Soon to be first time buyer - your help deciding year, trim and options?

[21st Century Truck]

This is good information for a MachE and it is good information for a Lightning if you don't close the shade. When the shade is closed radiant cooling is a non-issue.

Ahhh... I didn't realize the higher trim Lightnings have a pull shade.

The Mach E sure needed one for its enormous pano roof...

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[Jseis]

We’ve a ‘21 SR Mach E w/58K miles on the Odo and a ‘23 ER Lariat Lightning with 45K miles. Both have been well east nearly 2K round trip miles
to Great Falls/Missoula MT. With accessibility increasing to DFFC stations, there’s not a whole lot of difference between an ER and SR EV… with the caveat of your daily driving and Latitude of winter use . Since I commute ~90 miles a day I’ll use 35-40 KWh daily in the Lightning with occasional 170 mile days and pulling 80 KWh+. So the ER Lariat has that covered even in freezing weather for coastal WA but that would not do in the super cold Midwest.

If you can charge at home or a place of business, all that can be mitigated, particularly if power rates are low (we charge at home and at .0634 cents/kWh.. power is inexpensive). A mild winter climate helps. That results in an extraordinary savings over gas/diesel.

Between the two EVs, we’ve saved $30K net. To date.. and that included the $7K EV credit on the Mach E. The Lariat didn’t qualify but in the long haul it’ll save $$$ just on fuel savings.

I do not miss fluid changes, filters, coil packs, plugs, turbos, gasket issues, over reving, transmission wonkiness, and cumulative engine heat damage to just about anything like wiring, etc. No more cold startups, no gas station visits, appliance level utility. Without the regular maintenance of an ICE.

50 years ago I changed oil on my ‘62 bug every 2,000 miles and also checked the valve lash ‍!

 

[RickLightning]

Ahhh... I didn't realize the higher trim Lightnings have a pull shade.

The Mach E sure needed one for its enormous pano roof...

In fact, the Mach-E glass is treated, and no heat comes in, so no, it doesn't need a shade. The Lightning has the same roof as the F-150s, and even with a shade heat comes in.

 

[Whammy Bar]

I would buy a 1995 Toyota Tacoma.

 

[21st Century Truck]

In fact, the Mach-E glass is treated, and no heat comes in, so no, it doesn't need a shade. The Lightning has the same roof as the F-150s, and even with a shade heat comes in.

My post was about the heat (low infrared radiation) LEAVING the cabin.

My post did comnend the Ford design of the pano roof in adequately keeping the UV radiation from the sun, out. The lower infrared and the UV exist at different wavelength bands.

The Mach E pano roof keeps one mostly out, and lets the other one, also mostly out.

 

[Whammy Bar]

My post was about the heat (low infrared radiation) LEAVING the cabin.

My post did comnend the Ford design of the pano roof in adequately keeping the UV radiation from the sun, out. The lower infrared and the UV exist at different wavelength bands.

The Mach E pano roof keeps one mostly out, and lets the other one, also mostly out.

I threw 20% ceramic tint on both pieces of pano glass... made a huge difference. Never closed the shade after that...

 

[Whammy Bar]

Wait... I'm changing my answer.
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/d/boston-2009-chevrolet-cc5500-c5v042/7845922135.html

Weekend Projects
Camping Trips
Lots of room for signage
Will hold a ton of baseball cards
Has "Pro-Power Onboard"
Won't need to go to dealer in first 10k miles
Under budget

 

[Ragman]

Look for a '22/'23 Lariat SR (or a platinum) - there are a ton of these coming up on the off lease auction/dealer lots with minimal mileage. You'll appreciate the added "toys" over the XLTs and not seeing any price spread (or XLTs actually used). The ER's command a premium which they should, you can likely swing a good deal on an SR and your use looks to fit nicely.

 

[AlaskaFlash]

Good morning all

I have recently been lurking here quietly and learning from all of you and would appreciate your advice.

I am a 59 year old first time truck buyer and am developing quite the man-crush on the Lightening.

I will be a very light duty user - weekend projects, once/year camping trips and (true story) will likely add a removable logo/sign promoting my vintage baseball card business.

I will post photos here when it’s all done, as long as that is allowed.

here is my very basic question - which year, trim and feature/options would you all suggest with a budget around $40k, give or take?

I plan/hope to have this truck for many years, if that influences your advice.

thx for any thoughts and I look forward to sharing my final outcome whe. The dust settles on it all.

thx

jeff

The Lightning was my first truck. If you are comfortable driving a large truck, then the lower trims are something to look at. I went for the flash trim because I need the 360 camera view to know exactly where my truck is when parking my truck in parking lots, my garage, ect.

 

[belfast1933]

I have a 22 MME Er and a 23 Lightning xlt Er and I strongly suggest an Er battery. If you live in an area where winters get below or near freezing an Er battery is a must.

Pro power, though you will seldom use it, comes in really handy those few times you need it. I have powered my house during power outages about one a year.

Sorry for basic questions but can you define some of the acronyms for me?

MME?
ER?

 

[belfast1933]

Wait... I'm changing my answer.
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/d/boston-2009-chevrolet-cc5500-c5v042/7845922135.html

Weekend Projects
Camping Trips
Lots of room for signage
Will hold a ton of baseball cards
Has "Pro-Power Onboard"
Won't need to go to dealer in first 10k miles
Under budget

solid back up plan… imagine the size of my baseball card business logo

 

[Whammy Bar]

Sorry for basic questions but can you define some of the acronyms for me?

MME?
ER?

MME - Mustang Mach E (aka SUV Electric "Mustang")
ER - Refers to battery. ER is the extended range 131kW pack, where as you'll see SR, which is the standard range 98kW pack
XLT - Does not mean XceLlenT. Means just above base model.
Pro Power - Truck uses an onboard inverter to convert the high voltage battery to household current. 2 flavors... 2.4kW (120v only) and 9.6kW (240v)

How long have you been a consuktabt? I was thinking of getting into that but heard it had a steep learning curve.

 

[belfast1933]

MME - Mustang Mach E (aka SUV Electric "Mustang")
ER - Refers to battery. ER is the extended range 131kW pack, where as you'll see SR, which is the standard range 98kW pack
XLT - Does not mean XceLlenT. Means just above base model.
Pro Power - Truck uses an onboard inverter to convert the high voltage battery to household current. 2 flavors... 2.4kW (120v only) and 9.6kW (240v)

How long have you been a consuktabt? I was thinking of getting into that but heard it had a steep learning curve.

Thanks… and I can already see that this is a spell check type crowd. I’ll try and be better

 

[FloridaMan655321]

There seems to be more battery issues with the 22 and 23 Lightnings. I ended up going with a 24 Flash. At least with the Flash you get the ER (Extended Range) battery. I also didn't want a sunroof as there are some F150's (not Lightning specific) that have had issues with leaking, plus I didn't care about a sunroof (I've had them in the past, they are ok).
One thing that I did kind of want was the Pro-style infotainment system as it has more physical buttons, but I've certainly gotten used to what the Flash has. It works fine, just not ideal.

Good luck with whatever you decide on.

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