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2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Supercrew King Ranch Review and Road Test By John Heilig


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2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Supercrew King Ranch

Ford Specs, Prices and Comparisons - Ford Buyers Guide

THE AUTO PAGE
By JOHN HEILIG

SPECIFICATIONS:2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Supercrew King Ranch

Model: 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Supercrew King Ranch
Engine: 5.0-liter V8
Horsepower/Torque: 360 hp @ 5,500 rpm/380 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 156.5 in.
Length/Width/Height: 243.9 x 79.2 x 74.6 in.
Tires: 22-inch wheels
Cargo volume: 1,570 lbs. payload, 9,100 lbs. towing capacity
Fuel economy: 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway
Fuel capacity: 36.0 gal.
Curb weight: 5,745 lbs.
Sticker: $51,270 ($975 destination and delivery, $5,060 in options less $1,000 Lariat Premium Discount)

Top 5 Reasons to buy this vehicle
1. Fabulous ride quality
2. Luxurious with King Ranch Package
3. Very good power
4. Long cargo bed
5. Useful for work and personal use

The Bottom Line: Gone are the days of truck-like rides, at least when it comes to the F-150 gynormous truck. With a combination of long wheelbase, great weight and luxuriously appointed interior, you get the feeling you're in a large luxurious sedan rather than a truck. But, it still has all the truck capabilities if you want them.

Part of the thrill of this job is the discovery of something new in the driveway and wondering just what's under the shining exterior. This time, the "Golden Bronze Metallic" exterior was wrapped around a Ford F-150 Super Crew with the King Ranch package.

A few definitions are in order here. First, the F-150 Super Crew is about as long a vehicle as you can get these days. It's 20 feet, 3.9 inches long overall, with four doors and a leather interior. The King Ranch package defines that you'll have KR-logos all over and leather that looks as if the cows spent some time scratching themselves on barbed wire. That is to say, it has "distress" marks that show it's real leather, not some factory-made imitation.

Entering this behemoth isn't a huge problem, because there are running boards (a $325 option) that give you a leg up. Once inside, there's plenty of room to stretch out in the front or back. There's even enough room for a third passenger to ride comfortably in the center of the rear seat.

And if the pickup bed isn't long enough at nearly six feet, there's a cargo box extender ($250) to handle longer objects. In our test, however, we didn't use the extender for its intended use; it served quite nicely to hold grocery bags in place and keep them from sliding all over the bed.

In full mode, the F-150 has a payload of 1,570 pounds and will tow 9,100 pounds with its 5.0-liter V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission.

All this power and size makes for a quality ride. Pickups used to have a reputation for a harsh ride, and some still do. But this version has a ride quality more like a luxury sedan, with its combination of wheelbase and weight. Once we climbed into it, we thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

The down side of the length is maneuverability, or lack thereof. the F-150 Super Crew has a 50.4 foot turning radius, which makes it a bear in parking lots. Usually, I either found a spot at the end of an aisle or worked my way into a spot with nothing on either side. Fortunately, I have some trailer towing experience on my resume, so I remembered how to deal with long vehicles. The rear view camera helped a great deal with parking. In one case, I opted for a meter parking spot, despite the fact that I didn't have change, and gladly absorbed the ticket.

Our tester also had four-wheel drive, which turned out to be useful when I put the right wheels in a ditch when parking at a cross country meet.

Besides the length and ride quality, there's a full instrument panel with light blue-on-black dials that were easy to read. The navigation system was clear and easy to program. and the audio and HVAC systems were great.

Surprisingly, with the size, there were a couple of undersized features that made life slightly difficult. For example, the undersized cup holders wouldn't contain my Starbucks insulated cup. And the glove box was sub-standard, although there was a big center console that covered this deficiency.

The F-150 Super Crew King Ranch is almost more a car with a pickup bed that a truck with extra seats. The ride quality will make you forget what you're in sometimes. The seats could have offered more comfort, but there must be some concessions to the truck lifestyle.

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