IMO the 4.6 3 valve/6 speed combo is among the best combo that Ford has ever had with thier gas engines. I love it in my Explorer. Tons of power and fuel economy if you keep your foot out of it.

On another subject, I saw a late 80s, early 90s Lariat and it's much more spartan than a late model XL.

Mike

 

I've had my truck since Saturday, and my supercrew's rear-right passenger window got stuck after I rolled it down. I was only sitting in my car trying to figure out the Sync feature. I had to push it in and guide it in, but it works fine now.

 

So true. I had an '86 F-150 XL 4x4 300 I-6, M4OD, A/C, PS, PB and am/fm radio. Vinyl seat, rubber floor, two tone paint and chrome bumpers with dog dish wheel covers.

That was the best truck I've ever owned but I totaled it on the freeway in a rain storm.

Tim

 

I'm going to one down you for a moment. When I was younger my father had a 1983 Dodge Ram D10 Custom (not sure what was custom about it) 4x2, 225 slant 6, manual trans, manual windows and locks, manual steering, maybe the brakes were vacuum assist, vinyl seats and toward the end no carpet. I'm suprised it wasn't Flintstones brakes.

It was an awesome truck though and was the first vehicle I drove. (I'm also an 83.) That engine even limped us a couple miles up the highway on no oil and 4 cylinders after the quick lube left the old oil filter gasket on and it blew out about 100 miles from home.

Mike

Edit: The original radio may have been AM only but a low end pioneer deck and some small for the home speakers fixed that up. I think it's still going, he sold it to a coworker in 01 when he bought a Dakota.

 

I have to say I would love to get other XL but its missing one thing, powered mirrors I got spoiled by my mother's 03 Taurus SE and in a truck they are really useful.

 

One thing that I really like that I don't have on my 2000 F150 XLT is heated mirrors. Since driving vehicles with them, I really like them.

Mike

 

That's not all that unusual of an event. That happened to me with my 1980 X-11 Chevy Citation. Good thing I was looking at my oil pressure gauge at the time.

Might be a good idea to have them show you your old filter at Quickie Lube before you drive away.

Rob

 

I hear ya both loud and clear! I've been driving my '99 Tautus everyday since gas rose abouve $3.00 p/g and I'm still driving it because I really enjoy the heated mirrors, automatic climate control, etc.

When I do get my next truck, it'll most likely be an STX or base model XLT as I want the power mirrors, windows and door locks.

The less equipment on a vehicle = less time in the shop.

Tim

 

Agreed and when you think about heated/powered mirrors that probably get used only 3 months out of a year and adjusted once in awhile depending on how many people share your truck should last 10+ years without problem.

 

To be honest I've had a lot more problems with engines and transmissions than I've ever had with options.

Mike

 

I have to ask Bill... how much did it run you to add the power doors and windows?

 

Hey Rich,
The PW's & Locks I installed myself. $240. for the kits from A1 Electric.
I ran a power wire all the way back to the battery. Had to hook up the Ham Radio also. This way I didn't use any factory wiring.

Bill

 

Thats quite a bit less than I figured. How does the interface look? Do you have to create a hole in the door panel to mount it? Im not familiar with the 09s.

 

Is it true the 09s don't have a drivers side grab bar?

 

From all the photos I have seen... it is true. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I wasnt a big fan of how they did them in the 04-08 series. The grab handles I had in my 01 F150 were PERFECT. As I would sit in the drivers seat, my arm was the perfect length to rest on the window sill, and hold the handle at the same time. I miss that truck.