Complaints about Ford "cheapening" the Mach-E over time? It's not just us!

[Jeff-NoVA]

No more motion-activated tailgate, no more parking assist, removal of one of the tailgate buttons, the 3-segmented turn signals, etc. Our complaints seem quaint compared to all the ways BMW's beancounters cheapened the i3 over the years:

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[Kamuelaflyer]

It sort of turns the old adage of not buying the first model year of any car on its head.

 

[phil]

I have to wonder whether adding all the crappiness ultimately increases or decreases manufacturer profits.

I doubt the manufacturers themselves have reliable info on this.

 

[Jimrpa]

It really is all about taking out cost as much as possible. If I can remove $1 from the total cost (not price) of the vehicle, then I will have generated an additional $50K of profit on that vehicle (assuming Mustang Mach-E production is 50K vehicles per year). Ideally, you want to remove cost in areas that customers won’t notice (or won’t care about).

 

[azerik]

Ideally, you want to remove cost in areas that customers won’t notice (or won’t care about).

Like Bluecruise, Park assist, side parking aids, kick to open hatch, floor mats, funk space, trip planning.
lol.

 

[Jimrpa]

Like Bluecruise, Park assist, side parking aids, kick to open hatch, floor mats, funk space, trip planning.
lol.

Actually, you’re right. For almost all the features you’ve listed, Ford has explained that they were removed because of lack of use.
For example, I always get the manufacturer all weather (rubber) mats. My dealer knows to keep the carpeted factory mats in their plastic and just install the all weather maps. That way, when I trade the vehicle in, they have a nice, never-used set of carpeted mats to go along with it. From Ford’s perspective, since I never use the carpeted mats, they may as well not include them. The workaround? I have the dealer order the all weather mats through the parts department.

 

[Mach-Lee]

It sort of turns the old adage of not buying the first model year of any car on its head.

That’s why you buy the second model year. A lot of bugs worked out, but before the bean counters really get rolling.

 

[phil]

If I can remove $1 from the total cost (not price) of the vehicle, then I will have generated an additional $50K of profit on that vehicle (assuming Mustang Mach-E production is 50K vehicles per year).

This is true if the cheapening has zero impact on customer experience, goodwill, and sales volume.

Of course, making your product crappier always does have some impact on sales. Is the impact enough to wipe out half the cost savings? All of the cost savings? More than all of the savings?

Who knows? Does Ford have a profit analysis? Is their analysis any good? I would not bet on it. I suspect they underestimate the impact of annoying their own customers.

 

[phil]

That’s why you buy the second model year. A lot of bugs worked out, but before the bean counters really get rolling.

Or, in the case of the Mach-E, that's why you buy the first model year Job 2.

 

[markboris]

No more motion-activated tailgate, no more parking assist, removal of one of the tailgate buttons, the 3-segmented turn signals, etc.

Can you explain what you mean by 3-segmented turn signals? If you mean sequential turn signals, my ‘24 built in October of this year has front and rear sequential turn signals.

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

Can you explain what you mean by 3-segmented turn signals? If you mean sequential turn signals, my ‘24 built in October of this year has front and rear sequential turn signals.

The front headlamp assembly - now standardized between all trims - features slightly different turn signals. Instead of many LEDs "smoothly" signaling the turn, it is now broken up into three segments. They still work sequentially and it is a minor difference, but it lacks the smoothness of the originals.

Orginals (21-23):


'24+:

 

[SonicBlue]

Nobody who actually tried the parking assist cares about losing that feature. It would be generous to call it half-baked.

The second tailgate button was also pretty useless.

Now, if I could figure out how to convert my parking aid button into a tailgate button, that would be useful. Tapping into settings to open my trunk is so stupid.

The kick sensor is sometimes useful, when it works. The trouble is that exactly when you need the kick sensor the most - when your hands are full with something awkward and bulky - is when your phone is on your pocket, which is when PAAK is much less reliable.

 

[Jimrpa]

That’s why you buy the second model year. A lot of bugs worked out, but before the bean counters really get rolling.

Actually, I bought a first year vehicle, knowing full well that I may be getting $50K worth of bugs and issues. Overall, I’ve been incredibly pleased with the vehicle.

 

[Jimrpa]

Nobody who actually tried the parking assist cares about losing that feature. It would be generous to call it half-baked.

The second tailgate button was also pretty useless.

Now, if I could figure out how to convert my parking aid button into a tailgate button, that would be useful. Tapping into settings to open my frunk is so stupid.

The kick sensor is sometimes useful, when it works. The trouble is that exactly when you need the kick sensor the most - when your hands are full with something awkward and bulky - is when your phone is on your pocket, which is when PAAK is much less reliable.

The Park Assist feature was a great first try. Ford should have stuck with the feature and improved it instead of giving up and saying “oh well, we’ll just cram a heat pump in the space currently used by a frunk and everyone will be happy” ??

 

[Jimrpa]

This is true if the cheapening has zero impact on customer experience, goodwill, and sales volume.

Of course, making your product crappier always does have some impact on sales. Is the impact enough to wipe out half the cost savings? All of the cost savings? More than all of the savings?

Who knows? Does Ford have a profit analysis? Is their analysis any good? I would not bet on it. I suspect they underestimate the impact of annoying their own customers.

How many people have complained about the loss of soundscreen glass?

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