ice-capades

New Ford Inventory Just Under 100 Days' Supply in March https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/new-ford-inventory-just-under-100-days-supply-in-march/ Following a long period of time when new Ford inventory was near record-low levels, easing supply chain shortages have resulted in quite the opposite – a bit of a glut. Things have improved as of late, however, with new Ford inventory levels closing out February at a 91 days’ supply versus 104 in January, though the automaker continues to roll out new incentives in an effort to keep driving inventory levels down and make room for new 2024 models. Regardless, new Ford inventory levels actually increased in March versus February, according to new data from Cox Automotive. Last month, new Ford inventory levels came in at a 97 days’ supply, increasing a bit compared to February and remaining far above the industry average of 72 days’. This ranks Ford near the high end of the spectrum, behind only Jaguar, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat – which all had inventory levels that were at least double the national average – as well as Lincoln, Jeep, Chrysler, Volvo, Polestar, Mazda, Infiniti, Genesis, and Nissan. The U.S. new vehicle average of 72 days’ supply is seven days better than February, however, as the total U.S. supply of available unsold new vehicles opened April at 2.77 million units – 870,000 units or 46 percent more than one year ago, and slightly higher than March’s 2.74 million, which helps put Ford’s increase into perspective. In terms of list pricing, the market averaged $47,240 at the end of March, which is a mere one percent or $177 higher than March 2023. Regardless, it’s clear that new vehicle pricing remains a big issue with consumers, as vehicles with price tags of less than $40,000 have the lowest inventory levels, while those costing more are sitting well above the industry average.

2025 Ford Mustang GTD Requires Hefty Deposit from Buyers https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/2025-ford-mustang-gtd-requires-hefty-deposit-from-buyers/ The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD debuted back in August 2023 as what The Blue Oval promises will be the most hardcore pony car to ever exist, a machine that is quite literally a street-legal race car. Thus far, The Blue Oval has faced tremendous demand for the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD, which may prompt it to extend the planned 2,000-unit production run of that particular model, as Ford Authority exclusively reported last October. Last month, Ford Authority also exclusively reported that the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD application window was set to open in Q2 of this year, and that process is now underway. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, those lucky enough to be approved will need to plunk down a hefty deposit for that privilege, according to a dealer bulletin seen by CarsDirect. Those that are selected to purchase a 2025 Ford Mustang GTD will have to put down a deposit of at least 50 percent of the vehicle’s purchase price, in fact, and those that don’t will apparently risk giving up their privilege to do so. With Ford noting that the GTD is expected to start out somewhere around $325,000, that means forking over a rather significant $160k+ just to hold one’s place in line, before taking delivery of the new supercar. Dealers will be asked to submit proof of deposit to the automaker as well. “If confirmation is not received, the order will not be submitted to plant and the customer’s build date may be reassigned and purchase eligibility forfeited,” the automaker wrote in its letter, adding, “proof of final payment is required before the vehicle can be shipped/delivered.” Since this deposit is based on the “agreed upon price,” it’s quite possible that customers will need to put down an even larger deposit, depending on options and whether or not the selling dealer chooses to slap some sort of markup on top of the GTD’s MSRP. Regardless, given the model’s already-lofty price tag, it’s unclear if this will deter prospective buyers or not.

The Ford Direct database only includes VIN numbers and Window Stickers for 2007MY and newer vehicles. As such, the Window Sticker is not available from Ford for your vehicle. The only recommendation I can make is to search 3rd party sites online.

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven) $3.69 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden Gulf $3.75 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden, Citgo

Placing all retail orders at the default priority code 19 means that all the orders are treated the same. As such, it means that the Dealer is doing nothing to manage and prioritize the order in which retail orders are scheduled. Forget that the order date will supposedly do the job. It's nonsense as the reality is that the scheduling system will schedule the order that's the easiest to schedule and with the fewest commodity or supply chain issues, etc. An F-450 Limited with priority code 19 since September 2023 will most likely never get scheduled. You're doing business with the wrong Dealer. It's their responsibility to manage their USOB (Unscheduled Order Bank) but they have done nothing! The Dealer should have assigned a much lower priority code and/or contacted the Ford Zone Manager or Regional Scheduler long ago to have the order reprioritized at 01 or 02 to expedite scheduling. The Dealer has wasted your time.

