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

[StevenC56]

Yes, the credit will be gone. If we get a repeat of 2016-2020 we'll have a soaring stock market followed by inflation, so 0% for 72mo financing and put your cash into the market is going to be hard to beat. We also normally don't qualify for the EV credit but I took part of the year off to build our addition (could really have used the truck at the beginning of the year). I'm going back to full time work in a week.

The power mirrors I did not know about and are kind of a big deal. Unfortunately I planned our garage a bit too small and the Lightning will be a tight fit. Getting out to fold the mirrors each time would suck.

The stock market is already at an all time high. On another note, we were just up in your area for 5 days visiting my Son and his wife who live in Issaquah.

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[Jseis]

We ended up with a full boot ‘23 minus the scale & interior detection. On reflection after 33K miles I discovered I like heated seats & wheel. Love the power rear window, running boards & folding mirrors. Active X is fine as leather isn’t what it used to be. Max tow ok though the the IRS et al can’t handle the weight like my 7.3 ‘99 SD 250 could… even though the LT could out pull it. Passengers love the rear heated seats & room. Sun roof ok but I rarely use it. Always finding ways ways to use ProPwr. I use PAAK daily though miss Nav features and vehicle tracking. Other apps make up the difference. Weird but the S.O. Picks the LT over any other vehicle we’ve owned as the premier road trip easy rider. Super glide.

 

[fitek]

I was shopping for a new Flash and ended up buying a certified preowned 23 Lariat ER with every option for $52k. I saw the loss of the tax credit was out weighed by the low purchase price.

I think y'all convinced me to hold out for the Lariat. I did the math. At the prices I'm getting for new, a used Lariat ER at $56k w/ 6.24% equals a new one at 0%. Cheapest Lariat ER w/ <30k miles I can find ATM is $44k, though I've seen it at $42k before (not counting buybacks or lemons). Tax+reg on $44k costs $56000 w/ a 5 year loan, or $11k less than new. This assumes low mileage.

 

[Lightningwaiter]

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).

I have a 23’ lariat and a couple of feature I did not get were rain sensing wiper and PAAk it is on the Lariat package up from mine.

 

[K6CCC]

I am going through this same thing right now, but have already decided on the Flash. There are things in the Lariat that I specifically do NOT want - Leather seats, glass roof, PAAK, and I could not care less about heated back seats as I seldom carry people in back.
My current situation is that my current truck (a 2003 Dodge RAM 2500 4x4 quad cab with 280K miles) is running on 7 cylinders so among other issues will not pass a required smog test next May. It's not worth putting thousands of dollars into the engine. So right now, I'm watching to see what shows up for end of the year sales / deals on a Flash. I do want the 9.6KW power, and a trailer hitch (nothing overly heavy), but other than that, I'm pretty easy.

 

[Ragman]

The Flash and Lariat are really apple vs orange comparisons. I picked up our Lariat for $2k more then equivalent Flash - for resale etc was right move with extra toys.

Now has 40k on odometer, opened roof once on day bought it, never opened rear window. Memory seats - every time get in truck. Heated rears anytime someone’s in back. Cooled seats surprisingly frequently. Paak is default key. Mirrors anytime go in parkades and theoretically if it ever gets rites to spot in garage lol.

Rain sensing, homelink, key code, auto dimming driver side mirror - are all little lifestyle things that aren’t deal breakers but do have a value when you do use them

Our xlts are quieter - roof does have wind noise - cloth is more comfortable for long rides. Buttons are easier for new and older drivers.

XLTs get $5k rebate here Lariats get $0. If gap in price is >$5k get the Flash - closer get the Lariat.

Don’t rule out a 23 Platinum… they are so badly deleted that there are some serious discounts around.

 

[Entropy]

I think y'all convinced me to hold out for the Lariat. I did the math. At the prices I'm getting for new, a used Lariat ER at $56k w/ 6.24% equals a new one at 0%. Cheapest Lariat ER w/ <30k miles I can find ATM is $44k, though I've seen it at $42k before (not counting buybacks or lemons). Tax+reg on $44k costs $56000 w/ a 5 year loan, or $11k less than new. This assumes low mileage.

I suggest holding out for the Lariat...

I bought a '24 Flash last week and traded in a loaded '22 Mach-E GT Performance. With that background (and for some additional color, my last pickup was a '20 GMC 2500HD Denali), here's what I miss in no particular order and I'm not sure that the Lariat hits them all, but gets most.

-No Homelink/garage door opener (wtf Ford?)
-Sunroof
-Folding mirrors
-Lock/unlock sensors on all 4 doors ('24 Flash is only front doors)
-Rear seat heat
-a foot-shorter bed than a standard pickup
-The front seats in the Flash are not as comfortable as either of the Mach-E (which were fantastic) or the Denali, but they are not something that will cause me to itch to replace them unless comfort degrades with time in seat. I don't mind the fabric (actually prefer it over leather) but would prefer better side bolsters on the seat bottom.

On the flip side, the power and acceleration plus the frunk of the Lightning is worth almost everything (except the long distance driving vs. ICE tradeoff), and the ride is wonderful (for a pickup).

 

[John Becker]

never opened rear window

That's interesting. For me, the rear window is a deal breaker, hence the Lariat. I use it three seasons for ventilation and occasionally for hulling lumber and pipes. I slide them through the rear window and they rest against the tailgate.

 

[fitek]

-The front seats in the Flash are not as comfortable as either of the Mach-E (which were fantastic) or the Denali, but they are not something that will cause me to itch to replace them unless comfort degrades with time in seat. I don't mind the fabric (actually prefer it over leather) but would prefer better side bolsters on the seat bottom.

I test drove a Mach E Premium after the Flash and definitely noticed the difference in seats. In general, the vibe was more upscale (and we test drove a used Premium which cost half as much as the Flash). However, it seems to be relatively easy to change the seats versus many of the other differences.

 

[fitek]

I do want the 9.6KW power, and a trailer hitch (nothing overly heavy), but other than that, I'm pretty easy.

I logged into my Ford account and then searched for inventory and found many Flash with 9.6kW in Socal. Not many up north.

 

[fitek]

I did the math. At the prices I'm getting for new, a used Lariat ER at $56k w/ 6.24% equals a new one at 0%. Cheapest Lariat ER w/ <30k miles I can find ATM is $44k, though I've seen it at $42k before (not counting buybacks or lemons). Tax+reg on $44k costs $56000 w/ a 5 year loan, or $11k less than new. This assumes low mileage.

I had ChatGPT do a much more in depth analysis, adding what if we sell our "old" car and invest the money, and then discounting for inflation since payments are spread over 6 years. It's a difference of 5-6k with the current incentives new vs used, so really down to timing, availability, how many miles you plan to drive (I'll do 50-60k in 5 years, no problem w/ most used Lightnings) and the options you want (e.g. won't get ProPower 9.6kW in a '24 Lariat + EV rebate, more color choice in earlier years).

 

[K6CCC]

I logged into my Ford account and then searched for inventory and found many Flash with 9.6kW in Socal

I have also seen that on the Ford website.

 

[mefly2]

"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."

Active X in our Expedition sucked and it is not a replacement for leather ... if you have dogs!

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