Platinum Trim Levels - Whats the point?

[ReverendQ]

I'm looking at platinums. 701 A has the 8 speaker sound system like an XLT. Why? For a hefty $6k more you can get 6 more speakers and a moon roof. They don't even have HUDs correct? What is Ford doing? I want the 18 speakers back for 72k, not 8 speakers for 76k. This is ridiculous.

Tough question. Ironically I felt the same about Lariat and KR (no offense my F150 brethren). I couldn't get past Lariat interior or KR snake and exterior.

To get just what fit my needs I went XLT. To fulfill my wants it was 302A BAP and then added my personal desired features and functions.

If you like tinkering, and your significant other will put up with it, consider a lower cost trim and adding in what you want. There is so much advice on this forum supporting this approach.

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[powerboatr]

KRs started at the top
They replaced the Eddie Bauer
Trim,which imo never really lived up to the hype.
But KR hit the ground with real thick saddle leather, sadly most folks had no idea how to care fir it and it got overly weathered.
But it was tough
Once ventilation seats came on they thinned the leather?? Could have just perforated the saddle hide..
Still KR was king in the luxury western themed truck
That could work on ranch or property and still look good in town wearing pressed jeans and white shirts......with sneakers if you wanted..and they smelled like a leather store , real wood interior trim, fancy metal scroll work, running w's

But that did not appeal to rest of 6 states .
So platinum came in to be more urban luxury..it was for a time.
But leather only on seating surfaces, vice KR.
Still the look at me crowd wanted more,
In pops limited. Which weren't that limited.
Took some cues from Lincoln on seats.
And prices were insane, but very nice
seats..and interior colors

Who remembers the superduty lariat LE...4 bucket seats crew cab dually

 

[wessermgm]

Is the 14 really better than the 18? I listened to an 18 back to back with the platinum 8, and the 18 was better than the 8 speaker.

Also there are NO KRs available and I don't want to wait until November to get a custom build delivered.

I had the 18 in my 2022 Plat. I have the 14 in my 24 KR. The 14 is way better. There is a thread and all the new adopters agree. The 18 speaker B&O was plagued with gremlins and never sounded that great in my mind. The 14 speaker B&O is pretty much what they promised us with the 18. I used to cruise around listening to the 18 speaker system in double digits on the volume. I would blow my eardrums doing that on the 14 speaker system it stays between 4-7. Bass is rich. Tone is great.

 

[Abraham5G]

Base Platinum gets slightly better interior, Tremor/BAP hood, and automatic running boards over the loaded Lariat.

 

[JExpedition07]

Platinum if you recall was an attempt in 2010 to sway buyers away from the 3rd party licensed King Ranch trim but it never really worked or took off. It was all to save licensing money for Ford. Fast forward to today and the King Ranch is still viewed as king dog by many consumers which leaves Plat in a weird spot. It wouldn’t surprise me if they go back to a 503A above the 502 to replace the Platinum with a nicer Lariat and put King Ranch back up at the top of the hierarchy.

Ford gave up on trying to get away from 3rd party trims as they brought the King Ranch trim back to Expedition and Explorer now too. Eddie Bauer trim comes to mind here too. It was a $$ game. King Ranch has so much more heritage and history with the company than the in-house “Platinum”, so a replacement attempt never worked and we've had two close trims side by side for over a decade.

 

[SilverSpur]

I'm looking at platinums. 701 A has the 8 speaker sound system like an XLT. Why? For a hefty $6k more you can get 6 more speakers and a moon roof. They don't even have HUDs correct? What is Ford doing? I want the 18 speakers back for 72k, not 8 speakers for 76k. This is ridiculous.

Maybe it comes with the garage door openers.

 

[Snakebitten]

I've had both a fully dolled up (no constraints) 2021 Platinum Powerboost and a 2022.5 KingRanch Powerboost.

They are/were both very nice trucks with pleasing interiors. But the Platinum was my first Platinum and an impulse purchase. I tried to become one with the "executive" motif. I really did. Because the truck was magnificent. But I'd already been a KingRanch F350 driver for 9 years and a Gen13 F150 KingRanch'r for another 3½ years. My daily brown boots and hat just never felt at home in the black truck.

 

[ReverendQ]

I've had both a fully dolled up (no constraints) 2021 Platinum Powerboost and a 2022.5 KingRanch Powerboost.

