Job-loss protection: Ford Advantage Plan and the best deals

Like General Motors and Hyundai, Ford has sought to boost sales by quelling shopper fears by providing job-loss protection with the purchase of a new car. (Read about the Hyundai Assurance Plus and GM Total Confidence programs.)

To better understand the benefits from Ford Advantage Plan, Consumer Reports Auto Price Services has taken a close look at this program and identified best deals on eligible models.

To qualify as one of our “Best Deals,” the vehicle has to be a Consumer Reports Recommended model. To earn our recommendation, vehicles must have performed well in our tests, have average or better reliability, and, if crash-tested, provide good overall crash protection based on our composite of insurance-industry and government crash tests. Vehicles also must not have tipped up in the government rollover test or, if not tested, must have available electronic stability control.

The Ford Advantage Plan will cover payments of up to $700 a month for 12 months on any new Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury if customers involuntarily lose their jobs prior to January 1st, 2010. Eligibility is limited to those who have been employed for at least 30 hours per week for 90 days prior to becoming involuntarily unemployed. The program does not apply to seasonal workers, the self-employed, or people who are employed by a family member. This program applies only to vehicles purchased between March 31st, 2009 and June 1st, 2009.

Here’s a look at Ford’s Best Deals:

Model	MSRP	Invoice price	Rebate expiration	Bottom Line Price	Potential savings below MSRP
Ford Edge SEL AWD	$31,395	$29,195	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Escape XLT 2.5L 4WD	25,205	23,381	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Escape XLT 3.0L 4WD	26,215	24,300	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 EL	45,730	41,628	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
Ford F-150XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 145-in	34,460	31,037	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Focus SES Sedan	17,865	16,552	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
Ford Fusion I4 S	19,035	17,707	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
Ford Fusion V6 SEL	23,755	21,765	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
Ford F-150XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 145-in	34,460	31,037	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Mustang GT Premium Coupe	29,160	26,734	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Mustang V6 Premium Convertible	27,345	25,100	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Taurus Limited FWD	30,670	28,053	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Ford Taurus X Limited AWD	34,175	31,272	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Lincoln MKX AWD	39,695	36,536	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Lincoln MKZ V6	32,695	30,021	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Lincoln Navigator Luxury 4x4	56,020	51,383	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
Mercury Mariner Premier I4 4WD	26,515	24,598	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Mercury Mariner Premier V6 4WD	27,515	25,508	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
Mercury Milan I4	20,320	18,703	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
Mercury Milan V6	22,995	21,111	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
Mercury Sable Premier	29,380	26,917	6/30/2009	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+

Remember, other than the purchase of one’s home, buying a vehicle is likely to be the most expensive money outlay a consumer can make. That being the case, you want to get something that you’ll be happy with not just when you leave the showroom, but years later as well.

—Michael Dempsey