2026 XLT Hybrid ordered! Replacing my '23 XLT hybrid!

[05FordGT]

As the title says, decided to order a 2026 XLT Hybrid just before the holiday to lock in Employee Pricing. Currently have a 2023 XLT Hybrid, Lux Pkg, and was going to buy the lease out in October. But the half shafts just went at 32k and my non-Sync head unit has been sketchy for a while, and frankly, I didn't want to have to shell out almost $3K for a Ford ESP.

So I went to my old job and chatted with my former coworker and had him build me a 2026 and figure out the lease. 4 years/12k per, EP, no rebates or certificates. Truck went up over $6,000 from my current truck, yet the payment is the same. Then I have equity in my lease for a few grand, which will go towards it. And with the new color coming out, I couldn't not do it. The color I wish Ford offered in 2023. Here's my build sheet.

Light Blue! Despite someone months ago insinuating some other meaning behind the color , this is my color. As a Gulf Racing fanatic/junkie (my friend say lunatic) this is me. And yes I do plan on adding orange accents. Getting the side mirror covers wrapped in orange that match the lower side stripes I will also put on. Orange letters in the recessed tailgate. And if I can find someone who is EXCELLENT at painted pinstripes, I'll add a double line of royal blue & orange below the windows.

I can't wait to mess with this. Will be a lot of fun to build it the way I want it. Gulf Blue is such a historical livery & a car culture color. My attainable dream car, if I had the $$$ and found one for sale in the spec, would match it perfectly. 2020-2021 Lotus Evora GT in Sky Blue with orange accents. If I got this, I would not need another fun car EVER!

So now I wait for it to get pulled. Going to head back to add the keypad accessory to the build. Still extremely peeved that Ford dropped the hardwired keypad from all vehicles. Sucks rocks. I use it every day. But I couldn't pass up my dream color on the truck. Gotta figure out the best manually retractable tonneau cover and if I should get the raised T Slot bars for a kayak or just have it in the bed with the tonneau retracted enough for it to stick out the top of the bed? Would be a small 9' one most likely. Any helpful suggestions on the tonneau cover would be much appreciated.

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[ZABSMAV]

Would never, ever lease a vehicle. Read what financial expert Dave Ramsey has to say about leases and you'd never touch one again.

 

[MavStangVa]

Would never, ever lease a vehicle. Read what financial expert Dave Ramsey has to say about leases and you'd never touch one again.

While I agree about leasing I find Dave Ramsey to be a carnival elixir salesman. I heard him tell someone once that instead of going into debt for used car to commute to work they should take public transit or walk. The caller then said they commute over 40 miles each way in a rural area with no public transit. Dave's comment was " we seemed to have lost the caller."
That being said leasing to me is a long term rental. I know several people who exceeded the mileage on their lease and it cost more in the end than a purchase would have.

 

[MavStangVa]

When I was at my dealer they had a XL in that color on the lot. I love the color, "not that there is anything wrong with that ". Can't wait to see your mods.

 

[05FordGT]

Would never, ever lease a vehicle. Read what financial expert Dave Ramsey has to say about leases and you'd never touch one again.

Good for you. That's your choice. But I sold Fords for 23 years ('97-'20). I know a few things about it and I have no issues with leasing. I only have issues when someone would come to me and wanted to put multiple thousands down. That I would tell them to not do as your only buying down your payment.

When Ford was running those insanely stupid lease deals on the Fusion Energi years ago, I got one for $230 including tax. $0 down. That was on a Titanium model loaded sans a moonroof. There are instances when it's a good plan. Especially if one wants a new car every few years and doesn't want to be bothered with buying any extended warranty. Also those older customers who would pay cash then trade in every 2-3 years and lose a bunch on their trade in (way back in the day). But there are instances when leasing works better. And I agree it isn't for everyone.

For me, I had a demo for many years until my store got bought out. The demos went. So I had to get some things and I didn't want a crazy payment. The first lease was a plug in Hybrid in 2016. $219 a month tax included. Can't beat that.

 

[05FordGT]

While I agree about leasing I find Dave Ramsey to be a carnival elixir salesman. I heard him tell someone once that instead of going into debt for used car to commute to work they should take public transit or walk. The caller then said they commute over 40 miles each way in a rural area with no public transit. Dave's comment was " we seemed to have lost the caller."
That being said leasing to me is a long term rental. I know several people who exceeded the mileage on their lease and it cost more in the end than a purchase would have.

Yeah, when you do more miles then you signed up for, that's problematic. I had a good repeat client who always bought an Explorer as a company car (he had an allowance). But he drove 25k per year, and after 3 years he would always be upside down on it. I told him to lease it, do 19,500 per then pay for the extra miles to the limit of 25k. After 3 years, whatever miles he didn't use between 58,500 and 75,000 he would get back. And with buying Wearcare, any excessive wear and tear was covered. He would turn it in, get a check back for a little bit of $$ (he never went over 75000, but was always in between 70k & 75k) and jumped into a new Explorer and no negative equity. In this instance, leasing worked.

 

[05FordGT]

When I was at my dealer they had a XL in that color on the lot. I love the color, "not that there is anything wrong with that ". Can't wait to see your mods.

It won't be crazy but there will be splashes of orange around the truck and a few McQueen easter eggs from Le Mans.

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