Unsavory Car Dealers

[abcdefgary]

Originally Posted by tlaine

When we purchased our first prius last october, we got to pick exactly what we wanted and negotiated a price. It was great, we had a good time and really liked our salesman.

Now we are on the waiting list, he gave us a sheet to pick our packages and items that we would like and there were several things that were pre-selected. The same salesman we had last time said that those items MUST come with the car because that's how they get them. So we HAVE to get them and pay for them if we wanted a car. UGH. One of them was the paint sealent and under the car noise reduction stuff for like $395. They even had a thing on that paper that said something to the effect of "Dealership services" for $9XX" !! .... but.... as a favor for a return customer and our situation, he had that bit taken off.... *coughs* yeah ok.. thanks. I know that fee wasn't on there last time. We didn't get a real firm price yet either because it was an "order" for the '09, which Toyota hasnt released the prices yet. (the kicker, the salesman tried to sell us on a used '07 corolla for the "mean-time wait" for our Prius)

It'll probably cost us 5-6k or so more than our previous prius. (my general estimate, I hope I am wrong)

I was very shocked and pretty depressed by the whole trip to the dealership to get on the waiting list for another Prius after our first one was (murdered) totaled. I really do not want to settle for a different car.

If I'm not mistaken, I thought Toyota announced that the '09 MSRP will be increased by 2.2%, which is like $500.

[tlaine]

Yes, and it's already increased $500 since last year at this time, add that to the new increase = $1000.

Not to mention all the "extras" they will make you pay for. ($395 for the paint seal, noise reduction stuff, $200 for carpet mats, $900 for "dealership services".... etc.. and we'll have to add leather $1200, and window tinting $350 since it wont come in with the "negotiated" price as it was before.)

And I know it's been said before that right now there is no "deal making" on the cars, since they'll just skip to the next person in line willing to pay what they want for the car. Hence, my "5k more" comment.

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by Tweev

What's with the obsession with the MSRP? You people act as if it's based on something more than an arbitrary number some suit dreamed up at head office. Sorry, but if you are paying MSRP you're getting ripped off. It's not some magic number!

Get a couple grand below MSRP and you're doing OK.

Good luck getting one below MSRP any time soon. I got mine for MSRP after a 7 week wait, and that was a better deal than what I could get elsewhere.

This is the first time I've ever paid MSRP for a vehicle and I'm a hard negotiator, but in order to negotiate you must have a feel for the market and inventory/demand. It appears that you don't have any feel for the Prius market at the moment.

If you bought one for "a couple grand below MSRP" this Summer then please share your experience. I had the impression I could get one below MSRP early this Spring, but by late Spring it was too late.

[abcdefgary]

Originally Posted by tlaine

Yes, and it's already increased $500 since last year at this time, add that to the new increase = $1000.

Not to mention all the "extras" they will make you pay for. ($395 for the paint seal, noise reduction stuff, $200 for carpet mats, $900 for "dealership services".... etc.. and we'll have to add leather $1200, and window tinting $350 since it wont come in with the "negotiated" price as it was before.)

And I know it's been said before that right now there is no "deal making" on the cars, since they'll just skip to the next person in line willing to pay what they want for the car. Hence, my "5k more" comment.

I tried to see if I could get $500 off as mine will probably be an '09, but no can do.

As for tinting, the dealership also quoted $350, but another dealership in the area was offering it to me for free. However, that dealership was farther from me so I basically said to the dealer closest to me that if he wanted to earn my business, he would have to offer me a better deal. He decided to match the offer. I just hope that didn't anger him too much or get me bumped from the waiting list.

[Margana]

This has been told to me my 2 dealerships; that Toyota allocates the Prius depending on the past volume that the dealer has sold. In other words, if a dealer has sold more Prius, they will get more a greater allocation than others....

As it turns out, the Portland, Oregon Metro area has the highest per capita of Prius than any metro area (this includes Seattle, San Francisco). There are 3 Prius' on my block and one a block up.

Therefore, most dealers have to toe the line (MSRP). I could have bought one $250 under the MSRP as the Costco (which is like Sam's Club) Toyota dealer was offering this "on good faith". I didn't buy from them as another dealer called me first. They did call a few days later, so I shoud have bided my time LOL...

Only one dealer had the gall to tell me verbally that the MSRP went up $800....Of course, that was "their" MSRP-after all, it is a "Suggested Retail Price".

[dwreed3rd]

Margana! Congratulations!

[Tchagray]

That's right...last year, even maybe the beginning of this year, I would have had a little wiggle room in that MSRP, but now!!! forget it ...you can't even find one in inventory.
It's a sad fact, but I am actually considering another hybrid until perhaps the Prii is more available. I HATE hassling at the dealership. Like to know my bottom line and be ready to buy. I pride myself on purchasing well below sticker. The Prius has put a real kink in that plan.
Do you think there'll be any on lots next year? Maybe if oil prices drop?

[dwreed3rd]

Originally Posted by Tchagray

That's right...last year, even maybe the beginning of this year, I would have had a little wiggle room in that MSRP, but now!!! forget it ...you can't even find one in inventory.
It's a sad fact, but I am actually considering another hybrid until perhaps the Prii is more available. I HATE hassling at the dealership. Like to know my bottom line and be ready to buy. I pride myself on purchasing well below sticker. The Prius has put a real kink in that plan.
Do you think there'll be any on lots next year? Maybe if oil prices drop?

You may want to check to threads/posts. I seem to remember a post about a dealer in Philadelphia not going over MSRP, but I don;t remember any of the details. That wouldn't be that far down the Penny Mainline. I;m originally from Bristol, Pa. It may have been a Langhorne dealer. Good luck!

[Tchagray]

Thanks, DW...I'm right at the beginning of the hunt...I have a few more places to check, but I am certainly mourning the loss of my enthusiasm for a new car. Takes all the fun out of buying when it's such a hassle and wait...(as I'm sure you know). Will keep you all posted. May actually check Conn. as it is just a ferry ride away from me.

[AttaBoy]

Hey dw, I'm just down the road from you (in Atlanta). I'm in Macon. The dealer here has me and wife as #1 and #2 on the 2009 waiting list - and they told me they were $1,500.00 over MSRP - take it or leave it. Walked me into a booth with a pc and pulled up AutoTrader.com for used 2008 Prii sorted from Hi to Low by price... omg, dealers all over the country are selling used '08 pkg2 cars for as much as $33,000.00. One guy had a pkg #6 car at $38,995 !!!

My current car is a 2008 pkg 2 (wouldn't you know). I paid $22,500.00 for it new late last year - and some people (I assume) are really paying more than $10,000 above that for a used one like mine ?

Okay. Here's the deal. HERE I AM people. CALL ME. I'll drive this gorgeousl little red 2008 pkg #2 Prius to El Salvadore if you'll produce 33 grand US dollars keeping the denominations no greater than $20.00 bills with non-sequential serial numbers - AND I'LL THUMB A RIDE HOME TO MIDDLE GEORGIA.