Good or bad? Special ordering a brand new car?

[Ed_Flecko]

I'm thinking of buying a new, 2019 GMC "Canyon" (https://bit.ly/2HgnvUs). The model I want would include what's called the "SLT" package; the primary feature is leather interior.

My local dealers do not have this specific model and they claim that no dealers anywhere near me (Northern California) have it either. They tell me that for $1000 deposit, I can special order the exact model I want, but I'm a little reluctant to special order a vehicle.

I think the primary (potential) disadvantage is that once I place a deposit and order a specific vehicle...it's mine and I'm unconditionally (with probably VERY few, if any, exceptions) committed to buy it.

Does anyone have any "words of wisdom" for me about the pros and/or cons of special ordering a vehicle?

Thank you,
Ed

 

[parshisa]

Get any truck on the lot and have the interior swapped out with Katzkin leather. Problem solved

 

[deven]

Just tell them it is contingent on you test driving the vehicle once it gets to the dealership. Just write it in when they give you the deposit receipt.

 

[ekpolk]

A couple thoughts. First, when you special-order, your deal making leverage is drastically reduced, if not eliminated completely. You are essentially admitting to the dealer that you want the vehicle and are willing to buy. Not to say they might not still compete so you'll order from their dealership, but still not in your favor.

Second, read the "fine print" carefully. You may not be absolutely committed to buy that vehicle, but you will almost certainly lose your deposit (check local law carefully on that point). At very best, you probably won't get it back, if at all, unless and until the dealer has sold the ordered vehicle to another buyer.

All that said, I'd just widen out the search by going on line. I prefer to deal face-to-face, but I have to believe that what you want is out there unless it's a really strange combination (think metallic chartreuse and solid purple two-tone paint with a yellow-green velvet interior...

). Back in 03 when I was shopping to replace my totalled 02 model, the local dealer was preparing to flat-bed me the car I wanted from Miami all the way to Pensacola (about 12 hours driving). We ended up not doing that when we found an even better option much closer by. Point is, if you insist, and don't take, "we just can't find it..." for an answer -- they'll find it for you. If not, another, slightly hungrier dealer will. Don't give up!

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I special ordered one (F350 XL crew) back in 1995, and the order/delivery process went very well. No complaints; still have the truck today. My only regret is that I did not order a higher trim line with more features. As we have gotten older, we appreciate trim lines that are more than "minimum essential".

The issue back then was that no dealer in the Kansas City area carried crew cabs on their lot, so I was pretty much forced into a special order. Got a price better than if I had picked up a used fleet one. At that time, used ones were selling for a high premium.

 

[Kage860]

I say go for it

if you're going to pay all that money for a new vehicle at least get the options you want and then dont pay for the options you dont want!!!!!! Unless you dont care about what you get, in that case just buy a 3 year old car off the lot for cheap. Sounds like you're not sure about what you want.

In my mind, buying off the lot is only good if you're car is broken and you need a replacement today. If you order it will probably he a few months.

 

[oldhp]

How is it "special order"???? How did all the cars/trucks get on the lot in the first place? I just ordered a 2019 Charger to get it the way my wife wanted it. No deposit. Just signed a bill of sale that had my trade-in on it.

 

[RooflessVW]

If you like the truck but want leather, I see no problem with leaving a deposit. Typically you wouldn't (or shouldn't) need a deposit but you want an atypical option that doesn't sell.

On your case I would do all the paperwork up front - have the numbers set in stone contingent upon delivery. Remember, paperwork doesn't mean anything to you until you take delivery of the vehicle - and any "deposit" should be looked at by both parties as "earnest money" and be refundable.

When I worked at BMW the only orders that typically required deposits were cars that wouldn't sell well on the lot. Brash paint or "unusual" interior colors, expensive options on lower-level cars, stuff like that. If you wanted an Individual Composition or Alpina, the deposit was non-refundable.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by Ed_Flecko
I'm thinking of buying a new, 2019 GMC "Canyon" (https://bit.ly/2HgnvUs). The model I want would include what's called the "SLT" package; the primary feature is leather interior.

My local dealers do not have this specific model and they claim that no dealers anywhere near me (Northern California) have it either. They tell me that for $1000 deposit, I can special order the exact model I want, but I'm a little reluctant to special order a vehicle.

