Keep the FFE or move on?

[qflyer]

I've posted a few reviews of my 2012 FFE over the years, and it's time to start thinking about what's next.

I currently have 104,000 miles on the car. As I've mentioned in my previous posts, battery degradation is starting to become an issue with my and my wife's commute to work. I previously posted that I thought we could make it work til 120,000 miles or so, and everything still looks like that's an accurate guesstimate.

Considering maintenance, cost of gas and electricity, plus initial savings on purchase price, I will have saved roughly $9,000-$10,000 with the FFE over an equivalent ICE car. So despite the occasional range frustrations, I think the FFE has been a fairly successful experiment. I don't think the car will work for us by winter of 2020 due to range loss.

Options I'd consider:
Keep the FFE for short trips to the store and whatnot, but buy a new daily driver. Probably a Model 3, Niro, Bolt, Leaf etc $35,000-$45,000 price range. I don't see any reason to sell the FFE. It's virtually worthless at this point.

Buy a new FFE battery and keep on driving it. No new car needed. This is actually my preference, but the current list price of a new battery is insane. Roughly $20,000. Looking at current battery costs, I don't see why Ford can't sell a 33kw battery in the 5-7 thousand range. Assuming that would get me another 150,000 or more miles, it seems like the best option but only if Ford or another company offers the new battery at a reasonable price. The other concern is whether or not the rest of the car will remain reliable for another 150,000 miles or more. That would put me close to 300,000 miles. I've had a few ICE vehicles make it that far, but what about electric? So far, the FFE hasn't had a single problem. Only trips to the dealership have been for recalls.

Anyways, what would y'all do? Any ideas other than the two I listed?

 

[scottt]

How bad is your range now?

 

[Silverrabbit1954]

Personally, if I lived in one of the 12 states that Hyundai Iqonic Electric 2020 with 170 miles , I would just get another cheap lease. They had 2019 with 124 mile range for $79 on east coast. Pretty cheap transportation! My wife and I are getting a RAV4 hybrid when lease up on Honda Clarity electric in a year. If purchase, Model 3 Standard Plus is hard to beat. A car on a different plane! Supercharger network tips in their favor.

Silver Rabbit

Chevrolet Impala 2017
Focus Electric 2017
Honda Clarity Electric 2017

My miles have been trouble free so far as well. Electric seems so much more reliable. Yet for some reason, just like looks and drive of the Focus. Cheap to insure. If involved in serious accident, just totaled due to $20,000 battery pack.

 

[kalel14]

There isn't a lot to break on an electric car. The concern would be when something electric-only did break, will Ford still make the part. This is a low volume car and the mandate to make parts available for vehicles is a myth. Also keep in mind that the battery pack has to be installed and that won't be cheap.

I have a 1970 Chevelle I've pwned for over 30 years, but I can buy almost any part I need for it.

 

[rowekmr]

To the OP what about buying a battery from a lower mile wrecked FFE? They do come through the insurance auctions. Could you retro fit a newer battery to yours or would you rather have the same capacity battery?

 

[EVERY DETAIL]

Just to chime in on the "buy a salvage one and swap the battery" topic. As of January 2020 the pricing on a salvage FFE is:

2012-2016: $4,000
2017-2018: $14,000

Those prices don't take into consideration the fees added by iaai or copart not to mention the labor required if you don't plan on doing the swap yourself. It's a tough situation. Someone needs to retrofit Tesla 18650 cells and 150 mile range seems reasonable.

 

[rowekmr]

It's kinda of hard to predict selling prices at auction for Focus EV. Factors such as location, damage and when the auction occurs influences the final price but that is a good generous range
FYI the last 2017 I followed sold for 10.6K with minimal body damage but airbags blown
The 2012 I bought (listed as non runner) was less than 4k with mininal body damage (2 holes in roof). It was listed as non runner because there were no keys so that influenced the price (lower).
There's a 2017 going up soon prebidding at 5900 and the reserve is met. If anyone is interested in the auction cars I have access and the cheapest fees since we are in the industry.

 

[triangles]

Someone needs to retrofit Tesla 18650 cells and 150 mile range seems reasonable.

The problem with using Tesla modules with 18650 cells is that they come in 6 groups of cells in series which does not divide evenly into the FFE's battery has a configuration of 86 groups of cells in series. The best you could do is 14 Tesla modules but that only gives you 84 groups of cells in series. Unless it is possible to reprogram the factory SOBDM it will over charge the Tesla batteries and likely result in an expensive fireworks display. Alternatively if you use 15 tesla modules you'd have 90 in series and the SOBDM would under charge the battery. Unless there are economically viable cells that can be used to make a pack with 86 groups in series there is a great deal of re-engineering many of the basic subsystems that would be required to accommodate a different pack voltage.

Someday I hope to be able to re-build my pack by simply swapping in higher density cells.

 

[Fat Focus]

If for one can't wait to move on. Not because the Focus isn't good, it's just fine for basic transportation. I just want something bigger and faster. I like the Mach E, but probably would rather have an electric F150. I still owe $14k on my Focus, so probably a year and a half out from buying something new.

 

[LesalChampu]

If it were me, I'd buy a new model and keep the old one for sentimental value, or it's up to you. You can sell it too. A great tool may also use to maintain your car's performance, try Autel Maxisys MS906bt https://theeffectiveguide.com/best-obd2-scanner/autel/maxisys-ms906bt-reviews/ for an upgraded scanner experience.

