Just bought my first car, still dealing with a little buyer’s remorse, but I think I’ll enjoy it once that fades.
2025 Toyota Camry XSE
Wind Chill Pearl with Midnight Black Metallic Roof
Premium Plus Package
Illuminated trunk sill
Illuminated door sill
Front accent lighting
Premium mat set with storage
Blackout package
Connectivity kit
Cargo net
Dash cam
Vehicle protection package (still wondering if they actually applied this or just removed the cost)
Rear bumper protector
Rear cargo organizer
Dealer-installed items: Apex GPS
Originally, they had car tint and clearshield listed, but those got removed during price negotiations.
Total out-the-door price, including taxes and fees, was $41,806. The dealership agreed to match my bank’s interest rate at first, but when we got to financing, they backtracked and said the salesperson wasn’t supposed to offer that. They pushed for a higher interest rate, and after going back and forth, I agreed to it. Then they tried selling me extra packages—ended up only getting GAP and the APEX Platinum service contract. The finance guy said he gave me all the rebates plus extra, making these two add-ons $600 total. But when I went to sign, the car price changed from $41,806 to $40,819, and GAP was $401 while the APEX contract jumped to $1,202.
Final OTD price: $42,422.
Not sure why they shifted $1,000 from the car price to the service contract. Does this sound like a good deal, or am I overthinking it? Just curious what you all think.
Seems like a decent deal. I probably would’ve walked away from the financing part and just used my own bank’s offer, but I get how these dealers play games. Buyer’s remorse is real, especially at first, but once you start driving it, you’ll enjoy it. Just take care of it, and once it’s paid off, it’ll feel great.
@StarlightSpecter
Yeah, the finance guy brought in the manager, who said the only way they’d honor the deal was if I financed through them. Apparently, that’s how they get kickbacks from Toyota or the distributor. They also said they wouldn’t match my bank’s lower rate.
Briar said:
Wait until the rattles and weird noises start. Then real buyer’s remorse kicks in. Toyota paint and windshields are fragile too.
Congrats! I own a Tesla, and compared to that, Toyota paint seems like luxury lol. We’ve had our XSE for three weeks (700 miles in) and no rattles yet—knock on wood. Only thing that’s off is the MPG, which is lower than expected (40 instead of high 40s), but I’ve read that’s because of the cold.