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I ran into this pricing a chevy duramax recently. On their site one can "build" a vehicle by customizing packages. I don't really know what this "build" proce

I ran into this pricing a chevy duramax recently. On their site one can "build" a vehicle by customizing packages. I don't really know what this "build" process is for because at the end it just searches for dealers that have inventory with n out of x features one selected, or "request a quote" which is really the same thing. It's a very misleading process in my opinion. Anyway... I tried removing OnStar and the only way I could do that was to remove all the feaures I wanted and also needed. e.g. towing package, bigger engine, etc... The only way I could "build" one without Onstar was to have a bare-bones model with nothing else added. Ill try again in 5 years or so.

kube-system 4y ago
It searches inventory first because there’s no sense in ordering one to be built if there’s one sitting around already. “Request a quote” is a synonym for “because of dealer protection laws you can’t actually do anything on the website so now go talk to a dealer who can actually order one.”
- LinuxBender 4y ago
  no sense in ordering one to be built if there’s one sitting around already I think that's the catch. Given the number of customization options in the website, I would find it highly unlikely that there would be one already built with the options I selected, so I will always be guided down the path of working with a dealer.
  - jaywalk 4y ago
    You have to work with a dealer no matter what. But in the "old days" (pre-Covid) you'd probably be surprised at how many vehicles were available with the options you want. I've been leasing my vehicles for a long time, and I've always been very specific in the options I want. I've never once had to order a vehicle to get what I wanted, the salesperson either had one on their lot or was able to find one nearby and trade for it.
  - kube-system 4y ago
    Currently, even more so, since there’s not much of anything on lots. However, people in this country are notoriously impatient and can often be persuaded to buy a very similarly spec vehicle if it means getting it sooner. I bought my last car from the “local inventory” despite not being exactly what I “built”.
- JakeAl 4y ago
  Had this same problem, I think it's just the web sites. Every now and then you can find pre-builts with all the features you wanted and just the features you wanted so you may just have to order it through a human being. Case in point I couldn't customize a Camry on the Toyota to have a factory installed alarm system and one day I was browsing their inventory and there was one. Od course someone bought the car and probably sold it to Carmax for a few thousand profit, but the used car market scam going on now with car hoarding and price inflation is another story.
frumper 4y ago
At certain times they open up building to actually order it and sent to a dealer for you to purchase. Most of the year it seems they do not accept orders. Similar experience on Ford.com for most vehicles. I would agree though, it's very frustrating. It's even more fun when you realize the dealer price they show for the ones they match is MSRP and the dealer is actually selling it for thousands more, plus the dealer adds accessories so you get to overpay for things like cargo nets and floor mats.
- bnt 4y ago
  Meanwhile in EU, I can configure any Volkswagen-group car down to the finest detail and have it delivered to a dealer of my choice, and the price will be the same across all dealers.
  - frumper 4y ago
    Current VW's website in the US is doing the same thing. Click Build leads you to find inventory. The German VW website car configurator crashes for me, but it is prompting me to look at what is already available.
  - MomoXenosaga 4y ago
    Yes but in America people go to a dealer and drive a car off the lot after the sale. The US way has its convenience of not having to wait 6 months for the car to be built and shipped.
    - NickRandom 4y ago
      Europe has both so it isn't a binary thing. There are 'main dealers' that have ready built stock / floor models or you can hunt around within that chains' group for stock that meets your spec or you can have built to order.
    - xipho 4y ago
      You are not driving a completely custom car off the lot right after you buy it in the US. So this is not a convenience relative to the OP. Furthermore, in the present market you may indeed buy a car, but it is highly unlikely to be what you really want.
CodeWriter23 4y ago
I think you may need to get around the "Fleet" wall to get a truck the way you want it. One of my friends recently purchased a GMC with a 7,000lb towing capacity / gooseneck. It was a pretty storied process for him. He ended up taking delivery several states east of where we are.
- vuln 4y ago
  I would be very interested in this story. I myself am trying to buy a completely bare bones (no power windows, no CD player, no nav, no speaker upgrades, no leather, no lane assist, no blind spot monitoring, no reverse camera, bo auto tailgate,). I just want a bare bones work truck with air conditioning and a diesel motor.
  - NavinF 4y ago
    Eh wouldn't it be cheaper to buy an old used truck and get it overhauled if you don't care about modern features?
  - sidewndr46 4y ago
    I think the reverse camera is a federal mandate, you can't buy vehicles without them any longer.
  - Spooky23 4y ago
    Buy it used.
Calloggs 4y ago
> at the end it just searches for dealers that have inventory Most U.S. states have laws requiring car sales only through dealerships. That's why you can't just directly buy a vehicle fully customized from a manufacturer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_dealerships_in_the_United_States#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20direct,new%20cars%20through%20a%20website https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_dealerships_in_the_United_....

kube-system 4y ago

It searches inventory first because there’s no sense in ordering one to be built if there’s one sitting around already. “Request a quote” is a synonym for “because of dealer protection laws you can’t actually do anything on the website so now go talk to a dealer who can actually order one.”

