How to track the car you have ordered?

[dopey]

Got an email from the dealer today informing that my car will be delivered to their yard tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd). That is 10 days from when it was offloaded at e Port Kembla. He said I could have it from Thursday. I have a small problem in that my MINI hasn't sold yet so I'm a little short of cash. I might just have to put the shortfall on my mastercard.. I've actually bought a motorcycle on a credit card before as I paid the card off that afternoon. The dealer wants to wrap up the sale by 30th June so someone please buy my MINI... Is it excitement or stress that I'm feeling?

Mine was offloaded from the same boat, but no word on when mine is turning up at the dealer yet It's killing me knowing that it's here on our shores but I can't get my hands on it yet.

[Tux]

Mine was offloaded from the same boat, but no word on when mine is turning up at the dealer yet It's killing me knowing that it's here on our shores but I can't get my hands on it yet.

It can't be too far away then mate hopefully.

[sharkablue]

My old mans Tiguan is on the Morning Cello. Its due to dock in Melbourne on the 30th now (was set for the 24th)

[giddleberry]

Could some of the lucky people who already have their cars from factory orders please confirm if my estimates are pretty close?

Build - 1 week
Transit to ship - 1 week
Slow Boat to Aus - 7 weeks
Customs/Dealer - 3 Weeks

Approx 12 weeks from build week to delivery.

[hooba]

Could some of the lucky people who already have their cars from factory orders please confirm if my estimates are pretty close?

Build - 1 week
Transit to ship - 1 week
Slow Boat to Aus - 7 weeks
Customs/Dealer - 3 Weeks

Approx 12 weeks from build week to delivery.

That about what I got, plus a few days whilst it waited for the ship to pick it up.

[Corey_R]

Could some of the lucky people who already have their cars from factory orders please confirm if my estimates are pretty close?

Build - 1 week
Transit to ship - 1 week
Slow Boat to Aus - 7 weeks
Customs/Dealer - 3 Weeks

Approx 12 weeks from build week to delivery.

No, this is not correct. Here is the actually process (with dates inserted which related to another members build:

1. Customer Contract Date 08/03/10
2. Order Entry Dealer System 09/03/10
3. Order Entry NADIN 09/03/10
4. Order Registration IFA 08/03/10
5. Buildability Check 08/03/10
6. SGW Rebooking 31/03/10
7. Current SGW Determination 19/03/10
8. Allocation of Production Plant 24/03/10
9. Handover to Production 31/03/10
10. Start Body Shell Shop
11. End Body Shell Shop
12. Start Paint Shop
13. End Paint Shop
14. Start Final Assembly
15. Checkpoint 8 Handover to Sales 22/04/10
16. Start Service Shop
17. End Service Shop
18. Exit Production Plant 27/04/10
19. Arrival Port of Shipment 30/04/10
20. Departure Port of Shipment 10/05/10
21. Departure Last Port of Transit
22. Arrival at Port of Destination 20/06/10
23. Departure from Port of Destination 20/06/10
24. Arrival at Final Destination 21/06/10
25. Departure From Final Destination
26. Arrival at Dealer
27. Delivery to Customer

Don't ask me what everything in that list means. But as you can see, it can take 3 weeks to even enter production.
Depending on what model you ordered, and what options are on it, it can take even longer. Some cars (like the R, probably due to the chassis being different because of the AWD) are done in batches. Parts and options are arrive at the factory using the "just in time" method of stock management. In other words, not everything is sitting in a huge warehouse for months at the factory waiting to be installed in a car. So if you have lots of options, your car could take longer too.

For those who ordered Golf R's on the 12th of June or the week thereafter, most have been quoted ~30th November - effectively 5 months....

[AdamD]

Could some of the lucky people who already have their cars from factory orders please confirm if my estimates are pretty close?

Build - 1 week
Transit to ship - 1 week
Slow Boat to Aus - 7 weeks
Customs/Dealer - 3 Weeks

Approx 12 weeks from build week to delivery.

I'd say that's a reasonable rough estimate. My GTI completed build March 13, left port on March 30, arrived in Melbourne May 13, cleared customs on May 18, was delivered to the dealer on the 26th, and was delivered to me on June 7.

