Looking to buy new.. looking for advice

I'm surprised they're offering anything off MSRP right now. Inventory is pretty low right now and that favors the dealership. During normal times, people aimed for 10% off MSRP. Some got more, some got less. Region plays a part in that as well. When COVID started, people were getting some really good deals, but there was plenty of inventory and fewer people buying. Inventory will pick back up, but I imagine it will be a slow process over several months. Even when 21s start hitting the lots, I wouldn't expect many leftover 20s. I also wouldn't expect the same kind of discounts that you normally see on leftovers, since there won't be many to clear off the lot.

Of course, no one really knows what will happen in the next few months or 6 months or whatever. In spring when people were jumping on those COVID deals, a lot of people on here were saying they were crazy for not waiting until the summer when lots would be overflowing and nobody would be buying. Obviously, that didn't happen. If you offer 8% off and they accept, I would go for it. Heck if they counter at 6%, that seems pretty decent right now. Whether or not you're comfortable with that is a different story. I just wouldn't expect 10-15% off anytime soon. On the other hand, 2020 has been dumpster fire, so who knows? Keep us posted and share your experience on here. It might help others that are looking for truck right now.

 

Thanks for the reply and the target of 10% in "normal" times. I did end up sending email asking for 8% off MSRP and said I was firm on it. I think that particular dealership is closed today so likely won't hear back until tomorrow. I'll keep y'all posted.

 

Just FYI looks like allocations/orders are being put in for 2021. One of the dealers I am working with went ahead and put in a no obligation "order" for an SR5 to my specifications.. he said likely around 120 days before it arrives though it could be sooner or later and also said still no pricing on all the features.

Also, the word back from the hail mary email I sent to another dealership where I was asking for 8% off the Tacoma that's in route to their dealership.. they did not flat out reject it but said they would "let me know". My guess is they have other buyers inquiring about it and it will likely sell before it falls to my 8% off MSRP request.

The saga continues.

 

I just bought a 2020 SR5 4x4. First I found a used 2019 equipped like I wanted and was ready to go for it. Talked with a different dealer and he offered the new one for a bit less than the used one. It pays to shop around.

BTW, the dealer I bought from had a long list of price add-ons in his ad that would have raised the price significantly. I told the salesman that was the reason I canceled the appointment and was going for the used truck. He said the price he offered would be the out the door price. Read the fine print.

 

Just joined here (first post!)
Awaiting delivery on mine - actually did OK on it. I have been looking for a Tacoma after putting over 200,000 trouble free miles on my Outback - like the car but needed a better hauling vehicle. My requirements were:

1. Six speed manual - meant I would be looking at the Off Road trim. Fine with that.
2. An actual color. Subaru is silver. 9 out of every 10 cars on the road are silver/black/white/gray. Blah. Needed some interest. Settled on blue or red.
3. Don't pay markup!
4. Didn't want a ton of options (leather/sunroof/etc) to save money on stuff I wouldn't use/need anyway.

Looked around for a many weeks with no success using local dealers within 200 miles and cars.com. Best I could find were low mileage used ones that were often priced the same or more than new cost. Even now I can only find a handful of manuals in that search and they're all black/white/gray. Used market is ridiculous now, especially for Tacomas.

So I (finally) stumbled on one halfway across the country that hit the lot the very day I did an expanded dealer search. I'm paying $1500 of sticker, so not too bad since manuals don't stay on the lots very long (and there were already interested buyers sniffing around). Ended up with Voodoo Blue TRD Off Road that has the TRD exhaust add on along with all LED lights, tri fold tonneau cover, tinted windows, and a few other things. All stuff I was OK with and probably would have added on anyway. Came to $40,000 total including sales tax, registration, and transfer from Kansas City to South Carolina.

Not a steal, but overall OK given the parameters. And I got exactly what I wanted.

 

You can also get 6 speed manual in Sport and Pro trims

Congrats on your new truck!

