I went and sat in an XLT and Lariat for the first time and...

[techguydave]

Pro move - only use Walmart bikes. You can get them on clearance for like $50.

My current bike is a used Schwinn from Walmart I picked up for $25 at a yard sale. Been using it for years

Now that I've had a decently priced bike for years, I can't go back to the box store bikes. I'd rather risk it with my $400 bike, lol.

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[fitek]

And once you have a $3500 bike you'll never go back to a $400 bike

There are some videos of guys riding Walmart bikes at bike parks. Hope your health insurance is good.

 

[fitek]

The most secure solution I recommended to you was to use a tonneau cover because that both hardens the target and hides the goods.

To be clear, I lock them up in the cabin to each other and then to something else-- like a seat. Yes they could break into the cabin, but unless they have time to defeat a couple u locks and a master lock+the heaviest chain i could find, they'll have to drag a cumbersome lump of bikes and a 150 lbs seat into the bed of their getaway truck.

I never had a bed cover so didn't think about that.

Major issue with storing bikes inside a Lariat is that my wife will complain about grease and mud.

 

[rdr854]

I like the center console shifter. Really dislike column shifter. IMO column shifter is vague on selection points and gets in the way of dash controls. Console shifter gives me a place to put my hand, more visible where selection points are, and way more intuitive.

The whole point of folding it down is to get it out of the way, and to allow the work surface, lol. Which, BTW, is a must-have for me, especially on the lightning: if I'm going to be making 30-minute charging stops, this will be tremendously useful. Despite being essentially an electronic switch, Ford kept the console shifter because that's most people's preference.

Have you seen the hate the Ram dial gets? LOL, no way Ford is putting that in their trucks. If anything they have to have something different to market at least.

All preference, for sure. But I like their choices for the lightning

And Ford has the dial in the Expedition and Fusion.

 

[DadBald]

And Ford has the dial in the Expedition and Fusion.

Wasn't aware of that. Interesting.

 

[REDHORSECA]

Great video of six different F150 Lightning models in the wild in California, at a charge station in a Walmart parking lot.

Interior and exterior shots plus some touchscreen 12" vs 15.5" exploration. IMHO kind of sluggish touchscreen operations.

 

[Maljr1980]

To be clear, I lock them up in the cabin to each other and then to something else-- like a seat. Yes they could break into the cabin, but unless they have time to defeat a couple u locks and a master lock+the heaviest chain i could find, they'll have to drag a cumbersome lump of bikes and a 150 lbs seat into the bed of their getaway truck.

I never had a bed cover so didn't think about that.

Major issue with storing bikes inside a Lariat is that my wife will complain about grease and mud.

I’m sure an 18v Milwaukee grinder or portaband will make quick work of that chain

 

[Doughecka]

Now the XLT had a column shifter on it, which had me do a double take since I haven't seen one since 1998. I don't mind it and would also prefer it to something that gets charging cables tangled around it, gets in the way of putting something down in the center... the whole fold out work space is a gimmick only cuz that shifter is in the way...

The XLT offered a front bench type seat, so a column shifter makes sense.

 

[LightningLover]

2) The 12" infotainment system is totally sufficient. I've test driven a Mach E and the big screen is nice (even if you hate the look of it on the dash), but having knobs in the 12" format is nice also. Toss up for me. I can't imagine the 12" feeling too small in a few years either. My Transit has a small screen and I knew from day 1 it would be stupid small in a couple years but what can you do... not getting easier as my close in eyesight isn't improving w/ age either.

There's another important difference. That small screen runs on Sync4, which is an upgraded version of Sync3. It has much less advanced technology and will become outdated much faster than the Sync4A in the Lariats with the 15.5" screen. If you want to get a feel for what that technology is like, test drive a Mustang Mach E. The Lightning will have significant enhancements beyond what the Mach E has, too.

 

[shutterbug]

There's another important difference. That small screen runs on Sync4, which is an upgraded version of Sync3. It has much less advanced technology and will become outdated much faster than the Sync4A in the Lariats with the 15.5" screen. If you want to get a feel for what that technology is like, test drive a Mustang Mach E. The Lightning will have significant enhancements beyond what the Mach E has, too.

Hmm, Not!
https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...is-the-difference-between-sync-4-and-sync-4a/

There are a couple of main features of SYNC 4A that distinguish it from SYNC 4:​

• Adaptive Dash Cards
• Automatic placement of frequently used dash items at the top of the screen

That's it! If you don't count the space occupied by the dash cards, the 15" screen is actually 13", so not that different in size from 12".

 

[shocker]

I would suppose many prospective Lariat owners like myself were counting on the $12500 tax credit. Now, even an XLT will be a swallow hard moment when I push the confirm button the order.
As far as the shifter goes.... rotary dial on the dash for a clean sheet design.

 

[midmack]

 

[midmack]

Something to consider are the color options. The Smoked Quartz and Star White seem to only be in the Lariat and Platinum. There may be other color limitations as well. I love the smoked quartz(metallic shark skin would be a better name in my opinion ?) so it just helps confirm the Lariat decision.

 

[midmack]

1. Smoke quartz
2. AMB: beautiful but too black for me
3. Rapid red: great color but I don’t love it with the Lariat trim. Platinum would look nice.
3. Iconic silver: underrated. Will look awesome with the XLT and Lariat trims with the carbonized gray accents. My #2

 

[sysop]

Console shifters are nice for those that like spending $700 on $50 worth of plastic and making their truck less usable (losing a passenger seat).

?

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