[mrvandermey]

Originally Posted by MGPony

It's simply Consumers 101 - Supply & Demand. As long as there is strong demand for the 2005 Mustang, greedy dealers will easily get 10 - 15% over MSRP. Ford won't do anything about it as long as the cars are selling. You can look at the history of hot and unique cars that came out at the time of their introduction: Dodge Viper, PT Cruiser, and Thunderbird; all these cars commanded a premium which consumers easily and willingly paid all because the car was strongly desired.

I knew going into my purchase that I would be paying a premium, but I also knew I wasn't going to be gouged. My dealer tried to get $3K over sticker, but I ended up paying a $1K (as was expected). This is nothing different than what you see on e-bay; the most desired items will command the highest price. I'm thoroughly thrilled with my new car and if someone tells me they could have sold the car to me $500 over invoice, I'm not going to let that bother me. Oh well.

Amen brother. I too paid a small premium to have my Stang. Here in CA, especially in the Bay Area, where dealers where asking as much as $14K over MSRP (the average being somewhere around $6K-$8K over MSRP), a premium of $1500 was not too bad.

However, once upoin a time I was a car slaesman (at a Ford dealer), and I learned something strange. I discovered that no matter what you pay for your car, as long as you are happy you got a good deal. For example, my brother has paid asking price for just about every car he has every bought, and he has been happy as a clam with all of his purchases. While I once sold a car to a customer for $200 below invoice (Yes I said Invoice and NBT MSRP) and even then he complained about the "bad deal" he got. So I say, to each your own, love the car, the deal should be secondary. A good deal is nice, but having the car you want is even better.

[stevie wire]

I've been looking for a new GT for a few months to import to the UK. I was over in Ontario and New York state in Feb and visited dealerships, they only had new 05 no 06 models at the time. Since return to the UK have searched US dealerships and on EBay.

With a dealer in Florida, we have found the right car, a redfire GT premium, options IUP, locking nuts, side airbags, active anti theft, 18 inch wheel upgrades with a manual box. I will be paying under MSRP which includes the dealers fee (approx $28.5 k). I still have to get the car over to England that is another story.

On the subject of gearbox, I cannot understand why people pay to upgrade to an auto when a car like the mustang is an ideal drive for a manual box. Maybe just me that in Europe most cars are manual or is it that North Americans cannot drive a manual or don't appreciate the manual. (expect verbal abuse now lol)

The dealership in Niagara Falls NY were very helpfull and they had a manual redfire GT in that day ready to be picked up by the lady owner. The owner had ordered the car in June 05. Wow had to wait 7 months to get a manual GT. Seeing that car in New York inspied me to go for a redfire.

For anyone looking for a new mustang, check out

http://www.fordvehicles.com/dealersh...cate/index.asp

I located the car of my choice using this search then informed my contact in Florida to do the rest. As most of you live in the US you may be able to get a better deal than I did. I will have to wait a few months myself before I see my redfire on British soil.

Steve

[pumpdoc]

You Brits seam to have a thing about Americans and automatics, just for the record I drive a truck for work with a 7speed manual, I've driven manuals for most of my driving life(33yrs.), I can shift in my sleep but when it comes down to it with traffic as bad as it is here in S. Calif. I like the autoand it's just as fun. Manuals are nice but not a requirement for fun................

[sayspeedy]

Back many years ago I purchased a hot, high demand car. Put a large cash payment down and ordered it exactly like I wanted it. I had to wait over 9 weeks and I was calling the dealer every other day at the end of two months. I had paid $200 over invoice and had to wait because they weren't out yet. When the car arrived, the dealer sold it to someone else for well over MSRP. So how's that for a kick in the pants from a gready dealer. That 1988 Grand Prix SE was the Motor Trend car of the year and one of the best cars I ever owned. I reordered from a different dealer when mine was sold to someone else. 5 month wait, owch!

[pmr2000]

Definitely supply and demand, hopefully the people paying big premiums over sticker can afford it. Look at the new Challenger orders, dealers and ebayers are going to get way over sticker as with the new Camaro.

I personally like a good deal and try to avoid the first year bugs...the sticker of my 2008 was 25100, with xplan at work 23700, Ford has 1000 off Mustangs right now plus I got another 750 from the brochure=21950 plus tax. Not bad for a convertible with a stick shift!

[nigel]

I know that when I was living in El Paso earlier this year all of the Mustangs was selling for about $2500 under invoice. But up here in Maryland it is the opposite.

[nigel]

Ford is screwing up as it goes for customer service. They shouldn't be raising the prices of there vehicles when they are asking for a bail out.