Just picked out a new 03' FX4. Actually had an 04' ordered but cancelled it! When it came right down to it, I couldn't pass up the $5,000 in incentives ($3,000 cash, $1,000 lease turn-in and $1,000 to go with Ford Credit). That made a difference of about $140 a month. I like some of the new features, but not for that much. In addition, I still had reservations of possible unresolved issues with a brand new model. I would hope they are ironed out before being released but I've heard of issues in the past. You never know!

Anyway, I'm sure my 03' is going to look pretty old in a few years with all of the new body styles out there on the road. I'll have some extra money in the bank but I hope I don't regret my decision then!

 

Well ya know they put their best people on the build job for the 04's. That leaves the "you know" people left to build yours. but don't worry, the machines (also 'left over') do most of the work, and whatever is left, they can do with their eyes closed, in fact they probably did.

 

Andthensometoo has been on a plant tour, I know, I was right behind her when she was climbing the ladders and she knows good and well there is only one line at the plant and they build all the '03s before they start building the '04s.

She is just jerking your chain. They don't put more incompetent people building a certain model, the incompetency is spread as fairly as humanly possible.

 

Chickened out? You implying that my '03 is inferior in comparison to the '04? I think not, but congrats on your purchase... You'll love it...

 

Congradulations! What color/ supercab or supercrew/pics? What was your final deal on the truck? It sounds nice, and the extra $140 a month over 5 years is $8,400 in the bank

 

Well I'm not going to chicken out. I thought about it for about 30 seconds and then decided to continue waiting for the '04. The deciding factors: 1. I just like the boxier front to the vehicle. I know I would get annoyed seeing them if I didn't have the boxier one. 2. The safety factor. The Consumer Reports ratings on the older model F-150 was not good. I plan to have at least one kid in the future and I also have my wife. I would feel horrible if something bad happened and it was because I sacrificed safety because of my impatience. 3. It's kind of cool to design it myself. I have always bought off the lot, and this is my first order. Usually a lot car has some things you don't need and doesn't have one or two things you want. And a lot of times not the color. This way I get exactly what I want and only pay for what I want. I know the day I go to pick it up, I'll be as happy as a pig in slop. If I canceled and bought an '03, it would only be a temporary high. Because once I saw the '04s I'd be pi$$ed.

 

guigster, i know how you feel. Best vehicles i ever bought (whether ford or chevy, or whether the truck eventually turned out to be high quality or totally crappy) were trucks i ordered. In their haste to sell a unit that is on the lot, i think retail car industry in general is missing an opportunity. buyers that feel connected to the ordering/buying process are way more likely i think to feel good about the purchase, even if they find out that later the quality was not quite up to par. there have been a few attempts by manufacturers to allow buyers to order specific options but so far industry efforts are pretty Limp. Better technology and manufacturing lead times will some day improve the situation. i say "order the exact truck you want, you will thank yourself later"

 

Do you still get a good price or do you have to pay more if you order a truck?

 

No difference.
A dealer may 'sweeten the pot' to move a unit he already has on the lot but, you do not have to pay one penny more to order.

Do not pay more than $100 over invoice. PERIOD! Lot, or Ordered it doesn't matter.

If you pay more, I'm going to have to come over there and take my belt off.

 

the order price can be more or less. Offer to put up a $500 deposit so they know you are serious. The dealer wont incur any floor plan interest cause he knows you will be there to pick up the car when it arrives. The sale becomes more like a fleet sale where the dealer knows (from credit check, upfront $500 deposit,etc) that he has the sale. Downside is the dealers Always and Only want to push the product on the lot. Changes in MSRP and delivery date can also complicate things cause neither the dealer or the buyer can anticipate them. But a dealer in a large metropolitan area ought to jump at the chance to sell the vehicle you specifcally want. Many times they can divert it from a pending delivery to another dealer. Anyway, hang in there and demand the same price for an ordered vehicle. Offerring to leave a $500 check as good faith often makes a differnece. Understandably enough, the dealer doesnt want to jack with people who have multiple cars ordered with different dealerships, so they have to believe the buyer is serious. .

 

Bottom Line, Find yourself a dealer and be honest with him about what you want and what you're willing to pay. Don't be playing games and order something you have no intentions of buying. I've ordered 8 Ford vehicles over the last 20 years and NEVER paid a deposit and always had the right of refusal if something went wrong(options not as ordered, damaged, etc.). Seven of those 8 vehicles were ordered from the same dealer and I pay $100 over invoice. The dealer in my area is not one of the mega-dealers and I feel I get more personalized service. As much as these vehicles cost I'm going to buy exactly what I want. The temptation has been there. I saw a KR a few months ago that I really liked but the dealer(I deal with the owner) had seen the 04 and told me to be patient that the 04 will be worth the wait. I hope he is right because I'm still waiting for my loaded FX4 SCrew..

 

Exactly.
22 years here.

 

That's what I would like to do on my next truck purchase. To actually order it, the color, options etc just the way I want. The other thing I have learned since being at this site and reading post is a good way to get a good deal is to email dealers in your area. Stating to them what your interested in ordering and informing them you have emailed other dealers and the one with the best price gets your business. I am going to try that one next time I am ready for a new truck.

 

Raoul, isn't it hard to give someone a "whippin" with your pants around your ankles.

My stepfather used to keep his belt on and whip us with suspenders.

 

I have ordered 3 trucks from Ford over the past 7 years. I have always put a deposit of $500 as good faith, but even though I have the deposit down I still have right of refusal if the truck arrives and is not what I ordered.

Your deposit is just to show you are serious about buying, that the dealer isn't wasting his time ordering a brand new vehicle just to sit on his lot with a hundred other trucks; and I bet 9 out of 10 orders are always bought by the person who placed them.

I do have one suggestion when ordering what you want:
*Get exactly what you want!*

That's it. Do NOT skimp on options or trim levels to save a few hundred bucks each month. Get what you want. If you skimp to save a little cash each month, you'll be kicking yourself for years as you think to yourself, "Man, for only X amount more a month I could've had EXACTLY what I wanted, but I just had to nickel & dime myself when I ordered to save a little amount each month that I'd now be willing to pay so that for the next X years I'm not paying for a truck that wasn't REALLY just what I wanted."

Because if you skimp now, you WILL kick yourself for years as you pay it off, and ESPECIALLY every time you see the truck you REALLY wanted drive by you on the street.

I know, that's why I traded in my '97 XLT 4x4 Styleside for my current '98 Lariat 4x4 SuperCab Flareside. Luckily, I was able to take the money hit at the time to do so, or else I'd still be driving just an XLT around while Lariat's passed me by every single day. Now it's ME who's passing THEM by!

Just something to consider. Now... where's my '04 already?!?