Shopping for 2025 GT

[sk47]

Hello; Stopped by a dealership yesterday. Wanted to look at the 2025 GT with a manual they have. I also wanted to have a look at the digital dash which so many do not like. Shop only had one GT with a manual. Somewhat loaded and had a MSRP of around $55K. I did see what so many dislike about the dash. Only one knob on the dash. The rest was touch screen stuff. There are buttons for radio & cruise control on the steering wheel which might help. I am old school so cannot picture safely using a touch screen when driving.
The saleslady did make the dash look like old style analogue gauges. Several such choices. Made the dash look better but still was just a screen picture. Was very bright in the day time, Would be too bright at night unless there is a way to turn it down. On my older car& truck I turn the dash lights way down so i can see the road better. I live in a rural area so few street lights. Lots of deer strikes. I turn the dash lights down to the point of barely being able to see them.

I spoke with the owner of the shop. Told him I would be satisfied with a base GT with a manual and no options. He located one that could be transported to his shop for the price i want. $48K out the door. I would have to commit to the deal sight unseen and without a test drive. I guess this is my main question to start with. I did drive a 2024 about a year ago but could not get the price I wanted. Committing to a car before a test drive is foreign to me. Never done such.

That a dealer is willing to sell a base GT this year for $48K OTD is something. I could not get such a deal last year at this time. I tend to shop in the fall for unsold units. The shop owner did not seem to care it was to be a cash buy which was not the case before.

They offered to let me test drive the GT premium which was on the lot. I declined as there is no way to get my price. I did sit in it. I can get in and out which is important at my age. The car had the active exhaust which would be fun to start up at 3:00 AM. Had a $700 extra paint color which I liked. That car is nice, but I do not see over $50K. I can afford such but the value is not perceived.

I welcome comments or suggestions. I know I only live once and that I cannot take it with me. I also know, at 78, there is not likely time for the market to become less crazy. I do not expect to find good handling cars with a manual in any numbers any time soon. This is the other side of the equation. Things being the way they are not many choices other than a Mustang. Even more limited when searching for a base GT. How much is worth putting up with to get a V8 with a manual?

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[EFI]

I welcome comments or suggestions.

IMO the prices are insane, but that's just me after buying similarly equipped S550s for 15-20k less.

But I would not let the lack of test drives deter you from buying the car sight unseen. The driving experience is basically the same as an equivalent model S550, and it's literally identical to the premium S650 unless that one has Magride. If you like how that one drives, then the base model they would be shipping in would drive the same.

 

[The Watchman]

$48k OTD for a s650 is a steal.

There is no other v8 M6 option in the world, literally, for that price.

I paid $46k for a s550 300a M6 with 2500 miles and Roush P2 blower installed back in 23’

So methinks that’s a fantastic deal. Like you, I don’t like the “sight unseen” but from a business perspective I understand the dealers logic.

Remember the car will have the 3/36 for your piece of mind.

One thing i always like to do is haggle them down as low as possible, threaten to go elsewhere, then at the last minute ask them to throw something in to “sweeten the deal”

That tactic is how I ended up with custom Katskin leather seats in my s550 ($2k) at no additional charge…

Good luck

 

[Skye]

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...erivedpriceASC&transmissionCode=MAN&zip=37011

Enclosed is a search for base 2025s, manual, within 200 miles of Nashville. All are listed below sticker, about 10+% off. I'm seeing this in my area as well. Order banks for '26 are open.

I never sat in the car I have now. I wouldn't be bothered by lack of a test drive. If you need to re-familiarize yourself, do so from one in their stock.

Committing to a deal before the car arrives, I can see that. The dealer is making a trade or buying from another's stock. If the deal doesn't happen, now he has yet another '25 to sell.

Coming in all-cash doesn't matter. While it is less paperwork for them, they generate a greater profit by having any deal financed.

If you haven't done so already, I'd confirm the sale involves no add-ons. Just the car. Or add-ons you approve of. And doc fees; confirm those. Doc fees vary by dealer.

For costs, the first three years will be oil changes. At year three, the brake system will need flushing. By then, maybe an air or cabin filter.

Extended warranties can be considered for the first few years of ownership, before the original warranty expires.

 

[MAGS1]

The AVERAGE new car price has now exceeded $50K in the US, so a V8 sports car with 480hp is a pretty good deal at $48k. The S650 is a really good car, I’ve driven several GT’s and a Dark Horse HP.

I would take the dealer up on the test drive, it’s not like you’re committing to buying the premium model. It will have the same driving characteristics so long as it’s not a PP car.

If I remember correctly, there is a way to turn down the light output on the screens, I just don’t recall where exactly (I believe it’s a button to the left of the steering column).

I personally enjoy the active exhaust but I do also leave the house early on occasion so it’s nice to not wake the neighborhood. If that’s not a major concern for you, the standard exhaust would be just fine (it’s not like it’s super loud either).

I’ll also add since you’ve been searching for the 5+ years you’ve been on here, there’s no such thing as the perfect deal. Find what works for you and do it and don’t look back. It’s far more enjoyable that way. You won’t ever fully enjoy the car if you’re always wondering if you could’ve gotten a better deal. If you found something you like and at a price you’re good with, do it.

