This is a major improvement over my 04 trip computer for the following reasons. Better location right on the dash, no looking up .
The trip meter goes on until you reset it, 04 only went to 1000 Kl on Canadian models. The best part for me is that I have the option of everything reading in miles versus kilometres. Many older Canadians like myself feel more comfortable with miles and gallons versus kilometers and litres. This message centre gives me a choice to go back and forth as I please. One last point the mileage is very accurate on this new trip computer. I have checked it many times with hand calculation and it is very close. The "miles left to empty" will always leave about 3 gal in the tank which is good and the guage itself will show near empty when you actually have 1/4 tank left. The compass is accurate after you calibrate it, you may get lucky and live in the same calibration area as the factory setting. Mine came set for the East Coast , and I live on the West Coast, so it was out quite a bit until I set it. The manual tells you how to do this.
Ford should offer this trip computer-message centre on every model. I like my leather seats, shiny imitation dash, and the ugly white guages are slowly growing on me and do look good at night, but I realize the Lariat Lux is not for everyone but this new message centre might be. Wrenchtraveller

 

wrenchtraveller, the Lariat Lux package is now standard with the Lariat option for '06. Yes I like it very much. The hour meter is a plus also.

 

in 05 it was part of the lux pack and is now std in the 06 lariat

 

I like mine in my 05 but there was something cool about having it in the overhead...I liked it there!
However it is nice... in the line of sight!