Does this sound reasonable?

Just more of my pre-buying research. Still got a little ways to go (and it's probably going to be longer now, with this surgery I'll be having next month).

I've been lookin' around the Tacoma website, and have been trying to decide on either the straight SR5 package, or the TRD Off Road package. I'm not gettin' a 4x4, and due to that, the extras in the OR package sound nice - but I'm seeing two different prices on the website.

In both places, the SR5 package is labeled at $1,934, and the TRD: OR package at $3,704.

Under the Trim Levels & Prices page (here) - the base price for a V6 Auto Prerunner is $22,300 (and adding the Off Road package would make it out to $26,004.

Under the "Build Your Own" configurator - the V6 Automatic Prerunner Access Cab is at $24,979 - which, combined with the Off Road package would make it $28,683.

Does that sound reasonable for what I'd be getting? I know I won't really be able to tell untill I actually go to a dealer - I'm just curious about it in general.

 

First of all, don't GO to the dealer. Email 2 or 3 in your area and play them against each other. "X dealer offered $25,500 so can you beat that?", that kind of thing. You'll save yourself a lot of aggravation.

Second, get EXACTLY what you want. Only you can know what you want and it's a big purchase so make sure you LOVE it, not like it, LOVE it.

I personally think $28,000+ is too much for the OR package Prerunner but you shouldn't be paying more than invoice anyway. Check out www.edmunds.com. Punch the numbers in for both and see what they're going for in your area and it also tells you invoice. I loved shoving my printout in the salesman's face when he gave me the old "Well we don't have a lot of wiggle room on price..." routine. Mine listed at $25,300 and I got it right at invoice, $23,500.

Good luck.

 

Get the TRD Off Road. Having the locker in the back makes a ton of difference in any off road situation.

Also, if I where you I would consider used. With truck prices doing what their doing, you could get one hell of a deal.

What color you getting man? I can't get that Timberland Mica outta my head.

 

^True, I wasn't on board with the TM crowd at first but a dude I work with just got one and it's MUCH better in person. Very nice.

 

u have to be willing to hit several dealerships b4 u find the truck at the price u want. always low ball them. i got my08 dc no trd no 4x4, for 21,500 not including taxes

 

I would consider used - but my parents won't let me go that route. It'll be on thier insurance, and they don't want to have to deal with any extra problems that may arise from a used vehicle (even if it's supposed to be "certified").

As for color - I'm lovin' the Magnetic Grey. Silver and black are secondary choices (and Indigo Ink Pearl - if I do find an 08).

 

I searched for 6 hard weeks. Tacomas hold resale value in my area too well to totally justify buying used for me. Searched the dealer web sites and found 3 that fit what I wanted within an hour drive and did like Wilson said and pitted them against each other until one wanted to make the sale worse than the others.
The key to the good deal I got is that I as only looking to buy an '08.(Because they are very motivated to move them.) You better act fast if you take that route. Many are doing the same thing.
Thought my deal was pretty good.

 

Thanks for the extra info regarding the prices. If I were to do that (e.g. say "dealer X gave me this price, etc."), what would be a low price that's believeable for an '09 Prerunner Access Cab (Auto) w/ TRD Off Road package? I know it would vary depending on the area - I'm just curious.

I'd love to go in there, and say "I've got an offer for 10K, new. Beat that!", but I know it'd never work.

 

Just a heads up; the Toyota in Poway sucks ass.

 

I'll be sure to take note of that. Thanks man. I've been told Toyota of Esco is good. (Aparrently anything in Esco is good.) Any truth to that?

 

That's where I got my baby! Very friendly staff.

 

I'll have to remember that, too. My bro got his Jetta out of Esco, and my mom just got her Murano out of Esco. Both dealers were really cool.

 

come to sa and you can buy a good as new double cab trd sport from me

 

start at invoice from edmonds.com like others said contact all the dealers in the area even the one people had a problem with, you dont have to buy from them just use them to get the price at another dealer lower. Also see if you can get a dealer to show you their invoice I got my 4x4 dc off rd tow 6 disk for 27100 with floor mats, and i just got an offer for 26600 so they are willing to deal right now. also check out theis site
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/carintro.html
this site has some good info

 

Since you are not getting a 4x4, I wouldn't waste the money on the TuRD package. Just get SR5 and save the money. I have the SR5 & tow a bass boat. No problems at all.

Use Edmunds.com & Carsdirect.com for pricing. Cars direct will also hook you up with several area dealers internet dept for free. You can get a better deal this way, than you can walking in from off the street.
I saved a ton this way when I bought my 2003 Tacoma. I would have done the same thing for my 2005 Tacoma. But I got a steal of a deal at my Credit Union.

 

I bought my truck online from carsdirect.com. At the time i bought it(.05.08) i was not able to find even close as good offer as I found on this site. Besides, I did not have to deal with any of the dealer's tricks. All it took me was several phone calls. The only thing, which pissed me a bit, was that most of the times i had to call the site rep, even though i was told that they will call me.

 

definitely use other dealers' quotes as leverage against one another until you get the best deal. check out the consumer reports car buying guide (check the magazine stands for it) as it lists the retail and dealer invoice prices for all the options that you get. the dealers should come to around $500 over that, and lower if they really want to make the sale. If you find a new 08 like you want, you could probably get it for under invoice price. I got my '07 in may of last year for about $400 under invoice because the dealer wanted to off it.
Since you're getting a prerunner i'd definately get the TRD OR package if you intend on driving off road. the locker will greatly enhance the ability of the truck in low traction situations off road for a 2wd. If you arent going to go off road too much than maybe try to find one with the SR5 package that has a limited slip diff option added on....thats what mine had.

 

with all the rebates that they have now for the 08's you should get it for about 2 grand below invoice if you are getting a v6. When you think of a price try to go as close to invoice as you can get or below since they want to get rid of them then apply the factory to buyer incentives right now they are 2000 for a V6 08 tacoma

 

This is long but it might help some people out
Here is some information I got from doing my research. This is for my 09 Tacoma but most of the numbers should be the same and a more detailed description can be found on the web site I put above. All prices are invoice.
09 double cab 4x4 manual tran base price 22518
Options
Off road pkg 2493
Tow pkg 520
Daytime lgts 32
Carpet set 126
Total Options 3171
Cost of vehicle 25689
Other costs
Holdback 2% 513
Delivery 800
Advertising fee 800
1% finance fee 256
Dealer invoice price 28058

This is sometimes the price that a dealer will give you and make it seem like they are giving you a good deal. But if you learn a little about their fees it really isn’t.

Holdback is 2% of dealer cost of vehicle that they get back from the factory when they sell the car but charge as a fee so they get paid twice if they collect it.

Delivery fee is legit they pay it so you will.

Advertising fee is one of those ones that people have different opinions on. Sales people will tell you that is what they pay to Toyota so there is no way they will take it off. If they want to sell the car they will.

1% finance fee is something they pay to the dealer to finance the truck if it is on their lot for a long time. It is basically a rental fee they pay to Toyota, I have heard the fist 2 months are free to the dealer. With an 08 they might have paid it but not for an 09 I know that I am picking mine up as soon as it comes in.

So really if you take the 25689-513(holdback)+800(delivery)+800(advertising if you believe that is what they pay) that is what the dealer paid for the truck.
Then you need to subtract any incentives so right now it is $500 then figure out what you want to give them for a profit.

I have an offer for 26600 after the rebate so that is still giving then a good profit but not to much. I hope this will help you figure out what a good deal is like i said check out the web site i put in a post above there is a lot of good info on it