How do you like your STX?
 

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums and will hopefully be new to Fords pretty soon. Looking at getting my first f-150 and the STX package really caught my eye for the price. For those of you that have one, how do you like it? Do you wish you went with an XLT/XTR instead?

I'm in Canada (Ontario) if it makes a difference...

I love it.. great starting point .. if i wasn't going to get an STX i would have started with a Lariat for push button start.. but the physical key is fine.. not like after 10 years of push button start in 4 cars i never had physical keys before

I went with the STX because i knew i was going to change a lot of things and i knew with adding modules and Forscan i could have additional things without playing the dealer premium .. getting the XLT for me would be a waste of money because i was going to change the additional things it came with or add it later cheaper

got it late august so far i've done

- Crown 2/4 Lowering Kit
- Crown 1" lift shackles
- Fox 2.0 Shocks
- 24x9.5 Dub S110 Push Rims
- Lexani 295/35ZR24 Tires
- FOR11-CK Wiring Harness
- Stinger 4 AWG Amp Kit
- Stinger 9 wire Speedwire
- 10" Image Dynamics IDMaxD4
- Hertz Millie 165 Components
- Hertz HSK 6.5 Components
- Alpine PDX M12
- Alpine PDX F4
- Audio Control DQ-61
- Supercrew Sound 10" Subbox with amp Rack and seat lift kit
- Dee Zee DZ87005 Heavyweight Bed Mat
- Borla S-Type Dual Exhaut Black Chrome Tips
- Ford js7z19a361a Remote Start w/ Dual zone Shock Sensor (long range attena, security light, long range keyfob)
- Carbon Fiber Sticker Emblems
- Ford Center Caps
- Ford Tonneau Cover (similar to bakflip mx4)
- Tinted Front Windows to match Rear
- BlackVue DR750 2 Ch Dashcam

Very happy with my STX, no regrets what so ever

Good to hear!

I haven't been test driving yet as i'm not going to be serious for a few months yet but just doing my research.... am I right in thinking the door panel armrests are a solid plastic? Instead of a softer leather material like on the XLT's? If it is, how do you guys find that comfort wise?

I really like it. I needed 4WD, room for at least 3 and hopefully 4, and be somewhat comfortable. Never a GM product, so my short list was Tacoma (nice, but not huge fan of the looks and it's expensive), 2019 Ford Ranger (couldn't wait), RAM 1500 (liked it, but again, couldn't wait for a 2019), and the Ford F-150. I didn't really want a full-size, but I like the clean looks of the STX, and just the right feature set, and no chrome (lots of gorgeous trucks here with chrome; just not my thing). Options on mine are carpet, tow package (the medium one? confusing). I picked the 2.7 because specs seemed strong enough and I didn't want to spring for the 5.0. And it's really good. Plenty of power and great mileage. Since then I've done a few mild mods:

Forscan tweaks (no honk on second lock button push, various lighting changes, added a SiriusXM ACM, turned off Auto Start/Stop)
Whiter headlights (Sinoparcel)
LEDs: fogs, license plate, reverse, cargo lights
LED switchback DRL/turn signals
stubby antenna
Access tonneau cover
Ford bedliner insert
Ford wheel well liners
Ford bed cleats
Ford tailgate assist
Bullring tie-downs
Husky floor liners

I might do a few more mods for fun, like ambient lighting inside, but I love it the way it is.

Good luck. Post pics!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...55235c659e.jpg

Nice looking truck!

When I get mine I was thinking of just doing a Roush exhaust, since my local dealer is now a Roush dealer. And possibly a small leveling kit.

i did not notice until it was posted here.. doesn't bother me

Roush 5.0 Exhaust is loud.. unless you like that loud exhaust ..

They're, you know, ok. Around town, don't notice. I do long road trips occasionally and they aren't great, but still not a big deal. Coming home from the gym or after chainsaw work? Just right. I have some leather ones on the way that a member here found on eBay, so we'll see. But the rubber ones are fine. Part of keeping costs down.

I've heard that. I don't mind loud but maybe I should reconsider.... Does it drone really bad in the cab?

That's interesting, could you point me to the ones you found on eBay?

