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Ford Hybrid
First email came from Leominster, MA. A simple request for a quote over the internet lead to 4 phone calls from them, 4 emails (from 2 different people) and never a price. It didn't take long to just say no.
Second email came from the dealer in Shrewsbury, MA. This was the closest dealership to my home. However, their idea of a good price was MSRP of 34,220 (4WD, Premium, Moon Roof). Their story was, "... we cannot find a red one for you locally...blah, blah, blah... we can order it..." The sales people were very nice. Went for an informative ride with the family. Chatted us up, then the manager dropped the full price bomb. I left without a car, and began to doubt the process.
Third email came from a dealership in Framingham, MA that had just closed as a Mercury dealership and reopened as a Nissan. They said I needed an Xterra. Didn't bother with them at all.
Forth email came from Acton Lincoln Mercury. Not only did I get an immediate response, but I also got a very good price. The email contained a copy of the sticker and their discounted offer. No haggling, no pressure, no phone calls. After much thought (and a lengthy business trip), I finally drove the 30 min to see if they actually had the car on the lot. I was afraid they would be a "bait and switch" operation. A pleasant surprise ! Turns out they did indeed have my choice in options and color on the lot. The sales people were very knowledgeable. They were honest when they didn't know the answer to all my questions, and found out the correct answers. Not only did they honor the internet quote, but came off an additional $500 on the spot. Bottom line is: $250 over invoice and almost $1700 under the TMV price. Did not try to sell any undercoating, sealants, or other snake oils. Just the car.
The price given on my trade in was $1000 more than the trade in value as listed on the Edmunds Used Car Appraiser and only $300 below the Private Party value. Considering the tax advantage, this was a good deal (yes, the value of the trade in was subtracted from the selling price of the LGS to determine total tax liability, therefore a better deal than a private party sale). Only a $95 processing fee on top of normal state taxes.
Edmunds.com made my research and acquisition very easy. I recommend both Acton Lincoln Mercury and Edmunds.com. Both are professionals ! I'll keep the forums posted with my satisfaction levels in the future.
MSRP for the options I chose: $30,610
Price I got at the dealer: $28,760 (saved $1850)
Interest on 60 month loan: 0% (saved about $1400)
DC sales tax on hybrids: 0% (saved about $2000)
Federal income tax credit on hybrids: $1965 (I'll get back $1965)
This means that I saved about $7250 compared to the cost of a non-hybrid car with a 5% loan going for $30,610 with no price decrease from the dealer.
I can't wait to see how much I save on gas!
Thanks again Jeff.
One guy at Suddard (SE Mass.) actually contacted me! We went up there and test drove the car and were impressed. I asked if there was any room on price and he said "well, I'll see what I can do, but hybrids are rather desirable"...not encouraging!
MSRP was 34,315
My wife told him we'd walk if it was over $32k. The sales manager pleaded with us for $32.1 with 0% for 60mos. The financing really put us over the edge...if Ford's giving us free money for five years, I'll take it!
My one concern is the Dealer did NOT know the Hybrid warranty! Stating several times that Hybrid components were warranteed for 10 years. It isn't really clear on the website either, but in the manual it does state 8yrs.
MSRP: $29,300
Price Paid: $27,725
Interest rate: 1.9% for 72 months (I needed the smaller payment)
Rebate: $500 for recent college grad (which so far, I haven't showed proof of because I forgot!)
Final price: $27,225 plus taxes, lic, fees. which came to $29697.
Drive off payment: $0 down (used the rebate), first payment due June 11.
Hope this helps anyone looking to buy.
We first drove the vehicle on 2/22, they had only one on the lot. When we went back in early April, the same vehicle was still there along with another FEH. The vehicle was a different color than what we preferred and it also had the Appearance option that we were not interested in. After we talked about trying to locate another vehicle that better matched our preferences, the sales manager offered to sell us the vehicle at the X-Plan price minus the cost of the Appearance option. My guess is that since it had been on the lot for at least a couple of months and that they had an additional FEH in stock, the dealership was interested in moving this vehicle. We decided to buy it at the below X-Plan price. The timing of the deal was fabulous for us.
