buzzin 1/2 dozen

It all depends what gets you excited.
The Lariats and above trims are very nice but the latest and greatest techno gadgets really don't excite me. The reason I got the 302a package was mainly for the heated seats and a dash/radio layout close to my wife's 2011 Explorer.
Me being of the old school/knuckle dragger type the stuff I get excited about is 4WD, locking rear axle, max tow, big gas tank, and great power/torque where you don't have to rev the engine to get going.
I am in my late fifties and maybe things will change when I get older and senile, but I still know when I'll need 4WD, I know when I get cold turn I the heat on, and when I get hot I'll turn the a/c on.

KYBuckeye

I bought a Lariat 502a but sorta wish I would have gone with an XLT. My truck is not a daily driver, and I'm having a hard time with a 53K vehicle that sits in the garage. There are bigger discounts on the XLTs too. That being said I do like the gizmos on my lariat but I'm not sure I would have missed them had they not been bundled into the 502a.

KYBuckeye

I also would probably get the 2.7 over the 3.5 EB again and you can't do that in a 502a lariat.

Jabooh1

I got a Lariat for the following reasons:
Two tone Blue Jeans / Caribou
8" dash screen
Cheaper than the XLT they had

I would have liked cloth seats but couldn't get the color and screen in an XLT.

MASTERZ

*lariat* baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bigandtall

This is my answer exactly! Including the cloth seats which are more comfortable to sit in. The leather is a more firm ride and I prefer soft.

i8iridium

iTrader: (1)

I got a Lariat because I came from at '12 FX4 Appearance Package. It had a lot of features that I would never be able to get from an XLT, plus more. It would make me fell like I was downgrading. lol There are Lariats to be found for less than 50k with the discounts dealers are offering now, plus rebates.

KEVININCHICAGO

Lariat would have been nice, I just did not want to sink that much money into something that was not making money. I also drive too many miles each year. I could have easily spent another $ 10,000 but I did not want to have a payment and increase the cost of the truck with interest. I guess I just figured that I would only get what i needed and nothing more. So far my XLT is perfect for me. I'm satisfied with the 3.5na engine, 17 inch wheels, cloth seats, 4x4, crew cab. The 2.7 is tempting and the only thing I may have wanted that I don't have now. Only paid 43K out the door with tax,title,license and added bedrug and bak-flip. Things that I don't have won't break or malfunction which is a plus.

Jabooh1

I paid $43 out the door for a lariat super crew 2.7l 501a blue jeans with two tone. Based on previous threads it's worth buying from a dealer in Texas and flying down for a few hundred and driving back.

BoozeDaily

iTrader: (2)

I concur with the folks that said it depends on what extra stuff you want and how much you're willing to pay for those things.

I'll assume you're comparing a 302A XLT to a 502A Lariat.

What engine do you want? If you want a 2.7LEB, you have to get the XLT. If gas mileage is less important and you want the perceived power of a 5.0L or 3.5LEB, it's a draw.

Do you need 4x4? If you need 4x4 do you have to have 4A (2wd unless the truck thinks you need 4x4 then it will engage)? If you have to have 4A, Lariat. Otherwise, draw.

Do you need/want leather covered seats? Lariat. Are you ok with cloth/sport cloth seats?

Headlights- LED headlights, Lariat. Regular halogen XLT. This is currently a ~$1700 aftermarket upgrade and that's if you install them yourself.

Ambient Lighting in the cab-neat feature, zero purpose-Lariat. Don't know/don't care-XLT

8" instrument cluster screen? Lariat. Smaller screen with all the same features (except replacing the trans temp gauge with a turbo gauge in the 3.5LEB)

Grille- 3 bar chrome/sport, Lariat. 5 bar chrome/sport XLT.

Heated/Cooled(ish) seats- Lariat. Heated seats only-XLT

I'm sure there are some other things I've left out. To each their own and that's the beauty of having the freedom of choice.