Yaris Pricing Question

[minervamoon]

Thanks, everyone. Your responses have led me to wonder just what features they've stuffed on this thing that are making the MSRP so expensive in the first place, if it's hiked up that much with the discount included. There is another dealership a little farther away that I might visit, better-informed, to see if I can get a less expensive offer from them. I also need to make sure to ask each place for a print-out detailing exactly what they've stuffed into the car and the price these extras would ostensibly cost me.

[brainless twit]

Originally Posted by minervamoon

Thanks, everyone. Your responses have led me to wonder just what features they've stuffed on this thing that are making the MSRP so expensive in the first place, if it's hiked up that much with the discount included. There is another dealership a little farther away that I might visit, better-informed, to see if I can get a less expensive offer from them. I also need to make sure to ask each place for a print-out detailing exactly what they've stuffed into the car and the price these extras would ostensibly cost me.

That's the thing. I don't see what that car could possibly have that mine doesn't. I have keyless entry, power windows/locks/mirrors, CD with mp3 compatibility.... All the stuff that a base sedan could possibly have. There is no reason that those things should add that much to the price.

The prices they throw at you are far from reality - the finance guy showed me an "official" Toyota invoice that said their invoice price was $15,800. I told him I could easily print off an invoice on a piece of Toyota letterhead and name any price I wanted. They can tell you anything they want with no repercussions.

Also, make sure they aren't throwing in prepaid maintenance, extended warranty, and gap coverage to get that total. I had to cancel my extended warranty because they added it in without my knowledge. The dealership charged me $1900 for a warranty that costs about $400. They tell you that if you don't extend the warranty at time of purchase, you won't be able to get one later. Totally untrue. You can get the extended warranty at any time before your original warranty expires. With the prepaid maintenance (at $2200), they told me I would void my warranty if I had my oil changes done anywhere other than the dealership. Also untrue. Gap coverage isn't always a bad thing, but they wanted another $2000 for that and I can get it through my insurance company for about $200.

They will find any way they can to screw you. Make sure you know exactly what you are being charged for before you sign ANYTHING.

[wiirenet]

Oh I haven't heard/read anything about prepaid maintenance. So its 2,000 for stuff like oil changes? And they told you if you go somewhere else the warrenty wil be void? Did you get them to admit they lied, or did you just go ahead and get oil changes somewhere else and nothing happened? I feel like its going to be hard saying no to maintenance because I don't know where else to go, and I would think the dealership would give the best maintenance since they know the car. But yikes, 2000+ I don't want to pay that.

[nemelek]

Originally Posted by wiirenet

Oh I haven't heard/read anything about prepaid maintenance. So its 2,000 for stuff like oil changes? And they told you if you go somewhere else the warrenty wil be void? Did you get them to admit they lied, or did you just go ahead and get oil changes somewhere else and nothing happened? I feel like its going to be hard saying no to maintenance because I don't know where else to go, and I would think the dealership would give the best maintenance since they know the car. But yikes, 2000+ I don't want to pay that.

2000 is a lot. If each oil change costs 40 from the dealer and you drive 15,000 a year that means 3 oil changes a year for $120. 2000/120 = 16 years of oil changes. Oil changes are something that can easily be done by yourself. There are plenty of threads in this forum telling you how. I buy my oil and filters on sale and do each change for $8.

[brainless twit]

Originally Posted by wiirenet

Oh I haven't heard/read anything about prepaid maintenance. So its 2,000 for stuff like oil changes? And they told you if you go somewhere else the warrenty wil be void? Did you get them to admit they lied, or did you just go ahead and get oil changes somewhere else and nothing happened? I feel like its going to be hard saying no to maintenance because I don't know where else to go, and I would think the dealership would give the best maintenance since they know the car. But yikes, 2000+ I don't want to pay that.

