Deciding on Trim level when purchasing - a general thought exercise

[stoopid]

As the title says, I'm curious about how people decide and prioritize what Trim / package they decide to purchase.

For the past several cars I've been focusing on finding the sweet spot where the car has most of the amenities I need at a price I can live with. For my prior vehicle, there were two tiers of performance (the MME has three). With my prior vehicle I was aiming for the higher performance with the fewest additional upgrades. That changed as my needs changed this time around.

Here's a quick rundown of my needs/priorities, this obviously varies for each of us:

• Moonroof -- something I've only had twice in a vehicle, is mostly a liability (leaking, motor issues, broken glass) and even worse in the desert due to allowing in more heat if sitting in the sun during the summer, even with the shade pulled.
• Sound system upgrade -- in the past car the stock speakers weren't very good, so I upgraded what I could and that bought me more than enough satisfaction. The base stereo in the MME is fine for the short periods of time I'll be driving it. A nice sound system pays on road trips and long commutes.
• Actual miles driven -- my commute was longish and my prior vehicle not very fuel efficient. I alternate days in the office so that helped. Recently moved offices to much closer to home, which accelerated my already planned new vehicle purchase. The low miles/low commuting time plays into just how important amenities are overall as well, since I'm literally only spending at most 10 minutes each way in the car (5 minutes if I don't get stuck at the two lights on my route to/from home).
• Heated / cooled seats (or steering wheel) -- heated seats aren't very useful in the desert, maybe a handful of times each winter do they seem helpful. Cooled seats are nice in the hot summers, but not having those in the prior vehicle and 'surviving' 4 years without when being honest with myself it's not a necessity.
• Blue cruise/driver's assistance -- I fought Blue Cruise and lane keep assist all the way home from the dealership on the highway, turned it off as soon as I realized it was on. Not my cup of tea, and not using the MME for long trips I don't see ever needing it. Smart cruise is more than adequate (standard on the Select). Front collision avoidance is a nice perk because you never know (this is also standard on the Select).
• Auto Hold -- For whatever time I spend at a light, I appreciate this feature. My last couple cars had it, I use it.
• Seat Settings Memory - In 4 years no one else drove my car, so not even on the needs list.
• Cargo capacity -- I don't haul a lot of things very often, not a priority but will get occasional use.
• Off road capabilities -- I don't feel it 'safe' with the big battery under me to risk taking any non-purpose built EV off road. My last car was not offroad capable. The second vehicle in the home is a gas powered SUV, we'll continue to use that.
• Track performance -- few EVs are truly track capable, though quick at the drag strip. We're probably a new battery formulation (or three) away from having cars light enough to challenge the better actual track capable ICE vehicles. Handling wasn't a priority, despite my prior vehicle having some toss-ability. The MME is better than I expected, but still not 'sporty' by any stretch. They hide the battery weight well.
• Battery formulation -- the LFP battery in the base Select has its perks, it's a good fit for my expected case use and living in a mostly warm climate. LFP can last a while, so it will factor into whether I buy out the lease at the end of term, knowing the battery won't likely be an issue past the 8 year warranty.
• Cost -- the MME Premium trim would have been $50+ more each month on lease. Not a huge ask for the perks, but the return on investment due to the factors described above had me lean heavily into the Select from the start.
• Availability/promotions -- The best lease deals were on the Select and Premium trims at the time I purchased my MME. A lot of this could be decided for a particular buyer depending on what stock is available at the time of purchase. As of February 2025, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of MMEs available nationwide which is why the lease deals exist.

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[AtomicInternet]

I always recommend at least the Premium trim. The extra price is minimal compared to what you get over the "Select"

Moonroof (Vistaroof) used to be standard on the "Premium" trim but it's an add on now.
I opted for the standard range RWD premium which fit my needs perfectly since I don't live near snow and don't track the car, which sounds where you are as well.

The GT/Rally trims are really for enthusiasts, so if you can live without AWD and don't need to drive extended range I feel the premium trim with RWD / standard range will be your best value

 

[Flint302]

In New Jersey heated seats are an absolute must. Don't know about Nevada tho.

