Would I drive away from Flat Rock with my 2011 GT500?

[11ShelbyGT500]

I have paid in full for my 2011 GT500, received the bill of sale, and the certificate of origin. If I go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and register the car, get plates, apply for a title, and fly to Michigan, Ford would have to release the car to me where I own it, right?

[GOTVENOMGT500]

That's a good question, I was aware Ford did factory deliveries would certainly be sweet to be there to drive it off the line and be the first one to drive her. I know with a Vette you can opt for Museum delivery, talking to a friend of mine it's well worth it.

[shel-b001]

Nope. I believe it has go to a dealer for PDI .

[Ezareth]

I have paid in full for my 2011 GT500, received the bill of sale, and the certificate of origin. If I go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and register the car, get plates, apply for a title, and fly to Michigan, Ford would have to release the car to me where I own it, right?

 

 

I asked if I could do this at my dealership and they said Ford doesn't allow it any more.

 

My father used to work at ford and said you could actually watch them make your car and ask them to put a "show job" on it and they would put in extra welds and extra clearcoat on it etc but Ford stopped doing that since it ended up getting abused.

[ChrisSD]

Nope. I believe it has to to a dealer for PDI .

 

 

lol @ "dealer PDI" by the way.

[11ShelbyGT500]

But your missing the point, Ford doesn't own the car anymore; I do! I have the plates & registration for it. I don't understand how they could retain custody of the car.

[03reptile]

But your missing the point, Ford doesn't own the car anymore; I do! I have the plates & registration for it. I don't understand how they could retain custody of the car.

 

 

I think what you're up against is Ford corporate policy that is in place. Regardless of your ownership status, etc., I think your request is outside their normal parameters and therefore, someone at an administrative level would have to pull some strings and make exceptions for your request. Thats not likely to happen unless you have a relative in that position. Big corporations don't like glitches in their set procedures, so I think your request would probably be denied. I'm also sure there are lawyers and their little policies in the mix. I think their main reason for denial is "If we let one person do it, then others will follow suit, then we'll have to create a new procedure for a factory delivery, and that will cost $, and thats where it stops. PDI... yeh, that excuse is laughable. We do a better PDI when we take delivery then the dealer does. Try to be patient. My delivery date just got pushed from 04/18 to 04/26 with no explanantion.

[roadpig58]

But your missing the point, Ford doesn't own the car anymore; I do! I have the plates & registration for it. I don't understand how they could retain custody of the car.

 

i am assuming you paid the dealer for the car- since ford has not released the car to the dealer and the dealer has not paid ford for the car- you still do not own it- ford motor co and the dealer are two separate businesses- the vehicle must be pre delivery inspected by a dealer prior to delivery- right now the dealer has your money- thats all- roadpig

[2010KonaBlueGT]

But your missing the point, Ford doesn't own the car anymore; I do! I have the plates & registration for it. I don't understand how they could retain custody of the car.

 

 

 

You don't own the car until you take delivery of it.

 

By *law*.

 

 

Phill

[Torched10]

But your missing the point, Ford doesn't own the car anymore; I do! I have the plates & registration for it. I don't understand how they could retain custody of the car.

 

 

title has to pass to you to "own" the car. Title comes from Ford thru the dealership--it took me over a month to get mine so I could regsietr it with the state,so i think your confusing paying for the car with owning the car

[hitman007]

title has to pass to you to "own" the car. Title comes from Ford thru the dealership--it took me over a month to get mine so I could regsietr it with the state,so i think your confusing paying for the car with owning the car

 

 

Why debate it here? Just fly to Michigan and see how far you get when you come to the security gate at the plant! Tell the guard that you own the car and you want it now and see what happens? Also, and with all due respect, I think you made a very bad mistake paying for the car and getting the title before you have even received the car. What if it has a major defect? I took delivery of a brand new Ford F250 in 2008 and when I stopped at the store on the way home from the dealer I noticed a pool of oil under my new truck. Took it back to the dealer and to make a long story short the engine block was machined wrong and the oil filter could not make a seal. Ford had to replace the entire engine. I had no truck for 4 weeks. All because I didn't test drive and inspect BEFORE I paid and left the dealer.

[Cali_KR]

Nope. I believe it has go to a dealer for PDI .

 

 

This was the case when I considered "picking up" my 2008 GT500, we'd discussed delivery to the Ford dealer closest to the plant..In my case it didn't happen, but it would be a heck of a memory driving the car home!

[Ezareth]

Why debate it here? Just fly to Michigan and see how far you get when you come to the security gate at the plant! Tell the guard that you own the car and you want it now and see what happens? Also, and with all due respect, I think you made a very bad mistake paying for the car and getting the title before you have even received the car. What if it has a major defect? I took delivery of a brand new Ford F250 in 2008 and when I stopped at the store on the way home from the dealer I noticed a pool of oil under my new truck. Took it back to the dealer and to make a long story short the engine block was machined wrong and the oil filter could not make a seal. Ford had to replace the entire engine. I had no truck for 4 weeks. All because I didn't test drive and inspect BEFORE I paid and left the dealer.

