Help! Order Placed 4 Weeks Ago But Citroen Dealer Can't Get Me

[shilley]

Hi from a newbie and hopefully soon-to-be C1 owner. Hope you can help.

 

I placed an order with my local dealership for a metallic black C1 at the beginning of August. Last Wednesday I received a call from a rep advising me that the Citroen factory had an "embargo" on C1s and that I wouldn't be able to get my shiny black number until October at the earliest.

 

He told me that if I was prepared to accept the basic red one instead, he could get me my dream car a lot sooner. After much hummin in hawin I decided a red one would have to do. Well, almost a week has passed and not a peep out of them.

 

Is anyone aware of any such embargo? I read on here that there is a 16-week waiting list for even the red Citroen. Is there any truth in this?

 

I am now considering a Panda instead since they seem to be far easier to come by. I am anxious to get hold of a car asap as I've taken out a bank loan that's sitting in my account doing nowt but racking up interest plus my ancient Ka is on the verge of dying on me. I really can't wait any longer.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[750Nig]

Try some other dealers.

Then try Peugeot and Toyota, but they may cost a bit more.

These things should be 'off the shelf' they are so relatively cheap.

Last year we bought a new C1, in the showroom Saturday, sorted my finance out in a few days and drove the car away on the Thursday.

 

Having said that, bought a new Golf estate this year - had to wait 6 months for delivery. Bit of a rarer beast though.

[TurboSlag]

TPCA who build the C1/107/Gaygo close the factory for 4-6 weeks in August for essential line maintenance and upgrades. give it a few weeks and they'll be in full swing again.

 

Pandas might be easier to obtain today, but try buying one of those when Fiat close their plant each March for similar reasons, and you then gotta live with lower residuals and higherrunning costs...

 

Try phoning Perrys in Blackburn and asking for Martin Shurmer, the sales manager. He's a mate of mine and I reckon he'd be able to get you a 107 to a superior spec for lower cost than the C1 you're after. He did exactly that for me.

[Guest Peter_M]

Hi Shilley (hi all) - another newbie here.

 

I think I'm in the same boat as you as I ordered a C1 in grey at the end of July. The salesman told me the waiting time was about 6 weeks but, when I went in a couple of days later to sign the paperwork, a different rep said it could be more like 2 months.

 

I rang up the dealership today for an update but they didn't call back, which is an ominous sign! If I ever get to talk to them, I'll let you know if they say anything about deliveries or embargoes.

[shilley]

Thanks very much for all your replies. Some good advice there. Be interested to know how you get on, Peter.

 

I live in Glasgow but may well give that Blackburn contact a ring re the 107 (if I say TurboSlag gave me your name, will he know who I mean?). Will keep you posted on my progress.

[TurboSlag]

Aye mate, tell Martin Shurmer that Richard the 'Turboslag' said you should call him, and he'll know exactly who you mean ;) . The guys a bit of a God in Peugeot club circles for the deals he knocks out.

[JenJen]

I'm not from the UK, nevertheless, I ordered my new blue C1 at the beginning of June and I won't be getting it until the beginning of October. So, it'll take 4 months to get it.

My salesman said that production was stopped in the summer and will continue again in September, that's why we're all getting our new C1s in October. It makes sense.

[Guest Peter_M]

Hi Shilley

 

Just called the dealership for an update and it looks like the C1 has left the factory and will be delivered in about 2 to 2.5 weeks (which is in line with their original estimate of about 6 weeks). Ordered the car on 31st July and I'm not sure how they've managed to build it with the factory being closed during August. Should have more details on Monday but they did have the registration number, which was good to know!

 

So if they haven't told any porkies to get me off the phone, it doesn't look like the car has been overly delayed by the summer shutdown/embargo and ordering it in a non-standard colour hasn't had an much of an effect either. Maybe the grey C1s are less popular and they had one 'in stock'?

 

Have you any news yet? I'm hoping you've heard something and have a delivery date. If not, can you go to your dealer in person to find out what's going on?

 

By the way, bought mine from Chapelhouse Citroen in Southport and the salesmen there seem nice and helpful (apart from not calling me back yesterday).

 

JenJen - 4 months seems a long time to wait, even with the factory shutdown. What country are you in?

[robcmar]

Hi from a newbie and hopefully soon-to-be C1 owner. Hope you can help.

 

I placed an order with my local dealership for a metallic black C1 at the beginning of August. Last Wednesday I received a call from a rep advising me that the Citroen factory had an "embargo" on C1s and that I wouldn't be able to get my shiny black number until October at the earliest.

 

He told me that if I was prepared to accept the basic red one instead, he could get me my dream car a lot sooner. After much hummin in hawin I decided a red one would have to do. Well, almost a week has passed and not a peep out of them.

 

Is anyone aware of any such embargo? I read on here that there is a 16-week waiting list for even the red Citroen. Is there any truth in this?