Ford CEO Jim Farley Teases a Mystery Mustang Your guess about what it could be is as good as ours https://www.autoblog.com/2024/04/19/ford-ceo-jim-farley-teases-a-mystery-mustang/ This year, the Ford Mustang reached a significant milestone. The iconic American muscle car turned 60 as it entered its seventh generation for the 2024 model year, and Ford is celebrating all things Mustang with a series of events and neat bonuses for owners. We may also see a new version of the car next year, as CEO Jim Farley recently teased “one more thing to share” with a post on X/Twitter. Farley shared an image of a Mustang hiding under a green cover, but it’s impossible to make out any detail other than the car’s familiar shape. Speculation is running wild in the comments on the post, with some guessing that an electrified Mustang is coming and others hoping for a Boss 302 or similar upgrade. Interestingly, the image Farley shared was originally named “RTR Fun 03b,” meaning Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Vehicles is involved. Its Mustang upgrade packages offer power, aerodynamic, and styling upgrades to the seventh-gen car, and the top Spec 2 option brings significant suspension changes to make the ’Stang a corner-carving monster. If the new mystery car brings anywhere near the improvements RTR’s packages deliver, it will be a serious performance machine. One thing that is certain is that Ford has no shortage of historic names to choose from. The Mustang’s long run on the American auto market has yielded some of the most renowned vehicles the automaker has ever created, and that’s before we get into electrification, which would be an exciting development for the Mustang (ignoring the Mach-E, of course). We will have to wait to figure out what Farley’s on about, but Mustang fans and owners have plenty to talk about in the meantime. Ford recently rolled out an update to the 2024 model, giving it a retro-inspired theme for the digital gauge cluster via an over-the-air update. The automaker is also opening a new Mustang Experience Center at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2025, offering track time, a merchandise store, and an event center capable of hosting weddings and other gatherings. Additionally, Ford recently opened the application process for its most hardcore Mustang ever, the GTD. In addition to its $325,000 starting price, the car’s supercharged 5.2-liter V8 makes more than 800 horsepower, and its active aerodynamic bodywork gives it a level of handling performance not seen in a street-legal Mustang before.

And now you're using personal attacks to get your point across? Knock it off!

Considering that Ford marked the Mustang's 60th Anniversary yesterday, it would please a lot of Mustang retail order customers if Ford finally set up a delivery center at Flat Rock for retail order customers, along with plant tours. After all, Chevrolet's been doing it for Corvette customers for years at the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green. Unfortunately, the Flat Rock plant's long-term status has remained in limbo for many years due to numerous factors.

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven) $3.67 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden Gulf $3.69 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden, Citgo

Ford Mustang Experience Center Officially Revealed https://fordauthority.com/2024/04/ford-mustang-experience-center-officially-revealed/ Ford has been rapidly expanding its list of post-purchase experiences as of late, opening up the Bronco Off-Roadeo to the general public and those that buy used models, adding the new Ford Ranger Raptor Assault School and the Ford Mustang Dark Horse Track Attack Experience, and opening a brand new Ford Performance Racing School location in Tooele, Utah, which will serve as the base of operations for the outfit’s off-road driving programs in that area. Now, as part of the ongoing Mustang 60th anniversary celebration, The Blue Oval has revealed the new Ford Mustang Experience Center, too. The Ford Mustang Experience Center is currently set to open next year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, and is designed to become the prime destination for all things pony car. That means fans will be able to hit the track, purchase merchandise, or just soak in the long and illustrious history of the iconic Mustang in general. This particular venue adds to the recently-announced the Ford Mustang Unleashed Tour, which will provide fans in select U.S. cities with the opportunity to soak in some hot laps, line lock demos, and check out various pony cars up close as well. “Mustang has always been about more than just the car; it’s the experiences that come with it, from road trips to track days to cars & coffee,” said Matt Simpson, Ford Enthusiast Vehicles general manager. “Mustang Experience Center is poised to become a special gathering place for the Mustang community, weaving the spirit of the car and Charlotte Motor Speedway together to create new memories.” “The addition of the Mustang Experience Center is also driving an expansion of hands-on track instruction at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ford Performance Racing School’s Mustang Unleashed, a new program for Mustang EcoBoost and GT, builds on the Dark Horse Track Attack program so all 2024 Mustang owners can learn how to get the most fun and performance out of their cars.”

It's not a matter of volume with the base models. The biggest value with the base models is for the marketing value to help drive showroom traffic and to offer customers a lower priced, more affordable vehicle which also helps lower the monthly payment where needed.

After the impact of the pandemic, we kept hearing that Ford was "right sizing" its inventory, moving to a more retail order focused system, etc. They had the opportunity to balance inventory vs. demand with the benefit to reduce the decades long dependence on incentives in order to move product. Now they've gone back to ramping up production, increasing inventory and resumed using incentives to varying degrees. In addition, there are no longer "entry models" with the exception of Maverick which easily exceeds $30,000. I'm not suggesting the return of coupes or sedans as has been argued so often. However, base models have been eliminated forcing customers into higher priced trims. Along with the substantial price increases, Ford and its competitors have priced themselves out of the market and forcing customers to buy pre-owned vehicles. Short term thinking doesn't solve long term issues.

Eh... not impressed at all.

