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#8810 of 10032 Re: 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE + Options: price paid and buying experience [camryhybrid12] by camryhybrid12

Dec 20, 2011 (2:29 pm)

Replying to: camryhybrid12 (Dec 17, 2011 1:36 pm)

Just wanted to add my experience on signing the contract and being offered additional extras.
 
My location: Central NJ near North Brunswick, NJ
   
Dealer: DCH Brunswick Toyota
 
Here are the extras offered and the prices quoted:
 
My experience at the Finance Manager. The Finance Manager is the person who closes the deal and prepares the paperwork, contract etc. I was paying cash so at least he did not bother to convince me to accept a finance deal. But of course, and this is his job so I understand, he has tried to sell me various extras (dealers do this as it increases their profit but really you need to decide if you need it or not. for now I think not at least for my case). But that was not anything that would bother me.
 
Just one note: You maybe asked to sign an arbitration agreement and give up the rights for a class law suite or to sue. You do not have to sign such. After signing I asked what if I do not sign this (thinking it is a condition to sell the car which without I cannot buy it because some Toyota mandated need - given the call backs and law suites they had). The answer was that if I do not sign then I do not sign. I wrote an email 2 days latter to the Finance Manager to cross my signature therefore, and copied the General Manager and the General Sales Manager - why do I need give up a right for free I can decide that at the time not ahead of time. Makes sense?
 
Here are the details:
 
The Finance Manager, a nice person he is just doing his job of course, tried indeed to sell me a bunch of extras - I have not accepted any of those though and told him I need to find out the info since I was not prepared (although from memory I knew while he presented these that his prices are way higher even though he said he is giving me a special price at 20% off the MSRP for the extended warranty" which is special for friends and family of the General Manager" since I am the GM's referral). These are supposed to be all for the 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE (though during his sells pitch he has used different manual e.g. used a 2010 Camry V6 to show me the maintenance needed and how expensive this will be but I told him the Hybrid for 2012 has been redesigned to have less such cost and its different ... so in short did not take any of such services). Here are the prices he has offered and the extras:
 
Toyota Extra Care 6 years 125K miles: "special price" $1600 (20% off MSRP for friends and family of the GM
Toyota Extra Care 5 years 100K miles: "special price" $1150 (20% off MSRP for friends and family of the GM
Toyota Extra Care list price: $2405
 
JM&A Hiline Maintenance: 4 years 60K miles $595 (this is to cover hoses and belts - who need it for the redesigned Camry Hybrid... I do not know... but he offered... saying the service agreement does not cover these.. nor does the Extended Warranty above.
 
Toyota Auto Care: 5 years 75K miles: $995 "special price" (not clear if its 5 years in addition to the 2 years the car comes with or total 5 year, did not ask as was not interested) This includes 5 years of roadside assistance which I already have per special Toyota's VP for buyers of cars before Jan 3rd 2012.
 
Ding Shield: 5 years no miles limit $299 (vs. MSRP of $499 so he said - they can repair certain dings that are in certain places... ). Pitch was that even one repair of a ding in a Camry they charged $475 or more. Well I told him I do not care about dings.. if I get a few so be it, they will have to deal with them when I trade in the car (he did not like my comment I think... )
 
Road Hazard Tire & Wheels 5 years: $395 (vs $445 MSRP so he said, as the other warranty does not cover the wheels and tires... but there is a OEM maker warranty that does or my insurance if its an accident... ). I think not needed also.
 
LOJack - $795. Alarm and GPS/Cell phone based technology to find the car if its stolen My car has already alarm and engine immobilizer, so why have this in addition. And I pay the insurance anyway. He claimed 90% success rate for the police to find the car if stolen.
 
Secure Etch: $299 this is almost always being "imposed" on buyers these days. It seems to replace the strips that were used to add cost and pad the price so to get the dealers profits higher. Of course I have rejected. You do not need to accept this as basically they etch the VIN on various parts but you are over protected anyway with the car and alarm and insurance. There are kits available at 1/2 price I read that you can do such yourself if you must.
 
