Toyota Camry Hybrid: Ordering Process

kdhspyder

The side airbags are still located in the outboard side bolsters. They are deployed forwardly like pillows to protect you from the shoulder down.

gc77584

So...what does that mean in relation to having aftermarket leather installed? In a prior post I think you'd recommended that if someone wanted just leather on a TCH, to buy the base model with cloth and have the cloth replaced with aftermarket leather. I'm just trying to clarify/verify that doing so will not interfere with the side airbags in the 2007 TCH.

kdhspyder

It's a personal choice. I did it. I think however that in reading the owner's manuals aftermarket leather on seats with side airbags could void the warranty. The fabric in the factory seats is made to release the side A/B if deployed.

The aftermarket manufacturers now make the kits which also allow the release of the side A/B.

However since it's not installed at a Toyota facility, I think Toyota has the right to decline responsibility if the airbags don't deploy with aftermarket leather installed.

As I said it's your option.

navguy

The GPS antenna is in the front of the vehicle... under the dash, just behind the navigation unit. Just don't place a radar detector or portable satellite radio in the center of the dash. Both items emit RF energy that interferes with GPS reception. They usually cause the icon to be in the ocean or in another state.

As far as the tint is concerned use anything you want. Just make sure that the tint installer does NOT cut your defrost lines on the rear window when trimming the tint.

anniemfuse

I talked a local dealer this evening to see what was in the pipeline. They have their first three TCH's with port dates and VINs. The Jasper Pearl and the Silver go to people on the waiting list. No one on the waiting list including me wants the Desert Sand Base model with moonroof. Contact me if you want me to put you in touch with the dealer (e-mail in profile).

ozarkgolfer

If the GPS antenna is under the dash, what's the box up next to the rear view mirror?

anniemfuse

Thanks for info. Since I'm asking for dealer install of the SIRIUS sat radio, I hope they have guidance about appropriate placement of sat radio unit to avoid interference with nav.

anniemfuse

That MAY be sat radio antenna. I've heard they put the SIRIUS antenna there and the XM antenna inside rear window near trunk/rear window junction. This is just hearsay until confirmed.

cloud5

500 under MSRP ("Costco pricing"), free floor mat kit, no doc fee ("waived") or any other fees except TTL.

Can you tell me how you were able to get this price? The Costco 800 number says the Hybrid is not priced out with their system yet. Also, the dealer that works with Costco here in Springfield VA is only offering to deduct their $255 processing fee.

wvgasguy

Buckhannon AutoMall, Buckhannon WV

Mine came in Friday. Kip called me as the truck drove in and told me to be there in a couple of hours. I drove it home after work on Friday. They are a fairly small dealer on only had 1 allocated early. I know the dealer in fairmont is supposed to get 3 (possibly this weekend?) but I've never had luck dealing with them.

I've got another post in the forums. I've gotten 38.2MPG so far with 210 miles (in the hills of WV)

Titanium, loaded.

hamm3r

This post kinda sits half-way between ordering process and talking about the TCH in general, so I flipped a coin and added it to this thread.

I placed my order approximately 2 weeks ago and am number 8 on the waiting list at a dealer in south-central NJ. My dealer called me this afternoon and invited me in for a test drive. They received their first hybrid, and this particular dealer actually keeps the car for customer test drives only. The salesman said they sacrifice the car because they feel it is more customer friendly to have a vehicle there for them to get their hands on. I tend to agree.

I am not going to review the whole car because, well, I don't know what I am talking about But we did love the car. I am 6' tall and tried out the front and back seats and noticed their is ample leg room. Also, I was able to fit our double-baby stroller in the trunk with room to spare, so I was happy about that.

I love the idea of the fold down rear seats. This gives the ability put bigger objects that might not fit in the trunk, but without ruining the seats.

I did notice a very annoying resonating road noise when I opened only the rear windows. The resonating is enough to drive you mad. I tried opening only the rear windows because I have the same problem on my Honda Pilot. Strange that it is happening on both cars and it makes me wonder if this happen with all cars these days.

