Can't order a car spec'd the way I want

[veeman]

It seems that certain car companies allow you to directly order a car through a dealership from the factory spec'd the way you want.  It obviously takes time and you probably can't negotiate off of MSRP.  I remember my brother in law a few years ago getting a convertible BMW this way.  He told me the dealer wasn't thrilled that he wasn't buying a car from the lot but quickly became much happier after my brother in law put something like 20 thousand dollars down towards the purchase price.

A few days ago I was talking on the internet via email with a Mazda internet sales specialist at a local dealer about the Mazda 6 with manual transmission.  I know they're super rare.  I asked him how long would it take to get one if I ordered it via his dealership straight from the factory spec'd the way I want.  So I get no response?  This has happened twice now with two different dealerships.  The other dealership I talked with said they can try to find the car spec'd the way I want but he wouldn't answer my question about if I could directly order one spec'd the way I want.

What gives?  Can you not order a car from the factory via a dealership spec'd the way you want depending on the brand and/or model?

[Galaxy]

You can.

It is not the car company that is your problem, it is the dealership.

[cawimmer430]

I thought buying a car fresh from the lot was common practice in the US - hence why your cars are always [literally] fully loaded with all sorts of fancy features? 

The next time you're considering a European [German] car you should definitely do the European Delivery Program. It's well worth the wait and you can A) select the stuff you want in your car and B) experience Europe for a week (or more). 

[veeman]

I thought buying a car fresh from the lot was common practice in the US - hence why your cars are always [literally] fully loaded with all sorts of fancy features? 

The next time you're considering a European [German] car you should definitely do the European Delivery Program. It's well worth the wait and you can A) select the stuff you want in your car and B) experience Europe for a week (or more). 

I'd love to do that but I'm not in the market for that kind of car (European luxury) right now. 

[MexicoCityM3]

Maybe contact Mazda directly?

[veeman]

Maybe contact Mazda directly?

Good thought.  Just seemed weird to me.  Maybe because the 2017 models will be coming out soon they're not accepting any new orders right now.  I don't know.  Maybe because they're just not used to doing this?  Who, for example, orders a Camry spec'd the way you want?  There's probably every single combination of available specs just sitting in dealer lots within a hundred mile radius of me.  Manual transmission Mazda 6 are pretty rare though.

[MrH]

Just shitty dealers is all.

Good dealers don't mind ordering. It's little hassle and doesn't sit as inventory for them. You don't need to pay MSRP either.

Wait time is dependent on a lot (where it's made, future allocations, how far ahead/behind the plant is, etc). 8-12 weeks would sound about right for a Mazda 6. They could probably still dealer trade and get exactly what you want sooner.

[GoCougs]

Walk into a dealer and ask about ordering the car you want. Talk is too cheap over the Internets.

[Payman]

Walk into a dealer and ask about ordering the car you want. Talk is too cheap over the Internets.

This. I doubt salesmen take phone and email inquiries seriously, but would if you took the time to meet face-to-face.

[veeman]

Just shitty dealers is all.

Good dealers don't mind ordering. It's little hassle and doesn't sit as inventory for them. You don't need to pay MSRP either.

Wait time is dependent on a lot (where it's made, future allocations, how far ahead/behind the plant is, etc). 8-12 weeks would sound about right for a Mazda 6. They could probably still dealer trade and get exactly what you want sooner.

Thanks

[MX793]

Your dealers suck.  Both of my Mustang's were ordered, and the dealer's were more than happy to offer the custom order option when their inventory searches turned up 0 matches.

Part of your problem is you're dealing with the internet sales rep.  That guy is only interested in moving existing inventory.  Go to the dealership, talk to a salesperson, tell them what you want and tell them you'll special order if they can't find any spec'ed how you want.

You're likely to get a sweeter deal if you buy something from inventory (many lease/finance deals or cash-back deals only apply to existing inventory), but that will often mean compromising on something you want.

[MX793]

Maybe contact Mazda directly?

Manufacturers cannot sell vehicles directly to consumers in the US.  Mazda will politely tell you to contact your local dealer.

[veeman]

This. I doubt salesmen take phone and email inquiries seriously, but would if you took the time to meet face-to-face.

Walk into a dealer and ask about ordering the car you want. Talk is too cheap over the Internets.

Ahhh.  Didn't think about this.

[veeman]

Your dealers suck.  Both of my Mustang's were ordered, and the dealer's were more than happy to offer the custom order option when their inventory searches turned up 0 matches.

Part of your problem is you're dealing with the internet sales rep.  That guy is only interested in moving existing inventory.  Go to the dealership, talk to a salesperson, tell them what you want and tell them you'll special order if they can't find any spec'ed how you want.

