Value of Ford GT available now??

A local Ford Dealer is selling their GT by sealed bid this Friday, and I am considering bidding on it. The car is red with white stripes, upgraded stereo, wheels and red calipers. In person it is magnificent. From the VIN, it appears to be the 79th car.

Have any others been sold by dealers and actually delivered?

What’s the conventional wisdom on Ford’s projected production, and how much demand is out there?

I’ve read 1500 MY 2005’s, and 1500 MY 2006’s, maybe 800 or so manufactured by Jan 1st? Will 3,000(+)? sell for above sticker?

Minimum bid on this car is $200,000.00. I’m not "in the game" for a whole lot more than that, and I don’t have any idea what they’re actually selling for now. Hopefully not the $550k that the first one brought. I would hate to pay a big premium, only to have them selling for sticker next summer. Rebates??? The low VIN holds no appeal for me.

Opinions??

Thanks.

Mark McKenzie

 

wait six months.

unless they scale back production by 50% or more, they're going to flood the market. these purported buyers ford expects are wildly unlikely to materialize imo.

for a bit over 200, get yourself a CS this weekend, enjoy it for 6-12 months, then trade it on the GT when the prices break sticker and you'll have your new GT (built to your specs) and a check for the trade overage.

keep us posted on what it goes for - assuming they share.

doody.

 

Don't fall for this trick!

Ignore the hype, wait several months and you'll be able to get one at MSRP or less. That is, if you still want one by then. Besides, they will have worked out some of the inevitable first model year production problems by then so you'll end up with a better car.

The market will be overflowing with interesting cars in the 100-200K range -- that should make for a great buyer's market. JMO.

 

great advise!!!!!do you want to do my financial planning?

 

you wouldn't like my fee structure

doody.

 

be calm.

There are plenty more cars to be built. Perhaps they will also upgrade the car in a year ? What then ?


Patience. Let the "others" trip over themselves.

 

My local Ford dealer in town have a silver one on display. MSRP $155K-$160K. Guess how much they wanted for? $450K- $500K!!!! for a car eventually will be made 4500-5000 annually. The salesman even said there are takers eventhough it seems he have no clues about the car specs. Like you're all said- wait for all the hype is over. But there always will have people out there with money no object.
PS. I have a close friend that own a Ford dealership nearby that promised me that he will sell me the car for MSRP. We will see.

 

It's a brilliant car, but I think that 1500 a year will overwhelm demand in short order.

Did I say I think it's a brilliant car? 1g skidpad, 0-60mph 3.3, 205mph top speed ....

 

I race with one of the execs for the ford GT project. He told me the plan was 500 cars this year, then 1500 a year for the next 2 years. I'd have to agree with Mr. Doody. I think the demand for this car is now very strong, but pretty shallow. I can't imagine 3500 people stepping up to the plate for a $150K ford, no matter how brilliant the car. I think cars will be going for sticker or less in a year. I may have to follow Mr Doody's advice and listen to the glorious sound of a CS before trading it in for the godawful thrust of a supercharged V8.

 

Doody is right on the money. Right now, Carrera GTs are sitting on the floor and, if some rumors are true, are trading for under sticker. How long has the GT been out? I think about 6 months.

You might also consider what is happening to Guy-Yard-Dos. You can almost see those keys falling out of that Lear jet.

It looks like the only car that is lighter than air is -- the 360 Spider and the Challenge Stradale. Furthemorer, the best guess is that the F430 premium will be around $50,000.

If money is like water to you, don't sweat it. Go out and buy the first Ford GT you can find. However, if you need to keep your powder dry, just wait a while. It may take longer than 6 months, but sooner or later the Ford GT is going to trade at or slightly below sticker.

Dale

 

Tell the dealer to call you if the car does not sell.If he calls
offer him what you feel comfortable with. Don't take part in any bidding.

