Your age / occupation?

[BradnChristine]

73 here, RN (I'm male) contracted to US Department of Labor, overseeing case management of injured Fed workers, usually USPS carriers, Homeland Security, and occasionally Federal Prisons and VA hospital workers. I've never bought a new vehicle before and I was one of those guys (like you) that could make a vehicle last many years past where most thought possible.

I got a new hip this summer and so can do that, but before I die, it'd be nice to have one new vehicle in life.

I reached out to half a dozen nearby dealers with a list of simple questions ending in "out-the-door" please, and thank God that I did not give out my phone number. OMG, only one really answered and that one is charging $700 for doc fee (in VT where the average = $200).

I'm unsure about things like: Is there ANY wiggle-room in price or is it strict MSRP + fees?

I'm disgusted with the responses to ALL the dealers that I wrote, what nonsense.

Possibly I'll become so frustrated that I'll keep my Ranger running and think on buying a '25

Note: I did buy a 1969 Toyo Supra with only 17 miles on it once. The sales manager at the dealership took it out to a New Years' party, got tanked up and drove it home, flipping over a guard rail and destroying all four corners and the top. I fixed it back up and ran it up to about 200k then, one day in Boston, I blew a head gasket and sold it.

The simplest, easiest way to get a Maverick is to find a dealer who will accept Ford's X-Plan and order one from them. My tiny dealer here in Gillette, WY accepted X-Plan for both my 2023 and my 2024 (yet to arrive) Mavericks. It will save you around $500 off the price (of my Lariats), but also caps the doc fee at $100 or less. No BS fees got added. ANYONE can qualify for X-Plan. If nothing else, join the Mustang Club of America (digital membership was $35 last I checked) and go order it. Simple phone call or email to dealers and ask if they accept X-Plan (it is voluntary). Ordering an XL Hybrid could take forever. Treat yourself to a Lariat and get heated steering wheel, etc.

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[Bnnbrooks]

69 Retired tool and die

 

[42pines]

The simplest, easiest way to get a Maverick is to find a dealer who will accept Ford's X-Plan and order one from them. My tiny dealer here in Gillette, WY accepted X-Plan for both my 2023 and my 2024 (yet to arrive) Mavericks. It will save you around $500 off the price (of my Lariats), but also caps the doc fee at $100 or less. No BS fees got added. ANYONE can qualify for X-Plan. If nothing else, join the Mustang Club of America (digital membership was $35 last I checked) and go order it. Simple phone call or email to dealers and ask if they accept X-Plan (it is voluntary). Ordering an XL Hybrid could take forever. Treat yourself to a Lariat and get heated steering wheel, etc.

Thanks, very solid advice, neat. I just read someplace that you must be in the Mustang club for 90-days. Now, since waiting will be much longer than 90-days that may be zero issue. But maybe I'd need to wait 90-days to even ask dealers.

Btw... what % of dealers actually will do x-plan? Any thoughts?

 

[Bigred]

73, Retired LE

 

[BradnChristine]

Thanks, very solid advice, neat. I just read someplace that you must be in the Mustang club for 90-days. Now, since waiting will be much longer than 90-days that may be zero issue. But maybe I'd need to wait 90-days to even ask dealers.

Btw... what % of dealers actually will do x-plan? Any thoughts?

I stopped in at my little dealer in 11/21 and simply asked the salesman if they accepted X-Plan. They said they never had, but "sure". So I stuck with them. I had planned to widen my search area until I found one who would. I also looked over their new cars on the lot to see if they did any shenanigans on their window stickers. They all just had MSRP...and a $1000 or $1500 "Custom order fee" that was pretty obviously something that could be negotiated. But no $599 to fill the tires with nitrogen, etch the windows, or any of the other SoCal nonsense spreading out across the country.

At that point, I had bought 100 shares of Ford stock (about $800 at the time I bought it), which, after owning it for 6 months, entitled a person to an X-Plan PIN then. Ford discontinued that sometime in 2022, but a person who works at Ford became my friend along the way (wait) and offered me a Friends & Family X-Plan PIN. I had to get a second one from him as the first one expired (they are only good for a year) and used it to buy my 2023 In 3/2023. I ordered a 2024 for my wife in July when the order banks opened, but waited until it got scheduled before asking him for another PIN. You do not have to meet any X-plan requirements at the time of ordering, just at the time of delivery. And yes, there is a 90 day waiting thing for many of the X-Plan qualification sections.

It was funny, as when I completed the purchase of my 2023, the finance manager stated "I can't charge you less, as Ford determines the X-plan pricing". I thought that was funny...maybe I could have saved more, but I didn't want the hassles. I wasn't trying to beat MSRP, I just wanted a no-nonsense sale price, and I didn't know what to expect at a dealer who was new to me. The 2024 Lariat Hybrid BAP MSRP is $37375 (+$599 DOC here). X-Plan is $36840.99 (and $100 DOC). You cannot use Farm Bureau's $500 certificate with it. but you can use Military $500 discount if you qualify....or the First Responder or College Student. So don't wait if you are going to join MCA. I think order to delivery times are getting faster....unless you are stuck on buying an XL Hybrid.

Edit...75 here.

 

[revcwa]

69, retired pastor.

 

[REMUB40]

61 - licensed land surveyor. Sticking it out until 70. This is my sweet spot for social security. I run the crews, so no outside work.
FYI, average age for a licensed surveyor is 58. If any of you youngsters are looking for a guaranteed job, we are a dying breed and need new blood.

 

[RR - All the way]

I have already posted on this thread quite a while ago. Since I just turned 79 and this thread will apparently be around a long time, I just decided to give an annual update to let everyone know that my feet are still above the ground and I am still rocking, rolling and Mavericking!!!!

 

[ottgoose1867]

44, Software Engineer.

 

[Automan21]

I’m 48 and a telecommunication/multimedia field technician. When I do have time to myself I’m usually wrenching on cars and motorcycles or doing handyman side jobs.

 

[filterman]

Just for fun -- what's everyone's age and occupation?

 

[filterman]

Just for fun -- what's everyone's age and occupation?

I’m 68 and love my Truck for repurposing furniture

 

[Johnny maverick]

I'm 56. I'm a antique and Muscle car restoration specialist. Specializing in fabrication and custom paint. So boring.

 

[Johnny maverick]

I’m 68 and love my Truck for repurposing furniture

I love to take old car parts and repurpose them into furniture. Jeep porch glider I just built for the camp.

 

[Billy2mav]

I am 58 and a retired union carpenter. Union lets me work one week a month with the union. We like to travel to florida in our maverick and go to the pocono's and do active things there.

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