Texas dealers

Durnat Toyota in Weatherford (Tom Hammond?) Nice guy, before Dianne saved my hairy a&&, Tom was honest with me when I visited him in late June/July when I was dealing with Satan (Vandergriff). Was charging 1K over, 3/4 month wait.

 

Charles Maund Toyota in Austin

I originally placed an order with them, through their internet sales manager, who told me 3-4 months. But I kept getting conflicting stories about the dealership--newspaper article that said they had stopped taking orders in Oct (I ordered mine the next May) and when I'd talk to different salesman, they would tell me they weren't taking any more orders until the 2005 was released. Plus folks here said they were doing the "if you pay $3k more than MSRP you'll get your car faster". I have no idea if any of this is true or not though. I was offered cars from my salesman in the 3-4 month timeframe, but never a color/package I wanted and always with $3k of extra options (leather, Extra Mileage Package B, etc)--I was never pressued to pay more than MSRP to get a car faster. I don't know if I got offered cars faster because I went through the internet salesman (who claimed he handled all the Prius orders, which I think was definitely not true based on later calls to the dealership). I do know that my name was never put in the official Toyota database through Maund. I ultimately got the exact car I wanted through an order I placed with a dealer in TN and took my name off the Maund list.

 

Try Don Davis in Arlington as they are selling at MRSP. I put my name on a waiting list in October and they told me June. But the sales person I am dealing with keeps you informed. Not sure if can list the salesperson if I can I will give you her name. I was 14 on list and they have sold 8 in the last two months. So it looks like it will be sooner than June next year.

 

The salesperson at Don Davis is Ouphany Boussarath that I have been dealing with and she has called me each month with me having to call her.

 

I don't know what it's like buying a Prius in Austin, but I've been singularly unimpressed with the Toyota dealers here.

Some $%&^ backed into my Prius and cracked a tail light, so I had to get it repaired at the body shop. Didn't leave any insurance details, so the insurance treated it as a hit-and-run and I ended up out $250 (plus the misery of having to drive a Chevy for two days).

Anyway... I'd heard so many horror stories about Charles Maund that I skipped them and went to Champion Toyota. Champion did a fine job on the actual repair, but getting to speak to the right person and making sure the parts were in stock required far too many phone calls. They don't seem to call back, and the initial point of contact did a poor job of saying who I needed to talk to and what I needed to tell them. They also deny outright that there's an LSC for a DVD navigation system upgrade.

I got so frustrated with Champion's non-communicative nature that I tried calling Classic Toyota in Round Rock. They said that they'd do the repair work, but since it was a Prius they'd need me to pay for the parts in advance before they'd order them. So, I went back to Champion...

I get the feeling someone like Autofair Toyota could set up shop in Austin and wipe the floor with the local guys.

Oh, saw a gold Prius just now outside Central Market. Hi to whoever that was...

 

I have been using Champion... they had NEVER pull this on me...

later

 

We ended up getting our Prius at Ron Carter, in Alvin (May 2004). Compared to some others' stories, I'd say our experience was fair. We got a #9 for MSRP, but with all the extras loaded on (leather seats, extra mile, etc.), which we really didn't get a choice about, we still paid more than I would have liked. On the other hand, it was pretty much one month from deposit (which they didn't really deposit) to delivery, so I can't complain too much. The worst part of the experience was once we were actually at the dealer for delivery, where their trade-in guy low-balled (by about 50%) our old car, their financing guy bitched about how he couldn't compete with USAA's loan rates, and the salesman clearly knew very little about the vehicle. Let's just say we were happy once we got off the lot (well, not my wife, 'cause she had to drive the old car back to Austin).

As for Austin dealers and their service departments, I agree completely with metamatic. While I haven't been to Champion (I live up near Parmer/I35), my experience with Classic has been mixed. I've taken my car in three times in the last six weeks, each time with an appointment.

The first was the 5K mile service, which took about an hour longer than it should have, but all things considered wasn't too bad. They at least got the oil level right, though I'm not sure they checked the tire pressure after rotating them (I didn't check until a few weeks later, at which point the front tires were, suspiciously, about 2 psi lower than than the rear tires. Next time I'll check before I leave the lot).

