I'm pretty sure its a lot more than one.
2019 Subaru Ascent Pre-Orders Are Mind-Blowing
The new 2019 Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler doesn’t arrive at U.S. dealer showrooms until this summer, but they can be pre-ordered now. We have heard one Subaru dealer, has already pre-sold their entire allotment of new Ascent vehicles, reports Torque News.
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/2019-subaru-ascent-pre-orders-are-mind-blowing
https://www.torquenews.com/1084/2019-subaru-ascent-pre-orders-are-mind-blowing
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Yeah. And if their total allocation was only 31, I could see that happening quickly. I know of several dealerships that only got 12 - 15 for their entire 3 month allocation. I sold our July allocation out by the end of February, and we're just about out of the August allocation. I've got two more customers coming in on Monday to order, that ought to wrap up August.I'm pretty sure its a lot more than one.
Keep in mind that initial allocation was based upon how many Outbacks the store sold, so in areas where people don't buy volume, dealers didn't get a lot. Whereas other regions and dealerships got a lot more.
Really, As good as people think it is you should drive it first. I wonder how many will drop the order if they could drive one first
I am one who has preordered but has never owned or driven a Subaru. LOL That being said, I AM a presearch fanatic and have owned many cars. For us it came down to features, comfort and reliability and in the three row market the only other vehicles that checked most of our boxes were the Honda Pilot Elite that has the dreaded 9 speed ZF transmission & the VW Atlas. When I asked a mechanic friend his opinion between the VW Atlas, Honda Pilot and brand new, first year Subaru with an untested transmission/engine combination he didn’t hesitate a second- “Subaru, hands down. They don’t rush things to market. Honda’s transmission problems go back years, they take years to come up with a fix and the fix is rarely great.” He scoffed at the idea of any VW, as did my husband.
I am eager to sit in and drive one and it felt completely counterintuitive to place an order without having done either but the fact that the deposit is fully refundable helped ease my mind. If the rumors about Ascent test drive cars getting to dealers in April or May are fake news then I will for sure at least take a Forester for a spin because the suspense is killing me and if it’s not going to fit the bill then I am back to square 1. Fingers crossed and a bit of a leap of faith in our camp (though you all with your expertise and Subie devotion make it a lot less scary).
I am eager to sit in and drive one and it felt completely counterintuitive to place an order without having done either but the fact that the deposit is fully refundable helped ease my mind. If the rumors about Ascent test drive cars getting to dealers in April or May are fake news then I will for sure at least take a Forester for a spin because the suspense is killing me and if it’s not going to fit the bill then I am back to square 1. Fingers crossed and a bit of a leap of faith in our camp (though you all with your expertise and Subie devotion make it a lot less scary).
I told my dealer multiple times that I will not sign on the final dotted line until I test drive it (and my wife), and we are totally comfortable with everything. They are defiantly coming to dealers in May for a week or two (at least in Colorado). However, it seems debatable whether or not they will simply be floor models or actually test drive-able.
I didn't have to sign on a dotted line. Just put a deposit down over the phone with the internet sales group. I ordered it two weeks ago. My email confirmation said an estimated delivery of July.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations!
Thank you for your business. We have received your credit/debit card information for your deposit, and have successfully reserved the vehicle below.
** If you have a credit freeze on your credit, please unlock for us to run your credit**
VON 218286204
Description 2019 Ascent 2.4T Premium
Option Package 12
Option Description Power Rear Gate + Keyless Access w/ Push Button Start + Auto Dim Mirror + Reverse Auto Braking
Dealer Invoice $35,275
MSRP $38,098 (Estimate-see vehicle invoice for final value)
Model Code
KCC Ext/Int Color
Magnetite Gray Metallic (MGM)/
Black (BLC) Spec
C - California
Port-Installed Accessories
(0BZ) Rear Bumper Cover
(0C7) Trailer Hitch
(0CH) Rear Seatback Protector
(0CZ) Rockford Fosgate Audio Upgrade
(0MB) Sunshade
(0MP) All-Weather Floor Liners
________________________________________
Allocation 201807
Sales Type Wholesale
Sold Order? Yes
Customer Name Eric Johnson
Status Ordered
Current Location 200020
Estimated Arrival Month of July-2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations!
