Booked an Evoque 6 months ago: Continue waiting or consider alternates?

After waiting for 6 months, I am now being asked to wait another year for my BMW X1 replacement.

BHPian np2411 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi guys,

At the beginning of 2022, we began our search for a new car to replace our 7-year-old Toyota Corolla Altis. We began the search by checking out the only 'executive' sedan available in the Indian market, the Skoda Octavia. While the car was everything that one would want, the suspect history of Skoda aftersales service coupled with our fantastic experience with Toyota vehicles over the last 15 years, we decided against the Octavia.

With no other option in sight, we decided to replace our BMW X1 instead of the Altis, in the hopes of having more alternatives when we finally decide to replace it.

We now began researching replacements for the X1 and decided on two models. The Volvo XC40 and the Range Rover Evoque. As you can infer from the options, the budget was flexible but the size was more or less confined to a Compact SUV-sized vehicle due to parking constraints. The gulf in quality between the two (understandably so considering the price difference) was big enough for us to go ahead and book the Evoque.

We booked a Silicone Silver, Petrol variant in April 2022.

Herein begins the long and arduous ordeal.

It has been 6 months since we booked the vehicle, but are yet to receive any concrete update regarding the vehicle's status. The sales agent contacted us a few times in the last six months to ask us to reconsider either the colour or change to a diesel vehicle. While changing to diesel is a dealbreaker, we provided the dealer with another colour - Portofino Blue - as a secondary choice.

We finally received a call 10 days ago with the information that the semiconductor issues are on the mend and that we should receive the vehicle by mid-November.

The joy however was short-lived since we received an email yesterday (26.10.2022) stating that due to semiconductor issues, our build date is yet to be confirmed and that the build date may be reviewed in 8-12 months' time.

The entire post-booking process has been a shambles. We have rarely received any update, and any update that we have received has usually been to either take a White coloured petrol variant or to change our variant to a diesel - both of which are no-goes.

The JLR website states that the waiting period now is 4-6 months, but despite this, we have waited over 6 months and are now being asked to wait for another year.

Could any of the members here assist us in contacting a JLR India representative? Our city dealer has been extremely unhelpful in this regard.

This entire ordeal has left us with a bitter taste. While we would still be elated on purchasing the Evoque, we have no other option but to consider other vehicles as our X1 replacement.

It would be great to hear your options that we can consider as well in and around the 80L budget. Cars much larger than the Evoque would be an issue for us.

Thanks for reading this long post and here's hoping to finally get some clarity on our booking through the power of this community.

Update:

Further to the ordeal with JLR India and the local city dealership, please find below the screenshots of the emails sent by JLR's customer service teams two months apart.

The customer service and responses from JLR India have been abysmal. Upon asking for further clarification as to why the dealer is receiving unsold (vehicles with no booking) instead of a vehicle booked 6 months ago, we are yet to receive any justification.

We would greatly appreciate any member here providing any contact with JLR India who can give us a clear indication of the issue and based on that, we can take a call on whether or not to cancel the booking.

Thanks again!

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

I think you should have been flexible about the colour. White looks good on the Evoque too and you would have had your car by now. It is a seller's market & there is a genuine shortage of parts. Either change your colour to whatever the dealer can arrange, or wait for another couple of months (if you really like the Evoque).

I disagree with this statement, generally. The person/department selling you the car is entirely different from the person/department servicing your car. Service income is huge for authorised workshops and they prioritise it. Plus, there are always other dealerships to service your car from, if unhappy with the current one.

Of course, Land Rover / Range Rover after-sales is a hit or miss, but that's unrelated to the sales experience.

Here's what BHPian Y@SH had to say on the matter:

There is a shortage certainly and Cars are allocated to dealers based on a number of preferences which I do not want to get into but rather cannot share. If your local dealer is unable to get you one whilst waiting for over six months, try a bigger dealer say in Delhi or Mumbai.

They are getting the most allocations for JLR vehicles currently.

Keep this booking, book another vehicle say with AMP motors or Navnit and be patient. This is only if you are certain of the Evoque as your replacement.

Tip: Ask the dealer which colour/spec has the most bookings for, and book that exact specification, if someone who made the booking cancels then you have your car sooner than expected!

If not, then just stretch your budget for the Macan or see the Lexus NX300h.

Here's what BHPian AROO7 had to say on the matter:

Actually, you should check with dealers in a nearby metro city if they have stock or a model in transit that can be allotted to you or a cancelled booking. This might increase your chance of getting the car early.

In case you are required to compromise on car colour to get it early, you always have the option of changing its colour to your choice using car wraps. While road less taken is also getting it repainted at a reputed paint shop. But the latter won't be the option I would suggest or take myself.

Coming to your other query, the dealer you would contact will get the car and not the one at your place. The former will help you with registration formalities, no hiccups here. Also, this is not a deal breaker, in 2010 when I was going to book a VW Polo, I was informed that they have showrooms only in Lucknow and Agra in the entire Uttar Pradesh. But both the showroom regularly got bookings from adjoining/ nearby or even far-off cities in Uttar Pradesh.

Also for a better understanding, you can go through this thread where one BHPian got his Volvo from Kolkata while he lives in Ranchi.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.