Any experiences with MD dealers?

Wondering if anyone has any recent experience (hopefully with the 2010 models) purchasing from a MD dealer? I have seen internet pricing from R&H and Russel for about $700-750 below MSRP, but don't know if junk fees are added on or if other issues exist. Thanks for your help.

CarMax - Browse used cars and new cars online Might still be called Laurel Toyota. Fixed price dealer. No haggling and you used to be able to get KBB for your trade. Easy and painless purchasing.

RCARS (russel) and Jack Says No (Antwerpen) are good for taking your test drives and checking out the different colors and options since they usually have more inventory in stock (than carmax) - but carmax is where you go to buy.

Both of those dealers do not include freight in their Internet pricing. I went to both of them and it was a stupid game. Other dealers I talked have no real clue about what is coming and when; especially Fitzgerald.

However, I just got home from buying my ribbon blue model 4 with a sunroof for Dar Cars in Silver for MSRP. Just drove it home. They have a few others in stock (as of today) and more and more coming in. I recommend calling Ray Alvarez there. I have been to about 10 dealers in Maryland and I felt very comfortable with him, felt like he was a strong advocate for his customers, and he knows his stuff. I strongly recommend him, and if you have ever seen my posts on PC you will see that I don't recommend many dealers.

I called CarMax 3 times, e-mailed them 5 times, and they never, ever returned my call or my e-mail. I had the same problem with them last time I bought a car.

Surprised by your experience. I bought my Prius from them early last year and everything went very smoothly. Several co-workers also purchased Toyotas from the same location, and reported a similar (good) experience. As in they would never go anywhere else to purchase a Toyota.

Stefcat is a PC member - she's at Koon's in Easton. She's been awesome to work with!! :cheer2:

Russel tried to sell me one with over $2000 of port installs, most of which I didn't want and then wanted a deposit of the total cost of the car saying it was going to arrive any day now.

I had a great experience by going across state lines to NoVA and purchased a Prius V from Ourisman Fairfax Toyota. I highly recommend my salesman, C.L Watkins.

Hello everyone,

My hame is Kirk and I am with DARCARS Toyota of Silver Spring.

We have just received a large Prius delivery and I currently have three cars that have not been spoken for.

I can be reached on my cell at 443-309-6443 via e-mail at kirkcummings1@yahoo.com .

Look forward to earning your business!
Kirk

Thanks for the responses. I am aware of the internet pricing not including freight, as it seems like most dealers do this. Not looking for the deal of the century, as I would be happy with a discount off of MSRP and without junk fees (Seems like the $100 dealer processing fee can't be avoided).

I did my test drive @ Russel with the internet sales department. They stated that they would be able to get me a Prius with what I wanted on it. A bit hesitant since the last time I was looking for a car, I got the stereotypical car salesman, who also called me non-stop. Let's just say he couldn't take a hint.

Don't need someone super knowledgeable on the Prius, as I know what I want, a basic III in Blue or Red with no add ons other than floor mats.

HI we can get you a car with only mats. Pkg III... stefcat.. stephanie.hunsicker@koonauto.com I'm off know on thurday.. e-mail .. I'll be in at noon on firday.

Even though I bought my Prius in Delaware, I got the best information and straight answers from Westminster Toyota in Maryland. I had a $ 500 'deposit' on my Delaware car so I felt obligated to buy from them.
Frank: Peg Prius

I strongly recommend DarCars in Silver Spring. I worked with Ray Alvarez there and couldn't have been happier. In the last week he called me when he had a red model 4 w/ sunroof, and then a blue model 4 w/sunroof, which I bought. I was seeking a red, blue or gray model 4 w/ sunroof and nothing else, and that is what I received.

Russell Toyota ticked me off because they added $2K to $2.5K of unnecessary extras to most of their cars to increase their profits. Crap like remote starters, appearance packages, and security systems are on almost every car they order.

