Reliable PI: Toyota Camry

[Verceroy]

Hi All, 

Seeking advise from those who had made purchases with a reliable PI and happy with their them (services, prices, etc.)

We all have heard of one way or another of horrid experiences with PIs, but I am also sure there are genuine guys who are pleasant to deal with.

Any recommendations from personal journeys?

 

Also, other than the peace-of-mind distributorship between AD and non-AD and clearly price differential, are there any things to watch out for/differences between an AD and non-AD car, specifically for the Toyota Camry?

 

Thanks.

[209752648026519]

Got mine with Prime Motor & Leasing in 2020 and all went smooth. Was suppose to be immediate delivery (7 days from signing of papers) but only gotten the car 10 days later. Reason provided by Salesman is the price he sold me is too low and the trade-in value he offered is too high. At least give him one COE Cycle to bid before delivery. As it was only 2 to 3 days difference, I agreed. The rest is very smooth. Loan, Insurance, Outstanding load from previous car all settled without problem. 

I have just recently sign up my new car with Vincar where my friend is a Senior Relationship Manager. So far, service is good but I guess only time till the day I got my hands on the new car will tell. 

 

[Sosaria]

Curious to know too, what are the advantages of going for AD versus PI, given that PI offered prices for new vehicles are often cheaper without the overheads of an AD. I have so far only purchased from AD but given the high COE and resulting high price of cars now, am tempted to go the PI route for the next car.

[ER-3682]

Now P.I. should not have Camry anymore,mine is from Vincar.

[ER-3682]

P.I. have JDM G Grade,Australia Specs Ascent,Sport Ascent & SL Specs.

[Lala81]

new camry just launched in US. So probably within half year, should have the new one?

 

 

Edited March 18 by Lala81

[Verceroy]

On 3/18/2024 at 3:35 PM, ER-3682 said:

P.I. have JDM G Grade,Australia Specs Ascent,Sport Ascent & SL Specs.

This is one thing I have trouble navigating and understanding as there is such a huge offering of various specs available and to me, it is like a kid in a kick-ass huge candy store 😅

 

JDM means all instructions in Japanese?  Or does the fact it being Aussie spec mean that all internals have been flashed to English for obvious reasons?

 

On 3/18/2024 at 4:13 PM, Lala81 said:

new camry just launched in US. So probably within half year, should have the new one?

 

 

Now, I am sitting up to listen - then again, BM will almost certainly import a very stripped down version to sell for maximum profits.  

I am also guessing it to be safe to go the PI route even for a new launch, since Toyota being Toyota, will be very serviceable almost everywhere.

[inlinesix]

On 3/18/2024 at 5:42 PM, Verceroy said:

This is one thing I have trouble navigating and understanding as there is such a huge offering of various specs available and to me, it is like a kid in a kick-ass huge candy store 😅

JDM means all instructions in Japanese?  Or does the fact it being Aussie spec mean that all internals have been flashed to English for obvious reasons?

Now, I am sitting up to listen - then again, BM will almost certainly import a very stripped down version to sell for maximum profits.  

I am also guessing it to be safe to go the PI route even for a new launch, since Toyota being Toyota, will be very serviceable almost everywhere.

I don't think the current Camry sold by BMW is barebone especially OMV of $37k.

For Aussie-spec Camry, Toyota Australia can do comparison

New model not listed on Toyota Australia/Japan yet

Edited March 18 by inlinesix

[ER-3682]

On 3/18/2024 at 5:42 PM, Verceroy said:

This is one thing I have trouble navigating and understanding as there is such a huge offering of various specs available and to me, it is like a kid in a kick-ass huge candy store 😅

 

JDM means all instructions in Japanese?  Or does the fact it being Aussie spec mean that all internals have been flashed to English for obvious reasons?

 

Now, I am sitting up to listen - then again, BM will almost certainly import a very stripped down version to sell for maximum profits.  

I am also guessing it to be safe to go the PI route even for a new launch, since Toyota being Toyota, will be very serviceable almost everywhere.

Yes JDM all Messages in Japanese,i would like you to look for Aussie Specs(If still have Stock),if buy Borneo Motor,get the higher Model if have Budget..mine is the highest SL Specs..Aussie Model.

[Verceroy]

On 3/18/2024 at 5:58 PM, inlinesix said:

I don't think the current Camry sold by BMW is barebone especially OMV of $37k.

