[David111]

My Dealer in Nashville got a Lightning Lariat demo, but is not letting me test ride it ! What a BS! Saying demo is just to look & touch! 😖
On Monday I will call Ford costumer service to complain about it!!
Hope that all of you that Have a dealership that is not allowing test ride to the same thing so Ford can crack down on those bad dealers !!

 

[Voltz]

Ford doesn't have a whole lot of control over dealer policies.

Dealer Test Drive - Not permitted

I had an interesting issue come up recently at my dealership. I went in to request a test drive of the demo Lightning unit that was parked out front after my salesman let me know that the mannequin had arrived. My build has not happened yet and they reached out to me so that I could come down...

www.lightningowners.com

 

[ChasingCoral]

My Dealer in Nashville got a Lightning Lariat demo, but is not letting me test ride it ! What a BS! Saying demo is just to look & touch! 😖
On Monday I will call Ford costumer service to complain about it!!
Hope that all of you that Have a dealership that is not allowing test ride to the same thing so Ford can crack down on those bad dealers !!

You can find the rules for the FCTP program here:

Lightning FCTP (Mannequin) Program Rules

It's interesting to see how Ford tried to go hard into a top-down approach and the dealerships forced them to back off. It's also unique that there is NO mileage requirement. That means dealers can put them on a pedestal or in the middle of the showroom for 6 months with no one driving them.

www.lightningowners.com

 

[Steve Goodspeed]

My Dealer in Nashville got a Lightning Lariat demo, but is not letting me test ride it ! What a BS! Saying demo is just to look & touch! 😖
On Monday I will call Ford costumer service to complain about it!!
Hope that all of you that Have a dealership that is not allowing test ride to the same thing so Ford can crack down on those bad dealers !!

Do you have a Lightning on order?

 

[FM_Jack]

My dealer let me drive it but that's only because I had an order. The sales guy had a really good argument about why they don't just let anyone drive anything they want. They also let me drive it with no one with me. I think that is also cause I built up that trust with the sales guy.

 

[Peter_F]

I assume that a lot of dealers will just keeping the demos parked for 6 months so they can sell them as “new” as possible with a hefty markup.

My dealer’s demo got canceled by ford, so mine was they’re first.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I assume that a lot of dealers will just keeping the demos parked for 6 months so they can sell them as “new” as possible with a hefty markup.

My dealer’s demo got canceled by ford, so mine was they’re first.

Yes, unfortunately. The FCTP for the Mach E had minimum (and maximum) mileage requirements as well.

 

[SHayes6745604846]

My dealership did the same thing but has accepted a $2000 deposit on the mannequin, and it is tied up to be sold for $96,000 in six months sitting inside the showroom. It’s a lariat $79k truck with a 17k markup! Hmmm seems kind of sketchy to me!

 

[CDT]

My dealer got one in and I noticed it on their website. When I called they said it belonged to the service center so it wasn’t for test drives etc. I said I had a Lariat ordered through their dealership and when I arrived just to look at the vehicle they let me take it for a 5 mile spin on my own. I love how it just looks like a truck. And I really really want mine to arrive soon.

 

[David111]

Do you have a Lightning on order?

Yes

 

[Trentb]

My dealer in Concord, NH let me know last month when a Demo Lightning arrived.
When I was in for routine service on my 2018 F-150 a week later they let me take it for a test drive by myself. I loved it and really didn’t want to bring it back even though it was a bare bones Pro model.

I am #20 (of 120) on their list to order mine. Hopefully I will be able to finalize the order late this fall for delivery after the first of the year. Waiting is so very hard to do.

 

[RDale]

My dealer in Concord, NH let me know last month when a Demo Lightning arrived.
When I was in for routine service on my 2018 F-150 a week later they let me take it for a test drive by myself. I loved it and really didn’t want to bring it back even though it was a bare bones Pro model.

I am #20 (of 120) on their list to order mine. Hopefully I will be able to finalize the order late this fall for delivery after the first of the year. Waiting is so very hard to do.

Fingers crossed you can get your Lightning soon @Trentb. How would you want to spec your truck?

What stood out to you the most when you went on your test drive?

 

[Slider19]

I drove a pro at my dealer in oregon yesterday. They’re scheduling appointments with everyone who has a res. They copied my license and flipped the keys and gave me 30 min. They didn’t even ride along. It was pretty awesome. I’m thinking lariat ER and am patiently waiting for my order number to come. Let’s just say a test drive doesn’t make the wait any easier 🤤

 

[palbajwa11]

My Dealer in Nashville got a Lightning Lariat demo, but is not letting me test ride it ! What a BS! Saying demo is just to look & touch! 😖
On Monday I will call Ford costumer service to complain about it!!
Hope that all of you that Have a dealership that is not allowing test ride to the same thing so Ford can crack down on those bad dealers !!

Plain old classic BS. I stopped by my local dealer. My salesman saw me pulling in he was out with lightning keys in hand. And I was not there to test drive at all. Truck drive etter than mach e and quick.it was xlt SR batteries.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

since each dealer is an independent business, with little control by Ford, and because of the extreme pressure on carmakers to bring all these 'new' vehicles to light, some of the dealers are going to have 'fun' allowing any and all to test drive these machines, while others are looking at the other end of the spectrum, knowing that these vehicles are in such HIGH demand, they see NO NEED to spend time(waste time) letting people just 'drive' their truck - they are content to let it sit for 6 months and then make a BIG profit. You can't blame 'um, although it's aggravating to those who are so anxious for this LIGHTNING... the trucks that are being test driven aren't going to go for any LESS money than one that hasn't, but some dealers just don't care about dealing with the public for test drives when they ALREADY know there is such a demand.
It's like being the only grocery store in the whole city. You don't have to care what customers think about your prices or your produce - they have no other choice.

 

[Trentb]

Fingers crossed you can get your Lightning soon @Trentb. How would you want to spec your truck?

What stood out to you the most when you went on your test drive?

Lightning XLT in Antimatter Blue Metalic, ER battery, Equipment Group 312A, drop in bed liner and a soft tonneau cover.

I was very impressed with the Pro model I drove. The test drive began with a 1-1/2 mile climb on I-89, which it handled beautifully. Then a short drive around the west side of Concord, before turning around and going down the long steep hill back to the dealership. The Lightning handles very well due to is weight distribution and the independent rear suspension. It was very comfortable and extremely quiet, much quieter than a regular F-150.

 

[David111]

To be honest, with the new $7K price increase, I am thinking and use the money of a lariat & get Hybrid king ranch or platinum!
I can’t stomach $80K for a Lariat!!