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I'll just sit back and wait for the 60MPG F150s slated to come out next!
Got down around 3, drove it and decided we really liked the ride, so we were prepared to see if he could get the one he mentioned they could get (less nav package) in ice blue, or (our preference) "if there's one like that in the green, we can wait longer."
He went back to the manger's area for awhile, and we watched TV, and came back asking if we liked the one we drove. I said yes, and he said how about that for $30,500, out the door). I asked if that included the college discount, and he said nope, take that off, and it's $30K. Interested?
So, we said yes, and also got the $500 factory-to-dealer rebate that's out now. Then all the financing paperwork began (in spite of me having gone through FMC's credit application a few days ago, in preparation). Declined all the options except GAP insurance (which made a difference of about $2/mo financed). About 2 hours later, we drove away with a kiwi green FWD that has the premium package, navigation, chrome, moonroof and stepbars (only thing I woulda totally skipped, but eh), for $29,290 or about $1,100 over invoice.
The salesman mentioned to us that we picked a good time to shop (end of the month), which is something that a car salesman friend of mine confirmed -- they have monthly quotas, so feel more pressure at the end of the month. He also mentioned that they have a limit of how many hybrids they'll have on the lot at any given time. Now, I'm not sure who imposes this limit, but I'm thinking in this case it's the dealership's manager, because this was slightly out in the country south of Houston (at Ron Carter in Alvin), where trucks are a much bigger draw. But, worked in our favor, because end of the month, and faced with seeing if another dealer would swap out their inventory == let's sell the one here.
So, all in all, a pretty smooth and surprising experience. :shades:
1) GAP coverage. I wouldn't suggest buying GAP coverage from the actual dealer. If you feel you must have that insurance, purchase it from your insurance carrier. It's typically far less and since you generally purchase six month premiums, you can always get rid of it, as needed.
2) End of the month myth... It's always the right time to buy a vehicle. The fact of the matter is, a salesman always wants to move a vehicle (despite what he/she may say) and a salesman is always willing to negotiate a good deal. The only factors that will change the amount a dealer is willing to negotiate are consumer rebates and factory-to-dealer incentives. If you're willing to wait for a rebate or an incentive, you will obviously get a better deal.
GAP coverage was all of about $345, so I'm not sweating it at all.
I feel fine with the deal we got.
Thanks for pointing these out, though! Always good for folks to hear about different angles, going in.
Brian
i am in the market now and would appreciate it, if you could educate me on how i can get a great deal like yours on the escape.
thanks
chuck
Basically, I created my own purchase offer, starting off with the actual invoice price and then subtracting out factory holdback (3% total msrp) and Blue Oval Cert holdback (1.25% total invoice). I then added 3% profit for the dealer. And finally, added in the destination charge and subtracted out the consumer rebate of $500 and that's the total price. There were no manufacturer to dealer incentives, unfortunately, for the 08 model and I did not add in the Ford Advertising Dealer Fund ($360 per vehicle), although most dealer's will require it.
After making the initial offer and sending it off to several dealerships, I took possession of the vehicle in like three days.
The key to making this work is to be precise and to be persistent. Research the vehicle you're going to purchase and make sure your figures are right (Edmunds.com has basically everything you need). make a professional looking offer and this will tell the dealer you know what you're talking about. However, be prepared to defend your position and be savvy!
Good luck!
i have not yet seen one with leather or with a nav system.
- the dealers in SoCal only have like one or two FEH's each-
if anybody could comment on look/feel of the leather vs cloth and also the nav system -- i can;t see myself ever needing the nav for directions/gps but the hybrid monitor information seems cool and perhaps helpful. comments from anybody who has one?
thanks for any feedback
Jury is still out on the Nav. Only had the car for three days and the things I already hate about nav are:
1) Priced too high (way too much for nav but I am a tech nerd so I need my gadgets).
2) Stupid on screen warning/disclaimer every time you start the car that requires you to hit accept. Lawyers must have insisted on that. really annoying and serves no purpose after I have read it once.
3) Nav unit's functionality is severely limited while car is in motion. They do this for safety reasons so the driver doesn't fumble w/ the device while driving, but this restriction means that even the passenger can't set it while in motion.
Positive things for nav are that once it is set (while you are stopped), it works rather well. I also feel that the center dash looks cheap and has too much plastic w/ the standard radio setup. The nav screen helps offset the plastic look.
If anyone knows how to workaround any of my nav gripes let me know.
Lance
I don't think I got a 'great' deal but overall I am happy. Base + Nav + moon roof.
MSRP w/ options: $29,430
Invoice w/ options: $27,366
Total before rebate & t/t/f's: $28,379
Rebate: $545
They had another rebate of $500 but opted for the 3 year 3.9% financing. Was going to pay cash but seemed better to get financing and keep the money in a money market at 5.4%.
Total w/o t/t/f's: $27,834.. could have been $27,334 if I would have taken additional rebate.
One beef I had with the process was slow turnaround on the order. They didn't have options we wanted on the lot so we ordered the car. They said it would take 6-8 weeks for it to come in and it ended up taking about 11.
