First off I'd like to say hello. I've been a lurker of this forum for sometime now but just recently felt the urge to post. I ordered my SS S/C about a month and 1/2 ago and after reading some of the more recent posts I decided it was time I got myself some information. My dealer has just about shunned me since I pester him constantly and he keeps telling me he'll let me know when there is something to tell.

Anyway, I called Chevy's headquarters today and ranted to them for about 15 minutes for some definitive answers. He called my dealer and kept flip flopping between us. Basically he comes back and tells me there is no order number for my car yet and therefore he cannot give me any real information. He also said that my dealer said I won't expect information like that until end of April beginning of May since there was production delays.

Obvioulsy that answer totally contradicts what is being said on this site and at this point I'm not sure what to believe. I always assumed that when you order something you are given an order number. I'm hoping chevy doesn't work this way because otherwise it means my cars order wasn't even placed. Do any of you know when an order number is given? When its placed or when its picked for production? Also any definitive response you can give me would be appreciated. I have a 91 firebird at the moment that I poured blood and sweat into for 3 years only to be involved in a 4 car accident that was intiated by fools. To be honest I'm not sure it can make it another 3 months till this car gets here.

Thanks in advance.

 

You should have received a sheet from the dealership the day you ordered.
Or at least they have the ability to give you that info.

I have a sheet they gave me the day I ordered (back in October) that list's exactly what I ordered, with an order number and a bunch of other info on it.

But, a lot of people have had no luck trying to place an order at many dealerships the last couple of months. Dealers telling them that they couldn't place any orders for the SSSC right now.

But, I got to sit next to the sales manager as he keyed my order into the computer, and he showed me exactly how the whole process works and everything.......

Also, there are a lot of people that ordered as early as last september that are finally just now getting info on their orders that they are shipping or released for production. And you have to fugure that there are even more people that ordered that don't belong to this site. So it's hard telling how many people you are wating behind..

 

you should get an order number once your order is accepted by central ordering. I have one for my car and its 6 letters. Your dealer should have this number.

 

From what I understand from GM is that if you didnt pre order (which that doesnt mean those who have ordered in the last month like me) you have only put your name on a list to be able to place your order. Once official production begins things might change and they might start accepting those orders,but of right now they are not.

I do find one thing a little stupid though. I sent GM an email last night about some things and they didnt even answer a single one of my questions. They told my the cobalt SS/SC was to begin production in November 2004 and cars are expected to be at dealerships 4-6 weeks later. Well lets see its 2005 So I dont even know why they would say that in an email because obviously production is just begining. GM needs to stop sending people scripted messages when they have ligitimate questions. However, I have other ways of getting answers. It was just a little dissapointing that they didnt even give accurate information!

 

I concure. I got an order number, order status, what I ordered. It's all in the order system.

If you can't afford to wait for this car then you shouldn't. I have been waiting for 6 months. It's very possible your order could be dragged out a long time too.

Bluevilliain might be able to help since he has helped a few others on the board with their order status.

 

Well, here's the facts that I know, both from GM and from many posters like yourselves.

GM has not built many of these vehicles (SS/SC) so far. EVERYBODY is waiting on them. EVERYBODY is still waiting on them, yet EVERYBODY still feels the need to rant and rave.

If your dealer told you he would call you when he got more information, do you really think he's going to actively NOT try to sell you a car? He's going to make money off of it, why would he "shun" you unless what he told you already is still true, he doesn't know anything more than he's already told you.

I hate to say this, but there's no underground warehouse where us salesmen are going to drive all of these special vehicles and not tell anybody about. We're not keeping them behind our desks, they're not on the back lots. They aren't on the lots at all, and GM doesn't make it a priority to tell each and every salesperson at every single one of their 6000 US Dealers (not counting the ones in Canada) exactly what is going on with the day to day operations involving the Cobalt.

Nothing personal, but everybody is getting the runaround, including us dealership employees. So there's really nothing I can tell you.

If GM hasn't received your order, it may be because your dealer has not received an "allocation" for that particular vehicle yet. Allocations work in that every week a dealer gets a certain number of vehicles they can order with weird and just plain odd limitations. Last week we placed an order for a Victory Red C6, but we couldn't order the Polished Aluminum wheels with it. This week, that limitation is not there, but I do not have an allocation for another Vette.

I have almost 65 2 door Cavaliers on my lot, almost 20 Cobalt Sedans right now and have sold almost 15 LT and Base Sedans already. (The LS's are still here) But I haven't received one single Couple, not one. Others in this area have, but of course they're not willing to give them to me, so I'm waiting too, just like you guys.

