Took Delivery Thursday

April 24, 2004: Placed $1,000 refundable deposit with Big 2 Toyota in Mesa, AZ. #45 on the list.

Early May: Based on information posted on Priuschat, I got in contact with Evan Schroeder of Michael Automotive Group in Fresno, CA. $500 refundable deposit waived because I was out of state. #26 on list.

July 12: Returned from 3-week vacation, and found message on answering machine from Evan, telling me that I'm first on list.

July 14: Called Big 2 Toyota to check position on list. #38.

July 17: Received call from Evan; Millenium Silver, package 9 is available. I asked what options had been adde; he said rear bumper protector, floor mats, and glass breakage sensor--the three that I would have ordered anyway. I said that I'd take it. Sell Acura, call USAA to arrange financing (4.5877% APR).

July 20: Receive financing package from USAA via FEDEX.

July 21: Drive to Fresno with partner. Stop at dealership to start paperwork.

July 22: Pick up car and drive back to AZ with both cars.

Problems encountered:

Calif is not an MSO (AKA MCO) state; Arizona is. There were problems in figuring out what to do. Solution was that they requested an MSO from Toyota, and either Toyota will send it directly to me, or to the dealer who will send it to me. I should find out in an hour or so. I paid CA sales tax on the vehicle, and won't have to pay AZ tax, but if the AZ tax is greater, I'll have to pay the difference. I did not pay for title or registration in CA, but will pay it in AZ.

Because I was out of state, they would not take a personal check, so I had to get a cashier's check. (My loan and the value I received from the sale of the Acura did not cover the full cost, including sales tax.) They would not accept a credit card because they said the loan company would balk because I was in effect taking out a second loan to pay for the car. I think that is a BS argument, and that they just didn't want to pay the fee to the credit card company.

On Wed evening, when I found out that I had to pay CA sales tax, I transferred funds from another account (with a different bank) to my checking account. However, when I tried to buy the cashier's check, I found that the funds would not be available until the next day. The dealer would not take apersonal check or credit card for the $650 difference that I needed to make up over the finance check and the cashier's check. I wound up using a credit card to make up the difference and buy the cashier's check for the full amount.

 

It took me years to get my credit rating restored, and even now I do not have "excellent" credit, which requires a 700 rating.

But USAA does have low rates in general; my partner has poor credit, but she got only one percent higher than I did. She was allowed to finance only 90% of the cost of the car.

Another thing is that USAA will not finance the sales tax, registration, and fees; only the MSRP.

But I wish that I could have afforded to pay cash and not have to pay the interest charges.