I am thinking about getting a 2003, trading in the 98. 0% or the rebate is just too tempting. The problem I have had in the past is finding a dealer who will deal from the invoice price and not sticker. I know if I pay sticker I am getting ripped, but the dealers around here all start with sticker, take off the rebates and say "your getting it for less than invoice". I know they play games with your trade and want to start at sticker so it looks like they are giving you a good deal on your trade, but I just want to find a dealer who will start at invoice instead of sticker. I mean come on, I would have to be an idiot to agree to pay $33,000 for a truck that invoices for around $27,000-$28,000. Any tips for me before I start dealing? I really need a good deal if I am going to be able to pull this off........

TIA,

Tom

 

Tom,
You can go online (www.edmunds.com) and get the MSRP and the invoice for any vehicle that you want with options. Keep in mind the dealer invoice price still has about 3-4% of "holdback" that will allow him to make a profit even if he sells you the vehicle for invoice price (that usually is around 800-1100 bucks).

Using edmunds to get the invoice price, you can also subtract all your rebates and then get an idea about how much you will have to pay.

Once you have decided what truck you want and which options you want to add, call the local dealership and ask for the fleet dept. Tell your Fleet saleman you want to buy a truck today if he will pull the VINCENT (vehicle incentive report) and give you any available incentives that can be applied on top of advertised rebates and that you want to start from the invoice price. Usually they will agree, because they are still making their holdback as profit. If not, call another dealership.

The fleet dept. can use the VINCENT report to add additional money to your deal. For instance you can get:
$500 off for being a member of AQHA
$1000 off for adding acc.(if you get an invoice that says you are adding $1000 worth of acc, you can get $1000 more off price)
$1000 for putting it in your business name if you own your own business.
$1000 off for returning lease customers.

This has worked for me really well. Last year I bought an '02 F150 and saved almost $8,000 off MSRP and this year I saved almost $9,000 on my Eddie Baur Expedition.

Hope this helps!

 

Hi Tom

Badd. made some good points. However..when you start talking "hold backs" you better be real good in the math. dept and negotiating. Remembering the dealer does it for a living.

If you can sell your truck before...to me thats a real plus. I havent traded one in for years. Again..it can become confusing..as you probably know..you may get big $$$ for trade in?..if so, its coming off the new truck...you gotta be sharp.

Ck. out that link...Price it out...Invoice/MSRP. The dealer will probably do a print out with same figures or similiar to what you already have. Its no mystery..they do read these sites/links. But yes, work only with invoice..not MSRP. if they wont do that..due to hot seller/demand..try shopping around. Get 3 prices...compare. Just depends on how much time/patience you have. Heck..one time i talked/priced out 10 dealers

You may do better with a truck already on lot VS factory order?

Good luck...OT

btw...just beaware 03 production will soon be winding down. 04 F150 might show up this summer? But when ever they do show up..i suspect any remaining 03 on lot will be discounted big time. JMO!

 

The dealer I am looking at has 4 heritage editions sitting on the lot. From past experience there I know they are hard to deal with. I have gotten great deals there and have walked out and found the deal I was looking for elsewhere within a week. Hopefully with four on the lot and the 04's coming in July they will work with me. They will not start at invoice, I am sure, they like to play games with the trade in price. Last one I bought there, I took there breakdown of the deal and told them what they were really giving me for my trade, what I was paying for the vehicle, and how much they were making.

I just hate going to the dealer..............

 

Well I worked the deal today! Black and red heritage will be mine in a few days! I guess it was the time to deal, rainy day, end of the month, 3 heritage editions on the lot, 40 '03 f-150's on the lot. The deal worked out to invoice, they gave me high retail for my trade $3,000 cash back and the finance rate was low. Of couse they worked this from MSRP and made my trade look ridiculously high, but that is what it worked out to.

I am stepping up from an '98 XL to an '03 Heritage and my payment is only $20 a month more - of course it is for 3 years after the XL would have been paid off. I love cash back low finance incentives! I never thought I would get that truck!

 

congratulations thomasj!!!! theres nothing like a brand spanken new truck can't wait to see some pics

 

Congrats thomasj! Glad it worked out for you.

 

Congratulations on your new Heritage.

If you don't mind...just how good a deal did you make?
I'm looking at a used Heritage..yeah, a used 2003 with only 3,500 miles on it. Anyway, they're "asking" $25,750. I'm just not sure what it's worth.

It's Black and Silver, with a 5.4, Automatic and manual transfer case.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

Hey Heywood... I'm going to see you in concert Sunday night!

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RP

 

Heywood,

My trucks sticker was 33,500 which was about 4,000 over invoice. They gave me about $4,000 over high average retail for my 98 and I got the $3,000 rebate. I figure that I got as much for my truck as I would have if I had sold it myself without the hassle and I got the new truck at invoice. The big thing I would look at is that the new trucks have the rebate or financing right now and really the model year and current body style is realistically coming to an end in a few months. You might be able to get a great deal on a new one.

Tom

 

thats one sweat truck

 

I managed a good deal on my '03 SCab 4x4.
By the time I got "X" planned, $7,500 military discount, $3,000 rebate, $1,000 to keep me from going to a closer dealer, and $1,250 in hail damage for two dimples on the roof...I got out the door for under $20,000.

The key thing that I've found in trade-in's is that you don't tell them you have one until after you've locked in a price for the new one. If they ask if you have one just say no. Then after you have locked in the price...Of course, you're now on day two, you're not doing this all in one day, are you? Tell them things fell through on your trade-in car. You should have already gotten a offer from CarMax or AutoNation....they tend to offer better than trade-in value. Then they'll say that changes everything and you inform them that changes nothing. After you've pissed them off and they've pissed you off, you leave them with your final offer and they say they can't touch it...go home and wait for them to call the next day.
You may completely tick off and lose a dealer, but you'll have really good numbers when you go to the next dealer.

 

go to www.fordvehicles.com and click on search dealer inventory.
find you local dealer. there you can find the truck you want plus get the dealer invoice and the msrp. bring that info to the dealer and you and he will know where you stand.

 

Im shopping for a lightning truck and two dealers have told me that the sticker on these trucks is non negociable"" Because there svt products,is that true ?? Thanks

 

It’s all about supply and demand. With Lightning’s or just about any SVT type of vehicle there is a big demand and very little supply so it is really the seller’s ballgame and calling the shots. They will sale the Lightning for the sticker price because there will be someone in the area that wants it bad enough they won’t even haggle about the sticker price.

It don’t hurt to try and get them down some, or to throw something in. If they know you’re serious and can sale it to you (good credit) etc. they “may” move a little here or there so try working it. Best bet go in planning on paying sticker and if you get a little something out of it then that makes for an even better purchase.