Given that the price of gas has jumped over the past few weeks and our need for another economical car, we are happy with the purchase.
Had the full fillup after a week and a half of driving. 1st fillup over 29MPG!!!
I feel like I was treated pretty well there. I got a price quote with incentives, payments, etc. through email before I ever went in, which I loved, no other ford dealer did that. I hate talking on the phone or going in to the dealer, being a young blond female I feel like prey walking in the door. and they would be right!
Is there some way you can trick the Ford web site to give you a list of all dealers in a 50 or 100 mile radius. Right now it asks for a zip code or a city and then you get a group of dealers. I am looking for a 2006 FEH
Thanks
Dan
MSRP:27,795 (asking price, $30,285)
Price Paid: $26,000
Financing: 0%/60 Months
Had to put $300 down but they added the 72 mo/75,000 mile warranty and Vehicle Recovery Plan at no cost to me! Didn't realize it at the time of purchase but noticed on the way home that the vehicle has a 6 disk changer (was never listed on the sticker so I consider it a bonus )
Final price: $29128.00 including taxes, lic, fees
Hope this helps anyone looking to buy.
With regards to the zip codes, no way to get around it that I know of, so I just opened another browser in another window to USPS.com and went to the search zip code area, then put in names of cities and such and used it that way... I'm sure I missed a few dealerships here and there, but was confident that I got the vast majority in the area.
I was just adamant about 1) finding just the color and options my wife wanted, and 2) staying out of the dealership until things were agreed upon, to take away that home turf advantage that I (and many others) get frustrated over when they give that runaround to keep the price high.
Good luck!
Jeff
It is 8 years (100K miles) in some states, and 10 years (150K miles) in others. I know that in CA, it is 10 years.
This is EXACTLY what I experienced! Somewhere, at some point, someone at ford must have put this in some sales/training lit.!
It's definitely 8/100k in my manual.
It is 8 yrs 100k miles for the whole US mandated by the EPA. In the 5 CARB states it is 10 yrs 150k mandated by the stricter AT-PZEV regulation.
I was reading Jeff's posts about his buying experience in the area, and I used similar tactics to buy my car, which had to be shipped down from NJ and I only paid $500 over invoice. The people at Ourisman were nice enough to bend over backwards to find a FEH to my specifications, and they found it and shipped it in two days.
Koons Ford in Falls Church, VA is a bunch of a-holes, as Jeff mentioned, as they quoted a 26,000 FEH at 34,000 and change after they tack on all their useless mumbo jumbo crap. I just up and walked out.
I love the car by the way and highly recommend it.
Bought my 06 AWD FEH from Cowles in Woodbridge for $250 over dealer cost - almost 10 months ago. Took it in for the 10K service and they did it for no charge.
Thanks
2008 Escape began production Jan 31 and should begin shipping Feb 20-ish. Likely will be no 2008 model incentives for a while but you never know. 2008 base prices are $400 to $900 LOWER than '07s, depending on model.
Leftover '07 is a sweet deal right now if you can find one.
In my region (Rocky Mtns) the X plan qualified buyer can pick up a remaining '07 for about $5000 below MSRP, for example:
$33100 MSRP ('07 FEH, Premium Pkg, Safety, Moonroof)
$31116 X Plan Price
$ 2500 Customer Cash
$ 500 Bonus Cash
$28116 Final Price, plus taxes&tags
stopped in last friday and mine's still not scheduled for production, but they had an '08 XLT just off the truck and were cleaning it up for the showroom floor. sweet ride.
should have mine in a few weeks.
by the way www.fordaccesories.com had a great color chooser feature.
b
I am in the process of buying an '07 Escape Hybrid. The current $2,500 Customer Cash promotion will expire after a week (on 02/28). So what can we expect? Will Ford extend the promotion, maybe even raise the amount, or will the promotion just disappear? (In other words - should I hurry up and buy a car quick??)
$2,500 is a lot of money...
I didn't think there were very many 2007 hybrids left?