The navigation system did NOT have my street name listed! It was physically on the map, but the street name of my street and a few others in my neighborhood were not listed. I know they make update DVDs, but my neighborhood is 15 years old so I can't understand why it was not listed. Also, my parent's street is 40 years old and not listed either.

Anyway, I am ready to buy. The salesman has no idea when I can expect my car to come in.

consumer46

I have Toyota Nav in two automobiles. The issue of street names is a curious one. Often when a street name cannot be found, the issue is usually spelling... The names and addresses are as listed by the post office. In my case I could not find my street in the nav system. Yet, when I drove down the street, the name appeared. It was spelled differently. The bottom line is that for 10 years I was using the wrong spelling -- at least from a post office perspective. So I would suggest that the names may well be there -- but in a slightly different form!!!!

rob_whitehill

That "road noise' is completely normal. I've driven Hondas, Mazdas and most recently toyotas for years and always had that. It has to do with the aerodynamics of the car. As soon as you crack a front window even just an inch or so the noise will disappear.

wvgasguy

The navigation system did NOT have my street name listed!

Did you "drill down" on the nav system to see if a different level may have had the street name?

hamm3r

I drilled down the best I knew how without reading the manual. Then I used the scroll arrows on the map and scrolled from the dealership all the way to my house. I was viewing the map alla googlemaps-style. Most of the streets in my neighborhood were listed, but a few streets weren't. Even though you can see the actual street on the map, it was not named.

I was going to drive to my street and see if it found it that way, but I didn't want to have the car out too long.

wvgasguy

I'm new to the nav system but stummbled across the zoom buttons. I finally got down to a view that had my street name, although it was the old pre 9-11 name and not the newly assigned name given by the post office. I've still got to study this a bit.

It actually interested my non-tech wife who now wants a bluetooth cell phone.

Hopefully my kids can teach me how to use it.

njerald

Sounds like the NAV software/database is way out of date.

My Garmin is updated all the time!!!

hamm3r

So, how does it work? Let's assume that I am number 1 or 2 on the waiting list (I am actually number 8) & I ordered a specific color with specific options.

Does the dealership place an order for a car of those specs and take delivery of a car with those specs more or less in the same order that the buy-order was placed?

Or does Toyota just suprise a dealership with their allocation and the car will be a random color with random options packages, and then the dealership has to either sell it to someone who will take that model as-is, or trade it with another dealership?

I'm pretty much wondering if I will get the car I ordered or if the dealership will be calling me to say "well, I don't have that color, but I have this color...you want it?". If the process is purely hit or miss, then we may be waiting until 2007 to get our specific configuration....

Anyone know for sure?

njerald

Ask your dealer how he does it.

It makes no difference what is done anywhere else when it comes to your order with that dealer.

wvgasguy

Interesting. Wonder what the dealer will do when the colors desired don't come in with the same order of preference of the people on the wait list? Normally you would order a car and it's your's. However most people (like me) was simply asked for the first one that comes in or got "in line" to take them as they came. I don't know what my dealer would have done it the #2 person wanted the color I got simply because I asked for the first one (and really had about 3 or 4 acceptable colors I'd take). I guess if it's a long list you could always let someone "jump line" as long as the dealer agreed to not put you at the back of the list.

kdhspyder

There is what is called a 'preferencing' method. A dealer puts a preference or series of preferences in to the local region. The region tries to match the preferences with the incoming inventory as best it can. It generally works out OK.

If the preferences don't match then the dealer gets what is on the ship and then as you say he likely will propose to those on the list 'This is what is coming.. what do you want to do?'

IMO since the options and the colors are limited it's not too hard to get what you want. A LOT depends on the size of the store you are working with. A bigger store may be able to get your's within 2-4 weeks a small store may have to wait 6 months.

