What is a "typical" deposit to put up for a special order car? How much $$$ are you guys putting down on the 05 Stang when you order it?

$500 sounds reasonable to me; one local dealer wants $1,000. That's OK if the deal goes through, but you don't want to have to arm wrestle to get your money back if the order is cancelled for any reason.

Comments and advice, please. Thanks.

 

I ordered in May and didn't put down anything. It is common to put down $500-$1K. Just be sure that the deposit is refundable!

 

The last mustang I bought, I bought at a small town dealer, they wanted a $500 deposit. The city dealership that I had originally talked to wanted $1000 deposit. (In the end, they asked me to leave the dealership, because of a heated discussion I had with their sales manager. I'll always buy at small town dealerships now.)

 

My dealer said he needed zip. I would not do it unless you had it in writing that the deposit is refundable. I know many others have not had to put anything down for a deposit.

Jason

 

I didn't have to put a deposit down.

 

Interesting that no deposit was required of several of you. I suppose the dealer figures there's no risk of selling a hot commodity if the guy who orders wants out.

Yes, a refundable deposit is a must. If the could not fill the order, I would not want the car.

Any one else want to weigh in on the deposit question??

 

I put $500 down for an order on the AZ plan.

 

My dealer asked for a deposit, but I told him I would have to mail it. Since he was about to go on vacation, he said just hold on to it. When he got back, I mailed him a check. But when I picked the car up yesterday, I found out he never cashed it.

 

Typically they never do. Personally I really don't understand the purpose of the refundable deposit. You can get your money back at any time? Even after the vehicle has arrived at the dealership? Seems kind of pointless of me of them to take it to begin with.

 

$500 max on a stang, more on a Hybrid.

 

We don't ask for deposits on any orders. If you don't take the vehicle, we put it on the lot and sell it. If we don't have any mutual trust at this point we shouldn't be doing business.

 

I gave the dealership a check for $1000. They never cashed it though.

 

I put down $1000. Non-refundable.
Hopefully, you won't see me posting some horror story about that later.
All seems to be going well with my order so far though.
I'm hoping for delivery in the next 14-21 days. Shoulda been built this week, but I'm afraid to check yet.

 

Why? Just Curious.

 

I put down $1000 fully refundable back in June.

 

I put nothing down on mine when I ordered in May.

 

i put $500 down just to show i was serious. deposits should be refundable in most states unless you ordered something really wierd like some ugly color combo that the dealer can't sell if you back out.

dealer did cash my $500 check

 

Its still fair to the dealer if you have an alottment of 4 GT's that there is some showing of good faith that the customer intends to buy the car. That little bit guarantees for the most part that something is moving and takes the customer off the market. Most of the time they are not cashed anyway. Its the IDEA that there is some end comittment. If it is something readilly available like an F-150, we dont necessarilly bother. For the customer, giving a 'deposit' insures the dealer will also do what is expected and prioritize the vehicle of choice for a customer without having any physical item to sell at the time. It establishes a bond for both parties, even though it should never be non-refundable.

 

im putting a $500 deposite unless they say no deposite

 

I put $0 down and got A plan, but I was friends with the salesman. Otherwise I would have put $500 down to help prove we had a binding contract in case they tried any funny business.