Build dates v delivery dates etc

sidicks · Jan 25, 2006

My OPC tells me that my car is a February build car, and therefore that I will receive it in March, however they currently do not have a build date, and hence I'm unable to find out whether it is likely to be delivered at the start of March or the end of March........

Naturally, as this is my first ever Porsche, I'm keen to get it as soon as possible, or at least be able to countdown the days until its imminent arrival!

Additionally, I need to sell my current car (BMW M3), but cannot afford to be without a car in the intervening period, and therefore want to coincide as closely as possible, the departure of the old car and the arrival of the new.

I would have expected that the build date should be known a fair few weeks in advance of actual build, and hence I'm concerned that my car won't be arriving until the end of March or even early April.

What is your experience with the time between a build date being confirmed and the actual build date, and also between build date and delivery date ?

Cheers

Sidicks

Mark_Bennett · Jan 25, 2006

OPC's don't usually like to tell customers when the car is being built, as if something goes wrong in production, and the car is delayed, it makes it a bit difficult to explain to some customers. (Some customers just cannot acknowledge that things go wrong on occasion [&:]).
Therefore it is not uncommon that the first thing a customer hears about thier own car's progress, is that the car has arrived at the dealers and "when would Sir/Madam like to pick it up?" [8|]

I pestered my salesman to let me know at each stage, and he did. But only as I assured him that I understood that if the Engine was a duff one, then I went to the back of the engine queue (etc). He gave me the info - but he "wasn't supposed to".
OK to say he did this as he doesn't work there any more - mores the pity[&o]

pvernham · Jan 25, 2006

My salesman also gave me timings within a week (ie mine was build for 2nd/3rd week of Feb last year) of when build was due, when the car was expected at Reading and when it would be delivered to the OPC.

However, he is also no longer at the OPC. Maybe there is a pattern here!

Michael Downing · Jan 25, 2006

My chap kept me pretty well up to date with what the Porsche computer was saying.

Then one day he called and said that he had been planning to call me because the computer had just changed to "build complete, in transit" (or whatever). However, while he was dialling a transporter turned up, and guess what was on the back of it!

Guest · Jan 25, 2006

My OPC have said "Feb build, for March/April delivery". This is for a C4S. However, I can't say that they won't be more forthcoming with a rather more exact date when, say, mid Feb comes along and I go in and ask in person.

Incidentally, the salesman who I was dealing with and placed the order through has been sacked. So he went even before he got the chance to tell me something about the delivery date he shouldn't have!

pvernham · Jan 25, 2006

Why do they have such a high turnover of staff?

I got the impression that the guy who sold me my car did not leave of his own free will. From a customer's viewpoint I always found him responsive and a very acceptable contact point with none of the complacent or aloof attitude that has been mentioned elsewhere. Maybe that's why he got the push [&o][&o].

keithpms · Jan 26, 2006

From my own experience you need to keep your salesman on side and then perhaps he will keep you abreast of progress as soon as the OPC have updates.

Critical dates for my own 997 C4S were as follows:
Specced car on 1 August 2005 and was told it would be built during October 2005.
First week in October received call from OPC to say build would be completed by 18 October (date it leaves the factory door) and would be at the OPC around 3 November.
Car actually arrived at OPC on 1 November and was prepared (including tracker) for me to pick up on 3 November.

Hope the above gives you a feel to timescales - even a build date last week in February should mean you are on the road towards the end of March at the very latest. Enjoy the car (and I am sure you will if it is your first porsche).

Keith

sidicks · Feb 5, 2006

Good News !!

I spoke to my dealer yesterday, and my car is scheduled for a 14th Feb Build date (How romantic.....!).

According to my dealer, that means that I should be able to pick up the car in the first or second week of March, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Still 4 or 5 weeks to wait, though !!

Sidicks

davecunningham · Feb 5, 2006

You have a most forthcoming contact at your OPC ,I can't get any information or dates for my car< c4s also>. I am told that it willbe sometime in March, can't wait though.

sidicks · Feb 5, 2006

Because I need to coincide the sale of my current car, with the arrival of my new Porsche, I've been hassling the OPC at every opportunity to find out what the latest news is.

Yesterday, when I was at the OPC for them to appraise my car with a view to a p/x price, I insisted we look on the computer to see the latest status of my car, which was when I found out about the 14/2/06 build date.

Sidicks