2013 and Earlier - Toyota Corolla Prices Paid and Buying Experiences

dantz

Numerous people across the web have reported that the tire pressures on their newly purchased 2009 Corollas were set much higher by their dealerships than the levels recommended in their user manuals.

I've also recently learned that increasing the tire pressure might be a way to reduce the highway "wandering" effect that seems to plague the EPS (electric power steering) systems on some of these cars.

Putting two and two together, I've been wondering whether or not certain dealers might not be intentionally increasing the tire pressures on their 2009 (and possibly 2010) Corollas in order to mask the known steering issues. I hope this isn't the case, but my knowledge of human nature makes me suspect that it probably is.

Have any 2009 or 2010 Corolla buyers noticed higher than normal tire pressures on their new Corollas after rolling them off the lot? If so, please let us know.

I'm also curious how many "demo" 2009 - 2010 Corollas are set up with higher than normal tire pressures. Has anybody ever thought to check this? Of course, this sort of thing would never normally cross your mind, but maybe now there's a reason to check.

kyfdx

Cars are shipped with the tires inflated to higher pressure... mostly to keep the tires from flat-spotting, but also for more stability while on the transport..

If cars are delivered with higher pressure, then it's more likely the result of a poor dealer prep, than a "handling" conspiracy...

regards,
kyfdx

dantz

Hmmm, that sounds like a reasonable explanation. I'm hoping it's correct. Still, I plan to make sure that the tire pressures are properly set on any demo vehicles that I drive, as this will certainly affect the steering and the handling. I'm considering purchasing a 2010 Corolla for a family member, but only if the steering has improved since 2009, and I don't want to be fooled by driving a car that has the tire pressures set abnormally high.

hhjane

Basic LE with following options:
cruise control
keyless (does not open trunk)
AM/FM 6 CD changer
50 states emissions
all weather guard package
sunroof
vehicle stability control
floor mats
$16,800 OTD includes the $2000 manufacture cash rebate. Tax rate is 6%, although some says only 5.4%. Considering there is $2000 rebate instead of $1000 as in other areas or other time, is this deal still ok or should I be able to get it lower?

hhjane

MSRP $22,220, the $19,594 OTD price includes $1,750 cash rebate. The price is much higher than I had planned for a Corolla, but is it a good price? Thanks a lot for all your help!

Options are:
50 state emissions
JBL radio with XM radio trial subscription
All weather guard pakcage
Sunroof
Sports package
Vehicle stability control
Rear bumper protector

tx_ice

You cannot combine the $2000 cash back with the $1000 college grad rebate. The former requires you to buy the vehicle in an all cash deal, but the later college grad rebate requires you to finance through TFS. Don't go in thinking you are getting an additional $1000 if you are paying cash or else you will be sorely disappointed.

kyfdx

KY charges the 6% tax rate on 90% of MSRP (ergo, 5.4%).

However, if you can document that you paid less than 90% of MSRP (before rebate is deducted), the 6% tax will be applied to that lower amount..

Hope that helps...

tx_ice

Is there something special going on in MA to get this low price? In TX and the rest of the country, the best pricing is $15.8 -16.0K for the LE based on the posting. I am not able to get even that low.

The only incentives I see here are the marketing support which is to the dealer directly from Toyota.

Any special tricks or advice to get a 2010 for a 2009 price?

mickeycat

For those who already got LE, do your keyless work on the trunk? I have got different answers from different dealers, some say yes, some say no, but the charges for the keyless options are same.

alamocity

Here in TX we are hit with the Gulf State fee that folks on the East Coast are not charged and that adds somewhere in the neighborhood of $700.00 or so and that may be part of the price difference you're seeing.

bsbms

hi..i am offered $15,688 (including destination, packages:CF, QA, CM,LE) by one of the bay area dealers..the price is including 500 rebate..price does not include taxes,etc..

let me know if this is a good price? :confuse:
thanks!

juliejean13

I just graduated from college and it's my first time buying a new car. I'm going to be buying a Toyota Corolla.

Anyways, I plan on putting 11,000$ down, getting the 1,000$ cash rebate, and doing the 2.9% financing to pay of in 36 mos.

The price the dealer quoted me was $16,271 for the LE model with the All Weather Guard package and the LE Extra Value package (plus taxes and fees).

