Official: Ordered Chevy Sonic Crew

[laborsmith]

Orders begin on Tuesdays. Dealers are told on Thursdays how many of each model they may order and the following Tuesday is when they can order. So any orders keyed in after Tuesday midnight will be on the next weeks order cycle.

You will probably find that your order will be an 06/05/012 order, because GMConnects will run about a day late. That is because it is allowed access to the GM central server. Chevy dealers can access a real time server but as I understand it the rest of the divisions do not have that set up.

Long answer to say I do not think your dealer is messing with you.

And believe me, ordering whether for dealer stock or retail sold is even more complicated than I make it sound. It is complicated due to each state having its own laws for retail new car sales AND lawsuits where plaintiff car dealers have successfully argued favored dealers got the most in demand cars, options colors etc forcing the less favored to have to sell the lessor wanted so procedures have been developed to assure fairness to all dealers.

Laborsmith

 

[Preloader]

You were right LS. I guess I was overreacting.

06/05/2012 - (3100) Order available to sequence.

 

[laborsmith]

Not over reacting, just questioning. That's why we have this thread, so some of these questions might be answered.

Laborsmith

 

[Preloader]

06/05/2012 - (3100) Order available to sequence.
06/08/2012 - (3300) Order scheduled for production. Order is scheduled into the plant build cycle.

 

[laborsmith]

Looks like a build week of either Monday (June 10) or more likely Monday (June 17). Your dealer may have the build week now and once you go to 3400 they will have the build week for sure.

Excellent progress.

Laborsmith

 

[ilikeit]

Great news for me!!!

My Crystal Red Tintcoat HB with 1.4 turbo came in today (ordered April 24th). The dealer wants to do some prep and I will be picking it up this Thursday ;>) YAAAaaayyy!!!

 

[Ridethesky84]

Great news for me!!!

My Crystal Red Tintcoat HB with 1.4 turbo came in today (ordered April 24th). The dealer wants to do some prep and I will be picking it up this Thursday ;>) YAAAaaayyy!!!

Congrats!!

 

[RKMBrown]

Ordered my 2013 Sonic today.

2013 Sonic LTZ Hatchback, Crystal Red Tintcoat Paint, ECOTEC® Turbo 1.4L engine, Manual Transmission, Power Sunroof, Jet Black/Dark Titanium, Front and Rear Splash Guards, Door Sill Plates, Dark Window Tint, Front License Plate Bracket.

Nice forums!

Scratch that! 2012 not 2013 My dealer put the order in as a "sold" vehicle a couple weeks back he said something about being surprised the order went through as it was close to the 2013 turn over but sold orders are apparently getting higher priority. I got my vin # today, bud says he thinks we'll have it fresh from the factory around the 25th of this month. No MyLink and not an RS model but I'll suffer

 

[ras42tbss]

Got an update!

05/14/2012 (1100) Order placed at dealership. Order passed GM edit tables but dealer has not received allocation to place order.
05/14/2012 (1102) Order entered via web.
05/17/2012 (2000) Order accepted by GM. Dealer used allocation to place order into production.
05/22/2012 (2500) Order preferenced. Order pulled to the production system.
05/22/2012 (3000) Order accepted by production control. Parts being ordered and production process is underway.
05/24/2012 (3100) Order available to sequence.
05/25/2012 (3300) Order scheduled for production. Order is scheduled into the plant build cycle.
06/05/2012 (3400) Order Broadcast (internal plant paperwork order produced). Order is sent to various build & supplier areas to bring order together.
06/14/2012 (3800) Order produced and vehicle is being prepared for shipping. For Cadillac, GMC and Buick customers, please contact your dealer or customer service for further updates as no further updates available at this time.
06/14/2012 (4000) Vehicle available to ship.
06/14/2012 (4150) Invoiced (order is invoiced to the dealer).
06/14/2012 (4B00) Your car is bayed and is waiting for transportation by truck, rail or transfer to vendor.

 

[jaydrama]

Hi!
I've been researching the Sonic for about a month now and have decided to wait for the 2013MY to get the MyLink. I'm thinking the cars will start appearing at dealers in mid-August. My questions for you good folks who've done a retail sold order are (1) how is financing/deposit handled . . . and does this vary by state or dealership?; (2) do you have the right to refuse if the car that shows up is not to spec or even bad fit and finish?; (3) is there much negotiation room, and if there is, what's a strategy that worked for you? Thanks for the good info!!!!
Jay

 

[laborsmith]

Negotiation is its own art and beyond my scope.

I have twice decided against completing the deal when an ordered car arrived and never had a problem regarding the return of the deposit.

Corvette dealers will often want a $500 or $1000 deposit but other cars $100 or sometimes none. My practice is if the dealer is willing to give me the order number before I leave the premises I am perfectly happy to leave a $100 deposit.

