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I just spent a week driving a 2022 Explorer while Sherman was getting his malFrunktion fixed. I got it with 72 miles on the odometer. It felt like I was driving antique technology.

THIS!! I miss Beast so terribly! The 250 is a base model and I feel like I’m driving 1980s technology. I now admit that I may have been too hard on Beast’s Sound system for hers is WAY better than this underpowered thing that I am currently subjected to lol.

Also, I didn’t even know Ford made trucks and sport utility vehicles without the external door keypad – this one is missing it. I didn’t even know that they still made vehicles that don’t have pushbutton start lol. Overall, the 250 is a beautiful truck but she ain’t my Beast.

Me three, I have long appreciated this feature on my Ford's.

Me for it! I had it on my 2018 lariat and loved that I could quick run in to replace in the winter and leave the truck running and it still be secure if the key was in the vehicle. I used to worry that after years of use people would be able to tell what my code was, but I have seen older explorers that have the keypads and you still can’t tell what buttons are a part of the persons code.

 

[dmorrow]

I've read that Ford didn't want to drop all those mechanical buttons and switches that they believe we've come to know, love, expect and (apparently) demand. At the same time, they recognized the value (cool factor?) of automated controls (high beams, windshield wipers, etc) and the wonders of having a large tough screen that can be used to manage defaults and configurations. I can see why Ford did what they did. So lets talk 2025. How about we reduce complexity (and cost) by (as much as possible) 1) eliminating all the redundant methods for controlling accessories, and 2) enable simple voice commands whenever and where ever possible!. "FORD. OPEN THE FRUNK". "FORD, CLOSE THE TAILGATE". Keep the software buttons. Strengthen the phone app. Drop the mechanical buttons and associated mounting hardware, connectors, wires, fuses, complexity and CONFUSION. Make the user interface as simple as possible (but no simpler). BTW: I'm loving my lightening and am planning on jumping on getting the Gen2 version.

 

[Phil.blog]

I've had my `23 Lariat ER for 3 weeks. Here's what I have so far.

Change:

1. Auto-down on the rear windows. Last F150 had this, not sure why they removed it
2. Dedicated button to bring up parking cameras. Last F150 had one and I would always use it when sliding into a small parking space (apparently coming in a software update?)
3. Heat pump as it's more energy efficient than resistance heating
4. Walk away lock and approach unlock
5. Heated steering wheel RIP this was a huge 👎 for me when I heard my `23 wouldn't have it
6. The FordPass app. It sucks compared to the Tesla app. It's laggy to connect/action things and lacks functionality
7. Use the cameras as a built in dashcam. Even if you don't enable them all, just front or front/rear
8. Having an physical On/Off button to press.

Keep:

1. I like that it's more or less an F150. They didn't try to reinvent the entire vehicle
2. All four door handles having unlock/lock. I typically am loading my dogs or daughter in the truck first. So having to touch the front door first was just an extra step
3. Frunk - it's amazing. Even if you have a tonneau cover, the frunk is so handy. I use it more than the truck bed for everyday stuff

 

[FM_Jack]

I've read that Ford didn't want to drop all those mechanical buttons and switches that they believe we've come to know, love, expect and (apparently) demand. At the same time, they recognized the value (cool factor?) of automated controls (high beams, windshield wipers, etc) and the wonders of having a large tough screen that can be used to manage defaults and configurations. I can see why Ford did what they did. So lets talk 2025. How about we reduce complexity (and cost) by (as much as possible) 1) eliminating all the redundant methods for controlling accessories, and 2) enable simple voice commands whenever and where ever possible!. "FORD. OPEN THE FRUNK". "FORD, CLOSE THE TAILGATE". Keep the software buttons. Strengthen the phone app. Drop the mechanical buttons and associated mounting hardware, connectors, wires, fuses, complexity and CONFUSION. Make the user interface as simple as possible (but no simpler). BTW: I'm loving my lightening and am planning on jumping on getting the Gen2 version.

I feel like that'll be worse and at the moment there are hard buttons for the frunk and tailgate, I wouldn't want to lose them.