Is this a fair price? I live in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls Region, and I would like to get the price down to $15k.

abchin486

Actually....yes you can. Infact, that is how we bought our corolla (big rebate on S model followed by 1K college rebate). What you cannot do is combine low special apr with rebates. There is no writing anywhere that says you have to buy the car in cash to get the non grad rebate. The college rebate can be combined with any offer.

tx_ice

This may depend on the area. At least in TX, we checked with several dealers and all confirmed that you have to finance through TFS and you have to borrow at least $10K. So when you finance, you automatically give up the cash rebate.

But that is great if you were able to combine both the cash back and the college rebate. Where did you buy your S from?

stove1

Current incentives expire July 6, Gulf State Toyota region. Will there be a new incentive something ? Dealer in Houston reporting 09 LEs are sold out. Left over are stick shifts and xle models with half the rebate, twice the trashy options.

Toyota must be doing great in Houston, 10 customers walked in during that hour I was there, around 11 am Monday. Had to wait 10 minutes for an avalable salesman.

abchin486

I think they misunderstood you or you misunderstood them. When you do the college rebate, you have to finance through toyota. You can get the the special low 2.9 or 1.9 or 0% (whatever it is in your area) apr if you want...after all, it is still financing through Toyota. You will however lose the cash back rebate. If you chose not to do the special apr, you will be subjected to Toyota's graduate rates, which is around 5.5% for tier 1 now. This is not a special rate. It is the normal rate for college graduate car loans from most auto companies. You can still use that rate and qualify for the the cash back rebate (however big it is in your area). If your dealers are telling you that you cannot do that, then it may very well be something unique to your area, or they are all just choking your chain so you finance through the dealer.

Call Toyota and find out. Also, the minimum finamce is not 10K either....we financed less with no problem. This is in MA.

abchin486

yeah, Toyota is selling alot, unwillingly though. they are in "keep dealers head above water" mode (most car manufactures are) and to keep as much as their work force as busy as possible. If dealers close down, they lose market presence, they get less volume, they then have less production, then it leads to laying people off. As a result, they have to sell lots of this stuff for little profit or none at all just to keep afloat. The are relying on people not taking the rebate and going for the the low apr so they can eventually recoup the losess and they did 0% for 60 months a few months back because nothing sold at all in prior months. They had no choice at that point.

As for new incentives, no one knows. If we did, we would just wait until the better incetive came along.

jamg

I'm not sure where the confusion is coming from, but you --> CAN <-- combine the Grad Rebate with the current low APR's offered by Toyota Finance. Here is what I was able to do in MA recently (06/09) when buying my 2010 Corolla (if you're looking at closeout 2009 incentives, it might be different):

Receive the $1,000.00 Grad Rebate (Applied to car, didn't take cash)
Finance at 3.9% (for 60 month) through Toyota Finance
Delay first payment for 90 days (as benefit of Grad Rebate)
and got 1 year Roadside for no additional fee (as benefit of Grad Rebate)

Hope this helps. It seems like the incentives will change after this 4th of July weekend; you might want to act fast. People are saying that "Cash for Clunkers" bill that (will be/was recently) signed might actually work (i.e. get a lot of people motivated to purchase cars) so manufacturer incentives (low APR's/Cashback) might quickly disappear and dealership might not be so motivated to negotiate low prices.

Best of luck
JAMG

jamg

MarkJoe,

I was at the dealership shortly after my 2010 S arrived on their lot (it wasn't "prepped" for pickup yet--still lots of packaging on the car). They opened the trunk and there was a plastic bag with the carpet floor mats and the trunk carpet all rolled up together. As they came in one package, I do think you are correct and your salesperson lied to you.

See if you can get $100.00 credit from their service department (i.e. on labor for oil changes/tire rotations etc.) at their dealership. It won't cost the dealership as much as handing you $100.00 cash, but the value to you is the same. I used to work in a bicycle shop and we'd do this all of the time if we couldn't match the competition's prices. We'd throw in a free tune-up or two, which would normally cost the customer $65.00, but would cost the shop very little (1/2 hr to 1 hr work of an employee making $12.00-$18.00 per hour).