Lance
Can you tell me how your formula applies for my 2008 ford escape hybrid purchase. My MSRP with options price is $27,825. Invoice price with options is $26,300. What should I be offering the dealer according to your formula?
thanks
I would... If you had the correct information. Something's wrong there--your invoice price is too high. Even if you're including the destination fee (which isn't part of the "invoice" price... It's just a fee added on--the "MSRP" however, includes the destination fee).
But if I do find one, I'm going to fight to make them take the FDAF assessment off my invoice---How can they charge an advertising fee for a car that they don't have on their lots? They keep telling me they are selling like mad---but then I ask them if they have any on order & they say NO! Someone's lying!
thanks
(1)A-plan: Ford Employee price
(2)X-plan: Ford Employee sponsored or supplier price
I don't know about the A plan, but you are probably correct that that is lower than invoice.
But for the X-Plan, here's the numbers I'm being quoted for a base model 2008 Escape Hybrid, no frills:
MSRP: 25,740
X-Plan: 24,572
Invoice: 23,564
It's not clear to me how much dealing they will do on the X-Plan numbers. Sounds like someone above beat the X-Plan price just by playing dealerships off each other and using the invoice price as his base. I'm also not sure how much location has to do with that. We live in a region where there are literally none available, so there seems to be little incentive to help us out. In fact, the salesman kept trying to get us to just go with a non-hybrid Escape.
I think there's a significant difference between A-Plan price (employees and immediate family) and X-Plan price (anyone who knows a Ford employee).
X-Plan: 24,572
Invoice: 23,564
This information is incorrect. X-plan is below invoice every time (except maybe on a very low cost Focus). The below numbers are exactly correct on an Escape Hybrid as an example:
MSRP: 25935
Invoice: 24763
X-plan: 24739
A/Z-plan: 23780
The dealership is paid a certain amount by Ford when they sell a vehicle under one of the plans when a customer has an appropriate pin number. It is actually more advantageous for a dealership to sell under A/Z-plan than X-plan because the subsidy is better for them. Of course, you would have to actually qualify for it to get it.
At this time, I dont think there would be a dealership anywhere that would be very happy about selling a hybrid on any of the plans, as they bring full retail and are in VERY short supply. The supply issue does not look like it will get better any time soon. If you can buy one with any discount, congratulations.
X Plan Price = A Plan Price + 4%(A Plan Price) + $150
X Plan applies to Base price only, not options, but any available consumer incentives may be applied, and no extra fees may be added. For Hybrids, the X Plan price ends up being about $50 under invoice.
Also, you can sometimes find online Ford employees who will give you a PIN number, even if you're not connected with Ford.
Try googling Ford X Plan.
Welcome to the Forum
I think I'm going to order from another dealer at x plan. I don't understand why most dealers have none and then a random dealer gets 10 at a time. I'm with you and glad I'm not a Ford shareholder.
They would be selling like crazy if they would build them, market them & give them a decent price. Free moon-roof for the non-hybrid 2008 Ford Escape, but nothing for the hybrid. And while I'm venting, why doesn't the government keep those tax incentives going? I know the Escape still qualifies, but why should they end at all?
The salesmen just want to sell a car, and they have no hybrids to sell, so they try to steer you to anything else, and like typical salesmen most of them are irritating. Yes, it happened to me, too, & I was boiling mad, maybe we went to the same dealership.(on the Florida east coast)
I ordered mine over 2 weeks ago, & was told today that it will be built in September & will be OCTOBER before it arrives...If I wasn't getting the X-plan price I think I would fly up north & drive one home. I can't wait!
Mark Fields(mfield27@ford.com) or Alan Mulally (amulally@ford.com). Usually, Ford works hard to satisfy customers if their dealers didn't.
I sent an email query two days ago asking where my Escape Hybrid is after 2.5 months of waiting. Received a detailed reply today advising that it is currently in transit and should arrive in mid-August (or three months after I ordered it).
Glad to know that Ford does listen from time to time.
Stephen
hope you all get your soon
chuck
Just noticed that my factory ordered Ice Blue FEH (4WD, moonroof, premium package) has appeared on the dealer lot today. Ordered on May 16 and received on Aug 13. Actual "delivery" likely to occur within a day or two.
Another 2008 FEH will be on the road in the Canadian Rockies shortly.
Stephen
Canmore, AB
It is probably another case of US Corporate thinking that is too short-term. The US mfrs react too quickly to a market that goes soft (hybrids a little over a year ago when gas prices went down)....and they can't react quick enough when markets pick-up (like the hybrid market has since May of this year) because they never increased their commitment to the hybrid market. They chose to add a Mazda Tribute Hybrid without adding any mfg capacity at the plant in Kansas City or ramping up their orders of HVBatterys or eCVTs.
In CA, Ford advertises on TV using yourcaliforniaford.com for all their promotions. So, I've been looking at that site for rebate info on the 08 FEH and last week it showed that they were offering an $8500 rebate. Surprising? Of course...but, I called the dealer to check it out and he said there was no promo like that running. He said it was a mistake on the website and that they couldn't offer it. I have printouts of the offer, etc. but they still won't honor it.
The website was "mysteriously" updated the next day to reflect the correct $500 rebate, but I still have proof that the $8500 rebate was listed on the site (and I had "Clicked here to request this offer"). What is the legality behind this? Isn't there some sort of rule that says they have to honor an advertised price or something? Thoughts?