I think you have to make your own choices in life, my friend. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

 

I asked the same question of several salesman and on a different forum. Almost every recommendation was to avoid the King Ranch. The salesman told me that in the summer they leave the windows partially open on the King Ranch models due to the horrible leather smell. He told me that the leather smells like a wet baseball glove in the summer months or when damp. Based upon that info, I would say the Lariat LE.

 

And you believed anything the salesman said /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Just kidding! The leather smells gooooood!!!

 

well if your going crew cab. I thought king ranch only had 4 seats compared to the 2 benches. but i might have just heard that too poor to go to ford and look

 

Mine has captain's chairs in front and bench seat in the back.

 

I would say the King Ranch. The thing I don't like about the Lariat's is the stitching on the seatback. I have seen Lariat seats in the past where the stitching start to unravel. If I had the choice between the Lariat and King Ranch, the King Ranch would be my choice. I almost ordered a Lariat but due to the stitching on the seatback, I opted for the XLT Sport with the black leather upgrade, as it does not have stitching on the seatback.

 

Take a look at both before you decide. I love my real leather smell and feel Nothing like it. The other decision you need to make is on color. Both options limit you on choice.

And George has the last of the real LE's as the new LE's do not come with the cool exterior sun visor.

In my replacement deal I almost went the LE route until I sat in one. It is a personal choice, but I liked the fit and feel of the KR better. You can get the KR with quad buckets or the rear bench - your choice.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm trying to decide on different options and came across the King Ranch option and the Lariat LE.

If you had a choice, which would you choose?

Thanks for you input!

Pat.


[/ QUOTE ]

I would go King. I owned a 99 Lariat and hated the leather. It did not wear well at all. The leather had some sort of a finish on it--almost like a clear protectant. The King is real leather. I am now in a XLT since I didn't want another Lariat. Next truck will be King.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I would go King. I owned a 99 Lariat and hated the leather. It did not wear well at all. The leather had some sort of a finish on it--almost like a clear protectant. The King is real leather. I am now in a XLT since I didn't want another Lariat. Next truck will be King.


[/ QUOTE ]

My 99 leather was crap too. It cracked, flaked and was more of a nusience than good. Total garbage..
The new Lariat leather is very different.
None of that 99' stuff is happening, and the feel is totally different.
No cracking, and much more durable

Stitching coming apart?
Never heard of it once, and never seen it happen.


The LE without the sunvisor? That ruins the look.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif
Gotta have that to be an LE...


Colors?
Well....I believe my 03' Lariat LE is the best looking truck Ford Motor Company has ever assembled, but that's "my" humble opinion. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
The new Black/Tan combo doesn't do a thing for me, and removing the visor kills the whole deal..

The King colors?
1. Root Beer.
2. 70's era Avacado Green
3. Plain old white.

The first two would never grace my driveway, Sorry Yoda. I'm not a fan of "Baserball Mit Brown" leather either, but there are other colors that could have come closer to setting the interior off.
Medium Wedgewood Blue comes to mind.

So, after an easy process of elimination, I vote the White King Ranch (duallie ofcourse) as the best looking truck of them all for MY 2004. It's a nice looking truck.

Looking at the choices, I would wait for MY 05' to see if Will Clay Ford jr. fired the KR stylist, and their utterly tragic tastes in color combinations.

 

<font color="blue"> George.......I'm glad they dropped that FARMER VISOR /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Can't stand those things /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

</font>

 

That's cold! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

[ QUOTE ]
That's cold! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ] <font color="blue">LOL! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif </font>

 

Its your hard earned $$$ so let your tastes decide. I think my '03 LE looks far better than the KR. With the changes to the current LE, I would probably go white KR. I still think the original LE was the best looking of the bunch though.

 

Neither.

I liked the 03 LE cab visor and the black and gray exterior color combination but I'm not fond of the plastic running boards and the rear captain seats don't do much for me either. I'm not to fond of the large span of Arizona Beige down the center of the 04 LE plus it doesn't come with the visor which was the only thing that really stood out on the LE that the Lariat doesn't have.

