Rate your buying experience/dealer for the preorder.

After the buyers identified a dealer, the dealers and the buyers have to mutually agree upon on a price. The dealers can always adjust the price. I saw my dealer went to this site https://training.dealerdaily.toyota.com and modified the price for me. Then the buyer needed to confirm the final price and the dealer got the notificaton again, click ok and the order is send to Toyota.

 

For what it's worth, I like the followup from my Plug-in Dealer:

 

One Toyota of Oakland did a great job. I received a phone call about ten minutes after I ordered. I received my quotation email in the afternoon, at $500 below MSRP. I like this dealership very much. It's a beautiful facility and they treat people very well. They have a One Price, non-negotiable policy, which makes them very easy to deal with. Their policy is that, at the time of sale, they offer a LoJack Service and ToyotaCare, and absolutely nothing else. There is no dickering and no disreputable, fast-talking practices.

 

that's beautiful! i have purchased 5 toyota's from 4 different dealers and barely gotten a verbal thanks on the way out. and the salespeople are always gone when i go back. maybe it's me!

 

I used Auburn Toyota and Andy the sales manager was excellent. 2 minutes after I ordered online He called me and we had everything confirmed within minutes. Andy said He had 10 pre-orders.

 

Toyota of El Cajon, "Your Green Dealer" –>Fail

Well, maybe F+. Someone at the dealership did push the "OK" button when it lit up their panel. Unfortunately, that person didn't communicate it to anyone else at the dealership. So after several back and forth telephone calls over the course of almost a week that got me nowhere, as in, they really don't know what I'm even talking about, I called Dianne.

My feeling was that if the "green" dealer can't figure out the program now, what would happen after the car arrives? In all likelihood, they'd screw that up, too.

I guess "Green Dealer" must mean something different to them than it's supposed to mean to me.

It may take an hour or so to drive up to Carson when the time comes, but I'll be smiling all the way back home.

 

Dianne the lady with a plan! Two thumbs up.

 

I am getting mine from Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego. I didn't get around to ordering until the afternoon of the 17th (darn meetings) and got a call from them to confirm the next day. They said I was their second one. But - they didn't ask for a deposit which surprised me. I didn't bring it up...

I had gone in a few months ago to check out the 2011 in person as I had never driven one before, and they didn't really know anything about the process at all. I had intended to call around to other local dealerships but never got around to it.

 

That is kind of how I felt about some of the other 'out of state' dealers I had contacted. I wanted a backup for Dianne, just in case California sold out so I contacted two dealers in the Portland, OR area. Neither had a clue about how the preordering process worked. I figured if I had to be the one to instruct them on it, there was no way I could trust them with them shipping my car to Minnesota when in finally came in.

 

sandiegomom,

what kind of deal did you get at Kearney Mesa?
I read that people were trying to get group buys going (before Danny got several Dealerships nationwide) . I posted for any "takers" in San Diego and no one ever tried to get a group going at any of the S.D.dealerships. I talked to Chula Vista Toyota 1st and Jason knew all about the pre-order process, and offered me $750 off MSRP upfront and never changed. So I stuck with him. When the ordering window opened he had my order confirmed in a few minutes, my only problems were with my online part.
I think no one in San Diego tried very hard to get a single dealership to do a group buy was that when most people called the dealerships the dealerships were pretty clueless on the whole process like Poway. They told me they didn't even know the price (Nov. 16th) the day before the "window opened" and I could get on their list (even though I was pre-registered) and "if say a Black one comes in they will call every one on their list until some one wants it" and "they will charge as much as they can for it"
no thanks
Chula Vista Toyota and Jason worked out fine, 5 stars out of 5 for me. Toyota's online system; 1 1/2 stars out of 5. PIP hopefully 5 out of 5 stars !
pardon the grammar, Black Friday lack of sleep or a stroke I am not sure.

 

Ditto the comment above! Dianne Whitmire was a gem! She answered all my questions, offered a $500 discount off MSRP, a $100 gas card and a full tank of gas to boot!

 

And don't forget to tell Dianne what type of muffin you prefer

 

I wonder if I will get my car with a full tank of gas when it is shipped from California to Minnesota.

I bet my chocolate chip muffin might be stale....

 

Do have to put a deposit? I spoke with my dealer and he told me a deposit wasn't needed. Of course I have the confirmation number for my order so I hope that will be sufficent when my Prius arrives to prove it is my car. I am guessing the deposit guarantees it is yours.

 

Just bought a 2011 Prius III - couldn't wait for next year's plug-in.

Got a good deal, and dealer was great. Only beef I had was that they low-balled me on a trade-in. I had a 2006 Prius (fair-good condition, 103k miles) and they offered $3500. I whined, and they offered more.

Recommendation: if you're going with a trade-in, bring a print-out of a 3d party eval of value. Better - bring a computer and show the salesman on-line. It helps.

 

I think the deposit is really just a formality. I think it is looked on as a hassle by most of the good dealerships. As long as you got the "Your Prius Plug-in Order Has Been Completed" email from Toyota, I think you are good to go.

 

whats the out the door price?

 

My Out The Door Costs:

Toyota Prius Plug-In Advanced (MSRP) $39,525.00
Sea Glass Pearl - paint code 781
Delivery Processing and Handling $760.00
Carpeted Floor and Cargo Mats $200.00
Rear Bumper Applique $69.00
Window Tint and Door Cups $295.00
--------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total $40,849.00
--------------------------------------------------
Texas State Tax 6.25 % $2,553.06
Tucson City Tax 2.00 % $816.98
Desert Toyota Doc Fee $399.00
Govt. fees (title/postage/tires) 14.50
--------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total $44,632.54
Less Deposit $500.00
--------------------------------------------------
Balance (Out the Door Cost) $44,132.54
--------------------------------------------------
The fee for 90 day drive-away tags is not included
above.