ice-capades

Per attached .PDF file. 2008_Mustang_Order_Guide.pdf

Per attached .PDF file. 2008_Taurus_X_Order_Guide.pdf

Updated 2008 Explorer Order Guide per attached .PDF file. 2008_Explorer_Order_Guide.pdf

Updated 2008 Explorer Sport Trac Order Guide per attached .PDF file. 2008_Explorer_Sport_Trac_Order_Guide.pdf

Per .PDF file attached. 2008_Expedition_Order_Guide.pdf

Ford has notified Dealers that they have reached an agreement with the supplier to be able to offer the 6.0L Diesel in the 2008MY E-Series. This was just a preliminary announcement with the availability timetable to be announced once the details are worked out.

Here's some intial pricing information on the 2008MY Mustang options... Ambient Lighting (95M) - $295 MSRP HID Headlamps (51H) - $525 MSRP 18" Wheels on V6 Premium Coupe (64B) - $925 MSRP V6 Safety & Security Package (43S) - $995 MSRP Includes ABS/Traction Control/Anti-Theft/Wheel Locking Kits Warriors In Pink Package (54S) - $1,545 MSRP Includes Pony Package, Leather Seats, Pink Stitching & Tape Stripes $250 Donation Goes To "Race For Cure" 3.55 Axle increases to $300 MSRP $19,995 MSRP remains on V6 Deluxe Coupe It would seem safe to assume that if they're advising Dealers of the new option prices that the announcement for the 2008MY Mustang Introducion Prices will be made shortly! Hope this helps all those looking for updated information.

Dave, The White Suede color is a lot closer to the traditional white color than the Creme Brulle on the Edge. Just think of it as an off-white or egg shell color and you'll be close. I won't see the Vapor Silver on a 2008 Mustang for some time as the first Mustang I ordered for the CT Dealership is the new Candy Apple Red color which I expect will look good. Like you, I expect that the change from running boards to step bars on the affected 2008 Explorer models is due to a pricing consideration. Other than orders placed for Explorer Limited models, at least in my Market, there's little demand for the Power Running Boards. There's much more interest/demand for the DVD Entertainment System and DVD Navidation System. Unfortunately, I won't know more about the new ignition system until I actually see a new 2008 Explorer. I''ll post a further message here if I get a DVD video from Ford with more detailed information, etc.

Thanks for posting the information Len. I'm always anxious to see positive and encouraging news about Ford products!

Give your Dealer a few days on the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album. Every Dealer should have it within a week depending on how Ford handled the shipping. When I took a quick look at the new colors I saw the "Earth" color and remember it striking me as one of the ugliest colors I've ever seen. The Stone Green is definitely not the same color! As I wrote it's much closer to the Dark Stone color for 2007. The White Suede color is an off-white, not a bright white like the Performace White or Oxford White. The Vapor Silver is definitely Silver. Personal thoughts and comments on the 2008 Explorer changes... Ford is forecasting a national Retail Mix of 48% XLT, 43% Eddie Bauer & 9% Limited's. They've dropped the XLS series which I think is good and added standard body color bumpers and wheel lip moldings to the XLT's which I think is long overdue. I do however feel that removing the standard molded running boards from the Eddie Bauer's and replacing them with step bars is a big mistake and lessens the quality image and heritage of the Eddie Bauer series which has been established over so many years!

FYI... Ford has shipped the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album to Dealers which is a reference album used by Dealers to show interior trim swatches and large paint samples. If you want to see the new for 2008 colors just visit your local Ford Dealer! Note that the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album is a Dealer reference book and not available for distribution to the public. The regular color chip folders for public distribution will be shipped at a later date. The Stone Green color for the 2008 Explorer is in the same family as Dark Stone but has a definite brown tint to it. The only color sample missing from the C & U Album is the new Dark Candy Apple Red for the 2008 Mustang. That color sample will evidently be sent to Dealers at a future date along with the rest of the Album content that is mostly missing from the initial shipment. Hope this helps all those that are anxious to know what the new colors look like.

FYI... Ford has shipped the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album to Dealers which is a reference album used by Dealers to show interior trim swatches and large paint samples. If you want to see the new for 2008 colors just visit your local Ford Dealer! Note that the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album is a Dealer reference book and not available for distribution to the public. The regular color chip folders for public distribution will be shipped at a later date along with the rest of the Album content. The Stone Green color for the 2008 Explorer is in the same family as Dark Stone but has a definite brown tint to it. The only color sample missing from the C & U Album is the new Dark Candy Apple Red for the 2008 Mustang. That color sample will evidently be sent to Dealers at a future date. Hope this helps all those that are anxious to know what the new colors look like.

FYI... Ford has shipped the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album to Dealers which is a reference album used by Dealers to show interior trim swatches and large paint samples. If you want to see the new for 2008 colors just visit your local Ford Dealer! Note that the 2008 Color & Upholstery Album is a Dealer reference book and not available for distribution to the public. The regular color chip folders for public distribution will be shipped at a later date. The Stone Green color for the 2008 Explorer is in the same family as Dark Stone but has a definite brown tint to it. The only color sample missing from the C & U Album is the new Dark Candy Apple Red for the 2008 Mustang. That color sample will evidently be sent to Dealers at a future date. Hope this helps all those that are anxious to know what the new colors look like.

