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If Gary Cooper were a truck, I think he'd be a Ford F-150. The F-150, in existence for more than half a century, is one sharp shooter with everything about this full-size truck speaking of clean-cut styling and ruggedness. The straight lines and sharp edges of the F-150 are instructed by functionality, with no need for whimsical style lines....




If Gary Cooper were a truck, I think he'd be a Ford F-150. The F-150, in existence for more than half a century, is one sharp shooter with everything about this full-size truck speaking of clean-cut styling and ruggedness.



The straight lines and sharp edges of the F-150 are instructed by functionality, with no need for whimsical style lines. Every design element is dictated by its job, making the styling of the 2010 Platinum model I recently test-drove as timeless as many of its F-150 predecessors.



Even the sumptuous leather seating surfaces of the plusher Platinum trim did little to soften the rough-and-tough demeanor. The interior, replete with sharp angles, brushed aluminum and dark wood-style accents, complements this truck's can-do exterior styling.



The best-selling truck for 33 years, the F-150 continues to provide its owners with best-in-class towing and payload capacities, according to Irvan Melerine, sales manager of Riverland Ford in LaPlace.



Loyal Ford truck owners should be pleased by the current edition's styling consistency. Additionally, drivers of all stripes ready for a little or a lot more luxury in their trucks will definitely be pleased by the Platinum F-150.



The Platinum model, along with the King Ranch and Harley-Davidson editions, represents the top of the food chain for the F-150. This is the truck you buy when you've arrived. This is the truck you drive when a truck represents more to you than a box on wheels to cart stuff around.



Amenities exclusive to Ford, such as the optional Ford Work Solutions, which incorporates an on-board, 4-gygabite computer system that runs Microsoft software, make it a snap to make your truck your office.



The Tool Link option can read and inventory hundreds of items in a few seconds, allowing you to make sure all the tools you’ll need for a specific job are on board, as well as making sure you don’t forget any tools at the work site.



Of course, the standard feature on this truck that will garner the most smiles and thumbs up is the power running boards. Open the door and the cab-length running boards extend and lower to give you a helping hand climbing in. Close the door and they automatically retract.



I hadn’t driven the F-150 longer than 5 minutes before I pulled in to a gas station to clean my windshield. Two 20-somethings in an F-150 at the pump next to me immediately mentioned the running boards. Same thing when I got to work. Sometimes the simplest amenities garner the most pleasure.



The Platinum F-150 comes standard as supercrew cab, which means four full-size doors and seating for five. Its perforated leather-trimmed seats offer a three-speed cooling and heating system.



I have to say, even though some of my passengers felt a little funny about having cold air blown on their tush, I welcome the option to keep my shirt from sticking to my back when getting in a hot car. I can only imagine how toasty warm the seats will keep you in winter. The elegant, two-tone, 10-way power front seats also feature the Platinum designation embroidered on each seatback.



A glance across the dash reveals an easy-to-read speedometer and tachometer topped by gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel and voltmeter. A premium Sony sound system with satellite and navigation incorporates Microsoft's Sync technology, which pairs your cell phone and music player to the truck’s system. Reverse sensing technology and a rear-view camera are also standard on the Platinum trim.



Rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights, power folding mirrors, fog lamps, power

Tags: Ford, is-featured

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Ford F-150 Platinum: A sharp shooter was originally published by New Orleans Auto Reviews: Ford. Read the full story by clicking here.