Ford matches GM's employee discount deal

[Nifty]

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co., bowing to pressure from General Motors Corp., said Tuesday that it was matching its larger, cross-town rival’s employee discount program.

Under the program, which takes effect Wednesday and will be called the “Ford Family Plan,” Ford will shave thousands of dollars off the sticker prices of most 2005 model vehicles, said company spokesman David Reuter.

He said the program would run through Aug. 1

[CAMSS30]

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co., bowing to pressure from General Motors Corp., said Tuesday that it was matching its larger, cross-town rival’s employee discount program.

[lilstang5O]

I'm shocked by that move from Ford

[CAMSS30]

wow I'm shocked by that move from Ford

Any more Dealers gunna do that? Oh wait imports are still selling strong

You don't have a fucking clue do you? The shit economy is hitting all auto makers very hard and it hurts even more when your main competition gives great incentives like GM has so the rest have to follow to survive. Just like when North West airlines gives discounts on tickets the rest follow to stay alive.

[psi>ci]

You don't have a fucking clue do you? The shit economy is hitting all auto makers very hard and it hurts even more when your main competition gives great incentives like GM has so the rest have to follow to survive. Just like when North West airlines gives discounts on tickets the rest follow to stay alive.

No, the shit economy is making people concider resale value, gas milleage, warrantee and maintenance cost when purchasing a vehicle. It might hit all automakers, but it sure as hell isn't hitting all of the them equally.

[CAMSS30]

No, the shit economy is making people concider resale value, gas milleage, warrantee and maintenance cost when purchasing a vehicle. It might hit all automakers, but it sure as hell isn't hitting all of the them equally.

Do you realize what a surplus of used cars from trade in's there is, not many people are buying used cars when they can get a great deal on a new car. I guess i realy don't understand what you said has to do with what i said? Fact: The economy is hurting all automakers as well as most industries, of course not the same across the board but it's still hurting everyone.

[Stormwalker]

Fact: The economy is hurting all automakers as well as most industries, of course not the same across the board but it's still hurting everyone.

Only the automakers are having a tough time. I thought I would point this out, though I am sure this is what Sean meant. It could be taken the wrong way, where people might see "our economy is still shit", when in fact it is not. The reason I post this is because I am sick of hearing people bitch and moan about how our economy is so awful. The recession has been over, but these misinformed people want to convince everyone that we are well on our way to living in a third world country. So if you think our economy is terrible, here is an article I found today that will explain otherwise:

The decision by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues came as the economy is growing at a solid pace even though it is being buffeted by rising oil prices, which earlier this week hit a record high above $60 per barrel.

The Fed's statement said even with the rise in energy prices, the economy has continued to grow at a respectable pace.

"Although energy prices have risen further, the expansion remains firm and labor market conditions continue to improve gradually," the statement said.

The government reported Wednesday that the overall economy grew at a healthy rate of 3.8 percent in the first three months of this year and many analysts believe growth in the current quarter will be only slighlty slower than that pace.

The Fed said that pressures on inflation "have stayed elevated" but repeated a belief it has made in past statements that "longer-term inflation expectations remain well contained."

That phrase is seen by markets as a signal that the Fed feels no need to accelerate its rate hikes.

Greenspan, testifying to Congress recently, described the economy as staying on a "reasonably firm footing" with inflation under control.

While consumer prices had jumped sharply in March and April, they actually declined for the first time in 10 months in May, reflecting a big plunge in energy prices.

The continued good performance of inflation, outside of energy, has allowed the Fed to nudge rates higher in small steps. The Fed is moving rates up from the historic lows in effect during a time when the central bank was trying to jump-start the economy following the 2001 recession.

The Fed's goal is to push the funds rate up to a neutral level where it is neither stimulating the economy nor holding back business growth. Many economists believe that calls for a funds level of around 4.25 percent, which could be reached by the end of the year if the Fed keeps boosting rates by a quarter-point at its August, September, November and December meetings.

[PHRANQUY]

Actually Storwalker....Construction has felt it too. When the price of steel went up a few years ago it didn't help things at all.

[CAMSS30]

Only the automakers are having a tough time. I thought I would point this out, though I am sure this is what Sean meant. It could be taken the wrong way, where people might see "our economy is still shit", when in fact it is not. The reason I post this is because I am sick of hearing people bitch and moan about how our economy is so awful. The recession has been over, but these misinformed people want to convince everyone that we are well on our way to living in a third world country. So if you think our economy is terrible, here is an article I found today that will explain otherwise:

I dissagree with that, everywhere you look large companies are laying people off, closing factories, taking away benefits/cutting pay, ect. I live in the real world and have eyes, if you want to think everything is o.k. because of some article thats fine.

[punch]

I think it's a pretty good idea.

[itlkick]

I don't think it is a good idea. This "employee purchase plan" tells everyone that the margins the auto manufactures are making and sets precedence for continued discounting. I know this may sound good but if Ford and Chevy don't make any money they will stop making cars, especially niche cars.

People who purchased cars the last 3 months are going to be pissed that they paid more then what they could buy one for today. Think of this, you purchased a car last week. Now the "value" of that car is $3,000 less then what you paid for it. Next time you buy a car you are not going to buy from the same manufacture again - you will probably buy from a Japanese manufacture because they don't pull this crap.

It also drives the value of the car you are driving today down. Because Ford did this your Mustang that you drive today is now worth less because the value of any ford product in general has been reduced.

In the end all companies need to make money or they will no longer be able operate and that isn't good for any of us. Setting precedence like this is bad (imo).

[Video_Master]

Now there is a wise post.

[I Tried]

This will end up just like the 0% financing from a few years ago, every body will buy what the dealer has and not the car that they want and in a year or 2 be bitching about how shitty their car is.Once ford does it they can never take it back becase no body will buy a car for a few months after the sale price goes back up. And the manufacturer cant go that long with poor sales. I work at a dealer and the GM price program has not affected sales from what I have been told. They were shit before and will still be shit. The reason cars arnt selling is that in 2001 they sold so many cars at 0% and most of those cars arent worth what the people owe on them and they are all pissed becouse they bought what the dealers had not what they wanted and now they cant sell the shit box that they now own and can't trade it with out going further backwords.

On a side not the sales guys up front also tell me the only way that the new ford deal is worth doing is if you are paying cash. When you take the employee price you get no special financing or rebates and it is a better deal to pay invoice and get the rebate and good financing available through ford.

[JPD0244]

Not all that long ago Nissan was doing 0% financing and going under so imports DO in fact struggle too.

[Nifty]

On a side not the sales guys up front also tell me the only way that the new ford deal is worth doing is if you are paying cash. When you take the employee price you get no special financing or rebates and it is a better deal to pay invoice and get the rebate and good financing available through ford.

I would think that you would benefit from this assuming it applies to the 05 mustang ( I dont know why it wouldn't). Many dealers have marked them 4-7g's above MSRP. So the whole getting a new car at invoice applies in some cases but not all.