You're likely to get a sweeter deal if you buy something from inventory (many lease/finance deals or cash-back deals only apply to existing inventory), but that will often mean compromising on something you want.

Thanks.  Off topic I'm also very interested in your car.  Well not "your" car but a Mustang GT with the performance package.  It's a big jump up in price from the Mazda 6 and a completely different sort of car obviously but... it calls to me.  I'll have to test drive both in the next few months.  I got plenty of time before VW coughs up the money for my diesel polluter.

[ifcar]

Good thought.  Just seemed weird to me.  Maybe because the 2017 models will be coming out soon they're not accepting any new orders right now.  I don't know.  Maybe because they're just not used to doing this?  Who, for example, orders a Camry spec'd the way you want?  There's probably every single combination of available specs just sitting in dealer lots within a hundred mile radius of me.  Manual transmission Mazda 6 are pretty rare though.

You may be right about the 2017s. However, the 2017 is supposed to have the improved steering system that's been getting rave reviews, so it may be worth the wait anyway.

[Lebowski]

Lots of dealers just suck.

I would consider going to a dedicated Mazda forum and find a dealer that is active there that others have ordered from. I did this for the M3, and got a quote from one for the C6. FWIW I got ~$4k off msrp on the M3 despite it being an order and the F80 was relatively new then, my local dealer wouldn't budge from msrp and was being cagey / stringing me along WRT their ability to even get an allocation.

Lots of shitty dealers out there.

One advantage of transaction over the Internet is that it's quick - none of the haggling BS, none of the having a "manager" corner you when you take delivery to pitch all the BS add-ons (seriously, I almost walked out of the place when I took delivery of the 4Runner because of this).

[veeman]

Lots of dealers just suck.

I would consider going to a dedicated Mazda forum and find a dealer that is active there that others have ordered from. I did this for the M3, and got a quote from one for the C6. FWIW I got ~$4k off msrp on the M3 despite it being an order and the F80 was relatively new then, my local dealer wouldn't budge from msrp and was being cagey / stringing me along WRT their ability to even get an allocation.

Lots of shitty dealers out there.

Great advice.  I suck at negotiating pricing and I've relied on independent internet brokers (carsdirect) to get a few of my past cars.  I know, I know, it's not that hard but I'm just not very good at it.     

[Lebowski]

Great advice.  I suck at negotiating pricing and I've relied on independent internet brokers (carsdirect) to get a few of my past cars.  I know, I know, it's not that hard but I'm just not very good at it.     

With the M3 there was zero haggling - I emailed the build I wanted and he replied with a price. Same with the quote for the corvette. Dealers were Long Beach BMW in CA and Kerbeck Corvette in Atlantic city.  I would imagine that the typical dealerships' internet department sucks but there are definitely some high volume dealers out there that have great internet departments, and usually will have someone who's active on the brand/model specific forums.

In my case I did museum delivery for the corvette and the performance center delivery for the m3, so having the dealer not local was not an issue.

[MexicoCityM3]

With the M3 there was zero haggling - I emailed the specs I wanted and he replied with a price. Same with the quote for the corvette. Dealers were Long Beach BMW in CA and Kerbeck Corvette in Atlantic city.  I would imagine that the typical dealerships' internet department sucks but there are definitely some high volume dealers out there that have great internet departments, and usually will have someone who's active on the brand/mode specific forums.

In my case I did museum delivery for the corvette and the performance center delivery for the m3, so having the dealer not local was not an issue.

How are you liking the M3 so far? I've driven a couple a little and liked them. We are finally getting the manual option here for the 2017 model year which to me has made it a bit more appealing.

[Lebowski]

How are you liking the M3 so far? I've driven a couple a little and liked them. We are finally getting the manual option here for the 2017 model year which to me has made it a bit more appealing.

I like it. Probably 90% as fun as the corvette but way more practical as I need 4 doors now.

[cawimmer430]

Weird question.

Do Americans generally expect to buy the car they want from the lot on the same day they visit the dealership?

[2o6]

Weird question.

Do Americans generally expect to buy the car they want from the lot on the same day they visit the dealership?

Yes. This is why we have acres and acres of vehicles for dealerships, on hand. Of the same token, Americans are are also far less interested in customizing or ordering, which is why our cars have only a handful of trim levels or options. Usually only one other engine option (if at all) and a handful of colors, and only a couple states of trim.


I have noticed, that when I worked at BMW, customers were more willing to wait and order their vehicle to their liking, but we still did have a few cars on hand that would be "popular" with our clientele.

[2o6]

And actually, most dealer stock is usally "mid grade" trim, very few stripper models sell, and not everyone wants to pay the extra money for the "Fully loaded" models.

