JTMACHEGT
Member
- First Name
- John
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2023
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 17
- Location
- Greenwood IN
- Vehicles
- 2021 Mach E GT PE
- Occupation
- Business Owner
- Thread starter
- #1
So I am a LONG time Ford customer. I worked for a Ford dealer for 20 years. I built it into one of the biggest performance dealers around.
As we all know, some dealers like to play price shuffling games. I always tried to be on the up and up on the dealer level being honest with people.
But I am sorry here Ford. This looks like you are playing games.
I have a 2021 Mach E GT PE. I ordered a 2023 last year once they were finally available to order again and planned to trade mine in. At that time Ford RAISED the price ironically to almost match the $7500 incentive that was available as many of you know.
I thought it was funny because the increased price was so close the the amount of the incentive. It was so obvious that they just wanted to essentially claim the government money themselves.
Again, I have been in the Auto industry OVER 20 years. I am very attune to every aspect of increased materials and labor costs, supply and demand and price increases year to year, etc. Those increases are generally not $7000+ from a manufacturer. Then the announcement was “significant material cost increases and other factors,” The motivational question I had at the time was, "What are the other factors?" The fact that there is a federal $7500 incentive you think you should take yourself?
We know dealers put ADMs on some things, but this is not typical manufacturer behavior. Especially not Ford, who again, I have been a proud and loyal customer and employed within for years. We look to manufacturers for stability.
I was reluctant to place/keep the order after they did that, but the $7500 was still in place and there was talk that it may be a cash incentive come the next year vs a tax credit from the federal government.
I talked my sister into ordering a 2023 Mach E GT as well because the car is so great. (more on this later)
My 2023 GT PE arrived in late Jan. (it was supposed to arrive in Dec, but was in transit for over 2 months) In Jan the federal rebate ended because the car was reclassified and it wasn't worth taking when Ford Raised the Price tag so much. Then in the first week of Feb, Ford cut the price tag as many of you know (basically the same as what they raised it in fall 22). They cut it after the car was reclassified and the Federal rebate was removed. (Again, cut to pre increase level)
Here goes the roller coaster.
So now, we are in the second week of Feb I believe, and the car is reclassified and the $7500 incentive is back on! So now I think, maybe I will look into trading up again. So I got the process started Mid to late Feb. Now however, book values on the 21's had started to drop. Ok, that happens. That isn't Fords fault.
I went ahead and started the process. I went to pick up the 2023 model and trade in my 2021. Keep in mind, I am trading almost the IDENTICAL vehicle. Same color, same options. The only difference is the black wheels with the Nite Pony Package.
I do the paperwork, I swap cars and drive off to head home. When I was sitting in the dealer parking lot, and setting up my radio stations. Adding my phone as a key, etc. The clock was around 3:30pm. I remember looking at it. I drove off and hit the interstate. I turned on cruise control and was ready for about a 2 hour drive. When all of the sudden the car SLAMMED on the brakes! It almost cause several accidents as people behind me had to as well. Then it stepped on the gas (so to speak) then hit the brakes I about had a heart attack. I turned off CC before something happened and I am baffled. I then got a little out of traffic and tried to test it and its doing it again. Its going crazy. I also noticed that I used about 18% of battery on a GT PE after about 13 miles which... I own one... that's not normal.
So I called my sales guy and said I needed to come back. The car had an issue. Just so you can all see, Here is a video.
Notice the speed limit sign in the bottom right of the screen. Now I am on an INTERSTATE and the speed limit is 70mph.
Notice how the speed sign flashes 25mph, 45mph, even 5MPH!!
This was a short clip. I could have recorded more. I recorded this on the way BACK with the car.
Things to note are. I was NOT using Blue Cruise. Only Adaptive CC.
Also, as I noted earlier about the clock being 3:30pm when I left. About 15-20 later when this started happening, it went to 6:30 and 8:30.
My thought was, it was skipping time zones and pulling speed limits from god knows where it was at. However, the real clincher was.. why did it slam on the brakes and hit the throttle? I believe after doing a little digging, it was because a new feature mine didn't have was turned on as a default.... Speed Limit Assist...