Hope this helps.

Villain

 

People have the right to be upset though its frustrating. I'm personally not frustrated but I understand those who are. But I also would rather them fix the problems with the vehicle now than after I take ownership. I spoke to several redline owners here locally in the midwest who bought their vehicles then when it got bellow freezing thier cars wouldnt start and had to be towed to the dealerships....And this didnt just happen 1 or 2 times to these people.....I dont want bugs like that on my cobalt SS/SC so I wont complain about time. As long as I get it before summer break is over and I have to go back to teaching.

 

Thank you all for your input.

I by no means am attacking anyone here or anyone with chevy. My only issue was the complete lack of information given. I think I wasn't ready for what I was in for when I preordered the car. I expected things like order #'s, estimated dates of either production, or delivery. Just things that I'm used to when ordering other things.

Is it a huge deal? No. Is it frustrating? Well sort of, being as there are so many mixed messages from all over the internet, its like one day you get excited because someone has some information, and the next day you find out production is halted for something.

I think if someone credible was able to say, the cars being produced and you should expect it within a month, or the car has been delayed expect it in 2 months I would be happy. But for now I will trust what you all have said and just try to be patient till I hear something.

Thanks again, I will continue my lurking now

 

just hang in there all in sweet good time, when we all get our cars it will be a sweet awe, I think it will have been worth the wait

 

I'm looking at the sheat that me and the dealer signed... I don't see an order number.. Hmmmm??? I'll have to call them tomorrow or something and see if I can find out IF I EVEN HAVE and order number!!!...

I just posted something in the Lounge area... I just got back from the dealer and he gave me some info!!

 

I lot of times the order number isn't obtained by the dealership until they actually place an order.

Think of it like going to McDonalds, you've placed your order at the counter, they've told you what it's gonna cost, but the greasy looking guy in the back hasn't put your burger in the microwave or refilled the rube-goldberg-esque fry machine on the side yet.

If you need to know anything, don't be afraid to ask the guy you're gonna give a ton of money to. I'm sure he (or she) will be more than happy to help you out. If they're not, find somebody else to give your money to.

Villain

 

GM created this situation by stringing everyone along and admitting to their production delays officailly. When I ordered my car I was expecting it in late fall 2004.

It's possible that they are more concerned with selling cars on the lot that dealing with the cobalt mess that GM has placed them in. Or maybe the salesguy is to lazy to find out what the customer is asking him. Speculation gets us no where. Find another dealer that does have the inforamtion you need to make a choice. If you can't take your business elsewhere.

I see your points, but you do represent GM and their products. If your not informed about product that GM is campaigning to sell actively (like in fall 2004 with the free sunroof/xm deal). Then I would escalate this within your corp structure. GM as a corp has dropped the ball huge on this. And I mean HUGE.

Maybe this isn't a GM ordering system thing, maybe this is a Cobalt is all f'd up issue. I have ordered cars before and I have always been able to get information about my order. If someone orders car X and you can't order it because there is a restriction on part X it's up to the person placing the order to figure out why it can't be done and fix it or tell the customer they can't order the car. Stringing the customer along with general excuses isn't good business.

I quit a job specifically because the company's ordering systems were all hosed up and as a result the customer were always being screwed with. I was sick of making excuses for it and the company wasn't going to fix them. I am sure that none of the GM exec want to bring up this whole issue of customer being fucked with about their orders because that means they would have to fix it. There is certainly no customer service in the order process. I should be able to check my order's progress on the web, but hey the dealer's can't even do that. Join the 21st century GM.

I would also like to Thank Bluevillian for your help with searching everyones orders and clearing things up where you can. I don't think your a bad sales guy, but there are bad <fill in the job title> where ever you go.

 

BlueVillain I have a question for you. My car was accepted into production last Wednesday. One friggin day before the G85 package could be added to the order. My dealer has really struggled with this. First he said he would put a hold on the order and try to change it yesterday, that didn't work, now he has a call in to the GM regional rep. Do you think I have a shot at adding this option, or should I just accept the fact that I missed it by a day?

 

I should clarify that I don't think it's specifically the sales forces job to do these types of tasks. A mailing/letter or a call from a call center or and email. Or SOMETHING.
Heads are in the sand about this ordering/cobalt mess.

 

hey RedSS, i had the same thing happen, my dealer called in and got the G85 added to my order... if they really wanna go thru the trouble, and make the calls, it can be done... BUT, there may be an additional waiting time, as they may put u to the back of the line and build the preordered cars 1st, then build the G85 cars after...

