Bluecruise Subscription cost.

[RossRR]

Same, I'm happy I'm in the position to use it for 3 years before having to think about paying. If they keep making it better and add things like lane changing, I'd definitely consider paying. $200ish a year seems a little steep in my opinion being that it's $2,000 upfront for the hardware. I feel like that 2k should have been the only money required. Or why not make it 4k and have no subscription.

Remind me in 2025 when I need to actually make this decision.

I think subscription makes more sense because it provides added resources year over year to keep developing and refining the software. $200/year is only a quarter tank of gas per month so I'd say that is reasonable (if they actually continue to improve it beyond what it is currently). It would be kind of sad if the only way to get improvements in BC performance would be to buy a new model vehicle.

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[Big Cam]

I think subscription makes more sense because it provides added resources year over year to keep developing and refining the software. $200/year is only a quarter tank of gas per month so I'd say that is reasonable (if they actually continue to improve it beyond what it is currently). It would be kind of sad if the only way to get improvements in BC performance would be to buy a new model vehicle.

I hate to sound negative but I fear this is what will end up happening. Similar to Sync versions. I hope I am wrong and they keep improving BC, however if there is anything I've learned from the tech world. Never buy a product based on promises of future updates or enhancements.

 

[HammaMan]

I hate to sound negative but I fear this is what will end up happening. Similar to Sync versions. I hope I am wrong and they keep improving BC, however if there is anything I've learned from the tech world. Never buy a product based on promises of future updates or enhancements.

That's the world at large. It's a fools game to buy something today based on promised expanded performance. It's hard to get what you pay for, it's even harder to get more than what you paid for, free, at a later date.

 

[Snakebitten]

Still, this is the first vehicle I have ever owned that is designed to be updated after I drove off from the dealership.
And regardless of the bumpy start to the OTA world, Ford IS in fact updating the trucks 1 and 2 years after the purchase.

Some of the best improvements require FDRS, but even that method allows continuous improvement of multiple aspects of the truck.

 

[cmaple]

There's very little reason to doubt Ford will stop updating BlueCruise. Ford delivered updates to add BlueCruise on 2021 vehicles with the active prep. They've also updated MachE to BlueCruise 1.2 as well.

It's fine to be skeptical and critical but let's be realistic here...

 

[zacko11288]

I think subscription makes more sense because it provides added resources year over year to keep developing and refining the software. $200/year is only a quarter tank of gas per month so I'd say that is reasonable (if they actually continue to improve it beyond what it is currently). It would be kind of sad if the only way to get improvements in BC performance would be to buy a new model vehicle.

Right....if I'm paying $200 per year I fully expect to see ongoing improvements. There's no reason my '21 f150 can't get the latest and greatest updates like lane change when it has the same hardware as the new trucks. Hoping to see some sort of update to Bluecruise before I start having to pay for it.

 

[Snakebitten]

Are you saying Ford would withhold Bluecruise updates that are compatible with the 2021 F150?
For what reason?

Or are you saying that at some point the current hardware will no longer be compatible with the latest software Ford is developing?
That's inevitable.

I agree that at some point all software development eventually requires newer hardware, but even when that transition takes place, a healthy 2021 F150 might be running software 3 or 4 years newer than the truck is itself.

But yea, I'm probably guilty of being an optimist rather a pessimist.

 

[EBR]

I also agree with @Snakebitten, eventually BlueCruse will need new hardware. Ford and every manufacturer wants you to buy new vehicles.

$200/year will be eventually be more, inflation.

 

[HammaMan]

Fortunately new hardware is on the horizon. I believe job 2 23 MMEs are getting the sync4a.2 (my label, the.2). This is really good news for us. I think 1/4 of my posts about the MME is the shitty hardware powering sync 4, which for all intents and purposes is a galaxy S7 cellphone. It's the same brain we have in the F150s.

Due to the way all of the sensors work together it will likely be a direct install w/ some forscan changes once we can actually get the parts. It will probably be priced similarly at $2500 once it finally shows up in parts. In the mean time we'll keep getting updates / have updates available for 4 years from now at least. The new APIM can drive 3 or 4 4k monitors, and the performance increase depending on task is 8-19 times faster. For those who say it's fine, or okay. Well sure, it'd be okay in a $30k vehicle maybe. A majority of the vehicles sold w/ the 12"+ sync 4 are $60-100k. There's no excuse for a processor approaching 8 years old to be used today. Inexcusable at this price point.