So thanks for making sure I didn't speed over 5mph on an interstate lol. It only nearly killed me.
I took it back to the dealer and we discussed if I wanted to have it repaired or not take it. I gave it a couple days and decided that as much as I love the one I had. The last thing I would want to do is get rid of it, only to have one with major issues. It may have been fine... It may just be something that needed reset. I just didn't want to take that chance. Especially given the roller coaster so far. So I kept my 21.
That doesn't change the fact though, that speed limit assist should have some sort of safety or be turned OFF as a default. This was a serious danger to myself and others.
So that's still just part of the story and concern here.
So now we get into March and my Sisters car was supposed to be built. After March I believe, the rebate was cut again down to $3750 due to the new regulations. Hers never made it in time. So she decides it just isn't going to work for her. Missed deadlines, lost incentives...
Then about 10 days ago, there was a new announcement.. Ford cuts the price of the Mach E in different categories as you see in the chart from an article and have probably read, at least many of you. But it was by $4,000 on the GT and $1,000 on the Performance Package specifically for her.
So we get the word today that her car is here. She is excited and ready to get it. She starts prepping her stuff and getting her car ready to trade.
We inquire about why the window sticker has not reflected the recent price changes that happened. Do we need to wait for them to reflect a new price like before in Feb? She wants to buy the car she ordered a long time ago.
So after some investigation, here is what Ford has about it on FMC Dealer...
Looks normal right? Notice Effective Date: "Effective Date - Dealer Invoice Changes will be effective May 3, 2023" and same for MSRP.
It states the price changes to the BASE vehicle and the PACKAGES only, right? Do you see anything to the contrary to additional cost? Other required Options and increases? Am I blind?
If you Google "Mach E Price cut, or discount" do you see anything from Ford press release stating that orders still in process or orders that have NOT arrived will NOT be priced with the updated pricing? Again, the car arrived today and the price cut was May 3rd.
Ok, so after some investigating This is what a Ford Rep provided-
So I'm now looking at this and thinking... Ok, wow. This looks like number games. From a manufacturer. First, according to this, they aren't reducing the price $4,000 on the base car. They are playing with numbers. For future orders placed AFTER April 3rd, you can buy 3 years of Blue Cruise for $2100 as an option on the window sticker. First, that isn't a price reduction, it's taking features out and pricing them separately.
Second, what if we don't care about Blue Cruise for $2100? So in this scenario, you are forced to take it?
The next caveat here is that in this switcharoo type tactic, they are playing numbers games as a dealer would, not a manufacturer. Placing a $2000 rebate, not a discount, adding the $2100 Blue Cruise 3 year subscription to the future order (as if its required) and calling it "A wash" essentially. Also, most states charge SALES tax on rebates. So that $2,000 rebate will cost you $150.
So again, my frustration is that this whole thing for almost a year, between trying to by 2 more vehicles and I buy typically 2 or so a year and with my business more, has been a roller coaster of frustration. I would not expect Ford of all companies to play these numbers games. I don't know or care if they are trying to mimic Tesla, or whoever. If you are a FORD customer, you know. Ford isn't Tesla. Ford doesn't play games like this. Quarter price increases of $250 or $500 for vehicles. We have all seen them. Model year changes and price increases of $2,000 occasionally, we have seen them.
This behavior though is ridiculous. Frankly, with 2 different messages with "effective May 3rd price changes are in effect" dealer invoices and MSRP based on the posted decreases and then a statement showing moving numbers around a statement "Orders Places before May 1st will not be reinvoiced"
So do we just not take the car? Say Shove it up your A** and order a new one all over again at the reduced price? LOL Kinda makes a little more sense.
"Take this one now for X or order another on and you don't need to pay $2100 for blue cruise you wouldn't use anyway and it will be $5,000 less...."
WTH kind of choice is that????
Is this the message you really want to send? I understand it sending refund checks to people who purchased 2 months ago doesn't make sense too, but vehicles in production? If I ordered a vehicle May 2nd and it arrives in November, even AFTER say someone who ordered on May 4th, and theirs got built first. You are saying I should have a higher sticker price? and be forced into a service that I would have had an option on for less $? Whoever thought this up needs to be evaluated.