The General Manager has commented on the etching that: "As far as the etch goes the price of $299 is basically to get the $5000 pay out on top of the insurance payout if the vehicle is stolen. This is a high crime area due to the close vicinity of the ports and we do have several payouts per year so I think it’s especially appropriate in this area. " So at least that was not presented as such to me, but even knowing it, its just an add on policy and I will go for such to my insurance. But for some buyers, this maybe useful indeed.
 
There was some minor pressure to sell above. E.g. he was saying these extras can only be bought at these prices at the same time the car is bought (I told him no I can find alternatives e.g. the GM extended warranty and others I can get latter on - and asked him if he wont agree to sell me such if I come next week... he smiled...). Also I was asked to sign a document I decline to add all the above. I signed asking what is the meaning of such signature since there could be 100s of other things I can add and do not want to. He smiled and said he does not know why a signature is needed. I suggested perhaps as additional psychological pressure to make car buyers think they give up something of an advantage ... he said maybe this is it... and smiled.
 
Even now I am not sure I got copies of all documents I have signed. It was like a production line, I have signed so many documents but was reassured I will get copies latter. However I think I did not get a copy of all... the Finance Manager was also in a hurry after spending the time to offer me all the extras.... and hence have written an email to ask for a complete copy of everything they have on file for me when I get back to the dealership to get the license plates installed and the extra key and security tag which were missing at the time I picked up the car - but got a phone from the general sales manager she found it just the same day I got the car and she will keep them at her desk so they do not get lost again. I am sure they will provide a complete set of all I have signed when I go there though (General Manager is an excellent person so no worries at all).
 
So in short, if you buy a car be prepared the Finance manager or a finance person will try to sell you extras but most likely none are needed including the

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#8811 of 10032 Re: 2012 Camry LE Clasic Silver-Out of the Door Price in VA [vemuru] by david_iowa

Dec 20, 2011 (4:30 pm)

Replying to: vemuru (Dec 19, 2011 6:21 pm)

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#8812 of 10032 Re: 2012 Camry LE Clasic Silver-Out of the Door Price in VA [vemuru] by nandanmv

Dec 20, 2011 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: vemuru (Dec 19, 2011 6:21 pm)

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#8813 of 10032 Just ordered a 2012 Hybrid LE by slingha

Dec 20, 2011 (7:44 pm)

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#8814 of 10032 Dallas Area Deals by k111

Dec 21, 2011 (8:35 am)

Replies to this message:

• alleycat10 (Dec 21, 2011 8:21 pm)

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#8816 of 10032 Re: 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE + Options: price paid and buying experience [camryhybrid12] by wannacamry12

Dec 21, 2011 (8:03 pm)

Replying to: camryhybrid12 (Dec 17, 2011 1:36 pm)

Replies to this message:

• blk_in_sf (Dec 21, 2011 8:46 pm)
  • wannacamry12 (Dec 21, 2011 9:22 pm)
    • blk_in_sf (Dec 21, 2011 11:26 pm) and 4 more...
• camryhybrid12 (Dec 22, 2011 7:15 am)
  • wannacamry12 (Dec 23, 2011 2:11 am)
    • camryhybrid12 (Dec 23, 2011 5:52 am)
  • cordelldm (Dec 27, 2011 6:30 am)
    • jaxs1 (Dec 31, 2011 8:00 am)

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#8817 of 10032 Deal negotiated by david_iowa

Dec 21, 2011 (8:13 pm)

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#8818 of 10032 Re: Dallas Area Deals [k111] by alleycat10

Dec 21, 2011 (8:21 pm)

Replying to: k111 (Dec 21, 2011 8:35 am)

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#8819 of 10032 Re: 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE + Options: price paid and buying experience [wannacamry12] by blk_in_sf

Dec 21, 2011 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: wannacamry12 (Dec 21, 2011 8:03 pm)

Replies to this message:

• wannacamry12 (Dec 21, 2011 9:22 pm)
  • blk_in_sf (Dec 21, 2011 11:26 pm)
    • camryxleowner (Dec 24, 2011 11:17 pm) and 2 more...
    • saukes (Jan 15, 2012 7:43 pm)