Hey all, new guy here. Looking to get one of the 2004's sometime this year. I have a few questions though....please forgive me if they have been asked before. Also, this will be my first new vehicle purchase......

1. The "audiophile" sound system? What does that have in it? It doesnt say much on the F-150 website.

2. If I get the captains chairs, do I automatically get the floor shifter or is that an additional charge?

3. Not really a question but please tell me any comments or anything that you like about the Lariat edition. I think I might go that route.

4. Again - Not a question but to those of you with kids - Leather or cloth?

Thanks for taking the time to read and answer these, I hope to get to know all of you soon.

 

Ok, scratch the 1st question off the list, I found it here in the forums....but I would like any opinions on it. How does it hold up with Rock/Metal music? Is it worth it or should I leave it out and get a aftermarket system?

 

Hey Xyrus,

Hope you enjoy your new truck no matter what you get. Here is my take on things:

1. If the audiophile is anything like the Mach 460 in the 'Stang, I would definitely get it. I thoroughly enjoyed the Mach and it held up to all kinds of music. I went in to my local Best Buy to see about getting a similar system in my '03 F150, and they priced it at close to a thousand dollars for amps, subs, speakers, and a comparable deck.

2. Floor shifter: If you get the lariat or FX4 with captains chairs, you will get the floor console with shifter. It is not an option of the XL, XLT, or STX.

3. I plan on getting a Lariat if/when I can afford it. My mother has an Eddie Bauer Expedition (comparable to the Lariat), and I love it.

4. Leather, it's always leather! Even with kids! Leather is not as absorbant as cloth. Keep it conditioned and you will merely wipe up spills, instead of having your cloth seats shampooed once a month. All I would suggest is if the rugrats are in carseats, put a towel under the carseat to keep it from creasing/wrinkling the leather.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Ox

 

Xyrus,

Welcome to a great site.

2. The flow-through console with floor shifter automatically comes with the optional captains chairs on FX4 and Lariat only, all for one option price. You can get front captains chairs as an option on the XLT, but XLTs don't come with the flow-though console and floor shifter.

3. Lariat - a lot of the stuff you get in the Lariat you can order as an option in the FX4, but some of the "little" things that come only in the Lariat I appreciate more than I thought I would are: Auto-dimming rearview mirror (I love it!), Message center (fun to keep an eye on stats, esp. fuel mileage), adjustable pedals (will be useful for my wife if she ever gets a chance to drive my truck ). The downside - now that I've gotten used to these things, I'm spoiled and wouldn't want to do without them on any future vehicles.

4. I've got 2 kids (4 and 6) and obviously have leather (tan) in my Lariat SCrew. It's been great. If you get leather seating, you just have to be prepared to clean and condition it regularly (I do mine every week to 2 weeks). My 70 lb German Shepard traves in the truck occasionally, so I bought a tan bath rug (non slip rubber backing) to lay across the seat for him so he doesn't slide around or tear a seat.

I'm not trying to sell you on a Lariat, however, there's pros and cons (depending on personal preference) for all of the models available. For myself, it was an excruciating (but fun) process to figure out exactly what I wanted. I recommend you build and compare a couple of different trucks at fordvehicles.com, pour over the '04 F150 brochure, and review the posts/pics on this forum to help you make a choise you feel most comfortable with. Good luck.