In this section we want to cut through the haze and clearly lay out our Ford Transit purchase price.
We will go over the vehicle’s MSRP, the options, the additional fees, and the discounts. All these factors added together went into the final purchase cost of our brand new 2018 Ford Transit.
Our 2018 Ford Transit Purchase Price Breakdown
The purpose of this article is to give you a clearer idea on how much we paid for our Ford Transit and how much you could expect to negotiate and pay if you are interested in purchasing a new Ford Transit van.
Our Ford Transit Specifications
Before we get to the Ford Transit price that we paid, we want to lay out the exact specifications of our van. Different height, different lengths, and different engines; these all have an affect on the final price.
We want to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples.
High Roof
Other options are the low and medium roof models.
148" Wheelbase
Other option is the 133″ wheelbase
3.5L Eco-Boost (Turbo) Engine
The other option is the standard 3.7L engine
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Our Final Ford Transit Price
After the obligatory test ride, the negotiations with the sales people, and the back and forth with the back office finance guy, the our Ford Transit purchase price came to:
This was definitely the largest purchase of both of our lives and we felt a little overwhelmed as we walked to the bank to get the cashier’s check. But we felt awesome knowing we got a decent deal on our future camper van.
Keep reading below if you’re interested to know how all that money was allocated.
Read: How To Negotiate Your Van’s Purchase With A Dealership
2018 Ford Transit Cost Breakdown
Total MSRP: $42,335
Base Price: $37,650
Total Options: $3,290
– 3.5L Ecoboost: $1,865
– 3.31 Limited Slip Axel: $325
– Pewter Cloth Seats: $60 – Trailer Tow Package: $485
– Heavy Duty Alternator: $260
– Dual Batteries: $295
– Destination & Delivery Fee: $1,395
Additional Fees: $746.92
0.5% Oregon “Sales” Tax: $179.92
License and Registration Fee: $452
Document Fee: $115
Total Discounts: -$6,352
Vehicle Discount: -$2,852
Manufacture’s Discount: -$3,500
Final Cost: $36,729.92
MSRP ($42,335) + Additional Fees ($746.92) – Total Discounts ($6,352) = $36,729.92
Thoughts On Our Ford Transit Purchase Price
We think we got a pretty fair deal on the purchase of our Ford Transit. Although we did some good things to help us lower the price of our new vehicle, we still think we could have done better to lower the overall purchase price.
Below we list the things we did well to help lower our purchase cost and things we missed that we could have taken advantage of.
1 - Thank you, Oregon
Fortunately for me, I had a relative that lived in Oregon which allowed me to purchase the van with only a 0.5% sales tax.
I emailed the Ford dealers in Oregon in advance and when I was satisfied, I flew out to Oregon and purchased our Ford Transit the next day.
My other option was to purchase the van in California, which would have added almost $4,000 on top of the vehicle price.
Read More: 2021 Van Life Monthly Expenses
2 - Areas Where We Negotiated Smartly
What I learned throughout our van buying research process was that the “Optional Equipment” on the left-hand side of the window sticker is not optional for the buyer.
These are options that the dealer filled out when they ordered the vehicle from the manufacturer.
After we got through the first round of negotiations and was offered a second price, I sat with the salesman and went through, line by line, all the “options” that weren’t important to me.
The tow package, the heavy duty alternator, the additional battery, the limited slip differential; I told the sales associate that although I understood that they could not be removed from the van, I simply wasn’t interested in paying full price for all those options.
And what could he do for me regarding these extra costs that I didn’t want to pay for?
When the salesman came back after his meeting with from the finance office, he offered me a new, even lower price for the van. He even showed me paperwork of how the new price was below their dealer invoice.
Of course the dealer still makes their money, even if the cost is tecnically below their invoice, but I was satisfied with the price reductions in the end.
3 - How We Could Have Negotiated Better
When I first spoke with the Ford Dealership sales associate, they had asked me if I had been looking at other van models.
Because I had done my prior research and knew that we wanted the Ford Transit (as opposed to the Mercedes Sprinter or Dodge Promaster), I told the sales person that I actually wasn’t interested in the other vehicle brands.
Big mistake.
Whether I was interested in the other models or not, I should not have let the sales associate know that their Ford Transit was my top choice.
Always make the dealership think you have options and that can help you squeeze a better price for your vehicle in the end.
4 - $1,000 left on the table
The manufacturer (not the dealer) was offering an additional $1,000 discount if we could show that we owned any other non-ford vehicle.
This discount was called “Competitor Cash”.
Unfortunately, neither me nor my relative had a title of another vehicle in our names.
5 - Car salesmen are human, too!
Before entering the Gresham Ford Dealership in Oregon, I had this idea that car salesmen were hungry sharks just waiting for unsuspecting customer prey to wander into the sales room.
But to my surprise, I was greeted and treated with respect and had an incredibly amicable relationship with my designated sales person during the entire negotiation and sale of the vehicle.
It really reminded me that car salesmen are human, too.
Of course, this does not mean you should accept a deal that you are uncomfortable with taking or that is outside your researched price range. You should still be firm in what you want and how much you’re willing to pay.
But it does mean that being kind, respectful, and communicative goes a long way towards getting a deal that is acceptable to both you and the dealership.
Your experience as you walk away from the dealership (with or even without a new vehicle) will be much more positive.
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Conclusion
Thank you so much for reading and we hope you enjoyed and found it informational.
For us, of course, the initial price of our new Ford Transit factors substantially in our campervan travel costs.
Buying a new vehicle straight from the dealership can be a stressful and confusing time. If you haven’t already, check out my article on how I Prepared For Our Meeting At The Dealership.
If you do the research first and know what you want and a range of how much you want to pay, the experience is not nearly as daunting as it seems.
Go Back: Van Life Travel Costs & Finances
