OK, so I ordered a 2000-L back in November. Once the JOB1 date passed, I started bugging my dealer about once a week for the build date. The response was always "No news" or "no change in the status this week." I always looked over his shoulder at his computer screen, so I could see the status myself and confirm that my name was on the order. Well, finally today, my order shows a VIN (serial number) for the truck, but still no build date. The order also shows a "Status Code 1 - Temp Delay." Are there any insiders out there that can tell me what this means? Should I be concerned?

I am also concerned because the order status form NOW shows that my order was placed on 03/31/00, instead of November. Why did my order date change? Is somebody messin' with me here? Did somebody else get the L that I ordered in November? The dealer did not have a clue.

Thanks for any inside info!

-Reed (Waiting on a Black '00 -IMPATIENTELY!)

 

Did you happen to order a bed cover? That did it last year. They offered it in 2000 I think, then put a hold or cancelled it.
Tom

 

Nope, no bed cover. -Reed

 

Sorry, that was my fault. Your truck was to be built 4-19-00 with a 4-12-00 date coded engine. Unfortunately, some Canadian jerk required a replacement engine and yours got taken.

I actually apologized for this earlier. Sorry you didn't see the post.

JOKING

Be patient. I'm sure it's killing you, but you will get it. I don't think the tonneau has anything to do with it.

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2000 Red Lightning Born 3-8-00 / Delivered 3-22-00
22% Window Tint, Clear Corners, MPulse LoPro Tonneau, AIM 2" Drop Shackles

'99 Yukon Denali - Silver, Lowered 1", Borbet CW4's, 285/60R18 Toyo Proxes S/T's, Hotchkis AntiSways, Edelbrock Shocks

2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car

 

WHAT04, your explanation makes more sense than any other. I just hope they don't rebuild your "lemon" engine and dump it in mine! ;->

-Reed

 

Reed,
My L was ordered 2-14 and was built may 3, with no word of any hold or anything like that, and it was with the toneau cover. Somthing seems to up to me.
Brian

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99 red lightning, bassani complete system
2-2000 arctic cat zr440 snopro's
2000 super duty v10
Arctic cat 400 4x4
99 chev c1500 pickup
2000 red Lightning on order 2-14-00, Build date 5-8-00

 

reed... Put out a call to alphadoggy he is very helpful in finding info on these trucks. Don't feel to bad I ordered on Dec 28 and still don't have a build date, but someone backed out of one so I'll get it in about 2 weeks. Never waited this long for something in all my life. But from what 98% of the board says it should be worth it. Good luck and don't forget to find the dog.

 

The manner in which Ford processes Lightning orders is indeed arcane and mysterious. I ordered my Lightning back on Jan. 11, and as of today it still is "clean and unscheduled, it has not been serialized at this time." Fortunately, another customer backed out of the deal, so I took delivery of his L. on 3/14. Had that not happened I'm sure I'd be climbing the walls by now, especially if I still intended to drive to Georgia to pick up my boat. Yet, as I posted elsewhere, my dealer was notified today that he will be receiving 3 new L.s shortly, apparently none of them spoken for. This is against Ford's own policy to ship vehicles "for stock" before they fill all the customer's orders, but they do it ***** nilly, anyway. I can't find out any more about vehicle status than your dealer can, so if he says its clean and unscheduled I'm afraid that's the story. I am just willing to check when a dealer refuses to go to the trouble to do so.
Btw, Kevin, how do you like your new truck now?

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I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.
'00 SVT Lightning, silver, G-tech Pro, JBA headers

alphadoggy@jetlink.net

 

Reed

I have ordered Fords for years. If you ordered your L in November and your order date was 3/31/00, either they screwed up and forgot to place OR it was sold to someone else and then your was placed again.

You said that the dealer did not have a clue as to what happened. Someone is lying to you, period. Trust me. A dealership can tell you exactly where a unit is at all times. Even if it is just sitting there waiting its turn to be processed into the plant.

You mentioned that there is finally a vin. no. That is great. This means Ford has put it into the factory's computer. The computer will then place it on the floor to be built. At that time, you will start to see an estimated arrival. The arrival time will still only be an estimate. BUT when the L has been built and released to the transporters, you will get a pretty accurate arrival time.
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Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc www.cars-n-trucks.com/lightning.htm
Black 00
Superchip
clear fronts
Airaid
Thinking about clear rear


[This message has been edited by FORDSALES (edited 05-06-2000).]

 

Thanks for the insight, Jim.

Actually, something strange did occur about the time that the order date was changed. I had gone in to see the dealer for my weekly status check. When he tried to pull up my order on the computer, it wasn't there. So, he called the VOPC (Vehicle Order Processing Center?) and they told him that it was showing up on their system and was still "clean and unscheduled". We took this to be some glitch between the two computer systems. A week later my order was back on the dealer's system, although with a new order date.

This is the fifth car/truck I've ordered from this particular fleet manager, so I trust him pretty well. I'm guessing this was more of an accidental "screw up" or computer problem than an intentional switch of my order.

But, who knows?

-Reed

 

That is exactly what I did. On Feb 25 I ordered a Black L, waited 2 weeks and then started asking for a build date and vin, to no avail. The inventory manager told me that he had a Sliver Bolt coming in for "stock". He put a "hold" on the silver one and still left the order in on my black. I must say Wayne Ackers ford in Lake Worth Florida made it easy for me. On 4/2 he showed me a print out with the vin, and a date of 4/15 the go the the train, and a date of 4/25 for dealer delivery. It arrived on 4/26. The decision to switch to silver was easy, I have had two black vehicles before and they look the best clean, but in florida that lasts about 5 min. As an EVERYDAY driver the silver looks good alot longer. The decision was easy once i Say the Silverbolt. It looks like I am not the only one to take the "stock" vehicle.


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'00 Silver L 4/26/00 Bone stock (for now)
'95 Black L (SOLD)
'93 Black Mustang LX Sedan 13.0@107 (gone)
'89 Mustang White GT (long gone)

 

Just to add a conclusion to my plight and to this thread:

I read that "Caka" noted in a different topic that there were 2 white L's at Dreager Ford in Georgetown. So, Sunday afternoon my son and I drove up to G'Town and found one gorgeous white L on the lot. We changed our minds. Monday morning I drove back up to G'town, signed the papers and drove our new white L home to NW Austin. We are VERY pleased!

Today I have to go back to the other dealer, cancel my order, and hope I can get me deposit back!

-Reed
2000 White Lightning (FINALLY!)

 

Congratulations!!

Driving a Lightning that is not your first choice in color is better than waiting for the right one.

Enjoy. Glad to hear that the misery is over.

 

I was trying to find the L alot closer than Ca. and everywhere else when my girlfriend found 2 dealers in Tx. The first one I called was in Orange Tx. They had a WHITE one and I made the deal over the phone. Here is what I did not expect: My trade was a 98 Mustang that was in the shop for repair. The L was 300 miles away. They dealer told me on Friday when I made the deal to come the next morning to pick up the L. I told them that 1st, they had never seen my car and it would not be ready untill Tuesday. 2nd I told them that it was too far to drive twice and that if I drove down there I was going to leave with the lightning or else. They said not to worry and to just come get the truck. Needless to say I took a trailer and went down their to find that they had everything done. I got this truck for sticker price (no markup) and they drove down to Austin to pick up my car without even seeing it before they made this deal. I would have to say that this is going beyond the call of duty for a dealership. The salesman's name is ***** and they are getting another one this month some time. Sorry for the long note

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ALL BOTTLE No THROTTLE