If anyone thinking of buying new F150 next year 2014 ....

[390gtconv]

Beware ... of dealer caused shortages.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/12/ford-dealers-concerned-about-f-150-shortages.html

[Jibber]

Looks like Jimmy and his dealership croonies are up to NO good. What else is new with these clowns.

[390gtconv]

Going forward gonna be very interesting visits to body shops when need arises. For cars as well.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/driveon/2013/12/26/ford-f-150-aluminum/4203935/

http://www.freep.com/article/20131226/BUSINESS0102/312260086/ford-f-150-aluminum

[TorchredSVT]

I'm no expert in metals, but won't aluminum drive UP the over all costs of the truck?

[07GTCS]

Yes using aluminum will drive material costs up some, but less weight will also increase performance and fuel mileage. With enough volume the material costs will come down. Aluminum can be formed with less heat saving energy costs and less pressure more energy saving, tooling lasts longer. It can save lots of energy just moving the parts from production to assembly line. Should reduce rust as well.

Can you tell how I feel about the use of aluminum in our cars? It's even lighter than fiberglass! I have to stop now I am getting too excited.

[390gtconv]

Posted today 1/3, imagine an F150 getting ~ 30 mpg's??

http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/02/autos/aluminum-f150/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

[390gtconv]

Ed, maybe you'll need to swap up early to get the NEW F150
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2014/01/2015-ford-f-150-top-5-cool-things-video.html#more

[TorchredSVT]

ford ain't no dummy....I like what they did with the baja1000
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/2014-detroit-auto-show/2015-ford-f-150-baja-1000-prototype-ford-snuck-in?src=soc_fcbks

[Jibber]

They better be careful here. WIth the RAM 1500 winning Motor Trend Truck of the year two years in a row...... FORD, Outside of their loyal customers, may find themselves with a shortage of buyers. Considering alot of people make purchases with what's HOT in the market place.

[TorchredSVT]

yeah, but one thing the truck market has that no other do is brand loyalty. I can't imagine an F-150 guy going out and buying a RAM. BEsides, Ram's suck :)

[390gtconv]

They better be careful here. WIth the RAM 1500 winning Motor Trend Truck of the year two years in a row...... FORD, Outside of their loyal customers, may find themselves with a shortage of buyers. Considering alot of people make purchases with what's HOT in the market place.
Ford F150 BEST selling truck 30 plus years, BEST selling vehicle 20 plus yrs! If Ram won 5 years in a row. it wouldn't help them. Ram is 3rd behind GM.
Not to mention where Ram initial QUALITY is, poor.
http://autos.jdpower.com/research/Ram/1500/2013/Truck/ratings.htm


http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/01/the-top-10-best-selling-cars-of-2013.html
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2014/01/best-selling-pickup-trucks-december-2013.html
I'm sure F150 has had a few hiccups over 30 plus years and still on top.
Those awards are given only to a truck that has made the most design changes in a given year.

[Jibber]

Listen Dude... All I'm saying is that Ford better be careful as they COULD lose some sales by having a Dealer created "shortage". The "other" guys have just as capable trucks for people to buy without having to pay a premium or having to wait time to even get one.

This isn't a Dodge forum where you need to support Ford.

[390gtconv]

Listen Dude... All I'm saying is that Ford better be careful as they COULD lose some sales by having a Dealer created "shortage". The "other" guys have just as capable trucks for people to buy without having to pay a premium or having to wait time to even get one.

This isn't a Dodge forum where you need to support Ford.

For the moment, it's ALL speculation. No one needs to get there underwear in a bunch.
My point is for 30 plus years and thru LOTS of hard times Ford has managed ok. If they make a product worth waiting for, it'll work out ok...

[ToplessPony94]

If they make a product worth waiting for, it'll work out ok...

Correct, but it's also true that one does not remain top dog by complacency and resting on one's laurels. You have to actually build a product worth waiting for and make it affordable, too. Hopefully this will not be an issue.

[07 stang gt]

First of all, Ford dealers buy truck equipment (dump bodies, service bodies, rack bodies,Fisher snowplows etc. etc.) from me, as well as take reassignment of Ford F250 thru F750 Superduties from me as well, so we can install the bodies on the trucks, and them deliver them to the dealership.I do not sell any vehicles to anyone, Ford dealers actually buy trucks from ME (we do not sell vehicles or make profit on them, we make money on installation of the truck equipment only), to sell to YOU, so keep me out of the "croonies" dept. Second, you guys have to stop believing everything you read. Dealers are only allowed to recieve a certain amount of vehicles, called "allocation", on any type of vehicle that is on there lot. So to say that dealers are stuffing themselves with F150s could not be farther from the truth. In fact, my dealers would rather NOT have so many F150s since there is a new F150 coming out!!To have a new model coming out in the fall like the F150, Ford will be putting heavy incentives on the older models to get rid of them. It does not do Ford Motor Co. or its dealers any good to sit on old inventory. Dealers have to pay what they call floor plan on EVERY VEHICLE on thier lot, for every month they sit there, either to a bank or Ford, depending on who they borrow money from.Usually runs $2-3-4 hundred PER VEHICLE,PER MONTH, so to stuff dealers with any vehicle line, makes no sense.Ford has learned in the past that does noone any good.Dealers do not take new inventory when they have old inventory, especially how the economy is.Bigger dealers have better allocation than smaller dealers, its all about your days supply. You get what you sell and no more. And when it comes to Shelbys, some dealers get none, some get one, some might get two or so like a Tasca Ford because of its history with Mustangs with Ford MotorCo. but all dealers actually have to pay Ford to be able to even sell that car!! Please do not mention Dodge in the truck picture. They are so far behind Ford in that market thats its not fair to compare. Chevy makes nothing bigger than a 3500hd pickup or a 3500hdchassis any more due to the fact they have no money (except ours!!) to develop a truck of that capability, so if your looking to purchase a truck with a 13,000lb. GVW rate rating, you cant buy a Chevy, you have to buy a Ford or if you are crazy, a Dodge. 36 years in a row with Ford being the # 1 truck out there, speaks volumes in that industry. In fact, Ford outsold Chevy and Dodge COMBINED a few years ago !! As far as body work in that industry on the new truck and the materials such as aluminum,my father in law is the body shop manager at Bonnell Ford and has been with Ford for over 35 years, and like he and Ed will tell you, plenty of training etc will happen before anyone in the bodyshop will touch a vehicle that does not know how to work on it. The materials and paint they use now is far superior than what they have had in the past so I so see no issue going forward. Except maybe with yellow!!