NevadaGeo
Full Access Members
After purchase of my 2023 stealth with the 304a package, I finally get to break it in with a 2300-mile road trip from my home in NE Nevada to front range Colorado and back (both mile-high altitude). Average MPG was 20.7 using 91 octane gas. Average temperature was over 90F. The trip included many mountain roads and high-altitude driving including a drive up Mt. Evans to over 14,000' altitude. I was very impressed. My experience is based off of comparison my 2017 limited I traded in with over 150,000 miles for the current 2023. Here are some of my comments;
-- Was the 304a package with the Raptor motor and CCD suspension worth the $10 grand premium? -- A+. Absolutely. The ride quality driving over uneven roads at 70+ mph was very elegant. Cornering was effortless. The engine is just plain impressive. With the added HP, passing on a two-lane highway was fun. Driving up hairpin turns on mountain roads is enjoyable by getting the front wheels up and over the turn and goosing the rear for completing. Having the extra HP when needed is most appreciated! Compared to years of driving my 2017, the upgraded performance package was definitely worth it to me.
-- 15' Sync 4a touch screen. -- C to C+. The nav map displayed nicely but the climate control access was terrible. Terrible! Did I emphasize TERRIBLE yet? No buttons or knobs. All instances of adjusting or turning on/off controls required taking eyes off the road to see the screen and manipulate touch commands. A task of turning on/off seat coolers, the AC, air vent volume, recirculate is done with not only one, but often two or three taps or swipes, all with the attention off the road to make sure you are not swiping off your nav destination or something else touch sensitive. This is a safety disaster that is waiting to happen. FORD!! Seriously?? Simple adjustments to climate control require all attention off the road?
My music is on a thumb drive that I used with my 2017 to continuously listen to music. In the 2023 Sync 4a system, you must be stopped to change music, albums or genre. Seriously Ford?? When driving, I had to stop after each album to play another? If this is a safety concern, Ford lawyers won and customers lost. A serious PITA so will have to consider another music playing format. My suggestion to Ford is to listen less to your lawyers and more to your customers. The 22 speaker BO sound system is very high quality and needs higher-quality music files better than my old .mp3 files (no, no 8-track player...) so I will have to upgrade my music (again).
-- CarPlay nav or Sync 4a nav is a toss-up. ended up using CarPlay mostly since it is easier using the phone touch pad to enter destinations. Apple CarPlay is convenient. I found the CarPlay was a bit more intuitive in finding destination locations over the Sync.
-- Console Usability -- B-. The storage space is huge, and I have an organizer in it to effectively use the space. Lacking is a place to put a cellphone while driving. There is NO good place to put your cellphone! The tray charger is WORTHLESS since it heats up the phone so hot the phone ceases Bluetooth. Plus, a person with large hands no way can easily set the phone in the charger anyway. Totally worthless and the space should be used for storage.
To sum it up, I was very impressed with the ride quality, power and maneuverability of the 2023 HO. It floats and rockets its way down the highway. Needless to say, the interior comfort and ergonomics are high quality. The performance engine definitely enjoys the higher-octane fuels over lower octane and delivered a great overall mpg of 20.7. To me, the upgraded 304a package creates a new driving experience over my 2017.
-- Was the 304a package with the Raptor motor and CCD suspension worth the $10 grand premium? -- A+. Absolutely. The ride quality driving over uneven roads at 70+ mph was very elegant. Cornering was effortless. The engine is just plain impressive. With the added HP, passing on a two-lane highway was fun. Driving up hairpin turns on mountain roads is enjoyable by getting the front wheels up and over the turn and goosing the rear for completing. Having the extra HP when needed is most appreciated! Compared to years of driving my 2017, the upgraded performance package was definitely worth it to me.
-- 15' Sync 4a touch screen. -- C to C+. The nav map displayed nicely but the climate control access was terrible. Terrible! Did I emphasize TERRIBLE yet? No buttons or knobs. All instances of adjusting or turning on/off controls required taking eyes off the road to see the screen and manipulate touch commands. A task of turning on/off seat coolers, the AC, air vent volume, recirculate is done with not only one, but often two or three taps or swipes, all with the attention off the road to make sure you are not swiping off your nav destination or something else touch sensitive. This is a safety disaster that is waiting to happen. FORD!! Seriously?? Simple adjustments to climate control require all attention off the road?
My music is on a thumb drive that I used with my 2017 to continuously listen to music. In the 2023 Sync 4a system, you must be stopped to change music, albums or genre. Seriously Ford?? When driving, I had to stop after each album to play another? If this is a safety concern, Ford lawyers won and customers lost. A serious PITA so will have to consider another music playing format. My suggestion to Ford is to listen less to your lawyers and more to your customers. The 22 speaker BO sound system is very high quality and needs higher-quality music files better than my old .mp3 files (no, no 8-track player...) so I will have to upgrade my music (again).
-- CarPlay nav or Sync 4a nav is a toss-up. ended up using CarPlay mostly since it is easier using the phone touch pad to enter destinations. Apple CarPlay is convenient. I found the CarPlay was a bit more intuitive in finding destination locations over the Sync.
-- Console Usability -- B-. The storage space is huge, and I have an organizer in it to effectively use the space. Lacking is a place to put a cellphone while driving. There is NO good place to put your cellphone! The tray charger is WORTHLESS since it heats up the phone so hot the phone ceases Bluetooth. Plus, a person with large hands no way can easily set the phone in the charger anyway. Totally worthless and the space should be used for storage.
To sum it up, I was very impressed with the ride quality, power and maneuverability of the 2023 HO. It floats and rockets its way down the highway. Needless to say, the interior comfort and ergonomics are high quality. The performance engine definitely enjoys the higher-octane fuels over lower octane and delivered a great overall mpg of 20.7. To me, the upgraded 304a package creates a new driving experience over my 2017.
