Should I change my dealer (UK)

[ananas]

Hi all. I’m in the UK and I put an order for RWD ST last week.

I was told the delivery is expected until the end of this year, but with the existing climate you’d never know, which is fair. However the wording I get from my dealer is often vague and I don’t mind the waiting, but I don’t like the unknown.

Then I did some calling around and one dealer told me that I can get my car by September, as they literally don’t have any waitlist for Sport Turismo RWD so I’ll be the first in the queue.

I have to return my current car, Model 3, by March next year. I’m concerned I wouldn’t get a Taycan by then. So the earlier the better to minimize the risks.

If I am the first in the queue, does that mean this dealer will 100% get an RWD allocation and it is gonna be my build? How often do the dealers get allocations? Does anybody have a similar experience of changing a dealer?

Thanks!

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[TaycanHero]

Many of us have learnt on this forum from long time Porsche owners in the UK that different dealers do indeed have different allocations and it is - presumably - first come first served.

For that reason, depositee #8 at one dealer might get their Taycan sooner than depositee #3 at another dealer where the former has far more allocation slots.

It therefore pays to phone/email around and ask, as you have done.

However, for the sake of three months, it probably isn't worth it, unless you are very unhappy with your current dealer. You have two options: cancel and put down a deposit with the other dealer; or put down two deposits and see which can get you an allocation sooner. Deposits are refundable.

March 2023 is a three month time window.

As one other alternative: worst case you can pre-book an ONTO electric car from £600 monthly (VW ID3 class vehicle) in case there are further delays. I have used them and they are legit. Give yourself maybe two weeks before handing back the Model 3 - you can leave it until that late and likely get one of the more affordable ONTO rentals.

SUVs and Teslas hover around the £800-1200 mark monthly and are more readily available for obvious reasons (you can book days ahead and likely get availability), but then you think about what that money could afford you in options on your Taycan, and the head starts speaking to the heart...

 

[WuffvonTrips]

If you don't mind tying another £5k up, you could place another order with the new dealer and keep your options open for now. Assuming the deposits are refundable, you could then wait until one of the dealer offers you a build date (I don't think there's any 100% certainty on allocations at the moment). If you inform both dealers of this approach, that should keep them on their toes and you might find that the first dealer suddenly finds you an earlier build.
PS welcome to the forum!

 

[batteredhaddock]

Agreed on OnTo, Taycan arrival (hopefully in the next week) meant it made sense to end my iPace PCP at 3 years rather than 4 (rather than extending warranty, incontol). Actually sold it in January to take advantage of market and avoid the sods of law damaging it after having it pristine for 32 months. Onto enabled that and actually been quite fun driving the ID3. Added benefit will be bigger jump in luxury when the Taycan arrives (iPace FE HSE interior was very nice, ID3 charmingly basic).

 

[Bazza]

Hi all. I’m in the UK and I put an order for RWD ST last week.

I was told the delivery is expected until the end of this year, but with the existing climate you’d never know, which is fair. However the wording I get from my dealer is often vague and I don’t mind the waiting, but I don’t like the unknown.

Then I did some calling around and one dealer told me that I can get my car by September, as they literally don’t have any waitlist for Sport Turismo RWD so I’ll be the first in the queue.

I have to return my current car, Model 3, by March next year. I’m concerned I wouldn’t get a Taycan by then. So the earlier the better to minimize the risks.

If I am the first in the queue, does that mean this dealer will 100% get an RWD allocation and it is gonna be my build? How often do the dealers get allocations? Does anybody have a similar experience of changing a dealer?

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum, you'll be a contributor for many months to come
When I placed my order (6th Sept) I was told that if instead of ordering a 4S I ordered a RWD I'd get it sooner as they'd just opened another production line for RWD's due to demand.
I massively specced up a RWD (racing away from traffic lights in a 4S didn't interest me) and placed my order.
I was led to believe it would be late Jan or maybe Feb. Heard nothing then came Ukraine!
I've been stuck on production phase 2 (of 5) on the MyPorsche app for two months.
Finally on Friday I rec an email from my official dealer who said due to Ukraine they could no longer give a date, but the good news I am officially in the queue. I don't think he knows any more than I do.

The other good news is you'll make many friends and contacts on this (and other) forums.
Occasionally your spirits will be uplifted when one of our contributors gets their car and sends pics.

So there you go - hopefully you now have a better idea of the state of play?!

 

[Tiree Taycan]

Bazza. I'm in the same boat except I placed my order at the beginning of 'July' 2021. Have been told it's 'in the body shop' but that's all. Just wondering if there is actually a record which has been set for order to delivery as I guess I might be close to the winner. I think by the time it finally arrives I may actually have gone off the Taycan or something more appealing will be on the market.

 

[TaycanHero]

Bazza. I'm in the same boat except I placed my order at the beginning of 'July' 2021. Have been told it's 'in the body shop' but that's all. Just wondering if there is actually a record which has been set for order to delivery as I guess I might be close to the winner. I think by the time it finally arrives I may actually have gone off the Taycan or something more appealing will be on the market.

There isn't much in the way of direct competition to the Taycan until at least 2025.

Even the audi e-Tron Avant is a bit too conservative looking for what should be a direct competitor to the ST.

 

[Adz_1990]

Bazza. I'm in the same boat except I placed my order at the beginning of 'July' 2021. Have been told it's 'in the body shop' but that's all. Just wondering if there is actually a record which has been set for order to delivery as I guess I might be close to the winner. I think by the time it finally arrives I may actually have gone off the Taycan or something more appealing will be on the market.

I put my deposit down early June 2021, same story, it is locked down but not yet commenced production. Now due Mid May.

 

[AlexR]

I did the same with OnTo - I have been very impressed so far. I optimistically booked to send it back 2 weeks after original build complete estimate (March 13th) but have since has to cancel the collection. The car now has a VIN so I have to think that something is happening in the background. The new date of 15 April looms closer, so we shall see. Fingers crossed!

 

[TaycanHero]

Can second ONTO for a more innovative way of hiring (electric) cars. Conventional hire car firms are not designed for monthly rentals.

Granted their check-in and out process is a bit sketchy, but my hire concluded successfully. There are some bad reviews where ONTO has allegedly claimed for innocuous damages, but I didn't experience that.

Your charging costs at BP, Shell and Instavolt is all included gratis in your monthly hire cost.

Have also use MyCarDirect. Good for immediate availability, but eye wateringly expensive.

 

[ananas]

Thanks all for your great recommendations. Reading your experiences, I feel there is a good chance of a delayed delivery so that’s exactly why I was wondering if it is worth switching dealers. So the earlier the better to minimize the risk.

ONTO seems to be an option to consider for the future but I am hoping to spend this money on my Taycan’s options instead, so crossing fingers for no delay ?

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