TCH Incentives

[Pipemajor]

Although they've not been included in the recall, I noted TM has announced both special 0% financing (36 mo.) or lease rates on new TCHs.

I have an '07 TCH I'm very happy with but took 100% financing @ 6% for 72 months. We're halfway through the term (and payoff) so I'm about to crunch some numbers to see if I can upgrade to a 2010 TCH @ 0% for the same payment or perhaps less. At stake is a fully paid car in 3 years - whether it be an '07 or '10 model TCH.

Current TCH does not have heated leather or NAVI - both of which I would like.

Time to sharpen the pencil...

[Pipemajor]

Took my own advice, crunched some numbers and took our '07 TCH to the dealer for scheduled maintenance today. Then went to wheel 'n deal on the floor.

Too much depreciated value on a 3 year old trade-in to execute the TMC 0% 36 month term/trade with a loaded '10 TCH without almost doubling the payments but with the 2.9% for 60 months I was able to upgrade my '07 TCH for the '10 TCH with the same moonroof and heated outside mirrors features but now have the heated leather and NAV options and possibly fog lights. And, of course, being a current Toyota customer, they tossed in the 2 years of free dealer maintenance.

Got an OK price for the '07 TCH trade which needed new tires and minor repairs on the front/rear bumpers. It was also due for new license tabs next month.

I can only find specs on the '11 TCH models which are out now but the incentives apply only to the '10 models.

Does anyone know if the JBL premium radio came with the iPOD USB port on the '10 TCH? The '11 TCH does but our '07 TCH only had the mini-jack for AUX input.

Then came the hard part - coming home to explain to the wife what I did.

[ptung07]

Originally Posted by Pipemajor

Took my own advice, crunched some numbers and took our '07 TCH to the dealer for scheduled maintenance today. Then went to wheel 'n deal on the floor.

Too much depreciated value on a 3 year old trade-in to execute the TMC 0% 36 month term/trade with a loaded '10 TCH without almost doubling the payments but with the 2.9% for 60 months I was able to upgrade my '07 TCH for the '10 TCH with the same moonroof and heated outside mirrors features but now have the heated leather and NAV options and possibly fog lights. And, of course, being a current Toyota customer, they tossed in the 2 years of free dealer maintenance.

Got an OK price for the '07 TCH trade which needed new tires and minor repairs on the front/rear bumpers. It was also due for new license tabs next month.

I can only find specs on the '11 TCH models which are out now but the incentives apply only to the '10 models.

Does anyone know if the JBL premium radio came with the iPOD USB port on the '10 TCH? The '11 TCH does but our '07 TCH only had the mini-jack for AUX input.

Then came the hard part - coming home to explain to the wife what I did.

Congrats on the new purchase!
Do you notice any differences between the 2010 and 2007 TCH?
and post some pics!!

P.S. Good luck with your wife

[Pipemajor]

Originally Posted by ptung07

Congrats on the new purchase!
Do you notice any differences between the 2010 and 2007 TCH?
and post some pics!!

P.S. Good luck with your wife

It's basically the same car with different styling treatments on the front end grill, rear tail lights and the now optional alloy wheels.

Biggest differences are some of the standard features of the '07 TCH:

• Alloy wheels
• HomeLink Universal Transmitter
• JBL premium sound system
• Auto dimming mirror w/compass
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob

Were dropped and are now available as optional packages.

Improvements I've found (so far) are the USB port for iPod connectivity on the JBL radios, BlueTooth streaming for music and XM satellite compatability. My '07 TCH with the premium JBL sound has BlueTooth but links only my phone (but won't download the addressbook).

Foglights are also available as an option where they could not be added to the earlier TCH.

Other possible differences I'm not aware of. And, took the wife to dinner last night so we're still speaking (for now )

[Pipemajor]

Picked up the new TCH from the dealer last evening after dinner. Took about 2 hours - mostly listening to the finance manager trying to talk us into purchasing the GAP insurance and extended warranties (we declined both).

It was dark when we drove it home. Having come from the 2007 TCH we traded in, most of the controls were very familiar except for the NAV (more on that below). Our '07 TCH had fabric seat and it "felt" like I was sitting a bit higher with the leather seats. No notable change in the handling or driving characteristics. One difference was the blue halo surrounding both instrument gauges on the original TCH is gone. These halos would brighten according to higher levels of economy achieved. Now the '10 TCH's MPG gauge has green area for most favorable MPG results. The power-on READY light is also now green instead of the light blue formerly used.

I've spent most of the morning programming the HomeLink transceiver to work with the Chamberlain door opener, paired the Blue Tooth with my Verizon phone and entered a couple of destinations in the NAV system (software is v9.1). Toyota's NAV interface is quite a bit more cumbersome than the Garmin NUVI units I've used for various applications. The backup camera is definitely a nice addition.

I'll post some more "new experiences" as we gain a bit more seat time. Except for the upgraded options, it's basically the same car as the '07 TCH.

[94,99,03,owner]

Beautiful car!

Enjoy it!

Bought our 2010 for my Wife..she was afraid to drive it all last week.

Took her out in it and helped her get to know it.

Now...she loves it!