A bigger and better behemoth
IF you have CONfiDENCE ISSUES, this truck will give you a boost. Just for its sheer size and heft, the F150 commands attention and strikes fear in the core of lesser creations such as tricycles, mopeds and subcompact cars. Driving it on local roads intimidate drivers behind the wheel of their Japanese or Korean pick-up trucks and SUVs. With its height of six feet, a length of 17 feet to 10.5 inches and a curb weight of 5,697 pounds, expect to meet your maker when this truck hits you.
This Ford behemoth does not exactly fall into the average pickup truck segment because the F-150 is in a class of its own.
The F-Series has been America’s top selling vehicle since 1948 and comes from a family of light trucks slotted a notch above the Ford Ranger. As of 2018, the F-Series has netted a formidable sales cache for the Blue Oval amounting to $41 billion. The test unit for this article comes directly from the United States in one of four manufacturing facilities of the Ford Motor Company.
For starters, the F150 is a man’s pick-up truck. Its broad appeal comes from a wide range of configurations although, here in the local market, we have to contend ourselves with two variants, the 4x4 and this unit, the 4x2 Lariat. This base F-150 comes with a healthy serving of a 2.7 liter V6 EcoBoost engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The quick shifting transmission is a delight on an open stretch of road, especially during passing maneuvers.
Inside the cavernous cabin are wide windows that provide plenty of outward visibility. The grab handles and standard running boards provide easy egress and ingress. The dash gauges are big and easy to read, and the adjustable seats, pedals and steering wheel are a big help for vertically challenged Pinoys such as this writer. The controls are easy to reach even for short-limbed Asians, and the climate control system is Eskimo certified. Shout outs also to the sound engineers at Ford for the excellent- sounding Band and Olufsen audio system. This writer’s Frank Sinatra track never crooned as cool as it did for this ride.
The front seats are big enough, and so are the rear seats. Both leg and headroom are so generous that even a big guy such as Shaquille O’Neal would approve. If you have dreams of living in Texas, where Americans say everything is bigger, buying an F-150 is a good move. Just be prepared to park outside of malls and find alternative spaces to disembark because this American legend has a huge on-road presence. Forget drive throughs also because this pickup truck is a tight fit.
Overall build quality is pretty practical because unlike the Ranger, the F-150 has a heritage of toughness and longevity. With a sticker price of P2.7 Million, you get an aluminum bodied pickup complete with all the bells and whistles that made this truck a legend. Personally, I would go allin and buy the seemingly impenetrable Raptor version because, who knows, a zombie apocalypse might erupt after the pandemic.