Rate your Prius-buying experience!

Went to Hudson Toyota in Jersey City, NJ. They wanted $3k above sticker. Their sticker is still higher than the MSRP on toyota.com. I showed them the price I want, the MSRP. They printed something out from some other website stating the Prius' value should be the price they want. I said no thank you. The salesman got mad because I didn't want to buy the car from them and said something rude. What? Do they expect every person walk in to buy a car from them? So I left and called up Toyota Customer Experience and file a complain on them. Later on a customer relations manager called me up from Hudson Toyota and apologized.

Went to Bayridge Toyota in Brooklyn, NY. They asked for MSRP. So I got the car from them. But during financing, they pressure me to get their $2k extended warranty. I know I can get it cheaper here. They try to find out who is selling it for cheaper, but I did not tell them. Then they just won't give up selling the extended warranty to me. Just want to get out quickly, I accepted it. Then I cancelled it by calling Toyota directly. Got a full refund. SUCKERS!

 

There's a saying in another industry (adapted for auto sales):

"A Car Salesman would rather climb a tree and lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth.!!"

Of course there are always exceptions, some car salesfolks are courteous and truthful.

 

First via internet, then in person including a test drive, I went to the dealer (Selma Toyota) midpoint between work and home, thinking I would give them my business. I walked out when the Internet sales rep smiled and said they would automatically add $3k to the price.

The second (Internet sales rep) dealer (Michael Toyota), close to home, was courteous, polite and very straightforward, admitting I knew more about the vehicle. Upon delivery I spent one hour going over the vehicle with an inspection checklist. The Internet sales rep delivered the Prius to my home with a full tank of fuel. Good positive experience.

Follow-up service leaves things to be desired. At 10k mi, the "check engine" light came on and the dealer did not have a clue - for over one week - and had to call in Toyota engineers to repair a loose connection. The dealer stated they had changed the oil "because we didn't know if the oil had been changed or not" (it had and the maintenance light was NOT on) - in addition the dealer did NOT change the oil filter. Strange.

Love the vehicle, caution around dealers.

 

Oh Boy...Test drove a few, but got the best deal through the Internet
Everything was sweet, 4 weeks later my car's ready for collection.
Then they decide to deliver it without telling me, so I duck out of work drive home to collect the car - had soooo wanted to take with delivery miles but now it had 250 miles on it. The delivery guy says he can't take away my trade in because he has another pick up elsewhere. So I end up with two cars AND the cheque.
Then they send another delivery guy to collect my trade in two days ago while I am at work.
So now I have to post the cheque off to them
Seriously, I'm not making this up !!
My only consolation so far is my lovely black prius
Pinball

 

I put my name on one list (no deposit) in San Diego in September '04 and was told the waiting time was a year and a half! I did start getting calls (4 or 5) from them starting in January, but didn't buy because they weren't what I wanted (#5). I had rented a #1 for 2 weeks in January to get the feel of commuting, plus a trip into the mountains.

I then tried to get a #5 in Nevada as I couldn't get one in So Cal (only #1, #3 or #6 available). The dealership in Henderson was very pleasant and said they could get me one. The day I mailed the deposit the salesrep I had talked to called and said only the #6 was available and their boss said, "If he doesn't like that, there's ten people behind him that will." I got them to return the deposit (which they did).

That was April 14th (Thursday). A few minutes later I called Carson Toyota after looking at their web site. 15 minutes after that I had a #6 in my name to pick up that Saturday (no deposit needed). I had some friends drive me up (they didn't know I was even looking for a new car, much less a Prius) and paid MSRP. No real surprises. I even wrote a check for the full amount without a problem.

 

Once we found out for a fact we needed a new car, I called up Santa Cruz Toyota and gave them a list of 4 colours and 3 different option groups all prioritized (we needed a car). They came back the next day with our #1 colour (Salsa Red) and Favorite option group (#6) and we picked it up that evening. They had it cleaned and ready for us.