Also not a deal breaker for me but it would be nice to have the rubber feeling

if you're getting a 5.0 go with the Borla Type S .. .it sounds amazing and with no drone at all

The thread is here. Pretty nice that this member shared the info.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

The drone is worse than the loud. Had that junk on my old 5.0

Really love my STX ( Strip The eXtras! ) it was the best value for the money with everything I needed to have. Sometimes I do wish I had gone the extra mile and went with an XLT or Lariat. Like others I've done some mods, I upgraded my steering wheel to the platinum one. Also added remote start. It's a good base to start playing around with. My only con is the ride quality on the 20" rims, they look awesome but the 17's are much smoother.

PS. One of the really great things about the STX is I think it has the best grille of any of the models.

YES!!! and an extra $2000 on the XLT to get the package that has that grille

Love my STX. My truck is mostly a work truck and the STX had all the accouterments I wanted. I also was going to do some mods, so why pay extra for stuff that was going to get replaced. I would have done purchased the same truck all over again.

Good to hear. Thanks for all the input everybody

If I was buying a 2018 I would be buying an STX. Not only is it the best looking model hands down (basically a Sport without having to actually buy a Sport), but nowadays there is only a small handful of options you can't get on the STX.,

Love my XL with STX package. Has a couple upgrades where cost was minimal.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...a9d0d3ccc8.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...bc9191ce46.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...a308d6cf7e.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...bf78909458.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...fe846362e7.jpg

Nice truck, I see you have a power seat... Are they all like that on the STX or did you order extra?

I guess i will throw in some pics too

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...7e93b1ef5b.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...87841e79fc.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...e8ff586457.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...f3f0a3b786.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...98b05956b6.jpg

I was all set for an STX, like has been said, good value. I wound up with an XLT simply because I wanted the console with shifter. Of course I paid for a number of things that I don't have a lot of interest in.
If only we could make up our own packages.

I feel like I owe the OP a few gripes too:

The seat latch to fold down the driver's side back seat is comically inoperative.
The console is the size of a mini fridge. Functional, but wow, huge.
My brake pedal squeaks this loud unpleasant noise, and I need to take it in. I didn't care for months, but everyone else mentions it, so now it's a thing.
The bed tie downs seem a little over-thought. Not sure.
I paid $995 for a tow package that I learned later isn't the "real" tow package. I don't even need it, but it bugs me slightly.

Loving it. Every time I look at the price tag and options on a XLT or Lariat I'm reassured that the STX was the right choice.

I'm not a kid anymore, but I don't need leather, heated, cooling, massaging, power seats. Manual cloth is more than fine.

No pano moon-roof, or sliding rear window, but that also means I don't have two very leaky, hard to repair, problematic points of failure.

Sync 3 with an 8" is the top of the line Infotaiment option for these trucks, so there's no upgrading that.

No Sirius....but...I mean, c'mon, it's 2018 and I'm not a grandpa. Carplay/Android auto + an MP3 collection or Prime/Spotify streaming means that I wouldn't touch Sirius anyway. (Seriously, the number of people on here getting ripped of by Sirius is mind boggling to me.)

Column shifter is a non-issue. Tbh I'm starting to prefer it and I have a massive ton of console space with that config.

It's all the things I'd want from a truck, without an additional price tag for things I don't want or need. Win/win.

This was my thinking exactly

I'll be going with an STX now, i was looking into an XLT just for some creature comforts and after reading the topic last night about switching out the armrests and console padding for softer ones I'll go back to looking into an STX.
My only other upgrades would be having remote start added to the truck locally, maybe heated seats, LED headlights, that's all the option I want over the factory setup. I've got by with an XLT super duty for a little over a decade, which option wise is a loaded XL by today standards.

you can do the Remote Start yourself.. its really a 5 min job.. it will take you longer to zip tie the module than to install and program the unit and it comes with a dual zone shock sensor

Alright alright alright. Definitely be looking into that and I'm gonna hijack this thread for a minute...Sorry OP. What is this module you speak of?
Thanks

for 2018 trucks its js7z19a361a

you can get it off ebay or amazon or online ford dealer or local ford dealer... i bought mine off ebay .. then i used forscan to activate it

BCM 726-22-02 xxx1 xxxx xxxx
IPC 720-02-02 5xxx xx

Good deal, thanks!

I added it on my own. Its 10 way power from an XLT. All factory wiring.

I love mine and will just add a few things to it over time. Not in any particular order just as time and money allows.

