IF you could do it all over... what would you buy?

[farmtruck]

If I were to roll the clock back a year, I would still get a Lightning Lariat ER. The only change I would make is to lease for more miles. When I leased, I looked at the driving trends of EVs vs ICEs and leased on the low end of what I drive each year. Turns out I am going to hit the anniversary about 3000 miles over my leased miles.
To go forward four years, if Ford will let me, another Lightning will be in the picture. Can I get it on a one ton chassis with a 600 mile range? Ok, maybe just get the Lightning to maturity so we don't have anything to complain about on this forum.

Sponsored

 

[marc_hanna]

Have you tried other Ford dealers, or just your selling dealer?

Two dealers so far, but I see the same template of behaviour: alleviate the symptom quickly and cheaply and tell me everything is fixed without even attempting to address the root cause. Argue with the service department and show them that it isn’t working, until they agree to dig deeper to fix the problem. Then get irritated with me because O expect the problem to be fixed.

Case in point:
First service department, when my DCFS was not working, suggested that I didn’t need it anyways
Second service department suggested that me using remote start/cabin preconditioning off-plug was misusing the vehicle

I think that ultimately, this is the result of an endemic issue between Ford and the dealers, incentivizing dealers to point blame somewhere else because it’s costly for them to do warranty repairs under Ford’s framework.

 

[gregoryhcain]

Would do it all over again. This truck is so much better and tons more fun than my ICE truck. Will never buy another ICE truck again and likely will sell the one I have; just don't use it anymore.

 

[Brons2]

Would do it all over again. This truck is so much better and tons more fun than my ICE truck. Will never buy another ICE truck again and likely will sell the one I have; just don't use it anymore.

I agree, with the exception of, this truck is the replacement for the ICE truck I had before! We have a Mach-E and I loved it so much that we got the Lightning to replace my old Navigator that I used to haul stuff around with. Bye bye 5.4 3V and 13 mpg!

When I turn in this XLT on the lease, I'm thinking I might look to purchase a used Lariat ER outright. Or go down to a Pro ER for the vinyl seats. Either way something more kid friendly.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

But Elon is a POS. And my friend has a Cybertruck, it is nice.

What bummed me out is that the EV market has not taken off for Ford, especially Lightnings. Why? Because their demographic are the least likely to embrace the change. You know how many truck owners told me they’d get an EV over their dead bodies? Even while thinking the truck looks great.

So since Ford EV’s are not selling great, they are less interested in servicing them as initially hoped. Sucks.

The problem is, these trucks dont have the range people want or need. And then you have people who wont buy one because they don't like the CEO. It all adds up.

 

[Smokewagun]

If I could be Cher, I’d get a Lariat ER. I have aspirations of a Platinum someday, but now with the new administration aborting support of EV’s and the tax credit going bye-Byrne, it probably won’t be worth going EV next time.
I’ve had well over two dozen Ford trucks over the years, and I’m too jaded to want an ICE truck anymore, but I might be forced to. If a perfect world, I’d have a Platinum Lightning and a Bronco. I had a Lariat SR in ‘23, needed range, so I traded it for an STX. The biggest POS Ford I owned in my Ford history.
This Lightning saves me enough each month in fuel to hopefully allow me to pay it off in 2-1/2 to 3 years, and be debt free. Although I had plans to get a Bronco, Susie Talk-A-Lot driving the Chinese Barbie car at Ford is driving Ford into the dirt. There won’t be a dependable vehicle rolling off the belt soon enough. Might be looking at a Scout.

 

[lipnorth]

The problem is, these trucks dont have the range people want or need. And then you have people who wont buy one because they don't like the CEO. It all adds up.

Range? 300+ miles works for me 99.5% of the time. I have had to stop to charge mid-trip 1x and turns out I was just being overly cautious. If you are someone who routinely needs to drive 4+ hours (or live where it is ridicoulsly cold cause that does decrease range big time) then yes maybe this truck is not for you. All else is just making excuses.

 

[marc_hanna]

The problem is, these trucks dont have the range people want or need. And then you have people who wont buy one because they don't like the CEO. It all adds up.

It’s a shame that our society has become so politically polarized that it has become common place and socially acceptable to discriminate based on political leanings.

 

[StevenC56]

It’s a shame that our society has become so politically polarized that it has become common place and socially acceptable to discriminate based on political leanings.

That's because although people have always had differences, they were all closer to center. Now we have extremes both directions, and those of us left in the middle are constantly getting screwed over and can no longer look the other way.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Range? 300+ miles works for me 99.5% of the time. I have had to stop to charge mid-trip 1x and turns out I was just being overly cautious. If you are someone who routinely needs to drive 4+ hours (or live where it is ridicoulsly cold cause that does decrease range big time) then yes maybe this truck is not for you. All else is just making excuses.

You are exactly right. Also, many don't want to pay for ER prices when 300+ still isn't enough and 1hr. charge times are too much.

 

[Jim Lewis]

when 300+ still isn't enough and 1hr. charge times are too much.

I wonder if anyone's calculated how much time you waste throughout a year going to a gas station to fill up an ICE vehicle? When you have a charger at home, and you only occasionally go on 300+ mile trips, maybe you still come out ahead with an EV for all those times throughout the year with in-town commuting that you didn't have to spend gassing up. For really long trips, I'd rather fly and rent a car at my destination, as driving for hundreds and hundreds of miles isn't much different in terms of entertainment than twiddling my thumbs at a charging station. I'd rather spend more time at my destination and have less depreciation on my vehicle.

 

[lipnorth]

You are exactly right. Also, many don't want to pay for ER prices when 300+ still isn't enough and 1hr. charge times are too much.

When I priced out my Lariat as an ICE, the price difference was small when factoring the tax rebate. And that was before they even lowered the EV prices.

How many times have I waited an hour to charge. Zero. I’ve waited 20 minutes about 5 times (time for a pee break). The rest I charge conveniently at home as needed.

And a number of times, I found slow, free chargers that I can leave the truck on the night before my trip and not even pay for the electricity!

 

[RickKeen]

I also watched that on TV. I agree it’s not a good optic, and my wife said that out loud at the time. I think the guy on the spectrum got a little over excited with his “my heart goes out to you” gesture.

Plenty of other evidence he IS a Nazi and those were Nazi salutes on purpose. He has not even personally denied it. But yeah, not the place for politics.

 

[marc_hanna]

Plenty of other evidence he IS a Nazi and those were Nazi salutes on purpose. He has not even personally denied it. But yeah, not the place for politics.

I haven’t seen any evidence. So, clearly our definitions of what is considered evidence are also miles apart.

 

[RickKeen]

I haven’t seen any evidence. So, clearly our definitions of what is considered evidence are also miles apart.

Remember when Musk restored the accounts of all the Nazis on X and the advertisers did not want their ads next to Nazi content and Musk told the advertisers to "Go F themselves"?

Sponsored