PriusChat "Certified Dealer" Program - looking for suggestions

My question is whether the price negotiated at the initial pre-order stage will stay the price.

What's to stop the dealer from holding the car hostage once it's on their lot and adding a couple thousand dollars of "handling charges" to the price? What am I going to do? Walk away and order another one next year?

 

Yes, your order form has the price in writing. I wouldn't want to BE the dealership who tried that. You could kiss future allocations bye-bye. That would decimate them.

 

So, the ordering process should start in about 3 weeks, mid-October?

 

that's exactly why the process seems to be broken to me. an unscrupulous dealer will very easily recognize that the customer is really over a barrel here, and say, "hey, sorry i jacked up the price on you, but take it or leave it - maybe you won't get a car if you turn me down."

the customer really should be able to switch dealers without penalty and without losing their position in the queue. that would help keep dealers honest.

[ i missed some replies and i see that dealers should/can be penalized for this behavior. still, if customers could easily switch and have maybe 2 weeks instead of 4 days to complete the order, it would seem to me that the problem would take care of itself ]

well we'd better get crackin' and identify these preferred dealers pretty fast. isn't the word on the street that the ordering will open in early october??

 

It can't be done in the fashion you mention. You have an online contract.

 

Danny are you getting close to unveiling the list?? I'm curious if you've contacted anyone around my population area of the CA central coast.
Thanks!

 

Danny,

Any chance that you will be able to share information this week? Although no one knows for sure, Toyota could be opening up the order process as soon as next week. Appreciate all the work that you have done to bring this together.

 

This is my first post so let me start out with a naive question...

I am pre-registered and therefore I will pick my dealer when the ordering starts. If a dealer doesn't negotiate with me I can simply go to the next and the dealer is left with nothing (as the dealer has no inventory). Doesn't that mean I should be able to get very close to invoice/actual dealer cost (just like I bought my first Prius a few dollars over invoice) even without a certified dealer program?

I know I am missing something - I just don't know what. Help!

Mark

 

Nope. I have been emailing and talking to my dealer, who I have bought 3 Priu from, and a Camry for my parents, so you might say I am a "repeat" loyal customer.

I asked if they can do better than MSRP, given my past business, etc.

The answer is no, since the PiP will be in such short supply, and high demand, they are staying to MSRP. Good luck finding any dealer willing to sell with any discount at all.

I think I am done with Toyota. Might as well just buy a Leaf, the overall cost will be less with the larger $7500 federal credit, and they have a great 3 year lease deal.

 

I'm confused. You don't get the credit if you lease.

 

If you lease a Leaf, they take the credit and pass it on to the buyer, reduces the amount of the lease, and doesn't need to be claimed on your Federal taxes. But that is Nissan, don't know how Toyota will handle it. I'm just saying I've been waiting for a Leaf since 4/20/2010 when I reserved it, looks like ordering will be very soon, and to tell you the truth, I can live within the range of the Leaf, and use no gasoline at all, plus it will he easier to get a Leaf and somewhat less money as well. There is a comparison chart over at MNL (Leaf forum).

 

Sounds good. I would definitely lease then, since the tech is bound to get better over time and there is some question about the long-term life of current lithium batteries.

 

At this point Dianne you are the best choice (probably in the country). I have 9 Toyota Dealers in San Diego and I am disappointed that no one from San Diego is responding to this thread. I can't be a group of 1.
While servicing my 09 Prius yesterday at Chula Vista Toyota, I talked to the Internet Sales Manager, Jason Adame, about the Plug In Prius buying "adventure". He had a clue and had heard of PriusChat. I threw your name at him and that you were my likely preferred dealer,and he said he knew of you and that you "worked at Manhattan Beach Toyota".
He was interested in getting the "spoils" of a group buy. He did a little tap dancing on details of any possible discount. He said their dealership doesn't sell many Prii (they are the southernmost Toyota dealership in San Diego)
and that a group buy would be good for the dealership long term.
Dianne that wasn't maintenance at the other dealer (Poway) that was a free Lifetime Power Train Warranty.

 

Hey there.
I don't dealer-trade much with Poway so he may not know where I am. CARSON is where I am back to (I was here for about 10 years from 97-07, and I am happy and back for good!)

I am not requiring a group buy to discount this car. One at a time or 10 at a time, that doesn't change the cost of the car :: shrug :: so I may as well make the same fair deal for all!

Look at it this way: you can have your car serviced anywhere. The Toyota Care and all warranty and maintenance work is good anywhere. You only have to come up here to get the car, and then we are done with that end of the "commute"... and frankly, I live in Laguna Niguel. I make that drive every day, 6 days a week. My son is a Marine stationed at Miramar and I know the SD drive well... you can also take the train into the area and we will come for you in LA (Union Station in LA) or take the train to the Amtrak Station in Laguna Niguel or San Juan Cap - and I can pick you up on my way into the office.

The way I see it... 'tap dancing' is entertainment. A deal is a deal, and a promise of a large savings from a credible source is priceless. Maybe a little entertaining.. I'll sing it to you!!

So - you can be a group of one!!

 

Before this is all over, I think that Toyota may just end up parking a ship off the coast near Carson and just deliver the cars directly to Dianne!