8th on the list at Longo means prolly next week. 8th on the list at Mom and Pop's might be December when KY production kicks in.

wvgasguy

My dealer only had 1 in the pipeline. He is a small dealer and I pretty well had to take it if I wanted it. Given the way Toyota packaged the options I was satisfied to get the loaded one as I did want leather and heated seats. Never really wanted the nav, but now that I have it it's pretty cool. Since I was not looking to pinch pennies it really didn't matter what it cost. I simply wanted a fair deal reguardless if it was a $27,000 or $32,500 car. That may sound stupid to some, but you have been following my comments and know what I mean. I bought the Hybrid to save gas, not money. Other cars I was considering were all in the $37,000 to $45,000 range. I realize not every one is in that mode, so it's great that they offer stripped TCH's that with tax credits put it in the reach of most Americans that were considering a mid size car. I don't have to break even on the economics, but I don't see how I can lose. If nothing else it kept me from spending another $10,000 to buy something that wouldn't make me any happier.

hardchemist

Wow, very well spoken regarding the economics of this particular purchase. My sentiments exactly. It's fun to be so impressed with so inexpensive a vehicle.

I'm now #1 on the list from a dealership who has only received one so far. The dealer finds out details on their next allocation on Friday May 18th. He will request my primary color (magnetic grey) and loaded, but no guarantees, or at least so he says. At this point I'll take any loaded color except for desert sand.

I guess that jives with what khdspyder said about hearing about allocations every 2 weeks.

BTW the TCH that I turned down was stripped, but the guy who took it (former #1) had leather installed at the dealership. We are paying MSRP, but I will ask them to give me private party blue book on my current vehicle....ha ha...

wvgasguy

My dealer made the deal with me at $589 off MSRP. For purposes of calculating the tax credit in my state, I had him add the discount back and sell it to me at MSRP and give me the discount on my trade. On paper I got KBB Private Party price on my trade against MSRP. I found that more than acceptable. However my car was in excellent condition with loads of factory warranty left. (03 Infiniti FX45 w/ 34,000 mi). In WV the tax credit is the differecnce in cost between the hybrid and non hybrid model similarly equiped. I'm getting a "my cost" figure of MSRP Hybrid against a discounted price on a 4cXLE to calculate my credit (taken over a three year period). Add that to the $2600 Fed Credit and I'll have about $25,500 after tax credits in a loaded TCH.

heathinsd

Hi! I just put a $500 deposit on a TCH (Magnetic Grey w/Ash leather) FULLY loaded and am SO excited to get it! My dealer said I may have it as soon as the end of the month but I'm not holding my breath. Expected price $30,589 in San Diego.

Does anyone know how the XM Radio (receiver) portion gets hooked up in these cars? I'm guessing they don't come in with the receiver already installed. (Dealer install?) My current car has XM and I want to make sure it gets moved over A/S/A/P.

Thank you!
Heath

ggav73

This is my first post, so please be patient. I ordered a Camry Hybrid, base model with heated mirrors and floor mats and the price I was quoted is $26709. I put a $500 refundable deposit via credit card on the car and I was called earlier last week that the delivery will be somewhere around Memorial Day weekend. I live in Chicago area, but the same price was quoted to me in Springfield, IL area. Above price includes destination charges, TDA, etc and excludes TTL. Questions:
1. What do you think about this price?
2. Is there anything I can do/could have done to decrease it?

ozarkgolfer

You really need to spend 30 minutes reviewing the previous postings in this thread.

ozarkgolfer

Stopped at my dealer (Fayetteville, AR) on the weekend. Car ordered three weeks ago and I was #1 on the list. The dealer has it the exact car I ordered arriving in 3-4 weeks and will be the first TCH they get. :P

wvgasguy

If that's MSRP it's probably as good of a deal as you can expect. Some (myself included) have gotten small discounts, but nothing significant. If you're trading then the more important issue is are you getting a fair deal on your trade-in?

ggav73

I did spend more than 30 minutes actually, reviewing previous posts here and on greenhybrid.com, but I did not found a car/case with my geographical location and my specifications. Plus, I really wanted an opinion from people more experimented than me. Thank you for your answer.

ggav73

I don't trade in. It is my first car I am buying. Leased so far. Read 'lost money so far'. Hopefully I will finance through Costco financial (Capital One) and get some discount from them on APR. Thank you for answering.

wvgasguy

I know you can typically get a better deal without trading, unfortunately you're dealing on a car that will go for MSRP+ about everywhere so cash deals don't help much.

