Accurate Expectations

[NeverGonnaGetIt]

I checked my order status this morning. I ordered a GT PE early May and haven't seen anything. I proceeded to waste a little time checking out the configuration tool to see if there was anything I may have preferred order-wise and came across this interesting text:

Non-Reservation Mustang Mach-E GT estimated delivery time begin late 2021.

I guess this means since I placed an order instead of a Reservation, my expectations should be adjusted to Nov/Dec at the earliest. I had a conversation with my dealer the other day. They mentioned this is the direction Ford wants for the future instead of inventory on lots. I told him I thought that was kind of a crazy idea. Here are my thoughts as to why.

Buying a vehicle, for most people, is the second most expensive purchase in your life, behind your house. (I'm not talking about all of you yacht/jet owners out there. HA) As a result, the process of purchasing a new vehicle is very emotional. People tend to get excited about it. There is a high associated with checking out all of the models, weighing the pros and cons, and selecting the one you think is right for you.

I told them, the process is akin to finding your significant other. It's not like you are going to go online and place an order and wait for that person to be built and arrive. (I'll take a tall beautiful person that is fun, nice to me, likes all of the things I am into, cooks awesome, is very clean, likes CrossFit, has an Ivy League Degree, is super successful, and really wants my babies! OK, I placed my order, and now I am just going to wait until they show up...) That's just not realistic. What if they show up and you don't like something? (Well, I didn't mean THAT much fun. I mean, I like to relax a lot. I'll cancel this order...) The idea just gets stupid.

The person that I share my life with is perfect for ME. I knew it when I met her. She doesn't fit all of the criteria listed above, but she doesn't have to. She's perfect for ME. Same thing with my vehicles. There are so many nice ones out there and we may have a perfect checklist, but when we get to that "perfect" one, it doesn't look like the pictures. (The Blue or Red is different than it looked in the pics, but this other one next to it is PERFECT!)

We go places and meet lots of people to find the person that's perfect for us, that's how the car buying experience seems for most people. (Also not talking about large companies that purchase fleet vehicles.) Once we walk a lot, we see something we love and grab it if everything lines up. I recently purchased an AMG GLE 63 S for the family. I never thought I would want a Mercedes. I've had pretty much every manufacturer's vehicle imaginable, but I've just never looked hard at a MB. We were going to different places, looking at different vehicles and stopped at the MB dealership to see what their stuff was like. We took that SUV for a test drive and fell in love IMMEDIATELY. On the reverse side, I've been lusting after a Bronco for a while now. I haven't been in a four door one, but when I rode in a two door, I was very underwhelmed.

I also didn't preorder a Mach-E because I didn't think they looked that great in the pics, then a dealer around here got one in and I checked it out. I drove it and fell in love, so I ordered one the next day. Now we are 3+ months after the order and we haven't even gotten a VIN yet. I've been going crazy with the rest of you, but at least seeing this note on the Mach-E website, my expectations are properly set. One of the drivers for me is the tax credit. As long as I can get mine before the end of the year, I am good. If it gets pushed back to Jan 2022 or later, I'm out. I'll just wait until they release a Shelby GT500E. (That may be copyrighted, but whatever...)

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[BMT1071]

I checked my order status this morning. I ordered a GT PE early May and haven't seen anything. I proceeded to waste a little time checking out the configuration tool to see if there was anything I may have preferred order-wise and came across this interesting text:

Non-Reservation Mustang Mach-E GT estimated delivery time begin late 2021.

I guess this means since I placed an order instead of a Reservation, my expectations should be adjusted to Nov/Dec at the earliest. I had a conversation with my dealer the other day. They mentioned this is the direction Ford wants for the future instead of inventory on lots. I told him I thought that was kind of a crazy idea. Here are my thoughts as to why.

Buying a vehicle, for most people, is the second most expensive purchase in your life, behind your house. (I'm not talking about all of you yacht/jet owners out there. HA) As a result, the process of purchasing a new vehicle is very emotional. People tend to get excited about it. There is a high associated with checking out all of the models, weighing the pros and cons, and selecting the one you think is right for you.

I told them, the process is akin to finding your significant other. It's not like you are going to go online and place an order and wait for that person to be built and arrive. (I'll take a tall beautiful person that is fun, nice to me, likes all of the things I am into, cooks awesome, is very clean, likes CrossFit, has an Ivy League Degree, is super successful, and really wants my babies! OK, I placed my order, and now I am just going to wait until they show up...) That's just not realistic. What if they show up and you don't like something? (Well, I didn't mean THAT much fun. I mean, I like to relax a lot. I'll cancel this order...) The idea just gets stupid.

