Frunk

[ChasingCoral]

I'm not banking on either Mark. I certainly hope the dividers can be removed, but don't actually know that until we see real customer cars. I'm also not betting on an OTA to enable the remote opening. That may or may not happen. I have no doubt the people in the presentation honestly believe what they're saying, but we all know the old saying about intentions. Things happen.

As near as I can tell, there's nothing in the Federal Register over the past few years directly related to interior trunk releases or car trunks in general.

What I'm seeing is that, for me, the vehicle is being delivered without a usable frunk and there is a prohibition against towing. One of those is bad, the other is very close to a deal breaker.

Where do you plan to tow your Mach E on the Big Island?

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[GoGoGadgetMachE]

Very disappointing. The MME now has two major strikes against it from my point of view. A promise to enable something which should be there from the beginning is an attempt to deflect scrutiny and criticism rather than answer the question. Promised "upgrades" fail to happen on a regular basis.

They can't do what they legally aren't allowed to do. It sounds like they had to do something they didn't want to do and are trying very hard to fix it as soon as they are allowed to do so.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I personally didn't like the dividers when I saw them in person. I thought they were ok in the photos and utilitarian in separation of things carried up there, but the implementation of them leaves a lot to be desired. They didn't seem to fit well and weirdly they looked 3D printed. My only hope is that removing them doesn't leave butchered holes on the inside. If its a nicely machined and recessed screw hole that can be plugged, I'll be ok with that. If its a barbaric screw gouged through plastic, I'll be less excited.

The three pre-production ones (July build) that I saw hd the dividers attached with four Torx screws.

 

[Davedough]

The three pre-production ones (July build) that I saw hd the dividers attached with four Torx screws.

That's fine, but my concern is where it secures, not what its used to secure with. Will it be haphazardly installed directly into plastic so when you remove it, you have two unsightly holes of rough plastic where the screws were, or is it a well thought out mounting system that doesn't look bad or out of place if the divider is removed.

Although, this whole line of thinking may be all for naught anyway. I've been reading through the user manual and one of the pages talks about the dividers and says "if equipped" which suggests its an option. If it is, then simply not taking that option could make this whole thing moot.

 

[ChasingCoral]

That's fine, but my concern is where it secures, not what its used to secure with. Will it be haphazardly installed directly into plastic so when you remove it, you have two unsightly holes of rough plastic where the screws were, or is it a well thought out mounting system that doesn't look bad or out of place if the divider is removed.

Although, this whole line of thinking may be all for naught anyway. I've been reading through the user manual and one of the pages talks about the dividers and says "if equipped" which suggests its an option. If it is, then simply not taking that option could make this whole thing moot.

Except that's not what they just said on the webinar. They said it would be in there.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

Except that's not what they just said on the webinar. They said it would be in there.

I took the "if equipped" to mean "as soon as we are possibly allowed not to include this damn thing we're doing to stop sending it with the car"

 

[macchiaz-o]

That's fine, but my concern is where it secures, not what its used to secure with. Will it be haphazardly installed directly into plastic so when you remove it, you have two unsightly holes of rough plastic where the screws were, or is it a well thought out mounting system that doesn't look bad or out of place if the divider is removed.

Although, this whole line of thinking may be all for naught anyway. I've been reading through the user manual and one of the pages talks about the dividers and says "if equipped" which suggests its an option. If it is, then simply not taking that option could make this whole thing moot.

If you don't want the unsightly holes, just replace the fasteners. I'm not sure why this would be a big deal. It's in the effing trunk (frunk for short).

Whether or not the Mach-E is equipped from the factory with the dividers is NOT your option. Unless you'd prefer to wait to order your vehicle until after the factory stops shipping them installed.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Where do you plan to tow your Mach E on the Big Island?

They can't do what they legally aren't allowed to do. It sounds like they had to do something they didn't want to do and are trying very hard to fix it as soon as they are allowed to do so.

The car, as delivered to you, is the car you need to be happy with. OTA updates are not guaranteed at all. There almost certainly are intentions to provide added value through OTA, but there's nothing guaranteed about that. Can you live with the car as delivered? Will you be happy with the car just as delivered?

As for the Frunk, Ford is not unique here. There is no guarantee that we might be able to remove the dividers in the trunk. We know they can be removed in pre-production models but that's it. We don't know if we're going to have nasty screw holes through the plastic liner or a neatly drilled hole for a push-pin or torx screw that is easily replaced without making your frunk look like you scarred it for life. We also don't even know if they're designed to be removable. We'll find out in a few weeks.

