IF you could do it all over... what would you buy?

[RickLightning]

Would have bought in late 2023 instead of May.

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[Pitbull2o08]

I wouldn’t buy for another year or two and get the same exact truck for 30k off, and NEVER buy the HIS system.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I cannot think of what I would do differently.

I do wish there were different package options. I don't like the glass roof, but it was packaged with all the other things I did want.

If there's a smaller EV pickup available when it's time to retire the Lightning to home-backup duty, we'll go with that. If not, we'll go with another Lightning, probably.

 

[pullinggs]

My 23 XLT SR came home in October '23. Wouldn't change a single thing.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I'm glad I waited to buy, but I'm glad I did go with the Lightning. My second option was a Rivian. Hell, my next option might be a Rivian if for whatever reason Ford decides to abandon the Lightning. I'm hoping Ford is in this for the long run because I'd like my next truck to be the next Lightning....or maybe a midsize EV?

 

[Maxx]

If I could time travel to the same moment I made the decision 2.5 years ago I would do the same exact thing. In fact I remember when I saw the email about the unicorn ($40K pro with $7,500 discount), I told everyone in the house keep quiet until I am done ordering this.

To this day, I see nothing on the road ICE or BEV that is a better bang for the buck. It has the least compromise of any other vehicle for me; Porsche 911 acceleration, Cadillac quiet ride, F150 space with a mobile Tesla power-wall inside.

Less cost and less weight with higher payload than higher trims. Less automated stuff that could annoy me when they are trying to work and also when they stop trying. No EV light bar, no glass roof, .... I could go on. Pro is definitely the truck for me. If I wanted luxury, I would go with a different brand and not a truck.

Since cost was a big factor for me, If the cost of ownership shoots up due to reliability issues, I may change my tune. So far except my screen freaking me out by going dark once, it has been rock solid in the past two years. If it can keep this up for another 18 years, I am a happy camper.

 

[Jamchampnate]

100%. Cancelled my CT order and went with a 23 lariat with everything. Still got the tax credit then. So glad I didn’t go with CT. It’s just unreliable. Now that I have a rooftop tent setup too, I couldn’t be happier with this truck.

Came from a model s performance then a model x. I don’t miss any of the tech people complain ford lacks. I would take CarPlay and a reliable, solidly built ford truck any day over a Tesla now.

 

[JRT]

If I'm honest, I'm happy with the truck and will keep it. However, given then trips to Mississippi I have to take and the fact charging options aren't improving, I'd probably have bought a new RAM 1500 with a hemi instead.

 

[data003]

I’d buy a Bronco Raptor, get that out of my system for a year… damn they look fun. Then I’d buy a Lightning, same trim I have now. Hopefully they’d have worked out some of the kinks by then too. I’m fairly sure my 2022 Lariat ER just developed a bad battery module or two. Still need to take it in and get diagnosed.

 

[AZT9]

Loved the truck from day one July ‘22. Quickly realized that the Shitty DCFC network pre Tesla Was going to be an issue as I commute 500+ miles to work and back. It got so bad that I began second guessing my decision. Then Ford spearheaded the NACS agreement. Since then, my Joy for this truck only grows! 70k miles and zero oil changes, transmission services, brake pads, gasoline and last deep dive into the Pack SOH, 95.6%. Not too shabby.

 

[AZT9]

Oh but ford services SUCKS

 

[Maxx]

I probably would have spent my $80k + on an ICE.

Have you had problems with your truck? Or think it just wasn’t worth the $80K?

 

[F150ROD]

Have you had problems with your truck? Or think it just wasn’t worth the $80K?

No, the truck has been perfect as a Truck.

But one of the biggest features in an EV at least for me is software, improvements to the infotainment. I honestly expected Ford to match Tesla levels as far as the entertainment options and little things such as sentry mode, app improvement etc. etc. To me that was worth the $80k at the time thinking it would see improvements over time, whether it was range, software, or power.

 

[Wattsgas]

I like my truck. It is a great ride. I feel silly when I criticize it.

I was hoping I get used to having a 5 1/2 ft bed with the Frunk. The truck still doesn;t fit in my garage. If it had a 6 1/2 foot bed I would likely sell my SuperDuty, which has the 8ft bed. My SuperDuty turns tighter than my Lightning. I was hoping that the Lightning would do well on my local forest service roads. The drive system is fantastic. It is nice to have a rear locker. But it takes forever to turn it around. I really thought it would turn as sharp as my SuperDuty.

I was also surprised that the hitch height on the Ligtning is two inches higher than my SuperDuty.

But like an earlier poster posted. I have found that Fords over promising and under delivering on the HIS, blue cruise and other updates has made me very disappointed to the point of regretting my purchase. The reason we decided on the Lightning was for the home integration system backup power for the house. The system is not reliable. And I haven't gotten any resolution on it since April of 2023. If Ford told me that the system is a prototype and may not be reliable I wouldn't have purchased the HIS and installed it. I would have been satisfied with a generator plug and interlock. But instead I look at a system that I paid for every day that doesn't work and only is usful for a Ford Lightning.

Before I ordered the Lightning I ordered a Rivian R1S. My wife really liked the R1S. I ordered it to replace my Jeep. She really liked it and replaced her Tesla model S with it . We have had zero issues with the Rivian. It has been a very satisfying experience. Rivian promised us a free NACS adapter just like Ford. Rivian never gave me a promise date. But it showed up 2 months sooner than the Ford adapter. Ford gave me multiple dates, June, October, January, November and the December. I thought that because Ford had worked with Rivian and decided to leave Rivian that they would build a superior product. That the Ford manufacturing machine would deliver what they promised when they promised it. It has been disappointing.

I expect that I will probably drive the Lightning for many more years but, I don't think it will ever have a special place in my list of cars I loved, like my Mustang, Thunderbirds, F250 trucks, Jeeps, Durango or Tesla model S.

 

[SMMD]

23 Lariat. Exceeded my expectations. No problems so far. Wouldn’t change anything.

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