Can't Buy the Ford I want

[gchandler]

In what I see as a sad reflection on the state of the American Auto Maker, for the last 3 weeks I have been working to locate a Ford Escape Hybrid for my wife.

It appears that all of the dealers here in Los Angeles are unable to get a vehicle with the option set that I want. In the past I had to order my F-150 so that I could get it all optioned out, but with these new Escapes, it seems that the dealers can't even custom order anymore.

So here I am, $30k in cash ready to buy a car, and Ford can't deliver.

Amazing.

[LMDGUY]

look into any toyotas? I know they pricey but the few people I know that have them really like them.

[dropit69]

cant you find one somewhere on a dealers lot?..i know a guy that runs cars for a place near chicago has delivered all the way to san diego before when i was looking for my new truck the dealer i delt with wouldnt look ouside a 4 state area..do the search yourself..

[HILROD]

Dealers can order a car, most won't. Or don't know how. Talk to a manager to search or order for you.

[Slow Ride]

You think that is sad. How about not being able to buy a 1/2 ton truck with a manual transmission?

[indyjps]

in 2000 I ordered a 2001 silverado, after 9 weeks of being screwed around on even getting a build date I got my deposit back and had something close located. I was a GM salary employee at the time and couldnt get a truck built, I even called the regional sales manager. the truck I wanted didnt have a large enough profit margin so they kept putting it off.

[gchandler]

look into any toyotas? I know they pricey but the few people I know that have them really like them.

The Highlander is another 14k and gets less MPG, so I don't really consider them to be the same class of vehicle.

I really like what Ford has done with the Escape, I was mostly just commenting on how they are not very responsive to customers, and that is probably "just another reason" that they are not doing that well.

I have owned Fords, Toyotas, Nissans, and Chevrolets in my driving career. Other then the 2000 Silverado that I got which was a complete lemon, all of the different vehicles have made it significantly past 100,000 miles with few issues.

I personally would never get a new car for myself as I simply don't enjoy driving a new vehicle, but for the wife it makes sense. She puts around 3-6k miles on her car each year, so after 5-10 years the car is still going to have low mileage.

[MonzaRacer]

You could buy a Nissan which is the same vehicle but i dont think it come through them as a hybrid.

[MonzaRacer]

http://www.fordmotorcompany.com/en/default.htm

You can go online and pick what you want but be warned you dont get much options on the hybrid.
I went looking and it poped up in the $25k range and it can look for your vehicle too in current stock.
Also you wont have emissions problems being a hybrid so you could buy it in Indiana where I am and have it shipped to your door step.
Or fly in and drive it home or fly in pick it up, and have it shipped home.
Warranty is no problem as long as your local dealer is certified to repair/service it.
good Luck and enjoy the fun on line trip finding one.
My aunt moved to Cali, and wanted a Hybrid Prius, they found one in Texas and shipped it in.
Also there are 8 states that use California emissions program so finding any cali compliant car isnt that hard.
Good luck and good hunting.
Also if your local dealer wont help you source the car even after you find and confirm its not sold and up for dealer trade then you can call Ford and complain, not servicing the customer gets them in deep doo doo.
Lee
PS I have a friend who works as a Ford salesman I can give him a call he never failed to locate my dad vehicles he wanted.
Also if the options dont come the way you want , do it your self, most dealers ,for a price will order the better stereo or wheels, or heck you can go to the local wheel dealer and swap on a set of aftermarket wheels in stock sixe/width.
dont be too picky as the Hybrid only comes with one interior color acording to the online site.
Good luck.

[gchandler]

Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood was able to order the vehicle I want and I will get it in 6-8 weeks. I think that I was running into an issue with salesmen not being interested in ordering a vehicle, when I went to the Internet sales department, they hooked me right up, probably took around 15-20 minutes to option out and order the vehicle that I wanted.

They were also able to work with my A-plan without giving me a bunch of grief.

[Cyclone]

I Can't Buy the Ford I want either......


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[CraigMBA]

I really like what Ford has done with the Escape, I was mostly just commenting on how they are not very responsive to customers, and that is probably "just another reason" that they are not doing that well.



Without getting into it, that is absolutely not the big problem with Ford.

[406 Q-ship]

Might not be Ford, might just be the dealer. Alot of dealers won't order vehicles, they want you to take what they got on the lot, some resist dealer trades just to unload a funky equiped vehicles or the dealer they have to trade with want the sun and the moon for the vehicle you want. Try another dealer, and explain if you don't get what you want up front it is a deal breaker that will light a fire. Check the Ford website, most have a stock locator in them, at least the GM one does.

[gchandler]

Might not be Ford, might just be the dealer. Alot of dealers won't order vehicles, they want you to take what they got on the lot, some resist dealer trades just to unload a funky equiped vehicles or the dealer they have to trade with want the sun and the moon for the vehicle you want. Try another dealer, and explain if you don't get what you want up front it is a deal breaker that will light a fire. Check the Ford website, most have a stock locator in them, at least the GM one does.

I used the website and actually checked most of the dealers in California. Once I finally sat down to order the vehicle, the guy doing the ordering quickly realized that I would have never found one on a lot. I want 4wd, navigation, and the hybrid kit, but no step bars, and no moon-roof. All of this in blue and you get a custom order.

Dealers who are going to tell the customer what he wants, are the kind that do not get my business. I tend to own cars for a long time (10+ years) so I want to make sure that I get the color and options that I want.

:)

[Pro-touring towncar]

They were also able to work with my A-plan without giving me a bunch of grief.

One thing the dealer must do is make sure every piece of paperwork that is in the deal is correct when using any of the employee purchase plans. Any problems Ford will deny them ever selling a vehicle on employee purchase.

Tim

[trapin]

In what I see as a sad reflection on the state of the American Auto Maker, for the last 3 weeks I have been working to locate a Ford Escape Hybrid for my wife.

It appears that all of the dealers here in Los Angeles are unable to get a vehicle with the option set that I want. In the past I had to order my F-150 so that I could get it all optioned out, but with these new Escapes, it seems that the dealers can't even custom order anymore.

So here I am, $30k in cash ready to buy a car, and Ford can't deliver.

Amazing.

Why don't you try GM? The new Saturn Vue comes as a Hybrid.

Although that may be a little small for what you're looking for. The Escape is a bigger vehicle...is it not?

[Bob Johnson]

think that's frustrating..build a new Cadillac XLR without a penny or any input whatsoever from Cadillac or GM, carry it to Bonneville on your own dime, succeed in making it the fastest Cadillac in the world, even using their Northstar Motor at considerable time and money over using a tried and proven LS series Chevy motor, just to be true to the brand. Then they tell you they just aren't sure your engine's direction is a fit with their engineering philosophy..UHH could it be that I'm running an alternative fuel...could it be that I'm turbo charging...or could it be that I'm running a Northstar engine that they're going to eliminate and no one knows yet. I know every manufacturer is looking at alternative fuels and power adders like turbos..It's the future isn't it?? I'm trying to get it in their booth at SEMA and I'm hitting a brick wall..Fastest Cadillac in the World..in our booth...anybody home??? Stupid thing is, I've owned 2 new Cadillacs in the last 5 years and was looking at the new Escalade for my wife..