Dealers: what kind of deal can I get on this car:

A brand new 2006 model with 31 miles on the odometer; not an unwind, not a buyback, not a demo. Just an old old old unit in stock that was likely paid for long long ago. The particular car I'm looking at stickers at slightly over $33k. I suppose the invoice is $28k - $29k. No rebates, no incentivized financing, nada available on the car. A comparably equipped used example, with ~15k miles, would run about $14,000.

I've sold quite a few old inventory new cars, and the dealerships I've sold them under often made really silly deals just to recoup the cash they had to lay out once their flooring plan expired on the car. I remember selling a brand new 1998 Mustang GT for $10,500 in 2000...guy got a smoking deal as used ones ran about $14k at the time; I think the invoice was $18k. The owner just wanted to liquidate the money he'd been forced to purchase the car from Ford with.

The particular car I'm looking at stickers at slightly over $33k. I suppose the invoice is $28k - $29k. No rebates, no incentivized financing, nada available on the car. A comparably equipped used example, with ~15k miles, would run about $14,000.

To throw a big wrench into the works: the dealership is closing its doors in the next week, and Ford is reclaiming the franchise and inventory. I was told today that I will speak with either the current owner of the store, or with a Ford rep, early next week to discuss purchasing the car.

I know Ford wants nothing to do with this car...what the hell would they do with a 700+ day old brand new slow-selling car? And I know the dealer wants the car gone, as whomever purchases the inventory (be it Ford or some other franchisee) will offer next to nothing for it.

So it appears that I may be able to pick this thing up for pretty cheap. Anybody got any idea what kind of number I'll be looking at? I'm gonna guess $18k...sound reasonable? Do I have both by the short hairs, or neither? Ideas?

 

Crown Victoria.

 

A used car with a 6yr/100,000 miles powertrain (3yr/36,000 bumper-to-bumper) warranty. It's also nearly impossible to find in my area (SoCal), as they stopped selling Crown Vics in California in 2005.

I agree with what you are saying, and I'd love a number like $14k. But I'm thinking that may be too optomistic.

But my primary concern with this question isn't what I'd pay for it, but what I can expect the dealer/Ford to let it go for. I could tell them $14-16K until I'm blue in the face, but they've got the power to turn down any offer I make. I'm trying to get a feel for how desparate of a situation this may be for the seller.