 

[RickMachE]

• Moonroof -- something I've only had twice in a vehicle, is mostly a liability (leaking, motor issues, broken glass) and even worse in the desert due to allowing in more heat if sitting in the sun during the summer, even with the shade pulled.

Doesn't open, so nothing to break (except glass), and doesn't leak. IRR treated, so doesn't let heat in, no shade needed, says Arizona, Texas, and Florida owners.

• Heated / cooled seats (or steering wheel) -- heated seats aren't very useful in the desert, maybe a handful of times each winter do they seem helpful. Cooled seats are nice in the hot summers, but not having those in the prior vehicle and 'surviving' 4 years without when being honest with myself it's not a necessity.

Not available until 2025 model year, just heated seats prior.

 

[B177y]

My oldest child will start driving in 2 years. I loved my MME CR1 enough that when it's time to look for a 3rd car for the family, I will be looking for a '21-'23 Select for the best price possible, preferably a RWD. As the family's 3rd car and main use as a "kid's car" to get to school, sporting events, and (hopefully) their jobs, a low trim MME with likely huge depreciation will fit that use perfectly. The Select has just enough of the creature comforts to be useful but not overly distracting, and still enough fun for me to drive occasionally ?

 

[pikepilot]

As far as the heated seats, they work very well, and very quickly compared to other cars I've had/have. If you are going to encounter cold weather they are a very nice to have, especially if it does not have the heat pump upgrade.

 

[stoopid]

My oldest child will start driving in 2 years. I loved my MME CR1 enough that when it's time to look for a 3rd car for the family, I will be looking for a '21-'23 Select for the best price possible, preferably a RWD. As the family's 3rd car and main use as a "kid's car" to get to school, sporting events, and (hopefully) their jobs, a low trim MME with likely huge depreciation will fit that use perfectly. The Select has just enough of the creature comforts to be useful but not overly distracting, and still enough fun for me to drive occasionally ?

I think the autonomous driving and safety features can be added via subscription, so the Select isn't necessarily limited and for a young (possibly distracted) driver those extras might pay off.

 

[Triggerhappy007]

Sound system - I have both the Select and Premium right now and I can't tell the difference. Surround Sound sounds terrible so I disabled that. My ears aren't old either, I'm in my 40s.

 

[RickMachE]

IMO, Mach-E has too much power for an inexperienced driver.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I think the autonomous driving and safety features can be added via subscription, so the Select isn't necessarily limited and for a young (possibly distracted) driver those extras might pay off.

If one is looking at a used Select, not all of them had the Ford Co-Pilot 360/Active 2.0 package, which is required for BlueCruise Hands-Free. I believe it was the Tech Package that included that hardware option. ??

 

[Element]

I’ve read and heard to get as much range as you can afford so I went extended range. Even though most of our driving is city, it does help for the occasional soccer tournament a few hours away.

 

[geeklifer]

I went with the CR1 due to the slight range bump. I was trying to get as much range as possible. Knowing what I do now, the small range differences aren't really that significant, especially for the driving I do.

Being stuck in a more basic rental car while mine is repaired pointed out those features I've really come to appreciate. Heated seats are definitely missed. BlueCruise is missed a bit also, although I'm not frequently on highways where I can use it. The better sound system is missed also. I don't have the upgraded sound in my MME, but it is still pretty decent and a lot better than what I am dealing with. I like the panoramic roof, but as the driver I forget it is there. I can't see it from my position. The passengers like it though.

My oldest actually prefers the slower, smaller car. He thinks mine is a bit too much for him right now. I'd agree. His EV is an easier car for a new driver.

 

[Side Show Bob]

As the title says, I'm curious about how people decide and prioritize what Trim / package they decide to purchase.

For the past several cars I've been focusing on finding the sweet spot where the car has most of the amenities I need at a price I can live with. For my prior vehicle, there were two tiers of performance (the MME has three). I was aiming for the higher performance with the fewest additional upgrades.

