Dealer offered me a false lease deal and took my current Mach-E

[MountainHomie]

Here's a story for anyone getting an unsolicited offer from a dealer. I've been very happy with my Mach-E purchased via Ford Options and was planning to lease another when mine expires in 8 months plus potentially get an F-150 Lightning in the future; I am in the Early Access program and have participated in a video call with Ford engineering because I've been so happy with the platform.

Three days ago, out of the blue, a sales rep from the dealer texted me saying "I am reaching out to see if you still have your Mustang Mach-E on lease? If so, we’d love to have it back, and put you into a brand new 2023 model. We currently have 0% financing for 60 months, a $3,000 rebate, $2,000 off of the Msrp, and also a $7500 tax credit as well." I replied that I only wanted to lease the vehicle and he came back with a lease payment for a new, identical vehicle that was lower than my current payment plus I would still get the tax credit. We texted back and forth for 2 days where he reiterated the new (lower) payment and that I would get the tax credit; the sales manager sent me a photo showing what the payment would be. Yesterday the rep collected my information, ran the credit check, etc. and, because I just had knee surgery and couldn't drive, he came to pick up the car to take it in for inspection at the dealership leaving me at my house without a car with the promise that he would be back in 3 hours with the new vehicle... Cue ominous music.

5 hours later I got a call from their finance manager saying that I wouldn't get the tax credit and my new lease payment would actually be higher than my current payment. This is due to the difference between the Ford Options and the lease. She said that they do very few leases and that she and the sales rep didn't know how leases actually worked! I said that I expect before someone solicits to give me an offer and then spends 2 days going over it with me that they know what they're actually able to offer. Clearly, this was unacceptable and I demanded the immediate return of my car. In the almost 2 hours it took them to get my car back to me I opened a case with Ford (the Ford rep was very nice and I told her I have the whole 2 days' conversation captured because it was via text) and finally talked to the dealer GM who apologized but only said his people should know better. He said I could get the car at the lower price if they made no money on it but I still wouldn't get the tax credit. No acknowledgment or amelioration for the wasted time or stranding me without a car.

I understand (now) that the lease is different than the Options but to waste 2 days on a deal they solicited and should have never offered is appalling. It has definitely soured me on the Ford experience and the prospect of getting another Mach-E and a new Lightning...

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[Mach1E]

They took your car? (Click bait). But you got it back……

Reminds me of Monty Python. “she turned me into a Newt!…….. I got better.” ?

Sounds like a case of a clueless salesperson and they wasted your time. For the tax credit, I’m guessing you make too much income? (Something the salesperson couldn’t know).

It sucks to be disappointed for sure. But in the end it sounds like they just wasted a bit of your time? But it was only a few phone calls and texts (you didn’t even have to leave your home?) not too terrible.

But for sure, I wouldn’t want to work with that salesperson again.

 

[Maquis]

Here's a story for anyone getting an unsolicited offer from a dealer. I've been very happy with my Mach-E purchased via Ford Options and was planning to lease another when mine expires in 8 months plus potentially get an F-150 Lightning in the future; I am in the Early Access program and have participated in a video call with Ford engineering because I've been so happy with the platform.

Three days ago, out of the blue, a sales rep from the dealer texted me saying "I am reaching out to see if you still have your Mustang Mach-E on lease? If so, we’d love to have it back, and put you into a brand new 2023 model. We currently have 0% financing for 60 months, a $3,000 rebate, $2,000 off of the Msrp, and also a $7500 tax credit as well." I replied that I only wanted to lease the vehicle and he came back with a lease payment for a new, identical vehicle that was lower than my current payment plus I would still get the tax credit. We texted back and forth for 2 days where he reiterated the new (lower) payment and that I would get the tax credit; the sales manager sent me a photo showing what the payment would be. Yesterday the rep collected my information, ran the credit check, etc. and, because I just had knee surgery and couldn't drive, he came to pick up the car to take it in for inspection at the dealership leaving me at my house without a car with the promise that he would be back in 3 hours with the new vehicle... Cue ominous music.

5 hours later I got a call from their finance manager saying that I wouldn't get the tax credit and my new lease payment would actually be higher than my current payment. This is due to the difference between the Ford Options and the lease. She said that they do very few leases and that she and the sales rep didn't know how leases actually worked! I said that I expect before someone solicits to give me an offer and then spends 2 days going over it with me that they know what they're actually able to offer. Clearly, this was unacceptable and I demanded the immediate return of my car. In the almost 2 hours it took them to get my car back to me I opened a case with Ford (the Ford rep was very nice and I told her I have the whole 2 days' conversation captured because it was via text) and finally talked to the dealer GM who apologized but only said his people should know better. He said I could get the car at the lower price if they made no money on it but I still wouldn't get the tax credit. No acknowledgment or amelioration for the wasted time or stranding me without a car.

