Finally did a test drive!

[Zprime29]

And I forgot to ask about their service department...? With the kids in tow I was a little distracted. I did a quick drive with it in sports mode so the family could feel the wooooosh and I gotta say, it was like driving a carnival ride. The kids immediately wanted me to hit the pedal again, very impressive. With it in sport mode, I did have a little trouble holding a steady speed. I'm used to being able to lift off the pedal and coast, and completely forgot about the regen in that mode so my speed was all over the place. I turned on the lane assist and tried to let it drift a little but never felt it do anything. Not sure what I missed. I also could not figure out how to turn on the cruise control, as hitting the button on the wheel didn't do anything. After turning around and heading back towards the dealership it finally activated Blue Cruise. Cool, but then it cut out after about a mile. Clearly, I should have downloaded the driver's manual and read up on this as it was not easy to figure out on the fly.

I asked the sales lady if the hands free Blue Cruise requires a subscription, she wasn't sure. Even mentioned something about it needing to update in the truck to activate (almost sounded like she wasn't sure if the hands free was working at all yet). Ride was smooth, obviously plenty of power and brakes felt solid. I liked the moon roof more than I thought I would. My wife seemed to mostly like it but is very worried about it not being user friendly to drive. She didn't like big screen, it was too busy for her. I found the calm mode and that seem to please her on that front.

My question is, how hard is it to adapt to driving an EV for a first time owner? How long did it take you to get comfortable driving the Lightning with all the configurations/options? Didn't occur to me to try the different drive modes, how does driving in normal differ from sport (aside from the more aggressive regen)? I still think we will order one, but I need to get a batter gauge on the tech/driver interaction. I wanted to spend a little more time perusing the menu's but again, two little kiddos where getting antsy/hungry so we had to go. Any feedback from first time EV owners would be very helpful (or really any at all in regards to the tech/configurations).

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[Oafy44]

And I forgot to ask about their service department...? With the kids in tow I was a little distracted. I did a quick drive with it in sports mode so the family could feel the wooooosh and I gotta say, it was like driving a carnival ride. The kids immediately wanted me to hit the pedal again, very impressive. With it in sport mode, I did have a little trouble holding a steady speed. I'm used to being able to lift off the pedal and coast, and completely forgot about the regen in that mode so my speed was all over the place. I turned on the lane assist and tried to let it drift a little but never felt it do anything. Not sure what I missed. I also could not figure out how to turn on the cruise control, as hitting the button on the wheel didn't do anything. After turning around and heading back towards the dealership it finally activated Blue Cruise. Cool, but then it cut out after about a mile. Clearly, I should have downloaded the driver's manual and read up on this as it was not easy to figure out on the fly.

I asked the sales lady if the hands free Blue Cruise requires a subscription, she wasn't sure. Even mentioned something about it needing to update in the truck to activate (almost sounded like she wasn't sure if the hands free was working at all yet). Ride was smooth, obviously plenty of power and brakes felt solid. I liked the moon roof more than I thought I would. My wife seemed to mostly like it but is very worried about it not being user friendly to drive. She didn't like big screen, it was too busy for her. I found the calm mode and that seem to please her on that front.

My question is, how hard is it to adapt to driving an EV for a first time owner? How long did it take you to get comfortable driving the Lightning with all the configurations/options? Didn't occur to me to try the different drive modes, how does driving in normal differ from sport (aside from the more aggressive regen)? I still think we will order one, but I need to get a batter gauge on the tech/driver interaction. I wanted to spend a little more time perusing the menu's but again, two little kiddos where getting antsy/hungry so we had to go. Any feedback from first time EV owners would be very helpful (or really any at all in regards to the tech/configurations).

first time EV owner and will probably never go back to ICE. I do have an f250 that I use...and my wife steals the lightning all the time over her Yukon

Very weird at first ..1- pedal ect but now when my wife and I go back into an ice vehicle your left disappointed that it doesn’t have 1 pedal- instant and fast acceleration / AWD handling and great suspension. Ford really did a great job on it.
Only really took a couple days tops of driving it that it becomes second nature. I’ve gone 30 minutes around the city plenty of times never hitting my brakes. It’s almost a game now to see if I can go all the way Without tapping breaks. I use sport most because regen seems better and steering a bit tighter but acceleration seems same as normal modes.

