No sho demo

[FOMOCOTOSHO]

So I stopped by my local Ford dealer here in Fargo, ND after work on Friday because I knew they had finally got their second SHO in so I could finally test drive the thing. :woo-hoo: Much to my dismay, however, when I got there I was informed they would not allow ANY test drives or demos on the new SHO's.

WTF ?!?!:argue:

They told me new SHO buyers know what they want and don't need to drive them. The salesperson (who disagrees with the management on this) told me there's only been 2 other cars EVER they never allowed people to demo. 1) Ford GT and 2) Mustang Shelby GT500. **** they are even a Roush dealer and I could drive a Roush Stage 3 Mustang if I wanted to. I was ******. The salesperson did give me a consolation prize however, and let me drive the new Flex Ecoboost instead. Holy crap that hauls A**!!

So has anyone else ran into this problem at any other dealers around the country??

 

[tardboy21]

Well, I actually went out to a Ford dealership this weekend in PA, but I knew one of the sales reps there. I did get to drive a black Eco-SHO on Saturday (no track pack), and all I can say is WOW! It is incredible how smooth, quiet, and fast this thing is. And it really does look better in person. It delivers so much power but is sooooo composed in doing so. Simply put, this engine PULLS, 2k rpms, 5k rpms, wherever. A little engine noise would be welcomed as many others have stated, but that is easily fixable. Definitely looking to get one of these when spring roles around.

But back to the dealership thing. My friend got a bunch of crap from his manager about letting me test drive it. Apparently they are being really selective about who they let drive as only 2 other people have driven it.

 

[stephen newberg]

Dealerships are often selective that way, and we are talking a $45k-$50k car, so that is not surprising, But I doubt there is any centrally authorized idea of not allowing test drives for the model. Those with the money to buy it will likely not do so without a test drive, and since that customer is not every one that walks in the door, most dealerships are not going to be chasing them away.

pax, smn

 

[SeanMc]

The only way I was able to drive one was because I knew so much about it. The manager was very cool about the whole thing, and said "I know you love it, I see you own an older one one, my gift to you" It was awesome. I also helped him sell a 2010 GT500. The guy didn't like the interior of the 09, so I told him "feel the '10s". He went inside and wrote a check for a brand new one. I should get some of that commision .

 

[Eric VerValin]

Well, when I went and looked at the one here, I had somewhere to be.. I just wanted to take a peek, and it was all I could to tell him I'd come back later. He came outside with a plate and keys. Maybe it was because I parked next to it... or maybe because I've been in there before pokin around..

 

[typhoon5000]

The first dealer I went to had one SHO and the sales manager wouldn't let anyone drive it. The salesman I knew said he would've let me no problem, but his boss wouldn't give up the keys. They also let me drive an EB Flex as a consolation prize (with 12 miles to E of fuel though).

So I went to a different dealership and they let me drive 2, back to back, by myself!

 

[T.O_SHO]

When I went to go drive it I just called up the delaership, asked if they had one in stock, then asked if I could test drive it. When I got an enthusiastic "Absolutely!", I was very happy to hear that.

 

[1madSHO]

stopped at a dealer in TN... they were complete douches...

they wouldnt let me start the dammed thing to hear it much less drive it.

i got the "son... I dont think you can afford that particular model...why dont you go over there and look at the SE's if you like the new Taurus... we have 3 and can get you in one rather quickly"

I just told him where he could shove those SE's and got back in the semi and left...

effing douchbag tell me what I can and cant afford... how the **** did he know how much I could afford...[/rant]

 

[typhoon5000]

I just got a call from my dealer that originally wouldn't let me drive one saying they have another one, red, that I can drive as soon as Monday

 

[BamSHO]

I got to drive one last night for a real quick ride. The owner knew me and let me sit in it and take it down and back on the street next to the dealership. Let me say WOW. Im impressed, yes could use little more aggressive exhaust note, but other than that. FORD did a nice job. Just wish the price wasnt so outta sight.

 

[FOMOCOTOSHO]

I drove to Minneapolis for the weekend to get out of Fargo, and just happened to stop @ a dealer down there to check one out. They had 2 of them (Including 6 MKS' with the Ecoboost!) and I was talking to a salesman who asked if I wanted to buy it. I laughed and said of course but I'm not in the position to afford it right now. I told him my dealer back in Fargo wouldn't allow anyone to test drive them and he said that's silly. "How can you get excited about a car if you can't drive it?" (Good point I say) His theory was if someone got excited about it now they would buy it when they could, even if it wasn't a new one. Soooo... I got to drive one! WOO HOO! He even let me rod on it a bit. Kicked it down from around 10mph going onto the freeway to around 75mph. WOW. There's simply no words. I had to change my pants when I got back to the dealer when I was done LOL

So if anyone is in the Minneapolis area & wants to drive one... go to Morrie's Minnetonka F-L-M and ask for Thoum (pronounced like "tomb") He's a cool older askian/korean? guy.

