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My SoCal Delivery Experience

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[Spoiler Alert: I end up happy with my car]

After months of shopping/researching, I pulled the trigger on first an SR+, then found a 2018 Stealth, then at 10 pm on Xmas eve, a demo Performance 3. I belabored the benefits of each trim level, justified the splurge, then retreated to the practical, then "compromised" with a stealth, but ultimately I picked up my P3 car in Carlsbad last night, and it was somewhat of a sh*tshow. The SA's are all nice people (I've been harassing them for months), but the delivery "team" is different.

The showroom, which two weeks ago had seven or eight cars, is a completely empty warehouse with barren concrete floors. Cheap furniture is sporadically placed around the cold, drafty barn-like space. There was a "ghetto-blaster" radio perched precariously atop a plastic table churning out house tunes to try to quell the nerves of frustrated buyers as several families arrived in excited anticipation, only to be told their dream cars are not there. I saw at least three families with young children claiming they had traveled from out of state to pick up a car that could not be delivered before EOY, and the SAs were frantically trying to locate anything available.

Behind the Oz-ian double doors of the shell of a showroom, the delivery area was staged with tens of shiny new cars and people crawling all over them, scrutinizing panel gaps and scuffs. Most of the cars looked pristine and perfect. Mine was a demo, so I didn't expect perfection. It was love at first sight, the Deep Sea Blue beckoned with an inviting shine, and the wagon-wheeled sized Performance rims barely hiding the Brembo goodness beneath confirmed this was indeed my flagship whip.

As I approached, both my wife and I simultaneously gasped as two, two-inched gashes in the front fascia scowled at us. There was also several scrapes, dings behind the passenger front rocker panel, and some residual glue from what appeared to be a removed sticker that covered the damage. The car otherwise gleamed in pristine perfection, and the barely post-pubescent delivery aid quickly receded to the interior in search of help explaining or addressing our concern. As I circled the car, another delivery "specialist" came up to me and said "you knew you were buying a demo, right?" Demos have defects, will you accept delivery or not? I completely understand how stressed the workers are for deliveries, but I was stressed about making a significant financial purchase, and I (tried to calmly) respond that I have own several cars with hundreds of thousands of miles that don't have this form of prominent disfigurement. I asked to at least have a Due Bill and a referral to their bodyshop for correction or replacement. He disappeared as well when I failed to capitulate.

I went back to the front-facing area where my familiar SA's were still handling the moderate uprising of disgruntled deliveries denied, and expressed my concern/frustration. Apparently they have no pull with the delivery teams, or have been advised to not get involved, so I got no love.

A third delivery guy came out, confirmed I knew it was a demo, and said they brought it back to the shop, and would either replace the fascia or deny any claim for repairs, but he couldn't tell me which, but it would be another hour or so. My wife had to leave and I was resigned to pace the barren concrete bunker like an uncertain expectant father. I was still excited about the car, but was left to make the tough decision of whether to reject delivery if they didn't fix the two obvious defects in the car.

Ultimately, they replaced the front fascia, and buffed out the scrapes on the rocker to my satisfaction. Not perfect, but reasonable for a "new" car with 16xx miles on it. I electronically signed the MVPA, transferred my funds via ACH, and drove away with my dream car.

I know some people won't have the joy of delivery before EOY, and I truly feel your frustration and pain. The anticipation and stress of the run up towards delivery has been a somewhat self-induced torture, to which us obsessive geeks knowingly subjected ourselves (and the collateral damage to our families), but at least in my case, the story (thus far) had a happy ending. I'm looking at blue skies and a couple hours of free time to explore my new toy, grateful that its finally over.

Incidentally, a black on white stealth should be available this morning in Carlsbad, as I released it last night after taking the Performance home.

Good luck and happy New Year to all!
 
[Spoiler Alert: I end up happy with my car]

After months of shopping/researching, I pulled the trigger on first an SR+, then found a 2018 Stealth, then at 10 pm on Xmas eve, a demo Performance 3. I belabored the benefits of each trim level, justified the splurge, then retreated to the practical, then "compromised" with a stealth, but ultimately I picked up my P3 car in Carlsbad last night, and it was somewhat of a sh*tshow. The SA's are all nice people (I've been harassing them for months), but the delivery "team" is different.

The showroom, which two weeks ago had seven or eight cars, is a completely empty warehouse with barren concrete floors. Cheap furniture is sporadically placed around the cold, drafty barn-like space. There was a "ghetto-blaster" radio perched precariously atop a plastic table churning out house tunes to try to quell the nerves of frustrated buyers as several families arrived in excited anticipation, only to be told their dream cars are not there. I saw at least three families with young children claiming they had traveled from out of state to pick up a car that could not be delivered before EOY, and the SAs were frantically trying to locate anything available.

Behind the Oz-ian double doors of the shell of a showroom, the delivery area was staged with tens of shiny new cars and people crawling all over them, scrutinizing panel gaps and scuffs. Most of the cars looked pristine and perfect. Mine was a demo, so I didn't expect perfection. It was love at first sight, the Deep Sea Blue beckoned with an inviting shine, and the wagon-wheeled sized Performance rims barely hiding the Brembo goodness beneath confirmed this was indeed my flagship whip.

As I approached, both my wife and I simultaneously gasped as two, two-inched gashes in the front fascia scowled at us. There was also several scrapes, dings behind the passenger front rocker panel, and some residual glue from what appeared to be a removed sticker that covered the damage. The car otherwise gleamed in pristine perfection, and the barely post-pubescent delivery aid quickly receded to the interior in search of help explaining or addressing our concern. As I circled the car, another delivery "specialist" came up to me and said "you knew you were buying a demo, right?" Demos have defects, will you accept delivery or not? I completely understand how stressed the workers are for deliveries, but I was stressed about making a significant financial purchase, and I (tried to calmly) respond that I have own several cars with hundreds of thousands of miles that don't have this form of prominent disfigurement. I asked to at least have a Due Bill and a referral to their bodyshop for correction or replacement. He disappeared as well when I failed to capitulate.

I went back to the front-facing area where my familiar SA's were still handling the moderate uprising of disgruntled deliveries denied, and expressed my concern/frustration. Apparently they have no pull with the delivery teams, or have been advised to not get involved, so I got no love.

A third delivery guy came out, confirmed I knew it was a demo, and said they brought it back to the shop, and would either replace the fascia or deny any claim for repairs, but he couldn't tell me which, but it would be another hour or so. My wife had to leave and I was resigned to pace the barren concrete bunker like an uncertain expectant father. I was still excited about the car, but was left to make the tough decision of whether to reject delivery if they didn't fix the two obvious defects in the car.

Ultimately, they replaced the front fascia, and buffed out the scrapes on the rocker to my satisfaction. Not perfect, but reasonable for a "new" car with 16xx miles on it. I electronically signed the MVPA, transferred my funds via ACH, and drove away with my dream car.

I know some people won't have the joy of delivery before EOY, and I truly feel your frustration and pain. The anticipation and stress of the run up towards delivery has been a somewhat self-induced torture, to which us obsessive geeks knowingly subjected ourselves (and the collateral damage to our families), but at least in my case, the story (thus far) had a happy ending. I'm looking at blue skies and a couple hours of free time to explore my new toy, grateful that its finally over.

Incidentally, a black on white stealth should be available this morning in Carlsbad, as I released it last night after taking the Performance home.

Good luck and happy New Year to all!
How much did you pay for your car?