Topic: Thumbs Down For Toyota Dealers

[inco]

Okay - this isn't a rant against the company, although they may be part of the problem, but here is what happened.

Once a week I drive people to the hospital to get treatment, usually radiation and the people are often elderly. Not always, but at least one or two on a trip will be a senior citizen.

Now as many of you know the Passat has been lowered. Sometimes a problem. Also I drive 275 km round trip to work and back and in winter maybe a problem.

So I'm thinking maybe an AWD vehicle might be appropriate and the one that I have admired the most is the Highlander - it's all Snowy's fault with it being the practical car in his family.

Anyway I approach my leasing guy to try and get the use of one for a few hours to do a hospital run with the patients to see how easy it is or isn't for them to get in and out of. (It has one of the lowest step up heights, if not the lowest and that darn Toyota resale value.)

And the answer is - no, no and no, from three dealers. They will let me take it out on a short trip but not for this.

How can I assess it if I can't use it? Dilemma, but it's almost as if the dealers are looking for ways to discourage customers.

I mean I'm being totally upfront with them to tell them why we want to try it out and yet not one of them could spare a vehicle. I'm not impressed.

Ovr - tell your dealer that he is a rare breed.

[Sterling]

I'm guessing that insurance liability is playing a huge role in their decisions.  

I recently learned that there is no such thing as a complete insurance transfer when somebody takes out a dealership vehicle unaccompanied. Only the collision portion transfers. The liability stays stays first and foremost with the dealership. If there is an accident and someone is hurt or killed, someone will be looking at the dealership's deep pockets first.


(Message edited by Sterling on October 25, 2004)

[ovr50]

Geez, Inco, my Toyota dealer is good to me but I'm not sure I could borrow a HL for 2 or 3 hours to load up with ppl to do a hospital run. I've never asked that question - but I have taken demo units for extended periods of time (say 3 hours or so) just by myself. Sterling may also be on to something with the insurance angle. I'm not sure.

[articsteve]

I would agree with the insurance thing.  If an accident occurred and there was some big time personal injury, the insurance company for the dealer would tell the dealer that the car was used as a taxi and they would come after the dealership for the cost.

Matter of fact, you might find yourself in violation of your insurance policy.

Insurance companies today are the new terrorists.  I believe Bin Laden is now the CEO of the World Wide Facist Insurance Institute.

[johngenx]

If I was the GM of the dealer, I'd take the SUV and drive it over and see how the people can get in and out while you're there, just not drive them anywhere.  Voila!  No insurance worries.

Some people just can't think outside the box for one second.

When I was in sales, I sold stuff.  I did some weird stuff on occasion, but sold a lot of stuff.

[asdf]

Do any rental companies carry the Highlander in their fleets?

[inco]

The insurance could be an issue, but I know GM has been promoting take a car home event and letting people keep them overnight.

The insurance would be the driver's however the liability part might be the dealer.

Still I can get a Murano to test drive and do what I want so it's an issue for me. I don't like the Murano. I like the Highlander.

I'm going for max mpg and that usually means less weight. The HL is roughly 3800 pounds.

[Sterling]

GM's promo included a bunch of conditions. It wasn't "Take a Car Overnight and Do Whatever You Want With It." I'm pretty sure that taking seniors on trips to the hospital would not be part of the deal.

Anyway, you've been making do with a Passat, correct? Do you have a concern that a Highlander may be worse for seniors to get in and out of?

[inco]

It's the height I'm concerned about.

With the Passat people can always bend down and get in - it's the getting out that is sometimes hard.

Now the perfect vehicle was, dare I say it, a mini van. But I don't want another van and in looking at what's out there in the market the Highlander has a lot of positives going for it.

It also seems to be lower than most anything else, but the only way to be sure will be to either try it out or get the tape out and start walking.

The are smaller SUV's available like the Escape, but the key word is smaller and we already have a Forester. I want something just a little bigger that can carry five people comfortably.

So the Highlander seems to be in the right area - smaller than say a Pilot and larger than the CRV etc. It weighs 3800 pounds and with the 3.3 engine it still runs on regular gas. Plus great resale value.

I know I'm selling myself, but wish Toyota would be more customer focused. I just won't let them know how much I really want one.

[Snowman]

INCO:
I detest going in to my local Toyota dealer….they are arrogant and talk down to most everybody who comes in……..so why do people put up with this? I guess it is a price to pay when they have what most people want. I wanted a Highlander so I put up with the krap.

You will not go wrong with the base Highlander V6 4x4 IMHO. The Highlander is the best car based utility vehicle out there…..without a doubt. It is squarish, practical, and low-key in comparison to others in its class. The Altima panned Murano is far more stylish…..but the aesthetics compromise the practicality. When you add in Toyota's traditional quality, reliability, and strong resale value the Highlander is a sure winner.

[S60]

Inco , have a look at the Ford Freestyle,
just might do the trick, as it is a betweener
station wagon and SUV.
Just a thought.

[inco]

That was one vehicle I wanted to look at, but if you recall I was rather harsh on Ford for the  3.0 litre engine only right now.

To go AWD that means a weight of almost 4200 pounds. That's a good 300 more than the Highlander and the Highlander has 230 ponies and a five speed automatic. Freestyle is only a four speed.

[Mdxtasy]

How about a Chrysler Pacifica or a VW Toureg with the fancy air suspension to allow it to kneel when people get in?  Or a Porsche Cayenne?

[S60]

Freestyle has the CVT tranny, same setup or similar to what Audi is using.
But yes I remember now, your comments on the
useage of the 3.0L.
Seems usable for what you are using the vehicle for, as the step in and step out in the Freestyle is similar to how a mini-van is.
But agree that the Highlander has a ample power.

[inco]

Correct S60 - they have the CVT and I forgot about that.

I know in Europe they have had the CVT's for ages, in fact back in 83 I went to Europe and my friend over there had a Volvo 2 something that had the CVT  - it was a blast to drive, but also much lighter and a smaller engine.

We took it to Paris from Amsterdam - good little car.

Perhaps Ford will have a better unit than the fatal GM unit. As I understand it (CVT"S in general) just didn't hold us as well because of the higher weights.  

So it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

As for you MD - look above - the weight issues on yours. Pacifica - yucky too.

[Mdxtasy]

It was worth a shot at getting you into a Cayenne.  

The Highlander is a nice SUV....if you want a little extra bling, the RX330 is also very well equipped and a little more stylish.  Maybe a Nissan Murano?  Saturn Vue (Redline)?  Caddy's SRX?  OK...I'm done with suggestions.  

[inco]

Thanks. Just when I think I have it -someone somewhere wants to come along and ****w it up.

[Mdxtasy]

That's what I do.  I'm all about solutions Inco.  

[inco]

You mean problems - not solutions and they represent billable hours - we all know that.

[Mdxtasy]

I'll get to the solution eventually.