I'm doing some online Lariat shopping and have narrowed down to a handful of units available at nearby dealerships. I found a website that claims to show vehicle build dates and other specs based on the VIN, out of curiosity I entered the units I was interested in and found they ranged from October 29 '14 (1FTFW1EG3FFA00732) all the way to June 26 '15 (1FTFW1EG5FFB93577).

Website found here: https://www.etis.ford.com/home.do

First, do you think there would be potential issues purchasing a truck that's been on the lot for 8 months? Second, considering that the first units didn't apparently roll off the assembly line until November 11 '14 is this an error or is it really literally among the first of millions of trucks to be produced? Information based on this site: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/12/2...-starts-video/

In my mission to find the truck that has the most of what I want and least of what I don't, this one fits the closest.

Ha.. you guys might be surprised what I consider to be "near" to me.

Thanks!

 

First, Ford has been building the new F150 for 16 months. We starting shipping our components (every P552 gets one of our assemblies) way back in February 2014. By October, were were shipping a couple hundred a week.

The first few hundred or so are considered PP, MP1, MP2. They are built to ensure to help the assembly plant fine tune the assembly process. Most MP vehicles will never be sold - they are driven by Ford employees who beat them up for QC purposes. Some MP2 vehicles will end up on a lot as long as they are considered what the industry calls 'salable vehicles'.

The first truck you provided the VIN for was the 732nd VIN'd 2015 F150 truck built: FA00732 - the F means Dearborn, the A is the first series of 100K trucks built. when they reach A99999, the next one is B00000, and so on. The second truck, also from DTP, was 193,577th one built.

The P552 is a brand new platform, brand new vehicle. Not sure if I'd want the 732nd one ever built, but YMMV.

 

That's some great information, thanks! Considering all the preproduction, 'practice' and training that happens I suppose it's difficult for the media to really peg down a specific date to when the retail version 'rolls off the assembly line'.
I completely agree with the statement 'I don't know if I'd want the 732nd one ever built'. Maybe certain a certain psychological satisfaction in owning one of the first but the highest probability of problems knowing they haven't pumped out a few hundred thousand to really get into the groove!

Anyway, thanks again for the insight!

 

Interesting, dealer has VIN 1FTFW1EG7FFA12835 sitting on the lot. Build date lists as March 2014. Weird...

Another thing I noticed about these is a MSRP base price about $800 less, and 502A package $100 less. Translates to a free pwr running board/tire upgrade, free max tow option, almost free tech package. Depending how you look at it.

**edit to fix date!

 

Somewhat related, I had one of the first redesigned 1998 Ford Rangers with a A vin 000225 that was probably one of the first ones. It was bought back by Ford for full credit toward a 1999. They could not fix a detonation in the 3.0 engine that was new for that year. Ford told the dealer that they wanted that truck back and sent a covered trailer from Detroit for it a few hours after i turned it in for my 1999. I drove it 20,000 miles for pretty much free. Ford told the dealer to get the truck back with any deal they could make. Maybe it was one that was never to be sold to the public.

 

That is interesting. I don't know when those stock(?) numbers are assigned but I noted the truck built in October was A00732 and the earlier one from March was A12835 (both Dearborn). Could be an early model deemed good enough and reassigned for retail sale?