74% of Ford F-150 Lightning buyers have come from other brands

[K6CCC]

The Lightning was never going to be a long range towing vehicle, Ford has to have known this. Realty is most F150 owners don’t tow anything they just like to have the option!!

Agreed with that. My primary vehicle has been a pickup since Dec. 1985. First a 1986 Toyota 4x4 extended cab, then a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Crew cab (had kids and could only carry one in the Toyota), and the 24 Lightning is the third. Between them I have about 600K miles and likely less than 1000 miles of towing. However I use the bed quite regularly, and I take the truck to mountaintop 2 way radio sites regularly - hence the need to have 4x4 capability. All three trucks have had a cab high shell installed, and the shell comes off an average of about twice a year because I needed the shell off for one reason or another. I have also camped in the bed of all three. So yes, I use the capability of a pickup, but not to tow (much).

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[ZeusDriver]

I personally have never bought the same model or brand twice. I buy what I think is the best on the market and go with that.

I have been pretty much the same way, but, having won some 24 hour road races on a Honda motorcycle, and having worked in a Honda motorcycle dealership for a while, I had a pretty strong Honda preference for a while. As a service manager, I saw how Honda handled warranty claims and customer good will, and I was shocked and pleased to see them bend over backwards to make sure the customer was satisfied, all the time, every time. I wish they made the vehicles I want, but nothing beats the Lightning for me.

Nothing else is close. Having owned a Tesla for a year, there was no chance that I would buy a Cybertruck, even if they were $20,000. The Rivian is nice, but too expensive and with an uncertain future. The GMs are just too expensive, and not as good looking as the Ford.

 

[PrimeRisk]

I'm part of the 74% simply because there was no other real competition at the time for a truck that was capable of actually doing truck things. My 2000 Dodge was toast after 24 years of faithful service and I had to have a truck. Through the process of elimination, the Lightning was the only vehicle left if I wanted to go EV.

My first Ford was an '82 Mercury Capri. 5.0L, T-Tops, White on Blue. Super fun to drive and I sure thought I was cool with the T-Tops off and the black metal louvres over the hatchback. Unfortunately it was a maintenance nightmare and lived up to the Fix Or Repair Daily joke. I dumped it in '93 and I never took one look at any Ford for over 30 years, but the Lightning lured me back.

Lesson learned. The Lightning is my last Ford.

 

[PrimeRisk]

i'm not talking about the product viability. a survey would have been conducted to figure out 74% of buyers came from other brands, etc. 20%, 15% from f150, etc.

That is a very salient point. I have never in my life traded in a vehicle when purchasing a new one, I always do better with private sales. How would Ford have any idea what brand I was coming from? Maybe they are basing it on customer records from previous Ford purchases, but I did own a Ford in the late 80s into the early 90s, but it was a private sale and Ford would have no records on me.

 

[Whitetiburon]

I came from a tesla model 3 2018. Best thing I ever did was buy this truck. It is perfect for my needs and has saved me tons of money. I am so lucky I got one of these trucks to experience. It is gonna be hard to believe if noise in the vehicle will not be a factor with an ice engine. Also, just all the maintenance an ice engine requires, but I do like the added distance

 

[PDGJim]

I am of the 74% except for a 1979 pickup. I have been all Dodge for ever. My pickup I traded in was a 2020 Ram Longhorn. I love the LIghtning. I just bought it in October. It is a Brand New 2023 Lightning Latiet with standard battery. This is why I think it was a hard sell back then espicailly at $71,000. I bought it after trade in for $31,000. Copuld nopt pass it up. My wife and I have owned an E.V since 2018

 

[astrand1]

I’m one of the 15%. Traded my powerboost for the Lightning. So glad I did. Have not looked back one time. Best truck I’ve ever owned.

 

[Daveo]

15%er. Traded a 2017 F-150 Platinum 4x4 Powerboost for a 2023 Lariet ER. I’ve owned several full sized truck of various brands and the Lightning is by far the best truck I’ve owned. I plan on driving this for 8-10 years and that is a long time in vehicle tech (and US politics). The one decision I have made is to never give another penny to a stealership. I’m buying used from now on. It may be a Ford, it may not. While I prefer Ford trucks, I’ll get whatever I like best.

 

[Bill-EV]

New owner and my first post. Want to start off by saying thanks to all of you that have posted so much great information.
Im also in the 74% camp. Have driven Honda Pilots for the last 15 years. I tend to buy new and drive-til-they-die. The last one is still running and near half a million km. I drive 40K km/ yr and was very ready for a BEV as I was tired of doing all the maintenance and frequent fueling. Held off because I never found the right BEV for me. Hauling stuff to the cottage 280km each way and frequent DIY projects meant that a pickup was ideal for me and the 2025 Lightning Lariat I got in late Oct has been amazing. As many others have said, this is the best vehicle I’ve ever owned. I hope to drive this truck for 10 years at which point I hope there is some kind of option like it available. Extremely disappointed in Ford’s poor decisions that led to its cancellation. I can’t ever imagine being interested in an EREV. Done with ICE and don’t want to go back.

 

[TRCarr]

Can’t afford German. That makes Ford, number one for me.

 

[25StarWhiteLightning]

Been a Chevy guy my whole life but when they went away from CarPlay and I saw the price of the Silverado, the Lightning was the only other option. Hoping the Scout EV is viable in 2031.

 

[B177y]

I'm a 20%-er?

Had a 2001 F350 v10 that I purchased in 2018 or so. Had a 2023 Mach-e for a year and traded that and sold the F350 for the Lightning.

Pop's had a F250 6.7 diesel that he and my Mom used to pull their 5th wheel all over the country.

Those are the only Ford's in the family that I can think of all the way back through my grandparent's. I'm still open to another Ford, I would love to have an MME again.

 

[Mal106]

1975 Datsun to 92 GMC to 2000 Ranger to 2023 Powerboost then the Lightning so I guess I'm 20% as well.

 

[Maxx]

74% here and I suspect this will be my last Ford either because it will be reliable or because it won’t (I am old).

 

[WXman]

On the Scout forum there's a pre-order tracker spreadsheet. I noticed that a LOT of people are current F-150 Lightning owners....which means they're going to jump ship as soon as they can get their hands on an EREV pickup instead.

I find this interesting in light of the good information the OP posted on page 1.

To make it even more interesting, it'll be neat to see how many of those people planning to jump ship will decide to stay now that Ford will offer their own EREV.

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