| macbethderham |
I am waiting for my new Pilot, and the dealer says the one I want is expected int he next allocation--"soon." Does anyone know of the time period between allocations?
MacBeth
(anxious to drive my own Pilot) |
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| copilot |
| four to six weeks before production your dealer allocates their allotment to Honda. For example, if your dealer is alloted 10 Pilots for Sept 15-Oct 15 production he should be putting in his requested models and colors about now. He will then receive "build dates" from Honda telling him when certain models and colors are being built. If he has buyers for 11 Pilots; but only an allotment for 10 one of the buyers will have to wait for the next month's allotment unless the dealer can trade with some other dealer.:confused: Hope that didn't confuse you more than help. |
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| renov8r |
Is that certain colors/options may be limited by the factory due to problems with suppliers & production.
Good news, I belive that right now all Pilot combinations are on equal footing, however I would ask the dealer specifics about how many other folks are expecting the same model/options/color as you at this particular dealership, as you don't want to be left out in the cold if somebody else is itching to jump ahead of you... |
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| macbethderham |
Thanks for the replies! My husband is hoping for Red, but I do like the strange Blue hue. Frankly, considering the mark-ups here on Long Island, we will take what we can get...but the sooner the better!
My 12 year old Volvo had earned a rest. 168,000 miles, and the kids have outgrown the jumpseat. They are thrilled to hear that they all get a window seat, and no one sits next to the other :2:
MacBeth in NY |
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| havasu |
Our dealer has a list of the current allocation status outside one of the sales cubicles in the dealership. We go in every once in a while to watch "our" Pilot move toward the top. It lists color and options so you can see what is coming and (approx.) when. Also whether each model is sold or not. They have a page for each model (One for Pilot, Odyssey, CR-V, etc.)
Ours was built 8/11. #20,620. It's probably on a truck somewhere now!!! |
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| renov8r |
That is one smart dealer!
If they can't have the cars on the lot, at least let you know where you stand!
Much better than the "mystery meat" offered up by too many Honda stores:" "It's on its way/ you're on the list/trust me/ we'll call when it's here/we don;t now when they build 'em" ...
YADAYADAYADAYADAYADA!
I wish AHMC would recommend that ALL dealers implement some sort of 'tracking' or better yet devote a web page to "owners to be" that would give updates on orders recieved/builds scheduled. THAT would be one helluva way to spring from the bottom pack on buying expereince to the Saturn/Lexus ranks!
quote:
Originally posted by havasu
Our dealer has a list of the current allocation status outside one of the sales cubicles in the dealership. We go in every once in a while to watch "our" Pilot move toward the top. It lists color and options so you can see what is coming and (approx.) when. Also whether each model is sold or not. They have a page for each model (One for Pilot, Odyssey, CR-V, etc.)
Ours was built 8/11. #20,620. It's probably on a truck somewhere now!!!
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| macbethderham |
What a deal(er)! Gosh, it would be great to know where the car is, and watch it move along on its way to me. Sounds llike that dealer knows how to please his customers.
The first dealer we approached, when asked if we could order, replied, "We at Honda of **** don't take orders." Huh? We walked out. I wonder if he thought he was being honest or it's just some strange policy.
Thanks again for all replies. I am enjoying the peek into the Honda buying process from everyone's experience! |
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| havasu |
Well, strictly speaking, as I understand it (and this is my first Honda purchase), dealers don't take "orders." They get an allocation of cars coming to their dealership. You can put your name on one of the cars that is coming. In our case, we wanted Havasu Blue EXL-RES which wasn't on the horizon, and they found another dealer with one yet-to-be-built, and swapped with them "at the factory" for a similar car of a different color... meaning that the two unbuilt cars were redirected as to which dealer they would be sent to.
I could have this wrong, but this is our perception based on what we've been told, and seen, on the list that is posted at the dealer's. Gosh, I didn't realize how lucky we are!
Another interesting piece of information: The cars on the list that already have buyers' names attached to them have little or no options listed. The ones that aren't spoken for usually have a long list of options already planned to be installed!! The Taffeta White EXL-RES we gave up in July had a $1595 sunroof installed within three days of our passing it up to wait for the Havasu Blue. I believe they could have sold it within a day or two of our giving it up, even without the sunroof. (Pictures of the sunroof have been posted in another thread in the Gallery.) |
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| macbethderham |
Does anyone know if dealers have been given Sept. build dates?
Aside from asking our salesman, who keeps using the word "builded",
:( and seems to be rather ill-infomed,
is there any other source for this information?
>sigh<
I was really hoping that once we placed the order that we would get some straightforward answers. I am pretty dissapointed with the sales staff everywhere, and we visited 7 dealerships.
Am I expecting too much? After reading the tragic story of "Pilotless", I am worrying... |
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| tady |
| Most of the September build dates are out and the dealers are submitting their requests for the October build dates this week. I ordered in July and should have gotten a September build date but didn't make the allocation. The dealers can request specific models but they don't always get all that they want. There are restrictions on color and how many leather they are allowed etc. My dealer also gives me very little info. hoping I wouldn't notice that I missed the September build and now have to wait for October. That is why dealers handle it so differently. They really want to sell you a Pilot but they can't always get their hands on the one you want. :( |
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| davisdog |
This dealer posts all their allocations (what colors and trim levels honda will be building for them in the upcoming month) and then they fill in the build date a couple weeks later when they get it from honda.
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/2002.htm
click on the "on order link" (in the lower right)
.As soon as you see this dealer post updates, your dealer will have the same info and if they arent forthcoming you should hound them (because they get the same info at the same time in regards to what Honda is building for them.
..steve |
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| macbethderham |
| Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I am looking forward to getting the car. I guess my husband will have to keep in contact with the dealer. |
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| dmack24 |
I sell Hondas and as far as allocation and build dates, we get a certain number of Pilots, Odysseys, and CRV's per month. My manager looks at what deposits have been taken on incoming vehicles and orders more. If you come in and look at my list of what's coming in and see an open slot for what you want, you give me a refundable $500 deposit to take that spot for that color, make, model vehicle. If it doesn't have your color on their we custom order your vehicle the next order cycle (usually every 3 weeks), you need to get your deposit down and see approximately the vehicle will be in. Right now I can probably get you any color Pilot for a late November delivery.
I did have a problem trying to get an Evergreen Pearl Odyssey W/Navi for a customer, the availability wasn't there because only 10% of our order could be black or Evergreen Pearl. We got 17 Odysseys that month, and 2 were Black/Green, so my customer switched to Blue.
Now, when you order a Pilot, the order goes in. 2-3 weeks after submitting his order, your Honda Dealer should get confirmation of what colors/models he will be getting, as well as build dates for each vehicle. The build date spans a 1 week period at the factory. The DAY your vehicle is to be built, it will be assigned a VIN #, after being built it will show as shipped, after it is shown as shipped (2-3 days), it will show as being in your dealer's vehicle inventory.
Your dealer knows exactely what's coming in, build dates, allocation, and approximately when the vehicle should get there to the dealership. Now, transportation has been the pain in my ass, it is usually a few days later because of the trucking company, distribution points, etc. The customer keeps calling asking where is my vehicle. It is in shipping's hands after the factory builds it and your dealer has no way of getting it there quicker.
Hope that sheds some light on the allocation/inventory that each dealer gets. We usually can get a customer whatever vehicle he wants in 1 1/2 - 2 months, you just need to put down a $500 deposit and tell me what you want.
Let me know if there are any other questions on the process.
Dave |
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