So I guess we won't be driving a Yaris...

[A1an]

In January we ordered our 2012 Yaris SE 5-speed in Blazing Blue Pearl. Filled out the paperwork, paid the deposit, etc.

We had to special order because, according to all the dealers we spoke with, Southeast Toyota only orders automatics for the dealers to have on the lot. Dealer said it typically took 3 months to submit the order to Southeast Toyota (they batch orders quarterly to Toyota corp) and then it would be about another month to deliver the finished product to our eager hands.

Today we get a call from our salesman stating Southeast Toyota REFUSED our order. He apologized profusely and stated the only manual transmission Yaris they would allow the dealership to order would be the 3-door base model. Great way to do business!

Although this dealership has been excellent, this overall experience along with our own experiences with other Toyota dealers in this area has really given us a bad taste for the brand. Toyota is making a great car but the company's network of dealers makes it impossible to buy the trim level we want. Very frustrating to say the least.

So we are taking our money to purchase our second choice...2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ with the turbo 1.4l.

[BEEF]

that sucks. I almost bought a 5 door with the 5 speed but it would have had to be ordered and it was right around the time of the earthquake and tsunami.

I ended up with a used 3 door 5 speed.

I can't get how the REFUSED the order. that is nuts. you'd think they wanted the money.

[A1an]

Probably for the same reason SE Toyota makes all of the dealers add in another $500 "Southeast Toyota admin fee" on top of dealer fees. It is all about the bottom line. Part of me thinks they saw the deal we were getting on the car and felt there wasn't enough profit for them to bother submitting the order for production.

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by A1an

Probably for the same reason SE Toyota makes all of the dealers add in another $500 "Southeast Toyota admin fee" on top of dealer fees. It is all about the bottom line. Part of me thinks they saw the deal we were getting on the car and felt there wasn't enough profit for them to bother submitting the order for production.

Bingo.

But to be fair, the Turbo Sonic was my second choice. It is also as I understand it, a fantastic drive.

You could do a hell of a lot worse.

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

As for the 4 speed auto in the Yaris mated with the 1.5, it is one of the most bullet proof combo's on the market today. And even for a dated 4-speed, it performs soundly.

No argument that transmission is tough and proven...for me I just think that motor with that transmission kills the fun driving character of the car. Plus I just really like manual transmissions. On a new car it is one of those things I won't compromise on.

Originally Posted by J_Lynn

That dealership is lame-o I wonder if Toyota corporate would like to hear your story about how they not only passed up a sale, but made you turn to a Chevy.

(I'm not saying anything bad about a Chevy .... I am 100% a chevy fan, it's either Chevy or Toyota for this girl - but I'm just saying, as a company I wouldn't be happy with that dealership)

The dealer was great and the sales manager signed off on the order to be submitted to the regional Toyota distributor (Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC). SE Toyota is to blame and I am livid. If anyone has any contacts to Toyota Corporate please send them my way. The number we called in the past for assistance with ordering the car directed us to SE Toyota who, big suprise, did nothing to help the situation.

This would have been my third Toyota product and I was honestly considering another in about a year. As it stands right now...as long as I live in the southeast US I will NOT buy another Toyota. Feel like they just wasted a ton of my time with this. If they would have rejected it up front then I would still be unhappy but not to the degree in which I am right now.

Originally Posted by Kal-El

The new Civic is even worse. One of the worse redesigns in history. There's almost a universal consensus that it's worse than the 6 year old model it replaced.

YES! Honda is reportedly working on a redesign already as well due to the negative reviews from pretty much all the critics.

Originally Posted by CanIHazYarisHatch?

You could do a hell of a lot worse.

A VW? ;) All kidding aside I'm pretty stoked about the Sonic the more I look at it. I think it has a lot of potential. The only thing that worries me is that it is a first year US made car. Hopefully we don't end up helping GM work out the bugs for the first year of production..

[skuzzlebutt5]

man, that sucks. sorry dude. it's a great car though.

[A1an]

I'm bummed since I really like the new Yaris.

Interestingly enough my wife was starting to get cold feet about the car and was thinking about cancelling the order. So I guess this is working out for the best for her...

[fnkngrv]

Best of luck with the Sonic...looks like a hot little hatch coming from the GM stables for a change. Serious bummer on the Yaris though. The stealerships really are the weak point in the chain unfortunately and that is the part of the chain that is customer facing.

[Kal-El]

Although I also prefer a manual, I would have settled for an auto.

IMO, the car choice is more important than what transmission it has.

Are you that much against automatics?

[A1an]

Transmission is part of the car choice. I am not a fan of that 4-speed auto...particularly paired with that motor.

[kimona]

Originally Posted by A1an

Transmission is part of the car choice. I am not a fan of that 4-speed auto...particularly paired with that motor.

By far the most intelligent little automatic transmission (paired with that motor) I have ever driven!

[Jason@SportsCar]

It is amazing how poorly some dealers will operate when they believe they have a hot new item... And then a year down the road they wont be able to get them off the lot.

[Gogogordy]

Originally Posted by kimona

By far the most intelligent little automatic transmission (paired with that motor) I have ever driven!

Its a smooth package, and still fun to drive.

[CanIHazYarisHatch?]

Originally Posted by Gogogordy

Its a smooth package, and still fun to drive.

That's what she said.

[CTScott]

Looking at a dealer inventory listing it looks like there are only two 5 door blazing blue 2012 MT SE's in the US. One is in Palo Alto, CA and the other in Greenly, CO. A "good" dealer would be able to get one from another area for you.

[J_Lynn]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Looking at a dealer inventory listing it looks like there are only two 5 door blazing blue 2012 MT SE's in the US. One is in Palo Alto, CA and the other in Greenly, CO. A "good" dealer would be able to get one from another area for you.

They sure would ..... when I got my LB, they didn't have what I wanted on the lot - my salesman said, "Oh sweetie - I'll find you that car, I don't care where we have to get it from - but if you want it, as long as Toyota is willing to make it we will get it here for you"

That dealership is lame-o I wonder if Toyota corporate would like to hear your story about how they not only passed up a sale, but made you turn to a Chevy.

(I'm not saying anything bad about a Chevy .... I am 100% a chevy fan, it's either Chevy or Toyota for this girl - but I'm just saying, as a company I wouldn't be happy with that dealership)

[skuzzlebutt5]

Magnussen Toyota in Palo Alto is whack. They didn't even consider matching or lowering the price of the SE I bought at Maita Toyota in Sacramento. Good luck trying to have them do anything for you!

[Altitude]

Ya. The way they structure their sales and what's available where sucks big time. Some dipshit in corporate decides what models will sell the best in a given region and then limits availability in said region only to those models.

It's practically not worth the time and effort to get a special order because they really don't want to do it. I had to settle for less than my optimal choice when I bought mine, but I really wanted a Yaris and figured I could add on the extras I wanted afterwards so that's what I did.