Downgrading of 2005

[mepurina]

I loved my 2003 Excursion XLT 5.4L V8, but needed more power, so I just bought a new 2005 XLT with a 6.0 Diesel. I wanted everything else to be the same as my 2003. Same color, interior, etc.
I was able to find one, but some things on this new 2005 are missing.
I wanted lighted running boards, but could not get them on a 2005 XLT at all. Not even an option.
There is no longer a under hood light or insulation blanket on the 2005.
The antenna on my 2003 was black, and had a plastic piece that went from the bottom to cover the nut to about 2/3 rds up the mast. Think they called it an Euro antenna. They no longer put on that little plastic piece, and the antenna is bright silver.
The cloth seats in my 2003 were of a nice, soft cloth material. The 2005 has a hard canvas type material of the same medium flint color and pattern. Just not as nice. I was tempted to swap the seats out of my 2003.
The panels on the back of the back seat that fold down when you fold the seats down on the 2003 had velcro to hold them up as well as a flap with velcro on it to help hold up the panel.
The 2005 only has the flap with velcro. The two velco strips hardly worked on my 2003, so I know the 2005 will be a problem down the road with only one velcro fastener.
The red light reflector on the interior of the two front doors do not light up like they did on the 2003. That must have saved them a bundle!
The back seat center fold down unit had two cup holders in my 2003. The 2005 has just the fold down unit, but no cup holders.
Diesel water seperator drain no longer has a lever to open a valve. You now have to take out a screw with an allen head wrench.
I guess I am lucky I still got a light in my glove box.
These may seem like chicken complaints, but it is the little details that made this vehicle great. It just shows you how FORD will cut back on the nice little things just to save a dime. Very sad. These are the things I have found. One wonders what else is missing in the areas of the SUV I don't see, like the illumiination wire that use to be on the electric brake controller harness. Its gone too!
Hope Ford sees this complaint, and fires the bean counter that cut out these nice features.
I still love this SUV, and wish the line would continue.

[dougger222]

I think that since Ford is probably going to scrap the X after MY 06 they aren't doing much to improve the massive SUV.

I know for the Eddie Bauer line the 05's no longer have the double sun visors.

So your new 6.0 diesel has no hood insulation? It must be loud!!!

[mepurina]

Originally Posted by dougger222

I think that since Ford is probably going to scrap the X after MY 06 they aren't doing much to improve the massive SUV.

I know for the Eddie Bauer line the 05's no longer have the double sun visors.

So your new 6.0 diesel has no hood insulation? It must be loud!!!

Even though they are going to discontinue this line of vehicles, they should not downgrade them before the end of their run. You never know when you will get repeat customers like me. My XLT has the double sun visors. Funny how my I got that little extra item being in a lower class of vehicle.
According to tests I saw on another site, a guy did a sound test and the Ford 6.0 diesel is quieter than Ford 7.1, Dodge,and GM diesels. I figured maybe that is why they didn't put on the Hood blanket, but after finding so many other things missing, they were just being cheap, and cutting out items.
I have since installed a factory hood blanket, and am slowly putting back all the items that were on the 2003 XLT on my 2005 XLT except the seats. Wish I knew where I could replace the skins on the seats with the same soft cloth material that is on my 2003 Excursion insetad of the hard, canvas type material they put in my 2005. Does anyone know where I could get the seat covers like the 2003?

[Skratch]

That's odd, we just got an 05 Eddie this last weekend and it has the insulator blanket under the hood.
It has the double sun visors, and I have an actual valve on the fuel water seperator. Now granted it is missing a lot of the nifty little details that my brother had on his XLT back in 02.
But at least I got one before they were discontinued.