Messed up? You decide.
 

Intro:

So I'll be frank, I had a horrible buying experience with my '09 GT-R. Put a deposit down, waited 4 months, they got me the wrong interior, and then they said they would gladly sell me the WRONG car for ONLY $7K more. How generous. Then, after much debate, I decided, they didn't deserve my money and even though the GT-R was non-existent at that point (they were being held in the Port of Long Beach for launch control reprogramming), I passed on the "deal". Then they wouldn't give me back my $7K deposit and I had to threaten to take legal action to get it back, and they made me drive back there to get it (WTH). Shortly after, I found one in San Diego and bought it at MSRP (also, unheard of at the time... people were paying $120K for a $74K car! :eyebulge: ). I definitely, did not want to go through this again. EVER.

Fast Forward:

So I've been "in the know" for this car(s) for awhile and I waited to see what dealerships are reliable and I put a couple deposits down on two that I saw actively helping others, basically, to see who gets it first. No big surprise, they were very knowledgeable and helpful (like all dealerships are in the beginning), so we'll see how they play out.

What concerned me are the small dealerships that I called a few days ago, that hadn't even HEARD of the car yet. They said I sounded serious, so they would put me in their #1 spot for their (nonexistent) list. How awesome! No deposit either! Yet, I didn't hold my breath. So I get a call yesterday early in the morning, BOOM, they have one for me to drive. It's white, and I already told the dealer I don't want white, as all my cars are white... but I wanted to drive the manual, which it was! So he said, come down for a test drive, before 4pm and we'll go from there. Awesome.

So I ran some errands, and around noon, I call back to get directions to the dealership (I lost track of which one this was since he didn't seem to know anything), and he tells me, "there is someone here filling out the application to buy this car, sorry, but I don't know if you should come anymore." I asked him to please call me, (I was pretty upset, because I live an hour away and, what if I never called him and left already?), and let me know if it doesn't/ does get sold. He never called.

There are many things wrong with this, to me. He never offered me the car, even though I was first on his list. He never let me leave a deposit. He never called to tell me that someone else was buying it. WHY does this dealership get one, especially, before all of the first86 get theirs? And WHY is this car so hard to see in person / drive!?!? Every time there's an event or something, I can't make it. The closest I've been to seeing this car in person is the BRZ concept at the LA Autoshow :mad0259:

Sorry, end rant.

What dealership was this?

Like I said, I lost track of which one this was, because he didn't seem to know anything. I didn't put any money down and I was put "first" on his list.

Check your call history and call them back to ask which dealer they are and describe exactly what you described to us and ask them why they are behaving like that. Just wondering is your name Andy or do you happen to know him? (My GT-R owner friend in San Diego.)

Yes, I do. I am debating on doing that or just waiting to see if they actually come up with a car for me... That's why I haven't named names yet.

Situations like this suck, but feel assured you're not the only one.

Once upon a time, there was a concept car called the Pontiac Solstice, and I drank the Pontiac Solstice kool-aid, and all I wanted was one. While waiting some 2 years for it to come to market, I posted endlessly on message boards, scouring the interwebs for the latest little hint of news, spy photos and previews. Meanwhile, I called every Pontiac dealer in my area to see who seemed to have the most information and wanted me to throw money at them for a deposit. Finally found one who claimed to be getting the biggest initial allocation, based on prior sales, and that I'd be 5th or so on the list, able to customize the car to my choosing. In writing, I would be getting my car @ MSRP.

Then the TV show "The Apprentice" featured the Solstice heavily. I think it was part of the grand prize for the first season, and the contestants had to design some marketing for it. So public interest in the car BLEW UP OVERNIGHT. Shortly thereafter, I get an email from the dealership stating that they were cancelling all the orders - some 26 or so cars.

"We are no longer accommodating preorders on the Pontiac Solstice."

Further inquiry revealed the reason why - They planned to sell my car (and all the others) to the highest bidder. They literally invited bidding wars on those initial cars, and marked up later allocations somewhere between 5K to 10k more. I even had to fight to get my REFUNDABLE deposit back.

In hindsight - at least I avoided owning a Pontiac Solstice.

/my rant over

OP, I had something similar happen to me when I was trying to get a BMW 1M last year. I never did end up with one. At least the BRZ/FR-S is half the price.

That sucks, but realistically, you made it clear that you did not want white but just wanted to test drive their white FR-S. "First" on the list or not, they didn't have one that you wanted, but the one you intended on test driving -- not purchasing -- was getting sold to someone who wanted it. I think it's unfortunate, but fair, especially when they have a buyer for that exact car lined up. Or maybe they were waiting until the transaction was fully complete (meaning money is exchanged) to notify you, as the potential owner may have just been filling out a credit application at that time.

