[frostygta]

I have to agree with Dash Riprock. I am 67 years old and have never bought a car unless I could get it for less than MSRP. As much as I like the 05 Mustang, I am not going to break that rule now. As someone has already pointed out, the primary fault lies with the dealers who are taking advantage of a short supply situation. However, I feel that Ford shares some of the blame for letting the short supply situation develop in the first place. To allow production of an entire vehicle be held up because of lack of planning for enough IUPs and spoilers is unthinkable. They have guys that are being paid big bucks to anticipate demand for particular options. If these guys are going to err, it would be much better to have an oversupply at the beginnning of the model year and adjust production downward during the year.

IMO, some of the blame must also be shared by the consumers who go along with this price gouging nonsense. I understand how easy it is to get infected by the new car fever; but it would ruin my new car experience to drive a vehicle off the lot knowing that the guys standing around the coffee pot inside were thinking, "There goes another sucker".

Hope I haven't stepped on anyone's toes here. That was not my intention. I just firmly believe, that if more people felt like Dash Riprock and myself, this dealer rip-off mentality could be turned around within a month or so.

[countymounty]

My local dealer tried that 3k over sticker with me, but the really funny thing was that I was pre approved through my credit union and they had a deal with a dealer in KC who agreed to sell me a 05 v-6 at 100 over invoice. They didn’t like being told this. Problem was all the v-6 that were coming in had so many options driving the price up, that’s when I started looking at the Machs. Our dealer had an 04 blk/blk that was used with 8k on the clock they still wanted too much so I found my 03 also with 8k on the clock but in red/blk. My local dealer was pissed when I cam in to get a second key for it, they lost the sale of over 20k because of 2,500. I bought my last two vehicles from them prior to this.

I’m MUCH more happy with on 03 Mach then a 05 v-6.

And don’t pay anything over sticker, wait a few month they will lower.

[Glen]

Thanks for your comments everyone. No offense to anyone, but if you got upset, Ford would be all over these dealers in heartbeat. But as long as they hear statements like "I realized I would have to pay a premium", we have no power.

I own a fairly large business, so I'm aware of supply and demand. So are gas prices at $5.00 a gallon in Florida before the huricanes. But it doesn't make it right.

I have been around the block way to many times to pay a premium. Those of you who did pay a premium or even MSRP, who now also have "just a slightly higher" payment, will know what I mean in a few years. To me, MSRP "IS" a Premium. I just won't do it.

Anyways. Hey guys, I'm not new to Mustangs, take a look at the title under my name. I have bought 7 new ones over the past 14 years working on them. Plus owned several used ones. I got two in my garage right now and enough parts to build a couple more. I know many Ford people, been involved with Ford in Trans-Am and even worked on many new engine performance parts. Thats why I am so anxious to get my hands on an 2005 and to help us get busy and start making these babies fast. Unfortantely, my generation has passed, and most of the poeple I knew at Ford are gone. So, I'm stuck in the same boat as everyone else. Guess I've been spoiled.

I have a dealer who is working with me, that Ford hooked me up with. They are going to cut me a deal. This thread was started because of my contact with the local dealer and thought some of you may wish to use the power of Internet to pay back some the rip off dealers out there.

"Free market" and "Supply and demand" is what this thread is all about. Let "Free Speach" also work for you and let the public know which dealers are charging the premiums, so the rest of us don't have to waste our time talking to them. Hail to the all mighty dollar :thumbsup

[LordBritish]

I purchased my 05 GT for 3K more than sticker - I paid $31K total (not including tax).

I got my car over 2 months ago - Oct 19 to be precise.

If I didn't get the car right there and then, I wouldn't have one today.

Was that worth paying $3000 more than sticker - YES

[HeiMa]

Originally Posted by LordBritish

I purchased my 05 GT for 3K more than sticker - I paid $31K total (not including tax).

I got my car over 2 months ago - Oct 19 to be precise.

If I didn't get the car right there and then, I wouldn't have one today.

Was that worth paying $3000 more than sticker - YES

Glad you broke the ice on that one - I did the same - paid cash, and got mine one day after you - and you know what. It was worth every damn dime!!!!

[Vandil]

There always will be those willing and have the means to pay what ever it takes to get the new hotness now!

They didn't just pay X amount extra over sticker. A vast majority of us still waiting for ours paid a goodly chunk under sticker or even invoice.

In 6 months when all of our orders are filled you may be rethinking your choice to shell out all those dollars just to get it first. (btw I'm typing this as I look out the window at about 2 feet of snow covering my winter beater, so maybe I'm biased.)

[Glen]

Originally Posted by LordBritish

I purchased my 05 GT for 3K more than sticker - I paid $31K total (not including tax).

I got my car over 2 months ago - Oct 19 to be precise.

If I didn't get the car right there and then, I wouldn't have one today.

Was that worth paying $3000 more than sticker - YES

I'm happy for you. I have been there before. Congrats and enjoy!

I have the car of my dreams also, my 98 Cobra

I am certainly excited to get my hands on an 05 to see what kind of power I can get out of it. It will be nice to drive of course. But you comments vs. my comments defines the difference between....want vs. must have.

Both of us are right. Enjoy! It's a great car.