Thank you for your business. We have received your credit/debit card information for your deposit, and have successfully reserved the vehicle below.
** If you have a credit freeze on your credit, please unlock for us to run your credit**
VON 218286204
Description 2019 Ascent 2.4T Premium
Option Package 12
Option Description Power Rear Gate + Keyless Access w/ Push Button Start + Auto Dim Mirror + Reverse Auto Braking
Dealer Invoice $35,275
MSRP $38,098 (Estimate-see vehicle invoice for final value)
Model Code
KCC Ext/Int Color
Magnetite Gray Metallic (MGM)/
Black (BLC) Spec
C - California
Port-Installed Accessories
(0BZ) Rear Bumper Cover
(0C7) Trailer Hitch
(0CH) Rear Seatback Protector
(0CZ) Rockford Fosgate Audio Upgrade
(0MB) Sunshade
(0MP) All-Weather Floor Liners
________________________________________
Allocation 201807
Sales Type Wholesale
Sold Order? Yes
Customer Name Eric Johnson
Status Ordered
Current Location 200020
Estimated Arrival Month of July-2018
The outback with a 3.6 will be closer to the Ascent than a Forester IMO.I am one who has preordered but has never owned or driven a Subaru. LOL That being said, I AM a presearch fanatic and have owned many cars. For us it came down to features, comfort and reliability and in the three row market the only other vehicles that checked most of our boxes were the Honda Pilot Elite that has the dreaded 9 speed ZF transmission & the VW Atlas. When I asked a mechanic friend his opinion between the VW Atlas, Honda Pilot and brand new, first year Subaru with an untested transmission/engine combination he didn’t hesitate a second- “Subaru, hands down. They don’t rush things to market. Honda’s transmission problems go back years, they take years to come up with a fix and the fix is rarely great.” He scoffed at the idea of any VW, as did my husband.
I am eager to sit in and drive one and it felt completely counterintuitive to place an order without having done either but the fact that the deposit is fully refundable helped ease my mind. If the rumors about Ascent test drive cars getting to dealers in April or May are fake news then I will for sure at least take a Forester for a spin because the suspense is killing me and if it’s not going to fit the bill then I am back to square 1. Fingers crossed and a bit of a leap of faith in our camp (though you all with your expertise and Subie devotion make it a lot less scary).
We preordered 2 months ago and have never owned a Subaru before. We had been researching new vehicles for 6 months as our 10 year old Jeep is on its last leg and we desperately need a new car for our family of 5. Based on all our research of similar vehicles I don't actually foresee a problem with the Ascent. Plus we do not want to wait until it comes out to order because that will push us back a few more months. If there is a fatal flaw with it then we are out $1000 but if we love it then we don't have to drive around our failing Jeep anymore.
May Test Drive
Note: may be a viewing only, sorry for misleading title
I just received a email from a local dealer in Southern California asking me if I wanted to see the Ascent when it shows up on their lot in the first part of May.Will set up appt. to see it when the exact dates are more solid.I have also asked other dealers to notify me if one shows up but this dealer is the only one so far to notify me...I told my dealer multiple times that I will not sign on the final dotted line until I test drive it (and my wife), and we are totally comfortable with everything. They are defiantly coming to dealers in May for a week or two (at least in Colorado). However, it seems debatable whether or not they will simply be floor models or actually test drive-able.
Note: may be a viewing only, sorry for misleading title
Ascent viewing.
Sorry
Note : I think the title of my post was too optimistic......may not be a test drive....may be to view only....I just received a email from a local dealer in Southern California asking me if I wanted to see the Ascent when it shows up on their lot in the first part of May.Will set up appt. to see it when the exact dates are more solid.I have also asked other dealers to notify me if one shows up but this dealer is the only one so far to notify me....
