I totaled the wife's SUV back in November. We started looking for a 2-3 year old used vehicles and quickly learned that they cost almost as much as brand new.

So, we started looking at brand new vehicles, but learned just as quickly learned they were being loaded with options and features at the factory whether you wanted them or not. We also learned that dealers were advertising MSRP prices, but adding thousands of dollars listed as "ADM" (Additional Dealer Markup) to the invoices. Nevertheless, demand for vehicles was so high that dealers were asking for down payments just to hold the vehicle until you got there.

Needless to say, there was no negotiating. The only "concession" we had was removal of a $400 charge for VIN etching.

quote:

Originally posted by dbgeek:

Heh - I was going to say last year... but I'm wrong. You are correct - it was just before the 'pandemic'.

Pretty much what I thought. The Toyota dealership here hasn't had a new truck (or Forerunner) on the lot in approximately 18 months. They're so desperate that about once a month I'll get something in the mail asking if I want to sell my Tundra.

The current low bluebook is $7k more than I paid two years ago, but I'm not selling.

Guys are selling their used Tacomas and parting out any add on's on Tacoma World Forum. They are walking away with $5k+ in profit by selling. High demand for Tacoma's. No used Inventory.
As others have said--search out the high volume Toyota Dealers--that's where any Tacoma inventory will be found.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
I don’t know about Tacomas, but I ordered a Ford Explorer last April and still don't even have a VIN number. All the dealer lots around here are barren. Even before any chip shortages and such, Toyota dealers has a reputation for not haggling much. I doubt that has changed for the better.

You should have had the VIN a few days after the dealer placed the order - if they actually placed the order.

Ford Explorers are 24 to 26 weeks out from the order.

https://www.donlen.com/manufac...-production-updates/

I'm thinking the selection of options can affect production.

quote:

Originally posted by Jelly:
Toyota Tacoma are hot sellers and have been for sometime your not going to get one below MSRP. Around here there is a waiting list for them. When they show up they all say Sale Pending. My local Toyota dealer has 43 in inventory, every one has a Sale Pending on them.

Tacomas have always been hot sellers. Last time I priced some in 2019, ones that were over 10 years old and had 150K+ miles on them were still going for over $10K. I don't want to know what they go for now.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:

You should have had the VIN a few days after the dealer placed the order - if they actually placed the order.

I walked in asked them why my brother-in-law got a VIN right away on his Super Duty and I didn't. They said Ford wasn't making Explorer STs for 2021 and Ford wanted to change the order to a 2022. That was a month ago.

I looked into purchasing a new Tacoma in 2016. MSRP was it with three dealers in the San Antonio area.

I purchased a new Frontier instead and have been very happy with it. Still my daily driver.

I purchased a new 2018 SR5 4X4 4Runner in Marietta $4,500 below MSRP.

We ordered a 21 Highlander Hybrid Platinum this summer. Full MSRP and 72 days later it was at the dealership. All of our dealerships have very little new stuff.

I stopped by my local Toyota dealer in my 17 manual trans 4wd taco with 46k on it just to look. They had 3 for sale, all 4 bangers. No new 4 runners. We want to upgrade the wife’s 4 runner to brand new it’s a 13 with less than 100k and well maintained. But she wants a new one. They offered me as much as I paid for my truck 5 years ago while apologising for nothing for sale. All the dealers have little to no 4runner inventory and ones they do have are 2wd. We can wait. paying 10-15k over msrp for a TRD Off road or Pro is a non starter for us.

Any end in sight for this (chip shortage?)? Until, I am still daily driving my 1998 E430, with fingers crossed that it will make it all the way to the other side of this.

Summer 2022? Summer 2023? Never?

quote:

Originally posted by dwd1985:
Just to update this: I ended up putting a $500 deposit down on a 2022 TRD Off Road Access Cab at MSRP plus tax (no dealer fees though) that scheduled to be built next week and delivered next month. Was the best I could do. Thanks for the responses.

I think you did very well. Let us know when it is actually delivered, please.

quote:

Originally posted by dwd1985:
Just to update this: I ended up putting a $500 deposit down on a 2022 TRD Off Road Access Cab at MSRP plus tax (no dealer fees though) that scheduled to be built next week and delivered next month. Was the best I could do. Thanks for the responses.