 

I am now considering a Panda instead since they seem to be far easier to come by. I am anxious to get hold of a car asap as I've taken out a bank loan that's sitting in my account doing nowt but racking up interest plus my ancient Ka is on the verge of dying on me. I really can't wait any longer.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Not much advice I'm afraid but when I ordered a C3, because I wanted the sunroof, they said the delivery would be mid September which was acceptable. I wanted the white paint job but was then rung to say they no longer do it so had to choose another (more e xpensive) colour. If I'd wanted a basic car in red there would have been no problem. This was in Sheffield so don't know why they said that to you.

[TurboSlag]

Here's a keen deal...

 

http://www.peugeot.co.uk/finance/offers/re...;Section=Retail

 

Thats cheaper than the official RRP of the base C1, yet is a special edition that comes with an upgrade Clarion stereo and subwoofer. They're a stock item too, as they are a pre-manufactured limited run (not made to ordr like the normal C1/107).

 

Im also informed that the effeminate 'Kiss' stickers are fitted at PDI, so if you don't want those you can ask the dealers to elave them off.

 

Call the Shrum and get one chum ;)

[750Nig]

Why do we put up with this cr@p. With all this IT, 'just in time' delivery and manufacturing and so on, the customer still has to wait just as long as we did in the 70's for a new car.

Even with new car sales down by nearly 20% this year there are still long delays to get what the customer wants.

I can track a parcel from sender to delivery, but a car manufacturer hasn't a clue when exactly we can expect a delivery.

 

They tell how much they have invested in all this new technology, well I want the product now not in 6 months time.

 

ooo it makes me seethe !!! (can you tell) ;)

[TurboSlag]

But conversely, if they didn't do the line maintenance and upgrades then the product would not evolve with new meterials and upgrades to known faults. Quality control and the standard of the finished product would then suffer, and we'd be moaning about that instead.

[downsman]

But conversely, if they didn't do the line maintenance and upgrades then the product would not evolve with new meterials and upgrades to known faults. Quality control and the standard of the finished product would then suffer, and we'd be moaning about that instead.

 

Good point :(

 

I'd much prefer to wait for my new car than get one thats been sitting in a muddy field for six months like they used to in the bad old days ;)

[CE08LDB]

back in 2005 I waited 8 weeks for my Green C3 Exclusive. I had the last Green C3 Exclusive ever made.

 

This time it was different. I was first going to have a C3 Exclusive SensoDrive again but Citroen stopped doing it when I went to order one in Mid January then I waited till Early February to see about a C3 Exclusive Auto but I decided against it due to Motability High Deposit so by the Middle of February I decided on a C2 VTR SensoDrive in Blue. On March the 8th I took my C3 for its MOT as it has it done early on Motability cars and there parked in the showroom was my New C2 all ready for me to have so the Delivery Date was planned for 21st April as my C3 Contract was up then but there was paperwork problems so I kept the C3 an extra week and finally took delivery on the 28th April.

 

I was lucky to get this one as it was the last Poseidon Blue C2 VTR left in the UK and it would then be no longer available on the C2 VTR SensoDrive's.

 

Now you mention the C1s I have been up my Citroen Dealers Compound these last 3 weeks taking photo's for my scrap book and they only had 3 C1s there. 1 Silver and 2 Reds. Went in there today and there is one Red one left all plated up ready to go and a silver unplated one.

[750Nig]

Good point ;)

 

I'd much prefer to wait for my new car than get one thats been sitting in a muddy field for six months like they used to in the bad old days :rolleyes:

 

But my point is that when I finalise the spec and pay the deposit, the saleman clicks Go on the computer, the factory instantly has that requirement for my car on its computers. With all the modern tech why does it still take months to get the car to the punter.

I accept maintenance and upgrade to the production line and perhaps even a holiday shutdown may add to the delay but come on, not months.

 

I remember seeing fields of cars years ago, if they didn't sell did they plough them in to the ground ?

[TurboSlag]

I accept maintenance and upgrade to the production line and perhaps even a holiday shutdown may add to the delay but come on, not months.

Why not? It's actually closed for 61/2 weeks this year, so apart from 6.5 weeks of production to catch up on where people all over Europe will still be placing orders for 107/C1/Aygos, there are the orders palced immediately beforehand to fill too.

 

When things are running normally, they're pretty quick. Had my 107 in 10 days flat - cheaper than the C1 and a higher spec, so I was doubly happy.

[ritbitboy]

Hi all

 

I'm a newbie from what some of you might well describe as "the dark side"...yes I sell Citroens at a main dealer - but I am NOT here for self glorification or to promote myself, but I am new to Citroen (about 3 weeks now) and in a quiet moment I thought I would try to find out peoples thoughts about this great little car.

 

I then stumbled across this thread and felt compelled to tell the story from my angle.

 

I moved to Citroen as I had heard that they were a manufacturer who was actually busy !!

 

"The C1 is a massive seller" I was told. In my first week I sold a couple. Hooray !! Great start !!!

 

Then it happened. Citroen wrote to us telling us that all C1's we had on order for stock were to taken away from us as they cannot build them fast enough. We had 9 which we had ordered to just sell to people who walked in. All gone in one swift stroke.

 

As we are a fairly new dealer they did give us a list of 7 C1's that we could sell for September/October. 7 cars that they could give us for THE busiest month of the year. We had no choice of colour/spec/number of doors.

