[Racer_X]

This may seem obvious - but i have never "ordered" a car before. If the dealer didn't have make/model/color etc i wanted, they would try to find one and get it shipped. (did this once with a covert red dodge stealth ES - squeezed 180K out of that baby - dam i loved that car!)

Anyway, i realize the following for doing a factory order:

PROS: Get exactly what you want
Enjoy the process

CONS: Have to find a dealer with allocation
Wait for any number of months based on above

But what about price? Wouldn't existing cars on lots be more competively priced? You could inspect the car before finalizing contract... There is probably the case that you won't get exactly the package you want but you can get pretty darn close. Does it cost more to have a dealer do a locate and ship vs a factory order?

Honestly i am just wondering about some of your experiences and why you chose to order vs purchase an existing model.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[rdslon01]

My wife factory ordered her car. She did this because she could not find exactly what she was looking for anywhere in the US. There was one close to what she wanted somewhere in Texas, and another car also close to what she wanted in Chicago, but both of those cars still had slightly different options (not exactly what she wanted). So, instead of settling for either of those to be shipped here, instead she ordered exactly what she wanted.

As for the price, you might be able to get more of a discount if you purchase something from the lot, but, as far as I know, it is cheaper to order from the factory than to have a dealer-to-dealer shipment done (unless the dealer is close enough to drive it from one lot to another). But then it could have many, many miles on it.

Finally, although a dealer would love for you to take something from their lot off their hands, they will actually make more money on a factory order which is sold and off the floor as soon as it arrives than a car which sits on the floor for months before getting sold. So, don't think they are doing you some big favor by factory ordering it for you. Actually, it is the other way around, as you just gave them a sale without ever taking up their floorspace.

 

[glen e]

Ive done both...both worked out well and if the car on the ground is what you want, then it's a wash - unless you like waiting and cant find it anywhere....

 

[NightRaceRick]

I factory ordered because I wanted the car to be exactly what I wanted. Everything I preferred, and nothing to pay for that I didn't need. As far as waiting being a con, that's never been a problem for me. I know well ahead of time when I plan on purchasing and what I want. For example, a number of years ago I ordered a Cobalt in May for my daughter to go off to college in August. If I was a spur of the moment or gotta have it now type, I could see where it could be a dilemma, but I've always been somewhat of a planner.

 

[Racer_X]

Thanks for the feedback. Rodney: Never even considered your statement of selling a car that never had to sit on the lot - good point. Isn't there something called dealer holdback at play here as well? or does it not apply to this model? Agreed that getting exactly the options/features is definately a plus.. in my case i am concerned that our small market dealer doenst have allocation but i have not approached him yet. Still doing some homework...

 

[TNSQUIRE]

If you can get an insider to tell you which cars on the dealers lot are aged and you like the options, those will be the best deal. The dealer needs to move aged vehicles to avoid paying flooring.

 

[glen e]

On a Vette , dealer inventory situations do not come into play, he does not have to " move " a Vette
maybe in the future but not now....if he's feeling floor plan pressure, he can trade it away easy....

 

[rdslon01]

Thanks for the feedback. Rodney: Never even considered your statement of selling a car that never had to sit on the lot - good point. Isn't there something called dealer holdback at play here as well? or does it not apply to this model? Agreed that getting exactly the options/features is definately a plus.. in my case i am concerned that our small market dealer doenst have allocation but i have not approached him yet. Still doing some homework...

They get their holdback regardless.

One last thing I forgot to address that you asked about in your first post was finalizing the contract. If you factory order a car to a dealership local to you, you go in and inspect the car upon arrival before finalizing the purchase. If there is anything wrong, you don't have to take it. Also make sure your contract to place the factory order clearly says under what conditions you get your down payment returned (for example, the car is unacceptable because of damage, or what you consider to be excessive OP, et cetera).

 

[rdslon01]

If you can get an insider to tell you which cars on the dealers lot are aged and you like the options, those will be the best deal. The dealer needs to move aged vehicles to avoid paying flooring.

You can get a rough idea about the car's age from the VIN.

