An Exhaustive Look at Cars
April 23, 2019
Trucks are awesome. They're big, tough, and muscular. If you want a car that has the delicate touch of a sledgehammer, then you want a truck ... and a big one. Too hard to park one in a city? If whining's your thing then you can't handle the macho, doesn't-give-a-darn, subtle-as-a-punch-to-the-face personality of a pickup truck. Trucks don't do it halfway, don't hold back, don't know the meaning of minimalism, don't care about the latest apps, and let freedom ring. Trucks like the Ford F-series live large, and when push comes to shove, they can really shove. The Ford F-series is the best-selling vehicle in America, with approximately 0.9 million being sold domestically in 2018. The F-150 is the lightest vehicle in the F-series, but don't let that deceive you; the F-150 can tow up to 13,200 lbs and haul up to 2,311 lbs. The F-150 currently starts with an MSRP of $28,115 for a base RWD XL model with a single cab and 3.3L V6 engine. A 4x4 truck with a back seat offers incredible versatility, because in addition to being a nice toy on the trails, you can also haul cargo in the bed without encroaching on the passengers, unlike a three-row SUV or minivan and deciding if you need to fold the seats down. Because extended cab trucks have three-seat benches in the front and back, you can seat up to six people, making them capable family-haulers. While this truck can be a cowboy limo with a price of over $70,000, it can also get a spartan workhorse for $30K, or anything in between. Here's how I would do it: Start with a SuperCab XLT with the 6-1/2' bed and get the 4x4 drivetrain. Next go for the 301A equipment group, which adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, storage under the rear seats, and a larger screen on the instrument panel among other things. Just in case the need to tow something arises, I would add class IV trailer hitch for $95 but skip the trailer tow package which costs $995, since I won't likely be towing frequently. I would snap-up the 5.0L V8 engine in an instant, simply because it's a V8 and the highest output engine available on the XLT. Because I enjoy going off-road, I would get the FX4 off-road package, which most importantly adds skid plates and off-road suspension. I would then add the 18" wheels with the 275/65/R18 all-terrain tires due to their larger diameter, since it is a truck after all, with a 3.73 electronic locking axle and top it all off with the spray-in bedliner, leaving the final price at $45,970. The result: a nicely optioned 4x4 truck that can tackle the trails and work hard, while having a lively engine to make for some fun driving. Now you may find yourself thinking "Why only the F-150? Why not an F-250 or something even bigger?" Excellent question, and true to the nature of my original point. An F-250 would be an excellent choice if all you want is a giant beast of an automobile, and don't care about the likes of infotainment systems, leather seats, and fancy power features. After all, the F-250 comes with a 6.2L V8 as the base engine! While the F-150 is big and tough, the F-250 is an unstoppable monster for someone who either really needs some extra hauling power, or someone with the guts to drive the beast. Stay on the lookout for related test-drive reviews.
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DanielI am a high-school student who enjoys almost anything mechanical; cars, robotics, drones, etc. I also enjoy plain driving, vehicle dynamics, and off-road trips. Archives
February 2020
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