That's awesome news! So there is a chance :)
I was going to buy a Ford GT to get a better chance of being selected for a new one. Anyone think this strategy will help the odds or is it too late in the game? My buddy said buying a used GT won't get me into Ford's registered owner database
The allocation program is meant to reward loyal customers, not entice people to buy a 10+ year old car. Anyone can apply, so owning a GT is better than not owning a GT, but between big volume dealers with a long Ford history, original GT40 owners, original 05/06 GT owners, multi-GT owners (of which there are literally hundreds), long-time Ford performance buyers etc, it's just impossible to expect buying a GT from this point forward would move someone in front of those groups.
What are my odds not being a current Ford owner but having a lock into a top 1% worldwide dealer with 100 year Ford history? Are they going to be able to sway things my way? The dealer isn't local to me if that matters
Reward? Hmmmm... So, you admit now that Ford is doing exactly what Ferrari does -- and what we criticize Ferrari for doing. "Rewarding" customers and punishing others who just want to buy one. Joe Blow Internet genius with a gizzillion dollars in his pocket can't get one because he's bought Mercedes his entire life. Fair? Well, that's your fault for not buying from us in the past. Maybe you've learned your lesson... Sure, anyone can apply -- but Ford will decide who gets one and who doesn't, just like Ferrari. And that was my point. It's disappointing they adopted a system we all say is unfair when the Italians do it. If you don't think dealers are involved in this selection process, no matter what they say, I've still got that bridge to sell you. DEALERS are the ones who have selling to "loyal" customers, not Ford. A "loyal" customer is going to be pizzed off when he's told BY HIS DEALER he can't get one. There will be pressure from dealers to get people on the list and the EXCUSE will be "it's not me, its Ford!" You don't think a dealer is going to call Ford with this message "Look... I'm going to lose one of my best customers if he can't get on the list!" You seriously don't believe this will happen? What I don't understand is why they brought it up at all. They could have done this quietly instead of making an announcement that took the wind out of the sails of many people interested in getting one. Ford will sell everyone of these. What they created though is a class of elite potential Ford GT customers from everyone else, just like Ferrari If you are Ok with that... fine. But I find it disappointing. A person who never bought a Ford in his life will be turned away for nothing more than never buying a car previously that didn't interest him. Forza Ford.
No matter how many times you say it's exactly what Ferrari does, it's not exactly what Ferrari does. This is obvious. I know it's painful for you to look for an exit strategy and not find one, as you are TheMayor and TheMayor can never be wrong, but we'll all agree to let you believe what you want here. That includes repeating the same incorrect assertions about who plays what role in the process. At the outset of this thread you said: So are you really disappointed? Or are you just in love with the sound of your keyboard clicking?
What do you suggest as a more fair alternative and how do you suggest it not turn into a bidding war where the buyers willing to pay the highest premium win (or is that how you think it should be done)?
I'm disappointed. And I expected that the same people who criticize Ferrari for this, as I do, would criticize Ford likewise. But it seems that Chianti flavored Kookaid also comes in Budweiser flavor to appease the American pallet.
Is there something wrong with the free market system? If Ford makes a great product and everyone wants it (like this car apparently), what's wrong in charging what the market value is? Isn't that the American way?
Ok.... a guy walks into a Ferrari dealership today and wants to order a 488. What is he told? You can't. I have X customers ahead of you who already have bought cars from me. Sorry. Buy a car and maybe we will talk. Otherwise, good by A guy walks into a Ford dealership today and wants to get a new Ford GT. What is he told? You can't. Ford says its going to sell them to previous owners and our best long term customers. Sorry. Start buying Ford products and maybe they will consider you down the road. Otherwise, good bye. And the difference is....exactly what? Seriously, explain to me the difference here to the guy who wants to get one.
Objection. Nonresponsive. Unless you are saying person willing to spend most gets the car. And I guess that goes full circle, because that's exactly the way Ferrari works. So it sounds like you were in fact advocating in favor of a pay-the-most system. I am so confused
I can't believe I really have to explain this (again). Ferrari is, and always has been, in the business of selling a succession of expensive sports cars. The entire sales system is predicated on putting customers in an endless stream of new and used car purchases if they want to retain or advance their position in said stream to get the best new versions. Everyone is aware of this when they enter the stream, everyone is aware of exactly where the stream is heading, and everyone is aware the stream will be populated with new supercars from here to eternity. Ford's model range today bases from $14k - 48k. There was zero expectation from Ford GT owners or any other loyal customer that Ford was going to produce an ultra low volume specialty vehicle with a base price nearly 10x that of any other product the company sells and that they would receive special consideration for their prior purchase history. They bought what they bought because they wanted it; the kept it because they loved it. No other enticement necessary. With Ford, loyalty is getting a reward as a pleasant and unexpected surprise. With Ferrari, "loyalty" is the expected cost of doing business. I can see how that is very disappointing and unfair compared to the cars hitting the open market at vastly over MSRP to go to speculators or collectors with little or no personal investment in the company.
I think what he is saying is that with this proclaimed "preference" to current GT owners, that will "potentially" drive up the market for available GTs so somebody who wants a new GT will buy an old GT to get preference. Maybe the preference will be only given to long time GT owners, but that wasn't really explained. I have no idea. I'll throw my hat in the ring and maybe hit the new GT lottery. And yes, I will flip it if given the chance. Lord knows I've "lost" enough money on other cars. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Took these pics last night at LA Auto Show. I'm no Ford fan but this is a home run. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks great; thanks for the pics. Although, I don't think yellow would be my first choice personally.
Not to beat a dead horse over Fords strategy in selling the new GT but I just don't get it. Reminds me of Lexus with the LFA to some degree. When the original Ford GT came out it cost ~$150k. It looked beautiful and was significantly faster and more powerful than its competitors. A guy (I'm assuming mostly Americans) could have bought Fords and been a major fan of the brand (Mustangs, maybe trucks) and bought it as his dream car. It would have been a stretch at that price but doable. Those in the market for an alternative to a Ferrari, Porsche or Lambo (likely NOT a loyal Ford customer) could buy one as again, similarly priced at the time. But $400+ grand?! No chance the majority of loyal Ford customers who ordered a Ford GT can afford that. A little something called "the Great Reccession" crushed a lot of upper middle class in America. So in my mind that leaves the very wealthy (who I can't believe are loyal Ford customers) as potential customers and they've proven in the last couple years to be willing to spend unreasonable sums of cash to acquire the car the want. For examples look at the price of Ferraris or the Big three in the secondary market. Enzo's were $1.5mm a couple years back now they're $3+, which is insane! So is Ford really going to have much luck assigning these cars to "Ford loyalists" or behind the scenes is it just to those willing to plunk down the biggest premium over MSRP?......
They are only making like 750 of them. Doesn't matter how expensive or cheap it is because most will never even get the chance to buy one anyway. Most will go to VIPs and the wealthy anyway. Way more than 750 die-hard muscle/Ford fan who also happen to be very wealthy.
I thought they were going for an annual production of 750. That makes more sense then. It's also a disappointingly low volume.
