Been shopping for a Mach E for over a year, might pull the trigger this week

[tippykayak]

Hi all,

I've been reading this forum on and off for about a year as I've contemplated the switch to an EV. The Mach E is the only one that checks all the boxes for me, and that's been true since last summer. I joined the forum today to dig a little deeper on research as I get closer to pulling the trigger on actually buying it.

I was doing some hard negotiating on a used '23 with only a couple hundred miles on it (it was a GT that I felt the dealer was asking over market value for, which is why it sat for so long), but some body snagged it at a price higher than I was working on. So now I'm looking at '25s, which is what I wanted anyway.

My closest dealership doesn't seem that interested in actually selling me a car, and there seem to be a lot of delays with the '25s getting delivered to folks who ordered or to arrive on lots, but there's a dealership in my state with a 2025 GT on the lot I'm test driving on Saturday. Glacier Gray, gray interior, and 20" black wheels. Am I nuts for paying asking price? It's about $56K all in plus sales tax because of the employee pricing promo. That seems like a solid deal on a car that's actually hard to come by right now, but I usually prefer a little more leverage when I'm negotiating.

So I'm here to say hi and to solicit opinions on price and also tips for ownership. Going to have to add the charger to our house, figure out all the realities of EV ownership, and to join what I hope is a great community. So hi!

Sponsored

 

[Shepherd]

When I was shopping for a Mach-E last year I downloaded the window stickers from the dealer website to compare the equipment options and prices for the five in stock. The prices have been up and down and then back up over the last couple years. $56k doesn't seem unreasonable. When I bought there were a lot of incentives including thousands in discounts and 0% financing. I also had an A Plan code. Expand your search to a couple hundred miles and see who has the best deal.

 

[clowncargarage]

I just bought one new as well, so hopefully can share some insights that I came across while shopping:
-'23GT to '24/'25GT is a big performance difference due to battery/motor changes. If that's important to you, good reason to stick with new or only look at used 24's. That's what pushed me out of the used market (along with 0% financing), despite the big discounts you get buying used.
-They're still doing the Power Promise but the fine print has changed a lot this spring. Still get a free charger and most install costs covered though (it cost me about $200 in permitting fees). Ask for all the program details before you sign anything, I think they changed again May 1st.
-if you can find a '24 still (which is what I did), they were offering 0% financing for 72mo. The trade off is you'll have less selection (whatever is left over) and they made some nice updates to the '25 (heat pump, updated software, etc.)

Ford dropped the MSRP on comparable '25s, which means you can still do well on those and don't have to hunt for a '24, but people are scrambling to buy cars before potential tariff impacts, so the most I can say is, the market is weird right now. The employee pricing was a good enough deal for me, but the dealers around me weren't really willing to go any lower. Use TrueCar or similar services to see what people are actually paying in your area and if you can get one at or lower than that, you're doing well.

 

[tippykayak]

When I was shopping for a Mach-E last year I downloaded the window stickers from the dealer website to compare the equipment options and prices for the five in stock. The prices have been up and down and then back up over the last couple years. $56k doesn't seem unreasonable. When I bought there were a lot of incentives including thousands in discounts and 0% financing. I also had an A Plan code. Expand your search to a couple hundred miles and see who has the best deal.

This was insanely good advice. I pulled the window stickers for on-lot GTs within a hundred miles (Ford.com lets you do 100 or 500, so 200 wasn't as easy to do), and made a comparison of the four GTs that were close to what I wanted. Hard to say who's flexible on their asking prices beyond what they have posted (without calling), but this particular one seems like the best one for me within 100 miles.

 

[tippykayak]

I just bought one new as well, so hopefully can share some insights that I came across while shopping:
-'23GT to '24/'25GT is a big performance difference due to battery/motor changes. If that's important to you, good reason to stick with new or only look at used 24's. That's what pushed me out of the used market (along with 0% financing), despite the big discounts you get buying used.
-They're still doing the Power Promise but the fine print has changed a lot this spring. Still get a free charger and most install costs covered though (it cost me about $200 in permitting fees). Ask for all the program details before you sign anything, I think they changed again May 1st.
-if you can find a '24 still (which is what I did), they were offering 0% financing for 72mo. The trade off is you'll have less selection (whatever is left over) and they made some nice updates to the '25 (heat pump, updated software, etc.)

