Lemon/buyback and Pro Trim

[csdadak]

I am looking at Lemon/Buyback Lightnings at Capital Ford in Charlotte. The pricing and factory warranty (or 12 month/12k mile bumper to bumper warranty if remaining factory warranty is less than that) is what makes it attractive. I plan to keep the vehicle until it runs into the ground so I am not super worried about resale value.

The point of getting the lightning is combination of commuter car/truck/family vehicle/tailgating. I don't go on super long trips but am likely to try to get an ER anyway due to range anxiety. Live in Virginia so moderate temps.

Has anyone had any experience with lemon/buyback purchasing (even better if at Capital Ford Charlotte)?

Also, I am looking at a 2023 Pro ER. In terms of what I would miss from the Lariat it would be sunroof/moonroof, sliding rear window. The leather I am not too worried about because I don't love the Lariat leather. Would prefer a brown and would look into reupholstering either. I actually prefer the 12" screen so I'm not worried about not getting the bigger screen either. There wouldn't be adaptive cruise control either with the Pro. Anything else that isn't on the Pro Trim that I would miss instead of getting the Lariat?

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[TaxmanHog]

Good luck with whichever trim you decide on, hopefully the issues that caused the original owner to turn in the truck are now resolved, it took the MoCo more time to get the various supply & support lines rolling to get these trucks fixed, more time than many original owners had tolerance for, I don't blame them.

 

[Firn]

Good luck!

I love my Pro ER, it does NOT feel like a "work truck" and even my wife agrees with that (she loves it).

As you mentioned you don't get adaptive cruise, which also means you don't get adaptive lane CENTERING (you do get lake KEEPING).

You do also miss out on the door keypad, rain sensing wipers, and also proximity keys.

 

[Azgunguy]

Good luck!

I love my Pro ER, it does NOT feel like a "work truck" and even my wife agrees with that (she loves it).

As you mentioned you don't get adaptive cruise, which also means you don't get adaptive lane CENTERING (you do get lake KEEPING).

You do also miss out on the door keypad, rain sensing wipers, and also proximity keys.

Agreed. I just wish they put the work station in the work truck! I put adaptive cruise in mine after I bought it and it’s been incredible.

 

[csdadak]

Good luck!

I love my Pro ER, it does NOT feel like a "work truck" and even my wife agrees with that (she loves it).

As you mentioned you don't get adaptive cruise, which also means you don't get adaptive lane CENTERING (you do get lake KEEPING).

You do also miss out on the door keypad, rain sensing wipers, and also proximity keys.

Good call on the keypad, wipers, and proximity key. I knew about the keypad but not the other two. Thank you!

 

[csdadak]

Agreed. I just wish they put the work station in the work truck! I put adaptive cruise in mine after I bought it and it’s been incredible.

I've seen your posts about the things you did to upgrade your Pro. I am not that handy so I doubt I could do the adaptive cruise control haha. Very cool and impressive though.

 

[Azgunguy]

I've seen your posts about the things you did to upgrade your Pro. I am not that handy so I doubt I could do the adaptive cruise control haha. Very cool and impressive though.

It’s not THAT bad. But it’s certainly not something for the faint of heart. I was surprised I did it right on the first try. It’s not a “grab a 6 pack and get to work” kind of job. But if you follow the tutorial down to the T and ask questions you’d be good to go. It’s really just a matter of following a recipe.

 

[No Oil HaHa]

Good luck with Capital Ford; I couldn’t get a salesman to return my call.
You could try Dennis Sneed Ford in Missouri. They specialize in buybacks. Salesman seemed nice enough and wasn’t overly aggressive. I just got a better deal somewhere else.
I bought a Lariat ER buyback. The buyback was not because of the battery. There was a leak in the passenger door. I got a truck with under 10k miles on it for under 50k. I’ve put 33k miles on it in 6 months and have had no issues. I love the truck.

