 |
|||
America loves trucks. For men and many women, there is just something about pickup trucks. Alan Jackson sings about it in his country song, "Pickup Man." Even if we don't need one every day, we still want a truck. As my father used to say, "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." Trucks are a part of the American male macho image, just as Harley Davidson motorcycles touches that "bad-boy" image that men and women both understand. Maybe it's natural that Ford produces a Harley Davidson edition pickup. Certainly either image stands on its own reputation. The question is, does the union of both all American images produce a stronger product? I'm not so sure. I love the Ford F150 pickup and I eagerly anticipate the day when I ride my own Harley motorcycle. But I'm not sure the 2006 Ford F150 Harley Davidson pickup hits the mark this time. Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful truck, it's just I want something more than stickers and logos. Give me a supercharger. Give me some pipes. Give me an over the top - in your face, type of truck. Ford first licensed a special edition Harley Davidson Edition truck in 1999 and will continue to build limited editions F-150 and Superduty pickups till the 2009 model year. Each year is different and each year the production number is limited. My test truck was an imposing solid black F-150 All Wheel Drive Crew Cab. Sitting on 22" polished aluminum wheels and accented with chrome Harley logos, only the salmon colored stripe looked out of place. Ok, maybe it was orange/pink? In a nod to the dumbest design feature ever, one has to wonder what was up with the Harley Davidson running boards. I thought maybe they would extend and retract providing a useful step. But no, they are simply beauty boards with no function except to get torn off in rough terrain. Rough Terrain? For 2006, Ford uses an automatic All Wheel Drive setup instead of the switchable 4X4 feature found on most off-road trucks. AWD is preferential for climbing parking garage ramps at the mall but not for off-road use. The Ford 5.4 liter V8 engine is the weakest maximum engine for light duty pickups offered by Ford, GM, Dodge, and Nissan. Only Toyota's largest V8 produces less power. So while this is a very capable truck, it is simply more bark than bite. The 2006 Ford F-150 may be a poser, but then again, doesn't this define Harley Davidson? There are certainly better engineered bikes than Harley. But no bike carries the image and heritage better than Harley Davidson. If you want to look good at "bike night," you can't do better than a shiny new Harley Davidson. Truthfully, there are few trucks better looking than the 2006 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson. Inside the cab the piano black trim offset by chrome and leather makes for a stunning cabin experience. Unique Harley Davidson gauges are a reminder of the historical tradition associated with the name. Sofa soft midnight black leather seats are offset with contrasting stitching. As much as a custom Harley Davidson motorcycle is a prestige image, the 2006 Ford Harley Davidson truck continues the theme of a privileged lifestyle rather than an outlaw "bad boy" image. It's little secret that "RUBs" (Rich Urban Bikers) now make up the majority of Harley Davidson riders. So for those who want a capable pickup with the Harley Davidson name, the 2006 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson may not be a bad choice. For me however, I'll take a King Ranch Edition or a loaded Lariat and forgo the Harley stickers. I still love the truck, but the Harley Davidson edition could be so much more than eye candy.
2006 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson
5.4 liter engine
MSRP as Equipped $42,120 14/18 MPG Additional Web only Information and Resources For Additional Reviews: |
©2006 - Stan Risener