I typically trade. In WV you pay taxes on the difference and in my case this time I would have had to sold the car for $1800 more than the dealer offered me to break even. Considering I got Kelly Blue Book "Private Party Price" I couldn't pass up the deal and convenience of trading.

I've never leased but have considered it. Typically though I drive 20,000+ miles per year and trade about every two years and the lease option never seemed reasonable. (My cars are for personal use as I have a company car). I do plan on the TCH staying around for at least 3 years. By then I'm hoping the new ES350 is available in a hybrid and I'll probably be ready for one.

I'm thinking I also read the lease does not qualify me for the $6300 in state and federal tax credits.

zews

Just went through the exercise of locating the color and options I want in metro Atlanta. E-mailed 16 or so dealers in and around town. Found the color I wanted within 24 hours, arrives this Saturday, give or take. I found 6-7 other TCH's in stock and most were selling at MSRP, with one dealer wanting to add $ 2,000 to MSRP. No dealer trading is going on, they are all holding on to their small allotments. The sales rep at the dealer I'm buying from did say Toyota dealers are not supposed to charge over MSRP, it's part of their agreement. But hey, in the wild West of car sales, I'm sure anything goes.

I'm getting a Mag Grey/Ash unit with NAV, Heated Outside Power Mirrors (most SET TCH's have this, for some strange reason) and the ever present ToyoGuard, which is on the majority of SET TCH's as well. Total with GA 7% taxes, SET 695 delivery, and an extra 345 dealer prep was something like $ 30,500. No trade, paying cash.

kdhspyder

Congrats and good job shopping. Keep us informed on your reactions when you do get one. Post any questions here if you wish.

fullofbeans

I was wondering if any Canadian buyers have been told the VIN yet or the date when their car will come in.

anniemfuse

Can you tell me how you were able to get this price? (500 under MSRP)

I was quoted this by my local dealer (southern Ohio) in early April; however, I only placed a refundable deposit and did not obtain a signed buyers orders. The discount has evaporated based on my last conversation with the dealer; he now realizes there is demand. He got one in so far, sold it, and has one more on the way. I am still waiting to get the car color and option package I want and will likely be paying MSRP. The local dealer did say he would still waive the doc fee. But I really have no idea whether they will be able to get a loaded Desert Sand anytime soon. I will likely place a request with a dealer who has bigger allocation or opportunity to get what I want.

berg32

I'm about to order mine, hoping to see one in Jasper Pearl green. If you have seem one in that color, please tell me where? Thanks!

chasgoose

My dealer in Phoenix has a base one available in Jasper Pearl coming in today. It was preferenced out for us, but the dealer, who is a friend, saw one in that color a couple weeks ago and said it was the ugliest color he had ever seen in all his years of car dealing so he called and offered to give us the next one that came in (which is a fully loaded silver one) if we thought this color was too awful. We are going down to see it when it is ready, but we ended up really liking the silver color and the fact that the other car has all the toys, and since we would only have to wait until Monday for it to come in (this dealer is one of the highest volume dealers in Arizona so he gets about 2 or 3 hybrids a week) we will probably not be taking the Jasper Pearl base car.

