Buying a new 2015 Prado 150 GXL

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

Looks like I might not end up buying the Prado after all, from this dealership anyways. Only have the $500 deposit put in right now and was scheduled to trade my Captiva in on Friday but it doesn't look like I'm going to go any further.

Just got back from the other dealership/branch that held the blue GXL that was originally offered to us and to which we said we did not want because there were scratches everywhere and the car was dirty itself due to a lot of people inspecting it both on the inside and outside. I walked in and straight away noticed it was gone. That same Prado had been there for over 1.5 months and now when I went to check it, it was gone. Straight away I got suspicious so asked the salesman there what happened to the blue Prado that was here. He told me that it got sold and that the nearby branch (the one where I bought the Prado from) had done a stock exchange with them for the blue one for their customer. So now I knew 100% that they were going to just fix it up and sell it to us, despite us telling them we don't want it.

I then told him that it was actually me that purchased it and he was stunned for a second because he knew he just leaked info out that wasn't meant for me to know. I told him that I didn't want that car and explained to him that I told the saleslady who sold it to me the same thing and that she told me I'd be getting a brand new one in from the factory. He realised he screwed up and started backtracking by saying "look I can't be sure if it's that one or I'm not sure if it went to them, [insert saleslady's name] will take care of you guys I'm sure they have a new one coming in from the factory and not this", etc etc etc. Basically he was trying to cover up the information he had just leaked to me.

So I don't know what I'm going to do anymore. I paid 60 odd thousand dollars for this car and I want something brand new without any god damn scratches or dirty interior. I don't want something that's been worked on and patched up to make it look brand new again. But most of all, I feel betrayed and angry that I was lied to despite numerous times them telling me "Toyota won't do that! We'll look after you! It's illegal to do that!".

I also just got a call from the original branch, the one where I purchased the car from, telling me that they won't be giving me that car from the other branch. The one with the scratches and whatnot that suddenly disappeared from their lot. I don't believe them at all. It's also worth noting before I agreed to leave a deposit on the car, the saleslady told me that they only had 1 blue one in stock and that one was the one at the other branch. And now they're telling me they're getting one from the factory. Ridiculous. Any advice?

Edit: I'm not talking small scratches either. There were tons of small scratches but there was one in particular at the back that was a big one. Approx about 15-20cm long. When I mentioned this to the salesman at the other dealer just then he said "Oh really? I don't recall seeing one like that". Bullshit.

[ozimacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozimacca]

I would go down there and ask to talk to the sales manager, I would say in a nice calm voice that if you wish to sell me a new Prado get me a new one from Toyota. If you try to sell me "that one" I will go straight to Fair Trading and tell them you are selling demos as new cars !!

Your choice, what do you want to do, sell me a new one or talk to fair Trading ?

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

I would go down there and ask to talk to the sales manager, I would say in a nice calm voice that if you wish to sell me a new Prado get me a new one from Toyota. If you try to sell me "that one" I will go straight to Fair Trading and tell them you are selling demos as new cars !!

Your choice, what do you want to do, sell me a new one or talk to fair Trading ?

Thanks for the reply.

The problem is I don't have any proof. I went there to note down the VIN number of that Prado so that if they did try giving it to us, I could prove it by matching the VIN numbers and say they repaired the scratches and cleaned the inside and sold it as 'straight from factory'. The car salesman from the other branch told me that the other branch swapped stock with them for the blue one to sell to the customer. But I don't have any way to prove that he said this. No doubt he's going to say "I never said that" if they ask him.

If I threaten them to talk with fair trading they're going to tell me what proof do I have. Which sadly, none.

I received another call from the stock controller from the branch I purchased my Prado from and she just said "I can 100% guarantee the car you'll get isn't the one from the other branch". But I can't trust anything they say anymore. Because I know for certain that if that salesman hadn't slipped up, they were going to give me that car after repair on the scratches no doubt.

I think I'm going to go into the dealership and ask them to show me the blue Prado with the scratches. If they can show it to me and prove that it's still with them and they've got a different one for me instead, I'll go forward with the transaction. If not, I'm going to demand my $500 back and walk away or threaten them with further action.

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

If you are buying and paying for a new car then demand a new car. I have scored some big discounts buying cars that were effectively new but with a few blemishes, and it doesn't bother me because the cars always get dinged and/or scratched pretty quick. If it doesn't happen out bush then my wife takes care of it.

