- Joined
- Aug 23, 2021
- Threads
- 16
- Messages
- 247
- Reaction score
- 387
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Maverick XLT, Lux, 360
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
I know everyone's favorite pastime on this forum is complaining about Ford's ordering process and communication. I do not want to start yet ANOTHER thread where people argue about Ford's great conspiracy or lack thereof, but here's my perspective after ordering another car with another manufacturer:
I ordered my Maverick on 8/3. Got an email from Ford confirming my order right away. (By now we know that there does seem to be some reliability issues with Ford's email system, but in my case it worked perfectly). The email and my dealer both explained that I was ordering a pre-production truck and I would get another email when my truck was scheduled to be built. The dealer guessed I'd get it in October or November, but I was made fully aware that it wasn't being produced yet and it could be longer.
Fast forward to today (11/16), and I am still not scheduled. Through this forum and Tim's helpful videos, I understand how to track my vehicle once I get a build email, what the delays are, and about when the delays will be released. Dealers and industry insiders are releasing production information, scheduling information, and constraints on a regular basis. I KNOW this information flow is not Ford Corporate's doing, but it is at least being allowed to be released.
My husband put in an order for a VW iD4 (all electric SUV) on 11/6. This model has been in production for about a year, in Europe as well as the US. As is with the Maverick, there are some trim levels and options, but not a ton. We called a few local dealers, none of whom had one on the lot to test drive. One dealer told us we could order one, but that they were taking 6-12 months to come in. He wasn't very enthusiastic. VW allows you to order online, where you build and price the car and then pick a dealer. You pay a $100 refundable deposit and click OK. There is no guarantee you will pay MSRP. You get an email confirmation stating that you will be directed to pay another $400 refundable deposit at some point in the future to lock in your order.
Cue me looking for the iD4 equivalent to the Maverick Truck Club... Found a Reddit page and a dedicated iD4 club page. There is almost no information on them about ordering, scheduling, allocation, or other processes. I have gleaned that you pay the $400 when you are scheduled. The time between ordering and scheduling can be anywhere from 5 days to 6 months. The vehicles are all currently being produced in Europe, and apparently VW prioritizes the European orders at the beginning of each model year. So as the model year changes, there's a long delay in getting any orders to the US. You have to order a 2021 model right now, but the delays in production means it will almost be guaranteed to be converted to a 2022 model. Shipping from overseas is at least done on VW's dedicated fleet, but is still subject to the port delays. They seem to be scheduling models based on trim level and options. AWD vs RWD seems to be a major constraint difference, but there is no actual constraint information being published on their sites. VW's order tracking system is buggy and doesn't update correctly. There are lots of complaints about VW not being transparent, not updating people, prioritizing production of more expensive models and trim levels, huge dealer mark-ups, and removing some important features from the US version of the vehicle.
The VW process seems better in 2 ways: 1) you can transfer your order from one dealer to another until it is being shipped. This at least gives you the ability to comparison shop if your assigned dealer tries to mess with the pricing. 2) if you place an order and there's a cancelled order with the same specs, VW will assign that existing scheduled build to you. Other than those two things, the complaints between the Maverick Truck Club and the iD4 club are VERY similar.
I know this doesn't make waiting for your (or my) Maverick any less frustrating, but the real challenge is the "traditional" car manufacturers just haven't caught up with consumer expectations for ordering a custom product.
I ordered my Maverick on 8/3. Got an email from Ford confirming my order right away. (By now we know that there does seem to be some reliability issues with Ford's email system, but in my case it worked perfectly). The email and my dealer both explained that I was ordering a pre-production truck and I would get another email when my truck was scheduled to be built. The dealer guessed I'd get it in October or November, but I was made fully aware that it wasn't being produced yet and it could be longer.
Fast forward to today (11/16), and I am still not scheduled. Through this forum and Tim's helpful videos, I understand how to track my vehicle once I get a build email, what the delays are, and about when the delays will be released. Dealers and industry insiders are releasing production information, scheduling information, and constraints on a regular basis. I KNOW this information flow is not Ford Corporate's doing, but it is at least being allowed to be released.
My husband put in an order for a VW iD4 (all electric SUV) on 11/6. This model has been in production for about a year, in Europe as well as the US. As is with the Maverick, there are some trim levels and options, but not a ton. We called a few local dealers, none of whom had one on the lot to test drive. One dealer told us we could order one, but that they were taking 6-12 months to come in. He wasn't very enthusiastic. VW allows you to order online, where you build and price the car and then pick a dealer. You pay a $100 refundable deposit and click OK. There is no guarantee you will pay MSRP. You get an email confirmation stating that you will be directed to pay another $400 refundable deposit at some point in the future to lock in your order.
Cue me looking for the iD4 equivalent to the Maverick Truck Club... Found a Reddit page and a dedicated iD4 club page. There is almost no information on them about ordering, scheduling, allocation, or other processes. I have gleaned that you pay the $400 when you are scheduled. The time between ordering and scheduling can be anywhere from 5 days to 6 months. The vehicles are all currently being produced in Europe, and apparently VW prioritizes the European orders at the beginning of each model year. So as the model year changes, there's a long delay in getting any orders to the US. You have to order a 2021 model right now, but the delays in production means it will almost be guaranteed to be converted to a 2022 model. Shipping from overseas is at least done on VW's dedicated fleet, but is still subject to the port delays. They seem to be scheduling models based on trim level and options. AWD vs RWD seems to be a major constraint difference, but there is no actual constraint information being published on their sites. VW's order tracking system is buggy and doesn't update correctly. There are lots of complaints about VW not being transparent, not updating people, prioritizing production of more expensive models and trim levels, huge dealer mark-ups, and removing some important features from the US version of the vehicle.
The VW process seems better in 2 ways: 1) you can transfer your order from one dealer to another until it is being shipped. This at least gives you the ability to comparison shop if your assigned dealer tries to mess with the pricing. 2) if you place an order and there's a cancelled order with the same specs, VW will assign that existing scheduled build to you. Other than those two things, the complaints between the Maverick Truck Club and the iD4 club are VERY similar.
I know this doesn't make waiting for your (or my) Maverick any less frustrating, but the real challenge is the "traditional" car manufacturers just haven't caught up with consumer expectations for ordering a custom product.
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We think we have it bad here. Over on their forum, there was (probably still is) a thread with a bunch of popsts with people trying to help others locate literally any Santa Cruz that is coming available. Because their process was not to build you a Santa Cruz - just to match you up with one that comes off the line that would happen to match your build choices during the reservation process. And then there are the posts where the dealers sold the concierge matched trucks out from underneath the assigned buyers. OUCH.