2025 Ford Mustang 60th Anniversary Package Adds Retro Flair to a Modern Pony It will be available in both coupe and convertible body styles. https://www.autoblog.com/2024/04/17/2025-ford-mustang-60th-anniversary-package-adds-retro-flair-to-a-modern-pony/ The Ford Mustang famously made its debut at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, instantly capturing America's attention and garnering enough interest to sell more than 400,000 units in its first year and over a million within its first two years on the market. There were some funny timing quirks that leave historians with a 1964.5 Ford Mustang, but its first official full year on sale was 1965. And that means 2025 is the original pony car's 60th anniversary. You didn't think Ford was going to let that milestone pass without a special edition, did you? And so here we are with the Ford Mustang 60th Anniversary package, available on the 2025 Mustang GT Premium trim in both coupe and convertible styles. They'll all be powered by 5.0-liter V8 engines, and buyers can choose between automatic and manual transmission options. Each car will get 60th Anniversary badges on the fenders and trunk lid, unique 20-inch wheels in Dark Gravity Gray with bright machined details finished in Vermillion Red. "Retro-themed" stamped aluminum center caps that are said to be inspired by the ones from the 1965 Mustang and bodyside graphics in either Iconic Silver or Vermillion Red are obvious throwback elements, while the grille is, Ford says (though we can't say we see it), a modern take on the mesh design of the original's. Wimbledon White, Race Red and Vapor Blue make up the very patriotic color palette. Inside, a 60th Anniversary dash plaque will display the car's serial number, which will be somewhere between 1 and 1,965 — another callout to the car's first full year in production. Interior colors will consist of Space Gray, Carmine Red or Black Onyx options. The order books are scheduled to open up this summer, though pricing data are not yet available.

Ford Mustang 60th Anniversary Package Draws on Classic Style of 1965 Original https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2024/04/17/ford-mustang-global-gallop-celebrates-mustang-60-around-the-worl.html

I'm seeing Lincoln Nautilus commercials constantly on the Pluto TV streaming service. After more than 35 years producing, directing and editing advertising commercials, these Lincoln spots are the worst I've ever seen from an OEM. The close-up product shots are weak, there's too much time showing the driver without impact and the exit shot is useless as far as identifying the product, etc. The production studio I worked with previously for years represented about 20 major clients and would be embarrassed to release spots of this caliber.

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven) $3.55 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden Gulf $3.59 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden, Citgo Prices going up every couple of days recently.

Based on all the recent reports from customers that took delivery of a CyberTruck, it'll be interesting to see how long it takes Tesla to cut their losses and drop it so they can address other priorities.

Most customers have no idea where vehicles are made. Unless they look at a Window Sticker closely, or the Dealer tells them, they'd have no idea. Enthusiasts of course would find out.

I'd have to agree with you based on my direct experience with Shelby years ago. Just calling to check on the status of a vehicle, their attitude was anything but professional and beyond arrogant.

I can't answer your specific question. However, if you give the VIN number to a Ford or Lincoln Dealer, they should be able to run the OASIS report which will provide the service history for the vehicle.

Ford recently announced a major shipping release for F-Series vehicles that had been held for various reasons. Your Dealer has 24/7 access to the VINView reporting system that provides the latest vehicle status including vehicle location, shipping release, rail carrier and rail car number, dealership ETA, etc. Your Dealer can send you a copy of the actual report. Retail orders are automatically flagged as "HOT" to help expedite delivery, in addition to the green Window Stickers that identify retail orders. Do not rely on sales representatives for status information. Most are not experienced with the retail order process and/or have access to the resources available. Deal directly with the sales manager or higher.

Tesla to Lay Off More Than 10% of Workforce, Report Says https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/tesla-to-lay-off-more-than-10-of-workforce-report-says Tesla is preparing to lay off more than 10% of its global workforce following weak first quarter deliveries and increasing competition in the electric vehicle (EV) market, according to a report. A leaked internal email from CEO Elon Musk said that the automaker is looking to cut costs and increase productivity after years of rapid growth that have led to duplication in some roles and functions in certain areas of the company, tech publication Electrek reported on Monday. The world's most valuable automaker employs about 140,473 workers worldwide, Reuters reported, citing Tesla’s latest annual report. The reported staffing reduction will affect about 15,000 employees. Tesla did not immediately respond to FOX Business Digital’s request for comment. The reported lay-offs come after Electrek reported that Tesla had told managers to identify critical team members, paused some stock rewards, canceled some worker’s annual reviews and reduced production at Gigafactory Shanghai. Earlier this month, it was reported that Tesla's quarterly deliveries declined for the first time in nearly four years and fell short of Wall Street analysts' estimates. Tesla announced at the time that it delivered roughly 387,000 vehicles in the first quarter – well below expectations of about 443,000 and an 8.5% decrease compared to the first quarter of last year. The automaker has also faced an escalating price war in China, a key market for the EV maker, as low-cost competitors like BYD forced it to reduce prices and cut into its margins. Reuters also reported earlier this month that Tesla was abandoning its long-touted plans to produce a budget-friendly starter car, purportedly called Model 2, that was expected to start at $25,000. Musk at the time accused Reuters of "lying," though the outlet responded that he didn’t identify any specific inaccuracies in its reporting.

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven) $3.49 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden Gulf $3.59 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden, Citgo

This morning's gas prices in Hamden, CT (New Haven) $3.45 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden Gulf $3.59 Regular (Cash) @ Hamden, Citgo