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N8XV · 10-21-2007, 11:46 AM

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N8XV · 10-21-2007, 11:46 AM

Deleted

John Harrelson · 10-24-2007, 10:26 AM

whatdaheck is a "Ford-X" plan ?

John

Route 66 · 10-24-2007, 12:50 PM

The Ford X-Plan is similar to the GM Friends and Family plan aka Supplier pricing.

Both Ford and GM offer substantial discounts on new vehicles with these plans, with no haggling.

All you need is to know some one (Bill in this case) who works for Ford or GM, and you can buy a new vehicle at a lower price than you could negotiate yourself.

Bill has been kind enough to offer this fellow iRV2 members on several occasions.

I highly recommend taking advantage of this program if you are buying new.

I have bought 2 Yukons this way.

Pusherman · 10-24-2007, 01:14 PM

I bought my '03 Ford Explorer this way. Price was about $1K UNDER dealer invoice.

David K · 10-24-2007, 03:27 PM

The main advantage is the "no haggling" over the price. Ford prints on the invoice what the "x plan" price is -- the dealer has no say in what they can sell you the car for. Also, I think I am right on this, any of the rebates that are being offered at the time are also available to you still -- even at the lower price. My father retired from Ford and I purchase all of my vehicles under the "Z Plan" which is the retiree program. As an example, I just bought a 2007 fully loaded Focus (the invoice price -- actual, not the one you see on the car, was over $18,000 --like I said "loaded.") From that price was subtracted some $3,000.00 in rebates available. The window sticker on this car was over $21,000. The dealer cost on the vehicle was over $19,000. The dealer will try to get you on your trade in and say they are not making any money on the "X Plan" -- don't listen to them, Ford pays them a profit based on the invoice price to them plus it counts on their annual rebate programs for volume. YOu may want to price your trade in at places who will buy your car without you trading -- Car Max is one place -- then you know what you can get on your trade in and if it is more than what the Ford dealer is offering, then don't accept his deal -- take the higher amount. I have went both ways in the past. On the "Z Plan" they make 6% of the invoice price -- don't know about the "X Plan." Hope this helps with the explanation of the plan. It is a good deal as your price is usually below what the dealer pays for the car.

Route 66 · 10-24-2007, 03:32 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Also, I think I am right on this, any of the rebates that are being offered at the time are also available to you still -- even at the lower price. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are correct, I got 3 rebates on my Yukon.

Bob&Pat · 10-24-2007, 06:09 PM

Our purchase in 2005 from GM (Pontiac)

2005 Sunfire msrp was $18,375.00
GMS price was 16,482.00 "employee and family price"
Less
Sunfire rebate 3,000.00
Old inventory rebate 1,000.00 meaning it was in dealers inventory over 180 days.
March madness rebate 1,000.00
________
Our net cost was: 11,482.00

JavaJelly · 10-25-2007, 02:57 AM

I grew up in Michigan and the auto industry. My grandfather, father and now brother worked or work for Ford. The DW's family is GM. I never negotiated a price for a vehicle. I used to be in strategy consulting and actually worked on some the pricing schemes for GM.

There are a couple of differences in plans. Generally for both companies, if you are an immediate family member of the employee, you can get a better deal that generally can't be beat. (Parents, brother, sister, wife, children) This is especially true on popular vehicles.

GM introduced friends & family (Ford now has the equivalent) a few years back which is essentially the same as the deal for suppliers. It is good but, you can sometimes negotiate an equivalent or better deal on certain vehicles.

The dealer can still get you on trade-ins, dealer installed options & accessories and financing. KBB.com has really kept the dealers in check on trade-ins though. The CarMax idea is a good one.

I know we try to sell a car on our own for a month then go bite the bullet on the trade-in.

Couple of notes:
Please remember that dealer invoice is not dealer invoice. There are holdbacks that the dealer gets on every car.

Also, any car that is above CAFE regulations (govt. MPG rqts) will always get great incentives to get out the door. It is well known that domestic auto companies take losses on these vehicles to avoid CAFE penalties. BTW, High gas prices are actually driving demand and profitability for these vehicles now.