The Knickell Saga: Finally at an End, Or Just Beginning?

[fordman2112]

Just saw this! Congratulations. Pretty truck. I would of gotten that color, but my last F150 was Blue Jeans Blue, and i was ready for a change. I went with Carbonized Gray, and am very happy also. I'm sure there will be another trip this summer that you can enjoy with your new truck.

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[Knickell]

Just saw this! Congratulations. Pretty truck. I would of gotten that color, but my last F150 was Blue Jeans Blue, and i was ready for a change. I went with Carbonized Gray, and am very happy also. I'm sure there will be another trip this summer that you can enjoy with your new truck.

Thank you, Fordman!! I appreciate it!!

 

[3DogKnight]

It was an immensely hot and humid summer day on June 25th, 2020. I sat in my workhorse Ford Explorer while at work anxiously awaiting the debut of this new thing Ford called the generation fourteen F-150.

The seconds slowly counted down, the small grains of sand tumbling down the hourglass in an unhurried manner. I wanted to see this thing before I had to get back to work!

(The actual countdown screen from the Ford YouTube livestream.)

Dennis Leary and a bunch of other Ford product big-wigs took their time on stage going on and on about this "new Ford F-150". Finally after several minutes, a 2021 Antimatter Blue F-150 rolled on to the show stage. I remember thinking; "Hmmm... not a bad looking rig".

After that debut show, the seed was planted in my mind, and I began to research this new truck from Ford. A quick few days later, I stumbled across a YouTube video regarding 2021 Ford F-150 pricing that led me to this cute little forum called F150gen14.com that had maybe one hundred or so members. On August 1st, that same day, I registered as a member here to keep up to date on this truck I kinda was interested in.

As the days and weeks progressed, I indulged more and more in this forum and have since made many friends as a result. I learned more and more about this new fangled F-150 until I finally made the decision I had to have one!

One of you loyal members posted some information about how Ford was doing a cross-county test drive event for the new 2021 F-150. Rather than wanting to deal with a high pressure dealer, I figured this event would be a good way to become acquainted with Ford's new truck at my own pace.

I finally found an event in my area, and registered to participate in a test drive the morning of October 9th. Unfortunately, I didn't realize at the time, but some of our other famous forum members were there, including our own @dog_tired , testing out the 2021 Ford F-150.

Every single one of the Ford representatives at the event were incredibly friendly and helpful. I'd be lying if I said I only took one drive. I drove EVERY truck they had available, including the PowerBoost twice! You would think I liked the truck, or something.... While there, I came across a Carbonized Grey Lariat with the PowerBoost powertrain and the 502A package. It was an amazing test drive. It began to rain as I got done, and the Ford rep. was kind enough to let me sit in the truck and play around with that massive 12" screen until the rain let up. While going through some of the truck's features on that rainy October morning, I heard the Bang & Olufsen Unleashed stereo system for the first time. That system was one of the pivotal moments in this process for me. The totality of how great the truck was overall along with that bangin' sound system nearly sealed the deal.

I immediately began courting dealers in my area, and had a slight upper hand (again thanks to all of you) on how to negotiate, obtain a Ford X-Plan, and how to be sure I was getting a fair deal.

After multiple dealers in my area wouldn't even come down from MSRP for my order, I finally came across one who offered a decent deal. I'm sure many of you remember back in October, there wasn't exactly what you would call an abundant supply 2021 Ford F-150s sitting on dealer lots. The most equivalent thing my dealer had at that time for me to test drive was a 2020 Ford F-150 Lariat with the 500 base package and the 3.5 EcoBoost engine. It was still a nice truck, but it pales in comparison to the 2021 F-150 I experienced at the test drive event. The wife was with me at the dealer test drive, and was not impressed with the 2020 given the price tag of the 2021 I intended to order. She later recanted these impressions once I took her to another event where she test drove a 2021. I think I hooked her too with that event!

(The exact 2020 Ford F-150 Lariat I test drove at my dealer.)

