Dealership can't get me my head unit? Urgent!
 

So I ordered my FR-S with the upgraded Pioneer premium head unit (the one in Canada that looks like the Bespoke but isn't the Bespoke head unit).
Anyway, they called me back today (5 days AFTER the car was ordered, but obviously not yet received since it just left port in Japan) and they said for some reason Scion won't let them order the upgraded head unit to install it, because the car was shipped from Japan with the stock head unit (ghetto buttons). How true is it that they can't get the upgraded head unit unless it was shipped with the car right from the beginning?

I really liked the layout of the head unit, because it had those lit up red buttons at night on the left side, with the touchscreen on the right. It would allow me to use a touch screen and also have actual buttons right there whenever I needed them while driving.

Attachment 43532

The dealership called me and said they would buy a Clarion VX401 for the same price, and that it was ALL touchscreen.
That's all they told me and googling it hasn't resulted in much info, and that worries me because it might totally be crap and it would be hard to use an all touchscreen head unit while driving and trying to change channels and stuff.

Attachment 43535

My other worry is that the Scion head units are generally wider than most other head units and I don't want it to look tacky with gap filler plates on the sides of the head units. The guy at the dealership said he "thinks" it might fully fill the gap but isn't sure.

He said I need to make a decision as soon as possible. I don't really see what decision I'm supposed to make cause he's basically saying "You can't have what you want. You can have this. Yes or no?" and I don't know what to tell him.

Any help or advice will be appreciated. Anyone familiar with the offered head units? Or if anyone can find a respectable review of the head unit, that'll be great, because this is really eating at me right now. :(

If your heart is set on the Bespoke head unit, there are plenty people selling them used as some find them not worth the money. If the clarion you have pictured is indeed the model the dealership is going to order, it looks to play DVDs so that is a pro over the bespoke as it doesn not play DVDs. I have the bespoke and tried to get my dealer to take the radio out and sell me the car with a stock head unit but they said no. If I were in your shoes and the clarion doesn't change the OTD price of the car, go with the Clarion. Get your car and you can always upgrade your radio later.

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To be honest the clarion is unpleasant looking....plus it has a aux port, isnt there a aux port near the shifter? will you end up with two aux ports?


edit: can you have the dealer take some $$ off the OTD price because of this and just buy a bespoke from someone on the forums?

I was told by my dealer that the upgraded stereo is installed after it arrives at port. Pretty sure the upgraded stereo isn't shipped with the car.

The thing is that the Bespoke is close to $900 when the non Bespoke that looks the exact same here in Canada is $500 installed. I prefer the non Bespoke which I don't think Canadian owners are selling and the unit was worked into my price so I don't wanna have to pay $500 outright by buying it from another owner.

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I have the Canadian upgrade deck and can tell you my biggest pet peeve is that the bluetooth music player doesnt show the track name or album art. I have to pick up my phone to change albums.

I'd get the clarion personally, but I don't know enough about it to make that call. The upgrade deck is meh.

I got the upgrade purely for the looks. I would be playing my music through a usb drive so not having bluetooth album art doesn't bother me. Plus the Clarion is ugly to look at and would need gap filling plates which would kick my OCD into hyperdrive and make me shit my pants everytime I look at it.
And it seems the clarion is catered towards iPhone and ipods specifically which is a no go cause I'm an android guy myself.

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Sounds like you have your answer then.

Get the dealer to order the deck and replace your stock one when it comes in.

It's a new car and it's costing you 30k, don't take no for an answer over a 500 dollar part they told you that you'd get.

That's the problem. I know what my answer is and I know I want the Pioneer head unit but the dealership says they can't get it even though I asked for it and obviously included it in my payments.
Any other head units that would be way better than either of the two options? Both features and performance wise and especially looks wise, because I could try to convince them to get me something else if I like it enough.
If not, what are my options if I want the Pioneer but dealer can't get it and I have to have it included in the price?

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They can get it, but they'll need to swap the stock head unit with another car that already has the upgraded deck.

I find it bizarre that they'd be willing to put in an aftermarket deck rather than work a deal with another dealership.

If that's really the case, do some research right now or go ask the audio guys what deck they'd recommend and make the dealer buy that one - that or get the dealer to kick in money for a much better one and have the dealer install it for free.

It might sound a little crazy to demand such a thing but remember the scope of this purchase and what they promised you in the first place. Don't be afraid to walk away from the purchase entirely if it's not what you asked for to begin with. How often do you buy a 30,000 dollar car?

Exactly. The first dealership I went to has the Blue M/T with the upgraded deck that I want and I told my dealership I will buy the car from them if they'll get it to me quickly. They said they'd trade with the other dealership and get me that car. They told me afterwards that the car at the other dealership was sold. The day after I went there when it was sitting on the lot for two weeks? Yeah right. So I called the other dealership and said it wasn't sold so obviously my dealership lied. Then I asked my dealer again and told them the other dealerships car wasn't sold (this is the only blue 6 m/t available anywhere around here at the moment) and they said they'd consider trading with them but they still refuse to do it even now that this problem is coming up. Apparently they don't have any FR-S's on the lot with the upgraded audio (I doubt it).
They don't seem that interested in giving me my car clearly even though the frs at the other dealership is STILL available. They said a trade would be a pain in the ass for them. Getting a customer what they want is a pain in the ass?

