Would You Buy A Lightning Again?

[JRT]

Your ask seems dependent on if we would run this truck to 150-200k in 4 to 5 years if that was our use case. And concern about value.

For me if that was the case, I'd buy a regular V8 F150 and run it with those miles with little concern. I traded my 2014 RAM 1500 crew cab 4x4 Long bed with 137k miles last year and got $20k.

Now would I buy a Lightning for my use case, not sure. The fact is my daughter is in Hattiesburg at school and heading there is a total headache with having to Tesla SC to 90% in Tuscaloosa and then leave the truck at a hospital to charge to 100% before we head home.

This is hours of time wasted and there is just no real fast charging options between Tuscaloosa and Hattiesburg. If I could get 1 more SC close to or in Hattiesburg it would be so much better. I do like this truck and my company just mandated 100% return to office, so I'll be putting miles on the truck, I'm at 18k as of today.

Sponsored

 

[Smokewagun]

Off on a tangent from my original posts, but hey, someone mentioned Ford’s ICE trucks…

I’m not sold on the new 2024 F-150 ICE. My ‘23 is a software nightmare like my son’s ‘23, and both shift like crap. My sons has already done cam phasers, too. I’ve had over 30 ford pickups, He’s had four. Both of our current trucks are crap. Ford says “Were working on updates”. Yeah. 10 months for my son, 7 months for me. The products Ford builds today, are forcing us to consider jumping ship. The Lightning is the only truck holding us here, because despite the few early adopting teething pains I had with my 2022 Lightning (many due to being a SR), the truck was ALWAYS fun and exciting to drive. It held interest and looked good. The build quality was SO far ahead of the ICE F-150. They are NOT the same in that respect. Not close.
This new 98% black plastic crap, poor build quality, stuff ford is turning out holds no interest for me anymore. Frankly, now that Dr. Bullshit is bragging about not wanting to give up his Chinese loaner, REALLY proves to me what he thinks about his products. HE’D RATHER DRIVE THE COMPETITION! Nice job, Farley. Spend more time in the office doing your job instead of driving around in foreign beaters, trying to sell battery vans to other countries.

 

[Duanebush]

OMG! Look at all the love!
I’m close to pulling the trigger. I really wish I could swing a Lariat, but a Flash may be in my future. In fact, my son might do the same. We just have to figure out charging arrangements. Thanks for all the replies. I always say, my 2022 Lightning was the best truck and the most fun to drive since my first truck.

I have a 23 lariat for sale on this forum.

 

[Hammick]

Hell no. But I would lease one

 

[Ragman]

Up to 5 of them so yes lol, 95% of people do not factor fuel savings into their math when they worry about the truck losing value. Gas and electrical rates vary, for us truck breakeven (are basically free from gas savings) at 100k miles.

That said I'll be scouring auctions for 23 model years going forward, not a fan of Flash screen and prefer the dual onboard chargers.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

As of right now I would. But, in 2-3 years I would certainly look at the competition. I'm not married to Ford as a brand. If Tesla made a more truck-looking truck, I probably would have purchased that instead. I do certainly like the F150 though, and I suspect it will still beat the competition for full size trucks in the next 2-3 years if they continue in their current path.

 

[Roland Neave]

I joined this forum group today after Googling how to close the frunk which was stuck open. Lots of helpful answers and it worked, thanks!
Responding to this thread - I've had my Lightning for 18 months and love it! My previous truck was a 1996 F-250 which I drove for 27 years. It was a gas guzzler, so going electric and saving a pile of money was quite a temptation. My wife is driving her second Leaf since 2012, so we were already familiar with EVs. My realistic range with all the mountains here is 450 km in summer (Ford says 525 km but that must be on the prairies) and about 300 km in winter. British Columbia has fast charging stations (50 to 150 kw) everywhere, so longer road trips are easy to do and I've never had to wait for my turn charging. It was a huge learning curve going from an old truck to all the myriad of gadgets and safety features in the Lightning, and I wish Ford had provided a printed owner's manual to help.
So the short answer to this thread is - if I had to buy another truck, I would definitely get a Lightning.

