GTI/GTD Order Date vs. Build Week Analysis

[Bill_the_Bear]

Ok chaps,

Of those who were kind enough to give me their full order number four are currently showing "BW confirmed" on the VW website.  While there may well be more (didn't give me number, website not updated, or just never filled in the survey) its interesting to look at these four to see if a pattern emerges:

Answer:
It does not.  All four orders are very different.

Analysis:
There are two GTDs (both 5door DSG) and two GTIs (both manual, one each 3 and 5 door)
Options selected across all four include:

• Performance Pack
• Basic Nav
• Dynaudio
• 19inch Wheels
• Winter Pack
• Keyless
• Heated Windscreen (and therefore presumable the phone prep although the respondent didn't mention it)

So logically we'd conclude none of the above should give rise to a delay (decide for yourselves if you consider VW to be logical).  I do suppose if they have a shortage of an item such as the DSG they may ration them... so perhaps some lucky fellows get early ones and others have to wait longer.

And if anyone wants to explain they "no GTDs built until August" be my guest.  VW are either lying about that or lying to the above two people about their GTD BW.

[matchboy]

Interesting Bear.  There must be a pattern somewhere but I can't see it either.  Welcome to the random world of VW 

[monkeyhanger]

The only pattern I can see is that for GTDs DSG seems to be getting built before manual. Not sure if my dad's GTD is amongst Bear's 2 confirmed GTDs or whether it is no 3. Could mean nowt if all the early ordered manual GTDs have had order tweaks (like me for colour) and that has bumped them a little.

Seems odd to me that mcmaddy is in there so much later than my dad at our dealership (3 x GTDs from Pulman) even though he got in there with an earlier order number unless:

1. His order changes put him behind my dad in build order.

2. Being bumped to 3rd in the Pulman queue (assumed following changes or perhaps for options) has pushed him into a whole new allocation month for Pulman.

Could make sense. If my dad has ended up at the front of the Pulman queue due to mine and mcmaddys changes then maybe he's snagged Pulman's June build allocation (middle June), I have been bumped to Pulman's July build allocation (right at the end of June/start of July) and mcmaddy bumped to Pulman's August build allocation (the larger gap between mine and his could be attributed to VW plant shutdown in August). That is the most logical explanation I can come up with if there is any logic in this.

All the above assumes allocation plays as big a part as when you ordered and what you ordered. If that's the case then if you're say, the eighth person to order a GTi or GTD from a certain dealership even if you all ordered very early on (and all have 2317 or 2318 order no's), you could still be in for an epic wait.

[Bill_the_Bear]

I popped into Vindis Cambridge on Friday to be nosy.  I didn't order from them but since they are my local dealer I wanted to see a GTI demo in the flesh, so to speak.  Spoke to an odd fellow who seemed unable to look in any one direction for more than two seconds and rambled far too much when asked simple questions like "Do you have a GTI demo in yet?"

However, I asked if he had taken any order and the answer, which lasted a good five minutes they way he gave it, distilled down to "No.".  So, if anyone fancies an early GTI you could try your luck with them.  Then again, if the north-south theory holds maybe this won't help much.

[monkeyhanger]

I popped into Vindis Cambridge on Friday to be nosy.  I didn't order from them but since they are my local dealer I wanted to see a GTI demo in the flesh, so to speak.  Spoke to an odd fellow who seemed unable to look in any one direction for more than two seconds and rambled far too much when asked simple questions like "Do you have a GTI demo in yet?"

However, I asked if he had taken any order and the answer, which lasted a good five minutes they way he gave it, distilled down to "No.".  So, if anyone fancies an early GTI you could try your luck with them.  Then again, if the north-south theory holds maybe this won't help much.

Perhaps VW UK snagged a number of GTI demo vehicles and were offering them up first to dealerships that already had orders in? That would imply though that those shysters at Benfield have already taken orders as they have one each at 2 of their branches. I pity those fools who paid full RRP and accepted a poor p/x value for their current car by buying from Benfield (unless they had a change of heart following me letting them know they missed out on 2 GTD sales. 

