New Owner (soon). Strange dealer experience, prepare me...

Signed on the dotted line today for a 2012 Prius III. Looking forward to it! Already reading the boards and getting ready, but a few things (after the fact, of course) aren't sitting well with me so I need to know if I'm about to be wamboozled or they just want to sell cars in a time nobody is buying. I was a little overwhelmed, buying a car is an intimidating process for me. Final price out the door: $27663 inc tax & delivery, no problem there, I'm OK with the price. They know I'm working this all through my credit union and their car buying program.

Here's the sale details, please comment (even if to say I'm the sucker for letting it all happen):

1) Car I wanted on the lot was 'sold'. They had a similar one on the way, without the sunroof I didn't want anyway so I ended up spending less. Fine. This really doesn't bother me.

2) NEVER ONCE mentioned extended warranty... at all. I was ready to say no over and over, but was surprised not to have to. Is that coming later? Why didn't he try, did he just want the sale? (I'm not getting the EW anyway)

Here's the weird one:
3) Handed me to the finance guy who put my SSN, salary and mortgage # down, had me sign the application (rest blank) and said, OK that's it, come back next week when the car is in and we'll finalize everything. Wait, shouldn't we have worked out all the details then?? I even asked, "um... shouldn't we discuss term and percentage?" he said "what does your credit union offer?" So I gave him all the details my CU offers and he said that's fine. So I left. Now I think I should have said I'll get the loan myself. Besides, isn't my insurance company going to need to know the lien holder to write a binder?

So I applied online through my credit union earlier today and got preapproved so if I go back and there are any shenanigans I can say I'm going through my bank instead.

Is this really all going to be this easy or have I fallen for some common scams that I'll get hit with next week?

The sales agreement has the final cash due at delivery so I don't think they'll be able to add anything after the fact (except registration).

OK, let me have it and I hope to learn a lot more here. Thanks in advance!

Matt

 

Yes, have the copy in hand. I also read over the loan app, pretty standard app. It was just that I left without the financing in place (and blank spaces on the app itself) and I'm going to need a loss payee for the insurance binder. Bottom line is I have an approved credit union loan ready to go, if they match the terms that's fine, but is there anything I could possibly be hit with as a surprise when I show up for the car?

And what's up with not pressing me on an extended warranty?

 

You're right SageBrush, I seem to be confusing myself.

But it was that they intimated they would run the loan through the dealership on the credit union terms rather than through the credit union itself, but he neglected to ask me the term length I was interested in, which makes a difference on the rate. It wasn't set or known that I was financing through the credit union, just going through their pricing program. But as you said, I'll still let them make an offer, which is easier to work with a preapproval in hand.

And I am certainly going to have amortization in hand so I'm prepared.

Regardless, I still need a loss payee for the insurance so I'll have to call them to get the scoop before the car comes in anyway.

Hopefully I'll have a clear, easy ending to this.

 

A brief update.

Contacted via email the "finance guy" at dealer to ask what the status is as I want to get the insurance binder settled and who I was borrowing from.

He came back with same term and rate my credit union was offering and listed the lein holder as my credit union with the address of one particular branch, however the name of the credit union was spelled slightly differently and the actual address the credit union told me to use was a different branch (the one they use for all auto loans). Either it's some weird doppelganger credit union our more likely the guy just didn't know the right details. Either way I knew what I had to do.

Bottom line, I told him I'll take care of it and I'll just show up with a check myself. Picking the check up tomorrow at my credit union and hope to drive the car home this Saturday.

Oh and for those who asked, nautical blue/dark grey/nav package.

Of course the waiting for my clean pass stickers to ride the HOV lane will make me antsy, but looking forward to the driving and all the updated technology! Hope my Droid X can handle it all. At least until I get the next phone (galaxy journal where are you? When are you coming?)

I'll post again when I get it.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Matt

DROIDX ?

 

:rockon:Got it today!

Walked in with my check. Went smooth, except the hard sell on the extended warranty. When I declined, he made me feel like I disappointed my father, he seemed really upset and the whole tone of the transaction changed, shaking his head like I was an idiot. No hard feelings, I understand he's trying to do his job, but I'm glad I had the PriusChat voices in my head to support me and keep me from wavering.

Spent the last hour draining the battery while I played and set it all up. Only thing I need to figure out is why it says I can't use text messaging. Maybe a droid x thing. No worries though, going to get the proclip mount and use the phone to text/email since it has speech to text (and I can use it while moving).

Thanks for the help everyone! Gonna keep lurking and reading so I'll be seeing y'all.

Matt