[Guest Close Guest]

If you want to get any proof, you need to do it quick and go to your dealer and find the scratched blue Prado and record its VIN. Then when they deliver the new one to you, check its VIN. If the large scratch at the back was repaired, it will most likely need to be resprayed depending on the depth of the scratch. It's not too hard to tell if the paintwork has been resprayed.

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

If you want to get any proof, you need to do it quick and go to your dealer and find the scratched blue Prado and record its VIN. Then when they deliver the new one to you, check its VIN. If the large scratch at the back was repaired, it will most likely need to be resprayed depending on the depth of the scratch. It's not too hard to tell if the paintwork has been resprayed.

This was my original plan and the reason why I went to the other dealer today. I tried looking for it but it's gone and nowhere to be seen. I went to both branches and couldn't find it anywhere either. So something tells me they've already carried out the repairs and have stored it somewhere with their other fleet or have stored it somewhere secure to undergo the repairs sometime before Friday.

There's no doubt in my mind that they've resprayed it and made everything look brand new. Normally I wouldn't even care with small minor scratches and bruises BUT the big 15-20cm one bothers me. And the reason it bothers me is because I spent a few days with them and a shit ton of hours negotiating the best price I could get out of it and they didn't budge much at all. So now they expect me to buy a display model that they've patched up a big scratch for the same price? Bloody joke.

Even if they had come and told me 'hey, we don't have any other blue one in stock besides the one you saw at the other branch. We know about the scratches and the minor wear and tear and the dirtiness but we promise to clean it all up and make it all brand new. And for that inconvenience, we're willing to take off $x amount of money or offer you x accessories to sweeten the deal'. I would have gladly accepted that and went with it. But I got none of that. Instead, they're being deceptive and doing it behind my back.

Edit: Can you give me any tips to tell if the section has been resprayed? Thank you

[Guest Close Guest]

I'm sure the other dealer will have a record of the VIN for the transfer.

Where was the scratch? i.e. which panel? and do you recall it being deep? i.e. past the clear coat?

[kenny5000 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close kenny5000]

A car yard doing the dodgy, Surely not !!

[Isho Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Isho]

I'm sure the other dealer will have a record of the VIN for the transfer.

Where was the scratch? i.e. which panel? and do you recall it being deep? i.e. past the clear coat?

Good point! Didn't think of that. I'll ask them to show me the VIN of the transferred one and then to show me the VIN of the one they're giving me. If they manually alter it, it won't be illegal right? If they're unable to do that, I'll simply ask them to show me both vehicles. If they become reluctant to show me the one with the scratch or they don't know where it is I'll know for sure they're trying to sell me that one.

The scratch itself was at the back, in this small region:http://i.imgur.com/Amruqu5.png. It was one single deep scratch going down horizontally but slightly angled. I'd describe it as if someone got a key and made one single line going down in an angle and went over the outline of the scratch a few times. It definitely would have to be someone doing it purposely because there is no way anything would have touched that area considering the car hasn't been moved in over a month. Yes, it went past the clear coat.

[JPM21 Member Find all posts View Profile Close JPM21]

If it was in their yard for 1.5 months it would have a build date of April at the latest. Find out what the build date is of the one they are supplying. It's not a bullet proof method but without the VIN it will give you a good idea.

[JGD Member Find all posts View Profile Close JGD]

Why don't you check the build date? Surely the one already in the yard would be earlier this year if it had been there a number of months already, while your 'new' one would more likely be May/June build.

Edit: beat me to it JPM21

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

If it's been on the lot for 1.5mths and had that much traffic through it, it probably had trade plates put on it and taken for a test drive. Your new car should have no more than 15Kms on the clock. The Prado had 8Kms on it when I picked it up, our Corolla only had 5Kms on it, they are new cars. Easy way to tell.

[REN470 Member Find all posts View Profile Close REN470]

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?

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

If it's been on the lot for 1.5mths and had that much traffic through it, it probably had trade plates put on it and taken for a test drive. Your new car should have no more than 15Kms on the clock. The Prado had 8Kms on it when I picked it up, our Corolla only had 5Kms on it, they are new cars. Easy way to tell.

They do have the ability to reset the odo. I wouldn't take that as proof.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

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.