Paul
Pretty much loaded with the exception of the chrome package. With the Military Assistance $500.00 cash back, close to invoice price, and the $2,200 tax deduction, I believe we did pretty well.
The ride is still a little truck-like, but a huge improvement over the old one. I wish there was better quality on the interior, perhaps fewer separate pieces and better plastics. And what's the deal with the tiny cheap plastic glove box with no light? At least the huge console is big enough to store almost anything. Regardless, this vehicle is WAY better than before. It's noticeably more refined and quiet. I agree it's worth getting the '08, and re-sale should be better, as well.
The incentives on the leftover 07s are still $2500 cash plus $500 bonus cash, or low APR plus $500 bonus cash, expiration April 2. No incentives at all on the '08, but they were definitely willing to deal.
Final math: MSRP $33100 - $7500 incentives = roughly $25600 + tax (8.25% where I live in LA).
I got financing through Ford Credit but I am planning to pay the car off this year so I did not opt for the 0APR financing, rather took the $3000.
Hope this helps somebody.
The only incentive is $3000 from Ford.
Savvy buyers can negotiate an additional $2000 to $2500. Dealers want to move the last '07s which have been in stock since last fall, most of which are $33100 units equipped by Ford with their remaining old style nav systems.
The final $2000 in the example is a personal Federal income tax credit ($1950), which most buyers can claim next year against '07 income. Some buyers, like a retired person who pays no tax, would not get that. Also, people with other credits may get caught up in the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) if they try to claim a hybrid credit, too.
Also, sales tax is calculated on ~$27600, not $25600.
Again, not to nitpick, but just to point out that the example is not exactly a $25600 + tax purchase. It's still a great deal, though!
:P
Let's hope that quality is there, as we are giving up a bullet-proof '02 Acura MDX for the green thing. Not to mention an increase in real word fuel economy from 16 MPG (premium fuel) for the Acura to 30 MPG (regular unleaded) in the Ford.
Good luck - deals on the '07's are still out there.
I will likely try another dealer that can get me closer to the $22,000 price point (meaning, I get both dealer and Man. incentives, plus some of the packages without getting gauged for stuff I don't need). Thanks.
I did not want the $2,695 Navigation system nor the moonroof and was able to find 2 without these options. 2WD doesn't even exist out here. No one in Colorado would buy one. All in all, I think I got a good price considering there are no incentives out on the '08 yet.
Originally, I thought I'd get a better deal on a 2007 model because of all the extra incentives. The vehicle has a base MSRP of $25,655.00 and a base invoice of $24,198.00. Accounting for dealer holdback (3% off total MSRP), Blue Oval holdback (additional 1.25% off total invoice), and current factory-to-dealer rebate of $500.00, I've come up with a dealer cost of $22,625.88. Add in the destination charge and subtract the $3000.00 in customer rebates, and I'm down to $20,290.88 for the base model. Anyway, after adding in all the options I want (Premium Package, Safety Package, and Moonroof) and my local tax rate, I've come up with a total w/options cost of $25,987.30. That's $7,397.40 off MSRP & $5,031.48 off invoice). Take out another $2600 for the tax credit, and I'm down to $23,387.30. Then, of course, I have to add in *some* profit for the dealer.
Now, here's the issue... Going through all that rigamarole with the 08 model has given me a total cost of $25,698.23 (after the $3000 tax credit and, again, I have to add in profit), which is $2310.93 more than the 07, and only $4336.67 off MSRP and $1,873.23 off invoice... That really seems crazy to me, based on previous vehicles I've purchased (course, they've always been marked up more than the Escape).
Anyway, I've read--from Ford--that the 08 is slated to have an 11% better residual value than the 07 model... If that's the case, it might be worth it just to go for the 08. That, coupled with all the new features, may be my best choice. Of course, the drastic markdown in the 08 will certainly have a negative effect on the prior models' resale value, anyway.
It should also be noted that I used this same formula with both the 07 and 08 Mariners. Oddly enough, both of them came in at just over $200 more than the 08 Escape... So the 08 Mariner is on my mind too. *sigh*
Any thoughts before I purchase?
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