I agree with various points here and will add my 2 cents. You mentioned that you got “inside” deal at MSRP, remember most of us are not on the inside track. When the Vette hits the dealers, those markups are just as real as the markups on Raptors. Your opening statement about insanity for paying such prices leads to “Beauty and in this case “value” is in the eye of the buyer. Just as the Vette buyer that is willing to pay $50k over, why is it insanity because a Raptor buyer is willing to pay XX $ over? At first I myself was stuck on finding the MSRP deal, but then variables of time, enjoyment, and utility came into the equation. So I will attempt to make an equation out of this:
ADM_F = Dealer markup FACTOR you are WILLING to pay
T = Time to receive vehicle , in your procession.
U = Utility. - How much use will you get out of this other than driving around town or the track.
E. = Fun factor, How much fun will you have driving this vehicle.
Values = 1 thru 5,
T = 1 means you want iit NOW , T = 5, means you can wait.
U = 5. , you get a lot of utility and E = 5 of course lots of Fun
Formula ADM_F = ( U + E ) / T
Example 1 to show extremes U = 5, E = 5, T = 1,
(5+5) / 1 = 10. 10 being highest possible value, therefore you are willing to pay highest markup (that u can afford or in your eyes is reasonable).
Example 2 other extreme (time). U = 5, E = 5, T= 5
(5+5) / 5 = 2. means you can wait it out and not going to pay over MSRP.
Qualifiers: IF U + E is less than 5, don’t bother, you neither find enough fun and/or utility on this vehicle, so it’s not even a consideration. As the formula could result in value less than 1. Who is going to buy something that is 50/50 on their personal ratings list??
For me personally, My score was 3.3, I was willing to pay a markup because i did not want to wait 6 plus months. My score is not 8 or 10 because i was not willing to pay the highest markups to get the car tomorrow. I want it, but not that bad.
So we can remove whole thing about insanity about Raptor markups as these markups will exists for any hot car, any make any time. Even before this whole “chip shortage” supply chain stuff. The hot cars always commanded a premium. In fact one might even apply this equation to hot ……. Another rabbit hole.
ADM_F = Dealer markup FACTOR you are WILLING to pay
T = Time to receive vehicle , in your procession.
U = Utility. - How much use will you get out of this other than driving around town or the track.
E. = Fun factor, How much fun will you have driving this vehicle.
Values = 1 thru 5,
T = 1 means you want iit NOW , T = 5, means you can wait.
U = 5. , you get a lot of utility and E = 5 of course lots of Fun
Formula ADM_F = ( U + E ) / T
Example 1 to show extremes U = 5, E = 5, T = 1,
(5+5) / 1 = 10. 10 being highest possible value, therefore you are willing to pay highest markup (that u can afford or in your eyes is reasonable).
Example 2 other extreme (time). U = 5, E = 5, T= 5
(5+5) / 5 = 2. means you can wait it out and not going to pay over MSRP.
Qualifiers: IF U + E is less than 5, don’t bother, you neither find enough fun and/or utility on this vehicle, so it’s not even a consideration. As the formula could result in value less than 1. Who is going to buy something that is 50/50 on their personal ratings list??
For me personally, My score was 3.3, I was willing to pay a markup because i did not want to wait 6 plus months. My score is not 8 or 10 because i was not willing to pay the highest markups to get the car tomorrow. I want it, but not that bad.
So we can remove whole thing about insanity about Raptor markups as these markups will exists for any hot car, any make any time. Even before this whole “chip shortage” supply chain stuff. The hot cars always commanded a premium. In fact one might even apply this equation to hot ……. Another rabbit hole.