Test drove a Mach-E GT Performance, dealer told me MachE are backordered 12-18 months? (Cross shopped MYP vs Mach-E)

[HeyMomTheMeatloaf]

I finally got a chance to test drive one of these today. I was chatting with the dealer, and they said it would be 12-18 months to receive one. Does this sound right?

FWIW - the price tag on the GT Performance was marked up 10k~ over MSRP. I had been cross shopping the Q4 Etron (hah - the online pictures that is!), Rivian R1S (hah - the online pictures that is!), Mach-E, and Model Y. After test driving today, I ended up purchasing a Model Y Performance. I really enjoyed the Model Y, especially with the upgraded MCU that has the new AMD Ryzen chip. The February delivery can’t be beat, especially compared to everything else (that isn’t Tesla).

I was blown away by the dealers remarks - I thought the Mach-E was only backordered 6 months, and didn’t know if they were trying to get me interested in buying the marked up model they had on the lot. I was willing to entertain the Mach-E, but that delay was pretty much going to be a dealbreaker. I also wasn’t too interested in having to deal with all of the dealer games.

I know the Model Y isn’t for everyone, but something everything I’ve come to experience with the brand is so……awesome. Chill dealer experience. Super easy charging payment authorization (none required). No markups or haggling.

If anyone is interested in my perspective on the two different vehicles; the Mach-E is definitely more of a “normal vehicle” - the regen breaking is reallllllly weak, and with the regen setting off (I don’t think this is possible on the Tesla), you could take your foot off the accelerator and not slow right down. This was my second EV I had ever drove. The Model Y Performance definitely left you feeling like you just experienced the future, whereas the Mach-E is kind of got a foot in the past and a foot in the future - still fun, but for a $70k purchase - I want to experience the future. The chill mode seemed to adjust the power curve toward what you might see in a high performance ICE car. Unbridaled was fun. The engine noise is lame - although it would be cool if you could customize it. For some reason I felt a blind spot changing lanes on the highway. I wish the Mach-E had more interior color options. The interior was nice, but still very Ford-y, very ICE’y. I briefly checked the navigation software out, and it did have the ability to find chargers, but I don’t think it specified if they were DC fast chargers or not. The Sync infotainment was not something I would write home about it; still a bit sluggish and just underwhelming - especially compared to the Tesla - and the new Ryzen CPU seems to set a new standard for car infotainment performance / speed. Trunk storage was a bit disappointing as there wasn’t any space beneath the trunk floor-thing. The trunk had some sort of plastic security cover that kept falling off and seemed pretty cheap - especially in a vehicle that the dealer is trying to ask something like 75k for.

Before buying the Model Y, I watched Ford CEO talk on Bloomberg for 10 minutes, and I watched a battery day highlights video with Tesla. Those two videos almost perfectly represent the commitment each of the respective brands seem to have toward making EV’s. Ford CEO was vague, spoke in generalities, buzzword bingo - scaling up, synergies with suppliers, etc. Meanwhile over at Camp Tesla - there is a very visible passion and drive toward one thing - making the best EV that consumers can buy. There is definitely a feeling that one brand tried harder to make the best vehicle (giving it everything they got), and the other brand worked to make a good vehicle - giving it everything they were allowed to give (Which is to imply, there is more Ford could have done to make a better vehicle).

I wish Ford did more to make the dealership experience less old school. I wish they quit with the dealer pricing games. I could watch YouTube videos of the Sync system, but I wanted to experience it in person; and it stinks. It is the best Ford has done - without a doubt; and had Tesla (along with Audi and Mercedes) not come out with such improved technology, it would probably be the best infotainment on the market today. I reallllllly want there to be more competition for Tesla. I don’t want this turning in to Apple vs. Android like ecosystem. Where Tesla is Apple, and everything they make is pretttty much perfect and awesome - albeit with criticisms. I don’t want everything that isn’t a Tesla to be seen as less-than.

2 years ago, I would have trash talked Tesla build quality, but after following their tech more - it is obvious that these folks are the smartest in the room; and that it isn’t that Tesla can’t make a well built vehicle, it is that they are focused on simply having the best EV tech that exists. Cosmetic issues like panel alignment are easily fixed - bolts and wrenches-type work. Poor software and less range are issues that none of us or a mechanic can fix. I inspected every Model Y being delivered at the service center - and I could not find the obvious alignment issues I have been able to easily catch in the past.

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[Draconfier]

I finally got a chance to test drive one of these today. I was chatting with the dealer, and they said it would be 12-18 months to receive one. Does this sound right?

FWIW - the price tag on the GT Performance was marked up 10k~ over MSRP. I had been cross shopping the Q4 Etron (hah - the online pictures that is!), Rivian R1S (hah - the online pictures that is!), Mach-E, and Model Y. After test driving today, I ended up purchasing a Model Y Performance. I really enjoyed the Model Y, especially with the upgraded MCU that has the new AMD Ryzen chip. The February delivery can’t be beat, especially compared to everything else (that isn’t Tesla).

I was blown away by the dealers remarks - I thought the Mach-E was only backordered 6 months, and didn’t know if they were trying to get me interested in buying the marked up model they had on the lot. I was willing to entertain the Mach-E, but that delay was pretty much going to be a dealbreaker. I also wasn’t too interested in having to deal with all of the dealer games.

I know the Model Y isn’t for everyone, but something everything I’ve come to experience with the brand is so……awesome. Chill dealer experience. Super easy charging payment authorization (none required). No markups or haggling.

If anyone is interested in my perspective on the two different vehicles; the Mach-E is definitely more of a “normal vehicle” - the regen breaking is reallllllly weak, and with the regen setting off (I don’t think this is possible on the Tesla), you could take your foot off the accelerator and not slow right down. This was my second EV I had ever drove. The Model Y Performance definitely left you feeling like you just experienced the future, whereas the Mach-E is kind of got a foot in the past and a foot in the future - still fun, but for a $70k purchase - I want to experience the future. The chill mode seemed to adjust the power curve toward what you might see in a high performance ICE car. Unbridaled was fun. The engine noise is lame - although it would be cool if you could customize it. For some reason I felt a blind spot changing lanes on the highway. I wish the Mach-E had more interior color options. The interior was nice, but still very Ford-y, very ICE’y. I briefly checked the navigation software out, and it did have the ability to find chargers, but I don’t think it specified if they were DC fast chargers or not. The Sync infotainment was not something I would write home about it; still a bit sluggish and just underwhelming - especially compared to the Tesla - and the new Ryzen CPU seems to set a new standard for car infotainment performance / speed. Trunk storage was a bit disappointing as there wasn’t any space beneath the trunk floor-thing. The trunk had some sort of plastic security cover that kept falling off and seemed pretty cheap - especially in a vehicle that the dealer is trying to ask something like 75k for.

Before buying the Model Y, I watched Ford CEO talk on Bloomberg for 10 minutes, and I watched a battery day highlights video with Tesla. Those two videos almost perfectly represent the commitment each of the respective brands seem to have toward making EV’s. Ford CEO was vague, spoke in generalities, buzzword bingo - scaling up, synergies with suppliers, etc. Meanwhile over at Camp Tesla - there is a very visible passion and drive toward one thing - making the best EV that consumers can buy. There is definitely a feeling that one brand tried harder to make the best vehicle (giving it everything they got), and the other brand worked to make a good vehicle - giving it everything they were allowed to give (Which is to imply, there is more Ford could have done to make a better vehicle).

I wish Ford did more to make the dealership experience less old school. I wish they quit with the dealer pricing games. I could watch YouTube videos of the Sync system, but I wanted to experience it in person; and it stinks. It is the best Ford has done - without a doubt; and had Tesla (along with Audi and Mercedes) not come out with such improved technology, it would probably be the best infotainment on the market today. I reallllllly want there to be more competition for Tesla. I don’t want this turning in to Apple vs. Android like ecosystem. Where Tesla is Apple, and everything they make is pretttty much perfect and awesome - albeit with criticisms. I don’t want everything that isn’t a Tesla to be seen as less-than.

2 years ago, I would have trash talked Tesla build quality, but after following their tech more - it is obvious that these folks are the smartest in the room; and that it isn’t that Tesla can’t make a well built vehicle, it is that they are focused on simply having the best EV tech that exists. Cosmetic issues like panel alignment are easily fixed - bolts and wrenches-type work. Poor software and less range are issues that none of us or a mechanic can fix. I inspected every Model Y being delivered at the service center - and I could not find the obvious alignment issues I have been able to easily catch in the past.

Joined 38 minutes ago, seems kind of suspicious, not saying a plant or a click bait but close.

 

[Mach1E]

Joined 38 minutes ago, seems kind of suspicious, not saying a plant or a click bait but close.

The last car I bought before this was a Chevy SS. I test drove 8 or so other cars and joined the SS forum after I bought it.

It never once crossed my mind to join any of the 8 other forums just to tell people why I didn’t buy their cars and why the SS was better.

 

[The Electric Duo]

Joined 38 minutes ago, seems kind of suspicious, not saying a plant or a click bait but close.

Yeah, I thought about responding to all of their inaccuracies, but then figured why should I feed the troll?

 

[Draconfier]

Yeah, I thought about responding to all of their inaccuracies, but then figured why should I feed the troll?

Only other question...how in the hell did a non franchise dealer in Djibouti Africa get a Mustang Mach-e GTPE, ?.

 

[HeyMomTheMeatloaf]

I am just an EV fan. I am on Rivian forums, Tesla forums, and now….Mach-E forums. I honestly want to follow all the brands major developments - the charging experience, how they drive, how they perform - this stuff is all so new that I just know we’re going to see a lot of reasons to hop from one brand to the next.

Much like a cell phone, I don’t think I will have a EV vehicle for many years, before I upgrade. I would have loved a Rivian R1S, or the range that Lucid is offering - but they are still years away from having the scale that others have.

At the end of the day; Ford is delivering an EV - which is more than many brands can say. BMW is racing to get the i4 out. Audi is got the ID4 here, but even the Q4 Etron is a still a slow-generic Audi (but that matrix LED and Audi MMI is really impressive - although not specific to Etron).

Ford is so close to being the better of the two picks (for me). I am younger though. I think the Mach-E is better for an ICE convert who is super afraid of Tesla service (lack of service centers), Tesla repairs (lack of auto body shops), Tesla build quality (they still paint cars in the middle of the open fricking California air in a structure best described as a TENT), etc. There are many reasons to get the Mach-E; its why I test drove it. I couldn’t hand Elon Musk $70k so he can build more rocket ships in his spare time - while Ford is throwing down a real competing vehicle that is really available for purchase.

The regen breaking on the Mach-E was more…….expected than a Tesla. The Tesla is like got 3 regen modes - “tons of regen” or “a lot of regen” or “you don’t even need breaks bro”. There are Ford dealers everywhere.

The rims on the Ford were more affordable to put tires on, as the 21” Uberturbines are like….almost $400 per tire for an all-season.

The dealer experience is what is clearly broken at Ford though. The messaging (12-18 months delay….c’mon really?), the markup, all the gimmicks - it needs to change. I was sitting around drinking a beer and watching Emily in Paris while buying a Tesla - and i didn’t have to research if I could be eligible for some discount plan. I was willing….to do 28 weeks on a GT. I was convinced that number had to be somewhat realistic. But to hear naw thats more like 72 weeks….it’s like, mind blown.

At the end of the day, interest rates are going up - and spending $70k is more than 2x my last vehicle price; so waiting 72 weeks and paying potential 5-6% interest would make it too financially painful for me to stay committed. I can do 70k at 1.74% - that works in a loan, but 70k at 4.99% is no bueno.

 

[HeyMomTheMeatloaf]

It’s just a conversation. Y’all can mess with Djibouti, or not.

At the end of the day; both of us can race each other in cars that do 0 - 60 in like 3.5 seconds - and we don’t need gas to do it - and we can haul 2 kids, a corgi, a wife, and a jet ski. Anything beating us on the roads is a crotch rocket, a Lucid/Tesla Plaid/Model 3 Performance or a ridiculous and impractical ICE vehicle.

By the way - Ford dealer said trailer hitch and towing was possible on the Mach-E. I thought this was a no-no? Didn’t see an easy way for the trailer hitch to be added with the white reflector at the bottom in the middle.

I was expecting Ford to do it for me, but Alex on Auto’s kind of raised awareness about the lack of interior seating colors to pick from - and I really like the white interior. Ford dealer experience honestly sucked compared to shopping at Tesla - and i was ready to complain at Tesla - I had to get on a plane to get there (i didn’t come from Djibouti tho. Not this time). The delay is unbelievable. I still can’t get over that wait. Y’all are committed on this forum. That and the Rivian forum.

So many awesome EV’s out, but we’re talking….years until your delivery (Hummer EV, Rivian, Lucid - list goes on). In a sense, it seems that those with the battery capacity and chip supplies will win the EV game (at least in its earliest years).

Joined 38 minutes ago, seems kind of suspicious, not saying a plant or a click bait but close.

The last car I bought before this was a Chevy SS. I test drove 8 or so other cars and joined the SS forum after I bought it.

It never once crossed my mind to join any of the 8 other forums just to tell people why I didn’t buy their cars and why the SS was better.

Yeah, I thought about responding to all of their inaccuracies, but then figured why should I feed the troll?

Only other question...how in the hell did a non franchise dealer in Djibouti Africa get a Mustang Mach-e GTPE, ?.

 

[Bjbjustin]

I get the dealer gripes, thats a huge issue...but if that's your major issue you have to realize buy-resell reps are not the factory and they get shit wrong ALL - THE - TIME. You're not taking with the manufacture, and there isn't really any disincentive if a rep spouts off bullshit info, other than maybe losing a sale (but might so close one if it causes you to bite) Transactional, non technical sales via buy/resell reps are painful at best...if theres one thing Tesla figured out is that system blows (plus, why pay somebody else to sell your product when you're perfectly capable of doing it yourself, keep the margin in-house)

Lead time isnt anywhere close to 52 weeks, let alone +70, they've been hitting around the quoted lead times, which is pretty impressive given the major supply chain impacts which have hit 10x the regular lead time in the industry I work in.

I get voting with the dollars, but if you take buy/sell reps at their word...you're gonna have a bad time

 

[Glen]

IMHO. MME, hands down. Beats the pants off the TESLA. The TESLA is to old school looking on the outside to. Its just plain boring to me. But best of luck to you. Your money, your choice.

 

[voxel]

Cosmetic issues like panel alignment are easily fixed - bolts and wrenches-type work.

This comment makes me think you don't know what you are talking about. As a former owner of Y and Mach-E (for the same amount of time)... the Y has panel gap issues along the top of the rear hatch and the rear doors. It's pretty common even in 2021 (I'm still actively involved in Tesla Discord channels and see the photos of the gaps weekly). And no they can not be fixed. Often they are "within spec" and it's a manufacturing issue.

My main gripe about the Y has been the poor rear visibility and lack of cross traffic monitor and no 360 camera (Y now has a poor implementation of a blind spot monitor in the latest software update - so I can't complain not having blind spot monitors). It's a car not designed for day to day usage in high traffic areas and parking lots. It's more of a high-speed roadtrip SUV with overly firm suspension and iffy sound isolation (some Ys are better than others due to manufacturing variances).

There's no wrong choice between the Y and Mach-E.... but I feel they are for car enthusiasts though. My opinion is the wider public should buy an EV with a less harsh suspension like the Ioniq 5.

 

[HeyMomTheMeatloaf]

I keep trying to think of a way for Ford to create a stronger subset of a brand/lineup within the overall Ford ecosystem - that is exactly the way Tesla sales is (I am going to guess Lucid/Rivian follow the Tesla model). Like having cars (or parts of cars even - to demonstrate) out to show us how charging works, what the “engine” is like, and just be able to confidently and honestly walk consumers through the purchase.

The dealer definitely killed the deal in a big way - that Ford shareholders and sales/marketing/channel should be aware of

1. Above MSRP crap makes expensive purchases like EV that much more unrealistic. It hurts sales at the expense of more margin at the dealer. I get it - greed and all. Money is cool.
2. Misinformation like 12-18 month timelines. Maybe i am dumb to think I shouldn’t read everything I read on the web (ford.com). I could have combed this forum for the delivery threads and found out from second-hand what might be happening. But I thought the dealership might have the most accurate/updated information.
3. Uncertainty about the tax credit. If you tell me 12-18 months, I immediately assume any financing ideas I have about interest rates are no longer relevant, as I have less confidence about guessing vehicle loan rates 12 months+ in the future. And then the tax credit - I have to assume when dealer says 12-18 months that I will be seeing F150 Lightning and Mach-E EV sales hit that cutoff number, where the federal tax credit expires. With Tesla, its simple - there is no tax credit (not even trying to get in to the politics of what could happen in the future in a congressional bill)

When Joe-blow me comes in as a consumer - who has tasted the Tesla experience, and their infinite knowledge of the Tesla vehicles & EV inner workings (check out the frickin processor bro - no it won’t come with 4680’s - yes the payment authorization process for charging is always this smooth at a Tesla EV charger); Tesla makes owning an EV just seem more…….possible (in some sense, but not in others - the Model S / X are really delayed right now). It still comes off as a side project at Ford - and in some ways, half hearted approach. I hear the Tesla dealer down the road say 4-8 weeks, and bada-bing-bada-boom-no one talked me out of the Model Y.

For a consumer of an EV (as of today) - I want to see more charging infrastructure, EV’s, etc. All the legacy brands seem to have this issue. It is somewhat hard to pin it down, but the Ford dealer basically left me with this; “take this $78k (ahem, same price as a Model Y Performance with the 10k assisted driving package) Mach-E GT Performance edition with 4000 miles on it. Or wait until 2023”. For someone trying to buy…..in the next quarter (not 6 months ago - 8 months ago - like many recipients of Ford EV’s on this forum)…..you know the market. There are some ID4’s, Volvo XC40 Recharge, overpriced Mach-E’s on the high-end, fair priced Mach-E’s in the midrange, Model 3, Model Y, maybe some original Etron, maybe some Jaguars iPace, Chevy Bolt EUV, Nissan Leaf. And no offense to most everything else on this list, but the Mach-E and the Model Y are the only thing really cool on this list. Ford DEALER didn’t make the idea of owning an EV even possible - it wasn’t approachable - as a consumer. To be fair; I was looking to be talked out of the Tesla purchase. It was Tesla…..unless I could find something different (maybe the Q4 Etron hit the dealerships and was fast enough, maybe the Mach-E was going to be undercutting the Tesla with price (through tax credit) and impressive test drive).

The Mach-E on the low end is definitely beating Tesla on price. Long range Tesla is like $59k now. And that in itself - makes Tesla less approachable for many.

I get the dealer gripes, thats a huge issue...but if that's your major issue you have to realize buy-resell reps are not the factory and they get shit wrong ALL - THE - TIME. You're not taking with the manufacture, and there isn't really any disincentive if a rep spouts off bullshit info, other than maybe losing a sale (but might so close one if it causes you to bite) Transactional, non technical sales via buy/resell reps are painful at best...if theres one thing Tesla figured out is that system blows (plus, why pay somebody else to sell your product when you're perfectly capable of doing it yourself, keep the margin in-house)

Lead time isnt anywhere close to 52 weeks, let alone +70, they've been hitting around the quoted lead times, which is pretty impressive given the major supply chain impacts which have hit 10x the regular lead time in the industry I work in.

I get voting with the dollars, but if you take buy/sell reps at their word...you're gonna have a bad time

 

[HeyMomTheMeatloaf]

I look forward to complaining about phantom breaking. I also don’t think the Model Y ships with full LED everything like many nicer brands (my Honda has LED everything). The Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is a bit moot lately - I am an Android user and even flagship Android devices (and Android Auto) has proved to be annoying lately; I wonder if bluetooth only + premium connectivity service ($9.99/mo on Tesla) will make me miss Android Auto.

