Did I just get scammed by the dealership?

[manchester]

Purchased a certified '08 Camry with the JBL Nav/Sat Radio system this weekend, but now I'm starting to feel like I was scammed.

Certification -
Thought the inspection process covered 169 things since that is what is touted on the Certified Toyota website. At the dealership they showed me their packet and I called out the fact that there were several things not checked. They stated that their guys apparently had forgotten to check them off. Yet on ToyotaOwners.com the service history shows only 124 point inspection.

Headunit -

• It appears that there is no XM tuner. Tried to get the radio ID number following the instructions in the manual but can't find "CH 000" and nothing is displayed on the screen. Also, Sat1/2/3 don't show on the screen when pressing the button. Did it get ripped out before I bought the car? Do they have to do something special to get it to work?
• During the test drive, I asked if the stereo had HD radio as well as Bluetooth Audio (A2DP). The sales rep said yes to both and that the HD radio was automatic when it found a HD station. However, there is nothing in the manual about HD radio and Bluetooth Audio I discovered wasn't introduced to the Camry until the '10 model.

I'm calling the dealership tomorrow bypassing the jerks that sold me the car cause this is wrong.

But do you have any general thoughts? Can the head unit get a firmware update to include Bluetooth Audio (A2DP) or would the thing need to be replaced? Is HD radio even available on OEM head units?

[JasonA]

To my knowledge, neither XM nor HD radio is standard equipment. I don't think HD radio is available at all; XM radio is available as a Toyota accessory. Beginning in 2010, the antenna was factory-installed on all Camrys, and all you need is the receiver module. For 2007-2009, to my understanding, you need the receiver module and the XM "fit kit", which includes the antenna, etc.

[manchester]

Jason, thanks for the reply.

I've discovered through a little research that the sales rep was blowing smoke in regards to the HD radio. Only Scions have it, which makes absolutely no sense.

As far as the XM radio, here is the description from the listing.

upgrade package with dvd navigation[10]-includes 16-in. 8-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with p215/60r16 tires, voice-activated dvd navigation system[10] with jbl® am/fm 4-disc in-dash cd changer with satellite radio capability[8], mp3/wma playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, hands-free phone capability via bluetooth® [9] wireless technology, eight speakers in six locations and fm diversity reception, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, and homelink® [11] universal transceiver

This says to me that there should be a tuner in the car.

[BlackCam09]

The 2007-2009 Camrys doesn't come with the XM radio, you do have the jbl nav system but you have to purchase the sat radio seperately, the option is only in there if you wanted to add on to the nav system. Like JasonA said the xm radio comes stock on the 2010+. I guess the salesman was just agreeing with you and feeding you lies...sorry to hear that.

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by manchester

Jason, thanks for the reply.

I've discovered through a little research that the sales rep was blowing smoke in regards to the HD radio. Only Scions have it, which makes absolutely no sense.

As far as the XM radio, here is the description from the listing.

upgrade package with dvd navigation[10]-includes 16-in. 8-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with p215/60r16 tires, voice-activated dvd navigation system[10] with jbl® am/fm 4-disc in-dash cd changer with satellite radio capability[8], mp3/wma playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, hands-free phone capability via bluetooth® [9] wireless technology, eight speakers in six locations and fm diversity reception, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, and homelink® [11] universal transceiver

This says to me that there should be a tuner in the car.

satellite radio capability means you have to buy and install the satellite receiver and antenna and the radio will work with it.

[manchester]

Thanks BlackCam and Joe.

Well, I'm completely annoyed.

That's crazy that Toyota uses the same phrase to mean two different things. satellite radio capability = you have to buy something. mp3/wma playback capability = built in.

So what the heck does "fm diversity reception" mean? Is that HD radio?

[kgmallory]

Originally Posted by manchester

So what the heck does "fm diversity reception" mean? Is that HD radio?

IIRC the diversity reception refers to the rear window integrated dual antenna system that the Camrys use, as well as using an amplified antenna to maintain signal strength. If you were to pull out your stereo, you'd see that there are two antenna plugs. I discovered this when I installed my Kenwood DNX navi and couldn't figure out what the extra plug was for.

No HD. Sorry bro.

[njerald]

Love these stories of people believing salesmen.............

[Zembonez]

Just goes to show you need to know what you want and how to recognize it prior to signing on the bottom line. Salesmen are ALWAYS not up on every detail on every car. With the mismatched options available on so many cars, how could they be? If they were rocket scientists, they would not be selling cars.

BUT

They should not BS their way into a sale either. I'd bitch if they told you one thing and another turned out to be true.

[Donald E. George]

Do you have three business days to cancel an automobile purchase? Maybe you can negotiate some dealer services. Buying automobiles is and always has been frought with deception and downright fraud. Hope things work out for you.

[kgmallory]

Originally Posted by Donald E. George

Do you have three business days to cancel an automobile purchase? Maybe you can negotiate some dealer services. Buying automobiles is and always has been frought with deception and downright fraud. Hope things work out for you.

Don't forget loads of ignorance, both on the part of the salespeople and often buyers.

[Zembonez]

Originally Posted by Donald E. George

Do you have three business days to cancel an automobile purchase? Maybe you can negotiate some dealer services. Buying automobiles is and always has been frought with deception and downright fraud. Hope things work out for you.

There would be no deception or fraud if people would educate themselves on the purchase they are about to make. Information is readily available on every car made. This is the second largest purchase most people ever make in their life and they go in totally blind and stupid for the most part. I'm not talking about the OP's issues here, just a general statement about the buying public.

This is made even worse by the current "everything is somebody else's fault" mentality of society.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

Just goes to show you need to know what you want and how to recognize it prior to signing on the bottom line. Salesmen are ALWAYS not up on every detail on every car. With the mismatched options available on so many cars, how could they be? If they were rocket scientists, they would not be selling cars.

BUT

They should not BS their way into a sale either. I'd bitch if they told you one thing and another turned out to be true.

What he said.

[Donald E. George]

I couldn't agree with you more. With all the information that's out there,individuals should do the research before making such a major purchase. Thank you members.

[gdanaher]

I can't really see where the OP has a gripe. If he expected XM radio, he should have asked the salesman to show it to him. When he couldn't find it, then that was a point to discuss. If the car is low mileage, good condition, and he paid a reasonable price, then it's a fair deal. Cars used to have 3 pedals, a steering wheel and a shifter. No radio, heater, air conditioner, defroster, cruise control, power windows, tinted glass, ABS brakes, etc. It was really pretty hard to make a mistake when you looked at the equipment.