Going to the dealership today... 2/16

Stopped in before work yesterday (2/15), Don Joseph Toyota in Kent, OH. Only got to sit in the truck, a new pyrite mica DCLB 4x4 SR5.

A friend of mine just bought a similar truck and got $350/mo after about 6k down, including a trade-in. Any tips, tricks, or things to look out for? The guy that showed me the truck seemed like a total dill hole. I asked to see a DCLB 4x4, and he took me into the back lot, and let me into a DCSB, when there was a LB two spaces down. I point it out, and he goes "Oh, there's one, good eye"

This will be my first new vehicle, so any insight would be great, as I'm about as green as green can be, but no dummy by any means.

 

Don't get attached to any vehicle until you sign the paper work.

 

you'll be happy with it, keep it real nice if it's your first new vehicle!


and in this market dealerships are ALWAYS willing to deal, so spend some time bargaining. I good trick is to find another dealership that has the same truck and tell em you'll go there if they don't meet your deal. Worked well for my dad and i. we walked out of the dealer with a 32K truck for under 27K.

 

Just go with ur poker face and advice is if u can't get the deal done in 30mins walk out and good look it took my 5 stealerships but I got my 2011 for 26500

 

Go to edmunds and do your research! Also, this is an interesting read: http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/confessions-of-a-car-salesman.html.

Here is what I did, get a price off of http://www.carsdirect.com/ as a guide (I think their price is no hassle). Also email a bunch of dealers with the car you want and get a price from them, whoever has the lowest price, email the other dealer and ask if they can match it, keep doing that. Don't deal with show room salesmen, do it all online, they don't fuck around.

That way you walk in with a hard price in your hand, you aren't pressured into anything.

 

I have bought 5 or 6 new cars, and have a pretty good plan. I choose a competing model, in the case of this truck, I used a frontier. I told them that I was planning on buying the Nissan, but wanted to drive the Taco just to be sure. (I was GOING to buy a Taco). Made my best deal, wanted a little more for the trade in, they wouldn't budge. Said, well thanks and started to walk out. I got my extra grand for the trade. I do this every time and it works. Past vehicles I have been allowed to leave and came back the next day. That way you know you have them as low as they are going to go if they let you walk.

 

FYI: LB is only in the Sport and not the off-road with the true electric locking rear (button on dash) and operates in 4LO only. Sport rear only uses the brakes to slow the spinning wheel. Depends what you want to do with the truck. The LB does have a longer bed but the rear will hang up on steep depart angles. My SB is still a very long truck - as long as my old Suburban so measure your garage before you buy a LB. Got my 09 for factory invoice (not the dealer one posted on truck) minus 1500 rebate. You can get the factory price at all the major car sites and they are all close. Dealers have a hold back so they get extra cash from Toyota. Do not overlook the dealer fee at the end (printed on all contracts) that they can't delete or lower only adjust cost in other areas (a legal contract thing - yes stupid but real and they love it). As others have said, walk if not happy and never spend more than a set time sitting down for price as they try and confuse you with shifting prices. Its like a game so enjoy it and keep cool. Good luck.

 

Go through Costco if you are a member and if aren't go through their internet sales department. Do that with a few dealerships and just let them compete against each other. I found it much easier than dealing with them face to face. I was in and out of the dealer ship in about 30 minutes when I did this. Just showed up, drove and inspected the truck, did the paper work and drove home. The negotiations were completed before I drove on to the lot.

 

Yup, that's the way I've been buying vehicles for a long time. I just bought my '11 Access cab, 4 cyl auto, sr5 pkg for $20,354 + TTL, delivered to my house.

 

If your not happy with their price just act like you need them to go lower, tell them they have your contact info and to call you when they make up their minds.

I've done this with both new cars i've bought in the last 4 years and they called back that same night or the next morning in both cases.

 

you mention your friend's monthy payment..

DO NOT negotiate your purchase by discussing monthly payment. they want you to focus on the "little" number..not the big one that they make in the end.

does your buddy even know how much he paid for his truck out the door?

 

"Don't deal with show room salesmen, do it all online, they don't fuck around."

x(whatever) on that, it is the way to buy a new vehicle now. Worked great last summer for me.

 

Well, sent a couple e-mails tonight, only one has replied back, time to see how good my Jedi Mind powers are. Don Joseph shot back with $28,111 for an '11 DCLB 4x4, AT, with tow package and SR5 package #2. Also, a DCLB Sport 4x4 for 30,409.

They can definitely do better than that...

 

I always deal out the door price, that way no surprises when you start to sign and have a shock at how much tax and prep are, so my car and this price out the door. Doing that now and always know what the other guy has on his lot and reference it and don't feel bad about making some numbers up, they won't check usually but they will check the other guys inventory to see if that vehicle does exist. And lastly don't be afraid to walk, give them a cell number and your final price and leave. I hadn't gotten 10 miles and they called and met my number since I was on my way to other dealer or at least they thought that.

 

And don't let them tac any of those cash back things into your final price, tell them to give the price to you without that cash back included. From what I remember (edmunds said this) the cash back comes from their corporate, not the dealer.

 

I had 6 dealers working for me, got the quote sent back out to them to see who could beat it. Got a sweet deal 1600 under invoice. It was cheaper than a 2010 CPO.

 

Do not be in a hurry. Work the internet dept. of all the dealerships you are willing to travel to. Don't let them talk you into extended warranties - you can search a few threads here and buy an authentic Toyota Platinum plan for a fraction of what they want to gouge you for.

 

Make sure he/she knows that you are talking to other dealers. If they know there is competition, they will be more likely to come with a lower offer.

I bought mine from Ganley in Akron and it was a pretty good experience.

I would even scour the internet. Seems to be some deals out there.

Good luck...

 

online is the way to go. online sales teams only goal is to be competitive

edmunds has this feature that sends out a mass email to all the dealers in your area. do that (it's free too)

 

Which also makes all of those dealers aware that you will be getting prices from other dealerships.