Specifically referring to Page 18 of the 2004 F-150 brochure, the red STX with the body color bumpers and grill trim is, I think, the best looking truck in the brochure. But, I'll probably end up getting an XLT so I won't be able to get the Blazing Yellow like I want and I'll have to live with chrome bumpers. Is there some technical reason, besides brand marketing, that Ford won't let me spend $30,000 on a yellow XLT with yellow bumpers? Any truck, and I do mean any truck, will do what I want to do so it comes down to things like cosmetics and interior designs. I'm just feeling put out because someone with a degree in marketing decided that I wouldn't want a yellow XLT. Am I alone?

 

Go with an FX4 instead of an XLT. It'll be around the same price, and you can get blazing yellow. Although, someone else got blazing yellow and they said they didn't really like it.

 

That "person with a marketing degree" decided that you could have the yellow bumpers if you so desired by ordering the FX-4 package and getting a lot of other things you might not want. All about up selling.

 

Well, there-in lies the problem. I don't need 4 wheel drive. My current vehicle is 4x4, and I've put 80,000 on it since Jan 2001 without needing the 4x4. I'm looking at interstate miles with little or no towing and 4x4 seems a bit excessive just to get yellow. Although I have seen the yellow in person and I do like it, but it is a personal pref of mine.

 

That's true. It all depends on what you plan on getting. I originally wanted an XLT, but then changed to an FX4 because all the options I wanted on the XLT were standard on the FX4. Plus the FX4 interior is 50 times better than the XLTs. Only cost a little more because I upgraded to the Audiophile and 18" wheels.

 

I'm looking at a 4x2 XLT SCrew, 4.6L with standard interior and wheels. I'd add whatever package necessary to get pwr accessories, but nothing really fancy. I do like the intrument cluster on the FX4, but not enough to "upgrade".