The lease on my 2000 Lincoln LS (5 speed stick) is coming to an end and I've decided to go for an F-150 this time. I want the Lariat with the following configuration:


Year: 2003 --- I hear they are supposed to be quieter ??
Black (Is there any other color? :-)
Flareside
Short box
SuperCab
2 WD
4.6L/Auto - Man, I really wish I could get a stick with this!
6 pack CD
Leather Captain's chairs (Med Graphite)
Box liner
Chrome Step bars

Questions:

1: I really like the Mesh (Honeycomb) grill MUCH better than the eggcrate. Can someone with a 2WD Lariat tell me which grill it comes with please?

2: The Lariat package comes with 275/60/17 All Season tires and 17" Steel chrome wheels. I have searched high and low and cannot find a picture of this wheel. The 2002 brochure and web site list every other wheel except this one. Does anyone have a photo they could direct me to?

3: One of the options I really like on my LS is if you hold the unlock button down on the key fob for 3 seconds, it will lower all the windows at once. So as you're walking up to the car, you lower all the windows and it instantly cools the interior of the car before getting in. Does the Lariat have this feature?

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

Grampa Kinny

 

Hey Gramps, If you has a Lincoln LS, you must enjoy ride and performance! I suggest in your Lariat, you seriously consider getting the 5.4 engine over the 4.6

All I know is I have the 5.4 and my wife had the 4.6 in her T-Bird
decent in the T-Bird, but would never cut the mustard in the truck.

Secondly, Pick any type of wheel BUT the 17" steel chrome wheel
it is almost as described, EXCEPT they forgot to add the word
PLASTIC. You a steel wheel, and you get chrome, but its chrome on plastic and it snaps over the steel wheel, kinda like an upgraded HUBCAP!!!

I thought I understood the grille question UNTIL you mentioned
honeycomb and eggcrate in the same sentence. Therefore my answer must be yes, it is both honeycomb and eggcrate.
On the Lariat, it is the upgraded grille surrounded by colorkeyed paint.

Question three about the key fob keyless system, no window do higgy. But thats a nice idea.

First Mod should be a FIPK, air intake system. Of the mods made, that is the best spent money. The throttle response is amazing after changing it out.

 

XTRUKY :

Thanks for the reply. Any idea where I can get a gander at one of the chrome/steel/plastic wheels you mention. As far as I can see in the 2002 brochure, the only way to get another type of wheel is to spring for the King Ranch, or FX4 option and I don't really want either. I haven't seen the 2003 brochure yet, but they call it a chrome steel "teardrop" style wheel (??)

As for the grill, I am calling the grill with the larger horizontal bars and smaller vertical bars (much like the one on the stock XL) an eggcrate. Maybe I have the name wrong. The one I like has honeycomb shaped holes in it and seems to be set back in the grill cavity a bit. I was under the understanding that the honeycomb grill is standard on all 4 x 4's, but I need to know it is also comes with the Lartiat as well.

Again I appreciate the help.

Ken

 

XTRUKY :

Follow-up. I just checked your photos in your .sig and I am calling the grill on your F150 the honeycomb style.

Is that standard on a 4 x 2 Lariat?

--Ken

 

2002 Supercrew Wheels with Chome/Inserts
View the thread below:
2002 Supercrew Truck and Wheel Pictures

 

Lost Pup:

Thanks very much! Great pics!

--Ken

 

My truck came with the wheels shown on this 2003 heritage edition they are 17's and one piece.
http://ford.wieck.com/db/ford/previe...&cf_user=,true


hope the link works.

 

Hey Granpa,

Don't be too quick to nix the Steel/chrome wheels. Although they really are plastic chrome over steel, they look like the real thing until you tap on them. And you know what, they will never rust!
I take my Lariat on the beaches and have never had any luck keeping real chrome from rusting for very long, but these look great and require no waxing/polishing, etc.

As for the engine, go with the 5.4. You will be disappointed in the 4.6 power, and the gas mileage is about the same.

Good luck!

 

Superbru:

Thanks for the reply.

Okay, you guys are scaring me with all this talk of "plastic" wheels. I am thinkin' back to the days of assembling 1/32 scale model cars with "plastic" chrome wheels - Who remembers Dyno Don, Smokey and Grumpy Jenkins?.

All kidding aside, are you guys serious about these wheels? I am envisioning some sort of plastic chrome looking hub cap / wheel cover. Is this what I get on a top of the line Lariat? Please tell me there's more to it than that.

Looking very closely at the pics that Lost Pup provided, I "think" I see what you mean. It would appear as though this chrome plastic dish sits on top of a steel wheel. Am I correct on this? It looks like the wheel weight is attached to a steel wheel with the chrome facade in front of it. Is that correct? Is this permanently attached, or is it simply held on with the lugs nuts, or ???

Please bear with me because I come from a generation where things made of plastic were taken about as seriously as things from the J. A. Pan company. Yeah, I know things change, but plastic chrome wheels?? Do these things last?

--Ken

 

They discontinued the 4.6 with the stick?

Are you sure you can't get the 4.6 with a manual tranny?

 

Dennis:

You are right. I just went back and checked and you can get a stick with the small V8. As I was building this one on the Ford site, I also ran into a brick wall because you cannot get the stick with the Lariat.

Lose the Lariat and you also lose Leather, power seats, climate control, keypad entry (all of which cannot be optioned) plus a whole wack of other creature comforts. So, I guess it all comes down to form or function. You can't have both it seems.

Thanks for pointing that out.

--Ken

 

Ah, I guess I got a bit of education too. Never realized the stick wasn't available with the Lariat option.

In that case, get your Lariat with the 5.4L engine and buy a Miata for the stick.

 

Ken.
Your welcome for the pictures.

The truck is a 2002 Lariat 4x2 with the 4.6 engine.

Correct-Steel wheels with chrome insert.

I will be rotating the tires soon so I will see how the insert is attached to the rim. The centers pop out to reveal the lugs. I am not sure about the spare tire, curious to see if the insert is on that rim as well.

The are holding up up as I approach year one, no concerns yet and IMHO they do look good. I have had prior trucks and our current van with the clear coat mag style wheels and due to salted roads in winter the clear coat on them has released itself. A very slow peel job. Not pretty.

These chome/insert rims remind me of manufactured (fake) wood siding, easy clean and lasts longer. Only time will tell.

How long has Ford been using this type of chrome insert on rims ?
Anyone ?

I have researched the "Keyfob Window Option" and found that it can be done. An alarm system would be added to the truck with this window function as a added option but I have not found an alarm installer who I am comfortable with yet.

 

Look at all the pics of my truck, and past trucks with the 17" chrome steel wheels. I love them! Several of my off-road package trucks have come with 17" aluminum wheels and every time i have found someone to trade wheels with me so i could get the chrome steels wheels. My current truck is the 6th trucks ive had with those wheels on them. And working in the service dept., ive never seen a problem with them. The chrome is permanently attached and never seen one come apart.

 

jefflaws:

Thanks for the reply. I feel at lot more confident about them now that I hear you have had some history with these. Unfortuately, my dealer only has 2002 XLT 4 x 4's on the lot and none of them have these chrome steel wheels for me to look at before I order mine.

Thanks again,

--Ken