Ok, now I'm really scared and upset. Saw a black 99 L at a dealer, stopped to have a look, salesman comes out, and we start talking. I tell him I have a 00 on order from another dealer and he tells me that does not mean anything. He told me alot of people are ordering Crew Cabs, and when they arrive, frequently a customer on the lot will offer more to the dealer than the person who ordered it and the dealer will of course sell to the person who is willing to pay more. He said the dealer has no obligation whatsoever to the person who ordered the vehicle. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? I put a nonrefundable deposit of $1000 at my dealer for a 00 L, and now it makes me wonder if that means anything. I just can't imagine a dealer pulling that kind of bad business practice on anyone. It scares me now to think that the day my L arrives some customer might be there and offer more than MSRP (that was my order price), and end up driving away with what should have been my L.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm shaking in my shoes.

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00 Red L on order.
98 Red Dodge V10 4X4 quad cab.
96 Yellow Corvette LT1.
92 Aquamarine Supra Turbo.
99 Arctic Cat ZR440 sno pro.
98 Polaris Super Sport 488.
97 Seadoo HX.
96 Polaris SLX w/PSI triple pipes.
97 Banshee completely tricked.
96 Polaris Scrambler.
87 Polaris Indy 600 SKS w/SLP 707 full mod.
RC CARS: Associated; RC10B3's, RC10T3, TC3. Lossi; XXCR Kinwald, XX4. Yokomo; MR4TC

 

Peter,

A signed vehicle order by both parties for a particular vehicle is an enforceable contract anywhere in the USA.

Whatever the price is on the contract has been agreed to by both parties. I wouldn't worry about it.

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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

Do you have a receipt stating that your thousand down was for a 00 lightning?

If so it's a legally binding contract... you could in theory sue the dealer... you have money down, it's just like a house deal, once they accept the money the seller can't backout for a better deal.

I wouldn't worry, the dealer I had held my lightning for $500, and delivered it to me the day it came in. They did however say they would let me out of the deal if I wanted, as they had other buyers, (presumable at a higher price).



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* 99.5 Black Lightning
* Factory CD Changer
* Class 3 Towing Hitch
* Factory Tonneau Cover
* 8" Bazooka Tubs
* Kenwood 80 watt *2 amp
* 50% Window Tint
* Viper 550 Alarm w/ remort start
* 98 Yamaha Banshee w/ Toomey T5 Chrome pipes often found in the bed..

Injection is nice, but I'd rather be blown. 99 Lightning, the best of both worlds!

 

Can you say "Scare Tactics"? My guess is that he is just trying to move the used Lightning.

Can you even imagine trying to tell a customer that his order was sold to a higher bidder. In your "Land of Lawsuits", I don't think too many would try that!!!

Tell him to KYA.

------------------
2000 Red Lightning on Order - All Options
'99 Yukon Denali - Silver, Lowered 1", Borbet CW4's, 285/60R18 Toyo Proxes S/T's, Hotchkis AntiSways, Edelbrock Shocks
1998 Red Trans Am (not Ram Air) 6 Speed
2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air / WS6, 6 Speed On Order

 

I do not know for sure, but I really think that Ford would have a problem with a dealer pulling a stunt like that, maybe to the point of revoking the dealers SVT selling rights. SVT is more than just about the product,
it is about IMAGE. After the scalding that Ford is taking about '99 Cobra, they surely would want to do damage control for that image by way of happy Lightning owners. I don't think I would worry about your order peter!!

------------------
99 Lightning, Black, CD
changer, Downey SST tonneau, Class 3 hitch, Ford bed mat, tinted back window,clear headlight/ foglight lenses, Pioneer speakers, Airaid airbox, clear corner lenses (thanks Roger L!) Autometer boost gauge
DOB: 4-28-99, ordered 12-27-98
Build #694
My one really cool toy..
(except my Mercury Parklane "hobby")

SVT RULES THE ROAD!!!!!

 

So far, my dealer hasn't given me cause for concern. But, I'm sure if any of us '00-on-order gets jilted, we'll let others know about it, esp. the dealership name and the person(s) involved.

The power of the Internet... Gotta luv it!

 

This post scared the s*** out of me, too, especially since last Friday my dealer told me that they were never sure they would get what they ordered until it arrived on the lot. I don't think he was trying to scare me. I've known the salesman who sold it to me for 10 years on a personal basis, and I don't think he would shaft me on purpose. I think the dealer is pretty ethical (for a car dealer), too. They are selling the truck at sticker, when other SVT dealers in the area are asking, and getting, $8K over list. This post did make me go back and read my deposit agreement (for the first time, I admit), and it looks pretty binding. It stipulates that I have 24 hours upon arrival of the truck to consumate the deal. No problema. I just wish I could get a build/shipping date. Will check out the computer printout tomorrow. I am biting my nails to the quick; I want this truck a lot more than I ever thought I would want a mere vehicle.