To sum it up, I would caution preferencing out a Jasper Pearl car without seeing it or without convincing your dealer to make sure that you won't lose your place in line if you can't stand the color. My dealer basically described the color as the Silver Pine Mica on the Avalon or the Prius with some neon green and yellow mixed in to give it the delightful color of snot and other unspeakable things depending on the lighting.

berg32

Thank you; we ordered ours today in white.

chasgoose

Good call. Just to follow up, we went down and looked at the 3 hybrids our dealer got in today (a base Jasper Pearl and fully loaded Blue Ribbon/Magnetic Gray). The Jasper Pearl was disgusting it really was as bad as the dealer said. The Blue was good, but a little too dark for our tastes and the Magnetic Gray was our favorite, but still a little too dark for Arizona summers so we decided to wait for the Titanium Silver we were originally getting that is due to arrive sometime around Friday or Saturday. In my opinion the Magnetic Gray is a great color, but it will be my wife's car and she liked the Titanium Silver better when she saw it on a non-hybrid Camry.

berg32

Thanks again for the advice on Jasper Pearl. In our neighborhood, every other car is silver, and its too hard to keep dark colored cars clean. We figure, if the white TCH looks too much like an appliance, we'll add a pin-stripe. A little nostalgia: We had a white '85 Camry, brought our son home from the hospital in it; now he's a junior in college!

spectrablue

Has anyone taken delivery of a Camry Hybrid from a dealer in North or South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, or Missouri?

I'm trying to decide if we have the slowest distribution in the nation.

gobigred1

I live in Nebraska and just received my TCH yesterday. My TCH was white and fully loaded except navigation.

wvgasguy

After reading all the posts on wait times, I'm still amazed that I was able to get my TCH in West Virginia so quickly (5/5)from a small dealer

spiff72

I now have a total of 4 deposits down at different dealers (totalling $1000) to try to get mine as quickly as possible.

My best position is #5 (at the highest volume dealer in Michigan). I am the only one who wants Navi, so I am hoping that the higher ranked people pass on the Navi because of the cost.

I think I am obsessed.

At the other dealers I am #13, #7, or #9.

Bring on my loaded Gray or Blue Ribbon TCH!

chasgoose

Too bad you don't live in Phoenix, yesterday my dealer had unclaimed and fully loaded TCHs in both Blue Ribbon or Magnetic Gray.

spiff72

You are EVIL! Don't tell me things like that unless they are withing 200 miles of me!

wvgasguy

I believe if I lived in the Southeast Region, or a Metro area where there are long waiting lists I would check the Toyota webpage for rural dealers and be willing to drive somewhere to get one of these. My dealer in WV got theirs on 5/5. After reading the board I got concerned about getting this and having someone want mine, waiting in line, etc.. I hassled my dealer until I just finally said I want to make the deal and sign the papers (I thought 3 weeks before the car was to come in). They laughed at me but said the car was mine. Fortunately it came in 2 days later, well earlier than anticipated.

The point is, I was the only person that had even asked about the TCH. A couple of other larger dealers in this area got a couple in and they were on the lot, unsold and unpromised. I don't know that it's like that now, but that was the situation a week ago. Interesting enough the dealers that had them were the more rural dealers. The larger dealers in Charleston either did not get any or did indeed sell them immediately as I never saw and TCH's in their stock.

My dealer in Buckhannon, West Virginia only had the 1. Morgantown and Fairmont dealers got a couple. Probably gone by now but who knows?

Mine was a Titanium loaded. I know one of the Fairmont cars was the Red base model. With approximately $6300 in Federal and State tax credits I couldn't believe there was not an urgency in WV for people to want these, especially since the state part of the tax credit has to be from a vehicle purchased before June 5th.

Hey, I'm guessing a WV TCH after June 5th may have less interest in WV buyers. Might be an option for some of you willing to drive. Especially the SE Area people where you might save $4000 in markups and do-dads you don't want. $4000 saved would be like getting a free Carribean vacation with your purchase. That and tax credits is a pretty good incentive plan.

heathinsd

Can someone please give me an idea of how long I may have to wait for my TCH? I live in San Diego & ordered mine (Mag Grey, fully loaded) on 05/12. I've been reading this board religiously since then and have become absolutely obsessed and anxious with getting this car! I haven't spoken with my dealer yet but plan on calling them today. Thanks for any advice!

Sleepless in San Diego,
Heath

gagrice

You should call the dealer in Phoenix with the mag gray loaded. It only costs $49 to fly over from SD.