Hello all! After being a "guest" member for the past 1 1/2 years, I finally just signed up.

I have been a Ford fan for years and currently have a '89 Fox body and a '98 F150 XLT extended cab 4.6L. Both have been great vehicles but it is finally time to retire the F150 after 237,000 miles. This is not do to anything wrong with the truck but rather an addition to our family (we are expecting our first child in September!). The only non-wear item I had to replace on the F150 was the MAF sensor and a fuel pump. I'm still on the original engine, trans, rear end, etc etc. With that being said, I think it is finally time to upgade a little and buy a new F150 with the options that I want.

I'm looking at a 2011 F150 XLT supercrew 5.0L 4x4 with off road package and XTL convienience package (SYNC and gage cluster display) w/ 6 1/2' bed. This would be the first new vehicle ever for me so I want to make sure I don't get taken to the cleaners by the dealership. I do have access to a X-plan pin so I can take advantage of that. From what I've read, the x-plan will get you close, within a couple hundred bucks, to the invoice price and limit the amount of fees the dealership can charge. I looked at the edmonds invoice price which came in at ~$36,000 so should I expect to pay around $32,000 for the truck after rebates and incentives? Has anyone purchased a similar truck using the x-plan? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

~Clint

 

email them thru the ford dealership site for their internet price. then look at the rebates. i just bought a 2011 lariat for under the x plan. i did have a source for the x plan in the past and mentioned that to the sales guy, he researched the x plan price and found it was more. dont fall in love and be ready to walk away.

 

If you use the X-Plan, you still get any/all rebates in effect at the time of purchase. The dealer is capped at the "documentation" fee at $100 - that's all they can add. I will add that X-Plan participation is based on dealer participation.

Go the the dealer and ask to see the invoice. You'll see the A-Plan invoice price as well at the bottom. Your dealer shouldn't hesitate to give you the invoice.

 

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I did test drive a similar truck, without off road package, and I really like the ride quality and power from the new 5.0 engine. Some of the things that I didn't like: turn signal (might just take some time to get used to), tacky aluminum covered heat shielding on the firewall and location of alternator and ac compressor. It seems like the thin aluminum / insulation might start to deterriorate after a while and the placement of the FEAD seems prone to debris, dirt and grim collection. Other than those little things, the truck was amazing! I can't wait..

 

It seems like I can find all the for wheel drive vehicles but hardly any with the off road package. Is this not a popular option? I did get a call back from a local dealer quoting $32,700 (after rebates)for all the options that I wanted and the chrome package. I did not inform him that I had a x plan pin number. Is that a good deal? What are your thoughts on the chrome package? I'm on the fence on that one.

 

I think what you'll see on the dealer lot depends on your local market. I had been looking for my truck before I finally bought it at the end of March for a couple months, even contemplated ordering one because 6.5' beds on supercrews are extremely hard to find around me. Not to mention just about every truck was white or silver (I wanted the Red). Patience is extremely important if you don't absolutely need a truck so that you find the one you want.

Also, you might want to do some research/looking around on your own. My fiance's dad works for a Ford Dealer and he said that dealers (at least around here) will put a block on some of their vehicles so that other dealers can't search for them. Seems a little shady but I guess it would make sense for more popular model types. Also, you may had to be prepared to travel to go get your truck. I got one of the ecoboosts and the dealer wouldn't trade because they wanted the sale on that specific truck (even with me getting it D plan). They knew they could sell it easily if I didn't go get it.

Oh yeah, chrome package (IMO) looks cheesy and cheap. Any truck that had it was immediately off of my list.

 

I never knew the dealer could block inventory search from another dealer. I've been doing most of my search through cars.com. Is there a better way to search dealer inventory?

What would be considered a good deal on said truck w/o chrome package?

Thanks for all the good advise this far!

Clint

 

Search through your regional ford site. For example the Midwest is http://www.yourmidwestforddealers.com/

You select your options then look at what dealers in your area have on the lot. And you can pull up the window sticker.

 

I think the chrome package is worth around $1595. X Plan is something like 85% (maybe 87%, I don't remember exactly) of the cost, so that would make is $1350ish. Subtract that from your total cost and you'll get a rough idea of the truck without the chrome package.

 

Just as a heads up, my FIL just bought a screw XLT from Crossroads Ford in Cary, NC for 25% off MSRP. It worked out to be ~$1,500 UNDER invoice. They have a huge inventory (nearly 200 F150s) and are well worth the drive for anyone in the area.

The 25% off was their first offer, no haggling required.