Is 3% over invoice a reasonable price to pay for this truck at this time? I'm thinking that with such demand for the new model , it might not be a bad deal. I realize that later on it will probably be easier to negotiate a better price but 3% over invoice on such a hot item to me appears to be within the ballpark of what's acceptable. Of course I haven't bought a new vehicle in several years so I may be way off base here. What do you guys think?
What's your take on this Buzzzzter? Thanks in advance everyone!

 

The simple answer is an astounding "NO"!!!

First off, if your talking percentages (%) your talking Delaer lingo.

If they say 3%, you now have to figure out what that 3% translates to in real dollars ($$$$$). Why not just say you are willing to pay $200.00 (example) over Invoice, plus any Incentives/Rebates at time of delivery. Don't be hesitant to state your terms. If you read some of the post on this and other Forums, you will see that getting a 2004 F-150 at invoice or slightly above is happening all the time. You must be willing to walk if you don't get within a few hundred dollars of Invoice.

Hope this helps!

 

I would say that is a little high, but it depends on your market. Depending on your model, that is about $1000 over invoice which seems high for a new domestic vehicle these days. Some people are getting closer to invoice price minus any rebates availible at delivery.

 

From my understanding the "dealer" invoice price included the dealer holdbacks and profits so even when the dealer sales at invoice they still make some BIG money on it. If it is 3% over invoice just more money in the dealers pocket.

 

3% over the invoice on the truck I am interested in comes to about $800.00. I would not be willing to pay that much over on an existing model or slow seller but the reality is that this truck will be a red hot seller for quite some time, I believe, and I know from experience that on an item that is in such high demand, you simply aren't going to get as good a deal as you would maybe a year from now. As for dealer holdback...typically 3%, I can't see them even touching that at this point. Why? Because I don't think they will have to. I am thinking that they will sell everything they can get their hands on, and most for much more than 3% over invoice. I could be totally off on this, but then again, that's why I asked the question in the first place. :-) Anybody here remember how it worked when the 97's first came out? Thanks again everybody!

 

regardless of how hot this truck is going to be, the fact is this is not a limited production vehicle by any stretch of the imagination. If you want to be the first to get this truck then you will pay a little more. Let them start piling up at the dealerships over the next 3-6 months and you will be able to get good deals on them. Plus with any new vehicle launch there are bound to be problems. With prices in the 30k range, I will not be a test mule for the factory.

 

Without getting one of the special deals (A/D/Z/X plan etc) I ordered within the first few days it was possible and got a Lariat for $ 100 over invoice by referencing my Credit Union's Buying Club service to a dealer a bit closer than the actual Buying Club dealer.

 

Stratman:

Here is something to think about. Ford will charge what ever the market will pay. You and I and everyone who buy motor vehicles “are” the market. If you and I and everyone else is willing to pay 3%, 10%, 20% over invoice then Ford can and will charge that and they will get it.

However if the market, you and I and everyone else “refuse” to pay one dollar over invoice then that is ALL Ford will be able to get. If the market dictates that it will only pay $500 under invoice then that is all Ford will get.

We are the market, so what ever we pay is what Ford can charge and make in profit. Ford or your dealer may be telling you that they will not take less then 3% over invoice but the market has yet to dictate the decision they have made. You very well could be right, if everyone runs out and pays what ever the dealer and Ford charges, then the market has spoke and told Ford and the dealer to soak us for every penny we have…

NOTE: All these 0% financing you have seen is not because Ford was feeling good one day and wanted to do something nice, the 0% came because that is what the market dictated to Ford what they needed to do in order to move product…

 

You are absolutely correct. What you speak of is basic supply vs demand economics and I couldn't agree more with your statement. However.......the reality of the situation is that you are never going to be able to get enough people together, with the same philosophies and buying strategies to realistically affect the market. In a global economy such as ours, there are just too many factors at work. It boils down to this...there are always going to be enough people willing to pay full retail that Ford can tell us to take a hike if we don't make what THEY consider to be a reasonable offer. So, when all is said and done, I am guessing that 3% over invoice will turn out to be pretty close to what you are going to have to pay to be on the "bleeding edge" and be one of the first to drive the new model. I hope I am wrong, but I bet I'm not. Maybe, as everyone here starts to negotiate their deals, they can report back and we can get a better feel for how things are going and what to expect. I certainly will do my part to help the cause! :-)

 

actually mark_brown98 is correct. Just wait (a few lousy months) till all ford dealerships each have a hundred, or more of these 04 trucks before you buy. its the smart thing to do.
Here in Dallas Tx, there are so many ford dealers advertising low prices on all their products, why buy one the first month or so.

 

Stratman:

I agree with your post and will add one more problem, perhaps the biggest of them all:

The NEW truck/car smell...

Sucks them in every time...

 

So that's what that sucking noise I've been hearing lately is!
I hate to admit it Sport but, as much as I know that I should wait awhile to get the best deal, I've decided to bite the bullet and place an order next week. I'm looking at getting a Black XLT Supercrew 5.4L, with a 3.73 LS rear end. What can I say? I'm in love!

 

Nothing wrong with that, you gotta do what you gotta do...

Congrats, and lets us know how you like it once you get it.

 

I recently began searching for a dealer to order a 04. I emailed 4. First response wanted MSRP, second $1000 over invoice, and third $500 over invoice. I told the third if he was willing to go $200 over, I would come in and order. He called back 2 minutes later and said it was a deal. So, last night I ordered a 04 Lariat at $200 over invoice. This is no X/A/Z/D plan and I did the pricing over the phone. One other thing helped, there is so many Ford dealers in the DFW area that there is plenty of competition. Good luck shopping around.

Scott

 

Scott, that's excellent!!!! I love the fact that you did not settle for the $500.00 over Invoice deal. I also paid $200.00 over Invoice on an 04 FX4 SCrew. Ordered it on July 16.