Toyota dealership won't budge on price...say they can sell vehicle anyway!

[BC]

I have always bought General Motors vehicles and have always been able to negotiate a deal. I am now interested in a Toyota Highlander, so we went to the dealership and talked. They gave us the price off the window and when we offered them less the salesperson said, "Sorry, we can sell that vehicle at our price with no problem. Toyotas are not like other vehicles" Anyone else found this to be true trying to purchase a toyota?

 

[Gina]

As a devoted Toyota owner, I'd have to say they're right. Think about what we pay to go to WDW. Could we go to Six Flags for a lot less? Sure. Would it be as good a *value* as WDW? No way.

I have had my beloved Toyota since 2000, and the car is absolutely bulletproof when it comes to dependability. When GM makes a car like that, a whole bunch of them, then they will also be able to say, "Sorry, if you don't want to pay the price on the sticker then the next person will."

 

[2BigKIdz]

Look online at other Toyota dealerships in your area and get prices for comparable vehicles. When I bought my Mazda in 2007 the local dealership would not budge on price. I found the exact model and color I wanted for $2000 less at a dealership 2 hours away. The manager at my local dealership still wouldn't budge on price and even told me I wouldn't get that price when I got to the other dealership because there wasn't anyway they could sell me that car for that price, and why would I want to drive 2 hours anyway, um to save $2000 I even showed them the price online while I was in the dealership but they wouldn't come down. I did drive the 2 hours and got the car for the price it was listed at the other dealership.

 

[N.Bailey]

Toyota really pushes the threshold when it comes to efficient cars. I think in today's market, that's a STRONG selling point. Agree that they make a fabulous automobile too. They also retain their value much better than most others in the same class.

Personally though, I'm super excited about the Chevy Volt. GM announced that it will probably get more than 230 miles per gallon. The technology they're using for the car is going to be the standard, IMO, in the not so distant future. The engine is run electronically. In a gas engine, the VAST majority of gas is wasted rather than used to actually push the automobile forward. Scientists have been trying to close this gap and have made lots of improvements since the 70s, but the loss is still high. Instead of giving us better fuel efficiency however, the manufactures chose instead to give us bigger vehicles. I'd like to give you a figure, but I can't recall the actual percentage. It's like 80% wasted though, so it's extremely high.

That is precisely what's going to make the Volt a pioneer in this industry. The gas that's used will be used to charge the battery and it's the electric engine that will be what moves a vehicle forward. There is still some loss with electric engines, but nothing like the loss from a gas powered engine.

The car will also go 40 miles per day on just the electric. If you drive less than this, you will never need to purchase any gas at all. There are however downsides. A strong one being, if you're staying at a hotel, I doubt you'd find it too appealing to run an extension cord out your door/window to charge your car. You're also limited to I believe it's like 600 miles before you'd have to charge it again. The other downside is, the battery technology is so new that it's going to debut at around 40,000 (and will likely drop as the price of batteries drop).

I guess I went a little off topic, huh? Sorry about that.

 

[Beca]

We have always purchased Hondas, and they are much the same way. We bought an Odyssey new, and also a Civic Si (the powerful hatchback) new. The dealer (two different dealers) would not budge on price at all. Considering Odysseys had a wait of about 6 wks, and the Si was being discontinued, so there was only two left in the state....I am not surprised on either account.

I am not surprised that Toyota dealers are much the same.

 

[Jillpie]

I sure hope you gave them your home phone number. Because in today's economy, I promise you, they will call you back in about a week. Be patient. Don't give in. Just wait a week and you'll get that call. It happened to us at Nissan, we are loyal Nissan customers for 25 years now. I waited and sure enough, he called me back and gave me what I asked for.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I would look online. I bought a car via the internet about 10 years through the fleet manager. There was zero haggling and I got a great price. My last 2 cars were purchased the same way.

HTH.

 

[RitaZ.]

I have always bought General Motors vehicles and have always been able to negotiate a deal. I am now interested in a Toyota Highlander, so we went to the dealership and talked. They gave us the price off the window and when we offered them less the salesperson said, "Sorry, we can sell that vehicle at our price with no problem. Toyotas are not like other vehicles" Anyone else found this to be true trying to purchase a toyota?

Maybe now that they've sold a lot of vehicles because of the CARS program. We looked at a Toyota Venza in July and the sales manager and salesperson were quite eager to deal with us. Then again, we were the only customers in the dealership at the time. We decided to purchase another make.

