Found unsold '23 XLT ER: Battery implications from sitting 2years?

[Nikos]

My problem is that I have an itch for a lot of things. I think I have EV fleas. Or EVexcema.

The longer you wait the bigger the itch get. No worries about the battery being dormant for a while. Have the dealer charge it to 100% upon your arrival.
Reset the history and look at the range.

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[Hammick]

Wouldn't worry about HVB. Get a new LVB from dealer and be sure the BMS replacement has been done. Also, get ALL THE OTAs! Are tires ok? Heavy truck sitting around... Check for animal nests and damage undersides.

Good point. Unless the truck has the new updated BMS and related OTAs the 12v will have reduced capacity. My 12v got replaced under warranty a few months ago even though I regularly kept it on a tender. I didn't even know it was bad.

 

[Grease Lightning]

Separately from the traction battery discussion above, I have the 312A Option 2023 XLT and I am very happy with it, other than the lack (so far ) of power folding mirrors. IMHO the 2023 XLT ER 312A has about the perfect mix of features.

I agree. Love my maxed out XLT.

 

[Joe Dablock]

How about, you buy it and I will trade you even for my 23XLT ER with 32k miles on it. I will even swap wheels and tires!

Actually, I am a risk taker, and I would have loved to have had a (potential) deal like that, assuming the price was right and it had a full warranty starting on day one! That said my Lighting has been perfect and I intend to drive it till the wheels fall off! At 32k miles, the tires are nowhere near needing replaced.

 

[Firn]

This is worst case scenario; where do you place the odds of this occurring? 10%? 90%? It's sort of pointless to talk about possibilities without probabilities.

The other part of the equation is the cost of the truck. For instance: is 10% off MSRP worth a 10% chance or your worst case scenario? I'd say no. Is 20% off MSRP worth it? Now I'm interested.

The about numbers are for illustrative purposes only. If I had to guess I'd say the odds of a barely better than warranteed battery after the warranty period is much lower than 10% no matter how a vehicle is stored.

Agreed.

Mostly just pointing out that this is not a failed, or didn't fail, situation, there is a pretty significant nuance to it.

 

[Hammick]

Surely the dealer would be willing to run a battery health report and put in a new 12v to move a truck that has been sitting on the lot for so long.

 

[Chillguy]

It would have to be super cheap IMO... the battery in these trucks already appears to be a bit of a faberge egg.

I disagree strongly about your statement regarding battery degradation. I have 13 years of experience driving EVs and my 2023 Lightning Platinum is my 5th EV I've bought. I absolutely LOVE it and I consider it the best vehicle I've ever owned and I had all the premium brands including Porsche, S500, Lexus and BMW 7 series.. I've had plenty of trucks too... And I tested Cybertruck and Hummer EV before deciding on the Lightning... So, there it is..

 

[speedy123]

Thanks for all the input. I did speak with the sales manager yesterday, really they couldn't be less interested in selling me a vehicle and were not interested in giving me a reasonable price. What they are asking isn't a whole lot less than a new Flash which makes that a no-brainer. Plus didn't seem like the kind of folks who I'd like to work with for a cross-country purchase. I'll keep some calamine on my itch until it flares up again.

 

[Firn]

Thanks for all the input. I did speak with the sales manager yesterday, really they couldn't be less interested in selling me a vehicle and were not interested in giving me a reasonable price. What they are asking isn't a whole lot less than a new Flash which makes that a no-brainer. Plus didn't seem like the kind of folks who I'd like to work with for a cross-country purchase. I'll keep some calamine on my itch until it flares up again.

I think it's safe to say that from what we have seen, dealers who are sitting on trucks two years later are sitting on trucks two years later for a reason, and that reason isn't because they are trying to sell them.

 

[JvdMaat]

We just got ours (2023 Lariat) in November '24 after it had sat at the dealer for about a year. It had been outside for a while but was in the showroom when we got it. We got a good deal (not a huge discount, but big enough to overlook the fact that it's white) and the MSRP was pennies under the 80K limit so we'll be getting the (US) $7500 EV credit as well. (And warranty started date of purchase)
Windshield wipers look a little whitewashed from sitting outside, but the dealer promised free wiper blades as long as we bring the truck in for yearly (?!?) maintenance. So we'll probably bring that in for a tire rotation at some point. Everything else is working AOK, 3200 miles on the counter so far and no issues. (Had less than 80 miles when we got it, so wasn't loaned out or test driven much)
Sometimes you just have to take your chances. This truck is probably just as likely to have issues as someone who bought theirs in 2023.

 

[Grumpy2]

Congratulations on the Lightning!

 

[chl]

So, still have the Lightning bug. In browsing around, I found a dealer in rural western Canada that somehow appears to have 2 unsold 2023 Lightning XLT ER's still on their lot. Although they don't have a heat pump, they have the 312 package that have the faster onboard chargers, etc. They don't have them advertised at a competitive price but I haven't called to ask a real price either. Was interested in your thoughts about what the implications were for battery health here. Presumed sitting on the lot for 2+ years and rarely driven and no idea about what state of charge they've been kept at or charged to. In a really cold climate and regularly -30 for extended intervals in winter. Would have to be a crazy deal to make it worthwhile and to justify shipping it across country, but wondered if the battery age/lack of use would be a deal breaker for you? Would still have full regular warranty.

If the battery was at the recommended SOC (40%-50%) should be good to go, assuming that the truck was either kept indoors or hooked up so the battery was kept warm enough to avoid damage.

Inquire with the dealership techs to see what the story is about storage and capacity.
The truck will tell you when something is wrong, even if the deaalership is mum.

Time will take 2% capacity per year no matter what you do.

They come with a battery warranty that starts on the day of delivery, so if the battery was damaged, you'll have recourse to get it replaced, which would take time, of course and could be inconvenient.

 

[chl]

PS: look for the date of manufacture on the door sticker. Mine was a 2023, bought in Jan 2024, but it was manufactured in Oct 2023, so only a few months before bought.

 

[TaxmanHog]

PS: look for the date of manufacture on the door sticker. Mine was a 2023, bought in Jan 2024, but it was manufactured in Oct 2023, so only a few months before bought.

Your truck was expected to be built on Friday the 13th of October

 

[chl]

Your truck was expected to be built on Friday the 13th of October

My lucky day, lol!
I'd better not tell my wife though...she won't even walk under a ladder!