Thanks for that post Skagel... I needed a good laugh this morning.

The really scary thing about it is that all of them are absolutely true. I never dreamed I'd walk into wallyworld and buy fingernail polish remover. The cashier gave me some weird looks. LOL!!!

RP

 

yeah, I never thought I would ever use a blow dryer myself....but now it has it's place in the garage.

 

Just came across this board, and I'd like to say hi.

I'm looking at buying a 2003 King Ranch at the end of the summer, and have seen nothing but positives about it. It would be my first truck (heck, my first real vehicle), now that the wife and I are financially stable for the first time. I've test driven one, and see them on the road periodically. Real excited about it.

Anyway, have any of y'all bought through the Ford employee program? One of my wife's employees has a husband who works at the plant. I was wondering what kind of discount you could get -- if it's substantial, I may hold off for an '04.

 

The "Locals"...ie those on THAT side of the Atlantic, keep talking about 'X' plan or some such, and there certainly seem to be some good incentives.

As far as the truck itself.....it was my first truck too....can't say it was my first REAL vehicle....too many others in my motoring history would count.

However I have been TOTALLY pleased with it.

I think I made a good choice and I think most contributors here would agree......but then they would wouldn't they !?

Welcome to the madhouse.

 

Yep. I agree with what Lenticular said. I certainly don't think you'll be sorry. It has really nice tires. (I speak only of the tires because others have accused me of only talking about the leather over and over and over and over...) Also, the fender flares are really nice (again, nothing about the interior Castano leather).

You certainly won't be sorry with the KR purchase. One word of advice, if you're going to do it, the time is now. They have stopped producing the 03 models and are currently running the 04's. Hence, whatever is on the lot as we speak is what's left and that's all there will be.

Talk has it that the 04 will be a reality and will come abouts later in the production year but, as of this moment, none of us have seen the KR prototype. We're next to certain that it's going to be a reality though.

Also, you asked about the 'ford employee plans'. I purchased my truck on the 'A-PLAN' which is available to folks who work directly for Ford or affiliates (IE: Visteon etc). My step father in law works for one of the plants that qualifies for Aplan and got me on board. It's a substantial savings over invoice price and, in fact, the A Plan price is listed ON the invoice. Just ask to see it. It's at the bottom along with the X plan price (which is available to dealers and other organizations.

Best of luck with your truck. We know you'll love it.

RP

 

My 02 Kr is my first truck as well and I love it. Fell in love with the truck since it first came out. Studied and researched it till I finally got ro order mine in late Nov 01. delivered last day Jan 02. First vechicle I ever ordered. Got it with the X plan and saved some money. I was going to order a Lariat but at my wife's urging I went with my dream and ordered the KR. We are both very happy with the truck.

 

Thanks for the input. I think the very rich smell of that Castano leather has affected peoples sense of humor.

I had a few issues with the dealer I talked to tonight so I only got to sit in the KR and the Lariat. Yeah, just sit in them.

I'm getting ready to plop down 35 grand or so on a truck and I can only sit in one because they are to busy to allow a test drive?


The KR's interior was fantastic. You guys were right about the quality difference between your King Ranches and the Lariats. With all of the incentives right now it's kind of hard to wait on the 04, if I have time Saturday I am going to see a DIFFERENT dealer.

 

I have always hated leather!!!! Even in a vette, I had the seats redone in cloth. I had an 01 Supercrew XLT and loved the cloth interior, wanted the Lariot with out leather, so I put all of the Lariot stuff on my XLT except the leather. Saw the white (new color for 03) KR and wanted it badly, still didn't want leather. Drove it and I love it. It is not like other car leathers!!!!!! I conditioned it for the first time two weeks ago and OMG it is awesome!!! (ASK RP what kind to use) I get compliments on the truck when ever I take it out, then when they see the interior, they go nuts!!!!!!! Too many Lariots out there and the KR is a unique, not every one has one truck. Don't waite for the new style as I would not ever buy a new production vehicle for a year and a half till all the bugs are out.

 

By the way Nick D. where are you located? Dallas Texas area? If so, my dealer won't treat you like that and I can give you X plan. Heck I have purchased three trucks from them in three years and every time, they throw me the keys and say c-ya. I drove the KR two weeks before buying it. I had to make sure about the leather and you see I slapped down the cash on it! I could have made the XLT look identical, (heck I was doing the KR thing to my 01 with all those beige plastic pieces) but the leather sold me.

