Can someone fully explain the GM new car ordering/buying process?

[V]

So I recently went to a local dealer and talked to them about purchasing a new car, built with my desired options. The salesman went through all the options as we built the car on his computer. When we were done, he printed out the specs and wrote up an order form. He took a deposit and said his manager would submit the order the following day(it was almost 8pm).



When I had first asked the salesman about availability and if GM would definitely build the car, he said it all depends on if they accept the order and that would take a little time. I also asked about the time frame for the actual build process and he said its no longer 4-8 weeks, closer to 4-8 months.(well maybe not that extreme)



Does anyone here have any insight or experience with the order acceptance part? I have no problem waiting for the car, as long as I know GM will definitely build it. From what I've read online, it could be 2-4 weeks until they move it along and accept it. Others have talked about finding out the order status online, like a status 1100 means still waiting to be accepted by GM, and 1200 or 1300 means it will be built. I'm not sure if I have an actual order number to reference online since I assume that would only be generated when the manager submits the order. I'm going to call the salesman next week to see if there are any updates, but I doubt there will be any news yet.



I know 2021 C8 builds that were accepted and to be built in July were cancelled and the dealers or buyers needed to change the orders to 2022 model year. My car would be a '22 to begin with, and not a C8, so that scenario doesn't really apply to me but just shows how GM is changing stuff up with supply issues and plant shutdowns. I also read about dealer allocations and how/what they order and got very confused. Its a larger dealer so hopefully they have the allocation. If all goes smoothly, I still don't expect to take delivery until after the new year, maybe spring.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I have custom ordered a Ford Transit Connect, a GMC Savannah and a GMC Sierra 1500 in December, so my info may be out of date by now. However, Ford was like normal. GMC had to accept the build, like you said. My Savannah had to be a Gas v6 or diesel as the new 6.6 V8 was denied. Sierra went through after acceptance with minimal delays, got it in April. Savannah build date keeps getting pushed, most recently I had a 8/18 build date that never happened. No one seems to really be able to get much info out of GM

[V]

Ok, good to know. I stopped by the dealer a few days ago to see if I could get the order number but they still didn't have it. In this case it seems they are waiting on their allocation first, then placing the order. I've read dealerships can do it either way. It is a larger dealer so hopefully something happens soon, or at least before winter.

[LS1ow]

I ordered a Sierra 1500 in January and it was a pretty bad time tbh. Deposit taken and truck ordered last week of Jan. Apparently each dealer only gets certain allocation even on regular vehicles. That was new to me. I figured on stuff like a Vette/V, etc, but i didnt think a 1500 pick up reguired allocation. Anyways, 2/3 weeks before a slot for a 1500 Double Cab/Standard 6.5" bed opens up. Truck is submitted, and accepted for build with in a week or so. That put us at the end of Feb.

Fast forward to the first week of June and i still do not have a truck. Got the whole chip shortage story blah blah blah. I work in a dealer as well, so i know what it is like so cant be to upset.

They ended up swapping in a truck that was pretty much what i wanted. All the main stuff was there, it just didnt have the spray in bed liner(which they actually did for me for free before picking up) and the center console.

It does have the fancy pants tailgate, which the original order did not.

[V]

At first I was kinda annoyed that I didn't get an order number even after a week, even if it wasn't accepted by GM. Ther'es a ton of people with 1100 status for their order number but not accepted yet. After going back and asking the salesman about it last week, that's when he mentioned that the allocations come out on thrusdays and all that stuff. That night I started researching the allocation thing and saw how some dealers wait, and some submit anyway before. And it seems just to even get the 1100 status it has to meet allocation. So i'm a little more understanding but I always thought if you ordered a car, and the dealer took a deposit, the car was as good as built, despite any production delays obviously. In the mean time, i was considering adding some more options before the order gets submitted. I kinda rushed to get an order in thinking time mattered, lol, and went very light on options, also to keep price down. Ill go though GMs build and price a few more times to see if i can justify any add-ons.


edit: didnt find any additional options i needed

[PolarBear]

Whatcha buying?

