[radar_ridr]

I just got the 2003 XL 4X4. It has manual windows and locks, vinyl floor, manual tranny. It is battleship grey ("Darkshadow"!).

Without all the power options there is less to break. No carpets to get soaked with mud. I never was crazy about the color matched fender flares and grill on the XLT - I prefer the black plastic and chrome grill on the XL. I like the manual tranny because it is fun to shift and it seems less likely to have hard-to-find/fix gremlins than the auto.

and, oh my god!, it is a regular cab long box! remember those pickups from the 70's?....

and I got a REAL good deal - it was like half the price of the loaded XLT's on the lot - very very cheap truck when not loaded with options. Drives great! seems lighter, not loaded down with all the gizmos.

ANYWAY, who out there also likes a simple truck? they seem very rare. my dealer had to bring this one in from over 300 miles away. Ford must only make about ten of 'em like this every year, I never see one like it on the road. When did the concept of a pickup truck change so much?