The heated steering wheel icon has to do with the version of Sync software. If your software is updated to the latest version of Sync, the icon is on the home Sync 3 screen, regardless of model year. And I think the 2019 does have stitching on the shifter.

 

Looked at 5 Lariats and 3 XLT’s on the Ford lot this morning, all 2019 models. None of them had stitching on the gearshift handle. There was stitching on the boot only. Looked at a 2019 Platinum and the gear shift had stitching on it.

 

The stitching on the shifter for me is a deal breaker!!! So glad I got the 2018 with the stitching!

 

This leaves me in stitches.

 

That about sews it up.

 

Talked to my dealer this morning. He said Ford dropped the stitched gearshift handle and also don’t paint the gps antenna anymore on Lariats and below. Early 2019 builds weren’t affected by this change. He thought the January builds is when the change was made.

 

Quit needling this thread with puns!

 

Got wifi, but maybe that was just because I went from an 18 raptor to a 19 non-raptor. The pcm is coded a bit differently (matters for tuning purposes). I think there are more blocks in the apim coding (no idea what they do yet). They got the collision alert as standard equipment.

 

In addition to the stitching on the shifter, the 2018 XLT and Lariat have a painted Sync Connect antenna, while the 2019 has a cheap black plastic one. Small details, but they make a difference to me.

 

It no longer says "sync 3" on the fake carbon fiber slide out thing where the two usb ports are