[V]

Got my order number earlier this week. I have yet to check the status online yet.

I had started with plans to get a c8, even though it had no manual trans option. But with losing my GTO, I need a car with a backseat for my boys. I then decided on a 6th gen Camaro zl1. After going through countless reviews it seems the Camaro backseat might as well not even be there. My 5th gen was just barely manageable. So that was out too.
So in the end, decided on a sweet 4dr, manual, and blue.... chevy spark.


Another update: I checked the status at the corresponding gm website. Says dealer submitted order, just not accepted by GM yet and to check back Later. I'm still expecting a delivery date of late winter or spring 2022.



https://cgi.chevrolet.com/mmgprod-us/dynres/prove/image.gen?i=2021/1DT48/1DT48__1SF/GZ0_LV7_MR8_GZ0_AV5_HKR_IORgmds10.jpg&v=deg02&std=true&country=US&removeCat=
badass, right?:bunny:

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

are the export tails and bumpers already ordered? :rofl:

[JL8Jeff]

I can just see the slicks sticking out the back!

[V]

Or like 305/35zr19's on the rear. :wink:

Order still not officially accepted by GM yet. I check the status every night lol.




update 10/7/21: Still not officially accepted by GM. I don't know why I feel the need to check every day, especially if it'll be weeks of waiting. Its been just over 3 weeks since I placed the order at the dealer and maybe 13 days since the order was actually submitted so it's still early in the process. And I really hope some of you know me well enough to know that I'd never really buy a Spark...

[V]

Still waiting for order acceptance.

[sweetbmxrider]

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/82456254.jpg

[Blackbirdws6]

What flavor of BW are you chasing?

[V]

The 5 in electric blue

[V]

Not too thrilled with yesterdays update of pending orders. It seems orders are either at 1100 status(submitted by dealer, not officially accepted by GM) or have moved to 3000/3400(accepted, with a target production week). A 2000 status means accepted by GM but on the list of around 100 orders, none are at 2000 anymore, or have moved to 2000. I'm not sure if that means they halted acceptance either temporarily or completely. The latest target production date for a 3000 order I saw was 12/20/21. That was a ZVxxxx order, mine is a ZZxxxx. So anything getting accepted after that will defiantly be built in late winter 2022. I'll just have to keep waiting and checking I guess.

[Blackbirdws6]

Nice choice and that's a fun color. What status are you in now? The allocation game is a fun one. Rarely do you get any guarantees and every week will be the same story until they get one or you just keep waiting. I dealt with this on the hellcat. I eventually worked with another dealer, allocation came in a month of waiting and car was built in around a month.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

The 5 in electric blue

You didn't get back to my question about export tails/bumpers!

[V]

You didn't get back to my question about export tails/bumpers!


AFAIK, the lights/bumpers are probably the same now. Saves GM money to meet as many global regulations the first time around. But i will look into it...

[V]

I'm still at 1100. Called around to other dealers to work with and most are charging a premium of 10k +. I do have a list of some that are charging msrp that I'll be calling.

[V]

Latest update is that there is a rumor that all bw production has come to an end, mainly due to parts shortages. Not sure if they'll resume or not. Also not sure if they plan on making them for 2023. May be out of luck.

[Blackbirdws6]

That's a bummer and hopefully not true. That will keep them way up in the used market for a bit.

[wretched73]

Get in line for a z06

[V]

So production is up in the air. No new orders seem to have gone to 2000 status for almost 1 and a half months. Many are stuck at 1100 for months. Right now the discussion is that the outcome is unknown still. Maybe they'll restart production in the new year, or maybe that's it. Just a waiting game now.


So while I wait... I bought something to keep me busy. Its NOT a V btw, but i do want to get a V front bumper since I like that look much better than the v6 one.


https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/h7MAAOSwt0NhaJIZ/s-l1600.jpg

[sweetbmxrider]

:lol: nice

[V]

I'm going to make so many cadillac people upset when I drop my GTO LS1/T56 in it.

