Hey guys new to ford...
Id like to get a mustang for my bday next april. When is the best time to buy and whats the best way to get a great deal? Im seeing xplan is the way to go..need to figure out how I can get on that.
Would like a GT. Comp orange or white. Recaro seats. Navi. Coupe. No black wheels but definitely want the performance package.
Anything else u guys suggest in helping a mercedes guy come over to mustang?

 

Join EAA or MCA now to get on X-Plan. EAA is cheaper and currently has a 750.00 rebate in addition to X-Plan pricing but that 750.00 goes away 1/5/2015 and not sure if they will have another such rebate. I joined Mustang Club of America, personally, to support them and other mustang enthusiasts. Once you join you can use their code on the Ford X-Plan site (all details are on MCA's website) and then you can configure your mustang how you want. You then print out the configuration, bring it to a dealer along with your MCA membership card and the MCA X-Plan pin/code (which you will get from the X-Plan site; again instruction are on there). Keep in mind dealers do not have to accept X-Plan but they will tell you that they will or will not honor it when you first go in. It is very important to start the process by telling them you have X-plan. If they do accept it then they will have to present you with the invoice showing Invoice Price and X-plan price.

 

Wonderful info sir. Thank u so much. I will look for EAAs website.

What options do you guys recommend?

 

One of my parents told me "The best car is a fully loaded car. Otherwise, you'll always regret the options you didn't pick".

Sounds like good advise... but then again, my other parent told me a different story "The best car to buy is the cheapest used vehicle you can find. If it moves, and it's got 4 wheels, that's all you need".

When I was young, parent #2's advise was best. Now that I'm older, I like parent #1's.

 

If you have the money and resources, #1 is definitely right! Get the options you know you'll want, otherwise you're more likely to be dissatisfied and looking for a new car more quickly. A car is a huge purchase and you don't want to suffer from buyers remorse, especially on those options you can't upgrade yourself.

Something like the performance package could be done aftermarket, but if you don't want to spend the money/time after getting the car, then your better off doing it up front.

I got every option I wanted (in the engine I knew I wanted as soon as it was announced) and couldn't be happier.

 

If you want electronics and leather then get it if you can.

For me, I can't stand electronics (except bluetootth and a basic stereo) in my car. I drive it, not "play with it" so for me, the base Mustang was perfect. Also I like the grip the cloth Recaros provide over the leather, although in general I do prefer leather.

Personal preference - I always try to get a car with minimal electronics, max performance. Leather is the only option I ever consider because it cleans easily, looks nice, and holds up well (in general).

 

Looks like Ford thinks you need the gloss black wheels with the performance package.. whether you want them or not.

 

Unless you get the 50 year package with the PP right?

I dunno, comp orange with the black wheels is a pretty awesome combo...

As for the options, as stated above, I've always had the philosophy of buy the lesser expensive car fully optioned out rather than a higher model with no options... And then I drove the mustang I got mine with 3 options:

301a for sync
GT Track Pack
And Ruby Red Metallic tinted clear coat

And this car has changed my perception on options... The simplicity is key for me with this. No turbos. No nav screens. No keyless anything. Just turn the key and floor it. That said, the 2015s look like they come pretty well equipped base, but would look out of place without the leather and nav screens... Definitely a more premium/luxury interior. Kind of jealous to be honest, but I love my s197. Just a different experience, and I saved loads after rebates from them unloading the old 2014s. It's been a great DD for me, but I do miss some of the creature comforts of my old focus ST

 

Just battle the dealers against each other. When I knew I was going to order one of the last S197's, I researched on truecar, Edmonds etc... and knew what invoice pricing was.

I then had all my options, codes, and pricing (retail and invoice) all written out on a legal pad and went into the dealers.

Dealer #1: Went in, roamed around and waited for a particular sales guy that was recommended by a friend. He was busy with another deal and I walked around the show floor for 30min. At that point a general manager came up to me and asked if I was being helped. I told him I was waiting to speak to someone about ordering a car. He then said that the owner of the dealer does all the special orders and he would see if available.