Sorry to hear about your experiences but if they can't meet your expectations, move on. This seems to be the norm with most dealerships.

No worries. I bet you're SUPER glad, seeing as Pontiac went under AND every Solstice driver I've run into, no matter what car I'm driving, has to be a **** to me.

I can totally see that happening on the 1M but that was a legit limit production car, similar to the GTR. This is supposed to be an everyday / average coupe. Not trying to step on any toes, but the hype is getting kinda old. The first86 deserve their parties n such, but is it too much to have an honest dealer tell me when they'll have mine? I know everyone is feeling the same as me, and I shouldn't be complaining since I already bought my new daily, and this car is more for my little brother. Still, it's hard not to be excited over a car this long in the making (at least publicized).

Well, I totally agree with you. Except, the "common" rule apparently for Scion dealerships is that regardless of your color choices / transmission choices, you have priority according to your spot in line. Otherwise, let's say #1 on the list has red as top pick, but the first 10 cars are all different colors... he doesn't just get skipped now does he? I have 3 cars.. all white. Realistically, I am partial to white. Just because I said I don't think I want white, doesn't mean I am totally against it. What if I went, saw this car in person, and wanted to buy it. Who should get first dibs, if I was first on the list? That's the part that irks me. No I probably wouldn't have bought it, but I feel like I should've at least had priority to SEE the car and deny it. That's just my feelings though. I'll cry myself to sleep in my Cobra. :D

Yeah, didn't have, and still don't have, much faith in them. I have deposits with two big dealerships who are on the forum. Idk though, without knowing who ordered what and when Scion will release the cars from port, this is cutting it close. The car, like I said, is primarily for my little bro, but he's going off to college. I want to teach him how to drive / drive stick before he goes, so when he comes back, and I have the car all modded up, we can go track together. :iono: Plus, my parents have supported me with my cars, I want to do something nice for them and my bro and support them financially this time (with a car that has better fuel economy than 18 mpg haha)... :bonk:

RRnold, btw, are you on ninjette or some 250 forum? I think I've seen you on there before.

You bought a GT-R at MSRP? Interesting...they've been $10K+ over MSRP here since they came out.

If the car was white, and you specifically told them you don't want white why are you surprised that they went ahead and sold it to somone else who did want it?

Not everywhere. And even if you see mark ups on GT-Rs at your local dealership, that doesn't mean that it's firm. Sometimes they use it as a deterrent for lowballers so they can deal solely with serious inquiries. I was at a local Nissan dealership, and the salesman straight up told me that.

I have a friend in this area who has hook ups with Nissan (and owns an R32 Skyline GT-R himself, though I think he stashed it once DOT/EPA was hounding the Kaizo-imported GT-Rs), and I had sent a friend of mine who wanted a new 2012 GT-R last year, and I think he got one at a pretty good deal.

It was prob a first 86 car, if you called scion northridge thats my dealer, they got my car in yesterday and are clueless lol prob didnt realize it was sold and lied about having papers signed to cover up

We had one come by our dealer yesterday
http://s14.postimage.org/6ojmd1bpt/2..._41_54_156.jpg

Yea. We do cross-shopping every few weeks and we called 4 dealers in the LA region that still thought the FR-S was a concept only... seeing that it was officially announced on 11/30/2011, we couldn't help but laugh.

Based on your screen name here, I'm assuming your initials are E.K. ;)

Why are you upset? You said you didn't want the white one. I doubt the person buying it wants you to come test drive it while they are filling out the paperwork.

And look how well that strategy worked out for them in the long term. Hopefully Subaru and Scion will not repeat this mistake.

Not much good comes from being the first to buy a new desireable car. Dealers will try to screw you any way they can.

+1

Off topic, but I really really wanted a Solstice when they first came out. Like the BRZ/86, many people (including Keiichi Tsuchiya) preferred it to the MX-5. Last year I sat in a GXP and found I couldn't fit, so I was glad that I couldn't afford them when they were new anyway ;) They were a good car, and a breath of fresh air for GM; I'm really surprised they didn't continue that RWD platform in a Chevrolet version after all the R&D they did over the years!

Yep... crazy what having around $80K in cash would do to someone :D

If you read my post, it wasn't the fact that they sold the car, obviously, I think the person who wants the car deserves it, but the fact that he called me, and didn't even think he should call me back and tell me not to come upset me. I live an hour away. Also, what I meant to say was, NOT that I didn't want the white one, I told him, "I would prefer red or black". So I didn't explicitly say, I won't take a white one, even if you have one. I said call me as soon as you get one, so I can drive it.

