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AAA Member Discount on Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by journeygirl1, Oct 17, 2004.

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  1. journeygirl1

    journeygirl1 New Member

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    Hello Fellow Prius Heads,

    I am picking up my Prius (05 Silver #6) this week. As a AAA member, I am able to get special pricing on most vehicles from participating dealerships. I chose the dealer in Elizabethtown KY because of this, AND their waiting list was only 4-5 months. I ordered 7/31/04, so it was really less than three.

    For those of you who are AAA members, I have detailed below the procedure to print a "Buying Certificate." This allows you to get a no-haggle price of 3% OVER DEALER INVOICE! When I presented this certificate, I expected some resistance. Swope Toyota gladly accepted it. Let me know if you have trouble with this sequence:

    From the AAA website home page, look for the headers at the top: My AAA, Join/Review, Automotive, Travel, et.al.

    1. Click Automotive, then Locate & Buy My Car.
    2. Input your ZIP code and the distance you'd like to find a dealership.
    3. Input Toyota in the third drop box. and click "Find Dealers".
    4. The next screen will list ADDITIONAL perks to AAA membership that the dealer will provide (mine lists free floor mats or oil changes).
    5. Click "Get a Quote"
    6. Select the year, Toyota, and Prius in drop boxes. Click"Continue".
    7. Select the body type (should be only one in the 2005 model) and Continue.
    8. Fill in your personal info. Have your AAA member number handy. Click "Generate Certificate".
    9. Print certificate from next screen.

    Please let me know if you have trouble with this! Glad to help!

    -=Amber=-


    ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
    Dr. Amber D Sapp, PharmD, RPh
    2005 Silver #6
    [email protected]
     
    #1 journeygirl1, Oct 17, 2004
  2. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    Where were you three months ago!! :roll: I would have at least tried though I am now thinking about dropping it for a more eco friendly program https://www.betterworldclub.com/. As usual I am over analyzing the thing and will probably do both for at least a year or two.
     
    #2 hdrygas, Oct 17, 2004
  3. kettledrum

    kettledrum Member

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    I've noticed that when you 1st put in your initial ZIP code you are in at the main AAA page the 1st time you visit there, it directs you to what I think is your local AAA club. Being in Indianapolis, I get directed to the Hoosier Motor Club, and my sequence is slightly different to get to the same page as you state, but I get to the same place nevertheless.

    However, it will only show me participating dealers within the Hoosier Motor Club area. If I go back to the very 1st page and put in the ZIP for Elizabethtown I then get directed to the AAA Kentucky page and then I can access the KY dealers.

    How does the AAA membership work? Will I only be able to choose from the Indiana dealers since I will be a part of the "Hoosier Motor Club" or will I be able to go to a dealer "outside" of my area? I'd imagine that these questions will have to be answered by an AAA representative.

    Regardless, this is an excellent find, and well worth the membership if it can save this much in buying a Prius.

    Amber, let us know how delivery went with your vehicle at Swope and if they presented any resistance to honoring this price and anything else of note.
     
    #3 kettledrum, Oct 17, 2004
  4. Robert Taylor

    Robert Taylor New Member

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    [font=Courier New:233bd548d9] [/font:233bd548d9] </span><span style=\'color:darkred\'>

    I cannot find that "dealer locator" function or even the buy and locate function. It is not in the site directory, drop down menus or anywhere else in the "automotive" part.

    All I can find is something called "automaker", and it just gives MSRP and dealer cost data.

    Of course, it is possible that since I am getting a version of the website for AAA that lists itself as "AAA Alabama" that my version is different from yours.

    Maybe there is something I am missing here?

    Robert
     
    #4 Robert Taylor, Oct 17, 2004
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    3% over "invoice" may not be much of a deal, given how the average invoice is padded with a buncha stuff. A better basis for comparision is MSRP.
     
    #5 richard schumacher, Oct 17, 2004
  6. priusenvy

    priusenvy Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher\";p=\"45715)</div>
    MSRP has even less to do with how much the dealer paid for the car than invoice. 3% over invoice on a Prius is around $1500 off MSRP. Sounds like a good deal to me.
     
    #6 priusenvy, Oct 17, 2004
  7. priusham

    priusham New Member

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    Ok... I'll do... I'll be the bad guy...

    I don't believe it one second.

    <best Simon Cowell voice> Sorry.
     
    #7 priusham, Oct 18, 2004
  8. kettledrum

    kettledrum Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Robert Taylor\";p=\"45695)</div>
    Robert,

    I looked at the AAA Alabama website too, and couldn't find anything either. Perhaps AAA hasn't gotten any dealers there to sign up for this new program as of yet?
     
    #8 kettledrum, Oct 18, 2004
  9. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Alright, it took me a while to find it, but I found it. The wording might be different depending on geography and such. On the "AAA Chicagoland" website, you have to go into the "Autos and Driving" section via the pop-up menus and select "Auto Discounts". That will take you to a page on which you select "AAA Automaker - Car Research". You can research cars comparing price, insurance cost, safety, and whatnot. Since I knew what I wanted, I clicked the button [I know what I want].

    After selecting the 2005 Prius BC package in Tideland (really, is there any other color?), I got the attached page of results, which I ripped to PDF. If I read it correctly, there is a discount on the car.

