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Does such a dealer even exist?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by schja01, Jul 5, 2018.

  1. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Hello all,

    For those who've seen my thread:
    Does this hood look misaligned? | PriusChat
    you'll know after waiting 5 weeks I was to take delivery of a Prius Prime the Saturday before the 4th of July but at the last minute it was discovered that there was substantial damage to the undercarriage and engine compartment. They are going to repair it but based on input I received from other board members I declined the shipment. The dealer said they would try to "call in a favor" and put in a new order but I sense they would really prefer if I had just accepted the damaged/repaired one they will now have to sell.
    I really like this dealer. I've had the same sales person (now Sales Manager) since 1980 but if this deal falls through it could sour things a bit. Hopefully that doesn't happen but I need a Plan B.
    So (and I will try to keep this short and concise) here is where I am.
    IF the dealer can't/won't locate a new Prime to my simple specs and being a senior I'm really not ready to travel the country to go and get one (nor am I really having a lot of luck finding a dealer with my specs even on the east coast).
    Not interested in a 2017 as it may have been sitting on the lot a long time so it's needs to be a 2018.
    If I check some of the web sites or individual dealer's web sites and edmunds etc. there are Prime's out there but when you plug in the ADVANCED package in RED/BLACK the selection drops dramatically.

    Are there web sites that will let me search dealer inventories outside of my local area without giving my email address which will then be sent to 100 dealers?

    Back to the subject of this thread ...

    MY QUESTION: Are their Toyota dealers anywhere in the country that will sell me new Prime to my specs and ship it to me? If yes, are there any that have a stellar reputation? I wonder if Toyota would even allow this?

    My dream car would look like this:

    2018 Prime Advanced
    Hypersonic Red/Black Interior
    Shifter Applique
    All weather mats and rear shelf
    Protection Package

    Plan C would to wait until November(?) and order a 2019 if I should live so long. :)

    Thanks for listening,
    J
     
  2. 2015BlizzardPriusFour

    2015BlizzardPriusFour Active Member

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    Have you checked out cars.com? This is what I’ve used to find my last 3 vehicles. Pretty good search engine. It pulls up 90 Prime advanced 2018 models in red with black interior. You would just need to look through them to see if the options you want are on them.
     
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  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Meh, plan B's are overrated.
    Stick with Plan A, unless it fails.
    If you otherwise like this dealership, and have a good relationship with them, then give them the chance to do the work, and get you the vehicle you want.
    I would imagine the dealership has better connections and leverage to find and obtain the vehicle you want, see if they can do it first.

    I agreed with your decision to pass on accepting the damaged vehicle. But the "cost" of that decision is going to be time and patience.

    Unless it's an emergency situation, what's the "worst case" here? Starting from scratch and another 5 week wait?
    That doesn't seem that bad to me.
    I enjoy the anticipation.
    Unless you absolutely need a vehicle ASAP, I'd just stay the course.
     
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  4. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    You were smart not to accept a damaged car as a new car. Good luck on your search. You will love the car.
     
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  5. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Not an emergency. I have two Toyota Venza's now. An '09 and a '13. Both with very low mileage. I don't "need" a new car but I like technology and the Prime is a nice "gadget" to me.
    I was planning on giving my son the '09 Venza as he's currently driving a "beater" to and from work and occasionally transporting our two gorgeous granddaughters (6 and 8 years old). I figured a '09 Venza with 30K miles is better safety wise than his '99 Mercury Sable Wagon with 100K miles.
    So the only thing that would change the current equation would be if his car flat out died. Sure he could buy a replacement but he needs the $$ more than I do.
    Thanks for listening,
    J
     
  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Using buytoyota.com and feeding zip 60007 for Chicago. I see 8 inventory listed for 2018 Prime Advanced in Supersonic Red.
    Vehicle Inventory Results | Inventory Search | Chicago.BuyAToyota.com

    Unfortunately, out of 8, 5 of them have moonstone interior. so that leaves only 3. Only one of those 3 includes Protection package you are asking, and none has Shifter Applique mentioned, but you can add those options yourself after you have your car, much cheaper than dealer installed.
     