I think the primary (potential) disadvantage is that once I place a deposit and order a specific vehicle...it's mine and I'm unconditionally (with probably VERY few, if any, exceptions) committed to buy it.

Does anyone have any "words of wisdom" for me about the pros and/or cons of special ordering a vehicle?

Thank you,
Ed



No it's not yours just because you place a deposit. The dealer may try to get you to feel like it's yours but its not. The dealer has some risk after all because they can be stuck floor planning a vehicle which won't sell if the customer bails.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

After I test drove a "RAV6" a couple of times and was sure I wanted one, there were none in the area in the dark blue I wanted and with the options I desired (heated leather seats in particular).
The salesman told me he could grab a red one with cloth seats from a few states away and have leather and heaters ("100% Toyota") installed...I wasn't crazy about red for that car and did not at all like the idea of aftermarket leather, so I decided to order a dark blue one with the options I wanted.
And Toyota refused my order.
Several times!
My salesman kept telling me he didn't know what was going on and couldn't do anything about it.

One time when I stopped by the dealership to get some info, my salesman wasn't available but a saleslady said she might be able to help me out. I told her the story and she immediately blurted out, "Oh, they're waiting for you to give in and buy the Lexus."
The Lexus GS350, similar size and engine...she said anybody ordering a fully loaded RAV6 was getting the runaround with the idea that they would eventually just buy the more expensive Lexus "equivalent".
Besides having a higher base price, the Lexus was also substantially heavier (=slower to me with the same engine) and had a standard suspension that was cushy for older buyers...if one wanted to engage in sporty driving, a special adjustable suspension with a sport mode was recommended (at about $5000 extra IIRC and also raising the weight of the car more).
I was pretty livid about this and starting shopping around again, test drove the Dodge Magnum V8 several times but couldn't quite pull the trigger. It was a twitchy vehicle to drive and got back from a 20 mile highway loop in it feeling exhausted!
Then I get an email from somebody at the parent company of the Toyota dealer telling me to come on down and check out their selection!
I responded in pretty bitter terms that I was TRYING TO ORDER A CAR FROM THEM and they had better stop sending me stupid emails.
The email got forwarded to my salesman and he called me up to ask why I was so mad....I told him I had effectively given up on Toyota and was looking at other brands even though my request to order was still in place.
He called me back a day later and had WONDERFUL NEWS, they found a dark blue RAV6 just like I wanted on a ship from Japan!!
I didn't believe him, but he swore it was true...my car would show up in about two weeks.
I kept shopping, but it did show up.

BUT, the salesman had two little confessions to make when I showed up to check it out...
1. It didn't have the upgraded stereo I wanted...fine, take that off the price we had worked out.
2. IT HAD CLOTH SEATS WITH NO HEAT. They would send it out to have "100% Toyota" leather and heaters installed.

I felt like crying!
But, you know what...I gave in.
I let them get away with their little scam.
I was emotionally invested in having that car and not willing to go through any more car shopping at that point.

The leather was fine, never had an issue with it.
But, a year or two later, I noticed that my seat heater switches looked nothing like those in a RAV4 sitting in a lot...the heaters were aftermarket and I'd guess cheap. They worked, but I was still mad.

BTW, I bought my FXT off the lot...

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The biggest benefit to buying new is that you can choose the car exactly the way you want it

With used cars, you're stuck with what's on the lot.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted by rooflessVW
If you like the truck but want leather, I see no problem with leaving a deposit. Typically you wouldn't (or shouldn't) need a deposit but you want an atypical option that doesn't sell.

On your case I would do all the paperwork up front - have the numbers set in stone contingent upon delivery. Remember, paperwork doesn't mean anything to you until you take delivery of the vehicle - and any "deposit" should be looked at by both parties as "earnest money" and be refundable.

When I worked at BMW the only orders that typically required deposits were cars that wouldn't sell well on the lot. Brash paint or "unusual" interior colors, expensive options on lower-level cars, stuff like that. If you wanted an Individual Composition or Alpina, the deposit was non-refundable.



What??!??? A 20-something with his wealthy parents in tow couldn't just can order a B7 w/out a deposit? Shocking I say !! ..(sarcasm)

 

[Hootbro]

Something tells me your dealership is lazy. I bet if you put in a little effort, you could look yourself online and spread the search net farther out, you could find the Canyon you want.

ekpolk is right, you kinda take away a lot of your negotiating power by special ordering.

