A couple of buying questions...

[Henry Ford]

for what I paid for my PRO SR, I could have bought TWO for the price of a single Platinum.

I would much rather have two trucks.

I don't have a use for a second truck. I don't have the space for it or anyone who would drive it. What I do have a use for is massaging seats. Different strokes.

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[Henry Ford]

Actually, the Flash has just about everything I'd want. I'm good with cloth seats. The only reason I was interested in the Lariat trim was for the rear slider. I use it quite often on my current truck for longer lumber or steel.
The only reason I was thinking Platinum was for the power running boards. I test drove a PB that had them when I first started down this rabbit hole, and having big feet, they are much more comfortable than the other style. Not a deal breaker, but just nice to have. Although, I've noticed a lot of Platinums have the fixed boards. Are the power running boards an option? I thought they were standard?

My wife's car has power running boards and I totally agree with your assessment. That is the one option I wish my Platinum had. Unfortunately, they weren't available in 2022.

 

[P-38]

Just cause it was mentioned... Most 2024 and 2025 do not have dual chargers on board and thus 48 is the max to level 2 charge at, no need for the Ford charge station. Dual is only an option for fleet buyers now.

I like the ER. I know SR would cover most things but saving a stop on a long trip is much nicer.

Be aware 2025 flash first builds had 131kWh but 2nd builds have 121kWh. Check the details if you are going that route.

For me new vs used math...I was going to need to finance either so total cost worked out to 1500 more in cost for new. But 1500 for all 36k miles of bumper to bumper and knowing all the history..

 

[flyct]

I’ve used the 30 amp 240v to 7.2 kw output multiple times. Primarily I’ve used it to power our cabin during frequent power outages. I’ve also used it to power my 5th wheel AC units.

If I didn’t have the remote cabin or RV I would never use the 30 amp 240v pit.et unless we had a hurricane power outage.

We went from a 2023 Lariat ER with power running boards to a 2024 Platinum. The 23 Lariat was 10% more efficient and road slightly better (softer). But my wife loves the massaging seats on the Platinum. We were able to lease a platinum with a $25,615 discount, 0% interest money factor and a 56% residual on a 39 month lease. I couldn’t pass it up.

Right now if I had to replace the Lightning I’d bee looking for very lightly used 2023 Lariat ER with power running boards and max trailer tow package. It would likely have deleted on board scales but I never use that feature anyway.

 

[RickKeen]

One consideration for me in getting the SR pro vs ER was the increased payload. Coming from a 3/4 ton with 3200 lb payload, I was used to carryng whatever I needed to.

I rarely road trip the truck, so never miss not having the ER battery, but I max out the 2235 lb payload a lot. I wish it was even higher whenever I have to mess around with the trailer, or taking two trips, or renting a bigger truck for heavier loads.

 

[Henry Ford]

One consideration for me in getting the SR pro vs ER was the increased payload. Coming from a 3/4 ton with 3200 lb payload, I was used to carryng whatever I needed to.

I rarely road trip the truck, so never miss not having the ER battery, but I max out the 2300 lb payload a lot. I wish it was even higher whenever I have to mess around with the trailer, or taking two trips, or renting a bigger truck for heavier loads.

Payload is a human construct designed by the truck industrial complex to manipulate us into buying bigger and more expensive trucks.

 

[wbhjohnson]

I'm probably going to be buying a Lariat in October, but I'm torn between used and new.

There are deals on low mile '23's, especially if it's the standard range battery. There is one under 50k with 5k on the clock.

The '24's have the heat pump. Since I'm in Sacramento, does a heat pump matter? Also, maybe I can get a '24 Platinum for the price of a '25 Lariat.

Or just get '25 Lariat, although I haven't seen manny with Pro Power.

I haul more than I tow, but even my hauling is just 500 pounds or so, plus a hitch mounted cargo carrier with another 100 pounds max.