1. Power seat for driver side at least
2. Katzkins Leather covers
3. Padded arm rests, center console top (already ordered drivers side Platinum arm rest)
4. Retrofit Quad LED Projectors
5. Replace speakers (already have them, just need to install them)
6. Install 4ch and sub amps (already done)
7. Install leveling kit
8. More aggressive AT style tires when factory tires wear out(Loving the michelins it came with....)
9. Toolbox/Roll up bed cover
10. Power running boards

Another reason I went with a STX was the column shifter. That leaves more room for my pups to move back and forth in the car and not hit the console shifter like in my Frontier.

I love my STX. IMHO it's the best looking F150 trim and if you order just about all the packages/options it becomes pretty well loaded.

The only things you have to sacrifice is "fluff" and "bling bling".
- You won't get a moonroof
- You won't get tons of cluttered chrome everywhere
- You won't get a tailgate that raises and lowers itself
- You won't get a heated steering wheel
- You won't get massaging seats
- You won't get leather that cracks after a couple years.

You will save a bundle of money.

I would have been all over the STX package. But it was not an option that I could actually take advantage of. Personally, I think the STX package is a great addition, especially to an XL trimmed truck. If I was needing/wanting an extended cabin, I would have the STX package As it's a great option to use.

Are you able to add heated seats to it at all? I see on Ford's site there's nowhere to add that. Not a deal breaker for me but just curious... I'm in Canada

No, at least not for US versions.

Love it. Moved up to it from a 2016 Tacoma and it is VERY comfortable compared to the Taco. One thing you absolutely need to do is ask for an extended test drive and keep it overnight before you pull the trigger. It's hard to get a good feel for a car on a short test drive. I have the 2.7 and LOVE it! I am amazed at how good the MPG's are. The seat only goes forward and back so be aware but it's very comfortable. Long trips have been fine but if you're worried about the hard plastic I bet you can find some gel pads that are removable for those long trips. I just added a Retrax OneXR Tonneau cover (posted a vide review here today) and probably will keep the stock dad look for now. The XLT looks terrible IMO without the sport package.

The wheels look just..... wrong. The grill isn't as nice. I added limo tint to the back so I never have to adjust the rear view mirror at night for headlights 😎.

Everytime I see your truck it makes me want to lower mine instead of leveling.

that's funny because everytime i see some leveled trucks here i second guess my choice of lowering .. i think you can't go wrong either way.. both done right look amazing .. but having a toddler lowering might have been the best choice for me

Love this thread... STX FTW! I came within an eyelash of getting an XLT but like everyone else on here has said - the money difference for what you are getting is negligible and not really worth it IMO.

I've had sporty vehicles my whole life but needed a truck with my job to haul equipment so this Race Red STX was more than perfect for the options it has straight from the factory. I've added less than $1500 in extras to make it what it is today and for that money difference there's really not much argument to be had... and since we are all starting to post pics here - hell why not:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...d07db498f0.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...492b99ffc1.jpg
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https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...f466ee6195.jpg

Love my STX
 

They are 2018 OEM taillights that have been tinted.

I considered my 2013 SuperCrew to be an OK looking truck, not ugly, but not necessarily engaging with the huge chrome plate grill surround, so I swapped that out for a PTM (paint to match) surround from an FX of similar vintage. That improved the looks exponentially, but still a pretty tame front end, though better than what it was. Not a fan of the 2015-2017 Ford FOneTundra (why Ford used Toyota grills as their muse is a head scratcher). When the 2018s came out, I found the grill work to be an improvement, but still not enough to pull out my wallet. So, I had pretty much resigned myself to hoping that the next redesign would result in much improvement. Then with the 2018 model year pretty much concluded, I was having my company car, a Ford Flex, serviced at the dship and was walking the lot when I found a black STX. Loved it. The grill work is fantastic. The price and value is hard to beat. My STX has the following that my XLT does not: 8" screen, back up camera, center console, 20" wheels, and rear winder defroster. These are things I use. The value, for me, far outweighed that of a comparable XLT. This is one of Ford's best kept secrets.

Look much better than the ones with the chrome "look at me" strips.:thumbsup:

I just got one, have about 400 miles on it. I LOVE IT. The 20' tires are sweet, the suspension is nice and you sit super high up. The inside cloth seats/trim is sleek. No regrets, you won't regret it either.