 

best advice yet, jas! i think a lot of these auctions are going to be all sturm and no drang. everybody WANTS at GT but very very few people are gonna PAY the premium.

my dealer called me yesterday. they got their first one in. i'm purprotedly first on their list, but they told me a couple months back they're going to auction off the first two (the second is due before year end). i told them flat out i wasn't interested - that i wanted to spec my own car and wouldn't pay over sticker. they immediately backed down with a "well well - let's see what happens" attitude.

i think the dealers are going to try to get what they can get (hey - we're all capitalists, so why not!?!?) but they probably know, to use prg's word, that the demand is shallow.

doody.

 

If production continues as it has been, (very slow) I just don't see anywhere near 3000 cars being built. They are being real careful with the assembly of these cars........... and this type of handbuilt niche vehicle is very difficult for a manufacturer the size of Ford to pull off.

In October, Ford delivered 22 Ford GT's.

They can only be built through the 2006 MY, as 2007 MY vehicles will have to meet much more rigid crash standards............ and the GT cannot meet them without ruining the lines of the car.

I would think that a total production of 1500 units is more reasonable.

On a side note, I wish that an AZ dealership would get a car on the floor. I would love to see one in person (there wasn't one at Fun Ford Weekend, this weekend).

 

Not rumors, one of our FChatters, Ben,lj i believe, has his soon to be delivered CGT available at $15k under MSRP. Don't know if it's sold yet.

Gary

 

Excellent response. Tell them you will pay what Jay Leno paid. At least if you are lucky enough to get a new Ferrari they sell it to you at MSRP. I love the GT, but would not give ford one cent above MSRP. Way too many exotics on the market to try and gouge people.

FORD "a better idea" . . . and it's called the edsel.

 

Ferrari doesn't officially allow their vehicles to be sold above MSRP. The dealerships just play the "flipping" game.

Same outcome.

red, there are quite a few cars that are on the ground, on eBay. Some seem to be a little more reasonable than others (some are just flat out ridiculous). I would follow these auctions, and call the dealerships if/when the cars do not meet reserve. Make them an offer.

The worst thing they can do is say no.

Good luck, and let us know how the search turns out.

 

Gloria - That is why I said if you are lucky enough to get a new car. You know: prefered customer, on the list, a deposit, car mades it safely across the pond and now they say come and pick it up. Don't quite understand your response, as ford is not selling cars at MSRP to those who are on the list like Mr. Doody.

 

LOL, I think we are misunderstanding each other pretty good.

Let me try to express myself a bit better (its easy to think it, but sometimes it doesn't come through in writing).

Ferraris franchise (or are the factory controlled dealerships?) agreements state that they cannot charge over MSRP. Ford franchise agreements have been in existance for many decades (they have to be the same for new dealerships as very old standby dealerships like the one we bought our Lightning from........ opened in 1924). Ford cannot tell the dealerships what they can, or can't sell a vehicle for. It is up to the discretion of the dealership.

This is why the Ford dealerships use the "marketing adjustment" method for screwing the customer, and Ferrari dealerships use the "flipping."

Two different ways of accomplishing the same thing. Basically, trying to milk as much from customers as possible. Frankly, they both suck.

 

this happens EVERY time; went to put a deposit down on a new elise and was told they weren't taking depoists b/c of the wait (2 + years), and the possibility of an importation cease on account of Lotus losing their DOT exclusion on the bumpers/side markers/turn signals, etc.; however, i could have one of the cars, on the floor, for 10 k over sticker.
the GT hype is short lived, and the appeal of the car, falls on a limited populous of buyers; those who understand the car's lineage and who recognize its nuance want it, but most of those buyers are way too savvy to fall for the oversticker, bait & switch. others will underestimate it, and seek exclusivity elsewhere; therefore, there's a sever cap on real buyers for the car. (the local lambo dealer here, has a filled to the brim stock of murcies and gallardos too - unicorns gone the way of pintos)
in a year, if production is sustained at the purported levels, GTs will be trading for low 100's.

