By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If you’re a pickup-truck kind of person to begin with, but your spouse is not, this truck could very well win him or her over. Bold colors, outrageous trim packages, a lavish interior and the all-American big Blue Oval should win thumbs-up approval.
If you like your trucks rough, loud and shaky, this one won’t cut it. On a serious note, the 2008 Ford F-150 cannot claim the most horsepower or torque in its class, an important bragging right for some truck owners. Safety-conscious consumers won’t care for the lack of side-impact and side-curtain airbags.
New options include a factory-installed cargo management system, remote start, manual telescoping trailer mirrors and a rear backup camera which displays its image in the rearview mirror. New trims include the Lariat Limited, STX Wheels and Stripes package and the XL SuperCrew. Fleet buyers can opt for a mid-box cargo container that fits between the cab and the bed.
If Ford does one thing better than building tough trucks, it’s selling them. Rising fuel prices and a move toward smaller vehicles have forced the company to revise its 2008 F-150 line-up by offering more features and options with an aggressive new pricing strategy. Determined to keep the F-150 America’s best-selling pickup, Ford continues to offer a dizzying array of configurations as well as a new 5.4-liter V8 Flex Fuel engine that can run on E85, a blend of 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gasoline. Tough competition from Dodge, as well as new lines from GMC and Chevrolet, will keep the fire under the F-150’s tires, which could very well translate into some great deals for the savvy consumer.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2008 Ford F150 Super Cab models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$25,760 | $6,634 | |||
$26,910 | $7,409 | |||
$27,210 | $7,528 | |||
$29,300 | $7,612 | |||
$31,500 | $7,984 | |||
$31,685 | $6,772 | |||
$31,800 | $7,468 | |||
$32,400 | $8,814 | |||
$33,770 | $7,740 | |||
$34,495 | $8,610 | |||
$34,730 | $7,575 | |||
$35,150 | $8,027 |
For reference, the 2008 Ford F150 Super Cab originally had a starting sticker price of $25,760, with the range-topping F150 Super Cab Lariat Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft starting at $35,150.
Power is the name of the game when it comes to full-size trucks, and here Ford has made some significant advances. The Triton 5.4-liter V8 features a three-valve-per-cylinder design and variable cam timing to generate 300 horsepower and a healthy 365 pound-feet of torque. A beefed-up version of the 4R75E automatic transmission has been assigned to handle the engine’s added muscle. Gone are the long-familiar Ford power steering system and torsion bar front suspension; replacing them are a modern rack-and-pinion steering and front coil-over-shock suspension. The combination of these features makes these the best-handling, best-riding F-150s to ever leave a Ford factory. If you grew up driving older F-150 models (2004 or prior), you’ll be duly impressed by the dead-on steering feel and straight-line tracking of today’s F-150s.
The F-150’s interior is as close to car-like as you’ll find in any pickup. Not only is the new F-150 better looking inside, it’s also more quiet, safe and spacious. The dash and interior design on the base models look good enough, but the addition of leather, wood, chrome and center console-mounted shifter found on the high-end models combine to raise the bar on the plush pickup concept. Seating is firm and upright, and SuperCrew models feature lots of rear legroom and amenities such as DVD-entertainment and power windows.
The 2008 Ford F-150 carries over with only minor exterior upgrades. The recently redesigned shapely Ford body, egg-crate grille and Blue Oval badging remain intact, surrounded by some new chrome trim and a crop of fresh new colors. The F-150’s silhouette is easy to spot, thanks to its tall bed wall (about two inches taller than the previous-generation F-150). Though it looks different, some may find the tall bed walls make it difficult to reach a toolbox from the side of the truck. The Regular Cab features a set of small, rear-hinged doors that allow easy access to the narrow space behind the front seat. Those who like to have as much fresh air in the cabin as possible will appreciate the SuperCab’s optional rear roll-down windows, a first in this segment.
Cargo Management System
Installed at the factory, Ford’s new Cargo Management System (available only on short-bed Styleside models) consists of two rails, a pair of bins, a pair of crossbars and a header bar.
Small Rear Door
Regular Cab models have a small rear door to help load items behind the back seat.
The base F-150 has a 202-horsepower V6, five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), 26-gallon fuel tank, AM/FM stereo, dual side mirrors, vinyl split-bench seat, tilt wheel, power steering, locking tailgate and 17-inch steel wheels.
The F-150 offers numerous trim levels, engine choices and bed and cab lengths. Notable options include a 300-horsepower 5.4-liter Triton V8, power seats, power windows, power locks, remote entry, keypad unlocking system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, leather seats, DVD navigation, trailer and towing packages, power sliding rear window, cruise control, power moonroof, Reverse Sensing System, limited-slip differential, 35.7-gallon fuel tank, Rearview back-up camera, mechanical or automatic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, power-adjustable pedals and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Base Regular Cab models are powered by a tepid but fuel-efficient (for a big truck) V6. We don’t recommend this engine for towing or hauling heavy loads. The 4.6-liter V8 engine might save you some money, but it, too, seems to lack the punch this truck deserves. We prefer the 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V8, which has the power to move, haul and tow that fits this truck’s can-do image.
4.2-liter V6
202 horsepower @ 4350 rpm
260 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 (manual), 14/19 (automatic)
4.6-liter V8
248 horsepower @ 4750 rpm
294 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/18 (2WD), 13/17 (4WD)
5.4-liter V8
300 horsepower @ 5000 rpm
365 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/17 (2WD Gasoline), 10/13 (2WD E85),
12/16 (4WD Gasoline), 9/12 (4WD E85)
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 4912 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
EPA Passenger | 115.2 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 26.0 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 40.9 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.3 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 6 | ||
Overall Length | 217.8 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 66.5 inches | ||
Towing Capacity, Maximum | 6800 lbs. | ||
Turning Diameter | 43.6 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 133.0 inches | ||
Truck Bed Volume | 56 cu.ft. | ||
Bed Length | 5.50 feet | ||
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) | 6650 lbs. | ||
Payload Capacity | 1680 lbs. | ||
Width with mirrors | 96.8 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fog Lights | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors |
City | 14 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 19 mpg | ||
Combined | 16 mpg |
Drivetrain | 2WD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
4 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Regular | ||
Limited Slip Differential | Available |
Horsepower | 248 @ 4750 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 294 @ 4000 rpm | ||
Engine | V8, 4.6 Liter |
Basic | 3 years / 36000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 5 years / 60000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2008 Ford F150 Super Cab | Used 2012 GMC Canyon Regular Cab | Used 2008 Isuzu i-370 Extended Cab | Used 2009 Mitsubishi Raider Extended Cab | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $7,609 | $7,421 | $7,245 | $7,600 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | 3.0 | 2.4 | N/A | |
Consumer Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.3 | |
Fuel Economy | City 14/Hwy 19/Comb 16 MPG | City 18/Hwy 25/Comb 21 MPG | City 16/Hwy 22/Comb 18 MPG | City 15/Hwy 20/Comb 17 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | |
Seating Capacity | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 3 years or 50000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | |
Horsepower | 248 @ 4750 RPM | 185 @ 5600 RPM | 242 @ 5600 RPM | 210 @ 5200 RPM | |
Engine | V8, 4.6 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.9 Liter | 5-Cyl, 3.7 Liter | V6, 3.7 Liter | |
Drivetrain | 2WD | 2WD | 2WD | 2WD |
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