Alternatively make a stink and try to return your overpriced trunk mat, go to another dealership and try purchase the entire package for $100.00. This means at the end of the day you'd have 2 sets of floor mats + trunk mat for your $$ rather than 1 set of floor mats + trunk mat for the same $$. Not sure if all of this work would be worth it ($100.00 is a relatively small % of the price you probably paid on the car)--but if you're upset and have the time, you could always try.

jamg

Hey MickeyCat,

I don't know about 09 LE's, but my 10 S's master key has 4 buttons: lock, unlock, panic, and trunk. The trunk button has an icon of an open trunk and is marked with the word "hold"--when I hold the trunk button, my trunk opens! :P

How many buttons did your keyless system come with? If you give us some more information someone is bound to help you out. Maybe there are two systems (perhaps a mid-year change)?

If you do have a trunk button, I would expect it to work. If you don't have a trunk button, I'd probably read your owner's manual to see what's up.

watfallet

For those of you who have taken advantage of the $1000 college graduate rebate on the Corolla, how did the dealership confirm that you were in fact a recent grad? I have not received my diploma yet. In fact, the university charges to mail it to me (I don't live nearby), so I would rather not have to incur that cost.

I do know that I need to bring proof of insurance and proof of employment (or future employment offer with a start date within 120 days). That information is on Toyota's website. They just don't say what, if anything, I need to bring to confirm my recent graduation.

abchin486

diploma or transcript.

mickeycat

Thanks, jamg. I did not go to look at the cars yet, I was getting price quotes from different dealers for 09 LEs. All of them said the keyless entry was factory installed and the price charge is same for the option, but the answer for whether the keyless opens trunk is 50/50 yes/no. I started thinking if the keyless is not factory installed, then the solenoid is not there, so the dealer installed keyless does not open trunk since it's cheaper this way. 09 models are almost all gone in my region. Hope Toyota will give higher rebates for 10 models in the rest of the year.

mannyliang

please tell the OTD you get and who is the dealer.
thank you/.

tx_ice

Dealers may be willing to deal, but there are a lot of factors that determine how far they are willing to go. The most important is how seriously you are in buying from them. Dealers don't want to be bait for another dealer to get drawn down further and then lose the sale to that 2nd dealer. The second is whether they have the car in inventory or have to do get the car from another dealer.

I have some dealers just not willing to go below $15.5K on an 09 LE when you negotiate via the Internet. I bought a car for my parents in March at $14.5K but noone is willing to get to that level.

But it is true that in Houston inventory is very low and you really have very little choice in equipment and colors.

Good luck to all you shoppers!

alltimeqb00

New Buyer here and was looking into a 2010 Corolla S. I have yet to even go out and look but have done some emailing to see what the first offers were. So far, after one round of asking them what their lowest offer on a 2010 corolla S, one dealership came back with this:

16,998 + TTL Driveout $18,281.81

I'm pretty sure this is way too much still, but does anyone know what I could shoot for. I live in san antonio, texas by the way. any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

tx_ice

I did get some quotes on 2010 LE's in Houston and the best I got was $16,295 + TTL. Nobody would beat that offer. So your price for a S maybe pretty good.

alamocity

That doesn't sound bad for San Antonio What options does it come with, and which dealership? I've found most add a bunch of extra options that I don't really care for

alltimeqb00

I had asked for a vin number with all the information, but it seems like they left that out. Should that be a flag of some sort? Am i negotiating on a car that will be sold when i head into the dealership?

here's the email exchange with alamo toyota

>I will do $ 16,998 + TTL Driveout $18,281.81. Let me know if this will work?

>On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 12:08 PM, Alamo Toyota wrote:

