The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling pickup truck (in America, at least) for nearly the last 30 years.  Traditionally, Ford's winning formula includes reliable, durable engines, excellent hauling and towing ability, and a vast array of engines, body styles, and options to choose from.  In recent years, however, Ford has been facing stiff competition in the pickup market from both American and foreign car companies in terms of engine power and performance.  The 2009 model of the F-150 has been carefully redesigned to address these shortcomings while leaving their successful selling points intact.  The 2009 Ford F-150 includes more engine power and performance, slightly better fuel economy, more seating capacity, and a flood of new bells and whistles.

The new 2009 Ford F-150 engine comes in three models.  At the bottom is a 248-horsepower (hp) 4.6-liter V8 engine with 4-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous bottom-level that sported only a 202-hp V6 engine.  The midrange engine is a 292-hp version of the 4.6-liter V8, but with a 6-speed automatic transmission.  At the top of the line is a 320-hp, 5.4 V8 engine, also with 6-speed automatic transmission.  This model is also able to run on E85, the blended ethanol-gasoline fuel.  All these models come in either a 4-wheel drive version or the traditional two rear-wheel drive.

Possibly topping this all is the Raptor, an off-road model with a 6.2-liter V8 engine—although Ford has not yet confirmed the rumors of this vehicle.

Body designs also come in three styles, for both the cab and the bed.  The first cab design is traditional Regular Cab with a storage well behind the seats, although the new 2009 model has removed the former rear access doors.  The next step up is the extended Super Cab with additional seating and rear-hinged access doors (although they don't open independently of the front doors).  The largest cab is the Crew Cab sporting four conventional doors.  The 2009 model adds an extra 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rear leg room to the Crew Cab, to the eternal gratitude to all who have to sit in the rear seats.

Styleside Truck beds include the traditional 5.5 foot (1.7 meter), 6.5 foot (2 meter), and 8 foot (2.4 meter) lengths.  A Flareside truck bed is also available, but comes only in the 6.5-foot/2-meter length.  As always, as cab size increases, hauling capacity decreases.  Maximum cargo capacity is 3030 pounds (1374 kilograms) for the Regular Cab model, 2650 lbs (1202 kg) for the Super Cab model, and 1760 lbs (798 kg) for the Crew Cab model.  Towing capacity, however, is the same for all models at 11,300 lbs (5125 kg).

The 2009 Ford F-150 also has a range of helpful new features.  There is now a hideaway side step for access to the truck bed, a tailgate step, a retractable cable lock, and a capless fuel filler (although consumers are still undecided if this is good thing or not).  In the cab, new electronics include an MP3 Player, a voice-activated navigation system, and a trailer-brake controller.  For people running a business out of their truck, useful features include a vehicle-tracking device (especially useful for fleet trucks) and a tool inventory system on the built-in dashboard computer.

Overall, Ford has done a good job of keeping up with its competitors and fixing what few drawbacks their previous F-150 models contained.  The 2009 model provides a smooth and quiet ride, excellent handling, its usual impressive hauling and towing capacities, and Ford's usual vast range of cab and truck bed combinations.  On the downside, the 2009 F-150's engine power and performance, although definitely improved, is still not quite equal to its most powerful rivals.  Finally, fuel economy is only slightly improved.  Then again, the F-150 is a work truck.  It is designed for hauling, towing, and off-roading, not commuting to school and work, and for that it needs a powerful, gas-guzzling engine.  If fuel economy is a major factor for you when buying a vehicle, perhaps you should scratch any type of pickup truck off your list.

In the last decade, light-duty pickup trucks have evolved from rugged work trucks to daily drivers and family vehicles.  Ford's famous F-150 has been especially prone to these changes, sporting longer multi-door cabs and shorter truck beds.  Consequently, the role of the sturdy and powerful work truck has fallen to Ford's Super Duty Series, and the 3/4-ton F-250 in particular.  The F-250 has enormous hauling and towing capacities while still being easy to handle and providing a comfortable ride.

One of the reasons Ford continues to be a leader in the work truck market is because their trucks are extremely customizable.  Customers can pick out the exact vehicle for their needs, choosing from among a several cab styles, truck bed lengths, engine powers, transmissions, drive options, trim levels, and more optional bells and whistles that you can imagine.

