Anyone seeing end of year deals?

[cookiemonster]

(note: this is in the Midwest)

I've never really been a position to buy a new truck until this year. In the past I've read of insane deals the last week of the year where dealers want to clear inventory - especially prior model year.

I've talked to a few dealers with 2020 super duties - either tremor or just 4x4 off-road packages - and none of them are moving from MSRP. I'm usually offering around or a little below invoice to start the conversation, and they lock in at MSRP and don't move.

Is this just how it is this year with inventory being so low? I've never done this level of negotiation, so not sure if I'm wrapping up conversations too quickly. Basically the conversation is they open at MSRP, I counter with invoice, they give a long story that ends with them staying at MSRP, then I just thank them for their time and we wrap up the call or I leave the building.

Does anyone know if I should expect the same experience for half ton pickups?

Anything I'm obviously doing wrong? Should I be pestering them more? Feels like I'd just keep saying "got this check for invoice right here" and they'd be saying "that's still a no."

 

[Gummer]

Seeing the same thing in the Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago area. Dealers are lackluster at best to even respond. Inventory is low, prices are high. PCO's are almost non existent. Even getting them to give a good deal on an possible order has been tough.

Sorry I am no help, but you are not alone.

 

[Jking]

I have always bought the previous year model until I ordered my Tremor. I used to go online and see what Ford is offering the biggest rebates on. That will tell you what needs to be moved and what you can negotiate down on. Inventory is definitely higher in my area for half tons so they are likely easier to get reduced here. I don't know about your area. Sometimes it will be a certain model that is easiest to get the price down and sometimes its a certain package. When I bought my 2015 f150 it was xlt that had big rebates so I found one with a lot of options added and negotiated down. When I got home with it, looked online and found two like it for sale that were used and the asking price was higher than what I paid. You just have to be willing to accept what they have too many of. You don't really get to pick what you want. Tremors will definitely not be on the list.

Also, I think the quality is lower but if you are willing to buy a Ram, they seem to mark down at the end of the year more than Ford does. Again, this is what I have seen in my area. I don't have inside information or anything but using this has saved me a lot of money on purchases in the past.

 

[Apparition]

If they won’t work with you sign up for the Mustang club of America ($25), get x-plan and place an order for what you want.

 

[Ford performance]

My local dealer has a lariat tremor with 7.3 for $5250 off right now. I was in the market for a XLT diesel or i would have looked into it. Not much inventory out there currently so hard to find a great deal.

 

[Ford performance]

Marshall Mize Ford in Hixson,TN is dealer. Never had good luck dealing with them. But they seen to move alot of cars

 

[1911Tacticalnut]

12/12/2020 I traveled 2 hours to Richmond Ford to buy a 2020 6.7 rapid red f250 black appearance Lariat. Worked a deal with them over the phone and email. Have bought several high end vehicles from them. When I arrived my salesman gave me the keys to run it on a test drive. Well when I got back he told me he sold the truck while I was out on the test drive. Man that has never happened to me after all the vehicle I have bought. They just got a 2021 6.7 rapid red, black appearance ultimate Lariat in a few days before. To make things right they sold the 2021 for the same price as the 2020. 2021 msrp was $77,860. Bought the truck for $66,560. Drove back to my local dealer the next day and blew their minds. He said no way they could do that until I showed him the paperwork for the 2021. Deals are to be had with the right dealerships.

 

[Shiftman]

Marshall Mize Ford in Hixson,TN is dealer. Never had good luck dealing with them. But they seen to move alot of cars

They're selling it exactly at X-plan price. Pretty good deal for sure. I was eyeballing that truck, but not really wanting the sunroof...Also cant figure out why all these dealers are leaving out the $165 heated steering wheel and $300 heated rear seats on a ~$70k truck. (those are standard on a Laramie Ram). Also, no CHMSL Camera or UTT Camera system, but does have PTO provision...Don't understand some things

 

[cookiemonster]

I was eyeballing that truck, but not really wanting the sunroof...Also cant figure out why all these dealers are leaving out the $165 heated steering wheel and $300 heated rear seats on a ~$70k truck. (those are standard on a Laramie Ram)

From what I've gathered they don't realize it since in the past it's been in the "ultimate" package. Even between the 2020 and 2021 model years Ford moved it! So if you're a dealer that ordered a 2019, 2020, and 2021, to get the heated steering wheel was in 3 separate options and none of those options say something obvious like "heated steering wheel" in the option name.

Edit: the lack of heated rear seats are super weird to me as well. I guess just enough people don't care about the backseat that they don't want to pay for it?

 

[Shiftman]

Haha, I was in the middle of editing my post to say the same thing about the rear seats...I guess great minds think alike. I didn't realize Ford changed the options around like that on the heated wheel

 

[Ford performance]

They're selling it exactly at X-plan price. Pretty good deal for sure. I was eyeballing that truck, but not really wanting the sunroof...Also cant figure out why all these dealers are leaving out the $165 heated steering wheel and $300 heated rear seats on a ~$70k truck. (those are standard on a Laramie Ram). Also, no CHMSL Camera or UTT Camera system, but does have PTO provision...Don't understand some things

I agree with you. I looked at it but ended up getting a XLT with a Diesel instead. I couldnt get rid of the Diesel. Unfortunately the new one doenst have the tremor package either. But i will level it and put 37’s on it most likely anyways. Thats what i did with my 2018 i did have.

 

[TFR-GA]

if I even click on a truck online its gone in 24 -48 hrs. dealers know it. so they are selling at msrp basically- one told me, so many people from up north are buying RVS and other trailers to escape the cities that they all want super duties- and the rest, and planning for the world to end and not worried about malign the payments.

 

[richtor]

If anyone finds one before the end of the year I would definitely recommend picking it up. Anything near invoice buy it!!

 

[RU2PED]

I just paid $66k for my Tremor blackout ultimate Lariat. MSRP was $69640. They also gave me $65k trade on my 2020 250 6.7 where I paid just over $69k with an MSRP of $77,360. They already sold the 6.7 with 9k miles for $68k. Inventory is low but there are deals if you search.

 

[TampaTremor]

Marshall Mize Ford in Hixson,TN is dealer. Never had good luck dealing with them. But they seen to move alot of cars

First post here and wanted to make sure that I thanked you for the tip on Marshall Mize Ford. I made a deal on one of theirs this morning after stumbling across your post. So far the buying experience has been great, so good that I am driving around 8 hours to pick it up on Saturday. Much better than what I was experiencing with the dealers in Florida. Thanks for the lead, you saved me 16 weeks on a custom order.

 

[Ford performance]

First post here and wanted to make sure that I thanked you for the tip on Marshall Mize Ford. I made a deal on one of theirs this morning after stumbling across your post. So far the buying experience has been great, so good that I am driving around 8 hours to pick it up on Saturday. Much better than what I was experiencing with the dealers in Florida. Thanks for the lead, you saved me 16 weeks on a custom order.

Awesome! Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Shiftman]

First post here and wanted to make sure that I thanked you for the tip on Marshall Mize Ford. I made a deal on one of theirs this morning after stumbling across your post. So far the buying experience has been great, so good that I am driving around 8 hours to pick it up on Saturday. Much better than what I was experiencing with the dealers in Florida. Thanks for the lead, you saved me 16 weeks on a custom order.

That's great! Which one did you end up buying?