The person that I share my life with is perfect for ME. I knew it when I met her. She doesn't fit all of the criteria listed above, but she doesn't have to. She's perfect for ME. Same thing with my vehicles. There are so many nice ones out there and we may have a perfect checklist, but when we get to that "perfect" one, it doesn't look like the pictures. (The Blue or Red is different than it looked in the pics, but this other one next to it is PERFECT!)

We go places and meet lots of people to find the person that's perfect for us, that's how the car buying experience seems for most people. (Also not talking about large companies that purchase fleet vehicles.) Once we walk a lot, we see something we love and grab it if everything lines up. I recently purchased an AMG GLE 63 S for the family. I never thought I would want a Mercedes. I've had pretty much every manufacturer's vehicle imaginable, but I've just never looked hard at a MB. We were going to different places, looking at different vehicles and stopped at the MB dealership to see what their stuff was like. We took that SUV for a test drive and fell in love IMMEDIATELY. On the reverse side, I've been lusting after a Bronco for a while now. I haven't been in a four door one, but when I rode in a two door, I was very underwhelmed.

I also didn't preorder a Mach-E because I didn't think they looked that great in the pics, then a dealer around here got one in and I checked it out. I drove it and fell in love, so I ordered one the next day. Now we are 3+ months after the order and we haven't even gotten a VIN yet. I've been going crazy with the rest of you, but at least seeing this note on the Mach-E website, my expectations are properly set. One of the drivers for me is the tax credit. As long as I can get mine before the end of the year, I am good. If it gets pushed back to Jan 2022 or later, I'm out. I'll just wait until they release a Shelby GT500E. (That may be copyrighted, but whatever...)

You have heard of online dating sites, right??? ? ?

 

[spanky99L]

Complaining to the dealer will do nothing. Its a Ford Corporate issue.

Plus, people put in reservations for the GT's in 2019 and vin's weren't released until May/June 2021. And they still havent even delivered a single one yet. Plus factor in the 6+ week wait based on the "chip" issue.

I think most people have too high an expectation or its the "microwave generation" who wants everything NOW.

 

[NeverGonnaGetIt]

You have heard of online dating sites, right??? ? ?

You've heard of catfishing, right? HAHAHA!!!!

 

[HuntingPudel]

Yep, there are a bunch of us who converted our reservations into orders as soon as was possible who are excitedly waiting (or grumpily waiting) for any news on our cars. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Zero. OK, there was the email from last week stating that delivery would be delayed a “minimum of 6 weeks.” That’s the only communication I have had from Ford Corporate other than “order accepted by dealer.”

I’m going back to the Grumpy thread.

 

[NeverGonnaGetIt]

Complaining to the dealer will do nothing. Its a Ford Corporate issue.

Plus, people put in reservations for the GT's in 2019 and vin's weren't released until May/June 2021. And they still havent even delivered a single one yet. Plus factor in the 6+ week wait based on the "chip" issue.

I think most people have too high an expectation or its the "microwave generation" who wants everything NOW.

I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't complaining to the dealer. I was just saying I don't think it's a great idea. It's also not about having things NOW. It's more about having an in person, tactile experience with a vehicle to see if it's the right one for you. That's the perspective I was talking about.

 

[NeverGonnaGetIt]

Yep, there are a bunch of us who converted our reservations into orders as soon as was possible who are excitedly waiting (or grumpily waiting) for any news on our cars. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Zero. OK, there was the email from last week stating that delivery would be delayed a “minimum of 6 weeks.” That’s the only communication I have had from Ford Corporate other than “order accepted by dealer.”

I’m going back to the Grumpy thread.

I understand. I have a Bronco First Edition order, so I can understand what you are saying regarding that lengthy wait....

 

[BMT1071]

I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't complaining to the dealer. I was just saying I don't think it's a great idea. It's also not about having things NOW. It's more about having an in person, tactile experience with a vehicle to see if it's the right one for you. That's the perspective I was talking about.

I don't think the intent is to have no vehicles on the dealer lots. There would still be demo vehicles for test drives and tactile experiences. Just a lot fewer available for immediate purchase.

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