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

[DisneyAngel83]

We just bought a new Toyota Matrix in April of this year and I can tell you that they did not come down on the sticker price... what we did get was a lower interest rate, about $500 more for our trade in than we thought we could get and the extended warranty for just a few dollars a month extra. Toyota only gave us this because they funded our loan. We had to push quite a bit to get them to give us the interest rate that our credit score warranted because of course they want as much interest as they can get.

 

[LoraJ]

We just bought a new Toyota Matrix in April of this year and I can tell you that they did not come down on the sticker price... what we did get was a lower interest rate, about $500 more for our trade in than we thought we could get and the extended warranty for just a few dollars a month extra. Toyota only gave us this because they funded our loan. We had to push quite a bit to get them to give us the interest rate that our credit score warranted because of course they want as much interest as they can get.

That's actually a line you fell for. Check the confessions of finance & insurance guy article at edmunds.com. I fell for it too when i bought my last car. Your rate has nothing to do with the extended warranty. But they make you think it is so that you buy it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In 2007 I went to the new Toyota dealership near us to "just look" at the Sienna's. A couple hours later I drove off with my pick from the lot.

Fast forward to this year....my 2007 is declared totaled by the insurance company. I figured I would just get the insurance check, pick out a new mini van and be on my way.

No such luck.

We went back to the dealer. NO mini vans on the lot. NO mini vans coming in. The only one in the showroom is a fully loaded limited edition that we were told someone ordered and backed out of the deal due to money issues. Not sure if the story is true but too much $$$ for us.

So here I sit...two weeks after that visit with no van. I am using a rental car that is costing me a small fortune. There are two Sienna's sitting somewhere in Indiana (I am in MA) and they don't know when they are coming in. We put $800 (refundable) down to let them now we are serious and WE JUST WANT THE VAN! Right now they can't tell us when it is coming in.

There are no other Toyota dealers around. It is the van I want as I really liked my other one. The dealer tried to get one from another Toyota dealership and no-one will deal. They tried to trade a different car for a Sienna and no-one would deal. (These are the stories we are being told) They tell us that between cash-for-clunkers that depleted a lot of their inventory, and the economy with less cars being manufactured, their inventory is very low.

They also won't make a deal on the van sitting in their showroom as they say they can sell it. Who knows??

At this point we just sit and wait. Very, very frustrating.

Jill

See if this helps you at all:

www.automart.com

Hope you can find something soon!

 

[DisneyAngel83]

That's actually a line you fell for. Check the confessions of finance & insurance guy article at edmunds.com. I fell for it too when i bought my last car. Your rate has nothing to do with the extended warranty. But they make you think it is so that you buy it.

Right, our credit score had nothing to do with the warranty, it was the fact that Toyota was our financier. I do believe they gave us a good rate so we would buy the extra warranty, but for $6 per month for 60 months for warranty coverage longer than we will pay on the car (since we put very low mileage on it) we felt it was worth it. And if it was just a ploy to get us to buy the warranty, I think $360 over the life of the loan was a pretty fair deal for all around for our bumper to bumper warranty, even if it is only for piece of mind.

 

[battricia]

BTW, did you mean you thought the quality of the plastics & rugs was below what you expected?

yes. the plastic 'pocket' on the bottom of the door looked so cheap, my SO said 'i'm bound to break this off if we buy this car'. the rug material was worse than anything I've seen in a car. it was thin and looked messy, and I had read reviews online about the quality, not really believing how bad people said it was, but I guess they were true. We are looking at a FIT and I realize those are a lower quality car than most hondas, but we owned a 97 honda civic, it was purchased so bare that it didn't even have a RADIO (let alone a cassette player)and the material quality was much higher than these new fits. And I can say the same for our 03 ford focus, the materials in that car are much better for an equivalent category of car.

 

[IDoDis]

Right, our credit score had nothing to do with the warranty, it was the fact that Toyota was our financier. I do believe they gave us a good rate so we would buy the extra warranty, but for $6 per month for 60 months for warranty coverage longer than we will pay on the car (since we put very low mileage on it) we felt it was worth it. And if it was just a ploy to get us to buy the warranty, I think $360 over the life of the loan was a pretty fair deal for all around for our bumper to bumper warranty, even if it is only for piece of mind.

