Year
Model Type
SuperCab 15 Combined MPG
(14 city / 18 hwy)
EPA estimated
Over the last several decades, Ford's F-Series truck has gone from farm implement to fashionably hip, bringing home numerous sales records and big profits in the process. With total sales last year approaching one million units, it's hardly a stretch to call Ford's big pickup the single most important model it makes, and when it comes time for a redesign there's little room for error.
In years past, maintaining the F-150's top sales spot was largely a matter of fending off the Chevrolet/GMC twins from General Motors, but a revitalized Dodge and full-size entries from Nissan and Toyota have turned up the heat considerably. To keep these competitors at bay, Ford gathered its best engineers, cranked up the focus groups and set out to design the most advanced F-Series ever built.
The result is a 2004 F-150 with a cleaner burning and more powerful V8, increased passenger and cargo room and broad-shouldered bodywork that looks the part of an all-American pickup. But is it good enough to maintain Ford's long-standing dominance in the category?
After our introduction to the new F-150 in the steamy hill country of Central Texas, there's little doubt that this truck sets new standards for full-size pickups when it comes to cabin design, ride and handling and load-carrying capacity. But we also noted a few significant weak spots, and in a segment that thrives on continual one-upmanship and bragging rights, such shortcomings could hamper its ability to fend off the competition in the years ahead.
Since full-size trucks are notoriously complex when it comes to all the various configurations and options packages, we'll try to lay out Ford's new game plan as simply as possible.
The F-150 has been broken down into five distinct models XL, STX, XLT, FX4 and Lariat each catering to a different customer who's looking for varying levels of features and options. The base XL is your standard work truck with a vinyl or cloth interior and minimal amenities. The STX is similarly equipped but adds body-colored bumpers, sportier wheels and a few additional options such as a stepside bed and an upgraded sound system. The volume leader in the lineup is expected to be the midgrade XLT, as it offers the widest array of available options as well as an upgraded interior.
The top two trim levels are even more specialized. Outdoor enthusiasts are the primary target of the FX4 model as it fortifies the F-150 with underbody skid plates, heavy-duty shocks and retuned springs. Two-tone paint, larger 18-inch wheels and a body-color grille add visual distinction to the outside while metallic accents glitter up the interior.
Top-of-the-line Lariats cater to buyers looking for an upscale look and feel. The interior features brushed aluminum and wood highlights along with optional leather heated seats, satellite steering wheel controls, white-faced gauges and automatic climate control. Exterior details include two-tone paint, chrome bumpers and 18-inch aluminum wheels.
Both the FX4 and Lariat offer the segment's first console-mounted floor shifter when you order the optional captain's chairs, along with distinctive gauge clusters to further distance those models from their lower-brow counterparts.
There are still three cab configurations regular, extended and crew but all regular cabs now offer reverse-opening access doors for getting to the storage area behind the front seat. Available bed lengths consist of the standard 6 1/2- and 8-foot sizes along with a new 5 1/2-foot size for extended cab models that makes fitting into a warm garage a more viable option. All boxes are two inches deeper than before giving the F-150 the most cargo capacity in its class, and all feature a new assist mechanism for the tailgate that makes it easier to raise and lower.
Regardless of trim, all F-150s sport a new interior design that looks sharp and works well. There's minimal button clutter, the radio is placed high for easy tuning and all gauges are easily readable. Build quality on our early build test trucks was impressive. Door panels didn't budge an inch when pressed upon and dashboard gaps were straight and of close tolerance. Materials quality is also better than before, with none of the glaringly cheap plastics that detracted from the previous model's interior.
Ford's attempt to differentiate its high-line models paid off as the FX4 and Lariat trim level have a distinct look and feel to their interiors. When it comes to providing an upscale experience, the Lariat has the current competition beat hands down. Between its metallic accents, faux wood trim and clean design, there are few trucks that offer an interior so elegantly trimmed. The industrial style of the FX4 isn't quite so dramatic, but it does manage to provide a unique look without trying too hard.
As much as we liked the interior's overall design, there are a few areas that could use some improvement. Although we logged a relatively modest number of miles, the seats became tiresome regardless of trim level, and we found it strange that even the upgraded leather captain's chairs still use manual adjusters for the seat back angle and lumbar support. The climate control dials look good but feel cheap, same goes for the door handles both being items that we think should have a good, solid feel considering how often you touch them. We also found the turn signal stalk hard to reach, the grab handles too far away and relatively few storage compartments.
The most glaring omission to the F-150's interior, however, is the lack of side-impact airbag protection. Ford claims that the F-150's taller height makes it less vulnerable to such impacts, yet it found them perfectly appropriate for the equally sized Expedition sport-utility. Add in the fact that the Dodge Ram already provides such protection, with the upcoming Nissan Titan set to do the same come December, and it becomes an even more inexcusable omission.
