mannequin sold?

[tbruz]

I dropped by my local Ford dealer unannounced yesterday to review up close and to test drive their mannequin. It was sitting on their showroom floor with a "sold" ticket hanging from the rear view mirror. I questioned them on selling it so quickly and they were "we accepted a deposit on it today and the new owner doesn't want any extra mileage on it before we deliver it some time in the future."
My next question was "....so as a customer who has an order outstanding for a Bronco with you guys; do I get to test drive it?" Their answer was no; its sold.
I don't really care that they received a premium for the sale of the mannequin; that's just the free market working as its designed to.
I do care that they are not using the vehicle as Ford Corporate intended it to be used; as a sampler for potential and/or actual buyers.
Its obvious what they perceive my value as customer to be at this dealership but moving my order at this late date is not an option.
Do I have any recourse besides just sucking it up and test drive another one somewhere else?
Thanks
Tbruz

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[Roll Sound]

They are not obligated to allow test drives. Bummer but thats the deal.

 

[RagnarKon]

They are under no contractual obligation to allow test drives. It just has to be in display until December.

 

[Bulletbill]

Are you still allowed to sit in it, or is that off limits as well?

 

[TheWoo]

As others have mentioned, there has never been a requirement that dealers allow test drives in their mannequins. They can sit in the show room, or be used as service vehicles, or loaners, or test drives, or whatever else they way. They just can't sell them.

 

[balucipher]

Stay pumped!

 

[Monster1926]

I dropped by my local Ford dealer unannounced yesterday to review up close and to test drive their mannequin. It was sitting on their showroom floor with a "sold" ticket hanging from the rear view mirror. I questioned them on selling it so quickly and they were "we accepted a deposit on it today and the new owner doesn't want any extra mileage on it before we deliver it some time in the future."
My next question was "....so as a customer who has an order outstanding for a Bronco with you guys; do I get to test drive it?" Their answer was no; its sold.
I don't really care that they received a premium for the sale of the mannequin; that's just the free market working as its designed to.
I do care that they are not using the vehicle as Ford Corporate intended it to be used; as a sampler for potential and/or actual buyers.
Its obvious what they perceive my value as customer to be at this dealership but moving my order at this late date is not an option.
Do I have any recourse besides just sucking it up and test drive another one somewhere else?
Thanks
Tbruz

Nothing in the rules shows they have to let anyone drive it. Hell In the rules Ford specifically says they can accept deposits and presell them. It’s just another way for Ford to stick it in the loyal res holders.

 

[Kos]

When I talked to my dealer, he explained they were getting two for the dealership. One was the mannequin that was already on the floor and it was not intended for test drives. They are expecting a second unit later this month that will be designated for the loaner pool and they will be using that for test drives.

 

[tbruz]

Thanks for the replies.
I never did try to just sit in it as I was kinda put off by the "its sold" comment.
Plus I have sat in them already.
Tbruz

 

[SuperFord]

We’ve sold ours but the buyer is OK with us using it for display purposes and test drives for the 6 months until he can take delivery of it.

 

[SuperFord]

It’s just another way for Ford to stick it in the loyal res holders.

no, it’s a way to get display/demos out there for people to see.

what were they supposed to do. Build a bunch of vehicles and send them out to each dealer with the stipulation that they can NEVER be sold?

Get real…

 

[THEMANatwar]

Stinks you can't have it for 6 months though. I guess you could "take" it out. So close but you still don't completely own it that would be painful.

 

[Monster1926]

no, it’s a way to get display/demos out there for people to see.

what were they supposed to do. Build a bunch of vehicles and send them out to each dealer with the stipulation that they can NEVER be sold?

Get real…

They could of put a mileage restriction on them like they did with the Mach E. Dealers couldn’t wait to get you to drive a Mach E so they could get the minimum miles and sell them faster. It’s funny no where in my post I said anything about not being allowed to sell them. Shitty dealers hurry up and Presold their demos then refuse to let anyone drive them.

 

[ilbastarge]

I dropped by my local Ford dealer unannounced yesterday to review up close and to test drive their mannequin. It was sitting on their showroom floor with a "sold" ticket hanging from the rear view mirror. I questioned them on selling it so quickly and they were "we accepted a deposit on it today and the new owner doesn't want any extra mileage on it before we deliver it some time in the future."
My next question was "....so as a customer who has an order outstanding for a Bronco with you guys; do I get to test drive it?" Their answer was no; its sold.
I don't really care that they received a premium for the sale of the mannequin; that's just the free market working as its designed to.
I do care that they are not using the vehicle as Ford Corporate intended it to be used; as a sampler for potential and/or actual buyers.
Its obvious what they perceive my value as customer to be at this dealership but moving my order at this late date is not an option.
Do I have any recourse besides just sucking it up and test drive another one somewhere else?
Thanks
Tbruz

I thought that there was an official Ford Rep on the forum now. Maybe ask them?

 

[Compta38]

recourse? lmao!

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