So I have a Panamera GTS on order. It was "Planned into Production" (PLPROD) as of at least two weeks ago. I want to get the planned build date, which I assume the car must have at this point since it's planned into production.

Unfortunately, the dealer I ordered it through seems to have this strategy of being intentionally vague with delivery dates and then "surprising" the customer when the car comes in. I can understand how that probably insulates them from customers being upset about unanticipated delays, but I don't deal well with no information. I much prefer to have regular status reports and then deal with changes if/when they happen (which I completely understand.)

So I've noticed the dealer has politely deflected or ignored my requests for more precise information. They claim only one person in the entire dealership knows how to use the web app that Porsche provides for them! At this point, it's not like I'm going to cancel the order and place it with a different dealer. So I'm wondering if you guys know of any way that I can get the expected build date other than through the dealer. Can I ask another dealer to do me a favor in return for a very nice gift?

And then later I need the VIN as soon as that is available because the guys at Suncoast apparently need the VIN to order the mirrors and other things I need.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

 

If it helps... I placed an order on June 20 and my car will arrive in 3 weeks. It is on a boat now. It was a very custom White Panamera GTS. Maybe you can use that as a gauge of delivery time. It's coming to Philadelphia.

 

Thanks. Do you know what your build date was by chance? And your order number?

 

Not sure of the order #, but my completion date was supposed to be August 16. I got confirmation that it was indeed done on or by that date.

 

Thanks for the info and congrats on the car! If only there was a way for me to find out the estimated build date.

 

Can't you just ask your dealer? Even before I ordered my PGTS a week ago, the dealer pulled up the order system to show me all the production slots they had allocated to them for the rest of the year.

As I understand it, dealers are assigned production slots, and they either order customer cars with them, or must order for their own stock. Use it or lose it, I believe...

If your dealer can't tell you when the car is going to be produced, it could be that they don't actually have any production slots available for your order.

In my case, I was given a production day of 23rd October. This particular dealer had only one more slot that was unspoken for for the period ending December 31st this year.

 

Yes, I think this dealer just has a habit of being vague with production information. The whole team seems to be trained the same way. Next time I will make it clear that they won't get my business again with that approach to reporting.

But fortunately in this case with this GTS, my car is finished and so I hope to have it here by the end of the month.

 

Great! BTW, I see that you are in Fairfax too... May I ask which dealer you worked with? Just so I know for the future...

 

Went with Arlington, because the infamous HBL never even called me back. Same thing happened with my GT3 and C2, oddly enough. How about you?

You know HBL, or Porsche of Tysons or whatever, had three GTS's in stock a couple weekends ago. One white, one gray, one silver.

 

Went with HBL because they were closer to me. I didn't have any trouble with them... Always went in wearing crappy clothing, driving our not-so-hot Odyssey (all on purpose!). Didn't seem to bother the salesman I dealt with. It's probably a function of whom you deal with...

The red GTS came in last week. Test drove the silver one. None had the mix of options I wanted, so I ordered one instead.

 

I guess it all depends on the dealer.

Every dealer knows where or what the car is going through every step of the way. Without asking, my salesman emailed me every time the status of my 981 changed. The salesman simply goes to a printout that they print every day, it shows every incoming car and it's production and shipping status. Minus the trip across the ocean which you track yourself, it takes all of 30 seconds to look at it.

IMO it seems the norm not the exception for many who frequent the forums to want the status of their order as it changes.

Knowing what's happening with your car before it arrives is half the excitement (at least for me is was) and isn't asking for much from the salesman.

I would email your salesperson, cc the new car manager or general manager (he may be the ONE) and ask for weekly or status change updates, it's not asking for much at all.

Hope this helps.

 

Strange, I drive in with an S-class and they didn't even offer me a test drive! They let me sit in a GTS. Same story last time with my GT3. Weird.

Yeah, they didn't have the options I wanted either, so I would have had to order anyway. I didn't know they had a red one also. Carmine red, by chance?

Two weeks ago I actually mentioned to the guy I met there that if he had called me back one of those recent GTSes would have been built to my spec and sold. He just shrugged and said "you can buy this one." I guess they just don't like me!

Arlington has been very nice, they just like to play dumb a little on their ordering process.

 

The red GTS is Carmine red. Your experience at HBL is definitely odd. If I were the manager there, I'd be concerned.