 

I think you're right aka Matt. This will delay the car. My dealer is still trying to get the order changed. Do you know how your dealer made this happen? (who they called?)

 

not really sure who he called, some woman in charge of the ordering i guess, never asked... we sell alot of cars, so we may have a bit of pull in the ordering process...

 

What did you understand the G85 package to be? I've checked several times and I still don't know what this package actually is. Sure I've been told on here that's it's gauges and seats, but nobody at GM seems to know, or at least seems to be able to tell me.

Listen, we go through this every time GM comes out with a new model. You wouldn't believe the confusion we still have with the TrailBlazer from S-10 Blazer from K5 Blazer changes. (BTW the old K5 Blazer is now called a Tahoe just so you know)

Here's what I think... I don't drive anywhere but to and from work in my daily-driver, and I don't need "upgraded side bolsters." I'm pretty sure that the "white face gauge" option will soon be available aftermarket or even through GM accessories.

The question too many car buyers don't seem to be able to answer (and thus they show up in dealerships and buy the wrong vehicle and blame the guy who suggested it) is simply this...

"What do you want?" You are the one buying and paying for the car. If you want the car now, then get it sooner rather than later. If you want this "G85" package, then wait for it. But I can't even tell you what it is for certain.

Villain

 

First off Villain, if those Cavalier Coupes are 05's we could use them because where we are they are all sold out!

I have been working for a Chevy dealer for 5 years, and anytime you ORDER a vehicle for Stock whether its a Custom order for a Customer or just getting Allocation (ordering the cars we want on our lot) we are ALWAYS given an Order Number as soon as we confrim our entry into the system. GM's ordering system is referred to as VOMS on our end it doesn't make any sense at all to get an order number weeks or months down the road, because what then do you have to really reference the order?

When an order gets accepted into the System and there are no problems like Constrainsts on certain options, fabric, colors, etc. it get's an order number.

It's possible the Dealer has maxxed his allocation and he really has you on the waiting list! Tell you what, I will take anyones COBALT SS order.

However what we the dealer cannot control is the Production Queue, what delays there may be with Quality Control, when the Target Production Week is established, what day it's built and when it will arrive. We get updated to it's status, but what I do know is that you're all in a rush, but atleast let them make sure the car you are about to get is perfect, and it's taking longer than expected.

The Cobalt SS and the Cobalt SS SUPERCHARGED are two different cars. Production on the SUPERCHARGED started up on February 16th (not a day earlier) and there are none on the ground - I do know that.

There is only one in transit, yet to hit the lot (that's March 2nd or 3rd I beleive). The first Cobalt Supercharged to get a VIN# has a Sunroof (most do actually) and XM radio as options and the car was shipped with a weight of 2,893 pounds.

Be Patient - Good Things Come To Those Who Wait!

 

Bluevillian, when I added the G85 package to my car the ordering software and my order statement calls out the G85 package to be a LSD with Recaro seats. If you get a chance you might want to take a look at it. I saw it on GM's order software about a week before they released the package. My dealer told me they (Chevy) had made several changes to the software in regards to order idems about the 9th of Feb.

 

New G85 Performance Package

The new G85 Performance Package includes Recaro front bucket seats and a limited-slip differential. The package is only available on Cobalt SS Supercharged models with ebony interiors.

RPO: G85
MSRP: $1,500

http://chevylaunch.com/images/recaro_seat.jpg
http://chevylaunch.com/images/recaro_embroidery.jpg

 

At last check I have more than 50 05 Cavalier Coupes, all but two are autos. I'm sure my GM's ready to get rid of them if you really want some.

My point was that when a customer comes in to place an "order" and we go over the paperwork with him/her, we don't normally place that order until the following morning. Thus, there is no "order number" on the customers copy of any paperwork he/she may have signed that day at the dealership.

My point exactly. If you want an SS, I'm taking orders too. Heck, I'll take orders on the SS/SC too, but I can't telly you when they'll get here either.

Yes, they are.

I agree totally.


Villain

 

There ya go, right on the launch page too.

This doesn't follow the typical GM ordering pattern, where there is a different trim level listed, then a seat listed in the option section, and then an option package listed in the option section as well.

Villain

Who is not afraid to admit he doesn't know half the stuff he's supposed to.

 

Hell I just got mine order last month, I want it now, but I came to the conclusion that the longer I have to wait the more time I have to save up for a bigger down payment, and more time to pay off my credit card.

But if they wait any longer they might as well label em 2006 Cobalts

 

Wow, it's only February and you're already thinking it should be a 2006. Then you go and say you are being patient.

*grin*

Villain