Vehicle availability vs what the Ford website says?

[K6CCC]

Is this a common issue? According to the Ford website, my local dealer has about a half dozen Lightnings available. In reality they have one and it's currently unavailable due to a recall (and it's not one of the ones listed on the Ford website). What gives?

Sponsored

 

[TaxmanHog]

Is this a common issue? According to the Ford website, my local dealer has about a half dozen Lightnings available. In reality they have one and it's currently unavailable due to a recall (and it's not one of the ones listed on the Ford website). What gives?

Some of these trucks might be in the regional pool, that they should have access to pull from.

My local dealer also has many models that might be available from the pool in ~10 days, cutting a little to close to close a sale on the last business day of the year.

 

[K6CCC]

My local dealer also has many models that might be available from the pool in ~10 days,

These are specifically saying that they are in stock, not in the "available withing 10 days". Kind of a bummer because I will miss the tax credit deadline...

 

[TaxmanHog]

These are specifically saying that they are in stock, not in the "available withing 10 days". Kind of a bummer because I will miss the tax credit deadline...

Is the dealer a part of a larger group?
The one I deal with has partners in Ma, RI, CT NY and beyond, if so they can do a quick inventory transfer, or they could refer you to their affiliates for immediate sale where ever the unit is sitting.

 

[Oafy44]

Not an “issue” per se. Basically Ford is holding most of the lightings at a regional hub. VIN # are hidden from the dealers but they can look up what you are looking for. When a dealer searches for options /colors the trucks available from the regional hub will pop up. The dealer actually has to pull the trigger on the vehicle and then once the dealership commits to the sale / only then the dealership knows the VIN # and it’s on the way to the dealership

ford is giving discount to the dealerships to bring in certain amount of lightings at one time

only way I know this is I have a 23 with 30k miles and wanted to “upgrade” from a lariat to a platinum so the dealership I work with (my company buys a bunch of fleet vehicles) was telling me the process.

 

[K6CCC]

It gets more entertaining (frustrating). Looking around at inventory at multiple dealers in the area. When you search for in stock inventory at a particular dealer, the vehicle details listing includes the VIN as the end of the URL (it's not displayed on the page). Turns out that multiple dealers are showing the same VIN as in stock at their dealership according to the Ford website, but none of them actually have them, and they can't find them anywhere.

So the summary of all this is that no one that I have called actually has ANY of the blue Lightning Flash trucks that the Ford website says they have and they are completely unable to find any. Therefore, I am going to get screwed on the federal tax credit because the Ford dealers can't actually sell any of the vehicles that the Ford website says they have in stock.

Not overly happy at the moment...

 

[BostonLightning]

Turns out that multiple dealers are showing the same VIN as in stock at their dealership according to the Ford website, but none of them actually have them, and they can't find them anywhere.

When the Ford website says 'In Stock' that VIN should be in the dealer's inventory although it may already have a sale pending. When the website says 'Available within 10 days' the vehicles are open to all dealers through the replenishment pool. The VIN will usually be made available within 72 hours when the dealer initiates the transfer to their inventory. If you can find a dealer with a VIN already in their inventory you should be able to finalize the paperwork even if the vehicle is still in transit.

 

[K6CCC]

When the Ford website says 'In Stock' that VIN should be in the dealer's inventory although it may already have a sale pending.

That may be the way it's supposed to be, but clearly is not. As I said, the same VINs were shown as in stock at multiple dealerships, and none of those dealers could even find them anywhere in whatever system they use. Same vehicles showing in stock for the past 10 days or so - and nowhere to be found. I was only looking at "In Stock" vehicles because I was attempting to beat the tax credit expiration - which was first posted here on 23 Dec.

 

[BostonLightning]

That may be the way it's supposed to be, but clearly is not. As I said, the same VINs were shown as in stock at multiple dealerships, and none of those dealers could even find them anywhere in whatever system they use. Same vehicles showing in stock for the past 10 days or so - and nowhere to be found. I was only looking at "In Stock" vehicles because I was attempting to beat the tax credit expiration - which was first posted here on 23 Dec.

If you are flexible on the color, Colley Ford shows an Oxford White Flash in stock.
https://www.colleyford.com/vehicle/1FTVW3L77RWG01527/2024-Ford-F--150_Lightning-Glendora-CA/

 

[K6CCC]

If you are flexible on the color, Colley Ford shows an Oxford White Flash in stock.
https://www.colleyford.com/vehicle/1FTVW3L77RWG01527/2024-Ford-F--150_Lightning-Glendora-CA/

Only somewhat flexible on color - and I don't want white. And just for good measure, that one is not even available to look at (let alone test drive or sell) because it's in the shop for a recall.

