Advice Please From Recent Mustang Buyers

[Marine One]

I am thinking about replacing my 1996 Cobra Conv with a new GT Premium Conv. I've been quoted a price of $31,703 by a local dealer, based on a buying arrangement through my credit union. From the research that I've done so far (Edmonds, Kelly & Ford web sites) it looks as though he's offering the car for just under $600 over invoice. I've looked all over the place for used 05-06 GT Conv's and can't find them locally. The ones online at places like Cars.com Autotrader.com and Carmax are in nearly the same price range (39-31) as what I was quoted for the new one. I am usually one who doesn't buy new vehicles but instead I try to purchase vehicles that are slightly used at a good savings over the new price. I'm just not seeing anything like that on these cars yet, and am guessing that it's because they are still new to the marketplace.

So, here's where I could use some advice:
1. Is the quoted price competitive for a new 06 GT Premium Convertible? I got a price quote from military exchange car sales when I was in Iraq and this price is about $1800 lower than what I was quoted there.
2. Am I better off waiting until later in the model year to try to snag a leftover, especially since the 07s are already out?
3. Am I better off ordering a new 07 since the price difference in the two cars is only about $250? The 07 offers a couple of options that I'd really like in a new ride, including Sirrius, for only $200.

Any help from this forum would be greatly appreciated. I was perfectly content with the Cobra until I drove a new Mustang over this past weekend and now I really want one.
And my wife has been of no help. Instead of giving me a bunch of valid reasons was to why we shouldn't buy a new car, she's taken the "if you want it, buy it" approach. Personally I think she's just tired of the Cobra's harsh ride...

Thanks in advance....

 

[PDXStangDude]

Don't know but Semper Fi!!

Keep up the good work Marine.

 

[ponyX2]

Thats not a bad price. I just paid the same, but with taxes, destination fees, etc it got a bit higher, but actual car price, the same as your quote, I thought it was a good deal. Hell I must have liked it, I bought 2. Must mean I am twice a dummy? Good luck on your purchase, and I wouldn't wait for left overs either. Either get it now or order the 07. Just my .02

 

[ShowYa06]

Why wait, got my 2006 and no you may not drive it

 

[APowers]

Sounds like a good price to me. I ordered a coupe,(I dont even like to drive with the windows down so a drop top is not for me) with all the bells and whistles. I have a written price of $26,100. So for a convertable it looks like you are about right on the price. Mine is $500 over invoice. Their kids have to eat to, so I dont mind if they make some money off me, just McDonalds, not steak.

But I want to say this; As for what you are, the sacrifice you are making, and the dedication you have as a Marine to the greatest country ever to exist. They should let you walk on the lot, take your pick, hand you the keys, and thank you.

 

[Marine One]

Thanks for all the advice, and even more so for the support. I thought that $500 over invoice was a good price for a car that is in as much demand as the Mustang.

 

[Marine One]

Update

After doing some additional looking at the Ford, Edmonds and Kelly web pages, I decided that I really want an 07, so I called the dealer back and asked him to try to locate the following:

2007 Mustang GT Premium Convertible 5-Speed
Redfire Clearcoat exterior (no second choice)
Dark Charcoal Interior (no second choice)
Black Top
With the following options:
18G Interior Upgrade
14A Anti Theft Pkg
59B Convertible Top Boot
43A Side Air Bags
455 3.55 Axle Ratio
86C Cloth Top
50S Sirius Satellite Radio

He called back several hours later and said he could not locate this car but that I could order it for $500 over invoice. This is the dealer that is tied into my credit union, and is about 50 miles away. The only downside is that he told me that he checked and that the $500 military appreciation rebate does not include the 07 Mustangs at this time. That would have brought the car down to invoice.

Next, I dropped by the dealership in my town on Friday over my lunch hour to see what was in stock. I was approached by a salesman, told him what I was looking for, and that I didn't have time to wait around due to being on my lunch hour. First he tried to sell me an 06 that was Torch Red although I had specifically told him I was looking for one that was Redfire. When I didn't bite, he took down the information then called me back later in the day to say that he couldn't find the car but I could order one. When I tried to talk price, he countered by telling me that I would have to come into the dealership so we could "work up the order together." I told him that I knew exactly what I wanted, down to the factory codes but he would not work with me over the phone. I felt like I got the typical car salesman treatment which is only made worse by the fact that this is a military town and these guys try to stick it to us at every turn. Even us old guys who've been in since the stone age!

