Is the Mach-E really 7 years behind Tesla?

[timbop]

I want the Mach-E because it's a Mustang, and I'm a huge Mustang fan.

I don't like *Tesla* at all.

There are Ford dealers everywhere, which is another help.

Plus, I want to push CCS forward, I've never been comfortable with Tesla's proprietary charging standard. But at the time (2018) there was no other choice since the Bolt was limited to 50 kW, so therefore useless for my needs.

The side-angle dash cam has provided evidence in an incident that occurred that I'd rather not get into. The front window dash cam has saved me from a higher collision deductible when I could prove that the foreign object that caused $2,000 of damage to my Tesla was airborne when it hit the car, and that I couldn't avoid it. So call that $500 saved (difference between my deductibles) thanks to it.

Plus I don't really like that I'm basically going to have to change cell phone providers for this car, so that the Android Auto features will work in more areas and so that I can actually stream my podcasts from the phone. I'd much, much rather use the car's modem than my phone. 100%.

Well, if that's the case then you might be in luck with the Mach E. Just like Tesla recently added spotify and netflix as an OTA (taking 2 tries to get it "right"), Ford could certainly do the same thing in the near future. It actually isn't a matter of "advanced technology", it is simply a case of imagining those features to be valuable and then porting existing apps/writing new ones for the MME platform. Of course, Ford is willing to foot the bill for 3 years of connectivity for nav, but they may not want to foot the bill for videos and entertainment data. That might mean you'd have to pay an additional data subscription to get those key features like you do with Tesla.

As for the dash cam, there is already a forward looking camera so writing that data stream to a ring buffer on a thumbdrive would be relatively trivial - again assuming that Ford had the belief that it was worth doing. To make that happen, you and others would have to be vocal to Ford about it. As for side cameras acting as a security camera, the 2021 Mach E cannot do that. That is really the only thing from your list that can't be added with a little bitching/begging/campaigning to Ford.

The whole point of the OTA is that the car can get better than it is today. As a Tesla owner you know that, so stop assuming the MME is a static entity.

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[Plutoman15]

As for side cameras acting as a security camera, the 2021 Mach E cannot do that.

Curious why you say they can not be used?

 

[timbop]

Curious why you say they can not be used?

They point downward rather than straight out like teslas, so while they can be used to record the lower half of someone they probably won't be able to get a face.

 

[kdryden99]

I want the Mach-E because it's a Mustang, and I'm a huge Mustang fan.

I don't like *Tesla* at all.

There are Ford dealers everywhere, which is another help.

Plus, I want to push CCS forward, I've never been comfortable with Tesla's proprietary charging standard. But at the time (2018) there was no other choice since the Bolt was limited to 50 kW, so therefore useless for my needs.

The side-angle dash cam has provided evidence in an incident that occurred that I'd rather not get into. The front window dash cam has saved me from a higher collision deductible when I could prove that the foreign object that caused $2,000 of damage to my Tesla was airborne when it hit the car, and that I couldn't avoid it. So call that $500 saved (difference between my deductibles) thanks to it.

Plus I don't really like that I'm basically going to have to change cell phone providers for this car, so that the Android Auto features will work in more areas and so that I can actually stream my podcasts from the phone. I'd much, much rather use the car's modem than my phone. 100%.

So let me get this straight, because of the camera system and podcasts those outweigh all the positives you mention for the Mach E? Android auto and apple car play both work with the car in which neither works with the tesla so y do you have to change phone provider for the car? At a certain point ppl need to decide do they want to drive their car or drive a gigantic tablet. What happened to having the freedom of getting into a car and just driving? I fix computers and work on networks all day everyday. I am a big techie but it's nice to just drive. I love the fact that work allows me to drive a lot, even though traffic sucks but if you're main concern is the cameras and podcasts then maybe this car just really isnt for you. Maybe driving isnt for you.
I drive a 2004 Sentra SpecV. Its breaking my back. The 6 speed and clutch are fatiguing in traffic. My coilovers are hard and make potholes feel like a bomb went off under my. My 2016 Rogue is more up to date more comfortable more advanced in every way possible. I prefer driving my SpecV because its fun as fuck to drive. Everyone has different priorities. If yours is cameras then dont buy this car. Let somebody else who will appreciate it have it.

 

[Badger_Prof]

LOL

So because two Tesla owners like their Teslas it's obviously a con? Hahahaha

Commercial dashcams suctioned cupped to your windshield don't record the side and rear angles of your car - sure, I guess I could buy 4 and spiderweb the USB cables around the interior.

The side-angle camera was very important to me in an incident where the perpetrator was caught on my Tesla's side camera and would not have protected me with just a front commercial dashcam.

The in-car podcast streaming is far more important to me than the in-car Netflix, but I love them both. Tesla's $9.99/mo streaming internet and streaming YouTube is amazing to those of us without unlimited data plans or with carriers that have poor service - I have a friend that pays roaming fees still to leave his home area and use data - he'd love Tesla's Premium Connectivity, whereas Ford's "bring your own" solution would cost tons.

I am not sure you actually read my post. Your response is non-responsive. Just because I don't care for some features that you do care for does not in any way imply a con. Nor does your response make me any more interested in those features. I agree that suction cupped dash-cams are far less elegant than built in ones. Either way, they just don't matter much to me and the Netflix and streaming on the car's screen are of zero value to me. These features clearly matter to you and it is great that you can have those features by owning a Tesla. And, once again, I admit that even though I do not care for those features it is possible I might learn to like them if I had a car in which they were present.

 

[dbsb3233]

Why 200+ kW? The Mach-E tops out at 150.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Regarding netflix and podcasts...

Both of those are easily downloaded while at home. No mobile data needed. For instance, my podcast app checks my subscriptions nightly and downloads all the new episodes.

To stream them while at a charging facility, you'd need mobile data reception like you said. This could come from your smart phone or tablet, OR you can pay for a monthly WiFi hotspot package from AT&T for use with the car's modem.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Regarding Android Auto working in more places... I just completed a road trip in areas with zero coverage. To avoid using paper maps, it was critical for me to download maps before I left home. This worked out great. Google Maps tries to get the latest guidance online but when it can't, it falls back to its offline maps and those were able to navigate me without issue.

I suspect the Ford maps will be fine for offline navigation, too... But it's nice to have the extra options (Google, Waze, etc.).

 

[Mjtee2]

As noted several times, I have owned 3 Tesla’s and appreciate the technology. However, when it comes to things that “count” (Auto Pilot), my Tesla’s have not only fallen short but they have actually put me and my family in harms way! I can cite numerous examples when the cars did erratic and spontaneous maneuvers on Auto Pilot that, had I not been attentive, could have resulted in very negative outcomes.

The MME and Ford have the opportunity to “raise the bar” and I look forward to the journey.

My 2 cents. . .

 

[silverelan]

Yeah, I'm not sure that's a good metric since the Mach-E is capped at accepting the same power levels as a V2 Supercharger.

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