I like the looks of the green over Arizona beige King Ranch but again I don't like the plastic running boards and I'm not fond of the color of the KR seats.

Like others have said, it's your money so you should make your own decision as to which you prefer.

 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would go King. I owned a 99 Lariat and hated the leather. It did not wear well at all. The leather had some sort of a finish on it--almost like a clear protectant. The King is real leather. I am now in a XLT since I didn't want another Lariat. Next truck will be King.


[/ QUOTE ]

My 99 leather was crap too. It cracked, flaked and was more of a nusience than good. Total garbage..
The new Lariat leather is very different.
None of that 99' stuff is happening, and the feel is totally different.
No cracking, and much more durable

Stitching coming apart?
Never heard of it once, and never seen it happen.


The LE without the sunvisor? That ruins the look.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif
Gotta have that to be an LE...


Colors?
Well....I believe my 03' Lariat LE is the best looking truck Ford Motor Company has ever assembled, but that's "my" humble opinion. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
The new Black/Tan combo doesn't do a thing for me, and removing the visor kills the whole deal..

The King colors?
1. Root Beer.
2. 70's era Avacado Green
3. Plain old white.

The first two would never grace my driveway, Sorry Yoda. I'm not a fan of "Baserball Mit Brown" leather either, but there are other colors that could have come closer to setting the interior off.
Medium Wedgewood Blue comes to mind.

So, after an easy process of elimination, I vote the White King Ranch (duallie ofcourse) as the best looking truck of them all for MY 2004. It's a nice looking truck.

Looking at the choices, I would wait for MY 05' to see if Will Clay Ford jr. fired the KR stylist, and their utterly tragic tastes in color combinations.

[/ QUOTE ]

George - you just made my night. I haven't had a good laugh all day and here you are - Thanks - Keith

 

I knew you'd sense the "incoming".. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Somehow, anything you drive would be cool with me YODA!
Well, maybe not the snot green. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Funny thing, my wife likes the snot green. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ QUOTE ]
I knew you'd sense the "incoming".. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Somehow, anything you drive would be cool with me YODA!
Well, maybe not the snot green. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Come On George! It's Horse Poop Green! Let's get with the program here! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Funny thing, my wife likes the snot green. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

 

if i had you kinda money to spend i would get the LE i don't like the interior color of the KR. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

Horse Poop?
That's Yoda's name for it.
I used to call his truck Diet Dr. Pepper.
I think that may have jinxed him /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif, so it's now Root Beer.
BTW Chief, you did amazing things with your "snot green" truck. She looks damn good!

Hey Yoda, is your truck STILL at the dealer?
I just wonder how many kids are climbing all over it every day.
I also gotta wonder how many test drives she's been on too! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

The King Ranch leather is way cool. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

Thanks George for the kind comments. To be honest, I was not to thrilled at first with Horse Poop green - but it grows on you /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

I thought for sure I was going to end up with a King Ranch. My wife and I love the interior and we drove several of them. We were getting ready to pull the trigger on a white King Ranch when we happened to see a tu-tone Black / Arizona beige LE, and that was it. We both fell in love with the LE and I wouldn't change a thing. I loaded up a LE with every possible option and took delivery of my 04/04 in Nov 03. I must have one of the last available with the cab sun visor. Glad I got it. This LE gets more looks and compliments than I can remember with any other vehicle I’ve owned, and I've owned some pretty neat toys. It has a unique look. I live in Atlanta (lots of traffic) and in 5500 miles I have yet to see another 04 LE on the road. It cost slightly more that the King Ranch (which was already pretty expensive) but I’m glad I went with the LE. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Has anyone else noticed these trucks get a lot of looks from women driving big sport utilities? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

So its the truck they are looking at /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif - thanks for bursting my bubble. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif I get lots of looks with this truck too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif