MyTH
Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 23
- Location
- Boston Area
- Vehicles
- MME, Bolt EUV, Model Y, Lightning
Tesla will jump through hoops to make sure buyers get the federal tax credit. Ford probably won't.
As somebody who bought a Tesla in 2018 when their tax credit was about to expire (because Tesla had sold 200,000 vehicles in the US), I saw how tuned-in Tesla was to the tax credit situation. They still are. Tesla gets it.
As somebody who placed a Day One reservation for an F-150 Lightning and spent over a year being excited to get my truck, I watched Ford's tone deaf handling of the tax credit. The US government set a cap of $80k for trucks, and yet, Ford stubbornly refused to adjust the cheapest ER Lightning's price below $81k (and wouldn't let reservation holders order the $81k ER XLT anyway). Ford built my truck in November but was completely uncooperative about delivering it before January 1, 2023 when the $80k cap kicked in -- even though I was willing to travel to Michigan or title it in another state to ensure 2022 delivery. Ford didn't care.
We really like our AWD Premium Mach-E, now with over 30k miles: great car. I would gladly get another one for the same price. However, there is a limited window of tax eligibility before the new battery mineral rules come out in March. Ford apparently lacks the motivation and logistics expertise to deliver a lot of under-$55k vehicles within this window. Tesla looks like a better bet.
As for the Select AWD, that would be tempting as a second Mach-E, if I could find one -- a bit less fun than the Premium with its puddle lights and glass roof. For me, the big deal isn't those but the lack of a heated steering wheel and seats. With the smaller battery and no heat pump, winter driving range is a huge concern. The Nissan LEAF I had 10 years ago showed me what a difference in efficiency it made to turn on the heated steering wheel and turn down the heat. Ford still seems to think the heated steering wheel is a luxury item, revealing an ICE mindset.
As somebody who bought a Tesla in 2018 when their tax credit was about to expire (because Tesla had sold 200,000 vehicles in the US), I saw how tuned-in Tesla was to the tax credit situation. They still are. Tesla gets it.
As somebody who placed a Day One reservation for an F-150 Lightning and spent over a year being excited to get my truck, I watched Ford's tone deaf handling of the tax credit. The US government set a cap of $80k for trucks, and yet, Ford stubbornly refused to adjust the cheapest ER Lightning's price below $81k (and wouldn't let reservation holders order the $81k ER XLT anyway). Ford built my truck in November but was completely uncooperative about delivering it before January 1, 2023 when the $80k cap kicked in -- even though I was willing to travel to Michigan or title it in another state to ensure 2022 delivery. Ford didn't care.
We really like our AWD Premium Mach-E, now with over 30k miles: great car. I would gladly get another one for the same price. However, there is a limited window of tax eligibility before the new battery mineral rules come out in March. Ford apparently lacks the motivation and logistics expertise to deliver a lot of under-$55k vehicles within this window. Tesla looks like a better bet.
As for the Select AWD, that would be tempting as a second Mach-E, if I could find one -- a bit less fun than the Premium with its puddle lights and glass roof. For me, the big deal isn't those but the lack of a heated steering wheel and seats. With the smaller battery and no heat pump, winter driving range is a huge concern. The Nissan LEAF I had 10 years ago showed me what a difference in efficiency it made to turn on the heated steering wheel and turn down the heat. Ford still seems to think the heated steering wheel is a luxury item, revealing an ICE mindset.
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