Here's a quick rundown of MY need/priorities, this obviously varies for each of us:

• Moonroof -- something I've only had twice in a vehicle, is mostly a liability (leaking, motor issues, broken glass) and even worse in the desert due to allowing in more heat if sitting in the sun during the summer, even with the shade pulled.
• Sound system upgrade -- in the past car the stock speakers weren't very good, so I upgraded what I could and that bought me more than enough satisfaction. The base stereo is fine for the short periods of time I'll be driving the MME. Road trips and long commutes a nice sound system pays.
• Actual miles driven -- my commute was longish and my prior vehicle not very fuel efficient. I alternate days in the office so that helped. Recently moved offices to much closer to home, which accelerated my already planned new vehicle purchase. The low miles/low commuting time plays into just how important amenities are overall as well, since I'm literally only spending at most 10 minutes each way in the car (5 minutes if I don't get stuck at the two lights on my route to/from home).
• Heated / cooled seats (or steering wheel) -- heated seats aren't very useful in the desert, maybe a handful of times each winter do they seem helpful. Cooled seats are nice in the hot summers, but not having those in the prior vehicle and 'surviving' 4 years without when being honest with myself it's not a necessity.
• Blue cruise/driver's assistance -- I fought Blue Cruise and lane keep assist all the way home from the dealership on the highway, turned it off as soon as I realized it was on. Not my cup of tea, and not using the MME for long trips I don't see ever needing it. Smart cruise is more than adequate (standard on the Select). Front collision avoidance is a nice perk because you never know (this is also standard on the Select).
• Auto Hold -- For whatever time I spend at a light, I appreciate this feature. My last couple cars had it, I use it.
• Seat Settings Memory - In 4 years no one else drove my car, so not even on the needs list.
• Cargo capacity -- I don't haul a lot of things very often, not a priority but will get occasional use.
• Off road capabilities -- I don't feel it 'safe' with the big battery under me to risk taking any EV off road. My last car was not offroad capable. The second vehicle in the home is a gas powered SUV, we'll continue to use that.
• Track performance -- few EVs are truly track capable, though quick at the drag strip. We're probably a new battery formulation (or three) away from having cars light enough to challenge the better actual track capable ICE vehicles. Handling wasn't a priority, despite my prior vehicle having some toss-ability. The MME is better than I expected, but still not 'sporty' by any stretch. They hide the battery weight well.
• Battery formulation -- the LFP battery in the base Select has its perks, it's a good fit for my expected case use and living in a mostly warm climate. LFP can last a while, so it's will play into whether I buy out the lease at the end of term, knowing the battery won't likely be an issue past the 8 year warranty length.
• Cost -- the MME Premium trim would have been $50+ more each month on lease. Not a huge ask for the perks, but the return on investment due to the factors described above had me lean heavily into the Select from the start.
• Availability/promotions -- The best lease deals were on the Select and Premium trims at the time I purchased my MME. A lot of this could be decided for a particular buyer depending on what stock is available at the time of purchase. As of February 2025, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of MMEs available nationwide which is why the lease deals exist.

The biggest thing that I consider was the ride. I had a Tesla S 2017. I hated the ride . Way too bumpy! I hated that I had to spend the extra money on a GT Performance to get Magneride suspension. But I do not regret it. Love the ride.
Wish Ford would have it as an option on all Mache. I don’t have a need to go from 0-60 in 3.5. But I do like a nice smooth ride. My thoughts.
So. Cal. So the weather is always nice.

 

[stoopid]

The biggest thing that I consider was the ride. I had a Tesla S 2017. I hated the ride . Way too bumpy! I hated that I had to spend the extra money on a GT Performance to get Magneride suspension. But I do not regret it. Love the ride.
Wish Ford would have it as an option on all Mache. I don’t have a need to go from 0-60 in 3.5. But I do like a nice smooth ride. My thoughts.
So. Cal. So the weather is always nice.

Did you try the lower trim MME? I find the ride to be fairly compliant with the stock shocks.

 

[DonM]

I wanted:
- fast acceleration comparable to Tesla, like 4.2s 0-60. (I measured 4.3 -- good enough!)
- AWD
- maximum range (300+)

Only the premium got me that.

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