> 2010 TOYOTA Corolla
> Dear xxxxx,
>
> Here is the pricing information you requested. Let me know if this unit
> will fit your request?
>
Vehicle Model/Trim $ **,***
> Alamo Toyota 2119 Northeast Loop 410 San Antonio, State:
> TX Zip: 78217 (210)657-6100 Prepared For: Internet Price
> $18,500+1,198.02 tax + 189.50fees *Your Drive out
> Price $ 19,887.07*
> *2010 Toyota Corolla* *MSRP* *Model - 1834 4-DOOR SEDAN S* *Base:* *
> $18,055.00* *Exterior Color - 03R3 BARCELONA RED METALL* *Installed
> Options:* *$1,189.00* *Interior Color - FD17 DARK CHARCOAL/LIGHT GRAY* *
> Total:* *$19,244.00*
> * Base MSRP includes delivery charge ** Prices subject to change
> without notice *** Please refer to vehicle Monroney label for final
> specifications and pricing
> Standard Features for this model MECHANICAL & PERFORMANCE EXTERIOR
> - 1.8L 4-Cyl DOHC Dual VVT-I SFI Engine - Multi-Reflector Halogen
> Headlamps, - 4-Speed Automatic Transmission - Black Headlamp Housing
> & Fog Lamps - Front Wheel Drive - Color-keyed Power Outside Mirrors
> - MacPherson Strut Front Suspension - Color-keyed Fr. & Rr. Underbody
> Spoilers - Torsion Beam Rear Suspension - Chrome Exhaust Tip - Electric
> Power Steering (EPS) COMFORT & CONVENIENCE - Front Ventilated Disc \
> Rear Drum Brakes - Air Conditioner with Clean Air Filter - 16\" Steel
> Wheels with Full Wheel Covers - AM/FM/CD MP3/WMA Player with 6 Speakers
> - P205/55 R16 Steel-belted Radial Tires - AUX Audio Port & XM
> Satellite Antenna SAFETY - Shift Activated Power Door Locks - Vehicle
> Stability Control w/ TRAC - Optitron Meters w/ Illuminated Ceremony - Anti-Lock
> Brakes w/ EBD & Brake Assist - Speedometer Gauge w/Outside Temp Display
> - Dr & Fr Pass Advanced Front Airbags w/ - Tilt & Telescopic Leather
> Steering Wheel - Occupant Classification Sensor - Driver & Front
> Passenger Sport Seats w/ - Dr & Fr Pass Seat Mounted Side Airbags - Driver's
> Seat Height Adjuster - Front & Rear Side Curtain Airbags - 60/40
> Split Rear Seat w/In-Trunk Release - Dr and Front Passenger Active
> Headrests - Digital Clock, Dome Light w/ Time Delay - 3-Point
> Seatbelts with Pretensioner - & Force Limiters - LATCH(Lwr
> Anchor & Tethers for Children) - for Outboard Rear Seating Positions
> Only - Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System - Engine Immobilizer
> - Daytime Running Lights
> Selected Options and Packages Code Description Code Description
> FE 50 State Emissions RD Toyota Roadside Assistance QC S EVP
> #3: Includes 16\" Alloy Wheels with - (3 Yrs/36,000 Miles) - P205/55R16
> Steel-belted Radial Tires, Rear O5 Owner Rewards Package - Deck
> Spoiler, Power Windows with - Security System Upgrade - Driver-Side
> Auto Down, Remote Keyless - Carpet Mat Set - Entry w/ Key
> Transmitter and Cruise - Door Sill Enhancement - Control - Rear
> Bumper Protector AU Toyota Auto Care NC No Charge Toyota Benefits
> - Two No Charge Service Visits, Including: - Oil and Filter
> Change - Tire Rotation - Multi-Point Inspection

markjoe

Jamg,
thanks for your reply, I think I will just let it go.
I should not buy the carpet in the first place.

alamocity

I would make sure when you go to the dealership that you print out the email that they sent you and once there compare the VIN number on the vehicle to the paperwork that you are signing for. Have you gone to their website to look at the VIN number? It should be listed on there. Have you tried the other dealerships in town to see if they can beat that price? Price doesn't look bad for this area but that $834.00 for rear bumper protector, cargo mat set, and door sill enhancement seems excessive to me

cableman2

I live in the rochester,NY and would like to buy a 2010 Corolla LE with cruise control, and keyless entry. I am just wondering what would be considered a good, or even great price for this car before tax, title, license. I am also wondering what would be a good starting price to offer the dealer. Thank you.

tx_ice

Check out www.fitzmall.com for pretty much the best pricing around. I just discovered this site and the prices are better than most of what has been posted here.

Has anyone bought from them and can share an experience?

i_need_a_car

If you have bought one, can you tell me the price you paid and from where ?

zekeman1

$15,888 inclusive of $750 cash back & 0% financing for 36 mos for the 2010 LE Auto in the Kansas City area. Pick mine up tomorrow.

i_need_a_car

I bought one today from...2010 Corolla LE.

MSRP: 17950
Paid: 14800+TTL

Price includes $500 cash incentive from Toyota.

carbuyer88

Im in market, can you tell me which dealer in Ma you bought the car from?

