Hey guys,

I've never bought a car before and have no idea how this works. I'm going into the dealership on Monday to express my interest in buying a tC. Do I bring in my list of all the options I want? Or do I just buy a stock car and then tell them which options I'd like them to put on it? Do I tell them the color and options I want on the car and then they try to find one? How does it work?

I don't have the time or the experience to do it myself and would rather just have the dealership add my options. I know its more expensive but I'm willing to pay for it to be done.

Thank you very much for your time and its been a great pleasure the past few days reading all your guy's, and gal's, posts!

-Mike

 

most likely it would be quicker to find just a stock one in the color you want. Then once it gets in they can add all the options you want. If you do order the options from the beginning they will be installed at port. Its just probably quicker the other way because they may have one in already or have one they could get at another dealer. Good luck I hope you get it quickly with no problems.

 

i suggest you take someone with you who knows the car buying process. that way you don't get something you don't need. also, go do a search on www.scion.com
you can add options, look at color, and price the car there. then you can locate dealers that have the car you want.

 

that may be helpful when you actually go to sign the papers and they try to get you to buy the extended warranty, the extra special dealer thingy, etc.

but to order the car, all you need do is go to scion.com and build your car on the website. prices are what they are so you don't need to worry about that. if you want performance options, i.e. things it takes a mechanic to put on, then you'll save some money buying the stuff from someone like mcgeorges.com and having a local shop put 'em on.

there are really only three things you have to choose when you order the car...color, side airbags or not, and AT or MT. once again, build your car on scion.com and your dealer can either replicate this or you should be able to log on to their computer to access your car.

don't worry bud, buying a tC is totally stress free. (if you don't count the waiting time, that is )

 

Thanks for all the quick replies guys!

I went onto Scion.com and built my car. Would I just take this list in with me? Or do I just tell the dealer that I want a FM with SAB and then hand him the list after the car comes in?

Someone mentioned that the prices on scion.com are for port installation and that getting the options installed at the dealer can actually run about 50-100 bucks more. Is this true? If so, I'd just order the car with the options rather than waiting until it arrives, right?

Thanks a lot again guys.

 

Always check with your dealer on what they can sell the accessories for installed, because I was able to save $460 on my accessories and installation by going with the dealer prices instead of Scion's port prices. There are exceptions, however. Obviously the side airbags have to be installed at port (at least I would think) and the fog lights are probably cheaper to have installed at port (in my case they were.) But, everything else I ordered was cheaper to have the dealer order and install (retail pricing even.)

So, I ordered a silver, manual, with side airbags and fog lights from Scion, and ordered the other accessories to be installed by the dealer*, which are:

Exhaust System
Sports Steering Wheel
Amber Light Kit
2in1 Carpet and Cargo Mats
Sport Pedal Covers
Door Sill Enhancements
Mudguards
B-Pillar Applique
Speed Star shift ****
Rear Bumper Applique
Cargo Liner

*Prices may vary by dealer - be sure to check.

Hope this helps!

 

Perfect!

That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks a bunch.

One more quick question. How much did the fog lights cost? I can't find them on www.scion.com.

Thanks again!

 

Fog Lights from Scion are $425 installed. I don't see how you can miss it on their site, though... You go to scion.com, click on accessories, tC, and it's right there in the exterior portion... Ah well, glad that helped

 

Like Chris says, be prepared to wait. Definately less time if you can deal without a 5spd and the side curtain ABS.......and you're not really picky about color

 

there is one benefit from buying the options up front instead of waiting.

When they install the options at the port the actually give you some money back for things like the stock HU when they replace it with the 6-disc.

So if you waited until the car was at the dealership to switch to the 6-disc then you'd have to pay a little more because they cant use the stock HU anywhere else.

 

Did you actually get money back or is this a theory? You have some real numbers? (Not saying your lying because it could make sense in certain applications.) I just want proof. =) Anyone else agree/disagree with what djaaronp says here?

 

Well this is how it was explained to me:

1. Port gets car w/ stock HU (as an example) that is unused.
2. Port replaces stock HU with 6-disc.
3. Port has extra stock HU they can use elsewhere
4. Port (in effect) buys stock HU back from you by knocking off some of the 6-disc price

Think of it as a trade-in.

 

Who explained it? It doesn't make sense to me. As far as I know, when you pay for the extra 6-disc they are already subtracting the stock HU from that upgrade price. I would also guess that when you pay for the Enkei wheels/tires upgrade that they would be subtracting the factory wheels/tires from that price as well, etc etc :?: :?

 

it depends on when you do it.

for example. if you did it when you ORDERED the car, the price would be as is stated on the website.

however, if you buy the car, drive it off the lot, then decide you want the options, the prices are going to be higher because you DONT have the "trade in" equipment because its used.

The Scion sales guys at 2 different dealerships (in different cities) told me this.

 

So when would you do it? In between the time the car showed up in port and the time they shipped it to the dealer? That would be tricky. I must not be following you. :?

 

No, heh. Ok let me try again.

When you Order your tC, and pick the options, most of them are installed at Port, and that is where you get the prices listed on the Scion site and at the dealership because they take the stock ones out of the car and replace them with the upgrades. They can then use the stock items elsewhere. So you get the Scion.com listed price.

If you wait til after you have taken delivery of your car, then a few weeks or months or whatever later you decide "Hmm, I think I'd like to upgrade to the 6-disc" the price is going to go up because you wont have the "trade in" of the stock stereo because its no longer new. So you have to pay MORE than whats listed on Scion.com because you dont have the value of the stock parts taken in as a sort of trade-in.

Is that any better?

 

or 6 weeks later you say "Hmm, I think I'd like to upgrade to the 6-disc", you go to ebay and buy one for $290 instead of the $400 that the dealer would like to charge you. and yes I'm just being a pain in the ___. :twisted:

 

But see, what I'm showing you in my previous post on Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:42 pm is that it is actually cheaper to order the parts that I've listed there and have them installed by the dealer, AND you get to keep the factory parts (to sell or whatever.) This totally contradicts what you are saying. Now I'm not sure about the 6-disc because I'm not ordering one, but all of those parts I listed are cheaper to order through and have installed by the dealer (in my case - I'm sure it varies by dealer) so why would I pay Scion.com prices when the dealer prices are cheaper AND I get to keep the factory equipment?

I think I'm going to go crazy here!