I was under the impression the xlt doesnt doesnt offer a center consol and black leather interior.

what makes the lariat or kr special? are they different, or are they just over priced too.

 

I misunderstood, I thought the question was inquiring about items that effect the performance of the truck. I believe you are right about the interior options, but everything exterior that effects performance can be added to other models without going to the FX4

 

I think they made the flow through center console for every model (xlt and up) after 06 ??? Really not sure.

I have a factory XLT center console in my truck. Its not the flow through design, but VERY similiar (only real difference is my shifter is still on the column).

The leather: Not sure. I thought it was an option.

And in 08, didn't they get rid of the leather in favor of the "sport cloth" ?

 

i agree with the performance statement. but as far as options go. many of fords options are only offered to certain packages. Sure, you can pretty much change everything in the vehicle outside of the dealership. You can buy PTM bumpers. You can strip the interior. Consol Swap. New seats. New radio. You can add sun roofs, rear power window. You can change gears, get new wheels. But they offer a lot of that stuff as a package deal. Hince the term package. FX4 package. Lariat package. They are all different. If they weren't. They wouldnt have a million different names for one kind of truck. If you were to buy an XLT, and convert it to the same things an FX4 would offer you, would it be cheaper? or would it still be GREATLY over-rated.

 

I like some of the color combinations available on FX4s better than any of the other trim trucks (until the FX2 anyways), and the solid body color bumpers.

 

Ok, so PTM bumpers are offered on the FX4 and not the xlt.

Everything else is still an option FROM the factory.

You pay an EXTRA $2k for some POS Skid plates that wont protect the truck from a heavy splash of water. You get shocks "tuned differently" but in such a way, most people can't tell. You get a different gauge cluster, a flow through center console (regular center console available for xlt model) and some stickers.

So yes, the FX4 is GREATLY overrated.

It doesn't offroad any better then a xl. How can they advertise it as an "off road package" when is does nothing but cosmetic differences. The new 09 models will finally recieve a e-locker for the FX4 making it something worth while, but I wonder if the e-locker will be available on every other model as well ???

 

Its probably 90% appearance package, but they do have LS diffs and skidplates as standard. I have LS and Skidplates on my XLT. I didnt think that leather was an option on those years XLT, but I could be wrong.

If you decide to go with an XLT or Lariat, make sure it has the LS. A truck without LS is like a truck without a towing package. Whats the point?
Skid plates are tin IMO, but I'm sure its better than nothing. Gears are a wash, 3.73's if you can get them, but they are so close to the 3.55's it doesnt make that much difference.

 

My dad's 08 has leather.

 

I have had two NBS FX4's, an 05 and now an 07. Here's what I know, the flow-thru center console with shifter is only available as an option on the FX4 and lariat and is standard on the Harley and king ranch. You can't even get the console in an xlt or lower. Black interior is only on the FX4's, lariats, and harley's, xlt's get grey or tan interiors. The 18" wheels are FX4 specific, can't get them on anything else, same goes for the gauge cluster and the shocks. The lower color on two-tone FX4's is Dark Shadow grey, the xlt get silver or tan, and the lariat gets tan on 2 tone trucks. Leather seats are optional in FX4's and standard in lariats, harleys, king ranches. XLT's and lower can't get leather. The fender flares are textured and unpainted on fx4's and smooth and painted on lariats, harleys, KR's

The other stuff is available on all models, LS, ESOF, skid plates.

FX4's are only available in the following colors

1. yellow (04 only)
2. bright red
3. white
4. true blue (04-06 only)
5. dark blue pearl (07-up)
6. black
7. silver
8. dark shadow grey

lower two-tone paint is available on all colors except DSG

all flareside fx4's get mandatory lower two tone paint

17" wheels are standard in 04-05 and 18's are optional

in 06 the 17" was dropped and the 18's became standard with the new 20's as optional.

 

also you can only get a on-the-column shifter in a regular cab fx4. only get the center console shifter with captains chairs. 3.73 gears stock. also you can only get the appearance package on a fx4 and lariat. i still find it funny they put a black h-bar grille in the xl and the fx4 stock for stock a FX4 is a way better looking truck IMO. i thought they only offered 17's stock and optional 18's in 04 and then in 05 18's came standard? the cool thing is, anything can be swapped with stock parts, rims, bumper and so forth.

 

Wrong, my 05 was a scab and had the column shift, also reg cabs do not get a console at all, they get the 40/20/40 seat. 3.73 gears are not standard, my 07 has 3.55's. The standard gears are determined by what wheels you have, unless you special order a diff gear. 20's get 3.55 and 18's get 3.73 and 17's got 3.73.

 

I think this is the best, most accurate description on here so far. Way better then mine IMO !

Although the xlt did have a center console option !

 

Yes, the xlt does have a console option (called the xlt console) but it does not have the shifter in it, the shifter is still on the column.

BTW, the "xlt console" became optional in stx's in 07.

 

i said you can only get a column shifter in a regular cab, how is that wrong? you can in other trucks too but a regualr cab only gets a column shift. also we are talking about 05/06 i think things changed along the years with gearing but id have to check some books. 40/20/40 has a console it just flips up, i guess it depends on what people consider a "console" by definition.

 

I'll take pics of my "console"

(i'm an xlt)