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

I don't know Rodney. Every month a car sits on a dealer's lot, unsold, the more floor plan interest it accrues, and the more anxious a dealer should be to get it sold. I think every time I ever shopped for a car, the dealer preferred that I take something off their hands, rather than order something from the factory, leaving their car sitting there accruing carrying charges for the dealer to pay. Or am I missing something?

 

[rdslon01]

I don't know Rodney. Every month a car sits on a dealer's lot, unsold, the more floor plan interest it accrues, and the more anxious a dealer should be to get it sold. I think every time I ever shopped for a car, the dealer preferred that I take something off their hands, rather than order something from the factory, leaving their car sitting there accruing carrying charges for the dealer to pay. Or am I missing something?

No, you are not missing anything. This is exactly what I said. A dealer will prefer you to take something from their lot, and may give a bigger discount that way. See post #2, paragraph #2, sentence #1, clauses #1 and #2. *Laugh out loud* From one engineer to another, I rest my case, your honor! Hehe...

 

[Buzz]

On a Corvette nobody is going to be able to get one off dealer floor. That is why everyone is ordering..dealers can not keep up with pre-orders, let alone order floor stock, with exception of major 3 dealers. you can now shop around for dealer stock if you want a '13 or '14 because larger dealers still have unsold older models, and demand for these is way down,but for most part, we are all ordering 15's because for the 1st 6 months of new models, there are very few floor models sitting around.

 

[rdslon01]

There is plenty of 2014 floor stock. Did the OP state whether he cares if it is a 2015 or not? If not, there is plenty of floor stock available, and you don't have to be in the top 10 dealers to have 5-10 sitting on the floor.

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

Given that 65 percent of cars sold are automatics, and further given that the automatic has been upgraded to 8 speeds for 2015, its going to make it even harder to sell those A6 cars in stock. On the other hand, if you want a M7, there isn't much difference, unless you want a PDR.

 

[glen e]

Given that 65 percent of cars sold are automatics, and further given that the automatic has been upgraded to 8 speeds for 2015, its going to make it even harder to sell those A6 cars in stock. On the other hand, if you want a M7, there isn't much difference, unless you want a PDR.

Much too much worry about the A6....it'll sell fine the other. 99 pct of buying that are regular people, not forum fanatics, the c7 is still hot....

 

[regguy1]

Much too much worry about the A6....it'll sell fine the other. 99 pct of buying that are regular people, not forum fanatics, the c7 is still hot....

We are "1 percenters" my net worth just took a huge jump

 

[Racer_X]

There is plenty of 2014 floor stock. Did the OP state whether he cares if it is a 2015 or not? If not, there is plenty of floor stock available, and you don't have to be in the top 10 dealers to have 5-10 sitting on the floor.

Hey Rodney - i really hadn't decided but since some 2014 are selling under MSRP and i am interested in MT i might take my initial depreciation in the form of a dealer discount Besides depreciation, and the A8 and some higher end toys, is there any justification for waiting or ordering a 2015?

 

[rdslon01]

Do you want one of the two new colors (Shark Gray or Orange)?

Do you want PDR?

Do you want an A8?

If the answer to none of those is "Yes" then you might as well get a 2014 with a nice big ol' discount, if you can find the option packages and color combinations you want.

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

Do you want one of the two new colors (Shark Gray or Orange)?

Do you want PDR?

Do you want an A8?

If the answer to none of those is "Yes" then you might as well get a 2014 with a nice big ol' discount, if you can find the option packages and color combinations you want.

UNLESS you can qualify for a supplier, employee, or credit union discount. The credit union discount is the same as the supplier discount, and is running about 9% of MSRP on a Stingray. Its also easy to qualify for. So, if you buy with this discount, you will do as well, if not better, than the discounts being quoted on 2014 cars. And if you check among our sponsoring dealers, I am sure you will find one who will give the supplier discount on a new 2015 order.

 

[lakemg]

On a Vette , dealer inventory situations do not come into play, he does not have to " move " a Vette
maybe in the future but not now....if he's feeling floor plan pressure, he can trade it away easy....

Even if it's a 2014 model still lingering?