Tips on surviving the buying experience?

[Trombean]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here.

I'm looking at purchasing a mach e soon and I couldn't be more excited. I have honestly never really been a car guy, but there's something about this car that just really speaks to me and I just have to have it!

One thing I am NOT excited about though is the buying experience. I've been hearing so many horror stories of insane mark ups. These worries were confirmed when I visited a ford dealership for something unrelated and found a mach e on the lot. It was a used 2021 premium that they were selling for $68,000. That's just crazy.

This is a little intimidating as this is going to be the first car I purchase on my own as an adult. I'm lucky to have had an amazing mom who was a pro at haggling. She taught me a lot when we were buying my first car as a teenager. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like anything she taught me would work today. If I choose not to accept their insane mark up, it's no big deal to them because they know that they can sell it to someone else for that price.

I really don't want to order this car, wait 6 months only for it to be marked up by $10,000 and I can't afford it anymore. Can anyone that's had a successful buying experience weigh in and give me some tips?

Thanks everyone!

Also, side question:

How long do you think the current tax credit offer will last? I want to take my time buying, but I don't want to miss out on that

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[macchiaz-o]

Ordering a vehicle is the best way to agree on firm dollar amounts ahead of time. But it requires great patience.

If you buy off the lot, you should be prepared to negotiate and walk away if you don't like the counter offers.

I'd email every single dealer in your area with the specifics on what you want and ask for their best offer. Let them know you're putting the same request out to several competitors and that you'll follow up with them if they issue a competitive offer.

Do everything in writing (or email) so that you have a paper trail.

 

[yngwenli]

It's not 2021/2022 anymore. You can walk away honestly if they play games. There are LOTS of on the lot cars right now (I see 15+ at local dealership with minimal markup that I'm sure a savvy guy/mom can knock to $0) so if they play games, tell them to suck it (maybe more nicely ) and find another dealership.

Also, there is no need to probably order a car right now IMO. You wouldn't get price protection like some of the folks here and why wait?

My advice (as someone who got all discounts/rebates/you name it and paid well < $40k), simply find a honest dealership in your area (your profile doesn't say). Look around these forums and find the ones who are legit, don't play games.

They're not going to dick you around when they have lots of cars on the lot when you are a ready/willing/serious buyer.

You didn't say what you are buying so that may help more if you qualify for the IRA to get it done soon.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Definitely email/call your local dealers to find out what their policies are regarding mark-ups are for in-stock vehicles. If you call one and they tell you a price that you like on a car you like, politely ask for an email confirming that price and then go down to look at the car with email in hand. ??

 

[Trombean]

It's not 2021/2022 anymore. You can walk away honestly if they play games. There are LOTS of on the lot cars right now (I see 15+ at local dealership with minimal markup that I'm sure a savvy guy/mom can knock to $0) so if they play games, tell them to suck it (maybe more nicely ) and find another dealership.

Also, there is no need to probably order a car right now IMO. You wouldn't get price protection like some of the folks here and why wait?

My advice (as someone who got all discounts/rebates/you name it and paid well < $40k), simply find a honest dealership in your area (your profile doesn't say). Look around these forums and find the ones who are legit, don't play games.

They're not going to dick you around when they have lots of cars on the lot when you are a ready/willing/serious buyer.

You didn't say what you are buying so that may help more if you qualify for the IRA to get it done soon.

I'm looking to get a 2023 premium. The reason I want to wait is because my wife is currently in school full time and money might be a little tight at least for the next year. I could probably get it now, but it'll be a little rough until she graduates. I'd rather wait for us to be a little more stable.

 

[Jax_GT]

I'm looking to get a 2023 premium. The reason I want to wait is because my wife is currently in school full time and money might be a little tight at least for the next year. I could probably get it now, but it'll be a little rough until she graduates. I'd rather wait for us to be a little more stable.

Sounds like the perfect reason to order and wait then. You can start saving now and you’ll get the car is six months or so.
Tax credit is up in the air after March and only valid if you’re under $55k which some Premiums are but many aren’t. Be cautious on that.
When you order, you’ll go to the dealership to sign a purchase document. Ours showed the price and we told them to remove all the dealer add ons, if you don’t want them. It’s an ordered car, their policies of not removing them doesn’t count here. Many of these are on lots now with no markup so you shouldn’t have to stress a lot. Review dealers in your area before you order. If you’re in AZ I can recommend some.

