Limited Production? 1 allocation per dealer? [CONFIRMATION REQUESTED]

[CAMAROZL1]

Originally Posted by armysig

Wooh...that took a bit to decypher...Might want to get on a desktop and edit that or put the Whiskey 7 down....Either way, I agree.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

+1.

We must be careful not to confuse the word "limited" with "limited production" as in Boss Mustangs or GT500s....so far...the only thing close to an official statement/clarification on this subject we've gotten is a recorded webchat where it was said that they'll try to keep up with demand.

If each Chevy dealer in the country gets (on average) 2 ZL1s...that's about 4000-6000 ZL1s (I forget the exact number of Chevy dealers...it's dropped significantly). Pretty realistic, if you ask me....

This .

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

+1.

We must be careful not to confuse the word "limited" with "limited production" as in Boss Mustangs or GT500s....so far...the only thing close to an official statement/clarification on this subject we've gotten is a recorded webchat where it was said that they'll try to keep up with demand.

GM doesn't make a habit of artificially limiting the number of cars they produce, no matter how expensive. Look at the CTS-V, Z06, and ZR1 as examples...but it shouldn't be expected that they'll sell as many as an SS or LT, either. And allocation (the number of cars each dealer can order) will reflect the number of ZL1s they expect to sell.

If each Chevy dealer in the country gets (on average) 2 ZL1s...that's about 4000-6000 ZL1s (I forget the exact number of Chevy dealers...it's dropped significantly). Pretty realistic, if you ask me....

Maybe the use of the term "limited" is where the confusion lies.

When I see the word "limited" with respect to vehicle availability, I read "limited production," as in "the Boss 302 is a limited vehicle," meaning that the Boss 302 has a limited production run where only so many vehicles will be produced and no more.

If by limited, with respect to the ZL1, people mean that initial ZL1 production may not be up to full capacity and it may take several months after production starts for the production pipeline to be primed for full capacity and for individuals to obtain their ZL1s, that would still be consistent with what Chevrolet has stated so far.

I have been thinking that a reasonable estimate of a yearly ZL1 production run would be roughly 5,000 vehicles, based on current 5th Gen Camaro sales, or about 6 or 7 percent of total Camaro sales.

[grimmace]

I posted about this in another thread. Here is the exact language...

" It is important to note that production of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 is limited. Although every dealer will be issued a guide number, a few dealers will be receiving an Estimated Production Guide Number of zero (0), and will not receive a Camaro ZL1 for the 2012 model run. "

I got the full print out from my dealer where i'm 3rd in line to purchase at MSRP.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by grimmace

I posted about this in another thread. Here is the exact language...

" It is important to note that production of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 is limited. Although every dealer will be issued a guide number, a few dealers will be receiving an Estimated Production Guide Number of zero (0), and will not receive a Camaro ZL1 for the 2012 model run. "

I got the full print out from my dealer where i'm 3rd in line to purchase at MSRP.

From what document was the above quoted text obtained?

That language could be consistent with what Chevrolet has stated thus far.

For example, if a full year of ZL1 production is going to be roughly 5000 vehicles, then seven months of production would be roughly 3000 units. If there are roughly 3000 Chevrolet dealerships in the country, that would be an average of about one ZL1 per dealer for the 2012 model year run. If some dealers get more than one ZL1 for the 2012 model year, say 2 or 3, then, since it's a zero sum game, other dealers would have to get zero 2012 ZL1s.

[grimmace]

its from the GM announcement message from Russell M. Clark - Director of Chevrolet marketing to my dealer. All the rest of the info in the message has already been posted to this site.

[OldJedi]

I went to Maroone Chevrolet of Ft. Lauderdale tonight and the Inventory Manager told me that they were told it was going to be a limited run of 500 ZL1's made for year 2012. I still don't know if this is truth or just the dealers trying to create a false limited production image for the car.

[1BADZL1]

Originally Posted by grimmace

I got the full print out from my dealer where i'm 3rd in line to purchase at MSRP.

Awesome....just hopefully your dealer will get allocated to get more than 1 or 2 ZL1's.... there is absolutely no way of knowing as of today Sept 16 how many your dealer will get allocated.
See the confusion and unfairness in all this? Meaning if the guy behind you leaves a deposit as you, and they are allocated only 2 ZL1's and those two are all ready filled by two customers that have already paid in full cash in front of you or the dealer has "Promised them a car" then that means you and the guy under you is screwed and so on down the line....
unfair its seems to me but that is the general consensus lately around here. Especially from dealerships.....
Wish you all the best and guys #4 and #5 under you as well.

