ToyotaCarFan said:
Most buyer's contracts (at least here in USA) are pretty airtight, and do not allow you to get your money back if you cancel the contract. Regardless, unless you ordered a custom-equipped vehicle or a hard-to-sell model, it's likely that the dealer will let you cancel, especially if you tell the dealer you want to apply your deposit to a different model of car at the same dealer or another of their branches that sells a different brand of car.
I called Toyota Canada to ask them what their policy was regarding cancelling a sales contract. They told me this is something specific to each dealer and their policies can vary. I already knew the answer to this, but I called Toyota Canada anyway just to be certain.
After much thought I decided to cancel the deal, and called the dealer up. I talked to my sales person and to make a long story short, I was told that I can cancel the deal but will have to pay $500 because they are bringing in my car from another dealer and $500 is the freight. Now firstly, I didn't order a car with special features. I ordered a standard package, no options. They just happened to not have the car in the colour I wanted on the lot at the time. I argued with the sales person for a bit, and ended up talking to the sales manager. He tried to give me the same line about them having to bring a car in from another dealer, which is actually BS. Anyway, I pretty much cornered the manager on logic and he ended up telling me that I have to abide by the contract regardless.
Well the only problem is, they never gave me a copy of anything. I had no paper work, so I couldn't very well abide by something I don't actually have. In the end the dealer decided I was more trouble than it's worth and gave me back my deposit. I feel lucky that I got it all back. I don't blame the dealer for anything, and kinda feel bad that I wasted their time etc.
Having said all that, I'm glad I did not purchase the car even though I love many aspects of it. I just feel like Toyota has lost an edge and the 2007 Camry is more flawed then I'm willing to put up with. I've owned many, many Toyota's and currently own 3 now. I've owned everything from a '71 Crown, '73 Corona, '84 Cressida, '85 MR2 etc. I currently have a restored 1971 Corolla (TE27), an '87 Camry, '94 Truck and a boat load of engines, transmissions etc.
I'm pretty close to buying a 2001 Camry LE (Japanese built) instead of the 2007. It's loaded including leather with 50,000 miles so I can't pass it up. I've never had any serious issues with any Toyota I've owned, and I've come to take the quality and reliability for granted. I realize Toyota's over the years have had their share of problems, but even given that I always felt that the basic goodness and Toyota breeding was there despite the flaws. In other words, it was a genuine Toyota.
With the new Camry, I somehow don't get that feeling after my initial impressions. And after reading about all the glitches, bugs etc. with the 2007 Camry I just got spooked and bailed out. Did I make a mistake? Perhaps. I still think the car is head and shoulders above the vast majority of autos out there. Maybe it's just not for me.
I have an 07 V6 XLE Camry, and I've had a lot of frustration with it, due to the transmission flare problem, as well as rattles and mediocre fit-and-finish (e.g., 3mm gaps between panels on the dash and center stack that are supposed to be flush). The flare problem was annoying at most, considering the car's high price. It was mostly fixed with a new transmission. I cannot say I'm thrilled paying $30K for a new car that's been butchered by having the transmission replaced by incompetent and careless dealer mechanics, but it does work. Supposedly, the more recently built cars don't have this defect.
These are the exact kind of stories that helped me make up my mind.
