Hello everyone. My wife and I are currently looking to Purchase a 2004 FX4, but want some opinions. I have my PIN and know what I want on the truck:

Supercab
Audiophile
Electronic Rear Window
Leather seats

But, the bad part is my dealer does not have one that fully matches my wants. So I am torn, as I am turning in a 2003 Mustang GT on lease about 2 years early. They are basically wiping the slate clean on the lease if I take a vehicle out of stock instead of ordering. This will give me the X plan pricing, any incentives, and dealer is throwing in a bedrug. The truck I like is yellow, but has a single CD stereo and solid rear window. Everything else matches.

Can I survive without the Audiophile and electronic rear window?

Thanks

Sarge

 

Sure you could!

These options, however nice, do not compromise the great truck you are about to buy. I bought a LAriat Scab off the lot without audiophile, I am certainly impressed with the quality. Sure I would have ordered audiophile had I ordered the truck, but this is how the cards fell for me. As for the power slider, I must admit I have it and it is really slick, but I would think again, not "needed," just nice. I am pretty sure you can add one yourself, too.

WOLF

 

I agree with Wolfman. Sounds like the truck is just what you are looking for you're looking for except for the Audiophile and the power sliding rear window. I wanted the Audiophile with 6-disc changer too but settled for a single disc system in my truck. Everything else I wanted was on the truck and it was there setting on the dealer's lot. My stereo with single disc CD sounds pretty good, I think. In my opinion, you can play only one disc at a time anyway. If you're really an audiophile and into sound systems that much, you would replace the stock system, put subwoofers in the back, an XM radio, MP3 player, new speakers, etc. as an aftermarket mod.

The power rear sliding window is aweful nice to have though. I wasn't that hip on getting it but my wife liked it. After getting having the truck I really like it and am thankful that we opted for it. Especially with the summer coming, its so nice to crack the front windows or sunroof open then open that rear sliding window to get a nice flow through the cab. I don't need to use the AC most of the time since I can do this. I have seen several threads here about adding these windows aftermarket. Maybe they would inspire you to consider it.

I say 'Go for it'. Sounds like the dealer is willing to work with you to sell the vehicle on their lot. You won't regret it as you and your wife join the rest of the bananas!


Blk n Tan Screw

 

Gotta have the Audiophile. Its mandatory. I wouldn't buy a truck without it.

 

get it today the 3rd window isnt a big deal and neither is the Audiophile. i have them both and theyre an OK option, but nothing to die for. id actually want a solid rear window.

 

the power sliding rear window is certianly not necessary. don't worry about it.

the audiophile is really nice, but it is just an audio system. if you really want a good audio system, you can take some of the money you save and install one yourself.

if the deal is as good as you make it out to be, go for it.

 

It is all about what YOU want/can live with. I don't need the audiophile; but wouldn't go without the power sliding rear window or the 36 gallon tank (for many long trips). For this reason I had to order.

My advise: If your gonna be paying $30k for a truck get exactly what you want now. NO REGRETS! (I wish I would have . . . .) I could have gotten an awesome deal on a new 2005 Chebby SuperCrew loaded for less than I paid for the F150 SCab Lariat, but IMO it wasn't as good of a truck. I didn't want to look back in 6 months and say, "This truck was a good deal, but I wish I had gotten the F150!"

I just about went nuts waiting on the order; but boy am I glad that I did!!!

I got exactly what I wanted!!!

 

I like the sliding rear but it isn't essential. Sometimes its nice be completely evacutate the air in the cabin.

Audiophile is awesome. Some people can't sleep at night if they don't have an aftermarket system, but for average people the Audiophile is going to be the best car stereo they've ever heard. I don't think you could install a stereo that sounds that good for $600 anywhere, so you really can't think of it as either/or in the aftermarket. I might be wrong.

Like dj said, it's all about what you want. I ordered mine with everything except the moonroof, and now I regret not getting the moonroof. It was worth the wait to get (most) everything I wanted. Don't let the X plan pricing suck you in to buying something that isn't exactly what you want either. If they are willing to sell you one off the lot at the X plan price, they should be able to order you one at the same price. I paid $1200 below invoice on mine and the salesman and sales manager both made money off me.

 

Just to keep it as simple as I can, BUY the truck. If you want to add those two items later you can, it would be aftermarket though. In terms of the stereo, most aftermarket equipment is better than stock anyway. You could possibly see if the dealer would add the electric sliding rear window to the truck at the dealership. Just a thought.

 

I have to agree with grayflare, the sliding window is nice but not enough to scrap the deal. And as for the stereo, its still a stock stereo and a killer aftermarket, installed is still better and cheaper than what they try to rip you for at the dealership. You can definitely get him to throw in a liner or steps or something, he WANTS to sell the truck, keep that in mind.

 

I agree with djLariat ...
I looked at several trucks on the lot.. they all had something or the other missing that I wanted.. I searched around an extra day and found one that was fully loaded... didn't have to order it... and I didn't have to compromise.. but I got to drive the truck home 2 days after starting to shop. Try asking the dealer to search the area and consider a dealer trade for one you want.

the power slider is great for me.. I love it.. use it all the time just have to remember to close it!!
the audiophile system is very nice for a stock system. On radios, if it were up to me, I'd not buy a new vehicle with a radio at all. I tinkered with systems for a while and actually had some decent systems in the $2 to 3K range..
well I am older now and since the truck already has a radio, I won't waste the money tinkering with it. As long as I can drown out the wife's voice with the colume :-)

Aftermarket radios beat the audiophile hands down.. but for the price from Ford, it's not that bad a deal.. I have it and the 6" sub is fine... decent bass without over powering you

Do what makes you feel best.. compromise and you may regret later..

 

When I was looking for my truck I used the fordpatner.com site and searched thru every zip code I could find in the state until I found exactly what I wanted. It took a while because it was early on in October and dealers were just building up stock. It should be easier to find what you want now. Best of luck.

 

Audiophile is a must if you like to crank it up. I have it in mine. Since I work for ford I've heard the standard system on customers trucks and they sound good but not the bass I like,which is in the audiophile.

It is the best sounding stock system I've have ever heard.

The power rear slider I like but I use it more to show off in traffic. To make the Dogde homos feel bad that they can't get that.(from the factory that is)

 

I think the key here is that you are getting out of the lease. If you can find another dealer to do that at the same deal (wiping the slate clean) then find the exact truck you want. Otherwise, it's not worth getting raked over the coals on buying out of the lease to get what you want.

 

All I will say is if you don't get what you want you won't be satisfied. I ordered mine and I am so tickled with it and the way I ordered It.

2004 screw Med w/w blue lariat loaded