Here's an update on the 'automatic release from hold' that lots of folks got a few days ago, including me. Since I was seeing stories about people being given one day or two days to take delivery after after coming off hold, I figured maybe I'd better be ready to take delivery since they'd popped me off of hold, so I called them to make sure my financing was all arranged.
And 'he' told me that in fact my order was still on hold through Jan 2 regardless of what my account was saying.
The other thing he said when I mentioned I'd been hearing about these people given 24 hours or whatever is that that COULD happen, and so the best thing is to be ready. REALLY ready; financing arranged, insurance arranged, and available to pick up the car, because if you refuse that first 'quicker' offer then no kidding you'll go to the back of the line, which he said would probably be around April.
So it sounds like when you go on hold you retain some sort of status and may get a quick 'offer' of a VIN when you come off; you don't necessarily and automatically go to the back of the line. But if you refuse that first offer then you WILL go to the back of the line.
So I guess what I'm piecing together is actually most of us are probably still on hold until 12/31 or Jan 1 or whatever your date is (Jan 1 slipping to Jan 2 since no deliveries on the holiday), but when you come off there's a chance you'll get a quick shot at a VIN, so if you want that, be ready. If you're not ready, and they offer a car and you refuse, it looks like you'll go to the back of the line.
Also, I'm not in this situation from trying to manipulate the tax credit, but they're fully aware most people are, so he automatically launched into his 'no tax credit is coming any time soon' spiel. I shut that down because it doesn't apply to me, but he said they know that's what most people are doing so that's why they're sort of playing a little bit of hardball with the initial VIN. And honestly, I don't blame them. So if you've been playing the stall game for the credit, and now that the credit may not be coming all of a sudden now want your car ASAP, you need to be really no-kidding ready because it sounded to me like they're a little bit fed up with it.
