2023 Lariat vs 2024 Flash - $50K-ish budget - Help me decide?

[mr.Magoo]

$25,000 or less

Minor detail

Thanks, I forgot it was capped relatively low.

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[FloridaMan655321]

I was kind of in your same situation about 5 months ago.
I really didn't like the idea of a percent of vehicles in 22 and 23 having potential issues with the battery packs. I know they said it was only a certain percent, but I feel that percent will only go up in time. This is my conspiracy, and I'm sticking to it

I do like leather, even in FL, but I like the cloth seats that Ford is putting out. So I am fine with cloth over leather. Flash has heated seats and heated steering wheel, and this is nice even in FL.

I really didn't care about any of the other bells and whistles the Lariat has, and in fact I wish you could save a little money by not having the bluecruise hardware in a trim, but whatever.

I really wish the Flash had a rear window that could open. That is probably the biggest negatives for me, and if this is the 'biggest' negative for me, it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Maineiac12]

Lariat also has power-folding side mirrors with memory and puddle lights and auto-dimming (driver side), power adjustable pedals with memory, 10-way driver's seat with memory, second-row heated seats, rear armrest with cupholders, illuminated visor mirrors, rain-sensing wipers.
2023 Lariat will have built-in door keypad, not dealer stick-on, 9.6 kW ProPower, Homelink.

2024 still has the regular keypad. Stick on starts for 2025. Flash has power pedals, without memory.

 

[bmwhitetx]

2024 still has the regular keypad. Stick on starts for 2025. Flash has power pedals, without memory.

Oops, forgot the keypad was 2025.

 

[Ragman]

We've probably bought our last "new" Lightning - finally seeing some 23s hit used market. I can get a 23 XLT ER with 20k miles for less than a 24/25 Pro SR - that's a no brainer upgrade.

Late model 23 Lariat would not scare me at all with 20k, if it does buy a Granger warranty in two years if you have issues.

Lariat vs XLT I prefer the XLT - Lariat vs Flash you might as well get all the toys your stuck with the big screen already.

As others have listed:
Power and memory toys
Dimming mirror
Homelink
Rear window
Cooled Seats
18kw AC charging
Resistance Heater (not a pump fan)
3 years Blue Cruise (and Nav?)

 

[flyct]

Help me decide which angle to pursue. Hunting on cars and autotrader is making me go blind. There seem to be few deals locally but if I can decide on the direction I want to go I can maybe hammer dealers all over within 500 miles or so.

I want to buy soon - Now to March sometime. I am debating between a new 2024 Flash which I see advertised deals for around $55K, and a few barely (under 20K mi) used 2023 Lariats that I have seen for around $48-50K. I could probably lease if I wanted since I only drive about 15K a year now. I believe I understand the major differences are:

- "leather" in the lariat, cooled seats in the lariat, rear slider in the lariat, tailgate lightbar, PAAK in the lariat. What else am I missing?
- New Flash will probably be able to get better financing rate than used.
- I need pro power (the 30A plug) for camping (see below) regardless of trim.
- I live in a cold state (Its 10F right now), not sure if the new heat pump is a plus or minus (I have read kinda both sides).
- I will be installing 40A home charging, outdoors, would not be able to afford more than 60A service to the location, so 80A charging ('23) does not matter to me.

I really like RED color, and the only ones I have found are the 23 Lariats. But I would settle for Carbonized Granite, or maybe silver or black and there are lots of those of both years. If I could find a super sweet deal on a new Lariat I'd do that too.

I have only ever bought one NEW vehicle (the Jeep) and it was "pandemic pricing" so - I had little choice and no wiggle room. Lucky to even get a car. So I don't really know where to even start. Oh, I do have a X-Plan PIN, and at least income-wise I would qualify for the federal rebate. I have about 12K equity in the Jeep.

Background:
I drive a 2021 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. I have decided that my next vehicle will be a Lightning or possibly (but less likey) a powerboost F150.

I WFH 95% now, I drive ~15K miles a year (40K on Jeep in 36 months but covid lockdown is in there too).

I tow a 5500lb (loaded) camper 3-4 times a summer, less usually around 50-60 miles each way. Plan to use the F150 for campsite power a bit, and maybe even run the AC in the evening a few times on super hot humid days. (We sometimes do this with our 2500w inverter gen now). Most times we have no campsite AC power. I was considering the PB instead, but the (lack of) reliability on those, and the FRUNK really has me pretty firmly in the Lightning camp.

