Waitlists in SoCal

**dbunting** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-29-2003, 09:06 PM

What's the word on waitlists in SoCal? Are any dealers signing up to only charging MSRP with no mark-up or forced accessories?

**mason** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-30-2003, 06:26 PM

From what I've heard the waitlists in CA are long at thist point ~100 ish. But it seems (at this point) that the dealers haven't started to overcharge. But this may all change once the car arrives as dealers start seeing the dollar signs.

mikester · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-2003, 05:30 PM

Symbolic Motorcars (two locations - LA and San Diego) have a combined deposit list of about 150 people at this time. So far, only one person has pulled their deposit ! Symbolic's policy on the Elise is to sell the car at MSRP. I believe they're asking for a deposit of $2,000.00 (that's what I paid anyway), which is fully refundable of course. This will hold your place in line, basically.

My sales guy said that with the list of 150 people, that would just about fill their anticipated allocation for the year (2004).

keoni004 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 12:25 AM

Mikester- How long ago did you get on the wait list? And when I spoke with the folks at Symbolic in La Jolla in Dec, it was a $1k deposit.

mikester · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 01:02 PM

Keoni, I've been on the waitlist for almost exactly one year now - mid-January, to be a bit more exact. I've heard that $1000 is now the minimum. Maybe originally it was 2k, or maybe that was just a "special deal" for me ! ;)

Carl · #6 (**permalink**) 01-12-2004, 02:36 PM

I called a couple dealers this morning, arter visiting the car show this weekend. Symbolic has "about 100 people" on their list and is accepting deposits of $2000.

Silver Star, in Thousand Oaks, is accepting $1000 deposits and also has "about 100 people" on their list.

Finally, I called Lotus Irvine Saturday and they are no longer accepting deposits, nor would the individual I spoke with comment on the number of deposits on hand.

All the dealers I spoke with felt the vehicle would be selling for MSRP. Also, I spoke to a technical guy at the show and while he did admit that dealers can set their own price, he felt the manufacturers can not control the sell price of the vehicle (only suggest an MSRP) but if some dealers take advantage of the market situation their allocations might coincidentally be reduced.

Let me know if someone found something different,
Carl

Mikehall · #7 (**permalink**) 01-20-2004, 11:25 AM

I have been on the wait list at Symbolic in Beverly Hills since the end of March 2003 and was told to expect a car around July time, now they have closed the LA location I am told that the new combined list at La Jolla puts me back to Oct/Nov time frame. Does anybody know if the office closure means they are getting less cars in total now ? BTW I had to put down a $2000 deposit.

jdwek · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2004, 06:02 PM

I have heard that the office closure in LA does not affect the wiat for the car in San Diego. Symbolic is looking for space in LA and if they do not find it, they will sell the frachise and I suppose the waitlist to whoever picks up the ball in LA. I am not sure how all that is supposed to work.

Mike Hall, What number are you on the list. I am number 67 and I am trying to figure out when to expect my baby.

Jerry

PS I payed $1000

Mikehall · #9 (**permalink**) 01-28-2004, 03:31 PM

Jerry - I was told that in Beverly Hills I was number 35 on the list, and so with 100 cars in 12 months I would have to wait about 4 months from the first cars arriving to get mine, hence July. I don't know what number I am on the new combined list. I did put my order in at the end of March if that helps.

jdwek · #10 (**permalink**) 01-29-2004, 10:59 PM

Thanks Mike. It is very confusing this store closure...

Jerry

ChrisH · #11 (**permalink**) 02-26-2004, 10:25 PM

I am new to this forum. I was going to get a BMW Z4, but was unhappy with some aspects of it, and took a close look at the Elise. I fell in love with it. So did my wife (always a plus for a happy household, even though she won't drive it because it is a manual).

But oh, the waiting lists!

I live near San Diego. I called around to dealers. Symbolic of La Jolla is now up to about 109 on the list, and they aren't taking deposits anymore, but they will add you to the list. They will take the deposit when the list gets a bit shorter, and the deposit will be $2000, although they are selling at MSRP.

The Thousand Oaks dealer has about 110 people on list.

The San Luis Obispo dealer has 60 on the list, with a $1000 deposit.

The La Jolla dealer says they expect to get an allocation of about 10 per month. Somehow, I doubt this unless other dealers are shortchanged. The San Luis Obispo dealer didn't know what allocation he would get.