  7. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Two of those are being used as demos. I’ve driven both. If one shows as price “not listed” it’s the damaged one I decline. It’s the one with the white protective film on the hood.
    Thanks for looking.
    J
     
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    From the same link site, there seems to be plenty of other color choices available (32 vehicles in advanced trim). And if you lower your trim to Premium and Plus, there are 25 additional vehicles in stock. If you are willing to take other colores or trims, you will have better chance to negotiate the price on the in-stock vehicles. If I were you, I would try to get better price on them since dealers are much more likely to come down on price on a car in their inventory than one they have to order new.
     
  9. SaraBBrown94

    SaraBBrown94 Active Member

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    I wouldn't bend on what you want in your car. You're putting out enough money that you should get what you want. Even if that takes a tad more time or effort on your part or their part. It'll be worth it when you get it.

    Something else to look into is getting a car shipped to you. That may put you out another $1000 bucks or so but you could potentially get one from a state(NY/CO) that offers that much or more in flat discounts on one. Some dealers will do over-the-phone agreements and or get a cheap day flight to hash out the signatures at the dealership and then the car shipping company, and you can demand photos of the whole car and undercarriage(they've got lifts) beforehand.

    P.S. the Hyper-sonic red is gorgeous! Especially in the sun. I almost wish I had gotten it.
     
  10. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    I know my choice of year, trim package and color are limiting my choices but so be it. This could be the last car I buy (I hope not) so why not make it exactly what I want.
    Thank much,
    J
     
  11. Witness

    Witness Active Member

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    Yea, I agree. Hold out for what you desire, otherwise you'll just regret it later. I've been going with my friend's advice since moving from a regular Prius to the PiP. She said I spend so much time in the car, I better get the one I want even if it cost more and be happy driving it - something along those lines. I spent a little more back then and I spent a little more to get the more available Prime Advance in the Metallic Gray instead of Premiums in other colors now. I don't regret it.

    The Hypersonic Red is definitely beautiful. I could've bought that in the Premium trim, but I stuck with the Metallic Gray simply because I didn't want to stick out in the sea of cars. There's an anonymity I enjoy with a muted color Prius since there's a bajillion of them around me everyday, although I think the Prime's body styling itself makes it stick out a bit anyways. Still happy, but I guess I could've reconsidered the red. lol
     
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  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Are you a Costco member? If so, you can use their service to locate a dealer with the car options you want in stock. This includes special Costco pricing.
    I did not use this for my last purchase because Costco would not let me use my delaer who had the car in stock. Costco's system said they did not have it :( I paid a little extra to get my preferred salesman.
     
  13. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    Hunt for this:
    2018 Prime Advanced
    Hypersonic Red/Black Interior

    The rest of the things are add-ons that you can get later. What is the "rear shelf?" Is that the window shade like thing that covers the rear? I'll sell you ours.

    Try another dealership, and ask them to use their car locator to find what you want from another dealership if necessary. This also shows what's in the pipeline to be delivered soon, information you can't find elsewhere.

    Did you get the VIN on the damaged car? You want to be sure you don't get that one offered to you from a different dealer.
     
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  14. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    That's a good idea, sir. It would be very kind of you to give one of your Toyota's to your son. Only 30,000 miles on that '09 Venza??? That car would definitely enjoy being driven! My '05 Camry went bad because it wasnt driven far enough / often enough. (We gave another Camry to a granddaughter.)

    I hope I dont repeat my same mistake with my Prius. Becoming a couch potato. :LOL: All that expensive "high-tech" just going to waste. Just sitting there. Being retired, I dont drive nearly as much. Now I have fo force myself to take it for a daily drive... as silly as that sounds.
     
    #14 Starship16, Jul 5, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2018
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  16. Dudley1030

    Dudley1030 Active Member

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    I wouldn't touch that with a 10' pole (or I wouldn't buy that with your money!). You gotta look out for number 1! You didn't mention if they were discounting the car because of the damage?
     
  17. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Never considered accepting a discount. Since I suspect they want to sell the car as new (which they legally can do if the repairs are under $6000 in Illinois) they will just put it up for sale after the repairs are made.
    Now that I found out a dealer can sell a damaged car as new it makes me wary about purchasing ANY car off a lot.
    What I don't know is if you specifically ask "has this car experienced ANY kind of damage" if legally they must answer truthfully.
    J
     
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  18. Dudley1030

    Dudley1030 Active Member

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    Wow, that sucks. Probably non-discoverable because it was still with the company/manufacturer.