David Crockett
Active Member
Greetings all.
I first posted here a week or two ago asking for everyone's opinion on the ST and inquiring as to the over-all satisfaction level or problems with the vehicle. I appreciate all the responses I received and have been impressed with the large base of knowledge you guys possess collectively. I've also enjoyed some of the off-topic debates that have sprung up in here from time to time.
I'm still in Afghanistan, but my days here are quickly winding down. I should be out of here, heading back to my beautiful wife, Manuela, in Italy sometime next week. My first order of business, after getting "reacquainted" with her, is to place my order for an '05.
I had originally planned to get a used ST from a stateside dealer, like CarMax, when we relocate to Ft. Rucker, Alabama this fall, but decided that I should be able to get a good deal on an '05 as the model year comes to an end and the dealers start making room for the '06/'07 model. I'd like to be able to wait to get an ST with a V8, but don't have the luxury of time to wait that long. Besides, I dig the current body-style and like the idea of getting a full warranty in case I have to deal with some of the problems the rest of you have experienced.
The Military Car sales office we have on my base in Italy is able to sell vehicles directly from the manufacturers and free of sales-tax or dealer-prep rip-offs . I won't even have to worry about the annoying dealer badges messing up my paint b/c it will never have one. Likewise, I should be able to get a $2,000 rebate on a ST.
With this in mind, what would the rest of you say would be a reasonable price for a 4x4 XLT Premium on the Ford Family Plan? I'm going to opt for either the dark stone or silver birch paint with the bed-extender, bed-cover, side impact air-bags, and MAYBE the expensive audio package or moon-roof. I'm figuring I should be able to get the final price down to about $25,000 ($26,000?). That will leave me with enough saved-up "war money" to splurge on the EE sway bar, some high-quality shocks, and low-restriction air filter. I might even go all out and get some nice rims and rubber. Those faux hood-scoops look bodacious also. I've got lots of ideas from the rest of ya'll and hope to be able to post some pics of my new ride by the end of the year. In the mean time, thanks for the help and feel free to offer opinions or advice a new future owner might benefit from.
Thanks for the support!
I first posted here a week or two ago asking for everyone's opinion on the ST and inquiring as to the over-all satisfaction level or problems with the vehicle. I appreciate all the responses I received and have been impressed with the large base of knowledge you guys possess collectively. I've also enjoyed some of the off-topic debates that have sprung up in here from time to time.
I'm still in Afghanistan, but my days here are quickly winding down. I should be out of here, heading back to my beautiful wife, Manuela, in Italy sometime next week. My first order of business, after getting "reacquainted" with her, is to place my order for an '05.
I had originally planned to get a used ST from a stateside dealer, like CarMax, when we relocate to Ft. Rucker, Alabama this fall, but decided that I should be able to get a good deal on an '05 as the model year comes to an end and the dealers start making room for the '06/'07 model. I'd like to be able to wait to get an ST with a V8, but don't have the luxury of time to wait that long. Besides, I dig the current body-style and like the idea of getting a full warranty in case I have to deal with some of the problems the rest of you have experienced.
The Military Car sales office we have on my base in Italy is able to sell vehicles directly from the manufacturers and free of sales-tax or dealer-prep rip-offs . I won't even have to worry about the annoying dealer badges messing up my paint b/c it will never have one. Likewise, I should be able to get a $2,000 rebate on a ST.
With this in mind, what would the rest of you say would be a reasonable price for a 4x4 XLT Premium on the Ford Family Plan? I'm going to opt for either the dark stone or silver birch paint with the bed-extender, bed-cover, side impact air-bags, and MAYBE the expensive audio package or moon-roof. I'm figuring I should be able to get the final price down to about $25,000 ($26,000?). That will leave me with enough saved-up "war money" to splurge on the EE sway bar, some high-quality shocks, and low-restriction air filter. I might even go all out and get some nice rims and rubber. Those faux hood-scoops look bodacious also. I've got lots of ideas from the rest of ya'll and hope to be able to post some pics of my new ride by the end of the year. In the mean time, thanks for the help and feel free to offer opinions or advice a new future owner might benefit from.
Thanks for the support!