Anyhow, after speaking with 10 different local dealers I found that Ray Alvarez at DarCars in Silver Spring was a straight shooter who worked hard to get exactly what a wanted. No extras, no games, fast closing. You don't need to leave the central Maryland area to get the car you want, with the service you want, with no extras and no games.

Good luck! :rockon::cheer2::welcome::rockon::cheer2::welcome::rockon::cheer2::welcome:

I live in Maryland, but have never purchased a car in NoVA (or Delaware, for that matter). What are the additional expenses or paperwork involved in purchasing a car across state lines? Thanks.

WE have one in white come in!!!:rockon: CALL ME

many dealers in VA charge 399 dealer processing, while in MD i believe it is limited to 99

Fred is quite correct. Plus, you don't have to worry about the titling and tags issue if you buy in MD, unless you enjoy visiting the MVA.

Again, and I have never recommended a salesperson before, but if you are seeking a car in Maryland I strongly recommend contacting Ray Alvarez and DarCars Toyota in Silver Springs. If you want additional info pls feel free to send me a PM (e-mail).

Good luck!

at stefcat's dealership in easton MD (easton toyota scion), they were able to process my paperwork so that i left there with hard plates - not the thirty day paper ones. don't know if all md dealers do that for Va buyers, but i was pleased and surprised

I was charged a $369 processing fee in VA. There was also some confusion on whether they could transfer my existing MD tags citing that hybrids were a different category than a non-hybrid sedan. I asked them to try, believing that was just a VA issue and will await delivery in the mail of either a new registration or a new set of MD tags. I drove out of the dealer with 30 day temp tags and still have my old tags which I will return to the MVA if they end up issuing new tags.

Bottom line, they had the car I wanted now. I didn't want to wait any longer and in the end game was satisfied with the bottom line. A few extra hundred dollars was not going to deter me.

I had the same experience with Russel, plus they wanted a full price deposit. I left and didn't go back.

Well, I purchased my car from Russel Toyota on Friday. I purchased a Basic III in Red, which was exactly what I wanted. I purchased directly from their inventory, so the car did have about 40 miles on it, which is to be expected for test drives, etc. The car was originally allotted to Glen Burnie Toyota. So, listed below is my purchase experience.

I decided to purchase a Prius via Internet Sales. Per the forums, it sounded like most people in the Mid Atlantic area who spoke with regular salesman were getting MSRP. I am sure I could have got a slight discount by wheeling and dealing with the salesman and dreaded sales manager, but I can think of many other tortuous things I would rather do.

I sent e-mails or price quote forms to pretty much every Toyota dealer in MD (Eastern Shore and Far Western MD excluded). I received quotes back from almost every dealer within 24 hours. I listed in my e-mail that I work a job with shift work and often sleep during the day (which is true) and prefer contact via e-mail only. Most dealers were respectful of this. The three dealers that were not were R&H (Owings Mills/Randallstown), Darcars 355 (Rockville), and Jim Coleman (Bethesda). A further note on Jim Coleman will be below.

Of the dealers that responded, almost all came back with a quote of MSRP. None were listed with a dealer premium. Three came back below sticker. They were Russel, R&H, and Beltway Toyota in Marlow Heights. I decided to go with Russel, as they had the exact car that I wanted, and the cheapest price. FYI - All three quotes were about $500 below MSRP.

I responded to the other dealers to let them know that I decided to go with another dealer. I did mention that I decided to go with an offer below MSRP. Most responded back mentioning that they would match price. I felt it was fair to give my business to the initial best offer, and I don't feel like wheeling and dealing to save at most a few hundred dollars more. The only dealer that kind of gave me a hard time was Jim Coleman. They called me and when I mentioned that I decided to go with another dealer, he asked if I knew that I could negotiate. I stated that I felt that a dealer should offer their best offer first, and I don't feel the need to negotiate when it is obvious that I am requesting a price quote from multiple dealers.

So, the buying experience from Russel. I dealt with Sarah there and she was very pleasant to deal with. The entire process took 3 hours, but half of that was waiting for the aftermarket and finance person to be available, as I was the last new car buyer of the night.

To be continued after lunch