Chatham Parkway Toyota

I purchased by 2009 Toyota Matrix in July, 2008. I selected a 4-door hatchback, entry-level model (although it does have a/c and power locks/windows). My salesman was friendly enough and earned points when he didn't lead with the standard "so how much are you looking to pay a month?" I had a nice test drive and made my decision to buy. And then things went downhill, although I didn't realize it until later. 'Cause they're good at what they do. First, my car had a sticker with a price of XXXX, so when my salesman quoted a price 3K higher, i had a brief moment of confusion. When I asked him the sticker price did not agree with his price, he explained that "Oh, that's just a suggested price, but they forgot to account for this, that, and this." I replied that I didn't feel that was my concern, and that I would not pay 3K more than the sticker price, and that I considered the sticker price a starting point where I would go down from, not up. And so he left for a few moments and returned with his Sales Manager, who was equally friendly and explained that he would sell the car for the price on the window sticker. I then offered a lower amount and he asked me how much I planned to put down and he started "running some numbers." A few minutes later we had agreed on a purchase price and I found out I qualified for zero percent financing. I agreed to put $3,000 down. Shortly thereafter, I met the Finance Manager and proceeded to write out my down payment check and sign my paperwork. I agreed to a 4-year repayment term. After I signed the paperwork, my salesman was nowhere to be found and I spent the next 45 minutes trying to find someone to get me the keys to my newly purchased Toyota Matrix. After I drove home and the new car bliss wore off, I whipped out my calculator and multiplied my monthly payment times my 48 payments and realized I would be paying back much more than the window sticker price, even with my $3,000 down. I was shocked and felt like an idiot. Then I experienced a series of flashbacks wherein I recalled multiple people talking at the same time and effectively distracting me. Even after accounting for tax, tag and title, I paid a lot more for the car than I thought I was paying. I feel that as a woman buying a car alone I was assumed to be an idiot (and apparently they assumed correctly because I paid too much for the car). So, Matrix I love you, but next time I buy a car I will make sure to bring my A game. As they say, "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me..."