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The model was so loved it topped sales chart in its time. Let's see how it achieved such lofty feat.
For most of the last three decades, the best-selling vehicle line in America has been, oddly enough, a pickup truck, rather than a family sedan or SUV. The Ford F-Series currently holds that distinguished honor.
It is no surprise that the best-selling car in America (as well as Canada) is Ford's storied F-Series pickup truck lineup. The F-Series significantly increased the nation's productivity from its modest beginnings in 1948 to what it is today, truly a dependable and potent workhorse.
It has figuratively carried the burden of American workers for more than a century. Additionally, it stands for the pickup truck's cutting edge and created trends that other pickup truck manufacturers were vying to match.
The 2008 Ford-F-Series is another example that adds to the F-Series' success as a best-selling vehicle. Those sales estimates include not just the F-150 but also Super Duty rigs and commercial-use chassis cabs. The half-ton F-150, on the other hand, has always accounted for the lion's share of those figures.
The F-150, which was last updated in 2004, caters to the modern pickup consumer, who are just as likely to use a pickup for commuting and family hauling as they are for hauling lumber or trailers. The overwhelming popularity of crew-cab trucks over standard and extended-cab models demonstrates this.
The Ford F-Series’ popularity and sales in 2008 were all because of the Ford F-150. Let's examine why consumers loved the 2008 Ford F-150 so much.
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Most 2008 Ford F-150 models feature a standard 40/20/40-split bench seat with a column shifter up front, which provides seating for three people in ordinary cabs and six people in SuperCab and SuperCrew variants. Captain's chairs and a console shifter are upgrades available on the majority of trims.
The seats in the front are a little flat but adequately firm, and there is plenty of headroom and legroom. The extended cab is adequate for occasional adult use in the rear, but the crew cab is far more suitable.
The Ford F-150 2008 provides excellent comfort and space for passengers and also has a ton of storage. The SuperCab and SuperCrew variants have more internal storage space because of a modular overhead rail system that can carry a DVD player and other accessories.
All Ford F-150 models also feature extra-large map pockets in every door, while competitors have bigger, easier-to-access console bins. To improve the cargo volume and perceived mass, the top edges of the box are raised 2.3 inches in the bed.
The Cargo Management System on the Ford F-150 has also improved functionality. Bins, crossbars, and adjustable cleats work together to make it possible to secure almost anything in the bed other than a space shuttle. The F-150 has an actual full-size hauling capacity of more than 9,000 pounds, thanks to the availability of three-bed lengths and two box designs.
The quality of materials on the Ford F-150 2008 differs substantially across trim lines. Hose-out rubber floormats and a plain inside are standard on the XL, but progressing up the trim levels delivers material upgrades such as two-tone leather seats and leather-trimmed interior elements on the Lariat Limited 2008 Ford F-150.
The base versions' dash and interior design are adequate. Still, the inclusion of leather, wood, chrome, and a center console-mounted shifter on the high-end models raises the bar on the luxurious pickup concept.
Strong build quality also tends to lessen interior noise, which is unquestionably true with the 2008 Ford F-150. It also tends to look well and add an air of luxury. At all speeds, the 2008 Ford F-150 is quiet and at highway speeds, wind and road noise are barely audible.
All trims of the F-150 come standard with anti-lock disc brakes; however, traction control is an option on some. The F-150 lacks side curtain airbags but does provide trailering mirrors and a reversing camera as options, increasing safety through improved sight.
Despite some of these flaws, the F-150 fares well in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute of Highway Safety testing (IIHS). It receives a pristine five-star rating from the NHTSA as well as the highest overall grade of "Good" from the IIHS.
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The Ford F-Series truck completed 2008 as the best-selling car in the nation for the 32nd year in a row, despite having to contend with high gas prices in the first half of the year and a lousy economy in the second.
Total sales of the F-Series, which include both light-duty and heavy-duty sales, reached 515,513 units. The F-Series nevertheless outsold the Chevrolet Silverado (465,065 units), Toyota Camry (436,617 units), Honda Accord (372,789 units), Toyota Corolla (351,007 units), and Honda Civic (339,289 units) despite a decline of 25.4% from a year earlier.
The introduction of the new 2009 F-150 improved F-Series sales. In December, the 2009 F-150 accounted for 8,600 of total F-Series sales, an increase of 84% over November 2008.
Marcus is a car enthusiast who loves writing about them. He travels frequently and always seeks out the best driving roads to really test a car's limits. His favorite cars are anything with a manual transmission, and he's been known to spend hours just shifting through all the gears.