Bogus Dealer Statements

nasafella · 09-06-2006, 02:26 AM

So, here's an idea for a thread. How about everyone share the bogus, incorrect, just plain un-informed things your dealers may have told you about your new techno-wonder-mobile.

For instance, I've read:

"you have to put the shifter in B occasionally to charge the battery"

Okay, so here's mine:

I had a damaged tire replaced by the dealer, like it recommends in the owner's manual, because the tire pressure sensor can be easily damaged. Sure enough, the dealer damaged it. As I'm driving away from the dealer, the TPMS light comes on. I check the tire pressures and do the reset thing.

Three trips back to the dealer to get it fixed. At one point the service writer tells me they have to check the tire pressures (I'd done that already, but okay...). He says:

"The tire pressure light will come on if the pressures aren't the same in all the tires. Even if they're off by a pound or two, it can make the light come on. "

Later:

"Well, that wasn't it. I had them check all the tires, even the spare, but the light won't go out."

I didn't remind him that door sticker actually call out 35 front / 33 rear, which is, of course, 2 pounds difference between tires. Or that normal pressure for the spare is something like 60. Or that the spare doesn't have a sensor.

Okay, your turn...

haye · 09-06-2006, 02:44 AM

Sales guy: "Even though the car will arrive in 2 weeks, I can give you the VIN today so that you can start driving in the carpool lane tomorrow (!)".

Finance guy: "The prepaid maintenance plan includes 3 major services, the retail costs of those 3 services alone will be more than the cost of the plan (quoted $1,400)".

Same guy: "My cost for the extended warranty is $2380, I will sell it to you at $1 over my cost, how's that?"

Another finance guy: "You can't buy the extended warranty anymore after market."

I forgive them since I look past theor statements anyway and the car has been great.

Bill Lumbergh · 09-06-2006, 04:32 AM

I don't recall any glaring inaccuracies worth mentioning here about the Prius, but I recall the head salesman at a Honda dealer telling a customer the CR-V has the same engine as an S-2000.

At the time, the only similarity was displacement. I was shocked at how stupid salesmen can be.

withersea · 09-06-2006, 08:57 AM

"You have to put the FOB in the dash occasionally to recharge it for the SKS."

mtsarpilot · 09-06-2006, 09:18 AM

"It's not possible to turn off the revere beeper"

"No-one makes a hitch for a prius. You can't put a bike rack on the back or the roof"

"No, it's not possible to change the display behavior to stay on the screen you have selected. It will always go back to the Info screen"

All the above from the same guy here in Colorado.

When talking with multiple dealers in Salt Lake via phone who were all competing to get my business on the one car available in the region in my desired color and package, 3 dealers had quoted my MSRP plus their dealer handling charge (which I negotiatied away), but one dealer quoted $3000 above MSRP. When I called him on it he said "Everyone here in Salt Lake is getting way over MSRP". Needless to say, they did not get the sale.

glenhead · 09-06-2006, 09:30 AM

When you walk away from the car, it'll lock itself.

eagle33199 · 09-06-2006, 09:45 AM

I think i really lucked out... the dealer didn't try to tell me about the car (although he did point out the different storage compartments)... instead, he sat there for 45 minutes while i explained everything to him, asking questions the whole time!

marjflowers · 09-06-2006, 09:53 AM

The bogus statement my dealer told me was really my fault for not checking more closely. He told me my car had side air bags. It didn't.

Peace --

Soylent · 09-06-2006, 10:01 AM

"The heat from the brakes gets recaptured back into energy"

ScottY · 09-06-2006, 10:10 AM

"If you don't get the extended warranty now for $1997, you can't get it later."

"If you get extended warranty later, it won't be the Platinum plan. Once the car leaves the lot, Toyota treats it like a used car. You can only get the Gold plan, whic is more expensive."

Of course, both BS!

