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Toyota Camry Hybrid: Ordering Process
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Trust them. It's been going on like this for 3 yrs now on first the Sienna's, then Prius' then FJ's and now the TCH's.
link title
A status is 'allocated' to the store
F status means it's in 'freight' status and the trucker has 72 hrs to get it to the store
G status means the 72 hrs have passed and the vehicle should be on the 'ground' at the store - go get it
kdhspyder, do you know if there is a maximum amount of time it can take?
My car was supposed to arrive June 5th. It came on the vessel PNER. LDV001. I'm in LA......I assume it came into Long Beach, CA. Any idea of when?
Order of magnitude:
Say 5000 vehicles each costing $20,000 comes into a port. That's $100 Million of inventory sitting there. At prime ( less 1% ? ) it costs someone ( Toyota most likely ) 0.019% daily on the total or about $19,000 each day that the inventory sits( ~$4/veh per day ). Toyota wants it moved. The dealers want it moved.
We ended up opting for the extended warranty (100K or 7 yrs) which was $1950, fully refundable if we don't use it. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has done this,and how much it cost.
Ouch. I paid $898 for the 6yr/100K/$0ded on my TCH and I probably could have gotten it for less if I called some of the places mentioned in another forum. link
The fully refundable is the key phrase john.
Translation of the two purchases:
john paid $898 ( good price btw ) betting that there will be problems within 6/100;
orgal paid the lost opportunity cost on $1950 ( ~ $800 lost income @ 5% ) betting that there won't be any problems for 7/100.
The costs are the same the perspectives are different that's all.
So as long as you don't have any claims against the warranty between the expiration of the factory warranty and the expiration of the extended warranty, you can get the full cost of the warranty back? Or if you have a minor claim (like a power window motor fails), you get nothing back?
You might consider it to ba '$1950 deductible' also. If you do have a minor claim it might be less costly to just pay it out of pocket and claim the refund at the end of the period. OTOH if you do have a catastrophic claim within the period you are covered at the cost of the $1950 permium.
Some actuarial specialist in some office did a lot of number crunching and came up with this idea as the flip side of the same Extended Warranty coin.
How often have longterm Toyota owners said:
'It's a Toyota, things just don't go wrong like with other vehicles. I'll pass on it and take the small chance ( self-insure ) that something might go wrong.'
Reply: 'What if you could get all your money back in the end if as you expect nothing does go wrong?'
:surprise: 'Really?'
So as you say, the cost is really the lost interest (we paid cash) on the money. Ultimately, because we have nav and bluetooth and all the electronics in the car, my husband felt like we should get it. We had also bought a similar one on a 2004 Sienna we bought because it had power doors, DVD and Nav - that warranty also covered free oil change for life, which by itself covered the cost.
I can cancel it at any time and get a prorated return, or it can get transferred if I sell the car...and yep, you can think of it as a $1950 insurance deductible policy, paid in advance.
This is my first Toyota. I've been driving about 2K/month (394K over the last 16 yrs) in Ford/Mercury vehicles and the extended warranty repairs that were done always covered the price I paid for the warranties.
I made my warranty choice this time based on the fact that this is a first year vehicle (which sometimes have more problems than the following year but I certainly hope not) and the amount of driving that I do which may put a bit more stress on the vehicle than someone who only drives half of the miles I do per year.
In a way I hope I'm wrong this time and I won't have enough repairs to cover the warranty cost.
Enjoy your beautiful new Camry.
For both. The one for the TCH can also be cancelled at any time, and I would get the amount back, prorated for how much time has passed.
If that is the case, I wouldn't call this FULLY REFUNDABLE. I am not so sure that you got a very good deal on the warranty. I have seen posts about a 75k mile 0 deductible warranty for around $800.
Can you tell me what dealer you got yours from, and how long the wait was?
Thanks!
The only time most people cancel these VSA's is if they trade the vehicle before the 6 or 7 yrs is up. In this case it prorated and likely you've lost some money versus just buying it outright. But if you keep it the full 6 or 7 yrs then it seems to be a wash cost wise.... as long as you pay cash for it.
