[LifeTech]

Originally Posted by SE2000

To think the corporation cares about catering to one individual who is as likely to buy another brand next time is way too self centered. Now if you want 10,000, you might get their attention. got the money for that? there's another economic lesson.
wish you get what you want. complaining here in a forum that toyota doesn't own, may make you feel better, but that is it.
I have no brand loyalty, I go where I want. I have no loyalty to a political party, a sports team or celebrity as I know they don't care about me either. we all should think the same.

I agree completely. May sound cynical to many here. But it is true .

I was astounded at how hard it was to get the new 2009 Corolla XLE with the OE Nav option. I did place the order very early in production (winter, March 2008) Sure there was no inventory anywhere. I Understood that.


Price wasn't even the issue at first. I got $500 over invoice for the Base XLE plus added every existing available option code that TMS published. Got these options at invoice. It wasn't a struggle for pricing.

The salesman new that the OE Nav was the deal maker. Without the OE Nav. The deal was killed.
I was called numerous times close to the delivery date. saying the date was pushed out a week here and there.

I signed the contract with a VIN. The only way I buy any new car. So I knew there was a XLE unit with my name on it.
Turns out that Toyota Canada could not get the Nav units to the Line when my order was placed. I was repeatedly told that they have limited Navs available. Yet the Cali production line have many of them. Living here in the NE I could not get a Cali made vehicle. I called TMS USA with order in hand and was refered to the Regional rep here. He verified what the Dealer stated. Toyota will decide what is built based on demographics and past sales stats. It is pre programmed as to what is being built at each assembly line. It appeared what few OE Navs built were only being installed in the "S" Corolla.(Contrary to the option sheet.) The rep. stated special orders are accepted only through TMS. At special order extra pricing! But I was able to get The vehicle with the Nav. My unit was pulled off the line and sat. I agree not a good thing as far as QC is concerned. It is very hard to pull a vehicle off the line. It is almost NEVER done. It cost TMS money. I got the 09 XLE complete as ordered in June.

I will never do this again. Never buy a Just released New Model that has option conflicts. The Dealer was lost and out of the TMS loop. I pulled my hair out. To date I have Never seen an XLE with The OE Nav. The dealer has Never seen another as we speak.

The dealer will only order an Corolla 'S" model with the Nav package. Customers have no choice.


Never again.
BTW, the OE Nav option deletes the Blue Tooth and Steering Wheel Audio controls. Which would be otherwise be standard on a NON-Nav equipped Cor. XLE!
Go figure.

LT