The salesman was genuine and polite we got the car for MSRP (and I think it is worth every penny). Finance was an enjoyable experience and my wife was ecstatic. B)

I've got nothing but good things to say about this dealership, and if you are local and in the market, give them a chance to earn your business.

 

Got what I wanted and more! Mid-city Motors in Eureka, California sold me mine at "invoice" and threw in the "Permaplate" for NO CHARGE! - 1 $500 value

One thing I highly recommend is the Permaplate. It's good for 5 years and they guarantee to get out any kind of stain on the upholstery or paint... they actually got out some nasty stains in the back seat (I have a 9-year old) that I couldn't get out with anything... I actually believe that I made the stains worse and got pretty nervous. Just last week, I brought the car in... they gave me a rental (Buick Le Sabre) BLAHHH! while they kept the Prius all day. When I picked the Prius up, it looked like a brand new car (even the smell).

 

We bought our car by putting out a query through one of the online services (I think it was Edmunds). The dealer wanted about $3-4k above MSRP and I declined, explaining that while I'm often impatient, I'm not _that_ impatient. Four months or so later the same dealer sent out an email saying he expected to receive a silver package 6 in about a week and that they were selling it for MSRP. I called him within minutes of his having sent the mail, used my visa card to leave a $500 deposit, and picked up the car 9 days later.

When we arrived at the dealer the stereotypical car salesman accosted us, and when we told him we were there to pick up our new Prius, he went on and on about how extraordinarily lucky we were to find one. He claimed some people had been on waiting lists for 3 years and still hadn't gotten one. I think he was disappointed that we didn't drop to our knees and praise the hybrid gods for our good fortune. The guy who actually sold us the car was friendly and straightforward. And even the guy to whom he passed us after that--the guy responsible for selling all the coatings and floor mats and custom-froo-froos--was tolerable.

I acutally bought the extended warranty for, I think, about $900 or so. I didn't feel pressured to buy it, and that's the first time I've bought an extended warranty for anything. Since the Prius is such a special car, however, I wanted to buy the warranty. The drivetrain already has a great standard warranty, but I was thinking of the nav system, the keyless entry, and that sort of stuff.

 

Well if I was doing an average of ALL the Toyota dealerships I called or dealt with, it'd be one of the 2 worst ratings. But I'm rating the dealership I got the car from (Hamer Toyota in Mission Hills, CA). They sell the car for sticker and are courteous and helpful, even if the finance guy pushed the extended warranty (which I didn't get) a bit too hard (I rated them a 2...no extra goodies thrown in). Now if I was rating Keyes Toyota in Van Nuys or Toyota of North Hollywood they would both get very bad ratings for being rude and arrogant (and selling the Prius for $3000 over MSRP).

 

I had my first test drive at North Hollywood Toyota. This was right after the 2004 came out. We weren't allowed to take the car off the side streets, and the entire trip was about 1 mile, never going over 25 mph. It was a real joke.

When the 2004 was introduced, the only dealer in Los Angeles that knew anything about the Prius was Dianne from Carson Toyota. I had my real test drive there, and also bought the car from her. It was a pleasure from the beginning to day I picked up the car. Yes, I had to wait for quite a while, but everyone was waiting a long time at the beginning.

 

I dealt with 2 dealers in the course of my purchase. The first had a very long waiting list. Has and had a car to drive and took my order and returned the deposit promptly when I found a car elsewhere. The second took my card number for a deposit and did not use it. They delivered on time and as promised. There were no extras but no jerking around either. I remember one time when a car dealership played keep away with the keys to my old car after I did a "test drive". I did not believe my eyes. Needless to say I offered to go to a pay phone and call the police. I got my keys back and left.

 

Started with Shore Toyota in South Jersey. Tried to sell me a package 4 with 10k at above msrp. I said I wanted package 6. The sales mgr told me to get a portable nav system. Then he said I could have an 06 at 30k (3k over msrp). I signed the papers and was told it would be in in mid-November.

I noticed the order did not specify a year, :angry: so I went back and requested it say 06. The sales mgr. became defensive and agreed to make that adjustment. MY feelings were less than comfortable with the initial "add the portable nav" to the lack of year on the order to the defensiveness of being confronted.

