Ask a Ford salesman anything (Incentives, Inventory, etc)

[rgonyer]

I think I'm following you. So there will be an A-plan price on the paper, they just may or may not pay you a commission for selling it. But again, won't you lose money at that point? Is there anyway you can find out the A-plan price now so I can see how much I'll be out if I pay my dealer invoice?

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by rgonyer

I think I'm following you. So there will be an A-plan price on the paper, they just may or may not pay you a commission for selling it. But again, won't you lose money at that point? Is there anyway you can find out the A-plan price now so I can see how much I'll be out if I pay my dealer invoice?

It's pretty much a even deal with holdback involved but A plan is about $900 under invoice on an ST2 so from a profit from invoice standpoint yes we'd lose money.

MSRP on $27,000 for ST2 A Plan is $24,662 so factor about $2,400 from that price to MSRP. If they are selling at invoice it's only $900. How'd you get them to do an ST for invoice?

[rgonyer]

Well it didn't start at invoice, in fact I don't really want to pay that much for it. We have bought 3 brand new cars from them since 2007 - A 2007 FX4, a 2009 Mustang GT Premium Convertible, and a 2011 Mustang Premium 5.0. They agreed to sell us a new ST on the A-plan so I ordered it. Afterwards, they asked me to sign another sheet stating "worst case scenario" of selling it to me at invoice +$100 just in case Ford wouldn't honor A-plan.

[rgonyer]

Do you know what A - plan would be on ST3 package with the sunroof, tangerine paint, and block heater? Retail is 30,320.

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by rgonyer

Do you know what A - plan would be on ST3 package with the sunroof, tangerine paint, and block heater? Retail is 30,320.

Unfortunately I do not, I'd figure it'd be around $27,700.

[rgonyer]

Do you think it's going to be that uncommon to find a dealer willing to do invoice?

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by rgonyer

Do you think it's going to be that uncommon to find a dealer willing to do invoice?

I think it will be that hard to find a dealer willing to sell below MSRP. If you take into account 3,750 Boss 302's were made and many sold above MSRP and there are only 8,500 ST's being made it will be very similiar market.

3200 Ford dealers you figure most will be lucky to get their hands on 2 for the entire 2013 model year. Granted the Mustang is "iconic", it's still a vehicle that many people are yearning for and I've seen people post that they are paying MSRP plus fees.

Also we only carry about $1,800 in markup. Is it that hard to give us our $1,800 profit?

[rgonyer]

At MSRP you make $1800? Nope I'm not trying to bust anyones chops, it's just nice to understand what it really is. There's so much mystery involved.

And that's also why I ask about A-plan - I assume a dealer would be bettter off selling a car on A-plan and getting a commission back from Ford than selling a car at invoice on their own.

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by rgonyer

At MSRP you make $1800? Nope I'm not trying to bust anyones chops, it's just nice to understand what it really is. There's so much mystery involved.

And that's also why I ask about A-plan - I assume a dealer would be bettter off selling a car on A-plan and getting a commission back from Ford than selling a car at invoice on their own.

Since you've bought via A Plan before don't you see the invoice to see what we make on a car?

We do make more money on A plan for sure, but on a Focus with little markup it really isn't that drastic.

[rgonyer]

Yes, I have seen copies of invoices in the past. I think eveyone is aware however that the invoice price isn't exactly what a dealer pays for a car based on a number of other factors. On an ordered car that isn't going to sit on the lot for 6 months, there has to be some monitary value to that.

Again, everyone is in business to make money and I understand that. My only gripe at this point is I don't know exactly what I'm going to pay for the car. To be honest, $28k is about the most I want to spend on a Focus (even an ST) otherwise I'm probably going to be looking at other cars. I can't get a firm answer from my dealer on if I can get A-plan or not (they will if it's available to them), which is why I was asking you if you had more information on if Ford will be honoring it.

If I could get the ST loaded for $25k, I wouldn't care if you made $5k on it. I'd be happy, you'd be happy, it's all good. But because I'm approaching the max I want to spend on a car for my daily driver, it would be good to just know.

Since you had said your manager said you could sell a couple on A/Z/D plan, I assumed you had more information regarding plan availability. If not, I don't see how you could sell them on A/Z/D plan. You said you already make very little money selling a Focus ST at invoice, you would lose money selling it on A or Z plan then if Ford doesn't honor the plan. I can't see how your manager would be willing to do that.

SO - I hope this makes sense, and you realize I'm not giving you a hard time. I was just looking for information. Some of your information contradicts itself, so I'm taking it with a grain of salt. (In one post, you mention you can sell a couple ST's at A/Z/D plan, in another post later, you seem very surprised that I found a dealer to sell at invoice).