Hi All,

Maybe "scam" is a little strong. Perhaps this is more of a "buyer beware" situation.

Just picked up a 2008 F-150 from a local dealer. It's my second day with the truck and so far I'm pretty happy with the truck and the deal. I come from a Ford family so I knew that getting a F-150 was a no-brainer when it comes to a full-size truck. One thing is bothering me though and I'm hoping that the experts can clear it up for me.:o

The experience at the dealership was fine and I think I got the truck for a pretty good price, but my question is: Is it possible for an "XL" trim truck to have "XLT" F-150 badges legitimately?

The window sticker indicate that the trim for the truck is "XL." I checked the VIN against a couple of online resources and they also list the trim as XL.

The truck has power-windows and locks. Both bumpers match the color of the truck (silver). There's no cruise control, but it does have carpet and floor mats. Again, I'm pretty happy with the truck but have been hearing conflicting reports on the issue. The truck is Ford certified pre-owned so I think it's been picked over pretty well.

Just wondering if this is something I should bring up with the dealer.

 

Did you carfax it or anything? Wrong badges would be a indication of a repair.
I saw Lariat badges on a truck that had a h bar grille and matte black door pillars. It wasnt right and I figured it had been repaired. Make sure it wasnt in a accident that would warrant the replacement of the whole front end, as that might be the reason for the wrong badges.

Bottom line is if it is what you want, and you got a good price you didnt get ripped off. My Brothers XLT has almost every option my Lariat has minus leather. My Dads XLT seems like a base model compared to ours(all three are the same color.) The name of the option package doesnt matter to the value, the actual options and condition does.

Oh and congrats on the new ride!! Welcome to the best site for your question, And pictures are required!

 

It shouldn't have XLT badges.

XLs have gray bumpers and a black upper valence with the base package.

They can also have chrome bumpers with an upgrade package but that package also includes cruise control.

Not sure if they put carpet and mats in the XLs. I thought they only come with vinyl floors in them.

Also, if it was an XLT the bumpers would be chrome. That was the only choice for an XLT unless the previous owner changed them.

I would definitely try to find out what is going on with that truck. If the window sticker comes back to an XL then that's what it truly is. It sounds like it may have been in some kind of a wreck and they pulled parts from a donor truck without paying attention to trim level.

 

Thanks for the quick responses guys. The dealer provided a copy of the Auto-Check records (better than CARFAX- I've been told). CarMax also uses Auto-Check. I know becuase they gave me a copy of the Auto-Check report on a similar truck I was interested in. The AC report on my truck shows no major accidents, clean title, etc. So I'm not sure what's going on.

Can XLs be ordered with color-matching bumpers? I know you guys mentioned that the XLTs came with chrome bumpers, so again I'm a bit confused.

I'll post a couple of pics in the morning so maybe this will help solve the mystery...

 

My guess is the previous owner played with it. Painting regular XL bumpers is an extremely easy mod, and finding a carpet out of a wreck somewhere and installing it yourself is a no brainer. Many, and I do mean many of us around this forum modify these trucks to make it look like something it's not. The XL is about as cheap as you can order them, and a quick bumper paint, and carpet transforms it quickly into a it of an FX look. Badges can be gotten of ebay for dirt cheap, or from any wrecker of choice. perhaps the previous owner was a tad ashamed of the "XL" badge, and figured if he changed it, he could look a little richer to the untrained eye. Kinda makes me wonder what else may not be the same.

Perhaps try copy and paste .... http://services.forddirect.fordvehic...icker.pdf?vin= .......... and after the = sign, and without any spaces enter your VIN. That should bring up the original factory sticker for your truck. Compare that to any and all current options, and it should spell things out for you a little better.

 

Im willing to bet you have an STX. those trucks are essentially an XL but with color matched bumpers and they can be dealer ordered with power windows/locks and carpet. an XLT will have chrome bumpers on it. on an stx you can only get the 4.2 or 4.6 engines as well.

 

Like elbow said, people love to play with their trucks. My STX was plain Jane when I first got it but I've since added Privacy Tint to the rear and Scab windows, mat retention hooks into the vinyl floorboard, OEM chrome step bars, I'm working on a Flow-Through console mod and wayyyyy too many more things to list lol. Minus the sliding back glass and 3.73 gear ratio, my STX is now essentially an XLT-level truck.

Good luck finding out the origin of your "baby", and keep us in the loop of any future mods you do....

 

Unless you did a straight cash buy it's difficult to say what kind of deal you really got. Dealers use Truck price, Interest rate on the loan, your trade value, and what you owe on your trade to determine 'the deal'. Most people are upside down on their trade in's and dealers work the numbers depending if the buyer wants to admit it or not. If you really want to calculate everything go over to KBB and look up private party value of your truck as it's equipt today. I've found Carmax to be a little high, but everybody gets the same price. Private party is normally the best way to get a bargain, but it's typically a cash deal and no trade in's. I recently bought a 2006 Screw for $7,000 on Craigslist, dealers wanted almost double that.

 

But I've never seen a late-model ('07-'08 for that body style) STX w/o cruise control on the steering wheel--like it's been mentioned, I'm sure It could be ordered that way but that is just odd...

I'm gonna call this truck FrankenFord until OP gets this cleared away lol

 

Well, I bought my STX scab from Carmax and their autocheck was completely clean, but I ran the carfax before going in and it had a lot more info (such as the fact that the transmission had a bearing replaced). I would say, based on my experience, carfax is by far the superior product.

 

Link went to site, but doesn't download the window sticker..... Comes up with "file does not begin with "%PDF-" "

Thanx anyway..

 

My previous truck was a 2006 XL. It was all I could afford at the time, being in college and all. It was bone stock when I bought it (grey bumpers, vinyl floor, vinyl seats, etc).

As I started to make some real money, I added painted bumpers, painted grille, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, premium cloth seats, etc. The VIN still said XL, but the features I added it make it closer to an XLT/STX hybrid. If the addons were done correctly, and not as the result of an accident, you should have no problems with it.

Is it a Regular cab? Supercab? Crew Cab? I believe that Crew Cabs, regardless of trim level, come with power equipment (mirrors, door locks, windows). It may have been an option on Scabs and Regular cabs, if its anything like the 2011s.

 

XLT is the entry trim level on a 2008 Screw.

 

Took a few snapshots of my truck. The more I research and the more I read through everyone's feedback (thanks!) I'm becoming more convinced that the truck is an XL with some minor upgrades. It still doesn't explain the "XLT" badges on the side. I know a few of you had mentioned that there may be something fishy about it, but the more I look over the car, it seems that perhaps whomever owned it previously, just replaced the original side badges with XLT badges. That's the only thing I can think off. I'm no collision or body shop expert, but everything on this car looks "factory" If it was involved in some sort of crash, whomever put it all back together did an immaculate job. I know even the pictures don't do it justice, but I feel like I'm driving a new car. This is my first used car purchase and it seems to be going well. See below for the pics.

 

Would the XL come with that grille?