The current 2008 model of the Ford F-250 offers a wide range of choices. Three engines are available.  The standard gasoline engine is a 5.4-liter V8 that puts out 300 horsepower (hp) and 365 pound-feet (495 N·m) of torque.  The midrange features a 6.8-liter V10 gasoline engine capable of 362 hp and 457 pound-feet (495 N·m) of torque.  The top of the line is Power Stroke turbodiesel, a 6.4-liter V8 diesel engine commanding 350 hp and 650 pound-feet of torque.  All engines are available in either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.  All F-250 pickup trucks are also available in either two rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

The Ford F-250 has three cab options and two truck bed lengths to choose from.  The Standard Cab is the regular two-door model.  The extended Super Cab has two regular doors and two rear-hinged reverse-opening rear door, and seats up to six passengers.  The Crew Cab also seats up to six people, but has four full-sized doors.  The Super Cab and Crew Cab models can chose from either a 6 ¾-foot (2-meter) or 8-foot (2.4-meter) truck bed, while only the 8-foot bed is available for the Regular Cab.

Four trim levels are offered: the basic XL, the midlevel XLT, the top-of-the-line Lariat, and the FX4, a version specifically designed for going off-road.  Some nice additional features include telescoping and folding powered side mirrors, a drop-down tailgate step, and the highly useful trailer-brake control system, which integrated the brakes on the trailer with those of the truck.  Other upgrades for the 2008 model include solid, corrosion-resistant chassis, and an improved rear suspension design that improves riding and handling.

Ford current generation of Super Duty pickups runs from 1999 to 2008.  If you're in the market for a used earlier-model Ford F-250, there are a few things you will want to be aware of.  The Ford F-250 was updated in 2001 to include a standard four-wheel Antilock Brake System, a reverse parking sensor, and a stronger Power Stroke engine.

In 2003, the FX4 off-road F-250 made its appearance.  The six-speed manual transmission became available.  On the down side, the 7.3-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was replaced with a smaller but more powerful 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel engine that quickly earned a bad reputation as being problematic and unreliable.

2005 brought a new five-speed automatic transmission, and improved front suspension, and increased hauling and towing capacities.  Between 2006 and 2007, only minor adjustments were made.  The 2008 model was the next major upgrade, with the features already described above.

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.

By 2005, the Ford Ranger had been the best-selling compact pickup truck in America for 17 years.  It definitely found its niche in the market.  Some for men, a flashy ride means a sports car.  For family men, only an SUV will do, mainly because it’s a minivan disguised as a sport vehicle.  But for others, nothing quite says "manly" like a pickup truck.  Tough, rugged, and sturdy, it's a symbol of the blue-collar man's work ethic and independence.  Unfortunately, pickup trucks also drink down the high-octane stuff like a sailor on shore leave.

That's where the Ford Ranger comes in.  It's the pickup truck for city boys.  It's smaller, slimmer design fits better into those tight urban parking spaces.  When the only hauling you do is helping friends move, you don't really need to gas-guzzling power of a V8 engine, and the Ranger engine's better fuel economy becomes a big selling point.  In recent years, Ford's competition have taken their small pickups have given them increasingly bigger engines and roomier cabs—but that has also increased their overall size.  The 2005 Ford Ranger remains one of the few truly small, compact pickup trucks with a fuel economy and price tag to match.

The Ford Ranger comes with three basic engine packages.  At the base level is a 143-horsepower (hp), 2.3-liter V4 engine.  This engine lacks the hauling, towing, and acceleration capacity of its bigger brothers, but compensates for it somewhat with better fuel economy.  In the middle is the 154-hp 3.0-liter V6 engine, which delivers all the power and performance needed for the small truck.  This model is also a flexible-fuel engine, meaning it can also burn the E-85 ethanol-gasoline mixed fuel in addition to gasoline.  Although this doesn't necessarily give the engine better fuel economy, it does cost less to fill the tank.  This is the standard engine for the automatic transmission Super Cab Models.  On the high end is a 207-hp, 4.0-liter V6 engine, a good choice if you need to do a lot of heavy hauling and towing.  Otherwise, this is a bit of overkill for a compact pickup.  All engines are available in either manual or automatic 5-speed transmission, and in either two-rear wheel or four-wheel drive.

When it comes to cab models, this is definitely a bachelor's truck.  The Regular Cab only seats two, and even the Super Cab has only two rear-facing, fold-down seats that too cramped for comfortable riding, especially over long distances.  Family men may need to look elsewhere for a true extended cab or crew cab pickup.

There's not a lot of variety in truck bed lengths.  Super Cab models are available only with a 6-foot (1.8-meter) truck bed.  Regular Cabs over either a 6-foot (1.8-meter) or 7-foot (2.1-meter) truck bed.  All truck beds come in either flat Styleside versions (for more room inside the truck bed, or Flareside (for a flashier look).

