Hello:

I am considering an F-150 purchase. Which is more reliable / durable, FX4 or 4X4 Lariat?

Which would be more suitable for the intended use: FX4 or Lariat?
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Planned Use:
-Daily Driver.
-Family *Stuff* hauler. ..mulch, mowers, grandma's old couch, etc.
-Hunting and fishing Activities - logging trail and light field wheeling.

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WhiteSandsHD

 

Other than appearance there isn't much difference. It your choice.

 

6 one. Half dozen the other.

 

I agree with what BEW119 said. The FX4 will have the monochromatic color scheme and the Lariat has more chrome. I chose the FX4 because I liked they way it looks over the Lariat. I was in the same boat as you and our needs are exactly the same. I also think the FX4 is slightly cheaper equally optioned.

 

There are differences. You can get the FX4 with cloth seats instead of leather, something I prefer. Also the FX4 comes stock with skid plates where the Lariat does not.

 

I originally was going to order an FX4 but went with the Lariat to get away from the painted bumpers.

 

The Lariat comes with "auto 4x4" which means that it can be enabled even on pavement. Where the FX4 does not have this function.

 

FX4 has a maximum seating for 5, the Lariat is leather and seats 6 unless optioned with the center console which then allows the option of heated and cooled seats.

The Off-Road package on the Lariat is $570 which includes the 3.73 gears, skid plates, upgraded front shocks and the awesome side decal (sarcasm is free today), where as simply ordering the 3.73 gears is $520 on a Lariat.

I'm not sure all of the other differences, but I ordered a Lariat last Monday.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by this, can you elaborate? In my FX4 I can enable 4x4 in any circumstance (road, driving, dirt, etc.)

 

The way I see it this delima boils down to personal preference

FX4 (My choice all the time) is sportier and has an interior exterior appearance scheme that I love. I am one of the few who opted for the appearance package available this year, once the hideous stripe down the side is gone I will be in heaven.

Lariat is a more classy and refined feeling truck. I don't care for the wood trim, chrome bumbers, and wheel options currently available. I have always thought that the lariat seats had a more plush/cush feel over the FX4, but in the 2012 model year I had a hard time telling a difference.


Hit up your dealer, walk the lot and see what speaks to you!

 

The auto 4x4 mode is great. For people who can't decide when to switch into 4x4 mode the truck does it for you. IF my wife drove my truck all the time i would have bought it with this mode. I had a Explorer that had this and she never had to deal with the 4x4 shifting and when to do it.

 

AND i Believe the FX4 has a more harsh suspension with the heavy off road shocks where the Lariat would be a bit smoother on the road. I only decided to buy the FX4 because i would have bought the chrome pkg on the Lariat { because i like the look, but i hate cleaning chrome}.

 

What it means is that in your typical F150, you have a 3 function transfer case(4hi, 4lo, and 2wd). On the 2012 and newer lariat and higher trim f150's, they have an additional function of Auto 4wd. This means when the onboard cpu detects wheel slippage, it automatically applies 4wd as necessary to correct the situation. The GM twins have had this for years, and it is one thing that I definitely missed going from my silverado to my F150, as it is incredibly handy in snow states.

 

It all comes down to looks. I think my new FX4 is better looking than the Lariat. I don't like all the chrome on the Lariat, I really could not tell the difference in ride between the 2 on the road. Mabey I can take speed bumps faster in the FX4! I like the interior styling of the FX4, more sporty. The Lariat is mabey more classy. But its all in the eye of the buyer! I'm not a fan of leather seats, but the FX4 did have the Air Conditioned seats, not bad. I believe that durability, overall comfort will be the same with either model. Just pick whic ever one looks better to you. It seems that loaded FX4's in the color you want, might be harder to find. My silver one (the fastest) was the only one around in a 5 state region. Good luck.

 

I also heard that the windshield on the Lariat is thicker, for better sound reduction, as well as extra sound-deadening materials over the FX4.

Plus what others have said - different shock setup (cushier ride in Lariat), standard skid plates on FX4, looks.

In 2011 trucks, you couldn't get air-conditioned seats in the FX4, which is one reason I went with the Lariat, and am loving it. I prefer the FX4's 18" wheels over the stock Lariat 18" wheels though.

-John