 

[4sallypat]

Be ware that ordering may take awhile!

My April 2022 order is still not delivered and changed to 2023.
It's been 10 months and it's already built in December but has not shipped out.

Recently, I have been tweeting Ford every day to find a way to get mine delivered before March when the IRS rules on the battery tax credit.

 

[Trombean]

Be ware that ordering may take awhile!

My April 2022 order is still not delivered and changed to 2023.
It's been 10 months and it's already built in December but has not shipped out.

Recently, I have been tweeting Ford every day to find a way to get mine delivered before March when the IRS rules on the battery tax credit.

That's what makes it so hard to time.

I know exactly when I'll be ready sign the papers and take the car home, but I don't know when to order it.

On one hand, I'm already anxious to have it and I want that tax credit (although it sounds like I might miss out on the tax credit either way). On the other hand, if it gets here too soon, that could be a big problem. If I were to know for sure that it would take 10+ months like in your case, I'd order it today.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having to wait so long.

 

[MachEMaster]

That's what makes it so hard to time.

I know exactly when I'll be ready sign the papers and take the car home, but I don't know when to order it.

On one hand, I'm already anxious to have it and I want that tax credit (although it sounds like I might miss out on the tax credit either way). On the other hand, if it gets here too soon, that could be a big problem. If I were to know for sure that it would take 10+ months like in your case, I'd order it today.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having to wait so long.

I think ordering would be your best best. Plan on 5-6 months from order to delivery.

 

[MachHunter]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here.

I'm looking at purchasing a mach e soon and I couldn't be more excited. I have honestly never really been a car guy, but there's something about this car that just really speaks to me and I just have to have it!

One thing I am NOT excited about though is the buying experience. I've been hearing so many horror stories of insane mark ups. These worries were confirmed when I visited a ford dealership for something unrelated and found a mach e on the lot. It was a used 2021 premium that they were selling for $68,000. That's just crazy.

This is a little intimidating as this is going to be the first car I purchase on my own as an adult. I'm lucky to have had an amazing mom who was a pro at haggling. She taught me a lot when we were buying my first car as a teenager. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like anything she taught me would work today. If I choose not to accept their insane mark up, it's no big deal to them because they know that they can sell it to someone else for that price.

I really don't want to order this car, wait 6 months only for it to be marked up by $10,000 and I can't afford it anymore. Can anyone that's had a successful buying experience weigh in and give me some tips?

Thanks everyone!

Also, side question:

How long do you think the current tax credit offer will last? I want to take my time buying, but I don't want to miss out on that

I wouldn’t risk past March 1. Look now. Offer MSRP. Walk away if you don’t get it. Geography matters a lot. You might get less than MSRP, but as of the recent price drop that brings the tax credit back in play, lots of premiums are no longer to be had below MSRP. There are selects out there for cheeeeeap. If you look.

 

[MachKet]

I wouldn't even order, I'm sure you can find one on the lot or get good value with a used one since the market has tanked. Even with the price cut people are not rushing to get these anymore

 

[D’Roc]

I agree with what others have said and would tell you to expand your dealership search beyond your local area.
Find a dealer willing to email you a SIGNED Buyer’s Order with the price you agree on. I did this when I bought my Taycan from NYC even though I live in Raleigh. I’d rather drive/fly several hundred miles than pay ADM or “required” dealer add ons (VIN etching, Interior/Exterior protection packages, etc)

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/things-you-should-never-buy-at-the-dealership?slide=9

 

[Hammered]

Offer sticker and the dealer to eat their BS fees. No No NO, you're not interested in anything other than vehicle. NO you're not interested in seeing how for just $30 more a month you can have (insert shit warranty here that provides 80% kickback to the dealer).

If a dealer has installed any accessories, NO NO NO.

Also best to have financing lined up ahead of time so they don't sucker your into something like that. I bought 4 vehicles last year, all remotely and had all paperwork signed ahead of time. All but 1 of them I made them deliver the vehicle to me as well. That removes all of the BS time wasting tactics.

If you see a car online you want, view the window sticker by entering the vin behind this link -- dealers like to just put a price and hide the sticker so they can sucker you on price. If it's used, they should provide a carfax link that can also access the sticker.
https://www.windowsticker.forddirect.com/windowsticker.pdf?vin=

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