Fordfan2006

I think we all think you should get a 03. Haha. Don't get a Fx4 if you want a good quiet ride the stock shocks are really stiff and the LT rated tires are noisy. Like my king ranch it has a quiet ride and you can hit bumps and it doesn't jar your teeth.oh and I know because my dad has a Fx4

yoda13

I would get an 04 Scab with a 4.6...then again that's basically what I have, just a few years newer. I had a 2001 regular cab f150, both trucks were/are XLTs... I like the fact that the newer is bulkier and heavier, and I like the style better, but I think both are great. If I had to have a 5.4, I think I would go with the 03

Fordfan2006

oh and the 04-08's tend to have a wire snap and have the windows fall into the door.

digger30

Now I still like the looks of the 2004 but as you guys say the 03 has a good engine. I have to say though there are like no good priced leather interior 03's. The 2004 cloth interior is far superior to the 03 cloth but the leather interior is about on par. I have only seen one 4.6l In my price range and it had around 130-150k miles on it. The lowest miles and really nice condition one that is in my price rang right now is a 2004 f150 xlt 4x4 97k miles. It seems to be in very good condition. Another question, is the 2005 any better than the 04? And what would be the max amount of miles you guys would take for a first truck? Thanks!

gone postal

The '06 and up solved many of the issues, the '04-05 model years have more problems.

One thing I find really annoying with my '04 and have had this issue since day one, the seat cloth stains at the drop of a cup of water. The '01 I had never had that particular issue.

Eric0508

I'm gonna go the other direction with this and say get an 04. If you can turn a wrench, you can pick up a decent 04 with a cam phaser tick/dieseling for dirt cheap and turn it into a much better truck for the money. I say keep an eye out for a 04 SCAB XLT or FX4 that has the phaser tick or runs a little rough. Put $1500 into it and you'll have a very nice truck. A good running 5.4L 3V is superior in almost every way to the 5.4L 2V or the 4.6.

You've already said you prefer the 04-up so why not get your hands dirty and learn something in the process

redeye3745

I agree with this. Not only can they be really good trucks as I previously stated, but I wasn't really mechanically inclined before I had my truck. Having this '04 model 5.4L 3v has definitely improved my knowledge of engines and mechanical skills. Now I actually work on engines as a compressor mechanic!

digger30

well now since a few guys have had good luck with the 3v's and I know of 3 trucks that have had 3v 5.4L's with no issues ( 04 Expedition Eddie Bauer, 08 Expedition Limited, 04 f150 lariat scab) all of which have had no engine problems. But really I still have a while until I'll be getting one and its really gonna come down to what is the best price/mileage truck. Thanks!

Whofan

I know of a 2002 F150 with the 5.4l that made it to 630,000 miles without the engine being touched outside routine maintenance. Other things in truck went bad like transfer case and a few transmission jobs. The truck was retired for other reasons with a still strong 5.4l.
I was trying out Fords of this vintage and kept bumping my knee on the dash part that wrapped into the door trim.
I ended up with a 01 Silverado instead and drove that for nine years.
This year I sold my 01 Chevy and bought a 2006 F150 with the 5.4l.
The interior I like better than the 97-03 truck.
With me it`s been more about the deal than the brand. I hope my 06 proves to be a good truck. It has only 30,000 on it and never seen snow. The 97-03 F150`s are with out a doubt a rock solid truck. Could be the best Ford has built so far, for sure the best truck they ever built up till then. The dash I did not like. My 06 has a slight tic but I`m use to that coming from Chevrolet. Every Chevy I ever owned had a lifter tic going way back to the 70`s. Even so the Chevrolet engine is the best part of their truck and it`s a good engine. I like my Ford better in everyway just hope the engine is as good.

03f15012

I'd like to have a bit personal info on the motors, but I'm missing 2 cylinders. Ha ha... Either way, I've had my 2003 for over 3 1/2 years. Normal maintenance and a rear main seal has been all I've needed. I've had it since 136,000, and a other 40,000 has been added on since. As people said, it seems they got most all the bugs and issues worked out in its last exclusive production year. The few issues remaining are easy to fix, and one is a gas strap recall. I suggest you try to find an 03 for the 10th gens. Unlike a lot of people, I like the design of these trucks!