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

[darkbuddha]

Originally Posted by imccrea

You cannot move an order, the only thing you can do is try and get the dealer to trade for the Focus you ordered but they'd more than likely hold it just to ensure you don't get it perhaps?

Ruthless I know.

Mehhhh... wouldn't surprise me. It's a very very competitive business, and notoriously morally vacuous, so I wouldn't take it personally if they chose to be jerks about it. If they won't honor X plan I'll pull my order and go somewhere else... no other choice. BTW, X plan will save me $550 over my current deal with them because of their exorbitant dealer/doc fee ($700!) which X plan limits to $100, otherwise I wouldn't bother. And actually, since under Ford's X plan rules, they can submit for reimbursement of the difference between their dealer fee and the $100 limit, they don't stand to lose anything. Plus they get a commission from Ford on X plan as well, don't they. X plan might actually end up working better for them in the long run.

Speaking of the X plan commission, do you know how much they'd be getting if selling me the ST under X plan? If it's enough, I might hit them up for an extra oil change or two, or a discount on tinting.

Thanks again!

[rgonyer]

How do you know how much X-plan will save you? I didn't think A/X/Z plan pricing had been released yet?

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by darkbuddha

Mehhhh... wouldn't surprise me. It's a very very competitive business, and notoriously morally vacuous, so I wouldn't take it personally if they chose to be jerks about it. If they won't honor X plan I'll pull my order and go somewhere else... no other choice. BTW, X plan will save me $550 over my current deal with them because of their exorbitant dealer/doc fee ($700!) which X plan limits to $100, otherwise I wouldn't bother. And actually, since under Ford's X plan rules, they can submit for reimbursement of the difference between their dealer fee and the $100 limit, they don't stand to lose anything. Plus they get a commission from Ford on X plan as well, don't they. X plan might actually end up working better for them in the long run.

Speaking of the X plan commission, do you know how much they'd be getting if selling me the ST under X plan? If it's enough, I might hit them up for an extra oil change or two, or a discount on tinting.

Thanks again!

They are probably getting $300 commission from Ford for selling a Focus under X plan. Part of the rule stipulates that no additional compensation can be had under any plan so no free tinting, oil changes,etc. Otherwise they lose their privilidges to sell at that price.

[darkbuddha]

There are now several people that have settled their X plan deals, plus there is a standard formula for calculating all of the plan prices based on dealer invoice or MSRP (depending on the plan). For X plan, the pricing is based on DEALER INVOICE. Dealer invoice is: vehicle invoice + upgrade package invoice - package discount invoice + options invoice + ADV ASSESSMENT + FUEL CHARGE + DEST AND DELIV. X plan pricing is then: Dealer invoice - (0.4% * Dealer invoice) + $275 admin fee. Then add the doc fee as subject to your local/state laws (but no more than the maximum of $100). Simple. I did the math (pre TT&T) on my deal and I'll save about $550. Probably save a little more OTD, but not significantly more.

Make sense?

[darkbuddha]

Originally Posted by imccrea

They are probably getting $300 commission from Ford for selling a Focus under X plan. Part of the rule stipulates that no additional compensation can be had under any plan so no free tinting, oil changes,etc. Otherwise they lose their privilidges to sell at that price.

Thanks, I think that actually helps my case since my current deal is only $100 over invoice + their dealer fee, so the only money they're making above holdbacks is the $100 and the dealer fee. And if they're able to get reimbursed for the difference on the dealer fee, they're only losing around $200 with X plan (comparing dealer invoice + $100 to X plan). So getting a $300 commission on X plan actually nets them an extra $100 on the deal. Works for everyone.

BTW, I'm pretty sure "nominal gifts" to the customer are allowed under X plan rules according to FordPartner.com:

Originally Posted by FordPartner.com

Dealer-to-Customer Gifts and Fees

The following are guidelines regarding what is, and is not, permissible.

Nominal Gifts

Unless prohibited by your state law, X-Plan customers may accept items or services of nominal value (i.e. $50 or less dealership cost) as a gift or reward in connection with an X- Plan sale or lease. All gifts or rewards offered by the dealership for sponsoring an X-Plan sale or lease must be comparable with gifts or rewards offered by the dealership on retail sales or leases, and may not exceed $50 in value (dealership cost).

