Non-event?

I SO agree. I'm near Orlando. And have a $500 ref dep down at my local dealer and 'on the list' at a larger one 40 miles away. Both sales reps are clueless as to deliveries. Not sure if management is pushing the '09s and keeping us in the dark until they are off the lots. More alarming is when I looked around their '09 inventory weeks ago they were loaded with (I believe) port options. I have not purchased a Toyota in Florida since moving here, but I'm mighty concerned about the matters I've read on Chat about SET - similar to the Gulf States Region. I am totally prepared and willing to purchase out of this area to not be fleeced and get exactly what I desire. From what I've seen here, the boat(s) may have stopped in Jacksonville to drop off some Prii, but not sure where they will end up. We're the second-to-the-last-stop for shipping. So like many around the country, and world, thumb-sitting. Not in a huge hurry but anxious to see, test, and hopefully own.

 

I think there is a bigger problem with SouthEast Toyota, the regional group. Let me suggest calling: Keith Pierson Toyota, Jacksonville, FL, 1-866-580-3044. Jacksonville FL is the home port for SouthEast Toyota and they ought to be able to get one 'off the boat.'

Bob Wilson

 

I was at a dealer in the western suburbs (chicagoland) on the 22nd. They had their obligatory demo a VI that was Blizzard Pearl with no options (only mats). The sales guy was much more informative than the manager.

The car had been there only a couple of days and had just under 60 miles. Did a test drive of both a 2010 and a 2009 to get the feel of the difference. much prefer the spacious feeling in the '10. I'm currently driving an '01 Avalon. The '10 was more like the Avalon than the '09 was. Except for the fly-over consol that holds the shifter!

They were trying their best to "SELL OFF" the demo. Seems kind of crazy to me as there was another customer waiting when we got back from our drive to look at the demo. Oh well, I guess the line that they can add is "they are selling so fast we can't keep on on the lot".

I did feel like the manager was feeding me some typical sales BS. Like we are the biggest... "We will get what ever you want before anyone else in the region". "We are the only dealership in Chicago that has a car on available to see". "The ONLY way to get one is to order it from us..." and "The 2010 model IV is the hotest selling one being made". I'm still scraching my head over the last statement.

 

Almost all of the dealers in the Chicago area have gotten their initial allocations. I have seen them in person at about 6 dealers, and spoken with several others who also have them in stock.

As for which dealers are largest, this alone may not give you the details needed to make that determination. Some with large volumes may have larger waiting lists, and a smaller one may not have one at all.

If you felt that they were less than honest with you, then you should probably walk away and not look back. I feel strongly that Pauly Toyota is a great dealership, and the size of their new location is indicative of this, as I have never seen a larger Toyota dealer in the Midwest. Give Jabber a call, and see what sort of wait times he has. I will say that apart from 'A Priori's' Prius V, no other dealers in Chicago has one yet, yet Jabber was able to confirm me one and I should have it at the end of next week.

To me, any dealer trying to 'sell off' the demo, is crooked enough that I would refuse to work with them. From what I have understood, the few given to dealers are meant to be there to showcase the car, and are not 'allowed' to be sold for 6 months. If this is the case, then they are being shady...

 

Yep. I've had the same experience but a bit further north. Not sure if SET has anything to do with it or not. It just seems like plain laziness to me.