Extremely Disappointed with Service at Toyota Menlyn

Extremely Disappointed with Service at Toyota Menlyn

My daughter, who turns 21 this year, recently began the exciting journey of buying her first car. She is financially responsible, holds a stable job with a good income, and is planning to further her studies at university later this year. Wanting to ensure she approached this process responsibly, she met with a very helpful and professional consultant at Nedbank Menlyn to determine exactly what she could afford before visiting any dealerships.

She came across a Daihatsu Terios advertised by Toyota Menlyn and decided to go view the vehicle. However, upon arriving at the dealership, she was shocked to learn that the price of the vehicle had been increased by nearly R20,000. After spending three hours at the dealership, she was told that she couldn't afford the vehicle – despite already confirming her affordability with her bank.

To make matters worse, the Nedbank consultant called her afterward, concerned that she was being taken advantage of. He informed her that the market value of the vehicle is less than R60,000, yet Toyota Menlyn is advertising and trying to sell it for more than double that amount. I fully understand that dealerships need to make a profit, but marking a vehicle up by nearly 200% is ********* and deeply disappointing.

This experience has left a very bad impression. As a parent, I’m saddened that my daughter’s first car-buying experience was marred by poor service and what feels like a predatory pricing tactic aimed at a young first-time buyer. I expected more integrity from a reputable brand like Toyota.

I hope this review serves as a wake-up call to Toyota Menlyn – young, informed buyers deserve honesty, respect, and transparency.