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The OEM unit is quite good. Touchscreens and the FRS' suspension are a bad combination. Save your money.

I know. But like I said, I wanted it purely for the looks. I've gone through my entire driving career so far with stock sound systems in cars and even this was a huge upgrade for me in terms of sound. I just want it look nice too.

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Fuck that dealer dude. They lied to you once, they don't deserve another chance.

The 2014's are coming out now (soon?) just wait for one of those. that or shop around.

I had to go through 3 dealers before I found one willing to sell me the car with not extra warranty bullshit. most of the dealers in Canada are NOT motivated to sell it would seem.

I'd tell them you're going to wait for a 2014 if they can't solve this deck issue. Then either wait or look elsewhere for an honest(ish) dealer. If they're going to lie to you about something as stupid as an upgrade deck to save themselves a couple hundred bucks (I'm sure they have that clarion in stock from another car or something.. why else that exact model?) Imagine how they are going to treat you in terms of servicing the car and warranty claims...


I had one dealer "offer me a deal" by offering me an FRS that was "new" but had actually been driven off the lot by some kid, it then through a CEL and he had to return it (crank sensor issue). The car was in the shop for 2 weeks and the dealer GM told me "It's really tuned up now, the guy who "almost" bought it wished his new one (replacement) was as fast" which is total horse shit. They said they'd give me 500 dollars off the MSRP! WOW!!! What a great deal for a god damned used car! They then told me the color I wanted was nowhere in Western Canada and they could secure the next one coming off a boat in 1 - 2 months after a 1000 dollar deposit.... right.

I shopped around and got a new FRS in the color I wanted WITH the upgrade deck (for free). It had 150km on it and was scratched to hell, but they paid for the paint correction and I really don't care about the 150km now that I've had the car for over a month.

Take your time, shop around and you won't regret it. Rush into a bum deal with a shady dealership and you'll regret it for the next 5 years till the car is paid off.

The only reason I went with this dealer is because my sales guy really worked with me to get what I wanted and even got the whole car tinted except for the windshield for free and monthly payments for lower than the other dealership that DID have the car even though the lease end value was the same at the end of 5 years. The dealership put down $500 as a down payment FOR me to lower my payments even more. 17$/month lower than the other dealership. He's a really nice guy and he's not even the one who informed me about this situation, it's the head of the Scion department at the dealership and I feel like he's trying to cheap out. I'm gonna try to get in contact with my actual salesman and see what he can do.

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So I just talked to my actual salesman instead of the head of the Scion department at the dealership and asked him what's really going on. Apparently, I was led to believe the car left port in Japan yesterday, which would have been goon because they'd be able to install the head unit at port once it got to Vancouver. What's actually happening is that it actually left the port from Vancouver without the head unit yesterday and is already on its way to Calgary which is why they can't get the Pioneer premium head unit now. He said I could have what I want if I switch colours and pick one off their lot and I refuse to do that, and asked him if they'd pull the premium head unit out of another FR-S and put it in mine and put the stock one in the other one and he said he'd talk to his manager tomorrow. I'm glad my guy is actually trying to get me what I want, so hopefully this will be resolved tomorrow.

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That sounds more like it. Good call talking to the sales guy first. They always try to be on your side. It's the pesky finance guys you have to be suspicious of.

Yup. Will post an update on the situation when I know what the dealership plans to do about it tomorrow. If they fix it, great, if not, I'll probably walk away from the deal. I'm not going to compromise on a car that I'll keep at least for the next 5 years.

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Out of curiosity, what color is it?

Just a fair warning, if you're considering a 2014, I wouldn't be surprised if the head unit doesn't get upgraded to the new 6.1" standard like this the US. It doesn't come with with my Canadian 10 series on order, because of incompatibility with French. They told me it comes with the upgraded pioneer you mentioned above (ordered it, as 10 series Canada comes with stock HU). Hope I don't run into same issue. 2014s won't be out until Sept. anyway

I have the premium HU sitting in a box...

Ultramarine. I guess they're rare? I've never seen one on the road. I've seen every other colour on FR-S and every colour on the BRZ (the Canadian options) in person on the road. I've only ever seen three in total in person so far, all of them at dealerships, and other dealers can't seem to get a hold of the Ultramarine....

Where'd you get one?

Was in car, I swapped out when I went for stereo mods as running a Kenwood DNX890HD now.

Can you take a picture of it and put it up? I'm assuming the Kenwood didn't fill the gaps completely that the Pioneer left behind? I just want to see what it looks like.

Any aftermarket kit comes with a sleeve that fills it up if its smaller. Ill try to get pics tomorrow for you.

Thanks. I'll appreciate the pics.

Okay so my salesman just called me and said they can't even switch out the head unit from another car that's already on the lot here in Calgary because the port in Vancouver said they're not allowed to. WTF? Apparently this is a Scion policy and they can't do anything about it because the only place head units can be installed is at port and dealerships aren't allowed to do that.
He wants me to go down to a local auto parts store tomorrow to look at head units and see if I like one and I doubt I will end up liking any of them because I'm dead set on the looks of the Pioneer one and the fact that it COMPLETELY fills up the gaps without needing any filler plates on the sides of the head unit.
What should I do?

