The 2005 Ford F-150
The 2005 Ford F-150 has not changed much from the previous year’s model. On the other, considering that Ford completely redesigned the F-150 in 2004 leading to it earning many awards (including North American Truck of the Year), that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
There are a few major developments, however. The F-150 is now available with a five-speed manual transmission for the six-cylinder models. The suspension has been redesigned—the front suspension includes a double-wishbone style, and the rear suspension now has outboard (instead of inboard) shock absorbers, and wider, heavier three-inch leaf springs. The new 4R75E high capacity four-speed automatic transmission is quick and responsive, but still provides smooth shifting between gears. Tailgates have helper springs so they are easier to close. Finally, there are a few new bells and whistles, such as modular overhead storage compartments in the cab.
The 2005 Ford F-150 has three engines to choose from. The new base-level engine is a 202 horsepower (hp) 4.2-liter six-cylinder model. This model also comes with a five-speed manual transmission option as well as the usual four-speed automatic transmission. The midlevel engine is a 231 hp 4.6-liter V8, and the most powerful is a 300 hp 5.4-liter V8 engine. Unfortunately for stick shift enthusiasts, the more powerful V8 models only come with automatic transmission. All models offer two rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Ford claims the 2005 Ford F-150’s V8 engine has the best fuel efficiency Ford has ever produced. The V8 gets 15 miles to the gallon (mgp) (24 kpg) in town and 19 mpg (30½ kpg) on the highway in two-wheel drive. The V6 automatic transmission engine claims 16 mpg (26 kpg) in town and 20 mpg (32 kph) on the highway in two-wheel drive.
In 2005, the Ford F-150 offered the best towing and hauling capacity in its class, able to carry a cargo payload of 3000 pounds (1360 kg) and tow up to 9,900 pounds (4490 kg). However, it is also only of the heaviest pickup trucks in its class, resulting in weak gas mileage and sluggish acceleration compared to its competitors.
The 2005 Ford F-150 continues to come in three cab styles and three truck bed lengths. The Regular and Super Cab both come with rear-hinged “half-doors”. The Crew Cab has four standard doors and a rear bench, extending the seating capacity for up to six passengers. The Crew Cab, however, pays for its extended length with a short truck bed—it only comes in the 5.5 foot (1.7 meter) model. The Regular and Super Cabs have a choice of either a 5.5 foot (1.7 meter), 6.5 foot (2 meter), or 8 foot (2.4 meter) truck bed lengths. Only the 6.5 foot (2 meter) truck bed comes in the flasher Flareside design; the rest are the standard Styleside design.
Six trim levels are available for the 2005 Ford F-150, covering a wide range of options. New this year is an inexpensive, bare-bones “Work Truck” at the bottom. At the top is the new King Ranch containing all the luxurious extras including a Castano leather interior.
The 2005 Ford F-150 handles exceptionally well and has an extremely smooth ride, even over gravel roads, feeling more like a sedan that a truck. The engines are quiet and provide faster acceleration than previous versions of the F-150, compared to some of its competitors, is not as responsive and still feels a little sluggish. Overall, the 2005 Ford F-150 continues to be one of the best pickup trucks available, if not the best, and a solid investment for any car buyer.