Rate your Prius-buying experience!

It must have been in October of 2003 that I read a couple of reviews of the '04 Prius. A friend has an '01 or '02 and I loved the idea, but not the sedan body style. The '04's liftback style and increased specs got me interested.

I knew that another friend of mine, in CA, had waited 5 months for his, but I didn't realize that the car had just hit the dealerships, and my friend had ordered his 5 months before it was available. So I thought a 5-month wait was normal.

I visited the only dealership in Fargo, ND, (Corwin) and spoke with a very friendly and courteous salesman who knew very little about the car. We went together for a very short test drive, including a mile or so on the freeway, surface roads back. I left telling him I'd think it over.

I had asked about how long it takes to warm the cab in cold weather, and he had offered to let me take it overnight for a Sunday, but warm-up time was not a dealbreaker for me, so I declined. I had only asked as one of a whole lot of minor information-gathering questions. But a week later I realized that I wanted more time driving it, so I went back and asked for the offered loan, so as to have more time test-driving. They let me pick it up right at closing time on a Saturday, on condition that I have it back right at opening time on the Monday.

That long test drive was what I needed. I think the salesman knew, before agreeing to that, that I was going to buy it. I think he knew before I did that I really wanted the car. So on the Monday of returning the car I gave them my $500 deposit.

They told me it would take 3 months to get my car. I told them I would only take a package "AM" (#7 in '04) and that my prefered color was blue but I'd accept any color except red. I did not believe 3 months was possible, because of my misunderstanding over my friend's experience, but they insisted that 3 months was what it was taking, based on their allocations and my place on the list. They were getting one Prius a month.

Six weeks later they called to tell me my car was on the boat, and it would arrive in 3 weeks. Two weeks after that call it arrived, and the following day I was able to pick it up.

I suspect that it was just good luck: I suspect that the person ahead of me on the list didn't want a blue #7. So I got exactly the color and package I wanted, a month sooner than expected. It could just as easily have gone the other way. I might have had to wait longer than 3 months if a different package had come in.

The paperwork guy made a very perfunctory attempt to sell me all the extras, but accepted my refusal of each in turn without further comment. I figure it's part of the ritual that they get to ask you to buy all that worthless or overpriced stuff, but I also feel they should accept your refusal and move on, which was my experience. I paid cash, so there was no financing. I could not write small enough to get the amount in words on the line on the check, so the paperwork guy wrote it in for me. He had experience writing really small.

I paid MSRP plus $149 "document charge" and they gave me a coupon for one free oil change, which I lost.

Overall I was happy with the experience. One dark point was that the salesman went out of his way to suggest that the EPA mileage figures were accurate. As everyone on this board knows, they are wildly inaccurate, representing the ideal conditions at ideal temperatures. My first tank at 30 below zero and my short commute was 29 mpg. This after being misled by the salesman to expect 60 mpg city.

The service department there was okay. Not great, not dreadful. Filled the oil wrong, but corrected it with a smile. Filled the tires wrong, but I corrected that at home. They are the only Toyota dealer in Fargo, so I was not about to go out of town for service. If you are in Fargo, go ahead and buy from them. But don't go out of your way to buy from them unless they have the car you want sooner than you could get it otherwise. If you live in Fargo, go to them for service, but check your oil level and tire pressure afterwards. I had two TSBs performed there, and none of the problems that had previously been reported on those TSBs.

 

Must of been Bob Howard in OKC. I bought my Prius there. Terrible expereince. Push salesman trying to get $5k over msrp. Then the finance department was a horrible.

 

Initially put a deposit on a Honda Civic hybrid then decided to check out the Prius. Interestingly the same company owns both the Honda and the Toyota dealership. The Toyota store just opened in the last 3-4 months and is staffed by the better folks from the Honda store. Our experience was night and day!

I called the Honda store to check on delivery time (it was a longer wait for the Prius) and found out that they had fired my salesman and no-one was handling my purchase. No one called to say they were taking over, etc. I went to the Honda dealer to find out more info and ask about delivery. The Salesmanager came out on the sales floor and made the remark "He should be glad he is even on the list" to the fella that was helping me. Glad???