As for SR vs ER, the only long trips would be from Sacramento, CA. to Elko, NV. With the SR, if I really wanted to play it safe, it looks like I could top off in Reno and then again in Winnemucca. The ER would be nice, but 95% of my driving is a 30-35 mile radius.

Any thoughts or experiences would be very much appreciated.

I bought a 2022 Platinum for 58k with 2500 miles on it. Bought the Ford EV warranty for 125k miles through 2031. There is a white one in Austin on Autotrader that is 53.5k or so, has 10k miles. I'd get them to 50k out the door if I were you and then get a warranty and be all in pre tax of 55k. Great time to make offers, I just offered 90k on a Lotus Emira listed in line with rest of market at 97k w/700 miles. Seller agreed to 90k

 

[Highpi]

I bought a 2022 Platinum for 58k with 2500 miles on it. Bought the Ford EV warranty for 125k miles through 2031. There is a white one in Austin on Autotrader that is 53.5k or so, has 10k miles. I'd get them to 50k out the door if I were you and then get a warranty and be all in pre tax of 55k. Great time to make offers, I just offered 90k on a Lotus Emira listed in line with rest of market at 97k w/700 miles. Seller agreed to 90k

Yeah, I'm probably heading down this road. I keep eyeballing the used listings, just to see what they are going for. I'm still a bit away from buying. Hopefully, the dealers will want to flush out the old to make way for the '26's, come Oct.
I don't know when Ford starts shipping new model years.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I don't know when Ford starts shipping new model years.

I haven't heard anything official, but model year change over for Lightnings happened Nov/Dec of last year, might be the same this year. You'll see them on lots in early 2026.

Maybe @FordVideoGuy "Tim" has information ?

 

[Ragman]

If you live where it stays above Freezing an SR is just fine. If you like new get a pro SR and add running boards, etc. If you like toys get a 22/23 SR Platinum or Lariat. Should be about same price. I prefer the earlier models the heat pump is noisy when you are used to the non-pump models.

The only thing I miss with the pro is the 360 camera and power seat. love the vinyl floor.

 

[wbhjohnson]

Yeah, I'm probably heading down this road. I keep eyeballing the used listings, just to see what they are going for. I'm still a bit away from buying. Hopefully, the dealers will want to flush out the old to make way for the '26's, come Oct.
I don't know when Ford starts shipping new model years.

With the Platinum some of the 23's don't have all of the features of the 2022s, just something to keep in mind because there are less of the 2022s available. The pricing is pretty similar for each year though. Additionally, I didn't realize the new discounts were so good when I bought or I might have looked into that option more. If you are buying in the Fall I think you are going to have even better prices

 

[mr.Magoo]

I have proven that SR vs ER is not a thing - it's all in your mind.

Oh it's a thing alright, both in my backrest and smiles per kWh.

With my driving (25mile commute, 90% of the time) I could definitely get away with an SR, but I wanted the bigger pack to get more oomph.

Everyone is making a lot of valid points, buy new and you'll take a bath on depreciation, by used and you'll pay almost as much as you would have paid for a new. Sales are down and credits are going away, I would probably look for a new one depending on incentives, especially if you plan on keeping it for a while.

 

[Vulnox]

Yeah a lot of good points and I know the SR isn't a death sentence to enjoying the vehicle, but I am certainly glad we got an ER. Even our short trip I wrote about within MI where we stopped at 36% SoC means we used about 83 kWh, and that was in near ideal conditions. If it had been colder, or hit more rain, or made a side stop somewhere, it would have eaten up that buffer easily if we had an SR.

Being a holiday weekend, that would have meant stopping at another DCFC on the route that could have been full or at least riskier if they had down stalls. Instead we got point to point with room to spare. It was a 2.5 hour drive as well, so while I am big on stretching your legs, that was not an unreasonable sprint.

I think for that reason having the extra buffer is more useful, it's just less to worry about, less to stop for, and that's on a fairly low demand road trip within the same state.

But of course to each their own. I am not saying an SR is immensely difficult to live with, as I stated on the outset, I am just covering some recent examples as a consideration.

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