Almost a Yaris driver

[cathycnm]

My new Yaris SE has been at the port of entry for a week, so hoping to be a new car owner in a week or two. Last 4 cars Toyota, Tercel, Camry, and two Corolla. Current one w 200k. If I didn't commute and do so many road trips, I could probably get by w it longer.

On more of a budget right no so went Yaris. Drove a civic hatch back in the 70s. Ready for a change after driving corolla for 20 years but wanted the Toyota dependability.

Anyone w experience on how long port to dealer? I'm rural, 1000 miles from port.

How's everyone's Yaris doing tonight?:thumbup:

[CTScott]

Congrats! Mine took about two weeks from port to dealer (CA port to dealer in MA).

[cathycnm]

Thanks. My dealer has been great. She's still waiting on a VIN. I drove to the next town cause the local dealer had no interest in helping me. It's all good. Savoring my corolla a couple more weeks.

[Hershey]

Enjoy it .

[nookandcrannycar]

My new Yaris SE has been at the port of entry for a week, so hoping to be a new car owner in a week or two. Last 4 cars Toyota, Tercel, Camry, and two Corolla. Current one w 200k. If I didn't commute and do so many road trips, I could probably get by w it longer.

On more of a budget right no so went Yaris. Drove a civic hatch back in the 70s. Ready for a change after driving corolla for 20 years but wanted the Toyota dependability.

Anyone w experience on how long port to dealer? I'm rural, 1000 miles from port.

How's everyone's Yaris doing tonight?:thumbup:

Are you certain it is 'in port'? I found a new Yaris showing in the dealer's in stock inventory in Cambridge, MA. I called them, and they said the car was there. I drove to the dealer (from Chicopee, MA) to buy the car....and the car was still out on the boat and they couldn't (or wouldn't) give me a date when it would be there!

[nookandcrannycar]

:thumbsup: Once you get it, enjoy it.

[nookandcrannycar]

Thanks. My dealer has been great. She's still waiting on a VIN. I drove to the next town cause the local dealer had no interest in helping me. It's all good. Savoring my corolla a couple more weeks.

I didn't scroll down far enough....:redface:.....It sounds as though you are having as wonderful a 'second dealer you encountered' experience as I did.

[cathycnm]

Hi Nook - I dealing w the dealership owner of a very rural dealership. She is very experienced with Toyota. She would know if she had it. The Toyota reps were through the day the search was done and helped her find the color I wanted. I have the print out. Sunbelt Spirit was in LA at that time, so it matches. It's 6 hours from Denver, so may take awhile to get here. It's not delayed yet, though. I trust the dealer. Fingers crossed.

[nookandcrannycar]

Hi Nook - I dealing w the dealership owner of a very rural dealership. She is very experienced with Toyota. She would know if she had it. The Toyota reps were through the day the search was done and helped her find the color I wanted. I have the print out. Sunbelt Spirit was in LA at that time, so it matches. It's 6 hours from Denver, so may take awhile to get here. It's not delayed yet, though. I trust the dealer. Fingers crossed.

:thumbsup:

[cathycnm]

The first dealer (also pretty rural) had 3 Yaris on their site. They said they had non, that Toyota put them on the website before they arrive. This is after they searched the dealership and inventory for them. The manuals that were coming were automatics. Still on the site but not on the lot anytime I snooped by. So, he gives me his card and tells me to watch the website and let him know if they have anything I want. No interest in going one step further.

The more rural dealership 20 miles away got right back to me and worked with me to find a manual in a color I liked. They went out of their way to involve the Toyota reps. She is in touch almost daily by email. The difference in customer service is amazing! The Yaris on the website of dealer A are also higher priced. This is the most interesting car buying experience ever!

[nookandcrannycar]

The first dealer (also pretty rural) had 3 Yaris on their site. They said they had non, that Toyota put them on the website before they arrive. This is after they searched the dealership and inventory for them. The manuals that were coming were automatics. Still on the site but not on the lot anytime I snooped by. So, he gives me his card and tells me to watch the website and let him know if they have anything I want. No interest in going one step further.

The more rural dealership 20 miles away got right back to me and worked with me to find a manual in a color I liked. They went out of their way to involve the Toyota reps. She is in touch almost daily by email. The difference in customer service is amazing! The Yaris on the website of dealer A are also higher priced. This is the most interesting car buying experience ever!

That's great that that the dealership with better customer service has a lower price. In contrast, the lower volume dealerships in (Yarisworld member) Bronsin's neck of the woods order fairly loaded examples of the Yaris and jack the price up as high as possible. He noticed this when he visited his local dealership (and posted about it) and I checked (online) many dealerships within I think a 50 mile radius and most = a similar style of Yaris inventory and pricing (the dealership he visited was in Mt. Laurel, NJ). Bronsin has looked around since then as well, and he's indicated in his posts that the Yaris inventory has become much more scarce. I would guess that this is because low volume (especially in a high cost state) = want to extract the highest dollar amount from each sale. I think it's great that you found a dealer with a healthier (at least for the customer) perspective :smile:.

[nookandcrannycar]

I have the print out. Sunbelt Spirit was in LA at that time, so it matches.

So your Yaris is coming from Japan and not France?:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: Woo-hoo! :biggrin: (couldn't resist)

[cathycnm]

Nook , Well they said Japan but . . . Well, er, maybe that was the first one that was 4 weeks away. The dealer is charging what Toyota says is correct. No dealing when they are not in over stock, agree. The other dealer is charging $100 less for a 2013 SE and at least 1k more for the other two. One 2013 and 2012 - both not SE. I didn't look at options because the website is never correct. So, who knows but seems very high. Could have paid less, maybe, going to Denver. Well except plane and taxi and hotel and time off of work.