Examples of acceptable gifts include a wall calendar, Motorcraft apparel, gas card, an oil change, a car wash, etc, provided the item or service does not exceed $50 in value (dealership cost).
Dealerships may not offer services or items below their market value (dealership cost) to stay within the $50 limit (i.e. $1 for rust proofing or $10 for a bed liner).

No service, accessory or items valued above $50 may be accepted by an X-Plan customer, even if the same offer is extended to non-Plan customers.

[Nik00117]

Can you order 2013 Fusion Hybirds.

[streeter]

Ira,

I'm located in Bedford, NH 03110. My wife and I have started our search for a new Focus to supplement the 2008 we've owned since new. We're looking for a car with the following "must haves" and are hoping that you can let us know where the cars are which would match our desired specs:

Focus SE (Sedan or Hatchback)
Manual transmission
Ingot Silver or Frosted Glass
203A package
Winter package

We have a slight preference for the below option, but would consider a car without:
SE Sport Package

All the other options below are ones that we are willing to pay for if the car is equipped with them, but that we don't really have a preference on:
Leather Seats
Moonroof
Int / Ext Protection Packages
Wheel variations

Can you please let us know where cars are that match the above? We're willing to go anywhere in New England (NH, ME, VT, MA, RI, CT). We haven't found a good way to search inventory of dealerships online other than one at a time.

Also, how much is the holdback on a Focus? Does it vary from car to car and dealership to dealership, or is it a specific percentage of the MSRP or invoice price?

Thanks!

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by Nik00117

Can you order 2013 Fusion Hybirds.

yes you can

[imccrea]

Originally Posted by streeter

Ira,

I'm located in Bedford, NH 03110. My wife and I have started our search for a new Focus to supplement the 2008 we've owned since new. We're looking for a car with the following "must haves" and are hoping that you can let us know where the cars are which would match our desired specs:

Focus SE (Sedan or Hatchback)
Manual transmission
Ingot Silver or Frosted Glass
203A package
Winter package

We have a slight preference for the below option, but would consider a car without:
SE Sport Package

All the other options below are ones that we are willing to pay for if the car is equipped with them, but that we don't really have a preference on:
Leather Seats
Moonroof
Int / Ext Protection Packages
Wheel variations

Can you please let us know where cars are that match the above? We're willing to go anywhere in New England (NH, ME, VT, MA, RI, CT). We haven't found a good way to search inventory of dealerships online other than one at a time.

Also, how much is the holdback on a Focus? Does it vary from car to car and dealership to dealership, or is it a specific percentage of the MSRP or invoice price?

Thanks!

Holdback is consistant on every vehicle regardless of dealership. There are 2 sedans on the east coast.

One here ingot silver
Name All American Ford of Old Bridge
Address 3698 Route 9 South
City Old Bridge
State NJ
Postal Code 08857
Phone (732) 591-1111

One here ingot silver
Name George Wall Ford Lincoln
Address 700 Shrewsbury Avenue
City Red Bank
State NJ
Postal Code 07701
Phone (732) 747-5400

Both have Sport pkg, winter pkg.

Hatchbacks:

has ingot silver
Name Park City Ford, Inc.
Address 60 North Avenue
City Bridgeport
State CT
Postal Code 06606
Phone (203) 366-3425

ingot silver (identical vehicles)
Dealership Information
Name Family Ford Lincoln
Address 831 Straits Turnpike
City Watertown
State CT
Postal Code 06795
Phone (860) 945-4900

[streeter]

Originally Posted by imccrea

Holdback is consistant on every vehicle regardless of dealership. There are 2 sedans on the east coast. ... Hatchbacks...

Ira,

Thanks so much! That is AWESOME information!

Also, I just learned from reading other postings that apparently Frosted Glass is not offered with the SE Sport Package. Could you also let us know if there are any dealerships (near 03110) that have the following minimum options:

Focus SE (Hatch or Sedan)
Manual transmission
Frosted Glass
203A
Winter Package

Extra options (such as moonroof) are okay.

Thanks again!