Basic Lariat vs Flash w/ Options? or wait for used?

[fitek]

I've found a handful of Lariats for 5k more than a Flash, however to stay under the 80k EV rebate MSRP cap, they have nothing but the mobile charger.

I found quite a few Flash with max tow and pro power 9.6kw and sometimes other goodies. Frankly, I could care less about max tow (my boat + trailer is 4500 lbs, heaviest thing I've towed was 5.5k-- I have a Transit 350HD also) but somehow these are always bundled. The pro power I have an immediate need for -- to weld quite a bit of metal railing, but after that ... not sure what I'd need the 240v for, except a zombie apocalypse or an impromptu hot tub party, or both at the same time.

My understanding is that Lariat has:

• Automatic rain sensing wipers
• Rear sliding window
• Panoramic sunroof
• Leather seats w cooling
• Memory seats and steering wheel
• PaaK

I think the only one of those two that matter are leather seats (which I know can be replaced) and memory (when the wife drives). Are Flash seats heated in the rear? The kids would like that. I've never had PaaK so I dont know if I'd miss it. Sunroofs leak, so I'm scared of that. Automatic rain sensing wipers are nice, but I can flip the switch myself.

With the craptastic resale value of EVs, I have this feeling I could get a used '23 Lariat ER for about the same price in about a year and get it all plus faster L2 charging. There's already SRs at quite a discount, though I'm not sure an SR could handle the 180 mile round trip to Seattle in winter... (although, given used SRs are about 40k now, I could buy a lot of gas for the Transit van if I need to go 200 miles round trip).

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[John Becker]

Lots of good questions and analysis.
My 2 cents worth is that I will not consider anything less than a Lariat due to some of those features you named.
One correction: The later 2024 Lariat builds as well as all 2025 Lariats no longer come with leather seats. Ford found another way to cut costs by substituting leather for a synthetic material they call ActiveX. It's a derivative of plastic and hopefully better than the vinyl seats from the 1970s. I'm skeptical.

 

[StevenC56]

I was in the same situation a couple months ago. Most of the 2024's left are the Ford preconfigured models that are stocked in their Retail Replenishment Centers. For whatever reason they only put the Max Tow/Pro Power options on the Flash models. I'll rarely be towing and after looking into what was required to use the truck as a power backup for my house I decided all the Lariat perks were more important. I can add a couple things on the list that the Lariats have. Power folding mirrors. Rear Window defroster. Power adjustable pedals and steering column memory. Signature Rear Lighting. Auto dimming driver's mirrors plus a few other tech perks. Rear seat heating. PAK is really a nice feature. The preconfigured Lariats also have ventilated Active-X seating which I actually like better than the real leather.

 

[tannerk89]

Lots of good questions and analysis.
My 2 cents worth is that I will not consider anything less than a Lariat due to some of those features you named.
One correction: The later 2024 Lariat builds as well as all 2025 Lariats no longer come with leather seats. Ford found another way to cut costs by substituting leather for a synthetic material they call ActiveX. It's a derivative of plastic and hopefully better than the vinyl seats from the 1970s. I'm skeptical.

I had ActiveX in my Mach-E, I thought it was fantastic and very similar to quality of leather. I wouldn’t see it as a downgrade, it’s premium feeling and seemed to hold up well. In the 100k miles I put on the Mach-E it still looked new.

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