My '02 Spa is on order. I have asked my dealer for a Build Date & VIN.

How much before the Build Date did you find out what the Build Date was?

AND

How much before your car arrived did you get the Build Date & VIN?

AND

How long after the Build Date did you car show up at the dealer?

BACKGROUND: I'm extremely confident my car will be here 4/15 because the experience with the dealer/salesperson has been extremely positive so far. I would like to get my Build Date & VIN and as of yet, I don't have it.

 

Very good question - have been pestering my dealer for VIN number for the last few weeks as I want to convert to member status. Will mail him again today and find out.

 

I put in my order October 19th, and told the dealer my color choice Dec 31st. They ordered a car for March delivery out of their Feb Allocation. I asked them to keep me posted on build date, ship date, etc.... I got a call Jan 26th that the car was ahead of schedule (?) and had just shipped. I contacted Utah S2K who was able to tell me that the car was 3 days out of Japan. The last time I heard from him, the car should be in San Pedro Port the middle of next week (when someone tells you "Middle of Next Week" and it's Saturday, does that mean the week that starts Sunday, or 1 week plus?... I dunno....)

So, I got my VIN 3 days after shipping, and assuming it lands this week, that's 3 weeks by boat, and a little over a week by train/truck.

I was a little pissed that my dealer never gave me a build date. I suspect this is because the car didn't 'have my name on it' until it shipped. The color was requested from the factory, but at the same time, the dealer also ordered one in my second choice of color, in case I changed my mind...

JonasM

 

I ordered my S2000 in Nov. 01, I just got my build date a week or so ago (March 16 build date). I kept pestering them for the build date to ensure I kept on top of it. Now, I just need to know when it is finished and when to expect my VIN. The Happy Day should be sometime in mid - late April.

 

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I need to keep nagging.

JonasM - thanks for your story, I suspect you are right, it was not Your car until it was ready to ship, but that is OK, it is your now! You mentioned three weeks on the ship and a bit more than 1 week to go by train and car, that sounds just like what I have heard. So it seems by build date should be sometime in the next 2.5 to 3 weeks.

matrix - gee, maybe out toys will be on the same boat.

 

I didn't ask for VIN but was told the build date after it was shipped. It didn't really matter to me so I never bugged 'em...

 

I found out my VIN the day before I took delivery (which is the day it arrived at the dealership) so that it could be added to my insurance policy. The build date I found out when I picked up the car from the dealership.

 

You can get a build date approximately 1 month prior to the build. That date is not set in stone though and can vary by a week or so.

After it is finally built you will have a VIN. Shipping generally takes on the order of 4 weeks after the completion, but it can be anywhere from 3-6 weeks.

The only control the dealership really has is to make sure your order was included in the proper month's allocation.

If you are expecting to have your car by 4/15, you should be able to have a build date by the end of this month.

 

My salesperson told me today I'm about a week and a half or so away from getting my build date. I told him to keep me posted as soon as he knows.

I sort of got distracted when he confirmed my deal dropped by another $500 because the rebate on the hardtop is confirmed.

If you want to know more - Search for "rebate" and read the thread about the hardtop going on sale.

 

How, exactly, does the dealer find out the build date?