The truck that built Ford's empire now costs what a luxury sedan did five years ago, and that's the whole story in one sentence. Well-equipped F-150s run $60k, $80k, double the inflation-adjusted price of a decade ago, while dealer markups on desirable trims push buyers toward used lots. The product itself hasn't failed, the 5.0L V8 still runs to 300k miles, the PowerBoost hybrid doubles as a mobile generator, and the aluminum body laughs at rust, but Ford chased luxury margins and left its core buyers behind. If you find a fair deal or buy used, you're getting the most capable half-ton on the market. If you're stretching to afford a new XLT at $55k, ask yourself if a three-year-old Silverado at $38k makes more sense. The F-150 is still the truck to beat; it's just not the truck most people can afford to buy.
The R1T is the electric truck that drives like a sports car and rides like a luxury SUV, genuinely class-leading dynamics wrapped in a genuinely useful gear tunnel. The catch is you're buying into a startup still finding its footing: Gen 1 trucks suffer systematic 12V battery failures (some owners on their fifth replacement), service centers are scarce and slow, and Gen 2's rear door release is so poorly designed it requires panel removal in an emergency. If you love the truck enough to tolerate growing pains and can live near decent service, it's a thrilling machine; if you need Toyota-grade reliability or can't afford downtime, walk.