[cawimmer430]

Yes. This is why we have acres and acres of vehicles for dealerships, on hand. Of the same token, Americans are are also far less interested in customizing or ordering, which is why our cars have only a handful of trim levels or options. Usually only one other engine option (if at all) and a handful of colors, and only a couple states of trim.

Thank you! 

That's what I was suspecting.

I have noticed, that when I worked at BMW, customers were more willing to wait and order their vehicle to their liking, but we still did have a few cars on hand that would be "popular" with our clientele.

Experiences such as the European Delivery Program must be popular with many North Americans. Whenever I visit BMW Welt I will often see American families there picking up their new BMW, receiving the red plates and then driving out to experience Europe for a week or two.

This is a generalization, but in Europe most people will visit the dealership, order their car and the features they want and are willing to wait a few weeks or months for it to arrive fresh from the factory. This is particularly true of European brands. I am not quite sure how it works with Asian brands, or the few American brands which are sold here.

[GoCougs]

Weird question.

Do Americans generally expect to buy the car they want from the lot on the same day they visit the dealership?

I would say in most cases, yes.

The only way the auto industry in the US survives remotely close to the level it does (expected to be ~18MM retail vehicles for 2016) is through impulse buying, and everything related to it - from laughably generous financing schemes to shady dealer tactics - enables that mentality. If Americans had to have rational financing (or the horror, pay cash) and wait weeks or a couple of months the US auto industry would in effect collapse.

[2o6]

I would say in most cases, yes.

The only way the auto industry in the US survives remotely close to the level it does (expected to be ~18MM retail vehicles for 2016) is through impulse buying, and everything related to it - from laughably generous financing schemes to shady dealer tactics - enables that mentality. If Americans had to have rational financing (or the horror, pay cash) and wait weeks or a couple of months the US auto industry would in effect collapse.

The ol "I just came in for an oil change and walked out with a new car!" Happens so much in this industry. I didn't think people actually did that until I started working at a dealership.

[GoCougs]

Great advice.  I suck at negotiating pricing and I've relied on independent internet brokers (carsdirect) to get a few of my past cars.  I know, I know, it's not that hard but I'm just not very good at it.     

I find it fun. IME the super hagglers are cheap and don't know the value of a dollar. Time is expensive if you have any sort of real life.

The tactic I found that works best (minimal time, very good results) is I only deal in the bottom line number - I never haggle over add-ons or BS fees or whatever - that is where dealers will have the upper hand. I let them present a final all-in number and then I low ball it by like ~15%. They feign shitting bricks of course, counter with a number not much lower, and then I counter with a number but $500 more than my original number followed by stating I'll pay cash you guys get to figure out how you divvy it up. Works like a charm. As I do a quick accounting this has gotten me ~15% off the last few cars I purchased (either very slightly used or brand new), which were all fairly desirable cars from new car dealers.

[AutobahnSHO]

Experiences such as the European Delivery Program must be popular with many North Americans. Whenever I visit BMW Welt I will often see American families there picking up their new BMW, receiving the red plates and then driving out to experience Europe for a week or two.

I wonder what percentage of those are servicemembers. There are some "GREAT DEALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" which include shipping it back to the US, (even though the car was probably built in North Carolina in many cases) and those deals are in reality are not that much better than buying stateside.

This is a generalization, but in Europe most people will visit the dealership, order their car and the features they want and are willing to wait a few weeks or months for it to arrive fresh from the factory. This is particularly true of European brands. I am not quite sure how it works with Asian brands, or the few American brands which are sold here.

Because it's a big deal and in general people there don't go through cars as fast as we do. Same with Japan- people junk their cars after 80k miles because it's so old (15yrs), they don't have as far to drive in many cases.

I've put 26k miles on Odyssey since feb2015.!

[AutobahnSHO]

The only way the auto industry in the US survives remotely close to the level it does (expected to be ~18MM retail vehicles for 2016) is through impulse buying, and everything related to it - from laughably generous financing schemes to shady dealer tactics - enables that mentality. If Americans had to have rational financing (or the horror, pay cash) and wait weeks or a couple of months the US auto industry would in effect collapse.

The ol "I just came in for an oil change and walked out with a new car!" Happens so much in this industry. I didn't think people actually did that until I started working at a dealership.

I read an article that pointed to auto finance bubble will be the next to pop. They're doing subprime a LOT. John Oliver did a piece on it recently too- the "buy here pay here" crap and repossessions......

[2o6]

I wonder what percentage of those are servicemembers. There are some "GREAT DEALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" which include shipping it back to the US, (even though the car was probably built in North Carolina in many cases) and those deals are in reality are not that much better than buying stateside.

The "European Delivery" already has shipping included.