Here's my sad tale - back in July I placed an order for a 99 A4 on their website. After placing the order I called to find out how they would deal with the order if they couldn't get the 99 (I already knew there where no 99's in California matching my specs.) I told her that I wanted different options on the 2000, and she assured me that would not be a problem, as they would contact me before placing the order.

I heard nothing from them for 7 weeks, then I get my Visa bill and it has the deposit charge from the dealer. I called the dealer directly to find out the status and was told the car was in final assembly and should be here by late October. Unfortunately the car would be without SideGuard or Xenons.

I called the customer service manager at CarOrder last Friday and told her what had happened. This morning (she told me she would call me the next business day) I find out that it will be another 90 days to get the car if they reorder it.

All of this could have been avoided if they would have just kept me informed along the way. I still wouldn't know what was happening if I hadn't call the dealer directly.

So a question - how long does it take from the time an order is placed with the factory until a car would be delivered to the dealer (in California)? If I go through someone else can I do any better than 90 days?

If anyone is interested Rector Motors will be getting a Hibiscus Red 2.8Q, manual, sports, convenience, opal gray leather in late October.

She told you on the phone? It's all got to be in writing or it means nothing. They'll just lie and say they never said it and they don't owe it to you. I just had a lousy experience buying something not as expensive as this but over $1000. It was supposed to take 2-3 weeks and I canceled the order after 6. I had to threaten to involve the State Attorney General and I would have. They told me 4 seperate lies about the product, other lies, refused to credit the credit card for a week, three employees hung up on me on three different days.
I'm sorry there was trouble. I don't trust these places. The internet draws more than it share of disreputable businesses.

some things, but not such things as exterior color / engine / transmission. <--- I'm not posititve on which exactly you can not change. Anyway, you'd have to find a dealer with a Hibiscus Red 2.8 Man that has the earliest build date. After that, I believe it takes 5-8 Weeks to get to the dealer. In Cali, you are close to ports so you may be on the 5week side. So I guess the earliest is if you found a dealer with that car in his allotment for 9/20-9/24 week build (Week #38) - so the time would be around 60days (at the bare minimum)

Mark P

The info I have from David at Rector (have you talked to him? seems very helpful...) indicates that the '00 Avant 1.8T that they will order for me, in lieu of the '99 I requested via CarOrder.com, will have a production month of November, slated for delivery sometime in December. It would make sense that the dealer allotments are full for October and November delivery by now. Turnaround time for me on placement of the order online and a call from Rector was from 9/3/99 to 9/9/99.

I hope to request a written invoice from the CarOrder.com folks as soon as they "officialize" their pricing on the options for '00 models. I have been informed via email and phone that they will indeed honor the '99 invoice price on the '00 model except for the '00 options I requested (SideGuard/Xenon... surprise surprise =) -- the CS rep said it was a matter of course for CarOrder to do this (something I think people are taking advantage of ;). The CS Rep at CarOrder said to expect their pricing on '00 options to be at invoice... I'll believe it when I see it, tho the difference in pricing from invoice to MSRP on SideGuard/Xenon is really marginal... moola is moola.

Regardless, if things really go awry, I would expect that your $500 deposit is fully recoverable should you end up going with a normal dealer channel. The deposit is merely your payment to obtain first right to refusal on the car when it hits the ground... nobody else can touch/drive it until you make a decision. If a lawyer knows otherwise, please correct me! When you think about it, giving back your $500 is a far cry from the moola CarOrder.com is shelling out to subsidize the sale of a '00 car at '99 invoice prices. That, and the dealer gets a nice '00 model to put on the showroom floor. YMMV of course. Frankly, as aggravated as you might feel, I think waiting another 90 days or so is worthwhile to get a '00 below invoice. You'll never find a deal close to that in RL on any car. =)

Best of luck!

-e
If all goes well... Xmas will bring a Jaspis Green '00 Avant 1.8TQTipS...

My problem with CarOrder.com was that they let me go through the entire configuration process on the Web just to tell me at the end that they don't serve my zip code.

Why did they ask for the zip code up front, then?

Anything out of the ordinary should be done face-to-face at a dealership, to show you're sincere and find out if they are. If you want a standard equipment A4, you can order it anywhere.

Why would you wait 7 weeks before making further contact? My experience with Car Order has been very good.

I emailed my rep today and got told that they were ordering me a 2000, and even told me the dealer.

I was a little shocked, as I would have expected them to tell me that they hadn't found a 99.5 and would have to order a '00. I guess the moral of the story is to not assume that CarOrder will always keep you informed.

That said, I am trying to get the interior changed. I certainly don't want the all ecru interior with the silver exterior! I'm hoping to change this to the Ecru / Basalt.

Doug
1.8T QMS on order somewhere out there.....

They may be able to change the option if the car is not built yet. (Chances are it isn't.) Besides, it doesn't sound so bad if carorder.com is willing to reorder. All you have lost is seven weeks. Carorder.com is not without kinks as they are still ironing out bugs in the process, so it may not be a good idea to be on top of them.