[matchboy]

I popped into Vindis Cambridge on Friday to be nosy.  I didn't order from them but since they are my local dealer I wanted to see a GTI demo in the flesh, so to speak.  Spoke to an odd fellow who seemed unable to look in any one direction for more than two seconds and rambled far too much when asked simple questions like "Do you have a GTI demo in yet?"

However, I asked if he had taken any order and the answer, which lasted a good five minutes they way he gave it, distilled down to "No.".  So, if anyone fancies an early GTI you could try your luck with them.  Then again, if the north-south theory holds maybe this won't help much.

Bear, what was his answer to if they have a demo/when are they getting one?  I didn't order from them but its a bearable drive in order to see one if its coming soon.  I think it was Swaston (spelling?) Cambridge that I went into just after I ordered and he hadn't taken an order either (mind you, was early April!).  I've had no due date on my own dealer's demo either (North Hertfordshire) and he would have let me know if it was coming soon - and this leads me to believe what monkeyhanger was saying about there being some regional bias.  Would be interesting to know what data VW based that decision on?!

[Bill_the_Bear]

Bear, what was his answer to if they have a demo/when are they getting one?  I didn't order from them but its a bearable drive in order to see one if its coming soon.

He waffled like a master salesman.  From what I could decipher the answer was "imminently, probably next week".  Its unclear to me why he didn't just say "I expect one next week but can't give you an exact date".  I think he likes to waffle and I, unsuspecting poor fool that I am, gave him the chance he was waiting for.

I shouldn't be too harsh, he was trying to help.

EDIT: I work just around the corner from this dealer so there is a good chance I'll spot their's when it comes in.  If so I'll PM you.  I was hoping their website would have some details, such as information on their so called launch event, but sadly it is a waste of space.  I may point this out to them next time I go to be nosy.

EDIT2: I'm slightly unsure how to play it with them since I didn't order from them and they don't know it.  I don't want to come off as a 'wannabe' there to waste their time, but I imagine if I tell them I've already ordered one elsewhere they won't be inclined to offer test drives or anything since they'll not be getting anything out of it... except I suppose I'll want to service it with them so there is that.

[matchboy]

EDIT: I work just around the corner from this dealer so there is a good chance I'll spot their's when it comes in.  If so I'll PM you.  I was hoping their website would have some details, such as information on their so called launch event, but sadly it is a waste of space.  I may point this out to them next time I go to be nosy.

EDIT2: I'm slightly unsure how to play it with them since I didn't order from them and they don't know it.  I don't want to come off as a 'wannabe' there to waste their time, but I imagine if I tell them I've already ordered one elsewhere they won't be inclined to offer test drives or anything since they'll not be getting anything out of it... except I suppose I'll want to service it with them so there is that.

Yeah a PM would be good if it comes in!  And as for the test drive, I would suggest doing what I'm going to do if I get a chance to drive one before my dealer gets his - pretend I haven't ordered one! 

[Bill_the_Bear]

Yeah a PM would be good if it comes in!  And as for the test drive, I would suggest doing what I'm going to do if I get a chance to drive one before my dealer gets his - pretend I haven't ordered one! 

I'll let you know then.

So far I haven't let on that I ordered one already, but I kinda feel a bit guilty asking for a test drive knowing I'm then going to say I'm not interested.  Also, you know they're going to try the hard sell!  Last time I went into a dealer (Ford in Bedford) they want to "fill out a quick form" before they'd give me a test drive, and that turned out to be a full questionnaire on what I wanted to buy and my contact details so they could pester me about it.  All under the guise of administration.  Makes me think its not worth the effort.

[Bill_the_Bear]

Here is an idea of how long people are waiting (estimated since few are confirmed) after placing an order.  I made my own "Order ID" to protect people's names and order numbers.