Yes, that all makes sense, thanks.
I don't see 2019 option on vw.com yet, even though I'm starting to see on online car sales sites. I'm guessing there will be plenty of time, but how long can one wait before placing an order for 2019, without fear of 'sorry, no more orders'? Can one wait till summer of 2019? I'm sure dealers won't know, or want you to know because they want to sell what they got. Would VWoA respond to questions like that?
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Nope, they'll refer you to a dealer. I wish car buying wasn't such a backwards affair anymore, but here we are 2019.
Ya, VWoA is a bit slow to update their site...the 2019 Passat is up there now. I have seen 2019s start trickling into dealers (they can also be at port, or in a wrap unseen on their lot), but if they have 2018s, they may not point that out. Maybe early summer would be the latest you could hold out for what you want. The reality is that VW produces cars in certain configurations and then sends them to dealers. Unless things have changed, they get what they get and then you go hunting the dealer network for it. I purchased my car (out of need) in late March and then saw the prices continually fall through the summer and then stop. There are also states that my end up with more than others due to need/want/weather/dealer forecasts, etc. and sometimes you can grab a flight to state where a dealer has 10 of these on their lot and they are priced to move.
My specific dealer here in the PNW doesn't like to stock a ton of cars but will work with you to find something as it gets shipped or is sitting at another dealer. Like I mentioned, they want to move what they have at any/all times and will deal more on that vs. what may be out there.
It's a bit of crap-shoot, but if you have something specific in mind, you should be able to find it through the summer, but once fall hits, then it's the Holidays and then they're already trying to clear out what they have. I'm sure you've noticed more new cars driving around the last two weeks of December - end of year, end of month and the good deals can be had. With VW, they don't do volume in the States, esp. on an AT, so say, unlike Honda/Toyota, you may be out of luck by that time. Let us know what you end up with!< /longWindedReply>