First post
After much deliberation over several different EVs (EQA, i4, Polestar 2, iX1, and even a Mini !), I opted for the iX1 M Sport (even though I've not driven one yet
- I'm assuming nobody else has yet?). I placed my order on 31/12/2022 which made the dealer very happy as was month end and year end, so helped with his sales targets (not that he gave me any real discounts or recognition for it!) Anyhow, spec I've gone with is:
M Sport, Portimao Blue, Black leather, sunroof, M Sport Pro pack, Comfort pack, Tech plus pack. Pretty much every option except the £150 luggage nets!
Dealer eventually crumbled on my repeated attempts at negotiation and threw in Protect X Ceramic, though I actually wanted a monetary discount rather than thrown in extras. Hey ho! The paint will look nice! I was told they had sold their Q1 and Q2 allocations; and their Q3 allocations had not been released yet. So was basically in a queue to get a Q3 build slot as and when they were released, with an estimated delivery of late August / September.
I went away happy, but then considered my options a few days later. The dealership had done me no real favours on the deal, and could not guarantee me a build slot or delivery. It dawned on me that I could buy this car from any dealership at that price, and if I could find a dealership with an earlier build slot then that's what I should do ....
Most dealers I phoned said the same thing re build slot availability, and I felt like I was on a bit of a fool's errand. But then it dawned on me ... perhaps there is a "demographic" consideration when looking for a dealership? I don't consider myself particularly rich or well off, but I do live in an area of the country that perhaps is more affluent than other areas, and we certainly have a growing and developing charging infrastructure. Maybe there are less affluent areas of the country where people perhaps can't stretch to a £60K+ car; or more rural areas of the country that don't yet have the charging infrastructure. Could I find a dealership in those areas that perhaps still had iX1 build slot allocations?
Long story cut short .... yes!
I found a dealership that had an April build slot with a May delivery, and would match the deal including the Protect X Ceramic!
But it gets better .... I phoned the original dealership to tell them and to cancel my order and get my deposit back (I wanted to ensure I got my deposit back before placing the order with the new dealership). I imagine there was a bit of frantic "conversation" at the dealership, and 2 hours later they phoned me back with the fortuitous news that as luck would have it, one of their Q1 customers has just cancelled, and I can have their build slot if I want it! How very co-incidental!
I suspect this is actually the dealership demonstrator order build slot that I now have, but hey, what do I care? I now have a confirmed build slot with a confirmed production week (status 112) of 05/02/23, with an expected delivery week of 09/03/23 !!! So, moral of the story ... if your local dealership are not doing you any favours on price and you're faced with very long lead times, cast your net a little wider. There are definitely dealerships who have available build slot allocations
