DrugDealr

How much did it run you to do leather and the heated and cooled?

obusnizzle

About 3,000 installed. Could I have done it myself? Most likely yes. Ordering the same leather and heat/cool units from leather seats.com would cost $1600. I probably could have done the work myself, but it rained everyday for over a week from morning to evening and I don’t have the garage space. I’m also on a somewhat regimented schedule this summer and have a small list of “things” that need to get done in a prescribed timeframe.

*i only mention these factors correlated to cost as I previously posted about purchasing an ESP and was mocked due to the price I paid. Since Ford did send me a decent check, the cost was offset.

DyLivn

502A is night and day from a 302A. It's what I wanted but couldn't justify an extra 10k. I ended up adding the main items I wanted from the 502A pack; SE LED headlights, LED taillights, and Katzkins. Still came out about 7k cheaper.

Biggest gripe about the 302A, other than you can't get LED headlights as an option, is that you can't get keyless start. The ignition is tucked up behind the steering wheel and is just a pain in the ***. Would love to have keyless start and entry.

Maybe if I did it over I would go with a 501A and then add the LED headlights.

mcr1911

Another small but important difference is that the dash is different on the Lariat. Lariat trim and up do not have the dash warping issue.

ztman

Good points

DyLivn

Yes I do. But you still have to put the key in the ignition when you get in the car. And using the app to start the car every time would be a pain.

Keyless start is standard on nearly all cars these days, even 25k econo cars. It's just bean counters at Ford being dicks.

vulnox

I had 302A in my 2017 XLT, and went to 502A in my 2019.

I could not be happier that I did. I thought I was fine without what I consider should be pretty basic features (like auto climate), but after a couple years with my 302A I was tired of the climate dial game, which was even worse with the wacky spring we have had here in Michigan and I know elsewhere.

Heated steering wheel is amazingly fantastic, something I didn't care about until I got in the truck one day and it was automatically on due to outside temps, and I fell in love. 4 Auto is excellent, LED headlights are excellent, and the far nicer DRL configuration makes me feel like I am driving a $50k+ truck, unlike my XLT which despite being a 302A with every option, always just looked like a fleet vehicle compared to most every Ram and Silverado with LED DRLs and at least HID headlights. I know I am rewarding Ford for questionable lighting configuration choices, but I was going to stick with F-150 so may as well do it better.

Cooled seats are nice, but as with every vehicle I have had with them they are just "good", I wouldn't up to a Lariat for them. The larger driver screen is very welcome, along with being able to configure the "My View" section to just have the items you want, including a Turbo Boost gauge for the Ecoboost crowd.

360 Cam is also great, as is the Adaptive Cruise with Stop/Go. I have used it in some nasty traffic situations and just sat back as the truck handled the stop/go/stop/go leg workout.

While rebates are better on the XLT, if you lease the residual is better on Lariat, and it eats up most of the rebate difference (again, if you lease). I went from a 2017 F-150 XLT 302A with 13,500 miles/yr to a 2019 F-150 Lariat 502A with 15,000 miles/yr with more addons (like FX4, 360 Cam, Adaptive Cruise, and more), and my cost difference was less than $100/mo.

I know $100/mo isn't insignificant, but I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much happier every time I get in this truck, and I loved my XLT, but I feel I could drive this Lariat forever, it's just such a nicer place to be. I drove for seven hours in it in one day a couple weeks ago, and thanks to adaptive cruise and everything else, didn't end the drive hating the world, which on its own is worth the premium.

sholxgt

A lot of people have the misconception that a Lariat is an XLT with leather. That was somewhat true in previous generations, but is FAR, FAR from true now. Especially if comparing a 302a to a 502a. The base Lariat doesn't quite make sense to me, but once you are at the 502a trim level, it is a substantially different vehicle to own than the XLT.

Just the automatic climate control, heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, and keyless operation alone adds a ton to comfort when it's hot or cold. By the time I walk from my kitchen (where I auto start my truck) and down to the truck, the cabin, seats and steering wheel have adjusted to a comfortable temperature. I'm able to open the door without fumbling for my keys and can get in with my hands full without digging a key out of my pocket to stick in the ignition.

If my wife was last to drive the truck, it automatically re-adjusts the steering wheel, mirrors, pedals, and seat with one push of a button.

If I need in the garage, I can use the buttons on the visor without hunting for a remote.

At nighttime here in the mountains, my truck actually lights up the road sufficiently that I don't even need to use the brights. The halogens, on the other hand, suck.

If the road surface is slippery, but not 4x4 worthy, you can put it in 4auto and have it as a safety back up.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. It's about the experience and comfort of owning a higher trim level vehicle. It is simply more comfortable and nicer every minute of every day that you are using the vehicle.

Nothing wrong with an XLT (I've owned two), just saying that the experiences are no where near the same.

riptide88

4A is another big option to not forget. If you live in an area with snowy winters this could be pretty beneficial, its been a game changer for me


Bahaha i knew you had an xlt even before i seen your sig. I had my alarm guy hook up a switch on my red cover so that when i lift it up it says "Missle Armed" i call it the panty dropper when i pick up my tinder dates.



You're still in new truck mode with a 1 month truck lol Ive seen this exact scenario many times and once the new truck phase wears away you could be regretting more.



You cant argue with a guy whos owned both.

Jeff1024

LED Headlights, dual zone climate, and 4 Auto were enough to justify the upgrade from an XLT in my mind. We use 4A a lot when pulling our boat up and out of our marina. The road is often wet, but it also has a sharp turn so 4A is pretty handy.

LED Headlights are a huge improvement and really should be a standard feature on all trim levels in 2019, but that's an argument for another day.

Dual Zone Climate has saved my marriage lol.