For those of you that have ordered a new truck or will be ordering a new truck in the future, what options did you want that you had to order or couldn't find on a truck that was on the lot? Just curious why you couldn't find a certain configuration or color, option, on the lot or what little thing you had to have.
I wanted a truck that was actually a truck. I didn't need a DVD player, stitched leather, extra chrome, push button 4WD, or 20 inch rims. Most of the trucks on the lot were configured like this so I was looking for a Ford XL package to start with as a base and then get the options I was looking for on top of that. I also wanted the tow command package, camper package, limited slip rear end, receiver hitch, and skid plates all with a diesel engine. Needless to say, they didn't have that on their lot and in fact didn't even have it in 5 states. Dealers hate to see people that know exactly what they want armed with option codes and questions that they have no idea about. They love the people that come in and ask for a "blue" one. Color is my last concern. I had one "salesman" that I even had to explain that it was easier to tell the diesel trucks by the Powerstroke badge on fender. So I blew off the dealer's shiny know nothing salesmen alltogether and went to Fleet where I talked to a guy in a work shirt that was missing two fingers. He sure knew his stuff and even corrected me on one of my option codes that he knew by heart. I'm just waiting on the new '06 pricing now.
I wanted a loaded truck with a manual trans and t-case. Probably very few other Fords out there like mine... I couldn't even find a stripped one with a manual in CA.
I wanted the cushy bells and whistles for the most part, but I didn't want "onstar" or leather. I make relatively frequent east coast to west coast trips towing or empty and wanted the amenities for me and my family. Other than that I found exactly what I wanted on the lot. Good thing too since I was getting "year-end" clearance incentives and employee cost among other things that combined to make "off the lot" the only option.
Same story with our Superduty. Had to have one with a manual trans and Tcase, and we just couldnt find it anywhere. So that made ordering the only option.
I wish I'd have ordered mine, but mommy wouldn't let me because she said I needed a vehicle NOW NOW NOW to drive to school and back (even though I could have driven the '87 for a few weeks). I insisted on 4wd and manual trans and there was only one in a 500 mile radius that I had to pick from. And now she's upset that I'm not very happy with it.
I knew exactly what I wanted (or atleast what was available ) because I studied what was offered for three years from each auto maker. What it had to be: Regular Cab 4WD strong engine manual tranny full floating rear axle STOUT rear spring pack Things I ordered on mine: carpet delete on a SLT trim pkg. Cab running lights Camper Special Pkg. ( auxilary springs and sway bar ) Trailor Towing Pkg. ( H.D. flashers , trailer light hook up , reciever hitch,etc..) Snow Plow Prep Pkg. ( Stout-ass front springs ) High-Output Diesel engine ( 13" clutch , different pistons, electronics , etc...) HD six spd. tranny ( came with engine option ) H.D. transfer case ( came with Snow Plow option ) Dana 80 rear axle ( came equiped with all manual tranny diesel 2500's ) 4.10 gear ratio Trak-Lok rear diff ( P/L was not offered ) sliding rear window Top line stereo six speaker with CD player ( casett player delete ) HD cooling system ( came with diesel engine option ) oil cooler ( included with diesel option ) I ordered the largest tire offered because I knew I wanted a slightly larger tire and figured it would help make the speedo calibrating easier. The rear spring pack offered in this truck made major points in my descision(sp) making process. This was/is my first new truck and I wanted it to be just as I wanted it to be so I placed an order and waited , and waited , and waited until my special order truck came in and I was there when it hit the dealers lot to make sure that no one else took it for a test drive. The dealer was worried to death that they would get stuck with a regular cab truck that was not a stripper model and tried to cut me deals on trucks that were on the lot. I held firm and stuck with my plan to have a special order truck that was spec'd out by Me . No regrets what so ever on doing a special order ! Tom
