Eliminating the dealer isn't the answer, getting better dealers is. If there are no dealers first off there is no local inventory. Sure a few of you are "car guys" who research, order and wait for the perfect car. Most people don't. They pack up the family, go out and sit in, touch, smell and drive a bunch of different models, decide what they like and buy it. You can't do that on the computer. They really on their salesperson to provide them information on the product. Granted some do a better job than others but that is true of every single profession in the country. I don't care what any of you do for a living, there is someone out there that does it better than you do, hopefully there are also some that do it worse than you as well or you are in the wrong profession. Also, you want to buy directly from the manufacturer that eliminates they discount. They will charge MSRP. Dealers are willing to work for a lower profit margin because of future profit potential, wether from parts, service, trade ins, etc..

It sucks waiting for your cars, I know, but it is the process. I had a house built two years ago I didn't get nuts everytime the build got held up a week here or there, it happens. Subs don't show up, wether doesn't cooperate, sh## happens. Did I move in the exact day they estimated at the begining, no. But, when it was all said and done the house came out great, we moved in and the family loves it. If you don't want to go through the hassle of waiting and being one of the first to own the new 5.0L, don't. We'll have plenty of inventory sitting on the lot come August or September or whenever and you'll be able to just drive in, buy it and drive out.

 

 

i would never eliminate the dealer. they serve a purpose.

im just saying we can streamline the process and cut down the huge overhead they have and pass the savings on to the customer

sure there are those that immediatly buy cars. and they will be hard to convice of my idea. but if someone told you "if you wait 3 days i can have the exact car you want and save you one to two grand in the process" most of the ppl would be willing.

 

Liker and Womak are some of the leading authors / consultants around lean manufacturing (aka -- dare I say it -- "the Toyota Way") so maybe it snuck in there somewhere . . . or maybe it's just "great minds think alike"

 

yeah I had suspected they may have been authors. I may have to do some research on them to get me learned. My mind is always going.....

 

I think I just wet myself a little

 

What about GT500... any news ?

 

I wish I was the best at what I do. I'm just good enough to know what great is, and to know I'm not it. But that's life. What can you do? You do the best you can.

Ehh....IMO...maybe come November.

 

I don't know about all GT500's, but as I said earlier in the thread, my friend called AAI yesterday and was told his GT500 convertible would ship this week (today, tomorrow or Saturday). It was built on the first day of production.

 

Waht was your clue, Stinger? That your mom drove hers home?

Really, seriously, I think you and a couple of other guys here provide accurate and timely information but this was kind of funny. . . given the timing of your mom's delivery.

NEWSFLASH: Stinger's mom gets her new V6 Mustang... therefore, the hold must be over! Reporting for ZNN, Captain Obvious.

 

No I thought that this car squeeked through.

I was told when the hold was green lighted my buddy would email me, he didnt. SO I called him and he told me. He said "since your car is a 5.0 i thought thats all you were concerned about?"

 

If you guys haven't, you should check out how Tesla sells its cars. They have a small supply of inventory spread out at the "Stores", but for the most part you just pick out your options and color online, it takes 10-12 weeks to be built and shipped, and it's delivered to your door. Of course we're talking about a mfg probably 1/100 the size of Ford, selling 40-60 cars a month total, but I wouldn't mind shopping my for my Mustang that way.

 

Technically, it wasn't an inquiry.

 

You know you're just helping eci here, right? "My information is accurate!" Except when my buddies at FoMoCo make incorrect assumptions.

This is why they didn't confirm the blinker fluid issue... it just seemed so obvious.

I'm a fan... just busting your chops for idle amusement.

 

it should actually work much better for a big operation like Ford -- they are always running something down the line, they just have to feed the orders onto the line as they come in from customers . . . (and of course change their whole mindset about inventory and production control and non-flexible work hours, the unions might have something to say about that) . . . if it takes one day for a car to go through assembly, then theoretically that is how long it should take to get a custom car from ordered to manufactured . . . then about a week for shipment, and you have your custom-ordered car within two weeks, and the dealer has zero inventory carrying cost

 

Ok my sales man just call me and let me know that a truck full of 2011 mustangs just got there, including 2 GT500. but no GT 5.0. Im in DFW.

 

i have a feeling with how ppl are getting worked up over these cars. its gonna be almost impossible to get dealers to deal on them in a couple months....here come markups. and if not markups....msrp.

 

Amazon.com is selling stuff that is already produced and they are just the middle man anyway.

By the way, ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival. As an estimate, it is always subject to change. And, the ETA system in Ford's order bank is just an automated guess based on historical averages, not exactly what/where your car really is. We seldom get our vehicles from Ford on the exact day of the ETA. It is early just as often as it is late, because the ETA is, again, just an average based on what it should take under normal circumstances. The only ETA that holds any water is after the car is shipped when you can track it via the railroad (if applicable) that is transporting it.

 

They (Ford, or any auto manufacturer, for that matter) don't owe you any explanation of what they're working on at the factory. They owe you an explanation after you buy & take delivery of the car, then something breaks or is part of a recall or field service action.

 

actually I pitted three delaerships against each other and got right around invoice, so it can be done, you just need leverage.....