Newbie-Dealership Woes...Need advice

[NCKevin]

Thanks for the replies. It's good to hear that I wasn't "being taken" on the MSRP price being the real price. I am disappointed that the dealer is saying 6-8 months. It seems I'm better off just looking around for one that is on someone's lot and buying that.

Thanks again! I hope others are having better experiences than I with Toyota dealerships.

Kevin

[jestoy7]

Kevin, I had a hard time finding the a Blizzard White with Dark interior and not a lot of the SET stuff (like Toyoguard) added on. I used buyatoyota.com (Southeast Toyota Distributor) and searched all dealership inventories within 2-3 hours and found what I was looking for. I'd prefer to drive a little than wait that many months. They are out there, just do the homework and you'll find it.

[wvgasguy]

Originally Posted by NCKevin

Thanks for the replies. It's good to hear that I wasn't "being taken" on the MSRP price being the real price. I am disappointed that the dealer is saying 6-8 months. It seems I'm better off just looking around for one that is on someone's lot and buying that.

Thanks again! I hope others are having better experiences than I with Toyota dealerships.

Kevin

If this dealership has any kind of decent allocation and there is not a long waiting list for a specific option like the SR, then I can't imagine it taking that long. They may just be covering themselves so you don't hassle them every day to see if it's in. If you say no, they know someone else will still come along and buy their allocation.

BUT, if I didn't like this dealer if I was going to wait I'd at least go to a dealership when I felt comfortable.

[jburns]

Originally Posted by TracyJ

any idea what the interior is? i'm looking for just this with dark gray.

Misty Gray

[TKY]

Originally Posted by Martin37

Considering an Insight? Read the Aug09 issue of Consumer Reports, p. 63; not sounding like a great vehicle to me.

NCKevin - When I placed a firm order I was told 8 weeks to delivery; my model II arrived in about 3 weeks! Paid MSRP. Funny but I was not contacted enough, imo, by the dealer; I had asked for email contact, primarily. Suggest that you place a deposit at a number of dealerships in order to better your chances of getting the car you want. I had contact w/ four dealers within 2-2 1/2 hours driving time - one way!

Martin37 - Thanks for the tip. I haven't seen the Consumer Reports evaluation, but I already rejected the Insight and the Fusion. I have my deposit on a Prius IV with Solar Roof.

TK

[Gray]

NCKevin,
What dealer did you try? I have a III on order from Leith and have had no problems?

[youdontsay]

We also went through Leith after having gotten quotes from three other area dealerships. We paid MSRP but they didn't add on any crap (Toyoguard) and gave us a *very* good price on our trade.

DH and I have had separate negative experiences with the other Raleigh-area dealership.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by NCKevin

Hi. With the upcoming CARS program, I thought it was time I ditched my 98 Honda Passport and got a hybrid. I'm 90% sure I'll get a 2010 Prius IV and went to a dealer last week. I test drove it and liked it a lot, though I have not tested any other hybrids yet, so have nothing to compare it to.

That said, the salesperson I was with didn't seem to know the car that well. I told him that my past 3 cars were bought at Carmax & Saturn and that I couldn't stand any of the usual sales games and that he should be VERY straightforward with me about pricing and such.

So, after getting my heart set on this IV model with the solar roof, I get the email today from him with the following info:

#1 To get the blizzard pearl IV with solar roof will be 4-6 MONTHS. He said "Toyota is generating a limited number of these units." Any opinions on this? This is the front cover model of their brochure! Are others waiting 4-6 months at this point?

#2 He went on to tell me that his dealership is selling so many of these that they are not discounting them AT ALL! After I told him I didn't want to play any games, he came back and said they are selling them at sticker price. Again, I'm sure this varies, but he said the whole market here in the Triangle area of NC is doing this since they are selling so many. Any remote chance that this guy is NOT being a slime and is actually telling the truth? I seriously don't want to be taken and I feel like this guy is not being honest.

#3 A complaint about my first Toyota dealer visit ever. I went in Thursday. On Saturday, I got 3 calls from an 800 number I didn't answer and they didn't leave voicemails. Finally at 7:30pm, I picked up the 4th and it was a Toyota rep saying "we heard you came in to the dealer and didn't buy a car today." I quickly got rid of him and told him not to call again. Well, Monday night at 9 PM!, I got another call from someone saying the same things. I told them to take me off the call list in a not-so-nice manner. This hardcore sales junk drives me crazy. I'm seriously not sure I even want to deal with Toyota if this is how their systems and people represent the company.

So far, my Toyota dealership experience is about a D minus...which is what I feared treading out of the Saturn & Carmax world I've lived in the past decade. Any comments, advice, etc. about this experience so far?

FWIW, I would be willing to travel a few hours in any direction to get a trustworthy dealer who would give me truthful information. I wonder if I should go to a smaller area where Prius's aren't selling as well or something. Thoughts?

Thanks a bunch.

Kevin

The followup situation is a local issue so if you aren't satisfied find another dealer.

What they are telling you about supply IMO is accurate. This is not like any other car in the US. We were sold out for 18 months in 2004 and 2005 when the G2's arrived. We were also sold out - the whole nation was - for 6 months last year.

Right now we are sold out again after an initial rush that sucked up every available model....and we're the largest store between you and DC.

Toyota made these G3's unbelievably affordable by dropping the prices on the II and III models by about $2500. This has encouraged a whole new group of buyers. The good press that the G3 Prius is getting all over the globe and in nearly every press report is spiking interest as well.

The Sunroof issue on the Prius IVs has been discussed here in several places. It's likely to be a continuing issue for a while.

[NCKevin]

Hey, Gray. You didn't get the hint I dropped...FA? Here's another: Rhymes with Smed Smanderson. :-)

I'm actually going to Leith tomorrow just to test drive again, now that I've tried the Fusion, the Civic, and the Insight. All roads lead back to the Prius. :-)

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, since I'm using the CARS voucher, I'll have to wait until that hits and that will be when a LOT of people are doing this!

Kevin

[LoraJ]

As others have said, I don't think you are being taken.

Even so, I would read the confessions series on edmunds.com. Especially the Finance & Insurance one.