Silver MTB
Active Member
- First Name
- Kevin
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 36
- Location
- Coopersburg PA
- Vehicles
- 2023 Mach E GT Performance
- Occupation
- GM
- Thread starter
- #1
I've had quite a few cars and this one is among my favorites. I can't believe this is Ford's first BEV effort. I'm not saying it's perfect, but my complaints are few, and fall squarely in the nitpick category. I will mention that I have a 23 GTPE and Magneride dampers make a huge difference in ride control and quality compared to the premium that I test drove a year ago. My experience with non-magneride is limited to that test drive.
I've had the opportunity to spend a few hours on backcountry roads and find it to be, perhaps a bit artificial, but very capable, and a lot of fun. I like unbridled extend. I wish it didn't kill one pedal. It says "track only" but at 6 or 7 tenths you are barely tickling the P zeros and the nannies are still there if you get overexcited. I fight calling it playful because every time I start to say it, I pull it back because it's a 5000 pound car, but damnit, it's playful in a GT kind of way. When you charge out of a turn, it lifts the front end a bit, and you can get a bit of torque steer, and even when vectoring to the rear in extend, you get some understeer, but it's all very controllable. We have definitely reached an understanding! The brake pedal is very light, but modulates nicely once you get its touch. I drive it in one pedal, unbridled, most of the time, and Ford has done a nice job of balancing regen and mechanical breaking, which is no small feat. It just requires a light touch. Pedal mashers will find themselves alternatively pinned to the seat back and the seatbelt.
We did a BlueCruise drive of about 70 miles each way and was impressed by how little intervention it required. I completely trust it. It moves away from trucks while staying in its lane. You can see why it wants your hands on the wheel when it asks. It even avoided a left drifting texter approaching the right rear quarter. I honked. It was passive on that front. Lane changes are cool. I haven't spent a lot of time with semi-autonomous systems, but this works really well from the viewpoint of the uninitiated.
The infotainment system works very well. I've had one volume issue that was cured by a reboot (nitpick). I like the volume knob. I wish the recirc button was on the main screen. Please do that, Ford! Other than that, I don't mind the soft HVAC buttons. I was predisposed to hate them. It's pretty responsive. I rarely double tap, and I have a glass protector on the screen.
The driver's display is a must and gives you what you need to know. I like the nav prompts, and love that they are pulled from Waze on Android Auto. Well done! Wireless android auto works better than it should. Google is working overtime to break that (known issue). Sync takes a few tries after an Android Auto update, but once it connects the first time, it's seamless. Note: I come directly from an Acura. My infotainment bar is extremely low.
Seats are comfy. The interior is very nice. The B&O sound system is A+. Build quality is very high. We were looking at a Volvo XC40 Recharge and this is comparable. I like the interior and exterior design direction. I think it looks great. It looks more compact than it is until you park next to an ICE Mustang.
It's a big car, but it really doesn't feel like one. It's not exactly tossable, but it is very smooth in transition and can be coaxed smoothly into oversteer with a bit of diplomacy. It wants to snap, but it doesn't have to. It's pleasant in unbridled mode. You can have a bit of fun when twisty bits present themselves without being a danger to humanity. It quite simply goes, and stops, faster than nearly anything that you're likely to encounter with four wheels, and translates its motive forces to the road in an easily manageable manner. If that sounds a bit emotionally detached, perhaps it is, it's not a BRZ or a3 series BMW, but it is a lot of fun!
The range gauge is accurate. I have a hitch rack that carries 2 enduro e-bikes (150 lbs on the hitch - an easy 350 pound tongue load). I barely know they are there when driving, and they don't drastically affect range. The frunk is fantastic for stinky, muddy MTB gear and holds everything for two. It has enough clearance to manage an innocent access road. It charges overnight from twenty percent with the cable that came in the trunk and goes just over 260 miles to dead. That more than works for me. I'll get the Tesla adapter when it comes out and will try a road trip next year.
