This Is the Most Expensive Non-Raptor 2024 Ford F-150 Money Can Buy

Before we jump into the specification process for America's most popular pickup truck with the sole intent to make it as pricey as possible, let's look at the cheapest one available when writing.

Had Ford figured out how to accelerate production, the XT would have joined the facelifted F-150 at launch. That version is supposed to have an MSRP of $35,570. But given that it had to deal with a massive strike and an ongoing parts shortage, we'll let it slide.

Henceforth, we're left with the regular cab 2024 F-150 XL. It has a starting cost of $36,750. The good news is that it includes, as standard, a 5.0-liter V8 mechanical beating heart that can run on Flex-Fuel.

When writing, there are seven other versions available. They are as follows:

• STX - $43,895 with the 2.7-liter V6 or $$45,265 with the 5.0-liter V8;
• XLT - $47,620 with the 2.7-liter V6 or $48,990 with the 5.0-liter V8 or $49,280 with the 3.5-liter V6;
• Tremor - $63,950 with the 5.0-liter V8 or $64,240 with the 3.5-liter V6; (customers can build one, but it'll arrive later than the other trims)
• Lariat - $64,995 with the 5.0-liter V8 or $65,285 with the 3.5-liter V6 or the 3.5-liter Powerboost V6 hybrid;
• King Ranch - $73,730 with the 3.5-liter V6 or the 3.5-liter Powerboost V6 hybrid;
• Platinum – $73,425 with the 3.5-liter V6 or the 3.5-liter Powerboost V6 hybrid;
• Raptor – $77,890 with the "High Output" 3.5-liter V6.

The V8-powered Raptor R is offered as an upgrade for Raptor customers. Choosing the 5.2-liter powerplant entails a minimum extra cost of $31,575. That means the most powerful F-150 starts at $111,550.

With all that out of the way, it's time to focus on the 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum.

Speccing one is not as easy as some might believe

First thing first, the body color. There's a selection of five standard paint jobs – Agate Black Metallic, Antimatter Blue Metallic, Carbonized Gray Metallic, Iconic Silver Metallic, Avalanche. Then, there's the striking Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat that requires an extra $495. It looks absolutely marvelous on the refreshed pickup truck.

But the Star White Metallic Tri-Coat costs $500 more than the red and makes us think of Ferrari's famous and pricey triple-layer paints. Pick this one, and you'll have something cool to brag about at the local Cars & Coffee event or when you're meeting with friends who didn't want to splurge.

However, we can't choose the white for two reasons – it makes the truck look too innocent for what it is, and there's an even better option available, one that serves our purpose well – the Darkened Bronze Metallic. Yes, it's brown, but it forces us to add the $8,080 Platinum Plus pack. We want the most expensive non-Raptor 2024 F-150, so that's what we're rolling with - for now.

Among the many things the Platinum Plus pack adds to our truck, we find the 3.5-liter "Full Hybrid" V6 powerplant and the 7.2-kW Pro-Power Onboard feature that was touted during the launch as coming in handy when we find a stranded Tesla user on the side of the road.

But going forward with the "old man spec" isn't something we'd like to do. Brown is still brown, and the configurator forces us to stick with the silver rims.

So, we're going with Rapid Red Metallic for maximum visual impact. It just makes the truck look much nicer. Don't worry; we'll still aim high in terms of costs.

Adding the goodies

Even though Ford lists the hybridized engine with a price tag of $1,900, it's completely discounted. So, we'll roll with this one because it can help minimize fuel costs in the long run, and it also pairs with the Pro-Power Onboard inlet.

Next, we must decide if we want the 3.55 or the 3.73 electronic axle ratio. The 3.73 is included and is great for towing, but it will incur higher gas costs. But the hybridized engine should help in that respect.

The "3.73" indication means the drive shaft will turn 3.73 times for every full rotation of the tire. Hauling heavy loads will be much easier because the driver will get the vehicle moving without much hassle.

Next, we upgraded to the Platinum High pack, adding improved damping, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, a head-up display, and a twin-panel moonroof.

We want to protect things stored in the bed. So, the $2,200 retractable tonneau cover was an obvious choice. We also ticked the boxes for the "tough" spray-in bedliner, the illuminated Ford logo, the side window air deflectors, the wheel well liner (which helps with reducing noise), the retractable rear center step, and the engine block heater. These warnings about global warming might result in harsher winters, so the latter add-on could come in clutch.

Sadly, we cannot add the skid plates because it would interfere with the softer suspension setup. But this is a city-oriented spec we're going for here, so they won't be missed.

There's also the option of adding an in-vehicle safe for just $400, which you know we picked. It could come in handy for various reasons, including storing valuables while road-tripping or working on a project.

Ford offers customers a 90-day trial of their hands-free advanced driver-assistance system called BlueCruise, but we want to enjoy it for three years, so there goes another $2,100. It doesn't turn the truck into an autonomous vehicle, but traveling on highways will become much easier.

Mulling it over...

All in all, our 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum costs $89,460 with the $1,995 freight charge included. Eligible customers who like our build can finance the acquisition with a $9,000 downpayment and a 60-month loan at 7% APR. That results in a car note of $1,595. Keep in mind that this figure does not include tax and other relevant fees.

At the same time, you could simplify this whole process by picking the Platinum trim and then ticking the box for the the Platinum Plus pack. It adds nearly everything one might want from a posh pickup truck, and can even net buyers a slightly lower MSRP.

But is it worth it? I would dare to say no. Given that Saudi Arabia and its friends are manipulating the price of crude oil and forcing us to pay more for gas, exploring the F-150 Lightning and even the Rivian R1T could make more sense at this price point. Chevy is also getting ready to bring the Silverado EV to market. That all-electric pickup truck could be an option, too.

Moving away from fossil fuels could help America fortify its position on the global stage, but it can't do so without the help of its citizens.

The plug-in hybrid Ford Ranger with 28 miles of pure EV range would have also been an option worth considering, but the Blue Oval isn't bringing it stateside.

However, if you intend to spend money on a pickup truck like the F-150 XL or the upcoming XT that will spend most of its active time as a workhorse, then there's no all-electric or plug-in hybrid alternative. You must rely on crude oil derivatives.