You should read over the paperwork for your "extended warranty." It doesn't cover many things and is not really bumper-to-bumper. Also, your powertrain is covered anyway for 6yr/60,000 mileage. What you paid for was more of a maintenance plan that gives you free oil changes, tire rotations and car washes. A few other warranty things are included, but not that much.

I did the math when we purchased our Toyota a few weeks ago and since Toyota recommends an oil change every 6 months, that's only 2 oil changes per year (assuming the car is not on harsh driving conditions). The Toyota dealers will wash your car for free anytime if you stop by and ask them. You basically pre-paid for your oil changes and tire rotations and have a few other things that are covered after the first three years.

 

[Nicolepa]

You should read over the paperwork for your "extended warranty." It doesn't cover many things and is not really bumper-to-bumper. Also, your powertrain is covered anyway for 6yr/60,000 mileage. What you paid for was more of a maintenance plan that gives you free oil changes, tire rotations and car washes. A few other warranty things are included, but not that much.

I did the math when we purchased our Toyota a few weeks ago and since Toyota recommends an oil change every 6 months, that's only 2 oil changes per year (assuming the car is not on harsh driving conditions). The Toyota dealers will wash your car for free anytime if you stop by and ask them. You basically pre-paid for your oil changes and tire rotations and have a few other things that are covered after the first three years.

You are talking about two different things. There is the extended warranty and then there is the prepaid maintenance. The extended warranty covers just about everything on the car except normal maintenance items (ie brakes, filters, oil changes etc). The prepaid maintenance covers the oil changes etc. and it also includes roadside assistance. My dealership lets you use the prepaid maintenance until you use all the coupons up and not when you hit the time limit.

 

[IDoDis]

You are talking about two different things. There is the extended warranty and then there is the prepaid maintenance. The extended warranty covers just about everything on the car except normal maintenance items (ie brakes, filters, oil changes etc). The prepaid maintenance covers the oil changes etc. and it also includes roadside assistance. My dealership lets you use the prepaid maintenance until you use all the coupons up and not when you hit the time limit.

The one that was presented to us was a combo of both, but mostly maintenance stuff and was called an extended warranty that included regularly scheduled maintenance. Only when the guy there presented the brochure to us, he circled only certain items that were covered under the warranty while many larger things were left out. There was a more expensive plan that covered everything. Maybe that's what you got, but that warranty cost a lot more and Toyota doesn't discount those. If that's what you got -- the platinum plan I think it was called -- then you got a great price.

You should look over your paperwork just to be sure though. I used to sell cars and know the sneakiness of adding those things in with a monthly quote vs the actual dollar amount. Customers didn't find out until years later what they actually paid for and by then it's too late to do anything abut it.

 

[iggbees]

i went with intent to purchase a scion at our local toyota dealer. let's just say that i knew more about the scion than the salesman did (my sister and dad both own one). he had no idea about some of the features. he was also totally ripping me off on the APR. told me that it was impossible to go any lower than 6% even with perfect credit because scion pricing (including APR) was set in stone. this was totally bull because when my dad went to buy a scion with my sister the previous year he got the sales guy to lower the APR 2%. they were also really stingy on my trade in because they were going to sell the car for parts. i ended up buying a kia and because the guys were looking to sell 2 more cars for the month to get a bonus i got a pretty good deal and they took my trade in for kbb value + $500. plus i got 0% APR. can't beat that! i've never owned a kia before, but i have friends that have owned a few and love their cars.

 

[AnnR]

The IV w/NAV also in black. Have you been on priuschat.com? So many people are having a hard time getting the ones with solar. I really wanted a III w/NAV but they don't sell them in my region. Our car is supposed to arrive next week. It will be one month since I put the deposit down which isn't so bad. I was originally told 2 weeks. Some people have been waiting since June for the fully loaded V or IV's with solar.

Thanks I will check out priuschat -wouldn't you know it, I got notified last night that there was a IV available with the solar package. On the lot! Someone must have backed out of it. But I already put my deposit down and it would be another $6000 plus had to make the decision right then, and probably lose my deposit. So I didn't get it. It was sold this morning.

I think I will be happy with the III, just wish it had a few things -like power seats -I know none of the Prius do but since I am vertically challanged..........................

