Just talked to Ford marketing- they are sending me a new private cash offer than expires Sept 15th instead of July 31st.

Since I have had such a tough time finding a base model SEL in silver- I am going to order one.

My question is though- how does this now limit my trade in options. Before, my goal was to find the dealer who gave me the best trade in for my 2003 Mazda 6- but now do I lose that option?

Can I get a trade in value or even trade in the car before I order? Or do I have to wait the 8 weeks or so until the order comes in? Meaning, not only am I holding on to a car I am not driving, but also I can't go from dealer to dealer looking for the best trade in deal?

Hi Mike,

Before you even do the order the dealer should be willing to do an appraisal on the trade in value. Mine did! You can shop around that way, then place an order when you find one that is reasonable with the trade in value.

Also, how did you get a new private cash offer? I tried calling them and they said they can't do anything. My car is going to be delivered a day or two BEFORE it expires, but if anything happens I am going to miss my offer! Its a shame! Also the person I spoke with said theres no incentives period on the new focus -- which is wrong, because there is a $500 bonus if you go with the ford credit, so maybe the person I spoke with was just useless? Polite, but useless....

Hi Mike,

Before you even do the order the dealer should be willing to do an appraisal on the trade in value. Mine did! You can shop around that way, then place an order when you find one that is reasonable with the trade in value.

Also, how did you get a new private cash offer? I tried calling them and they said they can't do anything.

I tweeted @FordCustService they they gave me this # to call: 800.334.4375 I told them I really wanted ot buy one but nothing was in. They said I had another one on the way that expired Sept 15th but that may have come from me signing up again a few days earlier for another brochure. So try that. Sign up again, and then wait a day or 2 and call the 1-800 # and see if you are being sent one.

you are going to loose out either way dealer suck i would sell the car privetly you will get way more than dealer is going to offer

you are going to loose out either way dealer suck i would sell the car privetly you will get way more than dealer is going to offer

Can't- it's past registration and needs to get smogged. In California you can't privately sell your car in that condition. Sort of stuck

Posted via FF Mobile I would not even tell them you have a trade till ypu see the car. Dont sign anythig till you see the car with your own eyes. After it comes tell them you have a trade.

I traded in an '03 Mazda6 as well. They appraised it at 103k for $4500 (which I found fair) and when my Focus came in the Mazda was at 105,800 miles. They honored the original appraisal (without even looking at it again).

My dealer honored my $750 private cash rebate that was a week expired... They said it was price guaranteed..

Yeah trade in values are never close to private party values if you sell the car yourself.

Sell it, don't trade in.

Sell it, don't trade in.

Ha- guess you didn't see above- can't sell it. In Cali- if you sell a car that has not been smogged- the party you sold it to can then come after you for all repairs. My car will not pass smog has some minor issues that I would rather not fix. I just hate to sit on a car I'm not even using for another 6 weeks til my car comes in.

I am using the Xplan- so the car itself isn't negotiable but was hoping the trade in would be- but since the Focus is so impossible to find in the SEL- I don't have much negotiating room anyway it seems like