That's all I have so far. I thought I was going to have one more fire breathing V8 before going hybrid or possibly BEV. We have been trying to lessen our footprint and this was largely a 'responsible" decision. Thank you, Ford Performance, for making grown-up fun! I have no regrets!
Huge thanks to our friends at Haldeman Ford in Allentown for making it all happen with no nonsense whatsoever. Great buying experience - 5 stars!
I've had the opportunity to spend a few hours on backcountry roads and find it to be, perhaps a bit artificial, but very capable, and a lot of fun. I like unbridled extend. I wish it didn't kill one pedal. It says "track only" but at 6 or 7 tenths you are barely tickling the P zeros and the nannies are still there if you get overexcited. I fight calling it playful because every time I start to say it, I pull it back because it's a 5000 pound car, but damnit, it's playful in a GT kind of way. When you charge out of a turn, it lifts the front end a bit, and you can get a bit of torque steer, and even when vectoring to the rear in extend, you get some understeer, but it's all very controllable. We have definitely reached an understanding! The brake pedal is very light, but modulates nicely once you get its touch. I drive it in one pedal, unbridled, most of the time, and Ford has done a nice job of balancing regen and mechanical breaking, which is no small feat. It just requires a light touch. Pedal mashers will find themselves alternatively pinned to the seat back and the seatbelt.
We did a BlueCruise drive of about 70 miles each way and was impressed by how little intervention it required. I completely trust it. It moves away from trucks while staying in its lane. You can see why it wants your hands on the wheel when it asks. It even avoided a left drifting texter approaching the right rear quarter. I honked. It was passive on that front. Lane changes are cool. I haven't spent a lot of time with semi-autonomous systems, but this works really well from the viewpoint of the uninitiated.
The infotainment system works very well. I've had one volume issue that was cured by a reboot (nitpick). I like the volume knob. I wish the recirc button was on the main screen. Please do that, Ford! Other than that, I don't mind the soft HVAC buttons. I was predisposed to hate them. It's pretty responsive. I rarely double tap, and I have a glass protector on the screen.
The driver's display is a must and gives you what you need to know. I like the nav prompts, and love that they are pulled from Waze on Android Auto. Well done! Wireless android auto works better than it should. Google is working overtime to break that (known issue). Sync takes a few tries after an Android Auto update, but once it connects the first time, it's seamless. Note: I come directly from an Acura. My infotainment bar is extremely low.
Seats are comfy. The interior is very nice. The B&O sound system is A+. Build quality is very high. We were looking at a Volvo XC40 Recharge and this is comparable. I like the interior and exterior design direction. I think it looks great. It looks more compact than it is until you park next to an ICE Mustang.
It's a big car, but it really doesn't feel like one. It's not exactly tossable, but it is very smooth in transition and can be coaxed smoothly into oversteer with a bit of diplomacy. It wants to snap, but it doesn't have to. It's pleasant in unbridled mode. You can have a bit of fun when twisty bits present themselves without being a danger to humanity. It quite simply goes, and stops, faster than nearly anything that you're likely to encounter with four wheels, and translates its motive forces to the road in an easily manageable manner. If that sounds a bit emotionally detached, perhaps it is, it's not a BRZ or a3 series BMW, but it is a lot of fun!
The range gauge is accurate. I have a hitch rack that carries 2 enduro e-bikes (150 lbs on the hitch - an easy 350 pound tongue load). I barely know they are there when driving, and they don't drastically affect range. The frunk is fantastic for stinky, muddy MTB gear and holds everything for two. It has enough clearance to manage an innocent access road. It charges overnight from twenty percent with the cable that came in the trunk and goes just over 260 miles to dead. That more than works for me. I'll get the Tesla adapter when it comes out and will try a road trip next year.
That's all I have so far. I thought I was going to have one more fire breathing V8 before going hybrid or possibly BEV. We have been trying to lessen our footprint and this was largely a 'responsible" decision. Thank you, Ford Performance, for making grown-up fun! I have no regrets!
Huge thanks to our friends at Haldeman Ford in Allentown for making it all happen with no nonsense whatsoever. Great buying experience - 5 stars!
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