I placed my order with my dealer on October 28th, 2020 with a $1,000.00 deposit. "Eight to twelve weeks" they said. Because of the information on this forum, I knew that was wishful thinking, but little did I know just how long I would have to settle into the MANY days as they turned into weeks, the weeks as they turned into months, and the seemingly endless months as they literally turned into YEARS before I would have a tangible truck at my fingertips. The perfect storm of a new generation of pickup truck, production shutdowns due to COVID-19, and numerous supply shortages only prolonged the agonizing experience even more!

@currybob kept me sane with his gracious weekly production updates. Even though it was bad news for me most of the time, I was still able to keep a gauge as to when my order may be "picked up" by Ford.

Oh happy day! After five months, I was told my truck was scheduled to be built February 6th, 2021!! Others on here told me my window sticker should populate about five days before the production date. February 1st came and went. No window sticker. Other members scheduled to that build week began to post theirs, as I checked the Ford and F150gen14 trackers feverishly about every five minutes until February 6th also came and went. It was all but obvious that my truck order had been bumped.

I was then told my truck's production date was moved to the Wednesday, March 3rd. Another production date came and went with no sign of any update or window sticker.

Being just the slightest tad frustrated with the deafening silence of no news, I called up my dealer. My salesperson apologized, and informed me I had been bumped back again until the March 8th build week with an estimated build date of March 10th. Again, constantly checking the window sticker tracker on March 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and so on..... No window sticker populated for me. I pretty much had given up all hope at that juncture and prepared to be informed my order was bumped again, and may not even be built before the rumored Spring production idle/shutdown.

Then one day in that fateful week, my window sticker posted with a blend date of March 10th! It almost began to feel real at that point!

The truck didn’t make its blend date, but just made it onto the build week as the tracker updated that it was produced on March 12th, 2021!!

The Ford tracker estimated that my truck would be delivered around April 12th, 2021, but it seemed trucks were shipping and arriving at their respective destinations much quicker according to information many of you had posted.

My grand plan was to have my truck ready to go for a big cross county trip and vacation with my wife as we traveled to the Grand Canyon. Well, ladies and gents the truck did not make it in time. In unison with how much of this process has gone for me, I received a phone call from my dealer that the truck had arrived in Florida! The day after we pulled into the Grand Canyon…..

For me missing out on the trip of a lifetime with the truck hurt a bit. Now I also had to deal with knowing it was built and ready to go, and I was now halfway across the continent!

After our vacation, we began to head back home. My amazing other half knew how important seeing and picking up this new truck was to me. She agreed to drive back from where we were in northern Utah non-stop through the days and nights so I could get to the dealer to at least look at my freshly built truck before we both had to be back to work all week. We drove forty-five hours straight, got home, took a quick night’s rest, and then straight to my dealer the next morning.

The night before, I spent printing out Ford ESP quotes, pre-delivery checklists (again that you all so kindly provided), and getting all of my other ducks in a row in preparation to “go to war” with the dealer and any potential games they may try to play me on.

Early on the morning of April 3rd, 2021, I arrived at my dealer. As I pulled in, I spotted the slight shine and glint of the roof of a Velocity Blue Metallic truck glistening in the Florida morning sun. I drove closer. Inadvertently and subconsciously drawn to that small sliver of the roof of whatever vehicle that was.

More and more of this brilliant blue came into view, I realized it was an F-150. A little further…. It was a Lariat SuperCrew. Further still into the parking lot towards this truck… It was a Lariat with the Sport appearance package with the dual panel moonroof, the 18” rims just like I had ordered! Behold! It was, in fact, my ordered truck!

My salesman quickly made contact with me, and provided me with the keys for a test drive. I was very upfront with him that I would be a while, going over my checklists and making certain the truck was in proper working order. He was understanding, and basically said it was no issue.

The truck’s odometer read 8.5 miles as I slipped inside. The encompassing aroma of leather and new car smell, the gentle but dominant burble of the 3.5 liter twin turbo EcoBoost V-6, the soft touch of the steering wheel and gearshift in my hands. I may or may not have shed a tear or two taking it all in…

I went over this truck with a fine tooth comb. It was a good thing I had that pre-delivery checklist because it would have been incredibly easy for me to get side tracked and not examine something that I needed to. I was thoroughly impressed with my truck overall upon pre-delivery inspection. I only had a few minute things that the dealer agreed to address in writing.

