Getting cold feet

[ChrisCon]

what made you move from the ice to the Lightning f150?

That is what I’m curious about ..folks that owned an ICE f150 and got a .

I’ve owned numerous f150s and my reasons were speed, tech, and onboard power for my profession . My old f150 was also a 2016 so it was just time for a new one and I feel electric is the future. It’s perfect.

For the original post though , I’d stick with the ice .. Too many compromises for an xlt sr which will be a worse truck at any comparison except speed.

I also have 15,000 miles now on my lightning and looking at real life winter range, even though my company is 5 miles from my house , the SR would have never worked in my use case

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[BennyTheBeaver]

In your specific situation, I would also recommend sticking with your PB. I think a Lightning Gen 2 will be available to order when you're ready.

 

[LUXMAN]

I’ve thought about this , but I’m not looking to pay those prices for an ER lariat. It’s a nice truck, I can afford it. It’s just getting a bit crazy at that point. 95% of my driving is in town less than 40 miles a day. I find it interesting everyone is so negative on the standard range?

Thanks

So as an EV driver for close to 10 years (8 with Gen 1 Leafs!), I would have to say I am of a different opinion on the SR than most in this case. There has always been a work around when I needed a charge.
With you living in Alabama, you won't see the harshest of winters. And if you only go to "the office" twice a year than this is not a big issue.
You used the word 'WE", Is there another vehicle available for your trips to ATL?
Swapping out cars with your significant other for a week may just be the easiest thing to do for a twice a year event. And as more chargers come online, the experience will get better.
Added to that, with experience with the truck, you will get more comfortable with its capabilities.

As for the range in the SR, having experienced 25% range degradation on my LEAF in 70k miles vs 8% in 66k on my Tesla, I think the Lightning will hold its capacity in similar fashion to the Tesla with the range lose leveling out in the 5-10% range over the life of the vehicle. So if 184 miles (80% of the battery range for your daily use is good, I say go for it. Remember these batteries have a buffer so hopefully that is taken into account with the BMS and you (and I) may not see the degradation in our use for a long time. And if that is the case, these SR trucks will still hold their value. Of course more range is nice to have, but at the $19k cost increase , I can make the extra charging stop once in a great while.

Of course there will be diffences in the trucks available in 2025+ but at what cost? Inflation is not going away before then and I think you have a new base level for prices at that point. And if the economy is faltering, will they even be building enough for you to get one?
Plus with the Tax Credit an issue going forward, as you mentioned, if you can get it now (2022) and get the full credit, and the truck will work for you, I say grab it now.

As far as the differences between the options on your current truck and the XLT, that is something you need to put a value on when weighing your running costs verses the advantages of an EV.

 

[256fail]

So as an EV driver for close to 10 years (8 with Gen 1 Leafs!), I would have to say I am of a different opinion on the SR than most in this case. There has always been a work around when I needed a charge.
With you living in Alabama, you won't see the harshest of winters. And if you only go to "the office" twice a year than this is not a big issue.
You used the word 'WE", Is there another vehicle available for your trips to ATL?
Swapping out cars with your significant other for a week may just be the easiest thing to do for a twice a year event. And as more chargers come online, the experience will get better.
Added to that, with experience with the truck, you will get more comfortable with its capabilities.

As for the range in the SR, having experienced 25% range degradation on my LEAF in 70k miles vs 8% in 66k on my Tesla, I think the Lightning will hold its capacity in similar fashion to the Tesla with the range lose leveling out in the 5-10% range over the life of the vehicle. So if 184 miles (80% of the battery range for your daily use is good, I say go for it. Remember these batteries have a buffer so hopefully that is taken into account with the BMS and you (and I) may not see the degradation in our use for a long time. And if that is the case, these SR trucks will still hold their value. Of course more range is nice to have, but at the $19k cost increase , I can make the extra charging stop once in a great while.

Of course there will be diffences in the trucks available in 2025+ but at what cost? Inflation is not going away before then and I think you have a new base level for prices at that point. And if the economy is faltering, will they even be building enough for you to get one?
Plus with the Tax Credit an issue going forward, as you mentioned, if you can get it now (2022) and get the full credit, and the truck will work for you, I say grab it now.

As far as the differences between the options on your current truck and the XLT, that is something you need to put a value on when weighing your running costs verses the advantages of an EV.