A few days later, on Prius Chat, someone said they had a quick and good experience with Patty Kleber at Faulkner in Philly. I emailed my desire at 10pm. She called at 9 am the next morning with what I wanted. I went over and two hours later drove off in Snowflake. She cost msrp, and I bought the 100k extended warranty for 900. They just added a beautiful pinstripe and I have averaged 53 mpg in the first 900 miles! I was so excited I forgot to get my CDs out of the trade-in. When I arrived for the pinstripe, they had what I left waiting for me. Go see Patty and tell her Mike recommended her.

 

Got a job with 80-mile RT commute. Found out Tuesday. Start the following Monday. Needed a Prius. Had done research etc. This is in Boston North Shore area.

Started calling dealers on Tuesday. Called seven dealers. All snickered and said "at least 4-week wait. No one has any" Dealer #1 called back. "Got a car on the lot. It's yours for $500 deposit." Gave him CC #. Suspicious wife calls him back and presses him on car. He finally admits he does not have one. Cancelled CC. Dealer # 2 called back Tuesday (yesterday). "I got a car. Salsa red, AM package. MSRP."

Drove up there (Jaffarian Toyota in Haverhill) last night. Drove the car. Gave him $1,000 for an MSRP deal. Got financed today (4.75% at our credit union) and have the car in my driveway tonight. Start work Monday. All is good.

 

We went to the only local dealer to have the 2004 Prius on the first weekend that it was on sale. The people at Palmiero Toyota in Meadville, PA are great. Took the car for 2 long test drives -one with the salesman and then one by myself. Went back on Monday afternoon with a $500 downpayment to place the order, and they said it might be 8 to 12 weeks. In less than 2 weeks I got a call from my salesman that they had located the car I wanted and they were anxious to get one on the road. I took delivery 2 days later -first one in the NW Pa area. Also got good financing at 3.9%. Been happy ever since!

 

Never bought a Toyota before. HATE car buying - do not like to haggle. Accepted I would pay MSRP prior to going to dealer, that was what was offered. Salesman by far was the most courteous I've experienced. Just shook his head when I declined the extended warrenty....would go to that dealer again!

 

New poster here - just got my Prius about 3 1/2 weeks ago. I wasn't particularly impressed with my dealership. I'm in Madison, Wisconsin - one of the Prius hot spots in the country. Before I ordered my car, I knew that people had been waiting up to a year to take delivery. I ordered mine in February, with an anticipated wait time of 6-8 months; it turned out to be 8 months to the day.

When I ordered, there were over 100 people on the wait list. We called a couple of times when we got close to the 6-month mark. We had hoped it would come in before our vacation in September - when we called, we got the good new/bad news story. The good news was that we were #4 on the list; the bad news was that they were only getting 3 cars in September.

The demand here for the Prius is so great that the cars nearly sell themselves, so I don't give the dealership a whole lot of credit. They were courteous and friendly enough, but the finance department was a real pain. They really tried to pressure me into buying the extended warranty, which I turned down, and they also knew nothing about the pre-paid maintenance plan. They were expecting to get the information in "next week" and would give me a call, but of course I've not heard from them about it. I have had a phone call and a letter from the salesman asking how I liked the car, and suggesting that I tell a friend about my wonderful experience.

This is the second Toyota we've bought from this dealership, but if we buy another one I think I may look elsewhere. They really didn't go out of there way to please the customer, though they did sell at MSRP and offered the extended warranty at a discount. On the downside, I read in the order tracking about another Madison resident who happened to show up at the dealership the day after a Prius had come in and the person who ordered it had changed their mind. Instead of offering it to the next person on the list, they sold it to this walk-in customer. I was not at all impressed to hear that.

So, not a terrible experience, but not a terribly memorable one, either.

But I sure do love my Prius , and at 1600 miles am averaging around 53 MPG with a mix of city and highway driving with lots of rolling hills.

Erin