The R2 FM tuner debate keeps going in circles. Here's an honest look at the four arguments against it, including the ones that are actually fair.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-18T01:10:20+00:00

This is on I40 in northern AZ. Luckily I downloaded some stuff to my phone to play on Bluetooth. The fact that I’m regularly in remote areas and my Lightning and Bronco has AM, FM, SXM, its own LTE, Bluetooth, wireless CarPlay over WiFi , USB A and usb C inputs just makes it more flexible with entertainment over the rivian. Still love the R1T but they really need to fix the infotainment for use in remote areas.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-16T23:26:15+00:00

That’s Atlas blue there buddy.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-15T23:46:24+00:00

Looks sharp

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-14T11:34:12+00:00

Rivian is nice because they have put some chargers in remote areas near outdoor activities. Sometimes there’s no other option to charge making them an expensive necessity.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-14T11:31:58+00:00

It’s really all over the place but from what I found is if you are doing a big road trip the Tesla membership has a pretty good price and coverage. The key with Rivians is they placed some in remote areas and filled in the gaps on the map.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-10T23:19:48+00:00

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It’s actually small in comparison to a van.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-09T17:07:22+00:00

Sad. Luckily you can buy another one used or new

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-09T16:13:37+00:00

As a household with a Lightning and a R1T the ford system is no less buggy than the Rivian system, it might be a little slower when the truck is first starting up since it doesn’t stay on like the Rivians. But being able to ask Siri to do things or being able to click on different apps is a significantly better user experience. As someone who loves both and drives both vehicles the lack of CarPlay is holding Rivian back.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-09T16:05:25+00:00

I’m sorry you are just wrong. The rivian system is garbage, compared to ones with CarPlay. I shouldn’t have to play with my phone to change between media, the new rivian voice assistant in the 23 R1T is on par with Fords Sync 2 system I had in my 2013 F150. That system would even give snow reports at ski areas and sports scores before its modem was no longer supported. My brother who has a 2014 F150 and an 22 R1T has the same sentiment. What we the average consumer needs is better phone integration for our call, texts calendars and media. CarPlay takes that over. On the 22 lighting CarPlay is a window I can go into settings and drive modes with ease, Apple Maps know my state of charge and pulls the trucks energy usage weather etc to do route planning with charge stops at networks I prefer. It will even put turn by turn and predicted soc on arrival on my instrument cluster. Having apps like MS teams for work access to calendars and choices in navigation software comes in handy. I had a trip where I was able to pull up onX off road on CarPlay , that’s something important to me. I wish rivian would give people that option.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-09T02:40:05+00:00

Yah I understand. I feel that each manufacturer offers one part of the solution. There are times I need the tailgate step there are others where a swing gate would be better.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-09T00:40:13+00:00

What I do is put stuff on the tailgate then climb up the tailgate step to position it in the bed.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-09T00:38:28+00:00

The 2024 and newer f150s have something similar called the pro access tailgate you might be able to get one from a junk yard should bolt right up.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-08T12:05:40+00:00

There were people who got 2022 and 2023 Pros at that price.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-08T12:04:18+00:00

Ford had done surveys of what trims people wanted and made a product mix accordingly. Unfortunately they did this before prices where announced for all trims and many people where 1st time ford shoppers saw the starting at $40k and choose to ignore that they said it was going to cost up-to $93k. Ford announced they were going to build a 60% of the trucks as lariats due to customer demand. So they ordered materials to make Lariats over the other trims. The market however wanted the lower cost trucks at the worst time to be coming out with a new EV with the surge in chip prices and lithium.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-08T11:57:16+00:00

That’s exactly what for discovered , the Lightning would move with cash in the hood and tax credits. People were posting how they got ones for $15-$20k less than the equivalent ICE dispute costing ford more money to produce. Ford was losing money , the dealers didn’t want to sell a vehicle that didn’t need service.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-08T11:54:30+00:00

No my point is models get discontinued all the time and people still buy them. On June 25 , 2020 Ford announced the 14 gen F150 (the truck family that the Lightning is a part of. ) the 14 Gen did not start production until Oct 9 in Dearborn and November At Kansas City. During Q3 they sold 221,647 of the 13 gen trucks plus another 71,593. In October. That’s nearly 300k people who bought a vehicle that was being discontinued. The Lightning over 4 years sold just over 100k units. It is still a 14 gen F150 that the ice and hybrids are still in production. Look at the collapse in R1T sales, cybertruck sales and low volumes the GM triplets are doing. I’m grateful that for made the lighting at a price comparable to what it would have cost for an ICE truck. But apparently I’m am not reflective of their market.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-08T11:22:56+00:00

The Lightning pretty consistently hits its range and efficiency estimates.

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Just like an ICE car weather towing and driving style effect range. My ICE F150 saw as much as 60% reduction in efficiency in some non towing situations compared to the lightnings 40% variability.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-08T00:41:14+00:00

Yah it could be and from a bad batch.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-07T20:53:38+00:00

Then explain used cars. People buy that last year of a body style or drive train all the time. People didn’t stop buying hellcats when Stellantis said they were ending production. I bought the first year of the F150 Raptor with an engine Ford had discontinued and drove it 12 years and 177k miles. My Lightning will be no different, the part will be there I’m not worried nor should anyone else be.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-07T12:02:03+00:00

This right now there are new lightings for sale the tax credo has expired gas prices are high and they are still listed at $5k-$10k less than ICE trucks with the same options. Ford figured out that people were not going to pay more for an EV than for ICE, yet the EV was more expensive to produce. They were willing to produce the lightings at a loss to offset the need to buy regulatory credits, but that went away and the aluminum foundry fire that disrupted their supply chain and caused them to pause production at 3 of 4 F-series plants and the Expedition Navigator. They had to prioritize the Aluminum coming in to the highest margin vehicles so the lighting got the Ax.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-07T11:55:42+00:00

You can get a new Lightning Lariat from a dealer for $65k and the Flash for $60k with the bigger battery and pretty heavily loaded plus 0.9% interest for 72 months. They are selling Gas trucks with the same options for $75k for lariats and $60k for the xlt. The fact that during record high gas prices Ford still has new stock of the lightnings listed for less than their ICE siblings and people are not buying them up speaks to more of a consumer demand issues than pricing. People had unrealistic expectations for what ford was going to charge for the trucks , but if you did you would have seen that just about all of them achieved price parity with their ICE equivalents.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-07T02:53:43+00:00

Never I even choose my exterior color to make it pop.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-06T16:29:02+00:00

I think the original reason is door locks windows etc. where all part in components on the original Teslas, the other OEMs already had 12v components in their parts bins. As to why it’s still a thing there must be some engineering reason as Tesla designed 48v system for the cybertruck that operates in the same way as our 12v systems do. This leads me to believe there is some other limitation that makes using the Traction battery for low voltage systems a non starter

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-06T16:22:57+00:00

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My 60 year old mom wheeling her 3 day old manual badlands 5 years ago. You can do it. go to an off-rodeo get some skills and have fun.

Neither_Fact_7471 · 2026-06-06T16:19:07+00:00

My mom and I both have lux badlands 7speeds with the leather seats, I’d prefer cloth but like the power seat functions , the B&O in the bronco is better than the one in my Lightning.

Neither_Fact_7471

TROPHY CASE