Local dealer can't fulfill new car order

[shotdown]

So I went in today to buy an Outback only to find that when they tried filling out the Purchase order the computer would not let them choose the Interior Illumination kit and Side sill plates ... WTF Are you kidding me ? I go in to buy a car and walk out without a car. They better get their sh.. together. I got a great deal only it's not a deal until $ is exchanged. So for now I got nothing !! No one seems to know the WHY !

[JAvendan]

are they NOT willing to install once they have position of the vehicle???

is there a big difference with the options ordered vs dealer installed?

joel

[Se7enLC]

What other options were selected? It's possible that the same connector is used for multiple options, so you just can't select them at the same time. It's a shame that the salesperson didn't know and wasn't willing or able to find out for you why those options couldn't be selected together.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by Se7enLC

What other options were selected? It's possible that the same connector is used for multiple options, so you just can't select them at the same time. It's a shame that the salesperson didn't know and wasn't willing or able to find out for you why those options couldn't be selected together.

^ what he said

Also many of the options are dealer installed anyway even if you order the car with the item - it arrives at the dealer with said item in the trunk and the dealer puts it on the car.

[DrCloud]

Now and then, out of curiosity mostly, I do an online build of some car I might like to have (recently I "built" a tricked-out Audi Q5, for example), and it's always annoying when certain interior colors aren't available with certain exterior colors, or some accessories require certain (awful) colors, or options that I want are incompatible with each other.

In the end, it means that I'll never seriously consider that particular car to buy. It's too bad Subaru is in this same mode now. HPH

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by DrCloud

Now and then, out of curiosity mostly, I do an online build of some car I might like to have (recently I "built" a tricked-out Audi Q5, for example), and it's always annoying when certain interior colors aren't available with certain exterior colors, or some accessories require certain (awful) colors, or options that I want are incompatible with each other.

In the end, it means that I'll never seriously consider that particular car to buy. It's too bad Subaru is in this same mode now. HPH

Ford and GM learned the hard way that offering infinite number of vehicle combinations makes for an expensive and complicated inventory system full of waste and mistakes.

So what your saying is that you will only ride a custom built bicycle to your specs?

[rasterman]

I've toyed around the same way with the various car configurators, and I came to a similar result: there's just too much bundling and blocking in modern car option selection these days.

Usually after a bit of monkeying around with the websites, I'd get frustrated and wind up dialing it back to a stripped out base model and then start looking at aftermarket upholstery & accessories to make it the way I'd want it.

Maybe Ford and GM went too far with option branching, but it seems like many brands aren't going far enough. I wish there was a better balance.

[Se7enLC]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

So what your saying is that you will only ride a custom built bicycle to your specs?

Probably a bad example - custom bicycles are pretty common!

[shotdown]

Many good comments and questions !! First, This should NOT be a compatability issue because I did not order EYESIGHT which is incompatible with the Interior illumination kit. Second, this is basically a stripped down 3.6R Limited with Moonroof & Navigation. When you order BOTH Interior Illumination kit AND Side Sill Plates you choose Accessory Code "LR9" Which uses only (1) electrical harness for both accessories. The only other accessory is the Puddle Lights. The car and these, That's it. The reason is I discoverd I can purchase either better quality aftermarket accessories or save 30-60 percent on OEM accessories simply by searching online. Since the car is DEFINATELY a factory order I have 6-12 weeks to order the accessory add-on's. Sorry about the verbose content.

[shotdown]

I hope I'm wrong but, this was totally an internet dealing. Then Tuesday I decided to move on the dealers offer of $32,343 on an MSRP of $36,179. When I arrived at the dealership the Internet saleman was off that day. I figured no big deal It's just placing a factory order right ? At some point they offered me a car arriving in a week with a bunch of "TYPICAL' accessories on it for like practically $50 bucks more ! Who would'nt jump at that deal ???? Me, because I knew how EXPENSIVE those Interior lights, side sill plates and puddle lights are too install. Next thing I know they can not get the computer to cooperate to send off the order.... I'm thinking WTF Maybe their sales manager had no idea they were NOT going to make much $$$ on me and realized on top of ME getting a good deal the dealership might incur the cost of installing those EXOTIC lighting accessories. I don't know but it smelled of a stall tactic to find a way to wiggle out of this deal alltogether ! The dealership made no offers of Installing the items if they can't be installed at the build time. I mean REALLY ?? A dealership NOT wanting to take money for a deposit on a car ??? NO promises of "Hey, don't worry, if we have to we will simply make sure you get what you want. NO !! nothing like that at all. I think they are trying to get out of the deal. Who cares ? I just sent the Internet salesman a note indicating my latest offer is NOW $35,581 to his $35,965 Out The Door pricing in pricey Washington 9.5%+ sales tax. How happy do you think he will be when he shows up for work and finds his incompetant coworkers can't place a simple freakin new car order ???