For Aussie-spec Camry, Toyota Australia can do comparison

New model not listed on Toyota Australia/Japan yet

Thanks to @Lala81, I did a quick search online and learnt that the US/Aussie offerings tick almost all boxes in my wish-list for the 2025 Camry Hybrid: Paddle shifters (finally!), AWD and potentially even a NA V6.  Looks-wise, I feel the "new" model is sharp and handsome, but that's just my personal opinion.

 

A friend told me that these days, paddle shifters can be easily added on simply by changing the existing steering wheel to one with shifters and making slight electronic adjustments.  This is great news, although I wonder if such a move will mess with the OBD and trigger the much-dreaded Christmas lights.

 

Me thinks what eventually will be offered here by BM would probably be similar to what we have now - safe, boring with little of the top end features the US/Aussie markets get to enjoy.  This will be one of the few times I wish I am wrong, let's see!  All else failing, this is where a reputable and trustworthy PI can fill the gaps.

[inlinesix]

On 3/18/2024 at 11:22 PM, Verceroy said:

Thanks to @Lala81, I did a quick search online and learnt that the US/Aussie offerings tick almost all boxes in my wish-list for the 2025 Camry Hybrid: Paddle shifters (finally!), AWD and potentially even a NA V6.  Looks-wise, I feel the "new" model is sharp and handsome, but that's just my personal opinion.

 

A friend told me that these days, paddle shifters can be easily added on simply by changing the existing steering wheel to one with shifters and making slight electronic adjustments.  This is great news, although I wonder if such a move will mess with the OBD and trigger the much-dreaded Christmas lights.

 

Me thinks what eventually will be offered here by BM would probably be similar to what we have now - safe, boring with little of the top end features the US/Aussie markets get to enjoy.  This will be one of the few times I wish I am wrong, let's see!  All else failing, this is where a reputable and trustworthy PI can fill the gaps.

Have you even look at what BM offered?

18” wheel, TSS 3.0, LED headlights with auto high beam and auto wiper.

What’s point of paddle shifter for hybrid?

[ER-3682]

On 3/18/2024 at 11:22 PM, Verceroy said:

Thanks to @Lala81, I did a quick search online and learnt that the US/Aussie offerings tick almost all boxes in my wish-list for the 2025 Camry Hybrid: Paddle shifters (finally!), AWD and potentially even a NA V6.  Looks-wise, I feel the "new" model is sharp and handsome, but that's just my personal opinion.

 

A friend told me that these days, paddle shifters can be easily added on simply by changing the existing steering wheel to one with shifters and making slight electronic adjustments.  This is great news, although I wonder if such a move will mess with the OBD and trigger the much-dreaded Christmas lights.

 

Me thinks what eventually will be offered here by BM would probably be similar to what we have now - safe, boring with little of the top end features the US/Aussie markets get to enjoy.  This will be one of the few times I wish I am wrong, let's see!  All else failing, this is where a reputable and trustworthy PI can fill the gaps.

No more NA V6,no AWD for Aussie,AWD only offered in American & Canada Markets.

[ER-3682]

Usually,P.I. will bring in 2 of the Lowest Model....so don't expect have alot of Equipments.

[209752648026519]

Difference between AD and PI:

(1) Price: AD more expensive, PI less expensive

(2) OMV: AD higher due to more factory fitted gadgets as against PI, which usually bring in car as bare as possible and do local fitting

(3) Reliability: Toyota being Toyota, I personally don't feel any difference whether the car is brought in by AD or by PI

(4) Flexibility: PI more flexible as compared with AD. PI can be more accommodating to request and has more room for negotiations.  

(5) Security: No issues with AD as they have huge financial backing. For PI, this use to be a main drawback. However, after many years of operations, some of the PIs have grown financially and if you go with those big enough PIs, there is nothing to be worried about. But word of caution, stay away from the smaller PIs, especially when the deal offered is too good to be true.

From my past experience, I had the opportunity of dealing with 3 PIs. The first one was a small PI and the experience was horrible. Ended up waiting for a good 6 months after COE is secured over a trivial business disagreement between PI and the company that brought in the car. Bought my current Camry with Prime and currently signed up my new car with VINCAR. Both Prime and VINCAR are the bigger PIs and so far the experience has been good. 

That's a summary of my experiences dealing with both AD and PI and hope that it helps.

[Watwheels]

How about firmware updates on engine or gearbox? AD have to buy and update their diagnostic tools and equipment from the car maker, how about PI?\

If car model is all new surely within warranty period will have whatever firmware updates to the car to sort out issues if any. I dunno about PI cos I only had experience from AD workshop on updating gearbox firmware update. Engine also have for better efficiency. 

If Tesla has "over the air" updates, why not other cars?

