Just noticed that Chevy is offering $1500 and Dodge $1000 on their 04 model pickups. I still think Ford is going to have to offer something shortly on the F150.


Article here:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/news/112_news42/

 

I ordered my Scab Lariat yesterday, and my dealer said by the time it comes in (2 months) he believes ford will have incentives. When I first talked to him about the 2004 in July he said Ford absolutely would not have incentives until Fall 2004. The initial sales have been considerably slower than expected.

I've been watching the 2004s on local lots and I haven't seen one sell in the last two weeks. There are always people looking, but I think people have become programmed to expect incentives on cars and trucks and are no longer willing to buy one without.

 

I don't expect any rebates in the near future, possibly $500 just as a token. December time frame their may be a rebate. My reason for saying this is two fold.
1. Ford worrys about stock prices. In my opinion this is retarded, but thats Ford. Issuing rebates will hurt stock prices as Ford has said that the new F-150 is going to be the turnaround vehicle for Ford. The dealers are all mad as if Ford would concentrate on building cars and making a profit, stocks would take care of themselves.
2. Ford "says" the Heritage model will be the discounted model to compete pricewise with the competition. This is upsetting as a dealer as I'm still higher priced on a Heritage than GM is on their trucks due to the rebates (Heritage has $500). I feel that Heritage should have more rebate than GM offers.

 

Selling less trucks hurts stocks much more then incentives. Yes Ford does focus on stocks but they will be paying attention to how sales go as compared to what they forecast. If they don’t sale as many units (vehicles, trucks) as forecasted they will indeed offer incentives to help stock prices…

 

XCR440SP - In your professional opinion do you think we'll see rebates higher than a token $500 before the end of the '04 model year? I know Ford has lots of reasons for holding out and some believe they will offer rebates on the Heritage model first. IF, Dodge, GM, Chevy undercut the F-150 with rebates, will Ford offer $1K to $2k to lure buyers on the fence over to Ford? Just looking for you opinion, surely you have more experience with Ford than the rest of us.

 

If you all hold out, then the rebates will start. Look at the PT cruiser sold at a premium when it first hit the streets, now you geta rebate. Same with beatles, maita (you know the little mazda) etc.

 

Yes, I think that there will be some real rebates on 2004's. However, I don't expect to see them until after the First of the year. However, it may hapen in December depending on sales. If GM is ahead of Ford they usually offer some big incentives to clear out year end inventory and get back ahead of Chevy. These rebates are usually to the dealer so they're not advertised, but most dealers use them to get deals so they inflate trade values or offer discounts.

This is just my educated guess based on past experience. I can't say for sure as Ford hasn't been doing what I expect much. Look at Super Duty, Ford isn't even close to matching GM's rebates on these particularly on Diesels. In years past they always matched rebates.

I don't know if they can't afford it or have decided that GM's wasting money and aren't matching. Heck, we can't even sell a Heritage for the price of a 04 Silverado right now, so don't count my guess as gospel as Ford has become very unpredictable.

 

My dealer had 3 in their first shipment. They sold the white Lariat and DSG Fx4, but the DSG XLT is still sitting in their lot and hasn't moved at all for weeks now.

Sad, it's a beautiful truck. But maybe some are waiting for nice weather/Spring like me before buying a new truck, or for rebates if that's important to them.

 

They may also be holding that truck so they have one to show. When we get down to 1 (currently have 2) we won't sell that one until we get another, that way we have something for people to test drive to place orders. I think you'll find most dealers do this.