Hey all,

Looking to get a scion in the next few months. I've got about 25K I can spend, so I've been looking at an xD with quite a few TRD PPO options
1. Shock/Struts
2. Springs
3. F & R sway bar/strut brace
4. Short throw shifter


I like that cuz I can roll the price of the stuff into the price of the loan and it's covered by the original warranty.

I've been to 3 different San Diego dealers and asked them all the same question.

"When I build my xD online, does the price include installation?"

I got 3 different answers ranging from "I'll have to ask the parts guy" to, "Yeah, absolutely we're pure price, no hidden charges."

So, can anyone clarify that has purchased the aftermarket stuff WHEN you bought the car. Is the price on the net right or does it cost more to install?

Thanks alot.

 

price on the website is for the product only. the dealer will charge however much they want extra for the installation of the product.

 

if you pay attention, it clearly states that the MSRP is for the parts only, and does not include cost of installation by the dealership.

some dealerships might install them for free if your buying the car and the parts from them at the time of sale, but not all of them do.

most of us get parts from www.trdsparks.com and www.mcgeorgeparts.com

 

Thanks for the reply. I should have stated that I DO pay attention and read carefully. That's why I'm asking people on their actual EXPERIENCE with dealers and the so-called Scion Pure Price marketing strategy.

I did a search for this topic in the forums under a few key word searches and came up nil. I'm not just blurting questions out without doing my research first.

In one case, I actually built my car at the dealer's computer on their site. There was a disclaimer stating that anything with an asterisk (* < ----that thing) means that installations is NOT included. However, when I printed it out, there were no asterisks. By the way, that's the SAME dealer who said he didn't know about that and would have to ask the parts guy. Needless to say I didn't buy the car.

Thanks again for the reply, but I'm hoping I can get some concrete examples of people who built their car online, and either DID or did NOT have to pay more than the internet price when they went in for installation.

 

Well also, I hope you know that the price on the website might not be the actual price you pay, without the taxes I mean. I never knew this when I got my xD but there are two, yes two, different credit scores. One is the FICO and the other is an Auto score! Even if your FICO is great, you might not get a good APR from the Auto score Because of that, I had my mom be my co-signer.

Anyways install fees are different dealer to dealer, so I don't know what they'd charge you for those parts. The prices of the parts is what you pay, minus taxes and of course the install fee. Truthfully, since you have more than enough money for the car and parts, I would buy them from the two sites drax listed. Reason being they're cheaper, and the parts have their own warranty plus you can bring them to the dealer and have them install it which gives you some protection should something go awry

By the way, what color are you looking to get?

 

Chels, Thank you for telling me about your personal experience.That sucks about your Auto Score. Here is a great link about it if you want to check it out. My guess is that you haven't gotten a car loan before. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/23408

As for the install, I'm just getting feedback as to how the dealers treat aftermarket parts voiding the warranty. I put an AEM CAI on my brand new '04 Mazda 3. When the transmission started acting weird, they tried to blame it on my perfectly legal aftermarket intake and said the warranty was void. Luckily San Diego has a few dealers, so I put the stock intake back on and took it somewhere else. Go figure, it was the transmission!

As for the color, I'm looking at the Magnetic Grey Met, but that's only if I don't buy Cynce's custom show-winner she's selling on the classifieds. Also, I'm probably going to wait for the '09 to come out to see what options changed and colors are available.

 

The product only it should say "installation not included"
dealers make allot of money on those parts so they install for free sometimes so Negotiate!

 

Yea, this is my first new car ever so my score wasn't that good but not bad either

If you're looking for a DD (daily driver) I wouldn't go for her car. I think I read that it is more show than go. Not sure so don't quote me on that. Its a fantastic looking car but I'd be so afraid of ruining it while driving or something happening to it lol.

For the xD.. I think you should go with it more than the tC. Everyone and their grandparents have a tC while the xD is still rare. Personally modifying a car from stock is more rewarding than having the fun taken out of it by the previous owner

Thanks for the link by the way, it's very insightful

 

Awesome point Ride, thanks bro!!!

 

Yeah, I've been talking to her. She said it's not really a DD. I'd only be driving a couple times a week about 20 miles total. But, the engine might be tuned more towards just showing off than actually putting miles on. Some cars have turbos that don't work, and they get shipped to every show...crazy!!!

I'm all about modding cars myself. I'm even crazy enough to completely remove the body, strip the paint, sand and prep my current project BY MYSELF. Yeah, I know, but friggin' paint jobs are so expensive. Once I'm done with this one, I want to have a car I can just enjoy for a while. Either way, the xD or a modded car, I'm going to make it mine, but pretty much DDriveable.

You're quite welcome. Also, I'd suggest refinancing your car loan through your bank or Capital One Auto. They usually have better rates than the dealers. I did that with my Mazda, went from 15% to 7% at my bank.

 

Well actually my rate right now was the best we could get (supposedly) anywhere at the time, it's 6.95%. It pays to have a mom with crazy good credit with FICO and the Auto scores

If you're that in to DIYs on cars, I would totally get an xD then. You'd have a fresh base to work off of and possibly to things that some of us haven't done or thought of doing yet. For me, I want to do a lot of stuff but I can't think of how or who to help with getting it done lol.

 

^^ Totally agreed with the DIY point. The xD is new, fresh, and rare. I just went from a tC to the xD and I've already gotten quite a few compliments... and mine's still stock! Honestly, the D is a little more fun to drive as well... it just seems more responsive than the tC. Center of gravity isn't as high and the throttle doesn't have as much play.

Besides, if I bought a car that fancy I'd be scared to park it anywhere other than my bank's vault....

