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I think Toyota is getting to arrogant to maintain it's high sales

I'm in the market for a new car, and I really only had one choice in mind--a 5 speed Corolla with minimal accessories. All I really wanted was a cruise control.

Nobody at the three closest Toyota dealers I visited even seemed like they wanted to talk to me when I told them what I was looking for, but I did finally get a young new sales guy who was willing to try to locate one for me. When they finally found one 300 miles away, their offer was just the $1000 rebate off sticker.

OK, I understand that going and getting it is a pain, but a rebate is a little bonus the manufacturer gives the consumer, and if you just buy a car with the rebate discount, you are essentially buying it at sticker price. Who does that?

I thought Toyota made economy cars? Why is a Corolla with a 5 speed so darned hard to find? Well, maybe finding one with a cruise control is too much to ask, but I must say that I'm completely put off by the arrogance of all of the Toyota sales people that I have dealt with this week. Their overwhelming attitude seems to be "If you're lucky, we'll LET you buy one of our cars."

Pardon me, but wasn't it an attitude like that which drove the Big Three into decline? As much as I have enjoyed the several Toyotas I have owned over the years, I'm getting the feeling that my 2003 Matrix will be the last one I ever buy. Yes, I know they are very reliable, but if I have to pay MORE for an economy import then for a domestic car then the reliability may not be worth the extra case, given how the US manufacturers have improved their quality lately.

I can get a Chevy Cobalt (currently with good rebates) for probably $2500 LESS than a stripped Corolla, and the Cobalt comes with a 100,000 mile warranty. Or I could get a LOADED Suzuki Aerio for probably $13,500 on the road. It also has a 100,000 mile warranty.

I think I'm willing to run the risk of having to use the warranty service for the reward of paying MUCH less up front.

The die hard Toyota fans (which I thought I was) will say "You get what you pay for" and tell me I'm making a mistake not buying a TOY. Maybe so, but the reason Toyota got a foothold in the country was that when you bought one you got MORE than you paid for. I think the Toyota dealers around here are resting too hard on the reputation of their product, and that kind of arrogance drives me off their lots and into the showrooms of their competition.

Comments?

Reply to
Sean Elkins
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Check with your credit union, often they have " buyer's services " that will negotiate for you or put you in touch with the dealer's fleet sales.

That is where I'm headed tomorrow AM for a new Tundra.

Best of luck....

Reply to
Jonas Grumby

"Sean Elkins" ...

We got that same type of response back in 1999 when we got my 2000 Echo. It's possible they're trying to move some very specific vehicles, to a very specific demographic. At the dealership we used, "White River Toyota" in that Vermont town, was trying to push used vehicles (they made that very clear), and initially that's what we were planning to buy. But then hubby spotted the Echo, and decided we could get a new car for pretty much the same price as some of the used ones. The salesman was not happy.

*shrug*

Well, then they're morons. That's really burning some bridges, since the market could thin out. Not to mention soliciting your repeat business for service, etc. Bad move on their part. I hope you won't assume all dealers act like these ass-clowns. Our local dealership is very friendly and accomodating.

Yup, smugness is a stupid move, especially in sales.

Your call. Toyota isn't the only game in town. Just be sure to do a bunch of research beforehand on anything you're buying. Toyotas included!

I don't think it's a mistake to buy something other than a Toyota. There are plenty of good vehicles of all makes, including Ford out there. Just make sure you do a lot of real-world research. I don't even mean Consumer Reports (which I certainly consider with big-ticket items), but

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, the various vehicle owner forums, etc.

It's worth it to take the time to do that, trust me.

Good luck in your search!

Natalie

Reply to
Wickeddoll

I don't know, but it seems it is - at least in the US. My guess is that the vast majority of people opt for an automatic, unless it's a sporty sort of car (which the Corolla isn't.)

My local Toyota dealership hunted for a 5-speed manual for 2 months for me back in '98, but to no avail. Granted, I wanted certain options, & certain colors, but they couldn't come up with one. And they did try. I fianally gave up & ordered an automatic. Surprise, surprise... I didn't even bother with looking for a stick shift when I bought my '04; driving an automatic became fine with me, after all.

I have never managed to buy a new car off a lot. (I am picky!) My '72 Duster, '76 Datsun, and my '84, '90, '98, & '04 Corollas were all located on other dealers' lots & fetched for me. My '04 was picked up down in PA (I'm in upstate NY), for ex.

Price-wise, I go in after a couple of months of doing my homework: I know exactly which options I want & have the dealer cost & MSRP for the basic car model, plus that of each option & option pkg. with me, in a notebook. It sometimes takes me 3 visits to the dealership before they come down (are worn down ) to the price I want. Which is usually $200 - $400 over dealer cost. When they won't budge - or budge only a tad at first, I just walk out, telling them that I definitely want the car, but am definitely not willing to pay the price they've offered up till that point. No way would I pay anything nr. MSRP for a Corolla, excellent little car though it is.

Cathy

Well, maybe finding one with a cruise control is

Reply to
Cathy F.

I agree, whole-heartedly.

And, except for my last car purchase, I have always included Hondas - the Civic, when looking at the Corolla. IMO, very similar.

Cathy

Reply to
Cathy F.

In my experience in dealing with dealer salespeople, I've found many are lazy, and so they would rather go through the trouble of arranging a dealer trade for a vehicle where they will make a larger commission or not give a big discount on a base model vehicle with few accessories. In their defense, it will cost the dealer a pretty fair amount of money to send a driver 300 miles away to get a car. If you know where they are going, you may want to negotiate with that dealer directly.

Reply to
Ray O

I've run into a lot of smug Toyota dealers over the years. Usually they're ex-GM dealers and carry the same attitude over? Hello? McFly? Why do you think the GM market took such a big hit?

It's not their money until I sign on the dotted line. Period. Until then, I do with it what I please. If they want my money, they're going to have to make me an offer I can't refuse. (Or do like the Aggie Godfather and make me an offer I can't understand. )

Charles of Schaumburg

Reply to
n5hsr

I also couldn't find a 5sp Corolla when I was shopping for cars, so I ended getting a 5sp Civic. I didn't pursue this path, but I thought you could have the dealership order one from the factory? Or does that take too long and you didn't want to wait?

Reply to
Bucky

Which car will likely give you the most satisfactory service? Which car is most designed to your liking? If you trade or sell it before useful life ends, which car will return the least depreciation?

Reply to
Bob H

Try buying thru the dealer's online service instead of walking in and dealing with a salesman.

Also, try a civic.

Reply to
Art

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