Will Bronco Fatigue Cost Ford Reservations?

[EvlNvrDys]

and have at least $3,000 for a down payment.

It's funny that you say that as it's been a recent annoyance of mine lately. I HATE the fact that they will EXPECT any sort of down payment and then I still will have to wait 4-6 months for delivery. How about I pay you when you actually deliver? Or maybe my cash earns some interest while you hold it for good keeping?

And secondly, I don't know how 'car' manufacturing works.... but if you asked me, the Bronco would be the one that started up (1st delivery... however they plan on it working) in October... NOT the Bronco Sport. Ford already has an EcoSport, Escape & the Edge which certainly cover the area the Bronco Sport falls into size wise... Give us the damn Bronco first!!

Now that I got that out of the way, I'm still buying a Bronco.. just a little pissed off about how this is being handled on Ford's end.

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[Dalek]

Will a faulty reservation system, dwell time to have pricing out for options, a 5 month wait to actually place order, lots of unknowns about how dealers will price and then a 6 month wait for delivery be something Ford rethinks in launching future vehicles? Getting folks excited and then slipping back into a very long process with lots of unknowns is wearing thin on me. It's the girl you always wanted to go out with saying yes, then continuing to put you off for what seem like very reasonable reasons but still it starts to make you realize there are other fish in the sea. I predict Bronco Fatigue could be a leading cause of canceled reservations. Ford should be thinking about how to keep my give a damn button from turning off. Maybe having dealers better prepared to engage with buyers would have been a good strategy? Anyone else feel same or is my lack of patience showing?

Yes there are plenty more fish in the sea, but if you hook up with one then later you see your dream gal being lovingly touched and caressed by your jerk off neighbour you’re gonna feel pretty darn sorry you didn’t wait for her
??

 

[Garemlin]

Except we are intelligent (mostly) human beings that can decide when the juice isn't worth the squeeze. If I was ordering an FE, I would probably deal with it. I will be able to get whatever I was going to order anyway from dealer stock only a few months after this "Hide The Sausage" game is over with. I don't appreciate this process that makes me feel like I have to eat a shit sandwich and it's my privilege to do so for what I will receive a year from now. It's still a shit sandwich...

I can appreciate the frustration that some are experiencing. I've been anxiously awaiting the Bronco too. Last year I had the need for an off-road capable SUV in place of my SCAB F-150. If the Bronco was on the market then one would be in my driveway right now. But such is life it wasn't so I had to get something else. Now I have to wait a few years. And I'm really glad I have to wait or I'd be experiencing the same amount of frustration as many of you are.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I find it hard to believe that people would commit to spending this kind of money without knowing what they were spending that money on.

I find it even more unbelievable that after doing so... they complain that they have no answers to their questions.

 

[dirtyscab]

There will also be cancellations due to financing issues. Just imagine if you order the vehicle, have it delivered to the dealership and then they decide not to approve your financing. Make sure you have a credit score of at least 700, aren’t underwater on any vehicle you’re planning to trade in, and have at least $3,000 for a down payment.

If someone with a 500 credit score, an Altima that they're $8000 upside down on, and no money for a down payment tries to buy a brand new car then they probably need that soul crushing slap to get their head on straight.

 

[Frank N]

I would strongly suggest getting pre-approval if your uncertain on your finances.

I would strougly suggest a used, good gas mileage well maintained car if you are unsure of your finances.

 

[vintage]

I find it hard to believe that people would commit to spending this kind of money without knowing what they were spending that money on.

I find it even more unbelievable that after doing so... they complain that they have no answers to their questions.

No commit with a $100 refundable deposit.
Only valid complaint is we have many different answers to the same questions,
Besides this is the only place folks will listen to me complain. As my wife, family and friends stop listening to me complain years ago. LOL

 

[SliderJack]

I find it hard to believe that people would commit to spending this kind of money without knowing what they were spending that money on.

I find it even more unbelievable that after doing so... they complain that they have no answers to their questions.

Really? Not sure about you, but so far I've committed $100 that's totally refundable.

At release, the site was so glitchy that it wasn't showing details or even price. I was lucky to get a reservation in... Damn glad I did, otherwise I'd be waiting another 2 years before being able to buy a Bronco.

So yeah, now that I have my place in line, I'm anxious to get the details so that I can make an informed decision.

If Ford doesn't know all the details, and is still making decisions, that's fine. I can deal with it. It doesn't mean that the misinformation isn't frustrating at times. But I understand it's a waiting game regardless. But buying a different vehicle is still an option for me, so getting the details sooner rather than later is preferred.

 

[crappie man]

Think how much money they are drawing in interest with everyone's 100 dollars. Millions of dollars drawing interest for them as some will start dropping daily and sure some have already but new ones also getting in daily still too. I think that for should say all reservations will be get $2000 under msrp for there wait and dealers having to honor and fill the orders

 

[Squatch]

I think most of the fatigue isn't Ford "screwing up" at all. While they've made a couple of mistakes, the incredible rate at which we expect information to flow in this digital age is probably the biggest factor.