depending on where you live I don’t think you need to order one unless you want to wait for heated steering wheel ect. There’s more then a few sitting out there on lots where customers abandoned due to either deleted items or interest rates / price increases ect.

cruise control is a little different . You have to set lane assist on first then press the cruise control button this allows the truck to use a hands assist where you can take your hands off wheel for a few seconds at a time before it makes you touch the steering wheel. This I believe is the “assist” part of it and has a silver steering wheel at bottom of instrument cluster. My guess if you didn’t take it on the highway you were witnessing the assist and not blue cruise. Blue cruise is a an actual hands free and will let you know when you can use it which is mostly on large highways. If a blue steering wheels came up and said “blue cruise available “ then I stand corrected and you in fact were using BC and not the assist.

bluecruise is free for 3 years from date of purchase.

 

[bmwhitetx]

I’ve driven an F150 since 2000. My concern was the EV part-would it still coast and change forward to reverse like my ICE engines. I don’t do one pedal since my garage parking requires riding the brake. It does all this and blows me away. Drives just like an ICE but so much smoother and quieter and no gas smell. And yeah when you punch the accelerator you instantly take off, no downshift hesitation. Will never go back.

 

[davehu]

Last summer I ran into a friend at Lowes. He knew that I had a reservation for a lightning. He said the while he had his car in for service the sales rep let him take their demo for a ride. He said with a grin; "Dave, that was a life changing experience" I got my drive a week later and couldn't agree more. 4-6 weeks from now mine will be in the driveway. (fingers crossed).

 

[Zprime29]

Yeah, the ride quality was incredible. We really like road tripping in the Pilot, but I think the Lightning could easily take the cake.

We were on a small single lane highway. I thought I saw it say BlueCruise Active, and I tried hovering my hands next to the wheel and it complained so it must've been the assist. It was a little odd, I thought I could feel it actively centering and I wonder if I bumped the wheel too much to disengage it?

I'm starting to do some more searches for what's being advertised. Just came across a 2022 ER, max tow, exactly what I want. Except the color, not wild about white...but it would come in under $80k IF they sell it at MSRP so with the tax credit I could afford to have a new color put on it. Sent an email inquiring, we shall see.

 

[YankeeCP]

Yeah, the ride quality was incredible. We really like road tripping in the Pilot, but I think the Lightning could easily take the cake.

We were on a small single lane highway. I thought I saw it say BlueCruise Active, and I tried hovering my hands next to the wheel and it complained so it must've been the assist. It was a little odd, I thought I could feel it actively centering and I wonder if I bumped the wheel too much to disengage it?

I'm starting to do some more searches for what's being advertised. Just came across a 2022 ER, max tow, exactly what I want. Except the color, not wild about white...but it would come in under $80k IF they sell it at MSRP so with the tax credit I could afford to have a new color put on it. Sent an email inquiring, we shall see.

I don’t think blue cruise is activated in the vehicle until it’s sold and buyer sets it up.

 

[bmwhitetx]

but it would come in under $80k IF they sell it at MSRP so with the tax credit I could afford to have a new color put on it. Sent an email inquiring, we shall see.

Doesn’t matter what they sell it for. The 80K rule is what is the sticker MSRP less destination. Rule says it also excludes dealer installed options. So if they hit you with marked up window tint, etc. that doesn’t count either.

I wanted White-ish (Avalanche or Star) but ended up with Smoke Quartz. Never owned blue gray, not me. But I have grown to like it a lot. I paid 10k over but by getting 22 pricing and the 7500 rebate I came out 5k ahead over ordering a 23. Plus check my signature for all the things I got that were deleted on the 23. Buy it!

 

[RickLightning]

Yeah, the ride quality was incredible. We really like road tripping in the Pilot, but I think the Lightning could easily take the cake.

We were on a small single lane highway. I thought I saw it say BlueCruise Active, and I tried hovering my hands next to the wheel and it complained so it must've been the assist. It was a little odd, I thought I could feel it actively centering and I wonder if I bumped the wheel too much to disengage it?

I'm starting to do some more searches for what's being advertised. Just came across a 2022 ER, max tow, exactly what I want. Except the color, not wild about white...but it would come in under $80k IF they sell it at MSRP so with the tax credit I could afford to have a new color put on it. Sent an email inquiring, we shall see.