I also do a fair amount of "truck things" in and around town, own rental properties, help my son with remodeling, own a boat, etc. and having a truck with a bed again will be nice.

Be Careful when looking at 2023 Lariats. They came either with Standard Battery or Extended Battery. Low prices may be standard battery versions. Even towing 5500 Trailer 50-60 miles one way and occasionally running the RV AC, I wouldn't recommend a standard battery

The other thing is all 2024s have heat pumps vs resistive heat on a 2023. Not an issue for me in Florida.

You can probably find a used 23 Lariat with Extended range, Max Trailer Tow, etc for about the same price as a new 2024 Flash after the tax credits and rebates on a Flash.

Plus off the top of my head the main differences between the 24 Flash and 23 Lariat are the Flash has

NO Phone as a Key
Side Mirrors - Manual Folding NO Memory
Power Glass with Heat, Turn Signal NO AUTO DIMMING
NO LED Security Approach Light
NO Moonroof
NO Sliding Rear Window
NO Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column and NO Memory
NON Adjustable Pedals
90 day Blue Cruise vs 3 yr Blue Cruise
Seat, Front — Leather vs Cloth NO Memory driver’s seat or ventilated on a Flash

 

[deltalightning]

Just went through exact same decision, albeit both new. Wound up going with the flash. Biggest negative for me was the cloth seats. Had the dealer install leather at purchase and rolled out with 0% financing. Was a no brainer in the end. Nothing the lariat had to offer could beat a flash with leather seats at 0%.

 

[Kakaratto]

I also went through that decision in Fall 2024. After weighing both options (the Lariat was really nice and had all of the premium features that my Bolt EUV had).

I went with the 2024 Flash. Honestly, I really don’t miss any of the features that I lost, especially after reading that thread on the moonroof shattering!

 

[broncoaz]

Be Careful when looking at 2023 Lariats. They came either with Standard Battery or Extended Battery. Low prices may be standard battery versions. Even towing 5500 Trailer 50-60 miles one way and occasionally running the RV AC, I wouldn't recommend a standard battery

The other thing is all 2024s have heat pumps vs resistive heat on a 2023. Not an issue for me in Florida.

You can probably find a used 23 Lariat with Extended range, Max Trailer Tow, etc for about the same price as a new 2024 Flash after the tax credits and rebates on a Flash.

Plus off the top of my head the main differences between the 24 Flash and 23 Lariat are the Flash has

NO Phone as a Key
Side Mirrors - Manual Folding NO Memory
Power Glass with Heat, Turn Signal NO AUTO DIMMING
NO LED Security Approach Light
NO Moonroof
NO Sliding Rear Window
NO Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column and NO Memory
NON Adjustable Pedals
90 day Blue Cruise vs 3 yr Blue Cruise
Seat, Front — Leather vs Cloth NO Memory driver’s seat or ventilated on a Flash

Flash has power pedals, just no memory.

Flash was the right trim for me. I would choose a sliding rear window and memory seats/mirrors/pedals, but I don’t want a sunroof. The Flash with max tow also qualifies for all the tax rebates available, which in MA means an extra $7500 from the state.

 

[Ricks Lightning]

What's involved in a rear window slider upgrade for a flash. can you slide lumber or pipe through the slider or is it too risky and break?

Rick

 

[Henry Ford]

Don't be afraid of shipping if you can't find what you want locally. A good dealer will make the process easy. Ask lots of questions and look at lots of photos/videos to assess the condition. If you get any pushback you aren't dealing with a good dealer.

 

[flyct]

Flash has power pedals, just no memory.

Flash was the right trim for me. I would choose a sliding rear window and memory seats/mirrors/pedals, but I don’t want a sunroof. The Flash with max tow also qualifies for all the tax rebates available, which in MA means an extra $7500 from the state.

I also don’t like sunroofs for several reasons. But in order to get the other features I wanted a Sunroof would have to be included.

So I bought a 2023 Lightning Lariat back on 10/23 with sunroof. It’s never been opened and the shade still remains closed.

The truck barely still qualified for the. $7,500 tax credit with options; spray in bedliner, power running boards, Max Tow, Mobile Charger, carper mats, and center console safe… Today a Lariat would only qualify if the only option was a mobile charger, otherwise the MSRP would exceed the threshold to qualify.

For a short time between October and November 2023 Ford was offering $7,500 rebate. Plus I had a PCO, the dealer discounted it $2,500 and it qualified for the $7,500 tax credit.

If I "lost" my Lightning today for some reason, I would be looking to replace it with a lightly used 2023 Lariat with Max Tow and power running boards.

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