Big vs. Small Dealerships

[RJW]

It sounds like some members here buy cars a lot more frequently than I have. In your opinion, do you tend to get better deals at larger dealerships or smaller ones? I plan on going to my local dealership to get a price on special-ordering a Mustang, but I want to go to at least one other one to get a price and make sure that my hometown dealership isn't overpricing. I'm wondering if I should bother with the little dealership in the next town over, or if I would be better off going further to a big dealership. Maybe there isn't a consistent pattern at all between large and small, but I'm interested in your opinions.

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[Sofa King]

I "auditioned" two dealerships; one local small-town dealer and the other (also small-town) about an hour away, but they are a high-volume Mustang dealer and a much larger dealership than the local one. I talked to the big dealer about ordering one in July '23, so nothing on the lots yet, they were vague on allocations and tried to sell me every Mustang on the lot... several Mach 1s, one was a '22 model with 50 miles on it that they had sat on so long because of ADMs but it was now marked down... this didn't paint a good picture...
I went ahead and built up my car on the configurator and emailed it to the two dealers. The local one responded very quickly (several hours) and were eager to get the order started. The farther away/larger dealer got back to me in less than 24 hours but said that they could not see my build... ford configurator was down... so I sent the build to them in pdf. but got no reply. I replied to both a couple days later with questions on allocations and order wait times as well as any markup (didn't foresee any as I was getting Ecoboost). The local dealer responded within hours again, the larger dealer didn't respond until at least two days later and were again vague on allocations. I made up my mind... three guesses...

 

[robvas]

My neighbor is the new car manager at one of the Ford dealers in my town. The highest volume dealers have the potential to sell you a car at the lowest price. But that doesn't mean that they will.

 

[BuckeyeBOSS]

I haven't found a difference based entirely on size. I've had mostly terrible experiences with most dealers and just keep track of the good ones I've worked with and look to them first for my next purchase.

 

[Ninjak]

I have not had an issue with size, I believe it is the relationship you develop. I have dealt with one dealership mostly in Miami. I have dealt with a few others, but I will say my main dealership treats me really well.

 

[ausomtiger]

I live in AL an have ordered 3 Ford's from Granger Ford in Granger IA and bought another off the lot. None of the local dealers have been close to their prices nor his $180 doc fee. I save enough on doc fee alone to fly up and pick up my cars. 2 Mustangs, a Maverick and a Bronco Sport since 2021.

 

[MAT1955]

@RJW there are three 'UGE things you get at a big dealership: 1. If buying new they alwaya have a better allocation from Ford - which is critical when trying to order a new Mustang. 2. They have always have more price flexibility (unless a small dealer is in trouble financially) 3. Big dealerships always have more specifically trained technicians - particularly in the electronics field. ******but as a friend who owned a big dealership told me guys who get all their oil changes, tires and accessories somewhere else and then come to us with a problem they can get in line (not actually what he said). So, IMO, by my experience (3 mustang purchases in 6 years) ..... if buying a a Mustang do your pricing homework, go to a big dealer and establish a relationship with them.

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