As noted, MSRP, less destination and dealer-installed options (if any) is what matters.

I don’t think blue cruise is activated in the vehicle until it’s sold and buyer sets it up.

Correct. No handsfree until this is setup.

 

[MacMike]

 

[Zprime29]

@YankeeCP @RickLightning I'd forgotten the tax credit was just based on MSRP, thanks for the reminder! That'll make a big difference when I talk to them.

@MacMike That's exactly what I needed, thank you! Going to study this before I go check out the 2022 (assuming it's still available).

 

[RickLightning]

Keep in mind that in 2023, a number of features are deleted, and only the heated steering wheel can be added back, at some point, for a fee.

 

[Henry Ford]

I had a first day reservation and my dealer called me on the first day they could put in orders but I couldn't pull the trigger. It was just too much money. I still wanted a fun vehicle and toyed with getting a Mustang GT350 as a weekend car.

Fast forward to December when I discovered my local dealer had a mannequin on the lot I could test drive. Before she even saw the truck my wife said, "I guess we're getting a Lightning." Apparently my grin gave away how I felt about it. The first drive with the family was involuntary screams and giggles. Throw in the ride, the quiet, the FRUNK! I was sold.

I ended up buying a Platinum mannequin. It's a silly amount of money to spend on something you can't (routinely) live in. But it ticks all my boxes; super comfortable, fast, fits three car seats, still has a useful bed.

One pedal driving is super intuitive after a day or two. Two pedal driving seems antiquated in comparison.

I'll pay for Bluecruise when my subscription lapses assuming they continue to make improvements. My drive to work is mostly on the highway so I use it a lot. I can see why others would choose to go without it.

 

[Zprime29]

Keep in mind that in 2023, a number of features are deleted, and only the heated steering wheel can be added back, at some point, for a fee.

Yep, talked that over with the Mrs. and we're ok if we don't have the deleted features. That said, point taken that the value of the 2022 is much greater. Getting the kiddos breakfast and I may call them in a little bit if I don't hear back soon.

 

[Zprime29]

One pedal driving is super intuitive after a day or two. Single pedal driving seems antiquated in comparison.

I'll pay for Bluecruise when my subscription lapses assuming they continue to make improvements. My drive to work is mostly on the highway so I use it a lot. I can see why others would choose to go without it.

I didn't try the one-pedal when we test drove as I was already a little overwhelmed by everything else the truck offers and trying to remember everything I wanted to check out. My commute is about 60/40 city/freeway, 27 miles each way so I'll have lots of opportunity to check it out.

We also take a 325 mile road trip to the grandparents several times a year. I'm really looking forward to seeing how that trip goes. We usually try to make it with no stops (kids are about 50/50 if that's successful). The ER means we'd easily make it with just one stop so that's not too shabby. I'll need to try the hands free by myself before I can trust it with the family. Honestly, I'm not sure my wife will ever trust it,

 

[RickLightning]

I didn't try the one-pedal when we test drove as I was already a little overwhelmed by everything else the truck offers and trying to remember everything I wanted to check out. My commute is about 60/40 city/freeway, 27 miles each way so I'll have lots of opportunity to check it out.

We also take a 325 mile road trip to the grandparents several times a year. I'm really looking forward to seeing how that trip goes. We usually try to make it with no stops (kids are about 50/50 if that's successful). The ER means we'd easily make it with just one stop so that's not too shabby. I'll need to try the hands free by myself before I can trust it with the family. Honestly, I'm not sure my wife will ever trust it,

Just to be clear, a 325 mile road trip is one stop IF it's not winter. If it's cold, then your range will take a hit. That 2.1 miles per kilowatt hour in winter could turn into 1.4, so now your range on the ER is closer to 180. Also, keep in mind that if grandma and grandpa don't have a charger or the proper 240v outlet and circuit, and there isn't a high speed charger nearby, you'll be adding 1.1 kilowatts per hour with 120v and the mobile charger. That means days and days to charge back up. Or, you hit a high speed charger before arriving to get there with some charge left.

EV trips take planning, with alternate plans. And some locations in congested areas, could have waits at the high speed chargers.

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