The second was just before Xmas, when I had scheduled the brake switch recall and Nav update. Turns out they hadn't ordered the DVD (and one guy kept saying that they couldn't till they'd seen the car, which is just dumb, even if it is Toyota's policy), and the tech I was scheduled with was on vacation. So, they bump me to a new guy who's been there all of a week. I've been told it will take about an hour, so I go run some errands and come back maybe 90 minutes later (figuring it always takes longer than they estimate). I get back, and no one has even looked at my car (which took twenty minutes to determine). Since I've got to come back for the Nav update (grrr), I explain that I'd just as soon take my car as-is and return some other day. But they haven't even looked at it, so they can't order the DVD until they do. Finally, as they're trying to determine what they need to know to order the DVD, a tech says he'll do the brake switch right now. Three hours after my original appt, I finally get my car back. To be fair, they "new guy" (Charles) was actually really nice and very apologetic, even though none of this was really his fault. Still not a very good experience, though.

Then, just a few days ago, I brought it in to switch out the Nav DVD and they were fast and nice and a few of the guys chatted with me about the Prius and how much everyone who had one seemed to like them. Given my past experience, it was surprisingly pleasant.

 

inkydoo:
I know what you mean... I was told that the best of the best of all the Prius Techs in the austin area worked on my car... he complained that the fuel level tsb took him 6 hours and the "Toyota rate book" alotted 2 hours... Fine.. pick up my car and everything seams find... they broke the spare tire tray (did not notice it was heavy and just pulled up... bang) come on you can see the sears tool box there...

Well day before the X-Mas trip, part is in... great.. go to get it ... and notice NAV is not working correctly. I show them.. as no Prius Tech is around I can't get my part.. ... after finding out what the error code means (from the PriusChat) I call Sally back with the finding... Tech out will pass the error code on...

I get ichy and decide to take the dash apart... find that the NAV ant. cable is in at least two parts and the they had come apart... reconnect until I hear "click" to be sure they are locked into the connector... called Sally back to say I found and fixed the problem.. told that the "Prius Tech" was very sure that all connections had been made correctly... yea right...

Now I do not know how much time it takes to drop the gas tank, but I do know I installed my PriusXM in less than 4 hours ( I even passed the ant wire though the roof hole) ... and I even worked in the area that the new board would be replaced is...he just took way too much apart to get to that area... the nav ant cable should have not been touched...

I will keep the group informed to other "doings" at this dealership.... but South Austin is just too much out of the way to use... I have co-workers that go home by Classic so pickup is easy..

Oh and to the Nav DVD replacement... they can't send it to me ... They have to make sure some code is checked.. give me a break.... I am going to hammer them on this one.... will show up with my 3.1 in hand and demand my 4.2... what does it take to slip in a dvd and watch a screen to make sure the newer dvd is being read... and that there is no trash on the data side...

Later

 

Austenites, please tell me what's wrong with Charles Maund's service. I just picked up my Prius 10 days ago from Kinsel Toyota in Beaumont (because my wait at Champion was getting longer, not shorter!). I figured that when my baby was ready for her first check-up, I'd take her to Charles Maund since that is the closest dealer to me. metamatic mentioned hearing "horror stories", but didn't say what kind of stories were heard.

 

When I went to Charles Maund for an oil change, I had an experience that scared me. The guy that came to get the car didn't know how to start the car. The service advisor came and started the car and told the first guy to just leave it on. When I got the car back, the state of charge had gone from 6 bars to 2 bars and the MPG had gone from 57 to 54 or there about. I was left wondering if they left the car on while they changed the oil and after the battery slowly drained, the engine kicked on without any oil in the crankcase. I will never know what really happened. I will not be revisiting Charles Maund. I have not had a similar experience at Champion. It would seem to be the rare dealer that has anyone on staff that understands everything that we know here on PC. I understand that their tech will know some things that we don't know but face it; not many people working at a dealership are going to go home and get online every night to find out the latest info on the Prius.

 

Man that just sent a shiver down my spine thinking about that! I'd sure as hell go and tell the service manager that giving that info to a oil change jockey will eventually cost them a court battle when they screw up a customers engine. It's time for them to have a service meeting and get the staff up to speed on the Prius. I'd put it in writing and send a copy to corporate also. Put on the top of the letter CC: dealer CC: Toyota USA If you look in your manual there is an address for corporate. That is just the dumbest thing I've heard of in a long time.

 

I have had no trouble with the car and have had some wonderful mileage performance in the 15,000 miles since, so it probably did not run without oil or at least not long enough to cause damage. I will not be revisiting them nor will I follow up on this. I spend 8 hours a day guiding the efforts of others and correcting their mistakes. I establish policies to avoid problems and then watch as these measures sometimes fail. I really try to avoid doing the same thing in my off-time for other companies that don't want my input. I hope that I don't sound rude. I did call the service rep to tell him of my concern at the time, in case a problem developed. Thank you for your input.

