Buying a new 2015 Prado 150 GXL

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

Hey guys,

Bit of an update. Got an email from the delivery lady from the dealership and they have provided me with the rego and the VIN of my vehicle. I have googled the VIN and funnily enough I found it linked straight to the dealer's online website. It's obviously not there now as it's been removed but I found the cached version of the website showing the ad for that very vehicle with the VIN number that they provided me and have printed the page out. This leads me to believe it's of that very scratched GXL Prado.

So I now have a physical cached copy of the advertisement of the blue GXL prado with the VIN number + stock number of the vehicle they're going to give me from their website.

If it was a brand new vehicle coming straight from Toyota, no way they would have the VIN number of that particular vehicle on their website from months ago right?

Mate, check the car out if you can't tell if they've repaired it or if it's a new one then who cares unless your looking for an excuse to get a discount?

Well it may not matter to many people, but I certainly do.

I am paying my hard earned money for something brand new and something that is this expensive. If I wanted something that's been damaged or patched up, I'd be in the used car market. Not the new car market.

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

- double post -

[REN470 Member Find all posts View Profile Close REN470]

Well you've answered your own question then. Don't buy the car and move on and to be sure go to another dealer - but they could stock swap between dealers -hmmm? Seriously I think too many people get caught up in the "I want a brand new car" syndrome
I mean they get transported on the back of semis in the open and you think they don't get the odd bump, scrap and stone chip and they don't get repaired before you see them? Just my opinion and not worth much in reality

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

Well you've answered your own question then. Don't buy the car and move on and to be sure go to another dealer - but they could stock swap between dealers -hmmm? Seriously I think too many people get caught up in the "I want a brand new car" syndrome
I mean they get transported on the back of semis in the open and you think they don't get the odd bump, scrap and stone chip and they don't get repaired before you see them? Just my opinion and not worth much in reality

Not at all mate, You raised some great points there. I do wish I could go back a few days in time and not have inspected the damn vehicle. Would be happy without going through this whole ordeal right now. Like you said, I would be completely oblivious to it and gone on with life as a new car owner.

The deceit is what is really annoying me at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't want a damaged/repaired product for something I'm buying as brand new, but like I said earlier in this thread... if they had been open about this from the start I wouldn't be as upset.

The problem now is, they've flat out lied to me about this. What else have they already lied to me about? Or, what else will they lie to me about in the future?

[JGD Member Find all posts View Profile Close JGD]

I am paying my hard earned money for something brand new and something that is this expensive. If I wanted something that's been damaged or patched up, I'd be in the used car market. Not the new car market.

Depending on your how you are looking at proceeding, it would be worth reading up on what a 'new' vehicle as defined as. The MTA (and I think they get their definition from the Motor Vehicle Act or similar) seem to define 'new' simply as 'first owned and first registered'. Damage/marks/repairs/kms etc don't seem to come into play. By that definition the car you are getting is still 'new'.

It's obvious what they've been telling you is more the issue. Don't know if that would be enough to cancel your contract (unless it's specially written in there that it is not to be that car), but may give you some room to move with getting some freebies added on.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Ummmm.....

I don't beleive they do any more. I beleive that is now illegal in Australia and to do so is committing a criminal offence. One dealer that is no longer in business got caught doing this in Brisbane a few years ago and the fine is massive. Even if their computer allows them to do it I don't know of any dealer stupid enough to do so.

I hope you are right. I heard a very disturbing tale of ex demo Prados in Brisbane having the sand washed out of them at the panel beaters. They were then sent back to sell as brand new - possibly explains why some cars mysteriously develop rust way before their time. - but then perhaps that's just a rumor from a few years ago. - I do cringe every time I see a new car being driven through the beach and wonder which mug will end up with it. - Not all dealers are honest.

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

Got a call from the dealership this morning after I sent them a long email last night explaining the whole situation with the other dealership and the VIN of the vehicle being on their website, etc. Seems they've figured out that we have proof now that they were trying to sell us the scratched vehicle. They called and told me that there must have been some misunderstanding and that they'd never do that to us. So I told them that I demand to see both vehicles in order for me to proceed and so they said they'll get one straight from Toyota and it should be here next week and that we can go in and compare both the vehicles. Also told them that if they attempt to do this again I'll escalate this issue to ensure I protect myself in this deal.

So hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from here on end. Thank you everyone for your help!

[REN470 Member Find all posts View Profile Close REN470]

How do you think your going to escalate this issue? You don't trust the dealer and yet you are persevering with them , just walk away, go to another dealer who has what you want on the floor and in the condition and colour you find acceptable and just pay them the asking price and be happy - you'll forget the fact you didn't get a discount but you'll always wonder if the original dealer got at you!

Not disrespect meant but it's chaps like you that make me glad I don't work in retail any longer