Pushrods&Capacitors

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Nearly every car is a compromise in terms of price point and schedule. My last car was a 2017 VW GTI. The interior on that car is incredible. I've sat in Porsches and seen the same parts-bin pieces in them that were in my VW. They have huge economies of scale that let them accomplish a lot. The investment is easily justified. That GTI has an amazing interior that is well above its price point.

You can compare the new EV VWs with the Mk 7 GTI and see where VW compromised. Whereas my GTI had soft touch materials nearly everywhere (yes, the door pockets are flocked on GTIs!) the new ones save money with hard plastics here and there. They use cap touch switches instead of mechanical ones (a terrible trend) to save more money. Even the mighty VAG has to cut corners to pay for the very expensive electric powertrain.

These Mach Es are not yet high-volume vehicles- even 50,000 in a year is peanuts compared to, say, the F-150 or the Golf. Could they have flocked the door pockets? Sure, but it means qualifying another adhesive, sourcing the felting material, and developing a manufacturing process for cutting and installing it. I'm just speculating here, but my guess is that they were laser-focused on getting the platform built, and putting an engineer on the door-pocket-flocking qualification would take an engineer away from something else. For my purposes, a $2.00 sheet of felt and some sharp scissors will solve the problem quite efficiently. Same thing for a ski pass-through: on its own, it's easy, and I'm sure the marketers and engineers debated it during the development. But that's what roof racks are for. This is a solvable problem.

Anyway, in my opinion, Ford has knocked it out of the park with their decision making. The range, exterior, and interior are all acceptable. The performance of the GTPE is more than acceptable for what I'm going to use it for, which is commuting and an occasional 200-mile road trip. It can fit my family and some stuff, it rides high enough that my wife feels safe with all the trucks on the road (big problem in the Z4M for her), and of course, it has tons of that wonderful electric torque. I don't drive 100 miles per hour and I don't drag race, but I do like to punch it from a stoplight now and then.

In summary, these early-gen BEVs (yes, this whole EV industry is in the early innings) have to make trade-offs to hit acceptable price points. I'm pleased with Ford's decisions and I'm voting with my dollars. Luckily for all of us, there are options in the market now, so each person can choose the trade-off that they prefer.
Well put. VW group decided to spend in the interior finishes because most buyers of European cars demand it.

Alas, features like standard limited-slip differentials didnā€™t make it on all GTIs without certain packages (I admit I donā€™t know the model years and specifics) and, even the mighty Golf R relies on 2-piston sliding calipers up front when all/most of the competition in that category offer track ready 4-piston fixed caliper Brembos, some even in the rear. Itā€™s all a trade-off as you stated. Like you, I think Ford and VW have a pretty good idea of what trade-offs their buyers will accept.

Now, about that ID.4 interiorā€¦..?
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Mach1E

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The Kilowatts just posted their review. He owns a MME 4X and has a unique take on the GT vs GTPE differences.

Good review. For those who didnā€™t watch the whole thing, they like the GT seats and suspension better.

I think itā€™s funny watching all these reviews at once. Each of us picked a different model for our own different reasons, but itā€™s pretty clear we each are secretly hoping the reviewers agree and say ā€œyour choice is definitely best.ā€

There doesnā€™t seem to be a consensus at all on things like ā€œcomfort.ā€
 

cvk71

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Good review. For those who didnā€™t watch the whole thing, they like the GT seats and suspension better.

I think itā€™s funny watching all these reviews at once. Each of us picked a different model for our own different reasons, but itā€™s pretty clear we each are secretly hoping the reviewers agree and say ā€œyour choice is definitely best.ā€

There doesnā€™t seem to be a consensus at all on things like ā€œcomfort.ā€
The seats were my main worry and why I didn't order a performance. My 2011 GT500 had the standard seats because I am a wider individual and the Recaros were too restrictive. This is the problem with ordering a car that you've never seen let alone sat in.
 

Mach E JT

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The seats were my main worry and why I didn't order a performance. My 2011 GT500 had the standard seats because I am a wider individual and the Recaros were too restrictive. This is the problem with ordering a car that you've never seen let alone sat in.
Those standard seats in the 11GT500 were way better than I was expecting. I would have liked the Recaros but the standard seats were great.
 


