Help me pick the best deal

[Whicks]

Hello everyone!

I am an soon-to-be owner like many of us here, and I was a reservation holder from back in 2021. I cancelled my original reservation (order window was right at the peak of prices when it was only Lariat/Platinum available), but had the opportunity to order on July 17th when the prices dropped and allotments were opened. I placed an order locally on that date that has since been built, and is in the shipment process currently.

While doing research about the truck a few months ago, I found this forum and began to dive in. I noticed a unique opportunity for a large discount off MSRP for new orders by a certain dealer. I'm sure some of you took advantage of that same offer. So, I reached out, presented what I already had going to the pleasantly helpful and honest salesman, and placed a second order for a nearly identical truck. The plan would be to fly there, purchase, and drive back the truck from KS to CA. That truck is scheduled for 11/06 build week.

So here I am today, running the numbers for both deals and trying to decide what deal would be the most practical. I need some other eyes on this so I don't make an impulse decision. I love the idea of being able to try out the long-distance capabilities (or headaches) of these trucks for myself. Here's the numbers and specifics for both sides:

Truck #1 - Local Dealer	Truck #2 - Travel-to Dealer
XLT SR - Silver - Options: Tray mats w/o carpet, Mobile charger, Spray-in liner	XLT SR - Silver - Options: Tray mats w/o carpet, (No factory charger or bedliner)
MSRP: $58,245	MSRP: $57,150 - ($2,500) discount = $54,650
Doc: $85	Doc: $499.95
TTL: $5,607	TTL: $5,277 (due in full to CADMV)
Deposit/Ford Incentives: ($2,000)	Potential Ford Incentives: ($1,500)
OTD: $61,936.58 (estimated)	OTD: $60,426.95 (estimated, including TTL costs)
	Charging costs for travel home: $500
	Lodging costs for travel home: $500
	Initial travel expenses: $250
Total: $61,936.58	True Total to get home: $61,676.95
	Savings: $259.63

So which option makes more sense to you? Do I stay home and wait for a completely equipped truck, or road-trip-it with my $260 spending dollars and see if a bedliner and a factory charger are really worth it later? Curious as to what your thoughts are . . .

Thank you all in advance.

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[lurker]

Deal 1 seems to be better. You're getting a spray-in bedliner (500+ dollars), mobile charger (also $500), and you don't have the headache of traveling/lodging.

Also taking into consideration higher Doc fees for second dealer. Not worth it.

 

[VTHokies]

Option 1 all the way…. You didn’t take into account the opportunity cost of your time flying to KS and having to drive back in Option 2 and since you only have the SR that drive from KS to CA will be a pain!

 

[KevinC]

If you can drag it out til Nov 2 or 3 Ford will have new month incentives. They "might" give more love to xlt. There is a huge wave of xlt stock about to hit dealer lots after months of nothing but lariats. Those deals could be regional so might factor in

 

[Whicks]

If you can drag it out til Nov 2 or 3 Ford will have new month incentives. They "might" give more love to xlt. There is a huge wave of xlt stock about to hit dealer lots after months of nothing but lariats. Those deals could be regional so might factor in

I hope there are better incentives coming, the truck won’t land for another couple weeks.

 

[lurker]

@Whicks see if you can work with Autonation Katy https://www.autonation.com/cars/1ftvw1el2pwg39078/ford-f-150-lightning-2023

(Disclaimer: I am still waiting on a truck from them to be produced, so I don't have experience past their words)

It should be ~1000 to have it shipped to CA. They said they can overnight me any documents that need wet signatures

For `In Transit` vehicles or ones in production still, you should be able to have them knock off any add-ons they do, like bedliner or tint etc. They also try to add on appearance packages, have them knock those off too or as they say `at cost`.

 

[TaxmanHog]

#1, time is money ... even if you're retired.

 

[PA Lightning]

I would personally go local. Aside from the dollars, think how you will be treated by the local dealer when you want to schedule your KS purchased truck for service.

 

[invertedspear]

Also, have you showed local dealer the travel dealer's offer? Would they consider matching it?

 

[Phineas Magliozzi]

Another - admittedly pessimistic - view. If you were to have a problem and were to unfortunately have to pursue a CA Lemon Law case, the calculation for the used miles assumes a 120K mile lifespan. $60k/120k mi = $0.50 per mile. For an arbitrary trip from say Salina KS to Laguna Nigel, some 1,500 miles, you will have reduced the value by some $750.

 

[Whicks]

Also, have you showed local dealer the travel dealer's offer? Would they consider matching it?

I haven’t presented it to them yet, but absolutely worth the ask

 

[Whicks]

Another - admittedly pessimistic - view. If you were to have a problem and were to unfortunately have to pursue a CA Lemon Law case, the calculation for the used miles assumes a 120K mile lifespan. $60k/120k mi = $0.50 per mile. For an arbitrary trip from say Salina KS to Laguna Nigel, some $1,500 miles, you will have reduced the value by some $750.

This is a very unique outlook, thank you for explaining this!

 

[luebri]

#1, time is money ... even if you're retired.

100% correct.

Also. No one likes a bragger!

 

[Lucky Larry]

Buy local, you will get better service at your local dealer if you buy it from them. You will also be supporting your local economy and the employees at your local dealership.

 

[Txxthie]

Ouch….that CA tax is killer! I wouldn’t be in a rush to buy as the market for expensive EV’s has softened. I feel better deals are coming in the months ahead. CT will release soon and it will stimulate other manufacturers to incentivize their EVs. Many can’t afford the monthly payments now due to rising interest rates.

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