------------------
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

alphadoggy@jetlink.net

 

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I ordered my L from Mac Haik Ford here in Houston. They told me the day before it arrived, someone came in and offered them 3000 over sticker and they said it was on hold for someone else. By the way, I only paid sticker for it. Was offered $3000 over sticker 2 days later for it also.

------------------
Jerrod Gross
99.5 White Lightning
#1414, May 19,1999
Snuglid, sprayed on bed liner, 8.84sec/79.8mph (1/8th)(before mods.)
SHM mass air/conical filter, ASP blower pulley
phantom boost gauge

 

Look at your order form carefully, mine has some fine print: "This order is not a binding contract"

 

To All:

This scenario actually happened to a guy I work with on a 99 SuperDuty Diesel which were also in short supply at the time he ordered it. His dealer, the only Ford dealer in Sycamore, IL(not to mention any names, to protect the guilty) sold his truck to someone else the same day it arrived. Their response was "Sorry, we'll get you another one". He had already waited 5 months for the first one, and had sold me his 5.0 Mustang the week prior based on delivery information from Ford. After reviewing his options, (they would give him his deposit back, or order another one for him) the dealership eventually provided him a free loaner(Contour)until the second truck arrived about 6 weeks later(they expedited an order and production was now geared up un SD's). He talked to his lawyer about it, but was informed that because he had not really lost anything but time yet, and since they would get him another one for the same price, he had no legal recourse. Ford Motor Companys' reponse was that they had fulfilled their part of the contract, and that it was between him and the dealer. Most dealers have some ethics and would never do something like this to their customers. Those that do should be avoided like the plague. I myself, will never buy a Ford in Sycamore, Il. I hope all you guys have ethical dealerships and end up with the Lightnings you ordered and have been waiting so long for. If you can find out when yours will be delivered, try to arrange to be at your dealership when it rolls off the truck to lessen the chances of this happening to you. My friends experience scared the hxxx out of me as I didn't even have a deposit on the Lightning I had ordered and had already waited 4 months for at this time. Thankfully Joe Cotton Ford in Carol Stream, IL delivers what they promise (Attaboy, for the Good Guys) and my Lightning is now the second best thing in my life(the wife's still #1).

Good Luck to all.
Lightning Bob

 

Lightning Bob, do you or anyone else know how that would work on a limited production vehicle such as Lightning?

It would amaze me if a dealership would actually sell an ordered 'L knowing that the vehicle would/may not be replaceable untill the next model year......I would take a '00 Cobra as a freebie untill the 'L came in though

I am certainly glad that I dealt with a good dealership who is concerned with word of mouth recomondations and return buyers. Doubly glad since I bought on "A" plan!!!

 

After creating this post and reading all your replies, I've been really unsettled. So, went to my dealer today and spoke with him about my concern. He told me that their policy on SVT vehicles is that they sell them for MSRP, plus tax, title, license, not a penny less, but not a penny more. He said my ordered L is mine and the only way someone else could have it is if I backed out of the deal and forfeited my deposit. He told me they are aware that some dealers may pull the stunt I was concerned about, but they never have and never will conduct that type of business practice. He reassured me of my fears by telling me that they have 1 Cobra R scheduled to come in and that it is sold for MSRP, and that someone from Tucson called and wanted to purchase it for more than MSRP and they said this one is already sold, but put his name down as a the backup. So, I think this dealer will play fair and square.

[This message has been edited by Peter B (edited 02-07-2000).]

 

One thing to keep in mind regarding SVT dealers is they pay dearly for the privilege of selling such vehicles. You would be surprised at the number of Ford dealers who do not want the hassle of selling limited production units. In the central valley of Califorina I know of two large Ford dealers who have dropped their SVT programs in years past due to the cost and increased hassles of operating the program. I agree with an earlier post that the terms of any contract regarding deposits is pretty vague. Unless they actually sell your vehicle AND refuse to refund your deposit, you have no real loss. Trying to sue someone over such an issue would be difficult, since there must be some form of financially measurable loss in order to prevail in court. Just my two cents worth............

------------------
Mark Swaim
1999 Lightning (sold)
1997 Cobra (deceased)
1993 Cadillac Allante

 

Sounds Peter B. like you have an honest dealer who wants your business. I guess there still are a few left in the car industry.....................

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Mark Swaim
1999 Lightning (sold)
1997 Cobra (deceased)
1993 Cadillac Allante