i need serious help on this decision

[StevenC56]

Don't plan on EV charger infrastructure to do anything positive for at least the next 4 years.

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[Riverant]

I traded in a Mach e premium for a used Lariat Lightning with about the same amount of negative equity on my E. However I was able to pay cash for the truck and was OTD at 64K.

For me, the mustang wasn’t working for my family and while the 9K was painful, it wasn’t a deal breaker. If you can afford it, the economic decision considers the 9K a sunk cost and shouldn’t factor into your next decision.

Know that the Lightning depreciates too (though a scrapped tax credit should help). However the tech will be obsolete at the end of the decade so won’t be worth much at all.

 

[RickLightning]

Don't plan on EV charger infrastructure to do anything positive for at least the next 4 years.

Spoken by someone who has no perspective on the EV charging infrastructure or how it's changed since 2021, nor the pipeline of new chargers.

We've driven through 26 states and 1 province. 2021 was awful. 2022 got better, 2023 was at times worse. In 2024, with the inclusion of Tesla, plus networks like Pilot / Flying J coming online, in much of the country it's noticeably better. No, not everywhere. No, not all the time. But noticeably better.

 

[StevenC56]

Spoken by someone who has no perspective on the EV charging infrastructure or how it's changed since 2021, nor the pipeline of new chargers.

We've driven through 26 states and 1 province. 2021 was awful. 2022 got better, 2023 was at times worse. In 2024, with the inclusion of Tesla, plus networks like Pilot / Flying J coming online, in much of the country it's noticeably better. No, not everywhere. No, not all the time. But noticeably better.

I never said things hadn't gotten better in the last 4 years. They most certainly have. But my point was the next 4 years are not looking so good for EV's.

 

[Lytning]

To each his own. But I must admit that I am puzzled by someone asking others for input on how to spend their money. I personally would never think of doing so. Nobody else knows my personal financial situation.

I purchased my Lightning when I was 71 years old. I literally worked my entire life to be able to purchase it as a retirement gift to myself. I spent most of my life doing without "wants" to ensure I met the "needs" of my family, and to save and invest for retirement. After providing food, shelter, clothing, education and basic transportation for my family, I put money into an emergency fund, insurance, and invested all I could in a retirement account.

I would not dare to attempt to tell you how to spend your money. But I would suggest that you ensure you have all of your needs covered before spending money on wants. It may seem a long way off, but I speak from experience when I say retirement will be upon you before you know it.

 

[RickLightning]

I never said things hadn't gotten better in the last 4 years. They most certainly have. But my point was the next 4 years are not looking so good for EV's.

I expect every year to be better than the prior year. Nothing tells me that won't happen.

 

[broncoaz]

Do like the fed and borrow your way out of debt or print more money. Works for them, should work for you.

Seriously do what you can afford and works for your needs. None of us can validate the decision for you.

As other people have said you will loose tons and tons to depreciation for the new Lightning. Many of us have lost around $20k or more that first year. Ford Credit sadly reminds me of this every time I login with there ever so insulting “trade in value” listed on the dashboard. Today’s insult is that my $73,500 XLT has lost $33,000 in value in just shy of 18 months. So with the tax credit, $25k in 18 months.

So if you can stomach that type of hit again, or get an amazing deal and can afford it, go for it!

These numbers are why I leased my Flash, my three year lease will cost me less than your 18 month depreciation. I don’t typically put more than 10-12K miles on my vehicles, so leasing works in my situation.

 

[StevenC56]

I expect every year to be better than the prior year. Nothing tells me that won't happen.

I really hope you are correct. We'll see, but I don't share your optimism.

 

[RickLightning]

I really hope you are correct. We'll see, but I don't share your optimism.

I have fast charged, per PlugShare, 236 times. There are probably 1/2 dozen I forgot to check in. Some of those are repeats, but the majority are not. In my experience, at an EA location in 2021 - 2023, with 4 chargers, you were likely to find at least one broken. You had a 33% chance the chargers were derated. And, you had a 40% chance that there was a wait.

I have now charged at maybe 20 Tesla SuperCharger locations. The longest wait was under 10 minutes, and that was because they were using every other spot so I had to wait for one to open since we take 2 spots (or the end). The 2nd longest wait was 2 minutes, and that was it. I have had ONE experience where the charger was slower than I expected. I have many times where less than 25% of them are occupied.

Pilot / Flying J, while more expensive, has filled some gaps. I used to have to drive 200 miles to the first fast charger heading south (doable on the way out, not fun on the way back). Now there are 2 or 3 Pilot / Flying J chargers on that stretch of road.

So yes, it is getting better. There is a huge amount, over 90%, of the IRA funds that are allocated, but not yet installed. They have to order transformers, they have to route lines, and they have to get permits. 2025 is going to see a massive increase, blown away by the increase in 2026.

Best part - Tesla, with membership, is cheaper that all other options in my experience.

 

[StevenC56]

I have fast charged, per PlugShare, 236 times. There are probably 1/2 dozen I forgot to check in. Some of those are repeats, but the majority are not. In my experience, at an EA location in 2021 - 2023, with 4 chargers, you were likely to find at least one broken. You had a 33% chance the chargers were derated. And, you had a 40% chance that there was a wait.

I have now charged at maybe 20 Tesla SuperCharger locations. The longest wait was under 10 minutes, and that was because they were using every other spot so I had to wait for one to open since we take 2 spots (or the end). The 2nd longest wait was 2 minutes, and that was it. I have had ONE experience where the charger was slower than I expected. I have many times where less than 25% of them are occupied.

Pilot / Flying J, while more expensive, has filled some gaps. I used to have to drive 200 miles to the first fast charger heading south (doable on the way out, not fun on the way back). Now there are 2 or 3 Pilot / Flying J chargers on that stretch of road.

So yes, it is getting better. There is a huge amount, over 90%, of the IRA funds that are allocated, but not yet installed. They have to order transformers, they have to route lines, and they have to get permits. 2025 is going to see a massive increase, blown away by the increase in 2026.

Best part - Tesla, with membership, is cheaper that all other options in my experience.

Every situation you have encountered up until now is what I have seen as well. From today on however, we'll see. Do you really think that current infrastructure monies are going to be left alone and used as intended?

 

[RickLightning]

Every situation you have encountered up until now is what I have seen as well. From today on however, we'll see. Do you really think that current infrastructure monies are going to be left alone and used as intended?

Yes, because the states have the funds. Any attempt to claw them back will be met with legal challenges.

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