What are the chances of getting an ft86 without preorder?
 

I'm in need of a car now and might just take the plunge and get some beater car or a cheap bike. Am wondering if I don't preorder the car what are the chances I'll be able to get one come summer this year? I'm sure theyll be limited amounts right? How many are being shipped this summer to the US?

I don't feel like preorder unless I test drive the car, just because some magazine or some people are being endorsed to say its a nice car, I'd like to see for myself. I believe there were big reviews for the Hyundai genesis when it first came out and now I don't hear anything much about it now, if anything there's much negative comments towards it. (as in real customer/owners and not " i test drive cars" kind of people).

Preorder on contingent that you test drive before signing for it. /thread

I want to know this as well! (i don't plan on getting it on release month/day) I want to test-drive the car first, but i'm afraid i'll have to wait a month or two after release, what are these chances? Anyone have any experience on waiting for a brand new car without pre-ordering?

I was called by my Local Scion Dealership not too long ago if i wanted to place that refundable $1000 deposit to secure me a car, but i kindly turned down the offer because i wanted to see the car in person, etc. but anyway, thanks to anyone who helps [us] out! :thumbsup:

$1000 deposit is crazy expensive! Most places I have seen it was $250 or $500 at most.

+1

Once we get official pricing from Subaru I'll be getting in contact with one of the dealers I've already chatted with and letting them know what trim and car I want and put down a deposit. I'll be sure that the test drive is a requirement for purchase and I would expect the amount to be around $500.

shouldnt matter, they want this car to be in production for 5-10 years, so they will definitely sell you one, you might just have to wait a few months for delivery

It is refundable. Aren't you going to put down at least 1000 dollars anyway if you decide to buy? It's not like you will make $50 from investing $1000 until June.

I have ordered my last 3 cars and the deposit was always refundable and it was always $500 or less. I have done it a check and or credit card. Using the check they never cashed it until I pickup the car.

I have never done business with Scion or Subaru, so we will see how they do it.

Here is what I heard from a Scion sales guy. If you want to be one of the first guys ever to get an FR-S, without pre-ordering one, you have no chance. In fact, it is most likely you will have to BUY one without even seeing and test driving it. What he said is each dealer would get an allocation of 1 or 2 in June when it is launched, but the allocation could be taken away to fulfill BUY orders at other dealers. There WILL be those who buy (not just pre-order) without even seeing the cars.

However, if your goal is to just get one by summer, don't sweat. Just pre-order with a reasonable and fully refundable deposit. I am guessing you won't see very many of these cars at dealers lots at leat for the first few months, so I think pre-ordering one is a sure way to go, although you may not have to do it, but you never know. Just pre-ordering is a fairly low risk approach.

That makes sense. But only one or two per dealer on the first shipment?!

Yes, that's what he told me, but I have been to only one Scion dealer and talked with one guy who seemed knowledgeable about this car.

I'm calling :bs: Not on you, but on the sales guy. I'm about 98% confident that you can get one of these cars with the stipulation of a test drive. To think that you're going to show up at the dealer and they won't let you drive it before handing over your money sounds a bit crazy to me. I want one of the first cars, and am willing to put down money to reserve one, but to buy it without driving it would be a deal breaker for me.

thats roughly what a UK dealer told me - up to 3/4 a month

Its not that they wont let you test drive one, they wont have any cars "in stock" by the time the demo model rocks up for you to test drive.