[emtonsti]

I am seeing more of these "standard" forms showing up from dealerships, like this one:
South Bay Volkswagen, National City CA 91950 or Coming Soon: The All-New 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 | Cincinnati, OH. Most of them say, we will notify you when orders are open. Do I need that? Seems like all you need to do is watch the Youtube video (that part might be optional, or just to see when live orders begin), and fill out the form when live (probably with a credit card number)?

And, here's an odd one: ID.4 Watch Party and Pre-Order Tom Bush Volkswagen, Jacksonville, FL
"Sales Consultants will be standing by to assist anyone who is interested in putting down the required $100 deposit for the ID.4 using VW's online reservation system"

I wonder if there is there any advantage to having a dealer make the reservation?

 

[Drew18]

I’ve been wondering how to reserve myself. What I’ve read is it’s some online process, dealer isn’t needed for completing, so I think the generic forms online are them jockeying for people to eventually use them as the delivery dealer.

 

[emtonsti]

I have been talking with local dealers, and tentatively picked one. I do not know if I am getting an inside view, and possibly an inside track with dealer to VW internal communication for later availability/priority and choices? I do not want to end up delaying for someone else to fill the form out for me, only to end up much lower on a list, because I did not enter the form myself. OTOH, possibly just getting on a list, before having a dealer involved, may not make for a "real" position on the delivery list? Maybe the "real" priority order only starts after the dealer becomes involved?

 

[Drew18]

I’ve picked my local dealer, you bring up a lot of good points of priority. Hopefully, the reveal provides some insight. Or even better you, or anyone else already talking to a dealer.

 

[spaceid]

I did read an article that said people can order online or at the local dealer (meaning on a computer there), but everything opens at the same time. My understanding was that if you went to the dealer you would not be able to order it any earlier, just if you feel more comfortable ordering there you can.

I will try to find the article.

Update: Volkswagen ID 4 online reservations open next month with $100 refundable deposit

Prospective owners who'd prefer an in-person experience will still be able to head to their preferred dealer to learn about and reserve their EV with the help of ID 4 specialists at each location. VW also states that as production ramps up, there will be a number of ID 4 examples reserved and arriving at dealerships for customer demonstrations.

 

[emtonsti]

Good article, thanks. I guess we just order online from home Wednesday morning by trim and colors, and let it go where it goes from there.

 

[MBrandenburg]

We stopped by our dealer today and had a good discussion. They were really excited but also said test drive models wouldn't be arriving until late December! So we'll definitely be reserving Wednesday morning and hoping everything goes smoothly.

 

[salant76]

@MBrandenburg,

What state do you live in? I would personally like to see and test drive the ID.4 before buying one.

Thank you.

Scott

 

[emtonsti]

We stopped by our dealer today and had a good discussion. They were really excited but also said test drive models wouldn't be arriving until late December! So we'll definitely be reserving Wednesday morning and hoping everything goes smoothly.

Most of the dealers I spoke to ranged from uninterested, to we will contact you when we can take orders. As soon as I said ID.4, almost every time I got instantly transferred to a manager, if not the general manager. Since I started buying EVs around 2014, I find that most dealerships (all brands except for Tesla) are clueless about EVs.

 

[Drew18]

Most of the dealers I spoke to ranged from uninterested, to we will contact you when we can take orders. As soon as I said ID.4, almost every time I got instantly transferred to a manager, if not the general manager. Since I started buying EVs around 2014, I find that most dealerships (all brands except for Tesla) are clueless about EVs.

I’ve been working with a salesman not manager with the dealer I picked. He’s got an E-Golf though and planning on an ID4 himself.

 

[emtonsti]

That sounds excellent, a salesman actually interested in the model, much more fun to discuss.

Hyundai was practically giving away the last of the 2019 Ioniq electric end of year last year. When I learned that not only many of the salespersons, but even the service manager got one, that sold me on trying one. It's very fun to drive, but only 125 mi range, so a second car. If a get an ID.4, it is mostly so I can drop back to one vehicle with either the 250 mi or 310 mi range.

One of the huge advantages of the Ioniq electric limited is that it has a heat pump for winter heating. That means in modest cold temperatures (at least down to 20F), the winter ev range only drops by 10% to 15%. Without a heat pump (sounds like ID.4 does not have one? TBD), we can expect the winter range to drop 25% to 30% (TBD) by use of the traditional "resistive" cabin heater.

 

[emtonsti]

Just thinking about what to look for in accessory lists on Wed morning.

It sounds like adaptive cruise control (automatically adjusting to a lower speed of a car ahead) might be standard

There are usually two lane keep functions (I do not know about VW), a warning if you drive (like a chime), or active steering to hold center. It sounds like "lane keep" might be standard, but not sure what that provides. Also, the ID.3 brochure lists a -Comfort drive “Travel Assist”, lane keeping system “Lane Assist”-; no idea what that might offer over a more basic function, or if it even might apply to a U.S. ID.4? (In many models/makes it just ping pongs off lane edges, but some like Honda actually do a good job of holding lane center in highway driving. I think VW is comparable to the useful Honda system).

Finally, Lane change assistant “Side Assist” (I think) are the yellow lights inside the ID.4 side mirrors as blind spot warning indicators. In the ID.3, it might only be on the third level trim.

 

[MBrandenburg]

@MBrandenburg,

What state do you live in? I would personally like to see and test drive the ID.4 before buying one.

Thank you.

Scott

We are in southern California

 

[MBrandenburg]

Most of the dealers I spoke to ranged from uninterested, to we will contact you when we can take orders. As soon as I said ID.4, almost every time I got instantly transferred to a manager, if not the general manager. Since I started buying EVs around 2014, I find that most dealerships (all brands except for Tesla) are clueless about EVs.

I'm shocked! This guy was so excited he invited us inside to show us the internal training memos they've been getting about the online reservations.