I asked for my deposit back right then. They were shocked but I didn't feel the need to explain that I wasn't "Glad". There was this prevailing feeling that Honda is enjoying their success at the expense of their customers, like it was some inside joke.

I put a deposit on our Prius and we took delivery last Thursday. I did tell the Toyota Salesmanager (all wonderful folks) about my experience at his sister Honda store and all he could offer was to shake his head.

Ed

 

Got on the list on 11-1-05 for an 06 #3.
Dealer said the car would take 2-3 months to arrive
Got a call on 11-11-05 from the dealer who said that
the car had arrived and was on the lot.
A 10 day wait for an 06!

 

For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, I found Marin Toyota to be dishonest and unethical. They suckered me into the store twice then tried to sell above MSRP and when I would not accept they were rude and made a point to call the next in line so as I could 'hear' the conversation. Second time was on my Birthday when they called and got me in and doing the paperwork whereupon some manager came in and physically removed the paperwork from the desk, all the while explaining I could either match an 'existing' offer or walk. Needless to say I walked.

Conversly, I had an honest buying experience with Freeman Toyota in Santa Rosa and have recommended them to MANY buyers. EZ transaction at stated prices, no pressure!

 

:angry: I'm really not hard to get along with, but this experience has soured me totally on the car buying experience. I "pre-ordered" in early Sept. Never heard from the salesperson one time. I checked in once a month. He NEVER returned a single call. I didn't think calling once a month was excessive, but I guess he did. (This was Dave King at Neill-Sandler in Murfreesboro, TN). A couple of weeks ago, a manager there took my call, said my car should be in any day. I sold my current car. Just before Christmas I called to see if the car was in, only to be told by a different person that not only was it not in, it wasn't expected to be in for over a month. Great, so now I have NO CAR! I began seriously looking around. Monday I drove to Atlanta to Stone Mountain Toyota to speak with Skip Jackson. The internet showed they had the Prius I wanted. Lo and behold, it sold before I could get there!! wink wink. Actually I found out that they had traded it to another dealer days before, but didn't tell me because then I might no go down there (which of course, I wouldn't have driven the 150 miles to get there). But, good news, another nearby dealer has one just like I want and they will buy it from them. Two days go by. Today I call to see if I can pick this car up on Monday. Surprise! That deal fell through. So now they have found another one somewhere far away. It hasn't arrived at the dealers yet, but when it does then Stone Mtn people will have to figure out how to get it from the dealer to them and then to me. We'll see. Right now, all Toyota salespeople look like lying bastards to me.

So far, this has consumed a lot of time and I still have no car. I'm not asking for anything weird...blue Prius, pkg 3. That's it.

susan

 

Decided mid-Nov. 2005 to buy a Prius. Already had pre-arranged financing with my credit union for 4.99%. No local dealers had any in stock, but were expecting some early-Dec. Not in color/ package combo I wanted. Several dealers tried to pressure me for a deposit, but were either unwilling to discuss price, or just quoted MSRP, and most acted like I should feel lucky to get one at any price. One dealer said that, while they normally didn't discount Prius, he could "maybe take a couple hundred off." Tried to get him to give me an actual price, but he wouldn't, just kept pressuring me for a deposit. If he had been willing to give me a firm price, I would have committed to the purchase then and there. But, since he wouldn't, I decided to wait and actually see the cars before I settled for another color/ package. Plus, I was going to visit a friend in Philly area for Thanksgiving, so I would just wait until I got back.

While in Philly, saw a newpaper ad for a nearby dealer, saying they had several Prius in stock. Hadn't been planning to look at cars while I was there, but decided to call. Spoke with a salesman, who said they had the car I wanted in stock (2005 Seaside Pearl in package 4); told him I was visiting from Pittsburgh area, wanted to look at it, and was seriously interested in buying a Prius.

