2015 Nismo

Originally Posted by Nargrakhan

I got burned when pre-ordering a car once. So I don't trust a dealer until they can provide two items:

1.) Order Guide / Reference Guide
2.) Open Allocation (sometimes called Allocation Number)

The Order Guide is what the dealer uses to actually order the car. It shows what options are available, how much it costs, etc. Most dealers won't actually let you look at the Order Guide, because it shows what they really pay, but they should be able to prove they have one.

The Open Allocation is basically the order number. It's what's used for status reports: can the dealership even get the car, what date will it be built at the factory, what's the car's status, how long until delivery, VIN, etc.

Any dealership can promise to preorder anything you want -- but only those who can pull it off will have an Order Guide and Open Allocation. At least that's been my experience.