according to ford's own literature, the 04 STX is built for buyers wanting a "fun, energetic, sporty" image. Great marketing strategy and as a relatively inexpensive product offering (relative to xlt, fx4,etc), no doubt many young or first time truck buyers will snap up the 04 STX models. What baffles the hell out of me is why ford deleted the tachometer on STX models. Ford has already deleted the tach from the 03 STX models (you get it on the Ford 03 with sport package but not the 03 with STX). Result: the 03 STX dash looks crummy and CHEAP. And it looks especially crummy after a buyer pays approximately $1,000 MSRP for the "sporty" STX package and instead gets no tach and a very plain, goofy looking instrument panel. Ford has already announced plans to "decontent" or save money by removing features/build quality/etc that were previously in place. I understand that concept; ford has to control manufacturing costs. No problem if ford deletes the tach from the base XL model, but decontenting a tach from a "sport" STX makes ford look pretty stupid. Ford, what's next, delete all the gauges?

 

That is a bummer. I did some checking on ford's website and they do not offer the new 5.4 as an option on the STX either. Some guys might want the extra power and not really care for power windows and stuff like that. As for a tach, how much extra could it cost to put in? Very weird indeed.

 

ya thats the thing ford needs is a cool dash to compete with chevys nice dash

 

my guess is the ford people are attempting to differentiate the lower trim levels (no tach) from the upper trim levels like the xlt/fx4/lariat. It makes marketing sense to distinctly seperate product offerings (the manufacturers will increase prices accordingly) but where ford missed the mark is trying to sell a ford without a tach but with a so called "stx sport" package. A $1100 stx sport package option doesnt give the buyer a tach (Whoa!) not a pickup but consider that a tach is standard with a new chevy cavalier (in houston these cavaliers selll for around $8k and they do come with a tach). What are the ford marketing people thinking?????? no tach in a base xl i accept. No tach in a $1100 stx "sport option" is total crap. what do you all think. by the way, no tach is "standard" on both 03 stx and the 04 xl and 04 stx models.

 

i wish ford would get there act together

 

have you seen the 05 superduty dash? BUTTUGGLLY!!!

Radio by FISHER PRICE

I think I'll pass on the 05 (again)

my 97 is getting old, I wish phord would build a nice dash soon...


the rims look dopey too

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/2005/ford/superduty/caught.html