Before I could drive to the dealership, several of the SW PA dealers called my cell phone, saying they had gotten their cars in (still none in the combo I wanted). They still were insisiting they could't do any lower than MSRP (some wanted more); one dealer even called to offer me a 2004 with 24,000 miles for about the same as MSRP on a 2005 with similar options; when I asked what the original MSRP for it, new, had been, the amount he quoted me was same as the MSRP price of a 2006! (gee....thanks?....less features, 24,000 miles, plus the wear and tear.....and no tax incentives for used!)

When I got to dealership, the salesman gave me the fob, showed me how to start the car, and asked if I felt comfortable taking it out alone. My daughter and I took a 90 minute test drive, and loved it. Told salesman I would buy if he made it worthwhile to fly back the next weekend to pick up the car (my daughter wasn't yet old enough to drive my 1996 Corolla back home; she just turned 16 on Jan. 14, and is looking forward to getting her permit and the Corolla....but that's another story!).

Initially, salesman told me the Prius had been selling above MSRP, and asked what price I was given near home. When I told him I could get one for MSRP, and that one dealer had told me a couple hundred off, he offerred me the car for $700 below MSRP. Told him I would be there until Monday (it was Saturday), and would let him know by then; he went to speak with the sales manager.

He came back saying they knew it was not worth wasting their time or mine, and offered me the car for $1500 off MSRP, plus the cost of the mats (which I had been planning to buy, anyway). Left my deposit, got the check from my credit union when I got home, and flew out Dec. 2 to get my new Prius. They did try to sell me the extended warranty, and some other options, but did not pressure me at all when I said no. Everyone at the dealership was very courteous; I felt they treated me well and gave me a price I was very happy with. I would definitely consider dealing with them again when I'm ready to buy my next car.

As for the dealer who tried to sell me the 2004 (for MORE than I paid for my 2005, even before considering the federal and state tax incentives), I would never consider dealing with someone who would actually believe I wasn't bright enough to at least find out the MSRP for the car I was planning to buy!

 

It seems like since 01/01/06 there has been a Prius feeding frenzy in Washington state. Thank you EPA. We did a test drive in late Dec. and were told 2-4 wk. wait. Unfortunately it was not a good test drive for my wife. She doesn't do computers and the salesman did a non-stop in traffic push for computer features while she was driving. We told him that we wanted to try the HCH2 before committing.

The HCH2 test took place on a rainy night and was not too exciting (better driver's seat), though the saleswoman was a real champ (Honda of Seattle - Mariann). We didn't commit, waffled for a few days and then started looking in earnest for a Prius. Bid on one on eBay. Bid didn't make reserve and the person relisted. Called on several others, but shipping costs exceeded local purchase. Bid on another, but the person was an internet newby and didn't respond in a timely fashion. Too bad, it was a good price on an 05 pkg.4.

Then we went through agony trying to decide between used '05 and new. Toyota's tiered pricing system sucks. We would be fine with a pkg. 4 and HID. My wife needs good night lighting, but now one has to go to pkg. 6 and take lots of crap that won't get used. And then, while we were placing an order, we found that we don't stand a chance of getting pkg 6 in WA right now. And by the way, your color choice won't be available until May. Thanks again Toyota! Tried bidding on a salvage title, but that really gave me anxiety attacks. Constantly sweeping Craigslist in a 5 state area and tried hard to buy in CA to get a pkg. 6, but kept "just missing" the advertised car. Then tried again in-state. In the meantime, dealer from Craigslist Portland leaves me a message about having inventory. I call, but available models not a good fit. He says he'll be getting new allotment the next day. Called a rural dealer that had 3 Priuses, but wrong color. They said the would deal at invoice +. Great, I told them to find me a car. They reported there were 3 availble so I gave them my primary choices of color. Next day get the quote of MSRP + $1000 with a lame excuse that "my sales manager said the demand is to great now, so we need to fleece you". Told them thanks for wasting my time. Called all local dealers and got assurances of 2-4 months delivery time. Arghhh!!! (Post my soviet breadline story on list).

