I'm glad I have my Lightning....

[SpaceEVDriver]

We traded our 2019 Tacoma DC, Long bed, TRD OR for the Lightning. Got a great discount on the Lariat, a surprising trade offer on the Tacoma, and haven't looked back.

I've owned four Toyota pickups and didn't believe we would find a truck that would replace it. I liked our 2007 Tacoma much better, and regretted selling it. I don't do brand loyalty, but every time I was in the market for a truck, they were just there at the top. That is until Toyota dropped the ball and chose, again, and again, and again not to go all-electric. 2024 is the first year since 1997 that a Toyota wasn't at least one of the vehicles in our stable.

The final straw came two years after we got our Mustang Mach-E and were on a road trip to Arkansas. We were camping, so chose to drive the Tacoma. We'd only put a few thousand miles on it since getting the Mustang. The handling, comfort, efficiency, noise, everything is leagues better in the Mustang. When we got home, we bought the Lightning.

If we ever decide to move on from the Lightning, we'll compare what Toyota offers, but only if it's all electric. We'll be cross-shopping with Rivian, Scout Motors, and every other BEV truck manufacturer, so Toyota would have to offer something truly special.

Sponsored

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

It does alright on the fire roads and even doing a bit of light off-road exploration, but it’s not a Tacoma. Too long, too heavy, too wide for even moderately serious off-road play. I still don’t regret trading the Tacoma.

 

[Danface]

Speaking of missing the stick shift, I still reflexively try to down shift the Lightning

One pedal reminds me of downshifting

 

[pullinggs]

It the first automatic transmission vehicle I have ever bought. I don’t remember ever trying to clutch the lightning yet.

The only time I struggle with an automatic transmission is when "something unexpected happens" and I have to hit the brakes HARD. By reflex, I also try to step on the clutch pedal with my left foot... and it sometimes finds the brake pedal instead.

 

[Zaptor]

I miss the stick shift

Maybe get one of these? Vroom vroom noises (and grinding) not included...

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804661456445.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

-Zap

 

[chl]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha?

$76k must be fully loaded I guess?

With an estimate 23 mpg combined mileage not so great for a hybrid.

I'm fine with our 2015 Prius hybrid and the 50 mpg combined we get. That's hybrid at its best.

But the Tacoma's 24MPG highway is not that great.
Rather unimpressive.

Especially compared to our Lightnings get upwards of 60 mpe.

 

[chl]

The advantage of a Hybrid is totally lost with short trips. As you experienced, the gas engine has to run constantly every time at the beginning of a trip to get it up to operating temperature. My wife had a Prius that got great efficiency when she was commuting on local roads 30 miles to work. When her work location changed to 3 miles from home the efficiency gain was gone because the gas engine ran the whole trip.

We have the same 2024 White Platinum Lightning. i also got the killer deal that was offered for plan buyers in Q1, 4 months ago.

Something must have been wrong with your Prius - ours cuts off the gas engine periodically in bumper-to-bumper (slow) traffic, at lights etc. which makes it very efficient at city driving.

A little less efficient out on the highway, but only a tad.

 

[flyct]

That was exactly what I ran into. I went from driving both kids to the same school to mainly taking them to bus stops that were in our neighborhood. My average fuel economy for city driving went from ~22 to about 16. And I am sure it wasn't great for the engine.

The deals in March were pretty unreal as you mentioned. My dealer even got me out of my PowerBoost lease a few months early because they got a kickback for selling a certain number of EVs before the end of the quarter and they were shy a few, so they covered my two remaining lease payments so long as I took delivery of the Lightning before the end of March. That plus plan pricing and rebates, not sure I will ever see a deal like it again.

My wife’s Prius went from 55 mpg down to 30 mpg when work location changed.

I originally went to Ford dealer intending to trade my Tesla in on a MME. I asked why all the Lightnings were under the delivery area overhang. The sales rep told me that employees were buying them. My sales rep took delivery of a Platinum to replace his Flash. there were 4 being delivered to sales reps and sales managers due to the great plan deals. Between X-Plan discount, rebates, incentives, a $2k PCO, plus zero % interest on a Lease I couldn't pass it up.

Something must have been wrong with your Prius - ours cuts off the gas engine periodically in bumper-to-bumper (slow) traffic, at lights etc. which makes it very efficient at city driving.

A little less efficient out on the highway, but only a tad.

Our Prius gas engine would not cut off unless the gas engine was at operating temperature and the HV Hybrid battery was above a certain charge level. The 3 mile, 7 minute commute to my wife's new work location never allowed enough time for the gas engine to get to operating temp. So the trip was all on gas engine.

I agree that It was very efficient when my wife was commuting across town. The gas engine would stop at red lights and when moving below a certain speed as long as the HV battery charge level and the gas engine was up to temp. But when her work location changed to a 3 mile and 7 minute commute, the gas engine rarely got up to operating temperature, so it continued to run. It never went to battery only mode.