Now that I am that much more aware about the rear hatch panel gap + rear door gap that isn’t correctable - well, I won’t accept delivery of one that looks like crap. I got a fine eye - I can spot a swirl mark or rock chip easily. Who knew, assembling metal is hard? Rivian doesn’t seem to have it figured out either. I excuse Tesla in this sense because I know their R&D budget is lopsided toward areas that I guess….mean more to me (the software, the motors, the charging experience, the batteries).

I’m not here to knock the Mach-E; its the dealer. For someone who was like 60/40, it was too easy to go from 60 -> 100. If this were a race, Ford didn’t show up to win; Tesla did.

This comment makes me think you don't know what you are talking about. As a former owner of Y and Mach-E (for the same amount of time)... the Y has panel gap issues along the top of the rear hatch and the rear doors. It's pretty common even in 2021 (I'm still actively involved in Tesla Discord channels and see the photos of the gaps weekly). And no they can not be fixed. Often they are "within spec" and it's a manufacturing issue.

My main gripe about the Y has been the poor rear visibility and lack of cross traffic monitor and no 360 camera (Y now has a poor implementation of a blind spot monitor in the latest software update - so I can't complain not having blind spot monitors). It's a car not designed for day to day usage in high traffic areas and parking lots. It's more of a high-speed roadtrip SUV with overly firm suspension and iffy sound isolation (some Ys are better than others due to manufacturing variances).

There's no wrong choice between the Y and Mach-E.... but I feel they are for car enthusiasts though. My opinion is the wider public should buy an EV with a less harsh suspension like the Ioniq 5.

 

[jamelski]

TROOOOOLLLLLLL

 

[voxel]

I look forward to complaining about phantom breaking. I also don’t think the Model Y ships with full LED everything like many nicer brands (my Honda has LED everything). The Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is a bit moot lately - I am an Android user and even flagship Android devices (and Android Auto) has proved to be annoying lately; I wonder if bluetooth only + premium connectivity service ($9.99/mo on Tesla) will make me miss Android Auto.

Now that I am that much more aware about the rear hatch panel gap + rear door gap that isn’t correctable - well, I won’t accept delivery of one that looks like crap. I got a fine eye - I can spot a swirl mark or rock chip easily. Who knew, assembling metal is hard? Rivian doesn’t seem to have it figured out either. I excuse Tesla in this sense because I know their R&D budget is lopsided toward areas that I guess….mean more to me (the software, the motors, the charging experience, the batteries).

I’m not here to knock the Mach-E; its the dealer. For someone who was like 60/40, it was too easy to go from 60 -> 100. If this were a race, Ford didn’t show up to win; Tesla did.

Just accept the panels gaps on the Y... many of them have it. You reject a Y and you might not get another VIN for months.
Just accept the overly firm suspension of the Y. It's a performance crossover like the Mach-E. Only the GTPE trim has adjustable suspension. If you want a Tesla with air suspension... buy a Model S.
Just accept the lack of physical controls on wipers and AC for the Y.
Just accept you can't see anything from that tiny rear window and as it's pretty much useless. And with the poor turning radius...accept you will 3-point turn a lot.

I hate CarPlay. Too buggy for me... but on a car like the RAV4 Prime (my current ride) it is necessary since there's no native navigation. On the MME, it is useful for Spotify/Waze/ABRP. The built-in Nav was excellent too.

No car is perfect. I found the MME drove and handled better than the Y. Noise-wise... different. Infotainment - Tesla of course wins. They are more alike than different.

 

[Timelessblur]

The last car I bought before this was a Chevy SS. I test drove 8 or so other cars and joined the SS forum after I bought it.

It never once crossed my mind to join any of the 8 other forums just to tell people why I didn’t buy their cars and why the SS was better.

Welcome to the world of Telsa owners. There is a reason why Telsa owners have such a poor reputation.

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