Ford Moving toward Build-to-Order, Away from Packed Dealer Lots

[HenryMac]

Ordering the exact vehicle—color, trim level, accessories, everything—that you want

 

[dvdswan]

I could see that, but some people will still go in to the dealer and haggle on the price of one they like. They're going to have both IMO.

 

[cschannuth]

When I buy new I always order them exactly how I want them. I pay $100 over dealer invoice minus all the incentives available. It usually comes out to about 20-25% off sticker depending on the vehicle. If your dealer won’t do that, find a different dealer. Wait until June and you’ll get all the end of model year incentives also. You get the incentives available on the date of order no matter what the incentives are when you take delivery. Also, if the incentives improve between the time you order and when you take delivery, you get the better incentives.

 

[sgtsandman]

I can see an argument for custom build and just picking from what is in the lot.

From the lot is much quicker if you are willing to compromise on what you want and what they think you will accept.

From the build and price, you get exactly what you want but you have to wait your turn in the cue. That can take a long time.

It sort of goes back to the cheap, quick, and quality matrix.

 

[Ranger850]

I like this idea, and they can deliver it to my house. Yeas, their will be a longer wait, but at least you get what you want. Hyundai does the exact opposite and it is a major PITA to get the car you want with the options they say are available. Their dealers are allocated by algorithms that say what sales more in your area. If you want a certain trim in a certain color, you either have to wait, or go to other dealerships that sale more of those cars. which then throws off the algorithms. Totally stupid.
I think if the industry goes to this type of PERSONALIZED sales, the dealerships will still have a few cars on hand for the people who don't care and just 'want a car' and to give the potential customer something to see before buying. Which is how I think it all started in the first place: manager orders a "fully" optioned car for the showroom, then the customer would delete things they didn't want and wait for their car to show up, if they didn't have it on the lot, or just buy the fully optioned one "off the show room floor". That used to be a thing, now they just cram the lots with a few strippers, a few loaded, and a bunch of mediocre.

 

[snoranger]

3 out of the last 4 vehicle I bought were ordered how I wanted them. The only reason I bought my ‘17 f150 off the lot was because it was dealer modified with a 6” lift on 35’s.

 

[rubydist]

The typical American is too much into "instant gratification" to wait to order a vehicle. They are doing it now because there are literally no vehicles on dealer's lots. We will see how this works out after the current situation settles back closer to "normal" and there is inventory again. I know its a lot of hand-holding now - all those people who have vehicles on order are wanting to be updated every week or two as to the status of their order, even though Ford is updating them automatically every time there is a real status change. Because nearly everyone thinks they are special and deserve special treatment. It will be interesting...

 

[09fx4guy]

Personally I think this is great. I got lucky when I found my Ranger, exactly the one I was looking for at a dealer close by. I know that there are plenty of people like me who would gladly pay a bit more to get the vehicle I want, the way I want it, vs something just off the lot.

As stated before, it will probably go 50/50. They will still have quite a bit of cars on the lot, but be able to order them for those who want to pay / wait for it.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I have some buddies that always order their trucks. It takes longer but is cheaper, which is fine for them, as they'll drive current truck until it show up. Also there are options and configurations that would never be seen on the lot. For example: A 2020 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel 4x4 with a manual 6 speed transmission! We still think he's nuts, but its kinda fun shifting gears on a 3/4 ton diesel. Another buddy ordered one without a bed, and had a badass toolbox bed made.

 

[Roert42]

I have some buddies that always order their trucks. It takes longer but is cheaper, which is fine for them, as they'll drive current truck until it show up. Also there are options and configurations that would never be seen on the lot. For example: A 2020 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel 4x4 with a manual 6 speed transmission! We still think he's nuts, but its kinda fun shifting gears on a 3/4 ton diesel. Another buddy ordered one without a bed, and had a badass toolbox bed made.

I thought dodge discontinued their 3/4T manuals back in 2016, interesting.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I thought dodge discontinued their 3/4T manuals back in 2016, interesting.

Same here lol. It might be a 2019, but its newer than '16 for sure.

 

[Roert42]

I don't see the option for a manual on a dodge chassis cab, but they do have the option for two PTOs and dual fuel tanks 23ga and 55ga, so that's pretty cool.

I think if I ever buy a new truck I would likely be a chassis cab from a commercial/ side of a dealership.

I wounder if commercial trucks are exempt from the requirement to have a backup camera.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I don't see the option for a manual on a dodge chassis cab, but they do have the option for two PTOs and dual fuel tanks 23ga and 55ga, so that's pretty cool.

I think if I ever buy a new truck I would likely be a chassis cab from a commercial/ side of a dealership.

I wounder if commercial trucks are exempt from the requirement to have a backup camera.

Interesting, I'm gonna ask my buddy about what options he went through. Yep, my other buddy saved a lot of dough not paying for a bed he did not need. Pretty sure he did have a backup camera, I'm gonna ask him about that too lol.

If I were to get a 3/4 or 1 ton, it would probably be Dodge, and for sure Diesel. A 1/2 ton would be another F150 for sure. I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes the Triton 5.4L. Mine's been good to me.

 

[HenryMac]

Personally I think this is great. I got lucky when I found my Ranger, exactly the one I was looking for at a dealer close by. I know that there are plenty of people like me who would gladly pay a bit more to get the vehicle I want, the way I want it, vs something just off the lot.

As stated before, it will probably go 50/50. They will still have quite a bit of cars on the lot, but be able to order them for those who want to pay / wait for it.

I'd rather pay a little bit less. Currently to get "one" feature I do want, I'm saddled with a package that includes a bunch of features I don't want.