Today I get an email from the Portland dealer saying he just got his next allotment. There is a silver pkg 4 and 7. We decide to go for the pkg 7 and he checks the boat. Looks like we can have it in 7-10 days. We say ok. He calls back in 30 min. and says can/would we like to pickup in 2 days? He can arrange trade with another store because the cars are identically configured. I say sure and -fingers crossed- we a due to pick up on Saturday. I've been buying cars for many years and have never paid retail. So to have to go through this bs was a trial by fire. I sure hope the silver demon makes it worth the pain.

 

Kicking this up for new owners.

 

This is a letter I wrote to the dealership from where I purchased my 2006 Prius:

TITUS-WILL TOYOTA
3606 S. Sprague Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98409

To Whom It May Concern:

This is an unsolicited letter to the management of Titus Will Toyota in Tacoma.

In my 60yrs., I have had to deal with car sales individuals a few times. I have never had a more gracious and agreeable dealing than I did with Mrs. Kay Love on the internet and with Mr. Jim Love in his office.

There was absolutely no high pressure tactics or any deceptive dealings with this individual. At all times Mr. Love was very pleasant and helpful. He treated me with respect and dignity; and that was greatly appreciated. He was mild-mannered and congenial. I felt very comfortable talking with him, as he was extremely nice and easy to deal with.

I greatly appreciated the time he spent driving me around in the Prius, demonstrating and teaching me how to operate and drive this new car of mine. I have never had a more pleasant car purchase experience. I also felt like I received a good deal and great price for my new 2006 Toyota Prius.

Mr. Jim Love should receive a bonus for this business transaction; as I will always refer others to him and to your car dealership.


A Very Happy Customer,


Kathleen


P.S.: This is the first letter I have ever written to a car dealership and I was very pleased to do it.

(Later Mr. Jim Love won the 2005 Master Sales Society Award. This recognition is reserved for the top 1% of Toyota sales.)

 

I was going to go to Hudson next because I had trouble with the other 2 dealers. I thought they might sell for less because, well, it's in Jersey City, how many Prii could they possibly sell? They said (over the phone) that they'd beat any price any competitor has and when my uncle went to ask on my behalf, they were going to give about 200+ less than the first dealer (who gave 1000 less than MSRP).

 

*boot*

 

I only physically went in to three dealers. The first one was terrible - over the phone they said they had several of the cars I wanted to test drive; half an hour later all the Prius's and Yaris's had been sold, and the salesman insisted I test drive a 2007 Camry, then he couldn't find a Scion xA or Corolla for me to test drive - I'd be so much better off with the Camry without a windshield sticker, and he couldn't get a copy of the sticker so I could see the options and their 'list' price, etc. The second one was very nice - I test drove what I wanted to test drive and I put a deposit on a Prius due to arrive 'next week'.

I continued shopping over the phone and found a dealer who had one on the lot but required me to come in to discuss price. The salesman had only started that day and didn't even know the options - I was walking out the door when an experienced salesman caught me, and we negotiated a good price. I drove it home that night.

This is only the second new car I've ever bought - I can't say the first experience was any better. In both cases, my first stop in a showroom was bad, and I did a lot of shopping over the phone and Internet before I went in to another dealer where I bought the car "on the spot".

 

I dealt with two dealers. Magic Toyota north of Seattle seemed ok but they wanted $900 over MSRP and made it sound like it would be impossible to get a package 5 ever. I then went to Bob Bridge. I dealt with Dan Prince there. For the most part the experience was very good.

The car arrived a few days sooner than I was expecting, was for MSRP, the salesman was fun to talk with during the sales process and the finance department surprised me by beating my credit union's interest rate.
So the vast majority of the experience was pleasurable and I would highly recommend this dealership to anyone else looking for a Prius in the Puget Sound. Perhaps the best thing was when I vaugely implied some minor annoyance at the deposit and discovered that they cut it in half without me even having to ask. That was nice.

There were only two things that went wrong. We got a really low estimate for my girlfriend's trade in. That was understandable as it had 160,000 miles on it and was dented, but it really pissed her off as she loved the car. I don't hold that against the dealership. My only other complaint is that the financing department had issues taking no for an answer when I turned some of his offers down. I can run numbers in my head and could see that some of the deals offered didn't really have good odds for me, but he kept pushing. I suppose that's the job and he did eventually take my no on the loan protection [1].