Wait until the CARS program is discontinued/ends. NADA wants the government to discontinue it because the process of getting paid is very slow. Check out Edmunds .com to find out what others are paying for the Highlander. Unless you have to buy a new vehicle right now, I'd definitely wait until business is back to where it was before CARS. Good luck!

 

[LoraJ]

Try shopping around. I think at edmunds.com if you look up information on that vehicle they have a place that shows what people are actually paying for it. Tell them that's what you will pay.

I am buying a Toyota Prius and am on a waiting list for it. Since there is such a high demand, I will be paying sticker.

Many dealerships have a depleted inventory due to Cash for Clunkers. Does the highlander qualify as a car that can be purchased?

 

[merryweather20]

I haven't found any of the bullet proof Toyota's that one of the other posters mentioned

I'll keep my easy to maintain affordable Pontiac After listening to the trouble my friends have had trying to fix their cars when they break down, my next car will be a GM for sure. Every part for a Toyota seems to cost an arm and a leg. I'm a bit of an environmentalist as well and have some major concerns with how Toyota represents their Prius

Its not as though there is a waiting list, and especially in this economy I'd walk away and look at other Toyota dealerships.

 

[LoraJ]

I haven't found any of the bullet proof Toyota's that one of the other posters mentioned

I'll keep my easy to maintain affordable Pontiac After listening to the trouble my friends have had trying to fix their cars when they break down, my next car will be a GM for sure. Every part for a Toyota seems to cost an arm and a leg. I'm a bit of an environmentalist as well and have some major concerns with how Toyota represents their Prius

Its not as though there is a waiting list, and especially in this economy I'd walk away and look at other Toyota dealerships.

Where are you getting your facts about the Prius?
From that bogus Hummer vs. Prius report that has been debunked a zillion times?

 

[LindaG4458]

DH and I have owned three Corollas, six Camrys, one Avalon, and a truck. In all cases it was difficult to deal for a lower price. One of the Corollas charged a premium (a couple gas crises ago), but DH had already sold his used Corolla and we needed the car NOW.

Years ago MA had a program that would guarantee no more than x% over dealer cost and the dealer had to show you the invoice. It saved a lot of hassle. All dealings were with the sales manager rather than the vultures.

Last couple of cars we dealt with a different dealership (had moved). I did lots of research before shopping, got a quote over the internet, confirmed it on the phone, had the car delivered to my door 1 hour away, and they accepted a personal check in payment! We will buy from them as long as we live in this area.

 

[bicker]

While Honda and Toyota aren't totally immune, generally they don't engage in the kind of behaviors that wreck other companies' abilities to survive. In my experience, they set a price, and stick with it, or at least stick more closely to it, generally more so than weak-willed salespeople who sell other brands.

 

[Imzadi]

Anyone who has bought a Honda or Toyota in the past 20 years will know what the salesman said is true. They are better made cars period. There is a reason US made cars are down the tubes.

While the economy may be bad, people want real quality, dependability and longevity for what they are buying.

 

[monkey68]

I bought my Toyota Matrix about 3 years ago, and we got it for less than the sticker price. Of course, it could have had something to do with the fact that they were about to get new models in, and needed to clear out space for them.

 

[GJM]

We only buy Toyota or Honda - each time they have lowered the price a little, not much. We also purchased when they were clearing out old models and getting the new ones in.

I have a Toyota Highlander and LOVE it!

 

[WDWBarb]

I've driven a Prius for 6 years now and I can't imagine a more reliable vehicle. The only time it's been "in the shop" was for new tires and oil changes (and even the oil changes I only do at 5,000 miles). It has been a wonderful car and I hope I will always be able to drive a Prius. In fact, I expect I'll be able to drive this one for many more years to come.

Toyota makes great cars.

Now, on the other hand, I've had some TERRIBLE experiences with their dealers.

 

[Christine]

I've owned three Toyotas and negotiated them all down pretty well. Especially the Camry. The Highlander I negotiated too.

A lot of also depends where you live. I live in a metropolitan area, lots of car competition, lots of price haggling. When I lived in a small town, I pretty much paid sticker for a car.

 

[tinatark]

Look for a new one with the options you want on ebay. The prices are usually better there, although you may have to drive to get it. Depending on your savings, you could also have it shipped.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I never pay more than $500 off dealer invoice (get the invoice price from edmunds.com). That includes Honda and Toyota. (Invoice price is different from sticker price.)

I've had great luck going to the dealer's website (BEFORE I go to the lot) and requesting an internet price from dealers within 100 miles of me.