For anyone interested in doing a factory order on an Equinox, I am starting this thread so others may have an idea of what to expect.

Ok. . . .. that and wife and I love ordering a vehicle with what we want on it . . . no more and no less. So here's the thread to document the adventure. We have purchased off the lot a few times before and always end up with a $900 sun roof, or worse, a "package" with other things we do not prefer. So this time we will order out. So far our veteran salesman, who we've known for many years, tells us it will be 6 to 8 weeks. This is taking into account Holiday shut down time for the plant. I am ordering now for the mid to late February time frame delivery since historically there are numerous stackable incentives. I did this last in in 2010 when we purchased my Colorado LT2 Crew Cab 3.7L Z71.
So here is the order:

NOTE: Yesss. . . it is Champagne Silver Metallic. It will be wife's daily driver and she thinks it looks more "elegant" in this color. We both wish they still offered Moca Brown Metallic.

2015 Equinox LTZ Order

LTZ $32,795 GMS $30,186.04
Color= GWT Champagne Silver Metallic

Interior= Light Titanium/Black
3.6L V6 Engine $1,500
RAI - LPO, Cargo area close-out panel $135
Front - Rear Splash Guards ? $160
Rear Cargo Mat Rugged ? $75
Door Sill Plates (illuminated?) $375


12-16-2014 Total Price: $35,110.00

Aprox. GMS Price: $32,129.00

Hoping for additional $1,500 to $2,500
Incentives Including Bonus Cash,
Auto Show, GM Card Top Off, Loyatly Rebate, Etc.
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Not to be picky - but being picky...the LTZ comes with 18s now, not the 17s in your picture ? I think they look much nicer. The 17s are played out after being around since '10. I'm surprised that they never changed to a different 17" wheel - GM really milked this vehicle for all they could.

LOL. . .. Yes I didn't "Photo Shop" the wheels out of the picture. Just stock photo from whenever and I want the 18" wheels that the LTZ comes with. Rest assured I've been over the standard equipment and option lists so many times the past few months that we have a pretty good idea what we are getting.

We almost were going to wait till next year because I read where GM is "freshening" up the front end and interior of the Equinox and Terrain. I've seen some tentative photos of the exterior and it is a lot like the refresh on the Malibu or Cruze front end. Interior. . . . who knows, and I read it may just be some different fabric on the seats and some slight trim modifications. I doubt they will spend much on a 1.5 year change since the new Equinox comes out in late 2016/17.

50% of our new vehicles are ordered - you get the vehicle built to your needs not the dealers. Try to get the dealer allocation - worked for me - 2011 Chevy Silverado 3500HD LTZ CCLB LML SRW 4X4

03/21/2011 - (2000) Order accepted by GM. Dealer used allocation to place order into production.
04/16/2011 - (6000) Vehicle delivered to customer.

We got a great deal on a 2013 with 900 miles on it or we would have ordered a 2015.

Front - rear splash guards - probably installed by the dealer. I purchased an OEM set and installed them for $79.50

Went with Weather Tech front and rear floor mats and rear cargo liner - $209.00 Have the standard OEM floor mats for the summer. Weather tech will give you better protection (at least for us in snow country).

Sill plates - not sure they worth the cost - I am cheap - I would purchase non-lighted ones and install myself.

You will be happy with the V6 - AWD. I4 is just under powered.

Dealer should be able to make off $1,500 to $2,000 because it is a vehicle ordered and it spends no time on the lot at their expense.

I am not sure that you can get additional discount beyond GMS pricing. But, I a agree on your other suggestions.

While I haven't bought that many cars over my many many decades of driving, I have ordered every one of them. Wife and I feel that it becomes OUR car, as opposed to the dealer's car. It is always exciting when the dealer calls to say that your car is being unloaded from the carrier !

I will have access to allocation and build schedule. Dealer is a friend and I've ordered from him before. He has the production updates sent to me, plus I can check it myself. Yes, aware that I can get the few options cheaper myself piecemeal. Have done that on my last truck. This time, it is winter, I want the stuff put on before we have to drive in the slop of winter. I could save about $40 on the sill plates. They are dealer installed, have to pop a hole I believe, take off kick panels, fiddle with wiring harnesses .. .. They do it. . it's under warranty. Spending an extra $40 is worth my time, skinned knuckles, and aggravation. And. . . I just want 'em. Oh. . . the floor mats never got ordered, since they were part of a $300 package I did not want. So will buy better. Thanks, I've heard Weather Techs were good.
These few options are still way cheaper than trying to find a 3.6L like we want without having to buy one on the lot with a $900 sun roof and a $1,400 nav/entertainment package plus.

Yup. . . exciting to order the vehicle we want. I did that on mu 2010 Colorado LT2 Z71. Worked out really well. I am a bit of a vehicle junkie ..
Between myself, wife and 3 kids while they were at home, we've bought +40 cars and trucks in as many years. Probably half of them new. After so many cars, I have gotten pretty clinical about it. My attitude is. . . " I don't need to buy a new vehicle" and it has served me well.
I priced the $700 or so of options I actually ordered on the vehicle and if I had gotten them myself it would be about a $160 savings. I want the things on before I even have to drive it through winter slop and also they are covered for any warranty issue.

I see you're getting GM Employee pricing. I got that when I bought my '14 Terrain. The salesmn, at the time I paid for it asked, "are you a Vet"? He said if you are you can join the USAA and get an additional $750 of on top of all the other incentives. It might be something you could look into to get another discount. Didn't cost anything to join and didnt have to buy anything.

Always interesting to watch the process and progress of the new vehicle, makes the waiting seem easier

Thanks for that info. So are you saying that you got both GM employee pricing and the USAA discount? I wasn't sure those are stackable.


Yes, looking forward to the build. I am just hoping that February incentives will be as good as January. Sometimes January GM Card top offs end and then Auto Show/Loyalty discounts start in February. One time in December 2004 all the incentive ducks lined up at the same time and we got a 2005 Maibu Maxx for $7,960 off sticker. That was the most we have ever gotten off on a new car. It was 30% off with all discount incentives and employee pricing. Those days are gone now though. If you can get 15% or so off sticker on most average ($20K to $30K) vehicles that is doing pretty good these days. Except at the end of model year clearance you may do a bit better.

UPDATE:

I received the order number today and will be able to start tracking next Tuesday. There is a few days window between entering the order and it showing up. Good thing, because I added the engine block heater. I will be checking on Tuesday to see what the status is.