Car Buyers Sue Ford Over "limited edition"
8/4/08, 07:43 PM
#1
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Car Buyers Sue Ford Over "limited edition"
Story out now:
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Car buyers sued Ford on Monday complaining that a limited edition of a modified Ford Mustang was not so limited after all.
The class action lawsuit on behalf of a New York man and other buyers of the 2007 Roush Stage 3 BlackJack vehicles claimed they paid a premium price of nearly $59,000 (30,000 pounds) last year because Ford advertised that only 100 would be made.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, accused Ford and Roush Performance Products Inc of manufacturing at least 100 more of the vehicles in 2008.
Representatives of Ford were not immediately available to comment, a company spokeswoman said.
"The vehicles purchased by the plaintiff and the other class members were not as unique or rare as the defendants had stated them to be," the complaint said. "Their value from scarcity and as collectors' items were and are dramatically less than the buyers had been led to believe their value would be."
Ford manufactured a limited run of a modified version of the Ford Mustang, made especially for conversion by Roush into the Stage 3 BlackJack, the complaint said.
Drew Conner of Bardonia, N.Y., and at least 100 other people are members of the class seeking a jury trial and more than $12 million in damages.
The class action lawsuit on behalf of a New York man and other buyers of the 2007 Roush Stage 3 BlackJack vehicles claimed they paid a premium price of nearly $59,000 (30,000 pounds) last year because Ford advertised that only 100 would be made.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, accused Ford and Roush Performance Products Inc of manufacturing at least 100 more of the vehicles in 2008.
Representatives of Ford were not immediately available to comment, a company spokeswoman said.
"The vehicles purchased by the plaintiff and the other class members were not as unique or rare as the defendants had stated them to be," the complaint said. "Their value from scarcity and as collectors' items were and are dramatically less than the buyers had been led to believe their value would be."
Ford manufactured a limited run of a modified version of the Ford Mustang, made especially for conversion by Roush into the Stage 3 BlackJack, the complaint said.
Drew Conner of Bardonia, N.Y., and at least 100 other people are members of the class seeking a jury trial and more than $12 million in damages.
8/4/08, 08:53 PM
#3
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Ford has nothing to worry about. Those 100 Mustangs are GT Deluxe as specified on the window stickers which have the same options as on the Stage 1, 2, 3, the 427R, and 428R.
The key to winning the suit will be if Roush Performance specified the limit would on the BlackJack model. If Roush was specific to the 2008 model year they can build 100 every successive year and those exclusive owners will have to deal with depreciation just like any other Mustang owner.
The key to winning the suit will be if Roush Performance specified the limit would on the BlackJack model. If Roush was specific to the 2008 model year they can build 100 every successive year and those exclusive owners will have to deal with depreciation just like any other Mustang owner.
8/5/08, 12:59 AM
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Why would the suit not be against Roush? Are these not limited edition Roush upfit cars, not Ford production limited edition cars?
anyway sounds like 101 people in the suit when 100 are supposed to have been made?
How many were built by Roush?
anyway sounds like 101 people in the suit when 100 are supposed to have been made?
How many were built by Roush?
Last edited by RCSignals; 8/5/08 at 01:02 AM.
8/5/08, 04:26 AM
#5
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Did these people REALLY think it was going to be worth money in let's say...10 years? Its like buying a GT500 at 10k over sticker because you feel its going to be worth something in a few years. Don't get me wrong, the Blackjack is a beautiful car, and i'd be upset if they said 100 EVER made and it turned out to be more than that, but unless that car is never driven and stored away under a nice car cover, I don't see it appreciating in value.
8/5/08, 05:41 AM
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As I recall, when the 03 Mach I's came out, it was suppose to be a limited one year production run. When they were also made for 04, a bunch of 03 owners took or tried to take legal action against Ford without any luck. The 03's, (no surprise) initially had big "adds" over list .
8/5/08, 05:57 AM
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How is it Ford's fault that the consumer was a sucker and he paid too **** much for it. I hope they lose. Ford can produce how ever many they ****ing want.
More proof the world is getting more ****ing stupid and greedy every day. These retards will sue over anything.
More proof the world is getting more ****ing stupid and greedy every day. These retards will sue over anything.
8/5/08, 06:17 AM
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The suit should of been against Roush not Ford. Roush is the company that converts normal Mustangs into "special" Mustangs. The 100 units, I think is just for the model year.
8/5/08, 07:05 AM
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Stupid is as Stupid Does
Another example of those with too much money!!
Sad thing is, this is probably the way that some of them received their riches, sue sue sue!
They should go after the idiots that take and butcher one of these "limited edition" cars, like the one @ Mustang Week that had lambo doors and a bunch of other crap!
Sad thing is, this is probably the way that some of them received their riches, sue sue sue!
They should go after the idiots that take and butcher one of these "limited edition" cars, like the one @ Mustang Week that had lambo doors and a bunch of other crap!
8/5/08, 07:09 AM
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+1 I agree. I don't think Ford has any liability here. I hope this case is thrown out. It is just stupid!
8/5/08, 07:21 AM
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Frivolous lawsuit. Sour Grapes.
