We are considering purchasing a Toyota. Anyone have an Aggie or just a good salesperson to recommend? I have no desire to do the whole runaround thing. I want to drive it, name my price, and walk out with a vehicle.
(I know, I can hear you laughing from here.)

Avoid Vandergriff in Arlington, worst experience I have ever had, ended up tearing up the contract twice because the numbers they put down were not what we had agreed to.

I ended up buying from them after fighting through everything and making them cough up a few concessions. I used their service department once, and only once. They were some of the rudest individuals I have ever met. I ended up using Freeman in Hurst for service and had a much better experience, a few years later I was looking into buying s different vehicle and went to Freeman to look and though I didn't end up buying another Toyota, the shopping experience was more pleasant.

I didn't buy from them but I dealt with Meghan Drake at Toyota of Fort Worth and really liked her. She didn't give me the run around and just told me what she could do price wise. It wasn't enough and we bought somewhere else. She was very competitive on price but found a demo elsewhere that was a better deal.

http://www.toyotaoffortworth.com/dealership/staff.htm

It's all a game and they're going to try and work you for $500 to $1,000 more but you just have to stand your ground assuming you've done your homework on what a vehicle is worth and what you can pay. Just the nature of the beast.

We had an awful experience with Vandergriff Honda, too. So much so that we traded in that car waay earlier than we would have b/c it had such bad juju from them!

David McDavid in Frisco was a much better experience.

Thanks

use the internets. send multiple dealers what you want, what you're willing to pay, and then sit back. I've had a lot of success with this. Since they don't have you captive and know their competing with other dealers, you'll typically be able to cut right through the BS. Make sure they quote you a firm "all-in" price though, so they don't try to pull a fast one when you show up to make it official. I haven't had an issue with that, but I'm sure it happens.

[This message has been edited by Danny Duberstein (edited 5/27/2011 9:45a).]

The trick on Toyotas is that every vehicle in the Gulf States Toyota network is available to every dealer but the dealer that has it will generally give you the best deal.

When you're searching on a dealer's site "in stock" means it's sitting at that dealer and "available" means it's sitting at another dealer. What I did was search one dealer's site and when I found one that was configured like we wanted I'd put the VIN in Autotrader which would tell me which dealer had it. I then e-mailed that dealer's Internet sales department with what I was willing to pay and it was pretty simple.

I did a lot of work but we were looking for a specific configuration so the work was in finding the right vehicle.

Configuration has been a pain in the butt for me...been trying unsuccessfully to find a local awd sienna...good luck on finding a ride

Stay away from the Toyota dealer in Grapevine! My daughters went there and they refused to give her car back to her. Said she had signed a contract. My youngest was with her and 8 mo. pregnant, and they had someone drive her home (15 miles one way). I jumped in my car and drove down there and told them I was calling 911 and reporting her car stolen. I then demanded to see the "contract" she had signed, and it was only a quote. Low-lifes.

^^^What?


I hate to be the guy to ask as it's so annoying when people do this, but why Toyota? Their reputation has plummeted since 07. Anecdotally the stories I get from recent cars are really bad.

I'm not sold on a Toyota, yet. We are interested in a Highlander. Been cruising in an Odyssey since '05 and I'm kinda tired of driving a small bus. However, for kid-carting purposes, I would like the option of a 3rd row seat on occasion. The Pilot feels too big, might as well keep the Ody. If I can't save at least a little on the mileage, might as well keep the Ody or even get an '11 Odyssey.

If anyone has any ideas to share, I'll listen.
I have had vague concerns about driving off a cliff in a Toyota, but am hopeful that all of those issues are resolved.

Toyota of Grapevine was the suck. Ended up buying at Vandergriff. The wife was at the time the GM's kids 2nd grade teacher so it was fairly painless. Still can't get over how the Grapevine dealership was so aggressive. Service dept. thumbs up though.

We had two bad experiences at Lewisville and refused to give them a third. Ended up going to Cowboy Toyota way over on the east side. Ask for Larry. Place is not exactly a showcase dealership, but they did exactly what they said they would, and we got a better deal than we had agreed to at Lewisville.

I've never had a bad experience with Toyota, and my family has been driving them for over 20 years now (b/c we're related to a dealer). My car is a 2004 and I've never had any issues with it, and pay far less in maintenance than my husband who has a 2007 Ford.

I have all my major service done at the dealership in B/CS and they are so far above the Dallas area dealerships it's sad. Toyota of Plano has been the next best, but they're still a big step down in customer service.

Scott Bolin at Toyota Fort Worth. He's their Internet Sales Director, and I've had great experiences with him.

I know it is a drive, but I had a wonderful experience at Durant toyota in Weatherford. AVOID Grapevine at all costs. Lewisville also has some shady people who are still calling and harassing me 1 1/2 years later even though I tell them I already bought every time. I dealt with Joey Lishia internet sales guy at Durant but I don't think he is there anymore (moved to their Chevrolet dealership). I can second the internet quotes though. You quickly can determine who wants to sell a car and who wants to screw you around. Grapevine will give you the quote you want online then when you get there it will all change and they will screw you if you do not run from them.

bad experience at Toyota of Plano

Avoid toyota grapevine at all costs.

Toyota of Richardson is a small shop. You can work them fairly easily.

The trick is not to go when YOU are on a time crunch... as in you need a new car NOW. Then you're going into a negotiation with your back against the wall. The salesman/manager will ALWAYS want to move cars, get a deal done, etc.

Thats how I got my wife's 4-runner at a great price, and the trade-in of her 06 mustang at such a great value... by going in there on a whim, when we DIDN'T *NEED* new car... and I had walk away power. TRUE walk away power. She could have driven her car for another few years EASY.

You wait until you DEFINITELY need a new car, you're going to hurt your wallet...b/c you force yourself into a corner.

Leave yourself some margin.

I second that Vandergriff is terrible.

I had a good experience with the sales director at Toyota of Richardson. I was also working with the dealer in McKinney, and they had a great salesman, but wouldn't match the price of my trade.

Actually, I've bought 2 Siennas at Grapevine and had decent experiences. I brought in the emails after negotiating with several dealerships and they honored the price. They'll try to work you over on the warranty crap but that happens everywhere. Just stick to your price.

Plano was 1K over Grapevine's quote and would not come down. I also had a horrible experience with Plano's service dept on correcting a recall.

Negotiate with several dealers, go with the lowest, and stick to your guns. The service can be done at any dealership.

Steve who was your sales director? Harmon?

Toyota of Rockwall

It's been a year, and I can't remember his name. He is an Asian guy. I will see if I can find his card.