Why do manufacturers still offer pickup trucks with neither a plastic or spray-in bed liner as standard equipment?
By Neil G. Chirico
Having a pickup truck in our fleet means it'll inevitably see hauling duty. During the past few months, several staffers have put it to the test, which makes us wonder: Why do manufacturers still offer pickup trucks with neither a plastic or spray-in bed liner as standard equipment? If the scratches in our Ford's bed were the marks left from past battles, it's been in a war. It looks about 20 years older than the rest of the truck. Bed aside, the rest of this well-used work machine looks as fresh as the day it left the factory, including its much-praised, upscale interior.
The last update noted the engine's actual output not quite living up to its rating. One editor surmised that "the tranny feels like it sucks the 300 horsepower down to 200." Another echoed this thought: "The trans seems designed for city driving and fuel economy." That could explain a lot. Sometime after our last service, a taillamp bulb failed. A couple bucks and a few minutes were all it took for replacement. Other than our nitpicking about the engine/trans performance and some brake noise, the F-150 has been flawless.
| 2004 Ford F-150 4X4 SuperCrew |
| Base price | $34,980 |
| Price as tested | $38,460 |
| Vehicle layout | Front engine, 4WD, 4-door, 5-pass |
| Engine | 5.4L V-8, SOHC, 3 valves/cyl |
| SAE net hp @ rpm | 300 @ 5000 |
| SAE torque @ rpm | 365 @ 3750 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph, sec | 8.9 |
| EPA mpg, city/hwy | 14/18 |
| Total mileage | 13,664 |
| Average test mpg | 13.1 |
| Problem areas | None |
| Maintenance cost | $57/5000-mile service, same for 10K |
| Normal-wear cost | $2/taillamp bulb |