Exciting, yet disturbing news...
 

First off, I am not a First 86 winner, however I was the first regular joe to put down a deposit at this particular dealership.

I just got a text from the salesman at the Toyota/Scion dealership I have my deposit at and he tells me they will have my FR-S by the end of the month, possibly within a week!!

Now onto the bad news.... its an Aquamarine (which was one of the three colors I had narrowed my choices to)...... 6AT (which immediately made my boner limp again:().

Texting him back and forth, he tells me there are no more cars coming in and that no manuals have been released to the region. But here's the real kicker..... He tells me that if I don't take this one, my deposit is going to be refunded and that I will lose my spot in line :sigh: Right now I'm pretty pissed off at this. I will certainly go test drive the car when it comes in, but unless I'm just super floored by it, I can't see myself buying the 6AT.

What do you guys think?

drive it first?

Drive it, and if it isn't what you're looking for, walk. It's worse to buy the wrong car than to wait a little more for the right one.

If you intend to keep the car for a while, better to wait for the transmission you really wanted.

If the dealer can't supply the car you wanted in a reasonable length of time then there's no point in trying to hold on to a "spot in line". Getting your deposit back means you can shop at other dealers freely.

Edit: BTW, this whole "no manuals available in region" sounds suspect. I wonder if the dealer is trying to get out of an agreement with you so he can sell whatever cars he's allocated at a higher price (adding expensive unneeded extras).

Ask if he'll make the AT a free upgrade, since you don't want it.

Don't settle. If you don't want that car, walk. If you talk yourself into it in a heat of the moment, you are going to be VERY unhappy in the long run. Hell, that is likely why over half of marriages fail. :D

Wow. Uh, not sure what my dealership is getting, though an Ultramarine 6AT was actually what I was going for. Depending on what my dealership were to get, I wonder what could be worked out within the region (Atlanta / Tampa being SE).....

yeah just have them trade it with another dealer. Not sure what it's like around there but I talked to a dealership here last week and he said they are getting 5 in the first shipment and only 3 are sold, so if you look around your area you could probably find a dealer that is getting something you want and have them trade it to your dealer for the one you don't want.

Walk - you might have to wait another month or so, but you'll get what you want. But if you're open to Auto then test drive it at least.

Move on, he is lying to you, there will be plenty of FR-S 6 speed manuals coming in the months ahead.

True, I think the OP's dealer is being a complete d*ck.

PM'd you

Many options here:

Your dealer can arrange a trade (they do it all the time) with another dealership

Simply walk...people with deposits and preorders drop out all the time...chances are, a car with your desired specs will show up if you remain vigilant and widen your geographic scope

Wait it out until your dealership gets the trim that you want. Don't listen to salespeople, especially this one. They are full of it half of the time. Speak to a sales manager (preferably the internet sales manager) and get exactly what you want.

Yeah, he's probably putting pressure because the AT's aren't moving anywhere near as much/fast.

LIES!!! Don't give in to the whole limited allocation crap. Who cares if you lose your spot. Don't settle, you'll always regret it. Shoot, I was fourth in line and I pulled out cuz I got over the hype and started thinking clearly. I believe only good will come to those who wait on this car.

Yeah, don't get it. Even though it's one of three colors you wanted, I still wouldn't settle if it weren't THE color I wanted, especially since it's not a "rare" car... it just is rare now because it's brand new. But if you didn't want an auto, then that's a deal breaker, unless you know someone who wants to kick you a little fee to take your spot if that is their ideal car.

But like someone else said, maybe try driving it first, especially if the auto ends up being surprisingly effective, but if you were set on stick, then don't even waste your time. Unfortunately the dealership knows that they can sell them whether you want it or not. As an example, I worked at a Toyota dealership once upon a time from 2006-2007 (it paid well but it was a terrible job being around a bunch of snakes), and when the Scion tC was released, people would be picking the ones they wanted before they were even unloaded from the truck trailers.

There is no way you should loose your spot. Maybe they will have to sell the AT to somebody behind you in line who wants an AT, but you are #1 in line for the MT.
Sounds like a typical sales ****. Tell him to take his spot and shove it. Get your money back and take it to a better dealer.

I wouldn't even bother driving the AT because that would show that you're open (at least a little) to considering something other than what you want. Stand firm, and if the dealer won't budge, check elsewhere. Don't reward this salesman's tactics by giving him your money.

wow, can't believe dealers do this just to make a sale. Go to the dealer and have them refund you the money completely and go to another dealer. Nothing is going to happen if you wait a little longer. If it is not the color or transmission you want, don't get it. Walk away...

I would just tell them, they lost the business with those statements. They are flat out lies.

Ah, to add further. The dealer I'm at simply told me that I'll be the first contact until the car I want arrives.