Sorry
Just like every new model change they will parade a test vehicle(one) around the different Colorado dealerships for training and if you happen to be at the dealer at that time(3 days or so) you could get a look. That happened to me with the Gen 5 Outback.I told my dealer multiple times that I will not sign on the final dotted line until I test drive it (and my wife), and we are totally comfortable with everything. They are defiantly coming to dealers in May for a week or two (at least in Colorado). However, it seems debatable whether or not they will simply be floor models or actually test drive-able.
The first week of May is when we're doing dealership training, which includes a ride and drive at a central location. For us, it'll be Tulsa. It will NOT be at a dealership. Only a select number of sales staff and managers will get to go to this event. Later on (hopefully still in May) the District Manager will have a car that he will bring by so we can show ONLY to customers who want to see the car. No one will be allowed to test drive those cars, not even our staff, due to insurance and other regulations. (Since those cars are pre-production models, they are technically not rated for anyone in the general public to drive, they're considered 'experimental' vehicles.)I told my dealer multiple times that I will not sign on the final dotted line until I test drive it (and my wife), and we are totally comfortable with everything. They are defiantly coming to dealers in May for a week or two (at least in Colorado). However, it seems debatable whether or not they will simply be floor models or actually test drive-able.
100% correctThe first week of May is when we're doing dealership training, which includes a ride and drive at a central location. For us, it'll be Tulsa. It will NOT be at a dealership. Only a select number of sales staff and managers will get to go to this event. Later on (hopefully still in May) the District Manager will have a car that he will bring by so we can show ONLY to customers who want to see the car. No one will be allowed to test drive those cars, not even our staff, due to insurance and other regulations. (Since those cars are pre-production models, they are technically not rated for anyone in the general public to drive, they're considered 'experimental' vehicles.)
I would suspect that the assemblers are going through training right now and that workflow processes are being refined. If they are making oneses-twosies in Lafayette then they probably have fitted and re-fitted the same components a half-dozen times while the process engineers are modifying programming for the robotics to position assemblies.
It is probably being done with their engineers, designers and the most senior, lead assemblers. If you think about all of the steps that are required to fall in place for each workstation they are literally making hundreds of production process adjustments a day. These are not big things that will change how a car rolls off the line but subtle things like how many mm to move the dashboard up to the firewall before the screw guns zap it in to place.
As a manufacturers representative for some of the robotics systems I have been on-site to support that sort of automation refinement. It makes for very long days but the work is so rewarding.
You probably don't want the first car to roll off of the production line, just like you do not want the last car. They are going to find things for the first few months that will be more annoying; they will be on par with discovering that a little tab of carpeting should of been inserted under a piece of trim in some hidden corner.
I am optimistic, so far it sounds like it is going to be a great addition to the brand.
It is probably being done with their engineers, designers and the most senior, lead assemblers. If you think about all of the steps that are required to fall in place for each workstation they are literally making hundreds of production process adjustments a day. These are not big things that will change how a car rolls off the line but subtle things like how many mm to move the dashboard up to the firewall before the screw guns zap it in to place.
As a manufacturers representative for some of the robotics systems I have been on-site to support that sort of automation refinement. It makes for very long days but the work is so rewarding.
You probably don't want the first car to roll off of the production line, just like you do not want the last car. They are going to find things for the first few months that will be more annoying; they will be on par with discovering that a little tab of carpeting should of been inserted under a piece of trim in some hidden corner.
I am optimistic, so far it sounds like it is going to be a great addition to the brand.
And in that, you have just described the whole Japanese philosophy on car building - Kaizen. Continuous small improvements.I would suspect that the assemblers are going through training right now and that workflow processes are being refined. If they are making oneses-twosies in Lafayette then they probably have fitted and re-fitted the same components a half-dozen times while the process engineers are modifying programming for the robotics to position assemblies.
