Ford F150 – A tale of 2 trucks in 2 flavors

2012 F150 Harley Davidson Quarter

Its a truck.  The best selling vehicle in America by a long shot month to month for as long as I can remember and Ford has it nailed in any flavor you want.  In a recent event I opted to test drive the opening model and one the top of the line models.  From the base F150 with the 3.7L V6 to a whopping 6.2L V8 powered range topping Harley Davidson edition Ford has you covered quite nicely.  My take on both.

I have to admit I’m really a car guy at heart.  But even I have the genuine need for trucks several times a year for schlepping mass quantities of art to fairs or DIY projects.  These beasts of the market place have their place to get my take on them you have to make the jump.

The base model truck for this year is powered by a 3.7L V6.  This engine is no slouch in the horsepower department pumping out 302bhp at 6500rpm handily embarrassing the base V8 of just a couple of years ago.  This engine actually gives decent EPA estimates  with low 20′s possible on a good freeway cruise and 17 around town.

Driving it you can’t tell you are driving a “six”.  It goes about its business with no hesitation nor drag.  It certainly doesn’t leave you wanting for more when you mash it to get on the freeway.  It does what you want with no drama.  Of course I didn’t drive it with a full load so I can’t comment on how it does under those circumstances.

The interior of the base model is fine.  Nothing luxurious.  A lot of hard plastic, nothing to glaringly objectionable, certainly will be serviceable over the long haul.  The gauge package contains all you need information wise to get you from point A to B.  Ditto the center stack full of your radio and heating/AC controls – there in no nonsense form set to serve you for the long haul.  My guess…this is the truck that will last you a couple of hundred thousand miles with no fuss nor muss in its simplicity.

For kicks and giggles I went to Ford’s web site to configure out a base model,  and with a crew cab and very few options I was able to keep the price under $30K.  Not bad, of course finding one configured as such would be the real challenge.

The truck the surprised with the immediate “want” light was the F150 Harley Davidson.  What can I say.  I like ‘em loud and this truck hit it just right when I flipped ‘er on.  It has that “Cartman respect my ‘author-i-TY’” rumble the second you turned it over.  Loved it.

Actually there was a lot to love about the Harley Davidson Edition F150.  For a big 4X4 it rode a bit better than I expected, still truck like, but that rumble when you blipped that throttle and its immediate get up and go gets you every time.

Inside the Harley Davidson you are treated to a very luxurious cabin with all top notch materials and lots of it.  Very nice seats.  A comprehensive gauge package that you can program to give you whatever information you want regarding from 4wd management to fuel economy.  The Console Center stack includes navigation and infotainment packaging as well as your heating and AC controls.  All of which are duplicated on your steering wheel too.

The differences on the outside of the F150 Harley Davidson are pretty subtle.  There is side and read badges and subtle tone on tone “flame” on the side of the truck.

Driving the Harley Davidson is a joy.  It is so effortless to just go.  I mentioned it already, but I love the burble and “respect my authority” grunt when you step on it to get on the freeway. The sad part of all the 6.2L V8 joy is the indicated less than 10MPG on the clock after a day of spirited driving by a bunch of journalist types.  (Even the EPA 12city/16highway are pretty shocking to me for daily use…but then again I am a car guy).

So there you have it.  Two Ford F150′s in two very different flavors.  One very main stream built to take it for the ages, the other a beautifully built machine that will also last as long.  Both doing a job, one just more luxurious and sumptuous than the other.  It comes to what suits your needs best.