 

[MJDore]

Thrilled with my Lightning and will drive it for many years. As for the next, I'm holding out hope for a PHEV full-size pickup. I think that would be the sweet spot for me. The backup power capabilities of the Lightning or the Powerboost, but in a plug-in hybrid format. If Ford announced one of those, I'd be all over it.

 

[hdeitzer]

100% yes!!! Just like others, I would like to see improvements in software and battery technology. However, after 42,000 miles it remains best vehicle I've ever owned in 60 years of driving.

 

[RichB-HTX]

Definitely , especially at the reduced price it went to after I bought or the extended range version at my original price. I’m 67, and in Texas. It’s my first ever truck and it’s fantastic. I have level 2 Juicebox chargers at my home and at the weekend ranch, they work great. I also have Ford and A2Z NACS adapters.

 

[gregoryhcain]

100% yes!

 

[lipnorth]

After a year I still am in love with my Lightning. There are a few things I wish for (like the BluCruse update) but other than that I like my EV in almost every way compared to and ICE. I love driving past gas stations and charging at home. I love having serious electricity if needed to power things anywhere.

As for range, at least where I am (East Coast) I have had zero issues. Public charging is fairly abundant and getting better all the time. Add in access to Tesla stations with the free adaptor and I dont see myself ever buying another ICE.

Add to that how much $$$ I saved on gas and maintenance. I'm all in.

Yes I am afraid of resale value but if I wanted a new Lightning down the road Ford might overpay for my current vehicle to get me in a new one.

 

[mefly2]

We have owned our 23 ER Lariat for almost a year.
ABSOLUTELY would buy it again.
The design is great and I just had a Chev 1500 diesel as a loaner while C8 was being serviced .... that comparison driving just cemented that the 150L was the right choice. We have a super duty that sits in the garage next to the L and it is rarely driven.

 

[user-name-required]

Let’s be truthful. No BS, no sugar. Would you buy another?
I ask because I still maintain my 2022 Lightning was the best Ford truck I can remember in 40 years. Solid. Yes, teething, but it was new technology. I had issues, but the biggest was range. The standard just didn’t cut it for me. I had to bail after trying to get an ER. Then the bottom fell out 2 weeks later after I got out.
Now, I’m in a position to get back into an ER Flash. Just wondering what you owners have to say.
I an upside down in my current truck, and have enough incentives, tax rebate, and a PCO to right me up. I could save an easy $5,000 plus a year driving a Lightning again. But I’d want to just run it. I’m on the fence. In 5 years, I’d have between 150-200k on it. I don’t think the batteries are an issue. The service intervals thru 200k are literally tiring. Nothing. I think a coolant change at 160k if I recall. The ER would fit my daily driving without issue. Vacations? Eh, maybe. I have concerns at 150-200k, who would want a used EV? New tech with better batteries, quicker charging, longer range would have to kill a used Lightning, right? Am I concerned about these things for nothing? I can’t imagine my 2023 STX will return $20k in five years with 150 on the clock, after its $15k depreciation in six months. So what’s the likelihood a 2024 Lightning will return $20k in five years with all the other tech advancement strikes against it? I can’t find my crystal ball. Thoughts appreciated.

My take on this:

1. In 8 years, there will be an even more established market for battery swaps. Look at all the folks turning a 2014 Leaf from a 100 mile range vehicle to a 350 mile range vehicle with a battery swap out.
2. Because of the above, I look at it less like "no one will want this", and more of "people WILL want this because when the time eventually comes to swap out the battery, they can turn it into a (who knows) 500 mile range truck, for a lot less than buying a brand new 500 mile range truck.
3. With the tech that is on these, in 8 years, they will still be relevant. Just like a 2016 truck is still relevant, it still has all the connectivity stuff, power everything, creature comforts, etc.

If it makes sense to you now and over the next 8 years, just get it. What happens in 8 years is purely speculation at this point. But based on history, an 8 year old vehicle will probably be worth 20-30% of the total all in price now.

That was my buying logic anyways (getting my Flash next week finally).

Sponsored