As to what you'll gain. Everything is instant and seamless, combined with more features and it's able to render far more information and details, significantly faster. The 15" full center screen in upper lightnings and the MME is just crap. I spend good money on the computers I use because there's no excuse to waste even a second from stumbling / loading. We're way advanced into high-powered economical processors. The sync4's brain is something you'd find on a low-end smart fridge with integrated screen, and it may even still stumble.

Not all is lost on our current sync4 brains. I'd bet $100 a handful of quality coders could rewrite and optimize it at least doubling its current responsiveness. Ford let it be know that they use 20% more tech / programming engineers per unit of work done than any other auto company. They're just in a really poor state right now (most OEMs are).

If I had to put money on the future, It's likely going to be tesla hardware / brains and base code, skinned by ford with its own Ui. Tesla is decades ahead of everyone else in their dataset. Once they get the right neural net / Ai config to chew through the data and get it to real FSD, the race will be over. Their cars run on what's essentially a custom CPU/GPU from AMD with enough resources / capability that it's a top 95 percentile performance bar against all PCs/Laptops. Loads of extra capability, and it's cheap too. Tesla likely makes the entire package for what ford pays a 3rd party shitty COTs part vendor for the APIM.

Then there's tesla's twin AI redundant custom silicon behind the ADAS cameras that allow for hands free (and at times allowing highway nap mode) . When it's not processing data to send back to tesla (driving situations) it's running a digital twin of the vehicle and environment basically increasing the situational awareness of the primary. If the primary fails, it will take over in 10ns or so. We're not quite FSD, those cars do some crazy shit, but it will be nailed down soon and we're all going to benefit from it.

A bit of a tangent, but we'll have our current system updates covered, and a few upgrade paths for our gear. With my luck, right as we're getting everything updated and happy, the PB-R will drop with the big motor and 20kWh battery to allow us electric only mode via home charging. I wish more people would understand the concept and force Ford to build it already! Just give us 40 miles of pure electric range already!

 

[imnuts]

Just got my renewal email yesterday and the only option I have is 3 years for $600. While I'll have my truck for 3 more years, is really rather have a month-to-month or annual subscription option. I don't use it enough, and it's not capable enough for me to consider that a reasonable cost. @Ford Motor Company can you update your system to allow annual renewals?

 

[thebigdu]

I don't have BC but really enjoy 360 Assist with ACC and lane centering. The hands-on-wheel warnings are annoying but defeatable if I wanted to be dangerous and use an ankle weight (which I don't). I've been curious about full BC and highway curves; does the truck slow down at all for highway curves? I get a little nervous when my truck approaches a decent curve using ACC + lane centering; it usually navigates pretty well, but I definitely wish it was smart enough to slow down a few mph around sharper curves. It seems from this thread that full BC doesn't slow down either?

 

[air2mag]

I’ve only used it on interstates. Those curves are pretty gradual for the most part. It’s never slowed down for those. If it’s a sharper turn it’s prompts me to take the wheel. I don’t use it a lot, but it is really nice on a long trip.

 

[HammaMan]

I get a little nervous when my truck approaches a decent curve using ACC + lane centering; it usually navigates pretty well, but I definitely wish it was smart enough to slow down a few mph around sharper curves. It seems from this thread that full BC doesn't slow down either?

Not sure why the F150 doesn't do it, the MME will slow for curves. I use the system in both vehicles a lot, and while the F150's tracks better due to its camera height, it won't slow the truck. I think they're both programmed to let off of the throttle, which isn't saying much in an ICE vehicle that will coast, but 1pd driving (regens on release) on the MME slows it from the set 60 down to 53 while Gs are being pulled and then it will immediately speed back up once the Gs dip below a certain threshold.

I'd like ford to experiment at least w/ the powerboost to have a 1pd light where letting off the throttle would allow its little bit of regen it has to be used. It'd be the perfect solution for achieving some slowing in curves. If for nothing else to allow the cruise / lane centering to regen brake w/ out dragging the pads any.

 

[powerboost]

I just got an email yesterday that my 2021 F150 Lariat (delivered July 2021) will have free blue cruise until end of 2023! Nice surprise.

 

[HammaMan]

I just got an email yesterday that my 2021 F150 Lariat (delivered July 2021) will have free blue cruise until end of 2023! Nice surprise.

It's supposed to come with 3 years so best contact them on that one.

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