Pretty crappy how your dealer is handling your situation.

I'm in a similar situation actually. But mine is just the color, I have the tranny I want. If the dealership I'm currently at can't get my color changed to the one I wanted, then I'll just switch dealerships.

You should look into other dealerships to see what they have. You never know, maybe some of them aren't fully reserved already.

I would wait for the next one available that you are willing to sacrifice or you get what you want. Some thing you can settle on and if automatic is fine to you and color, you should get it, but if not you should wait for the next one. Some dealer just don't have that many cars coming in and you have to take what they can get you if you want the car right now. I think right now Toyota is just sending them random cars, it doesn't seem to matter what color and transmission choice you choose put a deposit. Jeff from Longo told me I am the one of the only Whiteout manual that going to Scion Longo for there first allocations. You should see what place you would be in line if you choose another dealership. Good luck either way.

Their loss. Go someplace else. You told them what you wanted, were first in line, and they picked out something else. I'd be pissed!

Really just go someplace else. You will regret it months down the road when you see the color you want in a M/T.

I have made a smaller mistake (just color wise) on a car I had dreamed of! I bought one a different color, without the options I wanted, and kicked myself in the butt the entire time I owned it! I will NEVER make that mistake again!

:word:

This is exactly what you want to do. A good dealer will always help you get what you want. Find a better dealer.

Does anyone know how the dealership ordering process works?
I would suspect dealers would know exactly what they are getting and how many they ordered....
In the case of a limited inventory do they just say "we want so and so many manuals/autos" and receive a random allocation of or do they actually pick and choose the combination they want? Say they wanted like 5 automatics, 3 manuals (assuming 8 cars) and then just fill in checkboxes for colors and whatnot.

I somehow dont think Toyota just randomly tosses out cars to some dealers as soon as it rolls of the production line...... (Heres a red manual, lets give it to.....this dealer)

Get the car you want! Tell your dealer to stuff it.

Contact either the general manager or the general sales manager in person or on the phone, and let them know what happened. You can also contact their customer service department, as Toyota generally takes customer service complaints pretty seriously, even if it's from someone who isn't yet a client. They might remedy the situation and also compensate for the inconvenience. Regarding both companies involved:

TOYOTA

I had an issue with the local Toyota dealership regarding service on a vehicle I had brought in (my dad's Toyota Tacoma, which I took in for him since I was at home with my parents but he had errands to run). It was just an oil change, but four hours later, I was still in the waiting room and hadn't heard my name called, even though the two or three people I met in the waiting room and talked to had arrived after but already left. They said that the car had been done for two or three hours and they had called my name, but I even questioned that since I had been sitting in the waiting room the whole time (and it's not as if I'd block out the intercom) while asking why they didn't call my name a second time. They said that they'd bring the truck right out, but 30-40 minutes later, it hadn't moved but I could see it in their lot, and I just walked up to the desk and asked for the keys since they weren't doing it.

Long story short, I made an online customer service comment on their website, and they called me back within two or three hours to hear me out (and I basically reiterated my whole post) while apologizing and offering a "voucher" to take my family out to dinner (which ended up being a check for $100) and a full detail of the vehicle (and it was a thorough one, as even the spare tire mounted under the truck bed had been Armor-All'ed) and a tank of gas (which was a big deal, since I think it was in early 2008 when gas prices had first broken the $4 barrier). That surely compensated for my four or five hours wasted.

SUBARU

Another time, I had e-mailed the internet sales manager of a local Subaru dealership when the 2008 STIs had first launched, asking if I'd be able to test drive an STI. I made it clear that I would not be buying the car that day but also that if the test drive were not an option that I wouldn't waste their time any further as long as they let me know right away. The manager e-mailed me back saying that it was fine and that I could test drive the STI with no obligation to buy. I set an appointment, show up, and sure enough, he tells me that they do not allow STI test drives but he offered a ride in the WRX, which I turned down. I called the following day and asked for the general manager (but only the general sales manager was available), and I told him what happened. He apologized and was disappointed in that employee, confirming that they do not allow STI test drives but acknowledging that the employee should not have stated otherwise in his e-mail. However, the general sales manager still did offer a ride in the 2009 WRXs (which had just been released) since their straightline acceleration was comparable while also stating that he would fill up my Evo's tank with no obligation to test drive the WRX. It was fair.

I'm not saying that you should complain left and right, but obviously the dealership and/or the person you were dealing with is messing with you and not holding their end of the agreement by offering you something that doesn't resemble what you wanted while giving you the "take it or leave it" offer by saying that you would lose your spot if you don't buy the blue automatic FR-S that a sorority girl would more likely be found in. (Nothing against blue automatic FR-Ss though.)

