Is there still limited availability at local dealerships?

Hello loyal Beaverton readers: I was recently asked about the lack of availability and options at car dealerships. It seems people are having a hard time getting the exact vehicle they want. The answer comes down to some changes on how manufacturers are building new vehicles. In fact, most vehicle manufacturers are building what they have the ability to build. There are a few manufacturers that are producing a lot of vehicles, however things are still down from before the COVID pandemic outbreak.

Ed lucks out and gets exactly what he wanted

I was contacted by Ed from here in Beaverton. Ed has a very nice Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE but with 135k miles on it, he thought it was time to seek a replacement. I suggested that we go test drive some vehicles here locally to see what would best suit his needs. After a few test drives, Ed decided he wanted the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Limited, preferably silver with gray interior.

Of course, I warned him that getting the exact color paint, interior and trim level was not going to be an easy task, but I had him go to the Toyota website and create a build for the exact vehicle he wanted to purchase anyway. With this information in hand, I went to work. I made calls to various dealerships throughout the state only to find that the pre-sold line was still very long for Hybrid Rav4’s.

I then called a Toyota dealership that has been very helpful over the years, and I sent the vehicle build to the fleet sales manager. Within 30 minutes, I received a call back and I was told that a sold order had been cancelled and that we could have it. The car did not meet Ed’s build order for color or options but if we took the car, the fleet manager would go into the Toyota ordering system and try to create Ed’s dream car.

After about 4 business days, I got an email from the fleet manager happily saying that not only was he able to get everything Ed wanted, but he also added the Advanced Technology Package along with a few other accessories. Ed’s new car would be arriving from the manufacturer in mid-December. The email also stated that it’s very uncommon for a vehicle in production to be allowed to be changed but we got lucky. I called Ed to let him know the good news. Needless to say, he was thrilled.

It just goes to show you that even with car shopping, timing is everything!

See you all next month.

Thank You all for reading and giving me the opportunity to be of assistance. I can be reached at fergusonautobrokers@gmail.com or call (503) 930-1493.