>one flat out said the 2003 doesnt have an EX 4WD Manual
Funny... NOT! We had exactly the same experience today when the salesman tried to tell us that the manual transmission was not available at all. Then he went back to his reference books, and came back with "DX only". I scowled and asked him to look again, and then he found the real answer. ...sigh... Chalk our experiences up to salesperson ignorance.
>2004 will not have a DX model at all!
That's a bald-faced lie.
It sounds to me like they're trying to push standing inventory on you (after all, that's their job), although that's a pretty good price on an EX/4x4. If you want the 5-speed, stick to your guns, but you'll have to let them know that you are ready to purchase if they do the search for your preference.
I don't know if you've driven one yet, but I already know that I do not want a 4x4/auto - it's going to be 4x4/manual, or no E for me. The 4x4/auto can't get out of its own way, unfortunately. The 2wd and manual transmission models don't seem to have this problem.
In addition to the other truth-stretching going on, I'd take that "MSRP" and "700-1100 more" with a big grain of salt, especially in SoCal, where Toyota has the Scion xB available (another quirky-looking functional box if you haven't seen one yet). The Element is overpriced for its target market and the xB, at 20% less, is stealing buyers who might otherwise be interested in a DX. The E has not exactly been a brisk mover and the competition is heating up, so if I don't buy now I suspect that there will be dealers here (St. Louis) who will be downright desperate come year-end to get the 2004's off their floorplan.
Funny... NOT! We had exactly the same experience today when the salesman tried to tell us that the manual transmission was not available at all. Then he went back to his reference books, and came back with "DX only". I scowled and asked him to look again, and then he found the real answer. ...sigh... Chalk our experiences up to salesperson ignorance.
>2004 will not have a DX model at all!
That's a bald-faced lie.
It sounds to me like they're trying to push standing inventory on you (after all, that's their job), although that's a pretty good price on an EX/4x4. If you want the 5-speed, stick to your guns, but you'll have to let them know that you are ready to purchase if they do the search for your preference.
I don't know if you've driven one yet, but I already know that I do not want a 4x4/auto - it's going to be 4x4/manual, or no E for me. The 4x4/auto can't get out of its own way, unfortunately. The 2wd and manual transmission models don't seem to have this problem.
In addition to the other truth-stretching going on, I'd take that "MSRP" and "700-1100 more" with a big grain of salt, especially in SoCal, where Toyota has the Scion xB available (another quirky-looking functional box if you haven't seen one yet). The Element is overpriced for its target market and the xB, at 20% less, is stealing buyers who might otherwise be interested in a DX. The E has not exactly been a brisk mover and the competition is heating up, so if I don't buy now I suspect that there will be dealers here (St. Louis) who will be downright desperate come year-end to get the 2004's off their floorplan.
