Well, Got a call from the dealer’s GM this morning and not a good call. My 2021 Defender arrived 20 days ahead of schedule, but there is an issue. I was told when the vehicle was unloaded from the truck, they did a walk around and the driver shut the back door and the window broke. The new window has to be ordered from the factory and could take anywhere from 2-11 weeks for delivery. I went to my dealership today to meet with the GM and sales lady to figure out what to do and inspect the car, I wanted to make certain nothing else was wrong, it appeared to me that it was broken from the inside out, the way the glass was pushed outward a chunk was on the spare tire and the hole in the glass was about the size of a softball, totally bizarre! No other damage was visible. Checked the inventory on the lot of 2021’s and 2020’s and nothing was to my liking unfortunately or out of my price range. I explained that I would be willing to wait for 2-3 more, but beyond that, I am not sure. I would like to say, the GM could not have been any more apologetic and nicer about the situation and whatever I wanted to do, is fine by them. I will say, I got the deal sheet today with my trade and he waved the doc fee, which I was told was 900 bucks. What are all of your thoughts? Should I wait? Should I get my deposit back?

 

Without a doubt LR should air freight the window ASAP! Things do happen in shipping, but a wait of more than 2 weeks is unacceptable.

Good Luck

 

walk away

 

How much was your deposit?

Waiting almost 3 months seems insane. I think you would need to get a firm time on when it will arrive and then make a decision from there. Although what are your options? I figure if you place a factory order then you really wanted your own fully customized Defender. So I get not taking one off the lot. Were you considering other makes/models?

You are about 3 weeks ahead of your expected delivery date. I figure if they get the window in that time frame and you save $900 you are coming out ahead IMO.

 

Yes, LR should air freight it for sure! I could not grasp the 11 week time frame! I might as well order another car.

walk away, not a bad idea, I defiantly consider that, could there be some more up with the vehicle??? My fear!

deposit 5k, you are correct, ordered how I wanted. I looked at other defenders and one Range Rover sport. Yes, 900 bucks savings is always good! They had a nicely equipped 2020 green defender with black top, 81k, which is about 9k more than mine and they would not consider a discount, so I told them forget it, I will wait. I ordered white with black roof.

 

You pay for delivery. They messed up delivery. They should refund the $1450 or whatever the cost is of delivery.

 

They could have transferred the back window or, what the heck, the entire door from another new vehicle of the same color they had in stock, without telling you, instead of risking a sale. Can't be that hard. I don't understand these dealers sometimes, 2-11 weeks... What kind of an estimate is that? Tell them you'll pay them for the car in 2 to 11 weeks and see what they say.

 

GM did tell me they spoke about trying to transfer the window and the entire door, but didn’t feel comfortable risking breaking another and messing up alignment or something else, which I can appreciate. The more I think about this, the more I am considering emailing them and telling them I am coming to get my deposit. I ordered a new car, unfortunately there is an issue/defect not in the dealerships control, however it’s going to be reworked, it’s not new. There is a possibility they could not get a good factory replicated seal? Future issues? Not sure what to do at this point.

 

Crazy. If it were me, I'd make them commit to a price for my trade-in, which I would then continue to use while I waited. Or, if they won't allow that, insist that they give me a loaner to drive for the unknown number of weeks before my Defender arrives. And I'd make sure it was something nice. Then accept the $900/off as a good-will gesture and allow them to fix the problem. You ordered what you wanted. They broke it and are willing to fix it but that takes time and many things are really out of their hands. Say ok, but...

Nate

 

I don’t buy the door realignment BS for one second. Service departments and body shops remove doors all the time. It’s a unibody car. It will be fine. They just don’t want to take another car out of sellable condition. Make them do the swap. The $900 doc fee is trivial. Be firm and insinuate that “you appreciate the good will and it will make it easier to give a great survey and good google/Yelp reviews because of their good will”. Negotiate from a position of strength. It doesn’t matter how nice they are. This is a business transaction.