Ford dropped the MSRP on comparable '25s, which means you can still do well on those and don't have to hunt for a '24, but people are scrambling to buy cars before potential tariff impacts, so the most I can say is, the market is weird right now. The employee pricing was a good enough deal for me, but the dealers around me weren't really willing to go any lower. Use TrueCar or similar services to see what people are actually paying in your area and if you can get one at or lower than that, you're doing well.

Thanks - literally just asked the question about the charger coverage. At a minimum, you get the charger and at least something significant toward installation, though they're only saying "standard installation" at this point.

I'm actually negotiating via text today. I'm thinking if I can get the top of the KBB estimate on my trade in ($11K on a Mazda with 121,000 miles on it), that's where I can sweeten the deal. Not sure how it is in other states, but in CT, trade in amount is taken off your sales tax, which is 7.75% on a car this expensive, so it's not insignificant.

 

[tippykayak]

Reached a handshake deal with the rep I was texting and put a deposit down. Can’t thank you guys enough for the help. Picking up Saturday unless I can free up my schedule sooner!!!

 

[HuntingPudel]

When you get it, post pics and the options that you got on the car. ??

 

[tippykayak]

When you get it, post pics and the options that you got on the car. ??

2025 GT
Glacier Gray
20" Aluminum black gloss wheels
Magneride damping system
GT Performance Upgrade
Glass Roof
1 year of BlueCruise

Only have the standard images that are on the listing so far, but that's going to change soon...

 

[Mach1E]

2025 GT
Glacier Gray
20" Aluminum black gloss wheels
Magneride damping system
GT Performance Upgrade
Glass Roof
1 year of BlueCruise

Only have the standard images that are on the listing so far, but that's going to change soon...

Congrats!

If you want to feel even better about your deal, consider what us 2021 buyers paid.

I paid $69,000 (less 7500 tax credit, so $61,500) back in 2021.

That $61,500 adjusted for inflation would be $75,000 today.

 

[tippykayak]

The finance guy is off and the backup finance guy is sick, so I can’t pick up today. How much does that stink?

 

[Mach1E]

The finance guy is off and the backup finance guy is sick, so I can’t pick up today. How much does that stink?

You could probably leave them a check deposit, take the car home, and do all the rest of the paperwork through email and electronic signatures if you pushed for it.

People buy cars all the time without stepping foot in the dealership. They just prefer you sit in front of the finance manager so they can pressure you to buy extended warranties, paint protection packages and other fluff. ?

 

[clowncargarage]

You could probably leave them a check deposit, take the car home, and do all the rest of the paperwork through email and electronic signatures if you pushed for it.

People buy cars all the time without stepping foot in the dealership. They just prefer you sit in front of the finance manager so they can pressure you to buy extended warranties, paint protection packages and other fluff. ?

"Let me tell you about Simonize!"

 

[tippykayak]

lol, already got $995 for the simoniz pulled off the deal.

 

[tippykayak]

You could probably leave them a check deposit, take the car home, and do all the rest of the paperwork through email and electronic signatures if you pushed for it.

People buy cars all the time without stepping foot in the dealership. They just prefer you sit in front of the finance manager so they can pressure you to buy extended warranties, paint protection packages and other fluff. ?

Good point. I have liked the folks at this dealership so far, but I am fully prepared for shadiness at the “finance guy” step. My last car purchase (not Ford), the finance guy added 2% to the interest rate we had agreed on and tried to get me to sign off on it without reading. They’re not prepared for folks who come in with a laptop and a spreadsheet to check all the math.

 

[circatee]

I am actually surprised that the location manager didn't process the deal. We all know car dealers hate to 'not process a deal/sale'...

Sponsored