[grimmace]

well i went out of state to leave a deposit at one of the largest ZR1 dealers in the country. The salesman also has a great reputation over at the corvetteforum and said there shouldn't be any problem at all getting the car. Who knows he could be wrong. I called 2 local dealers and one wanted a mark up of 5k and the other 10k which is something i would never do. If i don't get the car at number 3 then kudos to the 2 in front of me. They beat me to it. Its a risk I was willing to take and the deposit is refundable up until I order the car. It also looks like one of the people ahead of me was going to back out. It kind of sounds like your angry. How else are they supposed to take deposits on the car. They are running a business and are not going to turn customers away. I had every expectation that the car would be limited especially the first year. I've got a signed agreement clearly stating i'm 3rd in line with the right to move up if someone back out. I made a decision that it was worth the risk to purchase at MSRP but be 3rd in line. Hopefully it happens but if it doesn't I can wait a little longer.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by OldJedi

I went to Maroone Chevrolet of Ft. Lauderdale tonight and the Inventory Manager told me that they were told it was going to be a limited run of 500 ZL1's made for year 2012. I still don't know if this is truth or just the dealers trying to create a false limited production image for the car.

I would be very disappointed if Chevrolet produced only 500 ZL1s for the 2012 model year. With about 3000 Chevrolet dealers nationally, that would mean, on average, that only about one in six dealers would get a 2012 ZL1. That's not exactly what I call trying to meet market demand.

[radz28]

I think "limited production" is being turned into something it's not. I believe GM will build as many as they think they can sell (and I think they might not fully appreciate how many people could be interested, but they very well could) and as many as they can produce. If they start later in the model year, of course they can't produce as many because they don't have enough time. When I hear or read posts that dealers are saying GM is limiting production, it almost frustrates me because if almost feels like they are trying to set the sale up to mark-it-up. While ultimately, '12 will have the lowest numbers produced, it's not because GM is trying to control the numbers to limit what goes out; I think it's simply because there isn't enough time. I think the arguing points are semantics and it's just a little frustrating.

JMVHO, because I don't know more than anyone else. There are only a couple Sponsor Dealers in our Community that I trust and that have been here for a long time and tried to provide us with information before anyone else. When I see something from them the opposite of my speculation, then I'll take it seriously.

[1BADZL1]

Originally Posted by grimmace

It kind of sounds like your angry.

Nope not angry at all. Was just told basically from a local dealer that
There is no way to know at this point about how many will be allocated.
My particular dealer got an allocation of 19 5th gen SS camaros when it first came out. Out of those 19 cars they got, they were all sold to customers before they hit the showroom floor. They did not get any more in until they started getting regular stock in.
There was a list of seven people for ZL1 in front of me, and they basically told me that these 7 people were all high dollar business that has done and bought cars in the past... Meaning those 7 people are guaranteed ANY of the Zl1's they get in. PERIOD.
Before I walked out the last comment the dealer made was "sorry" "but that is just the way it is"
Well, this is not the same attitude they hit me with when I went to the same dealership on 7/12/11 two months ago. It was like talking to two different people. They even went as far as telling me I could buy a ZR1 if I wanted. I knew at that point they were trying to plant the hook. basically they told me I was SOL on the ZL1. So with that being said, I turned around, drove off. I will be doing business elsewhere with someone that wants a customer when the time comes.
Not mad at all really. Just upset at myself for almost entertaining half truth with half lies when I am much smarter than that.

[GoldenBear]

I think the word "limited" is what tends to lead to confusion or ambiguity. "Limited" can mean different things to different people. When some people see the word "limited" with regard to a specific model or trim level of a vehicle, they read "the production run of the vehicle will be limited to a specific number." However, if by "limited" with respect to the 2012 ZL1 one means that there will not be the maximum number of vehicles that could be produced in a full year's production run, then that would still be consistent with trying to meet market demand for the ZL1, as there will probably be only 6.5 months of production for the 2012 ZL1, and there is always a probability of having a few supplier availability issues during initial production ramp up.

When the 2011 Indy Pace Car was announced, Chevrolet stated that there would be limited to a production run of 500 vehicles. Chevrolet has stated nothing similar with respect to the 2012 ZL1. If there were going to be a specific limit to the number of 2012 ZL1s produced, I believe that Chevrolet would have stated so. Therefore, when a dealer states a specific number for 2012 ZL1 production, such as 500, I tend be very skeptical, as that is at odds with what has been officially stated by Chevrolet.

As a data point for a new vehicle trim level that had a initial production date of January, does anyone know how many 2011 Camaro convertibles were produced?

[2012ZL1]

I still say the only limit on production will be the availability of Zl1 specific components.