Process when buying a new car

[giskard]

I recently ordered a new Disco from a dealer. At the time of sale, they had checked the 'system' and indicated delivery at 25-NOV. A week or so later, I call the dealership, they say delivery is now mid Dec.

I've checked my purchase contract. It outlines the details of purchase, but they haven't filled out the vin or engine number. I might be jumping at shadows, but Dec, feels like Jan, which will turn into Feb.

I wonder if the dealer isn't selling the same car; I was silly enough not to specify a guaranteed delivery date in the special conditions, so I guess I'm on the hook, irrespective of how far the delivery dates blow out.

I'm planning on talking to the dealer tomorrow, but just wondering; Is it normal/reasonable to expect a vin number on the contract of sale? Is it reasonable to ask for one?

Cheers, G

[jonesy63]

G - if you ordered your car - they can't put a VIN in the sale, as it hasn't been built. After the ink is dry on the sale they will start making it - and their doco will have the VIN included. So they should be able to tell you those details by now.

[giskard]

Hi Jonesy,

I didn't order it per se. It was a configuration that they already specified and ordered. That's why I thought it was curious that they've changed the ETA. They had already indicated the delivery time before closing the sale.

Cheers.

[crawal]

G , they may only have a build number for the vehicle , Vin etc may not be available until boat docks.
Vehicle may have have been bumped from original boat due to space , retail orders etc .
Most dealers will want to get you into a vehicle quickly as that'd where they make their money

[giskard]

Thanks crawal. Makes me feel a little better. :)

[jonesfam]

When I bought the D3 (2009) it was slated for building & I could not change the colour though we did up spec it with rear air & rear entertainment.
I was given the VIN about 3 weeks after we ordered the car, I assume once it was on the assembly line.
That was a very long 8 week wait.;)

[giskard]

I hear you. I'm not emotionally equipped for waiting either. :p

[Fred Nerk]

Time travels very slowly while you wait for your new car.

As soon as you receive it the months race by again. My car was ordered 2 years ago and delivery was about 3 months (an eternity) later. The 21 months since have raced by (blink).

[jon3950]

Have a look at your contract. It should specify a vehicle to a certain build spec and give you a nominal delivery date. The fine print will specify how many days they have to deliver a vehicle of that specification to you. From memory the standard is 60 days. Unless the vin is specified on the contract they are not obliged to deliver any specific vehicle to you, just a vehicle to that specification. If they do not deliver within the agreed time frame you can cancel the order and get your deposit back. This is what you have agreed to by signing the contract.

Generally once they receive an order they assign a particular vehicle to it, whether its an existing vehicle with a vin, or just an order on JLR. I have never had a contract that specifies a particular vin. If they deliver mid Dec, they have fulfilled the contract. If it blows out beyond the end of January they haven't and you can walk away.

If its already been built they will be able to give you a vin. They will also be able to tell you what ship it is on and what date the ship is due. This is all on the JLR system and readily available to the dealer. The vague bit is the time from berthing to delivery as it can be held up on the dock then has to go through pre-delivery at the dealers. From memory they allow about 2 weeks.

There is no reason the dealer cannot be straight with you about all this (except laziness). Just keep pushing them until you get an answer. Having said that though, there isn't neccessarily a reason to be worried about a delayed delivery - seems to be the norm.

Cheers,
Jon

[ozetim]

I ordered my D4 in march for a May 22 build date. I rang the dealer on that day and he provided a VIN. Too easy.

[cooperrat]

i rang landrover australia when i couldn't get info from my dealer . They supplied me with a part vin number,due date into AUS and the boat it was on, the fun part is tracking the boat via the interweb, there are various sites you can do that thru..Mind you the two weeks it took to get from the docks to dealer dragged along a bit...Good luck