NEVER Factory order a Mustang

[HoosierDaddy]

hmmm didn't know mustangs were such a pain in the ass to order. Helped my dad order a raptor from a small dealer in Louisiana that we have never used before. This was about a year and a half ago. Was told 4 to 6 months but had it in 2, very happy and surprised with the process. Maybe trucks are easier?

No, trucks aren't easier. Plenty of people had an easier time ordering a Mustang than you did with the truck. But Ford would really rather not have to bother with custom orders for these reasons. There is a huge difference in the time it takes to make a vehicle when all the stars are aligned compared to when none are. Customers get very upset when theirs is the latter. For cars sold off the lot, the buyer doesn't care or probably never even knows if the dealer had to wait 3 weeks or 7 months for the car. If someone can't live with the worst case scenario, they shouldn't special order. But if they do special order the odds are huge they won't be unhappy, just like you and the dozens of vehicles I have ordered. Of those, only my '78 TransAm WS6 was delayed (due to either Fisher tops or WS6 parts alternatingly being back ordered).

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[rocky5517]

I ordered mine early in September/salesman said it could take 12-14 weeks, but it arrived Nov 15. About 10 weeks. I've read on this forum that cars with MagnaRide were taking longer. I didn't order it.

 

[GW65]

No, trucks aren't easier. Plenty of people had an easier time ordering a Mustang than you did with the truck. But Ford would really rather not have to bother with custom orders for these reasons. There is a huge difference in the time it takes to make a vehicle when all the stars are aligned compared to when none are. Customers get very upset when theirs is the latter. For cars sold off the lot, the buyer doesn't care or probably never even knows if the dealer had to wait 3 weeks or 7 months for the car. If someone can't live with the worst case scenario, they shouldn't special order. But if they do special order the odds are huge they won't be unhappy, just like you and the dozens of vehicles I have ordered. Of those, only my '78 TransAm WS6 was delayed (due to either Fisher tops or WS6 parts alternatingly being back ordered).

A theme that keeps coming up is that custom orders are a pain for Ford, and you shouldn't custom order if you can't handle the worst case scenario. Problem is, if you've ordered from many other manufacturers there isn't a "worst case scenario" - your order a car, it gets built.

In the UK (and I believe in the rest of Europe), dealers (Ford, BMW, Audi, you name it) just don't have lots of cars in stock. My wife bought a BMW 5-series, custom order, took 8 weeks from ordering to driving it away from the dealer. But I guess BMW have designed their whole process around custom orders. With Ford, it took over 4 months before my (now cancelled) order was built, and then sat around waiting for a steering wheel. Let me repeat that: 4 MONTHS to start the build. I guess that's because Ford's system is built around dealer-stock orders (and "standard" specs) and so custom orders fall into the "too hard" category. Is that a problem? Once you know that's the case, of course not - I'm now getting a car in the right spec (but different colour) from dealer stock (although it's the only one in that spec in the UK so I got lucky...). Of course, before you know the reality, you assume Ford (US) is like the other manufacturers you've dealt with...and it's always dangerous to assume!

And that's why forums are so useful (if you apply a reality filter!) and why I should have done way more research before ordering. (I'd bought 3 new US-built cars in the past but always from dealer stock, never factory orders).

 

[Zooks527]

In the UK (and I believe in the rest of Europe), dealers (Ford, BMW, Audi, you name it) just don't have lots of cars in stock. My wife bought a BMW 5-series, custom order, took 8 weeks from ordering to driving it away from the dealer. But I guess BMW have designed their whole process around custom orders.

I'm in the US, and my last BMW took 9 weeks from placing the order to day of delivery, which included hanging out on a ship across the Atlantic. The Mustang I picked up yesterday was 20 weeks to the day (4 of those sitting in a lot in Flat Rock without a steering wheel).

 

[geep81]

There must be something wrong with my factory order. I got the exact car I wanted, for a price I can afford, and it arrived about when I expected. Should I contact Ford to let them know that I'm very unhappy with how satisfied I am?

My dealer let me know the GT builds were running behind about 4 weeks. I got my car delivered 2 weeks earlier than expected. 3 1/2 month wait total. Delivered Mid-Jan 2019.

I didn't want any other butts touching my seat, the car to go through a brush wash, and test drivers revving it up before the break in period was over. The peace of mind to me that my car was not molested before I got to it is worth more than the money I could save. I also got to pick exactly what I wanted - no compromises.

I waited and paid extra for all of this, but 1000% was worth it and I'll do it again in the future with my next car.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I didn't want any other butts touching my seat

You had me up to there. Please don't post pics of your butt on your car seats.

 

[geep81]

You had me up to there. Please don't post pics of your butt on your car seats.

I'm just messing anyway! I know there's already been other butts in my car. I just didn't want the other parts I mentioned the most.

 

[boB]

There must be something wrong with my factory order. I got the exact car I wanted, for a price I can afford, and it arrived about when I expected. Should I contact Ford to let them know that I'm very unhappy with how satisfied I am?

Me too, maybe we should start a petition to Ford, "stop delivering cars that we ordered". In the meantime we are enjoying our Mustangs.

 

[edco]

I'm just messing anyway! I know there's already been other butts in my car. I just didn't want the other parts I mentioned the most.

It is all a crap shoot men. I worked in the old Ford Assembly in St. Louis. Special order or dealer inventory I drove cars off the line and respected the customers who would own each one. My less than brilliant colleagues did not share my sense of ISO quality and they did the other parts you do not want before the cars ever went on the railroad triple-decker. Did you know it is UAW specialty to drive cars up the ramps to load them on rail cars. The job specialty is paid a hazardous duty bonus. Evil Knievel would not want that third deck ramp load. My custom ordered 2002 Ranger was beat to shit by Dave Sinclair Ford assholes before I ever sat in it. Why does a 8 week wait special order Ranger have 18 miles on it. How do you think the cars get on and off the double decker road trailers at the destination and rail head? To each their own. Some are winners some are losers. I am with geep81 about the dealer prep. When I bought the '07 GT it was on the ground with transit grime, all the stickers, paper, plastic, protectors, plastic seat covers, windshield markings. I specified on the sales order NO DEALER PREP, odometer must read 1.1 miles at delivery. They thought I was nutz. I came back the next day with a check and was the happiest new customer they had. I drove the the car the first next 1/10 mile on the way home followed by the salesman in my truck and dealer car to bring the guy back. That is one way to buy a Mustang.

 

[Bear376]

I, and my dealer have never seen a situation like this purchase. Part of the issue is the probably the issue that no other Ford product share most of the components that are on the Mustang. Part is the screwups with the MagneRide and steering wheels. Part is the fault of the guy who just got fired or promoted.

I wish I had my new Mustang here now, but it does not affect my health or well being. When it gets here, I will get some added concessions from Ford through my dealer to express my irritation, butI am not going to let some screwups bother my enjoyment. There a lot of places where it would take longer, or be more problem to get such a car.

 

[Blue Moon]

Delivery on mine took longer than I'd hoped, but while I was waiting Ford came out with a new rebate that saved me $1000. I can live with that.

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