Okay, I put down a deposit on a 2002 Silver/Black today at lunch. I spoke with the dealer previously and was told that they had one allocated to them already that was not yet spoken for. When I showed up to give him the deposit, he showed me a printout that listed all of their incoming cars. The S2000 section had two cars. Both had the full VIN listed. The status on mine was listed as PRE (I think) and the status on the other was listed as SHP (or something like that) and had a location attached. I was also told that "my" car was allocated to this dealer back on Feb. 26th or so.

Does all of this sound reasonable? What is the difference between PRE and SHP? The salesman said he thought the status went to SHP once it got to the continential United States and then it would only be a couple of days from there until it reached Ohio. Also, any clues as to how long it takes from allocation to delivery? Anyone care to clue me in here?

Thanks in advance and thank you all for all of the great info and discussions I've been reading for the past 6+ months!!!

 

The $500 you put down sounds reasonable, as does the dealer giving you the VIN. Don't know anything about PRE and SHP. Congrats and welcome (I know you're not new but felt like saying it anyway).

 

Thanks! I'm getting pretty excited. This will be the first real new car I've purchased, so I'm going to have a hard time waiting. I do tend to try to be conservative and say to myself, it's not a done deal until it's, well, a done deal.

I am just hoping everything goes as planned and I don't get any big surprises. I won't even care if I have to wait another month or so for the car to be delivered. That might give this wacky Ohio weather a chance to stablize.

 

Any dealers or others in the know care to comment?

TIA

 

I can tell you this, if you already have your VIN, it won't be long before you have your car. From the time that I got my VIN to the time that my car arrived was just a matter of days, 4 to 5 days.

I have no idea what the codes are that you were given.

Most of us here had to wait quite awhile to get our cars. I didn't have to wait too long, just five weeks from the time that I gave the dealer a deposit.

Enjoy your car.

 

i had been researching the car for 8 months and comparing against the audi tt, z3 and boxters. i just couldn't get myself to commit and buy a car (even tho all the research pointed to the s2k) since it was not necessary and was going to be my toy car. i knew the s2k had a 4-6 month wait here and i could never arrange to see one at a dealership. one weekend while surfing autotrader i noticed one for sale (new) near my home. i called and found out the guy who ordered it got laid off the day b4 it arrived and had to turn it down. i saw the add 2 hours after they posted it.

i asked if they had a car i could ride in (i did not want to even drive it ) and they accommodated by letting me go for a ride in one of the salesman's car. BANG, three hours later i was driving off the lot in a new spa yeller (the color i wanted) hottie.

while i did not have to wait for an order, i did put myself thru an extraordinarily long period of deprivation b4 i came to my senses. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! you will absolutely love this car.

 

I got "the call" today shortly after lunch!!! Only managed to put 80 miles on her tonight, but I'm already in love...

Thanks everyone!!!