They are/were both very nice trucks with pleasing interiors. But the Platinum was my first Platinum and an impulse purchase. I tried to become one with the "executive" motif. I really did. Because the truck was magnificent. But I'd already been a KingRanch F350 driver for 9 years and a Gen13 F150 KingRanch'r for another 3½ years. My daily brown boots and hat just never felt at home in the black truck.

I didn't think you are allowed to buy a Platinum in East Texas. Just like I cannot purchase a KR in SoCal.

 

[dochawk]

Now all those high luxury items are standard. I just wish I could get milk delivered again.

ehh, not much point unless the iceman comes by shortly before . . .

(although, come to think of it, it's been a while since I've had milk here that wasn't delivered--it usually comes with the rest of the walmart delivery!)

They replaced the Eddie Bauer
Trim,which imo never really lived up to the hype.

Not only that, but some clown ends up with his name on your truck.

My daily brown boots and hat just never felt at home in the black truck.

Snakeskin. How does it go with rattlesnake or python?

 

[drchops24]

Tough question. Ironically I felt the same about Lariat and KR (no offense my F150 brethren). I couldn't get past Lariat interior or KR snake and exterior.

To get just what fit my needs I went XLT. To fulfill my wants it was 302A BAP and then added my personal desired features and functions.

If you like tinkering, and your significant other will put up with it, consider a lower cost trim and adding in what you want. There is so much advice on this forum supporting this approach.

I had the 18 in my 2022 Plat. I have the 14 in my 24 KR. The 14 is way better. There is a thread and all the new adopters agree. The 18 speaker B&O was plagued with gremlins and never sounded that great in my mind. The 14 speaker B&O is pretty much what they promised us with the 18. I used to cruise around listening to the 18 speaker system in double digits on the volume. I would blow my eardrums doing that on the 14 speaker system it stays between 4-7. Bass is rich. Tone is great.

Thank you!!! This makes me happy with my decision of going across the state for a 702.

 

[Buyer2021]

My daily brown boots and hat just never felt at home in the black truck.

(that's the TX legislator / lawyer combo )

 

[powerboatr]

Platinum if you recall was an attempt in 2010 to sway buyers away from the 3rd party licensed King Ranch trim but it never really worked or took off. It was all to save licensing money for Ford. Fast forward to today and the King Ranch is still viewed as king dog by many consumers which leaves Plat in a weird spot. It wouldn’t surprise me if they go back to a 503A above the 502 to replace the Platinum with a nicer Lariat and put King Ranch back up at the top of the hierarchy.

Ford gave up on trying to get away from 3rd party trims as they brought the King Ranch trim back to Expedition and Explorer now too. Eddie Bauer trim comes to mind here too. It was a $$ game. King Ranch has so much more heritage and history with the company than the in-house “Platinum”, so a replacement attempt never worked and we've had two close trims side by side for over a decade.

AND for 2025 KR was dropped in the explorer, in fact only 4 trims in the explorer

used to get nice COOLER from King Ranch saddle shop to with a KR super duty

did i mention i love the King Ranch edition, plus its heritage for our state is awesome, as are the other BIG outfits here.
there is no Platinum store, but there is a King Ranch leather shop

 

[Snakebitten]

My youngest son and his wonderful bride are both alumni of The institution that has been so enriched by the support of The King Ranch. So yes, lots of heritage, history, and culture that touches close to home for us.

And that saddle shop is the best smelling spot in the whole state! Lol

 

[JExpedition07]

Family member of mine ordered two F-450’s, one fully loaded Platinum and one fully loaded King Ranch. He took the King Ranch. As he put it, the Platinum just felt like a Lariat with a bow tie.

While I couldn’t bring myself to fork over that kind of money for either, I’d have to agree. The King Ranch felt higher end just from the color scheme and leather quality and smell. The KR made you feel special, I just didn’t feel as fancy riding in the Platinum.

 

[Beaux]

This is exactly why I went to KR this year. My last two have been a limited and platinum. This KR beats both by a long shot.

It is a mystery why they left the 701a trim so sparse. Yet, the KR, which is the exact same cost, comes with all of those things you say you want. The 14 speaker B&O (yes, it is better than the 18 speaker - much better), the moonroof, the HUD, the PAT (well, maybe). Point is that in 14th Gen 1.0 (21-23), Ford had a KR low (600a) and a KR High (601a). The 600a was like the Plat 701a is now - lower B&O, no Bed Utility Package, no power running boards, etc. The Plats had all that.

It's like they flipped the KR and the Platinum for 2024, which I recall Farley saying he wanted the KR to again be considered the top end of the F-150. My advice, get a KR.

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