2025 Lariat ER extended test drive

[22legit2quit]

Over the past few days my 2024 Flash ER has been in the shop for the most recent recall, I believe it was something with a ball joint, but they gave me a 2025 Lariat to drive for a few days. Up front, if I was offered the ability to trade straight across for mine (with zero negative equity) I would not and I will explain as that probably sounds ridiculous.

Pros-
Brand new, had like 30 miles on it.

Vented seats. Very nice in the Arkansas summer. Make sure to read this in cons also.

Plugged right into my FCSP at home seamlessly.

I liked the color, antimatter blue I think.

Almost everything was the same as my flash as far as the interior. Leather or whatever the material seats and the vented part was about it. It even had the bigger screen which I thought was a flash only type thing.

Cons-

Price. It was 85k. I think about 5k was dealer markups for like undercoating and nitrogen in the tires but a solid 78-80k all fomoco. That’s crazy considering mine was 65.

Vented seats were loud. This isn’t something I’ve ever noticed any other time but in a vehicle that makes very little noise they’re overwhelming. Champagne problem, yes I know.

The range was easily 15% less than mine. This is with the same driving style, energy conservation,etc. Yes everything was reset and the weather, driving route and frequency were also unchanged.

Conclusion-
The truck was nice, but I wouldn’t buy one or another one. The prices are ludicrous, I mean really. Then again, I would never have considered giving that as a loaner. I feel that the depreciation alone and the risk involved with letting one out with a college kid driver would be enough to make that impossible. Maybe the dealers are having rough times and are using these as reportable expenses to drive down their numbers? Oh well.

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[TaxmanHog]

It even had the bigger screen which I thought was a flash only type thing.

All Lariats & Platinums have the 15.5" "big screen", the "Flash" is an upscale XLT.

 

[Maquis]

I’d do it if they knocked off the 5K dealer add-on BS.
If you based your range comment on the GOM, forget about it - it’s not real. The only way is to compare M/kwh.
My cooled seats are imperceptible. I can’t hear anything.

 

[TaxmanHog]

My cooled seats are imperceptible. I can’t hear anything.

On Cool-3 I can hear them.

 

[krusherVA]

Over the past few days my 2024 Flash ER has been in the shop for the most recent recall, I believe it was something with a ball joint, but they gave me a 2025 Lariat to drive for a few days. Up front, if I was offered the ability to trade straight across for mine (with zero negative equity) I would not and I will explain as that probably sounds ridiculous.

Pros-
Brand new, had like 30 miles on it.

Vented seats. Very nice in the Arkansas summer. Make sure to read this in cons also.

Plugged right into my FCSP at home seamlessly.

I liked the color, antimatter blue I think.

Almost everything was the same as my flash as far as the interior. Leather or whatever the material seats and the vented part was about it. It even had the bigger screen which I thought was a flash only type thing.

Cons-

Price. It was 85k. I think about 5k was dealer markups for like undercoating and nitrogen in the tires but a solid 78-80k all fomoco. That’s crazy considering mine was 65.

Vented seats were loud. This isn’t something I’ve ever noticed any other time but in a vehicle that makes very little noise they’re overwhelming. Champagne problem, yes I know.

The range was easily 15% less than mine. This is with the same driving style, energy conservation,etc. Yes everything was reset and the weather, driving route and frequency were also unchanged.

Conclusion-
The truck was nice, but I wouldn’t buy one or another one. The prices are ludicrous, I mean really. Then again, I would never have considered giving that as a loaner. I feel that the depreciation alone and the risk involved with letting one out with a college kid driver would be enough to make that impossible. Maybe the dealers are having rough times and are using these as reportable expenses to drive down their numbers? Oh well.

I seriously do not understand anywhere having these at 85 k!
I just brought a new 25 Black Lariat for low SIXTIES!! (Oh and dealer takes the 7500 off the top as an additional rebate so I dont need to adjust taxes etc end of year).
If even near 80 I would not have looked twice.
Liked the flash as its even cheaper but liked the Lariat a little more. Btw, really really enjoying it so far. Getting good mileage and like the feel and operation of the truck.

 

[F150guy]

On Cool-3 I can hear them.

Same. On level 3 it sounds like an approaching car you often hear when you have your window down. This first time I used the vented seats on level 3 my window was down about 1.5 inches and I swore I heard a car coming to pass me I couldn't see. I was trying to see where that car was. Figured out it was the seats. So, I run vented seats on 2 or 1 often. But, I DO like the vented seats very much

 

[Rtashiro]

For 2025 I believe the lariat has a larger battery and longer stated range. I think they removed a module in the 2025 flash. 123 kwh vs 131 in the lariate. Also less horsepower due to smaller battery. 536 in the flash vs 580 in the lariat

 

[Ricks Lightning]

I would like to know how a ball Joint recall takes several days along with a brand new loaner..

Better check the loaner agreement. Pretty sure a college age kid can't drive the loaner..definitely not a rental, possibly a loaner?

Rick

 

[RickLightning]

I’d do it if they knocked off the 5K dealer add-on BS.
If you based your range comment on the GOM, forget about it - it’s not real. The only way is to compare M/kwh.
My cooled seats are imperceptible. I can’t hear anything.

On #2 setting, I hear them. On #3 setting, they are very noticeable.

 

[RickLightning]

For 2025 I believe the lariate has a larger battery and longer stated range. I think they removed a module in the 2025 flash. 123 kwh vs 131 in the lariate. Also less horsepower due to smaller battery. 536 in the flash vs 580 in the lariate

Lariat...

 

[Lytning]

On Cool-3 I can hear them.

Reminds me of waaay back in high school.
Freshmen were Cool-0.
Sophomores were Cool-1.
Juniors were Cool-2.
Seniors were Cool-3.
The librarian said so.

 

[CRAIGC540]

My cooled seats are imperceptible. I can’t hear anything.

22 Lariat and I hear loud air behind my left ear when cooled seats are on. I've never had cooled seats so I assumed this was normal, I have to sit up or arch my back to feel the cool air because the flow in my opinion is low. is this normal or should I be taking it in before my warranty is up?

 

[K6CCC]

I would not take the Lariat. I specifically wanted the Flash because it had the features I wanted, and did not have some that I specifically did not want - that the Lariat does. The biggest of those was the moonroof.

 

[WXman]

If Ford had not "de-contented" the Flash so heavily before I got mine, I would be 100% happy with it. But now I'm going to have to add things that used to be standard at an out of pocket cost and that essentially drives the price up.

Still, it's a pretty nice truck for the leasing deals they're offering.

 

[K6CCC]

Agreed on stuff that was removed from the 2025 flash. Glad I got a 2024.

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