Reddit Repost: "Features you're probably not using (or not using correctly)?”

Hi all,

This is a very interesting topic I want to repost. Vote above.

I absolutely refuse to pay ANY subscription fees for vehicle features. So Bluecruise is out for me. I also do not understand the appeal of phone as a key. The truck already has passive entry and an app that can lock/unlock the truck. And a key fob. I don't get it. Trailer guidance? NO thanks....it actually makes it harder to back a trailer. And I think we can all agree that the lane keeping stuff is just plain annoying.

I would have loved it if Ford had taken thousands off the sticker price and eliminate all this electronic junk.

Things that I personally have never or rarely use:

- Built-in wireless charger is not useful to me as the charge rate isn't as good as standalone wireless chargers.
- SirusXM is useless as I simply use YouTube Music, Audible or any other streaming service I have access to.
- Built-in route planner I have never used as I prefer to plan things out myself using Plugshare + Google Maps/Waze.
- Used the Entertainment screens once during my first Supercharging session because I was curious. Watched shows/YouTube on my phone/laptop/tablet all the other times.
- Never had to send any feedback though if there's an item that bothers me enough, I may finally use it.

On the flip side, things that I can't lose are:

PAAK - I love carrying one less thing (huge FOB) in my pocket. I have a magsafe wallet stuck to my phone, so now all I have to do is grab my phone when I head out. If PAAK doesn't open the door quickly enough, then I use the door keypad.

PPOB - Having access to household plugs are a life saver, no longer having to rely on a separate inverter or a bunch of 12V socket adapters. Being able to plug in my UGREEN 100W brick into the 120V socket and power all my work related equipment has been amazing.

Panoramic Sunroof - I know Ford has their issues with the sunroof, but since having a panoramic sunroof in my Ascent previously, keeping this has been great. Kids love to look outside and getting that extra light (and feeling of openess) when we want it is great.

FRUNK!!! - Wife approved, one of the sole reasons for letting me trade the Ascent for the Lightning was the locking frunk that is accessible for her (she's 5 ft tall). I am also a parking snob so backing in is a must; was annoying before having to squeeze past two cars to get to the tailgate before, I can just pop the frunk and toss my stuff in there.

Full Size Spare - Never thought I'd use it until I got a flat going 120km/h on the freeway with my 4 year old in the back. Nod to the TPMS system that I never thought I'd use other than to check that my tire pressure is where I wanted it. Rather than wait for hours for a tow truck; I was able to slap on the spare and be on my way within 30 mins. Those without a spare, I'd suggest sourcing one or getting a mobile patch kit and a 12V pump to keep behind the rear bench for emergencies.

Wireless phone charger = wireless phone heater. That thing sucks out loud.

WXman said:

I absolutely refuse to pay ANY subscription fees for vehicle features. So Bluecruise is out for me. I also do not understand the appeal of phone as a key. The truck already has passive entry and an app that can lock/unlock the truck. And a key fob. I don't get it. Trailer guidance? NO thanks....it actually makes it harder to back a trailer. And I think we can all agree that the lane keeping stuff is just plain annoying.

I would have loved it if Ford had taken thousands off the sticker price and eliminate all this electronic junk.

Click to expand...

The whole idea of phone as a key is not having to carry the fob. It’s pretty simple if you think about it. You always have your phone so why carry another key that you don’t need. At least for me I like it. I hate a having a bunch of shit in my pockets so not having to carry the fob is nice.

Yeah I tried that trailer backup thing and it was just easier and less confusing to just do it the old fashioned way.

I wish I had Phone As A Key or Passive Entry. My 2022 XLT doesn't have either. Coming from a 2013 Camry that had passive entry, it's actually one of the things I hate the most about the truck. It boggles my mind that Ford couldn't include this cheap technology in the truck.

I'm in and out of the vehicle a lot throughout the week. It's a huge difference being able to just open up the handle and enter versus fumble for the key fob/key to unlock and then enter. One of the things I'm thinking about upgrading is doing the passive entry mod with the Bronco handles so that I can get this function.

