Liberty Toyota - NJ Bad

Well, made the decision to get one. Decided on Seaside Pearl. Checked out all the "local" dealers internet sites to see what they had in stock figuring why waste everyone's time and MY gas (duh) driving somewhere and them not having what I want on the lot. Called one dealer - said the internet one was sold, wasn't getting anymore in for another month. OK, thanks but no thanks. Liberty's internet site doesn't list any available cars just the two model levels. So I call. First time the operater transfers me to the recording asking for my opinion of their service - press 1 for good, 3 for not so good. OK I press 1 (stupid -but she was polite). Get disconnected. Call back. Operator apologizes - then does the same thing! This time I press 3 - and tell them they just lost a sale. DH comes in - doesn't belive me. Calls and of course gets a live person - the "sales manager". He specifically asks if they have the light blue prius (he can't quite wrap his mouth around the seaside pearl) on the lot and is assured that they do. In fact - he asks 3 times. So we hike on up. (After spiffing up my car a bit). Surprise, surprise - 1 black Prius on the lot. PISSED!!! Anyhow, salesman sweet talks us saying he can get us a blue one in 1-2 days no problem and we'll get "free tires forever" - must've said that 7 times. DH kept saying he hates being lied to. Finally told him we own a tire store to shut him up - we don't but it worked. But, we're there. We look at the black one, take the black one for a test drive. It is the base model that I decide I want (0 package). But, then I have to pick a couple of "back up" color choices-so green is ok too. So - they look at my car-which BTW is a 2004 Santa Fe extremely clean w/60k miles (long drive to work).
Now, I know I'm upside down on my car from an old lease payoff. But I've done my homework. Called the finance company on Friday and got the payoff. Did the NADA, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds. He comes back telling me I'm 8k upside down and I'd just have to put a few thousand down on the car. WHAAAAT?? That did it telling me my car is worth only 5k. Got up and walked. Of course on the way out. Little pissant "manager" meets us at the door to try to "save the sale". DH ripped into him about the blue car that wasn't. Lying tactic to get people into the dealership. (And actually I was really interested to see where he was going to come up with this car if we went through with it).
Now-I realize that there is always some play in the numbers but this just took the cake as far as I was concerned. I've never felt so insulted.
So-I'm looking for a Seaside Pearl or Silver Pine Mica (blue or green for the common people) base model Pri and have a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe to trade in. Gotta be able to "over finance" the car I expect $4k. Oh - and I'm in NJ, can go over to Philly area if need be.
So are they out there? Is the dealership mentality like the VW diesel rabbits of the 80's? (ok-now I'm dating myself).
thanks for reading
RA

 

Thanks for the info I read back posts and it was mentioned (way back in I think 05 that CH was doing a $500 non-refundable deposit that people were just not happy with and I certainly don't want to do that route). Hope that is a thing of the past. I'm going to keep checking all dealerships w/i about a 25-30 or so mile range to see about finding what I would like in stock before the 08's come out to see if I can get one before the prices go up and my car goes down even more. Geez-after what Liberty said I may have to give it away soon.
I also read the buying tips - funny I tried doing a couple of the internet pricing figuring it couldn't hurt (cars.com or directcars). Within minutes I received an email and it circled me right bact to Liberty. I guess being in Pemberton that is my "local" dealer. So I politely responded that I will never deal with that dealership.
For anyone else-I read the buying tips say not to buy a car if you're "upside down" or "out of equity" (bad financial planning) yeah I know. How's Toyota about financing that? I've been floating this damn 4k Durango lease early-out on 2 new cars through North Fork Bank and they haven't seemed to care at 8%.
thanks
RA

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Proco @ Jun 27 2007, 11:28 AM) [snapback]468821[/snapback]</div>

Thanks-contacted them and going to give it a try-am off on Friday so we'll see what happens. (They also have a #3 Seaside for $25-don't need that many bells/whistles).
I've read my carbuyingtips
Got my CapitalOne check in hand (we'll try that one for a first too)
Now, if I really had the guts to take my laptop into the dealership with me.....
Gee, I never knew car buying could be this much "verbal"
RA