LinuxBender 4y ago
no sense in ordering one to be built if there’s one sitting around already I think that's the catch. Given the number of customization options in the website, I would find it highly unlikely that there would be one already built with the options I selected, so I will always be guided down the path of working with a dealer.
- jaywalk 4y ago
  You have to work with a dealer no matter what. But in the "old days" (pre-Covid) you'd probably be surprised at how many vehicles were available with the options you want. I've been leasing my vehicles for a long time, and I've always been very specific in the options I want. I've never once had to order a vehicle to get what I wanted, the salesperson either had one on their lot or was able to find one nearby and trade for it.
- kube-system 4y ago
  Currently, even more so, since there’s not much of anything on lots. However, people in this country are notoriously impatient and can often be persuaded to buy a very similarly spec vehicle if it means getting it sooner. I bought my last car from the “local inventory” despite not being exactly what I “built”.
JakeAl 4y ago
Had this same problem, I think it's just the web sites. Every now and then you can find pre-builts with all the features you wanted and just the features you wanted so you may just have to order it through a human being. Case in point I couldn't customize a Camry on the Toyota to have a factory installed alarm system and one day I was browsing their inventory and there was one. Od course someone bought the car and probably sold it to Carmax for a few thousand profit, but the used car market scam going on now with car hoarding and price inflation is another story.

frumper 4y ago

At certain times they open up building to actually order it and sent to a dealer for you to purchase. Most of the year it seems they do not accept orders. Similar experience on Ford.com for most vehicles. I would agree though, it's very frustrating. It's even more fun when you realize the dealer price they show for the ones they match is MSRP and the dealer is actually selling it for thousands more, plus the dealer adds accessories so you get to overpay for things like cargo nets and floor mats.

bnt 4y ago
Meanwhile in EU, I can configure any Volkswagen-group car down to the finest detail and have it delivered to a dealer of my choice, and the price will be the same across all dealers.
- frumper 4y ago
  Current VW's website in the US is doing the same thing. Click Build leads you to find inventory. The German VW website car configurator crashes for me, but it is prompting me to look at what is already available.
- MomoXenosaga 4y ago
  Yes but in America people go to a dealer and drive a car off the lot after the sale. The US way has its convenience of not having to wait 6 months for the car to be built and shipped.
  - NickRandom 4y ago
    Europe has both so it isn't a binary thing. There are 'main dealers' that have ready built stock / floor models or you can hunt around within that chains' group for stock that meets your spec or you can have built to order.
  - xipho 4y ago
    You are not driving a completely custom car off the lot right after you buy it in the US. So this is not a convenience relative to the OP. Furthermore, in the present market you may indeed buy a car, but it is highly unlikely to be what you really want.

CodeWriter23 4y ago

I think you may need to get around the "Fleet" wall to get a truck the way you want it. One of my friends recently purchased a GMC with a 7,000lb towing capacity / gooseneck. It was a pretty storied process for him. He ended up taking delivery several states east of where we are.

vuln 4y ago
I would be very interested in this story. I myself am trying to buy a completely bare bones (no power windows, no CD player, no nav, no speaker upgrades, no leather, no lane assist, no blind spot monitoring, no reverse camera, bo auto tailgate,). I just want a bare bones work truck with air conditioning and a diesel motor.
- NavinF 4y ago
  Eh wouldn't it be cheaper to buy an old used truck and get it overhauled if you don't care about modern features?
- sidewndr46 4y ago
  I think the reverse camera is a federal mandate, you can't buy vehicles without them any longer.
- Spooky23 4y ago
  Buy it used.

Calloggs 4y ago

> at the end it just searches for dealers that have inventory Most U.S. states have laws requiring car sales only through dealerships. That's why you can't just directly buy a vehicle fully customized from a manufacturer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_dealerships_in_the_United_States#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20direct,new%20cars%20through%20a%20website https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_dealerships_in_the_United_....