But enough about the interior already, the true test of a truck is how it handles itself on the road. To that end, the F-150 has been upgraded with a fully boxed frame that's nine times stiffer than before, a new rack-and-pinion steering system, larger brakes and a revised suspension design among other things.
The result is exceptional ride quality and sharp handling for a vehicle of its size. There's still the telltale vagueness from the solid rear axle, but as trucks go, you're not going to find a smoother-riding full-size anywhere. The steering is no longer the guessing game that it once was and the brakes have a firm, progressive feel that's reassuring in such a big vehicle.
For power, the F-150 now offers just two options: a carry-over 4.6-liter V8 rated at 231 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque and a heavily modified version of the last year's 5.4-liter V8 (the V6 has been dropped but will return in '05). Both engines are mated to four-speed automatic transmissions with the larger 5.4-liter getting a heavier-duty version to handle its extra power.
Now rated at 300 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque, the 5.4-liter engine uses three-valve cylinder heads and variable camshafts to provide more power at lower engine speeds. The extra juice allows the F-150 to claim a maximum tow rating of 9,500 pounds, the highest rating in the half-ton class.
During a towing demonstration in which the F-150 was pitted against its current rivals while pulling a 7,000-pound trailer, the newly invigorated Triton proved to be a smooth and refined hauler. The broad power band enabled the truck to maintain a steady pull on moderate hill climbs, and it did so with less interior noise than a Hemi-equipped Dodge Ram.
Unfortunately, the Triton's impressive towing ability doesn't translate into usable power during normal stop-and-go driving. Acceleration off the line feels soft and even full-throttle downshifts fail to elicit much snap. The apparent sluggishness could be chalked up to increased levels of refinement that mask the actual performance, but we've got a feeling it's something else entirely namely weight. Compared to its predecessor, an '04 extended cab F-150 comes saddled with nearly 800 pounds of additional weight enough extra baggage to cause even its more powerful engine to feel sluggish.
Whether a truck's 0-to-60 performance is something to be concerned about is debatable. After all, the idea of a truck is to buy it for what it can do, not what it can beat at a stoplight. In this regard, the F-150 stacks up well as its capabilities, both in towing and hauling, are now class-leading. Factor in its larger, more appealing interior, top-notch build quality and brawny looks and the F-150 has undeniable appeal.
But even with so much going for it, we can't help but feel that this new F-150 lacks the kind of innovative features that will make it stand out from the crowd. Bigger, faster, stronger may have been enough to impress a decade ago, but these days such improvements are expected. Whether this shortfall will make a serious dent in the F-150's status as the best-selling vehicle in the world is hard to tell, but there's no doubt that it leaves the door wide open for the competition to come storming in.
Used 2004 Ford F-150 listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2004 Ford F-150s for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 2,399 used and CPO 2004 F-150s listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 4,500 and mileage as low as 0. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2004 Ford F-150. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 300 on a used or CPO 2004 F-150 available from one of 2,632 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2004 Ford F-150 ?
Save up to $300 on one of 77 used 2004 Ford F-150s for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $6997 as of Apr 23, 2018, based on data from 18 dealers and 66 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 1.7 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2004 Ford F-150 trim styles:
The used 2004 Ford F-150 FX4 is priced around $9497 with average odometer reading of 177330 miles.
The used 2004 Ford F-150 XL is priced around $8965 with average odometer reading of 173322 miles.
The used 2004 Ford F-150 XLT is priced around $10036 with average odometer reading of 122878 miles.
The used 2004 Ford F-150 Lariat is priced around $10527 with average odometer reading of 146518 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, Virginia. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
What options are available on the 2004 Ford F-150?
