I'm considering ordering an F-250 since the dealer lots are so low in inventory. It seems we are nearing the end for being able to order a 2020. I found this website for a fleet dealer that says:

2020 Final orders due: 7/10/2020
2021 Initial order acceptance: 8/17/2020
2021 Scheduling begins: 9/17/2020
2021 Job #1 (Kentucky) 11/02/2020

All this raises a few questions for me, as someone inexperienced in ordering Fords:

1. When is the 2021 order guide expected to be available?
2. What happens if you want to order between July 10 and Aug 17?
3. Has anyone heard what will change in 2021? All I heard was rumors of plug-in hybrid, and I presume any "fixes" for second-half issues.

 

1. 8/17/20
2. Place an order at the dealer for a 2020, unless you are placing a fleet order with Donlen or its competitors. 7/10/20 is the last date Donlen is accepting fleet orders for MY2020. The retail order bank is still open for MY2020 until the 2021 opens.
3. You will know on 8/17 when the order guide comes out. I wouldn't expect a SD HEV let alone a plug in HEV.

 

Get a 2020. With the shortened production runs, they'll be collector items in 20 years.

 

I think the questions have been answered above, but my two cents, not based on any fact, would be that the 2021 MY wont have any significant changes. The powerplants and trans are new, so I don't see changes happening there anytime soon, and I also wouldn't expect the exterior changes to be a 1 year thing, I imagine the look will stay the same for 2021 and maybe into 2022. If you look back at the 17-19 trucks there was a slight power increase but other than that, not much changed, in fact certain features were actually deleted. Oh, one thing that seems to always change is price, whether that be base price, destination price or price of options, it always goes up. Its already gone up some on the 20's.

Ford seems to make major changes to the F150 first, then those changes eventually make it into the Super Duty line. The 2021 F150 looks like it will have an all new interior along with a new front end look. I don't expect to see those changes make it into the Super Duty until 2022MY at the earliest.
I haven't heard anything about a hybrid Super Duty and would be extremely surprised to see that in the near future. Again, the F150 is where I would expect it to happen first.

 

That makes sense. I wasn't expecting much change to powerplants next year with the new 7.3 this year. And a plug-in hybrid makes more sense in an F-150 anyway. I can't imagine towing or hauling with electric-only as there would be too big a range penalty. Maybe a diesel-electric combo like a locomotive! That said, I have had 5 hybrids and plug-in hybrid cars over the years, and really like how well they work.

I would think most model year changes would be in some of the high-tech options like blind spot monitors or AEB. Manufacturers seem to push them down a trim level every now and then, and add new features to the top trim level.

 

LOL, I'll keep that in mind in my justification-to-spouse process!

 

If you're planning to get a new truck, I would order the 20. If you decide later (before you take delivery) that you don't want it, you don't have to buy it.

 

Good point! The dealer said a $2k deposit to place an order. Is that typical? Refundable?

 

My dealer said no deposit was required. I gave them $500 just to show I was serious and wanted the truck.

They said if I didn't take the truck, I would get the $500 back.

 

Same for me a $500 hold and a credit check was all that i had to do and i get it back if I dont buy it.

 

Cool. The dealer that emailed me (Costco referral) said $2k, but he seemed rather informal.

 

My dealer charged 500.00 refundable, some guys can order without a deposit..2k sounds too steep for me.

 

I was thinking of going through Costco, what kind of deal can they get you? I ended up having a dealer build my truck and print the sheet out, I sent that sheet out with the price not on it and got quotes and went with the best quote which ended up being a fleet price.

 

I waited an extra year for the 2020. The powertrain changes were huge and the wait was worth it. Will the 21’ change? I highly doubt it. If you are not in a hurry, like November, I would stay ahead of the game and go 21’ If you are ready now, you have nothing new to wait for.

 

I've bought several very early in the Model Year trucks. You never get a rebate, incentives are slim.
My 2017, I bought in December, just as the 2018 were showing up. Besides the price increase for the 2018s, I also got $1500-$2000 more in rebate , better interest from Ford Finace. So it was a $2500 difference. Plus Ford sent me a $2000 coupon that I had to use by Jan 3rd. And waiting for the 2018 I wanted would have ment, I'd lose that coupon. So I saved $4500 over buying a 2018.

For me, both model years were compareable. not much changed. I drive my trucks 100,000 miles and sell them. So buying a 2017 very late in the model year means, my truck won't have as many miles as other 2017 bought 14 months earlier. So it's like selling a 2017 with 100,000 miles vs trying to sell one 130,000 miles.

I was lucky I found a truck just like I would order on a dealer lot, So there was little reason for me to order and wait for the 2018