The Ford Ranger continues to be the best compact pickup for off-roading.  In four-wheel drive, the 4.0-liter V6 engine provides strong low-rpm torque for off-road work.  A high ground clearance allows it to clear most bumps and ruts.  If it doesn't, skid plates shield the transfer case and fuel tank from damage.  The suspension, shocks, springs, bushings, and tires were redesigned in 2004 to provide a smoother ride.

Overall, although the 2005 Ford Ranger's design is beginning to show its age, it is still a good, solid pickup.  Although not a powerful or a spacious as it's competitors, it is still tough, rugged, and reliable, especially for the light hauling and commuting of the urban driver.  Despite its size, it's still a good, dependable work truck.  With better fuel economy and a lower price tag (retail prices start below $15,000 (£11,000) than most of its competitors, this is the perfect entry-level pickup for the young urban single guy.

For almost ten years now, Ford has sold a special line of heavy-duty pickup trucks known as the Super Duty Series.  Larger and heavier, the F-250 through the F-450 commercial and industrial pickups have more powerful engines, transmissions, and much higher cargo hauling and towing capacities than regular, light-duty pickup trucks like the F-150.  The 2008 line up contains a few improvements over the previous year's models, including a new diesel engine and a few new special features.  This article will give shoppers a quick summary of what to expect from the 2008 Ford Super Duty Series.

The baseline gasoline engine is a 5.4-liter V8 that puts out 300-horsepower (220 Kw) and 365 foot-pounds force (495 N·m) of torque.  An upgraded gasoline 6.8-liter V10 model is available that puts out 362-horsepower (270 Kw) and 457 foot-pounds force (495 N·m) of torque.  Both gasoline engines come in 5-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The diesel engine is new this year.  The new 4-valve Navistar 6.4-liter V8 Power Stroke twin-turbo engine commands up to 362-horsepower (270 Kw) and 457 foot-pounds force (495 N·m) of torque.  This replaces the previous problem-prone singe-turbo Power Stroke engine.  The new Power Stroke diesel engine utilizes Ford's Clean Diesel Technology, which includes piezo-electric fuel injectors and a sophisticated Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system.  Ford claims their Clean Diesel Technology reduces emissions by over 90%, putting it on par with gasoline engines.

The Ford Super Duty Series have some the highest cargo hauling and towing capacities among current pickup trucks.  The Ford F-250 can haul 3,000 lb (1,400 kg).  The Ford F-340 can haul up to 5,800 lb (2,600 kg) and tow up to 9,200 lb (8,700 kg), making it possibly the most powerful commercial truck available on the market.

The Super Duty Series has three cab options and two truck bed lengths to choose from.  The Standard Cab, the smallest, is a two-door cab with seating room for two to three people.  The extended Super Cab has two regular doors and two rear-hinged reverse-opening rear door, and seats up to six passengers.  The Crew Cab also seats up to six people, but has four full-sized doors.  The Super Cab and Crew Cab models can chose from either a 6 ¾-foot (2-meter) or 8-foot (2.4-meter) truck bed, while only the 8-foot bed is available for the Regular Cab.

The Ford Super Duty Series also include a number of useful and helpful features.  Concealed slide-out side steps and rear tailgate swing-out handgrips make climbing in and out of these big trucks quicker and easier.  Another option is a storable truck bed extender gates, which can be used wither to extend the length of the truck bed to the end of the tailgate, or to section off parts of the truck bed.  When not being used, they can be folded into the sides of the truck bed.

Almost all Ford Super Duty trucks have an integrated trailer brake control system, four Upfitter Switches for operating heavy equipment, and roll off the factory line ready for towing.  Consequently, the Ford Super Duty Series have become quite popular with weekend adventurers need to haul RV trailers, boats, and race cars.

Finally, new this year is the Rapid-Heat Supplemental Cab Heater, which in winter can quickly heat up the pickup cab until the engine has warmed up enough to handle the job.  Unfortunately, this feature is only available for diesel engine models with automatic transmission.

If you want to get a Ford Ranger, you'd better do it soon.  Ford keeps threatening to discontinue this product line, and the 2009 Ford Ranger may be the last of its kind.

As the Ford motor company has fallen on harder financial times, they seem to have focused all their engineering ability in 2009 on redesigning the Ranger's big brother, the F-150, to hold on to its market-leading position.  The Ranger, on the other hand, has been neglected and exploited for some time now, slowly becoming outdated and obsolete… and this may its last year.

The 2009 Ford Ranger is essentially the 2008 Ford Ranger with a Class III trailer hitch.  Its choice of engines has shrunk from three to two.  The two choices are either a 143-horsepower (hp) 2.3-liter V4 engine, or a 207-hp 4.0-liter V6 engine.  Although the V6 engine has solid acceleration, the V4 Ranger has always felt underpowered.  The traditional middle choice, a 148-hp 3.0-liter V6, has been discontinued.  In terms of engine power and performance, the Ranger still trails behind its competitors.