Usually it involves the client bent over a table and taking it, unless you stand your ground. Kind of like the slammer.

I'll take it off your hand....seriously....

He just did you a favor!! On to the next! :happy0180:

Would this happen to be Patrick Subaru in Mass?

No this was Boch Toyota. I preordered my BRZ from Patrick but haven't heard about their allocations.

+1

I appreciate the replies guys. I will probably stop by in person to the dealership at some point this week to talk to the management. Call me weird, but I just hate talking to people over the phone.

I probably will at least test drive the car (just so that I can sit in it and check everything else out) and even see if the 6AT lives up to all the praise. The only way I would even remotely consider buying one is without the $1200 increase over the 6MT price. It will be at least a week before this Ultramarine 6AT comes in (I think I called it Aquamarine before, doh!) so things may change. Definately not going to give it to what I really want without considerations. The car I have now is paid off and just had all the body work redone to increase its resell/trade in value so even if I have to keep it for a while I'm not complaining.

My main gripe is that I'm having to give up my spot. He said he didn't want my money to be tied up if they didn't have the car for me..... Well my money has been tied up for 2 months now just about so I don't see why it can't wait a little longer haha.

Don't do it....what I've learned is you can't rush into a buying a car especially if it's not exactly what you want. Another thing is the Fr-S isn't even going to be limited production so just wait it out a couple of months and you'll more likely get one at least in standard transmission. Unless you're absolutely dying to be first on the block with one.

I was just thinking... getting it and regretting it may become a $26k mistake (along with the other fees), but considering the demand, you could just sell it and possibly get a decent amount of that back while having at least tried the car out for a bit, whether a few weeks or a few months.

As we all know, Scions are pure pricing, meaning that their MSRP cannot be altered by the dealership, but that applies to new ones. Used ones are sold at whatever they want to charge, which can sometimes be higher than brand new MSRP if they feel like it, especially if the car is in high demand, so they can at least profit more than they would from selling a new one. That is allowed, and I think some customers can be talked into it if they want it that bad, especially since certified pre-owned Toyotas get an improved powertrain warranty of 7 year/100,000 miles (up from the standard 5 year/60,000 mile warranty on new cars), so that is one of the upsides.

Are Scion dealers really able to place and receive orders based on customer configuration preferences? I thought they just note it down on a waiting list and whatever arrives from shipment is purely luck of the draw.

I'm guessing this dealer recently found out that their entire allotment won't include your #1 choice. They're pressuring you to buy whatever they will have (just to make a sale) which is quite a stretch from what you originally wanted. I'd avoid doing business with them and chase my #1 color and #1 transmission. But that's just me. :iono:

People need to stop saying Scion cannot go past MSRP. They can sell for whatever they want as long as the price is listed on the dealership menu and applies to all of them.

Having worked at a Toyota dealership myself years ago, from what I remember, it is the dealership who orders more or less what they want (quantity, colors, packages, etc.), usually catering to their demographic. For example, Sterling BMW in Newport Beach a few miles away from my office very rarely has a car that isn't fully loaded, since the common BMW buyer wants all of the bells and whistles and can afford it. Different BMW dealerships, such as the one in Bakersfield where the father of my assistant works, likely stocks up on lower-priced variants that have fewer options.

It's likely that the customer isn't getting the opportunity to sit down with someone from the dealership to order the exact one that they want. The dealership can probably order one just like that, and I'm sure that sometimes they do, but they usually don't wait for one specific customer's request. They'll just order a bunch, and if they get one that matches what you wanted, then they will offer it to you. The reason for this is likely because it's not THAT customized, plus at that price point for this kind of car, it's very possible that you can just find it elsewhere (maybe not now since it's new but it's possible) or would likely do that over waiting however many weeks or months for your model to reach the dealership. Or maybe they'll do a dealer trade if they find another dealership in their network with your exact car on their lot.

That's not exactly true. I worked at a Toyota dealership, and they explained it to me, assuming that the rules for Scion have not changed in the past five years (which they could have, but if they did, then enlighten me). But that's not to say that they don't figure out ways to get around it... i.e. adding non-Scion/TRD wheels at whatever price they want, which is non-negotiable because the price that they set, even if it has aftermarket equipment, must remain the same.

If you want a M/T then get the manual dont ever purchase a car because you feel you lost control over the situation. Personally I can not see getting this car in A/T as I just dont think this car was designed for it. Get your deposit back and go to another Toyota or try a Subaru in M/T. You will regret getting this car if your true desire is to get a manual with this car and I really cant express this enough.

I also want to clarify this is nothing against someone who wants an A/T to begin with but if your heart is in the manual then get the manual and dont cave into their poor salesmanship. All they want is to sell you a car as fast as possible so they can collect a fat paycheck.