2002 Ford F150 SuperCab

So you want or need that pickup truck, but your sedan has been faithful, and you hate to part with the space for 4+ people. My friends, step right up to the 2002 Supercrew.

I was driving and was quite pleased with my 2001 Nissan Altima. And I am a huge fan of Japanese vehicles, having extremely good reliability with them in the past. But, alas, my work required me to handle freight at least once a week, so a change was inevitable. I had reservations about getting a large truck, but I definitely wanted comfort for the wife and two car seats, and the mid-size four door pickups were not going to cut it. So the choices were narrowed to the Big Three's choices; here's why Ford's was my choice...

Outside, the truck is clean, with smooth lines. It certainly has a solid look about it, even though the rear section is almost entirely fiberglass. You can option for as much or as little chrome as you like, but at least the bumpers will be chromed on the standard editions. Color choices are adequate, and unless you are looking for that Orange paint job with Burnt Yellow interior, you should be happy with the selections.

The first thing you notice as you climb into the driver's seat is its no nonsense approach to controls, instrumentation, climate control, and stereo. the gauges are spartan, but pleasingly so; (after all, do I really care about my "Average Miles Per Gallon" when I'm driving a large V-8?). The stereo is extremely nice with quality sound, and the large, easy to control knobs for the climate control are simple and to the point.

Next, you'll notice how comfortable the seats are. Mine is configured with the center console that folds up to make a back rest for that extra passenger up front. Again, the seats are no nonsense - simple lever controls for the seat back and for forward/rearward positioning. My litmus test for seats is by gauging how I feel after a 150 mile drive. The Supercrew's seats pass with flying colors.

This comfort doesn't stop at the front seats, either. Most versions of extended cab pickups have a perfunctory back seat that seem hell-bent on maintaining your good posture while riding in them, those 90 degree jobs that leave your back feeling as though you've had it against a hardwood plank the whole time. Not true with this truck. The rear seats are comfortable and worthy of any decent sedan, and the overall room is more than accommodating for the 6 footer.

Let's move under the hood - the 5.4 liter engine is more than sufficient for all but the most demanding requests made of it. This power is usually best enjoyed with cargo in the bed; to utilize its might under normal driving conditions, you'll really have to put your foot in it. It does not like to give it up lightly. But it is there when pushed. The engine is quiet, and is all but silent at cruising speed. Cabin noise is really very good; again, it's as quiet a ride as can be expected from a truck.

The ride quality is surprising. The Supercrew is one of the most comfortable ride I have experienced in any vehicle. True, it won't quite let you forget that it is a truck, but you are still amazed when it reminds you. The steering is easy, if at times a bit squishy. But you never feel out of control, and the suspension and overall ride quality are first-rate. My wife, who is somewhat shorter than I am, is as much at home behind the wheel as me, especially with the power pedal adjustments, which bring the gas and brake to her, rather than adjusting my seat position to get to them - a super feature.

If I have any nitpickings with the Supercrew, I'm partly to blame. The front brake rotors HAVE to be machined at every brake job, with no exceptions. Be sure this is done! If not, you'll be back at the brake shop explaining the pulsing feeling that will begin usually within 1,000 miles after having the brakes done. I have replaced the brakes twice, which is a bit excessive I think, but it could be that my own driving habits are to blame. Also, the larger of the two V-8's, that 5.4 liter that I just had to have, is thirsty! Not that I was expecting Altima-type fuel economy, but I do feel the pain at fillup time. Honestly, the smaller 4.6 should be more than enough for the average F150 buyer.

The last gripe is more to do with Ford than the F150. It has to do with security around the door handles. Without getting too much into detail, it appears that a security "loophole" allows the front doors on larger Ford trucks and SUV's to be jimmied open in such a way as to prevent the alarm from sounding. I understand that Ford has addressed the problem, and has even offered to install a "fix" to prevent this from occurring to YOUR pretty truck. Cost? Not sure, but firm requests in this matter go far at the local dealership.

In the end, with 90,000 miles already on the clock, I must say that this truck has never had a mechanic's head under its hood, and feels like it won't for a long time. For me, this general sense of durability has definitely not been bestowed to other Ford products, or American vehicles in general, but I wouldn't hesitate to write check again for the Supercrew.

SO -If you're looking for the interior, the comfort, and the smooth ride of a well-built sedan, but you need the towing capacity / cargo space / work capabilities of a truck, the F150 is quite possibly your next vehicle.

A Seating Note of Caution - I can't say that I feel real comfortable having a third passenger up front; there is no well for their feet, which means that one of their legs is on the driver's side floorboard, or worse, crunched up against the dashboard. My feeling is that a 20 MPH rear-ender fender bender, that the average driver would walk away from with nothing more than self-directed frustration, might put a front seat middle passenger in the hospital with serious leg injuries. Use this seat sparingly!