2013 model year Sonics are scheduled to start regular production August 6 and will likely not start shipping for three weeks after that.

If you do a retail order you might consider joining GMConnects as it will give updates as your order progresses toward being built and shipped and saves you a lot of calls to your salesperson. I speak from personal experience.

There are several members who have gone through the retail order process and it seems we all are quite happy to answer questions, so fire away.

Oh, except for a very few dealerships, the retail order consumer is a rare breed. Many salespersons have never done such an order so it is likely you may be more knowledgeable than your salesperson. That is just the way things are. Just saying so you know if that happens to you.

Laborsmith

 

[jaydrama]

Thanks for that info! As for price negotiation, perhaps some who've ordered recently will offer their experiences?

I'm still not sure why a 1.4l turbo precludes fog lamps, unless it's simply to nudge me up to ltz status...

 

[laborsmith]

As to the fog lamps having such an order restriction, we do not know why for sure but several times during the 2012 model year build (which concludes June 28) the package that included the fog lamps was on constraint. It is also true Chevy will use such restrictions to induce a consumer to buy a more heavily optioned vehicle. Probably a combination of both.

Laborsmith

 

[CoHPhasor]

Hi!
I've been researching the Sonic for about a month now and have decided to wait for the 2013MY to get the MyLink. I'm thinking the cars will start appearing at dealers in mid-August. My questions for you good folks who've done a retail sold order are (1) how is financing/deposit handled . . . and does this vary by state or dealership?; (2) do you have the right to refuse if the car that shows up is not to spec or even bad fit and finish?; (3) is there much negotiation room, and if there is, what's a strategy that worked for you? Thanks for the good info!!!!
Jay

I ordered mine the first day they'd accept it. (6/14)
You can order right now, some dealers don't know, but it will get accepted by GM.
Most dealers ask for a deopsit, this should be fully refundable, even when you're looking right at the car. (Make sure they admit it before you give them money.)

everything's negotiable, don't talk about any trades or down payments til the day you *buy* it.
To get the best deal, prepare to walk away, even after waiting months for it.

The wait? Prepare for 2-3 months.

 

[laborsmith]

I ordered mine the first day they'd accept it. (6/14)
You can order right now, some dealers don't know, but it will get accepted by GM.

To get the best deal, prepare to walk away, even after waiting months for it.

The wait? Prepare for 2-3 months.

CoHPhasor has the right of it, and let me say is either well-experienced or has spent an inordinate amount of time reviewing this thread, but whichever has provided a succinct summary. Well done!

Laborsmith

CoHPhasor, I think you posted what you ordered, but could you do it again. Inquiring minds want to now. - L

 

[jennie421]

2013

Just pre-ordered a 2013 model:

LT Hatchback
1.4 Turbo Automatic
Blue exterior
Gray interior
mylink touchscreen radio

The connectivity plus package will now be standard on the 2013 LT and above models.

Due in 8 weeks!

 

[laborsmith]

Due in 8 weeks? Possibly but more likely 9-10 weeks. If it comes off the line on the first day of regular production (August 6) there is usually (or normally) a three week hold before shipping begins.

Enjoy the roller coaster. Ordering is a true E Ticket Ride for adults.

Consider joining GMConnects so you can get regular updates as the order goes from a dream to assembly to shipped to sitting in your driveway.

Laborsmith

 

[lathia]

I've never been so indecisive. The only thing holding me back is the unavailability of manual LTZ Hatchbacks where I live. Closest on is in Tennessee and I plant to test drive it in a week or two (if it doesn't get sold). Sooner if I didn't have to work all week.

I also want to wait for the 2013s. I pray to god I don't get sold on the one I'm going to test drive. It's hard being patient.

 

[laborsmith]

The 2013 LTZ will have a better sound system and will have MyLink if that is a feature of interest.

Benefit of ordering: you get what you want (if what you want is offered)

Detriment of ordering: you get to wait for the car to be built, shipped and prepped

Laborsmith

 

[CoHPhasor]

CoHPhasor has the right of it, and let me say is either well-experienced or has spent an inordinate amount of time reviewing this thread, but whichever has provided a succinct summary. Well done!

Laborsmith

CoHPhasor, I think you posted what you ordered, but could you do it again. Inquiring minds want to now. - L

You do me a great service sir.
I am an avid reader and know it best to build on the shoulders of men of experience who have come before me.

Thank you, by the way, for contributing so much to the community and helping those that ask.

My order went in ~1pm PST on the 14th, the first day the system was accepting orders.
GMConnect only messaged me once and it was to acknowledge the system received an order.

1.4L automatic LTZ
IOM color
black/dark titanium leatherette.
Sunroof

I didn't specify any options really, the spoiler, MyLink, 17's are all standard for the LTZ in '13 so it's all I need.

Luckily I'll be on paternity leave starting July so I won't be needing to commute for a while, helps with my patience, well worth it to get exactly what I want.