A couple of weeks ago, I test drove the IQ2 at a garage in (well I won't mention any names. I live in N. London, you do the math), and it was such an unsatisfying experience. I didn't even get up to 3rd gear and then he took me back to base. I told him I couldn't decide on that test drive, but he wasn't very forthcoming in offering another. Moreover, I wasn't very forthcoming at wanting to chance further disappointment. And then, he got all stroppy when I mentioned I wasn't going to buy it today. I (of course!*!) had loads of questions and it was as if I was taking up his time in putting them forward. I knew however, this wasn't it, it was just [i]this[/i] garage.
I gathered myself together - no actually I got, shall we say exasperated and with that I called [i]another[/i] Toyota garage. It was a service centre and not a showroom. Right. But they gave me the number for the next nearest showroom. Ahhhh... now this is what I call service. They chirpily (I like chirpy) and politely offered me a test drive which I booked for yesterday. I went down, was about a million hours late and it didnt' matter (in fact nothing was a problem, they were great). We went out and all, did dual carriageways, did shopping area, did speed bumps (drove by a nutcase reversing tentatively down a dual carriageway ?? which I deftly dodged past - also managing to see how responsive the car was. Every cloud and all that) and got a real feel for the lovely IQ. This time it was an IQ with a key, the entry level model. I liked how it handled, the engine sound, it's a comfy seat to sit in (unlike the new Minis and much like my soon to be old Renault Clio - great car btw), nice steering wheel, leather. I didn't like the dashboard interface with the 3 plasticky looking nob scenario going on so knew it was all about IQ2 for me. We drove back onto the showroom forecourt and I was a satisfied little bunny.
I was the one pushing to talk deals on the IQ2 and after no waiting at all the finance manager and me had a little chat. At first I was like, "you're 'aving a bubble mate" (ha! ha!) and then he got on my wavelength. I got a blinding deal with the part exchange of my Clio (ahh.. bye bye, soon) and hardly anything deposit. Yay me! I even got the mats and glove box bag as I called it, for free! Yay, Yay Me!! It took a while with the paperwork and all and signing one million sheets of paper etc. etc but it was all amid much laughter and banter. Like i said, that's what I call service. There were two main guys that I dealt with, the T-drive guy who was really nice and then the finance guy who was also really nice, but with that 'finance edge' thing going on. All very cool.
And now, I am just 'a-waiting delivery' as they say.....
Oh and I haven't quite decided whether to go for the dark amythst or the pearly white - I filled out 2 sets of forms for the order. Typical (ahem). I said if he didn't hear from me on monday it would be the white... but I might just swing out and go for the amythst (how do you spell that word anyway!).....
bye for now...
[url="http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=69&showentry=419"]http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...p;showentry=419[/url]