Buying a car off the lot - how does that work?

[sen10l]

So there's a 19000 backlog, which I presume 19000 people made custom orders, so every Camaro that comes into a lot is already sold. Then how is it possible that some people can still buy a Camaro off the lot? Are they making some that are not pre-orders, or are they cancelled pre-orders?

[eclipsen]

You will find dealers that have cars allocated to them (i.e. not customer ordered). They are few and far between but they are out there. And I'm sure some dealers have cars that the buyer backed out of. If you like a dealer and they don't have one, they may be able to get one from another dealer. Good luck! I found mine at a dealer back on 9/10.

[lee]

back in september i went to the dealership picked a color and drove off and most dealerships in austin,tx have em sitting waiting for a goodhome

[qbert48]

canceled orders i think mostly

[mrray13]

I got mine off the lot, helped a friend today pick up a 2LT/RS VR off the lot too....dealer allotment is what I was told. The dealer we got ours from stated that, just like the Corvette, for everyone they sell, the factory sends another.

[sen10l]

First, I think it's selfish for a dealer to simply order them without a customer when there are anxious customers already waiting for them. Second - I actually found a dealer who could deliver in Jan, but I had already booked with another dealer for April delivery! The one I booked with is giving me a $1000 off MSRP discount (by mistake), so I guess I'll stick with him. Plus, it's not like I can drive it in January on Canadian roads anyway.

[Monetcat]

Originally Posted by sen10l

First, I think it's selfish for a dealer to simply order them without a customer when there are anxious customers already waiting for them. Second - I actually found a dealer who could deliver in Jan, but I had already booked with another dealer for April delivery! The one I booked with is giving me a $1000 off MSRP discount (by mistake), so I guess I'll stick with him. Plus, it's not like I can drive it in January on Canadian roads anyway.

When a dealer sells a Camaro and delivers it, they would generally "earn" another allocation. They would be silly to turn it down and pass up on a new car they can actually sell and make a profit on.......that's smart business, not selfishness IMO.......

[larietrope]

I was lucky. I saw an Orange Metallic on the dealer lot and asked about it.
I was told it was a customer order car and he was having a problem financing.
I said I'd take it if the deal fell through.
The deal fell through and I have a OM, LS3, 1SS, polished wheels, Boston sound, and white stripes. It's exactly as I would have ordered it.
I figured I had to move while opportunity existed.
Sticker minus 500 for the no take back program.
Very happy to say the least.

[DkknightX]

Originally Posted by sen10l

First, I think it's selfish for a dealer to simply order them without a customer when there are anxious customers already waiting for them. Second - I actually found a dealer who could deliver in Jan, but I had already booked with another dealer for April delivery! The one I booked with is giving me a $1000 off MSRP discount (by mistake), so I guess I'll stick with him. Plus, it's not like I can drive it in January on Canadian roads anyway.

Not really selfish when A) They are Chevrolet/GM dealers and are allowed allocation and B) They do this so they can generate extra revenue from market adjustments so the dealership can actually earn money to keep itself open, viable and most importantly, in business. If all the cars went to special orders for customers and the dealership received nothing for itself to sell (and mark up), there wouldn't be any Camaros sitting in the showroom for people to get a better look at. To the enthusiast it makes no sense, but to the casual car aficionado, they generally like to look, touch, feel and even test drive before they commit. I hear what you are saying though.

[zebra]

here in town, there's two on the lot.
one was an order that she backed out on & the other was the the original V6 allocated to them in may that was bought (but sat in the showroom because the buyer was a contractor in iraq). he came back & immeditely traded it on a silverado

[cschmidt1956]

I was lucky.

My 2LT/RS was exactly the way I would have ordered it from the factory. It was an order that came in that was pre-sold, but they had no documentation for that anywhere. They held the car for a week before selling it after checking factory paperwork and their own. It now sits in my garage and makes me very happy.

[espo19047]

Every one of our orders where sold. We did have 14 stock units get placed today and we have our first 4 stock units with a tpw of 11-30. It looks like late January we should have some in stock.

[CamaroScotty]

Originally Posted by sen10l

So there's a 19000 backlog, which I presume 19000 people made custom orders, so every Camaro that comes into a lot is already sold. Then how is it possible that some people can still buy a Camaro off the lot? Are they making some that are not pre-orders, or are they cancelled pre-orders?

Not accurate.

[marley.]

They are sitting around collecting dust in our town. We have one dealer with 5 SS cars sitting on his lot for like a month and another with 2 SS and 2 RS sitting for over a month.