Thoughts? Opinions? Ford??? Where are you?
As we all know, some dealers like to play price shuffling games. I always tried to be on the up and up on the dealer level being honest with people.
But I am sorry here Ford. This looks like you are playing games.
I have a 2021 Mach E GT PE. I ordered a 2023 last year once they were finally available to order again and planned to trade mine in. At that time Ford RAISED the price ironically to almost match the $7500 incentive that was available as many of you know.
I thought it was funny because the increased price was so close the the amount of the incentive. It was so obvious that they just wanted to essentially claim the government money themselves.
Again, I have been in the Auto industry OVER 20 years. I am very attune to every aspect of increased materials and labor costs, supply and demand and price increases year to year, etc. Those increases are generally not $7000+ from a manufacturer. Then the announcement was “significant material cost increases and other factors,” The motivational question I had at the time was, "What are the other factors?" The fact that there is a federal $7500 incentive you think you should take yourself?
We know dealers put ADMs on some things, but this is not typical manufacturer behavior. Especially not Ford, who again, I have been a proud and loyal customer and employed within for years. We look to manufacturers for stability.
I was reluctant to place/keep the order after they did that, but the $7500 was still in place and there was talk that it may be a cash incentive come the next year vs a tax credit from the federal government.
I talked my sister into ordering a 2023 Mach E GT as well because the car is so great. (more on this later)
My 2023 GT PE arrived in late Jan. (it was supposed to arrive in Dec, but was in transit for over 2 months) In Jan the federal rebate ended because the car was reclassified and it wasn't worth taking when Ford Raised the Price tag so much. Then in the first week of Feb, Ford cut the price tag as many of you know (basically the same as what they raised it in fall 22). They cut it after the car was reclassified and the Federal rebate was removed. (Again, cut to pre increase level)
Here goes the roller coaster.
So now, we are in the second week of Feb I believe, and the car is reclassified and the $7500 incentive is back on! So now I think, maybe I will look into trading up again. So I got the process started Mid to late Feb. Now however, book values on the 21's had started to drop. Ok, that happens. That isn't Fords fault.
I went ahead and started the process. I went to pick up the 2023 model and trade in my 2021. Keep in mind, I am trading almost the IDENTICAL vehicle. Same color, same options. The only difference is the black wheels with the Nite Pony Package.
I do the paperwork, I swap cars and drive off to head home. When I was sitting in the dealer parking lot, and setting up my radio stations. Adding my phone as a key, etc. The clock was around 3:30pm. I remember looking at it. I drove off and hit the interstate. I turned on cruise control and was ready for about a 2 hour drive. When all of the sudden the car SLAMMED on the brakes! It almost cause several accidents as people behind me had to as well. Then it stepped on the gas (so to speak) then hit the brakes I about had a heart attack. I turned off CC before something happened and I am baffled. I then got a little out of traffic and tried to test it and its doing it again. Its going crazy. I also noticed that I used about 18% of battery on a GT PE after about 13 miles which... I own one... that's not normal.
So I called my sales guy and said I needed to come back. The car had an issue. Just so you can all see, Here is a video.
Notice the speed limit sign in the bottom right of the screen. Now I am on an INTERSTATE and the speed limit is 70mph.
Notice how the speed sign flashes 25mph, 45mph, even 5MPH!!
This was a short clip. I could have recorded more. I recorded this on the way BACK with the car.
Things to note are. I was NOT using Blue Cruise. Only Adaptive CC.
Also, as I noted earlier about the clock being 3:30pm when I left. About 15-20 later when this started happening, it went to 6:30 and 8:30.
My thought was, it was skipping time zones and pulling speed limits from god knows where it was at. However, the real clincher was.. why did it slam on the brakes and hit the throttle? I believe after doing a little digging, it was because a new feature mine didn't have was turned on as a default.... Speed Limit Assist...
So thanks for making sure I didn't speed over 5mph on an interstate lol. It only nearly killed me.