And yes, Colley is my local Ford dealer - less than 2 miles from home. I have been on the lot at Colley on the 23rd and talked to the sales staff several times since.

 

[TaxmanHog]

So the summary of all this is that no one that I have called actually has ANY of the blue Lightning Flash trucks that the Ford website says they have and they are completely unable to find any. Therefore, I am going to get screwed on the federal tax credit because the Ford dealers can't actually sell any of the vehicles that the Ford website says they have in stock.

@Ford Motor Company what do marketing & E-commerce folks have to say about this fiasco?

You're not reaching potential customers in this model as it stands if systems and dealers don't know what they're doing!!!!!!

 

[chl]

It gets more entertaining (frustrating). Looking around at inventory at multiple dealers in the area. When you search for in stock inventory at a particular dealer, the vehicle details listing includes the VIN as the end of the URL (it's not displayed on the page). Turns out that multiple dealers are showing the same VIN as in stock at their dealership according to the Ford website, but none of them actually have them, and they can't find them anywhere.

So the summary of all this is that no one that I have called actually has ANY of the blue Lightning Flash trucks that the Ford website says they have and they are completely unable to find any. Therefore, I am going to get screwed on the federal tax credit because the Ford dealers can't actually sell any of the vehicles that the Ford website says they have in stock.

Not overly happy at the moment...

The Lightnings WILL qualify for the tax credit in 2025 according to what I have read.
Yes there was a post here (or elsewhere) suggesting the wouldn't qualify in 2025, but I believe it was a jumping of the gun and that Ford said the Lightnings WILL qualify.

Assuming the price range and your income range are within the limits.

This was published today, Jan 1, 2025:

New Cars and Trucks That Qualify For The Credit In 2025

Make	Model	Year	Vehicle Type	Credit Amt	MSRP Limit
Acura	ZDX	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
Cadillac	Lyriq	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	Optiq	2025	EV	7,500	80,000
Chevrolet	Blazer EV (LT, RS and SS models	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	Equinox EV (LT and RS models	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	Silverado EV (LT model)	2025	EV	7,500	80,000
Chrysler	Pacifica PHEV	2024-2025	PHEV	7,500	80,000
Ford	F-150 Lightning (Flash trim)	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	F-150 Lightning (Lariat trim)	2023-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	F-150 Lightning (XLT trim)	2023-2025	EV	7,500	80,000

https://www.investors.com/news/ev-tax-credits-2024-2025-electric-cars-trucks-7500/

 

[chl]

The Lightnings WILL qualify for the tax credit in 2025 according to what I have read.
Yes there was a post here (or elsewhere) suggesting the wouldn't qualify in 2025, but I believe it was a jumping of the gun and that Ford said the Lightnings WILL qualify.

Assuming the price range and your income range are within the limits.

This was published today, Jan 1, 2025:

New Cars and Trucks That Qualify For The Credit In 2025

Make	Model	Year	Vehicle Type	Credit Amt	MSRP Limit
Acura	ZDX	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
Cadillac	Lyriq	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	Optiq	2025	EV	7,500	80,000
Chevrolet	Blazer EV (LT, RS and SS models	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	Equinox EV (LT and RS models	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	Silverado EV (LT model)	2025	EV	7,500	80,000
Chrysler	Pacifica PHEV	2024-2025	PHEV	7,500	80,000
Ford	F-150 Lightning (Flash trim)	2024-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	F-150 Lightning (Lariat trim)	2023-2025	EV	7,500	80,000
	F-150 Lightning (XLT trim)	2023-2025	EV	7,500	80,000

https://www.investors.com/news/ev-tax-credits-2024-2025-electric-cars-trucks-7500/

A partial table - stopped at the Ford Lightning row.

 

[chl]

When I was looking, I found a lot of them were "in transit" but listed on the dealer web site.

For the full VIN, sometimes the dealer will have a PDF of the sticker - maybe that means they actually HAVE the car on a lot somewhere?

 

[K6CCC]

The Lightnings WILL qualify for the tax credit in 2025 according to what I have read.

That is good news. Hope that is true.

When I was looking, I found a lot of them were "in transit" but listed on the dealer web site.

From the public website, you can't see that. We will see. Hopefully I will be a Lightning owner soon...

Sponsored