- Active Park Assist - Don't know what this is...
- Wireless Charger - Don't use at all
- Sirius XM - Don't use any subscription based services
- Bluecruise - Don't have on my XLT
- Lane Keep Assist - Use, but it doesn't seem like it works all the time
- Bed Scale - Use occasionally
- Trailer Guidance - Don't have a trailer or tow with this vehicle
- Built-in Route Planner - I use ABRP and PlugShare to route plan, so don't use this function
- Infotainment - When charging I don't really use it other than to listen to music on carplay while I play with my phone
- PAAK - ABSOLUTELY WISH I HAD THIS ON MY VEHICLE!!!
- Numeric Keypad on Door - I don't even know how this is a thing? It's significantly slower to enter a numeric keypad entry than to just click on the keyfob, or better yet if you had passive entry/PAAK...
- Zone Lighting - I use it in the winter when I'm around the truck working and it get's dark
- Record Feedback - I just saw this a week ago and never really used.

RLXXI said:

"Active park assist"?!? No such animal on my truck that I'm aware of.

Click to expand...

Yeah, Active Park Assist 2.0 was deleted in 2024. Us 22/23's even have a dedicated button to activate it - one of the few buttons we have! It can park your truck automagically. Those that use it, love it. The rest of us are too afraid to try it.


(Standard on 22/23 Lariat ER & Platinum, optional on Lariat SR)

I wish I at least had phone as a key as an option. I feel it should be standard on a Lightning. The fob is the biggest I've had on a car yet and I'd like to leave that at home. I read it's an extra electronics module and I don't know why it needs to be more electronics but maybe there's something functional that I don't understand vs. pure market segmentation.

I like Bluecruise but I wasn't impressed enough with it to pay their asking price, I'll subscribe if they cut the price in half.

I like lane keep assist, it's been fine for me. Seeing how people drive in life, clearly a lot of people need it.

Not clear why this was limited to only five choices, I use pretty much none of these.

bmwhitetx said:

Yeah, Active Park Assist 2.0 was deleted in 2024. Us 22/23's even have a dedicated button to activate it - one of the few buttons we have! It can park your truck automagically. Those that use it, love it. The rest of us are too afraid to try it.

(Standard on 22/23 Lariat ER & Platinum, optional on Lariat SR)

Click to expand...

I keep forgetting I have this. But also, you kind of have to have no one waiting behind you or this gets stressful real fast. I remember using it a few times to parallel park at work and it does work, but seeing your steering wheel flying around at warp speed as your truck gets inches from the car in front and in back of you is a tad intense, at least to me anyways.

Last summer Ford held a towing seminar and I couldn’t make it. Towing etc. is my vote. As I tow periodically and would love to know how it all works. Do it again ford!

It would only let me select 5, so here is the more detailed list...

- Active Park Assist - Not available on my 24
- Wireless Charger - Don't use at all
- Sirius XM - Been an XM customer since right after they launched. Use it regularly.
- Bluecruise - To expensive to pay for regularly. I did buy one month where I had two long driving trips. Kinda nice, but I don't really trust it.
- Lane Keep Assist - Use it once in a while
- Bed Scale - Only used as a novelty
- Trailer Guidance - Don't have a trailer. May rent one once in a while for moving stuff. I DO think the trailer hitch camera view would be really cool for hooking up.
- Built-in Route Planner - I mostly use PlugShare / Google Maps to route plan (and back up theat with the Tesla and EA apps).
- Infotainment - When charging I usually play with my phone if I don't go for a walk (often to GeoCache)
- PAAK - Don't have on my Flash and have no desire for it.
- Numeric Keypad on Door - Verified it works once and never expect to use it.
- Zone Lighting - Maybe I don't understand "Zone". Yea, lots of outside lights.
- Record Feedback - Did not know this existed.

bmwhitetx said:

Yeah, Active Park Assist 2.0 was deleted in 2024. Us 22/23's even have a dedicated button to activate it - one of the few buttons we have! It can park your truck automagically. Those that use it, love it. The rest of us are too afraid to try it.

(Standard on 22/23 Lariat ER & Platinum, optional on Lariat SR)

Click to expand...

On my 2024, I have some parking button down there, but it's not the same. I have pushed it and from what I can tell it just finds local public parking.

astrand1 said:

The whole idea of phone as a key is not having to carry the fob. It’s pretty simple if you think about it. You always have your phone so why carry another key that you don’t need. At least for me I like it. I hate a having a bunch of shit in my pockets so not having to carry the fob is nice.

Click to expand...

That's scary to me. So if I go out somewhere and my phone dies, app screws up for some reason, perhaps no signal, Bluetooth hangs up, or any of the other issues that pop up on these devices from day to day I'm stranded? Can't start my truck?

No thanks. The key fob is pretty small and doesn't fail.