so familiar. Also, there can be a tendency to overlook the refining and honing that have been applied to make a good pickup even better. we tried the 1994 ford flareside supercab f-150 in the 4x4 version and fell into the trap of taking the familiar for granted. It was predictable in doing what ford pickups have been doing since they took over full-size sales leadership 16 years ago-satisfying their owners by performing well, handling nicely and delivering great value in a lasting, reliable manner. It was difficult because we kept slipping into a 'that's the way it's supposed to be' frame of mind. But we recalled the enthusiasm of the guys on the loading dock and tried anew to appreciate fully this pickup. walkaroundstyling is one area of significant change. The familiar upright stance of its full-size ford pickup has been modified with some softening of lines, rounding of edges and flaring of the wheel cutouts. Mirrors, grille, bumpers and wheels were bright metal. flareside styling included practical steps fore and aft the rear fenders. These are great for loading and unloading. Another great convenience feature also adds to the softer look-a molded running board or step under both doors. Full-size pickups, particularly 4wd full-size pickups, usually require some clambering to enter and exit. the pickup bed, true to the flareside type, had no intrusions in it for clean, easy loading and unloading. The box has the standard double-wall construction. The xlt package included the new convertible console front seat, which is basically three individual front seats. The outer two have built-in headrests and are reclining and adjustable. Two passengers are going to be a lot more comfortable than three. All gauges, controls and switches are sensibly placed with one exception: controls for the driver's power seat are somewhat blocked by the door storage panel. The standard driver-side air bag, new on full-size ford pickups for 1994, is mounted in the steering wheel hub. The hub also carries the cruise control. visibility is excellent. The glass and mirrors offered great vision all around the truck. Pickup mirrors seemed to get knocked out of adjustment a lot, and manually adjusting the right-hand mirror is a chore. Another complaint is that the small quarter windows in the cab do not open. True, the back window is a slider that can provide circulation, but reaching way back to open it for some fresh air is a stretch. It would be much easier to merely pop open a limited-access quarter window. driving impressionfull-size ford pickups are solidly built, and that's the way they ride solidly. Ford spends a lot of time and money proclaiming the ride and handling advantages of its twin i-beam front suspension. We can only say that it seems to work well. In 4x4 ford pickups, it's called twin traction beam, which means that each front wheel is supported by an axle arm and coil spring and reacts to road surfaces independently. This has become standard full-size and midsize pickup braking. It has multi-port electronic fuel injection, a computer-controlled fuel/air mixture feeding the engine for optimal performance under a wide range of climate, driving and load conditions. The 4wd system had a two-speed transfer case with electronic shifting, an option available only on the f-150. As a 4x4, it sat up high. The expanse of glass and the elevated seating enabled us to look down at traffic from a serene, quiet environment. Performance was great; this engine has ample power for cruising with a load in the bed or a decent-sized trailer on the back. It's great to look at. Even better to drive or ride in. And it performs like any full-size ford should--solid ride, handling and performance. one thing: tricked-out full-size pickups don't come cheap. But it still adds up to a light-truck package with a price not to be taken lightly. nonetheless, it looks to us as though ford has made all the right moves to maintain its full-size pickup sales leadership. But we appreciate that chevy concedes nothing and has some great full-size trucks to choose from. Cruise Control
Marshall, MOMarshall, MO at autoshopper.com