I think I've just about beaten this whole pricing thing down to parade rest, and will order the car at the place that offered $500 over invoice, unless the readership here has any better ideas.
Thanks!

 

[APowers]

When I was stationed in Aberdeen, if you went into town you got this we dont want you here attitude. So we stayed on base most of the time. They closed that base down and Aberdeen is an armpit now.

When I was re-located to Bragg, we got discounts everywhere with a milatery ID. If you had the hair cut, they loved you. There would be big banners up on payday, "Military discount".

Dude, you need to do some shoping. Sounds like you are getting a fair deal, but I think you can do better.

 

[The Fang]

o Personally I think she's just tired of the Cobra's harsh ride...

Thanks in advance....

Well the ride in the new stangs aint luxury thats for sure. I was even looking in the consumer reports guide at walmart yesterday and even tho mustang got the "best buy" symbol the ride scale showed only a 4.

 

[chefster]

whatya askin for the Cobra and how is it ,mods shape ?

 

[Marine One]

Well the ride in the new stangs aint luxury thats for sure. I was even looking in the consumer reports guide at walmart yesterday and even tho mustang got the "best buy" symbol the ride scale showed only a 4.

This all began when we were out of town last weekend and rented a base V6 Mustang Coupe. We couldn't have been three miles down the road in the car when my wife said, "wow, this rides so much better than the Cobra." And as much as I hate to admit it, she was right. I've always said that the Cobra is the kind of a car that one has to really want to own to be happy to live with. As much as I've enjoyed owning the car for the last 4 years, a trip from NC down to Fla & back in May about kicked my ass. And the fact that I can't get my wife to tell me how purchasing a new Mustang is impractical a year before retiring from the Corps, or how we just replaced her car a few months ago, or that it doesn't fit into the household budget, etc. has made this that much more attractive. Instead of getting the "Big NO" from her, I got the opposite; "After two tours to Iraq you deserve it, so if that's what you want, just go get it."

 

[Marine One]

whatya askin for the Cobra and how is it ,mods shape ?

The Cobra is in great shape. I bought it in 2002 from a dealer who took it in trade from the original owner in Greensboro NC. I rolled the odometer over to 36,000 on my test drive. It has 79,000 miles, with 4,000 miles on a fresh set of tires. It was stored indoors for the year I was in Baghdad with the exception of my two weeks home for R&R.
The original paint is nearly perfect. There are no dents or dings anywhere. The interior and top are in real good condition as well.
The only mods are a fender mounted CAI and a snake grill emblem.
I'm still trying to figure out what to ask for it.

 

[Marine One]

Ordered My Car Today

After requesting a quote through forddirect.com, then going a couple more rounds with my local dealer I finally put a deposit down on my car today.
I ordered a Redfire Clearcoat 2007 Mustang GT Premium Convertible 5-Speed
with Dark Charcoal Interior, Black Top & the following options:
18G Interior Upgrade
14A Anti Theft Pkg
59B Convertible Top Boot
43A Side Air Bags
455 3.55 Axle Ratio
86C Cloth Top
50S Sirius Satellite Radio
I am getting the car for $31011, or about $75 under invoice. Considering that it puts it at only about $600 more than most used 2005-06's were going for on cars.com, carmax or autotrader.com, I am quite happy. I guess now the wait begins....
Thanks for the help all!

 

[GTlust]

That's about what I can get one for using x-plan. With an msrp of $33,800 I can get $2,400 off using x-plan, so $31,400. That's an 07 vert with IUP, side airbags, antitheft, wheel locking kit, 17 bright machined wheels, convertible boot cover and gt appearance package(whatever that means) all listed as options. Destination fee is also included in that price. If they want to take on a dealer fee of $600-700 i'd go somewhere else.

 

[allcarfan]

the GT appearance package is an engine-dress-up package...FYI