I am not sure that the rareness or collectibility of a car is what it once was. Buying a car now, even a Shelby as an investment, it seems that by the time you have paid for the big markups, years of insurance, storage space and other associated upkeep, can you sell it for a huge profit? Maybe when they are wheeling you into the nursing home? Unless someone gives you the car, I don't see it happening. There are other ways to invest your money and get a better ROI.
And to keep it in "rare" condition, that would mean low miles and no mods, so you are not going to be driving / enjoying it.
There has to be more to it. Like the 69 GT500 that was Carroll Shelby's personal car that he owned since it was new and was auctioned off recently. Or the one-of-one 69 Shelby with a Boss 302 engine that did not make it into production. Now, THOSE are rare (and certainly exceptions).
Seems that the cars of yesterday were never produced to be rare. They just made as many as people would purchase.
I have a friend who collects Firebirds and Trans Ams. He has nearly 90 of them. And there are many that are low production or unusually optioned. One in particular is a 69 Trans Am with a column shift, bench seat and a ram air IV engine. One of 3 made. Not desirable options at the time, but they made for a rare car today.
I am not sure that the rareness or collectibility of a car is what it once was. Buying a car now, even a Shelby as an investment, it seems that by the time you have paid for the big markups, years of insurance, storage space and other associated upkeep, can you sell it for a huge profit? Maybe when they are wheeling you into the nursing home? Unless someone gives you the car, I don't see it happening. There are other ways to invest your money and get a better ROI.
And to keep it in "rare" condition, that would mean low miles and no mods, so you are not going to be driving / enjoying it.
There has to be more to it. Like the 69 GT500 that was Carroll Shelby's personal car that he owned since it was new and was auctioned off recently. Or the one-of-one 69 Shelby with a Boss 302 engine that did not make it into production. Now, THOSE are rare (and certainly exceptions).
Seems that the cars of yesterday were never produced to be rare. They just made as many as people would purchase.
I have a friend who collects Firebirds and Trans Ams. He has nearly 90 of them. And there are many that are low production or unusually optioned. One in particular is a 69 Trans Am with a column shift, bench seat and a ram air IV engine. One of 3 made. Not desirable options at the time, but they made for a rare car today.
Last edited by red454; 8/5/08 at 07:23 AM.
8/5/08, 07:39 AM
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Roush said they'd make 100 2007 Roush BlackJacks. They did. They also made 100 2008 BlackJacks. Still, 200 out of, what, 300,000 Mustangs over two years is still pretty limited.
The suit is against Ford because Ford has deeper pockets than Roush.
I think they're upset because the 2008 model looks so much better than the 2007, and the 2008 is available with a ragtop, whereas only one 2007 BlackJack convertible was built.
The suit is against Ford because Ford has deeper pockets than Roush.
I think they're upset because the 2008 model looks so much better than the 2007, and the 2008 is available with a ragtop, whereas only one 2007 BlackJack convertible was built.
8/5/08, 08:20 AM
#16
I for one do like and never have a problem overpaying for things like this to happen, this was from the artical from the sale of the only 2007 Vert made :
Money raised from the auction of the ROUSH Stage 3 BlackJack Mustang and other items benefits a number of local and national organizations including the National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute which provides diagnostic and treatment services, research, and education for those whose lives have been touched by Parkinson's disease. In addition to clinical services, the Center conducts extensive research in new medical and surgical treatments for Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
Money raised from the auction of the ROUSH Stage 3 BlackJack Mustang and other items benefits a number of local and national organizations including the National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute which provides diagnostic and treatment services, research, and education for those whose lives have been touched by Parkinson's disease. In addition to clinical services, the Center conducts extensive research in new medical and surgical treatments for Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
8/5/08, 09:22 AM
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$12 million in "damages"? 100 people? $120k each in "damages" and they paid $58K for the car. Do they really deserve twice the value of the car just because Roush decided to make another 100 for 2008?
What a BS lawsuit.
What a BS lawsuit.
8/5/08, 09:47 AM
#18
Legacy TMS Member
As I recall, when the 03 Mach I's came out, it was suppose to be a limited one year production run. When they were also made for 04, a bunch of 03 owners took or tried to take legal action against Ford without any luck. The 03's, (no surprise) initially had big "adds" over list .
Regarding $12MM in damages, I presume that would be to compensate people for the ADMs or higher price, based on the expected volume, but it seems like it would take $12MM away from potential future Mustang upgrades. I will be interested to see what happens.
8/5/08, 09:58 AM
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Roush said they'd make 100 2007 Roush BlackJacks. They did. They also made 100 2008 BlackJacks. Still, 200 out of, what, 300,000 Mustangs over two years is still pretty limited.
Personally, I am impressed with my car's 'limited-ness' (is that a word), I have one out of about 1500 mustangs built in 2005 with the same options. Assuming 06, 07, and 08 models have the same ratio, I have a car that is 1 in 6000 out of 4 years and (from what I have found) there will be over 7000 Bullitts built; so I guess I have a car thats rarer than a Bullitt
Last edited by Xeno; 8/5/08 at 10:02 AM.