Also a side note, you should have the opportunity to check out the car and drive it before you take delivery and sign all the paperwork. Tell them that you want the car, you just want the opportunity to drive it and check it over to make sure everything is in good order before you sign for it. Remember too that the car will be under the full factory warranty for 3 years bumper to bumper (5 years on the powertrain), so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Just look for things that might’ve happened during transport that you’d want rectified before signing all the paperwork.

 

[sk47]

Also a side note, you should have the opportunity to check out the car and drive it before you take delivery and sign all the paperwork. Tell them that you want the car, you just want the opportunity to drive it and check it over to make sure everything is in good order before you sign for it. Remember too that the car will be under the full factory warranty for 3 years bumper to bumper (5 years on the powertrain), so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Just look for things that might’ve happened during transport that you’d want rectified before signing all the paperwork.

Hello; I discussed with the shop owner about this. Saying I wanted to look at and test drive the car before committing. He balked at that implying it would not be worth his cost to have the car delivered without a commitment.
I think the sales lady is off today as she is to call tomorrow (Saturday) I will use your suggestion about making sure it is in good order.

That a dealer actually went for my price is why I posted this morning. I have floated that price a few times the last year or so and been turned down. Even though I find the prices too high I understand I may have a unique opportunity. Thanks.

 

[MAGS1]

Hello; I discussed with the shop owner about this. Saying I wanted to look at and test drive the car before committing. He balked at that implying it would not be worth his cost to have the car delivered without a commitment.
I think the sales lady is off today as she is to call tomorrow (Saturday) I will use your suggestion about making sure it is in good order.

That a dealer actually went for my price is why I posted this morning. I have floated that price a few times the last year or so and been turned down. Even though I find the prices too high I understand I may have a unique opportunity. Thanks.

Maybe offer a $250-$500 deposit to get them comfortable with a test drive once the car arrives? Depending on where the car is coming from that should cover most of their transport costs should you not take the car. Make sure it’s applicable towards your down payment if you take delivery of the car, some dealers would try to just keep it for themselves. I understand their concern about shipping the car only to have someone potentially back out, now they have another car on the lot they have to sell. People take delivery of cars without driving them pretty frequently, just depends on what you’re comfortable with. And you’ve got the warranty as a backstop for the major stuff. Keep us updated but seems like you found your unicorn, so I would say enjoy it without worry.

 

[SheepDog]

He balked at that implying it would not be worth his cost to have the car delivered without a commitment.

Where is the car now? Maybe if it isn't too far, you could take a short road trip and go test drive it. If your local dealership can get you that price, so can the place that currently has the car

 

[SheepDog]

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...rue#listing=415775847/NEWCAR_PRIORITY/DEFAULT

 

[SheepDog]

https://www.fivestarfordlewisville....&utm_medium=Listings&utm_campaign=CG Listings

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

Coming in all-cash doesn't matter. While it is less paperwork for them, they generate a greater profit by having any deal financed.

If you haven't done so already, I'd confirm the sale involves no add-ons. Just the car. Or add-ons you approve of. And doc fees; confirm those. Doc fees vary by dealer.

Yes, they like earning interest, but you can still get them to name a price and then spring
"I've got my own financing".

The dealer that sold me my Mustang was apparently impressed with my credit rating, and offered me what they thought was a good interest rate from Ford,
then (supposedly) queried 2 local banks and got an interest rate about 0.5% lower.

Three minutes on my bank's phone app, and I got an interest rate 2% lower still.
I don't know how the dealer staff felt about it, but I know the price didn't change from there.

Where is the car now? Maybe if it isn't too far, you could take a short road trip and go test drive it. If your local dealership can get you that price, so can the place that currently has the car.

I've done that! In 2008, when I lived in FL, I went to a Mitsubishi dealer to see if they had an Evo X I could test drive.
They didn't, but they said for a deposit ($500 was it?) they could get one shipped from the dealer in Pensacola.

I decided that was bullshit, and drove the 40 minutes to Pensacola.

 

[SheepDog]

for the price i want. $48K out the door.

After just a few minutes of poking around on the internet, 48k isn't even that good of a deal for a base GT with a manual. Find one you like, and buy a 1 way plane ticket and go buy it and drive it home

 

[zenwhipper]

I sat in a 2025 Dark Horse at the dealer the other day. $91K sticker.

 

[pinksurfer]

After just a few minutes of poking around on the internet, 48k isn't even that good of a deal for a base GT with a manual. Find one you like, and buy a 1 way plane ticket and go buy it and drive it home

I thought the same thing until I remembered his price he listed stated OTD. tax/tags in TN are likely another 4k. 44k-ish for the car is a little different picture.

as far as buying sight unseen. I bought 2 evolutions-1 new/1 used, 2 wakeboard boats 1 new/1 used(both over 75k) and my current 15 mustang sight unseen. I have sold an eclipse, 2 evo's, 3 wakeboats and a genesis coupe to sellers sight unseen. depends on your personal comfort level. new car, I wouldn't even think twice about it. warranty will take care of any issues.

 

[cerbomark]

I d want to see the car or at least one spec d like it. Seats in trim levels can be very different. I d drive the premium anyway just for kicks. I d also drive to the closest car at that trim level and drive it. Maybe even get a better price there. Hey I m in eastern TN so I ll look at anything near Knoxville for you , just as far as condition. Once you nail dow the trim level you know your happy with then shopping will be clearer. good luck!!!

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