The newest OTA should put the camera button in the top menu bar, near the alexa symbol and I hope they add some configuration for it as well.

Also another add, mimic what Android Auto does when you are searching for music to play: put in a timeout so you aren't too distracted rather than just a perm lock out from searching a USB drive. OR let you actually navigate it in the instrument cluster OR let us control it with the wheel, that should be allowed over CAN.

 

[ChasingCoral]

2) enable simple voice commands whenever and where ever possible!. "FORD. OPEN THE FRUNK". "FORD, CLOSE THE TAILGATE".

Ford has intentionally avoided allowing control of most vehicular control or mechanical actions by voice for safety reasons. Do you really want the kids in the back seat yelling "Hey Ford, Floor It!".

 

[TickTock]

pause/mute button on the steering wheel! Apparently this isn't unique to the LIghtning - I've since learned that it's been missing from Fords for years so I am not holding my breath that they will fix it any time soon.

 

[Kawartha Lightning]

+Heat pump

 

[Pdr1966]

Since so much is software on the Canbus network - imagine if there were 5? Physical buttons which the owner could custom configure?
even easier for ford they could be icons on the display but I don’t like having to find and push a screen button when driving. Physical buttons are much less of a distraction.
real time charging display/message monitor so you can understand why you are only getting 80kw at a 150 charger.
max recline seats for all EVs

 

[Cooper]

I’m now revisiting this to say most of what I thought I hated about my lightning. I don’t hate anymore. I’m still a little bummed that the sound system isn’t as good as I would’ve expected. It’s so frustrating that the frunk and tailgate do all that beeping. I wish that if we did a remote release it beeped but not if you push the physical button. I have been spoiled by phone as a key.

So now what I wish they would change? Have more of these available at the dealership because now that mine has been held for service, I realize that dealerships don’t have EVs in the rental fleet. I hate going back to an ICE truck and I miss my baby. I realized just how amazing her build quality is when having to do first a Ranger as a loaner and now a 250 as a loaner. I love the 250 and feel much more safe and secure in it than that little piece of you know what ranger; but my lariat ER still has a better more stable ride than this F250.

Totally with you on the stereo. It’s SUPER disappointing. I added an 8” powered JL sub behind the seat, fed it speaker level from the stock sub. That made a huge difference in overall sound quality, but the compression and total wimp out above 20 on the dial is a real bummer. Just trying to figure out if I need to spend the 2k plus to replace the door speakers, run cable, add amp, and the most important, fix the stock DSP.
I probably will though!

Charging display info is a big miss on this truck. I took it on its first journey out of the “comfort”zone last week, hit 6 different DCFC charging stations and instantly missed the wealth of info that Tesla made available. This and adding the ability to control the l2 charge rate would be SUPER helpful for smaller circuits, etc.

Maybe an overall “advanced” mode for previous EV drivers? I can understand that Ford was probably trying to keep this as accessible as possible for the masses. But would be nice to have all the nerd info too.

 

[Less-Is-More]

As a Tesla and a gas F150 Owner, I upgraded my gas F150 to a Lightning (and gritting my teeth right now). It is so easy to add features and the Lightning has 20 years of accumulated F150 feature detritus and more unfortunately. As Tesla has demonstrated so well "Less is More". I understand it is hard for a a traditional car maker to take outdated and useless features away. I never used the key pad entry on my 2011 F150 but I still have it on my Lightning. Just let some if these things go for gods sake. Great design is about reduction not addition. Anything that can be considered "analogue" should go. I will likely never hit at least 20 buttons within my reach, never access at least a dozen interfaces that are designed for gas vehicles and the ones that are valuable for an electric vehicle are too deep into the interface. Let me set my charge limit by hitting the battery icon on the main screen please (I had to go to this forum to figure it out). If you can't beat them, join them. It is OK. Please fix it, it is honestly sad.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I never used the key pad entry on my 2011 F150 but I still have it on my Lightning.

Sorry you don’t find it useful. I’m one of many people on here who use that pillar keypad all the time. Try surfing, paddle boarding, or snorkeling with a phone or key fob sometime and you’ll understand why this feature is so beloved by many F-150 owners.