Ppl in the industry have told me to avoid buying JDM cos in Japan ppl there change car every 5 years or so. JDM parts are not build to last longer than that. Have to buy their export models eg. for Vezel vs HRV, Vezel will be JDM and HRV is the export model. Some of the specs will have slight difference but nobody knows what this means. And someone pointed out to me and asked me how many phv Vezels are left on the road? So far I saw Vezels on the road are w/o the phv stickers which means those are car owners, clocking lower mileage than phv. Which could mean those phv JDM Vezels didnt last long, most likely scraped. I could be wrong, dont quote me. Question is where are all the phv Vezels?

So far taxi fleets also dont use any JDM models to save cost. Maybe a few JDM Axios from smaller taxi companies but very rare sight on our roads.

Anyway if you clock low mileage annually it should be not much of an issue. But for important firmware update wise I have no idea whether PI workshop do anything or not since many are outsourced to 3rd party car workshops. If you think it's not an issue to you then go ahead.

Edited March 19 by Watwheels

[ER-3682]

On 3/19/2024 at 8:46 AM, Watwheels said:

How about firmware updates on engine or gearbox? AD have to buy and update their diagnostic tools and equipment from the car maker, how about PI?\

If car model is all new surely within warranty period will have whatever firmware updates to the car to sort out issues if any. I dunno about PI cos I only had experience from AD workshop on updating gearbox firmware update. Engine also have for better efficiency. 

If Tesla has "over the air" updates, why not other cars?

Ppl in the industry have told me to avoid buying JDM cos in Japan ppl there change car every 5 years or so. JDM parts are not build to last longer than that. Have to buy their export models eg. for Vezel vs Jazz, Vezel will be JDM and Jazz is the export model. Some of the specs will have slight difference but nobody knows what this means. And someone pointed out to me and asked me how many phv Vezels are left on the road? So far I saw Vezels on the road are w/o the phv stickers which means those are car owners, clocking lower mileage than phv. Which could mean those phv JDM Vezels didnt last long, most likely scraped. I could be wrong, dont quote me. Question is where are all the phv Vezels?

So far taxi fleets also dont use any JDM models to save cost. Maybe a few JDM Axios from smaller taxi companies but very rare sight on our roads.

Anyway if you clock low mileage annually it should be not much of an issue. But for important firmware update wise I have no idea whether PI workshop do anything or not since many are outsourced to 3rd party car workshops. If you think it's not an issue to you then go ahead.

Camry nothing much to Software Upgrade...not like Conti Cars.

[Verceroy]

On 3/19/2024 at 7:23 AM, ER-3682 said:

Usually,P.I. will bring in 2 of the Lowest Model....so don't expect have alot of Equipments.

Thanks for the heads up, for now I have yet to explore in depth PI offerings but somehow had the impression they imported higher trim models as an alternative to the masses.

 

On 3/19/2024 at 7:54 AM, 209752648026519 said:

Difference between AD and PI:

(1) Price: AD more expensive, PI less expensive

(2) OMV: AD higher due to more factory fitted gadgets as against PI, which usually bring in car as bare as possible and do local fitting

(3) Reliability: Toyota being Toyota, I personally don't feel any difference whether the car is brought in by AD or by PI

(4) Flexibility: PI more flexible as compared with AD. PI can be more accommodating to request and has more room for negotiations.  

(5) Security: No issues with AD as they have huge financial backing. For PI, this use to be a main drawback. However, after many years of operations, some of the PIs have grown financially and if you go with those big enough PIs, there is nothing to be worried about. But word of caution, stay away from the smaller PIs, especially when the deal offered is too good to be true.

From my past experience, I had the opportunity of dealing with 3 PIs. The first one was a small PI and the experience was horrible. Ended up waiting for a good 6 months after COE is secured over a trivial business disagreement between PI and the company that brought in the car. Bought my current Camry with Prime and currently signed up my new car with VINCAR. Both Prime and VINCAR are the bigger PIs and so far the experience has been good. 

That's a summary of my experiences dealing with both AD and PI and hope that it helps.

These cover quite good grounds between the two options.  Financial security would probably rank higher up on my worry-list if going the PI way.

 

Do keep the inputs coming - always a learning curve to hear the sharing of personal actual experiences, good or otherwise, dealing with PIs' although it may have already been discussed time and again. 

[ER-3682]

@Verceroylast time in the 1990's P.I. does bring in Mercedes Benz W124..with Full Options,but now no more..usually lesser Equipments & Options,like E-Class &.5 Series...for lower OMV.