After originally ordering my red TCH in JULY, and having it get stuck on a freighter that almost went belly-up off Alaska the end of August. I was told my color combination (Red M.m. w/Graphite Leather), was no longer available in my area, (Northern Virginia).

I was resigned to get whatever I could, when I seached the Toyota site in Florida, and fouund quite a few coming in just the way I wanted.

Sure enough, there was no problem ordering exactly the car I had hoped for.

I just was sent the VIN for my Red M.m. THC, Graphite Leather, Nav, Moon roof, Remote Start, and DVD in console.

US Build date- 11/21, Delivery date 12/07.

It will have been 5 months since I started the journey, but I know from your posts it will be more than worth it!

Congrats! Persistence pays off. Keep us informed on how the delivery goes, and your first impressions.

If anyone is looking for one I saw a loaded Red TCH sitting on the lot in DuBois, PA yesterday

I thought that cargo ship carried 5000 Mazda's, not Toyota's?? Congratulations, your persistence is admirable.

My VA Dealer told me my car was due in port on 8/28. The ship was evacuated on 8/26. Suposedly, it had a mix of vehicles.
It could have just been a ruse to sell my car to someone else.
Here is a link to the story...
javascript:ol('http://search.yahoo.com/search?p%3dCougar%2bAce%2brighted%26amp;sp%3d1%26a mp;fr2%3dsp-top%26amp;btn%3dSearch%26amp;tab%3dWeb%26amp;ei%3d UTF-8%26amp;fr%3dmy-vert-web-top%26amp;ei%3dUTF-8%26amp;SpellState%3dn-2452116979_q-4WRcMMYAByGbfLh6DIQl6QABAA%2540%2540');

Virginia dealer getting car from Portland, Oregon? That doesn't sound right, my NY dealer got the car from Newark, NJ, it says so on the sticker as port of entry. Also here is the press release:
"Mazda has announced that none of the 4,700+ vehicles aboard the ill-fated cargo ship Cougar Ace will be sold as new vehicles. According to a press release issued by the automaker a short time ago, cars that are damaged beyond repair will be scrapped immediately. Cars that are deemed fixable and saleable, however, could be sold through Mazda's dealer network as used vehicles. Mazda stresses that no decision on saleability will be made until after the full load of vehicles is unloaded and inspected in Portland, OR. Cougar Ace left Alaska under tow on 9/1 and is expected to arrive in Oregon tomorrow."
end of quote
No mention of Toyota's. I think your dealer maybe wasn't telling the whole, true story?