Now or wait?

I don't know how much the value of your '02 will go down but you can save some money by joining AQHA for 30/year at http://www.aqha.com/partners/index.html#fordoffer
They will send you a memebership card for a $500 off a Ford Product. So, you sill net a $470 off the 05.

It depends on how much time and patience you have with the dealers on whether to buy now or wait for a good price. It is good to know the Dealer Invoice along with the MSRP of the Car with options for negotiations
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2005/for...action=2&tid=edmunds.n.options.ntmv.1.1.Ford*

boomshack said:

Thank you very much for the links ShelbyMan. Good looking out

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Ditto!

I also have a 02 GT, I don't like to buy first year cars, so I want to wait until the 06 GT, and time has told me that the best months to buy a car are September and October, that is because during these months the dealers still have some inventory and rebates are high, so in conclusion I want to wait for a 06 GT and buy it on Sept or Oct 2006... but that is a looooong wait , so maybe I'm going to get a 05 GT on Sept or Oct 2005, if Ford gives a $2000-3000 rebate, that should cover more than enough the decrease of value of my 02 GT, I'll try to sell my GT to a private party and use my x-plan, that should give me a nice deal

Now!

I was afraid of lower resale value when i had my 01 GT due to the 05 comming out. In the end i bought my GTO a couple of months ago and got positive equity from my Mustang. The 99-04 Mustang will retain excellent value if its a V8. A lot of people aren't into the new retro design and are willing to get an older model instead, at a lower price. So demand for your car isn't going away. The Mustang is a popular car no matter the year and people will buy it. I wouldn't worry to much. The best thing you can do is get a quote on your car now. Clean the car as much as possible and bring it down to the dealer. Make sure you already haggled a price for the 05, i wouldn't pay above MSRP otherwise take a walk. If you already know the price on the 05 then negotiate a trade in price on your 02. Go to different dealers and do the same. Use Edmunds and KBB as guidlines to what your car is worth and what they can expect to sell it as.
REMEMBER TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR NUMBERS WORKED OUT BEFORE YOU GO TO THE DEALER!!! Know what you are willing to pay and willing to accept on the trade in. Don't take anyones word. Your trade in is almost guaranteed profit for the dealer. Its really a matter of how much profit they will get from your end as they already know how much they will sell the car for. Don't get caught up in the excitment of buying a brand spanking new 2005 Mustang GT until you are happy with the deal that is ready for your signature. Either way if you wait now, the resale of your car will go down, but now by much. The year of the car isn't as important as you think. Yeah a 20 year old car isn't worth much, but a 3 year old car with 20K miles on it and a 2 year old car with 30K miles on it would almost have the same value if in the same condition. Mileage, presentablility, mechanical and cosmetics are what they look for. The better looking you car is the less work they need to do to prepare it for sale. In the end wait if the price isn't right for you, go for it if you get a great deal. Never look back as someone else will always get it for less.

As it is now, I have Mustangs dancing around in my dreams. It feels like I see them everywhere, but it is just usually my imagination. My girlfriend laughs at me because Mustangs consume about 75% of what I talk to her about right now. And as much as I want one, I think I am going to wait until 06. For some reason, I just think something is going to happen with the 06 that the 05 doesn't have. Probably not, but you never know...

Also, how do trade-ins and ordering work? If I trade in my 98 Explorer (I am keeping my 65 Mustang) and I order a Mustang, can I still get it for just above invoice price? Usually they don't give you as good of a deal on a car if you have a trade-in, but does that apply to ordering? I want to go in a just order one for like $500 above invoice.

If you plan on trading in, don't let them know that until you have settled for your final buying price. Also, make sure that you know what the trade in value is prior to going. That will better help you to know if they are trying to make up for selling you the Stang at a lower price. Good Look.

if you live in a cold climate that gets snow, don't trade until spring. that's the best time to get the best money for your trade. nobody buy's v8 mustangs in the winter (except us idiots ), so they won't want your mustang if they don't have to take it, so they'll give you a low offer.

In addition to what Razinhell stated, make sure if you intend on financing, that you KNOW what your FICO (Credit score) is. Try a Credit Union, bank or any other means to get a rate for a loan. Currently Ford is offering for the Mustang (2005) the following rates:
3.9% APR financing for 36 months
4.9% APR financing for 48 months
5.9% APR financing for 60 months
7.9% APR financing for 72 months

valid Thursday, October 07, 2004, through Monday, January 03, 2005. This is per their website:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/mu...lts/index.asp?model=Mustang&year=05&zip=77077

Also, as a note, the AQHA offer is good until the end of the year. It may get extended by Ford. It has the past 2 years from what I read. Though,NO Guarentee!
You must be a member 30 days PRIOR to signing the papers on the Mustang, taking delivery.

The only changes currently will be 18" optional wheels and color choices. Subject to change. There is suppose to be a $150-500 Price increase on November 29, 2004. So, if you are planning on buying one this year, order it and get a written quote of the price to protect you from any increases prior to actual delivery of the Stang.

Estimates are a 5% increase ($1,250 for a GT for 2006) with minimal model year changes. So, consider the above prior to waiting for the '06 and trade in value of you old car.

Hope this helps your decision. I was going to wait for sure on the '06 but the Price increase of 5% and little to no change in model year may make me go for the 05 sooner than expected.

boomshack said:

Thank you very much for the links ShelbyMan. Good looking out

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Yes,thanks for the links your the best!

I would wait until spring when the rush settles down,plus I always hated seeing a new car all nasty looking in the winter if you live in a place that gets that kind of weather

Snow? What's snow?

Well, I live in San Diego, and for us right now cold is the mid 60's. High temp was like 64 today, and there were "Frost Warnings" on the news, so season doesn't really make a difference in buying a new car. And I really like the Redfire with Bullit rims, so new colors and wheels don't matter much at this point. My big problem is getting my surfboard to the beach. I don't imagine a 9'6" longboard would fit in the Mustang, and it would be a crime to put racks on the top (never, never, never!!!), so it'll be hard letting the Explorer go (which I bought because my 65 Stang wouldn't fit my boards either!) Then I think that maybe I should be responsible and save up for law school (looming the horizon), but then I think, "nah," Mustang is more important

From what I have been told, there are also going to be price increases in the current year with the loss of A,X,Z plan option. I have been told this by 2 dealerships.

DaTT(1sK) said:

From what I have been told, there are also going to be price increases in the current year with the loss of A,X,Z plan option. I have been told this by 2 dealerships.

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I have just received an e-mail from a local dealer, and he said:
"I have been checking to see if and when Ford is going to honor the X-plan. All have that I have heard is maybe later on during next year.". If this is the case an '05 is out of the question for me.

I ordered mine on Z plan last night....no probelms.

DaTT(1sK) said:

I ordered mine on Z plan last night....no probelms.

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I have a feeling certain dealers will be telling prospective 05 Mustang buyers that they will not accept any plans because they want to make as much money off the car as possible.

The trick is to find a dealer that will accept it and order it with price protection