Also, have you actually test drove one? Before I bought my Tacoma, I was set on a Colorado/Canyon until I test drove it and discovered the B pillar arched in too much inward and would hit my shoulder in the seating position I was comfortable with. If you have long legs and a wide shoulder frame, may not be a good fit.

 

[JLTD]

I'm just surprised, well not really, that the dealer is unwilling or unable to check further away from your area… Your truck exists somewhere and has already been built but I imagine they don't want to pay transportation charges to bring it to you because that cuts into their profit margin.

But...

I've known a couple people that special ordered the vehicle, they got a decent deal and exactly and I mean exactly what they wanted.

 

[das_peikko]

Are you going to order the diesel or the gas engine?

 

[Ed_Flecko]

Originally Posted by Hootbro
Something tells me your dealership is lazy. I bet if you put in a little effort, you could look yourself online and spread the search net farther out, you could find the Canyon you want.

ekpolk is right, you kinda take away a lot of your negotiating power by special ordering.

Also, have you actually test drove one? Before I bought my Tacoma, I was set on a Colorado/Canyon until I test drove it and discovered the B pillar arched in too much inward and would hit my shoulder in the seating position I was comfortable with. If you have long legs and a wide shoulder frame, may not be a good fit.


I'll probably drive one this afternoon.

I would consider a Tacoma a little more seriously, but I just don't like the new look - no disrespect intended...I think their styling is just awful.

Ed

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted by Virtus_Probi

I felt like crying!
But, you know what...I gave in.
I let them get away with their little scam.
I was emotionally invested in having that car and not willing to go through any more car shopping at that point.

The leather was fine, never had an issue with it.
But, a year or two later, I noticed that my seat heater switches looked nothing like those in a RAV4 sitting in a lot...the heaters were aftermarket and I'd guess cheap. They worked, but I was still mad.

BTW, I bought my FXT off the lot...

This is how dealers get you into a car by breaking you down and selling you something you really didn't want. Basically it's a form of psychological abuse.
Another way is to get you into the dealership and play the "runaround" game with them during the course of a day or so.
You become hungry, tired and frustrated and at the end of it all, you end up paying THEM!

It happens all the time. Makes me wonder why/how ppl. still choose to deal with dealerships.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

Originally Posted by Lolvoguy
Originally Posted by Virtus_Probi

I felt like crying!
But, you know what...I gave in.
I let them get away with their little scam.
I was emotionally invested in having that car and not willing to go through any more car shopping at that point.

The leather was fine, never had an issue with it.
But, a year or two later, I noticed that my seat heater switches looked nothing like those in a RAV4 sitting in a lot...the heaters were aftermarket and I'd guess cheap. They worked, but I was still mad.

BTW, I bought my FXT off the lot...

This is how dealers get you into a car by breaking you down and selling you something you really didn't want. Basically it's a form of psychological abuse.
Another way is to get you into the dealership and play the "runaround" game with them during the course of a day or so.
You become hungry, tired and frustrated and at the end of it all, you end up paying THEM!

It happens all the time. Makes me wonder why/how ppl. still choose to deal with dealerships.

That's easy to answer; you stand a better chance of getting a better final price.

Any buying "service" is a broker (in some form or fashion) and they're charging you $$$ (whether you realize it or not) for the convenience of not having to deal directly with the Dealer. It's very easy and convenient to purchase any car from any dealer...if you're willing to pay sticker price. I had a co-worker buy a brand new car and was back at work, all within her time allotted lunch hour...because she didn't negotiate the price!

Ed

 

[fisher83]

I had a similar situation when I bought my last truck. I was probably 80-90% set on buying a Tacoma but I did want to at least drive a Frontier also before making a decision. I drive both (Tacoma first) and to my surprise I wound up liking driving the Frontier better so that's what I bought.

 

[Hootbro]

Originally Posted by Ed_Flecko


I'll probably drive one this afternoon.

I would consider a Tacoma a little more seriously, but I just don't like the new look - no disrespect intended...I think their styling is just awful.

Ed


None taken. Not here to sell you on the Tacoma. Just wanted to make you actually drove one and see if it fits you. I like the Colorado/Canyon styling better, just did not work out for my body build. My Tacoma was "Plan B" and did not want to gamble on first year new style Ford Ranger.

Best wishes in your search.