09-06-2006, 09:18 AM	#5
mtsarpilot Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 87 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	"It's not possible to turn off the revere beeper" "No-one makes a hitch for a prius. You can't put a bike rack on the back or the roof" "No, it's not possible to change the display behavior to stay on the screen you have selected. It will always go back to the Info screen" All the above from the same guy here in Colorado. When talking with multiple dealers in Salt Lake via phone who were all competing to get my business on the one car available in the region in my desired color and package, 3 dealers had quoted my MSRP plus their dealer handling charge (which I negotiatied away), but one dealer quoted $3000 above MSRP. When I called him on it he said "Everyone here in Salt Lake is getting way over MSRP". Needless to say, they did not get the sale. __________________ Seaside '06 Package #6 Leather added Full Clear Bra package Mud Flaps, Side moldings, and Coastal receiver hitch Purple Wire switch and Sirius Here2Anywhere Receiver installed behind smoked window door

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09-06-2006, 02:26 AM	#1
nasafella Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	So, here's an idea for a thread. How about everyone share the bogus, incorrect, just plain un-informed things your dealers may have told you about your new techno-wonder-mobile. For instance, I've read: "you have to put the shifter in B occasionally to charge the battery" Okay, so here's mine: I had a damaged tire replaced by the dealer, like it recommends in the owner's manual, because the tire pressure sensor can be easily damaged. Sure enough, the dealer damaged it. As I'm driving away from the dealer, the TPMS light comes on. I check the tire pressures and do the reset thing. Three trips back to the dealer to get it fixed. At one point the service writer tells me they have to check the tire pressures (I'd done that already, but okay...). He says: "The tire pressure light will come on if the pressures aren't the same in all the tires. Even if they're off by a pound or two, it can make the light come on. " Later: "Well, that wasn't it. I had them check all the tires, even the spare, but the light won't go out." I didn't remind him that door sticker actually call out 35 front / 33 rear, which is, of course, 2 pounds difference between tires. Or that normal pressure for the spare is something like 60. Or that the spare doesn't have a sensor. Okay, your turn...

09-06-2006, 02:44 AM	#2
haye Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 7 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sales guy: "Even though the car will arrive in 2 weeks, I can give you the VIN today so that you can start driving in the carpool lane tomorrow (!)". Finance guy: "The prepaid maintenance plan includes 3 major services, the retail costs of those 3 services alone will be more than the cost of the plan (quoted $1,400)". Same guy: "My cost for the extended warranty is $2380, I will sell it to you at $1 over my cost, how's that?" Another finance guy: "You can't buy the extended warranty anymore after market." I forgive them since I look past theor statements anyway and the car has been great.

09-06-2006, 04:32 AM	#3
Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Marysville, CA Posts: 516 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I don't recall any glaring inaccuracies worth mentioning here about the Prius, but I recall the head salesman at a Honda dealer telling a customer the CR-V has the same engine as an S-2000. At the time, the only similarity was displacement. I was shocked at how stupid salesmen can be.

09-06-2006, 08:57 AM	#4
withersea DNF is better than DNS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,145 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	"You have to put the FOB in the dash occasionally to recharge it for the SKS."

09-06-2006, 09:30 AM	#6
glenhead Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 166 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	When you walk away from the car, it'll lock itself.

09-06-2006, 09:45 AM	#7
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,607 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think i really lucked out... the dealer didn't try to tell me about the car (although he did point out the different storage compartments)... instead, he sat there for 45 minutes while i explained everything to him, asking questions the whole time!

09-06-2006, 09:53 AM	#8
marjflowers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Owensboro, KY Posts: 219 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The bogus statement my dealer told me was really my fault for not checking more closely. He told me my car had side air bags. It didn't. Peace --

09-06-2006, 10:01 AM	#9
Soylent Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 245 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	"The heat from the brakes gets recaptured back into energy"

09-06-2006, 10:10 AM	#10
ScottY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,245 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	"If you don't get the extended warranty now for $1997, you can't get it later." "If you get extended warranty later, it won't be the Platinum plan. Once the car leaves the lot, Toyota treats it like a used car. You can only get the Gold plan, whic is more expensive." Of course, both BS!