That's the real key a good clean used truck. Around here, a clean used XL is hard to come by.

 

have owned lots of XLTs, XTRs and most recently Lariats...disadvantage is that once you own a Lariat, nothing else will do and would be a trade down, so would probably never buy a lower trim level regardless of price benefit. I would however enjoy the rubber floor of an XL in my Lariat as it would be much easier to keep clean with a shedding dog. (I have enough dog hair in my Lariat to build another German Shepherd dog) Would probably vacuum much easier from rubber flooring, but the Ford gods say you can't have rubber flooring in a Lariat, nor flame blue paint. Who makes these stupid rules anyway?

 

I think you could get rubber floors as an option in the King Ranch.

 

Not on the 150, only up through 301a, you can get the rubber floor on the SD trucks up through Lariat

 

Only reason I would not get an XL is because you cannot get the power seat. I have 2 lariets, and both have power seats. I have back issues....the power seat is why I want it.

 

It is the F250 I found the article I read. According to this it is King Ranch & Platinum.
Mud and money welcome in new Ford trucks | Business | Dallas News

 

I use these wireless keypads on my work vans. If you have a factory remote you could add on of these;
Genuine Ford 7L2Z-14A626-BA Keyless Entry Keypad
https://parts.showalterford.com/oem-...FRiewAodUUIJNA

 

We got one of those for our Transit and love it! Sticks out a bit more than the factory keypad, but works flawlessly.

 

Actually, vehicles depreciating to zero eventually is only in theory. If you factor in the collector car market, cars hit 'rock bottom' when they're about 20-30 years old, then start to increase in value as they become collectible. My '88 F150's value hit rock bottom recently, but I noticed that 1980-86 Bullnose trucks are starting to appreciate in value, and mine won't be far behind. Without that collector market, all cars would eventually become totally undesirable.

I actually much prefer the features of higher trim level trucks than the looks. I think the Platinum and King Ranch look pretty ugly, and even the features are 'too much' for me. I'd buy an XLT or XL with the sport appearance package, if I bought a truck new.

I much prefer driving my simple truck overs my parents' 'loaded up' Raptors. But, hey, that's just me, I never wanted all the bells and whistles on a truck anyway.

It is a pretty difficult question to ask others. It always seems to boil down to this: Buy what you want. If "what you want" costs more, save up for it. If you want all the bells and whistles, don't buy something cheaper in hopes that you might tolerate not having everything you want.

 

We bought our XL regular cab 8 foot bed F150 with 2.7L on New Year's eve. We love it. I got almost $11,000 off the sticker. If anybody in California is looking for a similar truck they still have two at the lake Elsinore ford dealership. Total discount will get you down to about $22,000. This is a truck with the sport package in red or blue with Back-up camera and rubber mat. Nice truck with six cylinder 3.6 L. I think that many buyers are worried about buying older used vehicles with all the bells and whistles because they have a higher potential to fail. Jag

 

That's certainly true, but very few people keep a new car to the point when it's a collectible. And when they do, it's typically a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Just about all cars are sold long before that point, and the resale continually drops during the ownership period.

I wonder how collectible modern cars and trucks are going to be with the complex electrical systems. I suppose that's a can of worms for another thread.

 

It's already being answered with early computer driven cars reaching collectible status. While the "old timers" sometimes fight the notion of a 1992 Town Car being an antique, it is by most states legal standards, and the 25 year rule of AACA. The computers have proven far more robust than folks thought. Also, as manufacturing gets smaller and cheaper, it's certainly reasonable to suggest for the right car someone could commission a replacement computer to fit inside a factory original box. Legal restrictions on modifications and removal of emissions should lead to a higher survival rate of these parts too. Finding smog pumps for cars and trucks from 1972 can be a bit of a challenge for those trying to properly restore sometime.

While the OP isn't likely considering future value to this extent, assuming one is going to be using the truck, an XL will be worth less for a collector, but it will also cost much more to restore. While most work trucks share trim pieces and color, it will be harder to find specific pieces for a less common high end truck with a special color. It will affect both value and cost. Trucks from the 1980s and prior are worth pretty much the same regardless of trim. Though one could argue that the difference between a Custom and a Lariat was far less than it is today. When it comes to non-muscle cars, luxury has shown to hold value better than utility. You could still pay real money for that really nice 1992 Town Car, but no one really wants to show up at a car show in a Crown Vic of the same vintage. NADA Classic value for 1992 CV is $1200-$3200 while the TC goes from $1900-$8200, while for the 1992 4x4 F150 no options goes from $2200-$7500 and checking boxes for 351, factory air and Eddie Bauer only goes from $2600-$8500. Yes I know thats just NADA, but it's the best general data I have and gives a base for interesting thoughts and conversation.

 

No regrets (or regerts-if you eat Milky Way) at all. Salesman asked what I was looking for, I told him I had 3 priorities, 3.5EB, towing mirrors and Max Tow Pkg, anything else would be extra. Very happy with what we got and it does all I need it to do and then some.

 

We're also assuming the current collectors will be buying modern cars as collectibles in the future, but the future collectors will be teenagers like me. The future generation will also be equipped to handle much more complicated computer systems, so today's "simple" technology will be easier to work on for those exposed to later tech.

I know, I know, this is off topic. I'll just put these guys up...

 

Look for 36 volt systems in the not too distant future.