ice-capades

GO Team Ford!

The 2014 Fiesta Order Guide has not yet been released to dealers.

Ford's CEO, Alan Mulally, wanted to drop the Lincoln franchise but listened to the Ford Board of Directors that felt that they had a case to re-establish the Lincoln nameplate with the right investment plan. The plan was put toigether with a long term objective while at the same time reorganizing the Lincoln dealership owner body. Lincoln dealers have to make substantial investments to remain as Lincoln deaers but Ford a/k/a Lincoln Motor Company is going to be very secretive about releasing future product plans until those all-new Lincoln models are close to production. They still need to complete the new Lincoln dealership footprint and don't want marginal Lincoln dealerships to hang on if Lincoln can get them to give up their frranchises before too much of the all-new Lincoln product is revealed!

This 2nd recall for the 2013 Fusion is very minor as our dealership already has the replacement headlamps in stock. Another example of Ford being pro-active and addressing all issues head-on!

My dealership stocks mostly the lower end Fiesta models... 4-Door "S" models with both the manual and automatic transmissions and the SE models. The majority of our stock 2013 Fiesta inventory is for the 4-door sedan version, for price point reasons. We've had success using the 2013 Fiesta for customers that have little or no cash to put down or have poor credit and then use the Fiesta to get them established with Ford Credit.

Actually, I think that Ford is being very pro-active again with this recall and putting your safety first while they investigate the recall issue further so that they can identify the cause accurately and then resolve the problem so that there will be no further safety issue. This recall for 2013 Escape and Fusion models equipped with the 1.6L EcoBoost engine is going to cost Ford millions of dollars yet they're still putting your safety first by paying for rental vehicles until the issue is resolved and your vehicle serviced. Thank Alan Mulally, Ford's CEO, for being so pro-active and concerned with vehicle quality to address this issue head-on!

Ford dealers can order F-Series trucks with either of 2 factory options... drop-in bedliner or spray-in bedliner. As for making bedliners standard equipment, it won't happen! There are far too many applications for truck use and many customers do not want or need a bedliner. I order NO pickups for stock with factory installed bedliners for just these reasons.

Unfortunately, the Retail Verification Programs are only in place for several months, usually the first few months of an-all new vehicle or Model Year. In addition, the Retail Vertification Programs are only in place and available for selected models. It's been a big help but still doesn't go far enough. Otherwise, the regular allocation and scheduling system and processes are in place with Retail Orders always prioritized ahead of Dealer "Stock" or "Demo" orders. As for communications issues with dealers... there is a lot of information available to Ford Dealers regarding commodity issues, scheduling matters, order status updates, etc. The person at the dealership managing the new vehicle order bank just has to know what information is available, where to access it and then communicate any updates to the Sales Manager, Sales Representative and retail customer.

From what I've read online so far about the all-new 2014 Transit Connect... there will be 6-speed automatic transmisions and an opton for the EcoBoost engine. I've seen nothing so far about an AWD version or option. All questions will be answered when the 2014 Transit Connect Order Guide is released to dealers.

If anything can be said about this new recall it's that Ford's being very pro-active in its approach and doing what's right for the customer.

The 2014 MY Escape will be just "carry over" with minor enhancements.

Our store is already contacting Enterprise about being able to supply enough "loaner" vehicles related to this new issue. Have to give Ford credit for being so pro-active on the issue and doing what's right for the customer!

I just found out that our dealership received a 2013 C-MAX Hybrid Energi for a fleet delivery that was missing the kit which is supposedly stored under the front passenger seat. How are dealers to know to look there? Now we have to eat the expense.

Without the time to read the previous 75 messages regarding this new issue... Alan Mulally, Ford's CEO, who has been so strict on quality issues, has to be going crazy with the continuing problems related to both the 2013 Escape and now 2013 Fusion. Besides the bad media attention, Ford dealers are on the front line in handling this new recall issue. In the meantime, Ford dealers are still waiting to receive 2013 Fusion's that were built 3+ months ago. On the PLUS side of this negative situation, Ford is being very pro-active, admitting that there's a problem and doing what's right for the customer.

Without reading every page of this thread... I certainly understand the frustration of those that have ordered "Retail" 2013 Fusions and having to wait for such a long time to take delivery. Your dealership is in the same position waiting for vehicles that were built months ago to finally arrive. To Ford's credit... they won't ship any vehicle to dealers unless its passed all quality tests. Better to hold the vehicles and do whatever work is necessary than risk the media attention of a recall.

Your 2013 Fusion Hybrid looks great. Thanks for buying a Ford!

Not at all anxious to track every vehicle's movement and status!

The Job #1 date for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ was 11/16/2012.

Oh sure... dealers can order whatever manual 2013 Fusions they want for dealer stock but Ford will not schedule them unless they're a "Retail" order for a customer. I don't know where you got the idea that it's illegal for a manufacturer to restrict production. Just read the fine print in any brochure/catalog stating that they reserve the right to make changes or cancel models at any time, etc!

Agreed!

Here's the latest Fiesta production schedule according to Friday's Distribution News Bulletin. 03/09/2013 2013 Fiesta Job Last Date 12/03/2012 2014 Fiesta Order Bank Open Date 01/17/2013 2014 Fiesta Scheduling Begins 03/11/2013 2014 Fiesta Job #1 Date Until the 2014 Fiesta Order Guide is released to dealers there is no way of knowing what the official changes will be.

After the 2013 Fusion introduction in New York's Times Square in September, dealers were told that the Flat Rock Assembly Plant would be producing 2013 Fusions by late December. Since then I've been hearing that it will actually by 1st Quarter of 2013 although I have not seen any specific Job #1 dates for Flat Rock production. The increased Fusion production out of the Flat Rock plant can't happen soon enough!

I'd love to see a Fusion 2-Door Coupe or even a Fusion Station Wagon. Unfortunately, the possibility of either is slim to none!

Per attached. Minimal changes as the next generation Mustang arrives for the 2015 Model Year! 2014 Mustang Order Guide.pdf 2014 Mustang Shelby GT500 Order Guide.pdf

Here's the latest information available. 11/02/2012 Last Date to Spec Change/Cancel (2013 Mustang orders are still being scheduled for balance out) 11/12/2012 2014 MY Order Bank Opens 12/06/2012 2014 MY Scheduling Begins 01/14/2013 2014 MY Job #1 Date (Production Starts)