Just ordered an Aurion AT-X

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Dear Toyota Owners Club

My fiancée and I visited Wollongong Toyota yesterday to see if we could actually get the offer advertised on the Toyota website for a new Toyota Aurion - $29,999.00 drive away with 0% interest for 4 years.

I have purchased several brand new cars before but it was my fiancée's first time.

I did the numbers and came up with the following:

Red Book = $36,490 with on-roads taking it just above $40,000. Let's say we negotiated down to $33000.00 and financed @ 9% over 4 years = $40612.00.

Saving of $10,000.00 seemed OK to me.

The Ming Mole encouraged us to purchase the $2,000.00 paint protection and vinyl treatment. We were educated about the Acid Rain in Wollongong due to the Port Kembla factory and that Toyota now use water-based paints that need protecting. I argued that Toyota had no say in the products being offered as the brochure included an Audi and Ford - we were moved onto the Business Manager.

We had the contract for $29,999.00 ready to apply for finance. We were asked about the "Toyota Access" program and encouraged to purchase the Aurion on a lease payment with end of term balloon. I said no. At this stage it was 5:30pm and we would not receive a decision until the next morning. A $500.00 deposit was requested, I advised the business manager I'd pay the deposit upon finance approval via credit card tomorrow - he was thrown off but accepted as it was late.

Received the call at 11:30am this morning - loan approved, deposit paid, Aurion AT-X will be available for pickup by the end of the week.

I'm still wondering what the catch is - A $10,000.00 saving with no interest payments on the loan?

I look forward to being able to contribute to the forum where I can, I can't wait to pick up my car!

[trentmeyer23]

I haven't heard much in regards to the finance side from them.

They were definitely trying to upsell you; think, would you like fries/chips and a drink with that?

[GDude]

Welcome!

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Our Toyota Aurion AT-X (White) Experience

Preface:

My partner and I had been looking for a new car for quite some time. We always liked the older look Camry's but I needed a V6. The Aurion was a compromise between my previous 2012 XR6 and my partners 2004 Statesman. We wanted a sensible car. We saw that Toyota had the Aurion on sale for $29,990.00 with no interest for 48 months - a car we could easily afford, a car that would likely never have issues in the time we owned it, a car with $10k off RRP and 0% interest. We were sold.

Monday 14 December 2015

1. We attend our local dealership, Illawarra Toyota. We didn't want a test drive, we just wanted to purchase the vehicle and have it delivered before Christmas.

2. We sat down at Ernie's computer desk, he showed us that 2 Aurion's in our colour choice were in-stock and available. We would have it on Friday providing finance was approved. We both stated we needed the vehicle by Christmas, we were told we would have it on Friday with finance acceptance.

3. We applied for Finance but due to the time (5:30pm) were advised we would be called tomorrow regarding a yes or no.

Tuesday 15 December 2015

1. Received a call from business manager, Finance approved. I gave $500.00 deposit provided over the phone.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

No Communication

Thursday 17 December 2015

4:00pm -

Call from Ernie: "Telstra placed an order for 2x White Toyota Aurion's on the weekend and the computer didn't update. I've ordered one from Japan and it should arrive by New Years Eve".

We advised this was not good enough, that the agreement was contingent upon delivery prior to Christmas. We were pulling sale.

Ernie: Leave it with me, if I can find a White Aurion anywhere in Australia (cited North Sydney as example) I will send my truck to collect it.

We called Sydney City Toyota, advised a White Toyota Aurion AT-X was in stock.

We called Ernie: I advised him we found a White Toyota Aurion at Sydney City Toyota and did he want dealer details. Ernie stated that he would arrange transfer tomorrow after speaking to stock controller. Ernie advised he would call us first thing tomorrow.

Friday 18 December 2015

4:00pm -

After receiving no call from Ernie in the morning. Ernie advises "Sydney City Toyota were lying, they do not have a white Aurion. I have found a grey one from Bega and I'm having it transferred, it will arrive on Tuesday".

We said: "Hold on a second, we will call back". Ernie states: "Why, I've found you an Aurion - what is there to talk about?".

We called Sydney City Toyota, advised of situation and asked for confirmation as to whether Aurion (white AT-X) was in stock - available before Christmas. Same dealer advised us that yes, this was absolutely possible - they have them in stock, available. We explained the situation, we were told to put everything in writing (good idea).

I wrote quick email outlining facts that had occurred and sent it to business manager, I called Ernie as a courtesy to inform him we were no longer proceeding with purchasing any vehicle.

Ernie stated "We are going to claim a 5% loss of the vehicles value and keep your deposit".

I stated "I already arranged Chargeback yesterday so you don't have my deposit. I provided my lawyers address for him to send the invoice too".

Saturday 19 December 2015

Sydney City Toyota send us all application forms via email so we did not need to attend. Dealer and business manager worked together in order to make everything work.

Sunday 20 December 2015

Received approval for credit (again). Submitted contract forms - signed electronically on condition white ATX is allocated and delivered by Christmas.

Important:

I have changed salesman name as I'm sure he is under a lot of pressure from management. It doesn't however excuse the lies:

> Telstra bought 2x White Aurion's (highly unlikely considering time of the year and Telstra uses SG Fleet so dealer wouldn't know final customer).

> I ordered from Japan and they will arrive by NYE. Toyota Aurion AT-X manufactured in Australia.

> If there are any white Aurion's in Australia I will send my truck and get one. We found one. He said that they were lying but never spoke to them.

> Stated he ordered a Grey one from "Bega" - Unlikely because Illawarra Toyota is White / King Pty Ltd which do not own Bega Valley Motors.

I really wanted to provide Illawarra Toyota my business because I know the inner city dealers are owned by larger corporations and I wanted to support local industry.

The problem was the amount of lies I was told meant that I could no longer trust a word he was saying. Then when the threats about suing me for $1500 started I just hung up - how can you possibly find middle ground in that situation?

[trentmeyer23]

Sadly this is becoming more and more common.

a car that would likely never have issues in the time we owned it

I take it that you didn't do a lot of research on the 2GR-FE then?

[Full-Throttle]

Sounds like you had quite the ordeal with the first dealer. Good on your for sticking to your guns though. Sounds like you came out on top in the end. Hopefully this won't take the shine off your new Aurion as it appears that you got a very good deal. The new shape Aurions don't tend to cause much trouble so you should get many years of trouble free motoring out of it. Congrats on the purchase! :)

[GDude]

Sorry to hear about your problems. At least Sydney City Toyota seem to be decent to deal with. The previous owner of my car always took it there and was very happy with them.