The 2008 Focus Order Guide has not been released yet.

The 2008 Explorer Order Bank opened 04/16/2007. 2008 MY scheduling starts 05/14/2007 with Job #1 production on 06/25/2007.

When Ford announced the change to the 2008 Taurus I got rid of the initial information released under the 2008 Five Hundred banner as there was no reason to save it. I just took a quick look again at the 2008 Taurus Launch DVD as well as the Order Guide and there is no mention of HID headlamps at all. The headlamp information mentioned is very generic. HID headlamps may have been mentioned initially in regard to the 2008 Five Hundred but I don't remember it. I handle all the new vehicle orders for my dealership, create and produce all advertising materials for two Ford dealerships, manage five dealership websites, handle the initial, personal response to all Internet inquires for my primary Ford office and shoot at least 8 photos for every new and pre-owned vehicle at two dealerships that I then process and upload to the websites. All this is in addition to reviewing the daily reports from Ford regarding vehicle scheduling and status! As such, I'm hopefully that you'll understand that I can't necessarily remember every detail on upcoming model changes. It takes a bit of time and practice reviewing the order guides before it all sinks in! Sorry I can't be more helpful regarding your HID headlamp question. If I find out anything else related to the subject I'll post another entry.

I guess it could at some point but quite frankly I don't know why anyone would publish the video to YouTube. There's nothing information wise that isn't included in the 2008 Taurus Order Guide or won't be covered in the 2008 Taurus brochure and other materials that will be available. As I stated earlier, the 2008 Taurus Launch DVD is released for dealership use only to give dealers the important changes on the new model and competitive comparison information. Before anyone starts posting messages about the 2008 Taurus brochures, don't expect any dealers to have brochures before early June when Ford will kick off the initial 2008 Taurus marketing campaign!

No. The Launch DVD's are produced for dealership use only and are not released for public consumption. They are used to show the Dealers all the new design and option features as well as competitive comparisons against the primary competition.

I just viewed the 2008 Taurus Launch DVD that dealers received a few days ago. This is a great marketing opportunity for Ford if they take advantage of it and fund it long term. The 2008 Taurus stacks up very, very well against the Chrysler 300 which Ford is targeting as the primary competitor. Lets hope that Dearborn really has learned their lesson by not promoting the previous Five Hundred series!

Agreed!

Thanks Dave! I'm just doing here what I do everyday for the two dealerships I work for by trying to give straight answers to questions that customers have. As a Dealer we have to earn your business every day. The only acceptable outcome is that you be completely satisfied with the service you receive from all departments. Have a great weekend and keep me posted on your progress towards getting that new Explorer!

The only other opportunity that a Dealer has to see vehicle colors is by attending the new vehicle introduction show for Dealers that is usually held late July or early August. Even so, with model changeover happening so early for many models this year it's not much help. The 2008 Taurus is in production as of this week and other models start production shortly. I haven't heard anything yet about an introduction show for this year. If I was a customer wanting to order a vehicle in a new color, not knowing what the color will look like, I'd make sure that any Buyer's Order that I signed for a factory order included a clause that any deposit would be refundable if the vehicle was unacceptable to the customer. Any reputable Dealer would accept such a condition as long as the order isn't for something completely out of line as far as vehicle specifications. For example, our dealerships are located in the Northeast where 99.999% of customers want only 4WD. As such, we stock only 4WD Explorers but in rare cases get customers that want a 2WD for which we have a no market. For the customers requiring a 2WD Explorer we can try to locate a vehicle matching the customer's requirements or place a factory order. If we have to order the vehicle the Buyer's Order contains a clause that the customer deposit is not refundable should the customer not take delivery. This prevents the Dealership from being stuck with a vehicle that they would not normally order or stock. Hope this helps further!

I've talked to several people associated with Ford and no one can tell me what the Stone Green color will look like on the 2008 Explorer. I can't imagine that it's the same as the Kiwi Green color available on the 2008 Escape as I doubt it will look good on the much larger Explorer. Those of you that read this message board need to understand that dealers start ordering vehicles for the new model year months before the vehicles will either be built or arrive at the dealerships. As such, vehicles ordered with colors new for the upcoming model year are ordered "sight unseen". The dealers themselves won't know what the new colors look like until either the new model year vehicles start to arrive at the dealerships or when the color samples are shipped to the dealerships. The new model year color chip folders usually arrive in late August/early September.

The 2008 F-150 Order Bank doesn't open until 05/14/2007. The order guide will not be available until then.

The daily status reports that I get for scheduled units has been showing our first 2008 Taurus in "Bucked" status since just before the plant started its two week down time. I believe it's actually about to go into production when the plant comes back online. I'm still shaking my head wondering why they would schedule two weeks of plant down time when they're ready to start Job #1 for the 2008 Taurus which is such a great marketing opportunity for Ford. I'd think that they'd want to get the units built and into dealers hands ASAP!