Still no VIN. Guessing the new Corolla roll out may be a priority. Maybe it is a Yaris R and no one will notice and charge me more. Lol

[nookandcrannycar]

Nook , Well they said Japan but . . . Well, er, maybe that was the first one that was 4 weeks away. The dealer is charging what Toyota says is correct. No dealing when they are not in over stock, agree. The other dealer is charging $100 less for a 2013 SE and at least 1k more for the other two. One 2013 and 2012 - both not SE. I didn't look at options because the website is never correct. So, who knows but seems very high. Could have paid less, maybe, going to Denver. Well except plane and taxi and hotel and time off of work.

Still no VIN. Guessing the new Corolla roll out may be a priority. Maybe it is a Yaris R and no one will notice and charge me more. Lol

Toyota has shifted production of the Yaris from Japan to France. The first cars headed for North America were put on a boat in France in May of 2013. From information members have posted, I get the impression that this is not a 'spigot off from Japan, then spigot on from France' process...but I don't think any of us knows with absolute certainty. Members have posted a wide array of opinions re whether production in France will result in a finished product of lesser quality. My last post was poking a little fun at that long debate. I was making the assumption that with the ship appearing in LA, that the boat was coming from Japan...but that might not be the case.

[cathycnm]

Interesting on France. Given its the largest auto cargo ship in the world, guessing it's full of 2014 corolla? From what I read on the ship, me thinks not France. So, does the 2014 corolla look a little more Yarislike to anyone else?

[nookandcrannycar]

Interesting on France. Given its the largest auto cargo ship in the world, guessing it's full of 2014 corolla? From what I read on the ship, me thinks not France. So, does the 2014 corolla look a little more Yarislike to anyone else?

I don't know if I'd say 'Yarislike', but the 2014 Corolla is, IMO, much, much better looking than the 2013 Corolla.

[cathycnm]

It's much nicer looking. Would have been a temptation if I wasn't on such a tight budget this go around. I love that the gas mileage is improving. I passed up a couple 2013 deals cause theileage was a disappointment. Paying 1k work miles outta pocket, ya know. Still no VIN, sigh.

[CTScott]

Still no VIN, sigh.

There's something odd there. My dealership had the VIN for mine as soon as it was loaded on the ship in Japan.

[nookandcrannycar]

It's much nicer looking. Would have been a temptation if I wasn't on such a tight budget this go around. I love that the gas mileage is improving. I passed up a couple 2013 deals cause theileage was a disappointment. Paying 1k work miles outta pocket, ya know. Still no VIN, sigh.

I think you will look back and feel you made the right decision re a Yaris over a 2013 Corolla.....but then again, I disliked the looks of the Corolla until the 2014 model :biggrin:.

I'd also pay attention to CTScott finding the lack of a VIN# odd at this point......perhaps ask the dealer why no VIN# yet and you can gauge for yourself whether the response is straightforward or waffling and go from there.

[cathycnm]

They say no VIN till it's on the truck. I do have an engine #. I've read that other places, too. Not till out of the port of entry. Just been 10 days. Oh well . . . Guessing 7-10 more.

[cathycnm]

Hi CT - I have the engine #. Info from several sources says no VIN till thru the port of entry. Been 10 days. Hoping 7-10 from now, I'm driving it. I'm exceptionally rural.

[cathycnm]

No VIN yet, but the dealer says it's any day.

[cathycnm]

Hmmm. Still no Yaris. A flood of new Corollas made it to my rural dealer. Guessing they took up the truck space. Guessing they truck LA to Denver then W again, but hoping they stop on the W side of the divide first because the flooding in Denver is serious so I am sure it could be another bottleneck. Sort of glad it hasn't left the port. But where is it?

I'm going in on Sat to test drive an automatic L that did come in. Patience . . . The dealer has been nice. We are just no where close to a port or a veritable city.

Any guesses if it's LA, Denver then back W. Or if it's W on like I70 w stops at the rural dealer before Denver?

[CTScott]

Hmmm. Still no Yaris. A flood of new Corollas made it to my rural dealer. Guessing they took up the truck space. Guessing they truck LA to Denver then W again, but hoping they stop on the W side of the divide first because the flooding in Denver is serious so I am sure it could be another bottleneck. Sort of glad it hasn't left the port. But where is it?

I'm going in on Sat to test drive an automatic L that did come in. Patience . . . The dealer has been nice. We are just no where close to a port or a veritable city.

Any guesses if it's LA, Denver then back W. Or if it's W on like I70 w stops at the rural dealer before Denver?

Did you get the name of the ship, so you can see if that ship has docked yet? My dealer not just had the VIN for me, but also had the ship name, and I was able to track it through one of the ship tracking sites.

[cathycnm]

Yes, the ship is already back in Japan. Dropped of my car 2.5 weeks ago. So we are a week behind schedule so far. The carollas came when the dealer thought the Yaris would. And now flooding here. Still not on dealer's inventory, so still at the port. Slow process. But not in a huge hurry, either. Thanks CT

[cathycnm]

:confused: Ok, so car goes LA to Denver via rail. Dealership shipment locator down for two days. No idea if it shipped. Sort of hoping it was not in Denver during the rain. Commercial Denver drying out, but still not operational and more rain coming. So, first new car in 12+ Yeats and I time it during a corolla roll out and a devastating 100 year flood. Things could be a lot worse than waiting on a car, though. Maybe by October? Will post updates and someday a photo.