You can finance through Toyota to get their discount and then refinance through USAA to get a better rate. That’s what my local Ford dealer told me to do when I bought my truck last year, and it worked. The dealer only asked that I wait 60 days to do so so they could keep the rebate from Ford (I had to make one payment to Ford, but I did it out of courtesy). Just check with USAA ahead of time to make sure they will refinance an auto loan - I’ve never dealt with them.

I saw a Escalade @ a dealership the other day. They had it marked up $20K over MSRP. Unbelievable!!

Got a valid Costco quote back in March 2021 for my daughters RAV4 XLE AWD but the dealer was in Austin and she lives in San Antonio.

The San Antonio dealer (Cavender) honored the Costco price even they are not a Costco participating dealer (he got me to agree to $250 more...no biggie I just wanted to get the deal done that day). Had some rebates and I think all told it was a pretty good deal - about $3k under MSRP.

She loves that car. She said she def wanted an AWD and I said def no Subarus.

Not sure what the Costco deal for Tacomas would be but if you are at some sort of inflection point (back in March it was right at the end of the month and end of first quarter and they had several of these on the lot).

Ive gotten to be pretty good at buying cars, new or used. I take a lot of time and do a ton of research. I dont shop at the dealer...if Im there its highly likley I'll pull the trigger if they meet my price. The Costco thing made it even easier. I was fortunate to find a used 2019 Tacoma OffRoad Crew Cab w Nav and only 18k miles back in May 2020 before shit got insane on used cars. But I was looking for at least a month, had contacted half a dozen dealerships and when I saw that deal online in nearby Durham I went straight over that day and pulled the trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
Costco used to be able to order cars at discount prices, you could check with them.

quote:

Originally posted by myrottiety:
I saw a Escalade @ a dealership the other day. They had it marked up $20K over MSRP. Unbelievable!!

Asking by the dealer isn't the unbelievable part - somebody paying it is.

I just bought a Honda Ridgeline before then end of the year. Took it in for an oil change and guy at a desk said hello, I would like to buy your truck. They showed me that they may offer $36K for my truck that I only paid $41K for three years ago. After going back an forth the real number was only $30K and they wanted sticker for truck. Fast forward two weeks and after many letters and phone calls I call them back. I got them up $4,000 so I'll be trading in my truck and writing a check for $13,000. My truck needs new tires, brake job and transmission service so I did the deal. By trading in I also saved $2,000 in taxes since I only pay 6% on the $13K and not the full $45K

Next....

My folks have a Toyota van coming up off lease term in FEB. They can buy it for $22K in FEB if they like. They met with dealer and were offered $24K instead towards a new lease. They did some research and saw that their van could be worth $34K. They get to the General manager who gives them the $34K credit and sells them new van at list. Their payment goes down by a $100 a month and they don't have to put money down. Toyota cancelled their last payment in FEB and they just got a letter about $700 loyalty bonus on a new van.

So if you are trading something in then you may be able to get a good deal.

See my post about my new GT. MUSTANG GT. I have traded TWO vehicles in the last year and drove them a total of approximately 23,000 miles free…

Now, NOTHING is free but as good as you can do. There's deals if you know how to structure it. Problem is, can you lateral over to something new you like and is available. My family is in the car business (two dealerships) and we have never seen anything like it.

used to work with a guy that now works at a local Chevy dealer,

10 Tahoe's arrived a few weeks ago, and 9 were sold before they finished unloading the truck,

MSRP + whatever dealer added stuff ,

no haggle, either you want it or the next person will,



a regular customer told me yesterday that after a month or 2 of his Subbie dealer hounding him, he sold them his 4 yr old Subbie (the big one, cannot remember the name)

his cost of ownership in 4 yrs was $4k, as in they paid him $4K less that what he bought it for, (trade in was $34K IIRC)

however the Hyundai he bought to replace it was $48K, no discount

My car is in the shop and the manufacturer is providing me a loaner. The dealer (who owns the car) is making money hand over fist on this deal.

I've hoped that I could make the dealer an offer on this loaner once my own car is fixed, figuring in how much revenue they've brought in on the rental so far. (I've had the car for two months so far, waiting on parts for mine -- whole 'nother story.)

Something tells me the sweet deal I've calculated will be laughed at if I offer it.