Southern CA Dealer Experiences

I FORGOT all about that! Awesome.

Tustin Toyota uses this guy for shipping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Id6s_N34k

Arrrrgh!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pale Alien @ Jul 19 2006, 08:14 AM) [snapback]288677[/snapback]</div>

I live next to Tustin, and had a few services at Tustin Toyota. For at least a couple times, they would send out service reminders/ads in red-striped envelopes labeled recall notice.

First time service with them: took them 3 hours to rotate-tires/replace-oil, 2 out of 6 times: oil overfilled and a yelling contest with some heckling service writers to get it corrected.

To be fair, the management service writers took care of things after the arguments (namely Roy), but it is generally is unpleasant to go there. Strangely, they're still listed as MacPherson Toyota on local.yahoo.com.

I really really miss the Norm Reeves AutoCare center in Irvine that used to service all import cars at low prices. Anyways, I'm moving my needs to Longo now.

 

I really really miss the Norm Reeves AutoCare center in Irvine that used to service all import cars at low prices. Anyways, I'm moving my needs to Longo now.
[/quote]

I would be curious to hear how Longo is. Work isn't too far from Elmore Toyota, so I'm going to give them a shot. Have you ever tried Power off of Bake Parkway, or was that too far? I bought my car there, but haven't heard about their service department. It's a backtrack for my commute to Garbage Grove.

Funny thing about that whole Tustin Auto Center. I've tried to buy each of our last three cars in "my own backyard," and found the worst prices, and some really nasty people. The Acura dealer there is evil too. The lady in the Internet sales department acted as if I tried to eat one of her children by asking for competitive pricing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pale Alien @ Jul 19 2006, 01:41 PM) [snapback]288914[/snapback]</div>

Not mention the horrible gas prices in this area which are around 15-20cents higher for regular than the Westminister/Garden Grove/Cypress area.

Well, back from Longo but really didn't have time to use their free wireless to post this because ... I got a free movie pass to while my time away.

I'm currently not interested in experimenting with another dealership so I haven't even thought about Power nor others.

So, I went in at around 11:30am for my appointment to do oil, rotate tires, and steering-recall SSC 60C. They projected it'll be done around 4pm (I guess they're busy and it is Friday), but Longo has a policy of a free-shuttle-ride-and-movie-tickets to the local cinema if the wait is more than 2 - 3 hours. So I did that, caught something, called and got shuttled back, took advantage of the built-in Subway that was there for a late lunch, stayed away from the Starbucks that was also there, and got out of there around 4pm for $57 total (brought my own Mobil-1). Picked up a great lumbar bucket support accessory too.

Except for the current heat wave, I would say that was some royal treatment I got. Oil was filled exactly as I demanded to nearly 3.5qts, they didn't lower my tire pressures but evened it to 40psi (I'll fix that to 39/37 soon), gave me a detailed brake/tire life/status summary sheet that I've never seen before, and my steering wheel is straight again - it was leaning 2-3 degrees to the right when I went in.

My only complaints are they messed with my side-mirror settings, ran my battery down to 2 purple/pink bars, dropped my MPG from 50.1 to 49.1, put 7 miles on the odometer, and an insane $1K quote for TRD Sportivo installation.

Otherwise, I don't see a reason to ever go back to Tustin Toyota except for the fact it's closer, and I still got a free oil/rotate IOU somewhere.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Jul 21 2006, 09:33 PM) [snapback]290275[/snapback]</div>

A ride, and a movie ticket. Well, that beats the poke with a sharp stick Tustin gives you. I'll try Longo I guess. Good post, thanks!

Say, am I the only recent purchaser around here who's a bit sick of being begged for an "excellent" rating on the Toyota survey? Man, I got the third call tonight. That makes five people asking to be rated excellent. Maybe they lop off heads if they don't get a nice number...

 

I am with Pale Alien.

Avoid Tustin Toyota unless you just want to be entertained. When the sales manager came out since I did not want to pay $3K over MSRP, my wife practically ran off of the lot. Later she said, "he was sleezy looking!", which made me sorry to have shaken his wet hand. :blink:

Power Toyota was okay. We had some initial issues with them, but ended up buying there.