Jeff_S

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The Kilowatts just posted their review. He owns a MME 4X and has a unique take on the GT vs GTPE differences.

This reviewer talks about the acceleration curve (and the braking) being non-linear, but also said he kept it in Unbridled mode pretty much all the time. Can someone who has a GTPE comment on whether Whisper allows for relaxed driving?
 

buzznwood

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Good review. For those who didnā€™t watch the whole thing, they like the GT seats and suspension better.

I think itā€™s funny watching all these reviews at once. Each of us picked a different model for our own different reasons, but itā€™s pretty clear we each are secretly hoping the reviewers agree and say ā€œyour choice is definitely best.ā€

There doesnā€™t seem to be a consensus at all on things like ā€œcomfort.ā€
In regards to the seats this is really going to be based on on your body shape but the GTPE seats are really not that heavily bolstered, they do not pin you into the seat, they do look funky, the lack of rear pockets makes no sense to me, more bean counter than race car lol.

For comparison sake the Recaros in my Focus ST have much tighter fitting side bolstering, so those of a larger frame may actually be fine with the GTPE seats however it really needs to be a try before you buy thing, which is a bit tricky for those of us that pre-ordered sight unseen.
 

Scooby24

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I appreciate that we are seeing so many different opinions from reviewers. That really shows that Ford did a good job of giving options across the models that appeal to different people and there's not a universal build that is better than all simply based on price.

It's really quite impressive that one model can fit the more budget conscious, the All weather need, the person who needs more range, those who want power but in a more sensible package, and the more track focused driver. For a first stab at it...flaws and all...Ford really...really nailed it IMO.
 

sotek2345

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Those standard seats in the 11GT500 were way better than I was expecting. I would have liked the Recaros but the standard seats were great.
Yup - loved the seats in my 2011 GT500. The "comfy" seats in my 2019 GT350 are even better - and have heating and cooling! Both versions were incredibly comfortable for me (a larger guy working on getting smaller) and are my first choice for long range driving. Don't get to do that much anymore though since my kids outgrew the rear seats.
 

physib

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I think itā€™s funny watching all these reviews at once. Each of us picked a different model for our own different reasons, but itā€™s pretty clear we each are secretly hoping the reviewers agree and say ā€œyour choice is definitely best.ā€
Exactly. Most people watch reviews to confirm their purchases.
 

silverelan

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Exactly. Most people watch reviews to confirm their purchases.
Yeah, I'm looking for any red flags. So far the biggest knocks against the GT/GTPE are the limited 5 secs of peak performance and the known issues related to the MME's DC fast charging.

Sounds like most, if not all of these things are going to be improved so there's a lot of upside to buying. Yay!
 

silverelan

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Sam Abuelsamid had a really interesting interview with Dave Pericak and Darren Palmer at the Mach-E GT event. Give the Wheel Bearings Podcast a listen.

Highlights:
  • GT performance/handling design.
  • 91kWh packs are in production now.
  • Revised DC fast charging changes start in November-produced cars, OTA to fleet a bit later.
  • Charge Angels.

https://wheelbearings.media/
 

Gimme_my_MME

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it is still deemed not worthy enough to even have the heated front windshield something first used back in the late 1980's on European Fords
That's actually due to insurance and costs to repair/replace a windshield with a heating element embedded
 

buzznwood

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That's actually due to insurance and costs to repair/replace a windshield with a heating element embedded
And yet somehow the VW can manage to equip one on the much cheaper id.4, why would a manufacture care about the end users insurance costs when it varies by numerous factors they have absolutely no control over.
 

RonTCat

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And yet somehow the VW can manage to equip one on the much cheaper id.4, why would a manufacture care about the end users insurance costs when it varies by numerous factors they have absolutely no control over.
Hmmm... until absolutely no one buys their next car with that windshield. And tells everyone they know not to buy that windshield. One good stone chip and you need a new $1200 windshield... even the most diehard fans aren't dumb enough to do it twice.
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