After a bit of paperwork, we walked out to the truck to take her home for the first time!

Fellow friends and compatriots of the F150gen14 forum, I present to you in the most grand accord and without further adieu!! MY NEW 2021 FORD F-150!!!! After seven months, I can’t believe she is finally here!!!!

(Baby F-150's first full photo at the dealer!)

(Couldn't resist at a stop light of the drive home from the dealer!)

(Note the night mode. The ONLY way to go on Sync4!)

(Gettin' Jiggy in the F-One Fiddy!!! Sounded A-MAZ-ING. Even with the windows up and sitting in the driveway, I was told you could actually hear the B&O Unleashed thumping way on the other side inside my house. It was only turned up to like 13!!)

(I wish they would have "Shown Me" my F-150 a bit sooner!!)

I have to say I'm envious. Very nice truck. I haven't ordered mine yet as I'm waiting to get body damage fixed on my current truck before trading it in. Congrats on your purchase. Enjoy it!

 

[biggs]

One more who is very happy to hear your news! I’ve only been here a couple months (bought off the lot) but have been rooting for you the whole time. I must have been in the wrong frame of mind when I was reading, because the whole time I was expecting a catastrophic ending.

So happy the “endless” waiting is behind you!!

 

[currybob]

I'm a bit late coming to your party Kyle but just saw it!

I'm soooo happy your torment is over and all you have to do now is go, Holly Cow!! Lol

She is a beauty and best written chronological story I have read!!


This whole process has been a, band of brothers, type of feeling here.

Enjoy your beast Kyle!

 

[Knickell]

I have to say I'm envious. Very nice truck. I haven't ordered mine yet as I'm waiting to get body damage fixed on my current truck before trading it in. Congrats on your purchase. Enjoy it!

 

[Knickell]

One more who is very happy to hear your news! I’ve only been here a couple months (bought off the lot) but have been rooting for you the whole time. I must have been in the wrong frame of mind when I was reading, because the whole time I was expecting a catastrophic ending.

So happy the “endless” waiting is behind you!!

Ahh yes, and now the apprehension of learning to drive it, and not bash it into a curb or something!

 

[Knickell]

I'm a bit late coming to your party Kyle but just saw it!

I'm soooo happy your torment is over and all you have to do now is go, Holly Cow!! Lol

She is a beauty and best written chronological story I have read!!


This whole process has been a, band of brothers, type of feeling here.

Enjoy your beast Kyle!

It really has been! Like I mentioned, probably wouldn’t have been able to keep my sanity if it wasn’t for your weekly updates as you were waiting for yours!

I’ve got big plans for this thing!

Thank you for the kind words!

 

[SonnyDigs]

It really has been! Like I mentioned, probably wouldn’t have been able to keep my sanity if it wasn’t for your weekly updates as you were waiting for yours!

I’ve got big plans for this thing!

Thank you for the kind words!

They are awesome trucks..

Finishing all the add on's to mine will do photo shoot in a couple of weeks.
It's going to be killer..

 

[Knickell]

They are awesome trucks..

Finishing all the add on's to mine will do photo shoot in a couple of weeks.
It's going to be killer..

Yea, I’m a few weeks out too! Gotta save up for that ceramic coat!!

 

[SonnyDigs]

Yea, I’m a few weeks out too! Gotta save up for that ceramic coat!!

My ceramic coating is scheduled for this Saturday.
Then I still need a grille guard.
No one has one to market yet.

 

[TheGoodLife]

Congrats Kyle! Really happy for you, and enjoyed your write up. Enjoy!

 

[SonnyDigs]

Yea, I’m a few weeks out too! Gotta save up for that ceramic coat!!

Looking forward to seeing it when you finish..

 

[kavm]

Terrific truck and wonderfully written story! Thanks for sharing with us and all the best with your truck!

 

[Knickell]

Congrats Kyle! Really happy for you, and enjoyed your write up. Enjoy!

Thank you!

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