Cheers,

 

I went to Family Toyota in San Juan Capistrano as the first dealer because they were local. The salesman told me there was no bartering on the price and the mark up was well over $3000 of the MSRP. Also, he said when the truck arrives with a new shipment that he would call me and I would have to come down there within an hour of the phone call and buy the Prius. I don't rush anywhere and spend over $30k ( I wanted the package 8). The whole place just felt like high pressure sales, I would avoid it.

Next stop was Toyota of Rancho Santa Margarita. There was no mark-up on the price here, MSRP was what they were sold for. My salesman, Bruce, was really easy going and trustworthy. I had to wait about 6 weeks, but that wasn't bad and I got what I wanted for the going rate.

I highly recommend their sales dept, but steer clear of their service dept. It took them all day Saturday to switch out my satellite receiver 8:30am-3pm and I still have constant signal drop outs. Even before they started working on it, I told them that the Sigma antenna shouldn't be mounted under the window shade on the front windshield, but the service rep chick was like "ya ya ya... that's not the problem." So now, i will fix it myself.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Otto @ Jul 28 2006, 07:15 PM) [snapback]294127[/snapback]</div>

Yup, I got mine from RSM with the same fair shake and no markup through their Internet Fleet dealer. It's almost expected for RSM to be as good as Longo because they're part of the same Penske family.

Now for service... first oil change where I specifically asked for 3.5 qts.. they put in 3.9. Never went back, and went to Tustin instead.. Oh yay...

Notes about Longo: emailed their Internet service dept asking for a quote 7/24. Got two replies from their Internet Director/primary responder and still no response on a quote. "We respond within 60 minutes; we'll get right on it in the AM" by a Roy Durham. Don't trust that guy.

I did call in 4 days later (yesterday) for quote, got bounced around for 10 minutes, and got read a fair quote out of their system of $393 front, and $365 back, for $758 total for a suspension installation from a Randy. Avoid Alex/Alejandro with his $1000 seat-of-the-pants quote.

I'll try Power sometime, but they were late to the table delivering me a Prius compared to RSM.

 

Beware of Toyota of Chula Vista. Internet salesman Mike C, in particular. Been in contact for 3 weeks looking for Prius. Wasted 4 days of my time, after claiming he had the exact pkg# and color I wanted. When I offered to put deposit on car, he said he'd have to get back to me. Finally got back to me and said they weren't accepting deposits any longer - "new rule" implemented that day. I should have realized the scam right there, but I didn't. I asked if he could write up a contract, then fax / Fed Ex it to me, and I would Fed Ex it back along with a check for the full amt. of the car (MSRP+T&L). He said he'd have to ask his sales mgr, as that was a very unusual request. Didn't hear back from him, then finally he replies that sales mgr is "off that day", so he'll get back to me the next day. Still didn't hear back from him, so I email again, and he tells me the sales mgr doesn't get in til the afternoon. After I gave him a deadline, he finally e-mails me to say that sales mgr has agreed and general sales mgr. will be the one writing up the contract to send out, but is currently in a meeting. I e-mail him some general info for the contract and ask what else he needs for it. No reply. Late in the afternoon of the 4th day, he finally e-mails me to say the car been sold and that they don't expect to get any more in anytime soon, so better luck searching else where.

I've since contacted other dealerships that got good reviews posted on this website, so I'm hoping one of them will be a better experience than Toy of CV.

Good luck to everyone out there still searching for their perfect Prius! B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brighamwj @ Jun 11 2006, 05:29 PM) [snapback]269666[/snapback]</div>

Wow - that's horrible. Is this illegal? Wouldn't it make sense for Toyota to try and get involved. That kind of scum should not be able to waste out time - and in the end, Toyota is getting the last laugh.

Supply and demand - I got that lecture 10 times.