    I was really hoping that this was not true because I am a AAA member and love to take advantage of every discount and deal I can get my hands on. Now that realize I might have been able to get a discount on Priapus after all, I'm a little depressed. :cry:
     
    #9 TonyPSchaefer, Oct 18, 2004
  10. stevesol

    stevesol Junior Member

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    In St. Louis, only one dealer comes up on the "low price guarantee" list, Jay Wolfe Toyota. This is somewhat humorous, as this is the only dealer in St. Louis charging at least 2K OVER the MSRP. In any event, when I tried to get a price coupon for the Prius, it stated the the special price was "not available" as the car was "out of stock."

    Tony, did you actually get a dealer in Chicago that agreed to the lower price? If you did, I'd be curious who it was. I'm from Chicago originally.

    Steve
     
    #10 stevesol, Oct 18, 2004
  11. LewLasher

    LewLasher Member

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    In Boston (AAA club of Southern New England), I got to "build" the car on the Web site, and "research" it and "compare" it. But there were no discounts offered.
     
    #11 LewLasher, Oct 18, 2004
  12. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stevesol\";p=\"45832)</div>
    Since I already have Priapus, I didn't actually follow through with the entire process. However, I will contact my buddy Jeff Potts at Libertyville Toyota and see what he says. There's a Toyota dealer in just about every other suburb around here. I'm not going to check them all, but I will check Libertyville. Details to follow. . .
     
    #12 TonyPSchaefer, Oct 18, 2004
  13. mmccking

    mmccking Junior Member

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    I saw the same thing comparing invoice to msrp, but that doesn't mean that you'll get invoice. It's just letting you know what the invoice price is. Also, read the disclosure on the bottom, i.e., prices may vary by dealer...
     
    #13 mmccking, Oct 19, 2004
  14. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy\";p=\"45717)</div>
    MSRP has even less to do with how much the dealer paid for the car than invoice. 3% over invoice on a Prius is around $1500 off MSRP. Sounds like a good deal to me.[/b][/quote]

    journeygirl, would you be willing to tell us what you actually paid?
     
    #14 richard schumacher, Oct 19, 2004
  15. journeygirl1

    journeygirl1 New Member

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    Not a problem. I am expecting a call from the dealership...any minute now, actually. When the deal is made, and I get home with "the Grey Ghost" I'll let everyone know how it went. I am still skeptical about the AAA discount, but if they give me problems, I'll have them call the local AAA office while I am there. Not that it will do any good...

    -=Amber=-




    """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
    Dr.Amber Sapp
    [email protected]
    2005 Silver #6
     
    #15 journeygirl1, Oct 19, 2004
  16. BobA

    BobA New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(journeygirl1\";p=\"45966)</div>
    Amber, good luck on the call...

    I have found that AAA now days only wants your dues or will tow your car... if it's not over 5 miles... My card says that I'm a 25 year member and I guess that with it and a couple of dollars I can get a cup of coffee... I followed your instructions on the AAA website... in KY it worked... in CO, well there are no dealers interested and it says. 'NO discounts given on the Prius at this time'.. the Toyota.com page at one time, said if you were just out of school with some kind of degree you got a discount...

    Was going to drop the club as I have the same service with Toyota... but I have a 1951 Ford pickup that ever once in a while has a mind of it's own.. so I guess I'm after the 30 year card..

    thanks for showing us the website as at least the KY AAA has a lot of deals...

    Bob Andersen
     
    #16 BobA, Oct 19, 2004
  17. hnational

    hnational Junior Member

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    I live in chicago and i'm impatiently waiting for my prius to show up. I checked out the attached .pdf file and it's similar to what i was able to configure myself. Alas, i don't see where the 3% over invoice is stated nor do i see anything like the buyer's certificate that was initially described. Am i missing something? Unfortunately, i've got another month of a wait (fingers crossed) and another month of the scooter and CTA but i'd love to have this all in order. any help is appreciated. thanks
     
    #17 hnational, Oct 19, 2004
  18. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Just spoke to Jeff at Libertyville Toyota and he confirmed that they DO NOT accept the AAA discount price on the Prius. He went on to say that on all other cars, they accept the pricing scheme. He suggested that in other areas, such as California where they see many more cars than here in the Midwest, you might be able to get that pricing. Those were his words, not mine.

    He also related a few instances, such as an employee discount program, in which the pricing was done in haste and generated hundreds of calls since the Prius was included on the discounted pricing.

    So now I feel better knowing that I didn't leave money on the table.

    [Editted for spelling. really have to start using that thing]
     
    #18 TonyPSchaefer, Oct 20, 2004
  19. betshsu

    betshsu Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer\";p=\"46205)</div>
    I hate to tell you this Tony... but your sig has a typo too (and "editted" only has one "t") :D.

    I am also vaguely glad to see that this is not a universally easy to get discount. I just got my Prius on Friday, and I hate to think that I could have saved some money on it by simply printing out a coupon. I had an additionally complicated situation as I am a member of AAA Texas but purchased the car in Nashville.
     
    #19 betshsu, Oct 20, 2004
  20. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    The "Editted" was a joke. I couldn't decide which word to misspell. However, I often misspell "milage". I've already fixed it, thanks. I don’t know why we keep that ‘e’ in there. It’s not like we’re going to confuse it with the word “millage†which is a term used in taxation. Besides, there are examples, such as “dosage†in which the ‘e’ is dropped. Oh well.

    I also often misspell "traveling", "traveled†and “traveler†; I always want to put two els. The truly sad part is that I tell M$ Word to automatically fix all my most common typos eliminating the chance for me to ever actually learn how to spell.
     
    #20 TonyPSchaefer, Oct 21, 2004
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