 

 

Yeah I'd rather let that 60K sit in my bank as long as possible collecting interest (or if a loan not costing me interest).

[Michael Morris]

Bob, he does have the MSO in hand. Which is the preTitle. He owns the car.

 

I know the car has to PDI before anyone can take delivery. I know this can just be signing a piece of paper, but a dealer is supposed to check the unit out. Like making sure the car is NOT leaking oil!!! The truck leaking SHOULD have been caught during the PDI.

 

If the dealer is a FMCC Floorplan dealer they ARENT supposed to sell the car until its on the floorplan. Goes on floorplan the day it is given to the Railyard.

 

I have someone at the factory that I can ask for you

 

 

MM

[Michael Morris]

Just got this email from the AA plant.

 

The plant is a Federal Free Trade Zone, we are not able to deliver cars from here. Even the dealer directly across the street from the plant has to wait for the car hauler to drop his cars off.

 

 

 

I dont know what Federal Free Trade Zone means, but Im going to go look it up

 

 

MM

[Ezareth]

Just got this email from the AA plant.

 

The plant is a Federal Free Trade Zone, we are not able to deliver cars from here. Even the dealer directly across the street from the plant has to wait for the car hauler to drop his cars off.

 

 

 

I dont know what Federal Free Trade Zone means, but Im going to go look it up

 

 

MM

 

My guess is it is for some kind of Tax Exemption Regulation since they are acting as a "Distributor" and not Retail sales.

[Son of GT]

Just got this email from the AA plant.

 

The plant is a Federal Free Trade Zone, we are not able to deliver cars from here. Even the dealer directly across the street from the plant has to wait for the car hauler to drop his cars off.

 

I dont know what Federal Free Trade Zone means, but Im going to go look it up

 

MM

 

 

What is a Foreign Trade Zone?

Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) were created in the United States to provide special customs procedures to U.S. plants engaged in international trade-related activities. Duty-free treatment is accorded items that are processed in FTZs and then reexported, and duty payment is deferred on items until they are brought out of the FTZ for sale in the U.S. market. This helps to offset customs advantages available to overseas producers who compete with domestic industry. The Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board (composed of representatives from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Treasury) has its operational staff in the International Trade Administration's Import Administration.

 

What are the different types of FTZs?

FTZs are divided into general-purpose zones and subzones. The Foreign-Trade Zones Board accepts and reviews applications for both. State or local governments, port authorities, nonprofit organizations, or economic development agencies typically sponsor general-purpose zones. General-purpose zones involve public facilities that can be used by more than one firm, and are most commonly ports or industrial parks used by small to medium sized businesses for warehousing/distribution and some processing/assembly. Subzones, on the other hand, are sponsored by general-purpose zones, but typically involve a single firm's site which is used for more extensive manufacturing/processing or warehousing/distribution that cannot easily be accomplished in a general-purpose zone.

 

In this subject matter, the defination of "Free" and "Foregin" are the same. FTZ's benefit the manufacturers because it prevents them from paying overseas tariffs for imported, sub-assembly goods and materals that will be used in the manufacturering of assembled products.

 

As an example...

Published: October 10, 1983

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 9

The Ford Motor Company said it is seeking a free trade subzone for its Lorain, Ohio, car plant. Ford said that such a status would permit the plant to import, duty-free, transmissions from France and turbocharged engines from Brazil for assembly in cars. Ford said Friday the components would be subject to duties when the cars leave the plants for local markets, but added that such duties would not apply if the autos were exported.

 

The bottom line here is that there is very little chance (zero) that the OP will be able to pick his car up from the plant.

[11ShelbyGT500]

I paid for the car in full once I confirmed it was built. The reason being the dealership and the drop-ship location are about 1500 miles apart. The car is not going to the dealership that placed the order for me.

[TMC Audi RS6]

Unfortunately, it is extremely unlikely that you will be able to go to the factory and get your car. What Ford employee is going to go out on a limb and deliver you a car based on your paperwork in hand? These employees (like any business) are regimented into doing things that their system generated paperwork tells them to do. This is done on purpose so employees do not have any ability/authority to go off the reservation. You may have title to the car, but short of convincing a law enforcement agency (good luck with that) to assist you in seizing the car at the factory, I doubt you will get anyone to release the car to you.

 

Tom

[TX STIG]

I paid for the car in full once I confirmed it was built. The reason being the dealership and the drop-ship location are about 1500 miles apart. The car is not going to the dealership that placed the order for me.

 

Under your theory you should be able to show up at the factory with a new C&R heat exchanger and tell them you want to install it while they have your car apart since you're the "owner".

 

Did you pay for delivery?

[J-Train]

Don't think you would be able to take possesion fo the car on the line, but maybe you can go take a picture with it, maybe get to sit in it while it rolls out onto the transport. Get some employees to sign the car, take a picture with them, etc. That would still be pretty cool if possible.