Both of the surviving engines are available in either manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.  The standard, of course, is two rear-wheel drive, but 4-wheel drive versions are available for those who want to go off-road.  Maximum towing capacity for all models is almost 5980 pounds (2712.5 kilograms).

In terms of cab styles and truck bed length, the Ranger retains its limited choices.  There is the Regular Cab, which only seats two, and a Super Cab which theoretically seats four.  In reality, the Super Cab has only two fold-down, rear-facing jump seats which are really only comfortable for children on short trips.  The Ford Ranger's competitors, however, offer larger cabs and more comfortable rides.

Super Cabs are available only with a 6-foot (1.8-meter) truck bed.  Regular Cabs over either a 6-foot (1.8-meter) or 7-foot (2.1-meter) truck bed.  It must be acknowledge, however, that the Ranger's 7-foot (2.1-meter) truck bed is still the largest available in the compact truck market.

Unfortunately, many of the drawbacks of previous Ranger models have not been addressed.  Although it has earned good safety scores in government crash tests, it lacks safety equipment that has become standard in its competitors, such as side curtain airbags and stability control.

The handling and braking remain too truck-like.  Modern consumers of compact pickup trucks are looking got for a smooth rids and a quiet engine rough, the Ranger engine remains rough and its handling stiff and choppy.

Fuel economy, meanwhile, remains essentially unchanged since the Ranger was last redesigned in the early 1990s.  Fuel consumption range from 21 miles per gallon (mpg) (34 kpg) in the city or 26 mpg (42 kpg)on the highway for the 2.3-liter V4 Ranger with two-wheel drive and manual transmission, to a meager 14 mpg (22½ kpg) in the city or 18 mpg (29 kpg)on the highway mpg for the 4.0-liter V6 Ranger with automatic transmission in four-wheel drive.

On the other hand, the Ford Ranger's benefits also remain essentially unchanged.  The Ranger is a sturdy and dependable compact pickup truck, with an engine that promises solid, reliable performance.  The Ranger also remains one of the best compact pickups for off-roading.  Finally, against its competitors, the Ranger's price is still hard to beat.  In an age where compact pickups are slowly becoming family-friendly sedans with a truck bed, the Ranger remains a rugged work truck at an affordable price.

If you're looking for an affordable, nimble off-roader for weekend adventures, or a rugged, reliable, and economical work truck, consider the 2009 Ford Ranger.  For any other purpose, however, the Ranger's aging design makes just about any other compact pickup truck a better choice.

If there is one thing you have to admit about the Ford Mustang, it's this: the car is a survivor.  For over forty years, this classic American sports car has weathered foreign rivals, corporate crises, and oil shortages.  Today, Ford is capitalizing on the Mustang's tradition and nostalgia value.  The 2009 Ford Mustang featured modern engines, power and performance while retaining an old-school look and feel.  Unfortunately, it also retains its old-school fuel economy.

The new Ford Mustang emulates the muscle car's glory days of the 1960s and 70s, right down to the sound of the engine.  Last year, for the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 movie Bullitt (including a famous car chase scene featuring a Mustang), Ford released the Mustang Bullitt, with trim and styling specially designed to resemble the 1968 Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the movie.  The Mustang Bullitt features a 315 horsepower (hp) V8 engine, sport-tuned suspension, modified exhaust, and upgraded brakes.

The 2009 Ford Mustang features only small, mostly cosmetic changes from the 2008 model, although major design changes and upgrades are expect with the 2010 model.  Among other minor tweaks, the Mustang V6 and GT have an updated interior trim, multicolored ambient lighting, and a fixed glass roof panel is now optional.

The Ford Mustang features three engines to choose from, the Mustang V6, the Mustang GT, and the Shelby GT500.  The Mustang V6 has a 4.0-liter V6 engine that puts out 210 hp and 240 pound-feet of torque.  Performance is respectable for the Mustang V6, but falls just short of the true muscle-car experience.  Furthermore, the V6 carries a high price for its performance.  The Mustang V6's fuel economy is 16 miles per gallon (26 kpg) for city driving—the same as Ford's Flex SUV.  In an age of high gas prices, the Mustang V6 engine doesn't quite give you enough bang for your buck.

The Mustang GT, however, is another matter.  This 4.6-liter V8 produces 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque.  It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in 5.7 seconds, and cover a quarter-mile (0.4 km) of distance in 14.3 seconds.  Finally, the GT500 is a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine reaching 500 hp.

