Purchasing in Austin, TX?

[betshsu]

Anyone here actually purchased their Prius in-state? If so, what dealer and what was your experience like (wait time, interaction with dealer, extra options added that you didn't want)?

It seems like a lot of people have been going outside of Texas, either for shorter wait times or not having to deal with GST adding on extra options. I'm on a wait list in Austin (Charles Maund), debating whether I should work with an out of state dealer as well (WV seems to be the way to go).

[inkydoo]

We got ours in state, but I wouldn't recommend the dealer we used. They didn't really know much about the car and we really didn't get much say on the options. On the other hand, we got it in a month.

If you want to find something in state, I would recommend contacting dealers in west Texas. In our case, spending some time on the phone paid off in a shorter wait time. (I'm purposely not naming anyone cause I only know what things looked like two months ago, and things have undoubtedly changed, so I don't want to steer you wrong)

Will Maund tell you what number you are on their list?

[betshsu]

I am supposedly #5 or 6, but right after I joined their list, there was an article in the Statesman saying that Maund had stopped taking names and deposits back in Oct. My salesman said that they had filled all those orders when I asked about the article, and that the list was only about 12 across the entire dealership. But then my friend went in about a week after he told me this, and whatever salesman she talked to said the wait was about five years and tried to talk her into an Echo. So I don't know if that salesman was clueless or just trying to score a sales for himself (supposedly only one person handles all the Prius sales). Or my salesman could be stringing me along, though I don't know what the point of that would be. Right now I'm going to go on the faith that I really am #5 or 6 and he does get about 3 cars a month. I'm waiting to see if I move up in the list with the next set of allocations to decide whether to try other dealers as well (not in Austin, Champion's list is 225+ and Round Rock is an 8 month wait). I just can't figure out what the whole story with Maund is.

[markhaney2004]

The problems you are having with Charles Maund is typical. They are a terrible dealer. I have friends who work with GST and Maund is a consistent problem. Not only do their salespeople lie to you, their service department is terrible. Avoid them at all costs.

The other thing that Maund is doing is putting people on their waitlists and then selling any prius' that come in at $3000 over MSRP to whomever will take them - further screwing the people on their list. This is why Champion's list is like 225+ people, cause no one wants to deal with Charles Maund.

[betshsu]

Argh, that is really frustrating to hear. I haven't been able to find anyone who had experience buying a Prius from Maund, so I figured it couldn't hurt to be on their list. I decided not to put myself on the Champion list because there's a possibility that I'll be moving in the fall. I guess I'll start putting myself on other lists as well. Or jump at one of those dropped cars that occasionally gets posted.

[jchu]

If and when you figure out where you are moving to this fall another option would be to call dealers all along your route and find out if they will have a Prius available at the time of your move. Get a fresh start on everything including car that way!?!

[inkydoo]

Interesting note about Maund's service department. I'm in the middle of trying to get them to drain some oil out (that the original dealer, NOT MAUND, overfilled). It's been a frustrating experience in which I feel like I'm being portrayed as a paranoid, pain in the rear for thinking it should be below the full mark.

Are the other Austin Toyota service departments any better?

[markhaney2004]

I've been told that the dealership in Round Rock (I don't know the name) is the absolute best (from sources at GST). I'd go there if I lived closer, but living South, I think Champion is my best bet. Whatever you do avoid Maund at all costs. Just too many problems with that place. You are right - the service people there talk to you like whatever your problem is it is a hassle for them to deal with. If and when you need to pay for any service, you'll also pay top dollar.

[betshsu]

So out of curiousity, does anyone know (particularly those with GST connections) which dealership in Austin gets the greatest allocation of Priuses each month? I definitely believe that if GST is really doing the allocation based on sales of the Classic, that one of the dealerships in the Austin area gets the most out of all of Texas because, well, this is Austin . I've had both Champion and Maund claim that they get the most. Okay, so Maund was probably lying. What about Round Rock?

BTW, I live south too, and I don't think Round Rock is too far to go... I'm considering going much further than that. Do you know where you are on the list at Champion? I know it's freakin' long there... but wrt Round Rock, I know someone who is on the list there (and at Champion) since Dec and he has a great deal of difficulty getting info out of them (like where he is on the list).

[pjm877]

If allocation is really based on the 2001-2003 Prius sales, then Champion might be the winner.. I brought mine there and think they had the most sales in the area. I am thinking about using Classic Toyota (rr dealer) for the service of my 2004... Anyone here have any dealing with their service dept?

Later