[DigitalBaka]

So I'm starting down the rabbit hole of car buying again and trying to get the timing right for getting the best deal I can. This is actually my first new car purchase so I'll take all the advice I can get, especially from those that already have purchased the car.

I typically see a lot of price drops and incentives around the end of the year but reading a few threads here it seems like Ford historically has some things going around Labor Day. Presumably this is about when things start getting cleared out for the new model year inventory. It looks like I only would qualify for the basic $1500 on the table currently. I am not looking to finance through the dealer as I think I can do better going in with a pre-approval from my credit union. I also qualify for the X-Plan pricing through my employer and Costco member pricing as well but I don't know how those might play with incentives.

My one big concern is that if I wait too long into the winter I won't be able to find the one I want. I am looking for a TS ST2 and have only ever seen 1 in my area on the road and 2 at dealers local to me. That may be a challenge but I'll work on it with my dealer.

Thoughts and advice? Am I overthinking it?

 

[djfourmoney]

Ford's current incentives run until Labor Day

After that, they'll be trying to get rid of the '16's as '17's start hitting the dealers.

Then the best time to buy will be around Christmas.

I took advantage of the July 4th incentives when I got my car last month -

$600 Trade In Allowance, $1,500 in Rebates and $750 Private Cash

Not as good as this time last year, which was $2,000 trade-in, it made no distinction between models + $1,500 Cash Back. $500 Police Union incentive (cost me $30, didn't use it) and $500 Private Cash

Call Ford, tell them you want a Focus ST brochure and that your buying soon. Be sure not to do it until you're positive you'll be buying because the private cash offer usually only last about a month.

Good Luck, post a picture and report back.

 

[Toadster]

September 6th around 6pm... don't leave until they give you a screaming deal

 

[Oomps]

Bought mine on black Friday, got 3500 in incentives. Plus the 3k the dealer had off all their previous year models to liquidate.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[CaliJoe]

September 6th around 6pm... don't leave until they give you a screaming deal

Lol, that's my plan :haha:

 

[DigitalBaka]

Thanks for the replies! I'll probably be giving Ford a call this weekend some time to see about that extra offer.

I did some online inventory searching and it looks like there's a few TS if I push further out but only a couple with TS interior as well. I think I'm OK with that if I have to give it up since swapping seats isn't exactly rocket science.

I think I'm targeting about 25-26 OTD unless the offers are real good and I can get lower. Anyone around Chicago comment if that's reasonable for an ST2?

 

[xrayruester]

Bought mine labor day last year, got a bit over 6k off msrp. I've also heard 4th of July weekend, memorial day weekend, and right around Xmas are all good times to buy from Ford.

 

[toda party]

Got mine in early dec in '15, Ford had 0% at the time but I was still able to get 2.5-3k of incentives

 

[crashmw]

Today...
Got mine today, in the Bay Area of Northern California.
2016 OW ST3 w moonroof. $25246.
Very excited. Picking up on Thursday, and cannot wait.

 

[cal]

Today...
Got mine today, in the Bay Area of Northern California.
2016 OW ST3 w moonroof. $25246.
Very excited. Picking up on Thursday, and cannot wait.

Congrats! Looks like a pretty good price. Did you get 0% financing, or the additional rebate? Looked around here as well and only Livermore was offering the best deals on the ST.

 

[crashmw]

No 0% for me, I got a rather crazy high rate of 5%, but will simply refi in 45 days with usaa. Apparently had to do it or lose incentives... No biggie

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[crashmw]

Congrats! Looks like a pretty good price. Did you get 0% financing, or the additional rebate? Looked around here as well and only Livermore was offering the best deals on the ST.

And it was in fact Livermore Ford... I'd anyone is interested, let me know, the same guy I worked with was awesome...

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[cal]

And it was in fact Livermore Ford... I'd anyone is interested, let me know, the same guy I worked with was awesome...

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Good to know..Folks there are truly awesome based on my experience as well. BTW, I dropped by San Leandro Ford a few weeks back and noticed that they had markups on their STs.

 

[luichar]

Apparently had to do it or lose incentives...

Yep, I had to do the same

 

[crashmw]

Good to know..Folks there are truly awesome based on my experience as well. BTW, I dropped by San Leandro Ford a few weeks back and noticed that they had markups on their STs.

Crazy right?

The Tracy Vw dealer had a guaranteed sale of a '16 GTI SE, PP, LP in silver (which I don't like) if they were willing to go below $28k, but they looked online and saw that they pretty much had the only manual SE around and I'm guessing they must have thought they had something special...

And San Leander as well as Fremont are asking for full Msrp and then some on their Focuses.
I felt that I would never buy from Livermore because they are never competitive on truecar...
Look up Talal, he likes to be called "T", they guy is great...

 

[STella93]

I am getting my 2016 OW ST3 (in 10 days!) for $27,000 after the incentives, rebates, and my down payment.

I have the X-Plan also through my employer. That saved me almost $2,000 off MSRP and I got an additional $500 off because of the My Ford College Program. I've been a graduate for less than a year, so I still qualify.

I'm looking at 0% APR for a 5 year finance.

Overall, I'm happy with the price I got, especially since I custom ordered the car and added every option except the moonroof.

I think for an ST2, you could get it at around $25,000. Explore the financing options if you're buying the car. I originally was given a 6 year finance and they didn't even bother looking at a 5 year. We looked at 5 and 4 years upon my request. The 5 year ended up working out the most for my budget.

PM me with more questions if you need help!

 

[cal]

Crazy right?

The Tracy Vw dealer had a guaranteed sale of a '16 GTI SE, PP, LP in silver (which I don't like) if they were willing to go below $28k, but they looked online and saw that they pretty much had the only manual SE around and I'm guessing they must have thought they had something special...

And San Leander as well as Fremont are asking for full Msrp and then some on their Focuses.
I felt that I would never buy from Livermore because they are never competitive on truecar...
Look up Talal, he likes to be called "T", they guy is great...

Well, good thing Tracy VW didn't lower the price on that GTI. Otherwise, you would be in a GTI instead of the ST.

Thanks for the referral at Livermore. I'll look for him for my next purchase.

 

[angrychair]

all you guys suck i haggled and haggled and can only get the $1k rebate+0% financing or $2k rebate.

 

[Jaws]

Best time to purchase is right now on a 2016. I recently bought my ST and there was $4k on the hood from Ford and a further $1200 off from the dealer. The $4k was only good on the ST1 which is fine because I don't care about the Ricaro's, leather, or navigation. I got it for just a hair over $20K plus taxes and doc fees.

 

[CaliJoe]

I'd say anywhere from now till when the 17's come out or they're all gone.

The deals are out there, I was OTD at just under 23.5 (ST1), It took a while but I found a deal I coud live with. Don't forget to call Ford and tell them your ready to buy and to send you a brochure on the ST, it will have a $750 voucher in it, and try to find one with a blue tag that's another $1000 off.

Oh and that was with a Lojack!