[buckaroo99]

Is it possible to place an order for an Element (a specific model, color, features, etc.) from the factory through a dealer?

I ask because every dealer I have talked to in So. Cal. has told me that it cannot be done, yet on various postings on this site several people have said they ordered their Element from the factory. Typically, they state that they put down a deposit, waited a few weeks and then get a specific 'build date' for their car.

I wonder if in these cases when the dealer takes their 'order' its not really a factory order, but just the dealer starting to look around for a car to show up on the regional inventory list and having that car sent to them. Or maybe you can order from the factory, and all the dealers here are just really lazy.

Thanks

 

[meanelvis]

i'd repost this message in the "ask a dealer" section of the forums. i'm interested to see what they'd say.

 

[Staggie]

No, you cannot order a Honda from the factory with specific features, etc.

What can be done is this:
--Honda provides dealers with a build list schedule that indicates what cars will be built when.
--Since I wanted a 2WD EX 5-speed in Green, the dealer could check that they were scheduled for build between 5/12 and 5/16. This is the estimate for build date. If they weren't building this type of E until August, I couldn't order one any sooner.
--My E was actully built on 5/20 and arrived on 5/28 at my dealer.

It's not possible to get factory fogs, or factory audio systems other than what comes standard in the trim level you've selected. For Hondas those changes are dealer installed.

 

[buckaroo99]

Just did post in the 'Ask a Dealer' section.

 

[buckaroo99]

Thanks Staggie - Do you know how far ahead the 'build list' lists what is going to be built?? Also, from your post it sounds like they build the all the same type of Elements during a given time period (i.e gg 2wd ex 5sp from 5/12 to 5/16). Is that true or am I reading that wrong.

 

[M Ornett]

Several dealers in Texas told us that one could be ordered from the factory through them, but that it would take 3 months to arrive.

 

[Staggie]

buckaroo,

I don't know that it means that everything during that period is an exact match. Maybe it's just that they would be building EX 2WD's that week and some would be green. I don't know. One of the dealers made it very clear that they can view the build schedule and that the first Monday of the month was when he could key the requests for speicfic vehicles they'd like as part of their allotment. I'm not sure how far out the schedule goes or if each dealer is on the same schedule.

 

[buckaroo99]

Thanks again Staggie. The dealer I have been talking to finally admitted that they have a build list (after I said that I knew they had one). She said that they can place an order in two weeks and I might be able to get it in 3 months or so. But she said they would order it for the dealer (not me) and when it came in that I could buy it from them at that time. Yeah babe that's right I'm going to wait 3 months to get the car only to have you try to rape me on the price or sell it to someone else when it finally comes in. On to a new dealer.

 

[buckaroo99]

Got some info from a dealer:

Jerry Murray at heritage honda in Maryland (http://www.heritagehonda.net) who said:

We receive our allocations every month. In this allocation you can pre-
order and specify the model and color you would like. You need to find a
dealer that will work with you on this. For the most part there aren't any
restrictions on Element this month. There for a while we weren't able to
order the EX 4wd manual.

So it true you can order an Element!!!!

I suggest anyone in or around Maryland who wants to order an Element give Jerry a call.

 

[supamann]

Ok, there is certainly many ways to interpret "ordering" a vehicle through Honda, so I'll do my best to explain:

1)Each month we receive an allocation. I won't get into how we are allocated each unit, but let's say for example we are allocated 10 Elements on that order. At certain times, there are restrictions on certain units (the 5spd 4WD EX's for awhile and then the Side Airbag E's). So, of the 10 units we are allocated sometimes there are no restrictions. We can choose all 10 of them to be 5 spd 4WD models if we like (this is rarely the case though). Then we choose the color (again if there are not any restrictions for that color). The order is processed and then we wait to make sure everything was accepted by Honda and the vehicle then gets a "build date".

2)Shortly after the build date we are given a vehicle identification number (VIN). Then when get a ship date and an approximate delivery date.

So, you have to wait for our allcation, hope that we get it and there are no restrictions, wait for a build date and wait for delivery. It's not quite like ordering a Ford, when you can say I want this car and poof in 6-8 weeks it's yours. A little more compicated, but it can be done. Some dealers don't give this enough attention, because it isn't really "today" business and they don't think that far down the line. This is when they try to convince you to purchase something a little (maybe a lot) different from your ideal car. Most people are a little flexible. If you aren't flexible and don't want to wait to get the exact vehicle you want, then the dealer might have to try and locate this vehicle from another dealer. This is no easy task when trading for an Element, because the E's are selling well at every dealership. Certain models are hotter than others and even more difficult to trade for.

Anyway, sorry for the long explanation, but I hope this helps some.

 

[buckaroo99]

Thanks Mike - that helps quite a bit.