 

[rufustlong]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha?

You made a great choice Marsha! My 2014 Tacoma DCLB Sport ($33k) was stolen ~2016 and I dearly loved that truck. I replaced it with a 2016 DCSB OR ($37k) and the bells and whistles were nice from the newer body style but drivability was never even close. That 4 liter V6 they used to put in those 2nd gens with the old tranny was something special. Not to mention the thing rode like a Cadillac on and off road.

A similar Tacoma non TRD Pro would be another 20k on top of those trucks. Crazy times we live in. Those new Tacos are not worth what they are asking plus, I think someone else said it best in here I feel like I have twice the truck now. Sure, I can't get into the deep sticks like a Tacoma would go and I will always urn for a manual but the Lightning is the best driving rig I've ever had.

 

[MaintGrl]

You made a great choice Marsha! My 2014 Tacoma DCLB Sport ($33k) was stolen ~2016 and I dearly loved that truck. I replaced it with a 2016 DCSB OR ($37k) and the bells and whistles were nice from the newer body style but drivability was never even close. That 4 liter V6 they used to put in those 2nd gens with the old tranny was something special. Not to mention the thing rode like a Cadillac on and off road.

A similar Tacoma non TRD Pro would be another 20k on top of those trucks. Crazy times we live in. Those new Tacos are not worth what they are asking plus, I think someone else said it best in here I feel like I have twice the truck now. Sure, I can't get into the deep sticks like a Tacoma would go and I will always urn for a manual but the Lightning is the best driving rig I've ever had.

Thanks, I appreciate it, coming from an other Taco owner. It was a great ride while I had it. But now . . . NO GAS STATIONS!

 

[Maquis]

The advantage of a Hybrid is totally lost with short trips. As you experienced, the gas engine has to run constantly every time at the beginning of a trip to get it up to operating temperature.

That’s not true of (most) currently produced plug-in hybrids. When we use our XC90 PHEV around town, the engine never runs.

 

[flyct]

That’s not true of (most) currently produced plug-in hybrids. When we use our XC90 PHEV around town, the engine never runs.

Plug-In Hybrids PHEVs are totally different compared to straight Hybrids. YourXC90 has an 18 kWh battery, if totally charged at home can run for about 30 miles before it needs a charge from ICE. A Typical Prius (our hybrid, not plug in) only has a 1.8 kWh battery. It is primarily used to recover energy while slowing down to assist the ICE engine during acceleration.

I owned a straight Hybrid Prius and a Lexus CT200h hybrid that had a Prius drive chain. Also owned a Lexus RX 400h hybrid. None of these could rum more than 1 mile only on battery power.

Now a 2020-now Prius Prime is a PHEV and I believe has a 16 kWh battery that can propel the car solely in electric for up to 40 miles if charged at home before the ICE engine kicks in.

At the time we bought the Prius Hybrid there were no manufactures that sold PHEV in Florida. Shorty afterwards Chevy Volt PHEV came out.

 

[MaintGrl]

Plug-In Hybrids PHEVs are totally different compared to straight Hybrids. YourXC90 has an 18 kWh battery, if totally charged at home can run for about 30 miles before it needs a charge from ICE. A Typical Prius (our hybrid, not plug in) only has a 1.8 kWh battery. It is primarily used to recover energy while slowing down to assist the ICE engine during acceleration.

I owned a straight Hybrid Prius and a Lexus CT200h hybrid that had a Prius drive chain. Also owned a Lexus RX 400h hybrid. None of these could rum more than 1 mile only on battery power.

Now a 2020-now Prius Prime is a PHEV and I believe has a 16 kWh battery that can propel the car solely in electric for up to 40 miles if charged at home before the ICE engine kicks in.

At the time we bought the Prius Hybrid there were no manufactures that sold PHEV in Florida. Shorty afterwards Chevy Volt PHEV came out.

I had not did any research on any of those vehicles, but I was under the impression that they had larger batteries than what has been stated...

 

[daczone]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha?

Ford could improve on the UI... The crazy part it's all there, and the CT doesn't have the birds eye view, not does their tailgate go up and down electrically, but silly things like side cameras (only work when pulling a trailer) and the lack of any camera recording. When my FREE connected navigation expires I'm not sure I would pay for it, there is no value there.

The one thing I WISH we had was the 4 wheel steering. I always feel like an idiot going back and forth getting in and out of spots. The CT drives so well.... but the CT has too many other issues
tiny back seat, the motor whine is horrible, and back window always being blocked and the creaking every time you put it in park and it lowers the suspension.

 

[Aminorjourney]

I'm not going to lie. Without our lightning, we'd not be able to make videos with footage like this:

(linked to the shot in question).

The F150 Lightning really does meet all our needs:

Camera Truck
Farm Truck
Woodworking Truck
Hauling Truck
Power Backup for our rural home.

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