I didn't argue with them about the maintenance; I just refused it. The dealership is 50 miles from my house and nearly 100 miles from where I work - there is no way I'll drive it all the way over there for an oil change. There is a place down the street from me that does oil change/fluid check/brake check/tire rotation for $30. Wal-Mart does it for about $35. As long as I have a receipt or some sort of proof that the maintenance was done at the specified intervals, I am fine as far as warranty is concerned. I called Toyota and asked.

If there is ever a major issue with the car, I probably will take it to the dealership, but that would be covered by warranty anyway and has nothing to do with maintenance. I got water in my fuel tank a week after purchase, and I just called the closest dealer. They towed the car, gave me a rental, fixed it (gas station had to pay), and I was back on the road. Cost to me: $0.

I have a friend who works as a car salesman, and that's how I learned a lot of the hidden costs that get thrown in at the dealership. Every bit of money they charge over the actual cost goes to them. When the finance guy added that extended warranty, the extra $1500 went right in his pocket. When I cancelled, I had to wait 30 days because they had to give him time to come up with the money.

[wiirenet]

Originally Posted by brainless twit

I didn't argue with them about the maintenance; I just refused it. The dealership is 50 miles from my house and nearly 100 miles from where I work - there is no way I'll drive it all the way over there for an oil change. There is a place down the street from me that does oil change/fluid check/brake check/tire rotation for $30. Wal-Mart does it for about $35. As long as I have a receipt or some sort of proof that the maintenance was done at the specified intervals, I am fine as far as warranty is concerned. I called Toyota and asked.

If there is ever a major issue with the car, I probably will take it to the dealership, but that would be covered by warranty anyway and has nothing to do with maintenance. I got water in my fuel tank a week after purchase, and I just called the closest dealer. They towed the car, gave me a rental, fixed it (gas station had to pay), and I was back on the road. Cost to me: $0.

I have a friend who works as a car salesman, and that's how I learned a lot of the hidden costs that get thrown in at the dealership. Every bit of money they charge over the actual cost goes to them. When the finance guy added that extended warranty, the extra $1500 went right in his pocket. When I cancelled, I had to wait 30 days because they had to give him time to come up with the money.

Thanks that's really informative!

[tomato]

Originally Posted by wiirenet

I feel like its going to be hard saying no to maintenance because I don't know where else to go, and I would think the dealership would give the best maintenance since they know the car. But yikes, 2000+ I don't want to pay that.

You can still go to a dealership for maintenance even if you're out of warranty. $2000 is a LOT of money for oil changes.

[nemelek]

Originally Posted by brainless twit

Also, make sure they aren't throwing in prepaid maintenance, extended warranty, and gap coverage to get that total. I had to cancel my extended warranty because they added it in without my knowledge. The dealership charged me $1900 for a warranty that costs about $400. They tell you that if you don't extend the warranty at time of purchase, you won't be able to get one later. Totally untrue. You can get the extended warranty at any time before your original warranty expires. With the prepaid maintenance (at $2200), they told me I would void my warranty if I had my oil changes done anywhere other than the dealership. Also untrue. Gap coverage isn't always a bad thing, but they wanted another $2000 for that and I can get it through my insurance company for about $200.

They will find any way they can to screw you. Make sure you know exactly what you are being charged for before you sign ANYTHING.

Great advice! It sounds like your dealership pulled every dirty trick in the book on you. I hope that you will note that on the survey that Toyota will send you. Not all dealerships are the same. One year age I bought a new Honda 2008 CR-V for my wife. I brought in a week old lost leader add and requested that they honor that price. They did and I got the CR-V for 2,500 under msrp. The sales man showed me the book of add ons and I told him to save our time I want the car as is. That was the end of the conversation. No pressure for maintenance or extended warrantee. They said the first oil change was free and honored that promise and also threw in a free car wash.
6 weeks later that year when I bought my Yaris from Go Toyota in Colorado I had quite a different experience. I couldn't trust them any further than I could throw a cheese cake under water.