"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
10/23/2019 at 20:00 • Filed to: Car Buying
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"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
10/23/2019 at 20:00 • Filed to: Car Buying | 9
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It was a process. The dealer where we scheduled a time with their Costco person passed us to another guy that did all the usual games, the first car they tried to have us test drive was severely broken (I was like, “it’s giving me a check engine and warning”, which he told me to dismiss, but it was definitely not running properly), then we came back and picked up a used one that ran great for a test drive. I had yet to drive one and it was surprisingly decent and easy to maneuver for being so massive. It felt big, but nowhere near as big as it is.
When we got to the showroom again, we found that their showroom vehicle, which was 13 months old, showing a lot of wear, and with a completely dead battery, was the car that matched our requirements online. They started lower due to the program, but I thought it was shockingly high based on the fact it’s late in the model year, the car was in rough condition, etc, so they went back and forth doing the dealer game (which I’m sure they aren’t supposed to do). The trade value they gave us was borderline insulting. Eventually I just decided to leave because I was hungry and it was getting late. They did the attempt to save the sale thing, but I was legitimately done. I wasn’t sure I wanted the one they had, they hadn’t even made a cursory effort to get it charged or out of the showroom, and who knows what sitting dead for so long does to a hybrid with an expensive battery pack. On the way home, I bounced the numbers off the first dealer we talked to and they were like, come on in, we’ll beat it! Our original person wasn’t there because she was sick, but she passed me on to someone else that was even less skilled than she was with computers (I was impressed by her hunt and peck speed). The usual game, again, but I think we got a fair deal in the end. They forced me to provide my information for a credit pull, which I didn’t plan to do, but whatever.
So here’s my wife’s new steed, a 2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum AWD (Could they have just cut that name down a bit?):
This model with the Hybrid drivetrain had the best specs in everything that mattered for practicality, with numerous small and large reasons that we preferred it overall . It’s just a great package, from size to features. I see why it’s so popular, considering it’s as good as (if not better than) even the newer cars developed to compete with it. I’m sure it’ll last us 10+ years, like all cars do for us (mine is just shy of 5 years now, and it doesn’t even seem old), so it might very well end up being our boy’s first car if the whole autonomous car thing doesn’t pan out before then.
Any questions?
CB
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/23/2019 at 20:14 |
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The Highlander is the new Oppo car of the year.
Chariotoflove
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/23/2019 at 20:15 |
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I’ve bought a couple of cars through the Sam’s Club program, which I’m sure is virtually the same. The first thing they are supposed to do is show me the invoice. They contractually get X dollars above that. Anyone that would put me through the games like you got I would report immediately. That’s BS.
That said, I haven’t used the program for the last couple of cars because I came to realize that with all the online info you can get nowadays, you can easily start below dealer invoice on many cars.
Anyway, congrats on your new ride!
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> CB
10/23/2019 at 20:19 |
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It’s the Oppo Wives Family Car of the Year .
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CB
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/23/2019 at 20:24 |
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That’s a much better way to put it.
CompactLuxuryFan
> CB
10/23/2019 at 20:29 |
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Same color as mazda616, too!
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> Chariotoflove
10/23/2019 at 20:32 |
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Yeah, I got way below what they claimed just by knowing more that I’d researched online. I was expecting a number, but what they offered was much higher than I was expecting. Based on the Costco program site, I was expecting below invoice, but it wasn’t even invoice...
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/23/2019 at 20:36 |
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Obligatory “you’re killing the enthusiast market”.
Even though you bought a Focus ST
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/23/2019 at 20:43 |
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Highlander-LLC scam got me a Datsun approves of this purchase. But now there are two Highlander’s and there can be only one...
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/23/2019 at 20:45 |
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[raises hand]
What we if we did an oppo meet that involved Duvall somehow and you could, like, meet us in downtown for a cup of joe? :D
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/23/2019 at 21:11 |
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I could probably do that. I suspect I’m close to being able to do more time-consuming stuff on the weekends again, though I might need to bring the baby.
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2019 at 21:16 |
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And he bought it new!
[stares in the mirror]
Gross, get that thing out of here.
TheTurbochargedSquirrel
> CompactLuxuryFan
10/23/2019 at 21:44 |
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Do they make Highlanders in colors other than gray?
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/23/2019 at 22:37 |
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Off-white , silver, grey, black, maroon, BROWN, dark green (which was cool, but nobody had one), and a greyish-blue (which is also cool). My wife likes her cars dark grey, and it’s her car, so she gets the color she wants. She did consider white because she now understands why I like white, but the she wasn’t fond of the off-white, so she aimed for her usual .
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/23/2019 at 22:49 |
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Yes, I see quite a few around here with the black grille and colors other than “Toyota beige silver/copper/titanium/shiny boi”
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/24/2019 at 00:12 |
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Realistically, are there an enthusiast anything in this class and price range? All that matters in cars like these is interior space, comfort, safety, and safety features. Everything on top of that is gravy.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/24/2019 at 00:19 |
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Lol, I know, just giving you a hard time. What did your wife have before again?
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/24/2019 at 00:29 |
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2008 Mazda3 Hatchback. Good little car, just too small for these ridiculously- long rear-facing infant seats and all the support equipment necessary for children these days.
RPM esq.
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/24/2019 at 02:06 |
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The oft-discussed , never-attempted Old Man Truck/Family Hauler meet, eh.