Towing: I have no intention of towing a thing with the Mach-e. What I do have is the intent to load my triathlon bike onto a rack on it and drive somewhere for a ride. On a rack. Attached to a hitch. No hitch, no rack. No rack. No bike. And before anyone says anything about aftermarket, this isn't the mainland. There is exactly one company that does hitches on the island, U-Haul. I wouldn't go there if I had to. Given the prohibition against towing in the manual, I'm not hopeful a dealer would be able to help either. Major oversight on Ford's part. I'm not willing to have someone hack the heck out of my MME to put a hitch on it anyway. Yes, I could do a roof rack and will consider it, but there are serious issues there as well (some not related to the MME).

As I said, you need to be happy or at least satisfied with your vehicle as delivered because out here there are very few, if any, skilled aftermarket remedies or upgrades.

As cars get delivered to real customers very late this year and early next, we'll see how things shake out. It's not like I have a delivery slated anytime soon, I'm still 5 to 6 months off if things stay as they are now.

 

[Jimrpa]

I’m the one who asked the question about being able to remotely open the front trunk and I actually appreciated the clear response this time. He told us that all the electronics and hardware was there to permit it, it was currently disabled due to some regulatory issues they were working to resolve and that, as soon as they could get those issues resolved, they’d enable it in an OTA update. Not sure what else they could have said.

 

[Davedough]

If you don't want the unsightly holes, just replace the fasteners. I'm not sure why this would be a big deal. It's in the effing trunk (frunk for short).

Whether or not the Mach-E is equipped from the factory with the dividers is NOT your option. Unless you'd prefer to wait to order your vehicle until after the factory stops shipping them installed.

You underestimate how meticulous I am about my vehicles. It may not be a big deal to you, but it is to me. It may be simply a frunk, but it will be mine. As far as waiting, I'm already waiting a long time for the GT, so who knows what will happen by then.

 

[ChasingCoral]

The car, as delivered to you, is the car you need to be happy with. OTA updates are not guaranteed at all. There almost certainly are intentions to provide added value through OTA, but there's nothing guaranteed about that. Can you live with the car as delivered? Will you be happy with the car just as delivered?

As for the Frunk, Ford is not unique here. There is no guarantee that we might be able to remove the dividers in the trunk. We know they can be removed in pre-production models but that's it. We don't know if we're going to have nasty screw holes through the plastic liner or a neatly drilled hole for a push-pin or torx screw that is easily replaced without making your frunk look like you scarred it for life. We also don't even know if they're designed to be removable. We'll find out in a few weeks.

Towing: I have no intention of towing a thing with the Mach-e. What I do have is the intent to load my triathlon bike onto a rack on it and drive somewhere for a ride. On a rack. Attached to a hitch. No hitch, no rack. No rack. No bike. And before anyone says anything about aftermarket, this isn't the mainland. There is exactly one company that does hitches on the island, U-Haul. I wouldn't go there if I had to. Given the prohibition against towing in the manual, I'm not hopeful a dealer would be able to help either. Major oversight on Ford's part. I'm not willing to have someone hack the heck out of my MME to put a hitch on it anyway. Yes, I could do a roof rack and will consider it, but there are serious issues there as well (some not related to the MME).

As I said, you need to be happy or at least satisfied with your vehicle as delivered because out here there are very few, if any, skilled aftermarket remedies or upgrades.

As cars get delivered to real customers very late this year and early next, we'll see how things shake out. It's not like I have a delivery slated anytime soon, I'm still 5 to 6 months off if things stay as they are now.

I hear you. My plan is after market hitch for a rack but doesn’t sound like a great option for you. Tri bikes are light - roof top rack? I’m sure Thule and Yakima will have feet soon. If not, Sea Sucker?

 

[EV Lab]

Isn't GM dealing with a similar issue on the C8 Corvette?
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/08/2020-corvette-recalled-over-issue-with-frunk-release-mechanism/

 

[VegStang]

My Chrysler PHEV also forbids towing but I added a under bumper hitch and hid everything but the receiver coming out from the under cladding (Took my time only cutting away only what was necessary.) I did this for a 3 bike Küat rack. I feel it actually looks better/cleaner than the factory option (for the non PHEV version) that I could have installed. Hopefully there will be a 3rd party hitch that is well hidden, but without seeing under the back of the car who knows- could be easier without the exhaust.

 

[bluestarct]

I personally didn't like the dividers when I saw them in person. I thought they were ok in the photos and utilitarian in separation of things carried up there, but the implementation of them leaves a lot to be desired. They didn't seem to fit well and weirdly they looked 3D printed. My only hope is that removing them doesn't leave butchered holes on the inside. If its a nicely machined and recessed screw hole that can be plugged, I'll be ok with that. If its a barbaric screw gouged through plastic, I'll be less excited.

At least they didn't build the dividers from supplies at Home Depot. That's a win.

 

[Davedough]

At least they didn't build the dividers from supplies at Home Depot. That's a win.

lol you make a strong point

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