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The current estimate for production of my factory order FEH is March at the earliest. That means I'll have waited a full 8 months before receiving my order.
If you have 8 months to wait, then by all means place a factory order. Otherwise, I'd recommend one off the lot.
Perhaps because I'm 1/2 Canadian, and 1/2 USA by ancestry, I'll only have to wait 1/2 as long in metro DC area?
https://www.wheels.com/fleet/reference/assembly/html/assembly_lines.asp
or
http://www.donlen.com/production_trucks_ford.asp
Delivery time for the FEH shows up to 30 weeks!
As I understand it, they're all made at the same plant!
thanks,
Mike
Kevin
I'm still waiting for a production date, despite the promise from the Ford executive office that I'd have a date by the end of January. It just goes to show you the confusion over this whole situation starts at the top.
Soon the 2009 models will start appearing. Anyone know what's new in 2009?
New 2.5 engine, more powerful and efficient. Re-tuned suspension. Standard stability control, etc... There is quite a few pages on the weba bout this, this has been announnced a few weeks ago.
Cheers,
bjcarter, one of the posters a page or two back had some links to production wait times. One of the links also showed the startup dates for the 2009 FEHs. If my memory is correct, they started accepting orders in May sometime.
https://www.wheels.com/fleet/reference/assembly/html/assembly_lines.asp
The original link (no longer working) was:
http://www.donlen.com/buildstart_trucks_ford.asp
Fortunately, Google's cache still has it:
Google Cache
In case that link stops working, here's what the page says:
Ford Escape Hybrid
2007 Final Order Due: 10/13/06
2008 Final Order Due: 11/30/07
2009 Initial Order Acceptance: 04/17/08
2009 Production Scheduling Begins: 05/15/08
2009 Production Start Up: 06/23/08
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
2007 Final Order Due: 09/25/06
2008 Final Order Due: 11/30/07
2009 Initial Order Acceptance: 04/17/08
2009 Production Scheduling Begins: 05/15/08
2009 Production Start Up: 06/23/08
No info on Mazda Tribute.
There's also a comment at the bottom that says dates are estimates and subject to change.
Hope that helps.
http://www.donlen.com/build_out_start_ups.html
In B.C. there is a $1500 tax credit so I only had to pay $3.12 provincial (state) sales tax. Although I had to pay federal tax, I understand there is a $2000 government rebate for the FEH (as well as other hybrids and fuel efficient cars) which I am going to apply for. The link for anyone (Canadians) who have not applied for this rebate is:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/ecotransport/ecoautoinformation.htm
I am hope the 2009 FEH will be the very first car I buy on my own. Over the past couple of months, I have contacted dealers regarding the 2008 models but as my need to make a large down payment has increased, the 2009 models will be out when I am ready to purchase.
My questions is, if dealerships are currently accepting paper work orders for the hybrid, does this give me less bargaining power because the care isn't actually on the lot? Is their less incentive for the dealer to come down in price because they are essentially special ordering the care based on whatever accessories I want with it?
I think it's harder to negotiate when the actual car isn't even being produced yet. What leverage does a buyer have? As a first time buyer, any adv ice you can offer will help.
I'd expect the situation will remain the same going into the 2009 model year unless by some miracle they manage to sort out their production problems.
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/documents_library/bulletins/sst_085.pdf
I am hoping the 2009 FEH will be the very first car I buy on my own. Over the past couple of months, I have contacted dealers regarding the 2008 models and have received competitive offers via e-mail. However, my goal is to make a large down payment to offset whatever a short term interest rate is incurred. By the time I have saved enough money, the 2009 models will be in production.
My questions is, if dealerships are currently accepting paper work orders for the hybrid, does this give me less bargaining power because the car isn't actually on the lot? Is their less incentive for the dealer to come down in price because they are essentially special ordering the vehicle based on whatever accessories I want with it?
I think it's harder to negotiate when the actual car isn't even being produced yet. What leverage does a buyer have in this situation? As a first time buyer, any advice you can offer will help.
As for the 2009's, I can't imagine there will be any price bargaining on the hybrids - there's simply no supply/demand reason to do so.
I'd rather know the details of the 2009 packages and options before ordering, which I thought I read elsewhere would be in May.
My experience with the DC mid-atlantic area is not as bad as Fmorriso's but its one where you have to expect you don't have the advantage a typical auto buyer has. First-off, he's right, the demand for the truck is such that you can't expect to get a great deal below MSRP. A lot of dealers are adding "market premiums" and getting them. MSRP is probably as good as you can realistically expect. I found a number of dealers that were willing to sell at MSRP without the premium, but you have to look for them. Even at that, you may still pay top dollar since nearly all the trucks we looked at had the full-up options package, which probably helps defray the negative margins that FMC eats to be able to sell the truck.
So you have two options, in my mind:
1) Place the order for exactly what you want, and plan to wait 3-5 months, or:
2) Wait until a couple of months after the 09's come out, and get in the game full-scale then. Be prepared to beat the bushes, and take either a FEH or MMH, or the Mazda Tribute Hybrid, which should hit the rest of the country next year.
We bought our MMH a month ago, and used a buying service (Costco) to lock in the price with a dealer that was a member of the program, on a vehicle that had just been delivered. To give you an idea of the scarcity, it was on the other side of DC from our home. If I had been completely off the street, the dealer might have hit me with the premium, but he would have caught hell from the buying service, so with his markup, the cost was right at MSRP. We bought the car the day after it had been delivered, so you need to be on your toes, have your financing lined up, and all that jazz. Since then, we've come across another 1/2 dozen buy opportunities, none with a significantly better price to make me kick myself.
