Just got the email inviting me to order- Need help making a decision

[Billho]

Hi everyone. I just received my invitation to order the Lightning. I signed up way back in 5/22/21 and, at the time, I was very excited about the possibility of getting a new Lightning. Back then, I was hoping to get a $39k Pro with the $12k rebate that was promised. So I put my $100 down and waited... and waited... and waited. I visited this board every day, watched all the videos on youtube, and learned everything I could about the Lightning.

Then I bought a Ranger and- I love this truck. It meets my needs perfectly I don't feel the need to change anytime soon. I figured that I would eventually upgrade to the Lightning later on, but it was so far in the future, it didn't really matter.

Now I finally have the opportunity to order, but I am not as excited as I thought I would be. The Pro is jacked up to $56k and not even available to order. The cheapest version I can get is $63k and the tax credit is only $7500, which is a total price of a lot more than I was hoping for when I signed up. Plus, inflation has gone up, but my income has not changed, and I don't feel that spending a lot more on a truck I don't really need is a good financial decision.

I guess I have several options:

• pay the $63k+ and sell my Ranger and accept the much higher monthly bill
• let my reservation pass and get my $100 back
• Purchase the Lightning and flip it to someone that doesn't want to wait.

For the third option, is this something I can do? I remember last summer there was some discussion about Ford blocking reselling of the Lighting for a time. Did that happen? If I do decide to sell it, is there a market where I can make some money doing this? And, if so, what model would be the best one to build for resale? Is the market price for Lightnings what is was a year ago?

I would appreciate hearing thoughts from the group here, as I have until January 12th to make a decision. Thanks in advance.

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[Wsl346]

The short answer is no. There is significantly less opportunity to turn a profit flipping a lightning than there was a few months ago and in all likelihood that opportunity will continue to shrink.

edit: Also, you actually have until August 31st to decide. How it works is you have until Jan 12th to order, at which time all ordering will cease. When the next round opens up, you will again have the opportunity to order. This cycle will continue until the end of August. With this in mind, there is no harm in letting your order ride it out. You never know what may happen between now and August.

 

[rajurrk]

I got my order email last night placed a order by booking date was 5/21 Getting lariat ER

 

[bmwhitetx]

I agree with above and will add:
If you do not order by Jan 12th when this round closes you are subject to price increases when the next rounds open. For example, they raised the Pro and XLT $4K for this cycle.
Also, the XLT has been selling out very quickly so if you were looking at that trim, you should act fast.
Finally, there is no guarantee you will get the $7500 rebate now. The rules for the rebate change dramatically Jan 1, 2023 including battery origination requirements. Your vehicle will be under the new rules. Ford is "hoping" that certain vehicles will be eligible for half the rebate, not the full amount. Still waiting on IRS rules. If you read the forum daily you will see plenty of info on that .

 

[cjb]

I wouldn't bet on your ability to flip a truck right now. With the changes to the tax incentive, softening market, and increased numbers available it may not be a break-even proposition.

 

[Tony Burgh]

Run, don’t walk, away. If you buy the Lightning then every problem will grate on you. Keep the Ranger. Mine have all been great little trucks.

 

[EdRudy]

Sound like an easy decision, Don't buy now. Wait for the market to cool and interest rates to drop. Future trucks will like have much improved technology and range. You already have a new vehicle you seem happy with so no need to change now.

I made the change but it was before all of the price increases, technology deletions, and high interest rates.

 

[greenne]

Sound like an easy decision, Don't buy now. Wait for the market to cool and interest rates to drop. Future trucks will like have much improved technology and range. You already have a new vehicle you seem happy with so no need to change now.

I made the change but it was before all of the price increases, technology deletions, and high interest rates.

If you're happy with the Ranger, I'd walk away and save up for the Ranger EV. We all know its gonna happen...

 

[Oafy44]

My guess is we will get a maverick EV before the ranger. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ranger is phased out with the success of the maverick and You can tell on the website they are making a point of branding maverick into an actual subset like the bronco ect.

I would just talk to your dealer and if they are fine taking it if you don’t want it then it’s not really taking a risk. I was kind of like you. I wasn’t excited as I thought but once it showed up and I took it for a spin you instantly get it. Especially if you build it the way a company would order it I think there will be plenty of companies looking for a pro in The next few months. Already starting to see some white company logoed pros running around. If /when interest rates come down that’s probably a good indication we are in a real recession . I don’t see interest rates going down for the next year or so and if they do it’s going to take some time to get back down to where we were a year ago. If you’re buying for personal use and not business you will be able to find plenty of car loans under6% If you’re buying for a company I got quoted 8%!!with perfect corporate credit! My salesman called ford credit directly and they got us under 6% (no 3rd party guarantee) so that’s better but I don’t think we will find anything great for a while. If ford does give A “deal” in the future with 1.9-3.9% it’s because they jacked up the price again. They will always make their money somehow. I also feel ford knows exactly how many vehicles they want in inventory vs customer orders so I doubt we will see inventories like we did pre Covid where we can just roll up and find 30 platinums waiting for us to choose from.

 

[Nick Gerteis]

The short answer is no. There is significantly less opportunity to turn a profit flipping a lightning than there was a few months ago and in all likelihood that opportunity will continue to shrink.

edit: Also, you actually have until August 31st to decide. How it works is you have until Jan 12th to order, at which time all ordering will cease. When the next round opens up, you will again have the opportunity to order. This cycle will continue until the end of August. With this in mind, there is no harm in letting your order ride it out. You never know what may happen between now and August.

Yeah,like……another price increase?!

 

[Billho]

sounds like not ordering is the obvious decision.

 

[Shady]

if in doubt pass

 

[Monkey]

Yep, just walk away. You'll never recover your investment by flipping it. Enjoy your Ranger and its lower payment. You'll be able to pick up a Pro or XLT on the used market in a year or so for a lot less than you'll pay now. Inflation and new truck, especially electric truck, prices will eventually settle and there will be a time it makes more sense to buy new.

 

[Old Aviator]

I got invite yesterday and placed order for Platinum. Delivery 1st quarter 2023. I hear all the doubters but decided to go with it. Also have Fisker Ocean One I hope to receive June/July. Better than waiting until 24 for Chevy or Ram Trucks. Also putting solar on house with enough capacity to charge both and run house electric neutral. Now the wait begins.

 

[theblunden]

Yep, just walk away. You'll never recover your investment by flipping it. Enjoy your Ranger and its lower payment. You'll be able to pick up a Pro or XLT on the used market in a year or so for a lot less than you'll pay now. Inflation and new truck, especially electric truck, prices will eventually settle and there will be a time it makes more sense to buy new.

With prices going up with every wave on Pro's and XLTs I disagree that the market will level out any time soon on the two lower tiers. My wave 3 XLT "valve" went up 4k and battery prices aren't going down any time soon. I don't see it.... Not to mention the limited availability of the Pro and XLT the dealer markups are falling yes but not demand for a lower entry price into the EV market.

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