Thank you for the reply. All good considerations. My wife and I were discussing things last night. You are right , when the next Ford EV full size truck comes out it won’t necessarily be any cheaper. I was hoping to see closer to 400 miles range being more reasonably priced, but I doubt that will be the case. We do have other ICE vehicles to use.

 

[Jer]

So as an EV driver for close to 10 years (8 with Gen 1 Leafs!), I would have to say I am of a different opinion on the SR than most in this case. There has always been a work around when I needed a charge.
With you living in Alabama, you won't see the harshest of winters. And if you only go to "the office" twice a year than this is not a big issue.
You used the word 'WE", Is there another vehicle available for your trips to ATL?
Swapping out cars with your significant other for a week may just be the easiest thing to do for a twice a year event. And as more chargers come online, the experience will get better.
Added to that, with experience with the truck, you will get more comfortable with its capabilities.

As for the range in the SR, having experienced 25% range degradation on my LEAF in 70k miles vs 8% in 66k on my Tesla, I think the Lightning will hold its capacity in similar fashion to the Tesla with the range lose leveling out in the 5-10% range over the life of the vehicle. So if 184 miles (80% of the battery range for your daily use is good, I say go for it. Remember these batteries have a buffer so hopefully that is taken into account with the BMS and you (and I) may not see the degradation in our use for a long time. And if that is the case, these SR trucks will still hold their value. Of course more range is nice to have, but at the $19k cost increase , I can make the extra charging stop once in a great while.

Of course there will be diffences in the trucks available in 2025+ but at what cost? Inflation is not going away before then and I think you have a new base level for prices at that point. And if the economy is faltering, will they even be building enough for you to get one?
Plus with the Tax Credit an issue going forward, as you mentioned, if you can get it now (2022) and get the full credit, and the truck will work for you, I say grab it now.

As far as the differences between the options on your current truck and the XLT, that is something you need to put a value on when weighing your running costs verses the advantages of an EV.

Great perspective!

 

[Mainer]

I’m in a similar situation. I have a 2020 Lariat 502A with the 3.5 Ecoboost, Technology package, panoramic roof, adaptive cruise control etc. It’s loaded. It only cost me $55k. I have an XLT SR due to be built 12/19. I love my truck immensely. But I do all local driving and get 15 mpg. I almost never go over 60 mph and we have traffic light after traffic light (suburban NJ). I get compliments on my truck all the time. I have the chrome package and keep my truck clean. I’m going to miss all the luxuries of this truck. I’ve done some research though. I plan to have aftermarket heated and ventilated leather seats installed. And change my black plastic door handles, mirror caps and tailgate handle to paint matched. And get the Lariat wheels. All in time anyway. Doing all of that will still be way cheaper than buying the Lariat Lightning. But it’ll make it look exactly like one. Besides, I like the 12” infotainment screen better than the 15”. So I’m nervous and apprehensive. But I think I can make my “cheap” truck look and feel like a more expensive one.

What are you doing for seats? Katzkin?

I actually like my XLT cloth seats. They don't get as hot or as cold as leather. But when they wear out, I'd look at something like Katzkin.

 

[pja3668]

What are you doing for seats? Katzkin?

I actually like my XLT cloth seats. They don't get as hot or as cold as leather. But when they wear out, I'd look at something like Katzkin.

leatherseats.com has similar seat “re-skins” as Katzkin. But cheaper. I have young, active kids. They’re always making a mess in my truck. I actually wanted a Pro for the vinyl seats. Plus I workout and sweat like a pig. So I need leather/vinyl. Plus I want to get the heat and ventilation added. There’s always clazzio.com too. They make leather fitted seat covers. Much cheaper then re-skinning.

 

[FordLightningMan]

If you can't swap cars for a week, what about a rental car? I drive less than 100 miles a day 90% of the year. For this every day driving, the XLT SR is fantastic, even in my very cold climate. When I have a medium-range trip (i.e. - 280 miles round trip to a nearby city), my gf and I swap and I used the Tesla and she kept the Lightning locally. For the long range trip I went on (2,500 miles round trip), I rented a car.

Your fuel savings throughout the year will certainly pay for a weekly rental, so you're not really getting beat up too bad in the end.

