What’s your next BEV Pickup?

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

Whatever it is will have to be set up for significant towing like the Lightning. That means towing capacity and it means a charge port at the front of the truck. Left-rear charge ports are incompatible with charging at 99.5% of existing DCFCs.

Sponsored

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

The new Scout was always erev, it's also built by VW. Don't think I want any European vehicles in my driveway.

The Scout will be built in Blythewood, South Carolina. Until SC secedes again, the Scout will still be American made.

 

[RLXXI]

The Scout will be built in Blythewood, South Carolina. Until SC secedes again, the Scout will still be American made.

And the bulk of the money spent on it goes to Germany.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

The new Scout was always erev, it's also built by VW. Don't think I want any European vehicles in my driveway.

I've worked on several Mercedes of all types and none of them impressed me in the least, same for BMW and Audi. Eurojunk!

I'll stick with American made regardless of import content.

Certainly an interesting take. It’s interesting that I’ve yet to experience an American made vehicle that met or exceed the quality standards of German vehicles.

If you want cheap, you get what you pay for.

 

[RLXXI]

Certainly an interesting take. It’s interesting that I’ve yet to experience an American made vehicle that met or exceed the quality standards of German vehicles.

If you want cheap, you get what you pay for.

You haven't worked on them like I have to see what I've seen in those vehicles. I won't own one and I know how to fix them. Granted it's been a few years so maybe they've improved.

I don't recall the lightning being cheap.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

You haven't worked on them like I have to see what I've seen in those vehicles. I won't own one and I know how to fix them. Granted it's been a few years so maybe they've improved.

I don't recall the lightning being cheap.

Wrong. I’ve maintained all of my out of warranty German cars for the last 20 years, they’re really not so bad. Sure, Mercedes is known for being overly complex at times, but domestically they also have ZERO competition in each segment. I’ll take a G63 over a Bronco Raptor ANY day. I’d also take an AMG GT-R over a Mustang Dark Horse or GT500.

Unfortunately in 2026 the Lightning IS cheap, which is a sad fact in and of itself. It also is cheap when it comes to equipment. No auto wipers on $73k trucks? What!?! Lots of little cost savings measures were taken on all trims, tons of fit and finish issues, too many recalls, and I can go on and on. Please don’t misunderstand, I like the Lightning, and I’m glad Ford actually made it. But from a quality perspective it’s not even close to the engineering quality of most German vehicles.

 

[djryan13]

Here is a thought. In 10 years when the lightning is not worth driving, if battery still works, you can hook it up to house permanently for Solar battery.

My 2015 Model S is still running great. I don’t drive often. If it had a good way to tap the HV battery and connect to solar, I would. Seems like my Lightning would be perfect for that.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Here is a thought. In 10 years when the lightning is not worth driving, if battery still works, you can hook it up to house permanently for Solar battery.

My 2015 Model S is still running great. I don’t drive often. If it had a good way to tap the HV battery and connect to solar, I would. Seems like my Lightning would be perfect for that.

Funny enough I have clients operating grid scale energy backup facilities doing this very thing.

 

[pookguy88]

Cybertruck

 

[tearitupsports]

Here is a thought. In 10 years when the lightning is not worth driving, if battery still works, you can hook it up to house permanently for Solar battery.

My 2015 Model S is still running great. I don’t drive often. If it had a good way to tap the HV battery and connect to solar, I would. Seems like my Lightning would be perfect for that.

If you had the CCS1 conversion then you could use your model S as a home battery with Sigenergy V2X or something like it.

 

[K6CCC]

Left-rear charge ports are incompatible with charging at 99.5% of existing DCFCs.

Really? Better explain that to Telsa since EVERY Tesla vehicle has the charge port on the left rear corner and every Tesla SuperCharger is laid out with that understanding (not as much of an issue with V4 since the cables are longer). About the only time that does not work well is when towing - but then essentially nothing except a pull through spot works very well.

With that said, I agree that the charge port location of the Lightning is about the worst place it could be.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Really? Better explain that to Telsa since EVERY Tesla vehicle has the charge port on the left rear corner and every Tesla SuperCharger is laid out with that understanding (not as much of an issue with V4 since the cables are longer). About the only time that does not work well is when towing - but then essentially nothing except a pull through spot works very well.

With that said, I agree that the charge port location of the Lightning is about the worst place it could be.

Totally agree. Bare minimum it should have been located on the passenger side. They could have gone the Porsche Taycan route and have a charge port on both sides, with the DCFC port located in the right side.

 

[RLXXI]

Wrong. I’ve maintained all of my out of warranty German cars for the last 20 years, they’re really not so bad. Sure, Mercedes is known for being overly complex at times, but domestically they also have ZERO competition in each segment. I’ll take a G63 over a Bronco Raptor ANY day. I’d also take an AMG GT-R over a Mustang Dark Horse or GT500.

Unfortunately in 2026 the Lightning IS cheap, which is a sad fact in and of itself. It also is cheap when it comes to equipment. No auto wipers on $73k trucks? What!?! Lots of little cost savings measures were taken on all trims, tons of fit and finish issues, too many recalls, and I can go on and on. Please don’t misunderstand, I like the Lightning, and I’m glad Ford actually made it. But from a quality perspective it’s not even close to the engineering quality of most German vehicles.

Good for you man, I'm happy you get off on German vehicles, I do NOT and never will so sell it to someone else.

Truth be known I did own 70 VW Beetle back in the day, fun car to drive, heater sucked.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Good for you man, I'm happy you get off on German vehicles, I do NOT and never will so sell it to someone else.

Truth be known I did own 70 VW Beetle back in the day, fun car to drive, heater sucked.

That’s an interesting response. I’m genuinely curious why you feel the way you do about Mercedes. You haven’t offered anything substantive so just curious what the actual reason is.

 

[Zprime29]

Really? Better explain that to Telsa since EVERY Tesla vehicle has the charge port on the left rear corner and every Tesla SuperCharger is laid out with that understanding (not as much of an issue with V4 since the cables are longer). About the only time that does not work well is when towing - but then essentially nothing except a pull through spot works very well.

With that said, I agree that the charge port location of the Lightning is about the worst place it could be.

Pretty sure he meant that the rear location was incompatible "while towing". With a front charge port, you have a shot at pulling in to charge. With a rear, there are very few pull through charging stalls so you'd have to disconnect the trailer 99% of the time.

Sponsored