Love my STX. I came from a 2010 STX as well. The time came to replace my 2010, I thought for sure I was getting an XLT. I went to the dealer test drove 5 2018s. 4 xlts, 1 STX. For the price, the STX was a no brainer. Mine was optioned out to have more options than some of the Xlts I test drove. Nearly $6k less than an XLT with less options. (2-3 of the XLTs didn't have the 8" screen, no tow package etc.) Only thing I gave up going to the STX over the XLT was heated seats+mirrors.

do any of you guys tow with your STX?

no but i would think towing has more to do with engine choice than model choice

I've only pulled a trailer around town, for example. But I have the tow package and it's rated to pull 5,000 lbs if I remember right. I'm sure it works fine.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...997fb3b8fa.jpg
I've had the new truck about 3 weeks and the boat has been hooked up 7 times. This truck has the 2.7 with 10 speed, prior truck was a 2015 with 3.5 na and 6 speed. New truck is nicer to tow with vs the only truck unloaded. I'm very happy I upgraded.

Love the color!!

I towed a mastercraft X46 with mine. No issues at all. Towed better than my wife's Denali

Looks great!

I absolutely love mine and recommend it for sure. I didn't have a lot of money to spend on my F-150 but I knew that I wanted the 8 inch touch screen and wanted the center console instead of the fold up/down center seat. The STX offers both. You also get the 20 inch wheels with the STX so I thought that was a plus. But yea man, I got everything that was a must for me with the STX package and I was able to get it for less money than I was already paying for my 2017 Tacoma trade in. The STX package pretty much made me buy the F-150 because without it, I would have just kept my Tacoma cause I didn't want to give up the touch screen for the smaller no touch screen that ford offers with the XL trim.

Mine's bone stock and I like it so far. Only wish that I had gotten 1) FX4 and 2) Max Trailer. Otherwise it's been good to me for the 3 months and 2500 miles I've put on it so far.

don't feel bad.. from what i understand you can add both for way less than paying for it from the dealer

I absolutely love mine. I had it for a year and a half and have 26k miles on it already. The SC has plenty of room for the back passengers and it's got all the bells and whistles that I needed already. The only thing I added was the remote start and factory trailer brake controller. I have a 26' travel trailer that I tow and I've had zero issues towing with the 2.7 engine. What I love most is this truck looks like a 55k truck for only 30k.

Great comment. i agree 100%. I also have the supercab and feel that the room in the back is sufficient for around town driving. And your right in that the truck looks like a 55K truck for less than 30K. I love the honeycomb black grill and the 20inch wheels. The wheels really complete the truck's exterior.

They complete my deck wrapped under a tarp right now

Love my STX!

Came from a 2017 Taco TRD Sport and don't miss...

* moonroof (it'd be nice to have though)
* sliding rear window
* navigation
* center column shifter
* tiny cabin - now when I see a Taco, I say "hi lil fella"

the only things I wish my STX had are...

* push button start (so I don't have to take my key out of my pocket)
* leather

Not sure if you bought your truck or not (I didn't read the whole thread), but the STX seems to be a really great deal if you hate chrome and don't need a bunch of bells and whistles.

I have a 302A XLT, and I would not go down to an STX. Only because I've been driving my XLT for 2.5 years and sat in an STX the other day. I didn't like how cheap the interior felt compared to my truck. Everything was really hard and more plastic-y, my truck definitely has softer materials. But if you're not coming from a higher end truck, you probably wouldn't really notice it and end up loving it.

I still have lots of time to decide but in Canada I recently learned that Ford removed the 5.0 as an option for it. So if I order one it has to be the 2.7 EB now. How is the 2.7, maintenance and longevity wise? The 5.0 just seemed like a no brainer for me cause it's been such a proven engine from what I've noticed.

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me personally if i had to go XLT for a 5.0 that's the route i would take.. i have nothing against the 2.7 but i just came from a twin turbo 600 hp car then to a 400 hp super charged car and i wanted my next to be a supercharged v8

Thats the way I'm leaning... I love V8's

It's a newer-ish platform released in 2015. So data from that standpoint is hard to come by.

I've seen videos of more than one with 200k+ miles on it, that has run without issue or major maintenance. In those cases they're almost always vehicles that are driven constantly, usually with relatively low engine hours, since it's hard/impossible to put 200k+ miles on a vehicle in 4 years, under "standard" city driving conditions.

Those were the first gen of 2.7s however, as they revamped them slightly in 2018 (added some torque, switched to direct port injection.) So long term reliability info on the current gen of 2.7s is essentially non-existent.

There are a few folks on these forums that manage or help manage fleets, and they've always said positive stuff about the 2.7L.

