So, I took possession of my Ford Maverick Hybrid Pickup last week!

[AndyS]

Love the truck! Currently at 36 mpg and rising (almost all freeway at 75-80 mph), a bit noisier than I expected but not obnoxious and the electronic interface is intuitive and so user friendly. It talks to my phone, the phone talks back and I talk to both! Literally speak to the truck. Not quite Alexa but great for what a vehicle is supposed to do.

That's the good news. Interface with dealer not so much. After a week I sent the following letter to the top end of the food chain at the dealership:

January 18, 2022

Mr. GM
General Manager
A Local Dealer Ford
300 XXXXXXXS
Ft Worth, TX 76XXX

Dear Mr. GM,

I took possession of my New Ford Maverick last week and after 400 miles I am most satisfied with the vehicle. I cannot say the same about the financing I was given.

The same Ford website that referred me to A Local Dealer and gave me reservation instructions promoted several financing options, one of which is 1.9% for 60 months. When I was referred to Financing at A Local Dealer I specifically asked about the Ford financing options. Finance Guy, the finance manager who handled my loan, didn't respond to my query about Ford's promotional financing and shopped the loan to other lenders settling on BOA at 5.9% which wasn't attractive so I asked again about the promotional rate from Ford. After some negotiating and adding a warranty that I didn't want the rate was reduced to 3.1% over 84 months to bring payments to my budgetary target.

I left still not having a straight answer on if the Ford Promotional package was available. After a few days exchanging email with the Ford Promotional group I determined that promotions are given by region and this promotion is available in this region.

The difference in the costs of the two packages is about $10,000 so I thought it worthwhile to try again to get an answer as to the availability of that promotion and why it was not offered even after asking for it twice. I returned to the dealership and spoke to Finance Guy2 (Finance Guy was out for the day) about the availability of the above financing. Again I got no straight answer as to availability but did learn that the goal is a deal that “benefits both parties”. Between loan incentives to the dealership and the commission on the extended warranty I begin to wonder if my interests were part of the said deal.

Considering the sum of money being discussed I would like to have an answer on the availability and why my requests to take advantage of it went unheeded.

I have attached the printed promotion from the Ford Web Page. My credit score was in excess of 800 at the time of my application for credit at A Local Dealer.

I thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to having my mind put at ease.

With best regards,


Andy S

P.S. The Salesman, Dude, who took my reservation those months ago was great. Followed up periodically, set the vehicle up with my cell phone and Ford Pass and was a pleasure to deal with.

Met with Assistant GM today and things didn't improve that much. He tried real hard to put lipstick on that pig but it was still a pig. He hauled out all the pages that were passed before me for my signature as if they were mere formalities and it turns out that I ordered $2200 in dealer installed options that I wasn't told about (seems the Sales guy wasn't all that great either). I was also told that the $3000 warranty that I ordered really had nothing to do with interest rate. Incidentally the Dealer Installed options were NOT installed. Hmmm . . .

He agreed to strike the non-installed dealer options and cancel the warranty which will result in a payment to principal on the Loan I didn't want. I had him refigure the payment at the 1.9% for 60 without the 'fluff' that was added and it came out to the same monthly payment as the 84 month with the 'fluff'. Hmmmm . . .

So Assistant says I want you to be happy, what can I do? I say give me the deal I asked for twice to begin with. Oh and answer my question, "Is the Ford Promotional Financing available to you?" He says yes the deal is available but can't give the the original deal because the loan has funded and nobody can do anything about it. So, I say, I'm stuck with 24 extra months of payments of $270 because I didn't have a lawyer to represent me?

I'm in the process of refinancing the truck, hopefully before I make the first payment. I can get 2.3% for 60 which is $10 more than the 1.9 and $50 less than the 'deal' AND 24 fewer payments.

If you live in the FT Worth area I'll un-redact the information and give you the dirt on names and how to beat the MF'ers.

[walkingman]

1. I called Ford dealer in Austin last week and told them I was interested in

looking at a Maverick - they said they didn't have one but when one comes in they would give me a call. This week they called and said they had one on the lot and I should come and look.....but be aware that it is is going $7K over MSRP (sticker). I asked why.....because of demand. I said that is ridiculous. Now today I see Ford is not taking any more orders on Maverick this year because they have recv'd all the orders they can manufacture this year.

I guess I will just wait and see how it goes.....

I know car salesmen are in the same class as a lawyer or politician but I thought that was a very strange thing to say over the phone before I even looked at the model.

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. Supply and demand.....

Dealerships know when they have a winner product. The Maverick is definitely in this category.

I considered one, but, in the end, I went with a dealership that was relatively close to home and had done business with in the past.

[AndyS]

5. Yes, unfortunately the production capacity is sold out for '22.

They will be taking reservations in the Summer and I suggest you do that. You fill out an options list and sign and date it--no money exchanged and on obligation. That should lock in MSRP. When it comes in you begin the legal process of owning it. I suggest you make application directly to Ford Credit and get the loan approved before you go to the dealer. You can also use Internet financing but you can't actually finalize a loan until you get the VIN# so any preparation you can do is essential to make it happen in real time over your cell phone. It'll piss them off big time BTW.

Also read every line on every piece of paper put before you. Don't assume you can treat anyone as honest. It's a shame that corporate citizenship has come to this.

Good luck and take nothing for granted.

[walkingman]

6. Thanks for that info.

[3Hotdogs]

7. Fuk Ford.

Go to a Hyundai dealer and get one of their hybrids. I have one. 45 mpg average.

[walkingman]

8. Do you have the Santa Cruz? How do you like it? What is the warranty?

[3Hotdogs]

9. Sonata.

standard industry warrantee.... 50/100K.

Its probably my 6th Hyundai, third Sonata.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. I just bought a truck coming off lease.

A Ram 1500, 4x4. It fit my budget and I am quite happy with it. Never heard from the loan underwriter - I bought it in November. Figured the payments would start in Dec. No info from the bank (email or paper) until I started asking questions earlier this month. All straightened out now, but the loan got reported to the credit bureau's for non-payment.

I think you had the right solution - refinance immediately to get a better interest payment. It is a pain, though, to have to go back and deal with the situation.

[Kali]

3. ugh

when "professionals" live up to their stereotypes.

cute truck, I am loving the looks of the new Broncos (since I have an old one) but of course what I really need is a big work truck. not in the budget for new or even recent, though.