What you should expect while buying a new car. Customer experience at Toyota dealership during new car purchase.
Later afternoon we come to buy a car. There were unrealistic greeting and grinning from the whole dealership personnel when we entered the building. We went to look on the cars. There were two color options for the same price: Cosmic Gray Mica and Predawn Gray Mica – we choose last one. We were told to write down names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three people we know – in case dealership cannot contact us directly. It was a very questionable request, but not having other choices, we filled that form.
After providing a driver license and social security number, wife was asked to sign the credit application and the form says the dealer won’t share her personal information. It was a quite some time, before the sale person came back with a key from the car, owner manual, and service book. We were told the car key replacement will cost $300, so watch where you put it, and if you use valet parking – just give a “spare” – cheaper non-programmed key to parking personnel. We were notified the next service for out 2016 Toyota Camry will be in six month or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. Not to forget we will receive a call about approaching scheduled maintenance.
Even though, we knew the price we pay for the car, no one at this point provided us any printed worksheet, total cost of a vehicle, or monthly payments. For some reason, they kept all numbers in the shade.
After that, we went to their finance department, and that is where everything came into place, but not as easy as we thought. There was not optional “gap insurance” offered to my wife in case the car will be totaled, and car insurance won’t cover 100% vehicle replacement. When I came and looked at numbers, I was about to call the deal off, but then this insurance became “optional”, but strongly recommended. We opt not to pay any extras, and just stick to a price was offered by the sales manager.
We were provided with:
ST-556 Sales Tax transaction Return
New purchase contract/bill of sale reflecting
- Selling price of a car
- Documentary fee
- State sales tax
- County tax
- City tax
- License, transfer & title
- Total balance due
- Applicable rebates from Toyota
- Unpaid balanced due
We didn’t put any money down, neither traded any vehicle.
Retail installment sales contract from Toyota financial services includes:
- the total amount financed,
- annual percentage rate,
- number of payments,
- amount of each payment,
- and when payments are due.
Arbitration agreement
Secretary of State odometer disclosure statement for title transfers.
After completing all finance tasks, they helped us to get car insurance, so we could drive the car right away. The dealer installed new plates, and we had 30 days to transfer or buy a new city sticker.
After my second visit to the same Toyota dealer, we came home on a new 2016 Toyota Camry… Will see how this car will perform and how long it will last.