 

[lightspeed]

Thank you for the reply. All good considerations. My wife and I were discussing things last night. You are right , when the next Ford EV full size truck comes out it won’t necessarily be any cheaper. I was hoping to see closer to 400 miles range being more reasonably priced, but I doubt that will be the case. We do have other ICE vehicles to use.

GM has already told us that the 400 mile RST will START at $107K. The WT3/4 start at $75K but we don't know if there are multiple battery options. The silverado EV is a unibody design with a more car like shape so it should have better aero efficiency - in between the Rivian and Lightning. But, a 400 mile range by itself doesn't mean it will tow a big brick any better.

There is going to have to be a saturation of battery storage before prices decrease substantially and I don't see that happening anytime soon given that the whole world needs/wants batteries now.

 

[Nikos]

Long story short, day 1 reservation holder and my Lightning XLT SR is being produced this coming week. I'm conflicted on whether to go ahead and purchase the vehicle. I currently drive a custom ordered 22 502A Lariat Powerboost with Blue cruise that I ordered last year when it looked like I wasn't going to get a Lightning any time soon (ha).

My current case use is mainly suburban driving. I pick up the kids, lots of errand hauling and we put the bed to use constantly. We do not tow. This would lend it self greatly towards the Lightning as I can charge in my garage no problem. I already have a 14-50 hookup installed when we built the house and a Emporia charger on the way purchased last week in case I end up getting the Lightning.

We do not plan to roadtrip, but once or twice a year I have to drive to work (Atlanta Hartsfield) and that trip is 193 miles one way. Halfway between is an EA fast charger site at a Walmart with 8 charging stations. There is another one about 30 miles further down the road into GA that has 4 stalls. I've been very apprehensive about it after reading all the EA charging issues. It would absolutely have to work for me or I'd be in trouble on that trip due to always having to make work by a certain time to sign in.

The cons agains the Lightning is that my powerboost has been flawless. It has more features being a 502A..granted they are niceties that aren't necessarily needed, but nice... heated/cooled leather seats, pano roof, blue cruise etc. I'm also able to road trip no issue in the powerboost and if we ever need to tow there would be zero issue. Fuel mpg is very good in town around 26-27 and combined with highway around 24. Not too bad for a full size truck.

Finally due to being able to order at a perfect time early this year, my 502A was well below invoice and I paid nearly the same as this XLT SR is going to cost (before potential tax credit which I may not qualify for in 23'.

I'm sure opinions are all over the place and its biased being an Lightning forum, but any good thoughts I'm missing? I go on the powerboost forums and they are of course tilted towards the hybrid being the best of both worlds currently.

Will I regret going EV? I drove our dealer's pro and it was a great ride, but I only drove it for 30 minutes about 4 months ago. I've wanted the Lightning for so long, but now that the time has come and my Powerboost has been so nice I'm just really torn. I'm still leaning towards getting the Lightning, but wanted some encouragement.

Thanks!

You certainly opened your own can of worms. As a happy owner of a Lariat Lightning ER, I can assure you, I am not going back. Yes....you can wait until the next gen of the Lightning knowing that it will be better. It will be better. More range also.
If you want to wait for the next gen that is your choice. You mentioned that you don't do any towing. Another thing you don't have to deal with. Just commute and do family things. The Lightning is perfect for all those things. For me and my family, may not be exactly perfect. Nothing is perfect for anyone. The Lightning is my second EV. I am a happy owner of a Mach E Mustang. I learned a lot from the Mach E. The Lightning is a spoiler. It will get to you.
EVs are different. You have to use your head in different ways.
In the last two years I have almost rid myself of the dependency to fossil fuels. Don't worry about oil changes, fuel stops, engines and transmissions. Wake up to hear about hurricanes in the Gulf, pipelines shutting down, refinery problems, war in the Middle East or some despot stirring problems in other parts of the world. A lot of people loose their minds when the price of gas rises over $3. I don't. I feel better much better in the last two years.
Of course I will be looking for the next gen Lightning. Until then I am looking forward to the savings. No more dependency to fossil fuels. To me, it is plain economics. Don't forget, I am having a lot of fun of this EV experience. Like you said. It was fun driving one some time ago.
Good luck.

