My feelings on the stalk have gone from "confusing" to "dangerous"

[Mustangor]

Again, it works perfectly fine for us, and I don't think we're the only people who are good with the change. So you own a 2025?

No I don't, but I did test drive a 2025 with the crappy protrusion. And it simply sucks. It's funny to see Ford trying to "fix"something that didn't need to be, when so many things could have been fixed on this car : laggy infotainment system, grotesque navigation app, outdated charging speed, terrible efficiency on highway, non existant comfort for non GT, useless OTA updates, etc etc...

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[jav_eee]

system, grotesque navigation app

with so many better options available WHY would you use vehicle built-in navigation?

non existant comfort for non GT

my select is incredibly comfortable compared to my previous vehicle.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Even more of a ripoff then.

I don’t disagree, however, people aren’t actually paying MSRP + $8,000. They’re starting negotiations there. When I bought the Mach-e in early 21, there was an $800 adm state wide at all dealers except on the mme. That was $0 adm due to the direct intervention of the then VP Jim Farley. It then went to 2,000, then 5,000, now it’s at ludicrous level. Honolulu Ford often bucks the trend on this though. If I was buying in state, that probably where I’d start looking. The $800 adm was a smart business move at the time I think. Interisland shipping was $800 plus round trip airfare at least twice. That’s around $500 to $1000 alone. For the mainland you’d have 2 round trip airfares, plus hotels, plus cab/Uber/lyft, plus shipping which is only via San Diego now and is somewhere north of $2000.

Nonetheless, starting talks at base plus $8k? Still bad. It’s reason number 451 I think the dealership model needs to go.

 

[StevenC56]

No I don't, but I did test drive a 2025 with the crappy protrusion. And it simply sucks. It's funny to see Ford trying to "fix"something that didn't need to be, when so many things could have been fixed on this car : laggy infotainment system, grotesque navigation app, outdated charging speed, terrible efficiency on highway, non existant comfort for non GT, useless OTA updates, etc etc...

Sounds like you need to look at a different vehicle.

 

[Jimrpa]

The ones on the dealer’s lot ranged from Premium ER AWD to a Rally. They may have had selects, I didn’t bother looking at those. I was there on other business (Picking up our Raptor from a recall service) and the lead salesman is an an acquaintance I’ve done business with in the past, personal and ranch related, and he had nothing better to do at the time. Comparison was simple. I walked over to my Mach-e opened the frunk grabbed my tool box, a grocery bag (the reusable type not paper or plastic), and my swim bag (goggles, defog, sunblock, deflated swim buoy) and walked back to the cars and checked. The swim bag fits, the tool box doesn’t and all groceries will need to go elsewhere.

Now, if someone’s idea of a frunk is the spot you’ve never looked at, this isn’t an issue. If you don’t use it, it could be a BMW i series or Kia for all the difference that would make. If you do use it even a bit, it’s a big issue.

Interesting note. All the GTs were spoken for as was the Rally. I didn’t bother asking about the premiums because trim wise that’s a sideways trade I’m not really interested in. 100% of the new Lightnings are also sold, including those not yet built. Most, but not all, of this was people trying to beat the September tax credit deadline. The Lightnings have been consistently high demand vehicles on the island. Sales talks statewide for all vehicles start at MSRP plus $8,000 adm now too.

Is X-Plan honored?

 

[Jimrpa]

We have the Ford mobile charger, NASC adapter, Destination adapter and lift pucks in our Frunk. There's room for a Costco chicken and a bit more even with all that. So it's fine for us. If we need more Frunk space, we'll take the Lightning. Your dealer is gouging everyone $8K over MSRP? So until 9/30 you can get the $7500 tax credit, but they are charging you more than that over MSRP. Forget that crap. How much does it cost to ship a vehicle from the mainland to Hawaii?

Not everyone has a spare lightning laying around. Believe it or not, there are one-car households

 

[E90alex]

I live in the midlantic region, outside Philadelphia, and I would not trade the seasonal allegedly slight efficiency increase for the loss of a practical frunk that’s usable year-round.

Can’t ever please everyone I guess.

Personally I never used the frunk in my Tesla and will not use it in the Mach-E, even if I had an older one with the bigger frunk. I only use it to keep seldomly used stuff like mobile charger, tire inflator, lifting pucks, jump pack etc.

Part of it is just the inelegance of opening and closing it. If it was powered and had a physical button in the front then it might be a different story. Or at least a soft close mechanism. The other part is that is just easier/faster to throw stuff in the main trunk or the back seat.

In contrast we use the Lightning frunk all the time because it’s enormous and powered with an easy accessible button. And since it’s easier to access and provides lockable storage vs the truck bed.

I wonder if the original non-heat pump design was a compromise in efficiency to purposefully make a larger frunk. Because like half of the old AC condenser is covered and doesn’t look like it gets much if any air flow.

 

[StevenC56]

Not everyone has a spare lightning laying around. Believe it or not, there are one-car households

Oh, I'm aware of that. It's just our situation and the Lightning/Mach E combo works well for us. I just have a hard time with all the hate and bashing over a couple design changes that are workable for a lot of us. Buy a different brand/model car and I'll bet there will be a few things you won't like on them too. Nothings perfect. Sometimes you have to live with change, even if you think the change was not needed or necessary.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Is X-Plan honored?

On Oahu, Honolulu Ford used to. No clue about now. Nowhere else in the state though.

 

[E90alex]

Oh, I'm aware of that. It's just our situation and the Lightning/Mach E combo works well for us. I just have a hard time with all the hate and bashing over a couple design changes that are workable for a lot of us. Buy a different brand/model car and I'll bet there will be a few things you won't like on them too. Nothings perfect. Sometimes you have to live with change, even if you think the change was not needed or necessary.