Have them order you the right car....

They don't seem interested in doing that. There's another FR-S with all the things I want at the other dealer with less than 10 km's on the odometer and I've repeatedly asked my dealership to trade with them and they just say "Oh we'll look into it" and never even bother trying. *sigh*

Here's the thing. they've already done the best they could to oblige you. They tinted the car for free and they're offering to install an aftermarket deck for you.

I think at this point you have two options.

Go get that other car from the other dealer yourself as the dealer you're at likely doesn't want the business (dafuq?)

or

just pick up an aftermarket deck you like and don't worry about the gap. The upgrade deck isn't that great. It fills the gaps fine, but the overall quality of it isn't that great.

I've said it before, but if you're going to get a new car (especially a 2013 that's already a whole model year old) you better make sure you get exactly what you want unless you're really willing to make compromises.

They are likely not on good terms with the other dealership or may have screwed them over on trades in the past.

Cancel the order at your dealer, go buy that one.

They're not fulfilling the contract you agreed upon, you should be free to break that contract due to their breech.

Edit: Personally I don't see what the big deal about touch screens are, take the stock unit (of course you're not paying for the upgrade) and get whatever unit fancies you later.

I wouldn't mind an aftermarket head unit if that's what I was going for. The reason I got TRD parts and the audio upgrade was to NOT have to go aftermarket, and my OCD would kill me everytime I look at the black plastic pieces on the sides of the head unit.

This is going to be my first car, and considering I'm paying $31k for it, I expect it to be perfect and exactly the way I want. I'm going to be in that car for 5 years and probably more. The head unit is something I'm going to use and live with every time I drive the car and not having what I want in there is going to deter me from enjoying the car to the fullest.

The way I see it, I'm paying them $500 to get something I didn't want, and I'd be making a compromise with aftermarket parts. I know a lot of you guys have no problems with the aftermarket, but I'm sure there's guys out there like me who prefer the products made by the car company, even if that ends up being a worse deal in the end.

Wanting my first car ever that I'm paying $31k for to be perfect isn't unrealistic, is it?

"Wanting my first car ever that I'm paying $31k for to be perfect isn't unrealistic, is it?"

Not unrealistic at all. It is sitting at the other dealer. Go get it! If the $17 a month difference is going to break the bank, you are probably treading too close to the edge anyway.

Any plans to sell it?

It'll actually be around $4/month more at the other dealership but I won't get free tint, unless I can work out the EXACT same deal with the other dealership. I'm going to talk to my salesman tomorrow and I'm pretty sure I'll be saying no to every aftermarket head unit he gives me the option to choose from, and I'll tell him I'm going to see the car at the other dealership, and actually do it if this dealership can't get me what I want.
I'm not going to cave or settle for less than what I want or what I'm paying for.

For $4 a month and $200 worth of tint, I would not waste a second with the salesman. I asked for chocolate, you brought me vanilla and thought I should be ok with it because they are both ice cream. You are investing in a $30K car, quibbling about a few hundred bucks would simply be a waste of my time.

I wish my dealer had been so resistant to selling me a BeSpoke. :(

I do have an aftermarket unit in there now but the little tabs to keep the spacing right sort of annoy me also. I know how you feel OP. :P

Good luck with getting the right head unit!

I'm going to ask what's the earliest they can get me the exact car I want. The car left Vancouver on Monday, and it takes not even 2 full days to get to Calgary, and they still gave me a delivery date of 22nd July. If it's going to be anytime later than that, which I'm assuming will at least be another month if they have to order it, I'm going to the other dealer no matter what. I'm already getting this car so late in the year and another month late is another month closer to the new model, so forget waiting until mid-late August for a 2013 model at MSRP.

It's weird that Scion has a policy that doesn't allow dealers to order the actual part Scion has as an available option on the website. It just doesn't make any sense. And the day I signed the papers and put down the deposit, my dealer said "We can't find any in the city that matches your specs (obviously a lie since one is STILL available), but one's coming right now and it's at port of entry in Vancouver and it'll have everything you want. We'll get that to you in 2-3 weeks". Ugh I wish they just told me the truth right then and there.

Talked to my dealership again...my only option is to either take the car with the aftermarket head unit, which I'm not going to do, or to wait for the next Ultramarine with the Pioneer Premium Audio upgrade, which according to them, could take another few months. Why the hell do they think I'll wait until September or October for a 2013 when the 2014's come out around that same time? And why the hell do they think I'd be dumb enough to pay MSRP for the 2013 in OCTOBER??
The Ultramarine at the other dealer, which I want, might have been registered to another person, who either didn't pick it up or finances didn't work out, or whatever, and according to my dealer, it means that the warranty period for that car started at the previous registration date. Which means if I get the car now, it might already have lost a month or two of warranty on it.
I was so excited to get this car, now I'm not so sure anymore because of my stupid dealership who couldn't order the right car at the right time and waited too long to tell me the truth.