What Car? Q&A - Why is my delivery date always set back?

Q: I ordered a 2.0-litre diesel Mondeo from a broker and was told it would be delivered in September.

The delivery date came and went, and I was told it should be delivered in another two weeks. I left it four weeks, then called again to be told that the date would now be in January next year. I was also told that the delivery time for estates was now 20 weeks from order.

The man I am dealing with is the owner and sounds genuine, but I thought I should check with Dagenham Motors (the dealer supplying the broker).

The salesman said it was a 12-week delivery period but could not prove it, because he had not sold any.
Neil De Friend

A: Twelve weeks seems about right.

Unfortunately, demand is outstripping supply at the moment. This is because the engine is used in a wide range of Ford products, as well as in Citroens and Peugeots, because the three manufacturers collaborated on this engine's development.

Dealers and brokers have been taken by surprise with the supply problem, so everyone is having to wait longer than they first thought.

In this situation, dealers are more likely to hold onto their supply for their own customers rather than passing cars on to brokers.

Seek a final guarantee from your broker that the end of January is when your car will definitely arrive. That way, hopefully, you'll get it sooner than someone walking into a showroom today and ordering the same car.