Finally got the invite after 18 months and now I have cold feet.......

[watchdoc]

So I finally got an invite yesterday and configed a standard range Anitimatter XLT with 312A and the spray in bedliner and it came to $71,464!! I'm trying to wrap my head around a $71k truck that won't tow my RV to the mountains. I really feel like 400 mile trucks will be out next year. Meanwhile, I would still owe 60 grand on a truck that only has 240 miles of range..... The Pro was a no brainer last year but isn't even available to order anymore.

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[Coolbreeze704]

Can't argue that. I think my Lightning is an incredible truck but the SR makes it a daily driver and not considered for trips. Throw in the need to tow and it truly becomes not practical.

Such mixed feelings with my XLT. I enjoy the drive each day but the fact mine was 66kk out the door haunts me at times. Think I will feel better when filing taxes next year though.

Good luck with your decision but if you plan on towing longer distances with the SR it will be a challenge.

 

[watchdoc]

My current vehicle mix is a '22 Leaf as my daily that I put 15k miles on last year and a 16 Ram that we use for trips, towing, and various truck things. Not only did I get a discount on the new Leaf but I got 0% plus the $7500 rebate. To top it off, I charge with a cheap solar setup that I built myself so it almost feels like cheating. My Ram has 140k miles on it but still runs great and has a mopar maxcare lifetime unlimited mileage warranty and it's paid for.

 

[watchdoc]

Then add another price increase....

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ford-raises-prices-electric-f-172227664.html

 

[viennaxmas]

I was feeling the same when I got the invite last December. My lightning is almost double of what I ever paid for a car before and I can still only do the standard range. I am still not 100% if I take delivery when it is time to buy.

 

[F150ROD]

If you need to tow just get a Powerboost F-150, it’s a simple as that. The Lightning is a Sports/Commuter/Family Truck that can tow locally.

You’ve already made a case on why you shouldn’t even consider a Lightning

Paid off Truck
Leaf as a commuter

No brainer…

 

[Henry Ford]

A Lightning will tow a camper in the mountains no problem...as long as you aren't going very far. If that's what you want, you'll be disappointed.

I love my truck but it spends most of its time between my house, work, and kid's school with short periods of local hauling and towing. It's perfect for that, when you start talking about long distance towing, or long distance anything really, you're going to need extra planning and possibly extra time.

 

[RickLightning]

Not ordering, waiting to see if they give any incentive to people they refund come April. Based on the wording in the email, it's clear that way under 200,000 reservation holders converted.

 

[watchdoc]

It's 288 miles to our mountain property and our travel trailer weighs around 6500 lbs. It's
about 6 hours drive when towing with a single fuel stop.

I cancelled my order this morning. As much as I like the Lightning, it's just more of a "sports commuter truck" and that just doesnt fit my needs.....

Maybe the next generation will be more capable and close to my budget in a couple years?

 

[ChrisInJAX]

@watchdoc right there with you the more I think about my reservation. $65k for a SR XLT with the 9kwh pro power was my initial idea. But similar, the economics after multiple price hikes are no longer as favorable, even with the $7500 tax credit. Even if I only financed $45k at 5% for 72 months, still stuck with a $700+ monthly payment. Also wouldn't driven enough annually to breakeven on the electric cost premium vs ICE. And my VW Atlas for family daily run arounds / long distance trips and knock-around 2016 Escape are both fully paid for.

Wish Ford would develop a PHEV, plug-in/ICE version without canabilizing Lightning sales. Maybe in the future.

 

[watchdoc]

Powerboost will be on my short list although I would prefer a simpler plug in hybrid drivetrain. My ideal truck would be a plug in hybrid with 75 miles of electric range and 500+ miles of hybrid range. Propower 9.6 and an inline 6 naturally aspirated engine paired with a ZF 8 speed transmission and 10,000 towing capacity.

 

[FordLightningMan]

I was looking at the MY23 XLT build today and it doesn't look like the price increased much from MY22, rather the configuration changed and so did standard options.

The MY22 didn't have heated seats and the upgrade to 312A from 311A cost $12k (I think, was certainly five figures). Now the upgrade costs $5k, so a 312A XLT costs roughly what it did with MY22. What's been lost is the option of a less featured truck. Is this good or bad? My MY22 XLT is basically the most limited Lightning on the road, but my MSRP with tow packages and step was $57k. If I had an option for $5k to add keyless entry, power tailgate, adaptive cruise, etc., I would've added the package in a second.

In the last Ford conference, they said the new EV truck they are making will have far fewer combinations than the Lightning. This is the first steps towards that future, it's why pricing looks so different. My MY22 Lightning may say XLT on the trim, but it's really a MY23 Pro with cloth seats and a running boards. XLT doesn't mean the same thing it did a year ago.

 

[Tony Burgh]

Doubts heading into a major purchase will haunt you the life of ownership.

 

[Chado]

You could have just changed dealers, they give you back the $100 and you still get to keep the reservation, keep options open

 

[Replika]

I really don’t see 400 mile trucks happening without 200 kWh of usable battery while maintaining the same efficiency. The ER Lightning has 131 kWh. It’s not going to happen for a long time.

PHEV trucks are probably the answer to towing. RAM has something in the works.

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