We get our fair share of tuner companies wanting to give us their latest and greatest one-off power package for a test drive. They're typically fun to drive for a while, but, to be honest, most of the them just aren't up to snuff. For those who might not know the term, a “tuner” vehicle (car, truck, or SUV) is a specially modified vehicle typically offered for sale by an aftermarket company, sporting many (sometimes too many) performance parts that for one reason or another, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) couldn't.
Sometimes it's because they don't see the profit in it; sometimes the paranoid legal departments snuff out the idea; and sometimes somebody with a good amount of common sense steps up and says this might not be a great idea. In our experience, it's just too difficult for these smaller power and performance companies to get access to the same resources the Fords, GMs, and Dodges take for granted. But that doesn't mean we think they shouldn't keep trying.
There are a few good examples of companies building decent product off factory platforms. Names like Hennessey, Roush, and Saleen have long been at the top of the heap. But the one tuner truck that ranks at the top of our list is the Saleen S331 Ford F-150. This truck is about as good as it gets, combining a masterfully tuned suspension, wide-stance wheels and tires, a powerful one-of-kind supercharger, too many interior upgrades to list, and rear payload package that means it doesn't lose an ounce of F-150 towing or payload capacity. Although the packages can be a bit pricey (upward of $20,000 extra), especially if you opt for the world-class paint scheme, when you look at everything you get without the typical tradeoffs (harsh ride, limit useability, shaky demeanor, voided warranty, etc), we think there's a pretty good value story here. And the S331 stands out even more when compared withso many other vehicles in that arena that fall well short. As flattering as these statements might be, weguess a few Saleen aficionados, as well as the Saleen Team themselves, might not be so happy with our praise. That's because, if you talk to them, they'll tell you they really aren't a tuner company at all, but really an OEM just like Ford and GM. In fact, they tell us their vehicles have to go through the same certification process for fuel economy and crash worthiness that every other car sold in the U.S. must, but by doing this, they are able offer a full factory warranty, extended right on top of the Ford factory warranty, that will protect the truck and the powertrain just like a vehicle sold right off your nearest Ford dealer's lot.
Many of the tuner trucks that come to us are full of compromises, don't ride tight or deliver on its original truck promise. The S331 is exactly the opposite. And although they only offer the 5.4L V-8 in naturally aspirated or supercharged rigging for now, we hear they're getting ready to do something special with the new 2009 F-150s. And after hearing some the Saleen guys talk about alternative powertrains, fuel sources, and technology, we're guessing Saleen might be trying to figure out some new ways to define Power and Performance. Twin turbodiesels. Hybrids. What about DSG transmissions? Or smarter four-wheel-drive systems? Why shouldn't we be allowed to choose between hybrid and non-hybrid modes? As long as truck guys are working on their trucks, and that includes the engineers at the OEMs, there will be tuner pickups and SUVs.