THis isnt realy 5th gen although it is related to it seeing as I would be applying this info to possibly purchaing my 5th gen . But I know there are lots of people on this forum knowlegable i purchasing new cars, and some guy sthat work at dealers.

In my limeted experiance in car shopping I always see people go to a dealership, and they get led around, and buy something off the lot.

However, if I were going to buy a totally new car, and not just a beater something, I really cared about and wanted. Cant you like sit down, at a desk and order a car, just the way you want it, color, performance options etc....?

I think of this as a way not only to get mine exactly as I want, but as a way to keep cost down. Because then I dont have to deal with options I dont want.

Hypothetical example. Like maybe I dont want a loaded Z28, I can live without leather, I want power windows, and locks. But I want the highest output engine options, and the car hugger orange. So I save money for crazy sound sytem options or something that I dont have any desier for.

However, when you just have a car on the lot you can haggle the dealer for price. When you order it the wya you want it do you waive the ability to haggle?

Any thoughts?

 

GM is nortorious for it's nonsensical "packages", forcing you to buy a package costing a grand or more to get an option that on it's own would cost perhaps a hundred, even though one option has nothing to do with the other.

 

You mean like they will only let have power locks if its a T-top car?

Of course thats totally made up Im just trying to get teh picture here so I put together a cheap option with an expensive one. But is that what you mean?

 

Exactly!

 

You got it.

Years ago, you could order things al-carte. Want power windows but don't care for A/C? No problem. Like bucket seats, but still want vinyl or rubber flooring in your truck? Sure - just check the right boxes. But this created literally thousands of combinations of options, and that costs some amount of money. So they started bundling options together to create "value packages".

It's really interesting to look at a brochure from the mid-80s and compare it to a current one. Note somewhat subtle differences, like the number of paint and interior color options. It's especially noticable with trucks.

With the just-in-time delivery systems and the modernized ordering system that are supposedly being put into place, I'd think that certain manufacturers could start opening-up the number of option combinations if customers started asking for it. But, most folks either want a stripped-down model, or one that's fully-loaded.

 

yes, like when my mom bought her envoy... she wanted the power seat and thermostat heat / a/c controls. Nope have to buy the whole 3k+ leather package for that

Oh, but we have the dvd player we rarely use though!

 

Ok, but it is possible to do it though right, just not to the extent it used to be? Like I could still check off boxes, and get it mostly the way I wanted with the right color and everything I just may have to deal with one or two more things?

The 4 main points I would make are right color, right engine, and drivetrain, and right top. Other things I could go either way if I had to. But damnit I want the hugger Orange 6.0 LS2 with M6, and a posi 3.55 rear (hypothetical)


And like I said, does this take away my ability to haggle on price?

I was also told once doing it like this was a good way to get rid of hidden charges. Like they have check boxes for dealer things like being washed and detailed for like $400 and what not?

 

From what I've seen ...unless you're willing to pay near MSRP and take your chances on what incentives happen to be flavour of the day when it comes time to actually take delivery ....your best price will be buying from the lot.

I'm stuck seeing two hideous fully cladded Avalanches at work for the next 30 months because 2 of the fellows in the office got totally ticked off with the process of trying to get a straight answers when trying to order so they just took what was available cheap ...

 

Down sides to ordering a car:

1) You have to wait 6-8 weeks, generally, for it to come in.

2) The deal is not "written in stone" because there is not VIN number in existance for the car you are building. Believe me... I learned this the hard way... long story.



Also, as for GM's 'lumping' option packages.... I remember Red Planet says a lot fo the things that go into an option package may SEEM like they don't make sense, but they do...

An example, if I remember right, was on the Camaro, if you got the power locks you were forced into power windows, and foglamps... well, the reason why is that they shared a common wire harness... I may not have the story down exactly right, maybe Red can clean it up for me... but you see the point... right or wrong, at least there was a reason for it.

 

I can see how it would be cheaper for them to bunch options together in a package, but it would very nice if you could literally choose every option specifically. And I've always thought it would great if, on a performance car, you could choose between several different gear ratios. I'm not talking about just checking the box for the "performace axle". I'm imagining a list of gear ratios, like 2.73, 3.08, 3.23, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10, etc. Yeah, that will happen.

 

I remember that story, and you got it the way I remember it. There was also the story of someone who tried to order a CTS with a sunroof but had to take some other option that on the surface was unrelated. JoeliusZ28's story is also much the same. GM (or the private vendor) only making heated power seats in leather, which I can understand. But being forced to take a DVD player??

It's cheaper and easier for GM to make a contract and control quality when there is just one or 2 ways to make a part or system, and like a tree, one branch leads to a whole slew of others. Ford seems to do fine without going to such extremes, but then again, Ford's had some assembly & vendor issues up till just a couple of years ago.

I'd just go for the basics and leave the heated seats off. No telling what you'll have to end up with.

 

I feel the same way, me and you should start a dealership Jed. Well have a dealer installed Moser 12 bolt option

 

To answer the original question,yes you can order a car to your specs. I have done this on every new car ,save one, that I have purchased. All of the orders (except one glaring example) came in just as I had ordered. You do not lose your right to haggle,but you need to do your homework first and know the invoice pricing of the car and options.
Once a VIN is assigned to the car you can even take "paper delivery" ahead of time to take advantage of rebates etc.
It can be done, but be careful.

 

I like how Honda does it... for almost any of their models they just give you a DX, an LX, and an EX. No options involved (except manual/auto and navigation on some models, and then the mostly pointless trinkets installed by the dealer)... just pick your color and go.

This saves them quite a bit of money and really seems to streamline the whole manufacturing and selling process.

Just as with the Acuras where there are very few choices... they all come loaded with a few small exceptions (nav is optional, auto/manual choice, and AWD/motor upgrade on a couple of 'em). End result is you walk into a Lexus dealership and see the ES330 with a base price starting at 29,500 but realize that you get the standard power accessories, climate control, side airbags, and CD and that's it. Even leather is optional. Then add in mark levinson stereo, sunroof, heated seats, distronic cruise, side curtain airbags, vehicle stability control, etc, etc and you're up to nearly 39k sticker!!

Go to the Acura dealership and look at the (competitor to the ES330) 2004 TL and you see the initial sticker of 32k... but then you realize that it comes with DVD-Audio surround sound stereo, heated seats, leather, sunroof, etc, etc... it's already fully loaded sans for the 2k dollar navigation option and the 6-speed manual option (which adds Brembo brakes, different tires/wheels, and a stiffer suspension).

It really is a completely different way of marketing a vehicle... but if fully loaded is what you want, the Acura starts looking like a much better value.