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Toyota

After announcing the largest safety recall in company history back in September, Toyota has now offered to replace the gas pedals on over 4 million Toyota vehicles.

The recall occurred after a high-speed crash in California killed five people. One of the passengers made a 911 call, stating that the accelerator pedal was stuck and the brakes were not working. The speeding vehicle was a 2009 Lexus on loan to the driver while his car was being serviced. The out-of-control Lexus sped down a highway, crashed into a vehicle, continued through traffic and ended up on fire in a river.

The initial recall was for certain models of Toyota cars and truck, including at least two Lexus models, and focused on the floor mats of those vehicles. The vehicles affected are the Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius, Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra and the Lexus IS250, IS350 and Lexus ES350. Since Toyota uses the same accelerator and floor mat combination on all of its vehicles, it is possible that more models may be included in the recall and pedal repair in the future.

The floor mats were suspected of getting in the way of the accelerator pedal, causing it to stick. Toyota told customers to remove the floor mats to resolve the problem. Toyota is now voluntarily replacing the gas pedals of these vehicles, though the company remains confident that the problem is related to the floor mats and not a flaw or problem with the braking, accelerator or fuel components.

Though the pedal replacement is estimated to cost Toyota millions of dollars, the company already has more than $5 billion set aside for recall and repairs, so this will not affect the company’s business.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been in talks with Toyota officials, but the company has denied reaching an agreement with the NHTSA on the problem. The NHTSA said they have discussed several factors that may cause pedal interference and/or the driver’s ability to control and stop the car once the accelerator becomes stuck. More discussions are to continue on the matter.

The pedals and repairs will be taken care of by Toyota and Lexus dealerships around the country. Toyota and Lexus owners with the specified models, or other models with questions, should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987. Information is available at the company websites of each brand at www.toyota.com and www.lexus.com.

When it comes to high-demand vehicles like the 2010 Toyota Prius, haggling on the price may be difficult. In fact, some Toyota dealerships may even tell you that the price of the Prius is non-negotiable. However, it's important to note that in the world of cars, nothing is written in stone.

Despite long waiting lists and short supplies of the Toyota Prius, there are ways to save some money and negotiate on price. With a little patience and a lot of homework, here's how you can haggle on the price of a 2010 Toyota Prius:

Plan Ahead Before Going to the Dealership

Doing a little legwork before heading to the dealership can be a godsend when it comes to negotiating on price. When it comes to the Toyota Prius, this is especially true. Start by visiting the websites of Toyota dealerships in your area and checking their current stock of Prius hybrids. Ideally, you'll want to find a dealership that currently has several Prius models on hand. This influx of inventory means that they will be more likely to haggle on price.

If all the dealers in your area are in short supply (which is quite possible), consider checking the stock of dealerships outside of your local area. Driving 100 miles to a rural dealership may be worth it, given the lower demand of Prius' outside of city settings.

Regardless of inventory numbers, be sure to check the invoice price paid by the dealership. If one dealer happened to pay less to acquire the vehicle, they may be more willing to come down on price.

Visit Multiple Dealerships

When buying any car, it is always recommended that you visit multiple dealerships. You'll find that some Toyota locations may be more willing to deal than others. Also, don't feel pressured to buy simply because a dealership has a Prius on the lot that they're ready to sell. Despite what some salesmen will tell you, waiting lists in most areas for the Prius are either non-existent or not exceptionally long. As such, don't be afraid to walk away and check prices with other Toyota dealerships. Even if it doesn't net a substantial savings, there's really no downside to taking your time.

Play to the Salesman's Competitive Nature

Ask any Toyota dealer for a reduced price on a 2010 Prius, and he or she is likely to balk by saying, "well the next guy that walks in here will gladly pay full price." A great way to counter this is by pitting the salesman against his or her co-workers. So when confronted with this statement, try rebutting by saying, "Yes, but will that customer be buying it from you?"

It's no secret that car salesmen work on commission. The idea of losing a sale to another salesman may be enough to kick-start the negotiating process. Additionally, you might consider visiting the dealership during sales events or towards the end of the month. Salesmen may be looking to fill a quota at these times, which may mean they'll be more willing to haggle.

Make the Sale Easy for the Prius Salesman

Sticker price only affects the bottom line of the dealership itself. When it comes to the salesman, his goal is to sell the most amount of product in the shortest amount of time. As such, making the sale easy means they'll be more likely to accommodate price requests. Ways to make the sale easier include offering to pay the full price upfront or having financing backed up before visiting the lot.

Haggle on Upgrades and Servicing

If you can't get a salesman to budge on sticker price, try negotiating on upgrades and servicing. The 2010 Toyota Prius comes with a number of upgrade packages. Upper-tier models earn higher profits for the dealership, meaning that there's more room built in for haggling. You may also be able to get upgrades like window tinting for free.

Oil changes and other routine services are a long-term cost of any vehicle. Asking for free oil changes, a 10,000-mile checkup or even extended warranty coverage is a perfectly acceptable way to try and save a few bucks in the long run.