 

[Brett]

I actually ended up seeing a girl from school at the bar saturday night. Shes the only female salesman at a local dealer. She says she can and will let me test drive the new SHO and a '10 stang. I'm going thursday, pretty stoked.

 

[sickSHO96]

I heard that Oxmoor Ford had the first new SHO in Louisville about a month ago or so, so I swung by and checked it out. Unfortunately, they said it was "a limited production collectors' item and people don't like miles being on it," after which I poked around a bit and LOOKED at it. As I was driving off in what I made clear was an older SHO, I saw someone pulling out of the dealership with the 2010 on a test drive.

I'm never going to do business with Oxmoor Ford EVER.

 

[Devin]

Dealers can smell money. You obviously weren't wearing the correct cologne.

 

[HootUSMC]

How old are the people that are getting turned down?

 

[PonySHO]

"a limited production collectors' item"

Does anyone know the date the regular production of the SHO began? I'll be dead before the '10 is possibly in that category, but just out of curiosity.

 

[RonPorter]

I heard that Oxmoor Ford had the first new SHO in Louisville about a month ago or so, so I swung by and checked it out. Unfortunately, they said it was "a limited production collectors' item and people don't like miles being on it," after which I poked around a bit and LOOKED at it. As I was driving off in what I made clear was an older SHO, I saw someone pulling out of the dealership with the 2010 on a test drive.

I'm never going to do business with Oxmoor Ford EVER.

That's the former Star Ford. Those guys have been a-holes for years.

When I went looking for a new '98 (which was gonna be the last year of the SHO at that point), I hit all the other dealers, and I could get an easy $5K off the sticker for the remaining stock. When I went to Star, they ttok me out and showed me two. Both had an extra $5K "wash job" on the dealer sticker. I almost choked from laughter. Told the sales idiot that I wouldn't touch anything for $10K less than what they wanted!!

Prior to that, I had my '89 in their for the subframe recall and another issue. It was supposedly done, but I wasn't "up" on looking under the carpet for the bolts. After I left Louisville, I checked there, and they never did the bolt change.

They are snakes. Friend of mine (whose wife works for Ford) have been dealing with Downtown Ford for many years and have been happy with them.

 

[RonPorter]

Dealers can smell money. You obviously weren't wearing the correct cologne.

Back in the mid-80s, I and a guy that worked for me were in our mid-30s. I bought a new Vette, and he wanted a new 944. He went to the Porsche dealer in his old Honda Accord, and couldn't find a sales wienie to give him the time of day.

We both went a couple of days later in my Vette. You would think that one of us was Bill Gates when we walked through the door.

 

[badcamelot]

test drives

I sold Audi's and Porsches and yes years back Fords. Thankfully Im out of the business, but my experience with the RS4's, R8's and 911's and even the first 96 svt cobra - all dealers are the same. They want all the dough they can get in the name of 'exclusivity' be real or superfluous. Sadly the salesman are often at the mercy of the manager. Some managers understand to sell emotion it ihas to be invoked, others dont care. The sad reality is all of the legitimate 'exclusive' cars are sold for what the dealer wants (at least in my first hand experience. I had the owner of Nu skin waltz into the Audi dealership and demand to see an invoice to one of the two R8's we had coming. Told me to put his name on the first and that he'd pay no more than 500 over our invoice. His face went white when I casually walked over and grabbed a brochure stuck out my hand and thanked him for stopping by. After a tirade with the GM and then GSM he came back a week later to give me his $10k deposit and he signed to buy the car at the agreed $9k OVER sticker - he was given a 'discount' from the 10K over to 9. So even the super wealthy sometimes dont make any progress over us poor and helpless . The $5 or 10K gauge for over sticker does fly with those who have cash and want to be the first to own that model. Dealers know this and are willing to **** off the average joe at that expense. Their side is once a car like this - in Ford showrooms especially - shows up there are ALOT of 'just wanna drive' customers show up. Would you want to buy a SHO for $50K that has 300 very hard drivin miles on it? The answer is no.
You can get them often times to let you test drive by doing a couple of things. 1st call and set up an appointment rather than just drop in. 2nd, if they are still reluctant, play games by asking the out the door exact amount and then say you will go to your credit union with a sales invoice to arrange your financing, they will immediately change their tune and try to lure you into the finance office there or get the basic credit info to 'see' if they can beat your own cu financing bs. All they are doing is verifying you have the credit means to finance a car. Dont give them birth date or ss# (most know this but still) NEVER argue about numbers before driving the car. The more they think they are in control the better your chances of driving will be. And remember, selling cars was awesome - it was the customer most times which made it unbearable!

 

[greengiant]

i gotta go down to the local dealership soon, i talked to the guy running the showroom and he saw my sho and seemed to say that i could test drive one just cuz i had a nice looking sho and he remembered selling gen2s. so maybe....