Ordering a new truck
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Stewart, MN
Ordering a new truck
I was wrestling my 90 F-150 with 150K on it around town and I happend to be by the local Ford dealer and pulled in to take a look at some new & used Super Dutys. I then went on the net and looked at sites like autotrader. I also called other dealers in the area and coulden't find one that i realy was interested in and I was wondering if the dealer charges more for a orderd truck, if you lost the ability to chew down the price at all. Dose it depend on the dealer? Can they locate the something close to what I want? I figgure if I am going to spend $35,000+ I'd better get what I want. Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Ordering a new truck
You ask some good questions, but you hit the nail on the head with the one question: it really does depend on the dealer. If they have a huge inventory, a lot of salesperson turnover, or they're one of those "Sale-of-the-Century-for-the-next-72-hours-good-golly-pardner-you-better-buy-it-now!!!" places, then they'll probably deal a little closer on one that's in stock. That's fine if they have in stock what you're looking for. There is no such thing as a good deal on the wrong vehicle. Other dealers (including my own) would rather you order the vehicle, because we have less expense involved. There's none of our money tied up in financing the vehicle ('floor plan," in dealer-speak), and since you're getting exactly what you want, you'll be a much happier customer down the road. One piece of advice: check the date on the invoice. This is within days of the actual build date. Avoid a truck that's been sitting around a long time. If it was built in the fall, that's a long time to sit, and doesn't do the truck any good. Frankly, we've had a lot of problems developing in vehicles we've had here a few months. No-starts, rough idle, fouled plugs, electrical glitches. These trucks were designed and built to be driven, not to sit.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg Canada
Ordering a new truck
Just to relate my experience... I had the same problems. Nobody stocked what I wanted ans I'd be damned if I'd sign a note on a truck that was less truck than I wanted. I also wouldn't pay more for stuff I didn't need. I was really looking for a used truck but was leaning towards new so I could order.
In the end a dealer who's used trucks I was looking at mentioned a leftover 2002 model they had sitting around (he hadn't mentioned it the other 4 times I was there). I got exactly the truck I wanted less the captain's chairs but plus a few toys (the power pedals are entertaining for a while) at an amazing price. The deal clincher was that they offered me 0% interest for 5 years and 99 days with no payments.
The total monthly payment comes to slightly more than I would have been paying for a 3 year old truck with less options. I am very happy.
the moral of the story? Don't rush. There's a truck out there for you somewhere. Don't hesitate to buy out of state or ask a dealer to bring one in.
In the end a dealer who's used trucks I was looking at mentioned a leftover 2002 model they had sitting around (he hadn't mentioned it the other 4 times I was there). I got exactly the truck I wanted less the captain's chairs but plus a few toys (the power pedals are entertaining for a while) at an amazing price. The deal clincher was that they offered me 0% interest for 5 years and 99 days with no payments.
The total monthly payment comes to slightly more than I would have been paying for a 3 year old truck with less options. I am very happy.
the moral of the story? Don't rush. There's a truck out there for you somewhere. Don't hesitate to buy out of state or ask a dealer to bring one in.
