So yesterday I go down to the dealer to pay for my car. I had negotiated a total out the door price of $25000 for a Level III with carpet mats and bumper protector. I had my own financing so it was a cash deal to them. The dealer keeps me hanging around for 2 hours so the finance guy can finish my papers. Then they come on with the hard sell. They know they are not making anything on a loan kickback from their bank so they try the full court press to get me to buy their warranty package, paint protector package and maintenance package. They tag teamed me with 2 guys trying back and forth to get me to do this. The cost was crazy. The 7 year/100000 mile warranty alone was over $2000. When I bought my Honda CR-V with 4 wheel drive I got the same warranty for $995. If I had bought everything they were trying to add on it would have added $5000 to the cost of the car. Come on, $800 for oil changes and tire rotations for the next three years. Is that oil made from squeezed gold? I listened very politely to their pitch because I had an ace in the hole and I just wanted to let them do the whole song and dance. My wife was astonished at my patience because I usually have no tolerance for sales people and heavy handed tactics. When they were done they said what do you think? I said I already have almost everything you are trying to sell me, my auto insurance already comes with a 7/100,000 bumper to bumper policy and it only costs me $70 a year. I already have towing, and rental car coverage so I don't need that. The dealership provides for FREE a lifetime no deductable warranty on the powertrain anyway, so why would I need to buy something you are giving me for FREE too. But it was the warranty my insurance company sold me that stopped them cold, even the finance manager chimed in and said that they had researched that program and could not figure out how the insurance company gives so much coverage for so little money. With that we were done. Papers done. Check for $25K.
No, $1800 for a GPS is just way out of line. I can get the top of the line voice activated Garmin for less than half of that and update my maps each year for way less then they charge for the Toyota DVD map.
this is about the warranty Your warranty insurance company is a third party. Meaning, they will assess a claim and do what they have to do - somewhere down the line, you may regret NOT buying Toyota's warranty. Toyota's coverage is vastly better. And, they have a lot more to lose if they balk and don't fix something. They also will usually go to bat with the upper powers and come up with parts to fix things slightly off warranty - or past its prime. Capische? "General Warranty" or "state farm warranty" or "insert name here" won't care like the mother ship will. If you get pissed at them, maybe a Lexus or Scion or another Toyota won't be considered next time. Never step over a dollar to save a quarter when it comes to warranty costs. Dianne
Actually, as things go, he got a very good deal. They essentially discounted the cost of the mats and applique $260. Added back the $400 doc fee. I'm not sure how you calculated 20% markup, but $400/23,759 is approximately 1.7%.
eQ --that's 2%. Not 20. I do not know what a dealer fee is though. Pure profit? Oh I want MY dealer fee.
Soooo jealous of your tax rate! Oh, well... at least I can deduct the $2200 tax on my new Prius this year.
Re: this is about the warranty Hmmm, a dealer knocking another companies warranty as garbage. Even on here they try to sell, sell, sell. Like I said I have no patience for sales people or high pressure tactics. Its not a third party warranty by the way, it is administered and run by my insurance company. I have used it for over 20 years on many cars without ever having a problem. The only reason I did not have it on my Honda is because they could not sell that product in the state I lived in at that time.
Re: this is about the warranty So, where do you have your insurance? I've never heard of a car insurance company offering something like that.
I would rather pay for the warranty in full when the 3 year or 36000 miles comes close to expiring. There are lots of third party car warranties out there to scare your dealers into a better rate and coverage for your car.
Garmin now offers a lifetime update for $120 and they have 4 updates a year. A far better deal than a $200 DVD once a year. The Garmin 885T has it all.
I cross my fingers and never buy extended warranties of any type.With Honda/Toyota etc it is usually a good bet. It is very unusual to get something for practically nothing- maybe your insurance companies is the exception. Which insurance company it is? Charlie PS Factory NAV systems are a gimicky ripoff distraction. Maps are cheap.Rand McNally is $10.Mapquest is free. Of course, I'm old-58- I would think they were pretty cool if I was 25.