Both of those were little annoyances, but that's it. Again, if I were to buy another car in the next few years, I would easily give my business to Bob Bridge.


[1] I don't remember the details but he was pushing hard this loan protection program in case my car were to get totalled. The spread between what the insurance would pay for and what the loan balance would be would max out at $2500 and they offered a $300 (I think it was) payment to cover me in that case. I did the division and saw that they were offering me 8-1 odds that my car would get totalled at the worst possible time. I didn't see that as a good bet on my end.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jack 06 @ Nov 8 2005, 02:58 PM) [snapback]152616[/snapback]</div>

Shopped, to some degree, all 9 dealerships in the Phoenix area. Combination walk in, internet, or telephone.

As you might expect, found a wide range of responses.

Some outright admitted they mark vehicles up 1-6k due market. The worst was Scott Toyota. Seemed to sell at least 2-3k above, and in earlier walk-ins, quite some time ago, saw some marked up 5-6k. Also had bad experience trying to buy an 04 with 11,000 miles on it.

Camelback added approximately $600 or $650 but sales people seemed ok. (Much better than my 97 RAV4 experience almost 10 years ago when they held my keys 'hostage'!)

Others didn't 'mark up', but did require some specific 'packages' such as paint protection or other dealer required 'options'. Those seemed to range from about $400-700.

Only two that were MSRP were Power Toyota Tempe and Avondale Toyota.

I directly shopped Power & Avondale when I was close to making the decision since I fully expected to pay MSRP but saw no jusitification to pay more just for speed.

Avondale was pretty far from me, about 25 miles, but was an overall great experience. Walked in and asked about Prius. Met salesperson Grady Watkins who introduced himself, told me they were a one price/one person dealership. I wouldn't have to deal with anyone but him from start to finish (I hadn't planned on doing a trade in through them). $500 deposit. MSRP with whatever Toyota put on the vehicle and that was it. I could figure out the price on Toyota.com.

Power was also a $500 deposit, but not until they knew a car to my liking was scheduled in. Once again MSRP. My sense was that others might be involved in the deal (i.e sales managers, etc.)

When I was ready to buy I called both Avondale and Tempe. Arranged for credit card deposit with Avondale who said they were getting allotment info later in the day. Asked what I wanted. Told them 1st choice was pkg 7 in Magnetic Grey (that was 1st month it was to be available). Also gave 3 or 4 acceptable pkg/color combinations.

Also called Tempe that same morning and left message for person I had dealt with.

Within an hour and a half Avondale called to advise my 1st choice was in their allotment and should be available for delivery within 10 days.

Never heard from Tempe at all.

Car was delivered from Avondale in 9 days exactly as promised.

I did wind up dealing with a 2nd person when I decided to trade my 02 Jaguar in. That process was uneventful and fair.

A++++ on Avondale so far. Will keep you informed as service comes into play.

 

Maybe it wasn't really fair of me to vote--middle level, straightforward, nothing special. The only other new car I have ever bought was a '91 Honda Civic Hatchback, base model (my only other car bought from a dealer was in the early-mid '80s, a '75 Toyota Corolla for $1500--that sucked big time!). The Prius, I bought because I wanted one NOW and phoned around to a bunch of dealers in Northern CA until I found someone who could deliver before the end of the week, and they happened to be the second closest to my house (about 20 miles, vs about 6), AND they had some kinda "discount" for Costco members--they claimed (and I haven't quite figured out if it's true) that we got about $100 off what they would have charged non_Costco people on the car, and the extended Warranty at about 995, compared to their ususal 1095. Who knows? Anyway, the dealer clearly could have sold it to anyone--it was one of 2 in a shipment of about 20 that was unsold, and didn't get mad at me when I kept calling him all week to see if the car was in yet. I expect my husband is probably grateful for my instant gratification need, since if I had thought about it, I mighta held out for some package higher than #3!

Edit: oops--it was $945, not $995...