My thoughts exactly.:thumbup: congrats

And you would be correct :D Enjoying my deposit? haha... I'm crossing my fingers you get me the red one soon.

Well, he didn't say it was a for sale/customer car. Most of the cars coming in right now are first86 OR demo cars. He made it seem like it was a demo car, as NONE of the dealerships are allowing test drives for cars coming in right now.

Ain't that the truth. Even with Scion Pure Pricing and my (hopefully) $1000 for graduating from college... I'm still a little worried. :iono:

$80000 cash, graduating from college. Not sure if older or trust fund baby. Regardless, that's cool. My dad buys his cars cash, but couldn't get our local Porsche dealer to budge on their pricing model (over MSRP) and I haven't been able to interest him in a GT-R.

That's why you shop around, it don't matter if you have cash or credit. A sale is a sale. Paying full cash for a car is crazy since it will depreciate like crazy in the first 2 years. But to each their own. That $80k in cash can be used to buy some Apple or Facebook stock! LOL! And maybe double the $80k in less than a year!

There are porsche dealers that sell for less than MSRP on all their car even the 911 turbo, but most rich folks don't car about price...

Sorry, not literally CASH CASH, I meant with our own loans / a big down / etc. Basically, the dealer didn't have to do any work for us. I had a check from my bank, some cash, and a creditcard. Literally walked in and out in less than an hour. No hassle, no haggle, they heard my story of the other Stealership and wanted to earn my business on a car they had sitting on their lot.

p.s.,
Yes, my parents bought me the car. I'm being honest. How many 22 year olds can afford the car? I wasn't even done with school back then. I try not to be a brat about it, but I don't see the need to hide it either. I'm lucky and my parents are cool. =]

Let me get this straight. Your parents bought you a brand new GT-R out of college (which I don't have a problem with, if your family has the money for it then why not, if you're humble about it and realize how privileged you are) but you also have a Cobra... and you were at the top of a list for an FR-S while not wanting white, though the first FR-S to arrive was white which you have stated that you did not want but you wanted to test drive it anyway (and likely not in a manner that you'd want someone to have driven your car in before purchasing it), you're displeased with the fact that they sold it before you got to test drive it just because you were number one on the list (even though you had no intentions of buying it in white), but but you have a GT-R and a Cobra at home and still feel the need to rant about not having been able to test drive a car that has only been in dealerships for maybe a week at most? Come on, man.

The OP is going from GT-R to FRS.
These cars are comparable?

Wow, you need to chill out. What does me having other cars have to do with anything? Customer service should be there no matter what.

And like I've said probably 3 times now, I never once told the dealership that I would not buy a white. I merely told him I'd PREFER a red. What don't you get about that? AND, He made it seem like this was a TEST car for, I don't know, MAYBE TEST DRIVING? I have nice cars in the family, and I wouldn't flog the piss out of a car that I knew was going to another owner... and why would I out myself on the forums if I would? I have more courtesy than that.

And FYI, the car might have been released to the first86 in the last week, but TEST DRIVES and appearances have been happening for more than a month. I was invited to some of these and heard of others, but I was unable to view the car in person. So excuse me if I am excited about this car, I didn't realize that only non-GTR / Cobra owners are allowed to own this car, my mistake.

dude, this is just bullshit... what makes you think my parents don't work hard for what we have? you don't even know me and you judge me as elitist? I think you're a fucking idiot.

I'm not going from a GT-R to anywhere.
This car is for my brother.

And to be honest, a lot of parallels / comparisons between these cars which I don't have to list out for most people who have been following either car for as long as I have.

They are almost polar opposites but from the same family, at least that's how I see it. Nothing is replacing Godzilla.

Should have called me.

Don't go all emo on me. There was customer service, except you happened to not be the customer at that instant. There was someone who was there and PREFERRED white and bought it. You PREFERRED red. Again, as I said in my first post, I do think it sucks that you weren't able to test drive the car, but it's not like the world of Scion has to be placed on hold for you to drive the car first before they can go on.

I understand it perfectly, but I'm guessing you've had limited experience in sales. If you have one white car in your inventory, and on one hand you have a client who PREFERS red (and may not even want to buy the white car) but on the other hand you have a client who WILL BUY white, then it's not "messed up" for them to serve the customer there in person who has already agreed that he will buy that exact car as opposed to holding out for the person who is not there who might be willing to take that car in that color... maybe. Flip the scenario, if you were the customer there and that was the car that you wanted and were ready to take home, but they said "Sorry, we have another client who is ahead of you who wants to test drive it first, but he might be wanting a red one instead," what would you say, honestly? Would you feel insulted if you were ready to write a $25,000 check but they wouldn't take it until after someone else got to drive it around first, even though there's a possiblity that they may not even buy it?