 

If you are in no hurry, 2021 might work best for you. But, only you can answer that dilemma.
Best wishes on your Taco buying journey. Post pics when you get your truck.

 

Thanks!

Should have specified that I was really after a SR5, but alas, no manual....I like to do my own mods.

 

The money you would save on resale vaue vs the cost you would pay for 4x4 doesn’t make it worth it.

If you know you’re not going to go offroad why not save thousands and buy 2wd.

Yes some all terrains will be noisy and ding ur mpg like my duratracs. The stock all terrains are pretty mild and more like a street tire.

Personally i try to not think about resale value while owning, using, and modifying this truck. Just enjoy it, life is too short

 

Amen. I find too many people concerned with resale value. What happened to long term vehicle ownership and using it as you need it?

 

I got about 8% off MSRP on a deal I just worked out in mid July. I got a Cement SR5 v6 double cab short bed 4x4. The truck was pretty plain with only all weather Mats over the standard stuff. I really worked at it and basically emailed a bunch of sales and internet sales managers within 100 miles or so. I just said what I wanted and let them know I was serious and to give me their best price. I was going to wait until 21 to buy if I didn't get that deal. I would have maybe waited till Toyota thon.

I'd keep trying if you really need or want something now but don't pay msrp and don't let the dealership know you're in need now if you are. Act like you can leave it if the deal sucks.

 

I searched all the dealer inventory in my state. Then started emailing them once I knew what I wanted pitting the dealers against each other with their offers.
I always use an "out the door price" that way there is no guesswork, you know what you want to pay for the thing. Also, I dont care about "dealer add on's" like bed mats, running boards etc, in fact I deduct those items all together when I am looking at the OTD price.

I was lucky in May and scored a Pro.

Good luck

 

Sold my SR today. Bought it brand new for $25,538 in November, 2018. Got a check this afternoon for $24,791...

Cost me $747 or about $36/mo....not too shabby ;-)

Typically, the cheapest model of any vehicle will cost you less during ownership when you sell than a higher trim model. Yes, the higher trim might retain a larger percentage, but it isn't about percentages...It is about the actual dollars you get when you off it.

Would it be 'easier' to sell a higher trim model? Maybe, maybe not. When I sold my SR5 after about the same time period I lost thousands, not hundreds.

 

Nice!

 

A buddy is looking at OR’s and he said all the dealers out here in SoCal are sold out and nothing new arriving.
Sounds a bit crazy but just for the hell of it I’m going to call the dealer I went to.

He’s probably going to get the canyon at4.

 

I disagree with that. I had 17 off-road and my son had a 17 sport. Huge difference in ride quality and handeling.

Both trucks 100% stock.

His sport was a very firm borderline harsh ride and stayed real flat in corners.

My offroad had a much softer/nicer ride but felt floppy and soggy in a corner compared to his sport.

His seemed to get better mpg too. Not sure if the tires had anything to do with that or not.

 

I think you are right about that. I would definitely be able to make due with 2WD.. snow maybe once twice a year here.. and I actually don't even know where any off road trails are near me.. but if I did have the 4x4 maybe I'd seek them out? Just seems like a nice to have on a truck.. but for $3k more is quite a steep "nice to have". Appreciate the advice.. still mulling things over.

 

Thanks man! Sounds like you got basically same truck I'm looking for.. 4x4(probably) SR5 cement grey.. my roadblock has been finding that with the Technology package.. not a deal breaker but I just got used to having blind spot monitoring in our Highlander and I like it.

 

Thanks for advice.. agree negotiating OTD is probably the way to go & that's what I'll do going forward. Congrats on the the new Pro.

 

I would wait until the end of the year and get your own financing, then go bargain for whatever you want. As for what to get I have a sport so I spent extra for a mediocre JBL stereo, a hood scoop that makes it even harder to see the front o the truck, a hole in the roof I never really use and wheels I’ll replace anyways. So yeah I’d likely get a base model and change what I want.