 

[triangles]

If for one can't wait to move on. Not because the Focus isn't good, it's just fine for basic transportation. I just want something bigger and faster. I like the Mach E, but probably would rather have an electric F150. I still owe $14k on my Focus, so probably a year and a half out from buying something new.

The Mach E is what ford should have brought out several years ago. it's a nice car but at similar price points a Tesla model 3 is pretty much a no brainer. Also Ford has some serious work to do if they are going to beat Tesla's Cybertruck with an electric F150. I think it would be hard for ford to lose to the Cybertruck from an aesthetics perspective but I tend to be a function over form kind of guy.

 

[Fat Focus]

My aversion to buying a Tesla is mostly the service network and spare parts availability scare the hell out of me. No thanks. I'll go with the established supply chain. Plus, let's be real. I'm a Ford guy and brand loyal.

 

[triangles]

Fat Focus,
Unless you are in someplace like ND your service concerns are unfounded. 7 months into my Model 3 ownership the mobile data modem failed in my Tesla. Unlike Ford and the hassle with dealership service, I used the Tesla app to request service and after a couple emails, mobile service came out to my home and replaced the modem in my driveway. The closest service center was 2+ hours away in Cleveland. A few months after this Tesla opened a service center in Toledo a few miles from my house and the mobile service is still available as an option.

I love Ford and my FFE. Sadly Ford currently offers no vehicles that appeal to me. I look forward to many more years of service out of my FFE as a secondary vehicle to my Tesla.

Also, simply due to the lack of non-tesla charging locations in the midwest kind of made a Tesla a no-brainer for me looking for my next EV as having long distance capabilities. In less than a 20 min bathroom/snack stop I can add 150 or more miles of range to my Tesla using their supercharger network. The MachE looks to be a great vehicle but is not practical for long distance travel here in the midwest due to lack of charging infrastructure. By "lack of charging infrastructure" I mean that "high speed" places to charge are few and far between, inconveniently located, and cost the equivalent of paying $16 / gallon of gasoline compared to the Tesla supercharger network that is usually in the ball park of 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of gasoline. Maybe in 10 years once the charging network has been built up things will be different but I was not willing to wait if there was already a viable alternative available.

 

[FocusOnElectrons]

I am leaning towards a Mach E mainly because there are 2 Ford dealerships within 10 miles of my home. I like having a readily accessible parts counter and service manager very close to home.
On the other hand I will never understand why Ford and GM are not requiring all their dealerships to provide level 2 and DC fast chargers available to ford ev owners. This would rival Tesla. I admit that Tesla has a lock on the charging station network. That leans me toward Tesla but I really like the Mach E. Having owned many Mustangs including a 1967 Shelby GT 500 my blue oval blood has a lot of influence on my brain. Besides that the Mach E GT is as quick a the new Shelby GT 500. Ford may have gotten it right this time!

 

[Fat Focus]

I actually work only a few hundred yards from the factory in Fremont. Has anything changed, other than MUCH, MUCH more demand for spare parts as the sales volumes increase? https://www.sfgate.com/cars/article/tesla-repair-wait-time-complaints-electric-car-13796037.php

Since any EV I own will be at least my 4th car, I'm not really concerned about range or charging issues. I charge at home and at work, and I get there early enough to have my choice of the two chargers no more than 50 feet from my office. I used to charge just at work since it's cheaper, but my disaster preparedness instincts tell me to never let the battery go so low that I can't simply drive home. I'm very close to a couple of major fault lines, and each day that passes is one day closer to the next big quake.

I only have an EV to play the idiot liberal games here in CA anyway. A new EV allows me to save about an hour each day on my one hour combined commute. The cost of fuel is moot, as I'm a Sr Staff Program Manager in Silicon Valley. We're well compensated here. My biggest concern is personal safety when driving the FFE. It's simply too small to feel safe in, IMO.

 

[scottt]

"Too small to feel safe in" ?????

What kind of accidents are you getting into??

I was driving a 1988 Toyota Supra. A semi decided to play sandwich with me and an underpass (solid concrete wall). Didn't even bend the frame of the Supra. Protected me so well I bought a 1989 to replace it.

 

[Fat Focus]

It simply takes one person not paying attention or driving crazy to kill me in the little Focus. I'm 6'2" and I take up most of the space in the cabin as it is.

Just because someone was in a fender bender with a semi doesn't mean semis don't smash people to death on a daily basis. I drove my crew cab 4x4 for 15 years and felt much, much safer in it than this little s**t box.

 

[scottt]

I'm 6'3", I win

And my accident was no fender bender.

If you don't feel safe in your Focus, sell it and move on. Simple as that.

 

[Fat Focus]

Your accident wasn't catastrophic, either.

I'm simply waiting for the F150 to come out. I also have a problem called brand loyalty. Add that to the previously mentioned loan on the car, and I'm about a year and a half out.

For now I will gamble with my safety. :roll:

I did try to fit into a Superformance GT40 last summer at Laguna Seca but although I fit with the Gurney Bubble, my feet had no room to operate the pedals. At that point I bumped the Shelby 1000 up on the bucket list one notch.

 

[scottt]

I don't know....but when the fire department has to rip the car apart to get me out of it.....

Yeah, I call that catastrophic.