Still waiting for mine too, but I don't have all the money switched around yet so a few more days is good.

 

[Chicago526]

The internet's an awesome place for reading about problems with cars-my next one's going to be a lexus-I have a hard time digging up any serious problems with them...

My dad has had a Lexus for 1 1/2 years now and LOVES it! Hasn't had a single issue with it. They seem to be VERY well made cars!

 

[LoraJ]

Thanks I will check out priuschat -wouldn't you know it, I got notified last night that there was a IV available with the solar package. On the lot! Someone must have backed out of it. But I already put my deposit down and it would be another $6000 plus had to make the decision right then, and probably lose my deposit. So I didn't get it. It was sold this morning.

I think I will be happy with the III, just wish it had a few things -like power seats -I know none of the Prius do but since I am vertically challanged..........................

Still waiting for mine too, but I don't have all the money switched around yet so a few more days is good.

I got the call yesterday that ours has arrived. We are picking it after work! So excited!

I could got hardly get any sleep last night. I was having anxiety that since yesterday was the last C4C day, some sleezy salesman sold our car to someone with a clunker. But it looks like all is okay.

 

[CowboyCO]

Right, our credit score had nothing to do with the warranty, it was the fact that Toyota was our financier. I do believe they gave us a good rate so we would buy the extra warranty, but for $6 per month for 60 months for warranty coverage longer than we will pay on the car (since we put very low mileage on it) we felt it was worth it. And if it was just a ploy to get us to buy the warranty, I think $360 over the life of the loan was a pretty fair deal for all around for our bumper to bumper warranty, even if it is only for piece of mind.

i think you should check your paperwork on the purchase of your car and you may find that you paid a lot more than $360 for the extended warranty. It is a classic ploy in the car business to quote you a payment that is higher than what your payment will actually be. It's called "leg" for the finance office. That way, the finance manager can offer you BtoB coverage and "it will only raise your payment $6 a month" Had you declined the coverage, your actual payment would have gone DOWN from what they quoted you, because when you apply an interest rate and term to $$ amount of the purchase, the payment is what it is. They either look like a hero because they got you a warranty for only 6 bucks a month, or they are a hero because they "figured out a way to drop your monthly payment". If you did get it for $360, congrats, because they gave it away.

 

[LoraJ]

When I went to pick up my car tonight, I have no clue how much the extended warranty was going to be. They had it bundled with all sorts of other crap. If I got the gold package it would be $6000. I was like thanks but no thanks. But there was no pressure. My salesman did not mention the survey, but the F&I guy did.


I may get an extended warranty, but we have 3 years to purchase it. I'm broke now from this purchase. l

 

[IDoDis]

i think you should check your paperwork on the purchase of your car and you may find that you paid a lot more than $360 for the extended warranty. It is a classic ploy in the car business to quote you a payment that is higher than what your payment will actually be. It's called "leg" for the finance office. That way, the finance manager can offer you BtoB coverage and "it will only raise your payment $6 a month" Had you declined the coverage, your actual payment would have gone DOWN from what they quoted you, because when you apply an interest rate and term to $$ amount of the purchase, the payment is what it is. They either look like a hero because they got you a warranty for only 6 bucks a month, or they are a hero because they "figured out a way to drop your monthly payment". If you did get it for $360, congrats, because they gave it away.

I agree. Something sounds wrong with that price. I used to sell cars and extended warranties were never discounted. Never deal in monthly amounts -- always deal in the flat price. That $360 sounded more like the maintenance plan with the free oil changes and such. An extended warranty is an average of $1300. The dealer would not just give it away because you financed with them unless they raised your interest rate by several percentage points and then gave you the "discount" on the warranty.

 

[AnnR]

When I went to pick up my car tonight, I have no clue how much the extended warranty was going to be. They had it bundled with all sorts of other crap. If I got the gold package it would be $6000. I was like thanks but no thanks. But there was no pressure. My salesman did not mention the survey, but the F&I guy did.


I may get an extended warranty, but we have 3 years to purchase it. I'm broke now from this purchase. l

So, how do you like it???

Mine is in too. I am picking it up Monday, couldn't swing the money until then, dealer wants it off the lot before end of month.