 

Hello fellow Texans.

Does anyone have a good dealer rec they can pass along to me? I live near SA and work in Austin so I have several dealers to choose from.

Northpark Boerne said they could take $500 off MSRP, Champion said they want MSRP but will deal. I got an auto reply from Red McCombs Toyota and it was $700 off of MSRP. I've sent tons of emails out with only one or two responses. So far, this doesn't look good.

What dealers are selling these things for close to invoice?

Thanks,

Tim

 

Tim -

I bought a used 2002 Prius about two weeks ago from San Marcos Toyota. My salesman was Tom from Internet Sales.

I can't speak for what they are willing to discount on a new one, but I was impressed by them when purchasing mine. I noticed it on a Thursday morning on Autotrader, and called, explaining that I couldn't get over to see it until Saturday am (I live a couple of hundred miles from San Marcos). Everytime the same situation had happened with other dealers, the car ended up selling before I could get there to see it. With San Marcos Toyota, they guaranteed me that they would hold the car until I had a chance to get there, because they realized I didn't want to drive that distance and find out that the car had been sold. And that was with no commitment on my part to actually purchase the car.

I do think I got an excellent price for my car, and I felt their willingness to accommodate out of town internet shoppers went way above and beyond what I would have expected.

Hope this helps.

Linda

 

I have to say that in all the dealership experiences I have had, buying a Toyota ranks up there with the worst. Universal Toyota (Red McCombs) in SA, downright lies on their internet and instore salesmenship, they tell you one thing, and then totally forget it when you show up. Prices were way off and seemed made up, they offered $1000 below invoice by phone and internet, and were $500 above invoice in negotiations, plus they made up fake prices for trade in.

Alamo Toyota seemed like I was an enemy for wanting to negotiate price, and the actual Red McCombs would only talk MSRP. That was my San Antonio experience, and I went to San Antonio because my local dealer was acting like gods gift to the world.

Then I tried Houston, and all I got from them was at the most $500 off MSRP, but that was internet and phone calls, and again found out they forgot about it at negotiations.

So went back to local dealer at end of the month and their attitude totally changed, they were willing to negotiate, and deal was made. Only bad part was at signing, they did everything under the sun to try to demand I take their financing, even though I had better bank financing then they were offering, trying to tell me its only a few dollars more. Then when I refused, they told me to go to my bank and get a check, which of course was not going to happen and my bank took care of that problem.

Worst experiences buying a car has got to be Toyota, if GM, Ford or Chrysler can get their act together, Toyota will see the effect of their we are god attitude.

 

Thanks for the update. Linda, it sounds like SM took care of you. EJFB, your experience sounds like what's in store for me. I'm thinking I might just go out of state and avoid the hassle.

Anyone else have some good info?

 

YIPEEEEE! As we were getting ready for bed, my husband said, "Why don't you get online and see what kind of deal we can get on an '08 Touring Pkg 6." I am so excited. So much so in fact that I am afraid that I will be too quick to accept any offer.
I live in Texarkana, Texas and have emailed a ton of dealerships for quotes on this car today. Most of the dealerships have responded with wanting me to come in and talk and work up a deal. It sounds like there have been quite a few internet deals done by people here on PC, why should this be any different?
Do you guys have any idea of a good dealership in my general area? Like I said, I live in Texarkana, but would be willing to drive around 500 miles or so to get a good deal. Maybe more depending. Thanks for your help. I am so excited! Keri

 

I am from Austin, TX and ordered a 2008 Prius with package #3 in Barcelona Red yesterday. Delivery was estimated at 4-6 weeks. My price was $24795 before TT&L

During my research I emailed many dealers in the area, and the best discount I found was $650 off MSRP from Cowboy Toyota in Dallas. In general, no dealerships had any Prius on the lot, and they were being pre-ordered as they came in.

Locally, Champion Toyota in south Austin gave me $500 off MSRP. They also had a Costco Auto program discount, but that was 4% over invoice, working out to only $247 off MSRP.

I decided to go with Champion Toyota in south Austin, and had a very smooth order process. I was not hard-sold on anything, and they allowed me to pick the exact configuration I wanted. I worked with Steve Roy ([email protected]), tell him Dan Bernard referred you

I hope that helps people shopping for a Prius in the Austin area
Dan