My partner was looking at vehicles the other day and thought to herself that what we could do is trade the Lightning for something… But we use the crap out of the Lightning as a work truck, camping truck, and overall utility truck, so a few things would be necessary to make it worth trading:
- Would need to be a truck. Not necessarily a full-sized truck.
- Would need to be capable of towing at least 7500 pounds.
- Would need to be a higher value proposition.
- Would need to be at least as capable as the Lightning.
I just test drove a Silverado EV. There are very, very few Silverado EVs up for sale within 500-1000 miles of me, so it’s not exactly an easy vehicle to get ahold of.
The Silverado is both better and worse than the Lightning.
It's ponderous, which isn't surprising given its 2k pounds higher curb weight.
The software is more refined and faster. It doesn't have Android Auto, so to use the maps, it would require a subscription. Gross.
It's skinnier and has better steering at low speeds (with the rear steering).
It doesn't behave well under high acceleration--feels like the front tires are close to losing contact with the road. As I consider it, I think that's partly due to the rear steering. I would likely leave that off except when I needed a better steering radius...[a few minutes later]... I took it out for a second test drive with the rear steering off and it's definitely a big part of the issue.
There are some dumb oversights: There isn't a Start/Stop button; the charge port is in the rear. I don't like the automatically adjusting mirrors for backing up. I like the ability to control that myself. There's probably a setting. There's no camera view with the turn signals on.
I tested the RST so the suspension is air suspension and is adjustable. It's not as refined as the R1S or the Gravity. It definitely drives like a big, heavy truck, and the air suspension doesn't help there. It's bouncy like a boat in heat-stressed asphalt roads. But it behaves better on higher-frequency bumps.
The dealer wouldn't budge on price, though. Sigh.
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