Ford F350 2010 Review

The rotary dial for selecting drive — 2WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low — is off to the left, alongside the cavernous glove box.  And the footwell for the driver is cramped to the left so there's no distinct rest, though there's plenty of foot room atop the transmission hump.

They are small signs that this was originally a left-hand drive US of A-bred machine. But the signs, unlike the vehicle, are small enough to overlook.  The F350, along with a few other F-Trucks from the F250 to F450, is imported with the steering wheel on the wrong side and then converted by extensive engineering and clever cabin work.

The utes come into Melbourne brand new and are immediately pulled apart. The dashboard gets junked and a new right-hand drive version installed. Other components, such as the steering system, are also replaced.  The result is a vehicle that assumes all the poise and character of a machine that was originally engineered as a right-hand drive.

Driving

It sits confidently on the road because of its steering and suspension alterations and because it's 2m high and 2m wide and weighs 3.6 tonnes.  And the wonder of it all, from the eyrie-like cabin, is that once you accustom yourself to the ballroom dimensions behind you, it is as easy to drive as a Falcon.

The engine sets the theme. The stater motor winds up at frightening speed and promptly kicks the monster diesel alive.  There's no mistaking the diesel growl at idle but click the column shift gear lever into Drive and it settles into a lazy, muted rumble.

Maximum torque hits at 2000rpm so there's no need to keep prodding the accelerator.  It'll run with some of the best utes from the traffic lights and every upchange brings another kick forward.

Freeway cruising is an easy 100km/h at 1700rpm with plenty left to squirt past slower traffic.  It becomes so confident that, for a moment, you forget what you're driving. I easily slid into a roadside park bay and nonchalantly eased my age from the cabin.

I thought I did a pretty good job until I saw that the ute was hanging over the end of the bay's white painted perimeter by a good 2m. Nothing in the street could accommodate the F350, so I set off in search of an unmarked section of street.

More caution was exercised in the dirt. The 4WD writing on the flanks of the ute indicated this has potential in the dirt but I was only about 2km into a dirt route when fear drew over me like a cold blanket.

I was by myself. I was in a 4WD area but it was mid-week and I was alone. The ute was starting to find difficulty and I was already in low range.  And I figured that it would take about six days and a couple of heart attacks for me to dig out this 3.6-tonne thing if it sank. So I carefully reversed out.

Back on the bitumen the ute continued to surprise. The agility of the F350 isn't expected. Neither is the comfort and quietness of the cabin.  The Lariat model tested gets full leather upholstery and wood garnish. It seats five adults with all the room any rear passenger could want.

That back seat also folds up and a steel panel beneath becomes a cargo floor for storing stuff that needs the security of the cabin.  This is the top-spec F350 and standard features include electric telescopic and folding side mirrors for towing, 6-disc CD audio, rear sliding window, electric front seats with heating, dual-zone airconditioning, cruise control, rear camera (screen in mirror) and a sunroof.

There's also a trailer-brake controller to keep in check the 5.7 tonnes of mass that you're hooked up to.  Out back the bed has handy fold-out plastic railings — called a bed extender but more like fences — to either extend the cargo area over the opened tailgate or reversed to create a smaller, safer area to store goods.

And to get up onto the tray, the tailgate contains a slip-out, extendable step and a hand rail that locks into position. There. You're done now.

Ford F350 Lariat

Origin: USA
Price: $154,990
Engine: 6.4-litre, V8, twin-turbo-diesel
Power: 261kW @ 3000rpm
Torque: 885Nm @ 2000rpm
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel tank: 143 litres
Economy (tested): 19 litres/100km
Emissions: n/a (Corolla: 175g/km)
Transmission: 5-speed automatic; part-time 4WD; 2-speed electric transfer case
Brakes: 4-wheel vented discs, ABS, EBD, traction conrol
Turning circle: 12.2m
Suspension: Front _ Live axle, coils; Rear _ live axle, leaf springs, staggered shocks
Wheels: 18-inch alloy, 275/70R18 tyres; full-size spare
Length: 6155mm
Width: 1998mm
Height: 2023mm
Wheelbase: 3900mm
Ground clearance: 195mm
Weight: 3608kg
Tow (max): 5200kg
Warranty: 3yr/unlimited km
Service: 15,000km
Rivals: none