T. dealers are obnoxious

[Carnutt]

I've come to the conclusion that our dealers are smug and feel invincible when it comes to the Prius. I've just been dealing with three local dealers. One in central Phoenix wants to only sell the car if it has $1500 in overpriced and/or needless, worthless dealer add-ons. Two others will not return calls and/or emails because I'm not kissing their asses for the priviledge of being able to buy a Prius. Especially in these economic times, they really SUCK!

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by Carnutt

I've come to the conclusion that our dealers are smug and feel invincible when it comes to the Prius. I've just been dealing with three local dealers. One in central Phoenix wants to only sell the car if it has $1500 in overpriced and/or needless, worthless dealer add-ons. Two others will not return calls and/or emails because I'm not kissing their asses for the priviledge of being able to buy a Prius. Especially in these economic times, they really SUCK!

I would just keep trying to take your business elsewhere (if there are any more left). I was scrounging during the C4C to find a Prius and some of the local dealers were very dismissive. One basically laughed in my face and said I'd never find one. A couple others were a lot more helpful and did what they could. One was able to get me a Prius on the last day of C4C.
Even a different person at the same dealership might be more helpful...
Good luck.

[Salsawonder]

It can be frustrating to purchase a car that simply does not come with the standard car buying bartering but don't lump all dealers in the same boat. I had excellent luck with both Carlsbad and El Cajon Toyota. C4C did make the buying experience really different. I was glad that I happened to purchase my GIII before that hit.

[neilz]

I went with my brother to get him a Highlander. We walked into the dealership and I saw my blizzard pearl IV sitting on the showroom floor. I said to the salesman, write up my brothers Highlander but before you do, put a sold sign on that Prius for me and lock it's doors. I was took it home the next day. I was lucky. You never know.

[ramolnar]

Well, SOME Toyota dealers are obnoxious. I looked at the three dealers in Louisville, and I went to their stores. One was so bad I refused to buy from them, one was good but didn't have my style, and the third was decent and had a car with the Solar Roof. I test drove the car, took two days to arrange financing, and bought the check to the dealership. For me, it went well.

Admittedly, this is only the second car I've bought in my life, but it felt similar. Sure, in the other case there was a little more bargaining, but not much. Like this time, I had searched online for the car I wanted, knew its availability, knew a fair price, went in, test drove, spent 20 minutes with two rounds of negotiation, signed the contract, spent 45 minutes declining all the addons, and that was that. The same thing happened here.

There are lots of ways to do online searches - I used cars.com but there are others. I see six dealers within 30 miles of Phoenix 85001. Once you find one with a car you'd like, I'd go there in person if you can. In person, you're hard to ignore.

Sure, it would be nice to have dealers fall all over us. If you want that, maybe something like a 2009 Chrysler 300 would do. Priuses are still in demand in most of the country; they will sell even in this economic climate. Some dealers will still play fair (at or slightly below MSRP). Hopefully there's one near Phoenix.

And if not, is Manhattan Beach (DianneWhitmire) too far?