Thanks,

jamg

Hey Car88,

Take a close look at Copeland Toyota in Brockton, MA. I was extremely impressed with these guys. When I started shopping for a car I had no plans to buy in MA (I live in Rhode Island) and didn't even know there was a Brockton MA! I only contacted them because Copeland had a leftover 2009 I was initially interested in purchasing. The internet sales guy worked with me extensively and promptly answered all of my questions. They are very professional and willing to do sales with internet users (unlike the RI dealerships who would only reply--'when you're serious, come in to my office and we'll get you great deal'--no thanks). When it became apparent that the 2009 wasn't the car for me (I wanted the new safety features on the 2010's), he gave me a screaming good deal on a 2010. No B/S either--they stuck the OTD price that we negotiated over the internet (it was such a good deal I was nervous they'd back out--see my previous posts). I'm quite fond of the dealership as you can tell!

In order to get around the "don't disclose contact information" rules at Edmunds--here's what need to do to find the guy I worked with: go to Copeland's website, place your cursor on the "About Us" icon at the top of the page--which will activate a drop-down menu--and then click on "Meet the Staff." This will take you to a new page. Under "Phone and Internet Sales" you'll find the name (and picture) of the guy that I worked with. He is the "youngest" picture in the group, the only one on the bottom. His picture is horrible here, but trust me he's great! (If you decide to buy a car from them, contact me just before you do. I'll pass on additional information to you about finance people I worked with.)

i_need_a_car

Hi car88,
It is Boch Toyota North. Remember that the main bargaining chip is the $750 Toyota incentive coupon until 31st of July which is distributed on first come first serve basis. They dont advertise it. You can also go to Acton Toyota to get the same price.

rluetgenau

I leave in central North Carolina and looking for the above vehicle for a friend of mine. Any recent prices and recommended dealerships? How about those to stay away from. All she wants is 4 dr., power locks/windows and CD player. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

watfallet

Can you give more details on the $750 Toyota incentive coupon? You said it is distributed on first come first serve basis. Where is it distributed? How does it work? (i.e. Do you negotiate your best deal and then hand over this coupon for an additional $750 off?) Thanks

i_need_a_car

This is not distributed. It is not a paper coupon also. You just tell them that you know about this $750 coupon and you want that to be considered when quoting the price. Better not to tell them upfront and wait till they give you the quote and then you can use this as a bargaining chip. You will not see this $750 in your bill of sale as rebate or cash back or in any other field.

For the price I got, may be you can get $100-$200 less than that in this month. If you are not in a hurry I will say that wait until next month, coz market is dipping again and there will be better deals for sure.

jason1995

I went to a local dealer yesterday after I got the quote ($15780) from them. I mentioned the $750 coupon to the salesman. He said he never heard about it and then asked the manager, the manager also said no such coupon. I will go to another local dealer and try again.

jason1995

For updating, I got an email from Action Toyota. They confrimed there is an extra $750 coupon, but I live in New Jersey area, so I am afraid this coupon probably is only available in some areas, but not in NJ. Anyone living in NJ got this $750 discount?

zekeman1

I don't believe your residence has a thing to do with the $750 deal...I believe it's all Toyota dealers nationwide.
Click on the "shopping tools" tab on http://www.toyota.com/corolla/ , plug in your zip and you should be able to get the specials in your area.

abchin486

no, it does. Different regions have different promotions. What that deal sounds like is a manufacture to dealer rebate. They are not advertised usually, and most sites, such as edmunds, usually miss those rebates. Months ago, Indiana had dealer incentive rebates while pretty much every other area did not. The point of those rebates is to have the dealer undersell his own price, while still maintaining a profit. Lots of times, dealers will acknowledge the rebate, but claim it is a lower rebate amount and pocket the remainder. It's a dealer rebate because it's upto the dealer to pass on the full savings to the consumer or just part of it.

kaicary

Hi all,

I've got an OTD at $19015.30 (Chicago, IL) for 2010 Corolla S with the following optional equipment:
*Carpet Floor Mats & Trunk Mat
*50 State Emissions
*All Weather Guard Package
*S EVP #3
*6 CD changer

The OTD is before any rebates. Is this a good deal?

Thanks for your comments,

i_need_a_car

Kaicary,
You have paid at least $1000 bucks extra according to current market price. Check truecar.com to verify.

ruthie2

What should I pay for a 2010 Corolla LE auto in WI, would like alloys wheels...what is the best package to get that includes alloys?

kaicary

Thanks so much for the info! I'll negotiate based on the pricing reports from Truecar.