The 2010 Ford F-150 is again a force to be reckoned with in the fullsize pickup truck segment due to its quiet and refined drive, attractive and functional interior, outstanding crash test scores, abundant cab and bed choices, and impressive towing and hauling capabilities.
And this wide-ranging appeal should be no surprise. Afterall, Ford's F-Series has been the #1 selling vehicle in America for most of the past 30 years. With its easy road manners, long list of available features, good looks and respectable reliability reputation, the 2010 F-150 is very likely to keep this record going.
Even after last year's full redesign, there's still more big news for the 2010 model year. First, is the return of the Harley-Davidson model. There's also the debut of a high-performance model, the SVT Raptor, primarily geared for off-road applications. The Raptor comes with a revised suspension with wider front and rear tracks, specialized shock absorbers, special off-road tires, an electronically locking rear differential, enhanced wheel travel, sport seats, unique interior and exterior styling, and an optional 6.2 liter V8 engine (not available on early production models).
In additon, the flareside body style has been discontinued for 2010 and there are minor feature adjustments for some models.
Trims, Standard Features And Options:
The 2010 Ford F-150 is offered in three body styles: regular cab, extended cab (SuperCab) and crew cab (SuperCrew). There are choices in the Cargo box sizes as well: Regular cabs are equipped with either a 6.5-foot or 8-foot cargo bed, while SuperCab models come with those plus a 5.5-foot bed for a better garage fit. The SuperCrews come with either the 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed. SuperCrew models also come with four full-size doors, while the regular and SuperCabs have reverse-opening rear doors for easier cab access.
The 2010 F-150 is available in nine trim levels: base XL, sportier-looking STX, popular XLT, rugged FX4, luxury-oriented Lariat, western-saddle-inspired King Ranch, feature-filled Platinum, macho Harley-Davidson and the rough-and-tumble SVT Raptor.
Standard features on the stripped-down base XL, which is primarily aimed for commercial use, include an AM/FM radio, vinyl seating, air conditioning and 17-inch steel wheels ... and that's about it. The STX is very similar but adds sportier-looking trim accents as well as and an upgraded audio system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.
The F-150 XLT is by far the vehicle's most popular version and comes standard with full power accessories, cruise control and an upgraded cloth interior, while the four-wheel-drive FX4 comes with 18-inch wheels, a 6-way power driver seat, front bucket seats, satellite radio, a towing package, underbody skid plates, and retuned springs and shocks.
The upscale Lariat comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats, power-adjustable pedals, 10-way power driver and passenger seats, a power-sliding rear window, automatic climate control and the Sync multifunction voice-command system.
The King Ranch is outfitted similar to the Lariat but also has western saddle-inspired leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and an in-dash 6-disc CD changer, while the top-of-the-line Platinum model adds 20-inch chrome wheels, heated and cooled front seats and unique interior and exterior styling accents.
The Harley-Davidson, a crew cab model, is similarly luxury-themed and also comes with 22-inch wheels and a special "Harley-Davidson" trim, while the all-new off-road-oriented SVT Raptor, an extended cab model, features an optional 6.2-liter V8 (available later in the model year), a heavily modified suspension, sport seats, specialized wheels and tires, and unique interior and exterior styling.
More significant optional features include the SFE (superior fuel economy) package, available on the 2WD SuperCrew XL and XLT models with the 4.6-liter high-output V8, a premium Sony audio system, a sunroof, a rear entertainment system, a back-up camera, a navigation system with Sirius Travel Link, a stowable bed extender, a reverse parking sensor, a cargo management system and a trailer brake controller.
There's also Ford's Work Solutions, intended for those who work out of their trucks, which includes an in-dash computer with internet access, a lockable Midbox storage system and a "Tool Link" system which monitors tools stored in the truck's box through radio-frequency tracking.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
The 2010 F-150 is offered with a choice of three primary V8 engines. There's a 4.6-liter V8 that produces 248 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque, as well as a higher-output 4.6-liter that's good for 292 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. There's also a 5.4-liter V8 that generates a robust 320 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. The base 4.6 engine is mated with a 4-speed automatic transmission, while the high-output 4.6 and the 5.4 are paired with a 6-speed automatic.
The SVT Raptor is powered by the 5.4. However, later in the year, there will be an optional 6.2-liter V8 that produces approximately 400 horsepower and will be coupled with the 6-speed automatic.
A choice of two- and four-wheel drive is available on all models except the Raptor, which is standard four-wheel drive. And when properly equipped, the F-150 with the 5.4-liter V8 has a prodigous towing capacity of 11,300 pounds and a payload of 3,030 pounds.
The EPA-estimated gas mileage for the 2010 F-150 can be as high as 15 mpg city and 21 mpg on the highway for a 2WD SuperCrew with the SFE package. More typical, however, would be a rating of 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway for a 4WD SuperCrew with the 5.4-liter V8.
Safety:
Standard safety features on all F-150s include stability control, antilock disc brakes (ABS), trailer sway control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.
In government crash testing, the 2010 F-150 earned perfect five-out-of-five-star ratings across the board in all frontal and side-impact protection categories.
Interior:
The cabin of the 2010 F-150 is attractive, user-friendly and constructed with good-quality materials. For those opting for the navigation system, its 8-inch screen is particularly clear and easy to read. The seating is both comfortable and supportive, with lower trims featuring a standard 40/20/40-split bench seat with a column shifter and upper trims with captain's chairs and a shifter on the console. The special SVT Raptor and Harley-Davidson models are especially impressive with their unique interior designs.
The 2010 Ford F-150 can comfortably accommodate four occupants in SuperCrew form, but you can squeeze in as many as six if needed. The back seat is very passenger-friendly due to its ample legroom, flat floor and nicely reclined seatback angle. There's also abundant interior storage capacity in the SuperCrew. While the SuperCab is still quite spacious and will meet most needs, the legroom is noticeably less.
Drive:
For a full-size truck, the 2010 F-150 offers a solid ride with very good overall handling and road manners. It's also surprisingly quiet. It's maximaum power, however, is less than top rivals like the Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra (by about 60-80 horsepower), but most consumers will still find their power needs satisfied. It's expected that the F-150 SVT Raptor will be an outstanding off-roader.
How To Get The Lowest Price:
Best Negotiating Tactic: Well, there's definitely a 'best way' when it comes to new car buying. If you want to get the best bottomline, out-the-door price you need to know exactly who to talk to at the dealership, how to make the contact and how to make this person eager to quickly drop prices as low as possible to get your sale.
Those of you in the market for a used car may want to check out this article about how to buy a used car at the lowest price. It details a super effective buying method, one that often beats down prices to wholesale levels.
And somewhat related to this, here's another excellent method that identifies Price-Distressed Cars Right On Dealer Lots. These are vehicles they are so desperate to unload they would welcome your wholesale offer.
In addition, you can also try Bank Repo And Government Car Auctions in your own geographic area. While there can be a lot of junk vehicles at these auctions, there are often absolute gems sprinkled in as well. This article reviews what to expect at open-to-the-public car auctions and how to locate them in your own area.
