BickfordFinance.com
The Strategic Vision Total Quality Index™ is the premier measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. Instead of simply documenting the traditional "things gone wrong" criterion, it takes a comprehensive approach by asking buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience, from buying and owning to driving.
Alexander Edwards, Strategic Vision President, puts it in perspective. "With automotive corporations now doing a terrific job in providing vehicles with minimal problems, the Cues of Quality (those product attributes that signal quality and create customer Trust) have a greater impact on the purchase decision. Perceived Quality has the power to change customer's perceptions of a vehicle from being ‘interesting' to eventually considered and purchased. In the past, one could count the number of problems per vehicle; but for automotive customers today and tomorrow, a comprehensive and integrated perception of the ownership experience will be what drives the decision making process."
This is good news for progressive domestic manufacturers like Ford. For example, the Ford Expedition EL enjoyed a very large lead and had fewest problems in the segment, but Expedition EL owners went beyond problems, recognizing innovative changes, which are key to future domestic success.
Competition is fierce in the pickup truck world, even more so in the big-truck realm. Ford has done something superior with their new 2008 F-Series Super Duty® and created a big truck dynasty—something durable, an enduring answer for those in need of a big truck. As such, the Ford Super Duty® has gilded the marketplace, its presence on the worksite does not go un-noticed. It's towed itself into toy-hauler history, and broadly affected the trends of design and function for all heavy-duty pickups. And now comes the Ford F-450 pickup with more capability than any pickup truck ever before.
Why should you care about Ford's new F-450 pickup? Dual sequential turbos on a bigger 6.4-liter PowerStroke® diesel, massive tow and haul capacities, bigger axles, a highly evolved big-truck ride and an options list longer than your arm.
"Best Ever" is a marketing phrase that's been ground into powder by overzealous promotion. It doesn't mean much anymore. You expect a subsequent design to be better than its former. Sweeping threadbare phraseology aside, Ford showrooms will see the 2008 F-450 pickup as something more than just the next iteration. This is the evolution of the heavy-duty truck, a creature beyond the next "Best." Imagine the first atomic aircraft carrier to sail into harm's way, or the first jet fighters to duel with prop-driven P-51s. This truck is new like sliced bread.
Why The F-450 Pickup?
While we'd want to suggest "This is the best" and "Best ever" apply to the new F-450 pickup, that would force this fine evolution of the working pickup to live by markety nomenclature what's already been used up and used again. Ford's Super Duty®, and the massive new F-450 pickup, all packing what may be the finest iteration of light truck diesel power available, are the ideal solution to your working, hauling, towing and general truck bruising. A larger, more powerful, better cooled, more controlled 6.4L PowerStroke® combined with every necessary (and some merely entertaining) truckin' option, wrapped in a revised, understated and appealing interior and exterior should drive you to run for your favorite Ford dealer. This truck is that good. After all, it's the most capable pickup truck around.