I understand (now) that the lease is different than the Options but to waste 2 days on a deal they solicited and should have never offered is appalling. It has definitely soured me on the Ford experience and the prospect of getting another Mach-E and a new Lightning...

That was a dealer experience, not a Ford experience. The new car should have been eligible for for a $3750 tax credit.
In the future, just avoid that dealer.

 

[Vulnox]

That was a dealer experience, not a Ford experience. The new car should have been eligible for for a $3750 tax credit.
In the future, just avoid that dealer.

That was the part I was most confused by, them offering $7500 when as far as I knew nothing had changed about it being $3750. Them saying $7500 would have been a huge red flag right away.

 

[Otto klub]

A salesperson fishing prior customers in hopes of another sale.
You fell for it.

 

[jay1122]

I think there are quite a few car companies offer $7500 tax credit through that IRA loophole and pass it on to the customer as lease credit. Cars like the new Lexus RZ, BMW, MB, Genesis, KIA/Hyundai that would not qualify for purchase tax credit is good candidate for lease.

Well, here is a website with the list. Maybe you could shop around. Ford does not offer it.
https://leasehackr.com/blog/2023/2/18/list-of-every-ev-that-gets-a-7500-credit-on-leases

 

[RickMachE]

That was a dealer experience, not a Ford experience. The new car should have been eligible for for a $3750 tax credit.
In the future, just avoid that dealer.

This ^^^^

It's amazing that people don't understand this better.

When you go to a dirty Burger King, who made it dirty - corporate or the franchise owner?

 

[blkadr08]

That was the part I was most confused by, them offering $7500 when as far as I knew nothing had changed about it being $3750. Them saying $7500 would have been a huge red flag right away.

Not sure what the current situation is with the $7500 credit. Previously, I recall, lease customers weren’t eligible for the credit because they didn’t own the car I think that was one of the reasons Ford created the Balloon Payment program.

Anyway, what obviously happened here with the lease is that the Finance Manager added rate to the deal. She gets paid on a percentage of the additional profit that comes from increasing the deal rate over the buy rate,

One lesson to be learned here is that you can’t depend on a deal made in absentia - by phone, email, etc. you need to be there. Otherwise, there is too much wiggle room created for the dealership.

 

[Ride_the_lightning]

This whole thread is dumb. First, OP doesn’t understand how leases work. 2nd, they didn’t take your car, they offered to come to you to get it because you said you couldn’t drive. Yes, the salesperson was clueless, but that’s not really a surprise. I’d be annoyed, but not at the level of outrage you seem to have.

Leases were never eligible for the tax credit because you don’t own the car. Ford options was not a lease, but a finance program with a balloon payment. Leases CAN be eligible for for a capital cost reduction, which is how we took advantage of the full $7500 when we got our Audi PHEV. I don’t know if Ford dealers are doing that or not.

 

[A-A-Ron]

That was a dealer experience, not a Ford experience. The new car should have been eligible for for a $3750 tax credit.
In the future, just avoid that dealer.

BREAKING: Car dealer has questionable business practice. Details at 11.

 

[Maquis]

BREAKING: Car dealer has questionable business practice. Details at 11.

And water is wet….

 

[ThatGuyLando]

That sucks. Like everyone here is saying, next time stick with Ford, they will be sure to ask you for your Vin and dealership info so hard.

 

[AKgrampy]

Please forgive me as I am not an expert here. You do not qualify for a tax credit if you lease no matter your income level. My understanding at this time; however, is that the manufacturer does and can use that to lower your lease payment. Perhaps that is what they were attempting to do but did not understand the nuances. Unforgivable in any case as they should not have offered any deal without fully understanding it!

 

[Motomax]

Side question, why do people trade in 1-2 year old vehicles for new ones. Are you chasing lower monthly payments? You’ll still end up paying more, always look at Total cost.

 

[AKgrampy]

Side question, why do people trade in 1-2 year old vehicles for new ones. Are you chasing lower monthly payments? You’ll still end up paying more, always look at Total cost.

Maybe chasing the tax rebate?

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