2021-2024 Mach-E had an abnormally large frunk. I can see how it was a selling point for some and those that are used to it aren’t willing to “downgrade”.

The Model Y has a larger frunk than the 2025 Mach-E. But the rest of the competition in its class have an even smaller and barely usable frunk (Ioniq5/EV6) or more commonly no frunk at all (ID4, bZ4x/Solterra, all the GM Ultium EV SUVs). So even the smaller 2025 frunk is still a leg up on most of the competition.

 

[Jimrpa]

Can’t ever please everyone I guess.

Personally I never used the frunk in my Tesla and will not use it in the Mach-E, even if I had an older one with the bigger frunk. I only use it to keep seldomly used stuff like mobile charger, tire inflator, lifting pucks, jump pack etc.

Part of it is just the inelegance of opening and closing it. If it was powered and had a physical button in the front then it might be a different story. Or at least a soft close mechanism. The other part is that is just easier/faster to throw stuff in the main trunk or the back seat.

In contrast we use the Lightning frunk all the time because it’s enormous and powered with an easy accessible button. And since it’s easier to access and provides lockable storage vs the truck bed.

I wonder if the original non-heat pump design was a compromise in efficiency to purposefully make a larger frunk. Because like half of the old AC condenser is covered and doesn’t look like it gets much if any air flow.

So, if you look around on here, you’ll find there are two camps, broadly speaking. The rare-to-never frunk users, many of whom share your observations. Then there are the frunk-lovers, like myself. My reason for loving my frunk and using it so much is because it’s incredibly convenient to toss purchases in (groceries and such), then bring them into my house after I park. I park nose-in in my garage, and the door from my garage to my house is right in front of the frunk. Super-convenient!
Would I like a powered frunk? A button on the top ribbon to open/close the frunk? A button on the fob to open the frunk? Yes to two out of the three (I never carry the fob unless I’m going to the car wash or the dealer). But I love the frunk and find it incredibly practical. Interestingly, Ford thought it was a good idea when they launched the vehicle and actually promoted the frunk.

 

[Jimrpa]

Oh, I'm aware of that. It's just our situation and the Lightning/Mach E combo works well for us. I just have a hard time with all the hate and bashing over a couple design changes that are workable for a lot of us. Buy a different brand/model car and I'll bet there will be a few things you won't like on them too. Nothings perfect. Sometimes you have to live with change, even if you think the change was not needed or necessary.

Because those design changes have made the vehicle objectively WORSE for many of us. Lack of a frunk immediately rules out many competitors (Hyundai/kia, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW (have you watched the video on how to change the air filter in the Buzz? ), Chevy). Elmo rules out Tesla (and they are the ugliest cars I’ve ever seen).

yea, I know I have to live with change - that doesn’t mean the change was good or that I have to be happy about it.

 

[StevenC56]

Because those design changes have made the vehicle objectively WORSE for many of us. Lack of a frunk immediately rules out many competitors (Hyundai/kia, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW (have you watched the video on how to change the air filter in the Buzz? ), Chevy). Elmo rules out Tesla (and they are the ugliest cars I’ve ever seen).

yea, I know I have to live with change - that doesn’t mean the change was good or that I have to be happy about it.

Like my wife always says, "you have to pick your battles".

 

[devmach-e]

This, I think, is the core of the problem. It's not only in that same space, but looks and feels like other controls in the same space. The traditional PRNDL column shifter was a big ass lever. You would never confuse it for the wiper control.

I have trouble with the dial shifter. For some stupid reason I tend to turn it the wrong way. I always back into my driveway. I like to pull up, turn to the left, then put it in R and spin the wheel the other way to back in. I occasionally pull up, turn to the left, then put it in R and SURPRISE! the car goes forward. I clicked the wheel twice to go from D to N to R. I thought. No I actually clicked it the wrong way. And why the heck would the damned dial continue turning to the right when there's nothing past D to the right?

Then the other problem I have with the dial shifter is that occasionally I reach for the volume control. Never had anything bad happen here and it sounds funny, but again why the heck would you make a shifter that looks like a volume control?

Oh, I know, it's an electric car and there's no reason for a lever because you're not actually moving gears. But really, there's been no need for a lever since automatic transmissions came into being. And guess what, there was push button transmission controls back in the 60's (back in the 19's as my grandkids say). For some reason, it didn't catch on back then, and hasn't for 6 decades.

You know there’s a gear indicator on the DIC so you can easily see what gear you’ve selected, right? Don’t have to look down…

 

[NorthlandPhil]

You know there’s a gear indicator on the DIC so you can easily see what gear you’ve selected, right? Don’t have to look down…

So, you're suggesting I find that little letter (where is it again?) and keep my eye on it as I rotate the shifter?

Shifter needs to have a tactile feel that makes it difficult to mistake the control for something else. It should have a tactile feel to its motion that gives confirmation you're doing what you want. As for moving it in the wrong direction, if it didn't move clockwise past 'D' I would have immediately realized that mistake.

The mistakes are most likely to happen in the most dangerous of situations. For me, I'm in the middle of the street with a slight hill behind me so I cannot determine if there's a vehicle coming. I'd like to get out of the street quickly, and shouldn't have a problem doing that if I shift quickly into reverse.

The OP was in a fast moving traffic situation and had impaired view. Reached in the obvious place for and found what felt and moved like the wiper control. Could have been a disaster.

I'm not the only one who's made the mistake with the never-stop-spinning shifter control
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/why-does-the-shift-knob-rotate-past-drive.25948/

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