General Lead time on new order

[lennyuk]

This post is more to vent frustration - I ordered a new Tipo (Hatchback, Lounge 120bhp engine) at the beginning of July and now the garage has told me the earliest I will get it will be the 16th October - which makes it 16 weeks and 2 days (minimum) since the car was first ordered.

When I placed the order I was after something quick, which is why I chose what I chose - I was told it would be early September, around 10-12 weeks, which based on my previous history with Fiat (this is my 5th new Fiat) sounded about right.

Over 16 weeks is a joke! I am struggling not to get mad at my garage as the fault is fiat being slow rather than theirs, I know they did place the order the day I was there, but at the same time how could they have got their estimate so wrong.

If I had of waited 2 months I could have placed an order on another car, perhaps a better car, paid the same price (or less) and still had it by the 16th October.

 

[Ian Stobbs]

I ordered my Tipo 1.4 lounge on 3rd July 2018 and was told I would have car at begining of September. The car did not arrive and the dealer couldn't give me an accurate delivery date. I eventually received car on 16th November. No reason was given by Fiat but it left the dealer taking all the hassel from me ....

 

[lennyuk]

I ordered my Tipo 1.4 lounge on 3rd July 2018 and was told I would have car at begining of September. The car did not arrive and the dealer couldn't give me an accurate delivery date. I eventually received car on 16th November. No reason was given by Fiat but it left the dealer taking all the hassel from me ....

Part of the delay seems to be the Tipo's are built in Turkey and the factories shut down for at least 4 weeks in the summer - something that wasn't explained to me (or factored in) when they gave me the original estimated date.

But hey ho, at least I am not the only one who has had these issues.

 

[Ian Stobbs]

The moral of the story is... dont buy a Tipo in July.

 

[varesecrazy]

How can a dealer not factor in an ANNUAL EVENT..

Its like discovering late December is not very productive..

Lets hope your tracking works a bit more smoothly.

On the brightside..at least its only shipping from europe.

The cars with the phoenix badge (british since 1903..etc) take 6 months..from Korea.

Charlie

 

[s130]

There has always been a lead time on new cars unless your specification matches one held in stock at the docks or a UK dealer.

If this fails then it becomes a new factory build to your specifications.

I think all manufacturers are under increasing pressure to build basic stock to a common specification (to get the market going and ticking over) and then factor in what are now considered custom builds.

There is a video on the web (posted somewhere here in the past) where brand new out of the factory cars are being recycled. There are also many new car graveyards of unsold cars.

I'm not sure there will be a solution for manufacturers and purchasers that meets all the requirements of environmental/material usage, cost, planning, etc.

Possibly if Fiat/Ford/BMW supplied each model (e.g. 500) with full loading/options and using just paint colour as the only option then they could use the cut in wastage, complicated production scheduling, etc. to offset the cost of the fully loaded "single option" model.

But the market is also dictated by buyers who want "mine is bigger and better than yours" and other potential ego trips and they have the money to pay for it.

 

[twobigdogs]

I bought mine in Sept had it just over two weeks later.

 

[lennyuk]

There has always been a lead time on new cars unless your specification matches one held in stock at the docks or a UK dealer.

If this fails then it becomes a new factory build to your specifications.

I think all manufacturers are under increasing pressure to build basic stock to a common specification (to get the market going and ticking over) and then factor in what are now considered custom builds.

There is a video on the web (posted somewhere here in the past) where brand new out of the factory cars are being recycled. There are also many new car graveyards of unsold cars.

I'm not sure there will be a solution for manufacturers and purchasers that meets all the requirements of environmental/material usage, cost, planning, etc.

Possibly if Fiat/Ford/BMW supplied each model (e.g. 500) with full loading/options and using just paint colour as the only option then they could use the cut in wastage, complicated production scheduling, etc. to offset the cost of the fully loaded "single option" model.

But the market is also dictated by buyers who want "mine is bigger and better than yours" and other potential ego trips and they have the money to pay for it.

This is the 5th new Fiat I have had, all have been factory orders and the longest it has taken before this order was 10 weeks, and even that was delayed (as the car went missing and they had to start over), on average they have taken around 8 weeks, until this order which is at least double that time - but this is the first time I have had one built in Turkey.

And in terms of specification, it is a lounge model, it has everything as standard, I didn't add anything the only "odd" choice was going for the better engine option, but I can't believe that not many others are doing the same there.

 

[lennyuk]

Just to update this thread, I am now apparently picking my car up Saturday, 2 days shy of 16 weeks since the original order was placed and 6 weeks longer than the original estimate I was given.

The garage also had the cheek to try to tell me the price has gone up as Fiat's offers changed in October - they soon backed down on that point though!