Hey all. Hoping to join your ranks soon as a new F-150 owner. I was planning to wait and buy this fall, but the Ford family plan sales have gotten me moving now. I've been lurking for the past week on these forums and have found your boards to be an excellent resource and the members a very helpful bunch. Tonight I decided to go ahead and register so that I could ask a question that has been eating at me.

From what information I've garnered from Edmund's and Ford's sites all that I can see separating the Lariat and King Ranch are relatively minor differences like badges, wheel designs, and available color choice, while the major differences appear to be between the standard seat options and type of leather used in the interiors along with the functionality of the side view mirrors; the KR has built in puddle lamps and power folding functions unavailable to any other model above and beyond the deluxe mirror package standard on the Lariat. Also to get the same Pwr Heated Bucket seats in a Lariat as those seat options standard on the KR, I found that it will run me $1340 MSRP/$1139 Invoice for the two seat options required.

Besides the seats I've found that all of the other options on the Lariat that I've been interested in still need to be bought as options on the KR too (and at the same price point as Lariat options): Pwr Moonroof, Tow Pkg, Audiophile Audio, LS Diff, LT Rubber, Pwr Sliding Rear Window, Reverse Sensor, Skid Plates, and Pwr Pedals. Why then the sizable difference of $3150 MSRP/$2678 Invoice between these models? Is the upgraded upholstery and the side view mirrors really worth the $1810 MSRP/$1539 Invoice hit even after allowing for the price difference between seat options? Am I missing any other model differences here?

 

Oh yes,
the KR is the Holy Grail of F150's. The entire seats are real leather not just a sliver of the seat cover as in the Lariat.
Moo costs $$


BTW, welcome to F150 Online!

 

You wont be dissapointed with either. some ask why get the KR and I ask why not . I wish my dad would have let me get one. If the price really concerns you then get the lariat but if 1500 isnt that big of a deal you then get it. The KR sure does look nice though.

 

It's not so much the amount of money, since $1500 on a $30000+ truck is not that much more a bite of the bullet. It's what I am spending the money towards. Is the Castano leather really worth it or would I rather put that $1500 towards LineXing and a hard tonneau? Are the mirrors really that cool? Part of the problem is that I've only seen pictures of the KR. There are none around here on dealer lots to even look at, smell the leather, and try out the seats. I have tried out the Lariat and it felt right comfy to me after having driven Jeeps for the last eight years.

Since there are no KR around, I don't really know what I am missing I guess. And now I don't remember exactly how the Lariat's seats were covered so I'm confused about the leather sliver comment. You can only get so much from pictures. It doesn't seem that a 05 KR is an option around here since I haven't seen any. Do I wait for 06, or do I get into a 05 Lariat now while the family plan is on? All the dealers I talk to now tell me ordering is out, and they can't even search for a transfer on an 05. I have been stuck manipulating zip codes at Ford's website to find where the trucks with my options are located.

I wish my Dad would buy me one too I just caught on to your age Professor I'd have been super-stoked to have even have had a new XL at that age. My pop was very big into the I worked when I was your age, so you will too if you want a car school of thought. Though he did help me make sure it was mechanically sound, my first ride was 1980 Chevy Monza I bought for $600. Your FX4 is a looker. By my estimates you have a very nice ride. I wouldn't waste any more time wishing your Dad would have let you get a KR. IMHO you still have plenty of time to get there. BTW I started looking at the FX4s since I had been a Jeeper for so long, but then I decided that the odds are I'll only use the 4WD for the snow and not be doing too much rock crawling in my new truck. With that in mind I figured I'd go for luxury over performance. I just wish there was an off-road package with the FX4 suspension available for the Lariat or the KR...

 

If you cant get the 05 KR then get the 05 lariat because the new deal is to good to pass up. The KR isnt that much more nice than the lariat. Why pay well over 40K for an 06 KR when you can get an 05 lariat for in the low 30k's.

 

Exactly what I've been thinking. I just didn't want to feel like I was missing too much with a Lariat rather than a KR. And you make a good point-- if I wait the price diff would be closer to $8K than the $1500 I see now.

 

Space Cowboy, get the Lariat! It's plenty nice. $1500 for leather is too much for me! You can spend that money on quite a bit nice stuff. A Line-X and a nice cover, or if you want performance 1500 should cover your intake, exhaust and programmer. Besides, the King Ranch is too dignified-looking for some good old fashioned loud exhaust and tirespin. And also, I'm 19 and I got my beautiful new XL (I wish my dad paid for it though! )

 

Get what you want! IMO just make sure you will be using everything that comes with those trucks, if not you will be throwing your money away. Good luck and I am sure you won't be dissapointed by either.

 

I really like the King Ranch leather interior. I just couldn't justify the extra cash for the package. Maybe one day I can step it up and get the King Ranch, but right now I am pretty happy with the Lariat.

I can tell you that the leather on the King Ranch is a lot nicer than that in the Lariat. Before I actually touched the leather, I thought it would have a rougher texture. When I did actually get to feel the leather, I thought it was very smooth and supple.

As far as purchasing an '05, you will not be disappointed. The ride quality is excellent. Spend some time driving some of these trucks and make sure to find a King Ranch in a city near you. I would hate for you to look back and wonder if you should have gotten the King Ranch.

 

I agree totally... but, I lean towards the KR...

RP

 

SpaceCowboy - welcome to the forum and your soon to be new F-150. This is a big investment for most folks and most of us will be keeping it for several years so be sure you get what you want now - and don't look back later wondering if you made the right move. I'd definitley take the time to check out the KR (I have a 2 month old '05 Lariat SCREW 4x4 myself) but the KR's are very nice. After having preimum quality leather in my LincolnLS Sport the leather in the Lariat is average...OK for a truck - but you can see Ford was saving $$'s on our leather. Also, the Lariat leather is only on the seating surfaces of the front two buckets....meaning the top/sides/headrests & back of the seats is all "pleather". I never looked at the KR myself, but was wondering if you can get the KR leather interior in other colors than the copper or codovan color I seem to see on the KR.....I didn't care for that color - but that's subjective. Take your time and get what you want for the long haul - just be sure to get in on the great deal Ford has going on right now!

 

I think the KR's are sweet, and almost pulled the trigger, but went with the Lariat for a few reasons. First, I wanted the SuperCab. Second, although the KR leather is beautiful, I'd be afraid to sit on it in fear of ruining it. I needed to be able to toss a few things into the back seat without fear of damaging the beautiful leather.

Do look at one before you buy, though. Don't stumble across one down the road and be sorry you didn't get one.

 

The King Ranch is an awesome version of the F-150. The main diff is the castano leather interior. My opinion on the castano is that it is like baseball glove material, and I think it requires more maintenance than Lariat leather.

The leather changes with age and use. Took one in on trade, and the drivers seat was black, even though the guy sat on a towel from the day he first bought it new.

 

I can assure you that the guy didn't take ANY care of it if it was black from beneath a towel... that's an extreme exception to the rule. I condition about once per quarter with my truck which is plenty. Cleaning comes when it's needed and not before then...

When I traded my 01, the seats were nearly brand new with VERY minimal problems... in fact, the dealership said that it was the best looking used KR that they'd ever seen..... It's really not all that much more work than a Lariat if you're doing them correctly... you do, however, have to pay attention to things like sitting wet items on the seats, getting in when you're totally sweaty (the leather will soak up moisture as it's an analine leather (non-coated... the lariat is a coated leather) and other simple things like that...

 

Get the king ranch.