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01-03-2011, 07:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Traded off my pickup
Dave wasn't interested in it, so we traded it in and got a little car. Ford Focus. More or less basic transportation - but, it is more fun to zip around town than the bigger vehicles are.
$18.5K MSRP $12.5K out the door.
Really a strange color Natural Neutral Metallic. Sort of a light tan/Light gray/Light green metallic. My wife likes it, but to me it sounds like Metallic Blah. Can't see the color when I drive it.
I'm figuring that when gas hits $4 I'll be paying less than I was at $2.50.
For an economy car, it has more computing power than the first moon mission.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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01-03-2011, 07:59 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
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Re: Traded off my pickup
What...you didn't get one of those electric cars Mike With Jerry as our new governator I'd figure you'd be able to get some kind of huge rebate.
Really though, glad you found something you like and will work for you and the wife. What are you gonna do for haulin stuff now?
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
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01-03-2011, 08:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Traded off my pickup
None of those environmentally challenged electrics for me (the batteries are a potential disaster). Good ol' gas powered car.
I have another pickup. And I could always put stuff in my RockCrawler trailer behind the van. Take the lid off for really big stuff.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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01-03-2011, 08:07 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
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Re: Traded off my pickup
got to agree there but to each their own I guess. Personally I can't figure how most survive W/O a pickup or nice little trailer.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
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01-03-2011, 08:19 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
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Re: Traded off my pickup
Mike,
FWIW, I've had Ford Focus a number of times as a rental car. Really like it. Ford Fusion is pretty sweet too.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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01-03-2011, 08:35 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Traded off my pickup
I had a Focus as a loaner when my van was in the shop. I kinda liked the 30+mpg. The new one has SYNC (for my wifes cellphone) and Sirius satellite radio and all kinds of neat stuff. And it is nice and small and easy to park (unlike the SMB)
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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01-03-2011, 10:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,071
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Re: Traded off my pickup
Congrats Mike. Sounds like a big discount. Any tips on negotiation? I am going to help my sister buy a new car this month and it has been awhile since I did this.
steve
__________________
'05 Ford V-10 4x4 SMB "50" White
'00 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Highly Modified
'04 Jeep Grand Cherokee- wife won't let me modify it. :-(
Does anyone really read this stuff other than surfgeek?
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01-04-2011, 10:05 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Traded off my pickup
Steve,
The big dealers have an internet arm. After you decide on a vehicle, get an internet price. Watch the newspapers for sales and specials. Then check a couple of dealers and be prepared to walk if they don't come down. And be prepared to spend several hours (4-5) while they try to screw you. Test drive more than one car. Even more than one that is identical (except color). We didn't like the red one, but it's nearly identical sister in blah color was much better. And the Fiesta we drove actually drove much nicer than the Focus we bought. It's never fun. But, first you have to have a handle on what exactly you want. We wound up with the SYNC system we didn't want, but it was on the car on the lot and taking an in stock car was a $1500 rebate better than ordering. And then I say, don't let them pressure you into buying options or a higher priced car just because it is in stock.
Sometimes dealers will cut a better deal on a car they order special for you, because they don't have to sit on it and pay interest on a car waiting for a buyer.
Last time we had a dealer come down $1000 from his lowest possible price when we got up to leave.
Your best defense is to know what you want and what it should cost. The dealer has to make a profit, and I don't mind that.
Good luck,
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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01-04-2011, 10:37 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Newark, CA
Posts: 795
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Re: Traded off my pickup
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
Can't see the color when I drive it.
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Maybe the CHP and toll booth cameras and red light cameras won't be able to see it either! But, I'm assuming, that won't be a factor for you anyway!
__________________
Jack
'01 Ford EB50p Quigley 4WD
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01-04-2011, 11:49 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Traded off my pickup
While I tend to drive slower than most, I noticed that the little Focus goes faster than the SMB does on the same roads. I thought being closer to the ground would make it seem faster and slow me down but the opposite is true.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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