 

Usually, dealers can ring eachother and sort out swaps of eachothers stock. No way in this case. No one will let their precious stock go...particularly 1.0 Vibe 3 doors !!

 

Nightmare.

 

Citroens factory ordering process is incredibly dated. It was introduced in the late 80's and is still using green sceens and I consider myself fairly computer literate and I cannot get my head around it.

 

When we click "go" on the order screen, it can be 5 or 6 weeks before anything changes at all...no predicted dates, no updates....nothing. Then it gives a projected date for build. Even this can be changed at the last minute.

 

I think I have digressed slightly...but as far as C1 production goes, I think that as the Aygo, 107 and C1 are all produced next to eachother in the same factory (using Dacia, not Toyota engines as every single report ever printed says) I reckon that Toyota get preference, then Pug followed by "lowly" Citroen. I have no idea if this is fact, I just reckon that Toyota would have more clout as they are an infinately more wealthy company.

 

Still, we all know that the Citroen has the nicest arse out of the 3 manufacturers !! Those rear lights set it apart.

 

I am so glad that there are so many good reports about my fave little car. I'm trying to sell one to my wife !!! (at a great discount of course !) Even Mr Clarkson loves them !

 

Be patient waiting for your C1's. Remember they hold value better than the Pug or the Toyota as they have less distance to fall.

[750Nig]

Thanks for this interesting insight 'behind the scenes' at Citroen. Its staggering how companies use as much new technology at the front, but round the back it is still quill and parchment.

 

So where is all this over capacity in car manufacturing then, or has the closure of Rover sorted this !!!

Or perhaps the manufacturers are building more cars that we don't want and fewer that we do.

[TurboSlag]

the c1, 107 and Aygo are all produced ont eh same line. Once the programmed prodution for one model ends, the line stops and while it's being retooled for the next model the opportunity is sued for minor running maintenance.

 

The Peugeot ordering system would seem to be better - within hours of ordering you'll be given a provisional delivery date, and the dealer is even able to check the system to see where in Europe your car is as it is transported to the UK, and gave me daily updates in this regard.

 

There are still quite a few 107s swilling about in the dealer chains, some at very good prices (£6150 for a Kiss, with uprated Clarion stereo and subwoofer) so it's not worth waiting til the C1 comes back on stream.

[ritbitboy]

Yep - to be honest the 107 Kiss is the one to go for at the moment while stocks last.

 

I keep getting people in seeing if I can compete with it. :(

 

No.

 

Goddam. Sometimes you put your hands up and conceed defeat. "You'll get much nicer rear light clusters with the Citroen" is not really going to win any deals !!

 

Oh well.

 

Citroen wrote to us last week saying "due to the constrained supply of C1, we must capitalise on availability of C2 and it's low running costs." There are shedloads of them around...so we are being urged to sell C2 1.1 Cachets as only a £260 upsell from a C1 Rhythm.

 

If it was my money I'd rather wait for a C1 - much more fun.

[TurboSlag]

"You'll get much nicer rear light clusters with the Citroen"

...unless you choose a red 107, in which case the rearlight clusters are most excellent (and highly prized by the drivers of red C1s too!)

[StormB]

Very informative and interesting read, apart from;

 

.. I think that as the Aygo, 107 and C1 are all produced next to eachother in the same factory (using Dacia, not Toyota engines as every single report ever printed says)..

 

I believe that Daihatsu engines are used. I don't know why Dacia engines would be used as they are owned by Renault!

 

Apart from this, I enjoyed reading your post. It's useful to get a behind the scenes overview.

 

I'm also a bit annoyed at myself that I got a C1 Rhythm instead of a 107 Kiss .. especially considering the sound system is a main concern of mine!

 

Will

[ritbitboy]

Daihatsu - Yep ! You're right. I stand corrected. I have just shot my boss for giving me the wrong information. :(

 

As I mentioned I am new to the world of Citroen (having said that I have a Xsara Picasso which is a great car, and I did have an AX GT which was amazing fun), so I bow to your greater knowledge !!

 

I just think that's it's touching that an owners forum has so many drivers of the "opposition" (107 of course) - even though, of course, we all know the similarities.

 

Good on you all for being so welcoming.

[CE08LDB]

Its Funny why Citroen UK Don't sell the C1 1.0i SensoDrive as they do in Europe. I think Peugeot calls theirs a 107 2Tron Auto.

[TurboSlag]

I just think that's it's touching that an owners forum has so many drivers of the "opposition" (107 of course) - even though, of course, we all know the similarities.

I actually wanted a C1 as I think they look nicer, but for £70 more I got rev counter, colour coded wing mirrors and door handles, and rear headrests on the 107, so it was a simple economic decision. That could be why the 107 outsells the C1 more than 3 to 1, and I can't figure why PSA have 2 of their own cars competing against one another in exactly the same market segment???

 

The 107oc (www.107oc.com), for which I am a moderator and events co-ordinator, welcomes C1s and Aygos with equal verve, in simple recognition of the fact that they are all essentially the same machine.