I ended up really liking the owner as he was a Mustang guy and priced the car right at invoice off the bat. I tried to work a bit more out of him, but at the time that's all they could do.

Dealer #2: This dealer I had been communicating via email for a couple months and always stated he could get the best pricing. I went in with the same info as first dealer and told them I had talked to another dealer and their deal was pretty good, but he had said he could always beat any price. He crunched the numbers and came back saying, "I told you we could beat them". I said good, what's your price and he came back $60 cheaper. I kinda looked at him and said come on, you know I'm a buyer and you always said would be the best price around. He said that's all he could do and I told him " you have my number", I'm gonna think about it but if your pricing was even better we will throw a deposit down. He let me walk and I did.

Dealer #3: I went in and seemed like a ghost town. Not a customer in site. Same info again. I told them I know what I want and want to special order. They always try to " find a model like your looking for" but was always not exact options color etc... This dealer wasn't even close in price and basically made me feel like I was wasting their time. I'm sure that's why there was no activity there at all.

Dealer #4: I totally forgot this dealer was in my area and is where I buy all my parts from (Tousley/Autonation) but have really never gone into the showroom. I went on their website and opened a chat session that I would like to speak with an Internet or Fleet salesperson (someone once told me that these guys are use to low margin high volume). I got a return message that someone would call me. Within 5 min someone contacted me and we set up an appointment in the coming hour as I told them I am going to order this car from somebody.

I went in and met the nicest team of sales guys (Adam H, Bobby V and Lance K). They knew with the info I had I wasn't there to waste their time with test drives, or other BS. Lance who was one of the sales managers told me he had owned a few Mustangs and we shot the sh** for a bit. Then he said, what's the best number you have got and where would you like to be. I told him a number pretty low price in anticipation he would come between my number and the lowest dealer price I had already got.

He went in back and said, I'm gonna see where we are with holdback, sales goals, allocations, etc and I will come back with my best price.

To my surprise he actually came back with a number lower than my low number! I ended up getting the car way under invoice and with stacking incentives and Ford coupon I got $8500 off sticker of $44.6k. They said I was getting it for lower than any plan or employee pricing and since it was a retail sale, all rebates apply. He loaded the deal in the "Vincent" system and it locked me into the current rebates and if the rebates got better before my car came in, I could take the better. It was a win-win by ordering right between two incentive seasons. It would have actually been only $8000 off but the day before I picked my car up, a new rebate with an extra $500 came up so I got the $8500 off! Make sure the dealer locks your deal down in Vincent.

I will always now send customers their way and they have a customer for life.

Their dealership was jam packed with deals going down. When I was there I'm sure I counted 6 deals being made in the short time I was there. So if your anywhere near Minnesota, look up Autonation White Bear Lake (Formerly Tousley Ford) and ask for the team of Adam H, Bobby V and Lance K. Tell him Tim with the 2014 Glass Roof GT sent ya!

Was a lot of research and persistent work, but payed off big time!

 

Minnesota

 

I've usually swoop in and buy a 'leftover'. A car from the current/previous year, brand new, but is still on the lot. The dealer really wants this kind of vehicle off the lot, it's taking up space. Example, I went in Oct 2011 to buy a new GT. I would have gladly ordered a new 2012, but the dealer had a fully loaded 2011 on the lot - with all of the options I would have gotten, plus a few more. I made a deal for both cars, 2011 on the lot, and special order 2012. I got a much better deal on the 2011. I understand this can't always be done, and that luck plays a part. If you can't go this route, I like the plan laid out by Turbo302, above. Remember, YOU are the customer, you are in control of the deal. And you can always walk away, reconsider, come back later, etc. Good luck!

 

Thanks guy. I really appreciate it. This helps a ton. Im big on options so come april of 15 ill be ordering mine with a PP...looks like I'll have some black PP rims and tires for sale