 

I wasn't dead-set on the KR and I actually drove a similarly equipped XLT the morning that I bought my KR. I got rid of my Bronco for a couple of reasons, the first of which was that the seats were not too comfortable on long trips. I didn't buy the XLT because of the seats, and I didn't like the leather seats on the Lariat either. I found the KR seats very comfortable, and the Lariat leather seats that I sat in prior to this one was like a park bench. That was a 2001 model, the have since changed the seats on the Lariat.
I have no regrets about upgrading to the KR. The KRs are not as common. It sucks when you spend $25,000 or $40,000 on a truck and some yo-yo pulls up next to you at a stop light in an identical one. The leather is a little work, and it's a labor (note correct spelling, Len) of love. I bought mine on the "A" plan.
Drive them all, and if you can afford it, buy what you like. Have Fun!!
BD

 

I live in Southern Illinois but thanks for offering to help. I bought my 2000 4x4 xlt from the same dealership but their attitude today compared to back then was 180 degrees different.


Hopefully Ford will continue their incentives past May five as it's going to be hard to find time to get to a dealer before then. They probably missed a sale tonight, I even had my checkbook and pen in my hand.

 

Thanks for the replies. My wife hates leather (I personally am ambivalent about it), but after test driving, it's certainly a different type of leather than I'm used to -- like a baseball glove instead of a La-Z-Boy. The top grain, higher quality all-leather, is a huge difference as compared to the leather/vinyl match (sorry, my father-in-law retired from Haverty's, so I've learned a lot about furniture!)

I'm taking her in for a test drive hopefully this weekend, and I think she'll change her mind once she sits in it. Since she's got a company car, the truck is for me, but I know she'll be driving it quite a bit. Glad to hear about the comfort thing, too. For those of us who suffer in Atlanta traffic every day, it's important!

I see a ton of Lariats here, but only a couple of KRs.

As far as the financing deals go, it seems like they re-up them each month. The 0.0/2.9/3.9 expired once on April 5, and apparently were extended. With the economy the way it is, everyone is hurting in the auto industry. Also, everyone who wanted a car bought them last year, when everyone was trying to out-do each other. My saleswoman says the market has flattened out quite a bit.

FYI: She also tells me that they supply Bill Elliott with 2 KRs (as well as Captain Herb Emory, for the Atlantans), so y'all are in good company.

Oh yeah, silly question: What are the major pros/cons with the 4x2 and the 4x4? Obviously, I'll likely get the 4x4 (since my job forces me to be there no matter what the weather), but was just wondering what kind of differences there were.

 

I think BroncoDave is right on with his opinion.... drive them all. If you like the KR, get a KR. If you like the Lariat, get a Lariat. If you like a tricycle, buy a radio flyer tricycle (personally, I prefer a bicycle though). LOL!

Also, to respond directly to the 4X2 vs 4x4 question brought up by tvwxman (which, I'm assuming stands for TV Weather Man... hrrm, Atlanta... you work for the weather channel? I thought about that market at one time...I started as a meteorology major in school)

My personal opinion was that I didn't need the 4X4 as I have owned two 4X4's in the past. I can count on ONE HAND the number of times that I dropped it down into 4wd and probably three of those were to just 'do it' such that a little movement would happen in the system. I probably only needed it once over about a 6 year period.

Personally, I like the stance of the 4X2 better. The rake is such that it makes it look a little sportier and, with my wife being only about 5'3", getting in and out makes it easier on her.

If you need the 4wd, then go for it. I just couldn't justify the extra bucks.

RP

Please Note: If you get a 4X2, Skagel will call you a wussy. LOL!!

 

Yeah, I'm with RockPick on the 4x2. We had no need for it either, and being since my wife uses it to get abck and forth to work the extra gas milage gains are good too. Fortunately down here in FL we don't get that icky white stuff , but I grew up in eastern Oregon and my first car was a 4x2 3/4 ton Chevy. It got me just about everywhere I wanted to go in the mountains up there. I did have to chain it up a few times on the ice though. What a pain in the butt that was.

Good luck to those new purchasers out there

 

don't be so sure of yourself RP