Available Ford F-150 2004 Submodel Types: SuperCab, SuperCrew, SVT Raptor, Extended Cab, Regular Cab, SVT Lightning
Available Ford F-150 2004 Trims: Platinum, King Ranch, Raptor, Limited, SVT Raptor, XLT, FX4, Lariat, FX2, Harley-Davidson, Lariat Limited, STX, XL, 60th Anniversary, Base, Special, Eddie Bauer, SVT Lightning, XLT Lariat
Exterior Colors: Oxford White, Shadow Black, Magnetic Metallic, Ingot Silver Metallic, Blue Jeans Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clear Coat, Tuxedo Black Metallic, Lightning Blue Metallic, White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat, Race Red, Magma Red Metallic, Lead Foot, Stone Gray Metallic, Guard Metallic, White Gold Metallic, Blue Flame Metallic, Sterling Gray Metallic, Bronze Fire Metallic, Green Gem Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Sunset Metallic, Caribou Metallic, Blue Flame Clearcoat Metallic, Lithium Gray, Tuxedo Black, Vermillion Red, Black, Dark Blue Pearl Clearcoat Metallic, Black Clearcoat, Sterling Gray Clearcoat Metallic, White Gold, Ingot Silver, Bright Red Clearcoat, Dark Shadow Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Sterling Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Kodiak Brown Metallic, Red Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, True Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Vermillion Red (Fleet), Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metallic, Avalanche, Dark Amethyst, Oxford White Clearcoat, Pale Adobe Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clear Coat/Caribou Metallic, Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Arizona Beige Metallic, Aspen Green Clearcoat Metallic, Black Clearcoat/Dark Shadow Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Black/Arizona Beige Metallic, Blazing Yellow Clearcoat/Dark Shadow Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Blue Flame Clearcoat Metallic/Sterling Gray Clearcoat Metallic, Blue Jeans Metallic/Stone Gray Metallic, Bright Red Clearcoat/Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metallic, Bright Red/Silver Metallic, Brilliant Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Dark Highland Green Clearcoat Metallic, Dark Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic, Estate Green Metallic/Arizona Beige Metallic, Guard Metallic/Stone Gray Metallic, Island Blue Clearcoat Metallic, Medium Wedgewood Blue Clearcoat Metallic/Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metallic, Molten Orange Tri-Coat, Oxford White Clearcoat/Arizona Beige Clearcoat Metallic, Oxford White Clearcoat/Pale Adobe Metallic, Oxford White Metallic/Dark Shadow Grey Clearcoat Metallic, Oxford White/Caribou Metallic, Oxford White/Ingot Silver Metallic, Royal Red Clearcoat Metallic, Terrain
Interior Colors: Medium Earth Gray cloth, Medium Earth Gray vinyl, Black leather, Black premium cloth, Steel Gray cloth, Medium Light Camel leather, Medium Light Camel cloth, Black cloth, Dark Earth Gray cloth, Medium Earth Gray leather, Dark Earth Gray/Medium Earth Gray cloth, Kingsville leather, Black premium leather, Black premium leather/cloth, Medium Stone vinyl, Pale Adobe cloth, Pale Adobe leather, Steel Gray vinyl, Steel Gray leather, Mesa/Java leather, Chaparral w/Pale Adobe Accents premium leather, Medium Parchment, Marina Blue/Black premium leather, Navy Pier leather, Tan leather, Black, Tan, Black (Fleet) premium cloth, Brunello/Black leather, Dark Marsala leather, Medium Flint cloth, Medium Stone (Fleet) cloth, Mojave/Black premium leather, Red/Black premium leather, Steel Gray premium cloth, Black w/Red Accents premium leather, Medium Flint, Medium Flint vinyl, Medium Graphite, Mesa premium leather, Mojave premium leather, Black leather/cloth, Black leather/sueded microfiber, Black w/Orange Accents premium leather, Black/Lava premium leather, Black/Smoked Silver premium leather, Brunello premium leather, Dark Flint, Dark Graphite, Medium Stone cloth, Medium/Dark Flint, Pecan premium leather, Tan premium cloth
Popular Features: Tire Pressure Warning, Post-collision safety system, Stability Control, Aux Audio Inputs, Alarm, Back-up camera, Bluetooth, USB Inputs, Towing Hitch, Power Driver Seat, Heated seats, Mobile Internet, Parking sensors, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Cooled Seats, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Remote Start, Keyless Entry/Start, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Navigation, Upgraded Engine, Upgraded Headlights, Blind Spot Monitoring, Sunroof/Moonroof, Upgraded Stereo, 360-degree camera, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, 8000lb Towing Capacity, Automatic Emergency Braking, Pre-collision safety system, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Rear Bench Seats, 6ft Bed, AWD/4WD, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, 10,000lb+ Towing Capacity, Extended Cab, Crew Cab, Auto Climate Control, Leather Seats, Trip Computer, 2nd Row Bucket Seats, Standard Cab, 5000lb Towing Capacity, 6000lb Towing Capacity, 8ft Bed, 2500lb Towing Capacity
Engine/Mechanics: 6, 8 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC, MANUAL
Fuel Types: flex-fuel (unleaded/E85), regular unleaded, premium unleaded (recommended), premium unleaded (required)
Drivetrains: four wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Used 2004 Ford F-150 Overview
The used 2004 Ford F-150 is offered in the following submodels: SuperCab, SVT Lightning, Regular Cab, SuperCrew. Available styles include 2dr Regular Cab SVT Lightning Rwd Flareside SB (5.4L 8cyl S/C 4A), 4dr SuperCrew XLT Rwd Styleside 5.5 ft. SB (4.6L 8cyl 4A), and 4dr SuperCrew XLT 4WD Styleside 5.5 ft. SB (4.6L 8cyl 4A). Pre-owned F-150 models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2004 F-150 comes with rear wheel drive or four wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 4-speed automatic.
EPA Est. MPG | 15 |
Transmission | Automatic |
Drive Train | Rear Wheel Drive |
Displacement | 4.6 L |
Passenger Volume | N/A |
Wheelbase | 132 in |
Length | 218 in |
Width | 78 in |
Height | 73 in |
Curb Weight | 4993 lbs |
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a Used 2004 Ford F-150 in VA is:
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a Used 2004 Ford F-150 in VA is:
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