Order time till delivery?

There seems to be a shortage of most variants in general, unless you were lucky & your requirements met an availability from one of the first batch of randomly produced combinations shipped at launch.
The fire at one of Mr T's main steel suppliers seems to be getting a fair percentage of the blame.
Here in the UK, and I believe in most of the world the orders for specific colour/ model/ accessory are now factory supply into August. I suppose I was 'lucky', ordered mine a month ago and quoted 2nd week in July.
Was told yesterday that the date is 'too far out' for any updates yet.
However my dealer assured me that any special offers or deal made at time of order will be honoured, this to include any future price rise, or changes to incentives or finance %.
So I'm afraid it's hurry up and wait. G...

 

you should be able to have the dealer order one from the factory, then follow it through production and shipping.

 

After I had ordered the combination and colors I wanted, the sales rep. began to become vague. I then escalated it to their senior sales manager and he was able to supply me with the date it was built, shipped, arrived in port, etc. I then was lucky enough to receive it 2 weeks later. They were able to secure the car for me while it was being shipped overseas.
I was just relieved to have some concrete information about the order. And yes, this is in the midwest region. I'm in a Chicago suburb.

I recommend getting National support involved, if you think they are stringing you along. That also helped. They called the dealership and rattled their cage.

 

The dealer originally told me that I would have to wait two months. Then, they called me and said that they just shipped a 2016 from a dealer in NorCal to SoCal because they knew I was set on buying it then. Someone from the dealer drove it down and I bought it the next day. If they didn't find the car, I would probably just be buying my car right about now. Ask your dealer to look and see if other dealers in your area or state have the car with the configuration you want. Ask them if they could transfer it to a closer dealer near you.

 

In Germany/Munich I was told in March that delivery should take 3.5 months, starting from April, that is, mid-July. When I ordered Monday before Easter, it was late in the day and nothing could be told. I called Thursday and I was told the order was not yet confirmed.
Tuesday I am going to do the oil change/check and the sales guy said we can look for any changes. He said that order status is updated every week and that order times can change abruptly depending on how cars are allotted to which EU market.
Essentially, I have no clue when I will get it.
Clear to me is that demand is far outstripping the offer. Worldwide.
The fire stopped production for a week, I would expect all deliveries confirmed till then to simply slip one week, assuming the steel deliveries where resumed to full capacity.
My experience with the Gen3 when I ordered in Aug 2009, was expected delivery in November, mid-Sep it was already there....

 

Ya, you might have to drive a little far to get what you want.

I had to travel from SoCal (a little north from San Diego) to Fresno, CA to get my 05 Prius. They didn't have any cars around me. I had to take 2 trains and a 3 hour public bus ride to get there because I didn't want my wife driving back alone in another car. I didn't even get the exact Prius I wanted. I wanted the one with navigation and the JBL stereo, but I couldn't find one. Good luck!

 

I was yesterday at the dealer for the 7th year check and mount summer tires, the sales guy told me he checked on Monday the order status (placed on March 22nd), and he said it has not yet been confirmed (i.e. it is in the system and accepted but not confirmed; he cannot see delivery dates).
He said that unless Toyota Japan decides out of the blue or had already planned to build my version (mid-trim, dark grey with IPA (only option I asked for)), it will take a full 3 months before I get my Gen4.
I am also waiting to see some statistics about Gen4 sales, in Japan and USA especially, as they affect heavily the sale in other markets (like Germany )
I am actually resigned to the idea that I will not see it till July earliest...

 

Looked for another car online like I bought off lot and could not find one anywhere. Seems the high end fours with all the tech and safety stuff is rare.

 

The Tech/Safety stuff is standard on all trims in Germany. You cannot get a "stripped" down Prius in Germany. So, if in the US all wanted that, likely it affects deliveries elsewhere too.

 

12-15 weeks is what I got quoted here in March when I ordered mine here in Germany...and what other here have reported from the UK or example. And that *before* the earthquake stops....

 

PS: I called my dealer this morning and he informed that they have received no notification whatsoever about any delay to deliveries.
Either he was sandbagging, or any delays have been shifted to those markets that rely more on "stock sale" like the USA, rather than BTO markets like EU. Or really there are no delays at all.
Moreover, if the fabs have idled a total of 2 weeks (1 for the supplier's steel plant accident and 1 for the earthquake) I see no reason why existing orders should be delayed any more than 2-3 weeks. Also in consideration that the Prius overall production is in full ramp-up mode, and therefore they might have not gone yet to full capacity on the line for this model yet.
Nevertheless, he confirmed to me mid-July delivery "if all goes as usual" (i.e. no car like the one I want pops up for some reason in the EU allotment).

 

Not good news! May just buy an old Sanford and Son truck.

 

My dealer update yesterday seems to have suggested that early(ish) ordered cars are,
At least for the UK market, on the boat, and are due to arrive in the UK on the 5th of May.
By the time they wind through the Customs checks,
port of arrival import & the in country delivery network, are updated & PDId,
should be available for collection from your local dealer from the 18th of May. YMMV.

My gen 4 Excel in Hypersonic Red was ordered early March,
with a from factory delivery of Mid July.
Mid-March orders were pushed out to August.

So, looks like Mr T is using 'The Toyota Way' properly, & managing customer expectations.
You grudgingly accept a late delivery date, & are (hopefully) pleasantly surprised,
when your car turns up 2 months earlier.
Always a good way to get a boost in their 'how did we do' survey.
However, from experience, that can backfire too.

So hopefully 3 weeks & counting. G...

 

From what you say then Geo13647, considering I ordered mine on Mar. 21st, I will not get it before August... oh well, the dealer is going to get my Gen3 with a couple of thousand of km on it more than expected...

 

I had the same conversation with my dealer, his response was,
'No problem, Mr T will honour any agreed trade in or finance agreements,
regardless of any alterations in price, spec or any other terms & conditions.
You have ordered the car in good faith, we will supply it as soon as practical,
at the agreed conditions regardless of actual delivery date.'
Well that may not be the exact wording, but it was something like that.

I don't know when the cars in the March order window actually were shipped from Japan.
Yours MAY be on the same shipment, or the next one.
Definitely worth asking your dealer for a delivery update, they receive them weekly.

G...

 

tahlpaul,

Post a pic of your car when you can.
I ordered from my dealer March 23rd.
Latest update is that they will manufacture in May,
mid- June delivery. It is what it is.
In my state, one dealer only.
They have base models available, but
wanted a specific color, moonroof, park-assist.
Will add on fog lights when they are for sale.
I have a 2013 Prius 2 to get around, so
I'll just wait.

stt