Roll it into your loan and then the interest on the bigger amount makes it cost more.
I got a call this morning that there is a white loaded TCH with Nav in Cincinnati at Joseph Toyota that arrived this morning. Not spoken for. Talk to Chris. Closest dealer to me but not the color I want.
If you cancel it with a month left, you get a small prorated refund, but if you let it run its full term (and you still haven't used it), you get the full refund?
I guess this makes sense, then.
Anyway, I've been able to watch my car through the buyatoyota mechanism. The website "availability" date said 6/6/06 ever since I knew the VIN# (JTNBB46K773004067) back in mid-May. But every day since June 6th they have been adding one day to the date at the close of every day. And now if course it says June 10th (today). What's the deal? Is it lost? Is some sadist playing with the database?
Kdhspyder, what's your take on this? Anticipation......... :confuse: ............Your insight will help me have a more relaxed weekend!!!
It's interesting that you mention the same in SET. I do know that there was a big meeting at the distribution center here in CAT on Fri so we couldn't reach anyone.
More on Monday.
Yes you do. CA has agreements with some states where you only pay whichever state is higher. Even if you live in a state like Oregon that does not have sales tax you still pay in CA. CA is not a good state to buy cars in. Try Oregon, CO, Nevada, WA, Idaho is good. None of those charge tax if you are licensing in a different state. I have bought new vehicles in all those states with good luck. I think some areas of CA are now at 8.5% sales tax.
And I'll be sure as h3ll to post the second I get the new beauty! We're down to the hours, now....
Anyway, we had an early dinner and decided to drop by the dealership just as they were closing and right there, in all it's own glory was a magnetic gray 07 Camry on the lot. Chrome grill? THAT'S MY TCH!
The sales manager let me take her for a ten minute test ride (we took 15) and I'll go back in on Monday (they are closed Sunday) and sort out my trade in nd the paperwork.
Have to say I was very impressed with the test drive. :P
The first dealer now says I'm #1 on their list and the car should arrive in either a week or a month. The second dealer hasn't said anything.
Many people here know when their car is allocated, on what boat it's coming, and its entire history. How does one get that kind of detailed information???? :confuse:
First drive thoughts....smooth, excellent pickup and and it's amazing to feel the gentle pulse when the engine shuts off and you glide on electric power!
Truck is small after hopping out of Explorer, but I have an aerodynamic top box for the times I need to travel out of state with the kids on golf trips. Other times it looks like it can easily accomodate our clubs.
ETA at the dealership is 8am on Monday morning!!
I have two deposits on the mag gray, one is due to arrive at the end of the week at a California dealer. I live in New Mexico where sales tax on autos is around 3% , and 0% on hybrids. If I take delivery of this car in Ca. I’ll be hit with a 8% use tax since I have to drive on Ca. streets to get it back home. So they may be able to transport the car to Reno, NV for a few hundred dollars where I can take delivery and avoid driving it in Ca. Otherwise, there’s a 4 month wait at my local dealer where I’m 15th on a wait list.
Enjoy!
With my four previous 4c Camry's I could drive about 70 miles with the light on ( have done it once as a test and twice because I was in a hurry ).
1) Each region is different. Some have info online about actual inventory e.g. SET (southeast territory). Others don't, like my region (Ohio-Michigan-Kentcuky-Tennessee). The ports are different for the different regions and the time in F status and G status is different in different regions.
2) Each dealership operates differently. More importantly, salesman at each dealership operate differently. Some openly share some of what they know. Some don't share. Some don't know. Many salesman don't even know some of the information shared openly here such as what percent of their regions TCHs come with Package 1, Package 2, and Package 3. I have had salesmen tell me that "Georgetown isn't making the TCH very fast right now" [not true; all TCHs come from Japan until Georgetown starts TCH production in ~November]. Usually the sales manager has a lot more info than the salesman. Probably from a sales perspective, you don't want to give away all the secrets and you want to avoid setting high customer expectations when there are a number of factors beyond your control. It's better to tell someone their car is here early than it's coming later than expected. And these guys are trying to keep up on 14 models simultaneously, not just the Camry, let alone the TCH. They also don't know how avidly you want the TCH or whether you might be convinced down the line to take a car with different options or color.