It is probably being done with their engineers, designers and the most senior, lead assemblers. If you think about all of the steps that are required to fall in place for each workstation they are literally making hundreds of production process adjustments a day. These are not big things that will change how a car rolls off the line but subtle things like how many mm to move the dashboard up to the firewall before the screw guns zap it in to place.
You're close to right on how things are done at SIA. But there are only so many robots that can be used - that's where Tesla messed up and had to shut their plant down again this week for a bit. They've tried to automate things there too much. Back in 1989, when the plant opened, we had 1,300 employees. Now there are about 5,600, with the Ascent line added. It's also a case of, they don't have to reinvent the wheel each and every time a new model or body style change is done. There's are teams in body, paint, and trim that have been working for the past year on figuring out work stations, parts deliveries, parts locations, and just how and what each person working the line will do.
Now they're in the tweaking phase, where they'll figure out that at full production speeds, it's better to have this box of screws in this location for ease of grabbing instead of that location, or the forklift operator will deliver the box of parts here instead of there. Been there, done that, seen it many times. In case it's not been clear on this forum, I'm probably the only person in the country that sells Subaru's that also worked at the factory in Indiana building them. So I've seen model change-over, new model start-up, and all this stuff before. Stamping has to figure things out, they have to make sure the warehouse is laid out for storage, make sure the dies for the transfer presses are set up, body has to make sure all the robots and welders are right, paint has to make sure all the robots and carriers are right (I remember how big the carriers were before, it'll be interesting to see if they can still use the same ones with the Ascent), and trim has to make sure that when the painted body hits the south side of the floor that by the time it gets to the north side, turned around, and then back to the south side that a finished car is fueled up and ready to go.
It IS a huge process - but they've got 30 years of experience doing it.
I’m not sure if anyone here has said it outright yet, but thank you, Carl for being here and lending us your insight and thoughts!
We preordered 2 months ago and have never owned a Subaru before. We had been researching new vehicles for 6 months as our 10 year old Jeep is on its last leg and we desperately need a new car for our family of 5. Based on all our research of similar vehicles I don't actually foresee a problem with the Ascent. Plus we do not want to wait until it comes out to order because that will push us back a few more months. If there is a fatal flaw with it then we are out $1000 but if we love it then we don't have to drive around our failing Jeep anymore.
you should not be out any money at all, Subaru orders are fully refundable that is a Subaru thing. I have ordered a few Subaru's in the past from two different dealers and the only difference is one was 500 the other was 1000. Although BOTH were fully refundable at anytime no questions asked.
With the implementation of the SGP the assembly process is better. Now with the exception of the outback all models are on the same chassis. The Ascent is on a modified Impreza chases basically. They even share (including the 19 Forester) the same dash with some very small differences. So, I except the next Outback will have the same dash design as the rest of the fleet. IMO, the car to wait for will be the next Outback with the optional 2.4 turbo in it.
I called my local dealer to inquire when they’ll have an ascent available to look at and drive, and I was told late June or early July.We preordered 2 months ago and have never owned a Subaru before. We had been researching new vehicles for 6 months as our 10 year old Jeep is on its last leg and we desperately need a new car for our family of 5. Based on all our research of similar vehicles I don't actually foresee a problem with the Ascent. Plus we do not want to wait until it comes out to order because that will push us back a few more months. If there is a fatal flaw with it then we are out $1000 but if we love it then we don't have to drive around our failing Jeep anymore.
you should not be out any money at all, Subaru orders are fully refundable that is a Subaru thing. I have ordered a few Subaru's in the past from two different dealers and the only difference is one was 500 the other was 1000. Although BOTH were fully refundable at anytime no questions asked.
Asked about pricing and deposit, and I was told that the deposit was non refundable, as it was basically a “commitment” to purchasing the car, but they were “flexible” with decisions should you not like the car. That kinda was a turnoff.
And I was told all pricing was done at MSRP.
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