New Ford Friends & Neighbors X-Plan

[notanlines]

Has anyone made use of the above referenced purchase plan? My salesman has assured me we are getting the very best price possible, just as low as with the program. And we also priced this truck at a couple other dealers and it seems he is telling the truth.

[JRTJH]

When we bought our current truck we considered the Ford X Plan. Our dealer/salesman worked up the numbers with the plan. The only difference (for us) with our private negotiations and the X Plan was the amount the dealer was providing for our trade. The X Plan trade allowance was slightly lower and the private negotiations were slightly higher. In the end, the actual "out the door price" for the truck was within $100 using either the X Plan or our "best price negotiation". So, at least for me, it wasn't really any better or worse than spending weeks "shopping". What the X Plan did was remove the frustration of arguing over money, something I don't like to do.

I would, however, suggest you "run the numbers" using both methods. You might be sitting in a dealership, at 10PM on the last day for the dealer to qualify for a significant bonus with the need for him to sell "one more truck".... That was identified in a previous thread and those kinds of "deals" are still around, if you're lucky enough to find one......

So "due diligence" is important. (Of course, I know you already knew that).....

[Rick]

Written 2015.
https://www.carsdirect.com/deals-articles/decoding-ford-a-plan-z-plan-x-plan-d-plan-pricing

[CaptnJohn]

I often use the X plan. Ford offers it to members of DAV (Disabled American Veterans). With the X Plan watch for rebates as they come into play in addition to the plan. Ford also limits the amount dealers can charge for 'document fees'. My dealer cuts that from about $400 to $150. I never had a problem with trade prices. I trade my wife's SUV every 3 years or so with less than 30,000 miles. My trucks are diesel and are traded every 4 years with just under 150,000 so they get a premium also.

[hondapro87]

I use x-plan also thru the shriners, it removes the haggle on the new car/truck price and only leaves the trade to deal on. also when using x-plan the dealer is supposed to show you the invoice with the x-plan price on it.

[ken56]

GM has been doing the same thing in their pricing offering the 'friends and family' price to everyone. Your salesman is likely being truthful on that. Go figure.

[captcolour]

Have them show you the invoice which should show all the plans including a-plan (employees) and x-plan. My dealer showed this to me with both trucks from him. I am eligible for x-plan (supplier) but have always done better with my own negotiations.

[notanlines]

We did as recommended earlier and visited another Ford dealership where we get our F-350 serviced. That saleswoman was as patient as anyone I have ever seen, considering she knew we had already ordered it somewhere else. Our deal presently is within $70.00 of the program we were discussing. That is all I needed, to know I wasn't making a monthly bank note for the dealer.
Thanks to all of you.

[JRTJH]

Sounds like you negotiated for the same pricing as with the X Plan. Most people can do that with some persistence and patience....

When it boils down to the bottom line, if you're doing due diligence, you should be at or very close to the same price.

Many dealers will talk people out of one plan and into another for a variety of reasons. I've found that with a trade, they make up the difference in trade negotiations so it comes out the same.... As an example:

X Plan: New truck price $60,000 Trade offer 20,000 difference 40,000

Walk In: New truck price $61,000 Trade offer 22,000 difference 39,000
Walk In 2: New truck price $60,000 Trade offer 19,000 difference 41,000

So, do your due diligence, some dealers are straight forward, some aren't. There are so many ways to present a contract to get to the "bottom line" that it can be confusing. If a dealer has a customer looking for a truck "exactly like your trade" and he knows what he can sell it for tomorrow, he may offer more for your trade than if he expects to "wholesale it at next weeks auction and bet on what it'll bring. That is one example of why it pays (or could pay) to shop at more than one dealership before you sign on the bottom line.

All things equal, the price should be equal regardless of plan, but there are so many variables that come into play that you can never "just walk in and get the best deal at the same dealership every time, regardless of where you shop....