I think the only way to deal with all of this as a customer is to inform yourself as fully as you can (and want to). Sometimes a salesman will open up more when they realize you have a little bit of "insider" information. We are very fortunate to have the sharing of information here. The other thing seems to be to try to figure out who is giving you the straightest story and reward that behavior by being straight with them and buying from them unless they just can't deliver what you want at the right price in the right timeframe.
I too am awaiting anxiously for my TCH. I think my current 1993 Camry knows I am about leave our relationship. I've had three service visits to the tune of $420 in the last 12 days. I'd like to not have any more before selling it.
How do I get [port date, F or G status, etc] ?
As njerald would tersely reply, ask your dealer.
My biggest concern is does the tank only hold 17 gallons if you take time to keep squeezing gas in, in other words is it full when it kicks off. It seems to kick off and I only get a couple of tenths in while topping it off so that you should assume it's full (17 gallons). However on my company Ford Explorer, when the nozzle kicks off I can actully squeeze (very slowly and short bursts) 4.3 gallons more in the tank. That's the only way to get it full, up to what the rated capacity is. It's been like that since new (81,000 miles)
Looks odds on that I'll trade it in on the 07 TCH tomorrow morning so the game starts anew!
Thanks for the response. At both dealerships with whom I am working (in the Midwest), the salespeople know very little. At both they believe the car is already manufactured in the states, and on has twice said they had a TCH they could trade with another dealer for the style I want, but that turned out to be false.
It IS frustrating!
And like you, I think my '02 Avalon knows it's about time. It needs new tires, and I hope my TCH comes before I have to put them on!
My local tire dealer had four "take-offs" that were only about 20% used and I paid $120 all inclusive.
Just picked up my TCH this morning. I am extremely pleased so far.
I'm afraid I will have to do this, also. I know I'll take a hit on the tires, but even considering that, I will be ahead on the trade. I just hate to put any more money in it, but I may have to.
Oh, well!
Maybe they've figured something out about engines, that the less people push it to low levels of gasoline the better it is for the fuel intake/injection system.
Who knows.
But my Benz is pretty much dead nutz on speed, mileage, and miles left on tank vs. fuel level vs. actual tank volume.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyota-Camry-HYBRID-2007-CAMRY-HYBRID-BLUE-RIBBON- -MET-ASH-LEATHER-NAVI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6017QQihZ002QQitemZ4647410782QQ- rdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
It made me grumpy. This is the exact car I want, in one of the two colors I want (gray or blue), the bid is currently at $33,750, and this hasn't met the reserve price.
The sticker price (he states it clearly in the auction) is $30,589. That is a $3,161 markup, and even that isn't enough!
:mad:
I had to chuckle at the description of the car and his reasoning for the markup...
Wow, I just logged back in after a vacation - lots of folks getting their cars!
tomjc - whats on your mag grey TCH? I'm in N. CA and still getting told by my local dealer that mag grey with bisque leather is not available in CA. If that's what you ordered and you change your mind on the car - let me know! Maybe my dealer can work a trade! LOL!!
And kathyinca -- was your "mag grey with bisque" leather? I am trying to figure out how to work with this dealer and still get the car I want!
Anyone have anyone they can recommed in N. CA to work with?
I just bought my TCH last Thursday. I brought in my 95 Explorer to the dealer to check on trade in value. Blue book said $4000, the dealer offered $2000 (said the car was in great shape, but the price was low because of the high cost of gas). I just sold it for $3900 less than 24 hours after posting on Craig's list.
Why trade in your car when you know that you'll get less than you could by selling it yourself?