No, this is not correct. Here is the actually process

I think the OP was only referring to the period between build and delivery. As you quite rightly point out, there can be significant delays between order placement and build. I ordered Oct 31 2009 and my car wasn't built till March 2010.

[giddleberry]

I think the OP was only referring to the period between build and delivery. As you quite rightly point out, there can be significant delays between order placement and build. I ordered Oct 31 2009 and my car wasn't built till March 2010.

Yeah thats right I'm just wondering roughly how long after build week ill have to wait. Looks like it will need to be built in September at the latest to have a chance at getting the car this year.

I'd assume at least some of the delay between your order and build would be a shutdown over xmas?

[AdamD]

I'd assume at least some of the delay between your order and build would be a shutdown over xmas?

I wouldn't expect that, to be honest. My father has a CC that was built in week 1 this year, and I've read others have claimed a week 52 build, so they're clearly still manufacturing cars around Christmas and New Year.

I suspect the main reasons for my delay were:

• My insistence on a 2010 build, causing my dealer to be conservative with lodging the order;
• Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing (my car has quite a few options, inc. sunroof, which can delay things apparently);
• The UK, US and other markets experienced higher-than-anticipated demand, and stole some of Australia's allocated build slots (or so my dealer told me).

[dave_r]

The only info I have been given is a "COMM" number from the dealers stock controller. What does this mean and where does it fit in the order/build process? The info I was told was that VGA was in the process of allocating build dates for the rest of the year so a build date would be forthcoming. However I haven't heard anything new since early June (before R launch).

For those who ordered Golf R's on the 12th of June or the week thereafter, most have been quoted ~30th November - effectively 5 months....

My order was placed around 25th May but if it takes roughly 3mths for a car to go from build to delivery, and I haven't even heard anything yet then I'm more likely to call bull**** on the dealers estimate of Aug/Sep/Oct.

From a new person to the VWA experience, their handling of stock is rubbish compared to other makes!

[AJW]

I ordered my GTI on the 29th of May and the dealer has said the end of November.
I waited 8 Months for my original GTI in 2006 so they've improved the process by 2months

[Corey_R]

The only info I have been given is a "COMM" number from the dealers stock controller. What does this mean and where does it fit in the order/build process? The info I was told was that VGA was in the process of allocating build dates for the rest of the year so a build date would be forthcoming. However I haven't heard anything new since early June (before R launch).


My order was placed around 25th May but if it takes roughly 3mths for a car to go from build to delivery, and I haven't even heard anything yet then I'm more likely to call bull**** on the dealers estimate of Aug/Sep/Oct.

From a new person to the VWA experience, their handling of stock is rubbish compared to other makes!

The COMM number stands for Commission number. I think it's in the format of "yyyy / ######" - i.e. 2010 / 123456
This is basically the tracking number that the dealers / VW / factory use to track the order in NADCON.

I'd ask your dealer for a screenshot of the NADCON "ETA Data" table. That'll show you what the progress of your order is. You could also ask for a screenshot of the NADCON Car Configuration page if you wanted to make sure they've ordered all the right options!

[dave_r]

I'd ask your dealer for a screenshot of the NADCON "ETA Data" table. That'll show you what the progress of your order is.

Will do, firing off an e-mail now. Can you add that info to the first post? Already good info there so can't hurt to expand it as I went looking there first.

[Corey_R]

Can you add that info to the first post? Already good info there so can't hurt to expand it as I went looking there first.

Good idea! I've updated the first post with a purpose section discussing NADCON ETA Data and Car Configuration. If anyone has additional information or corrections to this, please let me know!

[Corey_R]

My order was placed around 25th May

Hey mate. I was contacted by my dealer this morning (about an unrelated thing), but he mentioned that right now the expected build week is week 38 (mid/late Sep). I ordered on June 12. I'm thinking that since the Golf R is the AWD chassis and they're made in batches, that maybe the fact that you ordered 2.5 weeks before I may mean that you still end up in the same production batch (especially if your dealer was not able to enter your order until release date...). A late September build could still mean late November delivery... but at worst we'll have a nice Christmas present