XLE vs. SE - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dctalking · 10-02-2006, 09:45 PM

So I went to the dealer tonight to talk about my SE that's been on order since July. The options I wanted are listed below. They are willing to give me a fully loaded XLE (everything below plus the other standard features of the XLE; starter button, dual climate control, adjustable rear seats, air filtration system...) It'll cost me about $800 more... in otherwords... it's at invoice price plus tax and tags. The deal I have for the SE is about $400 over invoice.

So my choices are the SE with $400 over invoice and waiting for God knows when I'll get it, but it's what I originially wanted.... or... the XLE at invoice price (still $800 more than what I wanted to pay) and get the car in 2-4 weeks.

What do you all think??? I'm thinking of leaning towards the XLE... though I like the mean sporty look of the SE.

10-02-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dctalking

So I went to the dealer tonight to talk about my SE that's been on order since July. The options I wanted are listed below. They are willing to give me a fully loaded XLE (everything below plus the other standard features of the XLE; starter button, dual climate control, adjustable rear seats, air filtration system...) It'll cost me about $800 more... in otherwords... it's at invoice price plus tax and tags. The deal I have for the SE is about $400 over invoice.

So my choices are the SE with $400 over invoice and waiting for God knows when I'll get it, but it's what I originially wanted.... or... the XLE at invoice price (still $800 more than what I wanted to pay) and get the car in 2-4 weeks.

What do you all think??? I'm thinking of leaning towards the XLE... though I like the mean sporty look of the SE.

Do NOT settle. Trust me you will end up regretting it in the end. Get what you want, even if you have to wait longer.

hikix · 10-02-2006, 09:59 PM

everytime u see an SE you are gonna say, shit.. i should have waited!!

Netforcer · 10-02-2006, 10:18 PM

they're just trying to make money fast... be patient and wait it out

***darksparkz*** · 10-02-2006, 10:42 PM

Well can't you add on the SE lip kit later on and also swap springs/struts with other aftermaret ones? That'll give you bonuses of XLE with sportness of SE.

666 · 10-02-2006, 11:16 PM

yeah, if you're gonna get a body kit and all of that anyway.. for $800 more you get all the goodies

sammya_md · 10-02-2006, 11:26 PM

let me say i think your dealer is straight up full of it. you are in the DC area, look at fitzgerald. I ordered a 4cyl SE model from there aug 10th, and will be getting it sometime next week. No problems at all from the dealer trying to pull this BS on me. They have been great, and have straight up pricing (500 over invoice for a SE 4cyl and 200 over invoice for a V6 SE last i checked a few days ago)

i say call them up and see what they can do for you, if you need a good recommendation for a person to talk with let me know, i can refer you to a guy who will take care of you and get you exactly what you want

just my 2 cents...it's too easy not to at least try, and then call your dealers bluff

onsknht · 10-02-2006, 11:28 PM

I'm not saying this is fact... I'm only saying, and its what was told to me by a Toyota dealer.

When I first tried to buy an SE V6, I was in shock at how much they wanted for it and further I was deeper in shock about the fact that they were basically "unavailable."

I told the dealer I needed to sleep on it.

The next day I called that dealer and told him I'd give him $400 over invoice for the SE V6 they had and that was my final offer.

He told me he could get me a loaded (nav, push button, floor matts, etc) XLE for the price I wanted to pay for the SE, but he wouldn't sell me the SE for that price.

As tempting as that offer was, I went to another dealer and got the SE V6 for "about" the price I told the first dealer... There's something about the XLE, LE and CE that screams "grandma," maybe it's the body kit or the suspension and wheels on the SE, I dunno... But I got what I wanted.

LunarMist · 10-03-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dctalking

So I went to the dealer tonight to talk about my SE that's been on order since July. The options I wanted are listed below. They are willing to give me a fully loaded XLE (everything below plus the other standard features of the XLE; starter button, dual climate control, adjustable rear seats, air filtration system...) It'll cost me about $800 more... in otherwords... it's at invoice price plus tax and tags. The deal I have for the SE is about $400 over invoice.

So my choices are the SE with $400 over invoice and waiting for God knows when I'll get it, but it's what I originially wanted.... or... the XLE at invoice price (still $800 more than what I wanted to pay) and get the car in 2-4 weeks.

What do you all think??? I'm thinking of leaning towards the XLE... though I like the mean sporty look of the SE.

FitzMall isn't always the best value. If you are in DC also look at CarMax. I got my 07 SE at Carmax and the prices were on par with FitzMall. Plus at the time, FitzMall wasnt selling a Camry SE with the options I wanted but it still cost almost as much. FitzMall did a horrible job keeping in touch with me about what Camry's they had in stock so I took it as a sign they didn't want my business and I went to CarMax. I love my SE and it looks so much better than the other models (even though the other models look good too).

Epsilon · 10-03-2006, 12:12 AM

What made you want the SE in the first place?

akira751 · 10-03-2006, 06:24 AM

Wait for your SE.

drjames · 10-03-2006, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dctalking

What do you all think??? I'm thinking of leaning towards the XLE... though I like the mean sporty look of the SE.

Well, to me it depends how you liked to drive the XLE. The SE and XLE truly to offer different drives. And to me, that might be a little more important than the SE's cosmetic differences (interior aside) that can be added later with aftermarket kits. But the SE's suspension tuning and chasis reinforcements might be harder to exactly duplicate. XLE's definately got some nice options not available on the SE. I would love the smart key.

cukong · 10-03-2006, 06:51 AM

Me and My Friend ordered two camry at the same time. She got XLE V6 with Nav,VSC, Leather.
I got an SE V6 with Nav, No VSC. So, here is one thing that I really notice between these two car.
XLE = Smooth Ride, Steer feels abit "light" (not good for response), Better A/C, Dual Climate, Recline, Auto UP on driver window, Push Button, Luxury feeling with "WOOD" trim.
Rear "Curtain".
SE = Bumpy Ride but not so bumpy. Nice looking car , all my friend worshiped my car. I had All BLACK leather with silver trim which I really like it alot. NO Dual Climate, no A/C blower for back passenger. Steer feels abit heavier. 17" wheels, Sport Suspension, smoked housing.

on other words
XLE for luxury and family oriented, SE for young people

Chad07xle · 10-03-2006, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan215

Do NOT settle. Trust me you will end up regretting it in the end. Get what you want, even if you have to wait longer.

Well since the only thing I see better about the SE is the body kit you can purchase that for like 1200 or so painted and then have the best of both worlds.

That is what I am doing.

Chad

kennyc7373 · 10-03-2006, 11:40 AM

I like you was having the same problem. I spoke to Toyota Customer Care and was able to get this problem resolved. The fact is that your dealership has not ordered the car, they are waiting on allocations. You need to demand that they "Special Order" the car for you and stop wasting time on allocations. From the time they do the special order it should take between 6 - 8 weeks to get your car. This seems to be a going trend from what I have seen and heard.

Good Luck!

See this thread:

http://toyotanation.com/forum/t157392.html