I took it back to the dealer and we discussed if I wanted to have it repaired or not take it. I gave it a couple days and decided that as much as I love the one I had. The last thing I would want to do is get rid of it, only to have one with major issues. It may have been fine... It may just be something that needed reset. I just didn't want to take that chance. Especially given the roller coaster so far. So I kept my 21.
That doesn't change the fact though, that speed limit assist should have some sort of safety or be turned OFF as a default. This was a serious danger to myself and others.
So that's still just part of the story and concern here.
So now we get into March and my Sisters car was supposed to be built. After March I believe, the rebate was cut again down to $3750 due to the new regulations. Hers never made it in time. So she decides it just isn't going to work for her. Missed deadlines, lost incentives...
Then about 10 days ago, there was a new announcement.. Ford cuts the price of the Mach E in different categories as you see in the chart from an article and have probably read, at least many of you. But it was by $4,000 on the GT and $1,000 on the Performance Package specifically for her.
So we get the word today that her car is here. She is excited and ready to get it. She starts prepping her stuff and getting her car ready to trade.
We inquire about why the window sticker has not reflected the recent price changes that happened. Do we need to wait for them to reflect a new price like before in Feb? She wants to buy the car she ordered a long time ago.
So after some investigation, here is what Ford has about it on FMC Dealer...
Looks normal right? Notice Effective Date: "Effective Date - Dealer Invoice Changes will be effective May 3, 2023" and same for MSRP.
It states the price changes to the BASE vehicle and the PACKAGES only, right? Do you see anything to the contrary to additional cost? Other required Options and increases? Am I blind?
If you Google "Mach E Price cut, or discount" do you see anything from Ford press release stating that orders still in process or orders that have NOT arrived will NOT be priced with the updated pricing? Again, the car arrived today and the price cut was May 3rd.
Ok, so after some investigating This is what a Ford Rep provided-
So I'm now looking at this and thinking... Ok, wow. This looks like number games. From a manufacturer. First, according to this, they aren't reducing the price $4,000 on the base car. They are playing with numbers. For future orders placed AFTER April 3rd, you can buy 3 years of Blue Cruise for $2100 as an option on the window sticker. First, that isn't a price reduction, it's taking features out and pricing them separately.
Second, what if we don't care about Blue Cruise for $2100? So in this scenario, you are forced to take it?
The next caveat here is that in this switcharoo type tactic, they are playing numbers games as a dealer would, not a manufacturer. Placing a $2000 rebate, not a discount, adding the $2100 Blue Cruise 3 year subscription to the future order (as if its required) and calling it "A wash" essentially. Also, most states charge SALES tax on rebates. So that $2,000 rebate will cost you $150.
So again, my frustration is that this whole thing for almost a year, between trying to by 2 more vehicles and I buy typically 2 or so a year and with my business more, has been a roller coaster of frustration. I would not expect Ford of all companies to play these numbers games. I don't know or care if they are trying to mimic Tesla, or whoever. If you are a FORD customer, you know. Ford isn't Tesla. Ford doesn't play games like this. Quarter price increases of $250 or $500 for vehicles. We have all seen them. Model year changes and price increases of $2,000 occasionally, we have seen them.
This behavior though is ridiculous. Frankly, with 2 different messages with "effective May 3rd price changes are in effect" dealer invoices and MSRP based on the posted decreases and then a statement showing moving numbers around a statement "Orders Places before May 1st will not be reinvoiced"
So do we just not take the car? Say Shove it up your A** and order a new one all over again at the reduced price? LOL Kinda makes a little more sense.
"Take this one now for X or order another on and you don't need to pay $2100 for blue cruise you wouldn't use anyway and it will be $5,000 less...."
WTH kind of choice is that????
Is this the message you really want to send? I understand it sending refund checks to people who purchased 2 months ago doesn't make sense too, but vehicles in production? If I ordered a vehicle May 2nd and it arrives in November, even AFTER say someone who ordered on May 4th, and theirs got built first. You are saying I should have a higher sticker price? and be forced into a service that I would have had an option on for less $? Whoever thought this up needs to be evaluated.
Thoughts? Opinions? Ford??? Where are you?
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