As for your loan... Check your local credit unions as well. They usually offer very attractive interest rates for auto loans and usually only require you to start a savings or checking account with $5-10. I bought my tC on 4.49% through a CU and it was my first car loan (though I did have a FICO score in the stratosphere). Also, keep talking to the dealer. Toyota Financial's rates change week to week so you might be able to shave a point if you keep at it. When I first was looking around they offered me 5.49% through TFS, but when I came to buy the car a week later it was down to 4.99%.

 

Wow, that's pretty good. Yeah, the moms can help sometimes.
I do like the DIY a LOT. It's kind of my outlet. I keep in great shape, but exercise doesn't help me chill out like messing with a car. Plus, it's kinda like I'm building something. My dad builds log houses, I mess with cars.

Also, I pretty much have a bank vault to park my car in. So Cycne's car is still an option. I can think of at least 5 things I'd do to make it mine and use her already awesome platform.

As for your car, it seems like you kinda already have a good start. How'd you get the Tanabe's for free????? As for the How, link up with a local club and see what skills they have. I have a lot of friends with experience I call on when I need it. Also, if you have a friend (or make one) who likes to work on cars, you guys can help each other out. It's motivating to see a couple of cars develop together, and it's great bonding time!! The way we do it, is whoever car we're working on buys the beer!!!!

What kind of things do you have planned?

Oh yeah, the Search function, Local Library, Modification Forums (outside Scionlife) and New Topics have gotten me so much information my Bookmarks button under Car had to have a whole new folder.

 

OKAY, so I did a little research on my own. Here's the Final Answer.

You build your xD on Scion.com, put on about 3K in PPO (dealer-installed) options, print it out and bring it in to the dealer. They come back with their list of what they have and can do. Turns out they have exactly your car, and all the accessories you want. BUT....
the price is higher. So you look down and see under accessories (esp Performance Mods) the prices are about 25-50% higher. That's cuz they have included their installation costs.

The good news: It's still usually cheaper than a tune shop will charge (unless you know someone). PLUS, it's still covered under warranty. I need to read the fine print to find out if I install struts myself it will void some of the warranty?? Also, they have to give you a list of the items, so it's a Pure Price for EVERYONE.

The bad news: It costs more, and installation can vary from dealer to dealer. You get piece of mind knowing TRD techs installed it. Also, not every dealer has every option, but they can order it so you might have to wait.

 

I got the Tanabes for free because I was the R&D vehicle for both springs (DF and NF) as well as the front strut bar. Sadly I didn't catch the exhaust R&D so I'm still stock with that

For haggling with the sales people, I've heard that you can get a better deal working with the internet sales division rather than the guys on the floor. Don't remember why you can get a better deal with the internet sales team, but I do know people who say its worked for them Though I don't know if Scion has an internet sales team at every dealer or at least one dealer in every county. Hrm..

As far as modding my xD, I'm waiting to run through my stockies then go to 17s, have some more vinyl ideas that I need to bounce off of Blue_Batmobile when he has more time (had a baby late last year), and switch my headunit for something better. Of course this all costs money, and I'm terrible at saving up for things instead of charging them So.. no car mods for me until I can pay for either half or all of it out of pocket.

 

Here's an example of the pricing difference:

RON TONKIN SCION:
Front Strut Brace $245
Lowering Springs $579
Rear Sway Bar $250

WILSONVILLE SCION:
Front Strut Brace $245
Lowering Springs $556
Rear Sway Bar $250
Shock Set $740

ASTORIA SCION:
Front Strut Brace $355
Lowering Springs 607.50
Rear Sway Bar $335
Shock Set $808

So, since it doesn't save me any actual money to roll the Dealer-Installed items into the inital purchase price, I'll probably hold off on the strictly aesthetic stuff (light kit, steering wheel, sills, etc) and put all the TRD stuff on there instead.

But as you can see, each dealer is different. Also, check out this link!
http://scion.lumsautocenter.com/Finance-Rates.aspx

Now that's what I call full disclosure and Pure Price. I'm liking Scion more and more each day as a company!!!

 

well now I'm confused...heh. When I got my xD, I believe the scion website had their best loan at 6.95% and the finance guy confirmed that when I purchased, he said toyota could have given me a better rate but since I was getting a scion he couldn't offer me better than the 6.95%...so I went with capital one for 6.35%.

when I ordered my car I believe the charges for the options I added before purchase were the same as what is online...granted I didn't do any of the options you are looking at so maybe thats considered differently, I went with the stereo upgrade, the vehicle stability control, and the security system. I think the performance stuff would be lost on me a little bit, I bought the xD for its gas mileage and safety features more than anything else. I think I might get my windows tinted this spring but thats the only modification I'm considering. I know, boring...

To be fair my sales guy had gone way out of his way to make me happy too so perhaps he helped waive some fees for stuff that I wasn't aware of, he gave me several free bottles of polishing stuff to keep the finish nice and when I decided to get a cargo net in the back he hooked me up with his employee discount and had his friend in the service department install it for 20 bucks instead of the published rate, which I think was 50ish.

 

<<<Are you confused because of the rate link I posted being different? Keep in mind that it's different for each dealer, and as Chels pointed out, dealer lenders have the option of using the Auto FICO score.

Not boring, but just so you know, having a more responsive suspension DOES help in the area of safety. Say if you need to swerve quickly or slow down suddenly. The body roll is reduced, thus the chance of you losing control reduced, and thus safer. But it can get addictive and expensive.

Good sales guy.

 

caroline: I think the salesguy liked you ;) hehe

 

Stereo's are a port installed option so you generally don't pay for installation and stability control is a factory installed option so you never pay extra for that either, just the $650. Toyota of Dallas quoted me 6.20% (back in February) so I went with that it seemed competitive with the other rates I saw.