It may be difficult to get a deal much less than the MSRP but I would definately never pay more than sticker.
One question I have is if the "production start up" is June 23 2008, does anyone have any idea on when pre-orders may arrive and/or when the dealers could be expected to receive their inventory?
The good news is if you sign a trade-in agreement with the dealer you don't have to worry about your car depreciating during the wait. I'm not sure if that applies to the Costco program or not since I'm not familiar with it.
Costco is actually around $1000-$1300 over invoice depending on option level. X plan is just slightly above invoice ($100-200).
While it may be easier to go Costco as dealers will probably honor costco on lot vehicles, If you're going to order anyway, call around to see if closer dealers will honor x plan, which they *should* be more willing to do than if you ask them to honor x plan on a vehicle on the lot.
You can check your employer to see if you qualify for Ford X plan. Generally, if you or someone you know works for a large company they can get an xplan partner code, then go here: https://www.fordpartner.com/partnerweb/login.do and get your pin.
Bottom line is Costco is average of MSRP and invoice, while X plan is just above invoice.
You will *probably* have better luck on an order with a larger dealer as their allocation is probably higher and you should push to get an allocation of a regular order FEH as your FEH. FEH are allocated by region and if you get a low allocation on the list, there are horror stories of people waiting 5-7 months for their vehicle.
I did my homework and the dealer I bought from was on very good terms with his Ford rep and I got my FEH in about 10 weeks! Your mileage will vary, but the more homework you do up front the less headache you will have later.
If you ordering an FEH, get a x plan pin, find a dealer to honor x plan, get a decent allocation date, then your are getting the absolute best deal for the best SUV available on the market IMHO.
*edit*
After reading previous posts the market may have changed since we bought in fall of last year. A standard 8 month wait would limit my choice to lot vehicles and hence the best deal would be costco. If the wait improves x plan would definitely be the way to go in the future. Again, it REALLY depends on the dealer and their allocation levels. I have a feeling these 8 month waits are from dealers without allocation putting orders at the VERY back of the line, although I could be wrong. Best of luck.
I recognize it might not be this cut and dry but pre-ordering via costco sounds like a pretty decent deal. I checked and neither my wife nor I work for an employer with X-plan.
I'm not trying to be negative or scare you away, but I just want you to be aware that you MAY be in for a long wait. Be prepared to accept that.
Also, for the record, I bought during the Ford Family Pricing Event (I think it was called) which is A-plan pricing and reasonably well below MSRP.
From what I've read, X-plan is 4% above A-plan.
I'm not sure when the next Family event will be, but if it's annually held then it can't be all that far off at this point!
Incidentally, recently I've seen 3-4 2008 FEH's around town. I have a feeling they could be the ones who were on the list ahead of me as I hadn't seen a single one around before Feb.
The dealerships also can get that information just by downloading it, so don't be afraid to nag your salesman in a week or so.
Cheers,
JRG
it's a decent deal, maybe a great deal depending on options. In CA, you can get them below dealer's invoice price (and way below MSRP) if there are factory incentives. I got mine $1080 below invoice ($2700 below MSRP) in December 07 in SF Bay Area.
If only they could fix their production problems, they'd have a few more sales. I had some family in from out of town and they loved it as well. They're in the market for a new vehicle and said they just found what they were looking for -- until I pointed out the 8 month delay .
and I took delivery March 27th. Five months since I ordered my 2008 Lt. Ice Blue FEH. Haven't driven more than 45 miles yet but each mile has been a pleasure. Thank you all for your enthusiasm that helped me through the wait.
I'll report again once I experience more of the joy of hybrid driving.
"04/17/2008 2009 MY Escape Unscheduled Order Bank Opens
05/15/2008 2009 MY Scheduling Begins
06/23/2008 2009 MY Job #1 - Production Starts"
The Donlen dates are now different but they are a fleet management company.
If Job 1 is end of June, and we know Ford has boosted overtime for the Escape/Mariner Hybrids, best case would be end of July beginning of September for the arrivals at the dealerships. Of course all is subject to change.
it seems that coastal dealers may be getting
a larger allotment than central US sites from
what the local dealer told me.
i placed my order just after Christmas 2007.
the dealer said that the factory said they
would see -1- hybrid in late March 2008.
this was apparently a very ambitious promise
as the dealer said mine was their 'only alloted
vehicle' for the 1st quarter of 2008!
and as you could well guess, it has been delayed.
from what the others here say, i may be waiting
until mid summer for mine. actually if it is a 2009 model
i wouldn't be too disappointed. the 2009's reportedly
have a bit more intelligent traction system in the
build. i will just drive an old family car until mine comes
in.
the dealer is one of the largest FordMercury ones in
this area and they have almost zero news from the
factory. i think this is a customer relationship mistake.
heck... at least let us know what's up.
from what i have read here, there are a lot of customers
waiting and most of them are loyal Ford owners.
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this is still the issue as of April 2008.
i work in the metals and materials industry here in the USA.
those industries are going hot and heavy this year.
prices are also going up.
there may be other reasons, but i think the short supply
chain problem is a world wide problem. everyone wants
'things' and there is only so much available.