 

[DanielM92563]

As much as I love my frunk and the rapid quiet acceleration of the Lightning, I would also keep your PB mostly for lane keep assist and bluecruise. I use bluecruise regularly when I hit bumper to bumper traffic which is common here in California.

 

[SkyeFox]

So as an EV driver for close to 10 years (8 with Gen 1 Leafs!), I would have to say I am of a different opinion on the SR than most in this case. There has always been a work around when I needed a charge.
With you living in Alabama, you won't see the harshest of winters. And if you only go to "the office" twice a year than this is not a big issue.
You used the word 'WE", Is there another vehicle available for your trips to ATL?
Swapping out cars with your significant other for a week may just be the easiest thing to do for a twice a year event. And as more chargers come online, the experience will get better.
Added to that, with experience with the truck, you will get more comfortable with its capabilities.

As for the range in the SR, having experienced 25% range degradation on my LEAF in 70k miles vs 8% in 66k on my Tesla, I think the Lightning will hold its capacity in similar fashion to the Tesla with the range lose leveling out in the 5-10% range over the life of the vehicle. So if 184 miles (80% of the battery range for your daily use is good, I say go for it. Remember these batteries have a buffer so hopefully that is taken into account with the BMS and you (and I) may not see the degradation in our use for a long time. And if that is the case, these SR trucks will still hold their value. Of course more range is nice to have, but at the $19k cost increase , I can make the extra charging stop once in a great while.

Of course there will be diffences in the trucks available in 2025+ but at what cost? Inflation is not going away before then and I think you have a new base level for prices at that point. And if the economy is faltering, will they even be building enough for you to get one?
Plus with the Tax Credit an issue going forward, as you mentioned, if you can get it now (2022) and get the full credit, and the truck will work for you, I say grab it now.

As far as the differences between the options on your current truck and the XLT, that is something you need to put a value on when weighing your running costs verses the advantages of an EV.

I live in NJ with a 26 mile commute that I have to make twice a day every day and have been doing so with a Gen 1 Nissan Leaf (~80 mile range when new) for the past 6 years. I drive more than 100 miles in a day maybe 1 time a year and over 200 miles in a day maybe every 2-3 years.

I ordered a SR XLT because if I absolutely need to make a long trip I currently borrow my wife's car and will do the same in the future if I am unable to charge along the trip with the F150. However even in the winter with near 0F temperatures I will be able to do 99.9% of my driving with the SR so paying $20k+ more for the ER doesn't make sense to me.

So many people on here seem to crap on the SR because it can't drive as far as the ER but most people don't need to. If you have access to another vehicle for long trips or have reliable fast charging along the way then the SR will work just fine. To me the real choice is whether or not you can live with the change in options on the truck.

 

[Speeddemon]

Get the lightning! You will love it! I’ve owned 2 gas f150s, Mach e and teslas. Since June we’ve road tripped from Maryland to Michigan and to Hilton Head, SC on EA network. Especially since you’re making that trip only once a year to work. By the way there are other chargers out there. Ev go, charge point have saved us multiple times as well - look at plug share app. Watch out of spec motoring youtube videos, he road trips all over the US in EVs. Bottom line - get the lightning, you will love it.

 

[neririn]

what made you move from the ice to the Lightning f150?

That is what I’m curious about ..folks that owned an ICE f150 and got a .

100% price of fuel for me. Lightning lariat has same overall cost as ICE lariat, 'filling up' at home costs me <$10 for 250 miles of range. In my 2021 ICE lariat that would have been over $100 at todays prices, was closer to $140 when i bought my lightning. factor in the icing on the cake of less maintenance costs over the next 5 years plus being able to power my house with these winter storms knocking out the power seemingly fortnightly really a no brainer for me.

 

[256fail]

100% price of fuel for me. Lightning lariat has same overall cost as ICE lariat, 'filling up' at home costs me <$10 for 250 miles of range. In my 2021 ICE lariat that would have been over $100 at todays prices, was closer to $140 when i bought my lightning. factor in the icing on the cake of less maintenance costs over the next 5 years plus being able to power my house with these winter storms knocking out the power seemingly fortnightly really a no brainer for me.

Well, for my $100 fill up I’m getting 700 miles to the tank. I fill up a about once every 6 weeks. You are correct though, home charging for the same mileage will be about half of the cost. Less MX cost is a big player that many fail to mention.

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