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2012 Prius v - Dealership discussion items

Discussion in 'Dealers & Pricing' started by 360texas, Nov 3, 2011.

  1. 360texas

    360texas Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2009
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    Location:
    Fort Worth, Texas USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Dallas Fort Worth Texas

    Well I think we are on our way to acquiring a new Prius V 5. Dealership only had 3 available in the Texas 6 adjoining state region.

    Dealership found 1 Prius V 5 -> White, Option E J with DT Window Tint , CN Cargo Net, with CF Premium Carpet Mat Set for the cost that we were willing to live with + TTL.

    Few issues we encountered were ... availability.. small regional dealership willing to release the Prius V Model 1249 [means Prius V (5)]. Apparantly if the small dealerships have only 1 to show and tell to the public. If they relocate [and sell to us] their ONLY 1.. then they have no Prius V to show to the public. So we are waiting on their dealership to make up their minds if they want to release it or not.

    Otherwise we have only 2 other regional dealerships to work with, which means a potential sales delay.

    Alternative solution: Wait for the next round of distribution with the one or two months of delay... hence posible further depreciation of our currently owned trade in 2009 Prius cars.

    Seems that our current dealership wanted to ADD ON a $259 cost for their product called 'Phantom Foot Print' . Called our insurance company and discussed 'Phantom Foot Print' insurance. Apparantly the dealership will chemically imprint certain car parts like doors with the VIN number. IF the car is stolen.. and chop shop the car.. they will reimburse the car owner (us) with $7000+. AND we would have to deal with our insurance company for the depreciated current market value of the car.

    In talking with our Insurance company (USAA) they told us that if our car is stolen it is already covered under item Part D Physical Damage Coverage "Comprehensive Loss" Theft.

    IF we chose to use "Phantom Footprint" insurance and IF after a stolen vehicle incident we file claim for the $7000+ AND filed claim with our insurance company for the Vehicle Theft Loss... and both companies paid off.... that would result in 'Double recovery' reimbursement and we might be legally charged with insurance fraud.

    Yes, at this moment we did choose to decline the 'Phantom Footprint' insurance from the dealership. They agreed to remove that $259 dealership cost from our new Prius V (5) invoice.

    As we have yet to conclude our purchase.. if anyone has similar product 'phantom footprint' experience about a past event.. please share your experiences. We probably will conclude our purchase in next few days. Not too late to add this 'footprint insurance' back into our total price purchase.

    Also we have noticed that our dealership has a website notice that is called 'Dealer Service Charge'

    "The sale of any new or used vehicle is subject to a mandatory fee, in addition to any negotiate vehicle price, for coupons entitling the purchaser to discounts on services and parts. The purchase of coupons, entitling the purhaser to discounts on services and parts, is a dealer required option, and not required by law for purchase of the vehicle."

    While we appriciate the dealerships need to keep their maintenance shop full and gainfully employed... we do not feel obligated to engage financially to do so through 'dealership discounted services and parts required options'.

    IF on the other hand.. their discounted coupons are truely discounted it might mean that a simple 'oil change and tire rotation' is fair market competitively priced.. it might be a good idea to buy their discounted coupons.

    On the other hand.. new Toyota cars now have a 2 year maintence' program.... its price is probably built into the 'sales price of the new car' so the plan not really free. Change the oil and tire rotation on an annual basis... is a good thing.

    Not sure about how the 'Mandatory Dealer Service Charge' relates to the '2 year Service plan'.

    I did approach the Sales Rep about 'any other "ie mandatory dealer service charges' other than Extended Warranty costs.. he said there was not any other costs.. or hidden expenses. So the issue might be moot at this point.

    Regarding Prius V Extended Warranty... he did say that they had yet to receive any Toyota Corporate information. But then, probably as like with Toyota Pruis Exended Warranty.. you probably have 3 years to purchase. So time is on our side.

    Hope to read others experiences...

    BIG THANKS to moving my comment to the appropriate thread.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    This is not financial, but the time to have the dealership set your customizable features is BEFORE you give them money. The salesman will agree to things the service manager won't.

    http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM47674U/pdf/sec_06-02.pdf

    If you know the setting you want, great. If not have the salesman (in writing, bring it with you) specify a free service when you have had time to learn what you want changed.
    (I wrote a free HID headlight change labor into my purchase agreement)
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. Yogi56

    Yogi56 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2011
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    Location:
    Escondido, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Just buy it in Calif for 500 over invoice and pick any color. Cheap Southwest flight and 2 tanks of gas and your done. We had our choice of a IV with Solar for 700 below invoice or a loaded V with moonroof for 500 over.
     
  4. gramps

    gramps Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2009
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    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    yogi,
    Which dealership did you get it from?:confused:
    thanks
     
  5. pdp

    pdp New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2011
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    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    You can do much better than 500 over invoice in California for the Prius v. In fact, I'd conjecture many will go under invoice if you push them enough. Maybe momentum hasn't picked up yet for the Prius v, but in the past week while my wife and I have been shopping, there are plenty of Prius vs on the lots, and we went to 5 different dealerships. We're in Northern California by the way.
     
  6. Scooters

    Scooters New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2005
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    Why don't you go with Diane in CA or Fitzmall in DC. Looks like Fitzmall is selling at Invoice (about $1500 off). You might also take the Fizmall pricing to the dealer you are talking to and see if that "helps" them with their pricing.

    Be careful. They may drop the car price, but lower your trade in value. They may also try to throw in a bunch of add-ons and service charges. Fitzmall doesn't do that and I suspect that Diane doesn't either. When I drove my Camry Hybrid off the Fitzmall lot 3 years ago, I paid the agreed price and about $10 for a temporary plate. I paid my salestax here in Texas when I registered the vehicle. There were no other charges.

    Also... If you sell your old car personally (or through Carmax, etc) you will pay the Texas Sales Tax on the full value of the new car. That can be some $$.

    Have fun and keep us posted!!
     
  7. atpham809

    atpham809 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2011
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    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I have dealt with Diane from Carson Toyota. She isn't really all up to giving a good deal on the Prius v, even when I have found 3 other dealers willing to give better pricing. She just straight out tells you she cannot sell it for that price. No negotiating, how is that helping the priusChat community. So, I have scratched her from my list and won’t recommend others to her.
     
  8. Scooters

    Scooters New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2005
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    atpham809- I've not met Diane. However, I suspect that if she sells the car for xxx to several members and then you "coax" her down a couple of hundred $US, you will post that. She will then have pi@@ed off several previous customers and have to drop her price for future sales. It seems admirable that she has a fixed price for them members. You then get to decide if you are willing to buy at that price or not.
     
  9. atpham809

    atpham809 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2011
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    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    @Scooters - If other dealers are beating her prices then I would at least inform her so she could beat it. The market prices varies based on supply and demand so the prices will adjust accordingly. If Dianne has a set price and other dealers are beating it, then I think her attitude of not able to negociate will suffer. Take pdp for example, he got a price that was reasonable to him and Dianne basically spat out on a post that his asking prices was a no go or in her slang "no workie". Result was he ended up buying at another dealer that could accomodate his asking price.
     
  10. atpham809

    atpham809 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2011
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    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I will be in the Napa area this saturday for a Company Christmas party. I am currently at $500 below invoice for the standard option III Prius v.
     
  11. atpham809

    atpham809 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2011
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    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Update: Woot! Woot! I was in Sonoma Valley this weekend and a dealer calls me and says he is willing to do $800 below dealer invoice for the package III. Things are looking brighter.