Test Drove 3 2018s - My Impressions

Limited leather (maybe simulated) and sun roof not only oozes premium but the 2 tone colors pop with the sun roof open when showing off the truck to someone and they always say wow! So do I. Limited seats are to me, much more supporting and comfortable compared to my previous '03 Tundra cloth seats.

 

If you are unimpressed by the power in the Auto perhaps you should take an MT for an extended drive. It takes some getting used to but after a while you can take full advantage of the power. And it's way more fun to drive

 

You should be able to negotiate close to 20% off list...also remember the cash back 5% volume dealers receive.

 

20%? That seems excessive, especially on a 2019 with limited quantities in the market.

 

Ditto

 

Thanks but I like to drive without shifting. When I was younger I enjoyed shifting but not anymore. As of this post, the power is fine, the 2019 (with the updated software) is fine.

 

TEST DRIVE A pro,, end of story, your search is over. life is too short, dont settle for less, you deserve it. i do and im lovin it,, whoo hoo..

 

I appreciate you love your pro, but consider it offers virtually no extra value to ME (subjective I know) but will cost me an extra 14k!

 

Repeat, close to 20%....did that last June on my '18 and other cars. Go to a volume dealer with no trade and with a fixed figure off the window sticker....may take some time waiting for the salesperson to wear out the carpet going to his/her manager, then the manager will show up. Make sure it's the end of the month when a holiday sale is going on (end of June, when 4th of july sale was advertised...in my case). Dont give up and be willing to walk. Thats thousands in your pocket!! Not in the stealers pocket.

 

June 2018 of the 2018 model year (near the end) is a different animal than Nov 2018 for a 2019 model year, but you have inspired me to go for more off Ill keep you and everyone else posted thanks.

 

These are all text book negotiating tactics. Nothing special. But they still don’t yield 20% off. Unless you have paperwork it’s just bullshit.

As far as valume dealers, Toyota has almost none, they don’t have dealers with over 100 Tacoma’s on a lot like domestic brands such as Omeara Ford

 

People expect this truck to do things its never going to do... power is not what it is for. Its heavy, they need a certain MPG to keep the bean-counters happy. Unless Toyota re-platforms this engine/tranny combo with a turbo or a V8, it will be the same drive-ability for the next versions coming down the line.

 

Reached out to 14 dealers in CT and RI to date. Only one had a decent deal 9% off MSRP so far and they didnt look at my trade so unknown on that. All the other "deals" have been 5% off MSRP or less. Not a lot of inventory in MGM as an OR.

 

Anything at 8% or better is good. Especially if it’s the exact config you are looking for.

 

Dude, I'm gonna have to call bullshit on this one. That would be a list of $38K for $30.4K OTD. No way unless you show the paper. Dealers are not going to go $3K in the red just to make a sale.
OP, 7-10% is realistic. Good luck.

 

Did an extended test drive of a 2018 OR DC 4v4 AT in Magnetic Gray, cloth, no option packages. I expected the 2018 to have the tranny issues that the 2019, with the updated software, did not, but I was more concerned this time around at everything else knowing that with the tune I enjoyed the ride.

As an aside, my father lives nearby and he owns a Gen 1 Ridgeline. Without any prompting, he doesn't read forums, I asked him to drive the Tacoma to see if he would experience the issues. He literally thought something was wrong with it by the "dead" spots and odd shifting. I bring this up because in my 46 years on this Earth driving all sorts of cars and his 70 years we never experienced such a shift setup/lack of power and he thought it was broken it was so pronounced.

In any case, other than that issue (and the fact that it was literally a struggle to keep the truck going 75 on the highway without cruise control), I found it a vehicle I could live with and enjoy. The stock radio I found just fine and the EnTune, while clearly dated, did work fine and do its job and the nav worked fine. The suspension was a little jiggly (it's the OR) but I want the OR.

When I returned it we talked about the Tundra (I owned an 07) and it seems to be, on paper at least, a much better value than the Tacoma.

The evaluating continues. I really want to like the truck and I am closer today than I ever was to getting one, just not there yet. Thanks for listening and the constructive posts.

 

It's good you are doing test drives, if you are unhappy with how it drives now then I doubt you would be happy in the future.

 

43K sticker and 36 and change OTD. Really don't care if you believe it. Enjoy

 

Got a Quicksand DC 4x4 offroad today, 2019. I found shifting fine but I can notice the switch between Atkinsson and Otto which does feel a little odd.

 

Good write up Smitty