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?