I was offered an extended warranty at $1791 and $100 deductible if I went to another dealer for service. I told him I would think about it. When I called to set up picking up the car I told him I wasn't going to add anything, didn't have the money. He then offered to take $300 off it. When I told him I would be getting it serviced elsewhere (I live 5 minutes from a Toyota dealer but this one is about 40 miles away -long story!) he said he could give me the Toyota warranty at the same price with no deductible. Well why didn't I get that deal to start with This is why I do not like car dealers!!!! I have a subaru now that I bought at a woman owned dealership that does not dicker. They show you what the MRSP is, what the invoice is, and give you their price for everything printed out that you can take with you. I love it. When I bought this subaru I checked one other dealer, test drove the same car and it would be about $2000 more!

Anyhow, I know OT - please let me know what you think of your car!

Thanks

 

[aristocatz]

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?

We actually just bought a Toyota Corolla a few days ago & got a great deal-almost $2k off of the ticket price! We got a 2009 with only 5K miles, upgraded package, 7 yr warranty, in excellent condition. Our Toyota dealership was a pleasure to work with. Not sure if you were buying new or used-that might make a difference. Our dealership said they were all sold out of new Corolla's until after the new year. They sold really quickly during Cash for Clunkers.

 

[Disney Doll]

When you can type something legible, and not need deciphering, come back to see us.

Totally uncalled for!!!!!!!

I believe the post was facetious in reaction to a previous post calling car salesmen "sales idiots".

You know OP, if a car salesperson told me he/she wasn't bduging on the price because he/she could sell it for the listed price, I'd make their life so much easier by leaving their dealership and getting out of their way so they could make their list price sale.

I had a 1985 Toyota that I loved and kept for 13 years. I now have a 1998 Explorer, which I also like very much. Both have been equally as well-made, equally as dependable, equally as worthwhile for me. I didn't pay list price for either, nor would I. And I do not deal with salespeople who in any way seem to think I am inferior to them because I am a woman. I go into dealerships educated about the auto I wish to purchase. I expect to be treated fairly. I don't expect them to give me the car, I certainly think everyone should make a living, but I also don't expect to finance anyone's next trip to the French Riviera, especially when they make trumped up statements like "These cars sell themselves and I'll be able to sell it at full price".

But, to me they are just cars. I have never been a "car person". Never had a "dream car". Cars are a utilitarian item, so if you don't want to sell it to me for the price I want, I'll find someone who will.

 

[Camicar]

if a car salesperson told me he/she wasn't bduging on the price because he/she could sell it for the listed price, I'd make their life so much easier by leaving their dealership and getting out of their way so they could make their list price sale.

We have actually done that several times, including with a VERY snotty Toyota salesperson a few years back. He was so incredigly rude and his manager basically backed up his rudeness that to this day my dh refuses to set foot on a Toyota lot.

The funny thing was that we left that lot where we'd been looking at a Corolla and went to a Chevy dealership and bought the Corolla twin -- the Prizm. We have had two Prizms, loved them both and in the last 6 months have gotten several letters from local dealerships asking us to sell them our 2001 Prizm bec they are in high demand as used cars... including from the used car portion of that Toyota lot that treated us like crap all those years ago.

 

[Nicolepa]

The one that was presented to us was a combo of both, but mostly maintenance stuff and was called an extended warranty that included regularly scheduled maintenance. Only when the guy there presented the brochure to us, he circled only certain items that were covered under the warranty while many larger things were left out. There was a more expensive plan that covered everything. Maybe that's what you got, but that warranty cost a lot more and Toyota doesn't discount those. If that's what you got -- the platinum plan I think it was called -- then you got a great price.

You should look over your paperwork just to be sure though. I used to sell cars and know the sneakiness of adding those things in with a monthly quote vs the actual dollar amount. Customers didn't find out until years later what they actually paid for and by then it's too late to do anything abut it.

I don't know which "plan" I got but I know i purchased two seperate plans. One was a 4 yr/ 50K prepaid maintenance and the other was a 7yr/70K extended warranty. I got them both for cost. The General Manager is my neighbor and his wife is one of my best friends so I'm sure he didn't pull a fast one on me. He said he'd rather give it to me for cost than to have me coming to him for a discount every time I needed something done. We also used our own financing so I know they weren't playing with the numbers.