So, honestly, I'd assume you should be fine, and by the time the engine gets old enough for you to need to worry about maintenance it shouldn't be too hard to find resources to either do the work for you, or teach you to do the work. Since there are just so many 2.7s sold these days, clearly there will be a support infrastructure waiting to service them, when they start to all develop issues.

After spending much of today reading up on Forscan, I'm curious about this: From what I gather, 5 also enables rear park aid, which the STX doesn't have. Am I missing something? I'm just trying to get this all figured out before Monday, when my JS7Z-19A361-A arrives.

Do any of you STX owners have any complaints about the interior dome lights at night time?

Do they light up the inside of the truck ok, are there separate controls on the dash and/or on the ceiling to turn them on independently vs just when the doors open?

Can they be upgraded to LED's for more light?

Thanks

mine has it.. however that last line allows you to configure it in the menu.. the remote start will still work without it.. you really don't have to do that last line if you don't want to

Button right next to the light turns it on. It's already an LED and plenty bright in my opinion (for whatever that's worth).

Oh, good deal. Didnt know they were LED from factory.
Thanks

I should mention that there is only 1 button switch located on left side of the front light fixture. It turns the second light fixture in the rear of the cab on also. At least on the extended cab.

So the switch on the dash doesn't turn the front and the back light on, only the front...or it does both but you can turn the rear light on independently from the switch on the ceiling?

I'll be getting SCREW. Any insight on this from those owners?

Thanks

there are 2 lights .. one in the front and one in the rear .. front has 2 buttons .. one to turn on the light and one for the door.. once the door is enabled it will turn on both lights when you open the door.. the rear i believe has a button for the rear light

Maybe this will help.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...9ff2f30d84.jpg

On STX Screw rear light has no button and can only be controlled by the front.

I have to admit, I'm not at all a fan of the STX dome light setup. The front one shines as much in my eyes as it does on what I want to look at, and the rear is only controllable from the front seat.

Maybe stuff like this why we got the finest looking front end package for such a great price. I can live with it..

Yes, I have to agree. The dome light situation is probably the thing i dislike most about my truck. Well that and the squeaking/tapping noise that comes from my center console. But the dome light shines directly in your eyes so you're almost blinded while looking at whatever it is that you're looking at. I realize that the STX is not a high trim level but putting in a dome light that points where you need it to cannot cost Ford much money. Does anyone else have a squeaking or tapping noise coming from their center console?

You'd have to swap the headliners.

The center console in mine is good other than the tray sliding back and forth every time I make a turn.

The description lists the 2018 XL but I have no idea if this would be a plug and play fit without headliner mods.
https://www.tascaparts.com/oem-parts...es/?c=YT1mb3Jk

I wonder if just the bulb/lens can be modified so it's a floody vs a spotlight. (or just adjustable.)

I tried ordering one from a supercab that had a rear light with its own on/off switch but it didn't work. The rear light in the STX only had two wires in the harness. The upgraded one needed five. The front light also had 5 wires but I tried the supercab light I bought and it only partially worked in the front harness. These lights have small circuit boards on them so maybe canbus signals are involved in controlling these things. I gave up on it. Now I'm considering an aftermarket add-on kit like this:
https://camera-source.com/loftlite-l...hting-kit.html

what feature are you missing?

Looking at this thread it doesn't appear the mod was completed.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/stx-l...pgrade-414490/

Yeah, swapping out the headliner is a chore, so I am not attempting it. I have had my STX a year and the dome light situation is not longer a concern of mine.

Those lights are interesting. If you were to do this, how about a short writeup on them? Looks like something a number of guys would be interested in. I'd think dropping the headliner would be the most difficult part.

I think the after-market ones can be installed without dropping the headliner. My only hold up is they're black and won't look good on the gray headliner. The picture shows what looks like tan lights so I was hoping the company made gray too, but I haven't been able to find them.

Ya, I was thinking just paint the ring whatever color you'd want. Wish they had a view of the wiring, my thought would be to wire up to my overhead console, or the rear dome light, whichever would have the wiring I needed to use like OEM console lights.
Mines a 302A XLT, so a bit different from an XL, I think.

Well I was wrong. I found the directions for the Brandmotion Loft Lites and it specifically says you have to access to the back side of the installation location and will need to drop the headliner if installing in that location. I guess they install from the back side and then lock with a ring in the front. Oh well I guess that just saved me some money.

yeah power heated seats and push button start are the things i miss the most i think