 

As much as I understand what you are saying, I really have a hard time seeing the GT selling for 10's of thousands of dollars UNDER MSRP. Supposedly, the dealerships are only making $10K on these cars.......... so there just isn't that much room there.

I think the dealerships would hold the car on the showroom floor for the draw, rather than sell it at a loss.

However, if I could eventually get one under $100K, I think I could pull that off.

 

Sorry - my valuation was made regarding 2nd hand examples, after the hype dies. I believe you'll be able to get a pre-owned example for a little under MSRP and a new one at MSRP or with a slight break.

 

I know of as high as serial #224 being available right now. So it seems like production has picked up significantly. If I recall correctly, John Coletti (director of Ford SVT) stated a figure of 4500 cars to be built. I doubt they'll decrease production by nearly 70%. Regarding price... watch the Ebay auctions. The bids rarely go above $200K (reserve never met) and it's almost always the same user that has the highest bid... 'mallofgeorgiafordinternetsales'... which is actually another Ford dealer. I wouldn't be surprised if they're bidding just to jack up the price....

 

Well now, eBay is another situation altogether. As someone who has bought and sold alot on eBay............. all I can say is that most high priced items (vehicles) auctions are BS. It didn't used to be that way, but it sure is now. Many people who currently list on eBay are doing, what I like to call, a fishing expedition. They are feeling out the market, and hoping they hook a big one (in other words, find a sucker). Many use back pocket bidders to artificially inflate prices. Another tactic is to have a disclaimer in the auction that they reserve the right to end auctions early. This way, many list with no reserve, because bidders like that better (it gives them the false promise that they may buy something on the cheap). They then close the auction 5 minutes before it was scheduled to close.

The other side is that many who currently bid on eBay are resellers. They primarily bid on no reserve auctions in the hope of buying way under market (hoping the seller is stupid), so they can turn around and resell. Kind of like the first people at yard sales are resellers. Others who bid are kids, and dreamers.

In other words, legitimate bidders and sellers on eBay are few and far between these days. I think that many of the GT's listed on eBay are dealers fishing for customers. They will not meet reserve, but the seller will contact those who did bid, looking for a buyer. This way they do not have to pay eBays fee for selling.

I still buy and sell low priced items on there. However, I would never bid on something big anymore. It is too annoying to bid on something and think you will get it, only to have the seller close the auction 5 minutes before the end.

As you can tell, I don't have alot of faith in eBay these days. It didn't used to be like this.

 

Where are all of you people from? I'm in the land of Woodhouse, which is the worlds largest volume Ford and Viper dealer, and they say the GT's that they have sold were at just a few K over list and they will get more allocated soon and they will go at list or just a few K over. Is it because they are so large that they either don't need the extra 20-25K by gouging the customers, or can they just get that many cars by being the actual #1? Did someone say ZR-1?

 

jason - fwiw, here's my analysis of the situation.

(a) the vast majority of ford dealers simply don't know what to do with these cars. you have to work REALLY hard to spend $50K at a ford dealer (a tricked out excursion with no discount off sticker?). now they've got this $150K car dumped in their laps. they think they're ferrari dealers all of a sudden .

(b) most dealers apparently aren't getting more than 1 or 2 (if any).

(c) my understanding is that the dealer margin on these things is very small. that FoMoCo looks at this as a halo car and you're gonna get one, and put it in the showroom for a while to lure in Mustang buyers or whomever. but you're not gonna make real money on it. if they let the car sit on the floor for three months - that's about $1K in carrying cost right there. presumably a substantial chunk of the margin.

so given these three factors, the dealers who fall into (b) above feel like what they've got is a lottery ticket, and they feel like they're thusly behaving rationally.

i've told my dealer i'm not paying over sticker and i get to fully spec the car or there's no deal to be done. they keep talking to me, but who knows.

doody.