1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Is the Dealer being nice or is he tricking me

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Rhino, Nov 18, 2009.

  1. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    460
    41
    0
    Location:
    U.S.A.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    So I am buying the Prius in 2 weeks, when it gets off the boat.

    The dealer said that if I traded in my car and prepaid for the Prius before it gets off the boat, he'll have all the tags ready for me as soon as it arrives.

    In the meantime, he said I can have free use of a Prius from the lot. It guess it is their loaner car.

    We already settled on a price and everything.

    Should I bite? Is this a trick? If it is a trick, what is the angle? Has anyone heard of this?

    Of course, one danger is that the Prius on the boat is not what I wanted (wrong color etc.). Then I am stuck because I've already traded in my car. And I suppose if I have to wait another 2 weeks, the dealer may not let me have the loaner - which means I'll be carless. Also, another angle is that maybe in the 2 weeks the dealer finds a defect in my traded in car and demand more money from me. I am confused. I am inclined not to take it. Although it does seem like a nice deal.
     
  2. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2009
    971
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    I don't really see a benefit. How long does it take to do the tags/docs.. a couple hours?
     
  3. yadax3

    yadax3 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    237
    22
    15
    Location:
    Northern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Weird. Maybe he has a buyer for your trade-in already. In any case, I'd want to see what I was buying first.
     
  4. indyhairball

    indyhairball New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Indianapolis, IN
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Reminds me of National Lampoon's Vacation.
     
  5. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2004
    2,077
    295
    0
    Location:
    Ormond Beach,Fl.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    I bet this is it! He's got yours sold already
     
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,039
    10,013
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'd guess that he is trying to lock in a sale that is not yet assured. At this stage of the sale-delivery process, he probably still has a significant rate of lost deals.
     
  7. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2005
    1,460
    24
    1
    Location:
    New York, NY, USA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I think it's pretty simple; I think he wants to have your money sooner. Then he knows you're "locked in" to buying the car and he can mark it down as a sale now. I think you just have to be extra careful and make sure that he doesn't have any leeway to change your trade-in price and if your Prius is delayed for any reason, you're absolutely guaranteed to get to drive the other Prius until you get yours.

    Has he given you a VIN for your Prius yet? That's one way to guarantee that there's a car actually allocated to you.
     
  8. yadax3

    yadax3 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    237
    22
    15
    Location:
    Northern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Regardless of the reason, I wouldn't bite. As a previous poster pointed out, what's the upside for you? Is there any chance he's made you a verbal promise of something he can't deliver. I'd be highly suspicious. That's all I'm saying.
     
  9. thbjr

    thbjr Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    326
    62
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I had 5 days between the time I 'ordered' mine and it came off the boat and was delivered to the dealership. During those 5 days I did some internet shopping in my area and wound up making the dealer price match another dealers offer... to the tune of $952 less. Yep, it purly a money thing. If he get's your money today, it's much harded for you to make him match another dealers lower offer, at least that's my guess.
     
  10. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2005
    4,067
    687
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    If you pay for it early and give them your trade in you as much as own the new car sight unseen. Problem is what if it is damaged in shipment? or what if the dealer sells it to someone else and tells you he didn't get it and you will need to wait for the next one? Lots of pitfalls, I would recommend not doing it. Just wait until the new car arrives and then check it over good before you part with your trade in or your money.

    Here is a thread with some ideas of what to look for when it does arrive: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...82-what-check-taking-delivery-2010-prius.html
     
  11. Acre

    Acre New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2009
    104
    3
    0
    Location:
    Woodside, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Not an unusual request. The paperwork can take 2 hours. He might loose another sale in those two hours so he wants to schedule things so that doesn't happen. Do whatever you want. If the price is already negotiated then there's no downside. If he's offering to do this the VIN number will already have been assigned otherwise he couldn't do it. And yes, he could also have a buyer for your trade - in which case he might give you more for it now. I'd do it just to get it over with.
     
  12. bac

    bac Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2008
    863
    52
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Don't mock the Family Truckster! :D

    [​IMG]


    -Brad
     
  13. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,037
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Pay somebody $25K for something before you've seen it? Is this a trick question?
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Trick or Treat?

    I don't know if he's tricking you or anything. But of course it's to the dealer benefit to have the sale. If you sign the deal and hand over your trade your locked in as a sale.

    Personally, I'd rather not do a deal without the product I'm receiving being a known quantity. In other words, I want my New Prius, so I know what I'm getting. You are correct that it could become a nightmare "if" something mysteriously happened and/or the car just isn't what you thought.

    If you can live with your car for a few more weeks I'd just be patient. Tell them you want the deal, but you aren't going to do it until the product is physically present and available. Especially since it sounds like your car works and you are only dealing with a 2 week period. There is no physical tangible benefit to me to having the tags upon arrival.

    It "may" not be a trick but why do it? 14 days, then you can look at the vehicle, make sure it IS what you want and have it then.
     
  15. taggart

    taggart Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    249
    14
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Wait for it to come in. Simple.
     
  16. alohabailey

    alohabailey New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    88
    4
    0
    Location:
    NY, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I agree with everyone above, I have another possiblity on why he's pushing the sale through. If they sell a car they can put in for the next allocation. The later it is, his ability to request more Prius's gets pushed back. :) Goodluck
     
  17. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    It appears to me the dealer is trying to push a December sale into November. Registering it now starts the warranty clock running. In NJ vehicle mileage is recorded on the title. What is he planning on recording?

    I might counter with trading my car for the use of the loaner until a satisfactory new one is delivered. Now he has your original deposit & the trade-in as the deposit on the new one.

    If a special order was being built for you then that would be a different story.
     
  18. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    460
    41
    0
    Location:
    U.S.A.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Everyone,

    Thank you for your advice. I'll finish moving in one week. After that, I'll go to the dealer and finalized the buying of my Prius that I have on order. I'll wait to buy the car conventionally, trading in the car the same day I pick up the new car.

    One thing I noted. My trade in is a Toyota and it is amazing how much resale value is left in a Toyota. I've had a previous car that's not a Toyota, after 6 years and 36,000 miles, the price was less than $5000 - maybe $3600. It was so low I did not sell it, I gave it to a relative.
     
  19. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Ding ding ding, we have a winner!!! This was my thought.
     
  20. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    460
    41
    0
    Location:
    U.S.A.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    OK. Confession time.

    I went by and the dealer offered me a loaner Prius with 2000 miles on the odometer and with HOV accessible plates as a loaner for as long as it takes for my car to come in. I got $500 off the sales price. Paid $1225 for the extended warranty.

    I decided to trade in and to buy.

    Now I am driving the loaner car. The only defect is that they did not give me the owner's manual for this loaner car. And I have to drive around with a window sticker for the price. It's not my car so no big deal. It is fun. The Prius is a nice car. I am enjoying myself.

    I have to say, the dealership is amazing. When I first showed up, the saleman just handed me the keys and told me to test drive the car as long as I want. My wife and I drove for 30 minutes by ourselves and decided to buy. No salesman sitting in the back harrassing us. They reserved a car for me with no money down. Then when I show up to buy I get a loaner car. The service here is either top rate or I am getting ripped off massively. It doesn't matter, I value convenience.