And as I said in my post, Ernesto at Southbay was great!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Jun 11 2006, 06:58 PM) [snapback]269712[/snapback]</div>

Is there a cheat sheet list to see all the "bad" Toyota dealers? Also, is it hypocritical to avoid such dealers for purchase but to use one for service? My closest service place is one of the dealers selling the cars for over msrp - and is that bad enough in and of itself, i.e. I didn't have a bad experience with them - just a price I refused to pay?

 

Call Howard Sheehy at Kearny Mesa Toyota for a good experience. Howard knows the car sells itself and won't give you any promises he can't keep, lead you on or bait and switch. He'll tell you up front if a car is there or not. They only sell at MSRP, no mark-ups or add ons, unless you request something. The cars do have the floor mats and cargo covers.

Howard Sheehy, the Internet/Fleet Manager at

Kearny Mesa Toyota,
4910 Kearny Mesa Road,
San Diego, CA 92111

ph: 858-335-5815,

email: [email protected]

Tell him Mary with the Black Prius with the big Owie sent you.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(loopyloops @ Aug 20 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]306260[/snapback]</div>

Well, some say that "it's what the market will bear." They have the right to make money. If that particular dealer was not otherwise evil, do what makes sense for YOU.

For me, Tom in Tustin was a pirate, complete with eyepatch, cutlass and scurvy. I got the feeling that I would be walking the plank by going to their service department. Fortunately, I have another Toyota dealer close to my work. In short, the guy insulted my intelligence and gave me an unwelcome economics lecture. I found the car I wanted the same day, 6 miles away for a fair price, despite his lies. I'll punish the entire dealership for his behavior. Obviously the management endorses his tactics, or he wouldn't be there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pale Alien @ Aug 20 2006, 10:43 PM) [snapback]306536[/snapback]</div>

Makes sense - thanks! OC was about the only area I didn't check, btw.

 

Hey,
I have to recommend Carson Toyota, if you're a savy negotiator.
I bought my loaded 05 in February of last year at the height of the first Prius sticker gouge and before Toyota doubled its production. I paid $3,000 over sticker but got a 2 point reduction in the interest rate they would charge and overall was less than if I hadn't paid the over. (of course i probably could have done better, but oh well) It also wasn't bad because I didn't wait a day for the car. I visited the dealer the week before and told him I was interested in a loaded red model, so I was really just looking. (it was a toss up between a Prius and an Acura TL). One week later he called and said one just rolled off the boat. I picked her up that evening.

About 3 months after that I went back with a friend of mine and got her the same car. They had it sitting on the lot, and this time no extra. plus she got the 100,000 full mile warranty.

 

I bought mine a month ago at North County Toyota (Anaheim, CA), through Costco, at $100 under MSRP. No pressure, but it took nine weeks. I did get the exact color (blue) and package (#8) I wanted. The finance guy was a bit of a pain. I did buy a LoJack system at well under what he wanted, with some arm twisting. He tried to sell me an extended warranty for $1800. I bought the same Toyota policy through a MA dealer on PriusChat for $990. Much better value, and is 7-year, 100K, no deductable, bumper to bumper. I don't expect to us it, though!

 

I had a very pleasant experiece at Mossy. See my post here
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=20829&st=40

I tried Kearny Mesa Toyota a number of times and they never had any cars available and did not seem much interested in helping me.
Mossy on the other hand treated me well, perhaps because I had bought a Camry from them at one time and perhaps because the sales person, Brian Shaw, is a retired 20 year Navy veteran and learned good manners and honesty in The U.S. Navy'

Peter

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Devil's Advocate @ Aug 21 2006, 11:03 AM) [snapback]306803[/snapback]</div>

I got mine from them online in April '05 at MSRP. It was on the lot, so I called on a Thursday and picked it up on Saturday (had my friends drive me from San Diego and they had no idea I was even in the market for a new car). I didn't get the extra warranty at the time (they wanted $1,200) as I knew I could get it cheaper somewhere else. Very painless, but I know people have paid over MSRP (up to $5,000) there.

 

Most people stay away from Elmore Toyota - I was on the waiting list there, and one of my friends got one after just walking in (and obviously they ignored the wait list). They will not go back there even for service...