The Mustang GT's fuel economy is only very slight worse than the Mustang V6 engine—15 mpg/24 kpg for the GT, as compared to 16 mpg / 26 kpg for the V6.  If you plan on buying a Ford Mustang, be sure to get the GT engine—you will get a lot more power and performance for roughly the same amount of fuel.

The Mustang V6 and GT come in either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission.  The Mustang Bullitt and GT500 are only available in manual transmission.  All engines are two rear-wheel drive.

Ford continues to use the Mustang's old-school solid axle rear suspension design.  Somehow, the engineers at Ford have managed to fine-tune this enough to still provide precise handling and a smooth ride.  This aspect of the Ford Mustang should not be considered a drawback.

As far as safety goes, four-wheel disc brakes and front-seat side airbags are now standard equipment.  Traction control and antilock brakes are optional safety features.  Sadly, stability control is not available.

Overall, the Mustang's power, performance, and timeless retro styling available at a reasonable price make it a tempting purchase.  Although not necessarily in the top tier of sport cars, the Ford Mustang is a very close second.  On the other hand, the classic look and feel went a little too far on the interior styling, resulting in a rather stark, industrial look and feel.  This, combined with the lack of stability control and low gas mileage, make Ford's competitors in the muscle car market look very attractive.

Traditional folk wisdom says that Ford makes great pickup trucks, but only mediocre cars.  Certainly this is true about Ford trucks—the Ford F-Series has been the most popular, best selling pickup in America for over 30 years.  But to say Ford's cars are only middle of the road ignores a long history of successful coupes, sedans, and SUVs.  Some of Ford's most popular cars in recent years include one of each: the Ford F-150 pickup truck, the Ford Explorer SUV, and the Ford Focus sedan.

The Ford Explorer is quite possibly the vehicle that started the SUV craze in the USA, and fifteen years later, the Explorer is still going strong.  The midsize SUV was the first one designed not as a work vehicle, but as an affordable family vehicle with more class and style than a minivan or station wagon.  The current generation, going back to 2002, improves upon previous generations with quiet yet more powerful engines, better safety equipment, and more optional features.  With an improved ladder-frame chassis and independent rear-wheel suspension, the Ford Explorer provides a smooth ride, excellent handling, and a comfortable, roomy cabin.  The four-door Ford Explorer has seating for up to seven people, and can haul up to 85 cubic feet (26 cubic meters) of cargo.  The major drawback of the Ford Explorer is its poor fuel economy, which has led to its declining popularity and sales in recent years.  Still, if you're in the market for a used SUV, the Ford Explorer is still a good buy, and its long production run and wide variety of models mean you'll probably be able to find the exact type you want.

The Ford Focus has been Ford's inexpensive entry-level car since 2000, and has been incredibly popular worldwide.  The Ford Focus is available as a coupe or sedan, and its 2.0-liter 140 hp V4 engine and five-speed manual transmission (four-speed automatic transmission is optional) provides adequate performance for a car its size, but more importantly to the value-conscious shopper, excellent fuel economy.  The Ford Focus has been fine-tuned for responsive steering and handling and makes for a pleasant, albeit not perfect, driving experience.  The Ford Focus has no one single drawback—it is a well rounded, well-designed car.  At the same time, however, its competitors are generally superior in power and performance, handling, ride quality, and cabin quality.  On the other hand, the Ford Focus isn't designed for superior performance or to be a luxury vehicle—its designed to be an affordable, no-frills, all-around solid vehicle.  In this respect, it secedes.  Shoppers looking for a cheap, reliable, entry-level car should put the Ford Focus on their list.

Finally, we come to where Ford really excels: the pickup truck.  The Ford F-series has been the best selling pickup truck in the USA for over 30 years.  The F-150 in particular is Ford's flagship pickup, by far the most popular and best selling of the F-Series.  The secret to the Ford F-150's success is a combination of versatility, performance, and reliability.  The Ford F-150 in near-infinitely customizable. Customer can choose from seven trim levels, three cab styles, three truck bed lengths, three engines, two transmissions, two drive trains, and a partridge in a pear tree.  The Ford F-150 also offered the best hauling and towing capabilities in the full-size pickup class.  It can carry a cargo payload of 3000 pounds (1360 kg) and tow up to 9,900 pounds (4490 kg).  On the downside, Ford's pickup trucks are not known for their fuel economy, and the Ford F-150's handling is not quite as responsive as some of its competitors.  Overall, if you're looking for a solid work truck that can double as a family hauler and is fun to drive, it is hard to beat the Ford F-150.