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Ford Focus Prices Paid and Buying Experience

472 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 6:10 PM

You are in the Prices Paid - Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford Focus SVT, Coupe, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

    

Messages Page 13 of 48

#115 of 472 Re: Ford salesman says "can't haggle on employee price [lost] by quietspirit

Nov 11, 2006 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: lost (Aug 09, 2005 3:22 pm)
I'm looking at an ad on the 2007 Ford Focus with lots of rebates and markdowns on it. The net price is $8995. Called the dealership and the salesperson said it's for a base model only with manual transmition. I'm looking for one with an automatic transmition and the salesperson said that I would have to pay more for it. I felt that the ad was deceiving because it didn't indicate whether the cars were manual or automatic. Being a first-time car buyer, I didn't think it would matter. Should I go to the dealership, show the salesperson the ad, and try to convince the dealership to sell me a car with an automatic transmition at the advertised price, or forget about it?

#116 of 472 Re: Thank you Jfritsch! [lavariel] by quietspirit

Nov 11, 2006 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: lavariel (Sep 13, 2006 11:38 pm)
Thanks for the tip on the $500 first time buyer down payment match. How long does this promotion last? I wander if it's available in California.

#117 of 472 Re: Thank you Jfritsch! [quietspirit] by explorerx4

Nov 12, 2006 (5:17 am)

Replying to: quietspirit (Nov 11, 2006 8:02 pm)
you need to do some homework, but it is pretty easy.
you can find out lots of info by looking under the 'new car' tab here on edmunds.
try forddirect.com for info on specific vehicles.
you can check the incentives for your area there too.
i think the 's' model has air conditioning optional.
my guess is, that's a bit higher priority than transmission type, for you.
as far as the advirtising, i don't think it is misleading.
if a grocery store had a 6 pack of soda for a dollar, would you assume the the 12, 16, and 20 ounce sizes would all be included?
good luck shopping and post about what happens; shopping experience, car you bought, etc..

#118 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [explorerx4] by quietspirit

Nov 13, 2006 (8:22 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Oct 18, 2006 4:55 pm)
I didn't quite understand your message because I'm a first-time buyer. I thought I heard someone tell me that the doc fee is not negotiable. Are you saying that it is? Who or what is your source? Educate me so I feel as though I have some power when I negotiate with a dealer. I have an x-plan through my employer to buyer a Ford vehicle at a discount. To be able to eliminate any unnecessary fees for using the x-plan would be fabulous!

#119 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [quietspirit] by alamocity

Nov 14, 2006 (11:06 am)

Replying to: quietspirit (Nov 13, 2006 8:22 pm)
Depends on how you define document fee. Have you gone to your state's DMV page to check what the price is on fees charged by your state? California has a good calculator showing the various mandatory fees and can be found at https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorWeb/newVehicleForm.do
I will say to be cautious of ads in newspapers offering a vehicle at a low, low price as most times they are too good to be true. I suggest going to this web site as it offers some great advice for new car buyers as I think this will help you
http://www.carbuyingtips.com

#120 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [quietspirit] by rasldasl

Nov 14, 2006 (11:21 am)

Replying to: quietspirit (Nov 13, 2006 8:22 pm)
The "DOC" or documentation fee is a line item the dealers usually pre-print on the sales contract to make you think it is not negotiable. It is basically a profit-maker for them, they are asking you to pay them to do the paperwork on the sale of the car. Could you imagine any other type of business charging you to do paperwork? Would you pay extra at the grocery store for them to give you a receipt?
 
Anyway, the point is that everything is negotiable, including the DOC fee. One of the advantages of X-plan is that the dealer is NOT ALLOWED by Ford to charge a documentation fee. The disadvantage comes in on a car that can sometimes be bought for a lower negotiated price than X-plan. Say the price on X-plan is $12,500 with no DOC fee but you can, without mentioning you have an X-plan PIN, get them to sell the same car for $12,000 plus charge a $200 DOC fee. Obviously, the X-plan will cost you more. Shop for the best price and then ask for X-plan only if you can't do better. Go to fordpartner.com and use your X-plan partner code to look up the price on the car you want to buy.

#121 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [rasldasl] by jfritsch

Nov 14, 2006 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: rasldasl (Nov 14, 2006 11:21 am)
Check my message #12481 in the Honda Accord prices paid discussion. Get a substantial amount of competitive quotes by fax or email towards the end of the month. Also read Remar Suttons book.
 
Many times the x-plan -- employer plans etc are bait for those who dislike the car buying process and many people get better prices without mentioning it.
 
The fees are rather unimportant. The lowest price out the door with taxes and fees (out of 10-20 bids solicited and 2-3 good responses ) is the lowest price. Whether they explicitly list a doc fee or include it in their price is irrelevant.
 
Even the most loaded 20000 focus is a 11-12000 wholesale vehicle in a year so you want at least 4500-5500 off.
 
--jjf

#122 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [rasldasl] by quietspirit

Nov 15, 2006 (8:05 pm)

Replying to: rasldasl (Nov 14, 2006 11:21 am)
I would like to have some leverage when I negotiate with a dealer. Is it written somewhere that Ford x-plan is not supposed to charge a doc fee? Where can I find that statement?

#123 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [quietspirit] by rasldasl

Nov 17, 2006 (7:25 am)

Replying to: quietspirit (Nov 15, 2006 8:05 pm)
From the fordpartner website, under How It Works/Pricing. You will need your Partner Code to log into the site.
 
https://www.fordpartner.com/partnerweb/howitworks/how_it_works.do
The dealership may also NOT charge separately for document preparation fees, vehicle preparation fees or other administrative services incidental to the delivery of the vehicle on a Partner Recognition Program - X Plan sale.* These expenses are considered to be part of the dealer's normal cost of doing business for which the dealership is compensated by the commission paid.
*Each dealer is responsible for complying with applicable laws or regulations. Dealers may not charge different fees to participants in the Partner Recognition Program.

#124 of 472 Re: 2007 SES w/options [rasldasl] by quietspirit

Nov 23, 2006 (12:40 pm)

Replying to: rasldasl (Nov 17, 2006 7:25 am)
Thanks. Went on the ford partnership program page and got the info. Having second thoughts about purchasing the vehicle, though, after reading about it in the consumer reports magazine. The reviews were accurate when it said the ford focus is a fun ride as I've experienced when I test drove the vehicle. But, it said it's fuel economy isn't something to boast about. And I believe it after it showed another fun ride with an MPG of around 30, the Honda Civic. Still, I might reconsider if someone can convince me otherwise.

Messages Page 13 of 48

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