Remember when you'd be lucky to catch an announcement on TV or you made it to one of the ANNUAL auto shows and got to see the newest cars months before they actually came out? Do you remember waiting for an entire month to get a new issue of your favorite car magazine and hopefully they had more information than the teaser article you've been rereading for the last couple weeks in frantic anticipation? Then, the issue came and it was mostly a rehash with updated pics? We're a bit spoiled.

Instead of a two-page spread with a couple highlights we have an 11-minute, high-definition video! It's awesome! I havw my frustrations and unanswered questions, but it's time for some of us to take a break from working each other up about them in forums; plan a future route or trip with friends, install a taller garage door, or learn to ride a real bronco... ?

 

[LemonShark]

My thought on the hole process of how it should of happen to avoid the fatigue and stress. The big reveal on week one, this alone would of probally stopped alot of the site crashing.

The builder site on week two, as we can take are time to see what trim levels have to offer and what prices on options we can afford . This knowledge would of been huge before most put there reverve in . It would also helped ford with a more percise account on true orders and would of eleminated alot of folks double ordering.

The reservervation on week three. I believe alot of reserves were just but in blindly without a great deal of thought, as most of us had no Idea what trim they wanted, needed or could afford because options pricing wasn't avaiable. And two weeks later we still don't know because we're still waiting on build site.

I agree with the roll out timeline, coulda' been better. I'd like to add:

Limited reservation numbers
Higher cost for reservations (especially FE)
Clear guidlines on Dealer changes
Guarantee no ADM on Reserved orders

Ford, I don't want to speak for this VIntage person, but I'm guessing we are both available as consultants for a reasonable fee.

 

[Squatch]

Think how much money they are drawing in interest with everyone's 100 dollars. Millions of dollars drawing interest for them as some will start dropping daily and sure some have already but new ones also getting in daily still too. I think that for should say all reservations will be get $2000 under msrp for there wait and dealers having to honor and fill the orders

The money is held at each dealer and if you think $100 is going to make enough in interest to be worth $2000 in about a year, well...

 

[Uncle Gump]

No commit with a $100 refundable deposit.
Only valid complaint is we have many different answers to the same questions,
Besides this is the only place folks will listen to me complain. As my wife, family and friends stop listening to me complain years ago. LOL

My point was that people put their reservations not knowing... and now complain they don't know. You took a leap of faith when putting the deposit down... did you suddenly lose the faith?

@SliderJack ... no deposit from me sir. Way to many unanswered questions for me to do that.

I also believe Ford had dealer communications that offered Bronco training to all dealers. Each dealer was suppose to have a Bronco specialist on staff. My local dealer has no such person.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

OP seems like a journalist preparing an article, but it does get you thinking.

I won't cancel my reservation, but I also see this as a normal first run release by a manufacturer. No one ever likes to wait. Also can't help feel that COVID-19 has had the biggest impact on the delay and fractured roll out.

Due to the world going to crap, we all will just need to be a little more understanding. However, we've all been suffering some sort of psychosis during this entire experience and those emotions will spill over into taking it out on the Bronco and Ford, but better them than inside your home.

Don't want to make excuses for Ford, because I've never owned one, but to be fair, this launch is a new thing for them as well. Ford has never released such an object of desire, they're Ford! Sure, there have been some limited edition Mustangs and the Raptor, but none of those were produced at a projected clip of 100,000 per year; that's Bronco! In fact, no car manufacturer EVER, has released one vehicle that 100,000 people were instantly willing to at once, fork over this much money to have it first.

Bronco is Ford's biggest release since Taurus and Explorer, but neither of those really raised heart rates (Taurus in particular didn't), so a tad bit of understanding towards Ford is due.

I'm still just happy that they did the impossible, which is listen to the passionate enthusiasts who often are taken for granted by automakers and Ford will get my money as result. Think we all see now that maybe it's because we are so hard to please.

 

[vintage]

My point was that people put their reservations not knowing... and now complain they don't know. You took a leap of faith when putting the deposit down... did you suddenly lose the faith?

@SliderJack ... no deposit from me sir. Way to many unanswered questions for me to do that.

I also believe Ford had dealer communications that offered Bronco training to all dealers. Each dealer was suppose to have a Bronco specialist on staff. My local dealer has no such person.

Agree, I did take a leap of faith and still havn't lost that faith. Being a long time fanboy of the bronco I didn't want to miss out on a limited edition FE and with a $100 refundable deposit really had nothing to loose. I think it's more of a disappointment than a complaint that 2 weeks later we still have alot of up in the air questions. I feel that a little better planning on fords part and alot more information on option prices would of avoided alot of folks complaints and disapponitments.
But trust me the first time I'm behind the wheel of my new Bronco all will be forgotton and forgived.

As for dealer training, I still know more than both the dealers I have reservations at. Not sure they're aware of the traiining or even care. Back in the early 90's I was a manager at a Nissan dealer. Being a car guy I took great pride in learning everthing about the product I was selling and made sure my salesman and saleswomen new their product. Unfortunately I don't see that in alot of the dealerships today. Probably one of the reasons I got out of the business.

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