 

[jdmackes]

Good call on the keypad, wipers, and proximity key. I knew about the keypad but not the other two. Thank you!

You can add all that stuff back in to the pro. I added adaptive cruise, rain sensing wipers, passive entry with approach lighting, securicode keypad, heated steering and I think that's everything... None of them were particularly difficult (the securicode surprisingly being the most annoying one to do) and you can do any of them within a few hours. The rain sensing wipers take all of 5 minutes, you just have to plug in a module and update the computer with forscan.

 

[Heliian]

the issues that caused the original owner to turn in the truck are now resolved

Ya never know but a lot of them were just delays for parts, people were also caught off guard somehow by the price and had to find excuses to return the trucks. There were also people threatening lemon/buyback for mundane convenience items.

I'd go one step further to say that a lemon/buyback is a safer bet than a random used one, at least the problems should have been rectified.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Ya never know but a lot of them were just delays for parts, people were also caught off guard somehow by the price and had to find excuses to return the trucks. There were also people threatening lemon/buyback for mundane convenience items.

I'd go one step further to say that a lemon/buyback is a safer bet than a random used one, at least the problems should have been rectified.

I'll top your list with folks who were looking for a simple way out of the truck because it was not right for their lifestyle, they avoided a huge cut of depreciation as compared to someone who sold or traded it for an ICE vehicle.

 

[tannerk89]

I have a 23 Pro ER and it’s fantastic, I don’t personally miss anything and like that it’s the fastest version of the truck, most powerful/lightest variant! Added the LC/ACC and rainsense myself. Like @Azgunguy said it wasn’t too bad to do the install, just have to follow directions and be careful, but it’s not for everyone. I work in an automotive factory that builds trucks, so take my assessment of what’s difficult with that in mind! I’m also only 3hrs from Charlotte (Roanoke, VA), and happy to offer some help if you do end up going that route!

 

[srvethelord]

I can speak exactly to your question. This past February I bought a 2022 Lightning Platinum from Capital Ford, AND it was a lemon/buy back. I never saw the truck in person until it was delivered. Because of the lemon title I got it at a great price. I love it. I've had minimum problems with it (broken sunglass holder, peeling running boards, rip in leather seat) all of which were replaced under warranty. I also live in VA, near DC. The truck has been great. The purchase was pretty smooth with Capital Ford. I had them deliver the vehicle ($250) as it was worth it to save me the 11-13 hour round trip drive to get it. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Whitewater64]

Good luck with whichever trim you decide on, hopefully the issues that caused the original owner to turn in the truck are now resolved, it took the MoCo more time to get the various supply & support lines rolling to get these trucks fixed, more time than many original owners had tolerance for, I don't blame them.

I just completed a lemon buyback on my '23 Lariat because FoMoCo STILL can't deliver parts timely. My Lightning sat at the dealer for 84 days waiting for a part, and as of the day of the transfer (Nov 26), the service advisor said they still don't have an expected arrival date. I love the truck so much that I bought another, holding out hope that FoMoCo will get their act together on parts.

Side note - this is the first time I have EVER been happy about horrible depreciation. Paid about $93k for my first Lightning, got most of that back and paid $61k for the same truck with 9000 miles fewer than I had on my first one. And ironically, the second truck is identical to the one I originally ordered (Azure Grey, Lariat, ER, Max Tow), but got impatient waiting for and bought an available Star White. I must be living right!

 

[csdadak]

I have a 23 Pro ER and it’s fantastic, I don’t personally miss anything and like that it’s the fastest version of the truck, most powerful/lightest variant! Added the LC/ACC and rainsense myself. Like @Azgunguy said it wasn’t too bad to do the install, just have to follow directions and be careful, but it’s not for everyone. I work in an automotive factory that builds trucks, so take my assessment of what’s difficult with that in mind! I’m also only 3hrs from Charlotte (Roanoke, VA), and happy to offer some help if you do end up going that route!

Small world. I'm in Roanoke!

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