I got him to remove the extra fee entirely, and also he dropped $100 below MSRP. That was good enough for me. Around here I don't think they will go much below that. Am wondering if Ford knows how to sell these things though, since, all dealers I have checked with have them in stock, while the Prius dealers don't. Is the market that different? I sure never see ads on Escape hybrids. It is hard to think that Ford wants them to sit in the lots, but, if it walks like a duck...

 

$1000 under MSRP in NW lower Michigan

 

I just got a 4WD FEH, with the safety package, 110V outlet, and one other option I can't remember (maybe...), (no NAV/Audio/Energy, no Leather), Dealer sticker was $29,800 (including destination charge, but not taxes/tags), for $28,800 (plus taxes/tags/misc. dealer charges). That was at a local dealership north of Syracuse, NY. I called around, and the dealer in Ithaca (where I live) had one in stock, was asking "MSRP + $1,000, non-negotiable". The Cortland dealer had none in stock, but offered to locate one for me; he said he couldn't do better than the Syracuse dealer, because it is more expensive to find and get a vehicle than to sell one in-stock. The Syracuse dealer had only one (the one I bought) in stock, and I had to settle for options I didn't really want, and no choice of color, but I'm still thrilled and from a brief perusal of this forum, it seems as if I got a pretty good deal. I didn't have a trade-in (actually, they wouldn't give me what I wanted for my trade, so I opted to sell it myself).

 

I have a PDF copy of the current dealer price list if anyone wants a copy.

As you can see, our dealers are doing OK, even before their premium mark-ups.

 

Those dealerships must sell tons of cars to do well. I never realized how slim the margin was (compared to what I had thought, at least). Think about it. To make $10,000,000 revenue before costs in a year, they'd have to sell over 2,000 cars, or 7 cars each day. And, that's assuming they make $5,000/car, which they apparently don't.

Then again, I've heard that dealerships make most of their money in the service departments, anyway.

Okay, so maybe they're bathing in money.

 

Before you start sending CARE packages to your local dealer remember that their biggest money-makers are the rebates on financing and insurance (including auto, credit life, and disability), and their cut of auto leasing and auto rentals. I also understand they do not have to eat any portion of those multi-thousand dollar manufacturer rebates. Now-A-Days, with all the recalls and lemons on consumer minds, the as much as 50% mark up on Extended Service Contracts (ESPs) that customers get talked into at closing is just frosting.

BTW, I wish someone out there might send me the dealer mark ups for Toyota and Honda Hybrids (if anyone has them for 2005 and/or 2006). I am trying to write an article and I have not been able to bring up this research anywhere.

 

Paid full sticker on a 2005 ordered 7 months ago, finally in today.

 

Had occasion to go into Ft Mill Ford in South Carolina. They had a silver one on showroom floor with a $32K sticker...the kicker...they had a $3600 or $3800 "market adjustment" added to sticker!!! Guy said they had not sold one yet(new dealer), but were selling Mustangs with similar "market adjustments". I wasnt looking for one since I already have a hybrid, but I would have walked had I been looking for one. I dont subscribe to market adjustments, the MSRP is more than I would pay to start!

 

There are plenty of dealers around that do not incorporate that adjustment. I would tell them to take a hike. Do you think that might be the reason that every Ford dealer seems to have hybrids to sell and none of the Prius dealers have any? I know they are a different market, but Ford really is shooting themselves in the foot.

 

My dealer haed NO markup for the Civic Hybrid, in fact sold for less than sticker.
Local Toyota dealer said no markup either.