The new 2009 Ford F-150 Flareside full-sized pickup truck is spinning heads like Regan in the Exorcist. It's a sharp-looking, tough and ready truck that wants to play even after a hard day's work. Where the Styleside F-150s have more cargo space, the Flaresides have more flash and visual appeal. Ford has an approach to truck making that can actually be a bit perplexing, but in a good way. There are over 75 different permutations that you can build your new Ford F-150 from.

The fresh boxed frame of the 2009 Flareside sits on a stiffer platform than did its predecessor. The suspension system is noticeably firmer and handles better, especially when towing and hauling. Also, electronic trailer sway control has been added to all F-150s for 2009 as a standard feature. Quick cornering with little lean and responsive steering make for an impressive driving experience. It's quick too. 0 to 60 times were measured in just about 8 seconds. Now, remember, this is a full-sized pickup truck we are discussing here. That's pretty fast.

There are three engines and 2 transmissions to select from as well: the 4.2L V6, 4.6L V8 and 5.4L V8. The 5.4L cranks out 365 lb-ft of torque and 310hp. It is one of the heavier trucks in its class though - and you can feel the weight. That also has a bit to do with the fact that the 2009 F-150 is the lowest rated in its class for fuel economy. It rates at 14/19 mpg city/highway. However, the others are certainly not very far ahead of those numbers.

The Ford F-150 does a very nice job towing heavy loads - better than most of its competitors. With wide leaf springs and electronic stability control (as well as the aforementioned trailer sway control), the Flareside pulls like a locomotive and hardly even acts like it is trying. The highest rating for all trims concerning towing is a whopping 11,300 pounds while the base trim is rated for 5400.

MSRPs for the 2009 Ford F-150 Flareside pickup range from the mid-20s to the high-30s. Like the company says: "There is a Ford F-150 for every application." Anything that you have in mind concerning the features of your new truck can be delivered to you. One note of interest is the navigation systems. People absolutely love them. They are simplistic and feature-filled. The screen may be a little small, but otherwise they are selling like hotcakes. The Ford F-150 for 2009 remains as one of the most popular trucks on the planet - like it does every year. There are a lot of solid reasons behind those sales numbers. Explore Ford trucks further today!