Ford's allocation plan drives me crazy, as well, but consider that Ford is simply trying to send specialty Mustangs to regions of the country that historically sell the most. This distributes cars closer to where demand typically comes from, so more customers are served better. It also rewards dealers who have consistently sold those products. Is it 100% fair? Not sure. It kinda makes sense, but it makes it difficult for us northern dealers to get any quantity of specialty Mustangs.

 

As we've said before, the dealers will win in this scenario, while the consumer will likely get the shaft, bigtime.

 

 

While having Boss 302's available at a small percentage of dealers sounds bad, consider that they will be going mostly to dealers who historically sell a lot of Mustangs. Why is this good? Consider that these dealers obviously know Mustangs much better than the average dealers since they sell so many of them. Also, go back to the 1993-2004 era when SVT vehicles were only sold at SVT dealerships (604 of them, which was just about 15-20% of the dealer body) and that wasn't a bad thing for consumers at all. In fact, it gave customers a much better experience since us SVT dealers were better prepared to sell & service those vehicles and provide excellent customer service on a product that we knew very well with SVT-certified employees on staff. As long as Ford forces special certification requirements for dealers that will get Boss 302's, customers can expect a good experience for the most part.

 

I know it might sound like a good idea to just let dealers order Boss' as they themselves get orders, but that probably is not a good strategy for Ford. It would create very uneven production scheduling. It sounds like, from reading the allocation strategy, that Ford is going to schedule dealer orders throughout the model year. Ford cannot just wait for customer orders and then build the car, they don't do this with other car they make. Ford really depends on dealer orders, they depend on dealers ordering cars for their lots and not just waiting for a car to be ordered by the customer.

 

That's a good counterpoint and case study--let's hope it's a similar situation!

 

Definitely a good counterpoint. I don't know that I agree that selling the Boss on a per order basis creates production scheduling issues - there are ways to manage it appropriately that would allow Ford to control when the production occurs. Basically Ford could accept orders up to their defined production limit but actual production would occur according to Ford's preset production schedule. So while you might order your car in November, it might not be produced until May. That might be an exageration but it could happen if demand were strong enough.

Ford would definitely need to be fully transparent with customers (which we know they haven't been in the past) in order for that strategy to work. Customer experience would be terrible if the customer expected a 6 to 8 week cycle when in fact it was much longer. Managed properly though, Ford could actually enhance the experience through regular communications with customers providing them details about when their Boss would be produced and delivered. They could even build in specific milestones that would allow customers to participate in the build process. How cool would it be to see your Boss being assembled via an inexpensive webcam accessed through a special website for anyone ordering a Boss? I know that is way "out of the box" but would really make the customer feel like a part of their Boss from the beginning.

 

That would NEVER happen! Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue? There are so many **** car owners out there that would file complaints about every little perceived oversight that happened while their car was being built. It would be an absolute nightmare!

 

I bet the competition would love this idea...

LQQK

 

That's precisely the problem.

Ask yourself this. Would you want a webcam follow you around that your boss can watch what you are doing every minute at work? Now multiply that by 1000 bosses per day!

Look, stuff happens when a car is built (not just at Ford, every manufacturer *see below). It's just the nature of not having a hand-built car. Screws get dropped that need fished out. Doors need "adjusted". There are 101 things that every car goes through in the process of assembly that if the customer would see would go "WTF"? Not that it''s anything wrong, just that it isn't the way you would expect and not necessarily the way you'd do it if you had all day to do just "one" car.

Example: Door fitting. Say if the latchplate was out a bit, if it were you or me in our garage, we'd get out the Torx bits, f__k around and f__k around loosening and tightening it until it was perfect. In the plant, the "doorfitter" has a special tool that hooks into the latchplate, and WHAM hits the tool with a ball peen hammer and bends it to fit. Open door, slam door, open door, slam door. Tool in, WHAM. Open door, slam door, open door, slam door. Perfect. Time taken: 45 seconds. Now, this guy does 700 - 800 doors a day, kids --don't try this at home. It's a specialized job, takes a lot of practice to get good at it. You'd never, ever know, and it's a practice that they've been doing for over 70 years. But if you saw it being performed on your car, your BABY, you'd probably have a stroke.

Yes, Ford could do a better job with ETAs and such. But some things are better left not knowing, just enjoy the finished product.

*From above:
A guy that lived across the street from me (moved a couple weeks ago) works for Toyota in Cambridge, ON. Don't think that stuff happens at Toyota? His job title: Body repairman. You don't need to repair bodies on perfectly assembled cars, do you?

 

I am pretty much sure we will get one. And I apologize for a few forum members for not getting back to them about this car. I was having health issues (see my thread in 2010 General section). With the 1 car we should get (due to my sales on this forum), it will most likely go to a long standing customer here at my store (rightfully so as this individual has bought so many cars over the years, its comical almost). But I hope to sell the 2013 car to my buddy who had a 1970 Grabber Green BOSS 302. He has a PJ Saleen and a 2013 BOSS would go nicely next to it. But I'm with the others. This car will show just how rotten some Ford dealers are in regards to ADMs. It will be BAD, VERY VERY BAD!!!!

 

So you really like the idea then Whammer?

Seriously though, as others pointed out, it wouldn't work - it was just an idea thrown out for discussion and it did generate a few responses. Overall point is Ford could make an order only strategy work - it would just require a level of transparency and communication that frankly I don't think they could pull off.

Jeff, I also agree - the Boss will show again (just like with the GT500) how badly some dealers can behave.

 

Oh I think it would be cool, but so would be able to schedule an on-site visit to watch your car being made. Of course neither will happen.

 

Some of the 01 Bullitt guys got a private tour of the 08's on the line...

 

no video for me..i rather would be the first one who fire up the engine and roll out the assembly plant and head on home with it...or take it across the usa on route 66.. and coming back from west to east canada all the way to my garage..

 

FWIW - I got a call today from a small dealer where I was on their waiting list who said they just found out they were not going to get a Boss allocation.

So - I'm assuming Ford is starting to notify their dealers or the dealer hasn't been notified but just wanted to "clear" their waiting list.

 

Bummer

LQQK

 

This is why I am not even hoping to buy a Boss, just forget it. If I find one used some year down the road then ok, that'd be a miracle but otherwise, just a GT for me please. Maybe a GT500 if I go nuts!

 

wait till you see the new blue leather recaros that match the grabber blue available on the gt 500 2012, I will order it if I don't get a boss.

LQQK

 

Say what?!? Link if you have one!