[onewildhart]

One more thing to consider when you want the car so bad you are willing to pay over MSRP. In California, $3000.00 over sticker equates to an additional $247.50 in sales tax. But wait there is more. The large portion of your vehicle registration is based on the SALE AMOUNT of the car you just overpaid for. So it is not a one time fee, you will pay more every time you renew your registration than those who waited.

The waiting is killing me. They have the exact car I ordered at a dealer who wants $5000 over MSRP. I got him down to $2000 over and then I walked out. He has about 6 loaded GTs which have been sitting on his lot for weeks. If you really want one, go see Ed Butts Ford in Southern California (La Puente) but be prepared to pay $5000 over MSRP. Don't buy the redfire metallic. I'm waiting till Dec 30th and see if I can get it for MSRP, otherwise, I'll wait for my ordered Mustang.

[odingalt]

Yes, I'm also one of those guys who will feel annoyed at driving a car I paid way, way too much for. If you have $10 to blow, go ahead. You pay $33,000 for that car now, it's worth $22,000 next year when the '06's come out. Congratulations, you just wasted money. Anything over MSRP is money burned. Really anything over invoice is a profit for the dealer.

You're buying from FORD MOTOR COMPANY.... Not Stan's Down-Home Ripoff Dealership, INC.

[lawnmowerman]

I did walk in with cash and paid sticker T.T.L. So it goes to show you exactly who you will be doing business with in the future. The dealership praying on the ignorant, or the dealership looking for long term repeat business. Marshal Mize Ford Hixson , Tn. i.e. See Jaimie Raines. Super nice salesman:thumbup

[Legionaire]

Originally Posted by jiobao

Glad you broke the ice on that one - I did the same - paid cash, and got mine one day after you - and you know what. It was worth every damn dime!!!!

Got mine shortly after you have every option except I have the shaker 500 and I paid cash but only 26,000 and no sales tax here

[Rockstar]

I work in the parts dept. of a Ford heavy truck dealership here in Milwaukee Wi. We are Blue Oval certified so I get D-Plan, but we can't order cars. I went to Braeger Ford on the south side, and was treated great by the whole sales staff! The guys did everything they could for me, even knowing I'd be paying a set price less than sticker. So I bought my 04 there.

A co-worker of mine (and myself for that matter) are ordering 05's. So he went to a few dealers that had some on the lot and told them he was a Ford employee, and they basically kicked him off the lot! I couldn't believe how crappy some of these salesmen were. Needless to say, he went down to Braeger as well, and was treated great right off the bat.

Spread the word on the dealers that are good to you, and steer people away from those bad ones charging outrageous prices. Hopefully, somehow, down the road it will make a difference.

[HeiMa]

Originally Posted by Legionaire

Got mine shortly after you have every option except I have the shaker 500 and I paid cash but only 26,000 and no sales tax here

NO TAX!!!

Okay - you lucky ...well, you know.... :thumbsup

Man, here is the People's Republic of California they tax you every time you take a dump.

Glad you got yours, and at a good deal!

[Legionaire]

Yes I was!!! here in Billings they wanted 29,000 and I was ready to pay it then I found one in a little farming community that had 1 GT 1 6 cyl and umpteen 4 wd vhls. I drove out there and paid cash. Not only do we not have sales tax but we have no vhl. inspections of any kind!!! So the only stock in my vocabulary is when I call the parts guy and ask if it's in STOCK!!!

[denjr70]

The value of the dollar is different for everyone. $2,000, $3,000, or $5,000 is different for everyone.

I'm X-Plan eligible and the dealer I went to in October would honor the X-Plan price on special orders only. Fair enough. The took the order and didn't even require a deposit check.....this would become VERY IMPORTANT later in the story. I ordered an 05 GT Premium and was told the wait would be 8 weeks. After talking to several close friends who work for Ford, they explained to me that I'd be lucky to get it in 12 weeks. My predicament was that I had already sold my 2000 GT and was using my brother's car quite frequently. Even though he was very gracious and generous for letting me use his car until mine came in, I didn't want to abuse the gesture by using his car until March 05.

The "nice guy" in me began shopping dealerships looking for one that was in stock. I realized that I wouldn't get X-Plan, but was hoping to buy it for sticker. I found a dealer that had one arriving in late November and they would sell it to me for MSRP. I agreed to buy it. Well, it didn't come in on time. In fact, once December 1st rolled around, it hadn't even been built yet. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I explained the situation to me brother. His response surprised me. He told me not to worry about how long I use his car. He pointed out that the difference between X-Plan and MSRP was $2,000 and that amounts to two mortgage payments. He said he didn't want to see me get screwed over on his account.

I called the the second dealership and told them I was no longer interested in the car. I found out yesterday that the one I ordered X-Plan will be arriving this weekend and I'm getting it for roughly $100 over invoice.

I work hard for a living and $2,000 is a lot to me. For somebody else with significantly more expendible income, $2,000 or even $5,000 is pocket change. That's who the Ford dealerships who are marking up the Mustangs are aiming for. Not the working stiff who's making payments for four or five years, but the rich kid who's paying for it with cash out of his trust fund. There's enough of those people out there that the dealerships figure they can make an extra 4-7 grand on the first few Mustangs that come in. For the rest of us, the best option is to wait.