My Experience at Northridge Toyota – How I Was Scammed Into a $90,770 Deal
I want to share my personal experience with Northridge Toyota so others can avoid what happened to me.
I went to Northridge Toyota after my son had a minor accident with our 2014 Prius. A salesperson named Oscar suggested I trade it in for $10,000 toward a new lease. He showed me a Highlander Hybrid priced at $57,500 and quoted $780/month for 4 years with the option to buy the car at the end of the lease.
Later, Oscar told me they didn’t have a Highlander Hybrid in stock, but said they would “compensate” me by giving me a gas Grand Highlander with all the premium add-ons, claiming it was equivalent in value to a base hybrid.
In finance, the finance person told me for $220 more per month I could buy instead of lease. He showed me a total “around $66,000,” which matched my quick math.
Here’s What Actually Happened
- I spent about 2 hours e-signing document after document while the finance guy stalled on his computer.
- At the end, he folded all the papers into an envelope and handed them to me — no review, no explanation.
- When I opened the envelope at home, I saw the real terms: $1,109.77/month for 72 months (6 years) and a total of $90,770.44.
- The contract said $79,903.44 after payoff + $10,867 down payment. I assumed the down payment reduced the cost, but the manager Rami told me it only meant the final price was $90,770.44.
- I had actually put down $10,867 — my $10,000 Prius trade-in + $867 in cash to clear the first month’s payment — yet it was treated as if it just added to the inflated price.
- They also added $8,500 in “add-ons” (which I never knowingly agreed to) and rolled them into the financing with interest.
- When I checked the real market value, the Grand Highlander (gas) is worth about $44,000. With the $10,867 down, this should have been closer to $34,000 — not over $90,000.
Promised vs Actual
| What I Was Promised | What I Actually Got |
|---|---|
| $780/month for 4 years lease-to-buy | $1,109.77/month for 6 years (72 months) |
| Final price around $66,000 | Contract total $90,770.44 |
| Highlander Hybrid (base) | Gas Grand Highlander (worth ~$44,000) |
| $10,000 Prius trade-in + $867 cash down = applied toward purchase | $10,867 treated as added cost, not deducted |
| No mention of extra charges | $8,500 in add-ons rolled into financing with interest |
In my opinion, their process is deliberately confusing: drown you in signatures, stall you for hours, fold up the contract so you don’t catch it until later, then hide inflated add-ons in the financing. I now appear to be paying double the car’s real value and will never have equity.
My warning: If you are considering Northridge Toyota, please be cautious, get everything in writing upfront, and do not sign until you review every page.
This website reflects my personal experience and opinions based on documents and dealings with Northridge Toyota. All statements are either true to my knowledge or represent my honest opinion. I am not affiliated with Toyota Motor Corporation or Northridge Toyota. Visitors should do their own due diligence before making purchasing or financing decisions.
Picture of the Contract
