Ford Mach E SUV vs Tesla Model Y

Now that many of us, myself included, have converted our reservations to orders, I thought it might be interesting to do a comparison of the long range AWD Model Y with the MachE First Edition. The First Edition is configured almost identically to the Model Y.

As of now leases are not available for the Model Y and there is a confusion as to whether the APR under the “Ford Option Plan” will be .9% or 5%. So, this comparison will assume buying and keeping each for 3 years and driving 10,500 miles per year.

Cost:

Both the Model Y and the MachE will be sold at MSRP without discounts:

• Model Y $54,190 including destination charge
• First Edition $60,400 less Federal tax credit of $7,500, $52,900

In considering the cost, you must also consider the car’s value after 3 years:

• All Teslas have held their value well. They are about 60% of MSRP after 3 years. There is no reason to believe the Model Y will be different. But to be conservative, let’s assume 55% instead of 60%. Value at the end of 3 years, $29,800.
• Ford products traditionally have not held their value well. It quite common to see after 3 years that Fords have retained between 40% and 45% of their MSRP. Let us assume 45% for the MachE. Value at the end of 3 years $27,180.

Cost of Model Y: $54,190 less $29,800, $24,390

Cost of First Edition: $52,900 less $27,170, $25,720

Styling:

While styling is purely subjective, to my eye the MachE is a far more handsome car both exterior and interior. I prefer the second screen in front of the steering wheel and the knob for certain functions.

Technology:

I think it is safe to say that at best Ford is playing catch up: Ford at a minimum is 3 to 5 years behind Tesla.

For example, take the battery of Model Y: 75 KW and a range of 316 miles vs. the First Edition: 88 KW and a range of 270 miles. The Tesla battery is 15% smaller yet produces 17% more range which makes it almost 30% more efficient. In the real world, that makes charging times almost 30% faster in the Model Y vs. First Edition.

The Model Y uses a heat pump for both AC and heating. The Model Y has proven over the air updates.

Driving experience:-

To date, all we have are reports of the driving experience of the Model Y: In the standard form most reviews have been excellent. In the performance model, acceleration has been outstanding, but ride has suffered due to the larger wheels.

The Model Y is faster than the First Edition.

We have to wait to see how the First Edition compares, but the Model Y has set the bar quite high.

Quality of Build and replacement parts:

No reason to dwell on this. The lack of build quality of all Tesla, including the Model Y has been well documented as well as the time wait for replacement parts.

Short of being a Fiat, the build quality of the First Edition must be better.

Ordering, dealership experience:

I have been in Tesla stores and the employees have been able to answer all my questions. I have called Tesla and again the person on the phone has been knowledgeable.

With Ford, my experience has been the opposite: When I called the Mustang hotline to inquire whether with the Ford Option Plan the APR would be .9% or 5%, the answer was that since I converted my reservation to an order, all further inquires must be directed to the dealer.

When I contacted my dealer, they did not even know of the Ford Option Plan.

With only 20,000 MachE allotted to the US, and a large portion of those going to California, I would not expect much effort on the part of my local dealer here on Long Island: there will just not be enough MachE to move the needle at your local dealership. In all probability you will know more about the MachE than your local dealer.

JTK44 said:

.......
While styling is purely subjective, to my eye the MachE is a far more handsome car both exterior and interior. I prefer the second screen in front of the steering wheel and the knob for certain functions.
.............
For example, take the battery of Model Y: 75 KW and a range of 316 miles vs. the First Edition: 88 KW and a range of 270 miles. The Tesla battery is 15% smaller yet produces 17% more range which makes it almost 30% more efficient. In the real world, that makes charging times almost 30% faster in the Model Y vs. First Edition.
.......

Click to expand...

I'm on the fence between buying a Model Y or the Mach-E, and am on forums for both, gathering as much information as I can. I certainly agree that the Mach-E is a very good looking car. I also suspect it will be a better built auto as well. The horror stories of poor quality control at Tesla (at least for their MY) of the cars they are turning out is a real cause for concern.

I've also noted that more than a couple of MY owners are reporting considerably less range seen when driving their MYs. 250~270 miles seems to be the report coming back from LR MY owners (supposed to be over 300 miles range).

The purpose my wife and I wish to put our long range model EV (we already own a Bolt 2019 Premier~Nice little car, short legs for serious distances and long charge times...) is for a back and forth auto, Tucson area to Cape Cod, twice a year. So, we need what both the Mach-E and the MY have:

• Semi-autonomous driving capabilities
• Decent charge times as DCFC stations
• A goodly size SUV type vehicle

The decision will be a tough one. I'm waiting on seeing if the build quality of the MY improves. If it does not, I'll certainly be opting for the Mach-E, although that will put another year between us wanting to buy and actually buying the car.

Rich

I do not disagree with you:

But here is the reality as I see it:

Teslas are a known quantity: they are committed to the Model Y. Tesla expects the Model Y to outsell the Model S, X and 3 combined. That would be about 200,000 units per year. Ford has committed to only 50,000 units this year and next of which only 20,000 will be coming to the US.

The Model Y has a longer range, charges faster and has more advanced technology. The MachE has better styling, will probably have better quality control, but has a shorter range, longer charging time and technology that is several years behind Tesla. Add to that growing pains during first year of production. The 2020 MachE will be "Beta" cars.

I have no intention of buying the First Edition: I intend to lease: the lease on the Model Y as compared to "Option Plan" on the MachE, even after giving consideration to the Federal Tax Credit of $7,500, will be between $200 and $300 less per month.

As I have posted the "Option Plan" monthly payments are not competitive with the lease payments of similarly priced vehicles.

Ford said that from the very first vehicle they intended to make a profit: But that has resulted in a car that is not competitively priced with the industry standard.

How is that going to work?

Fr

MachDrive said:

I wish the 50k number was the minimum target, and they would have the opportunity to increase that limit.
the more cars sold, the more you can distribute the recoupment of the development costs. This would result in a lower cost per unit.
They may not be able to change the MSRP of the sale, but maybe offer an ‘introductory’ rebate program based on the newly projected sales.

keeping my fingers crossed.

Click to expand...

WOA!

You have just described all the reason to lease and not buy!

But the problem is that the Ford Option Plan has monthly payments that are not competitive with the lease payments on the Model Y.

Based on my experience with leasing two Ford Edge Sports, I was really excited about the First Edition when I placed my order in November.

Now we have the "Ford Option Plan", the range, 270 miles, the introduction of the Model Y, the reduction in the price of the Model Y - I am far less excited today than I was in November.

Things have really changed in 7 short months!


.