[V]

So... dealer said order was accepted by gm and had a target production week of mid January.:shock: :pimp::clap:

Anyone wanna buy a cts wagon in the spring? Lol

[PolarBear]

Anyone wanna buy a cts wagon in the spring? Lol

What year is the CTS?!?

[Blackbirdws6]

Exciting!

[V]

What year is the CTS?!?


2010 v6 rwd performance trim

[V]

Confirmation that order was picked up by GM and Target Production Week of 1/10/22.
Apparently the dealer must have resubmitted the order at some point and didn't give me the new order number. I was still tracking the old number from September.

So excited! Now I can sell the ls1/t56 out of my GTO since I don't need/want to do any motor swaps.



https://scontent.fewr1-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/270000678_1567925020229474_8650783548252344818_n.p ng?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=rZDdb6q7ovgAX8LIddO&tn=Ik5E7ltknND853Rv&_nc_ht=scontent.fewr1-5.fna&oh=03_AVIJI1n2gvIKFEiPxxoBE1FG6rDQWLoEZ6-q9PoS9rOVpg&oe=61F19BD8

[wretched73]

What car is this for?

Spark? V? Camaro? I can't keep track and they're all so similar

[V]

Lol, Brian and Adam picked up on it before, it's a 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. 4dr sedan, 6.2l supercharged lt4 making 668hp, and 6speed manual transmission.

[WayFast84]

This thing is going to be sweet.

[Blackbirdws6]

Did you grab the carbon package and especially those awesome looking carbon shell backed seats?

[V]

Did you grab the carbon package and especially those awesome looking carbon shell backed seats?

No carbon options inside or out. My kids would probably destroy the seat backs anyway, plus had to keep costs down somehow.

[maroman88]

Lol, Brian and Adam picked up on it before, it's a 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. 4dr sedan, 6.2l supercharged lt4 making 668hp, and 6speed manual transmission.

woaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[V]

Pretty much this, just no carbon fiber packages(front splitter, side skirts, spoiler).



https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ETA_1591.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=564&h=318&type=webp

[V]

Car has been built and the next step is shipping.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I'm glad it's working out! Excited to see it.

[V]

Got my VIN. Car appears to be the 298th manual trans 5BW built to date, and 630th overall CT5V BW built.

[townsend]

dude thats awesome congrats!

[ThoR294]

When do I get a ride?

[V]

Day 161....


Car has apparently finally shipped.
Comes up on Cadillac.com as in transit as well as on my Dealers website as inventory "In Transit". Maybe this week....

[ThoR294]

Hopefully the weather gets nice and no salt on the road

[V]

Day 175....



Now its been 2 months since the cars been built. Dealer has been invoiced, that's why it had popped up on their website as part of their inventory for 2 days. If they want, then have to manually take it off which they did, due to it being a sold order.


As of now, it's still sitting in the Lot of Doom in Michigan(rail yard). But luckily, it was not one of the 8 cars stolen from the assembly plants lot the other week.


I did order an aftermarket spoiler for it already. That should be here Tuesday.
As far as the car goes, who knows. It could be any day now, and I still have to clean out my garage...

[V]

Day 180


Car has reached 4200 status, "Shipped".


Estimated delivery date is 4/19/22.

[sweetbmxrider]

**** yes

[V]

EDD was a month off. I'm taking delivery Monday after work.

[JL8Jeff]

Nice! It seems like all these wonderful electronic tracking systems don't work so well when there is no data input into them. I've had several things shipped recently that suddenly arrived before any update went into the system other than "in possession of item". Are you going to get any sleep tonight? :mrgreen:

[sweetbmxrider]

:drool:

[ThoR294]

Subscribed to thread now

[Blackbirdws6]

Niiiiice

[Joey D]

Looks great. I had built one like that. I decided on a trx instead. Lot more room inside for my 6'5 ass and growing kids. I slightly regret it

[V]

Heres more pics. Sounds amazing.

