Thank you Dianne @ Manhattan Beach Toyota!

I just took possession of a 2010 Prius IV in silver with the NAV package, and I just wanted to thank Dianne of Manhattan Beach Toyota for such a smooth and simple transaction, which is more than I can say for my experience at various other dealers that I visited prior to finding Dianne on this message board.

After nearly 9 years of ownership of a 2002 BMW 325i with close to 136,000 miles, I decided that a change was in order, especially because little things here and there were starting to go on my car. I initially went through the American Express car buying program to get a baseline to work off. I then took this price quote to a few dealerships - North Hollywood Toyota, Tustin Toyota, Power Toyota in Irvine, and Miller Toyota in Anaheim. All were willing to match AMEX's price; however, I didn't appreciate the pushiness at some dealerships and the deceptive nature at others.

I spoke with Dianne this morning regarding her lease specials, and she was kind enough to speak to me for close to an hour to explain why certain cars were on special and why certain cars weren't. She even spoke to me about different options and models, why certain ones were better than others, and how much each choice would end up costing me. I felt that there was total transparency in the transaction, which I appreciated.

For most of us, myself included, price is the bottom line. In my case, Dianne came in substantially below everyone else - nearly $30 less per month, which is a hefty chunk of change over 3 years. Dianne did admit that the reduced price was due to an excess supply of that particular color, which has resulted in that particular car sitting on the lot for an extended period of time. Although silver wasn't my first choice, I could live with it, especially at the deal I was getting.

Despite having prices available to us via the internet, getting a new car can still be quite a nightmare. When I first decided to get a Prius, there were a few things that were important to me: (1) finding an honest and straightforward dealer who wouldn't try to gouge me with fake "fees" (2) getting the best price possible, and (3) finding someone who would make the process easy for both parties.

In my case, Dianne fulfilled all 3. She explained all of the pricing and fees, and she explained why the car I ended up getting was substantially less in price. I truly appreciated her honesty and the straightforward manner in which she conducted business. Secondly, and as I stated before, no other dealer could even touch her price. Lastly, we were able to complete our complete transaction in an hour. Dianne was even kind enough to give me the courtesy of picking me up from the CarMax where I ended up selling my car.

For anyone in the Southern California area, I would strongly recommend Dianne. While at the dealership, she also mentioned that she works with Nate and Jane. However, since I didn't get the chance to work with either person, I can't really comment on how they are as a fleet consultants, although it seems like some people on this board have worked with either one before. However, if I or anyone else I know is in the market for a Toyota, I would definitely not hesitate in suggesting that they contact Dianne.

Thank you Dianne for such a wonderful car-leasing experience.