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Jeff S 2

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Aug 21, 2008
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Location
Pembroke Pines, FL
I'm seriously considering buying a SportTrac, but I have a few questions before I actually hit the dealers :)



1. I really want a heated windshield. In South Florida, it's common to encounter weather where the windshield fogs because it's 100% humid outside, and 70 degrees inside (due to a/c). In every car I've owned, going into defrost mode disables the air conditioner, which means you get to "enjoy" air that's not just hot, but 100% humid as well. As far as I know, nobody has ever made a car that can run the a/c on max, heat the cooled air (so it's at least dehumidified), then blow the warm(er) dry air on the windshield... so I guess it's "embedded wires, or nothing". The question is, if I come across an insanely great deal on a new or used SportTrac, can a heated windshield be added aftermarket (replacing the windshield if necessary)? How much would it realistically cost (including the salvage value of the old windshield, if it has enough of one to bother with)?



2. I really want a power moonroof. Once again, is this something that HAS to be factory-installed, or if I found an "almost perfect" ST at an insanely good price, could one that's every bit as good be installed aftermarket? (note: I could live with reduced interior height, but I'm 6'1", so there are limits to just how much lowering I can tolerate).



3. I like the EXT better than the Ltd, precisely BECAUSE it has black bumpers and trim. I hate painted bumpers, because IMHO they completely defeat the purpose of HAVING bumpers by turning a minor bump into a parking lot bollard into a $400+ repair job. Also, I have a very strong preference for cloth seats. I grudgingly got leather for my current car because it was required to get a moonroof, and I've hated it every single day I've owned the car (even though I love the moonroof). Unfortunately, it looks like Ford withholds its best non-cloth seats from XLT buyers, even as an option. So... are the seats from the Ltd "plug and play" compatible with an XLT (buy them online or from a salvage yard, unscrew the XLT seats, screw in the Ltd seats)? If so, are there any Ltd seats that look enough like the XLT seats that I could get away with replacing ONLY the driver's seat (or maybe both front seats) without making it look bad?



4. Are there any insanely good deals out there right now for either the remaining 2008 or new 2009 SportTracs? I checked out the prices at CarsDirect.com, but wasn't terribly impressed by them. If dealers and automakers are hurting as badly as they claim they are (especially with respect to cars whose gas mileage isn't good), it doesn't seem to have had much effect on prices (at least, not the prices posted online). Any better places online to look for info?



5. How much would I save by getting the truck without the factory/dealer-installed Tonneau cover, and buying one elsewhere? The ~$506 I saw quoted seemed pretty steep, and I suspect they're charging a hefty premium for the privilege of getting to roll the cost into the loan instead of buying it separately. Is that the case, or would I probably end up spending $400 or more wherever I go to get one?



6. Is the hard cover at least as watertight as the lid on a car's trunk? Or does it merely keep MOST of the water out of the bed? Put another way, if I bought a thousand dollars worth of furniture from Ikea, put it in the bed, and closed the cover, would I have any reason to panic (or at least be concerned) if a torrential Florida-style downpour occurred during the drive home? Or would I open the cover (after it stopped raining) and likely find everything nice and dry?



7. Is the "XLT Appearance Package" LITERALLY just an upgrade to the tires, wheels, and side steps? Or does it also include a bunch of other upgrades of potential interest as well.



8. How drama-free is the installation of an aftermarket DIN or double-DIN stereo head unit? I remember ~6 years ago Ford had a MAJOR fetish with<
 
Why not look into ordering one from a dealer (assuming going new or are you going used)? This would be the best way to get what you want without compromising.



1. Living in S. FL, my experience is a bit different than yours as I have seen little need for the heated windshield. Defroster has been sufficient.



2. Many member have had aftermarket mr's installed and been perfectly satisfied.



3. Seats should be interchangeable in the same generation.



4. Go bargain with a dealer. I'm sure many are desperate to move Tracs due to gas prices, but as per question 1 this may make it difficult to get what you want. Will be difficult to have it both ways.



5. Get the factory tonneau, if you like the look. It can be difficult to find a better deal on an aftermarket or buying one seperately. Again are you buying new or used. This limits your choices.



6. Can be but it is not water PROOF. Fiberglass tonneaus seem to be the best for this due to curving over the edges of the bed.



7. Not sure but probably.



8. Some of us have installed two single din units and a bit of trimming is required but not really an obstacle. Not sure about the double dins. I was under the impression the tracs radio bezel was referred to as din and a half but not sure.

 
Every car I've ever owned has had the AC activated with the defrost setting, even those that have a separate button to turn the AC on. The Sport Trac is no different. I once repaired the AC in my girlfriend's car to show her how much it helped clear the windshield with the AC in good working order.



Double DIN's have been installed in the older Tracs with a bit of trimming. Not sure about the new ones.
 
8. How drama-free is the installation of an aftermarket DIN or double-DIN stereo head unit? I remember ~6 years ago Ford had a MAJOR fetish with radios that for all intents and purposes were irreplaceable without literally rebuilding half the dash. Do the STs have nice, normal DIN/double-DIN cavities?



If you were rebuilding half the dash, you were doing something wrong. Harness + install kit/filler plate (which has been around since the 1997 or so Explorer model year) = easy install. The same is true for 07+. Ford uses a 2.25 or so DIN. Pull the radio, use the mount kit, and tie it in with a harness. Done.
 
I'm probably going to buy a new one, but if I happened to trip over a pristine 2k8 (maybe even 2k7) used SporTrac being dumped at a ridiculous price by some hysterical person freaked out by gas prices (you know, the kind of idiot who'll throw away $12k in equity, and pay a $10k premium for a Prius, just to save ~$40/week on gas... oblivious to the ~10-14 years they'll have to keep it just to break even when everything is added up), I'd probably buy it.



As far as wacky radios go, I was mainly referring to the Escort GT sometime around 1999. I halfway considered buying one, but wrote off Ford completely at the time the moment I saw the god-awful square (literally) radio they had fused into its dashboard. It's nice to see that was probably an aberration and not the norm for Ford in general. ;)



I'm just kind of shocked that, officially at least, Ford is officially showing its "desperation" to move them by offering a (cough) "generous" $1,000 rebate. If their trucks and SUVs really ARE sitting on dealer lots and not selling, and they're about to get truckload after of truckload of 2k9 models to add to the unsold inventory, they sure seem determined to pretend otherwise. Hell, I've seen better rebates than that in NORMAL years just as part of their "end of the year closeout" deals...

 
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