[sweetbmxrider]

Did you have any doubts that it wouldn’t be built? When do you take it home??

[ThoR294]

Such an awesome machine

[V]

Did you have any doubts that it wouldn’t be built? When do you take it home??


Yes, I'm only the second allocation the dealership has received for a CT5BW in the past year. There were 2 people/orders ahead of me but they would not drop the carbon fiber options which are/were on constraint, so I got moved up. On the caddy forums, there are some people with orders in for over a year now with no movement. With all the delays, bizarre order acceptance process, and even the thefts from the GM lot, the whole deal has gotten the nickname "goat rodeo" on the forums.



I'm picking it up Saturday when I finally have time off of work.

[Blackbirdws6]

Grab it quick before they sell it to someone else! Work will just have to deal with it.

[V]

This thing is so much fun and I've only got it to 3400rpms. Right now it's keeping my notchback company in my father-in-law's garage while I finish cleaning out mine.

[ThoR294]

This thing is so much fun and I've only got it to 3400rpms. Right now it's keeping my notchback company in my father-in-law's garage while I finish cleaning out mine.

Did they give you a break in period?

[V]

Did they give you a break in period?


The dealer didn't specifically, but everyone else on the caddy forum had been referring to a 500 mile break in period, so I'm taking it easy until then. Not even at 100 yet.

[maroman88]

beautiful, cant wait to see this around

[V]

How would you abbreviate "MEGALODON" to 7 letters...?


MGALODN?

[Joey D]

How would you abbreviate "MEGALODON" to 7 letters...?


MGALODN?

Mgldon. I have 6 on my plate and like it

[V]

Some new pics

[wretched73]

Way mint, you ended up adding carbon pieces?

[V]

I added an aftermarket carbon fiber rear spoiler, smaller than the oem one.

[sweetbmxrider]

Looks good with the spoiler for sure. Any other fun stuff going on?

[V]

Well other than clear front side markers, nothing is really available yet. Due to the "global b architecture" of the new computers/electronics, the car cannot be tuned. So bolt on mods aren't very likely. Unless they determine if the car will automatically adapt to a new exhaust, pulley, intake, etc. Another option being looked at are piggyback tuning systems. But as of yet, and due to the low production numbers, no one has anything worthwhile.

At the same time a tuner has gotten 650rwhp out of a ct4v blackwing. Motor makes around 475 stock. It's assumed to be a piggyback tuner setup. They specialize in the twin turbo V6 so not sure if they'd take on the lt4.

[maroman88]

soooo nice

[Blackbirdws6]

Pretty sure I saw a shop drop in a ported blower and no tune which picked up like 40rwhp.

[BrandonDrecksage]

which caddy dealer did you order this from? I was looking at ordering a ct4 blackwing.

[V]

which caddy dealer did you order this from? I was looking at ordering a ct4 blackwing.

I got it from Grand Prize in nanuet ny. It's actually the closest caddy dealer to me. Unfortunately I did end up paying a dealer markup but nowhere near what I hear they are charging now, 15k for a ct5-v bw. Trinity Cadillac in Englewood cliffs NJ was said to be asking 60k over. Finding a dealer willing to sell at MSRP is the hardest step. The 4bw's seem to have less markups and slightly easier to get. At this point, if you order it would have to be a 2023 since I am pretty sure '22 allocations are done with as of yesterday. Check out Cadillacvnet.com for a ton of information including reviews, dealers who sell at MSRP, order/tracking info, etc.

[V]

Pretty sure I saw a shop drop in a ported blower and no tune which picked up like 40rwhp.

Yes, and it was an older lt4 style blower, similar but not exactly the same. I think they ultimately made around 670whp. They will probably try porting an OEM BW blower and see if it picks up more. One owner just dynoed his stock 5bw and made 622.2 whp. Two companies have been working on the ct4 BW and they are just about into the 10's. One showed a 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds and >20psi boost. Hopes are they cracked the ct4s ECM. If so, that gives hope to tuning of the 5BW.