It was a test drive, but the car got sold. It happens. Ebay auctions can end early and get sold to someone else. You can have an appointment to check out a house, but if someone else makes a generous offer that the seller can't refuse, then you're no longer in the running for it.

I'm not doubting that you have respect for cars, but the potential buyer for the car doesn't know who would have been test driving their car. Personally, for my past two car purchases of brand new vehicles, I've specifically requested them to have minimal mileage for obvious reasons... you have no idea how it would have been driven on a test drive. It might not be a big deal if you're buying a Prius, but when dealing with performance-oriented cars, it's not likely for your average customer test driving the car to have requested to do so solely to see how the shifter feels or how much wind noise there is; they want to see what the fuss is about.

Well, in all fairness, it sounds like you had other opportunities to test drive the car prior to it being a vehicle for sale. I'm sure you were busy those days, but it's not like you had been waiting for May 10th for your whole life.

Where did I say that? Oh wait, I didn't. Obviously you missed my point. You were privileged enough to have been born to a family that can afford really nice things while being generous enough to entrust you as a young adult right out of college with a 480+ hp, 190+ mph supercar, along with a Cobra (which you very humbly said you would "cry [yourself] to sleep in"). I'm just saying that complaining about not being able to test drive a $25,000 car currently available in limited supply is the least of your worries. I'm sure that 99% of all people who have been fortunate enough to take out an FR-S for a spin would gladly have delayed that opportunity if it meant that they could drive a GT-R. You're a lucky kid, brush off your "messed up" experience with the dealership like anyone else would, many of whom do not have GT-Rs or Cobras at home.

So why be upset about not having been able to test drive a car that YOU weren't even going to buy for yourself? Come on.

I actually did. You didn't pick up and I forgot to follow up.

Listen DeeezNuuuts83, I think we're getting mixed up / getting off on the wrong foot.
I am eagerly / anxiously waiting for this car, because it's my chance to actually afford a cool car that I can buy for once. And on top of that, I get to do it for my little bro who is going off to college. It's going to be his birthday in June and I want to get it for his birthday / graduation / college gift. He doesn't have his license yet, and he trusts me with car stuff, so he wants me to test drive it and find out if it's really for him. We have different tastes, but how can you not be excited for a car like this? My GT500 was actually a graduation / xmas / bday gift from my grandma / mom / dad. Sorry if I sounded arrogant, I don't mean to be.

As for the test drive, as I said before, I completely understand about putting miles on someone else's car. I wouldn't want that and I wouldn't do that. I was under the impression that it was a demo car, not for resale. Also, what upset me wasn't the fact that I didn't get to drive yet (as much), that'll come soon enough. What upset me was he didn't have the courtesy to even call me to let me know someone else was buying the car already when I was on my way.

To use your sales analogy about buying a house. Imagine you had money for a down or a "good faith check" to send to the person selling. But they had no other offers and said, no problem, you're the first in line, come check it out. You call to get directions after arranging what you needed to, only to find out they're already in escrow with someone else. You didn't even have a chance to set foot on the property you could've owned. Yes, especially in this market, things like this happen every day. To me, that doesn't really make it right. I'm complaining about something small, but it was just supposed to be an interesting story.

My conclusion is that it was indeed a first86 car that they were about to let me drive. If I had known, I would not only NOT drive it, but probably report the dealer and try to warn the winner that his/her dealership doesn't know what the hell they are doing.

Sorry, I have been off for the past couple dayz. Had to go see mom for mother's day. Call me or email when you get a second. I will be in the office most of the weekend.

Godzilla35 -- I appreciate the reply. It wasn't quite what I was expecting to read. Likewise, I didn't mean to attack you, but some of the things you were saying did come off a certain way, hence someone else making the "1%" remark -- not saying that it was warranted or that I agreed with it.

But using the same example, you'd have to modify it to say that the house had just been put on the market and listed for sale (as you mentioned that you had only been in touch with that dealership "a few days ago"). Again, I acknowledge that it's an unfavorable outcome for you, but again, it's not as if you had been on an official list for months -- many other potential FR-S owners have actually been on a list for quite some time and haven't even seen an FR-S in person, let alone had one in a color that is not their number one choice but available for them to pick up.

Good luck with your potential purchase for your brother.

BOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO

I understand completely. Family First. :respekt:

Thanks, and I am not as bent out of shape as I might have seemed when I posted this. I just thought it was a worthwhile story to read for those of us who are just putting money down now. What to expect, what to look out for etc. Patience is definitely not one of my virtues, but like you said, it's only the beginning right now. Have you decided on what you're getting?