We've got 2 years of income tax returns and I want to buy an F150 that has the extra space behind the seat, but is still only a 2-door, and also has the 6 1/2 foot bed. The reason for this is I/we want the ability to put things inside the cab so they won't get rained on, but also limit the overall length of the truck so it will fit inside the garage.

I've been running the specs of vehicles I find on Craigslist through Kelly Blue Book (online) in order to get some sense of what a reasonable price might be, but am never sure how to properly categorized the trucks I'm looking at. The words "XL" and "XLT" confuse me. What's an XL, what's an XLT, and what do they both mean relative to the body cab style and overall length.

Also the STX versions are confusing, as they seem to look like the non-STX except they seem to stand taller. Maybe the suspension is higher? They are also better-looking for some reason, but I don't know why I think so.

If anyone has any advice on buying a used Ford F150 in South Texas, I'd appreciate it. Here's my list of "What I Want", if anyone is interested:

1) "Extra" cab, but not a 4-door
2) Short, 6 1/2 foot bed
3) V6 engine (fuel economy, little to no towing)
4) 2WD (don't see the need to pay a premium for 4WD that I will never use.
5) 2000 to 2008
6) Less than 200K miles.

 

XL is just above base line model... some minor fancy features... XLT normally comes with cloth seats / maybe leather, air cond, lot more options than the XL... but you could always buy " extras" for any model... I would not pay too much attention to the model, just ask how the trucks are equipped... All had power steering, maybe power windows....Remote entry, door key pad, AM-FM- CD player were options

 

Thanks I did some research and found that the XL/XLT designation didn't have anything to do with the cab. What I'm trying to do is figure out how to take ads that I see on craigslist and use the information to get a fair market value from Kelly Blue Book. One of the earliest questions it asks you is the "Model", but "Extended Cab" is not listed, nor is the number of doors, so I don't see any kind of consistent rule here.

 

regular cab is a 2 door....... "super cab" means it has the jump seat in the back.. sometimes a 3rd or 4th "small" door.... "CREW cab" is a big 4 door truck with normal size rear seat with more leg room.

 

"extended cab" is another term for "Super" or "stretch" cab... small rear jump seat with limited access.

 

Also the years you are interested cross over the design changes.
Typically the last year of the run is the best year. So 2003 and 2008 are both last years of the run. Everything being equal as far as maintenance done on any vehicle...look for those two years.